European Investment Bank gives Zambia €75 million

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has given Zambia 75 million Euros, equivalent to K573 million, to finance the implementation of the Zambia Water and Sanitation project. Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda said the loan facility was intended to finance the improvement of water supply and sanitation amenities in three Copperbelt mining towns of Mufulira, Chililabombwe and Chingola.

The loan was designed to recapitalise Mulonga Water and Sewerage Company and would be implemented through the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to enhance income-generating capability for the company. Mr Chikwanda said the project would go a long way in improving the quality of water supply and sanitation to the people in the towns.

"The finance contract we have signed today will contribute to the realisation of social and economic benefits intended for the people of Zambia through increased access to water and sanitation facilities," he said.

He said the total requirement of the project was 156 million Euros, which would be arranged through a co-financing facility.

Forbes partners with Angolan president’s daughter

U.S.-based business publisher Forbes has formed a partnership with a company controlled by Isabel dos Santos, daughter of the Angolan President, to publish a new magazine edition for Portuguese-speaking African countries.

Forbes Portuguese Africa will be a joint venture with ZAP, a company in which Ms. Dos Santos has a 70 percent shareholding. Last August, Forbes published information revealing that the President's daughter had acquired almost her entire Angolan fortune through corrupt means.

The announcement comes almost a year after Forbes included Ms. Dos Santos on its list of Africa's wealthiest people. It assessed her wealth at U.S. $3 billion, making her the richest woman on the African continent.

The inclusion of Ms. Dos Santos on the list attracted criticism that Forbes was glorifying a woman who owed her fortune to the political influence of her father, President José Eduardo dos Santos.

In response to that criticism, in August, Forbes published an article co-authored by Angolan journalist Rafael Marques de Morais, which investigated the origins of Ms. Dos Santos's fortune.

In that article, Forbes revealed that "as best as we can trace, every major Angolan investment held by [Isabel] dos Santos stems either from taking a chunk of a company that wants to do business in the country or from a stroke of the president's pen that cut her into the action."

The investigation provoked an angry reaction from the associates of the Dos Santos family. Angolan media loyal to the President published unfounded allegations that a daughter of the late Angolan rebel leader, Jonas Savimbi, had interests in Forbes.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201312180327.html

Magistrates shortage in Zim

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is grappling with a shortage of magistrates with 40 vacancies countrywide still to be filled, a situation that could compromise justice delivery.Zimbabwe requires 250 magistrates but it has only 210.

JSC Deputy Secretary Mr Rex Shana said last week that the shortage was a result of a general recruitment freeze by Government. "The freeze was instituted by former Finance Minister Tendai Biti during the life of the inclusive Government (2009-2013) and is yet to be formally lifted.

"The general employment freeze by the Government does not allow us to employ more staff and it affects all Government ministries and departments. The green light to employ comes from the Ministry of Finance and if there is a freeze nothing is done in terms of recruitment," said Mr Shana.

The Chief Magistrate's office is losing staff through resignations, death and retirement but is unable to recruit. Sources said the available magistrates were working under pressure due to the increased workload. Chief Magistrate Mr Mishrod Guvamombe is on record saying the few magistrates on the bench were doing their best under difficult conditions.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201312090166.html

Mandela commemorated with day of prayer in SA

South Africans of all creeds and colors have been gathering in houses of worship across the country to reflect on the life and deeds of Mandela, who died on Thursday aged 95. The nationwide day of prayer is the formal start of commemorations that will culminate in Mandela's burial on December 15 in Qunu, the village where he spent his early childhood.

Prayers were also held in London in a remembrance service led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. who hailed Mandela's "determination in the face of evil and ... humanity in the experience of victory."

On Tuesday, a memorial service is to be held in a Johannesburg stadium. It is expected that around 80,000 people will attend, among them US President Barack Obama and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. 

Mandela's body will then lie in state for three days from Wednesday. His coffin is to be taken through the streets of Pretoria each morning to allow as many people as possible to say farewell.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201312090138.html

Economic deficiencies slowing reconciliation in South Africa

A research group is appealing for what it calls "radical reconciliation" in South Africa as the nation approaches the 20th anniversary of the end of apartheid. The report by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation found stark inequalities that continue to fall along race lines.

The new study makes some heartening findings as South Africa approaches 20 years of democratic rule. Yet it also shows that the nation's old wounds go very deep. One of the survey's key findings is somewhat encouraging: just two decades after South Africa ended its race-based apartheid system, class is now more important to many South Africans than race.

However, researchers also found that South Africans at the very bottom of that scale are nearly all black, said Kim Wale, lead author of this week's report.

"One of our key findings is that South Africans report that class inequality has become the greatest impediment to national reconciliation," Wale said. "However, class inequality continues to reflect racial division."

The nation's last census backed that up, showing that on average, white South African households earn more than six times what black households do. Researchers interviewed more than 3,500 South Africans in all nine provinces for the institute's survey.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201312050084.html

Ten civilians killed by Renamo in last month

Attacks by gunmen of the former rebel movement Renamo over the past six weeks have resulted in ten civilian deaths, and injured a further 26 people, according to the Mozambican Defence Ministry.

Speaking at a Maputo press conference on Wednesday, the National Director of Defence Policy in the Ministry, Cristovao Chume, did not reveal the losses suffered by the defence and security forces or by Renamo itself. Almost all the Renamo attacks have occurred in the central province of Sofala. There was a further focus of tension in Rapale district, in the northern province of Nampula, where three attacks occurred.

Chume said that, in addition, to the human casualties around 30 vehicles have been targeted in the Renamo attacks. Damage varied from slight to total. The latest Renamo raid was on Tuesday night against a police post and health centre in the small town of Tica, in Sofala. The gunmen looted the health centre, but there were no reports of deaths or injuries.

The deterioration of the politico-military situation in Sofala can be dated to the capture by the armed forces (FADM) of the Renamo headquarters at Satunjira, in Gorongosa district, on 21 October. The army said it moved against Satunjira because its patrols in the surrounding area had come under repeated Renamo fire.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201312050368.html

Renamo leader Dhlakama “alive and well” in Mozambique

The General Secretary of Mozambique's former rebel movement Renamo, Manuel Bissopo, declared in Maputo on Monday that Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama is alive and well. Addressing a press conference, Bissopo said that he had been with Dhlakama when the armed forces (FADM) occupied the Renamo bush headquarters at Satunjira, in the central district of Gorongosa, on 21 October. Dhlakama had left Satunjira on foot, he added, to avoid casualties.

