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African press review 18 March 2015

The main story in the South African financial paper BusinessDay has the finance minister, Nhlanhla Nene, blaming the government for eroding South Africa’s economic growth potential.

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Nene also warns of the dire consequences of electricity shortages, which will see unemployment rise and incomes stagnate over a prolonged period.

His presentation to a private government planning meeting, seen by Business Day, stands out from suggestions frequently put forward by President Jacob Zuma that the global economic crisis is primarily responsible for poor economic performance.

Although Nene’s presentation warns that the global economic slowdown looks increasingly permanent and South Africa will have to adjust, the minister says the main problem is unresolved structural weaknesses in the economy.

These include poor skills, inadequate infrastructure, domination by monopolies and inefficient labour markets. Additional problems that have eroded growth potential over the past few years include labour disruptions, low confidence in the economy and poor private investment.

The presentation notes that "in several respects, government is in part responsible for the slowdown in growth". Among the government’s shortcomings are: weak regulatory institutions, poor service delivery, governance problems at state-owned companies, legislative uncertainty and contradictory policies.

On its agriculture pages, BusinessDay reports that the global production of sugar is set to exceed demand for a fifth straight year, leading to the biggest stockpiles on record, according to the International Sugar Organisation.

The world sugar price, already down 51 per cent over the past three years, is poised to fall further, a boon for buyers in the sweets and confectionary industry.

The Standard in Kenya reports that President Uhuru Kenyatta's summons to appear in person at the International Criminal Court last year was the last act of desperation by the prosecution at the Hague-based court.

The President's lawyer says he advised Kenyatta to attend a court conference in October to defeat an attempt by the prosecution to have a warrant for his arrest issued.

He says the summons was stage-managed by a prosecution team that had already realised their case was too weak.

Uhuru was charged with crimes against humanity arising from the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya, but ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has since withdrawn the charges.

Across Nairobi, The Daily Nation carries a report saying that the Kenyan anti-corruption commission has successfully prosecuted only three people in three years.

Of the 9,465 reports of corruption received by the commission over that period, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission took up 4,501, according to a report it has presented to Parliament.

The rest of the complaints were distributed to other investigative agencies like the National Police Service, the Kenya Revenue Authority and the Independent Police Oversight Authority.

Also in The Nation, a report that head teachers have vowed to fight the government's school fees directive.

The principals say it will be difficult for them to reduce schools fees this late in the term. Last month, the government ordered the general reduction of school fees.

Critics accuse the ministry of failing to consult teachers on the new fee structure.

There's plenty of mud being slung on the front page of this morning's Ugandan Daily Monitor.

According to the Kampala-based paper's top story, opposition Forum for Democratic Change president Mugisha Muntu says President Yoweri Museveni tells lies to keep himself and his government in power.

Muntu made the accusations on Monday during the campaign for the Bugiri District by-election. President Museveni, canvassing for the ruling party candidate, urged voters not to vote for the opposition, accusing them of being liars.

Also in The Daily Monitor, news that the number of Ugandans infected with the HIV virus has dropped by 10,000 since 2013, according to the incoming minister of Health, Dr Ellioda Tumwesigye.

Uganda is likely to have more than two million people living with HIV by 2020.
 

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