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Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for Southern Africa

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SOUTHERN AFRICA
IRIN-SA Weekly Round-Up 247
3 - 9 September 2005


CONTENTS:

ZIMBABWE: D-day looms as IMF board meets
ANGOLA: UNITA calls on govt to address acts of intimidation in
   provinces
MOZAMBIQUE: Twelve killed in FRELIMO-RENAMO skirmish
SOUTH AFRICA: Virginity testing - absence of a small tissue becomes big
   issue
SOUTHERN AFRICA: HIV/AIDS eroding region's development, says UN report
SWAZILAND: HIV-positive children more vulnerable to chickenpox
ZAMBIA: Govt allows refugees to be airlifted
ANGOLA: UNITA calls on govt to address acts of intimidation in
   provinces


ZIMBABWE: D-day looms as IMF board meets

Zimbabwe's Reserve Bank governor left for Washington on Thursday in a 
bid to prevent the country's expulsion from the International Monetary 
Fund (IMF).

Should the IMF demand compulsory withdrawal, it would be only the second 
time in history that the Fund has expelled a member.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48966


New laws hamper re-establishment of informal businesses

Informal traders affected by Zimbabwe's recent urban cleanup campaign 
have welcomed government efforts to restore their livelihoods, but say 
greater effort is needed if the country's lucrative informal sector is 
to recover, IRIN reported on Thursday.

A demolition drive, which began in May, uprooted thousands of informal 
traders in the country's urban centres. Months later many are returning 
to the cities but complain that strict new regulations governing how 
they do business is hampering their ability to make a living.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48964


Bleak outlook for vulnerable, say aid workers

The dilemma of food availability and affordability in Zimbabwe could 
translate into worse-than-expected needs during the traditional lean 
season before the new harvest in March/April next year, say aid workers.

In its latest situation report the World Food Programme (WFP) noted that 
the "availability and/or accessibility [of food] remained problematic in 
much of the country", and that the state's "Grain Marketing Board (GMB) 
depots have consistently received insufficient grain to meet the needs 
of vulnerable households".

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48934


Businesses struggle after SA disconnects Harare for unpaid phone bill

Doing business in Zimbabwe has become even more difficult after South 
Africa's telecommunications parastatal, Telkom, pulled the plug on 
services to the neighbouring country for outstanding debts.

Telkom SA spokeswoman Lulu Letlape refused to be drawn on Tuesday on 
just how much was outstanding. "We cannot say how much the company is 
owed, as we do not discuss our clients with third parties, but we can 
confirm that Telkom has blocked its services from Zimbabwe to South 
Africa over a very big amount."

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48932


Govt extends deadline for floundering reconstruction programme

The Zimbabwe government has extended the deadline for the completion of 
its Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle (Stay Well) housing programme to 
December, due to the slow pace of construction.

Acting information minister Chen Chimutengwende told IRIN the extension 
beyond the original 31 August deadline had been necessitated by building 
delays due to shortages of fuel and construction materials.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48910


Villagers respond to AIDS orphans crisis

Five years ago, the residents of Majini village, about 90 km from the 
southern border town of Beitbridge, Zimbabwe, were reluctant to talk 
about HIV/AIDS - now they are planning a vegetable garden to support 
AIDS orphans and other families affected by the disease.

"The growing number of AIDS orphans in the area made the villagers sit 
up and look for solutions," said Reverend Musa Makulubane at the local 
church, which has been proactive in trying to get residents to adopt a 
more responsive stance to HIV/AIDS.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48907


ANGOLA: UNITA calls on govt to address acts of intimidation in provinces

As Angola prepares to stage its first post-war poll there are growing 
concerns over incidents of politically motivated violence between 
supporters of the country's major parties.

UNITA public administration secretary on Wednesday told IRIN the party 
was concerned over the number of "politically motivated acts of 
intolerance" in the provinces.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48949


MOZAMBIQUE: Twelve killed in FRELIMO-RENAMO skirmish

Mozambican politicians have roundly condemned a recent clash between 
supporters of the country's major political parties over disputed 
municipal elections.

