- The government of Zimbabwe has been condemned for barring leading
international news media from covering the next weekend's general
elections.
Zimbabwe's act is not in tandem with international conventions it had
signed, guaranteeing "total access to national and international media."
The Paris-based Reporters sans frontiers the government's act forms part
of its designed authoritarian measures and irregularities.
“When they have taken stock of these latest developments, the
international observers accepted by the government will not be able to
pretend that the circumstances surrounding the elections were fine. It
is clear that press freedom, at least, has not been guaranteed, which is
a serious flaw for elections that are supposed to be democratic.”
Barely five days before the polls, Presidential Spokesman George Charisma
confirmed the
government's refusal to accredit most of the international media, including
the BCC, CNN and South Africa’s independent media group.
Zimbabwean authorities have not accepted western observers. Mr. Charamba
said the government was "mindful of attempts to turn journalists into
observers and security personnel from hostile countries."
South Africa's state broadcaster [SABC] was granted accreditation, but
with conditions that it would use equipment provided by Zimbabwe's
state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. Sac’s accreditation does
not cover the use of the broadcaster's own satellite transmission
equipment.
The Mugabe government has accepted the requests of some accredited
international media organisations that they needed additional support
staff. These organisations, which include Reuters, Agence France-Presse,
the Associated Press and Al-Jazeera, have been warned that their bureau
chiefs would be held "fully accountable" for their behaviour.
Some Zimbabwean journalists have also been banned from covering the
crucial elections. President Mugabe - who seeking a sixth term in office
- will be challenged by three candidates.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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