THE draw for the Hong Kong rugby sevens to be held from March 26-28 will definitely not challenge the Springboks. They are n Pool B with Canada, the US, and China. Other Pools are: Pool A–Fiji, Scotland, Tonga, Thailand; Pool C–Australia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan; Pool D–New Zealand, Ireland, Hong Kong, Croatia; Pool E–France, […]

THE fuel shortage that has crippled Nigerian industry and trade will end in two to three months’ time, an advisor to military ruler General Abdulsalami Abubakar said on Wednesday. Aret Adams said in a speech delivered by an aide that the shortage of petroleum products on the domestic market will end as imports continue and […]

NIGERIA’S second and third largest political parties formally announced an electoral alliance on Tuesday, a month ahead of the country’s presidential and legislative elections, dismissing splits the mooted pact has caused. Mahmud Waziri, chairman of the right-wing All Peoples Party (APP) and Ayo Adebanjo, chairman of the regionalist Alliance for Democracy (AD), announced that the […]

THE claims of armed robber Collin Chauke that he was assaulted while being arrested last week will be investigated by the Independent Complaints Directorate, SABC news reported on Monday. Chauke had visible abrasions above his right eye when he was spotted by press outside the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday. Police, however, said he probably […]

SUSPECTED Unita rebels killed at least 30 people travelling aboard two trucks on the road between Saurimo and Lwena in eastern Angola, radio reports indicated on Monday. Police in Luanda confirmed the ambush and stated that some of the members were among the casualties, but could give no details of the attack. Highway attacks generally […]

ZAMBIAN President Frederick Chiluba on Friday apologised to the Zambian people for the mistakes that his government has made over the years. In an uncharacteristic address at the opening of parliament, Chiluba admitted that the quality of life for most Zambians has deteriorated further last year despite the government’s commitment to reverse the trends. “Along […]

THE National president of the 35000-strong vigilante organisation, Mapogo-a-Matamaga Business Shield, on Monday joined the United Democratic Movement. UDM provincial leader Reverend Kingsley Masemola welcomed Montle Magolego and said Mapogo-a-Matamaga has a role to play in governance. “The whole province and the UDM in particular acknowledge that Mapogo-a-Mathamaga has successfully eradicated crime in this province. […]

A HUGE debt burden remains a major impediment to attainment of sustainable socio-economic development of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) members, said vice- president Christon Tembo on Monday. Tembo, opening the sixth Comesa council of ministers meeting in Zambia, said most of the organisation’s member states used over 50% of their […]

MARTIN Dreyer became the first paddler from the Cape to win South Africa’s premier endurance canoe challenge by overpowering a machine-like Natalian challenge on the final day of the three-day race from Inanda Dam to Blue Lagoon on Saturday. Dreyer and Gauteng’s Mark Perrow are considering teaming up for victory when the KwaZulu Natal epic […]

INVESTMENT banking group Investec Botswana is to launch Botwana’s first private bank on February 1, Investec Private Banking (SA) MD Steve Helibron announced on Monday. Investec established itself in Botswana in 1995 and is dual-listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Helibron said in a statement that although the bank will […]