Africa currently has to pay for some of the most expensive bandwidth in the world. The region currently only has one major international fibre cable (SAT3) that connects countries in West and Southern Africa but East Africa has no fibre connection. All this will change if the proposed East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) cable is built as it will connect countries on the eastern side of the continent and if this new capacity is offered in a way that maximises use and lowers price. To help make this possible, APC is launching a new website “Fibre-for-Africa” and on March 10 will hold a consultation with more than 80 key stakeholders from all over Eastern and Southern Africa to ensure that access to EASSy -which will serve eight coastal and eleven land-locked countries- is ‘easy’, affordable and open.

“Since March 6, 1957, we as a people declared ourselves to be a people with one nation, commonly sharing diverse characteristics like religion, language, history, territory, institutions, culture, statehood or aspiration to statehood. The majority of the present generation was not involved in the fight for freedom from the ‘oppressor’s rule.’ Indeed, at all times in the struggle of a people, it takes a courageous few to be in the frontline - of course with a lot more unsung heroes in the shadows. But a question that has received varied responses, as many times as has been asked is, what we have done with our independence?"

Rights & Democracy is currently accepting nominations for the John Humphrey Freedom Award, presented every year to an organization or individual for outstanding contributions to the promotion of human rights and democratic development. The deadline is April 15, 2006.

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organisation, Liberia Watch for Human Rights (LWHR) welcome the launching of the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) on January 20, 2006, in accordance with Article XIII of the Liberian Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The Liberian TRC is notably mandated to conduct investigations and publish a report documenting gross human rights violations, violations of international humanitarian law as well as abuses that occurred, including massacres, sexual violations, murder, extra-judicial killings and economic crimes, such as the exploitation of natural or public resources to perpetuate armed conflicts in Liberia between January 1979 and October 14, 2003.

Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets of Nairobi and four major towns Wednesday in an emotive defence of Press freedom following the shocking raid of Standard Group's premises by hooded police commandos. Led by Orange Democratic Movement leaders, they spilled into the streets of Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu and Nakuru, to demand the resignation of Security minister John Michuki and his Information and Communications counterpart, Mutahi Kagwe.
* Related Link
'Standard' takes complaint to human rights commission

The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission has completed investigations on Central Bank governor Andrew Mullei over corruption allegations and asked the Attorney-General to take action against him. It means Dr Mullei could face court charges arising from allegations concerning his management, which had caused a major split between the Treasury and the Central Bank Board.

Racism and racial discrimination are on the upswing and becoming widespread throughout the world, with the current global situation confirming the worst expectations that man's worst tendencies are created in the womb, a United Nations expert on racism warned today (March 7). While racial discrimination used to be the province of extremist far right political parties, it is now becoming a regular part of democratic systems, being blended in for example with the fight against terrorism, Doudou Diène, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance told the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva.

Some 17,000 Sudanese refugees in Uganda have registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for repatriation, and the first batch could be home as early as next month. But humanitarian agencies say most refugees are reluctant to return home because they feel security has not been fully restored in Southern Sudan and that social infrastructure like schools and hospitals is lacking. This is the reason more than 150,000 Sudanese refugees in Uganda are yet to sign up to return home.

The recently held local government elections - held on March 01, 2006 - were neither an expression of the 'will' of the people nor a sign that 'our democracy is maturing' as Thabo Mbeki in collusion with the Independent Electoral commission [IEC] wants us to believe.

Instead, the elections should be viewed in the correct context: an unequivocal message to the ruling African National Congress [ANC] that the poor masses are 'gatvol'.

Unwittingly or wittingly, a substantial number of the electorate has rejected the top down neo-liberal policies that have exacerbated the country's poverty.

The government's apartheid era-style repressive response to civil society's organised 'election boycott' campaigns needs to be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

Just two days prior to the elections, the Durban City Council brutally attempted to prevent a legal march by the ever-growing movement of the shack dwellers 'Abahlali Base Mjondolo'.

Mainstream institutions and 'experts', who are always quick to remind us of how wonderful our 'democracy' is, are yet to condemn this horrific action and police repression in Khutsong, which, for many, undoubtedly, brought back memories of the 1980's, and the notorious 'State of Emergency'.

Despite the IEC's ambitious and extravagant 'Power of X' media campaign, less than 48% of the registered 22 million voters cast their vote. Of these, less than 11 million voted ANC. A large number did not even bother to register.

It is therefore puzzling that the ANC is "humbled" and "grateful" of this embarrassing situation.

