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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 03-05-2001

PART #4/4 - From SOUTH AFRICA to ZIMBABWE

* South Africa. Top ANC men deny «plot» — 26 April: Three of South Africa’s most prominent black businessmen — Cyril Ramaphosa, Tokyo Sexwale and Matthews Phosa — have rejected allegations they were conspiring to remove South African President Thabo Mbeki. «I deny allegations of being involved in a plot to challenge the presidency of the ANC,» Mr Ramaphosa said in a statement. South African security minister Steve Tshwete said in a television interview that he was concerned that there was a deliberate misinformation campaign against Mr Mbeki that could put him in physical danger. Mr Phosa was reported in the local press as dismissing talk of a plot as «rubbish. The allegations are not worthy of any comment... They accuse us of horrendous things and that is a provocation. I am not going to jump around as if I am guilty,» he said. All three are no longer directly involved in politics but they are still members of the ruling African National Congress. Security minister Steve Tshwete did not specify exactly what the men are thought to have done but it is known that they have had presidential aspirations in the past. The same day, President Mbeki and the ANC embark of a damage-limitation exercise. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 April 2001)

* South Africa. AIDS affects road transport sector — South Africa’s road transport sector is one of the worst hit by the country’s HIV/AIDS epidemic, with half the truck drivers surveyed by the Medical Research Council infected with the virus. A report, published by the council on 2 May, said about 56 per cent of truck drivers who visited roadside sex workers in the KwaZulu Natal province were HIV positive. By contrast, HIV infection in the mining industry is estimated at 25 per cent. The sexual habits of truck drivers are blamed for helping to spread HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa and for the spread of the virus among rural communities. The report coincided with a survey by the South African Institute of Race Relations that said South Africa faced negative population growth within 10 years, mainly as a result of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. By the end of last year, about 6m South Africans were estimated to have HIV infection out of a total population of 44m. The Actuarial Society of South Africa has estimated that population growth in South Africa was 1.9 per cent in 2000 and would drop to 0 per cent by 2011. KwaZulu Natal, the country’s most populous province, has the highest HIV infection rate in South Africa, with one in three adults infected. At one truck stop, in Newcastle, an industrial town midway between Johannesburg and Durban, as many as 95 per cent of the truck drivers surveyed had HIV. The study shows that 34 per cent of truck drivers always stopped for sex during their journeys and 29 per cent never used condoms. (Financial Times, UK, 3 May 2001)

* Sudan. Hijackers face trial — The Sudanese authorities have detained the hijackers of an Ethiopian aircraft, saying they will stand trial under international law. The five hijackers, believed to be armed, were granted asylum after they released, unharmed, all passengers and crew on the plane which they forced to fly to Khartoum on 26 April. Sudanese Information Minister Ghazi Salah al-Din said: «We convinced the hijackers that the best offer they can get is fair treatment according to international law and not to be turned over to Ethiopia. That’s all we offered them.» The motive for the hijack remains unclear. The plane, which belongs to the Ethiopian Air Force, landed in the Sudanese capital at 1820 local time (1520 GMT) after being seized on an internal flight. Ghazi Salah al-Din Sudanese information minister Sudanese officials had face-to-face talks with one of the hijackers, following which all the hostages, believed to number about 50 people, were released and the group surrendered. Mr Salah al-Din told the BBC that Khartoum had remained in close contact with Ethiopia throughout, which had supported its handling of the drama. He said the hijackers had originally demanded to be flown on to a third country and had also asked for visas to both Britain and the United States. But he said the Sudanese negotiators had eventually persuaded them to settle for remaining in Sudan. (BBC News, UK. 27 April 2001)

* Soudan/Ethiopie. Avion détourné — Le 26 avril, un avion militaire éthiopien transportant 56 personnes, des militaires et leurs familles, a été détourné sur la capitale soudanaise, Khartoum. Le lendemain, le gouvernement soudanais a réussi à dénouer pacifiquement cette affaire, mais refusait d’extrader les pirates de l’air, cinq élèves officiers, réclamés par Addis Abeba. Le ministre soudanais de l’Information a annoncé que les pirates avaient accepté de libérer les otages contre la garantie de ne pas être extradés. Ils seront jugés au Soudan. Ce détournement s’est produit quelques jours après des affrontements entre jeunes et policiers qui ont fait au moins 41 morts la semaine dernière à Addis Abeba. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 28 avril 2001)

* Tanzanie. Appel à une réforme du code pénal — Les journaux tanzaniens ont lancé plusieurs appels cette semaine pour demander une réforme du code pénal afin de remédier à l’accroissement du nombre de prisonniers, dont la plupart sont des petits délinquants. Les prisons tanzaniennes, soulignent les journaux, sont surpeuplées. Cette situation pourrait dégénérer un jour avec des conséquences catastrophiques, écrit The African. Selon le Daily News, les centres pénitenciers disponibles peuvent seulement accueillir 21.000 détenus, mais plus du double et parfois cinq fois ce nombre partagent actuellement les cellules disponibles. Le quotidien souligne en outre que la moitié de ces prisonniers est en détention provisoire et que seulement 10% d’entre eux sont finalement condamnés. (PANA, Sénégal, 27 avril 2001)

