FRIDAY, 4.00PM:
PUBLIC Services International, a global federation of trade unions that represents 20 million public service workers, including those belonging to the South Africans Municipal Workers’ Union, has condemned the multinational water company Biwater for trying to silence debate about water privatisation in South Africa.
Biwater is bidding for contracts for water services in Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, and elsewhere. The company has insisted, on threat of legal action, that the M&G remove from its online archive stories containing certain allegations about it.
PSI affiliate Samwu opposes the privatisation of water services.
PSI has released a report that is critical of Biwater and other water multinationals, saying it is making the information available because of Biwater’s aggressive attitude towards the South African media. The company also forced the South African Broadcasting Corporation to apologise for a programme that was critical of its actions.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
INVOLVE BUSINESS, SAYS PHOSA
ZIMBABWE’S consistent failure to attract large private sector investment or development is largely due to the government’s failure to include local business leaders in its policy formation process, Mpumalanga Premier Mathews Phosa said on Thursday according to African Eye News. Speaking during a breakfast meeting with an “advance team” of officials from Zimbabwe’s agriculture department, Phosa said that Mpumalanga’s consultative policy process was the single biggest factor leading to the flood of private sector investment which has flowed into the province over the past four years. Mpumalanga currently boasts the highest national economic growth rate, at 4% per annum, and claims to have attracted almost R35-billion in possible investment through its Maputo Corridor spatial development initiative.
ZAMBIAN GOVT NOT SELLING PAPERS
THE Zambian government has no intention of selling state-owned media, according to finance minister Edith Nawakwi. The privatisation of the media had been called for by the United States Ambassador to Zambia.
AMCOAL RESULTS
ANGLO American Coal Corporation on Wednesday reported earnings somewhat lower than expected for the year to March, but is believed likely to outdo its local competitors because of lower export market exposure and income from its cash reserves. Share earnings were R33,71 — analysts had forecast R34,60. The dividend will be maintained this year despite lower expected earnings. Chairman James Campbell is urging government to relax export controls which he says are limiting Amcoal’s growth potential.
MOI CALLS FOR FASTER UNION
KENYAN President Daniel arap Moi,in Uganda for talks with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, has called for faster implementation of the East African common market plans to make it a reality by the year 2000. The two presidents are discussing means to accelerate economic growth in the region, agree on tax guidelines, improve security and upgrade the clearance of cargo bound for Uganda from Kenyan ports.
CLASSIC SQUEEZE
INDEPENDENT commercial radio station Classic FM which has been broadcasting since September, is in the process of retrenching 12 of its 45 staff members, having run into financial difficulties. Station head Eon de Vos says its music programming will be refocused. It is believed the station’s backers, the Liberty Life Foundation and British company GWR, have put pressure on the station. They expected to break even within 18 months.
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