What the ANC and government should be asking is why is the South African electorate so disillusioned with the electoral process, only twelve years since the first democratic election in 1994.

In the days leading up to the election, the public was bombarded with numerous clearly well calculated news items of how effectively government was 'delivering' on services. The evening news increasingly broadcast reports on government ministers and officials officially opening schools or clinics in indigent parts of the country.

'Kingpins' of this propaganda project should be made aware that there is absolutely nothing special with Manto Tshabalala Msimang opening a new clinic in KwaZulu-Natal or Naledi Pandoor opening a school in some rural area. It is simply their job for which they are handsomely remunerated.

And access to adequate education and health care are constitutionally guaranteed basic rights which, even after twelve years of so-called democracy, remain elusive for the majority.

The elections were also a further indictment to opposition parties, who had, in the midst of electioneering, portrayed themselves as an 'alternative' to the ANC, and pledged to fight corruption and poverty. Their failure to acknowledge that it is the top down capitalist policies of the ruling party that breed corruption and poverty grossly undermined their claims.

Whilst most progressive formations might be discouraged by the ANC's 66% victory, there is certainly an indication that the level of dissatisfaction with the current 'developmental' agenda is growing.

There is an urgent need to educate the poors on alternatives to neo-liberalism. The masses need to be made aware that there are alternatives to the current 'criminal' systerm that forces many to steal, lie, cheat, and even sell their bodies to survive.

Indeed, a systerm that seeks to commodify every aspects of our lives, with dire consequences for the poorest of the poor, must be condemned and fought with the same amount of vigour and rage that characterised the struggle against apartheid.

This is an opinion piece by Uganda's President elect, Yoweri Museveni. It begins as follows, "I salute the people of Uganda for, again, giving a strong mandate to the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Although there were organisational problems, such as, poor civic education, which led to 4% of "spoilt" votes, the clear margin of the NRM's win is unmistakable for those who are serious. The recent victory of the NRM in the just concluded Presidential and Parliamentary elections is the latest in the 40 years' struggle against sectarianism, subservience to foreign interests, criminality and backwardness."

African countries sharing the River Nile have launched a joint awareness campaign to protect the Nile waters. The Nile Basin water supports about 300 million people from 10 African countries: Uganda, Burundi, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. The Executive Director of the Nile Basin Initiative, Mr Patrick Kahangire, said increasing public awareness on the Nile water resources will help harness the river's endowments and improve lives of the 300 million people who depend on it.

Following up on an agreement reached on the contentious topic of internet governance at the November World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunis, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has decided to start creating a forum for a more inclusive dialogue on internet policy. According to his spokesman, Mr. Annan will establish a small Secretariat in Geneva to assist in the convening of an Internet Governance Forum, following consultations held in February by Nitin Desai, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for the WSIS that produced a consensus on the need for a strong development orientation.

Reflections on Genocide features a historic public multimedia exhibition of the Rwandan genocide rape survivor's stories, most of them HIV-positive today. The oral history gallery exhibit, Speaking the Unspeakable, is part of a new grassroots oral history documentary project, The Tubeho ("To Live Again") Project, launched recently by the UK-based and Rwandan Survivor's Fund (SURF) and the US and Rwanda-based Women's Equity in Access to Care and Treatment (WE-ACTx), both focused on empowering women with HIV.

Years of secessionist trouble in Senegal’s southern Casamance region claimed the life of a 10-year-old boy last week, killed by an anti-tank landmine over a year after the signing of a hard-won peace deal. The child, Cherif Sane, died while out collecting cassava with two friends from farms in the forested region around his village Dijbelor Baraf, some 5 km south of Casamance’s main city, Ziguinchor.

Pilgrimage to Self (http://pilgrimagetoself.blogspot.com/2006/03/honouring-african-women.html) honours the “Unheard Voices” of women who “keep the wheels of society and their community and indeed Africa well oiled and turning but who never get any sort of recognition for it.”

“This is for the woman who watches as her country is ravaged by war…This is for the woman who has been sold into marriage for sake of family, faith or tradition...This is for the woman who suffers abuse because of her colour, lifestyle, faith, opinion, background, ethnic group…This is for the woman looked down on because she has chosen to stay at home and look after her kids…This is for all of us who in one way or another are forgotten and maligned because of who we are – Women.”

Mshairi (http://www.mshairi.com/blog/2006/03/08/celebrating-women-international-w...) chooses to honour Africa’s women musicians - Angelique Kidjo from Benin, Sibongile Khumalo from South Africa, queen of Taraab’ Zuhura Swaleh from Kenya, Cesaria Evora from Cape Verde and Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba from South Africa.

