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WEEKLY NEWS - ISSUE of 28/06/96 - PART 1/


* Africa. FAO forecasts famine
About 22 million people in sub-Saharan Africa face food
emergencies ranging from shortages to starvation, the United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation reported on 21 June.
The Rome-based agency added in a special feature in its Food
Outlook that the situation in the region showed no improvement.
It said tight global cereal supplies, high prices, balance of
payments difficulties in many countries and low availability of
food aid "threaten to undermine sub-Saharan Africa's food
security". On a brighter note, the report said Ethiopia, one of
the main recipients of international aid over the past decade,
would need smaller amounts of aid imports this year. Angola,
Mozambique and Rwanda were also gradually beginning to reap the
rewards of peace.   (The Times, U.K., 22 June 1996) 

* Africa. Droughts
Africa will face mass starvation unless farmers, politicians and
aid agencies join forces to halt the growth of deforestation in
Africa, Mr Jeff Odera, a consultant for the UN Food and
Agriculture Organisation told a UN conference in Lisbon. Mr
Odera, who is based in Nairobi, said that desertification stemmed
from the expansion of agriculture, inappropriate farming methods
and overgrazing. Africa's rapidly growing population had forced
villagers to strip the land in order to feed themselves.
Villagers should be trained and empowered to control their own
agricultural resources more efficiently.   (The Guardian, U.K.,
27 June 1996)

* Africa. Catholic Bible Federation
The Catholic Bible Federation will held its 5th General Assembly
from the 2-12 July 1996 in Hong Kong. Africa will be represented
in this assembly by 15 men and women all engaged in pastoral
biblical work in Africa. One of the speakers is Sister Teresa
Okure, (from Nigeria) of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, who
has been invited to give a conference on: "The Word of God,
source of life: an African perspective". Sister Teresa, although
contributing to the Assembly proceedings, will not be able to go
to Hong Kong. Her conference will be presented at the Assembly
on a video tape. Sister Teresa's sphere of professional and
religious activity both within and outside Nigeria is extensive.
She is the current Executive Secretary of the Ecumenical
Association of Third World Theologians (EATWOT) comprising
Africa, Asia, Latin America and the minorities in the First and
Second Worlds. Not only is she a university graduate, but an
author of several religious works, speaks currently several
languages, as well as a working knowledge of German, italian and
Spanish.   (Catholic Bible Federation, Stuttgart, 26 June 1996)

* Afrique du Sud. Trafic d'or et de diamants
D'apres l'unite de lutte contre le crime organise (OCU) de la
police sud-africaine, sept gros syndicats de contrebandiers d'or
et de diamants operent en Afrique du Sud. Ce trafic porte, chaque
annee, sur au moins 20 tonnes d'or, soit 1,5 milliard de rands
(34 millions de dollars). La contrebande de diamants se chiffre
aussi en milliards de rands: l'an dernier, l'OCU a recupere 3.594
carats de pierres volees dans la seule region de Johannesburg.
Le fruit de cette contrebande est place dans des banques, le plus
souvent en Suisse, estime l'OCU, apres avoir souvent servi a
blanchir de l'argent sale. Une bonne partie de l'or de
contrebande sud-africaine est en effet achete avec l'argent
provenant du trafic de la drogue, avant d'etre revendu a des
acheteurs classiques en Suisse, Allemagne ou Grande-Bretagne afin
d'obtenir des devises etrangeres.   (D'apres Lettre Ocean Indien,
France, 22 juin 1996) 

* South Africa. Official "Goodbye" to Tutu
South Africa has said an official goodbye and thank you to
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, head of the Anglican Church in the
country. The Service of Thanksgiving for the Archbishop's
ministry was held in St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town on 23
June, and was attended by the Presidents of South Africa,
Mozambique and Botswana; the Kings of Lesotho and Zululand; the
Archbishop of Canterbury. The Cathedral was densely packed with
South Africa's great and good, including politicians, judges,
ambassadors, clerics and many brightly arrayed bishops. The
service was an exotic mixture of traditional Episcopalian ritual
and ethnic African drums and song. President Mandela invested
Archbishop Tutu with South Africa's highest civilian honour, the
Gold Order for Meritorious Service.   (Voice of America, 23 June
1996)

