Ten years into our democracy, gender inequity remains a challenge. Since 1994 we have seen significant changes in policy development that reflect the government’s commitment to responding to this challenge. But implementation of progressive policies has been uneven and the high levels of unemployment, HIV/Aids and sexual violence against women have created a dire situation that government departments have struggled to respond to.
Mention the word "electricity" to Cameroonians and the chances are that they will laugh ruefully. For several years now, power cuts have been a fact of life in this West African country — crippling businesses and eating into economic growth. The predicted 4% growth in the country this year is significantly lower than the previous two years, and has been blamed on the erratic electricity supplies.
"I am concerned that we have lost sight of the symbolic and political significance of Women’s Day. It has become yet another reason for commercialised euphoria — a day on which we are all supposed to jump around celebrating our womanhood and accepting flowers from our men." Two young women argue against celebrating
and protecting women only one day a year.
Oom Krisjan has always been an admirer of those who exhibit grace under pressure, but those who can keep their dignity in the face of extreme cock-ups are, perhaps, equally worthy of our esteem. This is a tale of two luminaries who managed to escape the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune with their reputations intact.
Aldrin ”Ace” Ngobo and Jonas Nhlapo are two of the top South African referees included in the new panel selected for the 2004/05 soccer season. Also included are the two top match officials who officiated during the African Nations Cup in Tunisia at the beginning of the year, Jerome Damon and Lazarus Matela.
As far as big Burger Lambrechts is concerned, his young challenger Janus Robberts is good for an Olympic medal when the shot put heralds an historic moment on August 18. That is the day when the classical field event returns to its original site at the Ancient Olympia Stadium for the first time since 393AD.
Kenya are determined to shrug off the talent drain which has eaten away at their legion of top-class middle-distance runners by stamping their authority on the athletics events in Athens. Kenya has lost a host of runners in recent years with the destination of choice being the cash-rich Gulf.
It could very well be a scene from science fiction: machines able to detect suspicious sounds or even abrupt changes in visual patterns and alert authorities. It’s real, though, and in place for the Athens Olympics. Recent leaps in technology have led to highly sophisticated software that can turn street surveillance cameras into a security guard with intelligence-gathering skills.
England-based star midfielder Quinton Fortune’s days in exile are over. Fortune, a nimble left-footed player, has shunned Bafana Bafana for more than a year after being described by former Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba as being unpatriotic for failing to honour the World Cup bid match against England in Durban last May.
African Champions League co-favourites Esperance of Tunisia and Enyimba of Nigeria face contrasting tasks this weekend when the eight-club group phase reaches the halfway mark. Defending champions and Group A leaders Enyimba will do well to dodge an away defeat to Tunisian outfit Etoile Sahel.