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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 18-10-2001

PART #4/4 - From RWANDA  to  ZIMBABWE

* Rwanda. Lutte contre la pauvreté — Le Fonds monétaire international (FMI) a accordé un prêt de 12 millions de dollars au Rwanda au titre du programme de lutte contre la pauvreté conclu entre le Fonds et Kigali en juin 1998. Le Rwanda a utilisé sur ce programme, d’un total de $92 millions, 67 millions jusqu’à maintenant, a précisé le FMI. (Le Figaro, France, 12 octobre 2001)

* Rwanda. Genocide death sentences — The trial of 17 genocide suspects in the Rwandan province of Gikongoro has ended. This type of group trial is one of several initiatives by the Rwandan Government to speed up justice for genocide suspects. Five of the 17 people tried were sentenced to death for genocide and crimes against humanity. A further seven were given life in prison, and two were acquitted.The remaining three received sentences of seven years. Legal sources in Gikongoro said one of those who had got seven years had his sentence reduced from 12 years initially because he confessed to his crimes. The government attaches great importance to confession in an attempt to heal the scars left by the genocide. Rwanda has so far tried more than 3,000 genocide suspects, and sentenced more than 500 of them to death. But well over 100,000 are still crammed into the country’s prisons awaiting trial. The problem of the backlog of cases is worsened by the fact that most of the country’s judges perished in the genocide. People calculate that if trials continue at the current rate, tens of thousands of genocide suspects will die in prison before their cases are heard. In an attempt to speed things up, the Rwandan authorities are introducing a system of community justice called «gacaca courts», where judges appointed at community level are given summary training. Suspects are brought before villages, and local people either acquit or condemn their neighbours. The gacaca courts will start functioning next year. (BBC News, UK, 14 October 2001)

* Rwanda. Décompte des jugements — Entre décembre 1996 et juin 2001, il y a eu 5.927 jugements et arrêts rendus par les juridictions rwandaises dans les procès de génocide, selon un décompte de la ligue LIPRODHOR. Le premier procès a commencé en décembre 1996. Depuis, le nombre des procès augmente d’année en année: 346 en 1997, 928 en 1998, 1.318 en 1999, 2.458 en 2000 et 877 dans la première moitié de 2001. LIPRODHOR  explique cette accélération notamment par le renforcement des moyens des tribunaux, les procès collectifs et le recours des détenus à la procédure d’aveu. La ligue constate aussi que le nombre de condamnations à mort diminue sensiblement tous les ans. En revanche, le pourcentage des acquittements est globalement constant. (Agence Hirondelle, Arusha, 15 octobre 2001)

* Senegal. African leaders mull anti-terrorist measures — More than ten heads of state and delegates from twenty other African countries have begun a meeting in Senegal to discuss terrorism and security issues. Senegal’s President Wade says he will table a draft text for an anti-terrorism pact. He urges the USA to «impose peace» in the Middle East. Senegal’s foreign minister says Africa must not allow itself to be the soft underbelly of the international system in countering terrorists. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 17 October 2001)

* Sierra Leone. Faire la paix — Le gouvernement et le Front révolutionnaire uni (RUF) ont convenu d’aplanir leurs différants et d’accélérer le processus de paix dans le pays. Le ministre de la Justice et le président du Conseil pacifique et politique du RUF ont signé, le 11 octobre à Freetown, l’accord instaurant la trêve. Les deux parties ont également convenu d’accélérer le calendrier du processus de désarmement, de la démobilisation et de la réintégration. Une prochaine réunion entre le RUF et le gouvernement est prévue le 8 novembre prochain. (PANA, Sénégal, 12 octobre 2001)

* Somalia. Violence rocks Mogadishu — 13 October: Reports from Somalia say more than 20 people may have been killed in the latest outbreak of fighting between militia groups and forces loyal to the country’s fragile new government. The suburbs of Mogadishu have once again exploded into violence, forcing residents of the Somali capital to run for their lives. Mortars and heavy gunfire were heard on the morning of 12 October in the south-east of the city. As usual, local militias were reported to be roaming the streets in their «technicals» — outlandish battle wagons mounted with anti-aircraft guns. One report quoted a local doctor as saying that three children were among those killed. The violence apparently started on 12 October. 14 October: Fighting continues in Mogadishu. President Hassan’s troops are clashing with militiamen loyal to the warlord Muse Sudi Yalahow. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 October 2001)

