* South Africa. Loosening controls on capital flows — On 26 February, the South African government announced a wide-ranging restructuring of its exchange control regime to reflect its greater confidence in the performance of the post-apartheid economy. In the national budget, Trevor Manuel, finance minister, allowed local companies and financial institutions to invest more outside Africa. He also released funds of South Africans who have left the country but could not take their savings with them because of exchange controls. The government’s decisions are an attempt to match the country’s political freedom with a more open economy. The African National Congress government has followed a policy of gradually relaxing exchange controls, first introduced during the apartheid era in 1961. But it fears that a total relaxation might provoke a wave of capital flight and leave the economy vulnerable to emerging market volatility. The collapse of the rand two years ago to record lows gave greater justification for the protection afforded by exchange controls. But the subsequent strengthening of the currency and steady growth levels have boosted confidence to grant greater freedom to capital flows in and out of the country. «It’s a very good idea. The government said before that [emigrants’] blocked rands would be one of the last things in terms of priorities, so it looks like we are near the end of the road [on controls]», said Charles de Kock, head of asset allocation, at Old Mutual Asset Managers. (Financial Times, UK, 27 February 2003)

* South Africa. Winnie Mandela trial resumes — 3 March: The fraud trial of Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, has resumed in South Africa after months of delays and postponements. The well-known and controversial character, known as «the mother of the nation» in South Africa, is facing 85 charges of theft and fraud relating to a bank loan scam. She could be imprisoned if convicted. It was back in July last year when her trial began in Pretoria. After a postponement for a broken foot and delays as her co-accused was recovering from a car accident, the prosecution has now finally resumed its case against her. She and her financial broker, Addy Moolman, face 60 charges of fraud, and 25 of theft, relating to a $100,000 bank loan scam, allegedly run by Madikizela-Mandela through the African National Congress Women’s League, of which she is president. The trial is one of a series of scandals surrounding the hero of the liberation movement, who is still incredibly popular with poor, black South Africans. She is refusing to pay a fine levied by parliament for financial irregularities and has only just settled a legal battle with a bank over money owed on a loan for her luxury home in Soweto. The fraud trial is expected to last two more weeks. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 3 March 2003)

* South Africa. Host nation out of Cricket’s World Cup — South Africa have been knocked out of the World Cup in the cruellest of circumstances as their final rain-affected group match against Sri Lanka ended in a tie. Four years after they were eliminated from the last World Cup following a semi-final tie with Australia, the South Africans were again left cursing after putting themselves in with a good chance of beating Sri Lanka to claim a place in the next round of the Cup, the Super Sixes. Worse still, a clearly devastated Shaun Pollock later conceded that a dressing-room miscalculation contributed to the defeat after the South African batsmen were told 229 runs would be enough to win if the rain led to a revised target. The hosts, chasing Sri Lanka’s 268 for nine, ended on 229 for six after 45 overs when, in fact, 230 were needed for the victory which would have taken South Africa through from Group A. «It’s got to rank up there as possibly the most disappointing thing,» South Africa captain Pollock said. «Two ties in the last two World Cups and out of both of them. The players are gutted, I felt we deserved better on the day.» South Africa’s misfortune — and calculation blunder — left them on 14 points, allowing New Zealand (16 points) to progress, the Kiwis joining Sri Lanka, Kenya, Australia and India in the Super Sixes. The last place will be decided on 4 March when Zimbabwe play Pakistan in Group A, with those two sides and England still in contention to advance. (CNN, USA, 3 March 2003)

* South Africa. Anger at water charging — A scheme in South Africa to charge people for using water is continuing to arouse controversy. Since its introduction, the scheme — which involves metering the water taken from stand pipes — has raised enough revenue to allow a million extra households each year access to clean water. But there are many who are unhappy with paying for such a basic essential — and some who are unable to pay. «We don’t want to pay for water because water is life,» one resident of SA‘s Orange Farm said. «Most of the community are unemployed, and if you don’t have money it means you don’t have water.» Eddie Coppell, director of Rural Development Services in South Africa, admitted that while the scheme had benefited some, it was those most in need of water who were denied it. «We agreed that the government has done a lot in terms of infrastructure, but people are not seeing this water,» he said. (BBC News, UK, 4 March 2003)

