Zimbabwe – 29 July 2015

We should stop being myopic: Makarau
Zimbabwe’s electoral processes have come under scrutiny since the turn of the century, but chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) Justice Rita Makarau thinks Zimbabweans need to look beyond the polling booth for answers to the problems in these processes. NewsDay (ND) senior reporter Richard Chidza interviewed Justice Makarau (RM) about these and other issues.
NewsDay

Court Orders Release of 3 Zimbabwe NGO Leaders
A Harare magistrate today ordered the immediate release of three civil society leaders who were arrested Saturday after finding that the state had violated the constitution.
Combined Harare Residents Association director Mfundo Mlilo, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition’s programs manager, Nixon Nyikadzino, and deputy national chairperson of the Africa Unity Square pressure group, Dirk Frey, who were arrested outside the magistrates court on Saturday were arraigned before Harare magistrate today facing charges of violating the Public Order and Security Act and the Protected Areas Act.
Voice of America

Iran, Zimbabwe call for closer cooperation
Iran’s minister of cooperatives, labor and social welfare said on Mon. that the country will always have on agenda boosting cooperation with Zimbabwe and other African states.
Ali Rabiei told reporters upon arrival in the Zimbabwean capital on Sunday, adding that Iran will never decrease its ties with countries that were friendly with Iran before the nuclear deal was reached in Vienna on July 14.
MEHR New Agency