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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 21-06-2001

PART #3/4 - From MALAWI - SOUTH AFRICA

* Malawi. Women press for legislation of marital rape — Women in Malawi are pressing for the enactment of a law that will make marital rape a criminal offence punishable by a jail sentence. The Malawi Chapter of Women In Law in Southern Africa (WILSA) this week held a Workshop at the lakeshore district of Mangochi in southern Malawi, where delegates among other things commenced drafting a proposed bill on the criminalisation of marital rape. WILSA‘s Executive Director for Malawi, Seodi White, said that their proposal on marital rape will reduce the occurrence of this form of domestic violence. Ms. White attributed the rampant incidence of marital rape, to the silence of Malawi’s Laws on the issue. «Courts have generally viewed the of rape, as covered by the penal code, as not applying to married couples». (Brian Ligomeka, ANB-BIA, Malawi, 11 June 2001)

* Mali. Exercices militaires conjoints — Les forces maliennes et américaines ont débuté des exercices militaires conjoints au Mali sur la préparation à la gestion des catastrophes et sur le maintien de la paix, a informé l’agence PANA le 18 juin. Les exercices ont commencé le 15 juin dans les garnisons de Kati, Sikasso et Bamako. Ils s’inscrivent dans le cadre de l’opération Flintlock, annuellement organisée par les Etats-Unis dans un pays africain. Les exercices qui concernent l’armée, la police et le service de défense civile, ainsi que les services de santé, doivent durer 12 jours. (IRIN, Abidjan, 19 juin 2001)

* Mauritanie. Opposant condamné — Le 14 juin, la cour criminelle d’Aïoun a condamné l’opposant Chebih ould Cheick Malaïnine à cinq ans de prison pour “association de malfaiteurs en vue de commettre des actes de sabotage et de terrorisme” dans son pays. Le président du Front des partis d’opposition, qui regroupe une demi-douzaine de partis, a dénoncé le verdict et exigé la libération du responsable du Front populaire. Interpellé le 8 avril, ce dernier avait été accusé d’organiser une campagne terroriste pour prendre le pouvoir, en connivence avec la Libye. (Le Monde, France, 16 juin 2001)

* Mauritanie. Révision des listes électorales — La révision des listes électorales en vue des élections parlementaires et communales d’octobre prochain en Mauritanie débutera mercredi, pour s’achever le 20 septembre, a annoncé le ministère de l’Intérieur cité mardi par le Journal Chaab. Cette révision se fera sur la base de la nouvelle “carte d’identité infalsifiable” dont la distribution est en cours. Selon les statistiques disponibles, près de la moitié de la population attend encore la nouvelle carte, mais on assure dans les administrations que “tout le monde sera servi avant la fin de la période de révision”. Le nombre d’électeurs inscrits était jusqu’à présent d’environ 1,2 million, sur une population totale estimée à quelque 2,6 millions d’habitants. Les observateurs s’attendent généralement à ce que l’opposition radicale participe à ces élections, après plusieurs années de boycottage systématique observé pour protester contre la fraude qui, selon elle, entache la démocratie en Mauritanie. (D’après AFP, France, 19 juin 2001)

* Mauritania. Jailing criticised — 15 June: There has been condemnation by opposition parties in Mauritania and human rights groups of the conviction of an opposition leader on charges of organising a conspiracy against the state. The leader of the Popular Front, Chebih Cheikh Ould Malainine, was sentenced on 14 June to five years in prison after a trial lasting just over a week. Popular Front representatives criticised the proceedings as a show trial with no legal credibility, and described the jail term as very severe. Mr Malainine, a former government minister, is alleged to have formed a group with the aim of committing acts of sabotage and terrorism. Correspondents say he is a persistent and uncompromising critic of President Maaouya Ould Ahmed Taya. 19 June: Amnesty International calls for the unconditional release of prisoners of conscience in Mauritania. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 19 June 2001)