In the FADM shelling, the head of Renamo mobilization, Armindo Milaco, was hit by shrapnel, and died of his wounds, Bissopo said. Milaco is the only confirmed casualty of the capture of Satunjira. Bissopo said the last time he spoke to Dhlakama was seven days ago. He did not reveal Dhlakama's whereabouts, but said the Renamo leader had not left the country. He added that Dhlakama “will shortly speak to the people” through the media.

Bissopo said that Dhlakama will only meet with President Armando Guebuza if his security is guaranteed by foreign forces. He suggested that United Nations “blue helmets”, or any other foreign force not under the influence of the Mozambican government, could be used to protect Dhlakama.

If this is a condition that Dhlakama himself has imposed, then it means that there will be no meeting at all in the foreseeable future, since the Mozambican government will not accept the presence of foreign troops. Bissopo also demanded the withdrawal of all government military forces from the Gorongosa area, a demand which the government has repeatedly rejected.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201311260488.html

Mugabe and ministers sleep through economic summit

The emergence of yet another picture showing President Robert Mugabe fast asleep during proceedings at a two-day Arab-Africa Summit has reignited calls for leadership renewal in the country.

The summit, held in Kuwait on 19 to 20 November, was aimed at improving economic and trade links between Gulf and African states. Mugabe was accompanied by his customary large entourage of ZANU PF gurus, who included Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi - with most of them captured asleep.

Nixon Nyikadzino, of lobby group Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, slammed Mugabe's sleeping habits which he said "were now out of hand".

Speaking to SW Radio Africa on Monday Nyikadzino said: "Mugabe and his ministers should distinguish between a bed and a meeting. They are doing the nation a disservice by sleeping even during meetings that should define the economic development of the country.

"This also shows that these people should not be occupying these Cabinet positions because they are all well past the retirement age and should be at home playing with their grandchildren.”

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201311260321.html

Pre-election riots mar opposition rally in Mozambique

The electoral campaign of Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) in Dondo ended with a rally at their headquarters on Sunday. Members of opposition party said they did not turn out in the streets of the second city of Sofala province, in order to avoid incidents similar to those experienced in the previous day in Beira, the capital city of Sofala, where there were clashes involving members and supporters of MDM and Frelimo.

There was chaos in the neighborhood of Munhava when the Rapid Intervention Force (FIR) intervened,  which some suggest was in defense of the "corn" party (Frelimo).

In addition to MDM members, the final stretch of the hunt for votes on 17 November was attended by a multitude of citizens. MDM candidate José Chiremba spoke at the rally which attracted hundreds of people eager to listen closely the promises laid out by the party led by Daviz Simango.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201311190599.html

Zanu-PF infighting ahead of annual conference

With only a few weeks before ZANU PF's December conference, factional fighting is marring the run-up as Robert Mugabe loyalists publicly quarrelled over provincial elections. Elections for provincial chairmen were held over a week ago in Manicaland, Midlands and Mashonaland Central where John Mvundura, Jason Machaya and Luke Mushore were respectively declared winners amidst allegations of vote-rigging.

Zimbabwean media reported that Mugabe had, prior to his departure to Singapore last week, attempted to contain the crisis by trying to resolve the sharp differences that arose following the chaotic provincial elections. However, according to reports things came to a head when Presidential spokesman George Charamba suggested that the results of the Mashonaland provincial elections did not stand.

Reports Monday said senior party members were livid with Charamba who announced last week that the politburo had not yet received results of the Mashonaland provincial elections. ZANU PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa told the media that Charamba had 'jumped the gun'. In a weekend media report, spokesman Rugare Gumbo agreed with Mutasa saying Charamba was a 'mere civil servant' with no mandate to communicate ZANU PF issues. Information minister Jonathan Moyo defended Charamba whom he said was communicating President Mugabe's message. Moyo dubbed as 'mischievous' anybody disagreeing with Charamba's communication from Mugabe.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201311190279.html

International campaign petitions Angola to stop harassment of activists

Transparency International has joined with Transparência e Integridade, Associação Cívica, its partner in Portugal, and Rafael Marques de Morais, the winner of the 2013 Transparency International Integrity Award to call on the government of Angola to stop the harassment of civil society activists.

In his acceptance speech for the Integrity Award at a ceremony in Berlin on 8 November, Marques, a journalist from Angola, made a passionate plea for civil society to be given space to operate without harassment.

He dedicated the award to Manuel Chivonde Nito Alves, a 17 year-old activist who had been released from jail that day following his arrest for attempting to print T-shirts criticising the president of Angola, Africa's second longest serving leader. The charges against Nito Alves, however, have not been dropped.

Transparency International and its network of more than 100 organisations work around the world to fight corruption and to create a safe space for civil society to speak up against corruption without persecution or fear of reprisal. Angola ranks 101 out of 109 at the bottom of the 2013 CIVICUS Enabling Environment index, a study of how open and safe a country is for civil society activism. 

Arrests and minor clashes mar Mozambican election campaign

The police have detained two members of the opposition Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), in the town of Boane, near  Maputo, accused of vandalising election campaign material of the ruling Frelimo Party.

According to the Frelimo candidate for mayor of Boane, Jacinto Loureiro, and the party's spokesperson, Matias Bila, the two were caught red-handed destroying propaganda material and the case was immediately reported to the police.

The two were held at a Boane police station for questioning, and were released on Tuesday morning. The police have opened a case file against them, but they will await their trial in freedom.

Under the law governing the municipal elections, anyone found guilty of destroying election material of their opponents is punished with a jail sentence of up to six months, and a fine of between six and 12 times the monthly minimum wage. The lowest of the current statutory minimum wages, for agricultural workers, is 2,500 meticais a month. So the minimum fine for this offence would be 15,000 meticais - about 500 US dollars at current exchange rates.