* Somalie. Affrontements à Mogadiscio — Selon l’AFP, au moins 22 personnes ont été tuées et un grand nombre d’autres blessées lors d’affrontements entre forces rivales dans la capitale somalienne Mogadiscio, le samedi 13 octobre. La veille, des combats avaient éclaté entre forces loyales au gouvernement national de transition (GNT) somalien et miliciens du chef de guerre Musa Sudi Yalahow. Selon Le Figaro, au moins trois personnes ont encore été tuées et cinq blessées au cours du troisième jour d’affrontements. Le GNT est soutenu par la communauté internationale, mais n’est pas reconnu par la plupart des chefs de faction. - D’autre part, selon l’agence Misna, un convoi du CICR a été pris en embuscade par un groupe d’hommes armés, le 16 octobre, alors qu’il se dirigeait vers deux hôpitaux à Mogadiscio. Un agent de l’escorte a été tué et un autre grièvement blessé. Le Groupe de coordination des secours en Somalie a lancé un appel pour renforcer rapidement les efforts humanitaires en faveur des populations somaliennes; plus de 450.000 seraient en danger de mort suite aux conséquences dramatiques de la sécheresse. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 15-18 octobre 2001)

* Somalia. Starvation threat — The World Food Programme (WFP) says there has been a slow response to its appeal for Somalia where more than half a million people are reported to be facing possible starvation. It says the situation is very serious in the south after the rains and the crops failed. The WFP is appealing for 40,000 tonnes of food, without which Somalia will be in serious trouble. The WFP is trying to expand a programme in which people are given food in exchange for work. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 17 October 2001)

* South Africa. Unions reject pay deal — One of the main trade unions in South Africa has rejected the government’s imposition of a 5% pay rise for one million civil servants. A spokesman for the Education, Health and Allied Workers Union says his view reflects that of the South African Trade Unions. The government had originally offered an average increase of six-and a -half per cent, but said it was conditional on the unions accepting its right to lay off thousands of workers. Four of the 12 unions involves are reported to have accepted the latest deal but the rest have refused to sign any agreement resulting in job losses. (BBC News, UK, 11 October 2001)

* South Africa. Security investment boost — Foreign companies have been given the green light to continue investing in South African security firms, after the government threw out a controversial plan to block overseas investment in the sector. Fear had existed that a foreign presence in the booming domestic security firm market was a risk, particularly in the light of the recent attacks in the US. By some estimates, the security industry employs almost 300,000 people in South Africa, enjoying strong demand for its services from customers who distrust the local police service and are unnerved by the high crime rate. Foreign companies have invested some 3bn rand or $327m in the sector. Chubb, Securicor Gray, Group Four and ADT are already active in the South African market and had faced the prospect of having to sell their holdings there.«It was felt it was a security risk that such a strategic industry was left in the hands of foreign investors,» Sven Lunsche, editor of Jonik Online, publisher of Business Day and Sunday Times, said. «They also felt that strong foreign investment would hinder black empowerment.» In practice, it could have been difficult for black-controlled companies to make huge-scale investments to buy out foreign investors. The proposal was put forward two weeks ago by members of the African National Congress on the parliamentary committee for safety and security. (BBC News, UK, 11 October 2001)

* Afrique du Sud. Expulsion de Zimbabwéens — Des officiels de l’immigration sud-africaine, aidés par la police et l’armée, vont commencer le 15 octobre à expulser entre 10.000 et 15.000 ressortissants du Zimbabwe voisin, employés dans des fermes du nord du pays. Ces personnes sont soit en situation irrégulière, soit en fin de titre de séjour. Le gouvernement a signé en octobre 2000 un accord avec les fermiers du nord du pays pour mettre un terme, sur une période d’un an, à l’emploi d’ouvriers agricoles étrangers et “commencer à engager des Sud-Africains”. La province du nord, où travaillent la plupart de ces Zimbabwéens, est l’une des plus pauvres du pays. (La Libre Belgique, 12 octobre 2001)

* South Africa. Privatisation hit by market turbulence — Poor market conditions have brought South Africa’s privatisation programme to a standstill, according to a report on the restructuring of state assets by BusinessMap, an investor strategy consultancy. «Market turbulence this year will not see significant South African privatisations because the two major restructuring moves the market could count on — Telkom and the state’s M-Cell [a cellular telephone company] — are both in the telecommunications sector, which has lost its sparkle,» the report, published on 11 October, said. The government has committed itself to an initial public offering of Telkom before the end of March. A Telkom spokesman said on 11 October that a prospectus was being readied for next month followed by an investor roadshow in January. «Not much has been privatised this year,» said Reg Rumney, BusinessMap’s director. «In fact, nothing. Telkom is the big one that will be the log-jam breaker. The state should have sold the non-core assets by now.» (Financial Times, UK, 12 October 2001)

