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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 23-08-2001

PART #4/4 - From SOUTH AFRICA to ZIMBABWE

* South Africa. Donald Woods dies — The veteran anti-apartheid campaigner and journalist Donald Woods, whose fight against injustice was depicted in the film «Cry Freedom», has died aged 67. Mr Woods, who had been fighting lung, kidney and liver cancer for two years, died at the Royal Marsden hospital in Sutton, Surrey, UK, on 19 August.Former South African president Nelson Mandela and South Africa’s high commissioner in London, Cheryl Carolus, were among many who telephoned Mr Woods shortly before his death. Ms Carolus described Mr Woods last night as a «truly great son of South Africa». She said: «We are greatly saddened at his death but know too that it ended a long period of illness which he bore with his usual courage and wit. A great life of courage has ended but his spirit lives on with his people». Mr Woods’ daughter Jane, 38, said on 19 August: «He was continuing to work and go on holiday when three weeks ago it was discovered the cancer had spread to his liver. The doctors said there was nothing they could do and he died at lunchtime. Although he achieved a lot in his lifetime, he was very upset that he wasn’t going to see his grandchildren grow up.» Mr Woods was the editor of South Africa’s East London Daily Dispatch newspaper in the Eastern Cape for 12 years until he was banned by the National party government in 1977 for anti-apartheid activities. He achieved worldwide renown after exposing the events surrounding the death of 26-year-old black campaigner Steve Biko, who was killed in police custody in 1977. He wrote an explosive book on Biko, who had become a close friend, which was researched under the noses of police and prompted a massive campaign to expose racial injustice. The ensuing persecution from police forced Mr Woods to flee to England in 1977 via Lesotho, Botswana, Zambia and Tunisia with his wife and five children, fearing for his life. He escaped dressed as a priest and crouching low in a car to escape detection. He has been widely credited with playing a significant role in effecting sanctions against South Africa and helping the country to move towards democracy in 1994. (The Guardian, UK, 20 August 2001)

* Afrique du Sud. Décès de Donald Woods — Le journaliste et écrivain sud-africain Donald Woods, célèbre militant contre le régime de l’apartheid, est décédé le 19 août au Royaume-Uni. D. Woods avait fondé et dirigé le journal Daily Dispatch à East London et était notamment l’ami du dirigeant noir Steve Biko, tué en prison en 1977. Il était devenu célèbre grâce au film de Richard Attenborough “Cry Freedom”. Le président sud-africain Thabo Mbeki a salué son courage dans la lutte contre le régime de la ségrégation raciale. (La Libre Belgique, 21 août 2001)

* South Africa. ANC warns on avoiding talks on colonialism — South Africa’s ruling party warned on 20 August that avoiding discussion about the damage caused by slavery and colonialism would lead to a deterioration in relations between Africa and the rest of the world. In a draft document drawn up for submission at next week’s United Nations Conference Against Racism, the African National Congress says African countries will pursue satisfaction for what they consider crimes of humanity and genocide perpetrated by more developed nations. «There is no doubt that Africans themselves must and will take the lead in addressing the legacy of this African Holocaust. There has been a growing demand that some form of satisfaction be provided for these serious and grievous wrongs. South Africa’s experience convinces us that to delay or avoid this discussion would not serve the cause of human fraternity.» The US has threatened to not attend the week-long conference if it feels it is likely to come under pressure to apologise for the slave trade or be drawn into a debate about the state of Israel. European countries have also expressed concern that the wording of an apology could lead to legal demands for financial compensation for slavery and colonialism. (Financial Times, UK, 21 August 2001)

* Afrique du Sud. Redistribution des terres — Le 21 août, l’Alliance démocratique (DA, opposition) a lancé un appel au gouvernement lui demandant de procéder à une redistribution rapide, aux fermiers noirs, des terres appartenant aux Blancs, afin d’assurer la stabilité en Afrique du Sud. Selon la DA, la réforme foncière devrait toutefois être basée sur un nombre de principes, notamment la protection des droits de la propriété privée, le respect de l’Etat de droit, une compensation équitable et des politiques durables tenant compte de l’environnement. Le gouvernement sud-africain a annoncé qu’il prévoyait de donner 30% des exploitations agricoles à des propriétaires noirs d’ici l’an 2009. Il a également annoncé qu’environ 669.000 hectares appartenant à l’Etat (environ 5% de toutes les terres) seront attribués à des nouveaux fermiers noirs. (D’après PANA, Sénégal, 22 août 2001)

