Zimbabwe court allows Mugabe opponents to leave

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

HARARE, March 22 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's High Court has allowed two opposition officials to travel abroad for medical treatment after they were barred from leaving the country by police last weekend, official media reported on Thursday.

The reversal came days after police said that opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and dozens of others arrested on March 12 in a rally against President Robert Mugabe could not leave the southern African nation until they appeared in the court.

High Court judge Barat Patel ordered that Sekai Holland and Grace Kwinje, who were arrested again on Saturday as they tried to board a flight to South Africa, be released and their travel documents returned, according to the Herald newspaper.

~snip~

On Monday, the High Court also ordered the release of Arthur Mutambara, who heads a splinter faction of the Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), after his arrest on Saturday as he tried to leave for Zimbabwe's southern neighbour.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L22208091.htm

[Eugene]

1. Mugabe appeals to Africa, injured opponents leave

Source: Reuters

Mugabe appeals to Africa, injured opponents leave

By Nelson Banya
Thu Mar 22, 11:20 AM ET

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe appealed for African support on Thursday
amid signs of unease in the continent over its crackdown on the main
opposition party, and a Harare court ruled that injured activists could
seek treatment abroad.

The Zimbabwean government is counting on African nations to rally
round against protests by Western countries over Harare's treatment
of the opposition, Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said in a
Zimbabwe Television (ZTV) broadcast.

"African countries must not allow themselves to be divided by
imperialism," ZTV quoted Ndlovu as telling senior army officers at a
military school in Harare.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070322/wl_nm/zimbabwe_dc

[President Kerry]

2. Mugabe just keeps insulting the intelligence of his neighbors in the region

It ain't working. The Zambian government came out with some strong language for those thugs in Zimbabwe. It's disappointing there's not much diplomatic pressure from South Africa. In any case, Mugabe is toast, and will probably meet his undoing from somebody in his own party.

[noonwitch]

4. I thought maybe he was letting them leave because the country is too broke to buy bullets

I hope that Mugabe and his thugs lose power very soon, for the sake of the Zimbabwean people.

[Eugene]

3. Zimbabwe issues warning to foreign media

Source: Associated Press

Friday, March 23, 2007 · Last updated 3:34 a.m. PT
Zimbabwe issues warning to foreign media

By ANGUS SHAW
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- The government warned representatives of foreign
media organizations against "peddling false stories" on security issues,
the state media reported Friday.

The government also threatened to clamp down on unlicensed foreign
reporters making clandestine visits and said erring reporters should
beware of authorities and should "stay away from the security forces"
or face action.

State radio and television, Zimbabwe's sole broadcaster, and the daily
Herald newspaper, a government mouthpiece, singled out the U.S.
network CNN for what it called biased reports on political unrest and
the alleged assault and torture of opposition leaders, including Morgan
Tsvangirai, leader of the main Movement for Democratic Change.

The government denied foreign news reports that it was forced to call
in 2,500 paramilitary reinforcements from Angola to help control unrest
because Zimbabwe's own forces were no longer loyal to President Robert
Mugabe.

-snip-

Read more: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1105AP_Zimbabwe_Foreign_Media.html