* South Africa/Zimbabwe. South Africa’s silent diplomacy — South Africa’s attempts to find a solution to the political and economic crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe with «quiet diplomacy» is stoking the fury of ordinary Zimbabweans who cannot see any benefits of the intervention, and believe that President Thabo Mbeki has sold them out. «President Mbeki is a collaborator with Robert Mugabe in the crimes perpetrated against the people of this country,» explodes Job Sikhala, member of parliament for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and a recent victim of torture by state police. «What “quietness” are they talking about? When we supported the African National Congress in their fight against apartheid, it wasn’t “quiet diplomacy”. And we are fighting a worse system than the apartheid regime,» he says. As the food shortages mount, and the queues grow longer, with the spectre of famine stalking the rural areas, Zimbabweans are getting angrier over what they perceive as South Africa’s complicity with the ruling Zanu-PF government. Earlier this week South Africa’s Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlaminini Zuma said South Africa would «never» condemn its Zimbabwean counterpart. «It is not going to happen as long as this government is in power,» she told journalists. (BBC News, UK, 5 March 2003)

* Sudan. Sudan Ecumenical Forum — Sudan’s Bishop Paride Taban says: «The war in Sudan must stop now — our people have suffered enough». He goes on to stress the urgent need to conclude nearly twenty years of civil war in Sudan with a just and sustainable peace agreement for the entire country. The Bishop was speaking at the Sudan Ecumenical Forum, held from 24-26 February, near Pretoria in South Africa. The meeting brought together more than 60 senior representatives of the Churches in Sudan and their international church partners. Participants affirmed their support to the ongoing peace process in Sudan and acknowledged the significant progress made in the talks between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. (MISNA, Italy, 27 February 2003)

* Soudan. Forum oecuménique pour la paix — Du 24 au 26 février, s’est tenu à Bronkhorstspruit (Afrique du Sud) une rencontre du Forum oecuménique du Soudan, une initiative réunissant les Eglises qui oeuvrent dans ce pays. Les participants ont unanimement encouragé les négociations de paix entre le gouvernement et les rebelles du SPLA, soulignant l’importance de la reconnaissance du principe d’autodétermination pour les populations du Sud. Ils ont également souhaité que la société civile soit directement impliquée dans ces négociations. Les Eglises ont aussi demandé que les opérations d’extraction de pétrole et la recherche de nouvelles nappes dans le Sud-Soudan soient interrompues tant qu’un accord de paix n’est pas officiellement signé. Quant au respect des droits de l’homme, elles ont demandé un renouvellement du mandat des rapporteurs spéciaux des Nations unies. (Misna, Italie, 27 février 2003)

* Soudan. Rébellion au Darfur — Une amnistie générale a été déclarée en vue d’aider à mettre un terme à la rébellion dans la région de Darfur, dans l’ouest du Soudan, où un groupe armé a attaqué et pris le contrôle de la capitale de la province, annonce la presse locale à Khartoum le 27 février. Toutefois, les rebelles “impliqués dans les crimes en matière de droits de l’homme” ne bénéficieront pas de cette amnistie. Un groupe de quelque 3.000 rebelles armés, se faisant appeler “Front de libération du Darfur”, aurait attaqué en début de semaine la province de Jebel Marra dans l’Etat du Sud-Darfur et pris le contrôle de Gulu, la capitale de la province. Le groupe a déclaré qu’il luttait pour mettre un terme au désintérêt politique et économique du gouvernement central par rapport à cette région. Ces derniers temps, la région de Darfur, frontalière au Tchad et à la RCA, est le théâtre de tensions tribales et de troubles. (PANA, Sénégal, 27 février 2003)

* Sudan. Tackling north-south divide — 4 March: Peace talks on the status of three disputed regions of Sudan have begun between the government and Sudan People’s Liberation Army rebels. The discussions focus on the central Sudanese regions of Blue Nile, Abyei and Nuba Mountains, which the government maintains are all part of northern Sudan. The three areas were not covered by a deal agreed last July to give autonomy to rebel-held parts of southern Sudan for six years ahead of a referendum on independence. The government says they control 90% of the three regions, but the SPLA says that local people regard them as their representatives at the talks. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 4 March 2003)

* Swaziland. Les syndicats défient le roi — 2 mars. Les syndicats du Swaziland annoncent qu’ils iront en grève générale les 4 et 5 mars, malgré les menaces du roi Mswati III les mettant en garde contre tout mouvement revendicatif. Le roi a dit qu’il condamne cette action, rappelant que le Parlement a recommandé le dialogue comme unique solution. Les travailleurs protestent contre “le manque de respect du gouvernement pour les décisions du tribunal”. Ils contestent également l’achat par le gouvernement d’un jet privé pour leur monarque. — 4 mars. Les manifestations ont commencé pacifiquement à Manzini et Mbabane, sous surveillance de la police. Les syndicats et les associations de la société civile ont par ailleurs demandé au Premier ministre de démissionner, estimant qu’il se trouve dans l’incapacité de répondre aux attentes des citoyens. (PANA, Sénégal, 2-4 mars 2003)

