Denford Magora's Latest Zimbabwe News Blog

Morgan Tsvangirai is saluted as he arrives for the memorial service of his late wife at the Methodist Church in Malbereign in Harare, yesterday. Above, Tsvangirai can be seem sitting with his children: Edwin, Gari and Vimbai Zimbabweans gathered at Glamis Stadium for Susan Tsvangirai's send-off rally cheered and clapped loudly when Edwin Tsvangirai, first born son of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, told them in his address: "I also want to thank His Excellency the President of The Republic of Zimbabwe, President Mugabe, for words that have changed my understanding of him." The gathered crowd, MDC supporters, cheered this statement although they had not been anywhere near the Methodist Church in Malbereign where Mugabe made the remarks. They, therefore, had no idea what Mugabe had said..... This shows the power of leadership in a country like Zimbabwe, where our people rarely, if ever, wish to exercise their own minds , preferring instead to believe and follow whatever t...

Robert Mugabe speaking at the memorial service for Susan Tsvangirai at church this morning. Mugabe, who said the Susan's death was "The Hand Of God", has cancelled a ministerial retreat that was due to take place tomorrow at picture-perfect Victoria Falls. He has also cancelled the traditional cabinet meeting, due to be held today. Instead, Mugabe's office announced, Cabinet will be held on Thursday, all cabinet ministers were told through the state media to be in the Cabinet Room at 9 a.m. This is Nigel Mutemagau at his release from Chikurubi Maxium Security Prison, where he was tortured in front of his mother to get her to confess to crimes of banditry and insurgency. ALL MDC activists abducted last August-September, whose whereabouts no one knew anything about until Christmas Eve, have now been released on bail. They include Jestina Mukoko, who remains in hospital. Nigel's parents, however, remain in jail because they are too poor to afford the bail conditions ...

Morgan Tsvangirai may not be back in the country for the burial of his wife in Buhera on Wednesday. Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the MDC, refused to commit himself to a time for the Prime Minister's return, only saying "the MDC president and Prime Minister of Zimbabwe willl return once medical attention and procedures have been completed." Like I said in my previous post, if Tsvangirai does not return for the funeral, it would send an alarming signal about the future of the Coalition government and I doubt that, despite Chamisa's fuzziness, the Prime Minister would really stay away for such a sad and deeply personal occassion. At the same time, Tsvangirai appears now to be succeeding in convincing western governments to back his deal and provide the aid Zimbawe needs to start working again. The Australian government announced yesterday that it was rethinking its approach to Zimbabwe and considering "supporting Tsvangirai with aid" that goes beyond the human...