* South Africa. Cardinal Napier meets Swiss Foreign Minister — The President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, today met with the Swiss Foreign Minister, Ms Calmy-Rey, in Berne, Switzerland. The meeting addressed the current social, political, and economic situation in South Africa, including the campaign for apartheid debt cancellation and reparations from Swiss banks and businesses. Cardinal Napier is currently on a two-week visit to Switzerland at the invitation of the Catholic Church development agency Fastenopfer for the annual Swiss Lenten Campaign organised by the Swiss churches. The Cardinal will: Address several church and public gatherings; meet civil society and government development agencies such as Fastenopfer, Swiss Inter-Church Aid, Bread for All, the Swiss Coalition of NGOs, the official Swiss Development Cooperation agency, and others; meet members of the Swiss parliament; meet church leaders from the Swiss Catholic Bishops’ Conference and other churches, and church structures such as Justice & Peace; meet government representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Secretariat for Foreign Economic Affairs; and give several media interviews. (SACBC, 19 March 2003)

* South Africa. «Reparation is key to reconciliation» — The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) welcomes the hand-over of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) final report to President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria, the SACBC said in a statement issued today. «This point in the TRC‘s work marks the beginning of a new chapter in South Africa’s transformation from apartheid to a new society,» said SACBC spokesperson Archbishop Buti Tlhagale. «The report has been the focus of many deeply emotional challenges that have tested the resolve of our society to come to terms with its past. However, the delivery of the report to the President today marks the beginning of the equally important challenge of ensuring reparation for the communities and individuals who suffered severe damage as a result of apartheid abuses. Since the delivery of the first TRC report, the question of reparations has remained unresolved. Our society will be reconciled to the extent that the perpetrators and beneficiaries of apartheid crimes open their hearts to ensuring that apartheid’s social and economic imbalances are overcome through reparations programmes for the reconstruction and development of poor communities. While significant progress has been made in regard to the provision of housing and education, more effective programmes must be implemented for job creation, land reform, and the treatment of people with HIV and AIDS. When that happens, then the work of Truth and Reconciliation will be complete,» he said. «While the government must play a strong role in guaranteeing reparations in the spirit of the TRC, this is not the  responsibility of the government alone. Private companies, banks, and individuals who made huge profits under apartheid must also be held accountable for reparations, both within South Africa and internationally». (SACB, 21 March 2003)

* South Africa. AIDS protesters accuse ministers of manslaughter — On 20 March, hundreds of AIDS activists gathered illegally and marched into South African police stations to begin a campaign of civil disobedience against the government for its refusal to provide life-extending drugs to those with HIV. Chanting, singing and waving banners, they laid accusations of manslaughter against two cabinet ministers they say are letting 600 people die every day by denying the medicine to South Africa’s 4.7 million infected people, more than any other country. They blame the health minister, Manto Tshabalala Msimang, for denying anti-retrovirals to state hospitals and clinics, and trade and industry minister, Alec Erwin, for blocking production of the drugs in South Africa. The accusations relate to 16 specific deaths. The government continued to recommend people infected with the virus to boost their immune systems with garlic, onions, olive oil and «African potato», an African corm, Hypoxis hemerocallidea, used in traditional healing with has attracted medical attention in recent years as a protection against the onset of AIDS. The activists vowed to revive the African National Congress’s tactic against apartheid, of committing peaceful but illegal acts which prompt mass arrests and result in police detention cells overflowing. (The Guardian, UK, 21 March 2003)

* South Africa. Mining groups suffer tax blow — On 20 March, South Africa unveiled a new tax regime which will force mining companies to pay royalties of 8 per cent of gross sales. Some within the industry said the move was excessive and would deter investment. However, De Beers, the world’s largest diamond producer, announced it would invest more than $150m in the country this year. The long-awaited Mineral and Petroleum Royalty Bill ends a decades-long virtual tax holiday for mining companies in South Africa. It proposes a sliding scale of royalties on gross sales, ranging from 1 per cent for deep-water oil and gas to 8 per cent for diamond producers. Royalties on gold and platinum are respectively 3 and 4 per cent. The provisions will be phased in over four years and the full royalty regime will be in place by 2007. «The rates are eminently reasonable," Trevor Manuel, the finance minister, said yesterday. Royalties will be deductible against income tax but will significantly boost fiscal revenue. “If they had been introduced last year they would have brought in R4.2bn ($518m),» he said. However, disappointed mining executives warned that the royalties were at the high end of internationally competitive ranges and would result in significant additional costs for miners  in South Africa. Analysts said the discounts at which South African companies trade would likely be reinforced. ”This bill makes investing in Chile a hell of a lot more attractive," a Johannesburg-based mining executive said yesterday. Chile does not impose mining royalties. The bill gives effect to the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act — approved last year — and transfers all mineral rights from the private sector to the State. The accompanying Mining Charter, which sought to promote black economic empowerment, or affirmative action, caused panic among investors last year when a first draft suggested a 51 per cent black ownership target for the sector within 10 years. A revised and more industry-friendly charter was approved last October, but mining shares have yet to recover fully from last year’s selling spree. (Financial Times, UK, 21 March 2003)