* Tanzanie. Rapatriement des Burundais — Le rapatriement volontaire d’environ 320.000 réfugiés burundais vivant en Tanzanie va être accéléré suite à un accord entre le Haut commissariat des Nations unies pour les réfugiés (HCR) et les deux gouvernements, a annoncé un communiqué officiel à Dar es-Salaam le 27 février. Une commission tripartite qui s’est réunie durant trois jours sur la question, a observé que le rythme de l’opération était lent. Par conséquent, les trois points de sortie doivent être réactivés immédiatement en vue de faciliter le rapatriement, a déclaré le communiqué. Les réfugiés encouragés à rentrer sont ceux des communes de Makamba (sud du Burundi) et Ruyigi (est), où la situation sécuritaire s’est considérablement améliorée au cours des derniers mois. Bujumbura a été invité à effectuer des visites régulières dans les camps en Tanzanie en vue de sensibiliser les réfugiés sur l’opération de rapatriement volontaire. (PANA, Sénégal, 27 février 2003)

* Tunisie. Opposant candidat à la présidentielle — Le 27 février, le dirigeant du Parti démocratique progressiste (PDP), une des six formations de l’opposition légale, Néjiv Chebbi, a annoncé sa candidature à l’élection présidentielle qui aura lieu en 2004 en Tunisie, en dépit d’une disposition contenue dans un projet de loi actuellement soumis au Parlement l’empêchant de postuler à la magistrature suprême. Adopté déjà en première lecture, le projet de loi exige que le candidat à la présidence appartienne à un parti représenté au Parlement, ce qui n’est pas le cas du PDP, seul parti à ne pas disposer de députés. Le parti de M. Chebbi compte par ailleurs présenter des candidats “en principe dans toutes les circonscriptions électorales” aux législatives qui auront lieu en même temps que la présidentielle. C’est le deuxième dirigeant d’un parti d’opposition à annoncer sa candidature, après M. Mounir Béji, chef du Parti social libéral (PSL) qui, lui, compte deux députés au Parlement. (AP, 27 février 2003)

* Uganda. Rebels kidnap child recruits — 28 February: Rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda have been attempting to boost their forces by raiding schools. Children in both Gulu and Kitgum towns have been targets of abductions and residents are again complaining that the Ugandan army is not protecting the population. The army, however, says the rebels are dwindling in numbers because of the ongoing military operation. In the most recent attack, a group of LRA rebels targeted Oxford College secondary school in the northern town of Kitgum in the early hours of the morning. They abducted 12 teenagers, two of whom later managed to escape. Laz Ochira, the director of the school, described the attack as symbolic as it showed there was not enough security provided for the population. The rebels also seized five other secondary school pupils from their lodgings. The students had only recently moved to Kitgum after having been displaced from their home areas. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 28 February 2003)

* Uganda. LRA announce a ceasefire — 2 March: The rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a notorious armed group operating in northern Uganda, have announced a ceasefire. The LRA has abducted tens of thousands of young Ugandans who are forced to carry out atrocities against the civilian population. The Ugandan Government has been on a major military offensive against the rebels while at the same time calling for a ceasefire and talks. In a statement read by religious leaders on a local radio station, today, the LRA declared an immediate ceasefire. The LRA says it will stop abducting civilians, ambushing vehicles and attacking government troops. This announcement of an unconditional ceasefire follows a meeting on 1 March between religious leaders and senior rebels of the LRA. The religious leaders said that during the meeting they spoke for over an hour via satellite phone with the leader of the LRA, Joseph Kony. This announcement of a ceasefire was swiftly welcomed by Lieutenant General Salim Saleh, a member of the government’s peace team. Lieutenant General Saleh said arrangements are being made to organize face-to-face discussions with the rebels, and said he will personally take part in those talks. 4 March: There is still optimism that the ceasefire will provide a chance to end the 16-year-old war in the north. But there is no sign that the military operation against the rebels is ending. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 4 March 2003)

