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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 15-01-2001

PART #4/4 - From SOUTH AFRICA to ZIMBABWE

* South Africa. Mbeki appeals for national unity — President Thabo Mbeki, who has been dogged by controversy, on 9 February urged South Africans to shake off the legacy of 300 years of racial oppression, crime and violence, in his third state of the nation address. «We call on all our people across the colour line to dedicate this year to building unity in action for change,» he told a packed National Assembly, watched over by his predecessor Nelson Mandela, diplomats and local dignitaries. Mbeki, who took over from Mandela in June 1999, said all South Africans had a common duty to strive to build a society free of corruption and the existing extremes of great wealth and grinding poverty. «Outwardly we are a people of many colours, races, cultures, languages and ancient origins. Yet we are tied to one another by a million visible and invisible threads,» he said. Giving an account of the achievements of the African National Congress since the first democratic election in 1994, Mbeki said the government would now focus particularly on rural development to alleviate widespread poverty in the countryside. Mbeki pledged gradual privatization and talks on labour reforms to cut costs and create jobs. He said the economy was recognized by foreign markets as being on a sound footing and poised for robust growth. But opposition party leaders dismissed the speech for failing to address the immediate needs of the country’s 40 million people. «It was not a very visionary or inspirational speech,» Marthinus van Schalkwyk, deputy leader of the Democratic Alliance, said. (Reuters, 9 February 2001)

* South Africa. Mandela’s 1964 court speech found — The British Library has helped bring to life a tape containing a three-hour speech made by Mandela at the trial at which he fought for his life. In the recording, made in 1964, South Africa’s first black president spoke of the sacrifices he was prepared to make to achieve freedom for his people. «The ideal of a free and democratic society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities...is an ideal for which I am prepared to die,» Mandela said. The «dictabelt» tape recordings had languished in the National Archive in South Africa until the British Library was able to transfer them on to modern playback equipment. «It is extremely rare and exciting when a recording as internationally important as this comes to light after so many years,» the library’s oral history curator Rob Perks said in a statement on 11 February. Transferring the speech onto compact discs involved heating and flattening the tapes, but British Museum staff said the quality they have managed to achieve it remarkable. Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment in June 1964 for 221 acts of sabotage designed to incite a revolution. (MSNBC, 11 February 2001)

* Afrique du Sud. Sida: manifestation — Le 12 février, plusieurs militants de la lutte contre le VIH/SIDA ont manifesté devant le parlement de la ville du Cap contre le manque de médicaments anti-rétroviraux à des prix abordables. Mené par l’archevêque anglican Njongonkulu Ndungane, le groupe s’est dirigé vers le parlement où un militant a remis un mémorandum qui demande au ministre de la Santé de mettre en oeuvre un plan de traitement basé sur les médicaments anti-rétroviraux génériques avant le 16 juin. La marche faisait suite à un office religieux dans la cathédrale St George. Lors de cette cérémonie, Mgr Ndungane a lancé un appel aux sociétés pharmaceutiques pour qu’elles réduisent le prix des médicaments qui traitent le sida, ou qu’elles émettent des licences autorisant la production de la version générique de ces médicaments. “Selon les chiffres, 10% de la population meurent actuellement des conséquences du sida. Le défi qui se pose à nous est de préserver les 90% restant”, a-t-il ajouté. (PANA, 13 février 2001)

* Afrique du Sud. Choléra: bidonvilles évacués — Le 13 février, dans la cité noire d’Alexandra à Johannesburg, des heurts ont opposé des policiers à des centaines de squatters protestant contre un projet gouvernemental d’évacuation de bidonvilles proches d’une rivière connue pour propager le choléra. L’Afrique du Sud connaît actuellement une épidémie de choléra qui a déjà fait plus de cent morts. (Le Figaro, France, 14 février 2001)