* Afrique du Sud. Commission vérité et réconciliation — Le 21 mars, Mgr Tutu a remis au président sud-africain Thabo Mbeki le rapport final de la Commission Vérité et Réconciliation (TRC), cinq ans après la fin des audiences. Si le rapport final a été rendu si tard, c’est qu’il a fallu du temps pour calmer les esprits et empêcher les antagonismes de ressurgir. Des personnalités encore dotées d’un énorme poids politique, comme Winnie Mandela et Buthelezi (chef de l’Inkhata), ont en effet été reconnues “responsables” par la TRC de violations des droits de l’homme pendant l’apartheid. Faute d’avoir demandé l’amnistie, elles devraient en principe encourir des poursuites pénales. Il en va de même pour 5.000 personnes, d’anciens tortionnaires blancs pour la plupart. Mais “s’ils devaient tous être poursuivis, le fardeau pour notre système serait insupportable et le coût astronomique”, a commenté Mgr Tutu. C’est surtout pour préserver le statu quo politique qu’aucun procès ne sera intenté. Pour beaucoup de Sud-Africains, la TRC aura laissé un goût amer. L’absence de remords des anciens responsables politiques de l’apartheid reste difficile à admettre pour la majorité noire. Des reproches sont aussi adressés au Congrès national africain (ANC), qui n’a pas commencé à verser des réparations pourtant promises aux victimes. Sur le front de la réconciliation, beaucoup reste à faire. (D’après Libération, France, 22 mars 2003)

* South Africa. Pay apartheid victims now — 21 March: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has called for reparations to be paid quickly to victims from the apartheid era. The TRC;s chairman, Archbishop Tutu, recommended a sun of $270 million to be paid to the 20,000 victims who, he said, had waited «too long». He also called on big business, who’d been beneficiaries of apartheid, to contribute to the reparations process. 22 March: Former president F.W. de Klerk rejects the TRC‘s report on his role in apartheid-era rights abuses and says the Commission’s reconciliation campaign has failed. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 22 March 2003)

* South Africa. Peaceful protest should be allowed — On 21 March, Human Rights Watch said the South African Government should not respond with violence to HIV/AIDS demonstrators seeking medical treatment. On 20 March, police in Durban opened water cannons on some 70 peaceful demonstrators who were urging the government to provide antiretroviral treatment for persons living with HIV/AIDS. (HRW, 21 March 2003)

* South Africa. ANC tightens grip on power — 25 March: South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has gained control of 10 of the country’s 11 provinces. This follows the defection of two Members of Parliament from the Western Cape province. The shift in political power was made possible by new floor crossing legislation which allows politicians to defect to opposition parties. The law which effectively came into force last Friday gives politicians 15 days from that date to switch parties without losing their seat. Since Friday, three New National Party members and one from the United Democratic Movement have joined the ANC in the Western Cape, effectively handing control of the province to the ANC. Currently the New National Party (NNP) leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk is the Western Cape provincial premier. The NNP‘s recent alliance with the ANC means that van Schalkwyk will probably hold on to his position until general elections next year. But the defections have hit the NNP hard, turning it from its position as a once-powerful national party into a much weakened regional force. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 25 March 2003)

* Soudan. Peu de progrès — 22 mars. Selon le coordinateur des négociations, représentant l’IGAD, M. Sumbeiywo, “peu de progrès” ont été accomplis à Nairobi durant les entretiens entre les autorités de Khartoum et une délégation du SPLA. Les parties ont discuté de trois régions convoitées, Abyei, Kordofan (la zone des montagnes Nuba) et la région du Nil Bleu. Toutefois, selon un représentant du gouvernement soudanais, les entretiens ont eu de bons résultats, et pour un porte-parole du SPLA, ils ont “permis de prendre acte qu’il existe un problème dans ces trois zones”. Les négociations devraient reprendre le 24 mars. Les parties doivent encore affronter la délicate question de la distribution des revenus du pétrole provenant de la riche aire méridionale du pays. (Misna, Italie, 22 mars 2003)

