Corrupt contractors and militants take up to 50% of aid before it reaches the country's hungry people, says leaked documentUp to half the food aid meant to feed hundreds of thousands of hungry people in Somalia is being stolen, according to a leaked UN security council report.The report, seen by the New York Times, says the food is being diverted to corrupt contractors, radical Islamic militants and local UN workers.

Tom Porteous's criticisms of my approach to Zimbabwe show the human rights movement is ill-equipped to deal with Zanu PFTom Porteous, the director of Human Rights Watch London, wrote to the Guardian last week to claim that "Blessing-Miles Tendi blames EU targeted sanctions against Mugabe and his cronies for the failure of last year's power-sharing deal to bring about the hoped-for political transformation in Zimbabwe.

We were struck by the lack of a critical response to the research cited by Larry Elliott and Heather Stewart on Africa and the millennium development goals, (Africa begins to make poverty history, 3 March).

An Observer investigation reveals how rich countries faced by a global food shortage now farm an area double the size of the UK to guarantee supplies for their citizens

Robert Mugabe and Carol Vorderman are lending support to the Conservatives. Are they the celebrity sparkle the party needs?Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe has become the latest big name to lend his support to the Conservative party.Speaking in Zimbabwe yesterday, the controversial leader made disparaging comments about Labour administrations and looked forward to a David Cameron victory:"We have always related better with the British through the Conservatives than Labour.

Blessing-Miles Tendi (Zuma's right on Zimbabwe, 4 March) blames EU targeted sanctions against Mugabe and his cronies for the failure of last year's power-sharing deal to bring about the hoped-for political transformation in Zimbabwe. That is absurd. The evidence that Zanu-PF continues to violate the agreement is overwhelming. In the past year MDC activists have been killed and abducted. Legislators and journalists have been arrested on spurious charges. Repressive media laws remain in place. Illegal invasions of commercial farms continue. Zanu-PF continues to use its control of the army, police and security sector to persecute its opponents.

Zimbabwe's president declares Conservatives are bold and know how to relate to others whereas Blair and Brown run awayIt has been a difficult few weeks for the Tories – the Ashcroft affair, talk of splits, erratic poll numbers and doubts over their economic policy. But at last they can enjoy some good news: no lesser global statesman than Robert Mugabe has offered David Cameron his endorsement."We have always related better with the British through the Conservatives than Labour," Zimbabwe's president said today.

South African president Jacob Zuma began his three-day state visit to the UK yesterday with a call for international sanctions on Zimbabwe to be lifted. Should travel bans and asset freezes imposed on Robert Mugabe be suspended?

The EU sanctions are not only internally divisive but iniquitous and obstructive to democracyLifting sanctions against President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party "would give Zimbabwe an opportunity to move forward", Jacob Zuma told reporters this week during his visit to Britain. South Africa's president is right.

The South African president has attacked Britain's tabloids for delving on his 'colourful private life'. Follow the pomp and controversy of Zuma's state visit.12.03pm: Alongside the pomp and ceremony, there is a serious side to Jacob Zuma's visit. He will be pressing Gordon Brown tolift the travel bans and asset freezes imposed by the EU and the US on Robert Mugabe and his allies.