U N I T E D   N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for Southern Africa

Tel: +27 11 880 4633
Fax: +27 11 880 1421
e-mail: irin-sa@irin.org.za


SOUTHERN AFRICA
IRIN-SA Weekly Round-up 170
13 - 19 March 2004


CONTENTS:

MADAGASCAR: Aid agencies appeal for funds in the wake of Gafilo
ZIMBABWE: Suspected soldiers of fortune charged under security law
SOUTH AFRICA: Envoy to check on condition of suspected mercenaries 
ZAMBIA: Plenty of food for some
SOUTHERN AFRICA: Increasing resilience to shocks a priority
SWAZILAND: King opens parliament amid controversy
COMOROS: First round of voting produces mixed results
SOUTH AFRICA/ANGOLA: Angolan refugees reluctant to return home
ANGOLA: Plan to disarm civilians
LESOTHO: Phase 1 of Highlands Water Project now fully operational 
NAMIBIA: State to appeal ruling granting 13 Caprivi accused freedom


MADAGASCAR: Aid agencies appeal for funds in the wake of Gafilo

United Nation agencies on Friday appealed for US $8.7 million to provide
relief for some 309,500 people affected by cyclone Gafilo, which struck
Madagascar this month.

The cyclone made landfall in the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean
island on 7 March and tracked northwards before heading out to sea. It
returned on 9 March and hit the southwest.

Gafilo's 225 km/hr winds and heavy rains left 74 people dead. The
authorities have estimated the total economic impact at more than US $250
million.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40155


ZIMBABWE: Suspected soldiers of fortune charged under security law

IRIN reported on Wednesday that an additional charge under the Public
Order and Security Act (POSA) was brought against suspected mercenaries
held by the Zimbabwean authorities since last week.

The men were arrested on board a plane that landed at the Harare
International airport and charged with conspiring to murder Equatorial
Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema and his bodyguard as part of an
alleged coup attempt.

Attorney-General Bharat Patel told IRIN that 67 of the 70 men being held
were charged under POSA for attempting to acquire weaponry such as rocket
launchers and grenades, the licensing of which is not covered by
Zimbabwe's Firearms Act. The men have already been charged with violating
the Firearms Act and the Immigration Act, both carrying minimal sentences.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40110


MDC weighs participation in 2005 polls
 
Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) remains unsure
about contesting crucial parliamentary elections due in the next 12
months. The dilemma is whether to participate in a poll the party fears
will not be free or fair, or to boycott and risk becoming politically
irrelevant, political analysts say.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai told IRIN on Monday that while the party had
started preparations for the March 2005 election, it was still undecided
over taking part in the ballot.

"At the moment we do not have a position yet as to whether we are
participating in that election," Tsvangirai said. "What we are doing now
is to prepare for the election, but the decision to take part will be
taken at a more appropriate time. That decision will depend on whether the
environment sufficiently allows for the holding of a truly democratic,
free and fair election."

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40077


More bad news for banking industry

The collapse of two banks in Zimbabwe in the last week has spelled more
bad news for confidence in the troubled industry, economists have warned.

The country's second largest building society, Intermarket Building
Society, was closed by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) on Friday last
week, with officials from the central bank saying they wanted to protect
depositors, preserve the assets of the group, and protect the financial
system.

This was followed by the closure of a commercial bank, Barbican Bank, four
days later, with RBZ officials saying they had moved in when it emerged
that the bank had liquidity problems after it allegedly externalised large
amounts of foreign currency.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40158


SOUTH AFRICA: Envoy to check on condition of suspected mercenaries

South African authorities this week were concerned over the medical
condition of seven suspected mercenaries held in Equatorial Guinea.

The alleged soldiers of fortune were among 15 men arrested last week in
the small but oil-rich country, sandwiched between Cameroon and Gabon on
the west coast of Africa, where authorities claimed the men were part of a
conspiracy to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.

South African ambassador to Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, Samuel Monaisa,
told IRIN Pretoria had been approached by the families of some of the
alleged mercenaries, who claimed the men were ill and not being treated
properly.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40106


Wage increases will hurt agriculture, warn farmers

Commercial farmers have warned that increased minimum wages for farm
workers will result in further job losses in the sector and weaken South
Africa's ability to maintain agricultural output to satisfy both domestic
and export demands.

Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana announced the increases of between 9
and 10 percent in minimum wages for farm workers on Wednesday, effective
from 1 March 2004.