“These musicians have seen me through sad times and brought calmness, joy and contentment in my soul when these were lacking. Their powerful songs can bring tears to the eyes or a smile to my face, depending on the occasion.”

Weichegud! ET Politics - (http://weichegud.blogspot.com/2006/03/honoring-african-women.html) honours the mothers of Ethiopians whose children have been slaughtered.

“In the late 70s, during the bloody White Terror followed by even more bloodletting in the Red Terror, Ethiopian mothers buried their sons and daughters who were slaughtered in the name of a wanton revolution. They were forced to pay the government for the bullets that killed their children. And later, they dug up skulls and skeletons from mass graves and held belated funerals.”

Black Looks (http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks/2006/03/honouring_afric.html) chooses to honour the women of the Niger Delta, especially Mrs Odua of the Egi Women’s Council.

“Mrs Odua was an activist and human rights defender who fought determinedly and without respite against unrestricted corporate power, state sponsored terror and the institutionalised tools of gender repression. She paid a high price for her activism and beliefs. Ostracised from her community, abandoned by her husband, disinherited by her in-laws. We should not underestimate the honesty and courage of women like Mrs Odua who resist the everyday oppressions in their own local communities.”

Zimbabwean Pundit (http://zimpundit.blogspot.com/2006/03/international-womens-day-honoring....) honours the women of Zimbabwe and Africa through the story of Grandmother Ambuya vaSekai, who is taking care of 5 young children, the eldest of whom is 6 years old. What happened to the parents of the children?

“Mzukuru (grandson), ambuya intoned, her voice breaking up as the emotion welled up inside of her, upenyu hwakaoma (life is hard). Vaurikuona ava ndivo vatova vana vangu (the infants you're looking at now my children). Vangu vekuzvara vasopera kare, amai vaChipo kadikidiki aka karimumaoko angu takavaviga pasina kana negore rese (All my offspring have long since died, you see Chipo over here, we buried her mom less than a year ago).”

Sisiogeblogs (http://sisioge.blogspot.com/2006/03/international-womens-day.html) chooses to honour those women why either by choice or enforced by biology, do not have children of their own. A mother herself, she writes:

“However, I also admire and remain in awe of the many brave women who make the decision not to dance to nature’s tune or tow the populist view by choosing not to give birth. The amazing thing about these women is that they often make great aunties, social mothers and surrogate mother’s alike.”

Adefunke on Adefunke (http://adefunke.blogspot.com/2006/03/celebrating-african-woman_08.html) chooses to honour the many women that have touched her life and in particular her mother, Princess.

“Widowed twice, she has managed to do a good job of raising two children, me and my 20 year old sister who has cerebral palsy. I learned the meaning of forgiveness as I watched her struggle with the hand fate dealt her. I learned the meaning of beauty as I watched her touch people with her kindness. I learned the meaning of perseverance as I watched her lovingly not give up on my sister.”

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks,

* Please send comments to [email protected]

TrustAfrica is looking for an exceptional individual to serve as its Program Coordinator. The successful candidate will have extensive experience in philanthropy in Africa and a deep understanding of the challenges TrustAfrica seeks to address. The position is based at TrustAfrica headquarters in Dakar, Senegal. Qualifications, Skills, and Characteristics required include: a good graduate degree; at least five years of successful grant-making experience at the international level and experience in at least two subregions of Africa; management experience in a nongovernmental organization in Africa is a plus; good understanding of African affairs. The successful candidate will also have knowledge of the main issues relating to TrustAfrica’s program areas (peace and security, regional integration, and citizenship and identity) and a good network of contacts from across Africa.

Sudan is Africa's largest country but more than 70% of its population live in its small towns and scattered across rural areas. The country sits strategically between Arabic-speaking North Africa and the Gulf and several sub-Saharan African countries: it is bordered by no less than 12 countries. The civil war in the south of country raged for over 20 years but now seems to be at and but troubles persist in the west of the country. Its oil revenues have created a building boom in the capital and attracted telecoms investment from the UAE (Canartel) and Kuwait (Celtel).

Millions of vulnerable people in Kenya and Somalia could face a catastrophe if sufficient food donations are not delivered to them in the coming months, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned. Addressing a news conference at the end of an 11-day visit to eastern Africa, WFP Executive Director James Morris described the situation in the two countries as "serious - very, very serious".
Related Link:
* Millions face hunger, in urgent need of aid

UNESCO has launched a high-priority Initiative on Teacher Training in sub-Saharan Africa (TTISSA) for 2006-2015. This Initiative will assist the continent's 46 sub-Saharan countries in restructuring national teacher policies and teacher education. It aims to increase the number of teachers and improve the quality of teaching. Seventeen countries are participating in the first phase of the initiative.

