postzambia

IT does not matter who becomes the PF-UPND pact’s presidential candidate between Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema, UPND vice-president Richard Kapita said yesterday.

And Kapita said unlike Patriotic Front (PF) president Sata and UPND leader Hichilema who genuinely asked for votes from the people, President Rupiah Banda cheated his way to the Republican presidency using late president Levy Mwanawasa’s body and legacy.

Reacting to President Banda’s assertion that Hichilema should not cheat himself that he would be the pact’s 2011 presidential candidate because Sata would stand, Kapita wondered why President Banda was so concerned about the Pact if it was not a threat to him and the MMD.

“If for instance we have made a mistake by going into this pact which was requested for by many noble Zambians, they President Banda and MMD should be happy that they are going to win. Why does it bother him if Sata or Hakainde will be the president?

It is not their business. It is our business and we know how we are going about it,” Kapita said. “Whether Sata becomes president or Hakainde becomes president, it doesn’t matter. But the Pact will go into the next election jointly because this is what we anticipated.”

Kapita said attempts by President Banda and his colleagues to try and put a wedge between Hichilema and Sata would not succeed.

“They are trying to create a wedge, but these are things we discussed at length when we were forming that Pact. We knew the MMD will be shaking, they will be trying to throw things. I mean they have employed people on taxpayers’ money just to do the discrediting of either Sata or Hakainde, PF or UPND to try and discourage our members,” Kapita said. “Unfortunately for them the people are so clever, many have seen through this, and I don’t think the MMD will get a vote in some of these places other than in Eastern Province.”

Kapita said Zambians were already decided, and President Banda’s attempts were very fruitless.
“They even go on to say because ‘Hakainde is campaigning to be president, Sata is campaigning to be president’. It doesn’t surprise us because we agreed we would be different parties working together, and each one of those leaders can be president.

It means therefore they must start campaigning for themselves,” Kapita said. “Hakainde is campaigning to be the Pact president, totally normal. There is nothing wrong with that. Sata is campaigning to be the Pact president, totally normal. There is nothing wrong. The beauty is that each one of them has agreed that they will remain in the Pact whether the other person becomes the president. So that is what is annoying the MMD.”

Kapita said President Banda was a very fortunate person who was picked from his “so-called” farm to become vice-president.

He said President Banda did not go to State House because he was popular with the Zambian voters.
He said President Banda had now thrown the Mwanawasa legacy into the pit because he was now in power.

Kapita said Zambians were very clever and would not allow President Banda to cheat them again.
“And he must stop comparing himself to either Hakainde or Sata because these people genuinely go to ask people for a vote which the MMD has been stealing. This time I can assure you that will not happen,” he said.

Recently in Milanzi, President Banda said Hichilema should not cheat himself that he would contest the elections because Sata would do so.

On the Mufumbwe by-election, Kapita said MMD cadres were perpetrating violence by attacking UPND camps but police had failed to do anything.

Kapita said UPND campaigners were recently arrested and taken to the cells that were far away from Mufumbwe in order to disturb the campaigns.

postzambia

VOTERS in Milanzi Constituency have asked candidates vying for the seat in the forthcoming by-elections to fulfill their promises in the event that they are elected.

And Caritas Zambia has urged the electorate in Milanzi to make their own independent decisions when voting.

During the Meet your Candidate Forum organised by Caritas Zambia in collaboration with the Press Freedom Committee of The Post at Chimbundire Basic School in Katete last Saturday, the voters demanded that the candidates fulfill their election promises after being voted into office.

One of the voters, Jackson Makukula said there had been a lot of unfulfilled promises from politicians.
“What guarantee is there that these people will implement what they are saying?” Makukula asked.

Another resident, Damazio Sakala said Milanzi had a lot of problems, which required a dedicated member of Parliament.

Sakala asked the candidates to tell the voters what they should do in the event that the elected parliamentarian did not deliver on his promises.

PF candidate Albert Banda urged the people of Milanzi not to be cheated by the MMD, which he said had failed to deliver to the Zambian people.

“This ruling party has been ruling for almost 20 years but there is nothing happening on the ground. They should not cheat us because even today people in urban areas have seen that they MMD are liars because even State House is in a constituency which is under PF,” Albert said.

He said MMD would have done a lot for the people in 20 years if they were committed.
“Vote for PF-UPND pact so that we can provide checks and balances in parliament,” Albert said.
He said it was unfortunate that Milanzi continued to lag behind in development.

“Milanzi has no enough clinics, the roads are bad. Areas like Kagoro are supposed to be electrified. Many pupils have qualified to grade ten but have been told that there are no grade places and they have been told to look for ten places somewhere, a situation which can ruin the future of the children,” Albert said.