* Soudan. El-Béchir prête serment — Le 12 février, le président soudanais Omar el-Béchir s’est fait légitimer par douze dirigeants africains qui ont assisté à sa prestation de serment devant l’Assemblée nationale pour un nouveau mandat de cinq ans, en marge d’un sommet régional sahélo-saharien réuni à Khartoum. A cette occasion, il a appelé la rébellion sudiste à la paix et plaidé pour la concorde et la réconciliation nationale. La question de la rébellion armée au sud du pays demeure “la priorité des priorités” de son gouvernement, a-t-il indiqué, mais il a appelé à ne pas internationaliser cette affaire, tout en affirmant l’importance des initiatives de médiation régionales. M. Béchir s’est engagé à relancer le développement des provinces du sud à travers une série de projets. Il a également réaffirmé son engagement pour le respect des droits de l’homme et des libertés élémentaires, et plaidé pour l’indépendance de la justice et l’alternance pacifique au pouvoir à travers des élections libres, sans distinction de religion, de race ou d’ethnie. Il a encore souligné les relations entre son pays et l’Union européenne, et exprimé la volonté de son gouvernement à s’ouvrir au dialogue avec la nouvelle administration américaine. (D’après PANA, 12 février 2001)

* Soudan. Menace de famine — Le 13 février, le Programme alimentaire mondial a mis en garde contre la famine menaçant des millions de Soudanais du fait de la guerre civile et de la sécheresse qui persistent au Soudan, déclarant qu’une “crise se dessinait à l’horizon”. “Si notre appel ne suscite pas une réponse immédiate, la situation pourrait rapidement se détériorer”, a notamment déclaré le représentant du PAM au Soudan. L’organisation demande $135 millions pour nourrir 2,9 millions de personnes jusqu’à la fin de l’année dans les zones contrôlées par le gouvernement et dans les zones rebelles. Certaines régions du Soudan connaissent un déficit pluviométrique pour la troisième année consécutive, et la situation est exacerbée par la poursuite du conflit qui empêche de cultiver les terres. (PANA, 13 février 2001)

* Sudan. Police raid Catholic Secretariat — ANB-BIA has just received the news (Thursday, 15.30 local time) that today, the Sudan Catholic Secretariat was raided by police, led by a Police Captain. The raid was conducted so violently that there was virtually no room for dialogue. Further details will follow. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 February 2001)

* Tanzanie. Réfugiés — Les fortes pluies ont entravé l’acheminement de produits alimentaires d’urgence dans les camps de réfugiés au nord-est de la Tanzanie, a indiqué le PAM. L’état des axes routiers reliant Kigoma à Kasulu, et Kasulu à Kibondo, est déplorable, a affirmé l’organisation. Plus de 10 camions y sont bloqués depuis deux jours. Ces retards ont entraîné une nouvelle réduction de la taille des rations aux réfugiés. -D’autre part, le 8 février au soir, des rebelles burundais du CNDD-FDD ont attaqué le centre de transit pour réfugiés de Kigadye (région de Kigoma), tuant un homme et enlevant 36 personnes au cours d’une tentative visant à les faire adhérer à leur mouvement, d’après la police tanzanienne. (IRIN, Nairobi, 12-13 février 2001)

* Tanzania/Zanzibar. A new twist to the islands’ mayhem — Whilst the political tension that mounted up during the 27 January clashes between the police and the opposition Civic United Front supporters is still simmering down, the whole saga has taken a new dimension. Human rights bodies and legal institutions are calling for an independent inquiry into the events that reportedly claimed 300 lives on the island of Pemba. The Zanzibar Legal Services Centre, says the police acted outside the realm of law enforcement and should be probed. The Legal and Human Rights centre has described the whole episode as «the shame and barbarism of the millennium», and says the government should not only institute an inquiry into the issue, but it should also compensate the bereaved on Pemba and Zanzibar. (Makame Mzee Makame, ANB-BIA, Zanzibar, 13 February 2001)

* Tunisie. Congrès de la LTDH annulé — Le 12 février, la justice tunisienne a ordonné l’annulation des résultats et des décisions du 5e congrès de la Ligue tunisienne de défense des droits de l’homme (LTDH) et décidé de “la tenue d’une autre assemblée élective sous l’égide de l’ancienne direction”. En octobre 2000, la LTDH avait élu un nouveau comité directeur, affichant une grande autonomie à l’égard du pouvoir. Quatre candidats battus avaient alors déposé plainte. Le régime de Ben Ali tolère en effet de moins en moins que le moindre espace public lui échappe, et la campagne médiatique dans la presse gouvernementale avait continué contre la nouvelle équipe dirigeante de la Ligue. Celle-ci compte faire appel du jugement, mais en fait la justice tunisienne l’a formellement mise hors-la-loi. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 13 février 2001)

