Zimbabwe

By Jonah Hull in Africa on March 1st, 2011
Photo by Reuters

At the time of writing it appears as though calls to join a Million Citizen March in Harare on Tuesday have gone unheeded - for now.

People I’ve spoken to in the Zimbabwean capital describe calm and relative normality.

By Jonah Hull in Africa on February 20th, 2011
Photo by Reuters
On Monday, Zimbabwe's president Robert Gabriel Mugabe turns 87.
 
It will be a birthday marked by rumours about his failing health. Any appearance the apparently ailing Mugabe makes will be closely watched for signs of sickness that give the lie to his spokesman's claim that Mugabe's only problem is a gammy eye.
 
Mugabe has just returned from Singapore, a trip officially acknowledged as his annual holiday, slightly extended to accommodate post-operative treatment following eye surgery.
 
Zimbabwe's non-government media isn't buying it. One newspaper contains reports that he in fact received cancer treatment, arriving back in the country looking frail, allegedly in a wheelchair.
By Al Jazeera Staff in Middle East on February 17th, 2011
Saif Gaddafi, the son of Libya's leader, warned of 'civil war' in a speech on Sunday night.

As protests in Libya enter their eighth day, following a "day of rage" on Thursday, we keep you updated on the developing situation from our headquarters in Doha, Qatar.

(All times are local in Libya GMT+2)

Blog: Feb17 - Feb18 - Feb19 - Feb20

By Haru Mutasa in Africa on February 28th, 2010
Photo from AFP

I attended President Robert Mugabe's birthday celebrations over the weekend – and heard him speak passionately about transferring majority share ownership into the hands of black Zimbabweans, part of the indigenisation law which takes effect on Monday March 1.

Companies will be legally obliged to transfer a majority of their shares into the hands of black Zimbabweans. Companies worth more than half a million US dollars have until mid-April to show how they are going to comply with the share-transfer scheme.

Those who don't comply could face up to five years in jail.

He got a raucous applause from those who support his idea – and Monday March 1 is the day companies have to show how they plan to achieve this. By mid April they must have outlined the roadmap to empowerment in their respective companies.

Any reports of this law being squashed are clearly wrong. From what I saw the plan to takeover white-owned companies is in motion.

By Haru Mutasa in Africa on February 20th, 2010
Picture from AFP

Here's a conversation that occurred Saturday morning at a coffee shop in Johannesburg South Africa.

Person A: "What is it about West Africa and coups?"

 

Person B: "Yeah, Niger is the latest I read. Another African leader bites the dust."

 

Person A: "I don't know much about that part of the continent but isn’t he meant to be some kind of dictator – who only wanted to hang onto power and didn’t believe in democracy and freedom of speech?"

 

Person B: "Well the guys who've taken over say they are going to restore democratic processes. Last I read ordinary citizens were celebrating, glad the coup happened."

 

Person A: "Interesting. So – why aren't our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe like that? They complain about Robert Mugabe and yet they seem to put up with the old man."

 

By Haru Mutasa in Africa on February 16th, 2010
Photo from EPA

It depends on which side of the fence one is standing on – and it’s a topic that’s become very pertinent in Zimbabwe.

President Robert Mugabe wants all businesses operating in the country to be 51 per cent owned by black Zimbabweans, not white. It seems being white and African is a foreign concept.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai, from the opposition party the Movement for Democratic Change, is trying to fight the bill saying it’s unlawful and will scare away foreign investors. The matter has also not been approved by cabinet.

So while Zimbabwean politicians bicker again, white Zimbabweans are left wondering HOW they will be affected. They are not dark enough to be seen as Africans by some on the continent.

By Haru Mutasa in Africa on January 28th, 2010
Photo by Getty Images

Tendai Mtawarira is the BEAST.

His unfortunate nickname is because of the aggressive way he plays rugby – not his looks.

He’s 24 years old, Zimbabwean and a fantastic rugby player (in my opinion).

His crime seems to be playing for the South African Springboks. Some politicians have serious problems with that.

In fact they want him dropped from the Springboks because he is a “kwerekwere” – a foreigner.

Some like Butana Komphela, chairman of the South African national assembly sports committee, want him thrown out of South Africa and deported to Zimbabwe.

Is this fair?

Emmanuel Adebayor is from Togo, plays for Manchester City in the United Kingdom BUT he does not play for England national team.

Michael Essien is Ghanaian, plays for Chelsea in the United Kingdom and he does not play for the English national side.

So why should Beast be treated differently?

By Haru Mutasa in Africa on January 23rd, 2010
Prime Minster Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in on 11 February 2009. And he’s been sharing power with his rival President Robert Mugabe. It’s been a rocky marriage and it’s clear both sides don’t trust each other.
 
But they have to make their unity government.
 
Cracks are already appearing on the ground. Civil servants have threatened to down tools in two weeks if their salaries aren’t increased, government paid teachers aren’t going to classes because of low wages, drafting of a new and very necessary constitution is stalled because political parties can’t put aside their differences.
 
Here’s my take on what’s next on what Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s party the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC - T) needs to focus on in 2010
 
REALITY CHECK
 

Al Jazeera Live

What's Hot


Recent Comments

This work is licensed under Creative Commons. Please read our attribution policy.