Politics
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Why Turkey Took the Fight to Syria
Article by H.E. Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu first published in The New York Times ANKARA, Turkey — It is dismaying that Turkey’s military operation in northeastern Syria is being spun in the American news media as an attack on Kurds, as weakening the fight against the remnants of Daesh (or the so-called Islamic State) and hurting…
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Time for Zimbabwe to Abolish the Death Penalty
By Veritas The 10th October is the day on which the United Nations every year urges countries of the world to abolish the death penalty. Zimbabwe has not yet heeded the call, even though no one has been executed here since 2005. Our courts continue to sentence prisoners to death for murder, and these prisoners…
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Residents call for shadow census for Bulawayo
Residents from Bulawayo’s Eastern suburbs have requested organisations in Bulawayo to conduct a shadow census process to determine the actual number of people living in the city for planning purposes. Speaking at a Habakkuk Trust advocacy training workshop, residents alluded to the highly contested census results compiled by Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency (ZimStat) in 2012…
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Political leaders pressed to address the root causes of Zimbabwe’s national challenges
The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHCD) have met the leaders of the two main political parties ZANU (PF) and the MDC and presented them with messages on the need to urgently come up with solutions to address the root causes of Zimbabwe’s national challenges. Addressing a press conference in Harare today, Reverend Dr. Kenneth…
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ERC Launches Analysis of the Legal Framework of Elections in Zimbabwe
By Joice Mukucha The Election Resource Centre (ERC) has launched an Analysis of the Legal Framework of Elections in Zimbabwe which is meant to govern the country’s elections, advocate for electoral reforms and improve the conduct of future elections. The framework will be periodically used to test what is presented as reforms against the status…
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International Day for Universal Access to Information: Leaving No One Behind
By Veritas The International Day for Universal Access to Information is commemorated on the 28th of September and is to promote access to information. In 2002, Civil Societies around the world decided to commemorate the 28th of September as International Right to Know Day. The reason behind the day was to remind governments that there is…
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Zimbabwe: UN expert calls for democratic shift after groundbreaking visit
A UN human rights experts has called on Zimbabwe to embrace and safeguard democracy, saying that the country’s change in leadership provided an opportunity to promote political tolerance, accountability and bring an end to impunity for human rights violations. Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association,…
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UN Summit on Sustainable Development Goals kickstarts ambitious action to deliver for people and the planet
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States, businesses and civil society gear up for decisive decade for Agenda 2030 Four years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and with efforts off track for meeting its objectives, world leaders today called for a decade of ambitious action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and announced…
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World Peace Summit Calls for Collective Effort for Sustainable Peace
To commemorate the 5th Anniversary of the WARP Summit, international peace organisation Heavenly Culture World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) together with International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) and International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) held different events across the world with 300,000 participants in over 166 locations in 113 countries including Germany, New Zealand, Nigeria, Zambia…
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Africa Oil & Power and South Africa Partners Condemn Attacks on Foreign Nationals
Africa Oil & Power (AOP) (https://AfricaOilandPower.com/) is outraged by the violent attacks on foreign nationals living in South Africa. As government adopts measures to ensure safety for all, AOP calls for violence to come to an end. As of Monday, the South African Police has made 639 arrests related to the xenophobic attacks in South…
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ZESN commemorates International Day of Democracy
Today, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) joins Zimbabwe and the World at large in commemorating the International Day of Democracy on this 15th day of September 2019 running under the theme, “Participation.” This day comes amid continued calls by civil society and institutions supporting democracy for multi-stakeholder efforts towards the promotion of inclusion, equal treatment,…
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UN expert on rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association to visit Zimbabwe
UN Special Rapporteur Clément Nyaletsossi Voule will visit Zimbabwe from 17 to 27 September 2019 to assess the country’s achievements and challenges in relation to the exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the country. This is the first official visit by an independent human rights expert, appointed by…
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The End Does Not Justify The Means: Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference
Introduction (1) On the morning of Friday 6 September 2019,we woke up to the sad news of the death of former President of Zimbabwe, Robert Gabriel Mugabe. We extend our condolences to his immediate and extended family, the government of Zimbabwe and all the bereaved. May his soul rest in eternal peace. The End Does…
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Mourning Robert Gabriel Mugabe – A mixed legacy
By Rev Dr. Kenneth Mtata (Secretary-General, Zimbabwe Council of Churches) People are mourning the death of one of the remnants of the rare generation of Pan-African and Frontline States leaders. Robert Gabriel Mugabe will be remembered for the great achievements in his earlier period and also the many challenges under his watch in the later…
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SAPSN calls for urgent action against xenophobia in South Africa
The Southern African People’s Solidarity Network (SAPSN) which has just concluded its SADC People’s Summit that ran parallel to the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Dar Es Salaam has called for urgent action against the inhumane violence levelled against fellow African brothers and sisters in South Africa and condemns it in…
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PAP dismayed by violent situation in South Africa
Roger Nkondo Dang, the President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has learnt with sadness and great dismay, the reports of acts of violence targeted at foreign African nationals in some parts of our sister country, South Africa. The violence and tension are seemingly spreading into other parts of the Continent, leading into displacement of helpless…
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SA Xenophobic attacks: Chamisa calls for African brotherhood and sisterhood
MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa has said the attacks against fellow Africans in South Africa are appalling and heartbreaking and insisted on the need for African brotherhood and sisterhood consistent with the timeless wisdom of Ubuntu. The maverick politician said it is inimical to Ubuntu for Africans to rise against each other. He said he was…
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Human rights organisations urge African leaders to end enforced disappearances
During the commemoration of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance held on 30 August 2019, five leading human rights organisations called on African states to end the use of enforced disappearances and ensure justice and reparations for thousands of victims in Africa. They argued that for decades, thousands of people including government…
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Ban on demonstrations: Who will police regulatory authority?
