Pensions increase in Namibia

State old-age pensions are set to be increased to N$600 a month and the tax burden on individual taxpayers and non-mining companies will be made lighter, according to the government's budget plans for the year ahead. The tax relief was announced by Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila in the National Assembly yesterday and will leave Namibians with an additional N$1.2 billion. With old-age pensions to be increased by N$50 a month during the 2013-14 financial year, the government also expects to spend a total of N$3.9 billion on pensions for senior citizens over the next three years.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201302270516.html

SA protesters demand funding to help eradicate gender violence

In a protest action organised by Avaaz.org and Sonke Gender Justice Network, gender equality activists from across Cape Town will gather outside the Houses of Parliament to call on the South African Government to commit to one billion rand a year to fund effective strategies to prevent violence against women, including a grassroots public education campaign to end the cycle of violence against women. Over 130 activists from gender equality organisations will gather outside the Parliamentary buildings to hang up women's clothing which carry the message saying President Zuma: Your Budget Can Stop Rape.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201302270585.html

Zimbabwean NCA files an application to stop upcoming referendum

The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) in Zimbabwe has filed an application at the country's High Court seeking an extension of the referendum date which is set for 16 March. The pressure group said in a statement on Monday 18th March 2013 that Zimbabweans would need at least two months, and not 30 days, to conduct civic education to analyse the draft charter so that they can make informed decisions on what they will be voting for. The NCA accuses ZANU PF and the two MDC formations of fast tracking the process, as a ploy to deny Zimbabweans a chance to "scrutinize the flawed and undemocratic draft which they authored."

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201302191079.html

Prosecutors in Mozambique to investigate timber smuggling

The Attorney-General’s Office is investigating the smuggling of timber from Mozambique to China, and the possible involvement of senior figures in the government and the ruling Frelimo Party in this illicit trade, according to a newspaper in the country. The smuggling was denounced by a British-based NGO, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), which looked at the figures from both the Mozambican and Chinese ends of the trade and spotted “enormous discrepancies”. The imports of Mozambican timber declared in China massively exceed the exports declared in Mozambique.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201302190074.html

Mamphela Ramphele launches new political party

Mamphela Ramphele, former anti-apartheid activist, academic and businesswoman, launched a new party political platform to contest the 2014 elects this week. Her party, called “Agang” (“Build” in Sesotho), even if it succeeds in an electoral alliance with all other opposition parties, will not properly challenge the ruling African National Congress (ANC) at the 2014 election. Despite the weight of criticism levelled at the ANC in 2012, its centenary year, there is little doubt that it will maintain its political dominance by 2014 - the party won 66% of the vote in 2009. Indeed, Ramphele must demonstrate that her new political force will primarily gain support from non-voters and ANC supporters rather than from the other opposition parties.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201302190254.html

SADC states helped illegal CIA renditions

South Africa has been named in a report by the Open Society Justice Initiative as one of the countries that illegally aided CIA renditions. The country was implicated in the 2003 rendition of Saud Memon, a Pakistani national and suspect in the murder of a journalist. It appears that the South African government gave the CIA “carte blanche” to do with him as they pleased. South Africa has also been accused of involvement in the rendition of Khalid Rashid from South Africa to Pakistan, where he was allegedly handed over to US agents.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201302051458.html?viewall=1

Zambian government to increase taxes on its mines

New measures to boost tax collection from the mining sector have been announced this week by Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda. The implementation of the new system is surely in response to global media reports that the country is losing billions of dollars of revenue from tax evasion which could be mainly traced to multinational mining companies. The minister said there was need to calculate the taxing based on the true production and export data of minerals generated.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201302061030.html