* Soudan. Evêques contre les appuis pétroliers — La Commission Justice et Paix de l’épiscopat du Soudan vient de protester contre l’accord conclu par le Kenya avec le gouvernement de Khartoum pour permettre à ce pays d’acheter du pétrole soudanais à bas prix. Pour la Commission, les recettes tirées du pétrole servent à financer la guerre du gouvernement de Khartoum contre le sud du Soudan. En outre, “le pétrole vendu à bas prix au Kenya va chasser les populations des régions pétrolifères au sud du pays et ce seront autant de réfugiés”. La Commission déplore particulièrement que les recettes de la vente du pétrole soient investies dans l’armement. Avec l’aide de la Chine, le Soudan a construit trois usines d’armes et de munitions dans les environs de Khartoum. La Chine a des intérêts pétroliers considérables en Afrique. Le Soudan accueille également des compagnies pétrolières canadiennes, malaises et russes et, de façon indirecte, des entreprises françaises et italiennes. (CIP, Belgique, 16 août 2001)

* Sudan. «Let there be a just and durable peace» — The Catholic and Episcopal Bishops of Sudan, gathered in Nairobi 12-17 August for a seminar entitled: «Pastoral Leadership and United Action in a Crisis Situation». They appealed for an immediate end to hostilities and the establishment of a just and durable peace in Sudan. (Sudan Focal Point, Kenya, 17 August 2001)

* Sudan. Sudan gets OPEC observer status — The Sudanese energy minister, Awad Ahmed al-Jaz, has confirmed reports that Opec, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, has given Sudan observer status. Mr Jaz said the invitation to attend Opec meetings from October was recognition of Sudan’s role as an oil-producing country. He said further oil fields had been discovered and urged more oil companies to invest in the country. Sudan began oil exports two years ago amid fierce opposition from rebels, who say the government uses the revenues for its military campaign against them. In recent months, the southern rebels of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army have stepped up a military campaign aimed at ousting the oil companies. Opec has also granted observer status to Egypt and Equatorial Guinea. (BBC News, UK, 20 August 2001)

* Soudan. Statut d’observateur à l’Opep — L’organisation des pays exportateurs de pétrole a donné au Soudan un statut d’observateur dans ses réunions, a déclaré le 20 août le ministre soudanais de l’Energie et des Mines, soulignant que l’invitation faite au Soudan était le signe de la reconnaissance, par une importante instance internationale du secteur pétrolier, du statut d’exportateur de son pays. (La Croix, France, 21 août 2001)

* Sudan. Flood fears in Khartoum — 17 August: In the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, residents are bracing themselves for flood waters expected to reach the city within days. The Nile, which snakes through the city, is swollen, fast-moving and perilously close to the top of its banks. The governor of the city, Hashim Haroum, says the next seven days will be critical but meteorologists in neighbouring Ethiopia forecast that the threat will continue into September. In at least one low-lying part of the city, the island of Tuti, residents have mounted an around-the-clock watch. There are sand bags to shore up the river bank, but not many and not enough to withstand a sudden big surge of flood water. They seem a very fragile defence. In one place rising groundwater has already turned a football pitch into a lake. Further upstream the Nile has already reached its highest level for 20 years, causing widespread destruction. The people who live along the Nile are used to seasonal fluctuations in the river, but this year exceptionally heavy rain further upstream caused a dramatic rise in water level. The Nile is running at a higher level than in August 1988, when the river burst its banks, leaving dozens dead and two million homeless. Severe flooding this time has already driven thousands of people from their homes and destroyed crops and property. A government weather station in northern Ethiopia predicts that the Blue Nile will continue to swell well into September, bringing floods to Sudan. Summer rains in Ethiopia, where the Blue Nile rises in the north-western highlands, have been 25% heavier than normal this year, Endalakachew Bekele, a meteorologist at the station, explains. 20 August: The International Federation of the Red Cross is again asking for more help to cope with the thousands of people in Sudan who lost their homes during the Nile floods. An international appeal launched in Geneva 10 days ago has so far met with a disappointing response. So far only a few boxes of medicine have arrived in the capital Khartoum. Children are especially vulnerable. There has already been one outbreak of measles. In the past few weeks thousands of people living along the Nile have been driven from their homes as the river reached its highest level for 20 years. The Sudanese Government and aid agencies are now worried about outbreaks of disease among the displaced people. The Red Cross says malaria and diarrhoea are the biggest problems. 21 August: The Sudanese authorities say the level of the Nile in Khartoum is dropping rapidly. Along the edges of the Nile, muddy brown earth banks are beginning to emerge after days under water. The city authorities have been warning that residents should be prepared for widespread flooding following heavy rains further upriver, but it seems the immediate danger has passed. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 22 August 2001)

