DRC EDITOR HELD
POLICE in the Democratic Republic of Congo have detained the managing editor of the daily Le Palmares, Michael Luya, for questioning, inspector Raus Chalwe said on Monday. Chalwe said Luya was detained “in connection with an inquiry” and will be freed once certain checks have been carried out, without giving further details. Meanwhile, organisers of a press freedom march planned for Monday by the “Media Libres-Medias pour tous” (Free Media-Media for All) said they have called off the demonstration, aimed at pressing for the release of the managing editor of Le Phare, Polydor Muboyayi Mubanga, who was detained three weeks ago.
FRASER CASE POSTPONED
LAWRIE FRASER appeared in the Randburg Magistrates Court on Monday in connection with the kidnapping of his biological son, Timothy Funnel, from his adoptive parents’ home in Malawi earlier this year. Fraser’s co-accused Jennifer Uys and a Malawian national, Charles Mwandira, appeared in court with him. The case was postponed until October 23.
FRENCH HONOUR FOR SA MAN
SOUTH African business executive Dr John Maree is to receive the insignia of Knight of the Legion of Honour from French Ambassador Tristan d’Albis on Wednesday, the French embassy said on Monday. The embassy said Maree will be awarded the knighthood of the highest French distinction for the role he played — as chairman of Eskom, Nedcor and Denel — in fostering economic ties between France and South Africa, over the last 20 years. The Legion of Honour order was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in May 1802, “for the purpose of rewarding civil and military merit in time of war and peace”.
CAPE FLATS QUIET
THE Cape Flats experienced a relatively quiet weekend, with only two violent incidents reported possibly relating to ongoing conflict between gangsters and vigilantes in the area. Minor damage was caused to a mosque in Kensington after an explosive device was hurled at the building early on Monday. A house adjacent to the mosque also suffered minor damage when shots were fired and a petrol bomb thrown at the premises. Only a window was shattered and no one was injured. Roadblocks and random searches are still being conducted in the area. Meanwhile, 35 members of the Public Order Policing Unit arrived in Cape Town on Monday to reinforce the police special task team investigating the violence
40 DIE IN MOROCCAN FLOODS
MORE than 40 people died in flash floods caused by sudden heavy rains overnight in mountainous central Morocco, authorities said on Monday, but some sources warned the total of dead and missing could reach 100. Officials quoted witnesses as saying most of the victims were in around 50 cars and five buses washed away when a wadi overflowed near the town of El-Hajeb, near the central city of Meknes. The area was lashed by five hours of torrential rain, creating mudslides. Early on Monday, El-Hajeb was cut off from the rest of Morocco, without water or electricty, making rescue work extremely difficult.
RWANDA FACES FAMINE
RWANDA is facing famine, with five of eleven prefectures in the country suffering from acute food shortages because of drought and harvest failures, interior minister Abdul Karim Harerimana said on Monday. Rwandan radio said the south-western prefecture of Gikongoro, with more than half a million inhabitants, is worst affected by food shortages. Prices for basic foods have risen sharply, with numerous people surviving only by begging. The report said numerous children have also been abandoned by their parents who can no longer care for them.
STRAY SHELLS HIT KINSHASA
STRAY shells from fighting in Congo’s capital Brazzaville killed seven people and injured eight others on Monday across the Congo River in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, police chief Raus Chalwe said. Seven people were killed at the Luanu army mechanics’ camp in the western Kintambo district and in the nearby Ma Campagne area, Chalwe said. Eight other people, including children, were hurt, he added.
ZIMRIGHTS PROTESTS BILL
ZIMBABWEAN human rights watchdog Zimrights on Monday condemned the proposed Public Order and Security Bill, saying it willadversely affect Zimbabweans’ freedoms, Ziana news agency reported. The Bill, which seeks to replace the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act which dates back to the colonial era, is being touted by the government as an attempt to improve the observance of human rights in Zimbabwe. But Zimrights denied this arguing that the planned legislation falls far short of encouraging total enjoyment of the rights and freedoms of assembly, association, movement, expression and the protection of the law. “The Bill does not only contravene international human rights instruments such as the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Zimbabwe is a signatory , but also contravenes provisions of Zimbabwe’s own constitution,” Zimrights said