UNIP candidate Musa Banda urged the electorate to pass a vote of no confidence in him in the event that he did not perform to people’s expectation once elected.

Musa said he was determined to continue implementing developmental programmes after being voted into office.

“I have already started working on development projects in Milanzi. I have built teachers’ houses here in Milanzi and I will continue with such programmes after being voted into office. I will not just wait for government to release money for developmental programmes,” Musa said.

He said the people of Milanzi were facing many challenges.
“Farmers are facing a lot of problems. Government can promise five bags but it ends up giving people one bag of fertiliser, which is not good. This area has a serious water problem because people are sharing water sources with animals,” Musa said.

Musa pledged to build a hospital once voted into office.
MMD candidate Whiteson Banda, who first called for a moment of silence in memory of late parliamentarian Reuben Chisanga-Banda, said he would first work on the crop marketing system once voted into power.

He said he would request the government to put markets in all the ten wards of the constituency.
“I will make sure I conclude the projects that were started by the late MP. I will ask government to provide dams in this constituency. Former MPs neglected one thing, they never consulted chiefs but I will make sure I consult these people,” Whiteson said.

He said he would ensure that schools that were near the Zesco power lines like Chumbundire Basic School were electrified.

Whiteson said he would request the government to construct dams and provide medicine in hospitals.
MMD campaign manager Dr Eustarckio Kazonga said the government would build four more health centres to add to the existing seven centres in Milanzi.

When asked by David Miti whether it was possible for the government to build four health centres within the remaining months before next year’s elections, Dr Kazonga said it would be possible because the funds would come from the central government and Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

And a representative from Caritas Zambia David Mwanza urged the people of Milanzi to vote based on the information they had.

Mwanza said Caritas would continue promoting good governance in the country.
Education minister Dora Siliya, agriculture minister Peter Daka and MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba were among the many people that attended the forum.

postzambia

POWER has gone to Rupiah Banda’s head, Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata observed yesterday.

In an interview, Sata said it was sad that President Banda was more interested in reminding people that he was the “boma” and attacking him and UPND president Hakainde Hichilema instead of telling the people of Milanzi what the government had done for them or their future plans.

Sata said President Banda was more concerned about holding on to power than delivering development to the people.

“He was just boasting about boma, boma. At least he should have told them what he has done. But power has gone to his head, he will only talk about boma, boma. He will maintain the presidency at all cost using whatever means. I won’t be surprised if sooner or later he calls a state of emergency to remove opposition,” he said.

On President Banda’s assertions that Sata was once in the government and had failed to bring about the development he now promises to achieve once elected, Sata said he does not have a track record of failure like President Banda.

He said he served the country diligently in the specific roles he was appointed to serve, but President Banda’s failures in specific public offices had now been confirmed through his presidency.

“None of us was president before. But now he is the President. Before he was President, he did not reduce fertiliser, but when he became president, he reduced fertiliser. Levy’s government said no to mobile hospitals. When he went to China he said yes to mobile hospitals,” Sata said.

“Rupiah Banda was minister of foreign affairs. He was in charge of NAMBOARD, we are not talking about government. And what I did as minister can be seen. Everybody remembers me as minister of local government, as minister of labour, as governor. But what is Rupiah Banda remembered for?”

Sata said President Banda found solace in travelling aimlessly to other nations in order to run away from addressing the many problems that had beset the nation because he had failed to come to terms with the demands of governing the country.

“He has travelled more than any other president in two years. He has travelled more than President Kaunda in 27 years, more than Frederick Chiluba in 10 years. When he was vice-president, he accepted the defence chiefs, when he became President he fired them,” said Sata.

Last week in Milanzi, President Banda said Sata was a crook who had even failed to build a toilet. President Banda bragged that he was the “boma the government” and physically and psychologically prepared to defeat his opponents.

New Ziana.

Some retailers have reportedly made threatening calls to officials following Government’s ban on meat imports from South Africa, a Cabinet minister said last Friday.

In an interview with New Ziana, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made said the ban would remain in place despite the threats to veterinary officers who issue the import permits.

Government banned recently the imports following an outbreak of Rift Valley fever in South Africa.

Minister Made said: "Some senior officers in the veterinary department have been threatened by a local company and one in South Africa."

He, however, refused to name the companies implicated but said a police report had been made.

Police on Friday confirmed receiving such a report from the ministry and said they were carrying out investigations.

Minister Made said meat import permits issued in the last six months would be reviewed owing to irregularities in the process.