* Sudan/Zimbabwe. Church joins protests against unjust policies — While Iraq grabs headlines worldwide, long-standing problems in two African countries, Sudan and Zimbabwe, remain unsolved. Even as Sudanese peace talks resume in Kenya, the Khartoum government is continuing to violate a peace accord which it signed on 15  October with the rebel Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Army and which it reaffirmed on 4 February according to a report released on 6 March by the International Crisis Group. A key aim of government forces is to gain control of the oil fields of the Western Upper Nile. (...) Religious leaders, including Archbishop Paulino Lokudu Loru, president of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, gathered in South Africa from 24-26 February to reflect on the situation in Sudan. The final declaration issued by the 8th Assembly of the Sudan Ecumenical Forum noted the progress made in the peace talks being hosted by the Kenyan government. At the same time the religious leaders drew attention to a number of violations of the peace agreements. They noted the continuing conflicts in the Western Upper Nile and Akobo regions, the ongoing mobilization on both sides, and the use of proxy forces to prolong the war. (...) In Zimbabwe, the decision by the Mugabe government to expropriate the properties of white farmers sparked off a crisis that is still under way. Although a constitutional referendum in 2000 rejected the expropriation policy, the government went ahead with it, invoking special powers and then ignoring a Supreme Court ruling of unconstitutionality, the Washington Times noted on 14 January. It turns out that a third of the expropriated farms have gone to President Robert Mugabe’s political supporters, and that the upheavals have led to 150,000 black farmworkers losing their jobs and homes. The expropriations also caused the gross domestic product to shrink 7.3% in 2001. About half the population now needs food aid. (...) (Zenit, Italy, 22 March 2003)

* Swaziland. Parliamentary elections in October — Swaziland is to hold parliamentary elections in October, the Chief Electoral Officer Robert Thwala has confirmed. On 25 March, Thwala said that an enlightenment campaign was already underway in all constituencies for the polls, whose exact dates would be announced soon. There are no official political parties in the Kingdom and candidates have to campaign independently in the 55 constituencies to fill the 65-member parliamentary seats. Ten MPs are appointed by King Mswati III on the advice of his Counsellors. Meanwhile, ex-convicts are demanding to be allowed to vote after a government gazette ruled out a category of ex-prisoners from the electoral process. (PANA, Senegal, 26 March 2003)

* Swaziland. Le jet royal décommandé — Le 20 mars, le Parlement swazi a approuvé un rapport bloquant l’achat d’un avion privé de 750 millions de rands pour le roi Mswati III, mettant ainsi fin à un projet controversé, largement condamné à l’intérieur comme à l’extérieur du royaume. Une commission parlementaire a trouvé cet achat déplacé, au moment où le pays est confronté à des problèmes bien plus pressants. La commission a d’ailleurs accusé le Premier ministre d’avoir abusivement débloqué l’argent en vue de l’achat et a recommandé au  gouvernement de recouvrir l’argent avancé. (PANA, Sénégal, 21 mars 2003)

* Tunisie. Contre la guerre en Irak — La population tunisienne continue de manifester sa colère à l’endroit de “l’agression américano-britannique” contre l’Irak. Après les manifestations de samedi et lundi organisées à l’initiative des partis politiques et des organisations non gouvernementales, un grand rassemblement syndical a eu lieu le mardi 25 mars à Tunis, avec la participation de plus de 10.000 travailleurs. Outre la capitale, des manifestations se déroulent ces jours-ci dans la plupart des villes tunisiennes. Par ailleurs, le mardi, dans une déclaration publiée à l’issue d’une séance plénière, les députés tunisiens ont exprimé leur “grande préoccupation” et leur “inquiétude” devant “les développements dangeureux des événements résultant de la guerre contre l’Irak”. (D’après PANA, Sénégal, 25 mars 2003)

* Uganda. Multi-party future — 21 March: A court in Uganda has ruled as unconstitutional a law which prevents political parties from carrying out their activities. Under the law passed last year, parties are not allowed to hold rallies, take part in elections or have offices outside the capital, Kampala. But the court has agreed with the petitioners who had insisted that the law is «unjustifiable, non functional and inoperative». The court also agreed that the act, known as the Political Organisations Act 2002, effectively makes Uganda a one-party state in favour of the government-sponsored system of government — a non-party political system known as the «Movement». 26 March: The top body of Uganda’s ruling «Movement» has started discussions over whether to allow multi-party politics. The 150 members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) are meeting for three days of closed door talks in the remote town of Kyankwanzi, 130 km north-west of the capital, Kampala. The meeting is going to be a lively affair, which will shape Uganda’s future political landscape. The law which stops political parties from holding rallies, taking part in elections or having offices outside Kampala was last week declared unconstitutional. The court also agreed that the Political Organisations Act 2002, effectively makes Uganda a one-party state under a non-party political system known as the «Movement». (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 26 March 2003)