* Tunisia. Court rules against human rights group — A Tunisian court has ruled against a human rights group that is one of the last remaining centres of opposition to Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, the president. Earlier this week, the court ordered that the Ligue Tunisienne de Droits de l’Homme (LTDH), the oldest human rights body in the Arab world, must hold new leadership elections. The group has been under judicial supervision and effectively shut down since October when it elected a new, more independent leadership, critical of Tunisia’s poor human rights record and Mr Ben Ali’s regime. Members say Mr Ben Ali’s ruling Rassemblement Constitutionel Democratique (RCD) party had infiltrated the group in the late 1990s and succeeded in hamstringing it. In the wake of the October elections, a case was brought by four members of the league, two of them also members of Mr Ben Ali’s party, who are contesting the results. One of the appellants, Kamel Ben Younes, a journalist, says that the more radical members of the league did not observe due process during the elections. The league’s new leadership disagrees, saying Mr Ben Ali’s government put the appellants up to the job. «The authorities have a very clear strategy to tie up the Ligue with continual postponements and delays,» says Mukhtar Trifi, the LTDH president-elect. «It is very difficult, if not impossible, for us to work under these conditions.» Western diplomats say Mr Ben Ali wants to repress potential opposition ahead of a possible referendum that would give him a fourth term as president. When he seized power in 1987 as Habib Bourguiba, the former president, slipped into senility, Mr Ben Ali changed the Tunisian constitution to limit any president to only two re-elections. Under current arrangements his time is up in 2004. The crackdown on the league is part of a broader campaign to stifle the opposition. Moncef Marzouki, Tunisia’s best known human rights activist, has also been prosecuted but is free awaiting the results of an appeal. Mr Marzouki, now the spokesman of the Conseil National pour Liberte en Tunisie, was found guilty of spreading information illegally and of disturbing public order. (Financial Times, UK, 14 February 2001)

* Uganda. Elections divide army — The narrowing of the margin between the two presidential candidates, Col (rtd) Kiiza Besigye and President Yoweri Museveni is sharply dividing the army. It was thought that the army was firmly behind Museveni, but such is not the case. Indeed, there is a great deal of violence taking place, with army personnel frequently the victims. Even officers who have maintained an independent stand, though remaining critical of the Museveni regime, are under the watchful eye of the regime. Col Kiiza Besigye says many within the army disillusioned with the Museveni administration. Many rank and file are not happy because their salaries are embezzled by the top brass and nothing is done to the culprits. The electoral laws ban campaigning in military installations, yet only Museveni’s portraits are allowed to be displayed in the barracks. (Crespo Sebunya, ANB-BIA, Uganda, 8 February 2001)

* Uganda. Religious holiday delays vote — The presidential election in Uganda has been postponed for a day to avoid a possible clash with a public holiday. The Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Adha, could fall on the original date for the election — 6 March — and by law, voting cannot be held on a public holiday. the poll will now be held on 7 March. (BBC News, 8 February 2001)

* Ouganda. Enfants soldats — L’Unicef a salué l’Ouganda pour avoir ouvert les portes d’un camp d’entraînement militaire et politique hébergeant des enfants soldats du Congo-RDC et pour avoir accepté que tous les soldats du camp ayant moins de 18 ans soient confiés à l’Unicef qui les prendra sous sa protection jusqu’à ce qu’ils soient réunis avec leurs familles. A partir du 13 février, l’Unicef et d’autres organisations bénéficieront d’un accès libre et illimité au camp pour déterminer combien il y a d’enfants. L’entraînement de ces soldats s’inscrit dans le cadre du soutien que l’Ouganda apporte aux rebelles à l’est de la RDC, rapporte le journal ougandais Monitor. Le chef d’état-major de l’armée ougandaise a indiqué que l’armée n’avait pas eu l’intention de recruter des enfants. (IRIN, Nairobi, 12 février 2001)