"From this position, we are left with no option but to investigate all permits issued in the past six months.

"This will be necessary to see that all regulations governing meat imports are adhered to.

"If anyone wishes to apply we will no longer accept applications brought by persons, they should all be in writing," he said.

Minister Made said the ministry would not entertain physical submissions of application letters.

He said Government was working closely with South African officials to facilitate waiver of the ban.

"From the sixth report from South Africa, authorities are giving us all necessary information to review the ban.

"The veterinary department is also advising us on the matter."

He urged all veterinary officers stationed at border posts to report any threats to the police. — New Ziana.

Herald Reporter

Sweden has extended US$5,5 million to Zimbabwe as part of its contribution to the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) for 2010.

As of April 13, CAP had received US$105 million against the target of US$379 million requested.

Speaking at the hand over ceremony in Harare on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe urged development partners to go beyond humanitarian assistance and consider extending support to sustainable development programmes aimed at doing away with donor dependency syndrome.

"I call upon Sweden and other development partners to assist Zimbabwe in moving away from donor dependency towards sustainable development.

"In this regard, Government is in the process of looking at modalities of implementing public works programmes to replace the current food handouts," DPM Khupe said.

She said the early recovery programme, which addressed issues of donor dependency had the least funding accounting for only US$5.5 million.

Other programmes such as nutrition, water sanitation and hygiene account for US$12 million and US$46 million respectively.

She implored able bodied people to participate in public works programmes for them to receive assistance.

DPM Khupe, however, said food handouts would still be extended to the vulnerable who include the elderly, chronically ill and child headed families.

Turning to the donation, DPM Khupe commended Sweden for its continued humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe.

"Sweden has been consistent in supporting humanitarian programmes in Zimbabwe and in the CAP 2009, the country contributed over US$7 million.

"The current donation comes at a time when the country is experiencing reduced crop yields due to the prolonged dry spell that affected some parts of the country. The dry spell has raised concerns as it may affect food security," DPM Khupe said.

She called on the United Nations to consider revision of CAP 2010 requirements upwards especially in the area of food saying indications were that a third of the country’s population might suffer food shortages this year.

Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Sten Rylander, said although humanitarian assistance was still needed in the country, the situation had greatly improved.

"In comparison to previous years, the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe has improved. At the same time, the margins are narrow and the situation remains fragile. There is great need for continued humanitarian assistance and monitoring to maintain the positive gains," Mr Rylander said.

He said the donated US$5,5 million would be channelled in a coordinated manner through the CAP focusing on food security, protection, water and sanitation and early recovery.

The assistance will be channeled through the International Organisation for Migration, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Association of Evangelicals in Africa, World Vision and UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs.

Speaking at the same occasion, UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator Ms Elizabeth Lwanga, said this year’s reduced request for funding was an indication that Zimbabwe was in the transitional stage of recovery.

Last year’s CAP request was US$719 million. Last year’s request received 65 percent by December of the total requested funding.

CAP was introduced in Zimbabwe in 2006 to address humanitarian issues and has been in place on an annual basis since then.

This year’s appeal was the first joint venture between the United Nations Agencies and Government.

Herald Reporter

The Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee has bemoaned political violence in parts of Zimbabwe following recent attacks on Zanu-PF supporters in Mashonaland Central by suspected MDC-T functionaries.

Committee member Cde Oppah Muchinguri (Zanu-PF) last week told The Herald that they were monitoring the situation and urged political parties to rein in their supporters.

"Cases of political violence continue to rock the nation and recently we received reports of political violence in Mashonaland Central. We have sent our teams to investigate the reported cases and they have not yet given us feedback.

"The differences between our people as a result of political disturbances have gone deep and it requires the efforts of all stakeholders to explain the importance of national healing and reconciliation," she said.

It is understood that MDC-T supporters, who claimed to be on a "revenge mission" started the violence.

It was not clear at the time of writing how extensive the violence was.

Efforts to get a comment from the parties were also fruitless over the Independence holiday.

Cde Muchinguri said their taskforce faced financial constraints, making it difficult to effectively carry out its activities.

"We embarked on a tour of all provinces recently but we feel that we should carry the message of reconciliation to district and ward level," she said.

Cde Muchinguri said despite the limited resources, Jomic was making efforts to ensure people live harmoniously.

She said Zimbabwe could only develop if people realised the importance of unity.

Cases of political violence have also been reported in Buhera, Epworth in Harare and parts of Masvingo where huts have been torched.

HARARE City Council last week commissioned new equipment to unblock clogged sewer pipes with Town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi promising residents an end to sewer blockages.