* Uganda. Peace envoy killed — 26 March: The Ugandan army has said rebels in the north of the country have killed a government envoy sent to initiate dialogue between the two sides. Army spokesman Lieutenant Paddy Ankunda said the intermediary, Captain Okech Kuru, was shot by rebels of the Lords Resistance Army on 24 March in the northern district of Pader. The deceased is said to have quit the rebels LRA to join the army. He is reported to have gone to  meet rebel representatives to deliver a letter and two mobile phones. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 26 March 2003)

* Zambia. 10,000 left homeless — 26 March: Some 10,000 people have been left homeless after heavy rains in southern Zambia, which is already suffering from acute food shortages. Webster Mulubisha, permanent secretary in the vice president’s office, told Reuters news agency that floods had destroyed huge fields of maize and infrastructure in Gwembe district, 380 km south of the capital, Lusaka. Some areas were cut off, with roads impassable and electricity and telephone supplies down, he said. The flooding follows a severe drought which left more than a quarter of Zambia’s 10 million people in need of food aid. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 26 March 2003)

* Zimbabwe. L’opposition se mobilise — Le lundi 24 mars, la police zimbabwéenne a confirmé l’arrestation dimanche de deux députés et quelque 200 militants du Mouvement pour le changement démocratique (MDC, opposition) pour leur implication présumée dans la vague de violences qui a accompagné la grève générale de la semaine dernière. Les députés sont soupçonnés d’avoir ordonné aux jeunes du parti de se livrer à des violences qui ont débouché sur l’incendie de plusieurs bus et l’agression de personnes ayant ignoré l’appel à la grève. Celle-ci a dégénéré en violence dans certaines parties du pays, entraînant des attentats au cocktail Molotov contre les bureaux et entreprises qui ont ouvert au mépris de la grève. Les responsables du MDC ont nié avoir lancé ces violences. — Le 26 mars, l’opposition zimbabwéenne a appelé les populations à se préparer à la confrontation avec le gouvernement dans le but de lui arracher des réformes politiques. Les forces de sécurité ont été placées en état d’alerte en prévision des manifestations de masse envisagées par le MDC. Dopé par le succès remporté par la grève générale, le MDC a donné au gouvernement un ultimatum de 2 semaines pour mettre en oeuvre des réformes, notamment la reprise de l’élection présidentielle controversée et la libération des membres du MDC emprisonnés. Le président Mugabe a refusé de céder à ces exigences et promis de briser toute tentative d’installer le chaos et le désordre dans le pays. (PANA, Sénégal, 24-26 mars 2003)

* Zimbabwe. Brutal repression after strike — 20 March: Zimbabwe’s main opposition party has threatened to repeat the strike action of the past two days if their demands for political change are not met by the end of the month. Most shops and industries in Zimbabwe’s main cities remained closed on 19 March, the second day of a strike, which the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) hailed as an overwhelming success. The MDC said million of people had shown they were «no longer willing to live under tyranny and poverty». And it demanded that the regime of President Robert Mugabe  «immediately embark upon a programme to dismantle the basis of its tyranny. The events of the last two days are simply the beginning of the march towards freedom,» it said. 24 March: Opposition groups in Zimbabwe say that government security forces have arrested and beaten hundreds of people following last week’s widely observed general strike. Amnesty International says that up to 500 people have been detained in «a new and dangerous phase of repression». Following the strike, President Robert Mugabe warned the opposition Movement for Democratic Change not to instigate violence, saying: «Those who play with fire will not only be burnt but consumed.» All the evidence points to a new crackdown of unprecedented brutality. A doctor working in a hospital in the capital, Harare, said more than 250 people have been treated there after being beaten by the security forces; many had broken fingers or toes, some had broken legs. Two women described how men in military uniforms stripped them, beat them, and used guns to sexually abuse them. The MDC says that children of opposition activists have been assaulted. Lawyer and director of the publishers of the Daily News, Gugulethu Moyo, says she was beaten by five men in Harare central police station after going there to enquire about a Daily News photographer who had been arrested. Zimbabwean police spokesmen Bothwell Mugariri said about 400 opposition members have been arrested since last week’s strike. 25 March: The United States says the Zimbabwean Government is using «unprecedented violence» against political opponents and demands that the Zimbabwe Government «immediately cease its campaign of violent oppression». — Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says the crisis of governance in the country is deepening. He calls for principled dialogue between his MDC and the government to prevent anarchy and chaos. Mr Tsvangirai tells a news conference during a lunch break in his treason trial that the opposition will continue with protests. «No amount of brutality and arrests of opposition supporters will discourage people, and the more repression there is, the more it will rebound. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 25 March 2003)