Bila told AIM that on Sunday the MDM members daubed a billboard bearing Loureiro's portrait with mud, and ripped up smaller Frelimo posters. “We had to arrange buckets of water to clean up the billboard”, he added. A similar incident happened in the central province of Manica. According to a report in Tuesday's issue of the “Mozambique Political Process Bulletin”, published by AWEPA (Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa) and the Mozambican anti-corruption NGO, the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), nine MDM members have been detained over the last three days for destroying Frelimo posters.

Editor of Malawi’s leading paper arrested on extortion charges

Editor of the online publication Malawi Voice, Justice Mponda, was arrested last week in Blantyref on charges of trying to extort money. Police have confirmed that they are holding Mponda in cell.

In an alert to a Malawian journalist on their internet discussion forum, the chairperson of the Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Anthony Kasunda, said he has been to Blantyre Police Station where Justice Mponda is being held on "extortion" charges.

"I did not manage to meet him as I was told it is late, but a police officer on duty was kind enough to go inside and speak to him on my behalf. In brief, he says he was told by some PP officials (name withheld for the time being) to meet them in Limbe to thank him for removing a critical story on the internet. As he was receiving K500, 000 as a thank you and part payment to develop a website for the PP guys, Police officers arrested him. The money is here as exhibit according to the officer," Kasunda informed.

Mponda was last year cleared from the courts on charges of insulting President Joyce Banda and publishing false information. Misa-Malawi has always argued that only dialogue between government and the media would provide a more enabling environment for media freedom, freedom of expression and ultimately citizen empowerment.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201311030300.html

World Bank to aid Lesotho’s growth and job creation

The World Bank Board of Directors today approved a US$13.1 million credit to support the Government of Lesotho's (GoL) program aimed at creating jobs by improving the country's business environment and increasing diversification in new growth sectors such as tourism and horticulture through private sector-led economic growth.

The project will facilitate improvements in Lesotho's business environment by supporting regulatory reforms and efforts to streamline the processes for obtaining licenses and construction permits, which will reduce the number of days it takes to get a construction permit from 106 days to less than 65 days.

It will also support the creation of an electronic portal for business licenses, which will include an online database of all laws, regulations, tariffs and steps for all types of trade and industrial licenses. Furthermore, the project will improve access to finance by establishing a credit information bureau designed to provide a stable and predictable credit market.

It will also support changes to credit requirements, such as allowing a diversified set of investments, including stocks and equipment, to serve as collateral for a loan, increasing the availability of credit to the unbanked population.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201311040654.html

South Africa and France agree on intervention in CAR

South Africa and France agree that intervention is needed in the Central African Republic (CAR) to help stabilise the country, President Jacob Zuma said on Monday.

"The foreign minister of France gave a report... that the problem [in the country] is getting worse. Even the question of religion among the people is beginning to set in," Zuma told reporters at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

"We [South Africa] agreed that we need to do something and act quickly. We have committed... that we are going to be ready to be part of the solution to help the Central African Republic come back to its normality."

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with French president Francois Hollande, Zuma did not specify the role South Africa would play in the intervention.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201310142233.html

African leaders seeking ICC immunity

Attempts by African leaders to secure immunity from prosecution in the International Criminal Court (ICC) have been slammed as nothing more than an attempt to protect a handful of the continent's most powerful people.

The proposal was put forward during a special summit called by the African Union (AU), to discuss the continent's continued relationship with the Hague based court. This is amid heightened tensions between the court and particularly Kenya, with that nation's President and Deputy President both being charged by the ICC with crimes against humanity.

Several nations in the 54-member AU have accused the ICC of bias against Africa, and have demanded that the court drop its cases against Kenya's leadership. African states have also repeatedly ignored ICC orders to hand over the indicted Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the ICC for genocide and war crimes in Darfur.

The most recent African state to support calls for a mass withdrawal from the ICC is Zimbabwe, with Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa saying last week that Africans must "stand up and stamp their authority" against the court.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201310150089.html

Mauritian opposition parties will boycott the legislative election

Mauritania's main opposition parties announced a boycott of November's legislative election on Friday after talks with the government over preparations for the vote collapsed without agreement. The Coordination of the Democratic Opposition (COD) said after three days of talks with the government that 10 of its 11 member parties had decided to boycott the vote.

The talks were the first between the two sides in over four years. President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz seized power in a 2008 coup in the Islamic republic, which straddles black and Arab Africa on the continent's west coast. The government has scheduled the municipal and legislative elections for November 23. The opposition demands the polls be postponed until April to allow time to prepare a voter census and electoral roster, and wants guarantees of the independence of the electoral commission.

Original article: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/04/mauritania-politics-idUSL6N0HU2E920131004 

Zanu-PF harassing teachers with links to opposition

Two months after President Robert Mugabe's landslide win, Zanu PF youths and war veterans here have started a witch-hunt, hunting teachers perceived to be sympathetic to the MDC-T and ordering their transfer from Masvingo West constituency.

Last week, a petition that was set to be handed to the Ministry of Education was circulated in and around Masvingo town, where people were urged to sign, denouncing about 13 teachers at different schools. The petition to "flush out" teachers perceived to be sympathetic to MDC-T, came as the country celebrated World Teachers' Day yesterday, recognising the importance of teachers to students, parents, communities and governments.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201310060133.html

Mozambican president calls on his citizens to defend peace

Mozambican President Armando Guebuza on Friday urged all Mozambicans to unite in a deep reflection on the role of peace in the struggle against poverty.

Speaking at a religious ceremony in Maputo to mark the 21st anniversary of the peace agreement between the government and the Renamo rebels, signed in Rome on 4 October 1992, Guebuza stressed the use of dialogue as an instrument to overcome disagreements and challenges, and to ensure that the economic and social development of Mozambique can become a reality.

Peace, Guebuza said, should characterise Mozambicans in their daily lives. He praised the role of religious bodies in the defence of peace and national reconciliation, and noted their prayers that the country's politicians should move forward in peace.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201310070785.html

African leaders call for Millennium Development targets to be achieved

As the United Nations General Assembly continues its annual high-level segment, a host of African leaders stressed today that while the continent’s progress is beyond doubt, consolidating social and economic gains requires international, regional and local approaches that better protect African livelihoods and ensure that agreed development targets can be achieved.

