Consumers have a right to fuel and forex black market in Malawi
LILONGWE (IPS) – The black market for foreign exchange and fuel is booming in the midst of an acute scarcity in Malawi. The shortage is so severe that even the Consumer Association of Malawi, an influential consumer rights body, has come out in support of the black market. Since September 2010, there has been an erratic [...]
China’s finger is now in virtually every Zimbabwean pie and the Chinese Yuan may soon become the official currency
BULAWAYO, (IPS) – From downtown shops that stock cheap clothing and shoes that fall apart after one wear, to mining concessions in platinum, gold and diamonds – the Chinese finger is now in virtually every Zimbabwean pie. From city sidewalks to low-income suburbs, the Chinese have become part of the local population, and if some senior [...]
Swazi political prisoner nominated for Irish human rights award
President of the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS), Maxwell Dlamini, has been nominated for the 2012 Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. The award is presented by Front Line, an Irish-based human rights organisation founded by former director of the Irish Section of Amnesty International, Mary Lawlor, and is given to “human [...]
Army asked to evacuate flood victims in southern Malawi
Lilongwe. The Malawi Defence Force has despatched helicopters and marines to vacuate thousands of villagers who are stranded in Malawi’s flooded villages in the Lower Shire Valley district of Nsanje. Rodney Simwaka Nsanje District Commissioner says heavy rain down pours that have hit highland areas since last week have burst the country’s longest, Shire and another [...]
Malawi Law Society in solidarity with striking court workers
Lilongwe – About 35 lawyers under the banner of the Malawi Law Society Monday morning marched to the Lilongwe High Court to show their solidarity to the junior judiciary members of staff who have down tools since January 9, 2012, in a bid to force government to implement a salary increment duly approved by the [...]
Swazi student leader’s trial begins with prosecution witness lies
The trial of Swazi student leader and political prisoner, Maxwell Dlamini, finally started last week after having been postponed and delayed since last April, where Maxwell Dlamini was apprehended by police and allegedly tortured and forced to sign a confession to being in possession of explosives. At the trial, Maxwell Dlamini and his co-accused, Musa Ngubeni, [...]
New railway line set to boost economies of Swaziland and South Africa
MBABANE, (IPS) – The 146-kilometre railway line to be established between South Africa and Swaziland will help reduce the cost of doing business between the two countries. Swazi traders, who import most of their wares from South Africa, feel the new railway infrastructure will also have positive spinoffs for the consumer by lowering the prices of [...]
Black-market intelligence driving Malawi police
Lilongwe – Former ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) chief strategist Humphreys Mvula has condemned the Malawi Police Service for depending on ‘black-market intelligence’ to perform their duties. He was reacting to his summoning together with renowned human rights lawyer Ralph Kasambara for questioning over alleged plans to incite the public against government. Mvula said Southern [...]
Mining rush kneads Malawi’s economy
Lilongwe – Faced with a declining tobacco industry, which accounts for 70 per cent of Malawi’s foreign exchange earnings, the mining sector looks set to take over as the country’s leading economic life line. According to the department of Mining and Geological Survey, a state campaign to attract mining investors is paying off some dividends [...]
To create food security in Africa, focus on the value chain
The tragic famine in Somalia has once again focused concern on food security in Africa. There are many facets to this issue, and many solutions. None is easy. But, as the suffering in Somalia and other parts of the continent attest, all are necessary. Swaziland, a country about the size of New Jersey located in Southern [...]
Samuel L. Bangura: 
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FREEDOM FOR MOROCCO: 
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Mo Sande: