BULAWAYO, 9 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - After five years of consecutive drought and food shortages, farmers in Zimbabwe were hoping for a better harvest in 2006, but torrential rains over the past two weeks have dampened the optimism of many, particularly in northern parts of the country. Full report

HARARE, 1 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - One practical problem of hyperinflation is the sheer inconvenience of carrying bundles of cash. As a response, the Zimbabwean authorities this week introduced a new Zim $50,000 (US 50 cents) note, but critics warn its value has already been overtaken by inflation. Full report

JOHANNESBURG, 27 Jan 2006 (IRIN) - Zimbabwean NGOs said they were "disappointed" that the African Union (AU) had failed to acknowledge a resolution passed by its rights body, criticising the Harare regime.Full report

JOHANNESBURG, 26 Jan 2006 (IRIN) - The Dutch government has been urged to take action on the alleged jamming by the Zimbabwe authorities of Radio Netherlands broadcasts to the country. Full report

JOHANNESBURG, 25 Jan 2006 (IRIN) - Zimbabwe's Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono used his quarterly monetary policy statement to rebuke parallel market traders in fuel and other essential goods, but delivered little by way of concrete steps to reverse the country's ongoing economic meltdown, says an economist. Full report

JOHANNESBURG, 24 Jan 2006 (IRIN) - The government has begun negotiating with the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) to replace the controversial government-appointed Media and Information Commission (MIC), but media related arrests continued over the weekend. Full report

JOHANNESBURG, 23 Jan 2006 (IRIN) - The worsening humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe is making children more vulnerable to abuse, according to child rights NGOs. Full report

JOHANNESBURG, 23 Jan 2006 (IRIN) - Zimbabwe's precarious food security situation could improve if imports continue to close the gap between national production and consumption requirements, but transport bottlenecks may prevent many communities from accessing staple commodities. Full report

JOHANNESBURG, 20 Jan 2006 (IRIN) - Despite a stinging report by the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR), an African Union body, criticising Zimbabwe for suppressing freedom of expression, a string of official threats have targeted the independent media. Full report

JOHANNESBURG, 20 Jan 2006 (IRIN) - Zimbabwe's Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF), comprising representatives of government, labour and business, may be close to signing a deal on price and wages control to curb runaway inflation and rejuvenate the country's ailing economy. Full report

ZIMBABWE: Year in Review 2005 - Hard times felt by all

ZIMBABWE: Year in Brief 2005 - A chronology of key events

ZIMBABWE: Man-made tsunami engulfs urban poor

ZIMBABWE: Doubt over extent of electoral reform ahead of poll

ZIMBABWE: School fee hike could impact on education delivery

SOUTH AFRICA-ZIMBABWE: Persistence pays off for border jumpers looking for better life

ZIMBABWE: Food shortages force traditions to change

ZIMBABWE: MDC split spells doom for opposition politics, say analysts