African press review 18 December 2014

Must Scott go? Will Boko Haram attack the emir of Kano? How did a snake embarrass a deputy governor? Can Kenyan parties agree on anti-terror law? Wll the rouble's troubles destabilise South Africa? And why has an NGO taken legal action against Malema?

The main headline in this morning's government-owned Times of Zambia leaves no room for debate: "Scott must go," we are told, with the story explaining that the cabinet yesterday asked Acting President Guy Scott to resign with immediate effect.

According to the Lusaka-based Times, the spokesperson for the group of 14 ministers, Foreign Affairs chief Harry Kalaba, told journalists that following the death of President Michael Sata last October the transition had been led by Scott in what the minister described as a “dangerous and haphazard manner”

He further accused Scott of leading the transition process without due regard for the peace, security, unity and stability of the nation.

The ministers accuse the acting president of repeatedly abusing their confidence and trust, as well as persistently working against the ruling Patriotic Front.

The Patriotic Front yesterday sacked Guy Scott from his position as party vice-president.

The acting president has responded by refusing to step down. Scott said yesterday that he was aware that some individual members of the cabinet had called upon him to tender his resignation but he emphasised that he would not do so, saying there was no provision in the laws of Zambia that demanded his departure.

"I am not going to resign,” he said.

Scott described the meeting that called for his resignation as "a serious act of treason", since only the president has the right to convene the cabinet.

In Nigeria the front page of Punch is divided between yesterday's death sentences for 54 army mutineers, the collapse of the value of the naira and the latest threat issued by Islamic militant group Boko Haram.

According to Punch, Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the violent Islamist group, has threatened to attack the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, for the emir's efforts to mobilise support against Boko Haram.

Sanusi recently asked Kano State residents and vigilantes to arm and defend themselves against future terrorist action following a recent attack on the Central Mosque in Kano.

In a video message yesterday Shekau condemned Sanusi and adherents of other Islamic sects, describing them as infidels who have abandoned the true doctrine. He said they should be ready to repent and practise Islam as preached by his sect or else face the consequences.

The Nigerian Daily Trust reports that a snake last Sunday terrorised guests at a function hosted by the deputy governor of Cross River State.

According to the story, a big black snake gatecrashed a function attended by important dignitaries at the deputy governor's official residence.

Witnesses said the boa constrictor rolled through the lush green grass in the hot afternoon as invitees, domestic staff, government officials and even security operatives scampered for their lives.

Some youths and brave guests rallied to the occasion and chased the snake away.

The jittery deputy governor muttered to his guests to stay calm and apologised for the embarrassment.

In Kenya, the main story in the Standard predicts a clash in the National Assembly later today when the controversial security bill comes up for its third reading.

The oposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy is now demanding that the bill be shelved in its entirety, without any amendments.

President Uhuru Kenyatta says the changes are neccessary to facilitate the fight against al-Shebab "terrorists".

The ambassadors of nine countries represented in Nairobi released a statement yesterday urging the two rival parties to strike a consensus on the contentious bill to ensure “full respect for human rights and the rule of law”.

BusinessDay in South Africa reports that the rand headed close to its lowest level against the dollar since the 2008 financial crisis on Wednesday as the implosion of the Russian rouble created widespread emerging market jitters.

Reserve Bank officials have emphasised that the South African central bank does not have the resources to support the rand but it could hike interest rates in the first half of next year despite record low fuel prices driving down inflation.

The main story in South African tabloid paper the Sowetan reports that non-profit organisation AfriForum yesterday lodged criminal charges against the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, Julius Malema. This, after Malema encouraged his supporters at the EFF Congress in Bloemfontein on Tuesday to illegally occupy land.

Malema says poor South Africans need the land to work and to eat. AfriForum has based its charges on the Unlawful Occupation of Land Act which makes it illegal to occupy land without the consent of the owner.