Analysis of 246 reported cases of abuse by teachers in secondary schools in Zimbabwe, 1990 to 1997, identified 212 cases of sexual abuse, 33 cases of physical abuse and one case of emotional abuse.

Male sexual aggression against girls is endemic and institutionalised in Zimbabwe. Girls are propositioned by male pupils and teachers inside the school, and by ‘sugar daddies’ outside. Money, gifts and promises of marriage tempt girls into sexual liaisons. What is the role of the peer group culture in encouraging abuse? How can the school help to change attitudes and behaviour?

Zanu PF supporters and war veterans in Epworth are allegedly forcing residents to attend rallies ahead of the Presidential election early next year. "A register of party members is being used to attack those who do not appear on it," said Clayton Chikoti, a tuckshop owner. "It is assumed that if you do not appear on the register, then you are an MDC member."

A new wave of violence has hit the Muzarabani and Mount Darwin districts in Mashonaland, forcing more than 24 families to flee their homes, the 'Daily News' reported on Friday.

"In our view, the United States and the broader international community should make every effort to raise the odds that Zimbabwe's crisis can be resolved peacefully through free and fair elections. At the same time, however, there is a need for realism: Mugabe is highly unlikely to concede power through a relatively free and fair electoral process, and highly likely to resort to ever-higher levels of violence. Though a concerted international campaign is warranted to turn Mugabe off this course and onto a path that bring free and fair elections, we need to admit to ourselves that there is a high probability that effort may fail."

As traditional media becomes increasingly repressive in Zimbabwe, the launch of a local web site, www.kubatana.net, is a breath of fresh air. The NGO Network Alliance Project, the energy behind the development of kubatana, has brought Zimbabwean ngos, csos and development organisations together under one online umbrella. Kubatana is a Shona word which means "working together" - an apt name when a strengthened civic response to the current social and political unrest in Zimbabwe needs to be encouraged.

Earlier this month in Bredell, near Kempton Park on the East Rand, South Africa and some say that ‘land grabbing fever’ has hit South Africa, hot on the heels of the Zimbabwean debacle.

The land is owned by government, Transnet and a private company. Thousands of homeless people invaded the Bredell land allegedly after paying the Pan African Congress R25 a plot.

An interim Court order was granted allowing the government to evict the ‘squatters’. In coming to his decision, Judge Rabie made a reference to the irresponsibility displayed by the PAC.

Predictably, there has been a war of words between the PAC and the ANC over the land invasion. PAC leader Stanley Mogoba has warned that should the matter not be resolved satisfactorily resolved there could be a ‘revolution’. “If government wants to go the route of confrontation, they are asking for very big problems”, he said (www.iol.co.za).

ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama called the PAC “an organisation of agents provocateurs masquerading as a caring liberation movement when, in fact, they are the worst hypocrites and opportunists who will jump at the slightest opportunity to exploit the plight of our people, with the sole purpose of lining their pockets” (www.iol.co.za).

Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane said that he found it paradoxical that the government was so quick to commit to a multi-million rand arms deal with not a visible enemy in sight, but at the same time so slow to respond to an issue it billed a top priority in the run-up to the 1994 general election (www.iol.co.za).

According to the South African Sunday Tribune, a group of black tenant farmers have invited Robert Mugabe to come to SA to advise them on how to proceed to get land. Joachim Hlatswayo, a tenant leader was quoted in the same newspaper as saying that they wanted to hear Mugabe’s views on land restitution and land seizure. The invitation to Mugabe has been confirmed by the Zimbabwean High Commission in Pretoria, but they noted that in terms of diplomatic protocol, only the President of SA, Thabo Mbeki could invite the president of another country for a visit.

What is clear is that the Bredell ‘land invaders’ have become political pawns. While government’s land restitution has been largely ineffective, it is equally clear that landless people are getting impatient (www.iol.co.za).

The squatters are now appealing the eviction order. In the meantime, local PAC leaders have not been able to account for the money collected from the squatters.

The Zimbabwean experience has suddenly made land grabbing an alternative to remaining landless. This week, saw the establishment of the National Landless People’s Movement. NLPA representative Lucas Mufamadi says they support “the gallant actions of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe”. He also said that land occupations are inevitable as land reform has been slow (www.mg.co.za).

Clearly, the Bredell land occupation is illegal and governments all over need to take quick action to avert this from happening by stepping up the pace of land reform and where land occupations have occurred, they must take action too.

However, should our laws not reflect an African reality as far as land is concerned? Should there be private property clauses in our constitutions, or should there be communal property provisions, or should there be both? Civil society and governments must start seriously debating this and other human rights issues to make sure that we do not prescribe to a Eurocentric definition of human rights which does not fit into the African context. The landlessness issue must be looked at from this perspective.

In the interim, government must start pouring its resources into land reform. In addition, land grabbing must be strongly discouraged.

President Robert Mugabe confirmed that the Zimbabwe government would table a freedom of information and protection of privacy Bill, and replace the notorious Law and Order (Maintenance) Act.

President Robert Mugabe has added three new seats to the Supreme Court by appointing three judges seen as stalwarts of his ZANU-PF ruling party, the state-controlled 'Herald' reported on Friday.

New British High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, Brian Donnely, said on Thursday that his government wanted to re-establish the friendly relations the two countries enjoyed before the current controversy over the land issue, news reports said.

In describing the death of an Odzi settler as murder, the state print media abandoned all the basic restrictions surrounding the reporting of incidents involving criminal charges. The purpose of these restrictions is founded upon the fundamental principle that accused individuals are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The conduct of the state media in this case has pre-empted the court investigation and raises the question of whether the trial of the white commercial farmer involved in the fatal accident may have been compromised by such unprofessional coverage.

Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change ran a gauntlet of violence, kidnappings and arrests at the weekend as the ruling Zanu PF party fought to ensure victory in a critical by-election.

President Robert Mugabe's cash-strapped government has awarded almost $1 billion in unbudgeted funds to war veterans following a 25% increment on their tax free monthly gratuities, The Standard has established.

Bindura magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi on Tuesday threw out the State's request for the remand in custody of seven members of the MDC when they appeared before him facing charges of public violence.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's embattled government is talking tough in the face of rising international pressure, but political analysts said its senior members are showing signs of worry over their future. Many are taking seriously threats of sanctions against Harare and want to lie low to distance themselves from Mugabe's controversial record, they said.

The Zimbabwe Government has suspended all accreditation of BBC correspondents in the country, accusing the corporation of "distortions and misrepresentation". Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said he objected to a television report by Africa correspondent Rageh Omaar about a speech by President Mugabe earlier this week. The BBC says it stands by the report.

Manage a program to advance the learning and practice of community-based support and care of children affected by HIV/AIDS and oversee the development of relationships with stakeholders.

As was reported in the last newsletter on 2 July, two new judges have been appointed to hear election petition cases in the High Court. Four judges now currently hear election petition cases. During the time that the newsletter was on hiatus, Judge Ziyambi heard the Seke case, which had been postponed earlier due to crucial paperwork not being filed correctly. Marondera East continues with the vote recount.

Zimbabwe's embattled government is talking tough in the face of rising international pressure, but political analysts allege its senior members are growing concerned over the threat of sanctions, Reuters reported.