Violet presents this weeks Hotseat where she speaks to Mike Hitschmann, after his release from jail on Thursday. The former police constable and registered arms dealer, was arrested for allegedly plotting to assassinate Mugabe at his birthday celebrations in Manicaland in 2006. Hitschmann says he was tortured and forced to write a confession that he had conspired with others from both the MDC and ZANU PF. The assassination charges were dropped, but he served a jail sentence for possessing dangerous firearms without a licence. He says the receipts he got when he handed weapons into the police, mysteriously disappeared when he was arrested. On Callback, Ogee says political leaders are taking the people for granted and failing to take note of their many
concerns; Collen speaks about the late MDC Senator Patrick Kombayi. He is saddened that despite Kombayis past contributions to Zimbabwe none of his fellow nationalists, with the exception of Rugare Gumbo, attended his funeral, then Medi says people are receiving mixed messages about the new constitution, and he is advocating for a people driven constitution as opposed to one based on the Kariba draft. In Cathy
Buckles Letter from Zimbabwe she talks about the chilling report that has just been released by Human Rights Watch, implicating Zimbabwe’s military in horrific abuses at the newly discovered diamond fields in Chiadzwa. On Saturday we have HEALTHbeat, which takes an holistic view of issues concerning health and well-being. Dr Patrick Musami joins us to discuss the controversial issue of the manufacture and licensing of
Anti Retroviral drugs. This widely politicised topic has many people asking if its right for pharmaceutical companies to continue to profit from and, control the patents for these life-prolonging drugs, whenworldwide so many millions of people who are infected with HIV are unable to afford them. There is also a news item from Panos London that
focuses on TB patients going hungry in Ugandan hospitals.
Join us for The Heart of the Matter where well-known journalist and broadcaster Tanonoka Whande shares his unique thoughts and insights on current events. Tanonoka comments that, the MDC does not appear to have a well thought out agenda or political philosophy to sell to the people. The MDC does not appear able to articulate its intentions for the nation. They make it up as they go. On Callback Chibwa says because of the scarcity of forex many young girls are turning to prostitution to raise money for school; Limbo says Mugabe has no right to castigate western leaders who have given pre-conditions for aid after all it is their money! Then, Nyandoro says things should go back to how they were – they should bring back the Zimdollar, and return the farms to the farmers. In Reporters Forum Lance is joined by SW Radio Africa
correspondent Lionel Saungweme and political analyst Msekiwa Makwanya. The programme looks at the decision by MDC ministers to boycott an impromptu cabinet meeting called by Mugabe on Monday, instead of the usual Tuesday. Is the coalition government in trouble? Several other stories are put under the microscope.
This week on Through the Valley, Richard investigates the warnings of a Catholic priest in Zimbabwe who said, “Be careful of false impressions -the crisis is still here. Nothing much has changed for the rural poor.” And there is the astonishing story of little four-year old Maka who is being treated in a top children’s hospital in Los Angeles for severe
burns, after the family stove exploded. Then, Tichaona presents the programme Rebuilding Zimbabwe. Over 2000 delegates from 234 civil society organisations from across the country will be meeting this weekend to focus on developing a meaningful and well coordinated civil society engagement in the constitution making process. Our Harare correspondent, Simon Muchemwa says the convention ,organised by the
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and the National Association of NGOs, has made it clear the Kariba draft should not be used as a reference point in this vital drafting process. The Wednesday Forum is the weekly report from the London Forum meeting, where speakers from politics, civic society, business, academia, and others with interests in Zimbabwe, are invited to share ideas, plan actions and lobby, with facilitators Jeff
Sango and Sam. Many Zimbabweans in the UK were angry with Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirais speech last week at Southwark Cathedral, some fearing that it would lead to asylum seekers in the UK being sent home prematurely, and prompting accusations that many in the UK Diaspora community care more for their asylum cases than for the suffering masses in Zimbabwe. Torture victims and activists in the UK evaluate the impact of the PMs call for the Diaspora to come home. Sunday night we
re On the Pulse, with Lance. He speaks to Mechanic Manyeruke, arguably Zimbabwes best selling and most recognisable gospel artist. Baba Manyeruke, as he is affectionately known, is in the UK on a family visit and takes time out to talk about his musical journey. In the absence of regular co-presenter Brilliant Pongo, upcoming gospel musician Chris Kusema sits in. Did you know Manyeruke was inspired by Oliver Mtukudzi? Tune in to find out more from the man with 18 albums under his belt.
Every weekday we bring you a Newsreel bulletin at both the opening and the closing of our weekday broadcasts with all the latest news concerning Zimbabwe, and on Saturday we have a News Roundup of the weeks events.
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