Questions were asked on Tuesday about police planning before
the shooting that left 34 striking miners dead in Marikana. Human Rights
Commission lawyer Nokukhanya Jele cross-examined public order policing expert
Brigadier Zephania Mkhwanazi, during hearings in Rustenburg by the Farlam
Commission of Inquiry into the events at Marikana on August 16 last year. Jele
put it to him that on that day there were about 170 public order police and
more than 3000 striking Lonmin miners on the site. In Limpopo and in Gauteng
there were a total of 1314 public order police who were not called in to help.
Instead, other less specialised officers were called in to help, some from much
further away.
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Questions asked over Marikana crowd control
Swaziland Senate President tells journalists to f*** off!
Swaziland’s Senate President, Gelane Zwane, has insulted
journalists who turned up at meeting to which they were invited. After the
clerk of parliament, Ndvuna Dlamini, told the president that he wanted to say
something but couldn’t as the media were present, Zwane lost his cool and told
the journalists in the SiSwati language to “f*** off”. The Swaziland chapter of
the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Swaziland) has repeatedly spoken
out against this kind of treatment of the country's journalists.
Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201301212189.html
Zimbabwe: Mugabe and Tsvangirai in 'constitution deal'
Zimbabwe’s rival political leaders say they have reached an
agreement over a new constitution which removes a key obstacle in the process
by which elections are held. President Mugabe announced that he was “glad” a
deal had been reached, while Prime Minister Tsvangirai stated that “a long
journey” had ended. The prime minister had set the adoption of a constitution
as a condition for polls due later this year. Details of the deal have not been
made public, but it is understood that the powers of the president have been
curbed - a key demand of the MDC.
Farmworkers’ strike set to continue
The recent farmworkers’ strike over higher daily wages has
been given encouragement by the Building and Allied Workers Union of SA
(Bawusa), after the organisation told workers that a return to work may ruin
any chances of farmers caving into their R150 wage demand. The union announced
last week it that it was planning to march to the De Doorns police station on
Thursday 24 January to call for a strike without violence on both sides. The
general treatment of farmers has also come under scrutiny of late, and the South
African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is investigating over 20 complaints of
brutality against farmworkers by police, farmers, and private security.
Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201301211735.html
Zimbabwean repression of dissent continues
A leading human rights activist
in Zimbabwe was denied bail on Wednesday 16 January following his arrest, as
part of what Amnesty International said is an ongoing crackdown on freedom of
expression in the country ahead of this year's elections. Okay Machisa, who was
remanded in custody until 30 January, is the director of the Zimbabwe Human
Rights Association. He was arrested on Monday 14 January in the capital,
Harare, and charged with publishing falsehoods, fraud and forgery after
allegedly conducting illegal voter registration. Another official from the same
organisation, Leo Chamahwinya, was also arrested recently and faces the same
charges.
Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201301170490.html
Zambian opposition leader nearly arrested during court session
Zambian police officers
interrupted a court session on 15 January to arrest opposition leader Hakainde
Hichilema, only for the magistrate to and his defence lawyers to ask them to
leave on the grounds that it is unlawful to arrest someone in the middle of a
court session. Hichilema was then asked to report to the police station for
questioning. Hichilema is being tried for alleging that the PF government was
training its youths in military warfare with the help of the Sudanese militia
in Darfur. Civil society groups have condemned the actions by the police.
Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201301161380.html
Zimbabwean VP dies
The Vice President of Zimbabwe
John Nkomo has died at the age of 78 following a battle with cancer.
Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201301171142.html
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