· May, 2006

Stories about Zimbabwe from May, 2006

Zimbabwe: Murambatsvina

  31 May 2006

This is Zimbabwe (Sokwanele) publishes a poem in honour of the victims of Murambatsvina last year when the Zimbabwean security forces brutally destroyed the homes of thousands of Zimbabweans poorest citizens.

South Africa: Anthology of lesbian writings

  31 May 2006

Acoustic Motorbike reviews a newly released Anthology of writings from South African lesbians entitled. “Sometimes X, Sometimes Y” which she describes as “It is a beautiful, moving anthology of personal stories of South African lesbians. There is poetry, stories, letters and autobiography. The anthology deals with issues of coming out,...

Voices from Zimbabwe and the Great Lakes

  29 May 2006

Zimbabwe: The first anniversary of Zimbabwe's notorious “cleanup” operation, Operation Murambatsvina passed recently. There was a marked reticence among Zimbabwean bloggers towards organized commerations. Accoustic Motorbike explains her reasons; Marking the “one year” anniversary of this destruction ignores the fact that Murambatsvina is on going. It’s become a verb, a...

Zimbabwe: Mutambara

  26 May 2006

Cry My Beloved Zimbabwe comments on the MDC faction led by Mutambara who he sees as a ” an over-ambitious, opportunist. When he was recently interviewed on SW Radio Africa he failed to answer where he was for the six years since MDC's formation to suddenly surface and think he...

Zimbabwe: UK Asylum seekers

  26 May 2006

The Bearded Man reports on the Zimbabwean asylum ruling in the UK...”According to Home Office figures on Tuesday, Zimbabwean asylum-seeker numbers jumped 96 percent to 755 from January to March against the previous three months.”

Senegal: Immigration as colonization

  25 May 2006

“No Sarkozy! Immigration does not come from a vacuum,” says (Fr) Semett in a post on French interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy's immigration policies. “With centuries of merciless exploitation of subsaharan countries and a continuous transfer of their riches to the North, it is logical that the disinherited masses from Africa...

Zimbabwe: Militarization of Agriculture

  25 May 2006

Enough is Enough comments on Zimbabwean government's attempts to militarize the country's agricultural sector which he says is failing. He adds that Zimbabweans live in fear but we should not mistake that for passiveness or ignorance.

Zimbabwe: Remembering Murambatsvina

  20 May 2006

Operation Drive Out Trash – One Year On – Last year on 18th May the police in Harare began the systematic destruction of what were deemed to be illegal dwellings. In addition street vendors, even those trading legally, were arrested and fined, their wares and assets confiscated. All this was...

African Diaspora: Victory for Sarkozy's Immigration Law

” [French Interior Minister] Sarkozy's immigration law [CESEDA] passed in the French National Assembly! ” says (Fr) Aimafrica . “For a country like Mali, this could be the beginning of an economic catastrophy. France … after having looted our riches and our people, wants business as usual. She no longer...

Zimbabwe: Destruction of homes

  18 May 2006

Today is the one year anniversary of the Murambatsvina in which the government of Zimbabwe destroyed the homes and livlihoods of thousands of people. This is Zimbabwe asks that we remember devastation. They have published some photos and information on various actions taking place in Zimbabwe and London to remember...

Zimbabwe: Repression continues

  18 May 2006

The Bearded man has various reports of more repression by the Zimbabwean government – the arrest of a Mugabe critic; the ban of public prayers and marches; journalists barred from visiting victims of clean up exercise.

Zimbabwe: WOZA trial

  18 May 2006

This is Zimbabwe reports on the trial of 63 members of WOZA (Women of Zimbabwe Arise) which started on Monday.….”Their crime was to protest deteriorating human rights conditions in Zimbabwe, and to publically march for food and love”

Zimbabwe: Questions on Mutambara

  18 May 2006

Enough is Enough tries to work out what exactly MDC breakaway Arthur Mutambara is standing for. He asks “So what alternative is he for the people of Zimbabwe if he espouses the principles and values from both sides of Zimbabwe’s political divide?”

Chad: What is France doing there?

  17 May 2006

Generation Consciente, Une Autre Afrique asks (Fr) “What is France doing in Chad? In Africa?” and answers: “The day before yesterday, they waved the communist threat to explain France's presence in Africa. Yesterday Anglo-American jolts justified the need to stay. Today Islamist regimes peak their heads in and explain our...

Africa: Clandestine Emigration

  17 May 2006

Seckasysteme would like to see (Fr) “a summit of West African heads of state so that clandestine emigration can be uprooted and so as to find a durable solution to the problem.” “Hundreds have died since the beginning of the year for having simply tried to escape misery,” continues the...

Zimbabwe: View from the Diaspora

Cry Beloved Zimbabwe discusses reactions to the political situation in Zimbabwe by those living in the Diaspora particuarly in the UK.Exile to many Zimbabweans became an opportunity to enrich ourselves we became more concerned about the exchange rate rather than the socio-political situation in Zimbabwe. Instead of embracing the democratic...

Voices From Zimbabwe and the Great Lakes

  15 May 2006

Zimbabwe:A whirlwind tour of Europe by Arthur Mutambara the leader of the “pro-senate” faction of Zimbabwe's oppposition the MDC was the center of the nation's largest “cyber controversies” over the last two weeks. In an attempt to reach out to Zimbabweans in the diaspora, Mutambara, the robotics scholar-cum-politician stumbled into...

Southern Africa Blogosphere

  12 May 2006

"Commentary South Africa" report on the opportunity Jacob Zuma failed to take to clear up, "once and for all, the ridiculous notion that showering can ‘purify’ someone of recently-transmitted HIV” [commentary.co.za]. The view is that Zuma is trying to revive his political clout, and must therefore appear unbending. "Commentary" links...