The Sudanese government expects to sign a final peace agreement with the southern rebels in "several weeks," Vice President Ali Osman Taha said here Wednesday. "We expect this (signing) to take place in several weeks," Taha said when asked by journalists about the chances for ending the 20-year civil war.
Fuel prices in Zimbabwe have been increased for the fourth time this year, climbing by up to 75%. The new prices will apply to ordinary motorists while public transport companies and government departments will continue to buy their fuel at a highly subsidised rate.
A government-appointed team on Tuesday handed over to the health minister a detailed plan on how to fight the scourge of Aids in South Africa, including the provision of anti-retroviral drugs, a spokesperson for the team said.
African leaders on Wednesday voiced regret over the collapse of World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks, saying there should be a fair global trade system to help integrate the continent’s economy into the world market.
In a major empowerment deal in the liquid fuels industry, South African petrochemicals company Sasol’s Sasol Oil and Exel Petroleum have announced that they intend to apply to the Competition Commission for approval to merge their businesses.
The South African rand remained below R7 per dollar in early trade on Wednesday, after breaking this level on Tuesday for the first time in three years. While currency traders said there might be a bit of profit taking, dollar sales were helping the rand retain its robust tone.
South African banking group Absa chief economist Christo Luus is forecasting that the rand will move to R6,50 to the United States dollar in 2004. The South African rand remained below R7 per dollar in early trade on Wednesday, after breaking this level on Tuesday for the first time in three years.
Deputy President Jacob Zuma, apparently responding to a challenge issued by the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions, told the SABC on Tuesday that he was ready to appear before the Hefer commission. The NDPP urged Zuma on Monday to present the commission with evidence that Bulelani Ngcuka, head of the NDPP, was abusing his power.
Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), on Tuesday said the country should remain suspended from the Commonwealth. Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth in March last year over its poor human rights record.
Rapper LL Cool J joined entertainment executives on Tuesday in defending the music industry’s lawsuits against hundreds of internet users who illegally distribute music online. ”My question is, if a contractor builds a building, should people be allowed to move into the building for free?”