The new machinery signals the end of manual de-choking of blocked sewer lines with metal rods.

The equipment, known as the high velocity or jet machine, pushes materials blocking sewer lines for 200 metres and can also be used to suck the materials out.

A demonstration on how the equipment works was done in Highfield last week.

"We want to have less than 10 percent blocked sewers in the city. We are committing ourselves," said Dr Mahachi.

He said Harare residents were sick and tired of blocked and overflowing sewers. He urged personnel from Harare Water to effectively use the new equipment to improve the lives of residents. The equipment has been in use in South Africa and other countries in Europe, Asia and America for over 55 years. Three machines were bought from South Africa at a cost of R1, 3 million. The money was part of a US$17,1 million facility Government advanced to the city last year to improve water and sewer service delivery.

Five machines are required to cover all suburbs affected by sewer blockages. Mr Harold Crown, whose company Cemo Pumps supplied the equipment, said, "These units will be used to clean, by way of high pressure water, sewer pipes and drains in and around the city.

"These units cannot only unblock pipes but can also suck a certain amount of product from pits, sumps and ponds."

SABC

Chairperson of the SABC Board, Professor Ben Ngubane, says the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association conference is being held at the right time for South Africa. The conference, which is being held in Sandton, north of Johannesburg, was founded in 1945.

Objectives of the gathering include promoting the concept of public service broadcasting and fostering freedom of expression. Ngubane says they are excited that one of the major training points at the conference will be about educating and preparing sports commentators on what they need to do in terms of pre-match planning, language and the sports commentary. He says these aspects emphasise the importance of the conference as well as that of the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Ngubane added that the workshops held at the conference will be very helpful to South Africa's media as the World Cup draws near. Earlier, the Communications department's Mlindi Kgamedi said public broadcasting should be a window through which South Africa's diverse cultures and its people should be reflected. Kgamedi also said there is a need for public broadcasters to be centres of excellence.

Mlindi's expectations are for discussions to be more robust in the next few days as delegates engage on issues including media freedom, the coverage of major sporting events and new ways of funding public service broadcasting content. According to Mlindi, lessons shared on the coverage of major sporting events will certainly be useful as the SABC prepares to broadcast the World Cup.

SABC

There is still no word on whether a deal has been struck between the South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) and the South African Local Government Association (Salga). Talks continued in Midrand yesterday, but no official statement has been released as to their outcome.

Union members took to the streets countrywide last week, some trashing city streets with rubbish. Samwu received a revised mandate from its members last week but says some of the issues have been agreed to and others have been outstanding for seven years.The union has further maintained that the strike will continue until an agreement is signed.

At the same time, as municipal workers continue to demand better salaries and improved working conditions, the meeting yesterday was expected to discuss a revised mandate from striking workers. Speaking from Midrand, Samwu's Tahir Sema said they are hoping that the strike will end soon.

On Saturday, Samwu announced that Salga agreed to their second-big demand, to stop using external lawyers for internal disciplinary procedures.

theherald

THE municipal strike which has disrupted services in Nelson Mandela Bay and around the country for the past week is set to continue today.

Although hopes rose that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) strike would be settled at the weekend, union officials said this would only happen once an agreement covering all issues had been signed with the SA Local Government Association (Salga).

Salga communications manager Milisa Kentane said last night they had held discussions with Samwu officials at OR Tambo International Airport yesterday.

These would continue today.

As the strike dragged on more incidents of violence and intimidation were reported.

Mandela Bay municipal security officials are fearing for their lives after a petrol bombing at a municipal depot, followed by death threats.

Security officials based at the electricity depot in Buik Street, Motherwell, witnessed two men hurling a petrol bomb over the 3m-high boundary fence at about 10pm on Friday.

A dark blue VW Citi Golf was seen leaving the scene.

Police were called shortly after the explosion and escorted fire department vehicles to the depot after they refused to enter the area without a police escort.

A senior municipal security services source said shortly after the petrol bomb attack the emergency control room received a phone call threatening to kill all working security officials if they “did not go home”.

Metro security officials say they believe the petrol bomb and death threats were intimidation tactics from striking workers.

These incidents come after police captain Gert Jonker was hit in the eye with a brick on Friday while police were attempting to disperse strikers who were lighting fires in Govan Mbeki Avenue.

Services have also been disrupted.

Port Elizabeth resident Sherice Evans of Bluewater Bay had no joy getting a sewerage leak fixed yesterday. Evans said that a few months ago a sewerage pipe situated at the back of her home burst, resulting in sewage “overflowing all over the place”.