* Ouganda. Cessez-le-feu de la LRA — Les rebelles de l’Armée de résistance du Seigneur (LRA), actifs dans le nord de l’Ouganda, ont annoncé un cessez-le-feu unilatéral, indique l’agence AP le 3 mars. Selon l’ancien évêque Mgr McLeod Ochola, membre d’une équipe qui fait la médiation entre le gouvernement et la LRA, le chef des rebelles, Joseph Kony, a promis de cesser les attaques et les enlèvements. La LRA a déjà enlevé des milliers d’enfants pour en faire des soldats. Selon les organisations humanitaires, la guerre civile qui dure depuis 16 ans, a fait plus de 23.000 morts. Près d’un million de personnes ont été déplacées. - Selon l’agence Misna, le leader rebelle a demandé à rencontrer une délégation du gouvernement dans les prochains jours, avant le 10 mars. Le général Salim Saleh, frère du président Museveni, a donné son accord à la rencontre, confirmant que les forces gouvernementales adhèrent au cessez-le-feu, et souhaitant que les Nations unies et l’Union européenne puissent intervenir. -Toutefois, la LRA a déjà violé sa propre trêve. Les 2 et 3 mars, les rebelles ont tendu des embuscades qui ont fait dix morts: 5 civils et 5 soldats. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 5 mars 2003)

* Uganda. Treason charges against two boys should be dropped — On 4 March, Human Rights Watch said the government of Uganda should drop treason charges against two boys formerly abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The boys, aged 14 and 16, were charged with treason in late 2002. One will next appear in court on 6 March 2003 in Moyo, while the other is set to appear in Gulu on 20 March. A Human Rights Watch representative met with the boys in Gulu on 6 February. Human Rights Watch has urged the government to immediately drop the treason charges, and release them to a rehabilitation centre. (HRW, 4 March 2003)

* Uganda. Soldiers executed — 4 March: The Ugandan army has executed three soldiers in public after they were found guilty of murdering several civilians near the northern town of Kitgum. The troops faced the firing squad in villages near Kitgum following a court martial close to the town. It is not the first time the Ugandan army has executed its own soldiers. A year ago two young soldiers were executed after being found guilty in a field court martial of murdering an Irish priest and his two Ugandan employees. There were accusations at the time that the executions were carried out swiftly in order to conceal the truth behind the murders. Private Richard Wigiri, who was found guilty of killing a civilian Monica Achiro in December last year, was executed by firing squad at midday on 3 March, close to the scene of the crime in Kitgum Matidi township. A second court martial took place near the health unit at Pajimo outside Kitgum town, where Private Kambacho Ssenyonjo and Private Alfred Okech were found to have murdered three civilians on 4 January this year. The chairman of the court martial was the fifth division commander, Colonel John Mugume. According to a councillor present at the court martial, the hearing lasted for two days. There was no lawyer representing the two men, who were both found guilty at about 1630 on Monday. They were then taken to the bush about two kilometres away, where they were both blindfolded and shot. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 4 March 2003)

* Uganda. Children face severe hunger — 5 March: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has said that malnutrition has reached a critical stage for almost a third of the children in two refugee camps in northern Uganda. WFP surveys showed thousands of children under five were severely malnourished, in the camps of Anaka and Pabbo. A system to provide supplementary rations had to be set up immediately, the WFP said. Nearly one million people live in 60 crowded and impoverished camps in northern Uganda after fleeing fighting between the government and rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army. The WFP also welcomed the ceasefire announced by the rebels this week, saying it would ease the supply problem in areas previously deemed too dangerous to visit. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 5 March 2003)

* Zambia. No HIV recruits in army — 5 March: Zambia’s army will no longer recruit people with HIV, the virus which can lead to Aids, it has announced. The head of the defence force medical service said that the army could only take on people who are physically fit. Some 21% of Zambia’s adult population is HIV positive — one of the highest infection rates in the world. However, serving soldiers with HIV will not be forced out of the army. «Military life is in essence an extremely active one. Defence is not a kindergarten or Red Cross. We need people who are fit,» said Brigadier General James Simpungwe. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 5 March 2003)

* Zimbabwe. Famine agency issues emergency alert — Zimbabwe faces a potential famine and should urgently speed up food imports to avert it, a US-based agency said on 27 February. The Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET) issued its emergency alert following a poor harvest blamed on drought and President Robert Mugabe’s controversial seizure of land from minority whites for redistribution to landless blacks. «FEWSNET recommends that the government co-ordinate its use of all five ports in the sub-region to allow timely imports to avert a potential famine,» the agency said. «Indicators point to a dramatic rise in food insecurity. People in more than two-thirds of the districts are likely to be moderately, highly or extremely food insecure in the 2003/04 marketing year starting in April.» (CNN, USA, 27 February 2003)

