Tag Archives: Movement for Democratic Change

Zimbabwe: Why Has Support For The MDC Plummeted So Much?

April 15, 2013 by IndepthAfrica

BY SIMUKAI TINHU Fourteen years ago, Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) launched itself onto Zimbabwe’s political scene with great local and international fanfare. The MDC was seen as having given rise to a new understanding … read more »

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Will Zimbabwe’s Morgan Tsvangirai be Africa’s next fallen hero?

March 13, 2013 by IndepthAfrica

A version of this post ran on the author’s blog, Africa in Transition. The views expressed are the author’s own. The ‘heroic’ leaders who follow notorious African dictators to power frequently fall from grace themselves. If Morgan Tsvangirai replaces Robert Mugabe as … read more »

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Zimbabwe’s new constitution is a political horse trade, but outlooks are hopeful

February 11, 2013 by IndepthAfrica

On 6 February 2013, the draft for the new constitution of Zimbabwe finally reached the country’s parliament, which will engage in further discussion of the document. As all major parties support the new constitution, over which the population will vote … read more »

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Robert Mugabe may rule Zimbabwe for another 10 years

January 28, 2013 by IndepthAfrica

HARARE — Robert Mugabe — who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence nearly 33 years ago — may stay in power for another decade if he is reelected according to a new draft constitution. The new basic law, seen by AFP … read more »

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‘Indigenisation’ key in Mugabe campaign

December 15, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

BILL CORCORAN in Cape Town The controversial black economic empowerment policy of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe will be the cornerstone of his re-election campaign next year, according to an internal report by his Zanu-PF party. The southern African country’s stalled … read more »

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Zimbabwe and Robert Mugabe: Change or Continuity?

December 13, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

Robert Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe for 32 years running, will 2013 break the chain? Background In 1980 Robert Mugabe was voted into power as a hero of the liberation struggle, the war campaign which overthrew the white minority government in … read more »

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Is Mugabe relocating the Zimbabwe capital to his home town?

November 19, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has come under fire after the government unveiled plans to relocate the capital city from Harare to his rural district, a move his coalition partners say they were not consulted on. Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo … read more »

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Tsvangirai’s Botswana connection

November 10, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

So what was Morgan Tsvangirai doing in Botswana? Mmegi’s Zimbabwean correspondent BILLY MAGEDI looks at the Movement for Democratic Change-T (MDC-T) leader’s close relationship with Gaborone and its implications for Botswana-Zimbabwe relations and Zimbabwean politics. HARARE – Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe … read more »

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Political risks to watch in Zimbabwe

October 11, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe wants to hold elections in March but is facing opposition from his coalition partners pressing for more political reforms to avoid a repeat of the 2008 poll violence. Even if Mugabe and his rivals … read more »

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Zimbabwe constitution draft ‘flawed’

July 23, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

Harare – A draft constitution just finalised by Zimbabwe lawmakers as part of key reforms ahead of elections is a flawed compromise that will have little effect, analysts warn. The proposed document, which will be subject to a referendum, was … read more »

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EU to consider easing Zimbabwe sanctions

July 20, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

EU governments are considering easing sanctions against Zimbabwe in exchange for political reform, reports say. Foreign ministers are due to meet on Monday to discuss suspending restrictions on development aid, among other measures. The moves would be conditional, occurring only … read more »

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New Zimbabwe constitution could bar Mugabe candidacy

February 10, 2012 by IndepthAfrica

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe could be barred from running for another term, according to the first draft of a new constitution that also seeks to trim presidential powers. However, Mugabe, who has been accused by the West of using death … read more »

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Zimbabwe MP held after saying Mugabe is gay

December 29, 2011 by IndepthAfrica

Harare – A Zimbabwean parliamentarian was held in custody for seven days after saying President Robert Mugabe had gay sex with another politician, state media reported on Thursday. The state charged Lynette Karenyi, of the Movement for Democratic Change, with … read more »

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The tyrant of Zimbabwe: Can he really rule forever?

