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 289
26 - 30 June 2006


CONTENTS:

ZIMBABWE: Ruling party looks for spiritual support
SWAZILAND: Opposition struggles to oppose the king
SOUTH AFRICA: Govt takes aim at criminals, as gun violence toll rises
ZAMBIA: Record copper prices, but mine region yet to benefit
NAMIBIA: Civil society and govt to tie the knot


ZIMBABWE: Ruling party looks for spiritual support

Zimbabwe's political divisions now extend to church pulpits, with an 
alliance of spiritual leaders backing President Robert Mugabe, and a 
rival group of priests protesting the government's human rights record.

At a prayer meeting which attracted thousands at a stadium outside the 
capital Harare on Sunday, Mugabe said: "Let the church come in and point 
out where there are shortcomings, sins of commission or omission. We 
must combine our strengths in rebuilding our economy."

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=54183


Education system sliding into ruin

Standards of learning and teaching in Zimbabwe, at one time the envy of 
the African continent, have been plummeting, says a report by a 
cross-party parliamentary committee.

The Portfolio Committee on Education painted a grim picture after 
visiting institutions of higher learning, and in some cases finding 
female students resorting to sex work or cohabiting with men to pay for 
their fees at universities and colleges.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=54314


SWAZILAND: Opposition struggles to oppose the king

Swaziland's largest opposition group, the People's United Democratic 
Movement (PUDEMO), is to hold its annual general meeting this weekend - 
in South Africa.

The official reason for crossing the border to the town of Nelspruit 
rather than meeting on home soil is the fear that "royal hit squads 
masquerading as police would disrupt the conference", said PUDEMO 
president Mario Masuku.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=54312


SOUTH AFRICA: Govt takes aim at criminals, as gun violence toll rises

Escalating gun violence in Johannesburg, South Africa, has brought 
overwhelming public support for a police 'shoot-to-kill' policy against 
armed criminals.

After a series of bloody incidents that has shocked even crime-hardened 
South Africans, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said this 
week that any criminal pointing a firearm at a policeman or a citizen 
would be shot. Members of the public interviewed by IRIN said the 
government had finally woken up to the reality of gun violence.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=54294


ZAMBIA: Record copper prices, but mine region yet to benefit

Record world copper prices should brighten hopes of recovery in Zambia's 
Copperbelt region after a decade of mine closures and job losses.

Since the beginning of the year, prices on the London Metal Exchange 
have shot to nearly US$10,000 per tonne - double the average last 
December - on the back of strong demand from China and India in 
particular.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=54290


NAMIBIA: Civil society and govt to tie the knot

The NGO sector can often be something of a nuisance to governments, but 
in Namibia they have decided to embrace their activists in a formal 
partnership to facilitate development.

A policy document, later to be turned into law, advocates working with 
willing NGOs in recognition that civil society groups are often closer 
to the communities that government development programmes want to reach.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=54339


IRIN-SA
Tel: +27 11 895-1900
Fax: +27 11 784-6759
Email: IRIN-SA@irin.org.za


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International                  web: www.cidi.org
     Disaster Information             listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                    guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Southern Africa                  www.cidi.org/humanitarian/irin/safrica