* South Africa. Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The following statement was read by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, into
the record of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearing
being held in Worcester, Western Cape on 25 June 1996. "As a
consequence of the various news reports circulating this morning
about a letter received by the Commission on 21 June, I will read
a brief statement on the situation. A lawyer representing 22
members and ex-members of the South African Police (SAP) has
written to me saying that his clients are prepared to approach
the Commission with amnesty applications. He has told me their
actions are supported by Mr Vlok and various former generals of
the SAP, who will accept, where applicable, collective
responsibility and who may also apply for amnesty. The lawyer has
also provided us with a list of incidents to be covered by the
proposed applications. No amnesty applications have been received
yet. Reports that the generals themselves have written to us are
not correct, and it is also incorrect that 20 generals are
involved. The Commission will not at this stage provide any
further details of the letter. The lawyer who wrote to us had not
yet had a reply when the news emerged -- which we regret -- and
we would prefer to conduct discussions directly with lawyers and
not through the media. We are determined to handle this matter
carefully and correctly, and we will of course be consulting with
the Chairperson of the Amnesty Committee, Judge Hassen Mall. The
potential amnesty applicants will be treated in the same way as
any other amnesty applicant, namely in a dispassionate and even-
handed manner.   (Truth & Reconc. Commission, South Africa, 25
June 1996)

* Afrique du Sud. Le KwaZulu a vote sans violences
Plus de six mois de retard, de negociations souvent
acrimonieuses, ainsi que le deploiement de 32.000 policiers et
soldats, ont permis a 3,5 millions d'electeurs du KwaZulu Natal
de beneficier, mercredi 27 juin, d'une journee de scrutin sans
incident notoire entre les deux rivaux de la region, l'ANC et
l'Inkatha, repartis sur les 3.500 centres de vote de la region.
Cependant, le taux de participation tres faible restera l'element
le plus decevant de ce scrutin en fin de journee. Les premieres
statistiques donnaient des chiffres de participation
s'echelonnant jusqu'a 45 voire 50% au grand maximum. Il est
encore trop tot pour se prononcer sur les resultats de ces
municipales: les localites rurales ont depouille leurs bulletins
durant la nuit, mais les centres urbains les plus importants,
tels que Durban et Pietermaritzburg, n'ont commence cette
procedure que jeudi matin.   (D'apres L.M., Le Soir, Belgique,
28 juin 1996)

* Algerie. La France reduit son aide
La France compte reduire l'aide a l'Algerie en invoquant des
contraintes budgetaires, alors qu'elle accroit son aide au Maroc
et a la Tunisie. Selon certaines sources, non confirmees,
l'enveloppe financiere mise a la disposition d'Alger pourrait
etre diminuee de moitie et revenir a 3 milliards de francs, au
lieu de 6 milliards. Le ministre des affaires etrangeres, en
confirmant une diminution de l'aide, a dementi, mardi 25 juin,
que cette reduction soit de cette ampleur. Cette decision risque
d'etre interpretee comme un debut de "lachage" a un moment ou
l'economie algerienne enregistre des resultats mitiges: les
finances publiques sont remises en ordre, alors que le chomage
augmente.   (D'apres Le Monde, France, 26-27 juin 1996)

* Botswana. Arsenal build-up
An arms build-up by Botswana is causing concern among
neighbouring countries. The acquisitions include tanks and a
squadron of fighter bombers. Klaus Kinkel, the German Foreign
Minister, has announced a visit to the region next month. The
arms buying spree includes 50 German-made Leopard tanks from The
Netherlands. Bonn is trying to block the purchase.   (The Times,
U.K., 22 June 1996)