In his address, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of Tanzania said that is vital to complete the “unfinished business” of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) so that Governments can make informed decisions about the shape of the post-2015 agenda. The theme of this year’s General Debate, “Setting the Stage” afforded an opportunity to closely examine the successes and gaps in MDG implementation.

One crucial element going forward will be to put in place effective financing mechanisms to ensure that developing countries will be supported in the effort to attain unmet Millennium targets and to make headway on the yet-to-be agreed successor Goals, which should be focused on sustainable development, he said.

President Kikwete went on to highlight Tanzania’s successes regarding Millennium targets for universal primary education, reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, and improving access to water and sanitation, among other gains. At the same time, Tanzania will continue to look to the United Nations to provide assistance and guidance in the final push towards the 2015 MDG deadline.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201309290145.html

Mozambique’s elections commission approves lists of candidates

Mozambique's National Elections Commission (CNE) has approved the vast majority of candidates whose nominations for the 20 November municipal elections were submitted by political parties and by independent citizens' groups.

CNE spokesperson Joao Beirao stated that the verification of the paperwork for the thousands of candidates, standing for mayor and for members of the municipal assemblies, was completed on Monday, and on Tuesday the CNE drew up a list of all the valid candidates for the 53 municipalities.

The CNE confirmed that the only parties standing in all 53 municipalities are the ruling Frelimo Party and the opposition Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM). The fact that the largest opposition party, Renamo, is boycotting the elections gives the MDM the chance to scoop up all the opposition votes.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201309300699.html

Party in fighting condemned by Amukwiyu in Namibia

The Swapo Party regional coordinator in the Oshikoto Region, Armas Amukwiyu says hate speech expressed by some party members targeting supporters of those presidential candidates who were not victorious during the 5th Swapo Party Ordinary Congress held in December last year is divisive.

Amukwiyu expressed shock over the sudden attack on some businessmen by a member of the party at a gala dinner attended by business people and members of the Oshikoto regional leadership at Omuthiya recently. "The person (name withheld) reportedly claimed that the very same people who did not support Dr. Hage Geingob's campaign for the vice presidency, are the very same business people who pretended to owe total allegiance to Geingob." Amukwiyu did not mince his words describing such attitudes as counter-productive and an insult to the vice president, who has been described by the rank and file of the party as the unifier in the ruling party. "Swapo Party operates on a set of rules that promote democracy in all its activities and name-calling will not be tolerated in my region.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201309300722.html

South African coal producers in middle wage offer

South African coal producers have made a final wage offer to employees, with proposed increases ranging between 7 percent and 11 percent, a document seen by Reuters showed on Friday. Trade union Solidarity said the workers had until Monday to either accept, reject or propose changes to the offer.

Original article: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/09/20/safrica-coal-idUKL5N0HG0TR20130920

Angolan police arrest seven at youth protest against president

Angolan police said on Thursday they have detained seven people at a protest in Luanda by a youth movement calling for President Jose Eduardo dos Santos to quit after 34 years in power, but said they would not be charged.

Police spokesman Aristofanes dos Santos said the detentions followed "minor disturbances" and the youths' identities would be registered but they would be released, possibly on Thursday.

Original article: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/09/19/uk-angola-protest-idUKBRE98I11120130919

Mugabe heads to UN General Assembly

President Robert Mugabe this week joins 130 other heads of state and government in New York for the 68th annual United Nations General Assembly. Mugabe, accompanied by the First Lady, arrived at JF Kennedy International Airport on Saturday and will address the General Assembly on Thursday.

The ongoing Syrian crisis and the toxic haze of recent chemical weapons use, clouds the diplomatic horizon at the global gathering as delegates confront issues of war, peace and widening humanitarian disasters.

The 68^th session, held under the theme "Millennium Development Goals and Other Internationally Agreed Development Goals for Persons With Disabilities" will go through 174 assembly agenda items from hot button political issues, to vital peacekeeping operations, and budgetary items to a gaggle of the usual perfunctory anti-Israel resolutions, and slap on the wrist items ranging from the question of the Falkland Islands to the continuing American economic embargo on Cuba.

Mugabe will have a slight spring in his step after his emphatic election win on July 31, but will rail at old foes Britain and the United States for claiming his victory was "flawed" even as the African Union and SADC passed the elections as free and credible. The United States maintains a travel ban on Mugabe, but he can still attend United Nations events.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201309220276.html

South Africa sets up Rhino Fund to combat poaching

The South African Department of Environmental Affairs, in consultation with the National Treasury, is to establish a National Rhino Fund to coordinate the financing of anti-poaching initiatives in South Africa.

Government, business, international funders, local NGOs and individuals will be able to contribute to the fund, which will then ensure "that funding is distributed successfully to state and privately owned rhino anti-poaching initiatives, including conservation, safety and security, skills development and research," the department said on Monday.

At the same time, the fund's autonomy would enable legitimate funding needs to be identified and met quickly, rather than be caught up in red tape.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201309170308.html

Anti-corruption official in Malawi shot

A senior Malawi government official has been shot and severely wounded in an attack the presidency says was aimed at silencing his efforts to combat corruption. Malawi’s  Nyasa Times reported on Monday that police had "important leads" they were pursuing after the budget director in the Ministry of Finance, Paul Mphwiyo, was shot on Friday.

The Maravi Post quoted police as saying he had been shot in the face, shoulder and chest. The newspaper added that Mphwiyo, who had been trained in the United States and was appointed by President Joyce Banda, had overhauled government financial systems and had made himself unpopular by cancelling "dubious contracts".

The Times quoted Banda's office as saying the attack "was not just any other robbery but a planned and targeted attack aimed at silencing him and the government in the fight against high levels of corruption and fraud".

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201309160785.html

Climate change threatens Southern African agriculture

A new study suggests that the Southern African region could be among the hardest hit areas by any potential climate change in the next 50 years. The study, published by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and with contributions from scientists in countries across the southern Africa region, uses available data and a variety of models to examine likely agricultural developments, particularly related to crops, in the period to 2050.

The study says climate change, with rising temperatures and increasingly erratic rainfall patterns across much of the region, will likely cause a decline in average maize and sorghum yields. However, some areas, such as southern Mozambique, will see a growth in harvests. Wheat harvests could be particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures.

