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 165
31 January - 6 February 2004


CONTENTS:

ZIMBABWE: The plight of ex-commercial farm workers
ANGOLA: Pledge to allow donor monitoring of funds
LESOTHO: Need to improve local anti-AIDS capacity
MADAGASCAR: "Elita" pays a destructive return visit
MALAWI: Vulnerability assessment launched
MOZAMBIQUE: Fears of a third consecutive drought
SOUTH AFRICA: Authorities target alleged mercenaries
SWAZILAND: Govt to fine-tune plan on free education for orphans
ZAMBIA: Government finances leave 9,000 teachers stranded
SOUTHERN AFRICA: Sexual abuse of schoolgirls largely unpunished


ZIMBABWE: The plight of ex-commercial farm workers

Almost four years after the government of Zimbabwe adopted the fast-track
land redistribution programme, thousands of ex-commercial farm workers
find themselves displaced and without employment.

In 2000 the government embarked on the controversial programme that drove
thousands of white farmers off their estates, saying it intended to
resettle land-hungry black Zimbabweans. More than 300,000 farm workers who
had been employed by the former commercial farmers were also displaced in
the process.

The Farm Community Trust (FCT), an NGO seeking to promote the welfare of
farm workers, bemoans the impact of the fast-track programme on the lives
of former commercial farm workers.

"The fast-track land reform programme created a class of Zimbabwean
citizens whose lives resemble that of refugees. First, they were displaced
from the only homes they had known for whole generations, and what is now
emerging is that the former farm workers are finding it difficult to
regain stable employment," FCT director Godfrey Magaramombe told IRIN.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/updates/tsendandsubmit.asp?ReportID=39358


Overcrowding leads to prison crisis

On Thursday IRIN reported that Zimbabwe's prisons are full to the hatches
with petty criminals and remand prisoners as a result of a slow judicial
system that is failing to cope with the backlog of criminal cases.

An exodus of magistrates from the Justice Department over low pay, poor
working conditions and alleged political interference has worsened the
situation.

In June last year alone, 10 magistrates resigned at a time when some
inmates were "spending up to four years awaiting trial", according to
chief magistrate Samuel Kudya.

"We have a backlog of up to 60,000 cases countrywide, and there are close
to 60 vacant magisterial posts. The capital, Harare, has a backlog of
3,200 criminal cases, while pending civil cases stand at 12,000," he said.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39331


Supreme Court rejects appeal against media law

IRIN reported that Zimbabwe's Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed an
appeal to scrap sections of a controversial media law, which journalists
say gives too much power to authorities and infringes on their right to
freedom of expression.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) noted in a statement that
while the Supreme Court conceded that the constitution guaranteed freedom
of expression, the court upheld sections of the Access to Information and
Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), which prevents reporters from working
without accreditation.

"We are disappointed to say the least. We do not object to accreditation
for administrative purposes, but are concerned that the minister [of
information] and MIC [the government-appointed Media and Information
Commission] are given quasi-judicial powers to decide who works as a
journalist," MISA-Zimbabwe information officer, Rashweat Mukundu, told
IRIN.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39327


ZANU-PF wins by-election

In a landslide victory, Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF won a by-election in the
central constituency of Gutu North.

IRIN reported on Thursday that ZANU-PF candidate Josiah Tungamirai took
20,699 votes, against 7,291 for Crispa Musoni of the opposition Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC), in the two-day poll. The seat fell vacant
after the death of vice-president Simon Muzenda in September 2003.

Gutu North is seen as an important constituency, mainly because it is
located in Masvingo, the province with the largest electorate.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39325


Pro-democracy leader allegedly assaulted by police

The Zimbabwean police said on Thursday that they were unaware of the
alleged beating of a pro-democracy leader during a protest in the capital,
Harare, on Wednesday.

National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) chairman, Lovemore Madhuku, was
reportedly severely assaulted when riot police broke up a demonstration in
Africa Unity Square in the city centre, organised by the NCA to demand
constitutional reforms.

The Daily News reported that Madhuku was found lying in a pool of blood
near the National Sports Stadium, several kilometres from the scene of the
demonstration, where he was allegedly dumped after being assaulted.

Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena told IRIN on
Thursday that he was "not aware of whether he [Madhuku] was beaten".

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39320


WOZA plans another Valentine's day protest

IRIN reported on Wednesday that the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
activist organisation plans to protest in the streets of the capital,
Harare, on 14 February, the anniversary of its first protest action
against the rising cost of living.

This year's protest will again be marked by the distribution of red roses,
symbolising the women's defence of their "right to live" and the hope that
all Zimbabweans could "still love one another and not be overtaken by
hatred".

Last year their protests, accompanied by songs, the red roses and other
symbolic actions, such as sweeping streets and banging pots and pans,
received a good deal of local and international media attention when 16
members spent a night in police custody for breaching the Public Order and
Security Act (POSA).

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39300


By-election "peaceful"

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) declared the by-election on
Monday and Tuesday in the central Zimbabwean constituency of Gutu North as
"peaceful", IRIN reported on Wednesday.

