Presidents, prime ministers — how universally they hate to step down from power. Long after most of their people and colleagues wish they would go, they hang on, convinced that the country still needs them. Fraser Grace’s play about Zimbabwe in 2001, currently on stage in London, resonates with Britain in 2006.
The power struggle within Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party over President Robert Mugabe’s succession was brought to the High Court on Tuesday in a case in which former state information czar Jonathan Moyo is suing two senior members of the ruling party for defamation.
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Jacob Zuma’s return to his duties as African National Congress deputy president was not a mere formality, secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe said on Wednesday. ”The national executive committee [NEC] has to consider and pronounce itself on it,” Motlanthe said.
The 2006 outlook for sub-Saharan Africa remains good, supported by high commodity prices and the G8 Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative, Fitch Ratings said in a special report issued on Wednesday that coincides with the annual meetings of the African Development Bank.
Spot gold has moved through the $700-per-ounce level, while platinum has surged to a fresh record high. Precious metals are being buoyed by geopolitical factors, as hopes for a resolution of Iran’s nuclear stand-off fade and the weaker dollar prompts investors to seek refuge among the precious metals.
Dimension Data Holdings plc on Wednesday reported basic earnings per share of 1,9 United States cents for the six months ended March after a restated 0,6 cents for the same period a year earlier. On a diluted basis, earnings per share were 1,8 US cents. Turnover grew by 15,9% to $1,45-billion.
Listed South African retailer Spar Group has reported a 16,8% increase in headline earnings per share to 121,7 cents for the six months ended March from a restated 104,2 cents at the interim stage last year. Revenue rose by 22,6% to R8,2-billion from a restated R6,7-billion.
Another tournament, another disappointment? Spain makes its eighth straight appearance in the World Cup with hopes of success understandably low. A soccer giant at club level, the national team has lifted only one major trophy — the 1964 European Championship.
Springboks players likely to be involved in the World Cup will be exempt from playing Currie Cup rugby for the next two years. This was confirmed on Tuesday by Andy Marinos, the South African Rugby manager of national teams at a media briefing in Johannesburg.
Officials at the International Cricket Council (ICC) called for a ”responsible” reaction to the launch of their new six-year Future Tours Programme unveiled on Tuesday on its website. ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed added: ”The drafting of the new FTP was an incredibly complex process involving two years of analysis and 10 drafts.