“The same thing happened on Thursday when the sewerage pipe broke. (The sewage) is so disgusting and horrific, you can’t take the smell. We tried to call the municipality today (Sunday) to come and fix the problem but to no avail,” said Evans.

The strike subjected ratepayers to filth that was not only a “tremendous inconvenience” but a “huge health risk”.

Samwu national spokesman Tahir Sema said the main issue of the dispute related to job evaluation. Salga was delaying implementing an agreement reached in 2003.

Another issue was the use of lawyers by the municipalities to discipline and eventually dismiss workers, while municipal disciplinary procedures were not used.

Nelson Mandela Bay acting municipal manager Elias Ntoba said the municipality was “constantly interacting” with Salga regarding the strike to ensure a speedy resolution.

While they recognised it was a protected strike, “we do, however, condemn acts of vandalism, intimidation and trashing of streets that have characterised the strike action so far. We call upon the striking employees to conduct themselves in a manner that accords with legitimate and peaceful strike action.”

With regard to municipal services, the municipality was making every effort to ensure services were rendered to the public.

Ntoba said: “We take this opportunity to apologise to all residents and stakeholders for any inconvenience caused. We are hopeful that the impasse will soon be resolved.”

theherald

RESIDENTS around the country were today (April 19) waiting for word on whether a deal had been struck to end the week-long municipal workers’ strike.

Spokesmen for the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) and the SA Local Government Association (Salga) were not immediately available to discuss the outcome of a meeting between the two in Midrand yesterday.

During that meeting Samwu spokesman Tahir Sema said Salga had conceded to most of their demands but there were just a few “sticky issues” outstanding.

They had been meeting since Wednesday to resolve the dispute.

Samwu had vowed to continue the strike until it was completely satisfied its demands had been met, even though workers would not be paid for the duration of the strike.

The demands included giving workers market-related salaries, which Salga had said would take it over the budget allocated by the Treasury.

Samwu said not only would this raise the salaries of lower and middle income workers, but it would also level senior council officials’ salaries and perks which it said were too high.

Samwu also wanted councils to stop outsourcing legal consultants for labour disputes.

These measures, which they had been trying to introduce for seven years, would go some way to addressing concerns over corruption in councils, which had been cited as a reason for a wave of service delivery protests, Samwu said.

The strike had affected not only refuse removal, which had left many city centres heavily littered as the country prepares to host international visitors for the Soccer World Cup, but had impacted on almost all council services including primary health care, municipal bus services and burials. – Sapa

theherald

TOP ANC leaders and its youth league were expected to meet today (April 19) amid reports Julius Malema had been formally charged with ill-discipline.

“There is an expected meeting today. I think the meeting has been anticipated,” ANC Youth League spokesman Magdalene Moonsamy told Sapa.

The national working committee of the youth league would meet the top leadership structure of the ANC, she said, declining to elaborate.

Sunday papers reported Malema had been charged for alleged ill-discipline and bringing the organisation into disrepute.

He was to appear before a disciplinary committee headed by Derek Hanekom, reported the Sunday Times and City Press.

Malema apparently received a letter from ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe to inform him of the charges.

The youth leader is said to be accused of bringing the ANC and the government into disrepute by publicly endorsing Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party and attacking the opposition Movement for Democratic Change during a recent visit to that country.

He also faced possible censure for remarking former president Thabo Mbeki never rebuked the youth league publicly when he disagreed with it, unlike President Jacob Zuma.

He also faced charges for saying, after Eugene Terre’Blanche’s murder, that the rightwing leader had died before changing his racist behaviour, and for his aggressive behaviour towards BBC journalist Jonah Fisher, calling him a “bastard” and “bloody agent”.

According to the charges, Malema brought the ANC into disrepute, and violated the moral integrity expected of members or public representatives of the organisation.

According to the Sunday Times, charges against him included promoting racism, sexism, tribal chauvinism, and religious and political intolerance. – Sapa

businessday

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma used the reburial of veteran trade unionist Lesley Massina at the weekend to call on the alliance to respect the guiding principles of the African National Congress (ANC) of selflessly serving the people without gunning for positions, a tendency he said was beginning to affect party unity.

Although Zuma did not point at any ANC structure or mention names, the ANC Youth League has openly called for the removal of secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and lobbied for deputy police minister Fikile Mbalula to replace him.

Zuma said at the funeral service in Randburg that during the time of Massina, leaders in the ANC were not campaigning for positions. “The movement identified leaders based on their work and commitment to the movement.”

He said there was no trading of names before congresses as was happening now. “Branches were never under pressure to consider names for leadership; that is the ANC we know, not the one where people stand up and want to be elected.”