* Burundi. La sommet d'Arusha
Six chefs d'Etats africains se sont reunis le 25 juin a Arusha,
en Tanzanie, a l'initiative de l'ex-president tanzanien, Julius
Nyerere, pour "sauver le Burundi". Tous les Etats voisins y
etaient representes au plus haut niveau, a l'exception notable
du Zaire, dont le president -- le marechal Mobutu -- a annonce
qu'il enverrait une delegation ministerielle. Le gouvernement
burundais a demande a ses voisins et "amis" une "assistance"
militaire pour faire cesser les massacres entre Hutu et Tutsi.
Le sommet a decide de mettre sur pied une "commission technique"
pour evaluer la forme et le volume de cette assistance, qui ne
veut pas etre une "intervention". Fait sans precedent: la
participation a la fois du president hutu et du Premier ministre
tutsi du Burundi. Vive reaction de Charles Mukasi, president de
l'Uprona (Union pour le progres national, principal parti
d'opposition) qui, dans un communique diffuse mercredi 26,
denoncait "les actes de haute trahison" du president
Ntibantunganya (Hutu, du Front pour la democratie au Burundi) et
du Premier ministre Nduwayo (Tutsi, de l'Uprona). L'Union
europeenne, de son cote, en nommant a Florence l'Italien Aldo
Ajello comme representant special, vient de depecher a Bujumbura
son quatorzieme mediateur attitre.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 25-28 juin 1996)

* Cote d'Ivoire. Opponents sentenced
Amnesty International reports in its News for June 1996 that
dozens of government opponents have been sentenced to prison
terms under a law passed in 1992 but not previously invoked. The
law states that anyone who calls or leads a gathering is held
accountable for any violence that occurs, irrespective of whether
they are personally responsible for inciting or perpetrating
violence...More than 200 people charged under the law are still
detained awaiting trial several months after their arrest. Some
of those sentenced or awaiting trial, are possible prisoners of
conscience.   (Amnesty International, June 1996)

* Ethiopia. Amnesty attends Dergue trial
An Amnesty International delegate is visiting Ethiopia from 23-29
June 1996 to attend the proceedings in the on-going trial of 45
members of the former military government, known as the Dergue,
who are charged with genocide, war crimes and crimes against
humanity carried out between 1974 and 1991. The delegate,
Professor Daniel Nsereko is Dean of the Faculty of Law at the
University of Botswana. He is an Ugandan citizen. The trial
started in December 1994 with pre-trial applications, when an
earlier Amnesty International representative was in attendance.
The prosecution case, which began in early 1996, is still in an
early stage.   (Amnesty International, 19 June 1996)

* Ethiopie. Mengistu coute cher
L'ancien chef de l'Etat ethiopien saigne les finances du
Zimbabwe, ou il est refugie depuis 1991. Selon le Zimbabwe
Independant, l'entretien de Mengistu a coute pres d'un million
de dollars aux contribuables en cinq ans. L'ancien dictateur,
auquel le president Mugabe a accorde l'asile, vit avec sa famille
dans une luxueuse propriete du gouvernement, pres de Harare. Il
y a deux ans, le gouvernement avait ete alarme par ses notes de
telephone astronomiques. Le "negus rouge" n'est pourtant pas un
necessiteux; il a achete, au nom de son fils, une ferme et une
demeure de plus d'un million de francs. Mengistu est actuellement
juge par contumace pour genocide a Addis-Ababa.   (Liberation,
France, 25 juin 1996)

* France. G7 meeting in Lyon
On 27 June, the heads of the seven largest industrial countries,
the G7, in their summit meeting in Lyon, France, were putting
pressure on France to stand by its pledge to make the G7 meeting
a summit for the world's poor, amid fears that key proposals on
Third World debt were being watered down. With President Chirac
struggling to keep aid at the top of the Lyon agenda, pressure
groups warned that the schemes presently on the table needed to
be beefed-up if they were to offer any real help to the most
indebted nations... France and Britain want to increase the
amount of debt which can be written off under the 1994 "Naples
Terms", from 67% to 80%, and have secured the support of most G7
participants.   (The Guardian, U.K., 28 June 1996)

