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

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e-mail: irin-sa@irin.org.za


SOUTHERN AFRICA
IRIN-SA Weekly Round-Up 354
8 - 14 December 2007


CONTENTS:

COMOROS: Instability spells decline
MOZAMBIQUE: What price the benefits of foreign investment?
GLOBAL: Climate change - heating up conflict
ZIMBABWE: The usual president looks set to run again
GLOBAL: More extreme weather in poorer countries
ZIMBABWE: MDC bruised but not yet beaten
GLOBAL: "Save the water", warn world weather watchers
SOUTH AFRICA: How much free water is enough?
AFRICA: Tackling deforestation is critical
GLOBAL: Not enough money to keep small islands afloat


COMOROS: Instability spells decline The prospects for a peaceful 
resolution to the deepening political impasse between Anjouan, one of 
three semi-autonomous islands that make up the Indian Ocean archipelago 
of Comoros, and the Union government, are becoming ever less likely.

Individual island elections in June reignited hostility between Anjouan 
and the other two islands in the group, Grande Comore and Moheli. 
Efforts by the African Union (AU) to negotiate a deal and the imposition 
of sanctions targeting the freedoms and financial assets of Anjouan's 
leadership since then have failed to break the deadlock.

See full report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75813


MOZAMBIQUE: What price the benefits of foreign investment?

The Mozal aluminium plant is a symbol of Mozambique's red-hot economy, 
touted as a symbol of the investor-friendly environment that led the 
Wall Street Journal to declare the country "an African success story".

Mozal's exports have increased Mozambique's gross domestic product (GDP) 
by between 3.2 and 5 percent. Its output represents almost half the 
country's growth in manufacturing. But in spite of these apparent 
benefits, Mozal has contributed little to the country's development.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75790


GLOBAL: Climate change - heating up conflict

Increasing pressure caused by climate change on essential resources like 
water could not only trigger domestic conflicts but also have a 
destabilising effect globally, warned UN officials.

"It is not far-fetched to begin to see growing tensions; not far fetched 
to think climate change will globally have a destabilising effect," said 
Achim Steiner, Executive Secretary of the UN Environment Programme 
(UNEP), who drew a scenario in which countries heavily affected by 
climate change would blame those not seen as doing enough to cut 
emissions.

Experts at the UN climate change conference in Bali, Indonesia, said 
environmental shocks could outpace the adaptive capacities of some 
societies in the coming decades and warned that by 2020 up to 250 
million people in Africa could be exposed to increased water stress, and 
food production could be halved. Fresh water availability in Asia was 
also expected to fall.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75787


ZIMBABWE: The usual president looks set to run again

Zimbabwe's war veterans are camped outside the conference hall of a 
critical congress of the ruling ZANU-PF party this week, determined that 
President Robert Mugabe, 83, stays in office until he retires.

Mugabe, who has led the party since 1977, seemed on the ropes 12 months 
ago. Last year's congress refused to endorse a resolution for him to 
remain in power beyond the end of his term in 2008.

Moreover, Zimbabwe's economic and humanitarian crisis spelled electoral 
doom for ZANU-PF, and his rivals knew that only with Mugabe gone would 
the international community consider bailing the country out. But Mugabe 
seems to have succeeded in turning the tables on internal dissent.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75836


GLOBAL: More extreme weather in poorer countries

Developing countries top a 2008 Climate Risk Index released in the 
Indonesian island of Bali, where the United Nations climate change 
conference is taking place.

The index shows that less developed countries often suffer more from 
storms, floods and extreme weather than industrialised countries, 
according to Germanwatch, the development non-governmental organisation 
that produced the study.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75810


ZIMBABWE: MDC bruised but not yet beaten

Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is in 
trouble: already split into feuding factions, it now risks being 
deserted by its key allies ahead of next year's elections.

Labour movement and civil society groups are concerned over the 
'compromises' the MDC has made in low-key talks with the ruling ZANU-PF 
party, and a growing intolerance within the opposition party, underlined 
by reports of intimidation and violence against members, analysts say.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75759


GLOBAL: "Save the water", warn world weather watchers

The decade from 1998 to 2007 has been the warmest on record, according 
to the UN World Meteorological Organisation, and with temperatures 
rising, access to water will be a critical issue for poorer nations.

Although solutions to save water are already available, countries need 
to take action to implement strategies in national action plans now, 
experts warned.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75858


SOUTH AFRICA: How much free water is enough

South Africa's High Court is poised to rule whether Johannesburg's 
decision to introduce a multimillion-dollar prepaid water system in the 
country's largest township, Soweto, southwest of the city, is in 
violation of the residents' right to free water.

The court has been asked to order the city to provide at least 50 litres 
of free water per person per day, double what many Soweto residents 
currently receive, and allow the option to keep using the old system 
still operated elsewhere in the city, in which unlimited water is 
available for a flat fee. A ruling is not expected until early next 
year, but some people are not prepared to wait that long.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75867


AFRICA: Tackling deforestation is critical

Forests in Africa will continue to be decimated unless money is invested 
in renewable energy resources, warned officials at a UN meeting on 
climate change being hailed as a "forest conference".

The meeting in Bali, to launch negotiations for a new agreement to cut 
greenhouse gas emissions after 2012, has recognised the need to deal 
with deforestation to stem global warming.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75868


GLOBAL: Not enough money to keep small islands afloat

The new Adaptation Fund for vulnerable countries to cope with global 
warming, announced at the climate change summit on the Indonesian island 
of Bali, will not be adequate, said an official of the Alliance of Small 
Island States (AOSIS).

Global warming could alter the size and coastlines of some members of 
the 44-country coalition of small islands and low-lying coastal 
countries, including Mauritius, Comoros, Sao Tome, Guinea Bissau and 
Seychelles, all in the Indian Ocean.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75874


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