Zimbabwe

Will a new constitution make Zimbabwe more democratic?

A draft constitution, released this week, proposes term limits for presidents, as well as a commission to study past crimes against humanity.
Zimbabwe activists sentenced for watching Arab Spring video

Found guilty for conspiracy to commit violence, six Zimbabwe activists are given fines and community service. Opposition members see beginning of crackdown ahead of elections.
Why Iran wants to beef up Zimbabwe’s military

Iran has guns and expertise. Zimbabwe has uranium and diamonds. Both are international pariahs. It's a heaven-made match in a world of crushing international sanctions.
Will 2012 be the Year of the African Despot, again?

Senegal's Wade plans to run for president, despite a constitutional ban. Zimbabwe's Mugabe is banning NGOs ahead of presidential polls in 2013.
Zimbabwe expels Libyan ambassador after switch of allegiance to rebels

Libya's fallen leader Muammar Qaddafi still has friends in the Zimbabwe government of President Robert Mugabe, who shares ideological and financial ties with Libya's former leader.
Africa Monitor
Zimbabwe treason suspects released on bail

The last six of 45 Zimbabwean detainees arrested last month for watching a video about the Egypt and Tunisia uprisings were released on bail today.
Zimbabwe's Mugabe tightens grip to prevent Mubarak-style sendoff

President Robert Mugabe's security forces have arrested democracy activists for watching videos of the Tunisian revolt and have also detained members of the opposition party.
Zimbabwe police detain activists for watching video of North African revolts

The incident in Zimbabwe is part of a larger crackdown south of the Sahara on pro-democracy activists, many of whom have been inspired by Tunisia and Egypt.
Why Tunisia's winds of change aren't blowing south to sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa has remained quiet even as protests spread across North Africa from Tunisia to Egypt and onward to Yemen and Jordan.
Robert Mugabe clamps down further in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is warily eyeing the recent uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. Some analysts say those are prompting him to speed up elections and intensify an intimidation campaign against the opposition.
Africa Monitor
Kenyan study on internet use reveals a need for more business presence online

A study on internet use in Kenya and elsewhere on the continent reveals growing technological savviness and the need for businesses to focus more on marketing themselves online.
Africa Monitor
South Africa ups border security amid Christmas travel

South Africa says it is ramping up border security 'to ensure the safe and smooth movement of travelers.' Rights activists worry the government is targeting Zimbabwean migrants traveling home for Christmas.
Mounting friction between Mugabe, Tsvangirai threaten Zimbabwe's government

Prime Minister Tsvangirai could pull out, leading to early elections that would favor President Mugabe, whose far-reaching powers haven't yet been curbed by promised constitutional reform.
South Africa to join UN Security Council. Will it take lead on Africa conflicts?

South Africa is one of five countries elected by the United Nations on Tuesday to serve on the Security Council for two-year terms, beginning Jan. 1.
Africa Monitor
Botswana president wants Zimbabwe sanctions lifted

Lifting sanctions on Zimbabwe would encourage further reform, says Botswana President Khama, formerly a vocal critic of Zimbabwe President Mugabe.
Africa Monitor
How a pair of North Korean-built statues reopened ethnic wounds in Zimbabwe

After the Zimbabwe government paid North Korean sculptors $600,000 for two monuments honoring a Zimbabwe freedom fighter, fierce criticism led to their dismantlement.
Africa Monitor
Zimbabwe President Mugabe dismisses rumors of poor health

Mugabe rejected accusations that he is in poor health in an interview last week, but a lack of public appearances fueled further speculation that he is ill and may not be in power much longer.
US medical team, arrested in Zimbabwe, released on bail

The medical team had operated in Zimbabwe for more than 10 years before its members were arrested for operating without licenses. What happened?
Africa Monitor
Zimbabwe Youth League urges South Africa to grab mines, land from white farmers

Youth League leaders from Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party urged their counterparts in South Africa's ruling party to seize land and mines from minority white farmers to 'correct past imbalances.'
Zimbabwe diamond ban: Will it work?

The US-based Rapaport Diamond Trading Network announced a Zimbabwe diamond ban Monday, but will it have the desired effect of preventing child labor and forced labor?
Africa Monitor
Zimbabwe slams 'lunatic group' for banning its diamonds

One day after the Rapaport Diamond Trading Network announced a ban on some Zimbabwe diamonds, Zimbabwe's Minister of Mines, Obert Mpofu told the Monitor that the country will just sell the diamonds in Asia.
Terrorism & Security
Zimbabwe restarts diamond sales amid 'blood diamond' accusations

'Blood diamond' watchdog, the Kimberly Process, supervised the $72 million diamond sale Tuesday, but a human rights group claims miners work at gunpoint.
Africa Monitor
No more 'GMO' chicken from South Africa, says Zimbabwe. Now to see if there is such a thing.

Zimbabwe has banned genetically modified chicken from South Africa amid complaints that producers there are flooding the Zimbabwe market. But South African producers say there's no such thing as GMO chicken.
Zimbabweans flee South Africa as xenophobic violence flares

Thousands of Zimbabweans are fleeing back home after two days of xenophobic violence in Johannesburg, South Africa, reminding many of the 2008 anti-foreigner riots that killed more than 60 people displaced more than 200,000.
Africa Monitor
Why diamonds can't be Robert Mugabe's best friend

'No one should doubt our resolve to sell our diamonds,' Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said July 12. Guest blogger G. Pascal Zachary argues why South Africa should engineer the dictator's exit.