On or around Wednesday March 22, people in nearly 50 communities across the country will join together in public forums, "water walks," film showings and other events with a key message--keep water in public hands. KAIROS, Development and Peace, the Council of Canadians and CUPE all believe that equitable access to water is best accomplished when water and water services remain public, despite an increasing global trend towards commodification and privatization.

Foreign Direct Investment inflows and outflows of poor countries are unequally concentrated in a few geographical areas. With Africa hardly participating in FDI flows and Latin America recovering from its economic crises, Asia receives and provides the biggest stake of FDI flows among poor countries.

Despite making Monday a public holiday to allow Ugandans to turn up in big numbers to elect their mayors and directly elected councillors in 12 municipalities countrywide, the election suffered a low turnout.
Related Link:
* Uganda: A shrinking voters role

Ennat Edson didn't think it would end this way. Last year, she was making wedding plans. Now, at just 15, she is back at her mother's cramped, dingy house, nursing a fussing baby her former fiancé refuses to acknowledge is his. Here, and in isolated villages and crumbling cities across the most destitute continent, girls younger than 14 are finding boyfriends and getting married in a bid to escape the empty bellies, numbing work and overwhelming tedium of poverty. Encouraged by their parents, many marry much older men who they hope can give them a better life. Often, they are disappointed. "Poverty is the cancer in our society," says Joyce Banda, Malawi's Minister of Gender, Child Welfare and Community Services. "More girls are marrying young - not out of choice, but because they have no choice," according to the Mail and Guardian.

Teachers will go on strike to press for the speedy implementation of their salary increment. Kenya National Union of Teachers secretary general Francis Ng'ang'a asked the Government to conclude the payment this year or brace for a countrywide strike. While marking the start of elections of officials to serve for another five-year-term, Mr Ng'ang'a told Education minister Noah Wekesa to begin talks with the union on how the payment could be speeded up.

Africa's rivers face dramatic disruption that will leave a quarter of the continent severely short of water by the end of the century, according to a global warming study published on Friday (March 3). In the first detailed assessment of climate change on the continent's waterways researchers found that watercourses on the continent are highly sensitive to shifts in rainfall patterns. Even modest decreases in rain in western Africa will see rivers lose as much as 80% of their water, triggering a surge of what the scientists call "water refugees," according to the Mail and Guardian.

"It has come to our attention that there may be a lack of funding for the full participation of developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety at the 3rd Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties of the CPB as well as the 8th Conference of the Parties of the CBD, which will take place in Curitiba, Brazil, from 13-17 March and 20-31 March 2006 respectively."

Follow the link to find a copy of the full letter petition.

This month's meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Brazil will look at - among other things - how the effects of climate change are being addressed. The media can play an important role in stimulating discussion about the impacts and response to climate change in developing countries. But this survey of journalists and media practitioners in Honduras, Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Zambia shows that often the media have a poor understanding of the climate change debate and express little interest in it.

The pages of Ghana's international migration story are filled with contrasts. According to the country's 2000 census, the population of 19 million is composed of a mosaic of ethnic groups, virtually all of whom claim to have migrated to Ghana from other regions of Africa. The Castle of St. George d'Elmina and other infamous abodes of the "doors of no return" mark the paths of slaves destined for the Americas. The current Ghanaian government has swung these "doors" back open, hoping to persuade American and Caribbean descendents of the slave trade to live in Ghana. Meanwhile, Ghanaian citizens continue to emigrate to North America, Europe, and other parts of Africa. The economic, political, and social woes of the past three decades have created a new diaspora of Ghanaians searching for opportunities elsewhere. As a result, Ghana is often highlighted as a nation struggling with the effects of brain drain.

A group of electees representing the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) in both the Addis Ababa City Council and the federal parliament this week started attempts at reviving the stalled process of legalization of their party. CUD, which used to constitute four parties, decided on September 24,2005 to merge into one unitary party. But the merger was put on hold when one of its constituting party, EDUP-Medhin, leadership declined to give full support and put preconditions to go ahead with a complete merger.

The integration of a gender focus into sector-wide approaches for development (SWAps) presents a number of challenges and opportunities. Case studies of health SWAps in four sub-Saharan African countries suggest that the approach has raised the profile of gender in ministries, but has not yet received the support or capacity to fully integrate gender equity into policy.