The new increases should be regarded as "a people's contract to create
work and fight poverty, because it protects the most vulnerable of workers
by setting minimum wages and acceptable working conditions", said a
statement from Mdladlana's office.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40149


ZAMBIA: Plenty of food for some

IRIN reported on Wednesday that despite production outstripping estimated
domestic consumption requirements, some 430,000 people still required food
aid in Zambia.

A new study has highlighted the need for a wider ranging analysis of
factors, such as income levels, in determining domestic consumption
requirements in future.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) has taken advantage of Zambia's
agricultural turnaround and spent more than US $18 million on food
commodities in Zambia, including maize, grain and fortified blended foods
such as corn-soya blend, since January 2003.

"Buying food locally is an effective way for WFP to boost the domestic
economy, while also reducing our own transport costs and delivery time,"
WFP Country Director in Zambia Richard Ragan said in a statement.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40111


SOUTHERN AFRICA: Increasing resilience to shocks a priority

Aid agencies are prioritising programmes aimed at increasing livelihoods
and resilience to shocks, such as floods and drought, in the region.

"Given the history of drought in Southern Africa, there is a high
likelihood that additional shocks will hit this region in the next 10 to
20 years," said Paul Macek, Catholic Relief Services Representative on the
C-SAFE steering committee.

Humanitarian organisations have recognised that poverty and HIV/AIDS have
worsened people's vulnerability, and their ability to cope with, such
crises.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40134


Concerns over regional flooding

Concern is growing in Southern Africa over the risk of serious flooding
during the current rainy season, which could further exacerbate food
shortages.

According to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Early
Warning Unit, many rivers across the region are in flood, or threatening
to spill their banks after recent heavy downpours.

"All we have at the moment are reports from farmers in areas along the
Zambezi river who have complained that crops have been submerged because
of the rise of water levels. Many farmers, who generally farm along the
lower plains of the river, have had to move to higher plains for safety.
This is sure to impact on the availability of food in the next few
months," Richard Masundire, a spokesman for the SADC early warning unit,
told IRIN.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40109


Leaders assess progress on sustainability

Government representatives, business leaders and NGOs from Southern Africa
met in South Africa this week to assess the implementation of some of the
resolutions passed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
held in Johannesburg two years ago.

The meeting, held from 15 to 17 March, the first since the summit, aimed
to highlight the impact of HIV/AIDS on sustainable development.

The agenda included discussions around key issues such as water and
sanitation, poverty eradication and corporate social responsibility.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40085


Capacity building initiative to counteract impact of HIV/AIDS

Faced with the prospect of a reduced civil service - mainly because of
HIV/AIDS - southern African governments have been urged to formulate
alternative ways of bolstering social service delivery.

At the launch of the Southern African Capacity Initiative (SACI) in
Botswana last week, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Mark
Malloch Brown noted that the impact of the pandemic had already been felt
in the health, education and food security sectors.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40060


AGOA exports threatened by dropping of quotas

A new report by the US government on the impact of changing import rules
for the garment industries of Southern African countries under the African
Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) suggests that exports to the United
States are likely to decline.

"Industry sources indicated that the region's overall share of US apparel
imports will fall, notwithstanding AGOA preferences," said the report by
the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

The economic and social stakes are high. Although sub-Saharan Africa
supplies less than one percent of the world's textiles and apparel, the
Cotonou trade agreement with the European Union and AGOA have
reinvigorated the industrial sectors of many countries in the region.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40057


SWAZILAND: King opens parliament amid controversy

King Mswati opened parliament on Wednesday by announcing R120 million (US
$18 million) in spending on humananitarian programmes, but avoided
commenting directly on the controversy surrounding the resignation of the
Speaker and the country's "rule of law" crisis.

"The nation knows that the administration of our justice system has been
facing some challenges this past year," said Mswati, referring to the
resignation of the Court of Appeal bench in protest over palace
interference in the judicial system. "I have been assured that the
minister of justice has engaged stakeholders on this issue, and await
their views on the way forward."

Mswati did not mention his postponement of the opening of parliament, or
last week's resignation of the house speaker, Marwick Khumalo, who had
headed a special parliamentary committee that advised against the purchase
of a R720 million (US $111 million) private jet for the king - advice that
was accepted by the House of Assembly.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40103


COMOROS: First round of voting produces mixed results

Grand Comore President Abdou Elbak on Tuesday said he was dissatisfied
with the results of the first round of legislative elections, held at the
weekend.

