Freetown (Sierra Leone) – President Ernest Bai Koroma has condemned but observed that the spate of violence in Freetown, that saw the offices of the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party vandalised between March 13 and 16, 2009, was never political.

“The violence was no longer an issue between APC and SLPP supporters but rather a confrontation between criminals and the forces of law and order,” said the president, who returned on Sunday from a routine medical examination in India.

He described the ugly incidents as an attempt by a small number of unscrupulous and unpatriotic people to disturb peace and progress. He however, made it clear that he has the constitutional mandate to ensure that the full force of the law is brought to bear against any individual found to have committed criminal acts.

“We will not allow anybody, be they APC, SLPP or PMDC members, to hide under their political party as an excuse to incite chaos, hatred and sedition. Being a political party activist is no license to incite people against legitimate authority, or against the peace and stability of the country.

“My Government is committed to ensuring freedom of expression; but we have a greater commitment to protect lives, ensure stability, and promote development,” he said. He stated that “democracy is about peaceful disagreements, not violent confrontations. As a nation, we cannot and will not allow the actions of a small minority to undermine the progress that we have made.”

Meanwhile, the United States Embassy has issued a statement to denounce what it said was “politically-motivated violence.” “Embassy officials have met with leaders from the APC and SLPP parties, as well as government representatives, to stress the need for responsible leadership from all sides.”

The embassy said it was making every effort to promote a proactive dialogue to ensure that violations against people and property stop immediately, and calls on all sides to renounce violence, respect human rights, and resolve disputes legally and democratically.

“As March is Women’s History Month, it is particularly egregious that allegations of rape have surfaced. Rape has been strongly condemned by the international community as an instrument of war and inhumanity.

“A nation fractured by political tension is distracted from the governance and social issues affecting the everyday lives of its people. Leaders must promote unity between political parties to ensure their collaboration to achieve the overarching interests of Sierra Leone and its citizens.”

The embassy called on the people of Sierra Leone to do their part to restore and maintain tranquility and civility to the country.

“Mediation, rather than retaliation, is the hallmark of peaceful democracies,” the statement stated adding that the US government stands ready, both as a bilateral partner and as a member of the multilateral community, to assist the government, parties, and people to preserve the peace and stability so hard-won in this country.

In a nationwide address Tuesday evening the President called on leaders from all sides of the political spectrum to stand together and affirm their support for peace, democracy and development.

“I believe that now is the time to move past our differences and deal firmly with the violent actions of the few who seek to resist progress. I am confident that, together, we can move forward to make Sierra Leone the united, peaceful and prosperous nation that we all know it can be,” he concluded.

 

source.Concord Times (Sierra Leone)- March 19, 2009.

Johannesburg (South Africa) – Details of the ANC’s representations to the National Prosecuting Authority regarding party leader Jacob Zuma prosecution have emerged for the first time.

This comes as ANC anger over leaked information that the NPA was preparing to drop charges against Zuma targeted Zuma’s friend and senior party member Moe Shaik. The ANC’s Lindiwe Sisulu told the Cape Argus last night that the party made its representations to the NPA on February 4, arguing that Zuma’s prosecution should be dropped because it was not in the best interests of the country.

The key thrust of the ANC’s argument, said Sisulu, was that if the NPA had dealt expeditiously with Zuma’s case he, the ANC and the country would have seen justice done. Instead, it had turned into a years-long, drawn-out process, running up a bill of around R100-million.

“Most South Africans have to foot that bill and we are not convinced there is a winnable case here,” Sisulu said.

She heads a committee of 10 national working committee members, including Ngoako Ramatlhodi and Collins Chabane, which was formed soon after Polokwane to support Zuma in his legal battles. Sisulu said the committee of 10 had consulted widely – including another task team comprising Paul Ngobeni, deputy registrar of legal services at UCT, Venda University vice-chancellor Gessler Nkondo, Judge Willem Heath and academic and commentator Professor Sipho Seepe.

It was the committee of 10 that decided the ANC would apply to become a friend of the court in Zuma’s Constitutional Court bid to have his prosecution stayed, a decision taken in the interests of “a transparent, clean process”, the outcome of which would be accepted by everybody – and protect the country’s international standing.

The aim was to “dispel fears that (Zuma’s case) would be settled behind closed doors”, Sisulu said. “If we had wanted to do that we would have just folded our arms and let things take their course. But we did not go that route because it would not help us in the long run.”

Ngobeni this morning explained the ANC’s contention that the prosecution was not in the national interest. He said that if Zuma’s prosecution went ahead, his trial was unlikely to be completed in the next five years as a result of appeal upon appeal, and challenges to the constitutionality of laws concerning racketeering.

This had a negative impact on the image of the country, because it made the prosecution, who “could not even bring to trial a case for which they claimed they had prima facie evidence”, look incompetent.

The judicial system, institutions of democracy, the executive and the presidency have all been hurt, he said. “If you look at it, it is so disproportionate, so counter-productive, it makes no sense to spend that kind of money,” said Ngobeni.