* Tchad. Inondations — La pluie continue à dévaster le sud du Tchad. Plus d’un mètre d’eau a inondé la ville de Sarh dans la nuit du 18 au 19 août. De nombreuses habitations ont été évacuées et les communications sont de plus en plus difficiles car les routes sont impraticables un peu partout dans la région. L’important axe routier qui relie Doba à Sarh est bloqué depuis une semaine. Le personnel d’une multinationale pétrolière active dans la zone semble vouloir déblayer la boue qui recouvre les routes. En revanche, les autorités de N’Djamena n’ont pris aucune mesure d’assistance aux sinistrés. Les inondations ont fait déjà une dizaine de morts. (Misna, Italie, 21 août 2001)

* Togo. UN evaluation team in Togo — A UN delegation is in Togo to assess preparations towards early parliamentary elections. The mission led by Mershoug Tayeb has already met with President Eyadema. It plans to meet officials of the National Electoral Independent Commission as well as leaders of political parties represented in the Joint Follow-up Committee set up within a framework agreement on the conduct of the elections. (PANA, Senegal, 19 August 2001)

* Togo. Manifestations — Le 18 août à Lomé, la police anti-émeutes a tiré des grenades lacrymogènes pour disperser des manifestants qui protestaient contre l’incarcération d’un opposant au régime du général Eyadéma. Les manifestants avaient érigé des barricades et brûlé des pneus dans divers endroits de la capitale. Ils répondaient, pour le deuxième samedi consécutif, à l’appel de l’opposition qui exige la libération du président du Comité d’action pour le renouveau (CAR), Yawovi Agboyibo, condamné le 3 août à six mois de prison ferme. (La Libre Belgique, 20 août 2001)

* Uganda. Museveni denies plunder — Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has again rejected out of hand UN allegations that his troops are in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo for profit. Appearing before a state inquiry, Mr Museveni said he had no business dealings in Congo RDC and called the UN accusation absurd. The hearing follows United Nations allegations that Uganda, along with Rwanda and Burundi, was involved in the Congo conflict for economic gain. The report, which was delivered to the UN Security Council in April, angered Mr Museveni and prompted him to threaten to pull out of the Lusaka peace process aimed at ending Congo’s civil war. Mr Museveni told the inquiry on 16 August: «I wanted to sue UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for damages. But they said, “How can you sue the UN?” But how can the UN damage my name?» The brother of Uganda’s president was one of those specifically criticised by the UN report and that, the panel said, made the president an accomplice. Uganda has always said its troops are in Congo to prevent Ugandan rebels who are supported by Congo and Sudan from attacking it. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 18 August 2001)

* Zambie. Mgr. Milingo — Mgr. Emmanuel Milingo, 71 ans, ancien archevêque zambien, qui avait adhéré à la secte Moon et épousé une des adeptes, Maria Sung, a affirmé dans une lettre rendue publique le 15 août à Rome qu’il décidait de “revenir au sein de l’Eglise”. Après une entrevue avec le pape le 7 août, le Vatican avait déjà suspendu la menace d’excommunication prévue le 20 août. Depuis, Maria Sung, entourée de plusieurs membres de la secte Moon, est arrivée à Rome. Elle menace de faire une grève de la faim et accuse le Vatican de lui avoir volé son époux et de le séquestrer. Selon le Saint-Siège, Mgr Milingo déclare vouloir reprendre sa vie au sein de l’Eglise catholique et renoncer à sa vie avec Maria Sung et à sa relation avec le révérend Moon. (La Croix, France, 16 août 2001)

