Mystery deepens around General Mujuru's death

Zimbabwe journalists back blood donation campaign

Journalists unions are teaming up with National Blood Services in a campaign to encourage Zimbabweans to donate blood to bolster reserves.

The move by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists and the Media Institute of Southern Africa follows the death of journalist Freedom Moyo last week after a car accident in which he sustained grave injuries and lost much blood. Medical personnel attending to him had difficulty finding enough blood for the transfusions he needed.

Amnesty calls on Zimbabwe to halt abuses

HARARE — Amnesty International on Friday called on Zimbabwean authorities to refrain from manipulating the country's laws to harass human rights activists and opponents of veteran President Robert Mugabe.

"The continuation of human rights violations against critics of President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party cast doubt on whether the country will be able to hold an election free from violence and human rights abuses similar to the 2008 second round of the presidential election," the group said in a statement.

Civil servants deserve respect

THE MDC is aware and sympathetic to the plight of civil servants. It remains a concern that Zanu PF continues to hold back on those national resources that should benefit the generality of Zimbabweans.

The MDC knows that if certain actions are taken, funds will be available to give civil servants a living wage. Our philosophy for a living wage is anchored on our background with its strong bias towards the poor.

Our party was formed on two pillars: the trade union movement and the constitutional movement. more

Not everyone can be THAT stupid

THERE was much debate on the necessity - or indeed the meaning - of Unity Day, which is celebrated in December. It supposedly commemorates the day in 1987 when Zanu PF and PF-Zapu signed the Unity Accord, which merged them into one political party.

The official re-telling of the occasion ignores, with a palpable show of false bravado, the events which preceded this admittedly memorable day in 1987: 20 000 lives lost during Gukurahundi.

People who were close to Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo at the time have confided that he feared turning into “another Jonas Savimbi” if he didn’t capitulate and sign the accord.