* Afrique du Sud/Algérie. Visite de Bouteflika — Le 16 octobre, le président algérien Abdelaziz Bouteflika a entamé au Cap sa première visite d’Etat en Afrique du Sud. Il est accompagné d’une délégation ministérielle et d’hommes d’affaires. La visite est destinée à renforcer les relations bilatérales et à accroître un dialogue de haut niveau, indique-t-on de source officielle sud-africaine. Lors de sa visite de quatre jours, M. Bouteflika présidera à Pretoria la seconde session de la commission mixte Afrique du Sud-Algérie, aux côtés du président Mbeki. Les deux présidents ont joué un rôle essentiel dans le projet de la Renaissance africaine. Durant sa visite, M. Bouteflika a déclaré qu’il soutenait “sans réserve” l’action menée par les Etats-Unis contre le terrorisme. C’est la première fois que le chef d’Etat algérien se prononce aussi clairement au sujet des frappes américaines contre l’Afghanistan. (PANA, Sénégal, 16-17 octobre 2001)

* South Africa. South Africa disputes AIDS report — 10 October: The South African government casts doubt on the findings of a report it commissioned on the impact of AIDS which claims the disease accounted for a quarter of all deaths in the country last year. The Medical Research Council’s report also estimates that AIDS will kill between five and seven million South Africans by 2010 and that it was the cause of 40 percent of adult South African deaths last year. The government, heavily criticized for its handling of the AIDS crisis, had hoped to put the official release of the report on hold until December. However, a copy was leaked to the media after President Thabo Mbeki ordered a review of health spending on the basis of 1995 statistics that showed HIV accounted for just 2.2 percent of deaths. Government spokesman Joel Netshitenzhe says concerns remained about the research methodology and findings. At present, South Africa only monitors HIV infection rates at free pre-natal clinics, which the government said was not a representative sample. 16 October: The report has now been released by the Medical Research Council. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 16 October 2001)

* Soudan. Liberté de presse — Les autorités soudanaises ont suspendu pour deux jours, les 12 et 13 octobre, l’unique quotidien anglophone du pays “Khartoum Monitor”. Dans un article du 7 octobre, le journal avait rapporté le mécontentement des sudistes après le propos du conseiller présidentiel Ghazi Salah El Din sur le rejet d’un processus d’autodétermination du Sud-Soudan. Khartoum Monitor est connu pour ses critiques sur la politique du gouvernement, particulièrement au sud du pays. Il avait déjà été suspendu trois jours en septembre, à la suite d’articles jugés “nuisibles” aux relations entre le nord et le sud. Ses journalistes ont également fait l’objet de plusieurs arrestations au cours de l’année. (RSF, France, 12 octobre 2001)

* Tanzanie. Vers un partage du pouvoir — Le pouvoir tanzanien et un parti d’opposition pourraient former une coalition gouvernementale dans les îles de Zanzibar et Pemba, a révélé le 11 octobre une source proche du président Mkapa. Kingunge Ngombale-Mwiru, conseiller principal du chef de l’Etat, a déclaré à la presse que le partage du pouvoir était l’élément essentiel d’un accord de réconciliation entre le Chama Cha Mapinduzi (au pouvoir) et le Front civique uni (CUF). L’accord, dont il n’a pas précisé la date de signature, est conclu pour mettre fin à l’éternelle crise politique à Zanzibar et Pemba. (PANA, Sénégal, 12 octobre 2001)