* Zambie. Accidents mortels — Le 18 août, dans la petite localité de Kapiri Mposhi, à quelque 200 km au nord de Lusaka, une quarantaine de personnes ont péri brûlées vives lors d’un accident de bus, le troisième mortel en moins d’un mois. 34 autres personnes ont été hospitalisées. Le bus a pris feu après avoir glissé hors de la route à la suite d’un éclatement de pneu. La semaine dernière, 33 personnes avaient trouvé la mort dans l’est de la Zambie quand un bus a fait un tonneau. (Le Soir, Belgique, 20 août 2001)

* Zambie. La police traque l’opposition — Le 20 août, la police a lancé une vaste chasse aux dirigeants de l’opposition en Zambie, selon le quotidien français Libération. Ordre a été donné à tous les commissaires d’arrêter les deux principaux responsables du Forum pour le développement et la démocratie (FDD) ainsi que le rédacteur en chef du Post, seul quotidien privé et indépendant du pays. Ils sont accusés de “diffamation” à l’encontre du président de la République, Frederik Chiluba. Selon l’agence PANA, l’ex-ministre du Travail, Edith Nawakwi, et deux journalistes ont été arrêtés le 21 août dans la matinée, mais ont été libérés dans la soirée. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 21 août 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Crise — La crise des expropriations de fermiers blancs prend de l’ampleur au Zimbabwe. Au moins 300 personnes ont dû évacuer leurs propriétés dans le nord du pays, tandis que les invasions de fermes et les pillages se poursuivent dans les propriétés détenues par des Blancs. 21 fermiers accusés d’avoir agressé les “squatters” d’une de leurs fermes, ont été arrêtés dans la région de Mashonaland West (100 km au nord-est de Harare). L’incident a déclenché des représailles et les Blancs de la région ont été attaqués à plusieurs reprises. Tout ce qui peut être déplacé a été volé. Le dimanche 12 août, le Syndicat des fermiers commerciaux (CFU) a accusé la police de laisser faire les violences. Selon la police, 12 pillards ont été arrêtés. Le président Mugabe a réaffirmé que le plan d’expropriation des fermiers blancs se poursuivrait malgré les menaces de sanctions américaines. - Le 15 août, le président Mugabe a franchi un degré supplémentaire pour imposer sa réforme agraire, en faisant appel à l’armée pour accélérer la redistribution des terres. D’autre part, Geoff Nyarota, directeur du Daily News, l’unique quotidien indépendant du Zimbabwe, a été arrêté avec trois de ses journalistes. Il n’a pas été officiellement inculpé, mais ses collaborateurs estiment que son arrestation est en rapport avec la couverture par son journal des violences qui sévissent depuis une semaine dans le nord du pays. Le lendemain, un tribunal de Harare a ordonné leur libération. La situation au Zimbabwe est devenue suffisamment grave pour que les dirigeants des 14 pays membres de la SADC aient décidé de nommer une troïka, composée des présidents du Botswana, du Mozambique et de l’Afrique du Sud, pour rencontrer le chef de l’Etat zimbabwéen dans les semaines à venir. - Le 18 août, le Danemark a annoncé un gel total de toute assistance financière au Zimbabwe en raison des violences. La Grande-Bretagne a déclaré avoir des plans d’urgence pour évacuer ses citoyens du Zimbabwe si la crise s’aggravait. - Le 20 août, la Haute Cour de justice a ordonné la mise en liberté sous caution des 21 fermiers blancs arrêtés il y a quinze jours à Chinhoyi, mais le juge leur a interdit de se rendre dans cette région afin d’éviter de nouvelles violences. D’autre part, le président Mugabe a nommé à la tête de la Cour suprême Godfrey Chidyausiku, un magistrat considéré comme “loyaliste”. Cette nomination a ravivé les préoccupations au sujet des menaces qui planent sur l’indépendance de la justice. Dès sa nomination le nouveau président de la Cour suprême a déclaré que la réforme agraire était un problème politique qui ne relève pas de la compétence des tribunaux. