Zimbabwe's ruling party suffered a shock defeat in parliament on Tuesday when it introduced a controversial electoral amendment bill that critics allege is designed to boost President Robert Mugabe's re-election bid in March.

Victims and survivors of the 1980s Matabeleland genocide have renewed their call for the arrest and prosecution of President Robert Mugabe and his security and defence ministers for crimes against humanity.

Following the tabling in parliament last week of a special report on the University of Zimbabwe, there have been serious complaints that the investigating committee presented a highly distorted report to the House.

Zimbabweans might as early as Wednesday have to deal with draconian new security laws which would make President Robert Mugabe untouchable by his critics as the country gears up for the presidential election next year.

President Robert Mugabe’s campaign to retain power and win re-election was endorsed on Wednesday by ministers from neighbouring states who ignored reports of political violence, chaotic land reform and media repression.

Zimbabwe'S year-on-year inflation jumped to 103,8% in November, almost six percentage points above the 97,9% recorded in October.

President Robert Mugabe’s campaign to retain power and win re-election was endorsed on Wednesday by ministers from neighbouring states who ignored reports of political violence, chaotic land reform and media repression.

A Zimbabwean government official on Monday denied media reports that the army had been deployed in the opposition's Matabeleland stronghold and was allegedly intimidating villagers.

The leader of Zimbabwe's opposition, Morgan Tsvangirai, has been charged with possessing radio-communication equipment without a licence, for which he could face a two-year prison sentence.

Fletcher Dulini-Ncube, the MDC MP and Treasurer who has been in detention since early November, is being held in a tiny prison cell – only 1 metre by 1 ½ metres in area. He is taken out only for ablutions and spells of interrogation, which have tended to be conducted at night for extended periods. He has been held in these conditions for over a month.

Zimbabwe's leader, Robert Mugabe, confirmed last week that he intends to hold the long-awaited presidential election in March and held his first rally on Friday. His speech and the events of the day provided a clear indication of how he intends to fight that election: polarising black and white and intimidating the opposition.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) applauds the creation on December 7 of the Zimbabwe Foreign Correspondents Association (ZFCA), which has vowed to challenge a restrictive new press law in court.

Zimbabwe's ruling party empire appeared to be crumbling Monday following its third consecutive electoral defeat at the hands of the main opposition party.

Wildlife smugglers are profiting from the ongoing political turmoil in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe's ruling party empire appeared to be crumbling Monday following its third consecutive electoral defeat at the hands of the main opposition party.

As regional ministers met in Harare on Monday to assess Zimbabwe's compliance with agreements on land reform and the rule of law, analysts said the key question was whether southern African leaders could act decisively to end the country's political crisis.

Zimbabwe's long-awaited presidential election is due in March, although the exact dates have not been set, President Robert Mugabe said on Tuesday.

Goal is balance & fairness in news & current affairs, accuracy & impartiality in voter education & equity in political advertising & direct access programming. Published by Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwee (MMPZ).

The week witnessed government’s endorsement of yet another draconian piece of legislation, termed the Public Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill to deal with perceived wayward journalists. This comes just a few weeks after the government announced that it intends to amend the electoral law; after President Robert Mugabe used his presidential powers to amend the Land Acquisition Act to legalise the controversial land reform programme; and lately, after the government approved the controversial Public Order Security Bill.

Leader of Zimbabwe's main opposition party says his party and the ruling party of President Robert Mugabe should sign a non-violence pact ahead of next year's presidential elections. Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), says he is prepared to share the stage with Mugabe and publicly denounce violence which is now prevalent on the Zimbabwean political scene.