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☆ Zimbabwe just introduced a new gold-backed currency in an attempt to fight inflation and wean off the US dollar
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Last week, the country's central bank introduced a new gold-backed currency called Zimbabwe Gold, or ZiG, in an attempt to tame price gains that reached a seven-month high of 55% in March. The Zimbabwe dollar — the currency the country most recently used — has tanked 80% this year alone. AdvertisementOn Thursday, Zimbabwe's central bank governor, John Mushayavanhu, said the country has real gold and mineral assets to back up the new ZiG currency. The ZiG started trading on Monday at an exchange rate of 13.56 to the dollar set by the central bank. AdvertisementHowever, moving to the new ZiG currency could solve at least one problem, for a start: a shortage of US coins.

Persons: —, There's, John Mushayavanhu, Mushayavanhu, Hasnain Malik, Tellimer, Robert Mugabe Organizations: Service, Zimbabwe, Business, of America, BBC, New Development Bank, International Monetary Fund Locations: Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe's

☆ Zimbabwe leader and wife sanctioned by US for alleged corruption and human rights abuse
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa and first lady Auxillia have come under a slate of new US sanctions imposed that also targeted senior government officials accused of corruption and human rights abuses. Incumbent President Mnangagwa, 81, who was the speaker of the Zimbabwean parliament in 2003, was among 76 high-ranking officials hit by the US sanctions at the time. And as long as members of Corporate Zimbabwe are under sanctions, we are under sanctions,” he added. His wife, Auxillia Mnangagwa, was also sanctioned for her alleged complicity in corruption. Mnangagwa, nicknamed “The Crocodile,” succeeded authoritarian leader Mugabe in 2017 after helping to orchestrate the coup that ousted him.

Persons: CNN —, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Auxillia, Constantino Chiwenga, Oppah Muchinguri, Washington “, Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa, Wally Adeyemo, Joe Biden, Nick Mnangagwa, Mnangagwa’s, “, Farai Marapira, ” Marapira, ” Mnangagwa, “ Mnangagwa, Auxillia Mnangagwa, ”, Mugabe Organizations: CNN, Defense, Washington, Treasury, US Treasury Department, Corporate Locations: Zimbabwe, Corporate Zimbabwe

☆ Henry Olonga: Exiled for standing up to a ‘vicious dictator,’ former cricketer finds solace in singing career
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Henry Olonga was at the peak of his career as a professional cricketer when he took a stance that would ultimately force him to leave Zimbabwe. Alexander Joe/AFP via Getty ImagesThese days, Olonga is more concerned with pursuing his career as a singer. The emotions, though, are still raw: after the World Cup protest, Olonga explains how he was “vilified” as a “rebel” and “controversial figure” in Zimbabwe. Flower (left) and Olonga were both exiled from Zimbabwe following their Cricket World Cup protest. “Now, I’m creating new memories in a new sphere and a new world, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it … I’ve found peace here.”

Persons: Henry Olonga, Robert Mugabe’s, Olonga, ” Olonga, Zimbabwe’s, Andy Flower, ”, Mugabe, “, I’m, “ It’s, Alexander Joe, David Coltart –, I’d, Max Nash, –, Flower, ” Mugabe, Howard Burditt, – Olonga, didn’t, he’s, I’ve Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, Namibia, Getty, Voice Australia, India, Cricket World, Reuters, England, Zimbabwe Locations: Zimbabwe, England, Adelaide, Australia, AFP, …, Africa, Rhodesia, Pakistan, India, South Africa, London, Australian

There are signs that the country has now slipped into another era of brutal oppression, even as newly reelected President Emmerson Mnangagwa speaks publicly of “peace, love, harmony and tolerance." “It is the beginning of a new term and we are seeing people being abducted and tortured, people’s homes being burnt down, and lawyers arrested for simply doing their job,” said Doug Coltart, one of Nhende’s lawyers, who was himself arrested. The sight of an elected representative showing injuries from a beating isn't uncommon in Zimbabwe. The CCC and analysts say there is a clear post-election clampdown now that the international observers have left. “It was a sham election, a disputed election, a flawed election.

