The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is providing local hospitals in Zimbabwe with critical medical supplies and money to treat pregnant women, amid a collapsing health system and the worst cholera outbreak in the sub-Saharan African country's history which has now claimed over 1,500 lives.

THE State has launched an appeal at the Supreme Court against the High Court determination ordering the release of former ZBC newscaster Jestina Mukoko and 31 other co-suspects accused of recruiting people for military training in Botswana. The 32 are still in custody.

Four independent United Nations human rights experts today called on the Government of Zimbabwe and the international community to do more to rebuild the country's health system, end the worst cholera epidemic ever recorded there and ensure adequate food for all people as millions face hunger.

PRESIDENT MUGABE has invited MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC counterpart Professor Arthur Mutambara to make themselves available for swearing in as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister respectively pursuant to the envisaged inclusive Government.

While the whole of the Southern African region earlier this year united in blocking an arms shipment from reaching the murderous regime of Robert Mugabe, a United Nations investigation has revealed that Chinese weapons are getting to Harare, via the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Reporters Without Borders is very disturbed by the abduction of freelance photojournalist Shadreck Manyere and attempted abduction of Obrian Rwafa, a reporter with the state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), in separate incidents on 13 December, just 10 days after the kidnapping of journalist and human rights activist Jestina Mukoko, who is still missing.

With a cholera outbreak and the disappearance of Zimbabwean activists added to ongoing economic and political misfortunes, "the human rights situation in Zimbabwe is off the chart right now," says U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee, who urged Zimbabwe's neighbors to act to improve the situation.

ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe appears to be losing his 28-year iron grip on the military, with protests by soldiers this week raising fears that a revolt could be brewing in the armed forces.

I have read Graham Hancock's "Lords of Poverty: the Power, Prestige, and Corruption of the International Aid Business" many times since 1992 and love it for laying bare the rotten innards of the international aid business.

It is a world of vultures; where the poor are big business for the rich and powerful from the glittering cities of the Western world.

Southern Africa's leaders have told Zimbabwe's two main parties to form a unity government and to share control of the ministry which supervises the country's police force, but Prime Minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai has rejected their decision.

Zimbabwe has described Botswana's calls for a fresh presidential election to solve the country's long running political crisis 'extreme' provocation as tension continues to build ahead of a regional summit this weekend to discuss the stalled power sharing agreement.

President Ian Khama of Botswana has called for Zimbabwe's contested presidential election to be re-run under international supervision.

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe signed a power-sharing agreement with opposition rival Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday, relinquishing some of his powers for the first time in nearly three decades of iron rule.

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe's ministry of state security will be scrapped under a power-sharing deal between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, according to a list of government departments they agreed on Saturday.

A government official said the two met and agreed on a list of 31 ministries, including 13 new ones.

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe's combined opposition will have one more cabinet seat than President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party under a deal to end the country's deep political crisis, an opposition senator said on Friday.

But Mugabe, 84, will remain as president and chair the cabinet, said David Coltart of the smaller opposition faction.