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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IRIN-SA Weekly Round-up 37 covering the period 11 September - 17 September 1999
ANGOLA: UN defends its record
A senior UN official this week rejected as "uninformed work" a human rights group's report on Angola that accused the United Nations of failing to avert renewed civil war in the country. "If I am to believe the news reports I have seen on it (the report), it would seem that there is a misunderstanding of what UN peacekeeping is about," the official told IRIN on Wednesday in an interview by telephone from New York. "Peacekeeping is based on consent and cooperation, if the parties don't want (peace) it doesn't work."
New York-based Human Rights Watch issued a 205-page report this week in which it accused the United Nations of turning a blind eye towards breaches of the 1994 Lusaka peace accords by both sides, which eventually eroded confidence in the peace process. "The public record and the reports by the Secretary-General to the Security Council clearly shows that this was not the case," the UN source familiar with the Angolan mission said. "The violations of the Lusaka Protocol were reported and we said that(the rebel movement) UNITA bears primary responsibility for what happened, although the government didn't do all that it could have done."
He added that the supervision of the Lusaka agreement was the responsibility of a Joint Commission comprising the Angolan government, UNITA, the UN Special Representative and representatives of the observer states - Portugal, Russia and the United States. "No blind eye was turned, as every issue was raised by one side or another," the official said. "But when parties to a peace agreement decide not to abide by it and go to war, no peacekeeping operation can stop them," the official at UN headquarters stressed.
Humanitarian situation remains critical
The number of Angola's internally displaced people (IDPs) continues to rise as a result of attacks on villages, ambushes on the few accessible roads and clashes between government forces and UNITA rebels, a report by the UN Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit (UCAH) said this week.
According to UCAH, in Melange more than 49,000 IDP families have been registered for a resettlement programme and plans are underway to resettle them in the areas of Quessua, Kulamuxito and Kizanga da Barraca, which are within the security perimeter outside the town. "However, the available land so far identified is insufficient," UCAH said. The report said Negage, in Uige province, hosts about 10,000 new IDPs who have been arriving, without any belongings, from Sanza Pombo and other areas in the north-east of the province. "Two reception centres have been identified in Negage and Uige for immediate assistance to the new IDPs," said the report, which added that aid workers, in close collaboration with the local authorities, are working on establishing resettlement areas and the provision of basic social services.
UCAH also stated that new IDPs, fleeing attacks on their villages in Cuimba, arrived in Mbanza Congo in Zaire province. The report added that the number of IDPs in Matala has increased to 46,000 following new arrivals from Dongo, Kuvango and Jamba Mineira.
Citing operational difficulties, UCAH said lack of access to all populations in need, the lack of safe security conditions and the shortage of fuel for humanitarian assistance pose the main constraints. "Consequently, assistance activities continue to be developed in limited areas of the country and at increasing risk and pressure given the magnitude of the plight of vulnerable persons," said the report. UCAH also said that the global malnutrition rate has reached 16 percent in the besieged city of Huambo, while in Bengo province, out of 394 children surveyed in Cambambe camp, 5.3 percent suffer severe malnutrition with 10.6 percent facing "moderate" malnutrition.
Meanwhile, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported that its activities in the southeastern Kuando Kubango were constrained by the lack of transporters willing to carry food to outlying areas like Cuchi, which has seen an increase of IDPs following fighting in the Kuvango-Cutato area in the southern province of Huila. Added WFP: "The agricultural resettlement programmes for IDPs in the besieged towns of Melange, Huambo and Luena are limited by the lack of land and the food produced by them will only be available after the next harvest in April."
Kuito shelled again
A battle for Angola's central highlands was underway this week, with UNITA rebels on Wednesday shelling the government-held city of Kuito for a second day running, humanitarian workers told IRIN. The Wednesday bombardment lasted for around 30 minutes, with one or two rounds fired in the direction of the airport, the humanitarian officials said. A plane belonging to the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) was parked on the tarmac at the airport when the shelling happened.
Meanwhile, the UN's Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit (UCAH) said contrary to earlier reports, 15 essential international humanitarian workers still remain in Kuito in addition to essential national aid staffers.
Luanda calls for sanctions against South Africa
Meanwhile, the Angolan government this week called for sanctions to be implemented against South Africa as one of those countries that are not doing enough to stop the arms flow to the UNITA rebel movement, a 'Business Day' report said on Tuesday. George Chicoty, the Angolan foreign minister and government spokesman was quoted by the newspaper as saying that "sanctions should be applied against those countries not doing enough to stop the arms flow to UNITA." He added: "These sanctions should include Burkina Faso, Zambia, South Africa, Ukraine and Uganda." Chicoty added: "There should be some punishment that will make countries realise that UN sanctions should be respected and implemented."
