In their complex and protracted mediation efforts in Africa, South African negotiators have long since learned not to believe everything they read on the news pages. But they dare not ignore the finance pages. So when the New Forces rebel movement in Côte d’Ivoire reportedly pronounced the mediation efforts dead and buried this week, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad remained sanguine.
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Talk is cheap, but carrying out the promises you make less so. That being the case, has all the talk about ensuring equality between men and women in South Africa resulted in action where it counts most: the allocation of funds along gender lines in the national budget? Nearly a decade ago, the Ministry of Finance promised to provide a breakdown of ways in which the budget promoted gender equality.
Trade ministers from 33 countries on Thursday began crafting a ”rough” plan to conclude talks to liberalise global commerce further by 2006, paying particular attention to the interests of poorer countries, officials said. ”We want the Doha round [of trade talks] to be completed successfully next year,” Kenyan Trade Minister Mukhisa Kituyi said.
South African troops played just a small role in an attack on a Congolese militia camp this week, the South African Department of Defence said on Thursday. Two platoons of South African infantry were initially in reserve with some Nepalese troops while two companies of Pakistani troops attacked.
The wheels were in motion late on Thursday afternoon for the homecoming of 64 suspected South African mercenaries jailed in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean authorities were processing deportation papers for the men, after which they would be handed over to immigration officials, a Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said.
The number of United States troops killed in Iraq has topped 1 500, an Associated Press count showed on Thursday after the military announced the deaths of three Americans, while car bombs targeting Iraqi security forces killed at least four people in separate attacks. Meanwhile, talks aimed at forging a new coalition government faltered on Wednesday.
The chief executive of the National House of Traditional Leaders, Malungisa Gobe, has died in a car accident in Zimbabwe. Two other members of the House, spokesperson Sibusiso Nkosi and North West chairperson Chief ME Mabi, were injured in the accident on Wednesday, as was a Zimbabwean national travelling with them.
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Incessant questioning by relentless prosecutor Billy Downer appears to be taking its toll on fraud and corruption accused Schabir Shaik in the Durban High Court. ”It’s been a long trial. I have been under a lot of stress and my words are spinning out of context,” Shaik said at one stage.
Up to 20 people, including children, were killed in northern China when explosives stored in the home of a mine operator blew up near a school, local officials and state media said on Thursday. Local press reports said at least 20 children died and the Beixinzhuang elementary school was badly damaged in the Wednesday-afternoon blast.