Taboo cracks on HIV/AIDS in Libya
TRIPOLI, Libya (PANA)–When he came home after a long day’s work, Mokhtar was embarrassed when confronted with two unexpected questions from his nine-year-old daughter Zeina, a fourth grade pupil. "Tell me Daddy, what is AIDS? What does illicit sexual relations mean?" Mokhtar, who had so far managed to avoid discussing certain aspects of adult life with children, was speechless for...
Africa: In the line of U.S. fire?
ASKIAMand Saeed Shabazz Is Africa next war on terror target?Bush dismisses Black America as he targets West African OilU.S. covets Africa's black goldSouth Africa wants proof of Africa-Iraq nuclear connection Attacks on Kenya could herald new terror power plays in AfricaWASHINGTON (FinalCall.com)–As Kenya’s President Daniel Arap Moi and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi rushed here for security talks with President George...
South African singer gets honorary Ph.D.
Miriam Makeba (All Music Guide) Even though Miriam "Mama Africa" Makeba admits, "I never saw the door of a university," she now holds three university degrees. Makeba received her third honorary degree, a doctorate in literature and philosophy from University of South Africa, on her 70th birthday. The doctorate honors her achievement as a world-renowned singer and an anti-apartheid...
Zimbabwe opposition expels MP over policy differences
HARARE, Zimbabwe (PANA)–Zimbabwe’s main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party Nov. 23 expelled a rebel MP, accusing him of deviating from the party’s principles. Party spokesman Paul Nyathi said Munyaradzi Gwisai, MDC legislator for Highfield constituency in Harare, had been expelled with immediate effect. The move follows a series of incidents in which Mr. Gwisai, who is...
UK official: Pay Zimbabwe for land reform
GINNEWS HARARE (GIN)–The British official who chaired Zimbabwe’s independence process has called on the UK government to meet its promises in helping pay for land resettlement and agricultural reform that has been at the center of controversy in this southern African country. Lord Peter Carrington says money set aside at the time of the Lancaster House negotiations at independence should be...
Zambia continues to reject genetically modified maize
LUSAKA, Zambia (PANA)–Zambia’s Agriculture Minister Mundia Sikatana recently reiterated his government’s rejection of genetically modified (GM) maize due to the existing scientific uncertainty surrounding such foods. Mr. Sikatana told journalists here that the government had agreed with a recommendation by local scientists who recently returned from a study mission abroad that GM maize should not be accepted. For the...
Namibia eyes White farms for land redistribution
GINNEWS WINDHOEK (GIN)–frustrated over the slow pace of land transfers from Whites to landless Blacks, a Namibian government minister warned that the country may move to expropriate White-owned farms if White farmers continue to resist land reform. “There is a (provision) in our constitution that private assets can be expropriated in the public interest. Fair and just compensation must be provided...
South Africa wants proof of Africa-Iraq nuclear connection
***image1***JOHANNESBURG (IPS)–The government of President Thabo Mbeki has raised strong objections to a British intelligence dossier that suggests that an African country may have discussed selling uranium to Iraq for use in its efforts to develop nuclear weapons. British Prime Minister Tony Blair recently released an intelligence dossier on Iraq’s alleged attempts to develop nuclear weapons. The report says: “There is...
Mandela’s visit to Libya raises questions about U.S. policy
Mr. Young, emcee of the glitzy fund-raising dinner honoring Dr. Dorothy Height, president of the National Council of Negro Women, at first seemed to echo official U.S. anger over the visit that week in Tripoli by Africa's most popular president with the African leader Americans most love to hate. Continuing, Mr. Young said he then realized that President Mandela's action-like...