Mugabe Acknowledges Cholera Epidemic

(NEWSER) - Pressure from nonprofits and watchdogs is mounting on the UN to intercede in Zimbabwe’s humanitarian crisis, GlobalPost reports. Physicians for Human Rights asserts that Robert Mugabe intentionally dismantled the country’s health and sanitation infrastructure, and is directly responsible for the cholera outbreak that has claimed 1,800 lives. The group urges a UN tribunal or the International Criminal Court to charge the president with crimes against humanity. More»

But he's not pulling out of the coalition just yet

(NEWSER) - Zimbabwe PM Morgan Tsvangirai’s party will boycott Cabinet meetings and cut off communication with president Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF, theoretically its partner in government. The move accompanies growing anger among members of Tsvangirai’s MDC over Mugabe’s strong-arm tactics and the jailing of a Cabinet minister-designate, the New York Times reports. More»

Supporters feared Mugabe power grab in his absence

(NEWSER) - Grieving Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is expected back in Zimbabwe today to attend his wife's funeral, days after the couple's car was hit by a US aid truck. Tsvangirai had left for Botswana—home of his closest regional ally—shortly after the accident that some believe may have been an attempt on his life, reports the Times of London. But his party colleagues urged him to return, fearing President Robert Mugabe's party would make a new power grab without him. More»

Cholera, hyperinflation, land grabs... Let's dance!

(NEWSER) - More than half of his country is starving, just 10% have jobs, and nearly 4,000 have died of cholera since August, but none of that has stopped Robert Mugabe from partying. Zimbabwe’s president spent $250,000 on his 85th birthday bash today, which included a 187-pound cake, the BBC reports. The celebration comes just days after Zimbabwe asked other African countries for $2 billion in aid. More»

Prosecutors fail to show up to present charges against ministerial nominee

(NEWSER) - In another blow to Zimbabwe's fledgling unity government, police moved to hold a prominent opposition politician in jail for second day, the BBC reports. Roy Bennett will most likely spend the night in jail after prosecutors failed to come to court today to present insurgency and terrorism charges against the nominee for deputy agriculture minister. Bennett is one of 30 members of Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change who have been detained in recent months. More»