Zimbabwe toilet man wins prize

Zimbabwean researcher Peter Morgan has been named the winner of the 2013 Stockholm Water Prize for developing low-cost toilets.

• Bucket system still rife in SA
• Some prefer bucket toilets: De Lille
• Cape Town considering microchips in toilets

Rajoelina warns polls may not go ahead

Madagascar strongman Andry Rajoelina says presidential elections scheduled for July will probably not be held because international donors have pulled the plug on funding.

• Rajoelina not eligible to run in polls – AU
• Ex-Madagascar leader to contest polls
• Stay out of polls, Madagascar rivals told

Zim cops detained for attending rally

Zimbabwe's police force have detained three of its officers for attending a rally of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's party.

• Zim generals: We won't meet PM
• Zim rocked by water shortages
• Zim PM: We will end police, military abuse

Malawi sells presidential jet for $15m

Malawi's luxury presidential jet, bought by late leader Bingu wa Mutharika, has been sold for $15m to raise cash for the country, a government official says.

• Malawi president to sell controversial jet
• Mutharika: Private jet cheap for Malawi
• Women don't like female bosses – Banda

Stay out of polls, Madagascar rivals told

The UN leader Ban Ki-moon has backed African calls for Madagascar strongman Andry Rajoelina and two rivals to withdraw from the country's presidential election in July.

• Rajoelina not eligible to run in polls – AU
• Uncertainty remains in Madagascar
• Ex-Madagascar leader to contest polls

Moz doctors strike for higher pay

Mozambique doctors have gone on strike demanding higher pay and accusing the government of reneging on a January promise to double their wages, the medics association says.

• Mozambique doctors end pay strike
• Moz doctors set to strike over pay
• Mozambique doctors on strike

Zim PM: We will end police, military abuse

Zimbabwe PM Morgan Tsvangirai says his party will end years of bias and abuse by the police, military and intelligence services.

• MDC vows to reverse indigenisation drive
• Zim polls 'are about plans and ideas'
• Tsvangirai party pledges trim army

Zim lawyer vows to fight on

As Zimbabwe approaches watershed elections, a renowned lawyer at the forefront of defending human rights activists has vowed never to give up.

• Mugabe to weigh case against Zim judge
• Zim rights lawyer hit with new charges
• Zim judge probed after activist's release

Zambia arrests 31 food subsidy protesters

Zambia police have detained on the president's orders at least 31 university students who were protesting against the government's decision to scrap staple food subsidies.

• Zambia scraps key food subsidy, risks ire
• Zambia fears food riots
• Sata fears food riots over high prices

Tsvangirai confident will oust Mugabe

Zimbabwe's prime minister says he is ready to win the presidency in upcoming elections and return the nation to the world community after years of isolation.

• Zim polls 'are about plans and ideas'
• Polls: Zim media brace for fresh onslaught
• Tsvangirai party unveils post-poll plan

Zim polls 'are about plans and ideas'

Zimbabwean PM Morgan Tsvangirai has set the tone for his party’s election campaign, saying the terrain "will be determined by those that are able to give answers to Zimbabwe's challenges".

• Tsvangirai party unveils post-poll plan
• Polls: Zim media brace for fresh onslaught
• Tsvangirai warns Zim security chiefs

Tsvangirai party unveils post-poll plan

Zimbabwe PM Morgan Tsvangirai's party is set to unveil plans to win back foreign investors and clip the security services’ wings if it wins upcoming elections, party officials say.

• MDC has a robust future – Tsvangirai
• Tsvangirai warns Zim security chiefs
• Morgan Tsvangirai full interviewwatch

Lesotho princesses can't be chiefs

Lesotho's top court has upheld a law that bars princesses from succeeding their fathers as traditional chiefs, a decision activists say dealt a "serious blow" to women's rights and gender equality.

• Sangoma found cooking farmer's body parts
• Lesotho facing food crisis
• Prince Harry visits Lesothoview

Uganda threatens to punish media

Uganda has threatened to penalise media for coverage of a purported plot to stifle allegations that President Yoweri Museveni is grooming his son for power.

• Ugandan general faces arrest, aides jailed
• Uganda president hands out bag of cashwatch
• Uganda detains Besigye ahead of rally

Swazi broomstick flying witches to fly low

Witches flying broomsticks in Swaziland above 150m will be subjected to arrest and a hefty fine of R500 000, civil aviation authorities say, according to a report.

• Swaziland urged to hike witch-doctor tax
• Kenya cops probe 22 witch killings
• Zimbabwe 'witches' to face trial

SA ready to assist with Zimbabwe vote

South Africa has a responsibility to provide financial or logistical assistance to cash-strapped Zimbabwe to hold free elections, the international relations department says.

• Tsvangirai warns Zim security chiefs
• Zim parliament OKs draft constitution
• SA may help fund Zim elections

MDC has a robust future – Tsvangirai

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says his party MDC has a "more robust future than the archaic Zanu-PF", adding he is ready for the forthcoming elections in Zimbabwe later this year.

• Morgan Tsvangirai full interviewwatch
• New Zimbabwe constitution to parliament
• Obama administration ditching Tsvangirai?

Swaziland voters begin registration

Voters have begun registration for elections in Swaziland, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, with unions and the opposition calling for a boycott of what they dismiss as a “rubber stamp” poll.

• Swazi activist charged with sedition
• Sanef opposes Swazi media sentencing
• ANC demands change in Swaziland

Rajoelina urged not to run in polls

The SADC has urged Madagascar leader Andry Rajoelina not to run in upcoming elections to ensure peace and stability on the troubled island.

Zim parliament OKs draft constitution

Zimbabwe's lower house of parliament has approved a draft constitution that was overwhelmingly endorsed in a March referendum, paving the way for new elections.

• New Zimbabwe constitution to parliament
• Mugabe blocking reforms - Tsvangirai
• Intimidation begins ahead of Zim electionwatch

ANC demands change in Swaziland

The ANC has called for the democratisation of neighbouring Swaziland, in a rare public rebuke of the country's ruling monarchy.

• Swaziland will be a democracy - Cosatu
• Return Swazi prisoner to SA: ANCYL
• SA's Swaziland loan hits a snag

New Zimbabwe constitution to parliament

Zimbabwe's draft constitution has been sent to parliament, where it is expected to be approved after it was overwhelmingly endorsed by citizens in a March referendum.

• Ex-Zim minister: Unity govt has failed
• UN still open to Zimbabwe poll funding
• Ancestral thumbs up for Mugabe – report

Zim detains newspaper editor, reporter

The editor and chief reporter of a leading weekly the Zimbabwe Independent have been detained by police after publishing a politically sensitive article, a report says.

• Zim journalists face increased intimidation
• NZ journalist tells of horror Zim jail
• Exiled Zimbabwe paper is back - report

New charges against SA pilots in Namibia

Namibian police have brought fresh charges against 12 South African pilots arrested over the weekend for violating Namibian airspace and entering the country illegally, according to a report.

• SA pilots arrested in Namibia
• Plane lands on N7
• SA film-maker, pilot die in crash