NEWS FROM ZIMBABWE

Dear Friends,

We refer you to the following 5 items:

We have welcome news from Women of Zimbabwe (WOZA) that Board Member Jenni Williams and her colleague, Magadonga Mhlangu were finally released from prison on 6.11.08 after 3 weeks in custody. The News Update issued yesterday, 06.11.08, by WOZA reports that the two are in fair health despite infections bought on by lice in prison. It includes a disturbing update about the harsh conditions and extreme hunger in prison. Read the update on line at http://www.wozazimbabwe.org/

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) issued the following three items

- The Zimbabwe Communiqué issued today, 7.11.08 contains news that the Zimbabwe Newspapers group (Zimpapers) has apparently suspended the circulation of two of its publications due to the shortage of newsprint.

- A Broadcast and ICT update covering the topical issues in those sectors across the Southern African region in October 2008. Copies can be obtained on request from this office.

- A Zimbabwe Alert issued on 3.11.08 concerns the arrest of a foreign journalist for allegedly practicing journalism without accreditation. This can be read on line at http://www.misa.org/


The Media Monitoring Group of Zimbabwe (MMPZ) issued the attached Weekly Media Update 2008-35 covering the period from October 27th to November 2nd 2008 .



Other reports and statements from civil society organisations on Zimbabwe include the following items:

Today, 7.11.08 the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) released a Post –Election Update for October 2008. Covering the socio-political and economic developments in October, it concludes that the current political impasse between the three major political parties is characteristic of the political intolerance and reflects a ‘winner take all mentality’. ZESN expresses the hope that the full SADC Summit and the African Union will intervene to resolve the political impasse in the country.

The Zimbabwe National Students Union, (ZINASU) issued a statement of 3.11.08 on the fact-finding visit to Zimbabwe carried out by the African National Congress Youth League and their meeting with ZINASU leadership.

On 3.11.08 Veritas issued a Bill Watch 43/2008 with a number of updates on the situation with regard to the status of the power-sharing agreement and SADC involvement in the run up to the full SADC meeting scheduled to take place this Sunday 9.10.08 in South Africa .



The Word Food Programme released a Hunger Global Hotspot update on 4.11.08 including reference to the situation in Zimbabwe . This can be found on line via the following web link

http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2982



In the run-up to the 44th Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) scheduled to take place in Abuja, Nigeria between 10-24.11.08, a call has been issued by IDP Action for the adoption of a robust African Union Convention to protect internally displaced persons and protect future crises. Referring to Zimbabwe, the attached press release, issued on 4.11.08 observes that ‘the Mugabe regime has repeatedly utilized forced displacement as a political tool and a means of controlling the population’ and goes on to state that the tragedy of the displacement situation in Zimbabwe is that it is not caused by war or natural catastrophe but rather by poor governance and the refusal by government to accept assistance for those most in need. Further information can also be found at

http://www.idpaction.org/convention.php



Delegates from the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum and several member organisations will be in attendance in Abuja at the NGO Forum on Participation in the ACHPR which takes place from 7-11.11.08. We will bring you updates as they occur over the coming weeks.



The Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria issued a Press Release today, 7.11.08 welcoming the eventual release to it by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe of US$7.3 million as requested in September. Further information can be read at the following web link http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/media_center/press/pr_081107.asp

In response to this, the Anti Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT – Southern Africa ) issued the attached Press Release today, 7.11.08 expressing shock at the misuse by the Government of Zimbabwe of money from the Global Fund and calling for the return of the money, a national apology and investigation and prosecution of those responsible.