Zambia’s next constitution could ban same-sex marriages. The National Constitution Convention recently recommended the drafters of the new document to make clear and precise a clause barring “anti-social practices” such as homosexuality, lesbianism and other “abominable” practices from being practiced in Zambia. The convention was scrutinizing articles, especially those that provide the rights of people and those that describe marginalized groups.
Bid to silence paper
The Times of Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in that country, said recently that the High Court’s decision to fine and probably jail Bheki Makhubu, editor of the Nation magazine, was an attempt to stop people voicing concerns about problems in the kingdom. In a sentence that has attracted widespread condemnation, Makhubu was ordered to pay $22,000 this week or be sent to jail for two years, after the Swazi High Court convicted him of ‘scandalising’ the courts. This followed his two articles in the Nation criticising the judiciary.
Dos Santos in hot water
An anti-corruption group recently asked Swiss prosecutors to reopen an investigation of bankers and officials connected to Angola’s President José Eduardo dos Santos. It said this should be based on new evidence alleging that the president collected tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks in the 1990s. London-based Corruption Watch has released a report detailing the involvement of Dos Santos, top oil officials and politicians in syphoning money off debt repayments to Russia through a middleman.
SA wins contract
South Africa’s largest privately-owned defence and aerospace firm, Paramount Group, recently won a bid to supply security vehicles to Brazil. It said it would supply Maverick security vehicles, designed to be used by security forces. They would be used by the special police operations battalion and the shock police battalion.The deal is expected to help Brazil deal with security concerns for the hosting of the 2014 Fifa World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.
Oil scandal
An international oil sale scandal is brewing in Malawi over a multimillion government-to-government contract with Nigeria. The deal involves the Nigerian Anyiam-Osigwe group, recently accused of fraud in Zambia. An investigation by a Malawi newspaper unearthed an apparently flawed deal facilitated by the Nigerian group. The allegation is similar to Nigeria’s fuel subsidy fraud, for which former Zambian president Rupiah Banda is facing charges.
Send more troops
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma is in a quandary over whether to send more troops to the troubled Central African Republic, after Economic Community of Central African States leaders begged him to redeploy his troops. The International Relations Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, told a Pretoria church Zuma was still considering the plea, after 13 South African soldiers were killed there last month.
Post published in: Africa News