* Libye. Usines d'armes chimiques
La Libye a suspendu les travaux de construction de l'usine de
production d'armes chimiques de Tarhouna, pres de Tripoli, que
les Etats-Unis ont menace de bombarder, selon le Washington Times
publie lundi 24 juin. Selon le quotidien, qui cite des
responsables des services de renseignements et du Pentagone,
l'observation du site indique que l'activite de construction a
l'exterieur de l'usine a cesse.   (La Libre Belgique, 25 juin
1996)

* Maroc. L'evasion de Maria-Inan Oufkir
Apres avoir ete detenue arbitrairement pendant dix-neuf ans,
Maria-Inan Oufkir, 34 ans, fille de l'ancien homme fort du Maroc,
abattu comme "felon regicide" apres une tentative de coup d'Etat
en 1972, etait depuis 1991 sous le coup d'une interdiction de
quitter le Maroc. En dejouant la surveillance du roi Hassan II,
elle a quitte le royaume cherifien clandestinement le 20 juin
dernier. Arrivee a Paris le 25 accompagnee de son fils adoptif
Michael et d'une cousine de sa mere, la jeune femme a demande
l'asile politique a la France. Son "evasion" a dure une semaine.
Sa mere et ses cinq freres et soeurs sont toujours au Maroc, en
liberte surveillee depuis 1991. Cette fuite spectaculaire
intervient alors que les relations franco-marocaines, tendues par
le passe sur la question des droits de l'homme, se sont
singulierement rechauffees depuis l'election de Jacques Chirac.
Le ministre francais des affaires etrangeres a annonce des
mrecredi 26 juin que les 3 fugitifs recevront une autorisation
de sejour, renouvelable chaque annee, et un permis de travail,
mais pas un statut de refugies politiques --comme demande par les
interesses -- car "la question ne se pose pas en ces termes". Par
ailleurs, dix-huit associations culturelles berberes ont reclame,
samedi 22 juin, a Rabat, que la Constitution du royaume
reconnaisse la langue berbere (tamazight) comme "langue nationale
et officielle", et que l'identite marocaine soit
"multidimensionnelle" et non pas "reduite a la double dimension
arabo-musulmane".   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 25-28 juin
1996) 

* Nigeria. Commonwealth talks
On 24 June, Nigeria began its first talks with the Commonwealth
since its membership was suspended in November, but there was
little sign that it could meet the concerns about human rights
and democracy. Its foreign minister, Tom Ikimi, arrived in London
after two leading political detainees were freed in his homeland
-- part of an attempt to assuage mounting international
criticism. He told reporters: "Democracy has already been
restored". The Nigerian team met the action group of seven
Commonwealth foreign ministers which was set up at the Auckland
summit in November after the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight
other Ogoni activists...Preliminary signs show that the Nigerians
are not in a conciliatory mood. (Editor's note: On 25 June, the
Action Group decided to suspend further embargo action against
Nigeria until a full meeting of the Commonwealth later this year) 
 (The Guardian, U.K., 25 June 1996) 

* Nigeria. La junte libere trois opposants
Liberes apres onze mois de detention, Abdul Oroh et Tunji
Abayomi, deux defenseurs des droits de l'homme, ont appele, lundi
24 juin, le regime militaire nigerian a relacher tous les membres
de l'opposition encore emprisonnes. Un troisieme opposant, Fred
Eno, aurait egalement ete libere, mardi 25 juin. Ces liberations
interviennent alors que se sont ouverts, lundi, a Londres, des
pourparlers entre le Nigeria et le Commonwealth. Suite a ces
pourparlers, le Commonwealth a suspendu sa menace de sanctions
contre le Nigeria. Le regime militaire avait donne recemment
d'autres gages de bonne volonte, en retablissant l'habeas corpus,
en instaurant la possibilite de faire appel devant les tribunaux
speciaux et en creant une commission nationale independante des
droits de l'homme. Les militaires attendent de la rencontre de
Londres que le Commonwealth reintegre le Nigeria, exclu de
l'organisation apres la pendaison, en novembre 1995, de neuf
defenseurs de la minorite ogonie.   (Le Monde, France, 26-27 juin
1996)