In media reports on Wednesday, Aziz Pahad, the South African minister of foreign affairs denied that South Africa was violating the UN arms embargo against UNITA. Pahad was quoted as saying that the South African government was constantly in touch with the Angolan government, and he rejected Chicoty's claim that relations between the two countries were deteriorating. "He seems to be suggesting that since President Thabo Mbeki came into government relations have strained. I do not know on what basis he is making that statement," Pahad said.
ZAMBIA: Angolan refugee camp back to normal
The security situation in the Maheba refugee settlement in western Zambia has returned to normal following the death of a guard in an armed robbery attempt on UNHCR's offices at the beginning of the month.
"The chief suspect (in the shooting incident) has been apprehended and from every angle it's back to normal," a UNHCR spokesman told IRIN this week. He said media reports of an armed gang terrorising UNHCR staff at the camp "is most certainly exaggerated". Extra police have been drafted in to investigate what was "basically a case of robbery," the spokesman added.
Tension surrounding the shooting incident in the camp for Angolan refugees on 2 September led to the temporary relocation of some staff as a security precaution to the nearby town of Solwezi. But a UNHCR presence was maintained in Maheba and all staff returned to the settlement last week, the spokesman said. "Maheba is a community of 30,000 people. Like in any other community you can expect a criminal element," the UNHCR official added. Zambia's border region is also reportedly awash with weapons, with an AK-47 selling for as little as US $20.
Meanwhile, according to the UNHCR spokesman, there is a "regular trickle" of Angolan refugees crossing into Zambia, most of them fleeing the threat of enforced conscription.
ZIMBABWE: Government reacts to new party
The Zimbabwean government has reportedly ordered the attorney-general's office to advise it on the legality of leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) holding senior positions in the newly-launched opposition party the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), media reports said this week. Florence Chitauro, the minister of public service, labour and social welfare, was quoted as saying it was illegal under the Labour Relations Act for the union leaders to hold positions in a political party and the ZCTU, as this would allegedly prejudice the interests of the workers. "The government will not hesitate to take stern measures against the leaders unless a clear distinction was made between the labour movement and the political party," Chitauro reportedly said.
The MDC was launched on Saturday in Harare and elected Gibson Sibanda as its interim chairman and Morgan Tsvangirai as its interim secretary-general. Sibanda is also the president of the ZCTU while Tsvangirai is the unions' secretary-general. Nomore Sibanda, ZCTU's spokesperson told IRIN on Monday that this is not a new threat against the labour movement to emanate from government quarters. "At the height of our strike activity in 1997 and 1998, there were threats to deregister the ZCTU, but these came to nought," Sibanda said.
Government slams trial judge
Zimbabwe's Attorney-General said he would appeal against a six-month jail terms given to three Americans convicted of illegal arms possession and attempting to load dangerous weapons on an aircraft, Reuters reported.
Attorney-General Patrick Chinamasa said in a statement published by the state-owned 'Herald' newspaper that he would appeal to the Supreme Court for a review of the High Court sentence, which he said trivialised a serious offence. "By imposing sentences which do not match the seriousness of the offences, Justice (Mahomed) Adam has in effect trivialised crimes of unlawful possession of arms and has seriously erred in doing so," Chinamasa said.
Italy reportedly suspends aid project
Italy suspended a US $22 million aid programme for Zimbabwe because of a lack of transparency in the awarding of tenders, AFP quoted a state news agency Ziana report as saying this week. "Unfortunately, every suggestion and warning has been ignored and therefore, in observance of its political and legal responsibilities concerning the possible waste of public funds, the government of Italy has been forced to suspend" the aid, the embassy told Ziana. Ziana said the aid was funding the electrification of 250 rural schools and 250 rural clinics using solar power, as well as a major dam project.
NAMIBIA: Slain doctor's family to sue government
The family of Dr Lucas Ilonga who was shot dead by security forces at a Katima Mulilo hospital last month, plans to institute a civil claim against the government of Sam Nujoma for damages, media reports said. Ilonga was killed by a member of the security forces at the hospital while rushing to attend a medical emergency. Ilonga was dispatched by the health ministry from Windhoek to Katima Mulilo to do relief duties at the hospital after foreign doctors were evacuated in the wake of separatist attacks in the Caprivi Strip.
