The Insider, the most reliable source of analytical news about Zimbabwe

Mugabe wanted to retire before 2009

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:01:00 GMT

President Robert Mugabe wanted to retire as head of state before 2009 but he said he would remain in politics.

The Lovemore Madhuku Wikileaks cables

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:06:47 GMT

Law professor Lovemore Madhuku has been at the helm of the National Constitutional Assembly since 2001. He had been vice-president from 1997. Madhuku had to get the constitution of the organisation amended in 2006 to allow him to contest as leader and now he is thinking of turning the organisation into a political party and will probably lead it. There are more than 50 Wikileaks cables that mention his name. Here is the first batch.

Where did the money go?

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:01:36 GMT

Movement for Democratic Change candidate for the Kadoma Central by-election in 2003, Charles Mupandawana, complained that he had lost because he had not received adequate support from his party.

Funeral of MDC activist postponed because leaders were in hospital

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:03:07 GMT

The funeral of a Movement for Democratic Change activist, Gift Tandare, who was killed by the police, had to be postponed because most of the leaders of the party including leader Morgan Tsvangirai were in hospital after being beaten by police.

ZANU-PF strategy is to keep MDC on the defensive

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:52 GMT

The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front which was increasingly losing support to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change had adopted a strategy of keeping the MDC on the defensive thus forcing it to devote its time and resources to litigation instead of a more proactive agenda.

Elections and the political reforms that never were

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:01:34 GMT

With the new constitution having been overwhelmingly approved, Zimbabwe can start to prepare for fresh elections – the first since the fateful polls in 2008.

More South Africans receiving social grants than those working

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:13:33 GMT

Figures don’t lie! Or do they? South Africa’s latest labour survey shows that 44 000 jobs were created in the first quarter of this year increasing the number of people in formal employment to 13.6 million.

US not allowed to help MDC set up office in Washington

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:01:36 GMT

United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Joseph Sullivan told Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai that the United States government could not help the party to set up an office in Washington because it was prohibited from supporting lobbying operations in the capital.

Police brutally disrupted prayer meeting

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:02:12 GMT

Police on 11 March 2007 brutally suppressed a prayer rally organised by the Save Zimbabwe Campaign and arrested more than 100, including Movement for Democratic Change president Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mugabe’s potential successor according to Tsvangirai

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:00:10 GMT

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai said talks between his party and the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front were being hampered by the succession battle within ZANU-PF because each aspiring successor wanted to be seen as the one able to deliver President Robert Mugabe the longest stay in power.