He also called for unity in the tripartite alliance, saying it was “paramount for the success of our democracy”. “No one among us should do anything that undermines our unity,” he told mourners.

The reburial of Massina provided an opportunity for bonding between workers and the revolutionary movement, he said. “Through his life he was courageous, committed and a diehard cadre of the ANC .”

Massina was a founding member of the South African Congress of Trade Unions in 1955, and became its first secretary-general. He left for Swaziland in 1961, where he died in exile in 1976.

In February the Swazi government granted permission for his remains to be exhumed and repatriated to Johannesburg . Sapa

businessday

JUDICIAL Service Commission (JSC) member Fatima Chohan has expressed disappointment at the lack of interest in the posts of judge- president in North West and KwaZulu-Natal.

Chohan, commenting during interviews for the two posts, said on Friday it was disturbing that there was only one candidate for each of these posts.

Herbert Msimang, the current acting judge-president of KwaZulu- Natal, was interviewed to be permanently appointed in that division and Monica Leeuw, acting judge-president of North West, was interviewed for her permanent appointment to that division.

During Leeuw’s interview, Chohan said uncontested posts undermined the work of the commission, as judge-presidents played a “very critical role”.

Following the withdrawal of Judge Raymond Zondo as a candidate, the position of judge-president of the Labour Appeal Court and Labour Court is also uncontested. Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Dunstan Mlambo will be interviewed for the position today.

This leaves only the Eastern Cape judge-presidency and the Gauteng deputy judge-presidency contested.

Chohan asked Leeuw whether there was an “unspoken rule” that if someone was acting as judge-president, others did not make themselves available. Leeuw replied that in her division this was not the case. She said she was nominated by the three other senior judges in her division and that even if she had not been acting as judge-president, she would have made herself available.

At the close of the interviews, Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo clarified that there was no rule that the positions should not be contested just because one of the candidates was already acting in the post.

Ngcobo reminded the commission that with the Gauteng candidates, Willem van der Merwe had been acting in the post and the position was nonetheless being contested.

Despite being the only candidates for the job, Msimang and Leeuw were not given an easy ride by the JSC. Msimang was grilled by Sipho Mdluli, representing KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize, on his “judicial temperament”. Mdluli said he had a reputation for impatience.

Msimang said during his interview that under the current judge- president of KwaZulu-Natal, Vuka Tshabalala, the division was “the most peaceful in the country”.

Msimang does have a reputation in legal circles for impatience. Two KwaZulu-Natal lawyers told Business Day he was “irascible” and impatient on the bench, but he was “revered” for his legal acumen.

Leeuw was also not spared by the commission. Commissioner Peace Mabe asked her whether she considered herself “an affirmative action candidate”. If appointed, Leeuw will be the first woman and first black woman appointed judge-president.

But with 10 years as a judge under her belt, Leeuw told the commission she did not think she would be appointed on the basis of affirmative action because she had the “necessary expertise” and was almost as experienced as the senior males in her division.

But Mabe said she would only vote for Leeuw on the basis of affirmative action, and that she expected Leeuw would empower other black women in a similar way.

businessday

Gold One has reported a 21% increase in quarterly gold production and a operating cash flow of $7,3 million for the quarter ending March 31st 2010.

The company says it continues to ramp up production at its flagship Modder East mine.

Included in the quarterly highlights are gold recoveries increased up by 4.3% to 96% for the quarter.

It’s also reported a positive outcome to Ventersburg scoping study.

Revenue for the company for the quarter was US$ 14.4 million, and cash operating costs were million US$ 7.1 million,

resulting in an operating cash flow of US$ 7.3 million.

Development and capital expenditure for the quarter for both Modder East and Sub Nigel was million US$ 5.6 million. Cash on hand at the end of the quarter was million US$ 8.9 million. The company paid US$ 4.2 million toredeem convertible bonds while also paying interest on the bonds for the quarter of around US$ 1.3 million. Excluding the payments made in respect of the convertible bonds, Gold One was cash flow positive during the quarter. Gold One has made good progress in refinancing the company's convertible bond.

One South African bank and one international bank have been shortlisted to finalise and implement a facility on a syndicated basis, and it is anticipated that final credit committee approved term sheets will be in place by the end of May 2010.

businessday

Eskom supported the use of its huge procurement programme to stimulate local industry, but has warned that this means higher costs and therefore higher electricity tariffs.

The severe shortage of skills, limited access to funding and the high cost of local inputs such as steel, cement and chemicals all pushed up the cost of local procurement for the utility’s power station build programme.

