Newsreel 29.10.09
SW Radio Africa News stories for Thursday 29 October
Deportation of top UN official sparks major diplomatic incident
United Nations human rights expert, Manfred Nowak, was blocked from entering Zimbabwe Wednesday and was deported on the orders of ZANU PF. Nowak had originally been invited by the government, but at the last minute, while in Joburg on his way to Harare, the invite was withdrawn, because everyone was ‘ busy with the arrival of the SADC team’.
SADC Troika begins mission in Zimbabwe
The SADC Troika on Defence, Security and Politics began its ‘fact finding’ mission in Zimbabwe Thursday. The ministerial mission is led by Oldemiro Baloi, the Mozambican Foreign Affairs Minister, Zambia’s deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Fashion Phiri, and Lutho Dhlamini from Swaziland.
Zimbabwe Election Support Network officers arrested
Two more members of the civil society were arrested this week as the crackdown on perceived ‘opponents’ of the State continues. The Zimbabwe Election Support Network staff members, Thulani Ndhlovu and Ndodhana Ndhlovu, were arrested Wednesday in Hwange’s Dete area, for conducting a public workshop, allegedly without police clearance.
Campaigners call for urgent action on Zim blood diamonds
A coalition of civil society groups on Thursday called for urgent action on Zimbabwe from the international diamond trade monitor, the Kimberley Process, saying inaction will compromise the group’s efforts to eradicate the global trade in conflict diamonds.
