Like many children in northern Uganda, Omony has witnessed boys and girls committing terrible crimes. But he can talk about his experiences in a way others cannot. The reason: because 15-year-old Omony is a character in a radio soap called Ngom Wa, which is allowing northern Ugandans to confront the horrors of an 18-year civil war in which children have been both victims and aggressors. Jeevan Vasagar in Gulu reports.
A Free State judge has sharply condemned delays in DNA testing in a murder case in the province, media reports said on Wednesday. ”Must we close the courts, sit and twiddle our thumbs and do everything in Africa time to accommodate a national police commissioner who doesn’t do his job?” asked judge Arrie Hattingh in a circuit court sitting in Harrismith.
The United States government has been accused of trying to undermine the Chávez government in Venezuela by funding anonymous groups via its main international aid agency. Millions of dollars have been provided in a ”pro-democracy programme” that Chávez supporters claim is a covert attempt to bankroll an opposition to defeat the government.
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Pierre Moynot, the executive of the French arms manufacturer charged alongside Jacob Zuma for corruption, may have incriminated himself when he testified in the Schabir Shaik trial. The defence team for French arms dealer Thint said that when Moynot testified in the Shaik trial ”he [was] not warned by the state that the questions he will be asked may incriminate him”.
Hard-pressed Iraqi government forces were forced to strike a truce with Shi’ite militia fighters on Tuesday, as fierce fighting followed by a pipeline explosion left 155 people dead. Officials said that 81 people died in Diwaniyah in Monday’s clashes between security forces and militiamen and that on Tuesday a fire at a fuel pipeline outside the town killed 74 more.
Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang is breaking the law by making unproven claims about the effectiveness of alternative ”treatments” for Aids, according to the South African Medical Association. She has been dubbed ”Dr Beetroot” because of her advocacy of a beetroot, garlic and lemon diet for people with Aids.
The tobacco industry is ”on top of things” when it comes to the government’s proposed tougher anti-smoking legislation, according to the Democratic Alliance’s former health spokesperson, Dianne Kohler-Barnard. She also said she will ”fight to the death” for smokers’ rights. She made these statements last month in a series of e-mails.
Turffontein Racecourse is to be transformed into a premier night-racing venue. ”The money will see Turffontein become a luxurious racing venue with about 70 weekend and night race meetings being held there annually. Additional race meetings may also be held at Randjesfontein,” a statement said.
Controversial legislation placing an outright ban on any form of South African involvement in mercenary activities was approved in the National Assembly on Tuesday. Introducing debate on the measure, Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota said mercenaries are the scourge of poor areas of the world, especially Africa. ”These are killers for hire,” he said.