By Gerry Simpson, Researcher and Advocate, Refugee Policy

Published in New Statesman Online

Grace lives in Johannesburg and, like hundreds of Zimbabweans tortured by Robert Mugabe’s ‘war veterans’ and youth militia since the March 2008 elections she is struggling to survive. But Grace is not one of the recently tortured. Instead, her story reflects the reality for millions of Zimbabweans and speaks to eight years of political repression and economic destruction next...

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MASHAVA, 7 July 2008 (IRIN) - The ban on non-governmental organisation (NGO) activities in the lead-up to the one-man presidential vote - widely condemned as a farce - is beginning to bite, according to Zimbabwe's communal farmers, who are weathering the worst food shortages in living memory.

Alleging political bias, the government suspended all NGO activities, but the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) claims the ban was instituted to try and hide the political violence...

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The crisis in Zimbabwe, which has been beset by months of deadly violence and witnessed the recent holding of tarnished elections, not only represents a ‘moment of truth’ for democracy on the continent but also poses a ‘challenge to the world,’ Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said today.

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BULAWAYO , 8 July 2008 (IRIN) - A R100 (US$13) remittance from a relative living in South Africa was a lifeline to food for Lydia Nxumalo, 36, and her family in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city.

After searching in vain for maize-meal in the shops and supermarkets, Nxumalo, with her five-year-old daughter in tow, eventually managed to buy a 10kg bag of the staple food from a vendor at the bus terminus.

"This bag of mealie-meal [maize-meal] will only last me a week...

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Below is the full text of G8 leaders' statement on Zimbabwe, adopted at a summit in Japan:

1. We expressed our grave concern about the situation in Zimbabwe. We deplore the fact that the Zimbabwean authorities pressed ahead with the presidential election despite the absence of appropriate conditions for free and fair voting as a result of their systematic violence, obstruction and intimidation.

2. We do not accept the legitimacy of any government that does not reflect...

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