Zimbabwean media practitioners have launched a self-regulatory media body for journalists despite government threats of unspecified action against them. The non-governmental Media Alliance of Zimbabwe launched the Media Council of Zimbabwe (MCZ) earlier this month. If MCZ members have their way, the ruling Zanu-PF will cease its stranglehold on the operations of the country’s media
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The occasion of the Cape Town Book Fair seems a good time to reflect on the new world of African literature. I was in Arusha a few days ago and spent a series of memorable evenings with some remarkable Africans, many of them Nigerians. And late, late into the night, people started to talk about Biafra.
Cooking and cleaning are to become more expensive, the South African Oil Processors’ Association said on Monday. It said this was because of global shortages of raw materials for cooking oil, margarine and soap. The world palm-oil price had risen by 50% and that of Soya-bean and sunflower oil prices by 35% in the past four months.
Luthuli Dlamini, who has played the character of Stan Nyati in e.tv’s soap opera Scandal and who has been presumed missing for two weeks, is recuperating at his Johannesburg home after he fell ill, an e.tv journalist said on Monday.
The absence of regulations controlling the manufacture and distribution of medical products was endangering the lives of South Africans, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Monday. Briefing the media in Cape Town, DA spokesperson on health Gareth Morgan blamed Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang for holding back legislation to protect consumers.
The state has finally closed its case in the Boeremag treason trial after more than four years, but it could take several months, if not years, for the defence to conclude its case. Some of the defence advocates this week indicated that they intended launching an application for their clients’ discharge on some of the charges.
Police forensic-science laboratories have a backlog of 6Â 086 samples, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said on Monday. Crime investigating officers have to wait an average of 54 days for results of samples sent in. He said the largest backlog was in the Western Cape’s chemistry laboratory.
Rwanda and Burundi officially joined the East African Community (EAC) on Monday, signing accession treaties that will expand the regional economic bloc to five nations and boost trade. Officials said their entry into the EAC, alongside Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, would be effective from July 1.
The youngest of the five killers facing sentence for the murder of baby Jordan-Leigh Norton on Monday asked the Norton family to forgive him. Bonginkosi Sigenu (18) was the only one of the five to testify in the Cape High Court in mitigation of sentence. The others’ lawyers will instead address the court on their behalf.