* Tanzania. Zanzibar pact — 11 October: The European Union welcomes a pact signed in Zanzibar aimed at ending political instability and says it will re-assess its long-term aid support to the Indian Ocean islands. Tanzanian political parties promised on 10 October to revise voting laws and boost opposition participation in governing the semi-autonomous islands, to resolve a long standing dispute over allegations of vote rigging during elections. «We have already decided to step up assistance via NGOs for the most urgent needs of the people of Zanzibar,» EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Poul Nielsen said in a statement. «I have recently given the go-ahead to a new NGO project for just over one million Euros to combat HIV/AIDS in Zanzibar.» In September the EU, along with other major Western donors, decided to maintain a freeze on direct aid to Zanzibar, saying political instability was not conducive to development. But on 11 October, Nielsen said the commission would make an assessment of its potential long-term support to Zanzibar. 15 October: A court in Zanzibar has freed two senior opposition leaders after the state dropped murder charges against them. The deputy secretary general of the Civic United Front, Juma Duni Haji, and another official from the party had been jointly charged with the murder of a policemen in the island of Pemba. The policemen were killed during clashes with opposition demonstrators in January. The decision to drop the charges against the two men follows the signing last week of a reconciliation agreement between the CUF and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi. The agreement was aimed at resolving the long-running row in the country which arose when the opposition disputed the results of the last two general elections alleging that they had been flawed. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 16 October 2001)

* Uganda. Bubonic plague kills 14 — An outbreak of bubonic plague in Uganda has killed 14 people in the last three weeks, officials said. A government health official said on 11 October that the disease is believed to have been caused by an influx of rats into several villages. The rats entered four villages in the northwestern Nebbi district near the Congo border, said Dr. Dam Okware, who is coordinating the government’s efforts to halt the spread of the fatal disease. The rats normally live outside the villages but seek shelter during the annual rainy season, he told Reuters. So far, 23 people have been infected with the disease, which affects the lymph nodes, and 14 have died. No new cases have been reported since October 3, Okware said. The bacterial disease is transmitted from rodents to humans by fleas living on the infected animals. Humans can also get it through direct contact with infected blood or tissues. There are three different variations of plague, including bubonic, all of which are treatable with antibiotics if diagnosed in time. Symptoms in people include sudden high fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and sometimes nausea or vomiting. (CNN, USA, 11 October 2001)

* Ouganda. 14 morts de la peste — Au moins quatorze personnes sont mortes de la peste depuis un mois dans le district de Nebbi (nord-ouest du pays), où une épidémie a fait son apparition, a annoncé un responsable des maladies contagieuses. Le ministère de la Santé a envoyé une équipe sanitaire dans la zone, afin d’asperger les villages d’insecticide et tuer les puces qui ont répandu la maladie. Depuis lors, la progression de l’épidémie est contenue, selon ce responsable. Il ajoute que les fortes pluies dans la région, frontalière avec le Congo-Kinshasa, ont aggravé la situation. (La Libre Belgique, 12 octobre 2001)

* Zambie. Nouvelles défections de députés — Le 11 octobre, dix-sept députés du parti au pouvoir, le MMD, ont annoncé leur ralliement au parti d’opposition FDD. Trois autres députés avaient présenté leur démission la veille. Au cours de sa convention nationale en mai, le MMD avait exclu 22 de ses principaux responsables, en particulier des membres du gouvernement, parce qu’ils s’étaient opposés à une révision de la Consitution permettant au président Chiluba de briguer un troisième mandat. L’ouverture de la convention du FDD est prévue le 12 octobre à Lusaka. (PANA, Sénégal, 11 octobre 2001)

* Zambie. Indifférence des électeurs — Le 15 octobre, la commission électorale zambienne a manifesté sa préoccupation devant la trop grande indifférence de l’électorat national pour le scrutin général du 18 novembre prochain. La responsable des relations publiques de la commission, Mme Bwalya, estime que si rien n’est fait, la tendance actuelle pourrait hypothéquer les consultations. Depuis les élections présidentielles et législatives de 1996, moins de 50% des électeurs inscrits ont voté dans 17 des 20 élections partielles. Mme Bwalya a demandé aux parties intéressées d’inciter les électeurs à se rendre aux urnes lors des prochaines élections. – Par ailleurs, les juristes zambiens ont présenté une interprétation contradictoire de la nationalité de Christon Tembo, élu président du Forum pour la démocratie et le développement (FDD, parti d’opposition) et candidat à la présidence. Certaines sources prétendent que les parents de M. Tembo sont originaires du Malawi. (PANA, Sénégal, 16-17 octobre 2001)

