THERE is something paradoxical about diamonds. Ideally they should be a source of wealth and prosperity — even a symbol of love (“a girl’s best friend”, Marilyn Monroe told us) — but sometimes they can be a source of untold misery.

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe last Thursday published 33 statutory instruments in an extraordinary Government Gazette outlining which minister is in charge of administering which Acts of parliament.

MEDIA freedom is not only a fundamental right but also a basic necessity for a multi-party democracy to thrive and blossom.

FOLLOWING the signing of the global political agreement between Zanu PF and the two MDC formations in 2008 which led to the creation of the inclusive government last year, economic stability had relatively returned to Zimbabwe.

FOLLOWING the promulgation of the regulations around the Indigenisation Act, there can be no illusions about how the international community will respond. This is another own goal of far-reaching significance.

THE US president, Barack Obama, this week extended sanctions on Zimbabwe for another year saying the political crisis in the country remained unresolved because certain members of the government
were undermining democratic processes and institutions.

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe turned 86 last Sunday and as per the norm over the years, he granted an interview to the sole national television broadcaster, ZTV, where he pontificated on several issues, among them the state of the inclusive government, Western sanctions, the controversy over the Chiadzwa diamonds and his favourite subject for the past decade — land reform.

THE erratic constitution-making is predictably getting increasingly entangled in confusion for all sorts of reasons, including lack of leadership and cohesion, internal disagreements and shortage of funds.

WHEN English comedian Charlie Chaplin found his voice in a great transition which ended the silent film era, he used sound to great effect to make sharp political commentary that is as relevant today as it was in the early 20th century.

THE much-awaited appointment of a new Zanu PF politburo has come and gone  — full of sound and fury signifying nothing.

ZIMBABWE has scored consistently poorly in surveys that determine the business environment in the country.

I HAVE been following the discourse around the recent promulgation of the indigenisation regulations and I am disappointed by the collective paralysis that seems to afflict the nation in policy formulation.

WHEN Vice-President Joice Mujuru launched a Zanu PF constitution-making outreach programme last month in Mount Darwin many people smelt a rat given that a national non-partisan exercise of that nature was on the cards in fulfilment of the global political agreement (GPA).

A FORTNIGHT ago it was reported that the Sadc-appointed negotiator in the GPA talks, South African president Jacob Zuma, wanted parties to the GPA to “park” outstanding issues in the protracted battle and proceed with the constitution-making process and then elections.

CIVIL servants are on industrial action. Besides a few blacklegs the strike seems to be universal. Many a time strikes are premised on greed but this cannot be said of the present civil servants’ strike.

President Robert Mugabe was gleeful on his return from Addis Ababa this week. He had just attended the 14th African Union summit which he described as the “best-ever” for him.

ZANU PF and MDC officials have lately been demonstrating dislike for each other. In parliament on Wednesday MPs from across the political divide heckled and shouted at each other over a sanctions motion which Zanu PF wanted to introduce.

NEXT week the inclusive government will complete its first year in office. It was a dramatic period characterised by a historic agreement between bitter political rivals; infighting; pulling out and coming back; and continued internal strife.

THE ruling by the High Court which threw out the evidence of main state witness Peter Michael Hitschmann in the treason trial of Roy Bennett on Monday has once again brought to the fore the issue of torture of of people in custody.

FOLLOWING Zanu PF’s congress last month, which made resolutions effectively to stall the inter-party dialogue, negotiations on contentious issues between the party and the two MDC factions now appear to be headed for a blind alley. This might leave the inclusive government in perilous balance or lead to its collapse.