Zimbabwe's domestic debt, on a downward trend earlier this year, has risen dramatically to more than $180 billion or nearly the entire national budget for this financial year, according to statistics released by the central bank this week.

Media inadequately covered the Masvingo mayoral elections. The Zimbabwe Independent and The Zimbabwe Mirror (11/5) had no story on the event while The Daily News and The Financial Gazette failed to inform its readers about important electoral issues. However, the Daily News provided the most comprehensive and impartial coverage of the pre-election violence. The state media put on a partisan performance, preferring to urge the public to vote Zanu PF. This message was supported by the prominent coverage given to alleged defections from the MDC to Zanu PF.

Zimbabwe's beleaguered opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has been forced to take much of its political activity "underground" to avoid the violence of a government widening its net of repression and terror to attack diplomats and aid workers.

Harare Central Hospital had run out of essential drugs, resulting in patient deaths, especially among infants, the hospital's superintendent, Dr Chris Tapfumaneyi, was quoted as saying in the 'Daily News' on Friday. The hospital serves the majority of patients from poor and working class families. Children under five are treated free of charge at the hospital.

Representatives of several powerful international media associations were told by top government officials on Thursday that Zimbabwe's independent media must expect violence for "provoking" supporters of President Robert Mugabe's regime, SAPA-DPA reported. The five-member delegation of the Co-ordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organisations were quoted as saying that senior officials in Mugabe's information ministry warned it was "understandable" that journalists who were seen as supporting an anti-ruling party agenda would be threatened with violence.

A judge who struck down three ruling party election victories on the grounds they were tainted by violence resigned from the nation's High Court, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday, quoting judicial officials. Judge James Devittie's decision came days after ruling party militants accused him of bias in favour of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Canada has become the latest Western government to protest to Zimbabwe over the intimidatory behaviour towards its nationals by so-called "war veterans", who have targeted foreign employees in a rash of labour disputes.

Last week the High Court resumed the Makoni East election challenge brought by Nicholas Mudzengerere of the MDC against ZANU (PF) MP Shadreck Chipanga. Witnesses testified that they saw Mr. Chipanga both participate in, and witness, political assaults perpetrated by ZANU (PF) supporters against MDC supporters. Numerous witnesses also testified that the murders of Tichaona Chiminya and Talent Mabika, MDC workers from the nearby Buhera North constituency, severely intimidated MDC voters in Makoni East. Another witness detailed how her house was burned by alleged ZANU (PF)supporters and how she was harassed before giving testimony to the High Court.

The state media swamped its audiences with stories about the late Minister of Youth, Development, Gender and Employment Creation Border Gezi. All the media reported the disruptions to the May Day workers’ celebrations, but the state-owned media took the opportunity to discredit the ZCTU and blame the violence on “opposition political hooligans” .

A 44-gallon drum of fuel and a funnel is the roadside symbol of the government's deregulation of Zimbabwe's fuel supply industry. The move has not resulted in chains of new service stations criss-crossing the country, but rather illicit boot sales of fuel that has raised serious safety and environmental concerns, industry sources told IRIN.

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, accused by the government of acts of terrorism, on Monday had his case transferred from the High Court to the Supreme Court in a decision that was expected to delay the case for at least a month. Tsvangirai was charged under Zimbabwe's draconian colonial-era Law and Order Maintenance Act (LOMA) for allegedly inciting terrorism.

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai arrived it his country's High Court on Monday stressing his innocence to charges which could see him barred from taking part in next year's presidential elections.

Rwanda and Zimbabwe, the major foreign powers on opposing sides in Congo's 2 1/2-year war, will push for a speedy end to the conflict in order to deal with problems at home, President Paul Kagame said Monday.

In a flurry of activity at the High Court last Thursday and Friday, Justice James Devittie handed down four decisions that seem to set a new precedent for the election petitions. He ruled for the petitioner in the constituencies of Buhera North, contested by MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai, Mutoko South, contested by Derek Muzira, and Hurungwe East, contested by Richard Chadya. He also denied the petition in the Shurugwi constituency brought by MDC candidate Gladys Matibenga against MP Francis Nhema.

Zimbabwe Book Development Council is a professional body that endevours to place reading for all on the national agenda. The strategies are reading awareness and better book provision. Its Mission: Bringing the resources of different institutions, individuals and groups concerned with books together to stimulate and promote a reading culture.

The Zimbabwe Democracy Trust (ZDT) today announces the launch of the new site - "an amalgamation of many different websites on Zimbabwe - has been built in order to assist the Trust's efforts in restoring democracy and the rule of law to Zimbabwe.www.zwnews.com will provide extensive news coverage as well as pertinent information on all major issues currently facing Zimbabwe and its people."

The current wave of urban violence received prominent coverage in the electronic media as well as in the private press although interpretations varied significantly in both these media. The state media has been careful to present the war veterans activities as legitimate forms of labour arbitration while the private press has chronicled allegations of threats, intimidations and attacks levelled against the war veterans in their arbitrations. However, the labour reports were supplanted by reports of Minister and MP Border Gezi’s death as the week closed. Television news coverage allocated 31 minutes and 35 seconds to Gezi’s death out of the 2 hours 33 minutes of bulletins from Saturday to Sunday night. That is 20 percent of its news airtime was allocated to the Gezi’s death.

Western diplomats and members of non-governmental organisations met on Thursday to discuss tightening their security after reports that Zimbabwean war veterans were planning to raid foreign missions suspected of funding or supporting the opposition, AFP reported.

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Zimbabwe Information Minister Jonathan Moyo has dismissed reports that President Robert Mugabe's governing party has suffered a setback in the High Court. The court nullified the result of last year's election in two constituencies on Thursday, including one contested and lost by the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.