Persons: Womberaiishe, truncheons, Emmerson Mnangagwa, —, ”, Doug Coltart, Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa, Tapiwa Muchineripi, Coltart, bode, “, ” Mnangagwa's, Nhende, ” Nhende, Morgan Tsvangirai, Mugabe, Mkwananzi, Siziba, clampdown, Rashweat Mukundu, Nelson Chamisa, Chamisa Organizations: Citizens Coalition, ZANU, CCC, Coltart, Amnesty, Human Rights, PF, Police, AP Locations: HARARE, Zimbabwe, Harare, Africa, Zimbabwean, africa

☆ Zimbabwe: President Mnangagwa sworn in after disputed polls
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in for a second five-year term Monday, a week after securing an absolute majority in a disputed presidential vote. The arrests had followed the release of a report by the Zimbabwe NGO Forum that documented irregularities on polling day, according to Amnesty International. The opposition CCC party told CNN on Monday it will not challenge Mnangagwa’s victory at the courts, because it is unsure of getting justice through the country’s legal system. Mnangagwa took the reins of power for another term in a colorful ceremony attended by thousands of Zimbabweans and regional leaders. Mnangagwa, nicknamed “The Crocodile,” succeeded Mugabe after helping to orchestrate the coup that ousted him.

Persons: CNN —, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mnangagwa, Nelson Chamisa, ”, Reuters Mnangagwa's, Mkwananzi, Robert Mugabe, “, Mugabe Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Citizens Coalition, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, European, Zimbabwe NGO Forum, Amnesty International, CCC, Philimon, Reuters Locations: South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Philimon Bulawayo, Harare

[1/4] Zimbabwe's President Elect Emmerson Mnangagwa speaks to the media at State House in Harare, August 27, 2023. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo Acquire Licensing RightsHARARE, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's re-elected President Emmerson Mnangagwa suggested on Sunday that those people questioning the results of last week's election, which an opposition leader dismissed as a "gigantic fraud", take their case to court. The election commission said on Saturday that Mnangagwa, 80, had won the election with 52.6% of the vote while the opposition Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa got 44%. Chamisa, speaking on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, said of the election: "It's a blatant and gigantic fraud." It was unclear whether the opposition would use the courts to dispute the election results, as Zimbabwe's judges have historically sided with the governing party.

Persons: Elect Emmerson Mnangagwa, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Nelson Chamisa, Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe, Christopher Mutswangwa, ”, Munjodzi Mutandiri, Mkwananzi, Nyasha Chingono, Carien du Plessis, Bhargav Acharya, Nick Macfie, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: State House, REUTERS, Philimon, Rights, Citizens ' Coalition, ZANU, Southern, Liaison, Southern African Development Community, Thomson Locations: Harare, Philimon Bulawayo, Rights HARARE

☆ Incumbent Claims Victory in Zimbabwe Election Amid Fraud Accusations
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( John Eligon | More About John Eligon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“We reject any result hastily assembled without proper verification,” Promise Mkwananzi, the party spokesman, wrote on Twitter shortly after the results were announced. Mr. Mugabe was removed in a coup in 2017 by Mr. Mnangagwa and his allies. The following year, Mr. Mnangagwa eked out a victory over Mr. Chamisa in an election, winning just over 50 percent of the vote. The Zimbabwean police drew global condemnation for arresting dozens of members of one of the country’s most respected election watchdogs on election night, accusing them of plotting to sow discord by releasing projected election results. The night after the raid, ZANU-PF officials offered their own election projections at a news conference, and drew no ire from the police.

Persons: “, Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe, autocrat, Mugabe, Chamisa Organizations: Twitter, Mr, Zimbabwean, ZANU Locations: Zimbabwe, African

CNN —Zimbabwe’s incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa was declared the winner in the country’s presidential elections on Saturday after securing an absolute majority in a tense presidential contest that was marred by delays. “The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has announced the 2023 presidential election results. Nelson Chamisa, leader of Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). In that election, in 2018, Mnangagwa won 51% of the total ballots, while Chamisa took 44%. However, Mnangagwa was sworn in after Zimbabwe’s constitutional court upheld his victory.

Persons: CNN —, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Nelson Chamisa, It’s, Zimbabwe's, ”, Robert Mugabe, “, Mugabe, Chamisa, Mnangagwa, I’m, Eldred Masunungure, Chris Mutsvangwa Organizations: CNN, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Citizens Coalition, Zanu, KB, Reuters, Amnesty, Zimbabwe NGO Forum, University of Zimbabwe Locations: Zimbabwe, Britain, Chamisa, Harare, wallop

REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko Acquire Licensing RightsHARARE, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's elections commission said late on Saturday that incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa had won this week's presidential election with roughly 53% of the vote, but the opposition and analysts immediately questioned the result. ZANU-PF supporters started singing and cheering at the results centre after the elections commission said Mnangagwa had won. Mnangagwa also narrowly defeated Chamisa at the last presidential election in 2018. The opposition alleges that election was rigged but the constitutional court upheld the result. While the run-up to the election has been largely free from violence, the police routinely ban opposition rallies and arrest opposition supporters using Zimbabwe's tough public order laws.

