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Integrated Regional Information Network for Southern Africa

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SOUTHERN AFRICA
IRIN-SA Weekly Round-up 155
6 - 12 September 2003


CONTENTS:

ZIMBABWE: Pensioners hurt by record inflation
COMOROS: Reconciliation accord signed
MADAGASCAR: Former prime minister sentenced to hard labour
SWAZILAND: Govt aims to plug embarrassing leaks
AFRICA: Media groups call for end to "insult" laws


ZIMBABWE: Pensioners hurt by record inflation

IRIN reported on Friday that as the official inflation rate hits a record
620 percent, all Zimbabweans are feeling the pinch, but the country's
pensioners are especially hard-pressed.

"Ten years ago pensioners lived relatively comfortably on the money they
were receiving. But the situation now is pathetic. The pittance they get
can hardly see them through a day, what with the ever-increasing price of
basic commodities and the attendant shortages," economist John Robertson
told IRIN.

More details: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=38601

Rise in drop out rate feared over school fees hike

When Zimbabwe's new school year begins next month, some parents are going
to be forced to choose which of their children to educate as a result of a
hike in school fees of between 200 to 2,000 percent.

Inevitably girls are likely to be pulled out of class first, threatening
Zimbabwe's impressive strides towards gender parity in school enrolment.

More details: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=38586

ZANU and MDC examine agenda for talks

IRIN reported on Tuesday that a meeting was expected between justice
minister Patrick Chinamasa and opposition Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) secretary-general Welshman Ncube to discuss an agenda for interparty
talks.

MDC spokesperson Paul Themba Nyathi told IRIN that the development was
"logical" coming after South African President Thabo Mbeki extracted a
commitment from Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe last week to "move from
informal to formal talks".

Formal inter-party dialogue, which has been championed by among others
South Africa and the churches, is seen as key to beginning to resolve
Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis.

More details: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=38573

MDC calls for talks on fresh elections

Meanwhile, the MDC's national conference at the weekend called for talks
with the ruling ZANU-PF to agree a transitional constitution that would
establish the conditions for free and fair elections.

Delegates called for "a transitional constitution that guarantees an
electoral regime which creates electoral conditions that are transparent,
fair and just for the people to elect a government of their choice".

More details: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=38556

WFP forced to cut December food rations

Lack of donor funding has forced the World Food Programme (WFP) to halve
its December cereal ration to more than 2.6 million hungry Zimbabweans,
the food agency said in a press release on Monday.

"It's tragic that these ration cuts have come at a time when people are
normally celebrating the festive season, but if we're not given food or
cash by donors, then we're simply unable to meet their food needs," Mike
Sackett, WFP regional director for Southern Africa, was quoted as saying.

Prospects for the first quarter of 2004 look even worse, the WFP statement
warned. Zimbabwe's lean season starts in January, a period when granaries
tend to be exhausted and people enduring food shortages are most reliant
on food aid.

More details: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=38547


COMOROS: Reconciliation accord signed

Comoran leaders signed a break-through agreement at the weekend clearing
the way for legislative elections in April, news reports said.

The deal was facilitated by South African President Thabo Mbeki, who led
an African Union (AU) delegation to the troubled Indian Ocean archipelago.
Reuters reported that the agreement, signed on Saturday, regulates the
powers of the main Union government and the three semi-autonomous islands.

More details: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=38549


MADAGASCAR: Former prime minister sentenced to hard labour

Madagascar's former prime minister Tantely Andrianarivo was this week
sentenced to 12 years hard labour and fined US $7 million for abuse of
office, news reports said. Andrianarivo's lawyers condemned the severity
of the sentence and said they would appeal to the supreme court, the BBC
reported.

More details: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=38602


SWAZILAND: Govt aims to plug embarrassing leaks

Swaziland's new cabinet, appointed by King Mswati, has made a crackdown on
leaks to the media by government officials one of its first priorities.

"Government workers who leak government documents to the media will be
arrested," announced Prime Minister Themba Dlamini in a statement. He said
the media would be given press statements on government activities, but
all other information would be considered unauthorised, with arrests and
prosecution awaiting violators.

More details: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=38585

Record national debt as govt spends on prestige projects

Government overspending has burdened Swaziland with a record national debt
that is now cause for concern both domestically and among the country's
development partners.

"The growing deficit is straining available financial resources, and has
been financed in part by a draw down in the government's foreign exchange
reserves," said finance minister Majozi Sithole in a statement.

The national debt has hit a record 1 billion lilangeni (US $145 million).
The deficit represents 6 percent of the country's GDP, about double the
size considered healthy for a small economy like Swaziland, the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a report released last month.

More details: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=38565


AFRICA: Media groups call for end to "insult" laws

The media watchdog the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX)
has called for governments in Africa to repeal insult and criminal
defamation laws which can shield public officials from scrutiny.

"We regard the media's freedom to gather and disseminate news and
information and freedom of expression by the public at large essential
components of good governance. Indeed, we believe there cannot be good
governance if the media is not free or if it is subject to laws which
inhibit or prevent the gathering and dissemination of news and
information," Raymond Louw, Africa consultant for the World Press Freedom
Committee (WPFC) told IRIN.

"In particular, there cannot be good governance if countries raise special
barriers such as insult laws to protect heads of state, senior government
representatives and officials and others against scrutiny of their public
activities and conduct," he said.

WPFC is supporting the IFEX campaign, along with ARTICLE 19 and the Media
Institute of Southern Africa.

More details: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=38588


IRIN-SA
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Fax: +27 11 447-5472
Email: IRIN-SA@irin.org.za

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