Attempts to legalize repression of the media through the enactment of blatantly unconstitutional laws were the worst developments faced by Zimbabwean media during 2002, says the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). In a report entitled 'State of the Media', MISA said laws had been used to arrest, intimidate and harass journalists and media workers. The full report is available by clicking on the link provided.

The African National Congress (ANC) has shrugged off accusations that it is legitimising the lawlessness in Zimbabwe by inviting President Mugabe's Zanu PF to its congress this week.

The MDC has warned of a mass uprising against the government, which could lead to serious civil strife. The warning comes after a nationwide survey conducted by the MDC which showed people were determined to take any action possible to end what they called Zanu PF's oppressive rule.

A maize scam in which known top Zanu PF officials are allegedly purchasing the scarce staple grain in large quantities for resale at exorbitant prices on the black market has hit Gutu district.

The nine trade union leaders detained by the Zimbabwe regime of President Robert Mugabe on 9 December have now been released. This follows protests to the Zimbabwe authorities from trade unions around the world.

For the first time the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) has identified the countries guilty of most consistently abusing and defying international housing rights law. The list includes Burma (Myanmar), Colombia, Croatia, Guatemala, India, Israel, Nigeria, Pakistan, USA and Zimbabwe.

We enter the festive season as a nation in despair. Traditionally the season is a period enabling us to share gifts, express our love, facilitate family reunions and, above all, remember the birth of Christ. The year 2002 has been the most difficult one for the majority. After the stolen election in March, we were thrust into darkness. We were disabled by the scale of the theft of our voice.

Human rights groups have voiced concern that political violence and the politicisation of food aid have continued in parts of Zimbabwe. In its latest report the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum alleged that violence in the Insiza constituency, where a recent by-election was held, "continued unabated in the post election period".

The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) has labelled the arrests of several high-level members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) as a "chilling reminder" of the repression and intimidation faced by those opposed to the policies of President Robert Mugabe. This follows the arrest of five ZCTU members on December 9, including general secretary Wellington Chibhebhe.

The crop fields are lush green in Bikita. One thousand hungry people in this remote southern area of Zimbabwe queue quietly under the midday sun for food aid. They're just a fraction of the eight million starving in this southern African country. Each person standing in this feeding centre queue in Bikita, some 240km south-east of Harare, has come to collect aid for at least two other people.

These submissions intend to highlight provisions in the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill, which offend against various sections of the Constitution. This includes most specifically sections (18)(1) - the right to the protection of the law and section (20) - the right to freedom of expression and to freely receive and impart information and ideas.

Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia, the three countries hardest hit by a region-wide food crisis, are set to benefit from a US$100m grant, to assist in funding emergency and supplementary food distribution.

Zimbabwe's economic problems are exacerbating violence against women and their sexual exploitation, women's groups say. "With all the economic problems, violence has taken a new twist," matrimonial lawyer Nomsa Ncube told IRIN.

Close to 60,000 children across Zimbabwe are expected to benefit from a supplementary feeding scheme from December to March next year, World Vision says.

In the months since the presidential election the privately owned media have been consistently reporting incidents of political violence around the country, mostly against opposition MDC officials or those perceived to be the party's supporters. The government-controlled media on the other hand, has virtually ignored the development of this frightening "norm" in Zimbabwean society, giving the impression that politically motivated violence no longer occurs in Zimbabwe, says the Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe.

On 4 December 2002, a major victory for press freedom in Zimbabwe was won when a Harare magistrate dropped charges against three journalists from "The Standard". The three journalists were accused of publishing falsehoods under the draconian Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).

Although the government claims it has stopped acquiring farms, the listing and gazetting of commercial farms continues. The state of affairs has been interpreted by critics to mean there is continued confusion in the farming sector. More than 30 farms were listed in an Extraordinary Government Gazette under General Notices 610 A of 2002 and 610 B of 2002.

Orthodox economists sometimes get it wrong. When a government fixes the prices of various goods below what they cost to produce, they fail to provide the necessary subsidy to fill the gap. The orthodox theory predicts that there will be empty shelves in the shops. But in Zimbabwe, this is not how things have turned out. Retailers there have indeed run out of all manner of price-controlled goods.

Sheila Makumbo, a former soldier popularly known as "Yondo Sister" counts herself among the lucky few women who have benefited from Zimbabwe's land reform programme. However, Makumbo is frustrated that more women have not been given the opportunity. According to official figures, only about 16 percent of land redistributed by the government has gone to women.

What problems do working children in Zimbabwe experience? How can they best be heard and supported? A book draws attention to the plight of working children and suggests ways forward, while acknowledging that children’s earnings are essential to the livelihoods of many marginalised families.