Meanwhile, the bail applications of some 29 Caprivi high treason suspects due to have been heard on Monday have been postponed until next week, 'The Namibian' reported. The postponment was due to the unavailibility of the magistrate. The total number of people charged with high treason over the Caprivi secession crisis now stands at 98, the newspaper said.
SWAZILAND: AIDS campaign threatened
In a what was reported as a major setback for AIDS control in Swaziland, the House of Assembly has thrown out a proposed Public Health Bill on the pretext that further consultation was needed, 'Business Day' newspaper said this week. Privately, some members of parliament admitted they were personally put off by the bill's proposal that the immediate families of AIDS sufferers be notified that they have contracted the virus.
Health and Social Welfare Minister Phetsile Dlamini said because AIDS patients did not divulge their condition, sexual partners are put at risk and families waste money seeking treatment for the undisclosed malady. The legislation was 10 years in the making and resulted from extensive consultation with doctors, nurses, hospital administrators and even traditional healers, the paper reported.
COMOROS: Assylum seekers arrested
Thirty Anjouan islanders who fled political violence by pro-secession government supporters last week have been arrested on their return home. The 30 were denied assylum in the French territory of Mayotte and were arrested on their arrival in Anjouan, reportedly on the orders of the island's new hardline leader Colonel Said Abeid. Two local private radio stations are also said to have been closed, apparently for questioning Abeid's authority.
SOUTH AFRICA: Campaign continues on gold sales
South Africa intends to take its campaign to halt further gold sales by central banks to the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank later this month. Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said on Tuesday that although the IMF had shelved plans to sell its gold reserves to finance debt relief to developing countries, South Africa wanted a similar commitment from industrialised nations.
The IMF reversed its position on gold sales last week, accepting the view of campaigners that it should simply revalue its bullion stocks to provide extra capital to write off debts of the poorest countries. Manuel said South Africa would use the annual IMF/World Bank meeting in Washington on 25-30 September to try and secure "a better deal" for developing countries, according to news reports.
Diplomat killed in South Africa
Zimbabwe's vice-consul to South Africa, Madzorera Meki was shot and killed at the weekend in front of his 11-year-old son in an attempted car-jacking incident. Captain Rochelle Gouws, spokeswoman for the South African Police Service (SAPS) told IRIN on Monday that the incident took place in Bedfordview, a suburb in the east of Johannesburg. She said the vice-consul had arrived at a colleague's house to deliver VIP permits. "When he arrived the vice-consul was confronted by a group of armed men, who then demanded his BMW and shot the diplomat in the head." Gouws added: "At this stage we can not say how many men were involved in the incident."
Legal battle over anti-AIDS drugs
The South African government said it has not bowed to legal pressure by multinational pharmaceutical companies in reviewing provisions of its new medical act which enables the supply of affordable AIDS-therapy drugs. "The decision to review the South African Medicines and Medical Devices Regulatory Act of 1998 was attributable to internal discussions with the department of health and was not due to any existing litigation against the government of South Africa," a health department statement received by IRIN this week said.
The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PMA) of South Africa, mostly multinational subsidiaries, last week reportedly said that because of the review they had suspended a lawsuit against the government over the 1998 legislation, especially a section which authorises compulsory licensing and parallel importing to increase accessibility and affordability of essential medicines.
A department of health official said he was "confused" by the PMA's suspension of the lawsuit. He told IRIN this week "there was no relationship" between the review of the legislation and the dispute with the pharmaceutical industry. A US public health policy official was reported by the news agency IPS at the weekend as saying he doubted the pharmeceutical companies were giving up the fight against cheaper generic drugs and this was a "lull before the storm".
SOUTHERN AFRICA: Experts gather to discuss HIV/AIDS pandemic
An international conference on HIV/AIDS took place in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, this week with AIDS activists calling for the disease to be declared a "global disaster." Speaking at the opening of the conference the executive director of UNAIDS, Peter Piot, said that there were 16,000 new infections each day in Africa during 1998, with at least 50 percent of these among young people. Piot added that it would take years to stem the disease. He added that the 21 countries with the highest HIV infection rate were in Africa, with the infection rate exceeding at least 10 percent of the population in at least 10 of these countries.
Conference puts spotlight on vulnerable groups
Truck drivers, soldiers and teenage girls were in the spotlight with consensus that the fight against the killer epidemic should be directed at society's most vulnerable groups. Several groups attending the International Conference on AIDS and STDs in Africa (ICASA) said experience had shown that the fight against AIDS could be enhanced if especially vulnerable groups were protected from infection.
