Security removed “for not recognising boss”

Albertus Aochamub, the director general of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), and board member Yvonne Boois have been accused of abusing their positional power after they allegedly ordered a security guard to be transferred from the premises of the national broadcasters because she failed to recognised Boois as she tried to pass a checkpoint. On failing to recognise Boois, the security guard, Melissa Ndaura, suggested that the passenger in the car Boois was driving should get out of the car and signing the visitors’ form at the entrance. Not impressed by this, Boois allegedly warned Ndaura that she could face the consequence of her actions after she had talked to the director general.  Later that day, Ndaura received a call from the chief of security at NBC and has now been transferred to the Ministry of Finance.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201306260968.html 

Swaziland activists beaten in detention

Three members of the pro-democracy group SWAYOCO charged with sedition for carrying a banner at an election rally in Swaziland say they have been beaten up while in prison awaiting trial. They say warders beat them at the Sidvwashini Correctional Facility. They told magistrates they now feared for their safety.

The accused, described in local media as members of the Swaziland Youth Congress, one of a number of pro-democracy groups banned in Swaziland, appeared before Magistrate Ndumiso Shongwe last week and claimed to be beaten and subjected to harsh treatment and were denied medical treatment.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201306101937.html                                              

Swaziland gender march closed down

Members of the Swaziland Rural Women's Assembly (SRWA) along with gender activists in Swaziland and beyond are still reeling in shock after the Royal Swaziland Police Service (RSPS) effectively silenced activists and shut down a peaceful women’s solidarity march that the SRWA organised on 29 May. SRWA organised the march in response to a recent case, where a man stripped naked the mother of his child, assaulted her, and with a knife to her back, dragged her by her hair for three kilometres, through surrounding communities and across the busy MR103 highway, to his uncles homestead.

RWA’s founder and chairperson, Sebenzile Nxumalo explained that the march was organised to show support for all victims of gender-based violence (GBV), raise awareness about violence against women and to encourage members of the community to condemn these inhumane acts. "What we seek to do as an organisation is to mobilise women. We want to amplify the voices of rural women so that they get empowered to speak out and stand up.”

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201306110451.html

Mandela in serious condition at hospital

South Africa's ex-President Nelson Mandela remains in a serious but stable condition in a Pretoria hospital, according to the latest update. The presidency said Mandela's condition was unchanged and confirmed that he was in intensive care. His former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, visited him on Monday. Mandela was admitted to hospital early on Saturday for the third time this year and he is being treated for a lung infection. The government said in a statement: "President Jacob Zuma reiterates his call for South Africa to pray for Madiba and the family during this time." Madiba is Mr Mandela's clan name.

Original article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22839548

Zimbabwe’s steel industry facing collapse

Zimbabwe's steel industry has been dealt a serious blow after the closure of 17 companies in the last year, with the worsening investment climate said to be further straining the situation. According to Engineering Iron and Steel Association President, Callisto Jokonya, companies are forced to import steel from neighbouring countries. He was quoted by the Sunday Mail as saying that "conditions are very difficult as 17 companies have closed shop, which is a cause for concern, but government has failed to give attention."

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201305010145.html

Thabo Mbeki: Africa losing billions annually in illicit money laundering

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki says Africa is losing billions each year to illicit capital outflows in development. Addressing members of the 53rd Liberian Legislature in a joint session Tuesday in Monrovia, he said that the rate at which Africa loses development money through illegal means is alarming. "We are losing a lot of this capital that we need as a result of everything we throw out of the continent through illegal means and there is an estimate that the continent loses annually at least fifty billion dollars through illicit capital outflow," Mbeki notes. "Now you can compare that to something like US$25 billion that comes into the continent as a result of development assistance." He said Africa loses double on what comes in as development assistance as a result of weak systems put in place by African governments and this has prompted finance ministers to start to take actions to curb the situation.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201305010274.html

Swaziland laments “worst month for human rights”

April 2013 has been hailed as one of the worst months in history for the plight of human rights in Swaziland. The conviction of Bheki Makhubu and the Nation magazine for publishing articles critical of the Swazi judiciary sent waves of anger across the world. Makhubu faces two years in jail and his magazine closure if he loses an appeal to the Supreme Court. On 12 April, democrats wanted to mark the 40th anniversary of King Sobhuza's Royal Decree, however armed police and riot troops banned all political parties from attending. A week later, on 19 April, the 45th birthday of King Mswati III, organisers of a youth meeting to discuss the elections were arrested and charged with sedition, while many democracy activists have been arrested in their homes and brought under trivial charges. The Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) reported to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) that Swaziland was becoming a “military state”.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201305010108.html