* Nigeria. Prisoners released
On 23 June, Nigeria's military government released a prominent
human rights activist, Tunji Abayomi, a lawyer for former
president Olusegun Obasanjo. Mr Abayomi was arrested last July
for proclaiming his client innocent of charges that he took part
in an alleged coup plot. Also released was Abdul Oro, director
of a civil liberties organization in Nigeria, who is also a human
rights activist. Political observers say the release of these two
men and other detainees raises hope that the military government
will change its practice of detaining individuals for long
periods without a trial. The government has been under pressure
at home and abroad to free political prisoners. Two weeks ago,
the government pledged to review the cases of political detainees
when it accepted a report by a United Nations Human Rights
monitoring group that visited the country in April.   (VOA,
Washington, 24 June 1996) 

* Nigeria. Unpunished by the Commonwealth
At the London meeting of the Commonwealth, where the sanctions
against Nigeria was discussed, the Commonwealth ministerial
"action group" agreed on 25 June not to impose previously-
threatened sanctions on Nigeria, although Canada announced it
would unilaterally ban arms exports and sporting contacts.
Diplomats spoke of frustration at Nigeria's evasion of punitive
action, and its subtleness to turn the meeting around, by
presenting the Commonwealth as the transgressor in having had the
audacity to suspend Nigeria from the group. Commonwealth foreign
ministers were sharply criticised by their lack of unity and
their failure to take actions against Nigeria. A joint communique
at the end of the talks agreed to hold off on sanctions until the
committee meets in September. Nigeria had been asked to
accelerate its three-year transition to civilian democracy and
provide firm guarantees on safeguarding human rights. Neither
emerged from the London meeting. Britain and others strongly
oppose the idea of sanctions, especially an embargo on oil sales,
saying the steps would be virtually unenforceable and would harm
ordinary nigerians.   (The Guardian, U.K., 27 June 1996)

* Rwanda. Round Table
A round table conference of donors, coorganized by the Rwandan
Government and UNDP, brought together Rwandan bilateral donor
countries and multilateral donors and financial institutions in
Geneva, Switzerland on 20 and 21 June 1996. In his introductory
speech the Prime Minister of Rwanda paid tribute to the
international community for its generous support to the Rwandan
people since the 1995 round table conference. The Rwandan
delegation outlined the Government's main achievements since the
last round table conference and the constraints experienced.
During the Conference, the Rwandan Government received funding
pledges from the donor countries and international organizations
amounting to US$ 617 million. In addition the donor community
indicated their willingness to sustain their support to Rwanda
in the future.   (Rik de Gendt, Belgium, 23 June 1996)

* Rwanda. Eloigner les camps?
La reinstallation plus a l'interieur du Zaire et "a titre
temporaire" des camps de refugies frontaliers du Rwanda reduirait
les problemes de securite et d'approvisionnement, a indique le
Haut commissariat des Nations unies pour les refugies.
Coordonnateur a Geneve de l'unite speciale du HCR pour le Rwanda
et le Burundi, Augustine Mahiga propose que des camps soient
installes plus a l'interieur du Zaire en precisant qu'il ne
s'agirait pas d'une "integration". "Cela pourrait d'ailleurs
conduire des refugies a choisir de retourner au Rwanda plutot que
d'etre une nouvelle fois deplaces".   (La Libre Belgique, 27 juin
1996)

