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October 12, 2008 9:26:09 AM CDT



Zimbabwe: Mugabe's Misery track this thread

Started by Imperator; Last updated Jun 25, 08 6:35 AM CDT by Imperator | View history

Zimbabwe: Mugabe's Misery

An out-of-control dictator's ugly reign brings a nation to its knees

He led Zimbabwe to independence in 1980 and has effectively been 'president for life' ever since.  Under Robert Mugabe's rule Zimbabwe has become an economic basket case due to political corruption and misbegotten economic policies. But after an election loss, Mugabe appears ready to step down.

Stories

Stories 121 - 140 of 148

  • April 2008
    • No Exit Deal for Mugabe Yet, Says Rival

      No Exit Deal for Mugabe Yet, Says Rival

      (Newser) - Zimbabwe's opposition party—the apparent winner in national elections— and the government of Robert Mugabe dismissed rumors that a deal has been reached for Mugabe to step down, the BBC reports. “Any speculation about deals, about negotiations, about reaching out” is false, said opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. A minister from Mugabe’s party agreed. Official election results are expected tomorrow. More »

    • Mugabe May Step Down After Election Loss

      Mugabe May Step Down After Election Loss

      (Newser) - Robert Mugabe appears ready to stand down as president of Zimbabwe, the New York Times reports, 3 days after an election in which he is said to have lost to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Sources tell the Times his aides are negotiating a possible exit with Tsvangirai, and the opposition team is talking with national military and intelligence organizations about a transfer of power. More »

    • Runoff Seen for Zimbabwe

      Runoff Seen for Zimbabwe

      (Newser) - Three days after Zimbabweans turned out in massive numbers to vote in presidential and parliamentary polls, confusion reigns: President Robert Mugabe's party has privately conceded that he lost to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai by 43% to 48%, the Guardian   reports, reflecting independent tallies. But since neither man won the 51% necessary, a runoff will be needed. More »

    • Deal 'close' for Mugabe to leave

      The outline of a deal has almost been reached for Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to step down, opposition sources have told the BBC.

  • March 2008
    • No Clear Winner as Zimbabwe Results Finally Trickle in

      No Clear Winner as Zimbabwe Results Finally Trickle in

      (Newser) - Zimbabwe finally announced some official election results today, the BBC reports, after a lengthy delay renewed apprehension about vote-rigging in Saturday's balloting. The party of challenger Morgan Tsvangirai says he holds a 60%-30% lead over President Robert Mugabe with over half the 210 constituencies counted. But of the 24 parliamentary districts tallied, Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party has split with the opposition MDC. More »

    • Observers Cry Foul as Zimbabwe Results Delayed

      Observers Cry Foul as Zimbabwe Results Delayed

      (Newser) - Observers fear President Mugabe is rigging the vote while election results are delayed in Zimbabwe, the BBC reports. Officials blame the holdup on a flood of ballots, but one monitor said he had “no doubt” the results were known. “The delay is fuelling speculation that there could be something going on,” said Noel Kututwa, the head of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network. More »

    • Zimbabwe Opposition Claims Victory

      Zimbabwe Opposition Claims Victory

      (Newser) - The Zimbabwe opposition is claiming victory in national elections to unseat long-time leader Robert Mugabe—but government authorities quickly warned that premature pronouncements would be dealt with harshly. "It is called a coup d'etat and we all know how coups are handled," warned a government spokesman. Authorities plan to announce official results today. President Mugabe faced the most formidable opposition in his 28-year reign in yesterday's elections. More »

    • Mugabe Battles Fraud Claims in National Vote

      Mugabe Battles Fraud Claims in National Vote

      (Newser) - Zimbabwe is voting in a national ballot today as opponents accuse Africa’s longest-serving ruler of rigging the vote, Reuters reports. “We will succeed. We will conquer,” declared a characteristically confident President Robert Mugabe, 84, who dismissed talk of corrupted voting. “We don't rig elections. I cannot sleep with my conscience if I have rigged.” More »

    • Mugabe Foes Vow Massive Protests

      Mugabe Foes Vow Massive Protests

      (Newser) - The opposition to Zimbabwe’s ruling party threatened to incite Kenya-style protests if Saturday’s election is rigged as expected, the Guardian reports. President Mugabe has told Zimbabweans not to waste their votes by supporting the other candidates, who “will never be allowed to rule this country.” Mugabe said his security forces would quickly put down any protests. More »

    • Abuse Charges Dog Zimbabwe

      Abuse Charges Dog Zimbabwe

      (Newser) - Robert Mugabe's government is harassing and intimidating opposition groups in the run-up to Zimbabwe's Saturday elections, human-rights organizations charge. Three members of an opposition party were forced by intelligence officers to take down their election posters and eat them, complains Amnesty International. The US has also raised concerns about the fairness of the upcoming vote, the Guardian reports. More »

    • Mugabe Packs Voter Rolls With Zombies

      Mugabe Packs Voter Rolls With Zombies

      (Newser) - Opposition leaders in Zimbabwe are liable to have a tough time taking votes away from Robert Mugabe's party in next week's elections, the Times of London reports. They say voting lists have been packed with the names of dead and nonexistent people to allow Mugabe supporters to vote repeatedly and give him a huge majority. More »

    • Mugabe OKs Nationalizing Foreign Companies

      Mugabe OKs Nationalizing Foreign Companies

      (Newser) - With 3 weeks to go before the presidential election, Robert Mugabe has signed legislation allowing the government of Zimbabwe to take over foreign- and white-owned businesses, the Financial Times reports. With his ex-finance minister mounting a strong challenge, the incumbent is returning to a tested strategy—his party used land confiscations from whites to help it win elections in 2000 and 2002. More »

  • February 2008
    • Zimbabwe's Inflation Rate Hits 100,000%

      Zimbabwe's Inflation Rate Hits 100,000%

      (Newser) - Zimbabwe's inflation rate is running at 100,000%, according to the government's statistics office—but that's not the worst news. Insane as that number may sound, it's probably an underestimation, writes the Telegraph . In Harare, where shelves are bare and money is being printed at breakneck speed, a single cigarette now costs Z$500,000. More »

    • Mugabe to Face Rare Challenger

      Mugabe to Face Rare Challenger

      (Newser) - A deposed finance minister has announced he will run for president of Zimbabwe in elections next month, a rare challenge to Robert Mugabe, who has ruled the country since 1980. Simba Makoni tried to push through reforms to slow Zimbabwe's economic collapse, the Times of London reports, but was sacked by Mugabe, who called him an "economic saboteur." More »

  • January 2008
    • Mugabe Foe Briefly Arrested Ahead of Rally

      Mugabe Foe Briefly Arrested Ahead of Rally

      (Newser) - Robert Mugabe's main opponent was arrested in the middle of the night ahead of a planned rally today in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare, reports the Mail and Guardian . He was later released without charge. Police have banned Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change from holding a demonstration, but the opposition leader has vowed it will go ahead. More »

  • December 2007
    • Defiant African Leaders Reject EU Trade Deal

      Defiant African Leaders Reject EU Trade Deal

      (Newser) - European-African trade talks at a tense Lisbon summit collapsed in their final session yesterday. If a new agreement isn’t reached by year’s end, the European Union may levy higher tariffs on African exports, further exacerbating tensions between the continents. A new, controversial set of agreements would have dropped duty on most imports from Africa in exchange for granting Europe liberalized access to African markets. More »

    • Germany Rips African Ruler at Trade Talks