Extreme weather events – such as droughts, floods and changes in the frequency and intensity of dry spells – already negatively affect agriculture in most parts of Africa, says the study.

Agriculture is the primary source of employment and income for most of the rural population in southern Africa. In Malawi about 40% of gross domestic product (GDP) comes from agriculture.  In Zimbabwe, about 80% of the population depends directly on agriculture.

More than 50% of agricultural land in the area is devoted to cereal crops, with maize accounting for more than 40% of the total harvested area. Millet and sorghum are also important crops, especially in drier areas. Some countries in the region, such as Botswana and Lesotho, already struggle to meet demand for maize and sorghum and have to import large amounts, mainly from South Africa.

Original article: http://www.eco-business.com/news/climate-threat-southern-africas-crops/

Mugabe not giving any hints over new cabinet

President Robert Mugabe is playing his cards close to the chest as he assembles his long-awaited cabinet. Mugabe, who has a huge range of candidates to choose from after Zanu PF secured a two thirds majority in Parliament, had by last week not appointed a cabinet, almost 40 days after winning the July 31 elections.

Sources said Mugabe had indicated that he was not in a hurry to announce his new cabinet as he was keen to do a balancing act in order to please the different factions which helped him win resoundingly against opposition MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

A senior government official said apart from vice President Joice Mujuru, only his closest aides among them chief secretary to the Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda were in the picture of how the new cabinet was shaping up.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201309080279.html

Bomb explodes in Madagascar election row

A makeshift bomb exploded at the entrance of a hotel in Madagascar's capital last week causing no casualties. A previously unknown group claimed responsibility telling foreigners to keep out of the nation's elections. The blast, though small, will raise tensions on the Indian Ocean island before a fraught presidential vote that has been pushed back for a third time till 25 October over a row about who can run, extending the country's political crisis.

The former French colony has been in turmoil since President Andry Rajoelina seized power with military support in 2009, ousting former President Marc Ravalomanana and scaring off investors and tourists.

Original article: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/05/us-madagascar-blast-idUSBRE9840YS20130905

South African strikes could end this week

Workers in South Africa's motor and gold industries will return to work this week after strikes that have crippled operations at some of the country's biggest producers were resolved on the weekend. Prolonged labour disputes in the two key exporting industries had threatened to compound the woes of Africa's largest economy, still reeling from last year's violent strikes in mining and continuing problems in the platinum sector.

"We are calling off the strike so workers can return on Monday," the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa's (NUMSA) deputy general secretary Karl Cloete said on Sunday. The dispute over pay affected more than 30,000 assembly line workers at major carmakers in South Africa, including Toyota , Ford, General Motors and Nissan. Cloete said the union recommended workers accept an increase of 11.5 percent for this year and 10 percent in each of the next two years.

Original article: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/08/safrica-strikes-idUSL5N0H40JL20130908

Victory for women's rights in Botswana

The fight for women's rights in Botswana took a major step forward this week when the Court of Appeal upheld the right of four sisters to inherit their family homestead, rejecting the argument that under Ngwaketse customary law only sons were allowed to inherit it. This was the court battle between Ramantele v Mmusi and Others.

In a unanimous decision written by Justice Lesetedi, the Court of Appeal held that customary law is inherently flexible and in this case the four sisters, who used their own money to renovate the homestead were entitled to inherit it. Justice Lesetedi noted that societal realities have changed over the last thirty years, stating that the "Constitutional values of equality before the law, and the increased leveling of the power structures with more and more women heading households and participating with men as equals in the public sphere and increasingly in the private sphere, demonstrate that there is no rational and justifiable basis for sticking to the narrow norms of days gone by when such norms go against current value systems."

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201309040359.html

Zimbabwe’s Zanu-PF welcomes SADC report

The Zanu-PF party of Zimbabwe has welcomed the final SADC report that reaffirmed its endorsement of the “harmonised elections”, which described them as “free, peaceful, generally credible and a reflection of the will of Zimbabweans”. The report did not go down well with the opposition, MDC-T, who were incredulous at the SADC’s citing of the west’s illegal economic sanctions and pirate radio stations as impediments to the electoral process.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo said the report was balanced. "We are in total agreement with the Sadc report on the harmonised elections," he said. "Its well-balanced and the endorsement of the polls also vindicates that the elections were conducted in a peaceful, free, fair and credible manner.”

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201309040526.html?viewall=1

South African anti-corruption hotline “making its mark”

The South African government has reportedly recovered more than R330 million following tip-offs received via the National Anti-Corruption Hotline since it was established in September 2004, according to President Zuma. Over the same period, 17,110 cases of alleged corruption have been generated and a total of 2,638 officials found guilty of misconduct relating to corruption.

A total of 491 officials have been suspended and 1,600 dismissed from the Public Service, while roughly 256 officials have been fined three months' salary, 31 officials have been demoted, 541 officials have been given final written warnings, and 210 officials have been prosecuted. The hotline, which is run by the Public Service Commission, enables South Africans to report anonymously on corrupt activities by public officials by calling 0800 701 701 toll-free.

The president also noted that public servants now have to go through a vetting process before being appointed. He said the government has also established a multi-agency working group to investigate supply chain management practices, as well as an anti-corruption task team within the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster in order to fast-track high-priority and high-profile corruption cases.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201309040644.html

Zambian activist cries out against state-sponsored harassment

Zambian civil rights activist Brebner Changala has claimed that it is ironic that the Patriotic Front government that came to power through sustained public meetings is denying the opposition and Zambians the right of assembly and accused the major national media outlets of caving in to the “whims of the ruling elite”.

Changala was only recently discharged of a state-engineered drug trafficking charge, labelling the country’s Drug Enforcement Commission as a “state-sponsored terrorist organisation on government pay roll”. He went on to add that the mainstream media in Zambia had blacked out opposition political parties making participatory democracy difficult to thrive in the southern African nation.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201308270376.html

Swazi king’s newspaper editor says elections were “treason”

The chief editor of King Mswati III's newspaper, the Swazi Observer, has accused Swaziland's Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) of committing treason for its poor handling of the elections in the kingdom. Mbongeni Mbingo said that the EBC was “never ready” for the elections in the first place and that they should have been ready given the ample time they had to prepare. He then said what they have done is “treasonable” and added that the EBC could not be allowed to ruin the election.

