UK-based Zimbabwean businessman and events coordinator, Conrad Mwanza, recently came under fire in South Africa over his decision to fly expelled ANC youth league president Julius Malema to London. The local press branded Mwanza a Zanu (PF) apologist trying to use the motor mouth Malema’s attack on SA leader, Jacob Zuma in President Robert Mugabe’s favour. Mwanza denies the link with Zanu (PF), but the ANC is still investigating.
Zuma’s home improvements
The opposition Democratic Alliance has rapped President Jacob Zuma for setting aside R1 billion to extend his Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal while many citizens are living in dire poverty. DA Parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko said Zuma’s move was incomprehensible.
Zambian miners kill manager
Zambian authorities have launched a probe after miners killed a Chinese supervisor and seriously wounded another on Saturday in a pay dispute at the Collum coal mine, south of the capital Lusaka. Collum workers attacked Chinese bosses, demanding wage rises in line with those stipulated by the government last month.
Mswati fires teachers
Swaziland recently fired 110 school teachers, including the entire executive of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers. The educators were expelled for engaging in a strike for more than a month to try and force government to give them a 4.5 per cent salary increment. The militant Swaziland Solidarity Network said the move indicated that King Mswati was intellectually underdeveloped and lacked basic leadership qualities.
New VP for Bostwana
Botswana got a new Vice President with the recent swearing-in of Ponatshego Honorius Kefhaeng Kedikilwe. The ceremony immediately followed his endorsement by Parliament in accordance with the country’s Constitution.
Botswana top: KP
Botswana’s diamonds are still of the highest quality and the most valuable in the world, despite the country having cut down on production since 2009. Data released by the Kimberley Process recently showed that the African country retained its perch as the top diamond producer by value in 2011. The value of the gemstones dug in the country rose by 45 percent in the year.
23 soccer fans die
Twenty-three fans of Angolan soccer club Kabuscorp were killed and 29 others injured, when their bus overturned at the weekend. The accident happened in Kwanza Sul province after the fans had watched their team play in the country’s top division at Libolo, about 370 miles (600km) southeast of Luanda. Bodies were taken to Luanda, while the injured fans received treatment at hospitals in Kwanza Norte province.
Clinton lauds Banda
US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton praised Malawi’s leaders for reforms in the impoverished African nation. Clinton pledged continued American support as she met with President Joyce Banda, the first woman to lead her country and only the second female African head of state. She encouraged Banda to stay on a course of economic reform to make Malawi more attractive to foreign investment.
Gas discovery in Mozambique
Italian oil and gas group Eni said recently that it had made a “new and important” natural gas discovery at its bumper Mamba field off Mozambique. Eni, the world’s sixth-biggest international oil group and one of the largest foreign oil and gas producers in Africa, said the new discovery would take gas in place to an estimated 1.974 billion cubic metres.
Post published in: Africa News