The Insider, the most reliable source of analytical news about Zimbabwe

Nearly 200 000 join the ranks of bad debtors

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:19:31 GMT

The credit crunch is taking its toll on South African consumers with 189 000 joining the ranks of bad debtors in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest report from the National Credit Regulator.

SADC makes court final decider on election date again

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:33:56 GMT

It is not time to celebrate yet. Three days after the Southern African Development Community special summit on Zimbabwe, there is still no clear cut date on when Harare is expected to hold its elections.

The IMF is no Father Christmas

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:35:57 GMT

News that the International Monetary Fund had approved a Staff Monitored Programme for Zimbabwe was greeted with glee last week yet studies have shown that wherever the IMF goes, its cure is worse than the disease it was trying to cure.

SADC orders parliament to meet tomorrow to debate electoral laws

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:48:14 GMT

The Southern African Development Community has ordered Zimbabwe’s Parliament to meet tomorrow to debate the amendments to the Electoral Act that were made into law by decree by President Robert Mugabe last Thursday.

Zimbabwe forced to sell its diamonds at a discount because of sanctions

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 09:09:41 GMT

Zimbabwe is selling its diamonds through unconventional means at 25 percent below the normal price because of international sanctions against the country, a report in the Times of India said.

SADC urges Mugabe to postpone elections

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:52:46 GMT

The special summit of the Southern African Development Community today urged President Robert Mugabe to postpone elections which he slotted for 31 July because they feared that hurrying the elections would increase the chances of a disputed result and violence.

Saying of the week

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:59:17 GMT

When Mugabe says Mandela has been soft on whites at the expense of blacks he speaks a simple truth. He knows that the cost of liberation is condemnation. To be considered a saint in Western eyes is a curse black leaders should avoid like the plague.- Andile Mngxitama in his column that got the IOL website hacked.

Biti has money for ex-Rhodesian pensioners but not for elections

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 08:14:36 GMT

Finance Minister Tendai Biti has money to pay former Rhodesian pensioners but has none for national elections which should be held at the end of next month.

Do or die for Zimbabwe today

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 08:13:27 GMT

The Southern African Development Community is to decide today whether Zimbabwe can hold its elections on 31 July as declared by President Mugabe or it goes back to the drawing board.

Wharton and Zimbabwe’s media?

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:43:54 GMT

Ten years ago, United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Bruce Wharton, was the United States public affairs officer in Harare. He was reported to be a close ally, if not financier, of the independent media. But it appears, like his boss Joseph Sullivan, they had little respect for Zimbabwe’s media, both state-owned and privately owned.