Weekly Round-Up - IRINSA-271: 24-Feb-06
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 271
18 - 24 February 2006
CONTENTS:
MOZAMBIQUE: Concern over aftershocks in wake of huge quake
ZIMBABWE: Mugabe delivers broadside to neighbours
SOUTH AFRICA: Bird flu ruffles few feathers among street traders
ANGOLA: Ready to play larger security role in Africa
ZAMBIA: Avian flu - govt's plan emphasises prevention
SWAZILAND: Poverty on the increase, says govt
LESOTHO: Autonomy seeking magistrates suspend "go-slow"
MADAGASCAR: Down-and-out in Antananarivo
MOZAMBIQUE: Concern over aftershocks in wake of huge quake
Mozambique was hit by the most powerful earthquake in over a century
this week. At least two people died and 17 were reported injured in the
quake, which had a magnitude of 7.5 and was felt as far away as
neighbouring South Africa and Mozambique.
Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=51886
Protest over re-printing of Prophet Muhammad cartoons
An independent Mozambican weekly's reprinting of some of the
controversial cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad, sparked protests from
the local Muslim community. Editor-in-chief of the publication, Savana
and respected journalist, Fernando Goncalves, subsequently apologised.
He explained the purpose of reprinting the cartoons was to show
pictorially what had become the subject of intense worldwide debate, and
no offence was intended.
Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=51811
ZIMBABWE: Mugabe delivers broadside to neighbours
President Robert Mugabe has hinted at constitutional reforms, possibly
to smooth the way for a chosen successor. Speaking in a televised
interview to commemorate his 82nd birthday over the weekend, Mugabe also
lashed out at his critics within the African Union, who, he said were
acting under pressure from western governments. This week also saw the
return of Arthur Mutambara, an academic and a former militant student
leader to lead the pro-Senate faction ahead of their congress in
Bulawayo this Saturday.
Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=51816
Huge response to appeal to help restore women's dignity
Ordinary South Africans have responded generously to an appeal by
sanitary pads for Zimbabwean women, hit by shortages and rocketing
prices. A packet of 10 sanitary pads costs US $10 in Zimbabwe, where the
average salary ranges between $50 to $100 a month. Women have been
forced to use old rags and even newspapers as a substitute for the
sanitary pads.
Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=51882
SOUTH AFRICA: Bird flu ruffles few feathers among street traders
A campaign to provide information on the bird flu to poultry vendors is
proving to be a challenge for NGOs like the Society for Protection
against Cruelty to Animals, as the country braces itself for any
outbreak. Most of the chicken sellers have not heard of the disease or
are foreigners who don't speak English or any of the South African
languages.
Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=51810
Govt adopts more focused approach to help orphans
The South African government has begun addressing some of the problems
over its delivery of social services, particularly help to orphans and
vulnerable children. In the past two years, a strategy to address the
shortage of social workers and mechanisms to fast-track access to grants
for those placed in foster care has produced results.
Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=51835
Murder of young lesbian sparks homophobia concerns
The murder of a lesbian in a Cape Town township has raised issues of
homophobia and tolerance. Activists feel that patriarchy, rather than
sexual orientation, is the problem.
Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=51805
ANGOLA: Ready to play larger security role in Africa
Angola, recently emerged from decades of civil war, is now turning its
attention to playing a larger peace and security role in Africa. The
country may see its ambitions boosted by assistance from former
coloniser Portugal, which has indicated a willingness to help Angola
establish a peacekeeping capacity within its large and relatively
well-equipped armed forces.
Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=51839
Cholera outbreak confirmed - 8 dead
Cholera, a disease associated with poor sanitation and access to potable
water has claimed eight lives in a suburb of the Angolan capital,
Luanda. According to the UN's World Health Organisation (WHO), 40 cases
of the highly contagious disease, spread through contaminated water or
food, were reported in the last few days in the Boavista shantytown
located to the north of the capital.
Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=51860
ZAMBIA: Avian flu - govt's plan emphasises prevention
The Zambian government announced that it has approved a US $4.8 million
budget to tackle avian flu. Health Minister Sylvia Masebo told
parliament that as the country did not have the capacity respond to an
outbreak, it would focus on preventive strategies such as surveillance
and education campaigns.
Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=51881
SWAZILAND: Poverty on the increase, says govt
Releasing Swaziland's budget this week, the Finance Minister Majozi
Sithole revealed that more than half the population earned less than a
dollar a day. About 800,000 Swazis out of 1.2 million - or 69 percent of
the population, survive on about US $21 a month, less than 70 US cents a
day, enough only to buy a loaf of bread.
Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=51858
MADAGASCAR: Down-and-out in Antananarivo
Since 2003, the capital, Antananarivo, has been running a clean-up
operation along the main thoroughfares where the homeless find shelter.
Regularly, city workers hose and fumigate these night camps. Sometimes
the clean-ups are followed by round-ups. As part of a joint agreement
between the city and the ministry, the homeless are rounded up and
trucked to government land, ranging as far as 20-100 km from the
capital. But, however hard the authorities try and relocate the
destitute, an estimated 40 percent find their way back to Antananarivo.
Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=51862
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