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Swazi Govt Delays Opening Schools
Swaziland’s minister of education and training, Phineas Magagula, announces that the opening of all public and private schools would be delayed by a week.
In a statement sent to media houses, Magagula states that the postponement was due to 'ongoing national duties', a vague reference to the Incwala ceremony, considered by traditionalists to be the Swazi national prayer (also a reference to the annual weeding of the King's fields)
Social media, trade unions, and international news agencies picked up on the story and reported that children were compelled to weed the fields and this amounted to child slave labour.
To read the article titled, “Swazi Govt misleads on child labour,” click here.Source:All AfricaSA Condemns Charlie Hebdo Attack
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation reports that the South African government has condemned the attack on French satire magazine, Charlie Hebdo in which 12 people were killed in Paris.
In a statement, Department of International Relations and Cooperation deputy director general, Clayson Monyela states that, “The South African government joins the international community in condemning the calculated and barbaric terrorist attack on journalists and members of the public in Paris, France...”
Monyela adds that, “[the] Deliberate attacks against journalists and members of the public contravene international law and constitute a crime against humanity.”
To read the article titled, “SA condemns Charlie Hebdo attack,” click here.Source:IOL News200 Families Evicted to Make Space for Mugabe Park
Armed police evict more than 200 families from a farm in eastern Zimbabwe to create space for a game park proposed by first lady Grace Mugabe.
Farmer, Aspinas Makufa declares that, “They ... ordered us to leave, but the government did not provide us with alternative land,” “We have nowhere to go and all our belongings will be damaged as the rains keep pounding.”
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, a nonprofit organisation which foster a culture of human rights in Zimbabwe, says it dispatched a team of legal practitioners to Mazowe to help stop the ‘illegal evictions’.
To read the article titled, “200 farmers evicted to make way for Mugabe Park,” click here.Source:Mail and GuardianCourt Ruling Brings Hope to Homosexuals
According to Log Raditlhokwa, a social commentator, many homosexuals and those who support their sexual rights lobby in Botswana and outside the country are elated.
Recently, the Gaborone High Court ruled that it is unconstitutional for government to deny gay and lesbian people the right to register their organisation called Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO).
Raditlhokwa argues that although government has decided to appeal the high Court judgment, the triumphant LEGABIBO is in high spirit as it hopes that its victory may eventually pave the way for the decriminalisation of homosexuality.
To read the article titled, “The cost of yielding to homosexual activism,” click here.Source:MmegiDiamond Traders Warn NGOs Over Marange
World renowned diamond traders and producers have castigated non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for disseminating falsehoods about human rights violations at the Marange diamond fields.
The diamond chiefs says the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme should stick to issues of certification and not involve itself in human rights.
Addressing the conference, chairperson of the Dubai Diamond Exchange and former director-general of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, Peter Meeus, says NGOs should not be controlled by foreign governments which have economic interests in the respective countries they operate in.
To read the article titled, “Stop soiling Zim diamonds, NGOs told,” click here.Source:All AfricaAdvocacy Group to Re-apply for Registration
Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) advocacy group states that it will re-apply to register as an organisation.
LEGABIBO will make a fresh application to the country’s registrar of societies, after winning a case in which it challenged government’s refusal to register the organisation.
During an interview, LEGABIBO coordinator, Caine Youngman, declares that, "We are working with our legal team to finalise our registration papers before submission tomorrow."
To read the article titled, “Botswana: Gays, lesbians re-apply for registration,” click here.Source:News 24Child Trafficking on the Rise - UNDOC
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) says that one third of human trafficking victims are children, and their share has been rising.
In its latest report, the UNDOC explains that the problem is most acute in Africa and the Middle East, where the majority of trafficked people are boys and girls.
The report acknowledges that human trafficking is a global phenomenon. acknowledges that human trafficking is a global phenomenon. UNODC has collected information about victims from 152 countries, who have been forced into sex work, forced labour and other activities against their will in 124 countries.
To read the article titled, “Trafficking of children on the rise, says UN,” click here.Source:Times LiveCourt to Hear R2K Applications on Key Points
The High Court in Johannesburg will hear an application for a list of South Africa’s National Key Points to be made public.
The Right2Know Campaign (R2K) and the SA History Archive (SAHA) want the list to be made public in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA).
R2K spokesperson, Murray Hunter, says in 2012, a request was made to the South African Police Service for the list of key points, but it was refused.
Civic organisations had complained that the secrecy surrounding National Key Points had been ‘used to undermine’ the right to know and to protest in public spaces.
To read the article titled, “High court to hear R2K application on Key Points,” click here.Source:The CitizenSA Urged to Tackle Xenophobia and Racism
Navi Pillay, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights says that South Africa urgently needs a national action plan to fight racism and xenophobia.
Pillay, who was addressing the Women's Network in Durban, believes that government should consult the whole community on what form of action needs to be taken to address racism and xenophobia.
Pillay, who is also a former International Criminal Court judge, maintains that: "I am always a human right protector and defender and I will continue to serve but in an informal capacity in whatever way I can."
To read the article titled, “Govt needs to take tough stance against racism, xenophobia,” click here.Source:SABC NewsPolice Intimidation Continues in Swaziland
Swaziland Police have harassed another progressive, Sifiso Mabuza, deputy secretary of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers.
About 30 armed police raided his home claiming they were looking for explosives, where they found none. Mabuza told local media the police questioned him about his union activities and threatened him.
Swaziland has a history of attacking workers' rights. It has banned the workers' federation, the Trades Union Congress of Swaziland, broken up its meeting and harassed and arrested its leaders.
To read the article titled, “Police intimidation continues,” click here.Source:All Africa
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