U.S. President Barack Obama has saluted ailing former head of state Nelson Mandela, describing him as “hero for the world.” Obama hounoured Mandela while in South Africa as part of his three-nation tour of Africa, which took him to East African country Tanzania afterwards.
Royal Family intervenes
A royal family from the Qunu area in the Eastern Cape has intervened in the Mandela family dispute involving the reburial of some of Nelson Mandela’s relatives. The ailing former president’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, allegedly moved the graves of three of Mandela’s children from Qunu to Mvezo in 2011, without consulting the family.
Banda lawyers ponder Plan B
Lawyers representing former Republican President Rupiah Banda are pondering the next line of action after government agencies refused to release his passport to enable him travel to Tanzania for a meeting. Government announced last week that it had cancelled Banda’s diplomatic passport and directed all immigration entry and exit border controls not to endorse it.
Swazi election
The election process has started in Swazi – but it has hardly reached fever pitch. The Elections and Boundaries Commission charged with organising the poll, due to take place on two dates in August and September, has struggled to get Swazis to register. In some areas local chiefs announced their subjects would be compelled to register.
King Mswati III extended the dates for registration for a week in an attempt to encourage more people to participate.
By the time the registration process is over the EBC expects to have signed up about 70 percent of the people eligible in Swaziland to vote. This compares to 88 percent of eligible voters who registered for the last election in 2008.
Post published in: Africa News