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HARARE – With helicopters instead of jet fighters zooming overhead, President Robert Mugabe marked Zimbabwe’s 37th independence anniversary on Tuesday with sour celebrations and defiance, saying the country must remain wary of Western-style democracy. Mugabe, 93, who has ruled the country since its independence, spoke emotionally of the legacy of British rule, charging that “as…

HARARE – The increasing uptake of bond notes and worsening cash shortages inducing premiums on products is pushing up inflation, leading think-tanks have said. This comes after consumer price index (CPI) inflation continued on its upward trajectory last month after more than two years of deflation. Zimbabwe recorded inflation of 0,21 percent year-on-year in March,…

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s opposition political parties announced an alliance last week to fight next year’s presidential and parliamentary elections against President Robert Mugabe and his long-ruling Zanu PF, in a move hailed by analysts as a “very promising development”. Mugabe, 93, is seeking an eighth and final term after controversially winning the 2013 race against…

HARARE – War veteran and former diplomat, Agrippa Mutambara, was yesterday named the new leader of the Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) — amid chaotic scenes which threatened to derail the meeting which had been called to announce the party’s new leadership. At the stormy meeting held in Harare, ZPF founding fathers, Didymus Mutasa and Rugare…

HARARE – President Robert Mugabe’s savagely-contested succession — as well as the recent concrete moves by the country’s resurgent opposition to work together ahead of the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections — is sending the jitters through the warring ruling Zanu PF. So concerned are some Zanu PF bigwigs, that they are warning of the threat…

HARARE – Most parts of Zimbabwe are set to receive rains over the weekend, the Meteorological Service Department (Met) has predicted. In yesterday’s forecast, the department’s forecaster Chenai Sithole said the rains should be expected on Sunday, while cold temperatures will persist throughout the country. The rains come after the country experienced above normal rainfall…

HARARE – Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni has bemoaned the absence of a substantive town clerk for the city following the suspension of James Mushore. He said politics was interfering with Harare City Council (HCC)’s affairs and functions. While giving a State of the City Address recently, Manyenyeni said Mushore — a former top banker —…

MUTARE – At least 265 Mozambican child refugees have missed class during the last term due to staff shortages at Tongogara Primary School (TPS), despite the United Nations offering to pay teachers’ salaries, a senior government official has said. Tongogara Refugee Camp administrator Meshack Zengeya told Social Welfare minister Prisca Mupfumira during a tour of…

HARARE – The burial of long-serving former top civil servant Charles Kuwaza in Harare yesterday was most notable for the absence of senior Zanu PF and government officials. The 63-year-old Kuwaza — who died on Independence Day under disputed circumstances — was interred at the Glen Forest Memorial Park. A surprisingly small gathering, predominantly made…

HARARE – As President Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu PF’s deadly tribal, factional and succession wars continue to escalate, valued long-standing relationships among the party’s bigwigs are coming under increasing strain. This comes as flamboyant Harare businessman Phillip Chiyangwa, pictured, has had a stunning fallout with his longtime friend and party senior, Saviour Kasukuwere — amid…