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 21 août 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Harare cracks down on prices — The Zimbabwe government has banned businesses from charging prices based on the parallel market exchange rate for the Zimbabwe dollar. The move follows angry public complaints from the public that the prices of imported products are being converted at the parallel market rate of Z$300 to the US unit instead of the official rate of Z$55. Bankers say it is unclear how the order will be implemented and that it seems unenforceable. «Sellers will just quote prices in local currency,» said one, «and it will be impossible for anyone to say what rate of exchange they have used.» Already airline representatives have warned they must either be allowed to quote fares and demand payment in US dollars or to convert fares at the parallel market rate, which they themselves must pay in order to obtain foreign exchange. The parallel rate of Z$300 to the US dollar has doubled in less than two months, with some forecasters predicting a rate of as much as Z$500 by the end of the year. After last Friday’s announcement of another sharp increase in the inflation rate to 70 per cent in July from 64 per cent in June and 55.5 per cent in May, the government is under mounting pressure to take some action to stabilise prices. Some economists are predicting the return of both price and exchange controls over the next few weeks. (Editor’s note: Another blow to Zimbabwe’s economy was reported on 21 August, when the Zimbabwe Government announced a halt to beef exports after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, that is almost certainly the result of lawlessness in cattle areas). (Financial Times, UK, 21 August 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Increased pressure on sections of the population — 3 August: The Land Minister tells white farmers that 90% of their land will now be re-settled, and warns them not to contest the plan. 6 August: The main civic groups call on Mugabe to act quickly to avoid serious bloodshed and economic collapse. 9 August: More than 20 white farmers are due to reappear in court accused of attacking a group of war veterans. 10 August: White families are fleeing their farms in north-western Zimbabwe after attacks by govt. supporters. 13 August: Looting and destruction of white-owned property continues in northern Zimbabwe, as farmers call on the Govt. to act. — Police say they have suspended 3 police officers for allegedly giving preferential treatment to a group of white farmers in custody. 14 August: Four Zimbabwean journalists from the independent Daily News newspaper are arrested on charges of publishing «rumour or false information likely to discredit the security forces». — The US Govt. has lashed out at Zimbabwe’s Govt. for human rights abuses. 15 August: The Zimbabwean army is to be deployed on white-owned farms to «speed up» redistribution of land and to «protect» black settlers from violent farmers, says the Govt. 16 August: Lawyers for 21 white farmers accused of assault will seek their release on bail, a day after the 4 journalists were released without charge. — Surging leaf prices on Harare’s tobacco auction floors do not mean an export bonanza for the country’s crumbling economy. 17 August: The 4 journalists face new charges after accusations that they published subversive material linking police to recent farm invasions. — A judge says more time is needed to consider bail applications by white farmers detained after a clash with govt. supporters. 18 August: White farmers have dismissed suggestions that they arranged attacks on their own farms to gain international sympathy. The Daily Herald has charged that the white farmers had assisted with the organisation of the ransackings in order to provoke an international reaction. 19 August: In an interview with the state-owned Sunday Mail, Zimbabwe’s Agriculture Minister, Joseph Made, says: the first phase of the fast track land resettlement program is expected to be completed in the next 12 days». 20 August: The Amani Trust in Harare, which monitors human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, has recorded 11 political murders, 61 disappearances, 104 cases of unlawful detention by the authorities, and 288 incidents of torture last month. 9 white farmers have been killed since April last year. — The High Court orders the 21 white farmers to be released on bail. — The arrest of journalists has re-ignited concerns about press freedom. 21 August: The lawyer acting for the 21 jailed white farmers in Zimbabwe has accused the prison authorities of unlawfully detaining the men. They are still in prison because of procedural delays. The court in the town of Chinhoyi, where they are being held, has still not received their release papers. The papers have to be driven from the capital, Harare, to Chinhoyi - a journey of more than 100km. 22 August: The 21 white farmers are finally released on bail. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 23 August 2001)