Features
- Zimbabwe
HIV-positive farmworkers are forgotten
Little is being done to provide treatment and care for Zimbabwean farmworkers living with HIV/AIDS since the government launched its controversial fast-track land redistribution programme in 2000.4 October 2006 - IRIN - South Africa
Zuma slammed for views on homosexuality, same-sex marriage
Outraged human rights activists have slammed former South African deputy president Jacob Zuma's condemnation of same-sex marriages.
28 September 2006 - IRIN - Media Conference
Highway Africa@10
Each year, more than 500 delegates from across the globe attend the conference to discuss issues relating to Internet governance, ICT policy and media for democracy.25 September 2006 - Zachary Ochieng - Tanzania
Early marriage puts girls at risk of HIV
Data collected by the Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) shows a strong correlation between HIV/AIDS, early school exit, teenage marriage and pregnancy.21 September 2006 - IRIN - East Africa
More funds needed to ensure peace in DRC, Uganda - Egeland
While peace has suddenly become distinctly attainable in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other African nations, the international community will need to help the process along with an infusion of funds, Jan Egeland said Tuesday at the conclusion of an eight-day peace tour through the continent.14 September 2006 - IRIN - Lesotho
Lesotho corruption case a watershed for corrupt officials and bribe-paying corporations
Lesotho has tackled corruption in the multi-billion-rand Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme head on and prosecuted corrupt officials and bribe-paying corporations. Corporations can be held to account for criminal behaviour in Lesotho. To second-guess the African bench and paint it with the uniform brush of "corruption" is inaccurate and offensive. The World Bank and the home countries of the corporations implicated in corruption in the Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme gave no support at all to Lesotho in its efforts to tackle corruption.14 September 2006 - Hennie Van Vuuren - Africa
Apology no cure-all for Africa''s ills
A delegation of Christian leaders from Britain, Germany, France, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and the United States of America to Zimbabwe last week asked for forgiveness for sins committed by their ancestors against Africa but did not enunciate any meaningful initiatives tailored to address current pressing African needs such as poverty alleviation, AIDS, education and health issues and prevent a recurrence the very injustices and atrocities committed by their forebears. The churchmen have chosen to ignore the fact that an apology for sins committed a century ago means absolutely nothing to oppressed, displaced, diseased, impoverished and starving Africans who are unnecessarily subjected to these ills by erstwhile liberation heroes who spearheaded the fight for independence from colonial rule.13 September 2006 - Mavis Makuni - Nigeria
Domestic workers or modern day slaves?
Human traffickers make good business taking poorly educated girls from Nigerian villages to toil as domestic workers in the sprawling urban throb of Lagos. But the girls, some as young as five years old, see little or none of their earnings.
13 September 2006 - IRIN - Botswana
True men to fight HIV/AIDS
In northern Botswana True Men get together to reduce the number of HIV/AIDS infections. They do not discriminate against anyone and share with others what they know about HIV/AIDS and what could be done. Going for HIV testing, passion killings, abuse of women, how to change their behaviour toward partners and alcohol and Setswana sayings such as "a man is supposed to be shared" are topics to work out together.13 September 2006 - Ofe Motiki, Francistown - Nigeria
Government cracks down on Biafra separatist resurgence
More than three decades ago Onitsha and the bridge across the Niger were key battlegrounds as Nigeria fought a bloody civil war to prevent the attempted secession of the Republic of Biafra by the region's mainly ethnic Igbos. Now Onitsha is once more at the centre of the latest attempt to resuscitate the Biafra cause.4 September 2006 - IRIN - Uganda
Preparing to start a new life
An uneasy calm has returned to most parts of northern Uganda, 20 years after the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) launched its war against the Ugandan government.30 August 2006 - IRIN - Uganda
Gov't and rebels sure of an end to 20-year conflict
Both the Ugandan government and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) were upbeat on Monday about a peaceful end to their 20-year-old war that has killed thousands and displaced almost two million people in the north of the country.29 August 2006 - IRIN - South Africa
''Constitutional crisis'' over ARVs
South Africa could face "a grave constitutional crisis" that could leave judges considering whether they should "continue on the bench", the Durban High Court said on Monday August 28/06 . A court ordered government to speed up treatment of prisoners at Westville prison. A Government spokesman said the issue was whether a court should be able to determine an aspect of government policy.29 August 2006 - Giordano Stolley - Cote d' Ivoire
UN condemns nation's prison conditions
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Cote d'Ivoire on Thursday issued a scathing report on the country's penitentiary system, saying people were being held in overcrowded, unsanitary, crumbling prisons, with severe malnutrition a leading cause of death.18 August 2006 - IRIN - Sudan
Darfur needs a UN peacekeeping force that can provide security for civilians
Only a renewed and determined engagement by the UN and the international community can offer hope for an end to the people's suffering.
17 August 2006 - Amnesty International