Mixed reactions in Africa’s anti-graft fight

Anti-corruption campaigns are increasingly geared towards silencing leaders’ political opponents, say accused… Cases in countries such as South Africa, Malawi, Zambia and Nigeria show that in the course of removing the rot from the public service and instilling fiscal discipline instilling fiscal discipline, African leaders will apply all sorts of deception – be it politics […]

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Botswana’s lake that came back to life

Only animals had not written off Lake Ngami, an inland lake in north-west Botswana famous for the birds that breed on its shores… For residents of Sehithwa, 80 kilometres south of Botswana’s resort town of Maun, the fate of the once popular bird sanctuary had been written and sealed. The area that was once Lake […]

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Malawi warns Western tobacco dealers

Malawi’s president warns foreign tobacco merchants he will expell them if they continue to offer low prices… Mutharika’s warning comes at a time when tobacco sales have just commenced at the auction floors where farmers sell their tobacco to buyers who dictate the prices. He branded the buyers as colonialists “who are taking advantage of […]

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Malawian pastors want Veep released

Malawian Vice President Cassim Chilumpha has won the sympathy of the clergy who are demanding his unconditional release from house arrest… The clergy, who belong to the Pastors Voice Association, are asking the government to free Chilumpha, who was arrested on April 28 last year on treason charges, because “detaining the Vice President of a […]

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Madonna in Malawi for David reunion

The queen of pop returns to Malawi to meet her adopted son’s father and check aid work she is involved in… Her first trip to the impoverished southern African country of Malawi last year was not without controversy. US pop star Madonna adopted David Banda, now 18 months old and was accused by the civil […]

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Sudan’s wandering population homebound

Africa’s largest country has been at war with itself for nearly a half century, but as peace returns so are its people… Conflict in Sudan began just before independence in 1956 and, after a pause from 1972 to 1983, exploded with a fresh fury. It has been Africa’s longest, costliest, and deadliest war with parties […]

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Fresh cholera threat to Darfur refugees

As monitors warn of an impending crisis in Darfur after cholera arrives from the south, we visit the source of the virus in Sudan's jungle… There’s a reason why the guards in the truck ahead suddenly switch from relaxing in the sun to loading their Kalashnikovs and scanning the landscape for movement. A single tree […]

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