Persons: Emmerson Mnangagwa's, Siphiwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa's, Nelson Chamisa, Chamisa, Nicole Beardsworth, ZEC, Nyasha Chingono, Nelson Banya, Carien du Plessis, Bhargav, Alexander Winning, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, ZANU, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Citizens ' Coalition, PF, University of, SADC, Thomson Locations: Shurugwi, Midlands Province of Zimbabwe, Rights HARARE, Zimbabwe, Southern, Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Police sealed off roads around the election results centre on Friday morning, and members of the public were being stopped for questioning, a Reuters reporter in the capital Harare said. However, results announced so far by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission showed ZANU-PF winning 38 parliamentary constituencies and the main opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) winning 32, out of a total of 210 single-member constituencies. The early results showed ZANU-PF retaining its rural base, while the CCC captured the urban vote, as has been the case in previous elections. In the highest-profile loss yet for the ruling party, the electoral commission said on Friday that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube had lost his parliamentary contest to a CCC challenger. Mnangagwa took over from longtime strongman Robert Mugabe after a 2017 coup and won a disputed election in 2018.

Persons: Emmerson Mnangagwa's, Nelson Chamisa, Patrick Chinamasa, Mthuli Ncube, PF's Chinamasa, Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe, Nelson Banya, Bhargav Acharya, Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning Organizations: REUTERS, Philimon, Rights, Emmerson Mnangagwa's ZANU, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Police, ZANU, National Assembly, Commission, Coalition, PF, CCC, Thomson Locations: Harare, Zimbabwe, Philimon Bulawayo, Rights HARARE

A tally by state broadcaster ZBC showed ZANU-PF winning 101 parliamentary constituencies and the main opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) winning 59, out of a total of 210. The result of the presidential vote has not been announced yet. The ERC later posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that 16 of its staff together with Zimbabwe Election Support Network members had been released on $200 bail each by a magistrate. Mnangagwa last week told state media that if he got a second term, it would be his last. As in previous elections, the parliamentary results appeared to show ZANU-PF retaining its rural base, while the CCC captured the urban vote.

Persons: Emmerson Mnangagwa's, Nelson Chamisa, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Castaldo, Nevers Mumba, Patrick Chinamasa, Mnangagwa, Eldred Masunungure, Robert Mugabe, Nelson Banya, Bhargav Acharya, Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning, Devika Syamnath, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Emmerson Mnangagwa's ZANU, ZBC, ZANU, Coalition, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, REUTERS, Philimon, Rights Police, Zimbabwe Election, Election, Centre, ERC, Zimbabwe Election Support, Southern African Development Community, National Assembly, University of Zimbabwe, PF, CCC, Thomson Locations: EU, HARARE, Harare, Zimbabwe, Philimon Bulawayo, SADC

☆ Thousands Camp All Night to Vote, Leaving a Nation on Edge
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( John Eligon | More About John Eligon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A chaotic presidential election left Zimbabweans anxiously awaiting the outcome on Thursday after thousands were forced to wait overnight to vote and the police arrested dozens of independent election observers tasked with ensuring a fair election. Voting in Zimbabwe, a nation of 16 million people in southern Africa, was supposed to run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday. But many polling stations, almost exclusively in urban areas that tend to favor opposition parties, had to stay open into Thursday because their ballots were not delivered until late the previous afternoon. For many, Mr. Mnangagwa has represented a continuation of his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, running an increasingly autocratic government that has failed to reverse a long-term economic crisis and isolating Zimbabwe from the West. Mr. Chamisa has sold himself as a fresh start and has vowed to re-engage with the world, particularly with the United States and Europe.

Persons: Emmerson Mnangagwa, Nelson Chamisa, Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe, Chamisa Organizations: ZANU, Coalition Locations: Zimbabwe, Africa, United States, Europe

But analysts warned it was unlikely the ruling ZANU-PF party would allow any loosening of its 43-year grip on power. Fewer than 10 of 210 parliamentary constituencies had results on Thursday, making it too early to identify any national trend. Results in the presidential race were not expected for another day or two but before a five-day deadline. "The equipment was being used to unlawfully tabulate election voting statistics and results from polling stations throughout the country," police spokesman Paul Nyathi said in a statement. The police named some of the organisations targeted as the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, Election Resource Centre and Team Pachedu - all well-known civil society groups that had said they were monitoring the vote in the interests of democracy.

