The trial of John Norman Eastwood the first white farmer to be charged with defying a government eviction order was today postponed to December 17 because prosecutors had not been handed vital paperwork. Eastwood's lawyer David Drury wants the state to justify why his client's Harmony Farm in Chegutu was targeted for expropriation. He also demanded the identity of government officials on the committee which earmarked the farm for seizure, the list of criteria used to select the farm, and the minutes of the meeting where the decision to take over the property was made. -31 October 2007

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission today said it was ready for the harmonised elections scheduled for March next year but observers expressed concern at the timetable saying there were a lot of unresolved issues surrounding the elections. - 30 October 2007

A top Zimbabwean banking executive, James Mushore, today appeared in court facing charges of breaching exchange controls and immigration laws. Mushore, a former deputy managing director for NMB Bank, is being charged with six counts of flouting exchange control regulations, allegedly after instructing bank staff to siphon more than US$2.4-million, £285 000, R3-million, €30 000 and 800 000 Botswana pula to a bank in London. He is also reported to have left the country illegal through Zambia. -29 October 2007

A prominent Mugabe watcher, Stephen Chan insists Robert Mugabe isn't mad. The professor of international relations and dean of law and social sciences at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies argues that Mugabe is clearly extreme, but not mad. He points to the president's masterly diplomatic tactics that have out-manoeuvred the likes of Tony Blair and other Western leaders who have wanted him removed. But Chan added that "despite all his tactical brilliance (Mugabe) is running out of options" and his end is near. - 28 October 2007

President Robert Mugabe has accused opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai of trying to frustrate South African-brokered talks aimed at ending political tensions in the country, reports said today. Mugabe accused Tsvangirai of making unsubstantiated claims that violence was being perpetrated against the opposition. “'It is, therefore, unacceptable that in light of the positive strides we have made, others like Morgan Tsvangirai, who is always the joker, find it necessary to frustrate this fledgling process,” Mugabe said. -27 October 2007

Thousands of war veterans gathered in Harare today for the proposed million-man-match. Though this was reported to be one of the largest crowds, observers said it was nowhere near one million. War veterans are whipping up support for President Robert Mugabe to stand for a fourth term. - 26 October 2007

The Movement for Democratic Change today said party leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s personal aide, Nhamo Musekiwa, had died from injuries sustained in March during a crackdown by the government. He is reported to have at Tembisa Hospital in Johannesburg. - 25 October 2007

Central bank governor Gideon Gono today promised that empty shop shelves would soon be replenished but at a price. "Of what use are cheap goods when they are not available?" asked Gono. -24 October 2007

South African companies are cashing in on Zimbabwe's economic turmoil, boosting investments and expanding their operations despite deepening hardships, a human rights group said today. The Solidarity Peace Trust said that South African companies are riding out the economic crisis in the hope of making big profits if stability returns to Zimbabwe. "Clearly South African companies have in a sense cashed in on the crisis ... and therefore one would need to ask what South African companies have been doing in terms of trying to resolve the crisis," Brian Raftopolous, SPT director of research and advocacy said. - 23 Octor 2007

Trouble continues for Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Reports today said expelled women’s leader Lucia Matibenga had gone to court to stop the party’s proposed extraordinary congress this Sunday. - 22 October 2007

Civic groups in Bulawayo were today reported to be planning an alliance ahead of next year’s elections. The alliance will be called the Federal Democratic Union and will take in organisations like ZAPU- Federal Party and PUMA, the Patriotic Union of Matabeleland. -21 October 2007

Vice-President Joseph Msika one of the top former ZAPU leaders under threat from a rejuvenated Jabulani Sibanda today met war veterans opposed to Sibanda’s pro-Mugabe campaign that has seen war veterans organising marches throughout the country in support of President Robert Mugabe’s re-election. - 20 October 2007

A weekly newspaper today reported that Mugabe had named his potential successors, four of them. These were Simba Makoni, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Sydney Sekeramayi and John Nkomo. The paper, in what most people thought was a campaign for Mujuru, said Mugabe had left out Joyce Mujuru from the list. - 19 October 2007

The Zimbabwe dollar plummeted to $1 million to the greenback on the black amid speculation that the central bank had entered the market to source funds for its agricultural equipment scheme. The official rate is only $30 000 to the greenback. - 18 October 2007

Zimbabwe’s year on year inflation soared to 7 892 percent in September the Central Statistics Office said today. Inflation had slowed a little after the government crackdown on prices but the move seems to have backfired and prices are skyrocketing. - 17 October 2007

The Movement for Democratic Change today said the government was escalating a violent crackdown against its members, but it would not walk away from talks with the ruling party. The party says it has recorded more than 4 000 cases of violence since January. Spokesman Nelson Chamisa said the fresh attacks were worrying. "This is particularly worrying if you consider the process going on in South Africa. There's no use to be in talks in Pretoria and at war here at home." But he added: "We know Zanu-PF is trying to jeopardise the process, but we want the process to benefit the nation." -16 October 2007