Reginald Matchaba-Hove, chairman of ZESN, said he had spent three days on
the ground "and I have not noticed any intimidation or party T-shirts" in
the vicinity of the polling stations.

ZESN reported on Tuesday that European Union diplomats had been denied
entry to some of the voting locations. Matchaba-Hove explained that the
incident had occurred at only one polling station, where the official in
charge had not been briefed about the visit. The delegation eventually
gained access.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39299


Food prices continue to rise

On Monday IRIN reported that the price of a loaf of bread in Zimbabwe is
expected to rise to Zim $3,500 (US $1)- the latest hike in the cost of
basic food commodities - after an increase in the price of flour.

The cost of flour went up last week because low levels of domestic wheat
production have forced millers to turn to more expensive imports.

Zimbabwe is expected to produce only 38 percent of its food requirements
in the current growing season, according to the latest monthly report of
the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET). It estimated that just
over five million people in a rural population of 7.8 million would
require food assistance until March 2004, before the next harvest in
April.

The situation in urban areas has worsened as well. The cost of the
December 2003 low-income urban household monthly basket, monitored by the
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, rose five percentage points from the
November total to about Zim $678,000 (US $193.71).

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39257


ANGOLA: Pledge to allow donor monitoring of funds

IRIN reported on Thursday that Angola will allow prospective donors to
manage and monitor financial assistance to the country with the help of
their own task teams.

Angola's ambassador to South Africa, Isaac Maria dos Anjos told IRIN: "Our
only condition is that the administrative task team sent in by the donor
country should be small, so that most of the money is available for the
beneficiaries, and not spent on administration."

Dos Anjos was reacting to the international community's lukewarm response
to appeals for a donor conference to reconstruct the war-ravaged country.
Since a ceasefire with the UNITA rebel movement in 2002, ending almost
three decades of conflict, the government has made several calls for such
a conference.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39326


Food security better in areas farming cassava

Households in the maize-based agricultural areas of southern and central
Angola are facing greater food insecurity than those in the northern and
eastern cassava belt, IRIN reported on Thursday.

Cassava is a drought-resistant root crop and a major source of dietary
energy for people in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.

The latest Angola Food Security Update by the Famine Early Warning Systems
Network and World Food Programme notes that the "highly vulnerable
population increased by 46 percent when compared to the situation in April
2003" and "households facing high levels of vulnerability to food
insecurity are largely concentrated in the maize-based agricultural areas,
where they face serious difficulties".

The number of food insecure people in Angola could rise to about 1.8
million by April.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39324


Peacekeeping troops ready soon

Quoting a senior diplomat, IRIN reported on Thursday that Angola is
expected to announce a decision to provide troops for United Nations
peacekeeping missions in the next four months.

The country's ambassador to South Africa, Isaac Maria dos Anjos, told IRIN
that Angola was already training soldiers for the purpose and the
government was expected to make an announcement in June/July this year.

"Our philosophy behind the decision is to integrate the [ruling party]
MPLA and the former UNITA rebel soldiers, using the peacekeeping missions
to create a sense of patriotism in the army," he said.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39314


WFP forced to cut rations to most beneficiaries

IRIN reported on Tuesday that the World Food Programme has had to reduce
the rations given to 1.6 million of its vulnerable beneficiaries in
Angola.

During January the UN food agency was only able to maintain full rations
for 100,000 of the most vulnerable of its 1.7 million beneficiaries, due
to breaks in its food aid pipeline and limited access to parts of the
country. It was also unable to pre-position stocks in areas cut off by
heavy rains.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39279


Cabinda activists complain of harassment

Also on Tuesday, IRIN reported complaints by civil rights activists in
Angola's Cabinda province of ongoing harassment by the authorities in the
troubled oil-rich northern enclave.

Some 1,500 activists were prevented from launching an organisation that
would call for a peaceful solution to ongoing hostilities in region and
monitor alleged human rights abuses on Sunday.

Civic rights groups have, over the past two years, raised the alarm over
alleged rights abuses in the province, noting a rise in civilian
causalities because of ongoing hostilities between the army and
secessionist rebels.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39277


Discrimination and dependence - the plight of the San
 
On Monday IRIN focused on the plight of the Angolan San. Since colonial
times, and throughout Angola's 27-year civil war, the Angolan San have
been invisible, forgotten and abused. But no longer.

For the first time since independence in 1975, a study tracks their
numbers (roughly 3,600), describes their situation and offers
recommendations for a better future.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39255


LESOTHO: Need to improve local anti-AIDS capacity

IRIN on Wednesday reported that a World Bank mission, which would delve
into Lesotho's humanitarian crisis, was launched this week.

The mission's emphasis would be on building the capacity of local
institutions to handle AIDS and help manage the country's drought-induced
food shortages.

"There are a number of groups who want to work on HIV/AIDS, but fail
because they cannot write compelling proposals, and who cannot yet be
relied upon to see that results are reached," Julie McLaughlin, who
co-heads the Bank's HIV/AIDS Capacity Building and Technical Assistance
Project for Lesotho, told a meeting of stakeholders.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39303


MADAGASCAR: "Elita" pays a destructive return visit

IRIN reported on Wednesday that four people had been killed and 13,000
left homeless after tropical cyclone "Elita" returned to Madagascar for
the second time in a week.

