"If you see a set of bright, shining lights at night, it’s not a vehicle but a giraffe that got stuck in a pothole in the middle of the road. So, watch out," Zambians used to joke about the state of their roads a few years ago. Zambia, however, is too poor to shoulder the burden of repairing their roads alone. For now then, the responsibility of doing repairs is falling on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad).
In November 2003 the Cabinet approved a national plan for HIV/ Aids prevention, care and treatment. The plan estimated that 53 000 people would be placed on anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment by the end of March this year. Eight months on, fewer than 10 000 people with HIV/Aids are receiving anti-retrovirals through the public health system.
Political tension is threatening to split the 18-month-old Kenyan government of national unity as constitutional reform activists gear up for another weekend of street protests. It is reported that police shot eight people (including two primary school pupils) in Kisumu in western Kenya, after a clash with demonstrators at Saba Saba celebrations last week.
The United States Supreme Court’s two rulings that terrorist suspects held at Guantanamo Bay and in the US must have access to the country’s courts are among the most remarkable in the long history of that famous institution. The court ruling that Guantanamo Bay prisoners can challenge their detention is almost certain to lead to hundreds being released.
A South African pensioner nicknamed Flying Phil became the world’s fastest 100-year-old at the weekend when he broke the record for centenarian sprinting. Philip Rabinowitz entered the Guinness Book of Records by clocking 30,86 seconds over 100m, demolishing the previous record of 36,19 seconds.
Spectators attending the Athens Olympics could be forcibly removed from stadiums if they wear clothing bearing ”obvious logos of competitive companies to sponsors”, according to rules released by games organisers. The restriction will extend to hats, T-shirts, bags and other ”commercial items”.
Lance Armstrong’s most-feared rival has been quiet so far at the Tour de France, but the five-time champion is expecting a roar by the mountain stages. Jan Ullrich, a 30-year-old German who won the 1997 Tour, rode largely in the Texan’s shadows in an uncommonly nervy and crash-marred first week across flat swaths of Belgium and northern France.
Even with the renewal of a former rivalry, Michael Schumacher still came out on top. Now he looks to return to his native Germany in two weeks with a chance to equal a season record. After his 10th victory of 2004 at the British Grand Prix on Sunday, Schumacher can equal the record of 11 wins in a season at the German Grand Prix on July 25.
If ball possession and shots at goal statistics won a game, Supersport United would have decided their MTN Confederation of African Football champions league round-robin home tie against Esperance of Tunisia at Pretoria’s Securicor Loftus Stadium in the first few minutes of the first half during the two sides’ encounter on Sunday.
Kaizer Chiefs went through to the final of the Vodacom Challenge Cup when they beat TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo 9-8 on penalties at Mmabatho Stadium on Sunday. The two teams, who met in last year’s final, which Chiefs won 3-2 on penalties again, were level at 0-0 after regulation time.