Zimbabwe’s government is to invite the opposition to form cross-party teams to probe acts of political violence in the aftermath of the country’s March elections, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said on Wednesday. It is the first time such an idea has been floated by the ruling party, which has been accused of orchestrating a campaign of terror.
Barack Obama on Wednesday shrugged off one of his worst election results since his epic battle with Hillary Clinton began in January, after going down by 67% to 26% in Tuesday’s West Virginia primary. She promised to stay in the race until at least the last of the primaries on June 3.
The wave of xenophobia sweeping the country is as embarrassing as it is mindboggling. All our leaders in government and the opposition are united in their condemnation. However, we all seem to be caught by surprise and are unable to explain a phenomenon that is sure to blot any image that President Thabo Mbeki has worked hard to build of South Africa being the leader of the cause of African renaissance on the continent.
Four hundred and fifty pupils, aged between six and 12, were there when the quake hit. A fortunate few were pulled out within hours by anxious parents scrabbling at the wreckage with bare hands. A handful more were saved overnight, after troops arrived to take over the rescue effort.
Jomo Cosmos will play in the National First Division next season after losing 2-0 to fellow relegation candidates Black Leopards in their penultimate Absa Premiership game at the Oppenheimer Stadium in Orkney on Wednesday. A goal by Myron Shongwe in the 18th minute and a strike on the stroke of half-time by Thabiso Hlalele sealed the fate of the luckless Cosmos.
The Johannesburg High Court will hear an urgent application brought by suspended South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) group chief executive Dali Mpofu on Thursday, a representative speaking on his behalf said. Mpofu has been tight-lipped over his planned court action against the SABC.
Zimbabwe’s run-off presidential election has been delayed and will now be held within 90 days of May 2, when official results of the disputed vote were released, Zimbabwe’s government announced on Wednesday. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai beat President Mugabe in the presidential poll, but not by enough votes to avoid a run-off.
A report by six former South African National Defence Force generals might lead to action being taken to address the violence in Zimbabwe, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad said on Wednesday. He said President Thabo Mbeki was waiting for a report from the generals on the violence before considering appropriate action.
Employees of Nationwide have been left financially stranded because of technical issues surrounding the liquidation of the airline, the United Association of South Africa (Usasa) union said on Wednesday. A Uasa divisional manager said the difficulties arose because the Nationwide group consists of four subsidiaries.
The United Nations is investigating allegations that its peacekeepers sexually abused children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), its mission in the war-scarred country said on Wednesday. The mission ”is deeply concerned by allegations that surfaced recently of sexual exploitation and abuse”, spokesperson Kemal Saiki said.