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African press review 9 July 2013

Kenya's government refuses to cede to striking teachers. Tanzania and Uganda are winning the FDI race. Overseas Rwandands lose refugee status. Mugabe's opponents get together. 

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As the Kenya teachers' strike enters its third week, the Standard says the government has flatly rejected demands for house allowances equal to half of teachers' basic salaries.

Currently more than 250,000 teachers are paid house allowances totaling about 175 million euros. This figure would more than double if the government agreed to union demands for house allowances calculated as 50 per cent of the basic salary.

The government reportedly fears the spiral effect a settlement would have, since house allowances for civil servants are similar to those of teachers.

There are more than twice as many Kenyan civil servants as there are teachers, so an additional 600 million euros would be required to harmonise the house allowances of the two groups.

According to sister paper, the Daily Nation, the government on Monday put a 15-million-euro deal on the table in an effort to end the teachers’ strike, as union officials were ordered to appear in court to face contempt charges. The minimum demanded by the unions is almost three times the government offer.

Yesterday's proposal would see teachers get increased commuter, responsibility and special schools allowances, while medical cover will be provided by the National Hospital Insurance Fund.

Regional newspaper the East African reports that Tanzania and Uganda have widened their lead over Kenya in the race for foreign direct investment. The paper says lengthy licensing procedures and sluggish commercial dispute settlement are turning the multinationals away from Nairobi.

Data released this week by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development shows Uganda topped the region in attracting foreign direct investments last year, followed closely by Tanzania, mainly on the back of increased activity in the oil and gas sector.

The East African also reports that about 100,000 Rwandans, who fled the country in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide, have lost their refugee status and must either return home, regularise their stay in their host countries or risk living as stateless individuals.

This follows the coming into effect of a legal clause on 30 June that means that none of these Rwandans can enjoy international protection and assistance as refugees   because the circumstances under which they became refugees have ceased to exist.

They can no longer claim assistance from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The development is being seen as a major victory for Rwanda, says the East African, since Kigali has been campaigning since 2002 at the United Nations, arguing that the country has achieved peace and stability and there is no longer any reason for its citizens to continue to claim refugee status.

Rwanda’s Minister for Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, Séraphine Mukantabana, who was until a few years ago in exile in Congo Brazzaville, said the government was ready to issue those wishing to return with passports and to provide temporary accommodation.

In South Africa the financial paper BusinessDay reports that Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) on Monday announced a coalition with Simba Makoni, the leader of the Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn (MKD) political party, as the country’s largest opposition group manoeuvres to boost its chances of defeating President Robert Mugabe in the 31 July national elections.

Tsvangirai’s coalition with Makoni   a former finance minister in Mugabe’s Zanu PF government   will see the parties jointly back his candidature for the presidency.

Crucially, though, the announcement of the coalition did not include Industry and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube’s MDC, dashing hopes of a reunification of the two MDCs. Fears abound in political circles that any coalition less than a unification of the two MDCs could split the vote and give Zanu PF a winning edge.

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