For the first time since an inclusive government was sworn into power a year ago, steps have been taken to amend security legislation that enabled the previous government to detain thousands of people.  Since the government of national unity came to power, the Cabinet made up of ministers from ZANU-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change has not repealed any repressive legislation.  Nor has it been able to agree on a program to change the security and media laws that have long been criticized by pro-democracy groups. But proposed legislation will soon be put to parliament to amend secu

Zimbabwe's rickety government of national unity commemorates its first anniversary Thursday. On February 11 last year, Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as prime minister of Zimbabwe after disputed elections and months of negotiations. He took the junior post to President Robert Mugabe despite the fact that his Movement for Democratic Change had won a parliamentary majority at the polls. Mr. Tsvangirai also won the first round of the presidential vote in March 2008 although he did not receive the more than 50 percent majority needed for an outright victory. Mr.

Zimbabwe's unity government is plunged into another crisis as new regulations designed by President Robert Mugabe's loyalists demand that 51 percent of all companies be given to blacks.

Zimbabwe has had to start importing grain before the end of the agricultural season because a prolonged drought has reduced estimated food harvests. Agriculture Minister Joseph Made says Zimbabwe must import 500,000 tons of corn (maize) to ensure food stability.  This is in response to the protracted dry spell that has seen crops dying in most of the country. But Commercial Farmer's Union President Deon Theron told VOA his organization had advised the government that crops needed to be planted early because of a forecast el-Nino effect that would create an abnormal season. "If you loo

Farmers in Zimbabwe say they face another difficult agricultural season, as the dry spell that has hit the country continues. Weeks into the agricultural season, the rains are nowhere near normal and the crops are showing it.  Zimbabwe Farmers Union Director Paul Zakariya tells VOA even crops that normally thrive under dry conditions are feeling the heat. "We are looking at maize [corn], we are looking at cotton and, in some instances, it's also the tobacco and the other small grains which naturally will be resisting or would be tolerant but they are already succumbing," he said. The

Southern African leaders have rejected plans by the leader of Madagascar to unilaterally organize national elections in March.

A South African civil rights group is taking legal action to try to enforce a court ruling that labeled Zimbabwe’s land distribution program illegal and racist.     Under the policy, farms owned or operated by white farmers were seized and turned over to blacks, who had been denied land under white rule.     The ruling condemning that policy was handed down by a South African Development Community (SADC) Tribunal in 2008.  But the group Afriforum says it has not been enforced and the practice continues.     “Afriforum had been approached by Zimbabwean farmers about six months ago.  At th

The United Nations has launched its 2010 Consolidated Appeal Process for humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe. Speaking at the launch, U.N. Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Catherine Bragg, said the money asked for is much less than the $719 million requested for this year. "The CAP 2010 already outlines lesser needs than any other CAP launched in Zimbabwe," said Catherine Bragg. "At a total of $378 million, almost 50 percent less than the year before." Brag, who is also the U.N.

Talks to resolve issues that threaten the unity of Zimbabwe's shaky inclusive government got under way on Monday. The talks started after the deadline set by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for the parties that make up the unity government to fully implement the so-called Global Political Agreement, or GPA, the deal that brought about the national unity government. On November 5 a SADC summit in Maputo gave the feuding parties 15 days to implement the outstanding issues. If this did not happen, SADC would send South Africa's President Jacob Zuma to break the logjam.