11 August 2009 Zim News Flash
Written on August 11, 2009 by Emily
Zimbabwe can go it alone, Mugabe tells the West
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for the first time attended the Heroes Day ceremony in the country’s capital yesterday. The ceremony coincided with the funeral of Vice-President Joseph Msika, who died last week. Tsvangirai played no public role in the previous annual Heroes Day ceremonies to honour those who fought in the liberation struggle to end minority white rule. But he and several of his MDC colleagues attended. President Robert Mugabe used the occasion to rail against the West, as usual.
Overhaul Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commission – MDC
The MDC has called for the depoliticisation of the defence forces ahead of Defence Forces Day on Tuesday. On Tuesday 11 August 2009, Zimbabwe will be commemorating Defence Forces Day and festivities have been slotted for the National Sports Stadium in Harare. “The MDC joins the rest of the nation in celebrating and saluting the defence forces’ efforts in defending our country,” MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said. “As we commemorate this occasion we should remember the courage and fortitude that the defence forces have exhibited on duty in Zimbabwe, SADC countries and other United Nations member states.
Zimbabwe Still Facing Significant Food Deficits for 2009-2010 Crop Year
The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance says Zimbabwe’s food security outlook remains doubtful with just 45% of humanitarian funding requirements met or some US$315 million of the US$718 million sought in a U.N. coordinated appeal.
OCHA said a recent food assessment by Harare and the World Food Organization pointed to a 2009-2010 shortfall of some 900,000 tonnes of cereals, in part because the winter wheat harvest is shaping up to be a poor one. ENDS
Zimbabwe’s Former Opposition MDC Says 500 Died In 2008 Political Violence
The formation of Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says a new compilation of victims of 2008 post-election violence shows as many as 500 of its members lost their lives during that turbulent period. The Tsvangirai MDC has established a follow-up team to document all victims unreported at the time, said its welfare coordinator, Brighton Matimba. Previous estimates from the MDC as to how many fatalities were caused by post-election violence put the number around 200. Most independent accounts of the violence say the vast majority of victims were members or officials of the Tsvangirai MDC formation, and that the violence was mainly carried out by youth militia or war veterans linked to the former ruling ZANU-PF party. But there were indications the military and security forces took part in or supported the violence.
If you enjoyed this post Subscribe to our feed