Persons: Emmerson Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe, Nelson Chamisa, Mnangagwa's, Paul Nyathi, Eldred Masungure, Estelle Shirbon, Angus MacSwan, Miral Organizations: Police, Citizens Coalition, ZANU, PF, Bank, International Monetary Fund, Zimbabwe Election Support, Centre, Pachedu, University of Zimbabwe, Thomson Locations: Zimbabwe, HARARE, Harare

It is the second contest between the two after Mnangagwa won a closely contested poll in 2018, which the opposition allege was rigged. Some 6.6 million people are registered to vote in the nation of about 15 million. LITTLE CHANGE SINCE MUGABE ERAPolitical analysts say Zimbabwe's unending economic maelstrom could tip the contest in favour of the opposition if the election is clean. We will not accept a rigged vote," Chamisa said at his last campaign rally on Monday. If there is no outright winner, a run-off between the top two candidates will be held on Oct. 2.

Persons: Mugabe, Mnangagwa, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe, Nelson Chamisa, Chamisa, Olivia Kumwenda, Estelle Shirbon, Giles Elgood Organizations: World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Citizens Coalition, MUGABE, PF, Risk Consulting, ZANU, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Parliamentary, Thomson Locations: HARARE, Zimbabwe, Shurugwi, Harare

The hospital where Warren George worked as a nurse in Zimbabwe was so short of basic supplies, like plaster, that he could not make casts to treat people with broken bones. He soon sought to join the exodus of more than 4,000 nurses who have fled the southern African nation in the past two years. But the government has refused to give him and many others the documents they would need to work in, say, Britain or Canada. He says that he now earns only about $500 a month as a traveling nurse and has to pick up extra shifts on his days off to ensure his family has enough to eat. Zimbabweans are scheduled to go to the polls on Wednesday in only the second election since Robert Mugabe, the liberation leader turned strongman president, was ousted in a coup.

Persons: Warren George, Robert Mugabe Locations: Zimbabwe, Britain, Canada

Mugabe’s successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa, had promised sweeping political, economic and social reforms. Several opposition activists, journalists and human rights activists have been arrested over the last year, including Job Sikhala, a Parliament member and senior official with the CCC. Obey Shava, a prominent Zimbabwean human rights lawyer who has represented various opposition party supporters facing questionable charges, was violently attacked earlier this month. Human rights group Amnesty International called it a “brutal assault on civic space.”At the same time, government corruption remains a problem in Zimbabwe. Mnangagwa has blamed Western sanctions for the current economic crisis in Zimbabwe, where the annual inflation rate reached 175% in June.

Persons: Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s, Mugabe’s, Emmerson Mnangagwa, “, ”, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Nelson Chamisa, Job Sikhala, Obey, Bill –, Bill, Al Jazee, Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai, Mnangagwa, Macky Sall, Felix Tshisekedi, Stephen Chan, ” Chan, Ruben Mbofana, –, Mbofana, Leonard Koni, Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei, Emmerson Mnangagwa Jr, ” Koni Organizations: U.S . Congress, “, ZANU, Citizens Coalition, Amnesty, Movement, Democratic, Mugabe, U.S, Congress, Zimbabwe Democracy, ., U.S . Treasury, Union, Reuters, SOAS University of London Locations: MUTARE, Zimbabwe, Mutare, Rhodesia, U.S, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Senegal

☆ Zimbabwe president pledges economic revival as election campaign kicks off
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Nyasha Chingono | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The election comes amid a raging economic crisis, with high inflation and a currency that plunged more than 50% this month against the U.S. dollar. In remarks aimed mostly at his rural support base at the weekend, Mnangagwa pledged infrastructure developments. Mnangagwa toppled independent Zimbabwe's first president, Robert Mugabe, in a coup in 2017, eding his 37-year rule. The opposition CCC party enjoys considerable support in towns and cities, while ZANU-PF's supporters are mainly in rural areas. Zimbabwe has endured over two decades of economic failure following land seizures by Mugabe, plunging the southern African country into an economic crisis.

