Cameron Duodu : LETTER FROM THE NORTH Ever since I voted for Tony Blair’s Labour Party in the last general election in the United Kingdom, I have felt like a mug. I listen to Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown justifying the high interest rates by which my money is ruthlessly filched for a usurious […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Nairobi | Thursday 8.00pm. A MEMORANDUM of understanding on environmental laws in the three East African nations of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda has been adopted, the United Nations Environment Programme said in a statement in Nairobi on Thursday. Under the agreement, the three countries have agreed on common laws and regulations on wildlife, […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Thursday 7.30pm. THE head of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) has refused to hand the body of rebel Unita general Arlindo Chienda Pena to long-standing Unita chief Jonas Savimbi. Pena, known as “Ben Ben”, died on Monday of complications from malaria, according to the medical account, but Savimbi’s supporters alleged that […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Lusaka | Wednesday 7.00pm. FOURTEEN Zambian political parties have been de-registered with immediate effect, according to an announcement made by the national secretary of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy, Michael Sata. Sata did not provide reasons for the government move, but said the 14 parties will not be allowed to attend the […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Maseru | Thursday 11.30pm. AN urgent application by the wives of three Lesotho Defence Force soldiers arrested in connection with an army mutiny last month was heard in the High Court in Maseru on Thursday. The women have made the application to demand that their husbands be allowed to meet their lawyers privately […]

President Nelson Mandela on Thursday held talks with Rwandan vice-president Paul Kagame in Pretoria.

SARAH BULLEN, Johannesburg | Thursday 8.30pm. SOUTH Africa’s trade balance recovered to a R146-million surplus in September, after a deficit of almost R3-billion in August, according to figures by the South African Revenue Services on Thursday. The balance was boosted in South Africa’s favour by a 7,5% drop in imports, combined with a 16,8% rise […]

MIKE METELITS, Johannesburg | Thursday 11.00am. INTERNATIONAL markets gave the JSE no cheer on Thursday as stock indices closed lower. The strong recovery in trade figures boosted bonds minutely and kept the rand in a tight trading range. While the Nikkei gained only 79 points overnight, European markets were mixed. The FTSE-100 was up 22 […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Wednesday 3.30pm. THE South African Futures Exchange (Safex) has polled its members on a proposed change of hours, shortening trading by 30 minutes, but allowing almost two hours of “after hours” trading. Members have been asked to reply by October 27 whether they would favour closing trading at 17:00 local time, […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Pretoria | Wednesday 8.30pm. MILITARY bases bases in Lesotho secured by South African and Botswana troops will be handed back to the Lesotho Defence Force by the end of the month, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said on Wednesday. “It is intended to have the military bases cleared by October 30, […]