The state is not yet ready to prosecute six alleged coup plotters who were arrested in June for allegedly trying to topple President Robert Mugabe and install Rural Housing Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa. Their case was today postponed to October 29 but their lawyer Charles Warara said he would apply for refusal of further remand because it appears the state has no case. - 15 October 2007

There was still no bread on the shelves despite the massive hike in price from $30 000 to $100 000 a loaf. A loaf, where available, sells for anything up to $300 000 while a bun is selling for $50 000 at some bakeries. -14 October 2007

President Robert Mugabe is likely to face a serious challenge at this year special congress, reports said today. But sources say his war veterans machine has already assured him of victory both at the congress and at the polls. - 13 October 2007

President Robert Mugabe was today reported to have warned central bank governor Gideon Gono to toe the government line or resign. The report follows differences between government and the central bank governor over issues like black empowerment which he said should not be rushed. -12 October 2007

A magistrate today postponed to the end f this month the trial of at least 11 farmers who are refusing to move from their land. He said the cases will be heard individually between October 31 and December 31. - 11 October 2007

The Movement for Democratic Change today said it would seek compensation for its members who were released this week after spending nearly four months in custody. "We are definitely pressing for compensation," Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the main MDC faction. "Some of them lost their jobs. Some of them are maimed for life, some of them were detained for four months which is as good as serving a jail term when they had no case to answer,” he said. -10 October 2007

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change today said it will pull out of South African-brokered talks with the government of President Robert Mugabe if violence against it is not halted. It said violence against party members had continued despite the talks which South African President Thabo Mbeki had said were progressing well. - 9 October 2007

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown today warned that neither he nor any other senior British government minister will attend a Europe-Africa summit if Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is there. "I will not attend. No senior government minister will attend," he told his monthly press conference in Downing Street. "We are not prepared to sit down at the same table as President Mugabe.” - 8 October 2007

War veterans are planning to stage a "million man" march through the streets of the capital, Harare, in support of President Robert Mugabe, reports said today. War veterans have been marching throughout the country mobilizing support for Mugabe to be the party’s sole presidential candidate at the ruling ZANU-PF special congress in December as well as at the polls in March next year. "Any party member who does not support the revolution will be considered a sellout," National War Veterans Association chairperson Jabulani Sibanda was quoted as saying. - 7 October 2007

African diplomats today presented a united front to support President Robert Mugabe's presence at an upcoming European Union-Africa summit despite strong European reservations. "Zimbabwe, in spite of the crisis, is an African country and we are defending principles here. We have asked Mugabe to talk to his opposition but the AU respects the principle of non-interference," said one official from the African Union's Peace and Security Committee. "We resort to interference only in extreme cases of violence or genocide….It is not the only country not to respect democracy, look at Togo, Niger ... Zimbabwe's problem is mainly with London; it's a bilateral issue and is none of our business. If the Europeans really insist on this point, the summit risks falling through," the official added. - 6 October 2007

South African President Thabo Mbeki today said there was good progress in the talks between Zimbabwe's political parties to find a solution to the crisis in that country. "Those negotiations are going very well and indeed there is a common determination to conclude them as quickly as possible so as to allow enough time to implement all of the matters that they must implement," Mbeki said. "The central question that they had to address in these elections is what [it] is that should be done to create the conditions that the elections next year are free and fair," Mbeki said. "We are quite confident that there will be a positive outcome that will create the political conditions to address this very serious economic crisis in Zimbabwe," he added. - 5 October 2007

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete today said condemning Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is counterproductive and international powers should instead put their weight behind regional diplomatic efforts to unseat him. Kikwete insisted that the diplomatic approach favoured by African leaders "will pay dividends" and said it should be given more time. "Tanzania is standing by the people of Zimbabwe, including President Mugabe," Kikwete told the Financial Times. "We subscribe to the idea of working with them to get a solution, because if you end up condemning and insulting Mugabe he will not listen to you.” - 4 October 2007

Zimbabwe’s teachers called off their strike today after they were awarded a 420 percent salary hike which will see the lowest paid teacher earning about $12 million. This is still slightly below the poverty datum line. - 4 October 2007

The Save Zimbabwe Campaign today said it will engage the ruling party as well as the political opposition to express its misgivings about the crisis resolution process mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki and a constitutional amendment parliament recently passed with bipartisan support. Save Zimbabwe spokesman Pastor Ray Motsi said the group intends to hold a “national people’s convention” so that its members can decide how they wish to proceed in the months ahead. Motsi said the possibility of launching a new political party was raised. - 3 October 2007

The controversial Indigenisation and Empowerment Bill, which seeks to give locals a 51 percent stake in all foreign companies, sailed through the senate today and now only awaits Presidential approval to become law. Analysts, including central bank governor Gideon Gono, have urged caution on the implementation of this scheme. -2 October 2007

Zimbabwe’s teachers today went on strike demanding a salary that is above the poverty datum line now put at $15 million. They earn about $3 million. - 1 October 2007

Central bank governor Gideon Gono today said Zimbabwe could have a new currency in three months and will get rid of bearer’s cheques which it has been using for the past four years. He warned people not to hold huge sums of cash as they could lose it as the currency switch might be abrupt. - 1 October 2007