Twelve people were killed and 47 injured earlier this week after 
scuffles broke out between adherents of the ruling FRELIMO party and the 
opposition RENAMO party in Mocimboa da Praia municipality, in the 
northern province of Cabo Delgado.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48965


Aid urgently needed, says WFP

Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people in Mozambique will go hungry 
unless the international community provides urgent funding for aid 
programmes, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned this week.

"We urgently need US $19 million to keep essential feeding programmes 
going for 430,000 people in Mozambique, but we need the assistance now," 
WFP's Regional Director for Southern Africa, Mike Sackett, said in a 
statement.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48981


SOUTH AFRICA: Virginity testing - absence of a small tissue becomes big 
issue

This weekend, thousands of Zulu maidens will make their way to Nongoma 
in northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province, to participate in 'Umhlanga', 
the annual reed dance ceremony celebrating virginity.

The traditional gathering takes place in the wake of controversy 
surrounding the soon-to-be-outlawed testing of virgins: the Children's 
Bill was approved by parliament in July 2005 and, if passed by the 
National Council of Provinces, the legislation will impose an outright 
ban on the custom.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48969


VIP protection troops in Burundi to be withdrawn, says govt

South Africa is to withdraw over 300 troops protecting political leaders 
in Burundi following peaceful elections last month.

Defence ministry spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi told IRIN on Wednesday the 
protection unit's mission "had been accomplished".

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48952


SOUTHERN AFRICA: HIV/AIDS eroding region's development, says UN report

HIV/AIDS has accounted for huge reversals in human development in 
Southern Africa, which could impact on the region meeting some of the 
UN's poverty-slashing Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to 
a new report.

The UN's '2005 Human Development Report', released on Wednesday, noted 
that 12 of the 18 countries that have suffered development reversals 
between 1990 and 2003 were in sub-Saharan Africa, with Southern Africa 
"hit hardest".

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48950


SWAZILAND: HIV-positive children more vulnerable to chickenpox

An upsurge in chickenpox among Swazi children and adults is being blamed 
on a rise in HIV/AIDS in a country with one of the world's highest HIV 
infection rates.

"Chickenpox is a relatively mild childhood disease, but once contracted 
it will remain with the child for the rest of his or her life. If the 
child is HIV-positive, it becomes more serious," said Ministry of Health 
worker Julie Dlamini.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48971


Student permits spark renewed border debate

Swazi school children are feeling the brunt of renewed debate over the 
Swaziland-South African border, with South African soldiers reportedly 
blocking Swazi students from attending schools on the South African side 
of the frontier.

"The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mabili Dlamini, has expressed 
disapproval of statements made by South African officials, saying Swazi 
students deserved to be arrested for trespassing," reported the 
government-owned Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Service, the 
country's sole radio station.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48916


ZAMBIA: Govt allows refugees to be airlifted

The Angolan government has finally given clearance for a flight 
operation expected to repatriate more than 700 refugees from 
neighbouring Zambia, according to relief officials.

"The clearance was given yesterday [7 September] and a planeload of 53 
refugees left soon after permission was granted," said Anthony Mogga, 
head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in the western Zambian town of 
Mongu. About 120 refugees will be repatriated on two more flights on 
Thursday, via the airbridge that is expected to continue until the 
second week of November.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48963


Agencies step in to address HIV/AIDS in prisons

Prison walls have not insulated inmates from the effects of Zambia's 
HIV/AIDS pandemic, aid workers warn.

Prisoners are rendered vulnerable due to overcrowding, poor nutrition, 
limited access to healthcare, injecting drug use, unsafe sex and 
tattooing, according to government officials and NGOs.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48909


Refugees wait while Angola delays clearance of their airlift home

More than two weeks after getting a green light from the Zambian 
authorities to return home, over 700 Angolan refugees are still 
languishing at a transit centre, awaiting clearance from their 
government.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48908


IRIN-SA
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Fax: +27 11 784-6759
Email: IRIN-SA@irin.org.za

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Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 
2005


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