Members of the mainstream MDC recently volunteered to clean the Badirammogo Old Age Home in Pretoria, as part of their party’s social responsibility. The members cleaned windows and grounds, tended vegetable gardens and washed clothes and blankets being used by the elderly beneficiaries. Oliven branch chairman, Mike Mlalazi, also handed over money donated by the party’s members to the home and pledged continued support to the home.
JM Nkomo Day
Zapu will on Saturday commemorate the death of founding leader, Joshua Nkomo in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. Although the day is usually commemorated on July 1, the day on which the former Vice President died in 1999, Zapu had to postpone this year’s celebrations for publicity reasons, after a South African television and radio station reportedly offered to broadcast the event live.
Arrest speeding ministers: DA
The opposition Democratic Alliance this week challenged President Jacob Zuma’s government to deal with officials who “live above the law” after revelations that Mineral Resources Minister, Susan Shabangu racked up R64 060 in traffic fines between April 2009 and March 2012.
The total Cabinet tally amounted to a staggering R173 140. The DA said this was further proof that SA government ministers and their “blue light bullies” believed that they were above the law.
SA envoy in Madagascar
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma this week sent his special envoy to try and pacify the political crisis in Madagascar. SA, as current chair of the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, sent its deputy minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Marius Fransman, who is also Zuma’s Special Envoy on Madagascar, to hold talks with the political leadership of Madagascar in the Seychelles.
The envoy met warring leaders Andry Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana under the auspices of the SADC Roadmap on Madagascar.
Brits to help Malawi?
MPs on Britain’s international development committee have urged the government to reinstate general budget support for Malawi, which was suspended in June last year, following the intransigence of now-fallen former dictator, Bingu wa Mutharika. In a report released on Tuesday, the committee said President Joyce Banda had begun to reverse many of the policies that had pushed the UK to suspend the provision of funds directly to the Malawian exchequer.
Swazi teachers strike
Striking teachers in Swaziland this week vowed to stick it out till their demands are met, as the job action entered its fifth week without positive government action. The teachers, affiliated to public services unions – Swaziland National Association of Teachers and NAPSAW are demanding a 4.5 per cent salary increase. SNAT president, Sibongile Mazibuko, vowed this week that the industrial action would continue despite government threats to deploy armed police to force teachers them back to work. Government last week gave SNAT an ultimatum and cut teachers’ salaries by 33 per cent following the strike.
Zambia cancer rise
Zambia’s First Lady, Christine Kaseba, expressed fears this week that the country could soon deteriorate to being second in the world with the highest cervical cancer cases. Kaseba told the Sixth Stop Cervical Cancer in Africa Conference that it was unacceptable for Zambian women to continue losing lives to cervical cancer, when the disease was preventable and could be treated if detected early. She called for concerted efforts in the fight against the disease, adding that some women were not aware of preventive measures available.
Nurses forced back to work
Swaziland’s Industrial Court this week declared “illegal” a strike by the country’s nurses and forced them to report back work. The court supported a government application to declare the nurses were unable to strike as they provided an ‘essential service.’ It is illegal in Swaziland for such workers to strike. The nurses had called a two-day strike this week to support a claim for a 4.5% pay rise, joining teachers who have been on indefinite strike for more than four weeks and other public servants who joined last week.
Post published in: Africa News