Abductions? Who bothers to worry about abductions?

Police assault residents in Glen View and Budiriro Riot police who had been patrolling the streets of the high-density areas of Budiriro and Glen View Wednesday attacked local residents as the 2nd day of the ZCTU strike came to a close. Residents said police accusing them of piling up rocks to block minibuses from taking workers to their jobs. It is not clear if any arrests were made or if residents were injured. Both areas were reported to be tense Thursday.

Tortured journalist Phiri released but hospitalised Gift Phiri , the journalist from The Zimbabwean newspaper who was abducted near his home in Harare last Sunday was finally released on bail on Thursday. His wife said that he was badly beaten and has been hospitalised. Human rights groups are concerned about the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe where opposition activists and journalists are increasingly being brutalized.

Majongwe fights his way to freedom after abduction at gunpoint Raymond Majongwe, Secretary General of the Progressive Teachers Union, wrestled his way to freedom after being abducted by suspected state agents on Tuesday. Jacob Rukweza, the Harare Province chairperson of the PTUZ, said Majongwe decided he would rather die with one of his kidnappers than be bullied.

Civic leader concerned over lack of consultation over crisis NCA Chairperson Dr Lovemore Madhuku has expressed concern that civic society is not being consulted on initiatives taking place to resolve the Zimbabwe crisis. At the disappointing SADC meeting in Tanzania last week South African President Mbeki was appointed to help negotiations between the ruling party and the opposition & on Wednesday his government representatives met the Secretary Generals of the two MDC factions.

Mugabe to increase his powers by expanding parliament & senate A new set of constitutional changes to be tabled in parliament soon will give power to the legislature to elect a successor, in the event that a sitting president dies in office or resigns before the completion of a current term.

Twelve opposition activists released on bail The High Court and magistrates courts released a total of 12 opposition activists on bail on Thursday. Defence lawyer Alec Muchadehama told Newsreel, the courts basically released the political lightweights in the case.