The Swazi Observer is widely believed to be a mouthpiece for the Swazi monarchy and a propaganda tool, clearly signified in the fact that the paper forgot to mention that King Mswati appointed the EBC in 2008.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201308261939.html

Jacob Zuma arrives in Malaysia

South Africa’s President Zuma arrived in Malaysia on Sunday for an official visit in commemoration of the 20^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Africa and the south-east Asian nation.

The visit is aiming to improve co-operation in business, trade and investment, as well as to promote South Africa’s tourism industry and potential investments there. Malaysia is already South Africa’s largest investor from that area of the world through companies like Petronas and Golden Hope, while South African companies like Denel, Sasol and Sanlam all have offices in Malaysia. The visit will also build on existing ties in education, culture, art and sport.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201308261452.html

Tsvangirai presidential challenge to be aired this weekend

MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai's Constitutional Court application, challenging the outcome of the just-ended elections, will be heard on Saturday. Douglas Mwonzora, the MDC-T spokesman, told SW Radio Africa that the matter will be heard by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku over the weekend. He said the petition will be heard 2pm Saturday "and everyone with papers to file should do so by Friday".

Meanwhile in a related matter, the High Court was by Wednesday evening still hearing two other petitions lodged by Tsvangirai, who wants the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to release voting material pertaining to the presidential election.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201308150270.html

ENI pays Mozambique $400m tax

The Italian energy company ENI has agreed to pay 400 million US dollars in capital gains tax to the Mozambican authorities. The tax agreement was announced on Tuesday when the ENI Chief Executive Officer, Paulo Scaroni, met Mozambican President Armando Guebuza in Changara district in the western province of Tete.

ENI heads the consortium exploring for hydrocarbons in Area Four of the Rovuma Basin, off the coast of the northern province of Cabo Delgado, where vast deposits of natural gas, amounting to some 80 trillion cubic feet, have been discovered. ENI signed an agreement on 13 March with the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), under which CNPC was to pay 4.21 billion US dollars for 28.57 per cent of the ENI stake in Area Four. Since ENI held 70 per cent of the rights to Area Four, this equated to 20 per cent of the total stake.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201308150355.html

Election blunder in Swaziland

A major blunder by Swaziland's Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) has meant some people were forced to nominate candidates in the forthcoming primary election for a second time. The EBC erroneously combined two election districts at the nominations during the weekend of 3 to 4 August 2013. When the mistake was discovered the EBC ordered the people of Njabulweni, near Lubhuku, in the Dvokodvweni Constituency, to nominate again. The blunder is the latest in a long line of problems besetting the election. Some people boycotted the election nomination completely in protest that venues selected for the nominations were unsuitable. Elsewhere equipment failures delayed the start of nominations.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201308141800.html

Zimbabwean women forced to flee after refusing to reveal voting choice

Women political activists in rural Zimbabwe told Amnesty International they have been threatened with violence and forced to flee with their children for refusing to reveal their vote to supporters of Robert Mugabe's party during harmonized elections. The women said they resisted instructions from Zanu-PF supporters to feign illiteracy, blindness or physical injury, which would have meant someone else marking the ballot on their behalf,

At least six women said they left home with their 12 young children after facing intimidation from village heads in Mukumbura district, Mashonaland Central Province soon after the 31 July poll. "It appears the ZANU-PF supporters wanted to ensure that these women did not vote for the other parties and tried to compromise the secrecy of the ballot," said Noel Kututwa, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for Africa.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201308070503.html

Swaziland woman banned from elections for wearing trousers

A Swazi woman was banned from being nominated to stand as a member of parliament because she was wearing trousers at the nomination centre. A second woman at a different chiefdom was denied the chance to nominate a candidate for the same reason.

Nomination centres opened cross the kingdom at the weekend as Swaziland prepared for the first round of the national election later this month. Mana Mavimbela was disqualified from putting her name forward for parliament at Lubulini because she wore a pair of trousers at the Royal Kraal where nominations took place. The presiding officer Lindiwe Sukati refused to allow her to stand because Mavimbela was wearing a pair of black jean trousers and a golf T- shirt.

Human Rights lawyer Mandla Mkhwanazi told the Times of Swaziland newspaper the presiding officer had infringed upon Mavimbela's rights under the Swaziland Constitution which did not discriminate against an individual on the basis of how they dressed.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201308061076.html

Credibility of Zimbabwean elections questioned

A dispute continues to grow over the transparency and legitimacy of Zimbabwe’s elections last week and the issue could be headed for the next summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) after Botswana publicly questioned the credibility of the polling. Botswana is a long-standing critic of Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF and has announced that the findings of its 80-strong observer team suggested that "an acceptable standard for free and fair elections" had not been met.

The Botswana statement focused on problems around the voters' roll, the forms of identification needed to vote and what it called "credible allegations" of people being denied the right to vote - issues similar to those raised by the official observer missions of SADC and the African Union.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201308060815.html

Economic Freedom Fighters of South Africa release “manifesto”

The ex ANC youth leader Julius Malema’s new political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, have released what they refer to as a “manifesto” to outline the party’s goals, and this has not gone down well with the South African government – understandably so, when most of the goals feature along the lines of “economically emancipating the people of South Africa, Africa and the world”.

The EFF’s inclusion of state seizure of assets in its manifesto has also riled farmers and the government, with Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson, moving to reassure farmers by saying that government would not allow “people to sow discord in our farming communities for party-political gains.” The government has said it would take action of any instances of land grabbing are witnessed, especially after the problems in the mining sector this year. Whether Malema’s party will get public support to give him enough political clout to implement the EFF’s national agenda is yet to be seen. While political analysts doubt the ability of new parties to garner significant support, growing disenchantment with the economy and corruption scandals have diminished the ANC’s historical glow, other parties are becoming a temptation to ANC constituents.