December 10, 2011 by IndepthAfrica

By Rohit Kachroo Dancing erratically and singing passionately outside the conference hall, an elderly woman named Grace anticipates the arrival of the president. While many people refer to him simply as a “tyrant” and a “dictator,” she calls him “our … read more »

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Mugabe to recall stripping ambassador

September 14, 2011 by benim

Harare – Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe will recall an ambassador who has been accused of stripping down to her underclothes before male embassy staff members, the Herald reported on Wednesday. Jacqueline Zwambila, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Australia, denies the charges and … read more »

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Attempted bombing at Zimbabwe finance minister’s home

June 5, 2011 by benim

An explosive device hit the security wall of Zimbabwe finance minister Tendai Biti’s home in an attempted bombing early Sunday but caused no damage, a party spokesman said. “An unidentified object was thrown at Honorable Biti house and hit the … read more »

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Zimbabwe cop-death suspects ‘tortured’

June 3, 2011 by benim

Harare – A lawyer says 12 visibly wounded suspects accused of killing a police inspector were tortured repeatedly by police in prison. The group appeared in court on Friday with severe cuts, bruising and swollen limbs. Lawyer Charles Kwaramba told … read more »

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Cop dies in clash with Mugabe opponents

May 30, 2011 by benim

Harare – A policeman has been killed and another injured in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare after police moved in to break up a meeting held by opponents of President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party, police said on Monday. The incident, … read more »

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Mugabe torturer is given asylum in Britain… and yes it’s in case he’s tortured back in Zimbabwe

May 27, 2011 by benim

  Savage acts: Phillip Machemedze carried out acts of torture for Robert Mugabe – yet will be allowed to remain in Britain A thug who carried out horrific acts of torture for Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe has been allowed to … read more »

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Row between Zimbabwe parties stalls constitution drive

May 12, 2011 by benim

Zimbabwe’s much-delayed drive to draw up a new constitution as part of a power-sharing deal has been suspended amid a row between the two main political parties, a party spokesman said Thursday. The mammoth process of public consultations for a … read more »

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Zimbabwe PM wants to create a $100 bn economy

May 1, 2011 by benim

Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said on Sunday only his opposition Movement for Democratic Change can save the economy from “total demise” and grow it by 10 percent a year for 30 years. The “vision is to create a $100 … read more »

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MDC minister, priest released in Zimbabwe

April 20, 2011 by benim

Harare – A government minister and a Catholic priest arrested for campaigning for political openness in Zimbabwe were released on bail late on Tuesday – after five days of severe deprivation in police cells, their lawyers said. The detention of … read more »

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Mugabe says to proceed with foreign firm takeovers

April 14, 2011 by benim

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said on Thursday the government would go ahead with the takeover of foreign companies, a scheme that has rattled investors, and told Western countries to stop meddling in his country’s affairs. Mugabe’s ZANU-PF is at odds … read more »

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Zimbabwe pre-poll violence condemned at Africa summit

April 1, 2011 by benim

African leaders early Friday delivered a thinly veiled rebuke to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, after a security summit sharply demanded an end to political violence ahead of expected polls. The security “Troika” of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) … read more »

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Zimbabwe mass grave becomes political propaganda

March 31, 2011 by benim

Hundreds of skeletons found in a remote mine shaft have brought a macabre thrust to election campaigning in Zimbabwe — but the presence of some corpses still with skin, hair and body fluids has raised doubts over claims white colonial-era … read more »

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Mugabe: foreign firms must sell to blacks

March 27, 2011 by benim

Harare – Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Sunday vowed his party would not back down from its controversial drive to force foreign-owned companies to sell majority shareholdings to local blacks. Addressing supporters at the burial of a senior government official, … read more »

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Envoys appeal for calm in Zimbabwe

March 11, 2011 by benim

Harare – Western envoys on Thursday issued a unprecedented joint appeal to Zimbabwean security forces to be impartial and non- political as tensions rose sharply over the arrest of a cabinet minister loyal to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. Recent weeks … read more »

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Zimbabwe energy minister arrested

March 10, 2011 by benim

Harare – Zimbabwean police on Thursday detained Energy Minister Elton Mangoma for questioning on undisclosed charges, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said. “I have just been informed the minister of energy has been arrested,” Tsvangirai told a meeting of local business … read more »

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Zimbabwe: Mugabe Denies Plans For A Snap Election

March 10, 2011 by benim

President Robert Mugabe has told Sky News that he will not violate the country’s power-sharing deal by calling for a snap election in Zimbabwe. His comments contradict his earlier threats to push for a poll before a new constitution is … read more »

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Zambia’s Banda expects win in vote

March 8, 2011 by benim

Johannesburg – Zambia’s president Rupiah Banda expects his MMD party to score an easy victory in an election in Africa’s biggest copper producer that he says will be coming in a matter of months. Speaking on Tuesday in Johannesburg at … read more »

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