Five candidates in Grand Comore, the largest island in the archipelego,
gained outright majorities in their constituencies, but no single
candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote in the island's 15 other
constituencies, forcing a second round of voting on 21 March.

"I did not expect this result at all - we were hoping to get at 9 of 20
seats. We are very surprised, but at least we have another opportunity
later this month," he told IRIN.

An unexpected power cut had delayed the release of the results from the
first round of voting.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40084
  
        
SOUTH AFRICA/ANGOLA: Angolan refugees reluctant to return home

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in South
Africa has encouraged Angolan refugees to return home to help rebuild
their country.

Some 200 people protested outside the Angolan consulate on Thursday over
what they alleged was the government's lack of support for Angolan
refugees living in the country.

"The war in Angola is over and many of the refugees are needed as the
country moves forward to development. Many of them are well-educated,
which would serve the country well during this time," the UN refugee
agency's spokeswoman, Melita Sunjic, told IRIN.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40127


ANGOLA: Plan to disarm civilians

The Angolan government is considering a three-phase voluntary plan to
disarm civilians, local media reported on Thursday.

Jose Alfredo Ekuikui, Commander General of the national police, was quoted
as saying the plan would involve an assessment of the number and location
of weapons in the hands of civilians, an awareness programme, and setting
up posts for the voluntary handover of arms.

He also said that at the end of the voluntary programme, civilians still
in possession of arms would be forced to give them up. No timeframe for
the plan was announced.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40157


LESOTHO: Phase 1 of Highlands Water Project now fully operational

South African President Thabo Mbeki and King Letsie III of Lesotho this
week inaugurated Phase 1B of the multiphased Lesotho Highlands Water
Project (LHWP), the world's largest water transfer operation, almost six
years after construction began in 1998.

The inauguration marks the end, for the moment, of all LHWP construction,
said Willie Croucamp, a senior official.

The four-phased water transfer project involves diverting about half the
water flowing down the Senqu river (known as the Orange river in South
Africa) into the Vaal river system to meet the demand of South Africa's
rapidly expanding Gauteng province.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40076


NAMIBIA: State to appeal ruling granting 13 Caprivi accused freedom

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted the state leave to appeal a ruling by
the Grootfontein high court in February, which had set free 13 of the 120
alleged Caprivi rebels charged with treason.

The 120 men were arrested for taking part in an attack led by the Caprivi
Liberation Army (CLA) in August 1999 on Katima Mulilo, the Caprivi
regional capital.

John Samboma, alleged commander of the CLA, was among the 13 who were
released at the end of February on order of Judge Elton Hoff at the high
court in Grootfontein, 500 km north of the capital, Windhoek, who ruled
that his court did not have the jurisdiction to try the men because the
circumstances under which they had been held were "irregular".

The 13 accused had claimed they were kidnapped from Zambia and Botswana by
the Namibian authorities.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40120


Further flooding expected in Caprivi

Further flooding was expected in northeastern Caprivi as the Zambezi river
rose above the five metre mark over the weekend, according to senior
Namibian officials.

The water level has been rising since October last year and seven villages
were already submerged, Dotson Kamwi, a spokesperson for the Caprivi
governor's office told IRIN on Tuesday.

"The river began flooding since January this year and the governor's
office, along with the Regional Emergency Unit, have targeted 18,428
households in the affected area for provision of food and commodities such
as tents," Kamwi said.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40082


Caprivi trial postponed to June

Over 100 men accused of treason for their alleged role in an attack by
separatist rebels in Namibia's northeastern Caprivi region pleaded not
guilty on Monday when they appeared in court for the first time in
four-and-a-half years.

The 107 appeared in the Grootfontein high court, 500 km north of Windhoek.
They are part of a group of 120 men arrested for taking part in the attack
led by the Caprivi Liberation Army (CLA) in August 1999. The matter has
dragged on with a series of postponements over the years.

Defence counsel Patrick Kauta said each of the accused faced 278 charges,
including treason, attempted murder, possession of arms and malicious
damage to property.

The case was postponed to 1 June, as the court wanted to wait for the
outcome of a separate application brought by 13 of the accused in the
Windhoek high court last week.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40078


IRIN-SA
Tel: +27 11 880-4633
Fax: +27 11 447-5472
Email: IRIN-SA@irin.org.za

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