* Senegal. Prison ferme contre des journalistes
Le journal independant senegalais Sud Quotidien a ete condamne
hier a verser des dommages et interets d'un montant de 5 millions
de FF pour diffamation envers la Compagnie sucriere senegalaise
(CSS), filiale du groupe international Mimran. Le Tribunal
regional de Dakar a condamne le directeur de la publication,
Abdoulaye Diaga Sylla, et quatre journalistes du quotidien a un
mois de prison ferme. Le journal, qui denoncait a longueur de
pages les pratiques de ce qu'il appelle la "Mimrandie", accusait
notamment la CSS de corruption de magistrat, fraude fiscale,
chantage et d'avoir profere des menaces de mort.   (Liberation,
France, 28 juin 1996) 

* Somalie. Conference d'intellectuels
Un seminaire sur le theme Decentralised Political Structures for
Somalia, finance par la Commission europeenne, devait reunir a
Naivasha (Kenya) du 20 au 22 juin, une trentaine d'intellectuels
somaliens invites a titre personnel. Les intellectuels somaliens
analyseront les avantages et desavantages des quatre modeles de
decentralisation envisages par les chercheurs de la London School
of Economics: la confederation, la federation, l'Etat uni
decentralise avec la garantie de l'autonomie regionale, et
l'option non-territoriale dite de la consociation. D'ailleurs,
le general Mohamed Farah Haideed a choisi ce moment pour annoncer
la creation d'un "Parlement" dans le sud de Mogadiscio qu'il
controle. Tandis que les leaders du Somaliland ont, de leur cote,
envoye deux delegations faire le tour des pays d'Afrique, cette
semaine, pour tenter de les gagner a leur independance
autoproclamee.   (D'apres Lettre Ocean Indien, France 22 juin
1996)

* Zaire. Vers une reprise de la cooperation
Des representants du ministere francais de la Cooperation ont
effectue une visite de travail au Zaire, du 15 au 21 juin, dans
le cadre de la reprise partielle de la cooperation entre les deux
pays. Cette premiere mission a porte sur les modalites de relance
des interventions francaises dans le secteur de la sante. Le
ministre francais de la Cooperation, Jacques Godfrain, avait
annonce, le 25 avril dernier, au terme d'une breve rencontre a
Paris entre les presidents zairois et francais, une reprise
partielle de la cooperation avec le Zaire, limitee a la sante et
a l'education. La France est le premier des pays
traditionnellement lies au Zaire a avoir decide de reprendre sa
cooperation structurelle, interrompue en octobre 1991, au
lendemain de pillages et d'emeutes.   ( Le Soir, Belgique, 24
juin 1996)

* Zaire. Quelques observations
De retour d'un recent voyage au Zaire, un ami nous fait part de
ses observations sur le pays. - Destruction des services publics:
le pays est sans routes, sans poste, sans telephone. Est-ce une
politique systematique des services publics? Quelques
privatisations semblent reussies: le chemin de fer Matadi-
Kinshasa-Lubumbashi-Johannesburg et la compagnie aerienne "Zaire-
express". - Presence forte et imposante d'une armee qui n'est pas
payee. Cette situation donne lieu a des scenes de violence et
cree une insecurite radicale parmi les gens. - Manipulations
sournoises de M. Mobutu dans le but de se faire reconnaitre comme
sauveur du pays. Les pillages et la construction d'une opposition
factice en sont deux exemples. - La politique etrangere est
amplement commentee par les Zairois. Des soupcons permanents
pesent sur les ONG. - La situation economique entraine une
malnutrition a grande echelle, surtout dans les villes. Dans la
region du Kasai, la situation est meilleure, on s'investit
beaucoup pour le developpement: on plante, on seme, on a du
betail. Les gens reparent les troncons de routes situes pres de
leur village. La coordination des ONG devient possible. Les
refugies du Shaba sont au Sud-Kasai et leur situation est plus
difficile. A Kananga et a Mbuji-Mayi, il y a des realites qui ne
sont plus sous le controle de la Nation: on garde l'ancienne
monnaie qui tient bien le coup par rapport au dollar;
l'opposition populaire fonctionne: les militaires sont payes par
des cooperatives. Les diamantaires sont dans une opposition
claire par rapport a Mobutu. - Les formes de resistance a Mobutu
se manifestent dans des slogans populaires. Ainsi, a la question
"Comment allez-vous?", la reponse peut etre: "Un peu bien, au
rythme de la Nation"; ou: "Au taux du jour". L'economie
informelle recouvre 60% des activites economiques du pays. Elle
est la maniere zairoise de resister au regime en place. Les
syndicats ont pris la decision de collaborer avec l'economie
informelle en vue d'une meilleure organisation de celle-ci. - La
conscientisation des gens par rapport aux elections se fait par
la publication de brochures: Centre Epiphanie a Kinshasa, Amos
a Kananga, et par des travaux preparatoires au recensement de la
population. La Commission nationale Justice et Paix et les
groupes Amos font du bon travail. - L'Eglise du Zaire presente
des contrastes enormes: il y a l'Eglise qui met au service du
pays sa puissance d'organisation. Il y a aussi une Eglise qui,
par sa presence simple, a la base, suscite des reflexions, grace
aux Communautes ecclesiales de base. Il y a egalement une Eglise
qui s'inscrit dans la dynamique des pillages et de la corruption
erigee en "systeme", encouragee par Mobutu. - Les sectes
proliferent et certaines sont bien visibles a Kinshasa ou des
batiments sont construits. Des sanctions sont emises a l'encontre
des pretres qui sont actifs dans les sectes.   (J&P, Belgique,
15 juin 1996) 

