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African press review 21 October 2014

Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa will be robust over the next twelve months, according to the International Monetary Fund. But energy supply problems, strikes, and weak global and domestic demand will limit South Africa’s share of that growth.

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The IMF forecast that the region’s economy will grow by 5.1 per cent this year and 5.8 per cent next year, while South Africa is seen growing at just 1.4 per cent this year and 2.3 per cent in 2015.

The report highlights the ebola outbreak and high debt ratios as the major challenges facing countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

President Jacob Zuma’s special adviser on business, Sandile Zungu, says the government needs to recognise the line between "enthusiastic" ministerial oversight and political interference.

As background, you should know that last week, the board of the loss-making South African Airways collapsed after four directors resigned.

Workers at the South African Post Office have been on strike for the past 10 weeks, its CEO is on special leave and the Special Investigating Unit of the police is looking into allegations of "serious maladministration".

Zungu says differences of opinion between the government shareholder and company management should be resolved in the boardroom, not in the media.
 

Incidentally, if you're on your way to the beach in Durban, don't bother. All the city's most popular swimming spots have been closed because of fears of shark attack.

Heavy storms and rough seas last week damaged shark nets, forcing the Ethekwini municipality to close the beaches for safety. The closure order is expected to remain in place until the end of November.

Zambian President Michael Sata has left for a medical check-up abroad at an undisclosed destination, his office said yesterday.

The statement said Sata left on Sunday night, accompanied by his wife and members of his family but gave no further details.

Concern about 77-year-old Sata’s health has been mounting since June, when he disappeared from the public eye without explanation and was then reported to be undergoing medical treatment in Israel.

Sata failed to deliver his scheduled speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

The state-owned Zambia Daily Mail carries the official statement, but gives no further details.

The Times of Zambia simply adds the news that Defence Minister Edgar Lungu has since been appointed acting president.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has said that freedom of the Press has improved in Africa although a lot still needs to be done.

Kikwete was speaking at the African Journalist of the Year ceremony in Dar Es Salaam.

Kenyan journalist Joseph Mathenge of The Standard newspaper won the top award.

In Kenya itself, The Daily Nation reports that president Kenyatta has accused unnamed nations and foreign institutions of funding efforts to encourage the country’s youth to hold extremist views.

The president insists that his government will defend Kenya’s sovereignty against foreign agents and their collaborators by ensuring transparency in the way money is raised and spent in both the public and private sectors.

He also criticised unnamed political leaders, accusing them of dividing Kenyans along ethnic and religious lines.

Kenyatta warned that the government will not succumb to threats of terrorism.

The Daily Nation also reports that turf wars among top policemen are hampering operations at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

Many officers have failed to report for promotion training, while others transferred to Criminal Investigation have not been released because of what The Daily Nation calls in-fighting pitting the directorate’s boss and the Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service.

About 800 officers due for promotion last year have not attended the requisite courses.

The Kenya Police College has refused to admit the officers citing serious shortage of instructors, facilities and space.

Kenyan exam papers are selling openly in various parts of the country.

The Kenya National Examination Council has published a list of cheating hot-spots.

Yesterday, a 21-year-old Kenyatta University student was arrested in Nyamira County with exam papers loaded onto a computer disk.

The Kenya National Examination Council has dismissed as “fakes” any papers offered for sale, and has warned of dire consequences for anyone found engaging in the scam.
 

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