* Zambia. Opposition chooses leader — Zambia’s newest and highest profile opposition party has elected the former vice president in President Frederick Chiluba’s government as its presidential candidate. At the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) convention at the weekend, Christon Tembo, convincingly beat three other candidates — including two former ministers. Elections are due to be held before the end of the year, and President Chiluba’s ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy party (MMD) has been hit this year by a series of defections of ministers and MPs to the FDD. This followed an ultimately unsuccessful attempt by the president to seek an unconstitutional third term in office. The FDD have already won two parliamentary by-elections and President Chiluba’s chosen successor, Levy Mwanawasa, who is the MMD candidate, appears far from assured of victory. However, on 15 October, Vice-President Enoch Kavindele said Mr Tembo would not be allowed to stand in the election because his parents were from Malawi. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 16 October 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai attacked — The leader of Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has escaped unhurt after his vehicle was damaged by a mob of suspected ruling party supporters. According to MDC spokesman, Learnmore Jongwe, a group of about 50 ZANU-PF supporters and war veterans attacked the MDC motorcade with sticks, stones, machetes and spears. All the windows in Mr Tsvangirai’s vehicle were said to have all been shattered and the car extensively damaged. Mr Morgan Tsvangirai was on his way to address a presidential campaign rally about 150 km west of the capital as part of a series of meetings with supporters in preparation for presidential elections next year. The MDC is treating the attack as an assassination attempt. The convoy made a U-turn and the rally was cancelled. (BBC News, UK, 12 October 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Querelles dans l’opposition — Plusieurs hauts responsables du principal parti d’opposition, le Mouvement pour le changement démocratique (MDC), ont été suspendus en vue de résoudre les querelles au sein de la classe dirigeante dans la perspective de l’élection présidentielle de 2002. Cette formation, considérée comme le plus sérieux adversaire du parti du président Mugabe, est au bord de l’implosion à cause de querelles intestines. Il y a deux semaines, un groupe de jeunes avait tenté d’assassiner le député Job Sikhala, responsable de la sécurité au niveau du parti. Le MDC accuse le gouvernement d’utiliser des agents secrets pour infiltrer et déstabiliser le parti avant l’élection. Par ailleurs, les responsables ont déclaré que ces disputes résultaient des orientations du parti et de l’aptitude de son candidat à la présidentielle, Morgan Tsvangirai. (PANA, Sénégal, 14 octobre 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans «desperately need help» — The economic crisis in Zimbabwe, and rising prices in particular, are having a devastating effect on its people, the South African government said on 12 October. Alec Erwin, the minister of trade and industry, said economic mismanagement had led to sky-rocketing inflation that was hurting Zimbabwe’s poorest people. «What is happening to ordinary people and workers is devastating, absolutely devastating. And it’s not being solved,» he said. «They desperately need help.» Inflation in Zimbabwe is estimated at 70 per cent, while unemployment is 50 per cent. The country is facing shortages of basic foodstuffs and the International Monetary Fund has ruled out making further loans to the country. Mr Erwin’s comments followed a partial U-turn by the government of Zimbabwe on 12 October on its decision to impose price controls on staple foods. The 10 October announcement of big cuts in the price of bread, maize, meat, cooking oil and milk had led to a run on shops, causing food shortages and threatening to close down hundreds of companies. This acknowledgment of Zimbabwe’s economic plight by the South African government is one of its strongest statements yet about the extent of the financial crisis, precipitated by political violence and land invasions in its northern neighbour. (Financial Times, UK, 14 October 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Mugabe threatens business takeovers — President Robert Mugabe has said his government will take over companies which close due to the new compulsory reductions in food prices. The government announced controls on the prices of basic foods last week, provoking many Zimbabwean food manufacturers and retailers to say they will go out of business. Price controls were first introduced in the 1980s, but were abandoned in the 1990s when the government decided to implement the IMF and World Bank economic reforms. But speaking at the funeral of a former cabinet minister on 15 October, Mr Mugabe denounced the reforms saying they had not eased the cost of living. He said his government would therefore take over firms which could not, or would not, sell basic foodstuffs like bread and cooking oil at the new reduced prices. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 October 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Mugabe accuse Londres — Le 15 octobre, le président Robert Mugabe a accusé la Grande-Bretagne de saboter volontairement l’économie de son pays en lui imposant des sanctions qui ne disent pas leur nom. S’exprimant à des obsèques, M. Mugabe a accusé “les Britanniques d’avoir intercepté des navires” dont la cargaison de pétrole était destinée au Zimbabwe. “Nous avons des preuves de cela, car les propriétaires de ces bateaux nous l’ont dit”, a-t-il affirmé. Selon M. Mugabe, la Grande-Bretagne a proposé d’acheter les cargaisons de pétrole en question pour empêcher qu’elles n’arrivent au Zimbabwe. Depuis deux ans, le Zimbabwe est frappé par une grave crise économique. (La Libre Belgique, 16 octobre 2001)