* Namibia. Funds delay treason trial — A struggle to raise funds to finance the defence of the 126 men facing 275 charges in the Caprivi high treason case yesterday forced a further postponement of a month and a half in their matter. At the first appearance of the high treason accused in the High Court, sitting in Omulunga, Grootfontein, defence lawyers Izak Hohne and Chris van Sittert told Judge Peter Shivute that they would have to ask for the case to be postponed for about a month so that further attempts could be made to raise money to pay for the suspects’ defence. According to Justice Minister Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, who also attended the proceedings, the State will not be able to provide legal aid to the suspects. The prosecution, however, is ready to start with the case, the leading State counsel in the case, Deputy Prosecutor-General Lourens Campher, told the court. The 126 are now set to make a second appearance in the High Court for a pre-trial conference on August 1, on the eve of the second anniversary of the secessionist attacks at Katima Mulilo on August 2 1999 which led to the 126 being arrested and charged. In the meantime the defence could approach the High Court in an effort to overturn the Magistrate’s Court ruling allowing the prosecution not to disclose to the suspects all the evidence against them, Van Sittert also indicated. (The Namibian, Namibia, 19 June 2001)

* Niger. Campagne de sensibilisation au sida — Le Niger a lancé une campagne de sensibilisation aux effets du VIH/sida, en mettant l’accent sur les mesures de prévention et l’acceptation sociale des personnes vivant avec le virus, a indiqué PANA le 14 juin. La campagne, qui recommande la fidélité au sein des couples et des tests volontaires de dépistage du virus, est appuyée par l’Agence américaine pour le développement. Selon les estimations, il y aurait environ 65.000 personnes infectées par le virus du sida au Niger. (IRIN, Abidjan, 15 juin 2001)

* Nigeria. IFC delays funding — The board of International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector lending arm of the World Bank, has postponed a decision on funding oil services companies in the Niger Delta following protests from environmental campaigners. IFC‘s board had been due on 14 June to approve a $15m revolving credit facility for subcontractors of Royal Dutch/Shell, the Anglo-Dutch oil group, through local Nigerian banks. However, an IFC official said the board had deferred the decision until next week after a complaint from Environmental Rights Action (Era), a Nigerian campaign group affiliated to Friends of the Earth. «We understand that the shareholders are concerned about this project and wanted more time to discuss this with management. They are concerned about IFC‘s reputation in working in an extremely high-risk environment,» she said. (Financial Times, UK, 15 June 2001)

* Nigeria. Refugee ship allowed to dock — The Nigerian Government says it will allow a vessel crowded with 186 Liberian refugees, including 79 children, to dock at one of its ports. The Nigerian Foreign Minister, Sule Lamido, said his government was taking humanitarian action —following a request from the West African regional body, ECOWAS — in order to prevent a tragedy. Some of the Liberian refugees are in poor health and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has expressed concern over their plight. A journalist who boarded the ship off the Benin coast three days ago said that the captain complained that some of his passengers were suffering from diarrhoea and were vomiting. The ship, called the Alnar, has a Swedish captain and is believed to have left the Liberian capital Monrovia at the beginning of the month. (BBC News, UK, 19 June 2001)

* Rwanda. UN tribunal calls for tighter rules for attorneys — The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda has imposed stricter rules for defense attorneys and more thorough background questionnaires for defense investigators following reports of corruption and the arrest of a defense team member on genocide charges. Adama Dieng, the court’s administrator, introduced the measures after a scathing audit by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services. The February report found that some defense attorneys were splitting their fees with defendants and providing them with expensive gifts to keep from being fired. Supposedly indigent defendants were found to have expensive computers and audio and video equipment in their cells. «These were gifts provided by members of their defense teams,» the report said. Defense attorneys can earn up to $230,000 a year. Legal assistants and defense investigators earn up to $30,000 a year, a huge sum by African standards. Dieng said defense teams would be thoroughly searched prior to meeting with suspects at the UN Detention Facility in Arusha, the town in northern Tanzania where the tribunal is located, to ensure they are not smuggling in valuables. Defense attorneys will also not be allowed to meet suspects who are not their clients. Defense team members will also be required to fill out more thorough background questionnaires to ensure that they are not related to their clients and that they did not participate in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The tribunal is prosecuting people believed responsible for the state-orchestrated massacres of more than 500,000 people, most of them Tutsis or politically moderate Hutus. (CNN, USA, 15 June 2001)