By Farai Chirimumimba It’s fair to say that the government is now trolling sections 56 and 59 of the Constitution that talk of equal treatment before the law and give citizens right to peaceful demonstrations respectively. I hope the courts haven’t decided to be concocted in this shame. In a recent press conference, the minister…
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Yemen: MSF admits 51 wounded casualties within a few hours amid chaos in Aden
Wednesday 28 August saw heavy fighting in Aden between various armed groups, principally forces loyal to President Hadi opposing the southern separatist movement. In the space of a few hours, Doctors Without Borders’ (MSF) teams admitted 51 wounded casualties. 10 were dead on arrival. “It’s total chaos here. There was fighting in the…
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UN Agencies in Zimbabwe delivering as one as Parajuli concludes tour of duty
During Mr. Bishow Parajuli, the UN Resident Coordinator’s tour of duty in Zimbabwe for nearly five years, the focus of the UN Development System has been on building and strengthening national and local capacities to deliver quality public and social services, advance right-to-development, climate action and humanitarian response (disaster risk reduction and mitigation), address HIV…
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Youths Trained in Conflict Management
By Tatenda Mujeyi The Centre for Conflict Management Transformation (CCMT) is holding a two-day training workshop for young female political party leaders in Harare. The workshop is aimed at empowering young women leaders on the roles they have to play in building peace at intra party as well as inter party levels. “This initiative is…
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Amnesty International says Mnangagwa government marked by systematic crackdown on human rights
Amnesty International (AI) has said during his first year as President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa has presided over a systematic and brutal crackdown on human rights, including the violent suppression of protests and a witch-hunt against anyone who dared challenge his government, Amnesty International said today. It said the socio-economic conditions of many Zimbabweans have…
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Repression and dialogue in Zimbabwe: Twin strategies that aren’t working
By Brian Raftopoulos Since the November 2017 coup that toppled Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe and the elections in 2018, the regime of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has forged two forms of rule. These have been based on coercion on the one hand, and on the other dialogue. Following the 2018 general elections and the violence that…
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MDC National Organiser arrested
The MDC National Organiser Amos Chibaya was yesterday arrested and charged with failing to take steps to stop the demonstrations called for by his party starting 16 August 2019. Chibaya was the convener of the MDC’s proposed peaceful demonstrations in four cities that were later foiled by the police after they issued four prohibition orders…
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End harassment, intimidation, abduction and torture of civil and political activists: ITUC-Africa
The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa www.ituc-africa.org) to which the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is affiliated, has expressed its deep concern about the growing acts of intimidation and the use of death threats against the leadership of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). This follows reports that…
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SADC Communique mum on Zimbabwe’s governance and economic challenges: MDC
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has noted with concern the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Communique on the just ended 39th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and accused the regional bloc for turning a blind eye to the deteriorating socio-economic situation, ongoing human rights violations, persecution…
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Inclusive and comprehensive national dialogue sure way out of Zimbabwe’s Crisis: ZCC
The nature and complexity of the country’s historic, present and future challenges can only be resolved through cooperation among all Zimbabweans which can be achieved through an inclusive and comprehensive national dialogue process, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has said. The ZCC statement came after the High Court on Friday 16 August 2019 had…
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MDC must play cards close to their chest
By Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo The bottom line is Nelson Chamisa is surrounded by infiltrators and traitors around him. I must say this clearly, on strategy MDC failed and plans were in disarray on how to deal with their march. Honestly how can members of the Standing committee post on social media exposing the party through…
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We have no intention to tarnish Zimbabwe’s image at SADC: SAPSN
The Southern African People’s Solidarity Network (SAPSN) has refuted media claims that it is plotting to embark on a smear campaign to tarnish the image of Zimbabwe at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit. The SAPSN Regional Coordinating Committee comprises the Foundation for Social and Economic Justice (Swaziland), Malawi Economic Justice Network, Alternative Information…
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Engage population on the economic situation: UN on Zimbabwe Protests
The Spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Rupert Colville, has urged the Government of Zimbabwe to find ways to continuously engage with the population about their legitimate grievances on the economic situation, and to stop cracking down on peaceful protestors. The statement comes after UN noted that today’s planned protests in…
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Police brutality will strengthen people’s resolve: MDC Alliance