* Zambia. Stadium disaster
On 16 June, more than sixteen people died and fifty-three others
were seriously injured in a stampede at Lusaka's Independence
Stadium. Thousands of fans came to cheer the national team in a
World Cup qualifying match against Sudan. The 35,000 capacity
stadium was filled to capacity. Police Inspector-General Francis
Ndhlovu said that while the fans were moving out of the stadium,
one of them shouted that there was a bomb within the area. A
stampede erupted and in the resulting chaos, people lost their
lives. Another version comes from the fans themselves. They say
security men caused the stampede after locking gates which are
normally left wide open for most of the second half of the game.
FIFA, the world soccer governing body, has warned the Football
Association of Zambia to improve the safety of the stadium.  
(Gideon Thole, Zambia, 18 June 1996)

* Zimbabwe. Joshua Nkomo s'en va
Le vice-president zimbabween, Joshua Nkomo, age de 70 ans, a
annonce la semaine derniere qu'il cesserait toute activite
politique a la fin de l'annee. Leader de la communaute Ndebele -
-minoritaire dans le pays (elle represente environ 20% des 11
millions d'habitants) et surtout concentree a Bulawayo, seconde
ville du pays, et dans la region environnante du Matabeleland --,
Nkomo est malade et rentre juste d'une convalescence de six
semaines au Cap (Afrique du Sud). Le seul obstacle a son depart
a la retraite demeure l'inconnue sur celui qui le remplacera
comme leader des Ndebele au sein de la ZANU-PF, le parti du
president Robert Mugabe avec lequel la ZAPU de Nkomo avait
fusionne en 1987.   (D'apres Lettre Ocean Indien, France, 22 juin
1996)

* Zimbabwe. Mugabe wants aid for land
President Robert Mugabe has threatened to seize white farmland
for resettlement by blacks -- without compensation -- unless
Britain gives his government money for a land acquisition
programme. Britain, the colonial power until independence in
1980, should help Zimbabwe's programme to resettle blacks on land
given to white settlers decades ago, Mr Mugabe told a meeting of
his ruling ZANU-PF party at the weekend 22-23 June. "We do not
have the money to buy back the land, which was not paid for in
the first place," he said, adding that the British Foreign
Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind, had written to him saying that their
two governments could negotiate on aid worth 30 million pounds
sterling to buy the land. Mr Rifkind had suggested a broad
meeting of interested groups, including donor agencies and the
World Bank, Mr Mugabe said. On 24 June, the British High
Commission in Harare appealed for a conference on land involving
all interested Zimbabweans and foreign donors.   (The Guardian,
U.K., 24-25 June 1996)