* Rwanda. 9 condamnations à mort — Le 15 juin, neuf personnes ont été condamnées à mort par la justice rwandaise pour leur participation au génocide de 1994. Le procès de 126 personnes accusées de crimes contre l’humanité et de crimes de génocide par un tribunal de la province de Kigali rural s’est achevé par la condamnation à vie pour 30 autres accusés. 62 accusés ont été condamnés à des peines allant de 20 ans à un an de prison, et 25 ont été acquittés. Les prévenus étaient jugés pour leur participation présumée aux massacres de Kanzenze. (La Libre Belgique, 18 juin 2001)

* Rwanda. Tentatives d’infiltrations — Dans la nuit du 14 au 15 juin, des combattants extrémistes hutu rwandais, venus du Congo-Kinshasa, ont à nouveau tenté de s’infiltrer au nord-ouest du Rwanda, a indiqué le chef d’état-major adjoint de l’armée, le général Kabarebe. Le 14 juin, une journaliste de la BBC avait été témoin d’accrochages entre les troupes de l’armée rwandaise et des infiltrés, sur les contreforts du volcan Karisimbi. Des accrochages quasi-quotidiens opposent depuis près d’une semaine l’armée rwandaise aux combattants Interahamwe et ex-FAR (soldats de l’ancien régime). Les combats ont lieu aux limites du parc naturel des Virungas, à la frontière entre le Rwanda et le Congo, mais également plus en profondeur dans le territoire rwandais, notamment dans les anciennes communes de Nyamutera et Giciye, à proximité de la forêt naturelle de Gishwati. 80 présumés extrémistes ont été tués ces derniers jours, a indiqué la radio nationale du 16 juin. -Selon l’agence IRIN du 19 juin, des responsables gouvernementaux se sont déclarés satisfaits de la sécurité dans les provinces de Ruhengeri et Gisenyi, jugées “sous contrôle” au lendemain des attaques. Les habitants ont joué un rôle déterminant dans la lutte contre les insurrections, a-t-on signalé. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 19 juin 2001)

* Rwanda/Uganda. Internal security problems — The implementation of the Lusaka peace accord is resulting into serious security problems for Rwanda and Uganda as anti-government forces are returning into these countries and stepping up an armed struggle. According to security sources, the Interahamwe have crossed back into northern Rwanda and have engaged government forces at various points in Ruhengeri and Gisenyi prefectures in north west Rwanda. Rwandan security forces claim to have killed at least 300 of them, though the RCD faction supported by Rwanda, claims more are assembling near Goma. Uganda also has the problem of increased urban terrorism. Bombing campaigns in Kampala are increasing — the most recent one being on 5 June where three bombs exploded at various points in Kampala injuring at least 20 people. There have been an increasing number of armed robberies in which at least five policemen have died since beginning of June. There’s also been attacks on diplomats — the recent shooting at the Libyan envoy and the car-jacking of the Egyptian envoy’s Mercedes Benz. Threats on both US and UK embassies have been issued. Major General Katumba Wamala, the new Inspector General of Police suspects it to be handiwork of the rebel Allied Democratic Front (ADF) and some soldiers. The police are on the point of calling in the military to assist in what looks like a deteriorating situation, with security reports speaking of an ADF operational base near Kampala. (Crespo Sebunya, ANB-BIA, Uganda, 14 June 2001)

* Sahara occidental. Plan marocain rejeté — Le Front Polisario a rejeté un plan marocain d’autonomie partielle pour le Sahara occidental, dit la “troisième voie”, transmis par l’envoyé de l’Onu James Baker. Selon des sources proches du Polisario, ce projet marocain prévoit de ne déléguer aux Sahraouis qu’une partie des affaires locales, essentiellement dans les domaines sociaux et culturels. En matière économique, Rabat propose de confier aux Sahraouis 20% des recettes prélevées localement par l’Etat. En revanche, les Sahraouis ne jouiraient d’aucun élément constitutif d’une quelconque souveraineté: la diplomatie, la défense, les douanes seraient du seul ressort du Maroc. Le Polisario rejette donc ce projet, et s’en tient à un référendum sous l’égide des Nations unies pour clore ce dossier né de la colonisation du Sahara espagnol. (D’après Le Monde, France, 20 juin 2001)

