Category: Zimbabwe

.com | EXCLUSIVE: White farmer battles Mugabe’s top aide in ‘last minute’ scramble for land

Hollywood star Will Smith has just been to Victoria Falls – but did he stay on the Zimbabwe side or the Zambian side of the natural wonder? Harare – A white commercial farmer in Matabeleland South in southern Zimbabwe is battling to have President Robert Mugabe’s top aide leave a prime property, in what critics view as a “last minute” scramble for land akin to the biblical “last supper”. Ray Ndlukula, the deputy secretary for cabinet and president’s office, has laid siege on the farm located in Figtree amid revelations in court documents that are in News24’s possession that he has other properties in the province.

Deadly floods hit southern Zimbabwe, destroying many homes

From kitchen items to livestock and even her house, Assa Mkwananzi says she has “lost it all” to floods that have hit southern Zimbabwe. “We lost all our blankets, pots and cooking utensils, our goats and chickens as well because of the heavy rains,” Mkwananzi told The Associated Press in the southern district of Tsholotsho, about 200 kilometers north of Bulawayo.

After bombs, Pakistan tightens security for rare major cricket match

Pakistan tightened security in the city of Lahore ahead of a hugely anticipated final of its domestic cricket league on Sunday, pushing ahead with a rare high-profile match despite a recent spike in Islamist violence. The government had wavered momentarily on whether to host the Pakistan Super League final after a series of militant attacks killed more than 130 people last month, including a suicide bombing in Lahore in which at least 13 people died.

PSL 2017 Final, Zalmi vs Gladiators: Likely XIs for both teams

The PSL 2017 final between Darren Sammy’s Quetta Gladiators and Sarfraz Ahmed’s Peshawar Zalmi is to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Getty Images It is the final showdown as Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators battle it out for the gorgeous Pakistan Super League 2017 trophy on Sunday. The match, to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, has already created a lot of buzz for bringing international cricket back to Pakistan.

Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 7 wickets to level series 2-2

A collective bowling effort from Zimbabwe bowled out Afghanistan for 111 following which Zimbabwe chased down the revised target of 105 with seven wickets in hand in a rain affected fourth One-Day International in Harare. As a result of their win, Zimbabwe brought themselves level at 2-2 in the series and now have a chance to complete an incredible come-from-behind series victory in the fifth and final ODI on Sunday.

Zimbabwe’s Mugabe marks 93rd birthday in opposition area

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is celebrating his 93rd birthday amid granite hills where ancient spirits are said to dwell, defying calls to resign after nearly four decades in power in a region known for opposing the man who says he’ll run again in 2018 elections. Thousands of government supporters, some wearing clothing adorned with Mugabe’s image, converged in Matabeleland on Saturday for a birthday bash and show of strength for the ruling ZANU-PF party, beset by squabbling in the past year as the elderly president weakened and factions, one including his wife Grace, sparred ahead of an expected power vacuum.

FEATURE-Illegal settlers threaten Zimbabwe’s timber industry

F rom the mountaintop at Skyline in the Chimanimani district of eastern Zimbabwe, a mosaic of scorched trees and timber can be seen stretching for miles on end. Lit by a wave of illegal settlers, the fires regularly rage through the pine and eucalyptus plantations of Manicaland province, destroying vast swathes of timber at enormous cost.

$2.33 million deal: Bolters making IPL fortunes

Approximately $A17.722 million was spent at Monday’s auction in Bengaluru, and although Ben Stokes’ $2.82 million contract was the biggest of the day it arguably was not the most eye-catching deal. In 2015, Tymal Mills was not sure he would ever play cricket again.

.com | Cyclone Dineo is still dangerous

The Mozambican government deployed a team to assess the damage in the aftermath of tropical cyclone Dineo this week as mop-up operations began in earnest. At least 116 government buildings, including hospitals, had their roofs blown off and more than 170 000 people were affected when strong winds and downpours swept through the cities of Inhambane and Maxixe, as well the districts of Morrumbene, Massinga, Jangano, Inharrime, Panda, Vilankulo, Funhalonso, Mabote and Homoine.

.com | Five things you didn’t know about FREED pastor Evan Mawarire

That picture of Zimbabwe protest pastor Evan Mawarire reading his Bible as he was driven off in a police truck last week? Fellow activist Patson Dzamara said it left him “heartbroken” – and it will have touched a chord in more than a few Zimbabweans’ hearts. #ThisFlag founder Mawarire was granted bail on Wednesday afternoon by the Harare High Court .

Rare frog, not seen since 1962, discovered in Zimbabwe

The Artholeptis troglodytes, also known as the “cave squeaker” because of its preferred habitat, was discovered in 1962 but there were no reported sightings of the elusive amphibian after that. An international “red list” of threatened species tagged them as critically endangered and possibly extinct.

Zimbabwe introduces new bond notes as cash crunch persists

Zimbabwe’s central bank has introduced a 5-dollar bond note into circulation in a move to ease the persisting cash challenges, according to a statement on the central bank’s website. The new purple notes amounting to 15 million started circulating Thursday to bring the total amount of bond notes in circulation to 88 million dollars.

Zimbabwe pastor behind protests faces 20 years in prison

In this Tuesday May. 3, 2016 file photo, Evans Mawarire a young pastor in the Harare poses for a photo with the Zimbabwean flag wrapped around his body. A lawyer says a Zimbabwe pastor who fled to the United States after launching a popular protest movement has been arrested on his return home.

2017 poses challenges for Zim scribes

As with any other campaign year, 2017 will be a difficult year for Zimbabwean journalists who will face the prospects of being victimised by political activists and security agencies, national director of MISA-Zimbabwe Nhlanhla Ngwenya told the Daily News recently. Ngwenya said last year’s protests saw 31 journalists being victimised mostly by state security agencies and with the 2018 elections looming in which Zanu PF wants to retain power at all costs while the opposition wants to gain power, the political campaigns will be tension filled and the journalists covering the events will be victims.

.com | Mugabe blows $36m on foreign, domestic trips – report

Zimbabwean First Lady Grace Mugabe has allegedly grabbed two more properties from a Lebanese businessman, despite the court ordering her to vacate the three houses that she initially seized in a botched $1.3 million diamond ring deal. Cape Town Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, 92, reportedly spent at least $36m on foreign and domestic trips in the first 10 months of 2016.

.com | Grace Mugabe ‘grabs more houses’ in $1.3m diamond ring dispute

Zimbabwean First Lady Grace Mugabe has allegedly grabbed two more properties from a Lebanese businessman, despite the court ordering her to vacate the three houses that she initially seized in a botched $1.3m diamond ring deal. Harare High Court judge Clement Phiri on December 21 ruled against President Robert Mugabe’s controversial wife after she forcefully took ownership of three properties belonging Lebanese tycoon Jamal Ahmed, and gave her 24 hours to pack her bags and allow Ahmed’s employees to return to the seized houses.

How Manx money is helping Zimbabwe

Congratulations, you’re now registered! Let us know what news and updates you want to hear about and we’ll send them straight to your inbox. Christian Aid regional co-ordinator Louise Whitelegg travelled across Zimbabwe in December on a self-funded trip to see for herself a number of the projects funded by the charity and the Manx government’s International Development Committee.