Zimbabwe
Howard Burditt released
Reuters photographer Howard Burditt was released today after he was detained for three days in Zimbabwe. Burditt, a Zimbabwean national covering the aftermath of the country’s elections, had been in jail since Monday after officials accused him of illegally using a satellite phone to send pictures. “I am extremely relieved that Howard has been released […]
Prepare to be a war correspondent
According to human rights groups and diplomatic sources, Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party intend to hang on to power come what may. In what is something of a scary reflection of the recent post from our Zimbabaloola a member of the ZANU-PF Politburo threatens a journalist with what will happen if Mugabe is not returned to […]
Where next for Zimbabwe?
[video:brightcove:1529447593] The latest debate from the Frontline Club is now online. Following the farcical election in Zimbabwe, the panel discuss the next steps for Zimbabwe. Journalists Patrick Smith from Africa Confidential, Laura Lynch, CBC radio reporter, as well as Tererai Karimakweda of SW Radio Africa and Catherine Phelp who talks live from Zimbabwe talk about […]
Barry Bearak retells his Harare prison experience
New York Times reporter Barry Bearak was arrested in Harare during the farcical election process that began last month, and that continues with no firm outcome a month after it began. He retells his story in the American press, I’d been caught at it red-handed, my notes spread across my desk, my text messages readable […]
From Harare
Incase you haven’t read this on the Zimbabaloola blog… This is definitely worth your time reading, For ten years ZANU PF loyalists have convinced themselves that the MDC and the democratic opposition was a creation of the British, the Americans, and the white farmers. Any black member of the MDC is a sell-out and an […]
Letter from Harare
So many people have written to send us their best wishes and to let us know that we are in their thoughts at this time, that I have decided to write a short analysis of the situation here, almost three weeks after the election. I apologise to all of you who have written to us […]
Sydney Saize on trial
Sydney Saize was arrested in the Zimbabwean town of Mutare in January 2006. He is charged under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act for reporting at a school where two teachers were assaulted by pro-government supporters, According to the police, Saize violated Chapter 10.27 of the draconian Access to Information and Protection […]
“We are going to have to detain you for a little while, sirâ€
Writing in The Times Jonathan Clayton talks about his ordeal at the hands of Zimbabwean authorities as he tried to enter the country through the second city of Bulawayo posing as a golfing tourist. An old passport stamp aroused the suspicion of an immigration officer, [The Senior Immigration Officer Godfrey Kondo’s] meticulous attention to detail […]
Stephen Bevan is back
Stephen Bevan, freelancer for the Telegraph and Barry Bearak from the New York Times left Zimbabwe yesterday. The duo were arrested some two weeks ago, however the law they were arrested under had been scrapped earlier in 2008. The charges didn’t stick. Bevan is now back home in South Africa. He tells of his time […]
Barry Bearak starts fifth day behind bars
New York Times reporter Barry Bearak and the un-named British journalist being held in Zimbabwe since last Thursday are now into their fifth day behind bars. They are being held even though Zimbabwe’s Attorney General said at the weekend that there was no case against them. According to lawyers no-one wants to hear the case, […]
No case against Barry Bearak
The AFP reports that Zimbabwe’s attorney general says there is no case against the New York Times journalist Barry Bearak and the un-named British journalist currently being held by the authorities in Zimbabwe, “The attorney general’s office says there is no case to answer,” lawyer Harrison Nkomo said. “Legally, this means the attorney general’s office […]
Frontline bloggers talk
Live from Zimbabwe, live from Mexico and live from the Frontline club clubroom three of our From the frontline bloggers – Anita, Deborah and Kyle – talk about what they blog about on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Pods and Blogs show. It’s a great and varied listen. I recommend.
Anita Coulson blogs from Zimbabwe
Now blogging with us at From the frontline is Anita Coulson. She’s ex-BBC and an Africa specialist. She is in Zimbabwe to cover the elections and blog what she sees and hears on the streets of Harare and beyond. It’s a fascinating read and blogged in difficult circumstances. The internet connection in Zimbabwe is too […]
Exiting Harare for Matabeleland
We woke early on the promise that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) would be starting to announce the official results as of 6am. In fact it announced one parliamentary seat, Mutasa South which went in favour of the Tsvangirai faction of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) by more than 8,000 votes to 3,000 and […]
“MDC is telling truth when it says it has won with a landslide.”
