The 31st Plenary Assembly of the Southern African Development Community’s Parliamentary Forum in Mozambique reiterated the longstanding demand that the Forum should be transformed into a regional parliament. A SADC parliament would inspect how far decisions of SADC heads of state summit, including the various SADC protocols, are being implemented. He said advantages of a regional parliament included drawing up legislation in the interests of all member states and harmonising development policies in such areas as gender, HIV/AIDS and defence of the environment.
MDC honours Mandela
The mainstream MDC in South Africa participated in various community service events across the country this week, to honour the birthday of South Africa’s first black President, Nelson Mandela. In
Johannesburg, MDC-SA members did community work at South Rand Hospital in Turfontein under the led by provincial chair Kwanele Moyo. “Whether Zimbabweans would honour their founding Prime Minister in the same way is a totally different matter. If the United Nations were to declare a day in honour of Robert Mugabe they would most probably look at the International Day against Torture,” said the party in a statement.
Zuma pledges unity
Newly-elected African Union Commission chair, Nkosizana Dlamini-Zuma, has pledged to work towards the unity of the AU, as well as towards peace, stability, development and the uplifting of women and children on the continent. The South African Home Affairs Minister also paid tribute to her predecessors, including Jean Ping, for laying a solid foundation from which she would endeavour to build a more efficient and effective AU Commission.
Sex education for Zambians
A Zambian youth leader this week supported calls for teachers to be trained in sex education, recently made by the country’s First Lady, Christine Kaseba. Youth Vision Zambia director, Amos Mwale, called on the Ministry of Education to take seriously the call, which he said would reduce the high maternal mortality rate and avoid unplanned pregnancies that sometimes led to death as a result of unsafe abortions.
Aid flows for Malawi
The Malawian government this week reported that aid was flowing back into the country from major donors, after the International Monetary Fund backed the country’s economic policies and efforts to seek financing. The IMF issued a so-called “letter of comfort” for the impoverished nation last month, giving a thumbs-up to its efforts to seek financial aid and loans. Foreign Minister Mganda Chiume told reporters on the sidelines of an African Union summit in Ethiopia that several donors had positively responded to the IMF letter.
Post published in: Africa News