Protesters who had gathered in Harare awaiting the High Court verdict on the planned demonstration were violently dispersed by the police when they had started to sing and dance after permission to march was not granted. MDC Alliance lawyers had lodged an application against the police prohibition order banning the demonstration. MDC Spokesperson Daniel Molokele…
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Zimbabwe Council of Churches Engages Chamisa on Demonstrations
On the 14th August 2019, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches delegation met the president of the Movement for Democratic Change, Nelson Chamisa, at their party headquarters in Harare. The meeting comes after the Urgent Pastoral Letter issued on the 8th of August 2019 by the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) in response to the…
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African Court conducts sensitisation workshops and seminars in Zimbabwe
The African Court on Human and People’s Rights (AfCHPR) is in Zimbabwe on a sensitisation mission with a view of promoting the Pan African Judicial Organ. “These visits will help raise awareness of the Court’s existence and encourage African States to ratify the Protocol establishing the Court and make the Declaration to allow individuals and…
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MDC vows to go ahead with planned demonstration
The MDC Alliance led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa has refuted social media reports doing the rounds to the effect that they have shelved plans to go ahead with the demonstration scheduled for Friday 16 August 2019. Party Spokesperson Daniel Molokele reiterated his party’s position that on the 31st of July 2018, Zimbabweans overwhelmingly voted for…
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Nelson Chamisa pays tribute to Zimbabwe Defence Forces
President of the MDC Alliance Nelson Chamisa has paid tribute to the security forces and reiterated that the Defence Forces Day was set aside to honour the men and women who have dedicated themselves to defend the nation of Zimbabwe. The politician said the defence forces form the backbone of any nation and Zimbabwe is…
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Acquittals prove political abuse of the courts: MDC Alliance
The MDC Alliance has welcomed the good news of the acquittal of Honourable Settlement Chikwinya and Lloyd Mukapiko on spurious charges of incitement to commit public violence but insisted its members should never have been arrested in the first place. The party argued that there was simply no evidence against them and “putting them to…
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The Association of Secretaries-General of African Parliaments elects new leadership
By Staff Reporter The Association of Secretaries-General of African Parliaments (ASGAP) recently elected the new leadership during the Ordinary Session of the Permanent Committee Sittings of the Pan African Parliament Fifth Parliament in Midrand, South Africa. According to their constitution ASGAP is an institution-based and a consultative forum, established by voluntarily association under the auspices…
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All set for Heroes and Defence Forces Commemorations
By Tatenda Mujeyi All is set for the country’s Heroes’ and Defence Forces Day commemorations set for Monday and Tuesday 13th and 14th respectively with the national events pencilled for Harare. The Minister of Harare Metropolitan province emphasised the importance of these days as they set focus on the sacrifices made by the liberation war…
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Dedicate more time to issues of refugees and forced displacements: African Parliamentarians
Delegates at the just ended 10th Conference of Speakers of African Assemblies and Senates have proposed an extension to the dedication period regarding this year’s African Union theme on forced migration. The African Union theme for this year is “Finding durable solutions to forced migration to accelerate integration and development in Africa: the role of…
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Özersay: “Maybe it is about time that we make a change in our current paradigm”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Özersay received Turkish Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar, Chief of General Staff, Full General Yaşar Güler as well as the Commanders of the Turkish Air, Land and Naval Forces. Stating that the visit of Minister Akar, Chief of General Staff Full…
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MDC Alliance Raises Red Flag On Grant Under the Political Parties Finance Act
The MDC alliance has described as “brazen act of political thuggery” the move by government to withhold the MDC grant entitled to the party under the Political Parties Finance Act while Zanu PF has already been paid their dues. The party reported that the past one week has seen top MDC officials being sent from…
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ZESN Statement on recent by-elections
As part of its comprehensive efforts to observe the Lupane East Constituency National Assembly, Nkayi Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 23 and Bubi RDC Ward 22 by-elections, for the Lupane East constituency by-election, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) deployed 14 long-term observers who also observed at the ward collation centre on Election Day and…
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PAP Committee on Cooperation heads to Egypt for August Sittings
Peace and Security status on the continent will take centre stage in Egypt when the Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolutions meets in Cairo as part of the August Sittings of the Permanent Committees of the 5th Parliament of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), from 02 to 10 August 2019. Hosted by the Egyptian…
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Zimbabwe: One year on, no justice for those killed by soldiers in post-election demonstrations
One year on, the soldiers who opened fire on protesters in the aftermath of the general elections, killing at least six of them and causing injuries to scores more, have still not been held accountable for their actions, Amnesty International said today. The army, which was illegally deployed, used live ammunition to disperse protests in…