Since breakfast time we have been criss-crossing the city, looking at the results posted on each polling station wall and talking to people who have been getting results from elsewhere in calls and text messages sent by relatives. It’s becoming clear that the MDC has won a landslide victory in Harare and indeed in many […]
Live from Zimbabwe election day 2
At 7am we went to check the results posted on the wall of the tent that served as the Chishawasha Junction polling station. Only 236 votes had been cast (they had expected 300, so 64 ballot papers were unused) and 138 of them were for Morgan Tsvangirai, against just 53 for Robert Mugabe and 43 […]
Live from Zimbabwe election day
7am – Umwinsidale, Harare Arrived at the polling station, a large marquee in a field between the Redale petrol station and the local police outpost, just after 7am to find a short queue of about 10 people waiting to vote. Loitering outside was a chap wearing a yellow jerkin which read Regional Faith Observer but […]
Nation of Millionaires
For a short while today I was a billionaire. I changed US$100 at a rate of 40 million Zimbabwean dollars (ZD) to the US dollar. In Zimbabwe everyone is a millionaire some of the time. I couldn’t have changed more, even if I’d had room in my rucksack because apprehension about the outcome of tomorrow’s […]
It’s an Election… but not as we know it
Just two days before the elections in Zimbabwe, Santos still hadn’t decided which presidential candidate to vote for. “Who do you think will make the better president,” he asks, “Simba Makoni or Morgan Tsvangirai?” (He ruled out a vote for Mugabe with an emphatic sideways shake of his head and a guttural click of the […]
Harare customs
McClatchy Newspapers correspondent Shashank Bengali arrives at Harare airport in Zimbabwe fearful of the worst. Fortunately, the rubber glove wasn’t needed. The customs officers just wanted drugs, “Are you carrying drugs?” he asked. I was somewhat relieved. Getting questioned by authorities in Zimbabwe, if you’re a foreign visitor, can often involve something more uncomfortable. Secure […]
Will Mugabe win again?
With the elections just around the corner the discussion at the Frontline Club turns to Zimbabwe and the possibilities for change or not with Zimbabwean finance minister Simba Makoni challenging Robert Mugabe in the elections. The discussion is chaired by Adam Roberts, an Africa specialist with the Economist. Taking part are Sunday Times foreign affairs […]
From the Frontline from Zimbabwe
Blogging from Zimbabwe is Zimbabaloola. This is latest addition to the From the Frontline stable of blogs. Zimbabaloola is an anonymous blog written by someone living in Zimbabwe. The blog will cover the elections in Zimbabwe, the reality for the people living there and what hyperinflation means on the streets of Harare and elsewhere. I’ll […]
Air Zimbabwe
Gordon Brown’s not happy about Robert Mugabe’s possible appearance at the Euro/Affro summit in Lisbon in December. Not Sure Mugabe will be too chuffed about it either, especially if he has to fly with his nation’s airline.
Kitbag: John Coghill
John Coghill is a marketing consultant, freelance copywriter and photographer. He set up Projector Media four years ago to provide marketing services to publishers and extend brands through video and events. Before that he worked in marketing and business development for The Economist. In 2003 he started the Radios for Africa charity that distributes Freeplay […]
Economical with the truth
At the end of an IMF assessment mission to Zimbabwe last month, the IMF team leader remarked on the parlous state of Zimbabwe’s economy. He noted that inflation is the highest in the world, at 1600 percent, that 80 percent of the workforce is unemployed, that commercial agriculture has been ravaged, that a majority of […]
Insight with Daniel Howden: Zimbabwe in meltdown
The Independent’s deputy foreign editor, Daniel Howden, who has just returned from Zimbabwe, describes a country in meltdown. Moderated by George Alagiah.
Not so Great Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has to be the only country in the world where helping the aged is a clandestine activity. One March morning in Bulawayo I received a cryptic SMS announcing “washing up liquid will arrive at 10.30am”. This was code for meeting the man who delivers food parcels to white pensioners. Everyone in Zimbabwe is terrified […]
