AFRICAN National Congress members disgruntled with Mpumalanga Premier Mathews Phosa’s leadership made personal submissions to the party’s president,Thabo Mbeki, during his low-key three-day visit to the province earlier this week. The series of meetings, initially planned as a review of the ANC’s organisational status, reportedly included a series of one-on-one meetings between Mbeki and unhappy senior party members. The as yet unnamed provincial executive committee members reportedly accused Phosa of autocratic leadership and made written submissions attempting to analyse the still growing Mpumalanga Parks Board scandal.
CHILUBA TAKES LOCAL ELECTIONS
PROVISIONAL results of Zambia’s local government elections last week showed on Friday that President Frederick Chiluba’s Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) won 66% of 1287 seats contested. The United National Independence Party led by former president Kenneth Kaunda was second with 17% — 228 seats against the MMD’s 857 seats.The newly-launched United Party for National Development took 28 seats while the rest went to small parties and independents.A coalition of Zambian opposition groups which monitored the elections has criticised the conduct of the poll. A spokesperson for the groups, Alfred Zulu, noted several pre-election irregularities including threats from government officials including President Chiluba to withhold funds from local councils dominated by the opposition.
ZAMBIA’S CONDOM CULTURE
EIGHTEEN million condoms were bought in Zambia in 1997 while statistics for 1998 are still being compiled. Central Board of Health public health and clinical systems manager Dr Moses Sichone said condoms’ use in Zambia has increased. Statistics show that in 1990, a million were bought, in 1992 — 2,5 million, 1994 — five million and 1997 — 18 million. He noted that condoms’ use alone will not reduce Aids in Zambia. “We need a multi-approach to arrest the spread of HIV/Aids,” said Sichone.
NAMIBIA TO LOBBY UN
NAMIBIA will lobby for an African country to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, during its two-year term as a non-permanent member of the peace-keeping body, which started on January 1. Acting permanent secretary in the ministry of foreign affairs, Nora Schimming-Chase, told The Namibian that the ministry will stand by earlier initiatives to achieve better representation for Africa in the council. She said that several countries, such as South Africa, Nigeria or Egypt, could be considered as possible permanent members.