World Vision International said it had embarked on an AIDS campaign directed at long distance truck drivers, who were a high risk group because the long periods they spent away from their partners tempted many to turn to commercial sex workers. Anti-AIDS activists from Uganda, meanwhile, announced the formation of the Integrated Services for the Empowerment of Soldiers Wives in the Uganda People's Defence Forces. Captain Steven Talugende said soldier's wives were exposed to a relatively high risk of AIDS infection because of the nature of their husband's jobs. Soldiers were generally poorly paid, and were often sent out on state duties for long periods.
Zambian health minister Nkandu Luo said cultural norms, which projected women as sex objects, continued to make them vulnerable to AIDS. Among other things, many African women were taught to tolerate the sexual transgressions of men because men were said to be inherently polygamous.
New research links high HIV rates in teenage girls to older partners
Meanwhile, highlights of a new study by UNAIDS were released this week, showing the strongest evidence yet that the high HIV levels in teenage girls is linked to sexual contact with older men.
"The study found HIV infection rates of 15-23 percent among girls 15-19 years old, 26-40 percent among men aged 25 or more, and just 3-4 percent among 15-19 year old boys," Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS, said in a press release. Piot added: "The unavoidable conclusion is that girls are getting infected not by of boys their own age, but by older men."
Search for vaccine dominated the conference
An air of optimism dominated the conference as experts expressed growing confidence in the prospect of an early HIV vaccine. Hopes of an early vaccine were buoyed by the disclosure that production had started on the first HIV-vaccine to be developed in collaboration with African researchers, and that early clinical trials on human beings would begin next January in Britain.
"Researchers from the University of Nairobi are working with vaccine scientists from Oxford University in the UK to produce a vaccine which targets the strain of HIV most prevalent in East Africa - the clade A genetic sub-type," Nick Gouedde of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) said.
The organisation - the UNAIDS Collaborating Centre for Vaccine Development - was also investing in a joint American-South African vaccine scheduled to move into human trials during the year 2000. "IAVI believes that the simultaneous testing of a wide variety of different vaccine approaches will yield the fastest path to safe and effective AIDS vaccines," Gouedde said.
Delegates to ICASA expressed concern at the lack of accessibility, related to cost, of antiretroviral drugs that reverse or mitigate the effects of HIV/AIDS in the world's poorer countries.
The World Bank said it would respond to the AIDS pandemic in the world's poorer countries by making it the centre of its all its development efforts there. The Bank said it could provide up to US $3 billion to fighting AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa annually under the initiative.
Despite the fears raised by AIDS activists, the opening of the Lusaka conference was marked by the notable absence of African leaders. According to media reports none of the 10 heads of state that were invited attended the opening.
Small arms trade threatens stability
The political stability of countries of Southern Africa is under threat as the illegal trade in light weapons and small arms, the legacy of decades of liberation wars and civil strife, proliferate the region, a report released by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) said. Mozambique, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Swaziland, according to the report, had become both a source and transit routes for the weapons. "One of the legacies of conflict in Southern Africa is the glut of light weapons and small arms," says the Pretoria-based ISS. "These weapons are being transported illegally across borders, where they are used to generate political instability and to carry out crimes in many rural and urban areas in the region." The report attributed the sources of the weapons to such diverse societal elements as demobilised soldiers, refugees and other migrant communities, rural communities and urban populations of Southern Africa. "The greater volume of illegal small arms flows to and from Zimbabwe comes from Mozambique and South Africa, with a less significant portion, mainly for the purpose of poaching, issuing from Zambia," said the report. "Small arms flows have also been related to the state of civil war in Mozambique, and Zimbabwe's direct involvement in that war," it adds, citing the involvement of the former Rhodesian government in the formation and arming of the RENAMO rebel group in Mozambique in 1976 to destabilise the new government.
"It is estimated that between 1982 and 1992 Zimbabwe sent 15,000 troops to Mozambique, to protect vital transit lines and directly assist the government of Mozambique in fighting RENAMO." This involvement with Mozambique, says the report, exacerbated the problem of small arms flows in the Southern African region by facilitating illegal flows through official channels. According to the report, in Mozambique, following the 1992 declaration of peace between RENAMO and FRELIMO, illegal small arms seem to exist in three different forms, namely: caches held by demobilised and individual active soldiers; arms retained by individual civilians; and caches deliberately retained by the then-warring parties. "To hold back weapons as a form of insurance was vital, in case the peace process failed or the outcome proved undesirable," said the report.
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