* Zimbabwe. Citizenship choice forced — The Supreme Court in Zimbabwe has told a prominent human rights campaigner she will lose her citizenship within 48 hours unless she renounces her entitlement to New Zealand nationality. The court order against Judith Todd — daughter of a former prime minister of white-ruled Rhodesia, Sir Garfield Todd — could have implications for many thousands of Zimbabweans with foreign-born parents. Ms Todd, 57, has been struggling to keep her Zimbabwean citizenship ever since President Robert Mugabe’s government amended the Citizenship of Zimbabwe Act two years ago to ban dual nationality. Although she was born in the country, her parents were from New Zealand, arriving in what was then Rhodesia as missionaries. Her lawyers argued that she had never claimed foreign citizenship, and couldn’t be made to renounce something she’d didn’t have. But the Supreme Court agreed with the government, which maintained that since her parents were foreign-born, she was apparently entitled to citizenship elsewhere. Now she has two days in which to decide whether she wants to remain Zimbabwean. (BBC News, UK, 28 February 2003)

* Zimbabwe. Investissements britanniques — Les entreprises britanniques continuent toujours d’investir beaucoup au Zimbabwe malgré le coup de froid entre Londres et Harare, révèle une étude menée par la BBC. Selon le document, au moins un tiers des plus grosses entreprises britanniques ont soit investi au Zimbabwe, soit eu des échanges commerciaux avec ce pays. La Grande-Bretagne, qui est vivement opposée à la réforme agraire, a mené une campagne médiatique et diplomatique contre son ancienne colonie, y compris des sanctions sportives et économiques. — D’autre part, le 28 février, la Grande-Bretagne a donné 5,25 millions de livres sterling ($8,2 millions) au Programme alimentaire mondial (PAM) pour une aide alimentaire au Zimbabwe. Quelque 7,8 millions de personnes y sont confrontées à des pénuries alimentaires en raison de la sécheresse. Cette aide porte à 15,5 millions de livres la somme que la Grande-Bretagne a accordée à son ancienne colonie au titre de l’aide pour la lutte contre la sécheresse. (PANA, Sénégal, 28 févr.-2 mars 2003)

* Zimbabwe. UK firms confirm links with Zimbabwe — At least one third of Britain’s biggest firms have business links with Zimbabwe. Of the 50 biggest UK firms listed on the London stock market, 18 said they had a presence in the country, or trading relationships with Zimbabwean organisations. A further 12 companies failed to respond. Firms surveyed included companies with long trading histories in the country — BP and Shell have a joint venture there. Barclays has 39 branches and 1,700 staff. On a smaller scale, Cadbury Schweppes has a minority stake in a local confectionery business. Supermarket giant Tesco imports some vegetables from Zimbabwe. Drinks giant Diageo sees its Smirnoff, Gilbeys and Booths brands produced in-country. And pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has a small presence in Zimbabwe. (BBC News, UK, 28 February 2003)

* Zimbabwe. Clergymen detained — 28 February: Some 20 clergymen have been detained by police after attempting to protest in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare. The church men were seen being loaded onto the back of an open vehicle and driven away accompanied by two police vehicles. The clergymen in suits and dog collars went to police headquarters carrying three wooden crosses seeking an apology for the arrest of one of their colleagues two weeks ago at a church. The clergymen wanted to hand over a petition to police chief Augustine Chihuri asking him «to ensure that the police force in the country performs its duties with respect for the church and every citizen of Zimbabwe». They were quoted as saying that it was their duty to overcome «unjust laws that encourage the selective and vindictive exercise of authority». 1 March : Police have released the 19 clergymen. They have all been charged with public order offenses under a tough security law introduced by President Robert Mugabe shortly before his victory in a controversial poll last March. The lawyer for the clergymen said they have been released, but he expects that they will be summoned to court at a later date. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 1 March 2003)

* Zimbabwe. Arrestations — Depuis le 28 février, plus de 200 personnes ont été arrêtées, en majorité des opposants, mais aussi des religieux et des spectateurs d’un match de la Coupe du monde de cricket. 19 hommes d’Eglise, arrêtés le 28 février à Harare, alors qu’ils manifestaient dans la capitale pour dénoncer les abus de la police, ont ensuite été libérés. L’archevêque catholique de Bulawayo, Mgr Pius Ncube, continue de subir des pressions. (Libération et la Croix, France, 3-4 mars 2003)