While the world focuses on elections in South Africa, the terrible plight of people in Zimbabwe continues, says Oskar Wempter. He describes the stranglehold on the country and the impact on its starving population.

Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he will not be bullied into power sharing at any cost and has challenged President Robert Mugabe to hold new elections if he is not prepared to reach a genuine agreement.

Lambeth Palace, HQ of the Archbishop of Canterbury, has issued a strongly worded statement in response to media reports that a number of Anglican church services in Harare have been disrupted by Zimbabwean state officials.

The outspoken Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo, Pius Ncube, has urged Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to step down as the country faces deepening political and economic woes - and new reports of abuses come through.

Following up their critique of Robert Mugabe's regime in an outspoken pastoral letter, Zimbabwe's Catholic bishops are calling for a cricket boycott of the country. But the president is hitting back.

The strongly-worded condemnation of oppression and injustice issued by Zimbabwe’s Catholic bishops has been highlighted by the Pope in his traditional Easter message at St Peter’s Basilica.

A community organisation supported by church and other partners has been forced to close its offices in Mbare, Zimbabwe, after being threatened by ruling party militia.