Chronology of a political crisis

The following is a chronology of events marking the deterioration in the relationship between the government, opposition, judiciary and media in Zimbabwe since the beginning of February 2001. 1 February - The European Union expresses concern over press freedom in Zimbabwe following the 28 January bombing of the privately owned 'Daily News' printing press and retaliatory attacks on vendors selling the official 'Herald' and 'Sunday Mail' newspapers. 2 February - The government announces the resignation of Supreme Court Chief Justice Anthony Gubbay. He is due to go on four months leave from 1 March and retire from the bench on 30 June. News reports allege his resignation is due to pressure from the government, angered by the Supreme Court's handling of the land crisis. - Armed riot police seal off streets in downtown Harare and chase off protesters as opposition officials announce plans for demonstrations against the breakdown in law and order. - The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) alleges that police raided the home of youth leader Nelson Chamisa overnight and assault his uncle. Police reinforcements are sent to the populous township of Chitungwiza, an opposition stronghold 25 km south of Harare. The police say they are on a state of alert. 4 February - Chamisa urges retaliation against police and soldiers harassing township residents. - MDC MP Job Sikhala alleges soldiers whipped him and his family with chains at their home during a dawn raid. The police accuse Sikhala of inciting violence during the 13-14 January parliamentary by-election in Bikita West, but his case is remanded until 28 March. 5 February - Two MDC leaders are arrested for allegedly making inflammatory statements during recent political rallies. They include vice-president Gibson Sibanda, and Chamisa. They are charged with breaching the draconian Law and Order (Maintenance) Act, as is another party member, Innocent Kanjenzana. 7 February - High Court Justice Moses Chinhengo condemns the 'Daily News' bombing and political leaders for fanning violence. 8 February - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appeals to government and the opposition to respect democracy. Spokesman Fred Eckhard says Annan is "following these issues very carefully, and following them with concern". Eckhard says Annan is in contact with President Robert Mugabe. - Justice Rita Makarau, newly-appointed to the High Court, orders Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri to evict war veterans and ruling ZANU-PF supporters from commercial farms they have forcibly occupied in Hwedza, southeast of Harare, since February last year. - Zimbabwean judges are searching for employment outside the country because of frustration over the government's "siege on the judiciary", 'The Financial Gazette' reports. - The government plans to ban foreign investment in the private media, 'The Financial Gazette' reports. 12 February - Zimbabwe's High Court begins hearing the first of 37 challenges to victories by Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party in last June's parliamentary elections. Mugabe had attempted to block the courts from hearing the cases, but was overruled by the Supreme Court. - The UN's Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Dato Param Cumaraswamy, expresses concern over the continuing threats to the independence of the judiciary in Zimbabwe. Cumaraswamy is informed that two more judges of Zimbabwe's Supreme Court, Justices Nicholas McNally and Ahmed Ibrahim, had been approached by the Minister of Justice Patrick Chinamasa and requested to submit letters seeking early retirement. 15 February - MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is charged in a Harare magistrates court with inciting violence under the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act. He is asked to appear in the High Court on 30 April for trial. The charge arises out of a statement made in September when he told a rally that Mugabe should either resign peacefully or risk being removed violently. - Uruguayan journalist Mercedes Sayagues, a reporter based in Zimbabwe for South Africa's 'The Mail and Guardian', has her work permit denied and is refused entry to Zimbabwe from Johannesburg. 16 February - The government is to withdraw passports from Zimbabweans who campaign for sanctions against the country, the official 'The Herald' newspaper reports. Minister of State for Information and Publicity Jonathan Moyo says: "It is quite clear that these people do not deserve the privilege of using the Zimbabwean passport. What they are doing is like biting the hand that feeds them, and that is why the passport should be withdrawn." - War veteran Givemore Katsande is sentenced to death for the murder of a policeman in April last year, in the early stages of the government's farm invasion campaign. - The United States condemns what it calls attacks on the independent press, the judiciary and the political opposition in Zimbabwe. 17 February - BBC correspondent Joseph Winter is ordered to leave Zimbabwe. His home is raided allegedly by government security agents and he takes refuge in the British High Commission. Sayagues is finally allowed to fly back into Harare briefly to pick up her daughter.