Africa – 28 Jan 2015
Zambia’s new leader drops white vice president
As interim president since the death in office of Michael Sata in October, Scott had been the first white leader on the continent since the end of apartheid 20 years ago.
He was replaced as vice president by Inonge Wina, a former gender minister and chairwoman of the ruling Patriotic Front.
Scott had sacked Lungu from his position as party general secretary during a power struggle after Sata’s death, but later reinstated him after rioting by supporters.
Scott, who is of Scottish descent, was prevented by the constitution from standing for the presidency himself as his parents were not born in Zambia.
He had told local media that he saw his role as interim president as largely ceremonial and was looking forward to handing over power so that he could enjoy his “gin and tonic”.
Lungu made several other new appointments to the cabinet after winning last week’s election, but retained Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda and Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba.
Times Live
SA: Negotiations still ongoing for SADC Uni-visa
The Department of Home Affairs says negotiations for the introduction of the mooted SADC Uni-visa are at an advanced stage.
While more information was not immediately available, Home Affairs spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete on Friday confirmed that negotiations were well underway.
“At this stage, we cannot tell when [the Uni-visa] is going to be introduced,” said Tshwete.
The idea is for the Uni-visa to apply to incoming international tourists. However, concerns have been raised that most tourists would choose Johannesburg as their point of entry.
The single visa would allow entry into countries in the 15-member regional bloc, which includes Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The introduction of such a visa for the region would facilitate the smooth entry and travel of regional and international visitors, especially within trans-frontier conservation areas, and add an estimated 3% – 5% to annual growth.
Revenue share would have to be worked out carefully since tourism visas are an important source of income for many of the SADC countries.
African Brains
African Union’s Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Slams Human Trafficking
As the 24th African Union Summit kicks off in the Ethiopian capital later this week on the 30th, today marked the first day of the 26th session of the Executive Council.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the chairperson of the AU Commission, opened the ceremony with a speech that set the tone for this week’s meetings that will culminate in the assembly.
She spoke much about the protection of the population, specifically the situation of young people as more and more try to enter the job market. Praising the advancement of the internet, Dlamini-Zuma said the increase in the number of entrepreneurs across the continent comes down to access to the online world. However, she stressed that the main obstacle that many young people complain of is access to start-up capital.
The AU chairperson also took a moment to talk about the “modern form of slavery” that continues to ravage parts of the continent: human trafficking. She said much needs to be done to ensure that these socio-economic fronts are also tackled.
All Africa
Boko Haram must be tackled globally: African Union
Boko Haram is a global threat that must be tackled globally, but with Africa in lead, Nkosazan Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, has said.
The chairperson made the remark on Monday at the opening of the 26th ordinary session of the AU Executive Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“I am deeply horrified by the tragedy Boko Haram continues to inflict on our people, kidnapping young girls from school, torching villages, terrorizing communities and the senseless killings,” she said, underlining the need to act collectively against the threat.
“What started off as a localized criminal gang is now spreading into West and Central Africa. We must act now, and act collectively against this progressing threat,” she said.
The AU Commission has accelerated its ongoing consultations with member states and other partners on how to deal with Boko Haram, she said, adding that it would be on the agenda of the Peace and Security Council during the 24th AU summit scheduled for January 30 to 31.
The chairperson expressed her deep appreciation to AU peacekeepers across Africa for their heroic contribution to peace and service of their continent and people.
Global Times