Under the direct supervision of Head of South Sudan Office or Team Leader of the Project, the project officer supports the planning and management of project by providing and managing data inputs, providing support to coordination, monitoring and implementation and following up on recommendations.

Half of Kenya's Sh55million Commonwealth games budget will be spent on allowances for officials, The Standard has revealed. The country is sending one of the largest delegations to the 'Club' Games in Melbourne, Australia, with officials making up a third of the 160-strong team. The full list of the travelling party to the Games obtained by The Standard on Sunday paints a picture of extravagance and contradictions. All but two of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) officials are travelling.

Southern African nations are to increase their scientific collaboration with Japan through an organisation called the Southern Africa Science and Technology Community (SASTeC), which launched last month (31 January). The group is made up of staff at the embassies in Japan of member nations of the Southern Africa Development Community, reports SciDev.

Some four million registered voters in Benin began queuing Sunday (March 5) at polling stations throughout the West African country to choose a successor to President Mathieu Kerekou who has been in power since 1972, except for a five-year break when Nicephore Soglo ruled. Twenty-six candidates are in the race for president. But political analysts believe candidates Adrien Houngbedji, Bruno Amoussou and Yayi Boni are front runners. Kerekou and Soglo are not running this time because the constitution bars people in their age category, 70, from contesting the presidency.

Three opposition parties with representation in Parliament have come together to form the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) with a view to float one Presidential candidate in this year's elections. The United Party for National Development (UPND), Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) and UNIP formed the alliance and would soon meet to elect a leader of the alliance through a vote before elections. But Heritage Party (HP) president Godfrey Miyanda has said his party would not force itself on the proposed opposition alliances if not invited while the MMD welcomed the formation of UDA as it signified the strength of the ruling party.

The making of a plan and sticking to it is the key to eradicating slums worldwide, the United Nations said Wednesday. "We must incorporate the culture of planning in our towns and cities," said Anna Tibaijuka, executive director of UN-HABITAT, during a keynote speech at a one-day seminar on the Urbanization Crisis in Tanzania in Moshi, a town near Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Many urban centers have taken passive attitudes when it comes to planning but Tibaijuka insists slum-free urbanization can be a reality but only if the master plans are managed well, reports United Press International.

This paper focuses on sub-Saharan Africa and considers some of the most significant obstacles that African girls face in achieving the education that is their right. The paper reviews the most significant initiatives - those that are 'gender-neutral' and those that have a specific focus on gender equality - that have enabled African countries to overcome these obstacles. The paper argues that the education system needs to be accessible to both boys and girls, it needs interventions that specifically targets girls, and to reduce costs of education.

Slowly dragging its shell onto the beach, a turtle emerges from the ocean. It is midnight and the moon is casting its shadow over the remote, white-sandy coastline of Boa Vista - one of the ten islands that make up the West African island-nation of Cape Verde. The strong sea breeze does not seem to bother the turtle as it slowly, but determinedly, finds its way among the dunes in search of a safe spot to lay its eggs. Once found, a two-hour ritual then begins as the prehistoric sea creature meticulously digs a 30cm hole with its rear flippers. This exhausting exercise will provide a nest for more than 40 whitish, golfball-sized eggs.

This paper outlines the considerable challenges facing girl mothers leaving fighting forces who seek to reintegrate into their communities in southern and western Africa. Often stigmatised and rejected by their communities, these girls struggle to find ways to earn a living to support themselves and their children in the face of economic and sexual exploitation. The authors call for improved support from their communities so that mothers can better care for their children and earn their own living. They speak of a need for a healing period prior to reintegration, as well as access to public medical services, education and skills training.

The Strategies for Hope website has been updated in recent weeks. You can now download the first two titles in the 'Called to Care' toolkit - 'Positive Voices' and 'Making it Happen'. Strategies for Hope materials are used for information, training, planning and advocacy purposes by a wide range of organisations and individuals, including health institutions, NGOs, community groups, international agencies, faith-based organisations, employers' associations, trade unions, women's organisations, youth associations and organisations of people living with HIV/AIDS.

iLoveLanguages presents an impressive array of language resources, from the obscure to the commonplace. iLoveLanguages purpose is to list, categorize, and promote Internet resources related to language learning, education, and use. Aside from the obvious online dictionaries, grammar references, and culture sites, iLoveLanguages contains links to language schools, translations services, and software as well.

