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A South African spy captured by Zimbabwean counter intelligence is alleged to have been severely tortured before agreeing to co-operate with local officials, the Institute for Security Studies said in Pretoria today. The spy recently was nabbed by Zimbabwean Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives at Victoria Falls and under questioning, revealed the names of his collaborators within the governing Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu(PF)). Chris Maroleng, an analyst, said the spy would not have naturally agreed to work with the Zimbabweans as they had alleged and therefore must have reached his "pain threshold". "The Zimbabwean CIO are renowned...

In 2000, Timon Shava was a hero of Zimbabwe’s land reform program when he joined hundreds of other landless peasants in a wave of land seizures and evictions of white farmers. Today, he is homeless after police, acting on behalf of President Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace, destroyed dozens of thatch dwellings on a farm that she wants to control. The First Lady, who has another farm in the area, said last year that she wanted to turn this farm into a wildlife conservancy that could raise money for an orphanage. A new twist on the long struggle over land in...

As most of you have read or seen by now, a journalist and NBC/MSNBC media consultant named William “Bill” Arkin has created quite a stir by viciously insulting American soldiers in Iraq. He wrote at his Washington Post blog, “Early Warning: William M. Arkin on National and Homeland Security” column (1/30/07), that “… this NBC (Nightly News) report is just an ugly reminder of the price we pay for a mercenary - oops sorry, volunteer force that thinks it is doing the dirty work” re Iraq. The “report,” according to Arkin, featured “a number of soldiers (who) expressed frustration with...

Ben Freeth did not expect to be alive today.

March 27, 2007 Mugabe gives police licence to kill Police officers throughout Zimbabwe have now been authorised to use firearms against civilians whenever violence erupts on the streets. They have been told that if they shoot a civilian dead they will not face a murder charge. A source at Harare central police headquarters confirmed today that this decision was taken on Monday morning at a regular briefing meeting. On Monday afternoon the instruction was radioed to police stations throughout the country. Each police officer is to have a daily allocation of five rounds of ammunition, and stocks are sufficient for...

HARARE - The ruling Zanu PF is currently reeling from a severe financial emergency, Zimdaily heard this week.Whilst the party generally commands huge state and non-state resources, it currently is reeling from a severe financial crisis. Documents obtained by Zimdaily reveal that the ruling party is in dire straits because its companies, which used to be a major source of income, are performing badly due to a combination of gross mismanagement, corruption and incompetence. The ruling party recently made a whopping $15.5 billion loss, underlining the poor performance of its vast business empire. Its accumulated deficit since 2000 is about...

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - Supporters of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe used axes, clubs and stones to attack a meeting of opposition politicians Thursday, injuring several people, opposition party officials said. Morgan Tsvangirai, head of the Movement for Democratic Change, took shelter in his armor-protected car and was not injured, they said. The violence erupted in Mvurwi, about 60 miles north of Harare, the capital, as about 400 opposition leaders and supporters discussed preparations for parliamentary elections next March. Witnesses said about 200 ruling party ZANU-PF militants attacked the meeting. "It is an exaggeration to say it was an assassination attempt...

NATIONAL NEWS Tuesday 11 , March Villagers flee Zanu PF terror ABOUT 10 villagers from Buhera South fled their homes following Zanu PF incited violence. They have since sought refuge at the ZimRights offices in Harare where they are seeking legal assistance. Zanu PF youths allegedly mounted attacks on the villagers from their bases. Arnold Tsunga, the ZimRights chairman, confirmed yesterday they had received victims of political violence from Buhera and Cashel Valley in Chimanimani. He said the victims had sought refuge in Harare. Tsunga said in Cashel Valley, about 53 people, 21 of them school children were displaced by...