Eskom chief operating officer Brian Dames said in Parliament on Friday that the option of procuring from “alternative, established suppliers” had to be available when necessary to ensure the integrity of Eskom’s capital programme.

Eskom, Transnet and Kumba Iron Ore briefed Parliament’s trade and industry committee on ways their businesses could contribute to achieving the goals of government’s new industrial policy action plan, which aims to launch SA on a new job-creating growth path.

Strategic new industries would be created through leveraging the procurement by state-owned entities to foster local business. The public sector will spend an estimated R846bn over the next three years on infrastructure.

Dames and Eskom acting CEO and chairman Mpho Makwana told the committee the establishing of new industries would entail additional cost in investment and skills development in the immediate future. “In the interim a portion of SA’s electricity pricing reflects this cost of local industry establishment,” they said.

“SA’s capital expansion could be procured internationally at lower cost but national imperatives guide high localisation, which adds a cost premium.”

Dames said Eskom had established a procurement process that facilitated localisation, empowerment, skills, job creation and industry development. The R426bn Medupi and Kusile coal- fired power stations alone were projected to create about 40000 direct and indirect jobs that would benefit about 160000 people. Eskom would also source about 57% of its procurement locally.

Dames said Eskom’s long-term plans for future “fleet procurement” — purchases of a range of items smoothed over a long period to ensure the sustainability of local industries — required clarity on SA’s future energy mix and its own funding model.

He also cautioned against locking state-owned enterprises into long-term commercial arrangements unless “significant localisation benefit” could be realised.

Kumba Iron Ore CEO Chris Griffith emphasised the importance of SA having a competitive steel sector with level playing fields and a well-run transport sector if it was to meet the aims of its industrial policy. “Making iron ore available to a broader spectrum of steel producers in SA should create opportunities for increased competition in the steel sector,” Griffiths said.

Increased electricity tariffs could make the iron ore and steel industries less competitive, while Transnet’s difficulties in funding its capital expenditure could jeopardise Kumba’s expansion plans.

Kumba spent R3,2bn (36,9% of its R8,7bn discretionary spend) last year at black-owned and black-empowered vendors.

Acting CEO Chris Wells said Transnet had spent R13,5bn of its 2009-10 procurement spend of R20,7bn at broad-based black economic empowerment companies. Its move to long term strategic fleet procurement would assist local enterprises by providing a stable pattern of demand. It planned buy 75-100 locomotives over a lengthy period.

20100418
SABC

The Telkom Senior National Swimming Championships ended in Durban on a positive note today. Fourteen qualifying times are set for the Commonwealth Games in India later this year.

At the end of a long week the contenders picked up the pace. Tough qualifying times and the banning of the fast swimsuits really raised the bar at the championships.

"I think adjusting to not having the suits again definitely works in my favour but, nonetheless it is hard to be going out swimming laps without the suit on. But overall I am really optimistic," says swimmer, Roland Schoeman.

Schoeman qualified in the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle. Neil Versfeld came from behind to beat Cameron van der Burgh in the 200m breaststroke. Van der Burgh earlier qualified for the event he's focusing on the 100m breaststroke.

Multiple paralympics gold medalist and world record holder Natalie Du Toit put in a number of star performances.

The 14 swimmers who have qualified for the Games in New Delhi in October are Chad le Clos, Roland Schoeman, Cameron van der Burgh, Wendy Trott, Natalie du Toit, Chanelle van Wyk, Riaan Schoeman, Gideon Louw, Darian Townsend, Sebastien Rosseau, Neil Versfeld, Heerden Herman and Mark Randall.

20100418
aljazeera

Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's president, has called on his people to end political violence and work to rebuild the country's shattered economy.

Addressing a rally to mark 30 years of its independence from British-backed minority white rule, 86-year-old Mugabe praised the power-sharing government intiated after polls in 2008 and urged Zimbabweans to back constitutional reforms.

"The leadership of the inclusive government urges you to desist from any acts of violence that will cause harm to others and become a blight on our society," Mugabe said.

"As Zimbabweans we need to foster an environment of tolerance and treating each other with dignity and respect irrespective of age, gender, race, ethnicity, tribe, political or religious affiliation."

Human rights groups say that hundreds of people have been killed in political violence over the past 10 years, with opposition supporters blaming much of it on supporters of the president's Zanu-PF party.

Power sharing

Mugabe, a former school teacher and leader of the independence struggle, entered a power-sharing government with arch-rival Morgan Tsvangirai, now prime minister, after a political crisis sparked by a disputed general election in 2008.