Pygmy chief Mbomba Bokenu says he may soon let loggers cut his people's forests, and all he expects in return are soap and a few bags of salt. "The Pygmies are suffering, we accept what we are given," said Bokenu, draped in brown civet-cat skins and holding a slender carved-wooden shield. "Our children live in dirt, they suffer from disease. Soap and salt is a lot to our people." The Pygmies, though, should expect - and demand - much more under proposed rules meant to ensure forest communities benefit from the wealth all around them.

A staggering response by ordinary South Africans to an appeal for sanitary pads for Zimbabwean women, hit by shortages and rocketing prices, has floored activists. "The appeal was made by South African 5FM radio at the beginning of the year. “When we went to collect the pads this week - we found every empty corner and space in their studio was crammed with sanitary pad packets with little notes from families, mothers and even school girls," said an emotional Lucia Matabenga, the first vice-president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). "We found notes which said this was an attempt to 'restore the dignity of Zimbabwean women - we are with you'. We are grateful; we are really grateful," she added.

Cameroon's former water minister Alphonse Siyam Siwe was charged with corruption and remanded in jail on Saturday, a day after being sacked by President Paul Biya over the accusations, a prison source said. Siyam Siwe, 53, had been held in Cameroon's main prison of Kodengui in the capital overnight Friday, said the source who requested anonymity.

"Historically, slavery and colonialism played a major role in ingraining corruption in the minds and behavioral patterns of colonized people," says this article from "It is common knowledge that some colonial administrators and soldiers were themselves corrupt and used corruption as a tool for maintaining a hegemonic position within colonized societies. People previously united were divided, conquered and brainwashed. Artificial divisions were also created between house slaves and field slaves."

Journalists from Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) have taken the state broadcaster to court over low salaries, writes Gugu Ziyaphapha on the website The journalists and other ZBH workers decided to seek the intervention of the courts after their employer refused to award them the increase they want. The management is offering 30% yet the reporters are asking for an 800% increment. According to court papers filed at the labour court, a junior reporter gets Z$1.6 million (R45) and senior journalists get Z$7 million (R200).

In Khayelitsha, diarrhoea and gastro-enteritis have overtaken HIV/Aids as the biggest killer of children under five years with the deaths doubling over the last four years. By mid- 2004, 60 Khayelitsha toddlers had died of diarrhoeal disease, a preventable and treatable illness. “Lack of access to basic services does impact on the health of a community, especially children,” said Dr Ivan Toms, head of Cape Town’s health services.

A few months ago, the average Mauritian might have looked blank if asked what "chikungunya" was. Now, they're probably all too familiar with the term. Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease that has swept through islands in the south-western Indian Ocean over recent months. The infection rate in Mauritius is climbing by the day - with health ministry officials putting the number of confirmed cases at 1,322, Thursday.

John Githongo's recent revelations about corruption in Kenya are timely and welcome. What most people do not realize is that in most 3rd world countries corruption is top-down-bottom-up i.e. it originates from the president, and over 95% of acts of corruption (by value) result in a large (typically 80%) share of the proceeds going back up the ladder directly to the president. The 20% share stays with the perpetrator of the corruption; and the 80% guarantees that the perpetrator enjoys protection at the highest level. The illegal income of the average 3rd world president is usually composed of many many such scams, some very large and others comparatively small. I state the above based on personal experience while working on World Bank and EU Projects in Uganda and Tunisia in 2005.

As Githongo estimates, 7% of the GNP of Kenya disappears in corruption; this is probably a typical value throughout the 3rd world. The result of this is that the functions of government, ministries, police, armed forces etc are totally diverted from their stated purpose into the business of ensuring the required cash flow for the top man. No wonder that most 3rd world governments are ineffective in building their economies, but are remarkably effective in appearing to destroy these self-same economies; no wonder that so many important government functions end up being implemented by aid donors and NGOs. Indeed, because of a multiplier effect, 7% of GNP disappearing in corruption is probably equivalent to a 21 - 28% of GNP loss to the economy.

While we in the West are congratulating ourselves, we should consider the role of our oil companies (especially Shell), our mining companies, and of course the international diamond monopoly, de Beers. These people instigate and collaborate with corruption in order to make 3rd world presidents rich and their people poor; their top management of course benefit, and in some cases their shareholders.

The solution to these problems? First of all, an exposure of this reality and an end to denial and cover-ups by western politicians, western leaders and western media. The populations and voters of western democracies must not turn their backs on their less fortunate fellow humans just because they themselves have money in their pockets. The truth will eventually set free the victims of this anything-but-victimless crime.