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Tuesday 21 February 2006


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IRIN-SA Weekly Round-up 258 for 19 - 25 November 2005

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

CONTENTS:

ZIMBABWE: Voter apathy ahead of senate poll
ZAMBIA: Opposition lose constituent assembly vote
SWAZILAND: Govt turns down "orphan city" proposal
SOUTHERN AFRICA: Civil society calls for bigger role in food security issues
SOUTH AFRICA: ANC maintains a united front
MALAWI: Drought insurance cover for local farmers

ZIMBABWE: Voter apathy ahead of senate poll

Zimbabwe's senate poll is scheduled for this weekend, but there is little sign of the heated political activity that normally accompanies elections, IRIN reported on Wednesday.

With the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) still divided over contesting the senate election and the ruling ZANU-PF doing little campaigning, the result has been apathy among voters in the southern Matabeleland region, who remain focused on the daily struggle to survive hunger and poverty.

Full report

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NGOs call on AU rights body for aid

Zimbabwean NGOs have appealed to the African Union's human rights body to help the hundreds of thousands of people left homeless by the government's recent clean-up campaign.

The AU's African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) is in session in Gambia until next week, "and we are asking the organisation to champion the cause of those affected by Operation Murambatsvina [Drive Out Filth] - it is a humanitarian disaster," said Eileen Sawyer, director of the Human Rights Forum (HRF), a coalition of 17 Zimbabwean NGOs.

Full report

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Poor ignore ban on urban farming as food prices climb

Urban Zimbabweans, facing soaring food prices, are increasingly defying a government order not to grow crops in cities and towns ahead of the new agricultural season, IRIN reported on Tuesday.

The government early this year banned urban farming in undesignated areas as part of a clean-up campaign, saying it was contributing to soil erosion, siltation of dams and providing cover for criminals.

Full report

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Food shortages force traditions to change

A small column of women trudges along the path to a funeral in Mufiri, in Zimbabwe's eastern Masvingo district, occasionally tilting their heads to glance grudgingly at the clear sky above.

Discussion among the women braving the searing heat revolves around the spectre of yet another dry season, if the cloudless skies are anything to go by. "If it does not rain soon, we will all starve to death," said 50-year-old Dorica Zenera, at the head of the column. The other women chorus in agreement.

Full report

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ZAMBIA: Opposition lose constituent assembly vote

Zambia's ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) this week used its majority in parliament to defeat opposition plans to pass a law creating a constituent assembly to agree a new governing charter, IRIN reported on Thursday.

After more than five hours of heated debate, the motion tabled by lawmaker Given Lubinda, from the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND), was put to a vote on Wednesday evening and the ruling party's majority held sway. The vote was 65 against and 52 in favour.

Full report

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Aid agency opts to hand out cash instead of food

In an innovative approach to relief assistance, the development agency, Oxfam, has opted to provide cash instead of food in two drought-affected districts in Zambia.

Cash was more cost-effective than food aid and gave beneficiaries spending choices, said Ric Goodman, Oxfam's country programme director.

Full report

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SWAZILAND: Govt turns down "orphan city" proposal

After months of controversy, the Swazi government has turned down a church group's offer to build an "orphan city" in exchange for the country's two largest game parks and other property.

Enterprise and Employment Minister Lutfo Dlamini was quoted in the Swazi media on Thursday as saying, "We pointed out that their approach to the problem was too radical for us to understand."

Full report

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Relief for the elderly as pensions go up

Gogo ("Granny") Mkwanaze, 72, knows what she is going to do with the extra money she will be getting when government revamps its pension system for the elderly.

"My grandchildren need shoes and new school uniforms - the schools open in just two months. I am raising those children all by myself, you know," she smiles.

Full report

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SOUTHERN AFRICA: Civil society calls for bigger role in food security issues

NGOs in Southern Africa say they can contribute to strengthening food security but have been ignored by regional governments.

"Civil society organisations have an advantage over government bodies, as they are based within communities, they work closely with the people and are often the first to access information on [impending] food security disasters," said Tobias Takavarasha, a Zimbabwe-based agricultural economist.

Full report

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Trucking fleets under pressure to deliver food aid

South African trucking fleets are experiencing difficulties in meeting the demand to supply food aid to drought-affected countries in the region, particularly Zimbabwe, according to logistics experts.

Massive orders to ferry fertiliser to Malawi ahead of the planting rains have put trucking fleets under tremendous pressure, said Charles Nicolle of Cargo Africa, a logistics company.

Full report

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SOUTH AFRICA: ANC maintains a united front

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party emerged from a crisis meeting of its top executive at the weekend to deny claims of internal divisions in its ranks, IRIN reported on Tuesday.

The ANC national executive committee (NEC) meeting was called to heal a rift between President Thabo Mbeki and the party's deputy president, Jacob Zuma, which has degenerated into the worst crisis the ANC has faced since being elected to power in 1994.

Full report

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MALAWI: Drought insurance cover for local farmers

IRIN reported on Thursday that a new pilot programme aims to help Malawi's smallholder farmers access agricultural loans and risk cover in the event of drought, boosting their ability to recover from shocks.

The country is in the grip of widespread food shortages after a prolonged dry spell in some parts.

"The insurance will help farmers obtain the financing necessary to obtain certified seeds, which produce increased yields and revenues [and have] greater resistance to disease," the World Bank said in a statement.

Full report

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[ENDS]

Theme(s)	Other

Other recent SOUTHERN AFRICA reports:

Policy revised to shed light on urban refugee blind-spot, 17/Feb/06

IRIN-SA Weekly Round-up 270 for 11-17 February 2006, 17/Feb/06

Too white to be black - the challenge of albinism, 16/Feb/06

Remittances - curse or blessing?, 16/Feb/06

Conflict, development and natural disasters fuel internal displacement, 14/Feb/06

Other recent reports:

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Donors pledge support for humanitarian crisis, 21/Feb/06

ANGOLA: Ready to play larger security role in Africa, 21/Feb/06

CENTRAL ASIA: Weekly news wrap, 17/Feb/06

SOUTHERN AFRICA: IRIN-SA Weekly Round-up 270 for 11-17 February 2006, 17/Feb/06

WEST AFRICA: IRIN-WA Weekly Round-up 317 covering 11-17 February 2006, 17/Feb/06

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