Although the Zanu-PF and Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) continue to argue over the pace of change and appointments of senior state officials, Mugabe said on Sunday that the power-sharing deal was working.

"Many of the key provisions of the global political agreement which is the maker of our inclusive government, have been and continue to be in the process of being fulfilled," he said as Tsvangirai looked on.

Mugabe also said that Zimbabwe would continue with plans to transfer 51 per cent of shareholdings in foreign companies to black Zimbabweans.

"The economic empowerment policies are chiefly designed to redress the historic imbalances in the ownership of the economy," he said.

The policy has been criticised by Tsvangirai and other members of the MDC, who on Wednesday said that the cabinet, chaired by Mugabe, had shelved the act.

Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa, reporting from Harare, said that the so-called "empowerment" law showed that there were problems between the two parties in the power-sharing government.

"The president tried to tell his people that the inclusive government is working but clearly there are differences behind the scenes," she said.

But she said that many ordinary Zimbabweans remained pleased that the power-sharing administration exists after the turmoil of the disputed elections and the country's economic crisis.

"I come to celebrate the independence my last heroes fought for," Brian Kasunzumuma, a 27-year-old vendor, told the AFP news agency.

"I come here every year to celebrate independence as a Zimbabwean."

Mugabe has been blamed for the ruin of the country in recent years, as it went from being an agricultural powerhouse and educational beacon, to having a stagnant economy and continuing political crisis.

Millions of Zimbabweans have fallen into poverty since independence and millions more have crossed into neighbouring countries to seek jobs and food.

"It should be a landmark anniversary, but unfortunately for many people it is a time to count lost opportunities, and wasted lives," Lovemore Madhuku, a political commentator and head of pressure group National Constitutional Assembly, said.

"Instead of celebrating freedom, a lot of people are preoccupied and are rightly worried about their lives and the future," Madhuku said.

"There is very little happening around us to give anyone any sense of comfort."


"The fact they are not getting along is not a big concern outright, they just want them to at least pretend to get this government to work so that outside investors can maybe think of coming to the country."

'Celebrating' independence

Traffic jams clogged the streets around the National Sports Stadium as Zimbabweans gathered by the thousands for Sunday's celebrations.

The stadium in the capital, Harare, was decked out in Zimbabwean flags, but participants wore normal clothes after a warning earlier in the week that political gear and party regalia would not be allowed.

20100418
africanews

Two oil tankers collided and burst into flames in Nigeria's southwest Ogun State on Saturday killing at least five people and several wounded. The two tankers rammed into each other in heavy rain and exploded. Three big freight trucks along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway also caught fire.
NIGERIA- Oil tanker explosion kills 5 people
The bodies were burnt beyond recognition according to an AFP photographer saying the five injured were pulled out of the inferno before firefighters arrived.

An assistant driver from one of the tankers said they were driving from a fuel depot in Lagos, less than 20 kilometres (12 miles) away, when they ran into another tanker while trying to avoid a stationary truck.

"We tried to avoid one stationary truck and ended up crashing into another and there was one big explosion," said a badly burnt Laken Abiodun writhing in pain.
Road accidents are common along Nigeria's poorly maintained highways.

20100418
africanews

Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika has tied the nuptial knot with former tourism minister Saturday in a colourful ceremony at a stadium packed with guests, including several African leaders.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, prime ministers from Mozambique, Rwanda and Swaziland, the vice president of Tanzania and ex-presidents from Mozambique and Zambia attended the highly publicised wedding between Mutharika, 76, and ex-tourism minister Callista Chimombo, 50, according to the AFP.

Mutharika, the current chairman of the African Union, is marrying for the second time after his first wife, Ethel, died of cancer two years ago.

Chimombo, a former legislator, was a senior member of Mutharika's governing Democratic Progressive Party. In 2004, she was appointed tourism minister in Mutharika's first cabinet.
Wearing a white suit with white gloves and riding in a white limousine, Mutharika arrived shortly after 9 am (0700 GMT) at the 15,000-seat Civo Stadium in the administrative capital, Lilongwe.

The limousine, a rare car in the poor southern African nation, was a donation from China, a government official told AFP.

"The government did not buy the limousine," said Edward Sawerengera, director general of state residences. "It has been provided by a well-wisher," he said.

Archbishop Tarcizio Ziyaye, head of the country's nearly three million Catholics, blessed the wedding from a special podium built to resemble a church.

From the stadium, the first couple rode in the limousine through several Lilongwe shanty towns, waving to the crowds that thronged the dusty roads.

The couple then hosted a state-house banquet for nearly 5,000 invited guests.