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 297
26 August - 1 September 2006


CONTENTS:

SOUTH AFRICA: Attacks on Somalis expose xenophobia
ZIMBABWE: Bill proposes state access to electronic communications
ZIMBABWE: New currency winners and losers
SWAZILAND: Critics slam findings on female sexual activity
MALAWI: Standoff over new public prosecutions director


SOUTH AFRICA: Attacks on Somalis expose xenophobia

A wave of violent attacks against Somali-run businesses around Cape Town 
is exposing tensions between poor South Africans and the millions of 
refugees who have flocked to the country. Human rights organisations are 
investigating reports that as many as 27 Somali refugees have been 
murdered in the Western Cape province in August alone.

For several nights mobs rampaged through the informal settlement of 
Masiphumelele, near the Cape Peninsula port of Simonstown, destroying 
Somali run businesses.

Full report http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55361


ZIMBABWE: Bill proposes state access to electronic communications

Zimbabwe is proposing to add another law to its raft of existing media 
legislation, further narrowing the space for freedom of expression. 
Civic society presented a broad front united in their opposition to the 
Interception of Communications Bill. If passed, it will allow the 
military, intelligence services, police and the office of the president 
to monitor e-mail correspondence, eavesdrop on telephone conversations 
and censor internet access.

Full report http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55345


ZIMBABWE: New currency winners and losers

Urban dwellers dumped trillions of worthless Zimbabwean dollars on rural 
people unaware of currency reforms introduced by Reserve Bank governor 
Gideon Gono, which saw an old currency switched for a new currency in a 
bid to halt the country's economic meltdown. Poverty-stricken 
communities were left with bundles of obsolete currency after city 
dwellers bought livestock from small-scale farmers.

Full report http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55320


SWAZILAND: Critics slam findings on female sexual activity

Swazi women have more sexual partners than men, a new study has found, 
with sixty percent of sexually active women saying they have had at 
least two sexual partners in the past three months - 18 percent higher 
than men. But critics said the report did not reflect the unequal power 
relations between men and women in a country with the world's highest 
rate of HIV/AIDS infections.

Full Report http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55299


MALAWI: Standoff over new public prosecutions director

Malawi's parliament is stalling the appointment of a new director of 
public prosecutions until President Bingu wa Mutharika explains why he 
gave the previous prosecutor 24 hours notice to resign or be fired. The 
president set the ultimatum after the prosecutor had dropped corruption 
charges against Malawi's former president, Bakili Maluzi.

Full report http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55325


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


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