* Sénégal. Les médicaments génériques plébiscités — Les pharmaciens africains en conclave à Dakar ont prôné le recours aux médicaments génériques pour un accès des patients démunis aux soins de santé, lors d’un forum consacré à la sécurité et à l’accessibilité du médicament en Afrique. Depuis la dévaluation en 1994 du FCFA vis-à-vis du franc français, les médicaments “classiques” ont vu leur prix doubler, entraînant une diminution des ventes auprès d’une population au pouvoir d’achat réduit. A la pharmacie Guigon, un paquet de 16 comprimés de paracétamol coûte 1.200 FCFA (1,83 euros), alors que le même médicament conditionné en générique vaut 446 FCFA (0,68 euros) pour 20 comprimés. Devant la prolifération des ventes illicites, avec parfois des complicités à des niveaux “insoupçonnés”, les pharmaciens africains estiment devoir être les “seuls autorisés à distribuer les médicaments”, pour briser la chaîne des “trafics, de la contrefaçon et des abus”. Si les prix des médicaments ne baissent pas, beaucoup de gens continueront de se soigner par “analogie”, utilisant les mêmes produits que ceux absorbés par un voisin ou un parent affecté par le même mal, avec le risque de se tromper, notamment sur la posologie, avertit un médecin dakarois. (D’après AFP, France, 20 juin 2001)

* Sénégal. Plan “Omega” pour l’Afrique — En visite officielle cette semaine en France, le président sénégalais Abdoulaye Wade a présenté un plan de sauvetage pour l’économie africaine, baptisé le “plan Omega”. Omega, déjà cautionné par l’OUA et les pays francophones, est un plan d’action destiné à évaluer les besoins du continent africain et à trouver des crédits. Les remboursements de ces crédits pourraient s’étaler sur une cinquantaine d’années pour moderniser quatre secteurs essentiels: infrastructures (routes, ponts, chemins de fer, barrages), éducation, santé et agriculture. (Reuters, 20 juin 2001)

* Somalia. Somali region recognises government — The town of Kismayo in southern Somalia has become the first in the country to set up a new administration supportive of the transitional government that is attempting to establish itself throughout the country. Kismayo — a port 500 kilometres south of the capital, Mogadishu — will now be run by an 11-member council designated after talks between the region’s clans. Correspondents say the move is designed to build on a process which began with the selection at a conference in Djibouti last year of an administration aiming to become Somalia’s first national government for a decade. It is being opposed by several armed factions, as well as the secessionist regions of Somaliland and Puntland. (BBC News, UK, 19 June 2001)

* South Africa. South African high-flyer brought low — The career of Saki Macozoma, a leading South African businessman, was in jeopardy on 14 June after allegations in parliament of serious breaches of corporate governance in his management of South African Airways (SAA), the state-owned national carrier. Jeff Radebe, the minister of public enterprises, accused Mr Macozoma, the former managing director of Transnet, SAA‘s holding company, of flouting rules in the negotiation of a contract with Coleman Andrews, a US executive hired as the airline’s chief executive. Under the terms of a secret contract, Mr Andrews was paid R232m for two and a half years work at the airline. Mr Andrews paid R361m for consultants and expatriates with no measures of their performance in place, said Mr Radebe. «It has now become clear that since 1998 there has been a systematic erosion of corporate governance at SAA,» said Mr Radebe. «It does appear that this litany of breaches of corporate governance was informed by Andrews’ belief that he could report directly to the former managing director of Transnet in spite of the existence of the SAA board.» (Financial Times, UK, 15 June 2001)

