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 325
10 - 16 March 2007


CONTENTS:

ZIMBABWE: Rising frustration brings hardening attitudes
BOTSWANA: Zimbabweans fleeing economic meltdown unwelcome
MADAGASCAR: Food insecurity rises in aftermath of Cyclone Indlala
SWAZILAND: Maize prices shoot up as food shortages loom


ZIMBABWE: Rising frustration brings hardening attitudes

As Zimbabwe's opposition groups vowed on Friday to keep up the pressure 
on the government for "democratic change", a defiant President Robert 
Mugabe lashed out at Western governments for supporting political 
violence.

Opposition leaders and pro-democracy groups at a meeting issued a 
declaration committing themselves to a "heightened momentum" of protest 
action, Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the main opposition Movement for 
Democratic Change (MDC), told IRIN.

But the official newspaper, The Herald, on Friday quoted Mugabe accusing 
western governments of ignoring what he had said was MDC instigation of 
the violence. "When they criticise government when it tries to prevent 
violence, and punish perpetrators of that violence, we take the position 
that they can go hang."

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=70738


Opposition denies role in police bombings

Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has distanced 
itself from the bombing of a police camp in the capital, Harare, on 
Tuesday, while some rights activists are suggesting that unrest is 
mounting.

Three female police officers were injured and their property burnt at 
the Marimba police camp, which consists of a police station and 
residential quarters, in the populous suburb of Mufakose, an MDC 
stronghold. State television and the official daily newspaper, The 
Herald, reported that assailants cut the boundary fence before throwing 
teargas canisters and petrol bombs into the lodgings.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=70720


Regional silence on crisis "loud"

Pro-democracy activists lashed out at the lack of a regional response to 
the "deteriorating human rights" situation in Zimbabwe as two activists 
were shot and wounded by police in the capital, Harare, on Tuesday, the 
third day of police crackdowns.

"At the very least they can issue a condemnation of the brutality and 
torture, and urge the Zimbabwe government to take action against the 
police," said Brian Raftopoulos, a Zimbabean academic and curently 
African affairs specialist at the South African-based Institute for 
Justice and Reconciliation.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=70677


More arrests, tension rises

Zimbabwean police arrested 240 more pro-democracy supporters on Monday 
as they demonstrated against the killing of an opposition party member 
and a crackdown on protest over conditions in the country.

More than 140 opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters 
were arrested in the eastern city of Mutare, about 300km from the 
capital, Harare, on Monday as pressure mounted on the government to 
release those arrested and ensure basic freedom of association.

Police arrested 110 opposition supporters in Harare, protesting the 
break-up of a gathering on Sunday the police had declared illegal. In 
spite of the arrests, the MDC said the month-old "defiance campaign", 
launched by a coalition of civil society groups and political parties, 
would continue.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=70653


BOTSWANA: Zimbabweans fleeing economic meltdown unwelcome

Zimbabweans trooping across the border looking for jobs in Botswana face 
hardship, but would rather stay than return to face the worsening 
economic crunch at home.

That is a problem for an increasing number of Motswana, who believe 
Zimbabweans have worn out their welcome. Xenophobia is being stoked by 
the daily arrival of economic migrants, and the popular belief that 
Zimbabweans are responsible for increased crime in this diamond-rich 
middle-income success story.

"Coming up with the exact number of Zimbabweans now living here is 
impossible because a sizeable amount of them are illegal immigrants who 
use undesignated crossing points," an immigration official, who asked 
for anonymity, told IRIN.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=70678


MADAGASCAR: Food insecurity rises in aftermath of Cyclone Indlala

Cyclone Indlala, the sixth storm to hit Madagascar this season, has 
halted ongoing relief efforts while further exacerbating food 
insecurity, prompting the United Nations (UN) and its partners to launch 
a US$9.6 million Flash Appeal to respond to the growing crisis.

Indlala had been predicted to touch down in the island's second largest 
city and main harbour, Toamasina. Instead, the storm kept heading 
northward, and hit the major agricultural city of Antalaha on the east 
coast of the island at around 5a.m. (local time) on Thursday.

The storm has been downgraded to a tropical depression as it moves 
south, but bad weather continues to prevent relief efforts near 
Antalaha. Reports from the area describe heavy damage to structures and 
agricultural land, with rice paddies completely inundated. Residents are 
without power or communication services.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=70736


SWAZILAND: Maize prices shoot up as food shortages loom

In anticipation of what could be the worst food shortage in 25 years 
brought on by prolonged dry weather, the price of Swaziland's staple 
food, maize, has risen by 80 percent in the past month, and is expected 
to double by harvest time in April-May.

"Variation in weather patterns have seriously affected maize crops at a 
very critical stage," said Ben Nsibandze, Director of the National 
Disaster Relief Task Force, which advises government and the 
international donor community on the status of the country's food 
supply.

In the last few months, Swaziland has suffered delayed rainfall, heavy 
winds and hailstorms, followed by scorching dry spells. Usually only the 
dry Middleveld, Lowveld and Lubombo Plateau areas are affected, but this 
year the entire country has experienced poor growing conditions.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=70700


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