Opinion
Yes, he's a black leader of an African nation; he's also a tyrant
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Jun 14, 08 4:22 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Once, Westerners cared about southern Africa. In the late 20th century, outraged Americans of all stripes spoke out against apartheid, an outpouring that ultimately helped liberate both South Africa and Zimbabwe. Now, Zimbabwe is under the thumb of another murderous tyrant—this time a black one—and the West remains strangely and disgracefully silent, writes Cythia Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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Threatens 'bush war' if 'British puppets' elected
Independent (UK) Jun 14, 08 10:05 AM CDT
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As an opposition leader arrested on charges of treason appeared in court in Zimbabwe today, President Robert Mugabe was declaring that his competitors in the Movement for Democratic Change would never be allowed to rule the country, even if they win the upcoming runoff presidential election, the Independent reports. "We will return to the bush to fight," he told a crowd of youth members of his party. "We can't allow the British to dominate us through their puppets."
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Zimbabwe was won by force, shouldn't be surrendered by vote, they say
BBC Jun 13, 08 9:32 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Veterans of Zimbabwe’s war of independence are eager to fight in support of the ruling party, says President Robert Mugabe. “They came to my office after the election and asked me, ‘Can we take up arms?’” Mugabe told the state-run newspaper. “They said this country was won by the barrel of the gun and should we let it go at the stroke of a pen?”
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No. 2 faces treason charges; Tsvangirai detained, released
Associated Press Jun 12, 08 2:57 PM CDT
(AP)
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President Robert Mugabe's regime struck at the opposition leadership today, just two weeks before Zimbabwe's presidential runoff election, twice detaining his challenger and jailing the opposition party's No. 2 official on treason charges, which carry the death penalty. Presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai was stopped at a roadblock and held at a police station for about two hours before being released. He returned to campaigning, and was again detained by police.
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One woman had hand, feet chopped off; another was pregnant
Times (UK) Jun 12, 08 10:46 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Zimbabwean opposition leader Patson Chipiro came home Friday to a burning house. “I was trying to put the fire out,” he says. “I thought my wife was hiding in the bushes.” But Mrs. Chipiro was in the blazing house, where militia men loyal to Robert Mugabe had tossed her after chopping off one of her hands and both her feet, the Times of London reports.
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20 tons were distributed to Mugabe supporters instead
New York Times Jun 12, 08 6:12 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Authorities in Zimbabwe seized a truck containing 20 tons of American food aid intended for poor schoolchildren, the New York Times reports, and distributed the wheat and beans instead to supporters of Robert Mugabe at a political rally. After last week's suspension of all humanitarian aid, the seizure of the American supplies, intended to provide lunches at 26 schools, has provoked fresh outrage.
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Analysis
Odds look bad for smooth Mugabe exit
Times (UK) Jun 9, 08 10:40 AM CDT
(Newser)
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As Robert Mugabe’s war against his political opponents—and anyone who supports them—intensifies in the run-up to the run-off, Royal African Society Director Richard Dowden breaks down the possible endgames for the London Times . Morgan Tsvangirai takes power, after winning a majority. Odds: zero. Even if Mugabe’s violent intimidation and vote rigging somehow fail, he won’t concede. Mugabe and Tsvangirai form a Kenyan-style unity government. Odds: less than zero. Neither side is interested.
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Denies Tsvangirai note; impartiality questioned
New York Times Jun 9, 08 9:55 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Last month Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's opposition leader and the victor of March's elections, sent a 4-page letter to South African president Thabo Mbeki asking him to step aside as mediator. But when South African media reported the story last week, Mbeki's camp denied that the letter even exists, much less that he'd received it. The New York Times investigates doubts about Mbeki's impartiality.
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updated
Mugabe accuses charities of supporting the opposition
Guardian (UK) Jun 6, 08 6:54 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Zimbabwe today ordered all charities operating in the country to quit their work, saying they would not be allowed to resume until they had promised not to interfere in the upcoming election, the Guardian reports. The government also detained opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai for the second time this week, Reuters notes. Police picked him up at a roadblock today and released him a few hours later, preventing him from attending a campaign rally.
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Updated
Police held US, UK embassy staff for 6 hours, beat driver
MSNBC Jun 5, 08 11:22 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Zimbabwe has freed 12 US and UK diplomats detained earlier today while attempting to investigate political violence, MSNBC reports. The US demanded Zimbabwe “explain its actions,” after police tried to run a car full of diplomats off the road, eventually slashing its tires and beating the driver. “We do believe this is coming directly from the top,” said US ambassador John McGee.
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He faces charges of violating pubic order for campaigning
Washington Post Jun 4, 08 10:52 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Zimbabwe police released opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai tonight after holding him 8 hours and charging him with violating public order by campaigning ahead of the runoff election. Tsvangirai and several aides were arrested at a police road block, the Washington Post reports. No trial date has been set, and such charges are typically dismissed. Police have restricted most political activity ahead of the June 27 election.
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Tsvangirai's party blasts 'illegal detention' during campaign
MSNBC Jun 4, 08 11:58 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The leader of Zimbabwe’s opposition was detained today while campaigning, MSNBC reports. Morgan Tsvangirai, back in the country to challenge Robert Mugabe in a June 27 presidential run-off, is being held by police along with 14 other Movement for Democratic Change officials, the party said.
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President accused of presiding over starvation of his nation
BBC Jun 3, 08 3:06 AM CDT
(Newser)
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British and Australian ministers have blasted Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's attendance at a world food summit in Rome, charging him with turning his nation from the breadbasket of Africa into a country plagued by food shortages, reports the BBC. They also criticized him for using food aid given to ZImbabwe to further his own political goals.
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