Transparency International Zambia has bemoaned the continued waste of public funds on unnecessary by-elections by President Michael Sata, who announced on Saturday that he had induced another by-election by forcing Feira lawmaker Patrick Ngoma to quit the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy.
Ngoma, a former diplomat and described as an extremely dull minister, is one of the nine MMD “traitors” that were serving in President Sata’s bloated cabinet. TIZ executive director, Goodwell Lungu, said it would be better for the country to spend money on developmental projects instead of unnecessary by-elections.
WB supports Moz
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors recently approved two International Development Association credits totalling $100 million to support Mozambique’s efforts to provide income support to extremely poor families and strengthen the capacity and governance of key public institutions.
The money also seeks to ensure that development of offshore natural gas discoveries and mineral wealth results in poverty reduction. The first $50 million would assist in scaling up the Productive Social Action Programme as an integral part of the National Basic Social Security Strategy.
This will provide timely and predictable cash transfers to rural and urban households affected by low income and unemployment due to economic or climate related shocks in return for their participation in labour-intensive public works.
Police kill man
Swaziland’s police recently shot dead a man in front of his 11-year-old child, as he held his hands up in an attempt to surrender. Thokozani Mngometulu (31) was killed as he got out of his car at his homestead in Dlakadla. His family, who witnessed the killing, said he was shot twice in the pelvis at close range by a police officer.
The Swazi News reported, “As Thokozani, a father of four lay on the ground, one of the officers rushed to search him and found a gun tucked in his pants at the back. One of the men tried to fire a shot using the gun, but nothing happened. I think there were no bullets. He then tried to place it in his hands but we asked why he was doing that and the others threatened to assault us.”
Aids vaccine trial
Mozambique has completed its first HIV vaccine trial and is set to embark on a second, in a demonstration of the country’s increased HIV research capacity. Last week, researchers completed a trial evaluating the safety of an HIV vaccine candidate.
The study was conducted through the UK HIV Vaccine Consortium’s Tanzania and Mozambique HIV Vaccine Programme (TaMoVac). Preliminary results from the Phase I trial indicated the vaccine was safe, but researchers said it would be months before they knew if the vaccine produced an immune response in participants.
Banda pleads not guilty
Zambia’s former President, Rupiah Banda, recently pleaded not guilty to the charge of abuse of authority of office, when he appeared before magistrate Joshua Banda. Banda (75) is accused of having abused his office by procuring a Nigerian government to government oil deal in Zambia which, in fact, intended to benefit him and his family.
He allegedly instructed his son, Henry Chikomeni Banda, to determine the destination of the proceeds of the contract as a result of which, the Zambian government did not receive any benefit, an act which is arbitrary and prejudicial to the Republic of Zambia.
Girl thrashed
A 17-year-old Swazi schoolgirl was thrashed with 22 lashes of the cane by a male teacher because her mother was too poor to pay her school fees. Save the Children Fund Director Dumsani Mnisi called the action ‘inhumane’ and ‘a crime’. Swazi media said the girl, from Emtfonjeni High School, was one of a group of students told to stay away from school until their fees had been paid.
When they turned up for classes they were beaten. The severity of the punishment breaks regulations in Swaziland that say students can be given a maximum of six lashes with the cane and that male teachers should not beat female students.
Post published in: Africa News