* Ouganda. Karamoja: campagne pour le désarmement — Le 10 février, le gouvernement de Kampala a officiellement lancé une campagne pour le désarmement des bergers karimojongs à Kotido (nord) en la présence de la vice-présidente Speziosa Kazibwe et du ministre du Nord, Omwony-Ojwok. Dans le secteur nord-est de l’Ouganda, les fréquentes migrations de pillards karimojongs durant la saison sèche s’accompagnent de violences à l’égard de la population d’ethnie Acholi. A la cérémonie à Kotido était notamment présente une délégation de l’ARLPI (initiative pour la paix des chefs religieux acholis), une association interreligieuse qui cherche depuis trois ans une solution pour mettre fin aux incursions qui ensanglantent la région, mais les autorités des districts acholis victimes des raids étaient absentes. Le gouvernement de Kampala a promis que la remise des armes permettrait la réalisation de projets de développement dans la région Karamoja. L’opération de récupération des armes durera 6 mois; ensuite, tout transgresseur sera punissable. (Misna, Italie, 13 février 2001)

* Uganda. Religious leaders launch Conflict Resolution Team — Leaders from all religious sects in Uganda, in association with NEMGROUP, have launched a Conflict Resolution Team (CRT) to promote tolerance and resolve disputes during and after the elections. The delegation of religious leaders included Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, who officially launched the team yesterday, Arch Bishop Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo, Metropolitan Arch Bishop Jonah Lwanga, who acted as chairman of the delegation, and the Secretary General of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Edirisa Kasenene. Each of the religious leaders expressed their allegiance to the team in making the elections a smooth process. «We, your religious leaders, are with you in all these good values, which are the building block of the nation. We are accompanying you in the democratic processes and all endeavours which you are engaged in for nation building,» Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala said. In addition to monitoring elections, NEMGROUP will, through the CRT, attempt to solve conflicts especially those arising during the polls. «Violence is triggered off by factors related to elections; this is the belief behind the creation of the CRT,» NEMGROU P national coordinator, Rev. Canon Grace Kiaso said. The team is composed of 12 high-standing members of society, among whom are: former Chief Inspector of Schools, Tom Mugoya; Bishop Onono Olweng of Northern Uganda; Head of Nakasero Mosque, Hajji Abdul Byaruhanga and retired Bishop Lucas Gonohasa. Also at the launch was Electoral Commissioner Robert Kitariko and police assistant public relations officer, Eric Naigambi. (The Monitor, Uganda, 14 February 2001)

* Ouganda. Don du pape contre le sida — Le pape Jean-Paul II a décidé de verser une somme d’un milliard de lires (3 millions de FF) — somme qui lui avait été offerte l’an dernier par la municipalité de Milan à l’occasion du Jubilé — pour soutenir les programmes de lutte contre le sida en Ouganda. Dans la pensée du pape, ce don “constitue un petit ruisseau, mais rejoint le grand fleuve de la charité chrétienne”. (Le Figaro, France, 14 février 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Tensions without and within — International relations: Sweden has strenuously denied Zimbabwean government allegations that it intends to fund the Opposition out of its bilateral aid budget. Judges: Several Zimbabwean judges have begun searching for alternative employment elsewhere in Southern Africa because of frustration over the government’s «siege on the judiciary». Judge Rita Makarau, newly appointed to the High Court, has ordered Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri to evict war veterans and ZANU-PF supporters from commercial farms they have forcibly occupied in Hwedza. On 9 February, the 63 government Members of Parliament passed a vote of no confidence in the Supreme Court. The vote was prompted by a Supreme Court decision overturning an order by President Mugabe that prevented opposition parties from challenging the results in 37 constituencies at last June’s general elections. The Media: The government has said it plans to ban all foreign investment in private media organisations in Zimbabwe. The Government has dismissed protests over the Daily News bombing. The Opposition: The government is considering a petition to ban the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)’s open hand salute. On 13 February, the Opposition began its court challenge to 39 election results. Economy: On 9 February, Zimbabwe announced exchange controls which require all export earnings to be paid to the central back and the state-owned National Oil Company. On 12 February, the Government backtracked on its previous announcement that three-quarters of all export earnings should be paid to the central bank and one-quarter to the national oil company. The price of bread has gone up for the second time in a month, with bakers saying the price is set to increase every month to keep pace with production costs. Fuel supplies are expected to remain critical for sometime owing to diminishing foreign currency reserves. Sone 500,000 people are in need of food assistance in drought-prone Masvingo province. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 February 2001)