* Tanzanie. L’opposition manifeste à Zanzibar — Le 28 avril, au moins 50.000 partisans de l’opposition ont défilé àZanzibar pour demander de nouvelles élections dans l’archipel tanzanien semi-autonome. Le principal parti d’opposition, le Front civique uni (CUF), réclame de nouvelles élections régionales, la réforme de la commission électorale de l’archipel et une nouvelle constitution pour la République unie de Tanzanie et Zanzibar. Mais dans son discours du 1er mai, le président de Zanzibar, Amani Abedi Karume, a dit à l’opposition qu’il n’y avait pas de chemin vers le palais présidentiel autre que la victoire aux élections et lui a conseillé de tenter sa chance en octobre 2005. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 2 mai 2001)

* Tunisie. Néjib Hosni, prisonnier d’opinion — A l’occasion de la journée internationale de solidarité, le 28 avril 2001, avec le prisonnier d’opinion Néjib Hosni, avocat des droits de l’homme emprisonné en Tunisie, Amnesty International lance un appel pour sa libération immédiate et sans condition. En outre, l’organisation demande qu’il soit mis fin aux attaques et intimidations dont continuent d’être victimes les défenseurs des droits humains en Tunisie. M. Hosni avait été emprisonné en juin 1994 pour une affaire montée de toutes pièces. Condamné sans preuve à huit ans de prison en 1996, il avait bénéficié d’une libération conditionnelle, suite à une campagne internationale de solidarité. Il avait à nouveau été arrêté en décembre dernier et condamné à 15 jours de prison. Mais en janvier il a été maintenu en détention en vertu d’une décision du ministre de l’Intérieur de révoquer la libération conditionnelle dont il avait bénéficié, et il doit purger les cinq ans et demi restants de sa peine. (Amnesty International, Londres, 27 avril 2001)

* Tunisie. Amendement du code de la presse — Le 30 avril, un projet de loi portant amendement du code de la presse tunisien, dans le sens de l’allégement et du “renforcement des libertés publiques”, a été adopté par les 182 députés, dont 34 de l’opposition, à l’exception de 6 d’entre eux qui se sont abstenus. L’un des points forts de la réforme porte sur les sanctions pour les délits de presse: les peines d’emprisonnement ont été commuées en amendes. La deuxième nouveauté réside dans l’abrogation pure et simple de l’incrimination pour “diffamation de l’ordre public”. Quant aux publications qui font l’objet de poursuites judiciaires, la période de leur suspension a été limitée à un maximum de trois mois contre six mois auparavant. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 2 mai 2001)

* Uganda. Hit by coffee price fall — Uganda, Africa’s second largest coffee producer, has decided to remain a member of two coffee making organisations, even though a 40% fall in world prices has made it very difficult for the country to pay its membership fees. The decision comes after the Association of Coffee Producing Countries and the Inter-Africa Coffee Organisation begged it to stay and allowed it to pay its dues in instalments. «We have reconsidered our earlier decision after appeals from the two organisations,» said William Nagagga, secretary of the state-run Uganda Coffee Development Authority. Uganda’s financial obligation to these two organisations, and to the International Coffee Organisation, amount to $400,000 per year. (BBC News, UK, 30 April 2001)

* Ouganda. Retrait du Congo? — Le président ougandais Yoweri Museveni a annoncé, via le Sunday-Vision (journal semi-officiel), qu’il recommandait au haut commandement de l’armée ougandaise, au gouvernement et au Parlement de retirer totalement les forces de Kampala de la République démocratique du Congo. Il n’a toutefois donné aucune date pour ce retrait total, qu’il avait déjà évoqué à plusieurs reprises. Il a également annoncé que l’Ouganda se retirerait du processus de paix. De source autorisée, on précise que cette décision fait suite au rapport publié il y a quelques semaines par des experts de l’Onu, accusant notamment l’Ouganda de piller les vastes ressources naturelles du Congo. Dans son article, Museveni prévient toutefois que l’armée ougandaise pourrait revenir au Congo au cas où les casques bleus échoueraient à empêcher de nouvelles incursions rebelles sur le sol de son pays. -Le lundi 30 avril, le secrétaire général de l’Onu a minimisé cette annonce. “Je ne dirai pas nécessairement qu’il s’agit d’un revers, a déclaré M. Annan. Si l’Ouganda se retire effectivement et met fin à son engagement au Congo et respecte l’esprit de l’accord, ce sera bien”. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 30 avril 2001)