Original article: http://www.publicnewshub.com/eff-manifesto-makes-waves/

Zimbabwean government blocks SMS news services

According to activists and a phone company, Zimbabwe's government has blocked mass SMS bursts ahead of next week's election, stifling a powerful source of non-official information in the tightly controlled southern African state. With the July 31 poll date looming near, in which President Robert Mugabe is looking to add to his 33 years in power, web portal Kubatana.net said it had noticed this week that its mass text messages were mysteriously getting lost.

Its provider, Econet Wireless - Zimbabwe's largest mobile phone firm with 8 million subscribers out of a population of 13 million - declined to comment. However, a senior company source confirmed the firm had bowed to government pressure to block mass SMS services around the election "in the interest of peace, national security and stability". The source also revealed that, "We have just been told we cannot be facilitating bulk SMSs during the elections, roughly for the next two or so weeks. Our understanding is that they will take our network down or cancel our licence if there is any violation."

Original article: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/07/26/zimbabwe-elections-internet-idUKL6N0FV4JJ20130726

Mugabe threatens rival with arrest if he claims victory before official results are announced

President Robert Mugabe has warned his main rival Morgan Tsvangirai that he will be arrested if he claims victory before the official results are announced in an election this coming week. Tsvangirai told his supporters from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) at the weekend that, despite the ZANU-PF trying to rig the elections, he still expected to win a victory and that he did not have to wait for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). This predictably did not go down well with Mugabe who announced to the cheers of many supporters in Harare that “if you breach the law and become a law breaker, the police will arrest you”.

Tsvangirai will address his last major rally today and is hoping to overthrow Mugabe from a 33-year hold on power in the country.

Original article: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/07/28/uk-zimbabwe-election-idUKBRE96R08120130728

Trade relations growing between Angola and Nambia

The governor of southern Cunene province in Abgika, Antonio Didalelwa, has hailed the “intense” trade relations between Angola and its neighbour Namibia, saying they are creating lucrative new business opportunities and partnerships.

According to Didalelwa, the establishment of partnerships will contribute to the growth of the region and consolidation of the existing relations between Angolan, Namibian and other countries' business people. "The establishment of partnerships will enable the entry into Angola of Namibian products and vice-versa, given the intense trade that is done through the border posts of Santa-Clara and Oshikango", he stated.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201307220858.html

Zimbabwean state media continues to drown out opposition

Despite the upcoming elections being staged in a "vastly improved" media environment compared to previous years, the majority of Zimbabweans lack access to plural, independent sources of news, and legal and physical threats to journalists impede their ability to report freely. Independent and international media have questioned the country's readiness to hold an organized election, but the majority of citizens are dependent on strictly controlled state media to provide information.

When Star-FM launched in June 2012, it was the first time in 30 years that Zimbabweans, who have known no other radio besides the state-controlled Radio Zimbabwe, had the chance to call in to a radio station to express their views, indicating a “cautious and carefully controlled liberalization of the airwaves”. The most critical stations are still located beyond Zimbabwe's borders. SW Radio Africa bills itself as the "independent voice of Zimbabwe," but is located in the United Kingdom, while Studio 7 is a division of the Voice of America.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201307210334.html?viewall=1

SADC encouraged by Zimbabwe polls

The SADC officially launched its election observer mission last week with around 442 observers deployed to monitor a potentially landmark process, following which the SADcC commended the government, political parties and leaders in Zimbabwe for their commitment to ensuring that the forthcoming harmonised elections on 31 July are held peacefully.

The SADC’s Troika also commended South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, the organisation’s facilitator in Zimbabwe, for his tireless efforts in ensuring that political stakeholders hold successful elections. The organisation also praised the former President of Mozambique and SADC mediator on the Madagascar crisis, Joaquim Chissano and the International Contact Group, for their efforts in ensuring the country is brought back to a normal constitutional.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201307220528.html

Zambian media censorship revealed

The efforts to which the Zambian government have gone in recent months to stifle the media have been criticised harshly by onlookers. The offences range from new techniques like the online censorship of seemingly offending websites, to the plain old brute tactics of intimidation and unfounded detainment.

Recently, the government reportedly hired the help of Chinese and Russian IT-experts to block websites that air corruption claims or even cover current events. This has extended to two main culprits, the Zambia Watchdog, a citizen newspaper covering all the latest political news in the country and a similar website and media outlet, Zambia Report.  Three journalists in recent weeks have also been detained on tenuous grounds and at the weekend, a sizeable group calling themselves the “Zambian bloggers” took to the streets to demand their release. Clayson Hamasaka, Thomas Zymabo and Wilson Mpondamali, all linked to the Zambian Watchdog are in custody, charged with sedition.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201307210330.html

Zimbabwean internet mole has $300,000 price on his head

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has placed a $300,000 bounty on the head of the now infamous Baba Jukwa, an internet mole and alleged Zanu-PF party insider, who is divulging secret and insider party information through his Facebook page. The page has now been viewed more than a million times and he has amassed more than 239,000 followers, with hundreds of responses and shares to every update. Efforts to track down the mole have so far failed. His postings have accused government ministers of corruption and senior police chiefs of brutality, publishing their private mobile phone numbers. He has even posted photographs of the dead bodies of the party’s alleged enemies.

There are now reports that Mugabe is pulling strings at the Chinese government to help identify Jukwa and to help censor the website from the eyes of Zimbabwean internet users. It may be the case that the damage has already been done…

Original article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/10178570/Mugabe-hunts-for-internet-mole-Baba-Jukwa-revealing-his-secrets.html

Zambian and Zimbabwean governments implicated in assassination plots

Zambian President Michael Sata was recently alleged to have held a meeting with a group of Lebanese assassins for hire for unknown reasons, according to revelations made in an article published in the U.K. newspaper The Guardian, which obtained a purported leaked letter dated 2 July 2013, which claims that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe had attempted to hire the assassins to murder South African President Jacob Zuma and his advisor, Lindiwe Zulu, who had been assigned to Zimbabwe to attempt to lobby for a delay in the elections.

A spokesperson of Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party has dismissed the leaked document as false, commenting "it's all rubbish and hogwash to think a head of state like president Mugabe would set up something like that. We have a disagreement with Lindiwe Zulu but it would not go to that extent."

