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