* Uganda. Withdrawal from Congo accord — Uganda’s president withdrew on 29 April from a peace accord designed to end Congo’s 2-1/2-year civil war, infuriated by a UN report accusing his nation and other parties in the conflict of plundering Congo’s vast natural resources. The United Nations is helping broker an end to the war, which now involves five foreign armies and has left the Congolese government holding just 40% of a country the size of Western Europe. Aid workers say the conflict is indirectly responsible for the deaths of at least 1 million Congolese and the displacement of 2 million more. Uganda’s withdrawal could give the Congolese rebels it backs less incentive to stick to the peace agreement, reached in Lusaka, Zambia in 1999 by all warring sides. (InfoBeat USA, 30 April 2001)

* Zambia. Chiluba looks for third term — Senior members of Zambia’s cabinet have vowed to do everything in their power to stop president Frederick Chiluba gaining a third term in office, after a weekend conference of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy changed its internal rules to allow him to stand in this year’s national elections. «We will use everything at our disposal to make sure he doesn’t get what he wants,» said Vincent Malambo, legal affairs minister, who alongside the vice-president and several other cabinet members have backed a growing countrywide campaign of churchmen, lawyers and civic leaders against a third term. Dissenting MMD members had boycotted the conference amid fears for their personal safety. «All the ministers opposed to the third term were threatened with violence, and three were assaulted,» said Mr Malambo, adding that the conference was filled with hand-picked loyalists. «But we are ready and we are committed. I am not relying on the police, but I am relying on the protection of the Zambian people.» The developments have raised fears that Zambia faces total paralysis as the pro and anti-third term campaigns gather pace, and that a country whose democratic reforms had engendered international optimism in the early 1990s may experience state-sanctioned violence. It also adds to concerns for the region, where Zimbabwe has descended into lawlessness, leaders in Namibia and Malawi are looking to extend their tenure, and where even South Africa’s ruling party has shown an inability to tolerate dissent. (Financial Times, UK, 1 May 2001)

* Zambie. Chiluba candidat — Le 1er mai, le président Frederick Chiluba a été investi par son parti comme candidat à un troisième mandat présidentiel, bien que la Constitution zambienne limite l’exercice successif à deux quinquennats. L’actuel vice-président, dix ministres de son gouvernement et une soixantaine de députés du Mouvement pour une démocratie multipartiste (MMD) ont boycotté la convention. M. Chiluba, élu en 1991 contre Kenneth Kaunda, dispose au Parlement d’une majorité pour amender la Constitution. (Le Monde, France, 3 mai 2001)

* Zambia. Split in MMD deepens — 2 May: Zambia’s ruling party says it has expelled the country’s Vice-President Christon Tembo and eight other cabinet ministers from the party. The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has been split in two over President Frederick Chiluba attempts to secure a third term in office, which is barred under the present constitution. Mr Chiluba’s opponents were granted a temporary court injunction on 1 May preventing their expulsion from the party, and they say they will fight the expulsions through the courts. However, an MMD spokesman told the party’s congress that they had brought the party’s name into disrepute ahead of elections, which are due by the end of the year. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 3 May 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Mugabe’s majority challenged — 26 April: A court ruling in Zimbabwe is expected, today, that could reduce President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party’s narrow majority in parliament. The High Court in Harare is due to deliver a judgement on whether the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change was illegally defeated in last year’s parliamentary elections. The opposition party says the run-up to the elections was marred by a systematic campaign of intimidation and violence organised by the ruling ZANU-PF party. The leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsvangirai, alleges ZANU-PF‘s victory in his Buhera North constituency was the result of violence and intimidation. The same day, the High Court annuls two election results in seats won by ZANU-PF. If the ruling is upheld on appeal, it will force by-elections in the two districts. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 April 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Ambassades et ONG menacées — Les anciens combattants de la guerre d’indépendance du Zimbabwe menacent de s’en prendre aux ambassades étrangères et aux ONG qu’ils accusent de financer le principal parti d’opposition au président Mugabe, le Mouvement pour un changement démocratique (MDC). “Nous aurons recours à tous les moyens nécessaires pour s’occuper de ces nations étrangères représentées ici et qui veulent installer un régime fantoche au Zimbabwe”, a déclaré leur chef de file, Chenjerai Hunzvi, à la Financial Gazette. Les anciens combattants s’étaient lancés l’année dernière dans un vaste mouvement d’occupation de fermes blanches pour y installer des paysans noirs sans terres. (Reuters, 27 avril 2001)

* Zimbabwe. «Tolerance and hope» — On 2 May, the Catholic Bishops of Zimbabwe published a Pastoral Letter entitled «Tolerance and Hope». The Bishops said that «in our country the holders of political power, including those claiming to be Christians, tend to abuse their fellow human beings. They just use them to achieve their own political ends and then dump them afterwards». The Bishops emphasised that it is an inherent right of the person to take part in the political activities of his or her society. «The lack of tolerance is clearly evidenced by the violence that continues to grip our country». They stated that the activities of war veterans, in both urban and rural ares, are not solving problems in the proper manner. The land issue should have been settled long ago and land should be given to people who are really in need of it. «We need national dialogue». The Bishops called on the government to give more funding to the health sector and on people generally to fight AIDS by a behaviour change. (Catholic Bishops of Zimbabwe, 2 May 2001)