AT least 10 new recruits in the Mozambican customs service have been fired for alleged corruption. The move follows the discovery of malpractice at Namaacha border post on the Mozambique-Swaziland frontier. The Mozambican government has employed Brisitsh customs officials to recruit and train personnel in an effort to improve the customs service. The customs department […]

A FORMER East Londoner, Rhodes scholar and teacher, Gill Taylor has been elected to the executive of the National Sports Council in Cape Town with a portfolio giving special attention to the development of hockey in underprivileged areas. As Gill Sperinck, Taylor gained colours for Border, Rhodes University, and Western Province. In Cape Town Taylor […]

MALAWIAN women have been urged to take part in parliamentary politics by the first deputy speaker of the national assembly. Lilian Kapanda called for more female representation in the legislature in order to have a strong say on national issues. Kapanda says only nine women are members of parliament, while women make up 52% of […]

ANGLO American Corporation announced on Tuesday that the British-based company it is to form with its offshore arm, Minorco, will post its listing particulars to shareholders at the end of April — two and half months later than planned. When it announced the formation of the new company Anglo American (AA) in October, Anglo had […]

FORMER security policeman Michael Bellingan on Wednesday told the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s amnesty committee that he doubts former president FW de Klerk would have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize had he not murdered his wife, Janine Bellingnan. The Star reports that Bellingan told the committee he believes if he had not murdered Janine, […]

THE Nigerian government has ordered all civil servants over age 60 to retire in a first move aimed at cutting back on the vast public service sector, officials said on Wednesday. In a directive sent out to all ministries, secretary to the government Gidado Idriss ordered officials to require all over 60s to retire “voluntarily” […]

KENYAN International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Charles Mukora quit the IOC on Wednesday in the wake of the votes-for-favours scandal. However, Mukora said he was an “innocent victim” and that he would retain his other positions. He is first vice-chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation, a post to which he was elected in Kuala Lumpur […]

ZIMBABWEAN attorney general said on Wednesday that he will order an investigation into the torture in detention of two journalists. Chinamasa said he will direct police to investigate accusations by Mark Chavunduka (34) editor of the independent Standard newspaper, and reporter Ray Choto (36) that they were tortured by the military after reporting on an […]

CASUALTY figures in the Sierra Leonean capital rose dramatically on Wednesday as mortar fire was heard on the western edge of the Freetown peninsula. This comes a day after the Nigerian-led intervention force warned it would launch an offensive against the rebels. In the first official death toll since fighting broke out in Freetown on […]

DRIEFONTEIN Consolidated gold mine reported on Wednesday that its profits are up 9% to R242-million in the quarter ending in December. However, headline earnings were down at 63 cents a share against 68 cents a share in the September quarter. An interim dividend of 75 cents a share was declared. Gold output rose 13% to […]