Zimbabwe: Mukoko Loses Latest Bid for Freedom

Harare — Director of Zimbabwe Peace Project Jestina Mukoko and 15 others accused of recruiting people for banditry training and bombings were yesterday remanded in custody by the Harare Magistrates’ Court since the matter regarding their release is now before the Supreme Court.But after a later application was heard in chambers, the High Court will tomorrow rule whether Mukoko should be moved from Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison to the Avenues Clinic as ordered by the High Court last week.

Liberia: President Adopts New Tactics in Fight Against Corruption

No country can ever claim to have eradicated corruption totally. However, governments can put in place measures to bring the phenomenon under control, and in her recent policy statement on the issue President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia seems to have placed herself on the path to finding long-term solutions to a scourge that has permeated Liberian society and government from its founding days.Elected three years ago with the fight against corruption as one of her most important campaign planks, Johnson Sirleaf has complained often about endemic corruption in all branches of government – sounding, at times, on the brink of desperation. But her new policy statement is a clear departure from her past utterances, when she and others in the government have seemed at a loss for what to do.

South Africa: Factories Hit Historic Low As Recession Bites

Johannesburg — SA’s factories have put in their worst performance in nine years, hammered by the global recession and waning consumer demand and backing the case for an interest rate cut next week.The Investec purchasing managers’ index (PMI) plunged to 39,5 last month from 46,2 in October — well below forecasts and dipping below 40 for the first time since its inception nine years ago.Similar surveys in Britain, Europe, China and Russia showed factory output slumping to historic lows. In the US activity contracted at its fastest pace in 26 years.The dismal PMI readings for SA and its main trade partners were seen as likely to put pressure on the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates at its policy meeting next week to help stimulate the flagging economy.

Ethiopia gets Gold in Beijing

Ethiopia gets its first Gold medal in Beijing Olympic in 10,000 women’s run as it breaks previous record..

10,000 meter women runner and 5,000 meter World Record holder Tirunesh Dibaba broke the women Olympic Record of 10,000 meter. Tirunesh finished the 10,000 meter in 29 minutes 54.69 micro seconds. The previous Olympic 10,000 meter recorder was 30:17.49 registered in Sydney, Australia 30 September 2000 by Derartu Tulu, another Ethiopian and kin of Tirunesh.

Tirunesh was born June 1, 1985 in Arsi, Ethiopia. She is an Ethiopian long distance track athlete. She is a holder of both the outdoor and indoor 5000 meters world records. She is a member of an athletic family. Her elder sister Ejegayehu is also making her mark on the international stage and brother Dejene is marked as a future star. Their sister Genzebe won the junior race at the 2008 World Cross Country Championships. The 2000 Olympic champion Derartu Tulu is also their cousin.

SADC: March 29 basis for Zim power sharing

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Sunday said the power sharing government between the opposition MDC and Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF should be formed on the basis of the March 29 elections that were won by the MDC.

In a communiqué adopted after the end of the two day summit in Johannesburg, South Africa which failed to break the Zimbabwean political impasse, SADC said Parliament must be convened – saying that, while negotiations are continuing.

SADC said it is very crucial to convene Parliament to give effect to the will of the people as expressed on March.The opposition MDC party won the March 29 elections with a two third majority in Parliament, with Zanu PF being now the opposition since Zimbabwe gained its independence in 1980.

But the convening of parliament will however require consesus as the Memorandum of Understading signed said no parliament should be convened during negotiations

Despite the failure by SADC to resolve the crisis, the regional bloc however, urged the two political formations; Zanu PF and both factions of MDC to quickly finalise the power sharing talks and seal a concrete deal that will end the political and economic situation in the country.

SADC leaders also presented their proposals about the power sharing deal but Robert Mugabe felt threatened and rejected the deal completely.Tsvangirai then proposed that if Mugabe thinks the deal is not fair, then they should exchange the roles

His logic is that since Mugabe is saying the deal currently on the table gives the prime minister a lot of powers, then he must assume that position and Tsvangirai becomes president; said a diplomatic source. That suggestion made Mugabe furious and he rejected it.

Chad court sentences Habre to death

Former Chadian President, Hissen Habre was on Friday 15 August 2008 sentenced to death by a Chadian court. He was accused of trying to overthrow the government. Reports say the court sentenced him in absentia along with 11 other rebel leaders

They were also accused of crimes against the state security.Thirty-one other rebels were convicted in absentia and sentenced to life with hard labour.

Habre’s lawyer, El Hadji Diouf, reacted angrily to news of the death sentence, saying he had heard nothing of a trial in Chad.

It should be noted that Habre has been living in Senegal since fleeing Chad in 1990 after his government was toppled by present president, Idriss Derby.

Meanwhile, Senegal has been making moves to put Habre on trial for Human Rights crimes. Last month, Senegal’s parliament passed legislation that set the legal framework to put the former president on trial. The measure abolished the statute of limitations on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Among those sentenced to death is Mahamat Nouri of the Rebel National Alliance. Chad has accused Nouri of taking part in a failed coup attempt in February that left 700 people dead.