Sisulu said the committee was content with the prospect of putting its arguments before the Constitutional Court, alongside Zuma, in May. But on
Monday, leaked information suggesting the NPA was to drop charges against Zuma, unleashed a storm of
criticism.

At the centre of that storm was Moe Shaik who told University of Pretoria students on Monday that newspapers would report the following day that Zuma’s charges would be dropped. Sisulu said she was “hopping mad” at Shaik. Shaik defended himself, saying he merely reported to the students information he’d received in a flurry of text messages.

source.Cape Argus (South Africa) – March 19, 2009.

Johannesburg (South Africa) ” While the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) remain tight-lipped about whether it would drop charges against African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma, opposition parties yesterday argued that any attempt to drop the case would suggest political interference.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) said that there was “no good reason” for the NPA not to proceed with its prosecution.

“It is possible that Zuma is pressurising the NPA to drop the charges against him in return for a guarantee that there will be no purge of NPA officials should he become state president. This, of course, would amount to political blackmail,” said DA leader Helen Zille.

She wrote to acting NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe, urging him to deny that he was letting Zuma off the hook.

“If the NPA agrees to withdraw the charges by means of a special, backroom deal with Zuma’s legal team, this would create the impression that the NPA had capitulated to pressure from the ruling party.

“The fact this deal was brokered on the eve of a general election would strengthen that perception.”

The Independent Democrats (ID) warned that dropping the charges would signal “a sign of things to come from the crowd that voted Zuma in at Polokwane”.

ID leader Patricia de Lille said it would send a message that “some are more equal than others”.

Both Zille and De Lille said they would pursue the possibility of a private prosecution if the charges were dropped.

The Congress of the People said, “We believe the former national director of public prosecutions, Vusi Pikoli, was fired to ensure that this Machiavellian plot was effected by the ANC .”

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) called for Zuma to prove his innocence. “My fear is that there might be perception at home and overseas that political exigencies have overtaken the rule-of-law — a political solution to a legal question,” said IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

The Freedom Front Plus said dropping the charges would make “a mockery of the principle that everyone is equal before the law”.

But the Young Communist League (YCL) said such a move would “restore” the NPA’s “tainted image and credibility”.

“We call on opposition parties to desist from interfering using an evil hand on this matter for cheap points scoring electioneering purposes, but should allow the process to unfold as part of finding a lasting solution to matters related to Zuma .”

Zuma faces 16 charges — one of racketeering, one of money laundering, two of corruption and 12 of fraud. His former financial adviser and convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik’s brother Moe helped to spark reports that the charges would be dropped imminently.

Shaik told students and ANC members at the University of Pretoria on Tuesday: “Many of you will be moved by what I’m about to say, but in the national newspapers that’s going to break tomorrow (Wednesday) morning is going to be the following headlines.

“The NPA has decided not to prosecute Jacob Zuma, ” he said.

source.Business Day (South Africa) – March 19, 2009.

Pretoria (South Africa) — The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation scheduled a meeting  Thursday in Mbabane, Swaziland, following the situation in Madagascar.

“The SADC Organ Troika meeting is convened specifically to discuss the current situation and developments in Madagascar following the resignation of President Marc Ravalomanana on Tuesday and the hand-over of power to the military,” said the Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday. According to the department, Defence Minister Charles Nqakula will lead the South African delegation to the meeting.

President Ravalomanana handed power to a navy admiral on Tuesday after a power struggle with the opposition on the Indian Ocean Island. Following the resignation, the army has named opposition leader Andry Rajoelina as the country’s new leader.

In response to the developments, South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Tuesday that SADC would “never countenance the unconstitutional transfer of power from a democratically-elected government”.

“In this regard, SADC urges all role players in Madagascar to resolve their differences through negotiations aimed at ensuring that a solution is found, which is constitutional and will restore peace and stability on the island, as a matter of priority,” the President said.

He called on all stake-holders to refrain from taking any action that may be unconstitutional, inconsistent with the democratic values of our region and the continent or lead to further loss of lives, injury or destruction of property.

Zambia on Wednesday became the first African Union (AU) member to call for Madagascar’s suspension from the bloc after the take over. Zambia said Madagascar should also be suspended SADC and called on the international community to take action against the new government, headed by Mr Ravalomanana’s arch rival Mr Rajoelina.

The AU’s Peace and Security Council is also scheduled to discuss the situation in Madagascar at a meeting at its Addis Ababa headquarters on Thursday.

Trouble has been brewing in Madagascar since January, when Mr Ravalomanana sacked Mr Rajoelina from his post in the capital. Mr Rajoelina, a former DJ and media entrepreneur, tapped into the rising frustration in the country over high food prices and service delivery to rally support against the president. He set up a parallel government and led massive street protests against his rival.

Over 100 people were killed in the protests, culminating in a demonstration outside the presidential palace in February when a further 23 were killed.

Madagascar is the fourth largest island on the planet with a population of around 20 million, a rich cultural history and breathtaking natural diversity.
In the relative stability of the last eight years, the country’s tourism sector has boomed, bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars. However most ordinary Malagasies have not seen any trickle down from the tourism industry. The country remains one of the poorest in the world.

source.Bua News (South Africa) 19th, march