Jul 7: The UK based Observer newspaper reports that oil giant Royal Dutch Shell is considering pulling out of Zimbabwe. The company holds shares in a joint venture with rival BP, which supplies 74 petrol stations around Zimbabwe.
Jul 5:South Africa’s main labour union the Confederation of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) held a demonstration at the Beitbridge border post Saturday protesting against Robert Mugabe’s regime. Spokesman Jan Tsiane urged continental bodies to intervene in the crisis and help restore democracy in the wake of Mugabe’s one-man election.
Jul 4:Robert Mugabe has warned neighbouring countries to ‘think twice’ before launching an attack against his regime. Analysts say this could be viewed as a direct threat to Botswana, who this week deployed an army brigade with artillery to patrol its border with Zimbabwe.
Jul 3: The South Africanpresident’s shameful role as the so called “mediator” in the Zimbabwe crisis appears to have isolated him from his own countrymen, who are now fans of a free Zimbabwe, rather than fans of Mbeki.
Jul 1:MDC Vice-President Thokozani Khupe said African leaders are aware there is a ‘big problem’ in Zimbabwe that urgently needs to be dealt with. Speaking from Johannesburg on her way back home from the AU summit in Egypt, Khupe said 40 African leaders supported the MDC victory in the March elections.