According to an excerpt of the document published by the Guardian, "Mugabe promised the six Lebanese an undisclosed fortune in cash if they succeed in getting rid of the two who South African senior officials who are giving him a lot of trouble. Names of the six could not be established, but they entered into the country via Zambia in the last few days, where they had previously held a close meeting with [president] Michael Sata before travelling into Zimbabwe."

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201307150469.html

Namibian illegal land occupation dispute

Namibia’s Minister of Safety and Security, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, has recently condemned the ongoing illegal occupation of land in the Tsumkwe West communal area. He said the recent behaviour of some citizens, who have been occupying others’ grazing land illegally seizing the land in Tsumkwe West unlawfully, are disrespecting the laws governing the country. The illegal farmers in Tsumkwe West claim to have been forced to drive their animals there because of the drought in their areas of origin which have been identified as the Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Omusati, Kavango and Omaheke regions, and partly the Otjozondjupa Region.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201307151089.html

SADC looking for $64 Billion investment in infrastructure

Southern Africa is seeking investment and finance for a $64 billion programme to improve transport, energy and other infrastructure over the next five years. The plan for 106 cross-border infrastructure projects covering the priority sectors of energy, transport, tourism, water, information communication technology and meteorology was presented to an Infrastructure Investment Conference hosted by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in the Mozambican capital Maputo in late June. Projects cover the development of transboundary infrastructure including alternative energy sources, information communication technology and civil aviation, and are expected to be implemented by 2017.

The transport sector had the largest number of projects showcased during the one-day investment conference, with 40 projects for improvement of road, railways, ports and border posts, valued at about US$16.3 billion, presented to potential investors. Priority transport infrastructure projects include those targeting the expansion, rehabilitation and modernisation of Durban and Walvis Bay ports; new rail projects and rehabilitation of existing ones; new road links connecting Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo and rehabilitation of others around the region; and introduction of one-stop border posts at Beitbridge between South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201307082070.html

Standoff between Mozambican govt and opposition party Renamo continues

The Mozambican government on Monday announced that it has unilaterally signed the minutes of the talks it has held with the country's largest opposition party, Renamo. Speaking to journalists at the end of the tenth round of talks, the head of the government delegation, Agriculture Minister Jose Pacheco, said that Renamo had not signed the minutes - even on those points where consensus had been reached.

Pacheco stated that Renamo wants the two parties to produce a proposal for the revision of the electoral legislation that would be rubber stamped by the country's parliament, the Assembly of the Republic. However, the government refuses to accept this position as it considers this to be unconstitutional and in violation of the principle of separation of powers.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201307090715.html

Illegal voter registration in Zim: offenders caught red handed

Four suspected MDC-T activists yesterday appeared before a Mutare magistrate facing charges of unlawfully conducting voter education without authority from the Zimbabwe Election Commission.

The accused were hauled before the town's magistrate, Noah Gwatidzo, for contravening an act that criminalises conducting voter education without approval from the commission. Prosecutor Sam Chabuka said that on 6 July at around 3pm, the quartet conducted unauthorised voter education at Pick and Save Superette in Mutare. They allegedly played voter education jingles through a public announcement system they were using.

Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201307090610.html

SPECIAL REPORT: A closer look at Mamphela Ramphele’s Agang – on the road to power?

Several readers have been asking me about Mamphele Ramphela’s new political party Agang. So I thought I’d put together a special report this week. Thanks for the support guys and gals.

Mamphela Ramphele’s entry into South African politics after a long and distinguished career has certainly been a source for headlines since her new political party’s inception. Prior to its formation, many speculated that the Democratic Alliance leader, Helen Zille, was prepared to step down from her role to back Ramphele as a leader of a new party called the Democrats. Ramphele's new party is named Agang, after the Sesotho phrase meaning “let us build”, and Ramphele asserted that it would be a direct challenge to the current ruling African National Congress.

Agang started out with Ramphele and a small team, including co-founder Moeletsi Mbeki; chief of staff Zohra Dawood; policy director Mills Soko; spokesperson John Allen; and the party’s Canadian chief of staff, Tim Knapp. A top banker and former BP and Chevron executive, Nkosinathi Solomon, was recently appointed as Agang’s campaign director. Research has also shown that some of these five (Tim Knapp, Moetletsi Mbeki, Mills Soko and Mamphela Ramphele) are directors at a company that is considered to be the legal entity behind Agang, a Johannesburg-registered company called Great Potential for South Africa.

Now to the murky question of the party’s political funding…

Despite Ramphele’s insistence to the media that she has not requested international assistance, former DA leader and ambassador to Argentina, Tony Leon, told City Press recently that he knew that Ramphele had staged at least two recent meetings in the US to fund-raise for the party. One of these meetings was most certainly at the residence of the South African-born former Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Margaret Marshall and her husband, a former New York Times journalist. Ramphele is said to have stated she was there to raise money for Agang and that she will continue to request support from South Africans all over the world so that they can be part of the building process.

My research has shown that various American businessmen have made significant contributions to the party, most notably the Hungarian-US billionaire George Soros. Soros has reportedly donated several million US dollars through his Open Society Foundation. Ramphele has close links to both Soros and the Open Society Foundation, having co-founded its South African arm with him in 1993 and she remains a director at the Open Society Foundation of South Africa to this day. Soros has also been able to support in other ways, such as in secondment of employees from the Open Society to Agang.

Ramphele’s closeness to former World Bank general counsel and senior vice president Roberto Dañino could also hint at funding from abroad; Ramphele and Dañino met at their time together at the World Bank and were also together at gold miner Gold Fields. They reportedly remain in close contact and Dañino is known to stay at Ramphele’s Camps Bay home when he visits Cape Town. Given Dañino’s business connections in the USA, it seems that Soros is not Ramphele’s exclusive source of foreign funding…

It is also worth adding that Ramphele is also a trustee at The Rockefeller Foundation. Did she go knocking at David’s door too?

Original articles:

http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-02-28-mamphela-rampheles-agang-one-week-later/#.UdKvlDu-pF8 

http://mg.co.za/article/2013-04-27-ramphele-we-are-taking-back-the-power 

http://mg.co.za/article/2013-06-22-da-welcomes-agang-launch 

I welcome requests for other special reports.