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 155
9 - 15 August 2008


CONTENTS:

SOUTH AFRICA: Rethinking asylum
ZIMBABWE: New forms of "money"
ZIMBABWE: Dashed hopes all round
MALAWI: Hoarding affects food supply
MOZAMBIQUE: Living with HIV and an empty stomach


SOUTH AFRICA: Rethinking asylum

South Africa should consider temporarily declaring asylum seekers from 
certain Southern African countries as refugees, to keep up with the 
burgeoning numbers of migrants, particularly from Zimbabwe, according to 
a senior government official.

"It is within our minister's [South African Home Affairs Minister 
Mapisa-Nqakula] powers to declare groups of people as refugees for a 
period of time," said Florencia Belvedere, office manager of the 
Johannesburg Asylum Determination Centre. "This would assist us in 
processing the large numbers of southern Africans, who are mostly 
Zimbabweans, approaching our centre."

Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79850


ZIMBABWE: New forms of "money"

Zimbabweans are turning to fuel coupons as a new form of "currency" 
after struggling to find local money, which continues to lose its value 
steeply.

Simon Gambaga, 43, who owns a backyard carpentry business, faces 
eviction from the middle-income suburban home where he and his family 
live, about 10km south of Harare, the capital, after refusing to pay his 
rent with petrol (gasoline) coupons.

Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79829


ZIMBABWE: Dashed hopes all round

Abigail Mukurazhizha, 35, a stockbroker in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, 
was among the scores of people jostling each other to buy a copy of The 
Herald, the official newspaper, with the headline proclaiming "Deal 
Sealed" above a story on the crucial talks to resolve the political 
crisis.

However, her excitement quickly turned to disappointment because as far 
as she is concerned, "there is no deal at all".

Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79804


MALAWI: Hoarding affects food supply

Despite government assurances of a food surplus, Malawi's traders are 
betting that maize prices will rise later in the year and are holding on 
to stocks, artificially pushing up the price at the tills for consumers.

Government and the food aid agencies have projected a food surplus, 
although the USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Network (FEWS-NET) said 
it would be less than initially estimated.

Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79780


MOZAMBIQUE: Living with HIV and an empty stomach

Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs are free in Mozambique, and access to them is 
relatively easy, but for many HIV-positive Mozambicans the real 
challenge is the far more basic problem of finding enough food.

ARVs are powerful drugs that need to be taken with nourishment. Regular 
and nutritious meals are also needed to help the body's defences fight 
the opportunistic infections associated with AIDS.

Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79754


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