Though basic social security is critical for mitigating the dire consequences of economic crises, it remains out of reach for most people across the world, above all in poorer countries, finds a new United Nations report. According to the 'World Social Security Report 2010-2011: Providing Coverage in Times of Crisis and Beyond', most of the world's working age population and their families lack effective access to comprehensive social protection systems. Worldwide, nearly 40 per cent of the working-age population is legally covered by contributory old-age pension schemes,

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum urges the African Commission to call upon the Government of National Unity:
- to fulfil its obligations in terms of the African Charter on the rights and freedoms of its citizens;
- to implement fully the provisions of the GPA and accept and implement various recommendations from civil society;
- to effect genuine electoral reforms in line with the Declaration by the African Commission on principles governing democratic elections in Africa before the conducting of any new elections.

A researcher from the Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-Southern Africa) traveled by road in public transport from Namibia (Windhoek) to Zimbabwe (Harare) via Botswana through the Mamuno border post. The journey to and fro Zimbabwe was an eye-opener on the nature and extent of corruption bedeviling traffic police officers in the three countries. In a nutshell, the following findings were made:
- Zimbabwean traffic police officials are more corrupt than their counterparts in Botswana and Namibia.
- The governments of Namibia and Zimbabwe could be losing significant amounts of revenue due to corruption in which police officers are involved.
- Transport business operators are losing income due to bribes paid to traffic police officers.
- There were no indications of corruption by traffic police officials in Botswana.

Officers from Bulawayo police’s law and order section say calling for the ratification of the Convention Against Torture and the abolition of torture is offensive and causes disharmony. Chief Superintendent Patrick Moyo summoned representatives of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) over billboards and street pole signs calling for the abolition of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Despite having agreed to a meeting for 12 November, the Forum representatives found most of the billboards already destroyed.