* South Africa. Investing in South Africa — 14 June: A drive to promote African economic development will be a «second term priority» of the UK government, Tony Blair, the prime minister, said after talks with Thabo Mbeki, the South African president. He pledged his support for «a partnership between Africa and the developing world...to help Africa develop its full potential.I think it is possible to put together an agenda which is about good government, proper commercial and legal systems and a right climate for investment,» he said, promising to back Mr Mbeki’s plan for an African-led recovery programme. Earlier the South African president told British investors that Africa suffered from a host of negative perceptions, and that South Africa was seen as part of a «bad neighbourhood» in which the economic and political turmoil in Zimbabwe played a large part. «It is clear that there are many things that have gone wrong in Zimbabwe,» he said, in an unusually frank assessment. Referring to the rash of land seizures by so-called war veterans in Zimbabwe, he said that redistribution of land was necessary, as it was in South Africa, but «it needs to be handled correctly...There is a need to observe the law. Clearly we do not want a situation of collapse in Zimbabwe. We have to engage...to address those matters we believe have been handled wrongly.» Mr Mbeki urged investors to recognise that «the process of changing South Africa for the better is proceeding well». There was an opportunity to turn the good potential and good prospects of South Africa «into something that will convey a message about the African continent that will be radically different.» 18 June: Christoph Kopke, Daimler-Chrysler SA‘s chief executive says that «South Africa is not an investor-friendly country and the AIDS situation is only making the situation worse». Daimler-Chrysler is the single largest foreign investor in South Africa. Mr Kopke says: «AIDS is definitely one of the factors inhibiting foreign investments — on top of all the structural issues. When I try to persuade foreign suppliers to invest here, they ask about four things — trade unions, cost of capital, crime and AIDS. (Financial Times, UK, 15&19 June 2001)

* South Africa. Bollywood success for father and son — A father and son team have scooped top honours at the «Indian Oscars» awards ceremony in South Africa. Sun City played host to the Bollywood awards honouring the best of the Indian film industry. Heartthrob Hrithik Roshan won best actor for his debut film «Kaho Naa Pyar Hai» at the International Indian Film Academy Awards. The film, which translates as «Tell Me You Love Me», won best picture award and Roshan’s father Rakesh took the award for best director. As actress Waheeda Rehman picked up a lifetime achievement award she said she was proud to be part of «an industry where there is no caste or creed». The prolific Bollywood movie industry sees around 800 new films made each year, with an estimated turnover of $200m. Last year’s inaugural event, was held at the Millennium Dome in London. At this year’s ceremony near Johannesburg the best actress gong was won by Karisma Kapoor for her role in «Fiza». The film also received a best supporting actress award for Jaya Bachchan. Best supporting actor was Amitabh Bachchan in «Mohabbatein». (BBC News, UK, 17 June 2001)

* South Africa. Charges dropped — The High Court in Pretoria has dropped 15 charges, including murder, against Wouter Basson, the military surgeon dubbed «Dr Death» as head of a chemical warfare programme that included dreaming up 007-style gadgets to kill opponents of apartheid. His lawyers had called for most of the 61 charges against him to be dropped, on the basis that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to support them. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 19 June 2001)

* Afrique du Sud. Pénurie de carburant — L’Afrique du Sud va réduire de moitié ses exportations de carburant vers les pays voisins, à la suite de l’importante pénurie de carburant qui sévit dans le pays. Cette réduction portera un coup sévère au Zimbabwe dont l’approvisionnement en carburant rencontre déjà de considérables difficultés. Le Botswana, le Lesotho, la Namibie et le Swaziland seront également affectés par cette décision. Selon un porte-parole, l’incendie qui avait éclaté à la raffinerie Natref de Sasolburg au début du mois, a rendu nécessaire la fermeture de cette unité pour au moins 14 semaines. La fermeture pour maintenance d’une autre raffinerie exacerbe le problème. Au début du mois, les prix de l’essence vendue au détail en Afrique du Sud ont atteint le chiffre record de 4,01 rand le litre (8 rands = 1 dollar). Cette hausse va certainement provoquer une remontée du taux d’inflation et entraîner une augmentation des prix aux consommateurs. (PANA, Sénégal, 20 juin 2001)