Coltart pleads for tolerance over the senate issue

SW Radio Africa The MDC legal expert David Coltart has spoken out over the controversial senate election that has divided the opposition party. He says positions have become entrenched over this issue and hoped that things can be restored to normal, but added it would be difficult given the enormous amount of damage done to

Drop in violence as Mugabe reins in the MDC

Zimbabwe Independent Harare – Political violence in Zimbabwe has fallen to its lowest levels since the emergence of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change six years ago. Analysts say this is because President Robert Mugabe has successfully subdued the opposition and civil society. The Human Rights Forum (HRF) on Monday released its latest monthly statistics,

Tsvangirai begins election challenge

Independent Online Harare – Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court on Thursday began hearing a petition from opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai challenging President Robert Mugabe’s victory in elections three and a half years ago. A lawyer for Tsvangirai argued that the constitutional rights of the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had been violated because the

Whither Zimbabwe – A failed state? A “Parliamentary democracy”?

(A speech delivered to the symposium organised by Bulawayo Agenda and the Konrad Adenhauer Stiftung at Bulawayo on the 16th November 2005) I have been asked to consider the question as to whether Zimbabwe is now a failed state. It is hard to define what a failed state is because that is such a relative

Constitutional hysteria takes Africa by storm

The Herald WHAT is motivating the wave of constitutionalism sweeping across Africa? Who is behind it? Is this pre-occupation with national constitutions a manifestation of growing consciousness within Africa, or another manifestation of external manipulation? Where does the constitution stand in the resolution of Africa’s ongoing socio-economic and political challenges? Isn’t Africa better off addressing

Gibson Sibanda: When MDC ignorance provokes history

The Herald By Nathaniel Manheru AT the risk of sounding overweening and elitist, I have repeatedly maintained MDC is the West’s bid to foist an ignorant leadership on Zimbabwe, in place of an enlightened one. To what end, it is not difficult to say. After all, the doyens of British foreign policy have long advised

Sikhala suspension null and void: court

Daily Mirror HIGH Court Judge President Paddington Garwe yesterday declared as null and void the suspension of St Mary’s lawmaker Job Sikhala after the defendants failed not only to turn up in court but also to oppose the matter. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai suspended Sikhala on October 31 on allegations that he made unsubstantiated statements

High Court lifts Sikhala’s suspension

New Zimbabwe A ZIMBABWEAN court on Tuesday reversed the suspension of an opposition legislator accused of issuing false statements to the media on the party’s funding. Job Sikhala, the MP for St Mary’s was suspended by Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader, Morgan Tsvangirai after he claimed the party had received up to US$2,5 million

Tsvangirai flees

The Herald A RALLY called by MDC president Mr Morgan Tsvangirai at Somhlolo Stadium in Lupane yesterday failed to take off after the opposition leader and his entourage were chased away by party youths opposed to his decision to boycott Senate elections. Highly placed sources in the MDC said a group of youths had “camped”

MDC split on ethnic lines

The Herald By David Samuriwo DESPITE Monday’s last ditch efforts to patch major differences concerning Senate elections to be held in three weeks’ time, the leadership of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has finally decided to go separate ways effectively splitting the five-year-old political party. A faction led by party leader Mr Morgan