Elita, which left two people dead and 5,000 homeless after its first visit
on 28 January, approached the west coast early on Tuesday and was moving
inland, local newspaper L'Gazette reported on Wednesday.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39298


MALAWI: Vulnerability assessment launched

This week relief agencies started a vulnerability assessment to determine
the food security situation, following erratic rains this season.

Most parts of the country received planting rains a month late, around
mid-December, with some areas not receiving rains at all by mid-January,
the Famine Early Warning Systems (FEWS NET) said.

The assessment is expected to cover the country's three regions and teams
will produce a national report by the end of the month.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39328


Fishing and conservation project to benefit 300,000

On Tuesday IRIN reported on a five-year pilot project to support fishing
in Lake Malawi.

The Principal Secretary of Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs,
George Mkondiwa, said the "Lake Malawi Artisanal Fisheries Development
Project" would immediately benefit 12,000 fishermen. The project has
received almost US $10.56 million from the African Development Fund, of
which US $9.42 is a loan and the remainder a grant.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39271


MOZAMBIQUE: Fears of a third consecutive drought

Mozambique could be facing its third consecutive drought year, according
to the latest report by the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET).

The Harare-based FEWSNET noted in its latest update that more than half
the country had received less than 75 percent of normal rainfall in the
past few months. "In meteorological terms, less than 75 percent of normal
rain over an extended period is considered a drought."

The World Food Programme is expected to revise its original plans to scale
down emergency food distributions in light of the poor rainfall.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39254


SOUTH AFRICA: Authorities target alleged mercenaries

On Tuesday South Africa's elite Scorpions unit arrested a former defence
force pilot for alleged mercenary activities in the troubled west African
country of Cote d'Ivoire.

Carl Frederick Alberts, 49, appeared in court on Wednesday and was charged
with contravening the Foreign Military Assistance Act. He was granted bail
of R5,000 (about US $725) and is to appear in court again on 13 February.

Scorpions spokesman Sipho Ngwema told IRIN that the unit was "still
investigating [mercenary activities in] the whole of the [African]
continent, and we expect to make several arrests". Alberts is only the
second person to be arrested and prosecuted for alleged contraventions of
the Foreign Military Assistance Act.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39302


Increased funding needed for rural poor - new report

Although South Africa has scaled up social spending over the last decade,
considerable additional funding is needed to improve delivery to the
country's rural poor, a new study has found.

The report by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) argued that
increased access to social services largely benefited urban and peri-urban
households, and authorities were still struggling to provide basic
infrastructure and social services to the rural poor.

One of the key challenges raised in the study was the financial
sustainability of projects aimed at beefing up service delivery in rural
communities, such as providing water and electricity.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39301


SWAZILAND: Govt to fine-tune plan on free education for orphans

Swazi orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) will have to wait for the
introduction of free education promised by the government, IRIN reported
on Tuesday.

Minister of Education Constance Simelane has admitted that "some finer
points" still needed to be sorted out in implementing the policy.

Simelane announced last week that the government was to assist 60,000 of
the total 200,000 OVCs in the country by paying the school fees of the
destitute children. This week Simelane called for financial assistance to
implement the policy.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39265


Army to introduce compulsory HIV testing

Swaziland's small national army, the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force
(USDF), has confirmed plans to introduce a programme of compulsory HIV
testing for its personnel, IRIN reported on Tuesday.

"This is an information-gathering exercise, and not an exclusionary
policy. No one will be fired because he or she is HIV-positive. We have to
know how big the problem is," a high-ranking army official told IRIN.

Colonel Gwalagwala Dlamini, the army's chief of personnel and chairman of
its HIV/AIDS Task Committee, said in a recent statement that testing for
the USDF's 3,500 soldiers and recruits would be compulsory, but would
remain anonymous.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39263


ZAMBIA: Government finances leave 9,000 teachers stranded

Zambia's already understaffed schools were dealt another blow this week
after the government announced that some 9,000 teachers would not be
deployed because of a lack of resources, IRIN reported.

The education ministry's press officer, Michael Katowa, on Tuesday
countered media reports that the failure to employ teachers trained in
2002 and 2003 was due to World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF)
budget conditionalities.

"The government has not deployed the teachers because there are no funds
to pay salaries. The IMF support to the government is not intended to go
towards the payment of wages and, therefore, it would be irresponsible for
us to use that money to pay salaries," Katowa said.

The loss of 9,000 additional teachers to the education system meant that
schools, especially in rural areas, would have to go without teaching
staff, he added.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39275


SOUTHERN AFRICA: Sexual abuse of schoolgirls largely unpunished

The ongoing sexual abuse of girls in some schools in Malawi and Zimbabwe
remains largely unpunished, forcing many young women to abandon their
education, a recent report has revealed.

A joint study by the University of Sussex and African educators noted that
despite the international drive to get more girls into schools, very
little attention has been paid to the hurdles young girls face in the
education system.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39353


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

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Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2004


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