Persons: Emmerson Mnangagwa, Nelson Chamisa, Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe, eding, Mugabe, Nyasha Chingono, Carien du Plessis, Emelia Organizations: ZANU, Citizens Coalition, U.S ., CCC, Thomson Locations: Zimbabwe, Chipinge, Harare, Chamisa

☆ African Devt Bank proposes 'fast track' compensation for Zimbabwe white ex-farmers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Nyasha Chingono | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HARARE, May 15 (Reuters) - The African Development Bank (AFDB) has developed financial instruments to "fast track and front load" $3.5 billion in compensation to white farmers whose land was taken from them by Zimbabwe's government, the bank's president said on Monday. Zimbabwe agreed in 2020 to compensate local white farmers whose land was taken by the government from 2000 onwards to resettle Black families, in one of the most divisive policies of the Robert Mugabe era, while foreign white farmers were allowed to apply to get seized land back. Adesina said the new proposal to former white farmers would "help leverage the capital markets to fund the compensation without adding debt to Zimbabwe," without providing further details. Adesina said that 91% of Zimbabwe's multilateral debt and 61% of its bilateral debt is in arrears. "The government takes full ownership of the debt process and the implementation of reforms," Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube told the press conference.

[1/2] Mourners hold a poster during the state funeral of Zimbabwe's longtime ruler Robert Mugabe at a national sports stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe, September 14, 2019. Still, some farmers say they will reject the government's $3.5 billion compensation package for being inadequate financially and for paying scant regard to land restitution or restoring property rights. Farmers say the plan was agreed by the Commercial Farmers Union in July 2020 and subsequently revised without adequate consultation. "The offer of bonds represents a very significant reduction in value with a prolonged redemption period," Gilpin, 67, told Reuters. The government was continuing discussions with farmers over appropriate payment methods and time frames, Ncube said.

☆ Rămășițele fostului președinte din Zimbabwe vor fi dezgropate și înhumate; Văduva sa, amendată cu cinci vaci și o capră
▼ + stars: | 2021-05-25 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +2 min

Sursa foto: sowetanlive.co.zaRămășițele fostului președinte din Zimbabwe vor fi dezgropate și înhumate; Văduva sa, amendată cu cinci vaci și o caprăRămășițele fostului președinte din Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, vor fi dezgropate și reînhumate la monumentul eroilor naționali din Harare, capitala țării, după un ordin al unui șef tradițional de district, relatează The Guardian. Decizia a fost luată de liderul din Zvimba, regiunea în care a fost înmormântat inițial Mugabe. Acesta o acuză pe văduva fostului președinte, Grace Mugabe, că nu a respectat tradiția atunci când a luat decizia ca Robert Mugabe să fie înmormântat în curtea casei sale din regiune. În timpul unui tribunal sătesc, liderul din Zvimba a dat verdictul prin care Grace Mugabe a fost găsită vinovată de încălcarea tradiției și a amendat-o cu cinci vaci și o capră. Purtătorul de cuvânt al familie Mugabe a respins decizia și a spus că șeful Zvimba nu are drept să ia decizii pentru zona Kutama.

Persons: Robert Mugabe, Guardian, Grace Mugabe, Mugabe Locations: Zimbabwe, Harare, Zvimba

Anul trecut, titlurile a nouă persoane au fost retrase, totalul anulărilor ajungând astfel la 70, scrie Agerpres. Una dintre persoanele cărora le-a fost retras titlul acordat de regina Elisabeta a II-a a Marii Britanii a fost producătorul de film Harvey Weinstein. Dictatorii Robert Mugabe şi Nicolae Ceauşescu se numără printre persoanele cărora le-au fost retrase titlurile acordate de regina Elisabeta a II-a a Marii Britanii. Potrivit The Times, cele mai multe persoane cărora le-au fost retrase titlurile onorifice sunt în categoria celor care au primit pedepse cu închisoarea pentru infracţiuni sexuale comise asupra copiilor, reprezentând 37% dintre distincţiile anulate în ultimii 20 de ani. Titlurile sunt acordate cu scopul de a recompensa realizările personale sau serviciile aduse Marii Britanii ori teritoriilor sale de peste mări.

Persons: regina Elisabeta a II -, Harvey Weinstein, Lui Weinstein, Dictatorii Robert Mugabe, Nicolae Ceauşescu, Regina Organizations: Agerpres, britanică, Times Locations: Britanii, Hollywood, New York, Imperiului Britanic

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