Former South African anti-apartheid activist and founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, Mamphela Ramphele, launched her new party political party Agang in Johannesburg on Monday. She promised that the party, whose name is a Sesotho word for “Let us build,” would further the country’s dream of a “Rainbow Nation”.
No free schooling
Swaziland’s government has asked principals of public primary schools to return an annual top-up fee charged pupils without government authority, since the launch of the Free Primary Education Programme in 2009.
Some principals have refused, arguing this would bankrupt the under-funded schools because the money had already been used to settle bills with suppliers
Flood toll hits 113
Mozambique’s death toll, caused by floods, stood at 113 at the weekend. The National Disasters Management Institute said a total of 240, 827 people had been affected by the disasters, with 185,897 of them living in government-established temporary accommodation centres. Massive flooding on the Limpopo River completely submerged towns and largely affected the southern province of Gaza.
Swazi prayer raid
Armed Swazi police without a search warrant broke up a prayer meeting at a Manzini church cathedral recently. About 60 police officers stormed the prayer at the Our Lady of Assumption cathedral. Police spokesperson, Inspector Khulani Mamba, said the lawmen were acting on information that the prayers were a meeting to plan to disturb forthcoming national elections.
Pistorious in court
South African Olympian, Oscar Pistorius, who fell from hero to villain in four bullets when he allegedly murdered his girlfriend recently, continued his court appearance on Tuesday following the fatal Valentine’s Day shooting of his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. The family strongly denied that the 26-year-old double-amputee runner committed murder, but not that he shot 29-year-old Steenkamp, who was also a law school graduate and who featured in a South African reality television show.
Moz fights abuse
Mozambique’s Minister of Tourism, Carvalho Muaria, recently warned tourism operators that he would take stern measures against ongoing abuse happening around resort areas.
Muaria, who has visited more than 100 tourist establishments, noted a series of irregularities that included instances of racism and alcohol and cigarette abuse by juveniles, who also attended night clubs.
Zambia’s HR abuse
Following the submission of a 40-page document to the Commonwealth on Zambia’s human rights abuses, a video link to part of the evidence has gone out through the Coalition for the Defence of Democratic Rights. The video displays evidence of alleged civil and human rights abuses by the current Government of Zambia. One contains footage of police brutality exercised against opposition leader, Hakainde Hichilema and numerous members of the United Party for National Development August 9 2012. This was the day police fired tear gas canisters indoors, causing a stampede and several injuries.
Post published in: Africa News