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 389
16 - 22 August 2008


CONTENTS:

COMOROS: Concerns over possible social unrest
SOUTHERN AFRICA: SADC meal planning
ZIMBABWE: Duty waiver makes food cheaper
SWAZILAND: Low input funding means low yields
ZAMBIA: Mwanawasa's death a blow to the region
ZAMBIA: Conservation farming can counteract fertiliser prices
SOUTH AFRICA: Camp closures taken to constitutional court
GLOBAL: Cyclones, storms and hurricanes


COMOROS: Concerns over possible social unrest

High food and fuel prices may push Comoros to the brink of "social 
unrest" says a senior UN official.

Hopes were raised in Comoros when the government ousted rebel leader 
Mohammed Bacar in a military operation in March 2008 to take control of 
Anjouan Island, and officials promised that the assault would bring 
long-awaited stability to the three-island archipelago in the Indian 
Ocean.

Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79944


SOUTHERN AFRICA: SADC meal planning

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has announced it will 
go ahead with plans to set up a regional grain reserve, while urging 
member states not to impose export restrictions on maize as the region 
grapples with high food prices.

"The recently held Integrated Committee of Ministers Meeting in Manzini, 
Swaziland, urged member states to remove restrictions - in fact, we have 
urged countries with surplus maize to sell their produce within the 
region," said Margaret Nyirenda, head of the SADC's Food, Agriculture 
and Natural Resources Directorate. "But at the end of the day it is a 
commercial decision - we can only advise member states to prioritise the 
region."

Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79946


ZIMBABWE: Duty waiver makes food cheaper

Zimbabweans who have become dependant on cross-border forays to source 
necessities heaved a collective sigh of relief when the government 
decided to suspend import duty on essential food and non-food items.

The government has waived duty on cooking oil, margarine, rice, flour, 
washing powder (detergent), salt, laundry and bath soap, toothpaste and 
skin beauty products until the end of 2008.

Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79926


SWAZILAND: Low input funding means low yields

Erratic weather and a prolonged dry spell caused Swaziland to record its 
lowest ever maize harvest in April 2007; although the 2008 harvest was 
double the size, it is still not enough, and a lack of funds to meet the 
zooming price of inputs means people might have to go hungry again next 
year.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), the 2007 harvest of 26,000 
metric tonnes (mt) was 60 percent lower than 2006 production, and only 
one-third of the five-year average.

Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79909


ZAMBIA: Mwanawasa's death a blow to the region

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa's death has dealt a double blow to 
Southern Africa, not only generating fears of possible political 
instability in Zambia but also concern about the impact on the process 
of finding a solution in Zimbabwe, according to analysts.

Under the current constitution, which is under review, Zambians will 
have to head for fresh polls within 90 days.

Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79895


ZAMBIA: Conservation farming can counteract fertiliser prices

As rocketing fertiliser and petrol prices threaten food production in 
Zambia, farmers are being urged to adopt conservation farming.

The price of a 50kg bag of fertiliser has shot up from US$30 in December 
2007 to $70, while the pump price of diesel has risen from $1 to about 
$2.80 per litre over the same period.

Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79892


SOUTH AFRICA: Camp closures taken to constitutional court

The safety camps set up in Gauteng Province to house victims displaced 
in South Africa's xenophobic attacks were due to close on 15 August, but 
an application for urgent interim relief brought by a small group of 
foreign nationals, due to be heard by the Constitutional Court on 18 
August, has given them a reprieve.

Adele Nyambi, 28, a Mozambican national living in the Rand Airport camp 
in Germiston, outside Johannesburg, sells eggs and biscuits to earn an 
income. "I have not packed my bags, I want to stay here. I want 
compensation from the government," she said.

Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79876


GLOBAL: Cyclones, storms and hurricanes

One symptom of climate change is more severe tropical cyclones, 
hurricanes and typhoons, which are featuring in the headlines more 
often.

Full report:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79932


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