African press review 5 June 2012

The justice system in Zimbabwe and a controversial painting in South Africa are among the issues covered in today's African newspapers....

The Mail & Guardian looks to Zimbabwe where the police are being accused of targeting supporters of the opposition MDC party. 200 supporters gathered yesterday outside the High Court in Harare to protest against charges being brought against 29 activists of the former opposition.

The South African paper reports that the activists are seeking bail after being charged with murdering a police officer a year ago. The activists deny the charges. Back in March, police officers were granted 40 euro bail each following the murder of a mineworker. Several people were injured during the investigation into the alleged theft of one euro and a cell phone from the wife of one officer, contributing to a feeling that justice is unfair.

Theresa Makone, public works minister, has vowed to "weed out murderous elements" in the force as rights groups report a surge in political violence and intimidation amid calls for elections within the next few months. No word yet from Mugabe's Zanu PF.

Staying in South Africa, a painting by Cape Town-based artist Brett Murray entitled The Spear which depicts President Jacob Zuma with his genitalia on display is causing quite a stir. Exhibited at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg, under 16 year olds have already been banned from viewing the painting. It was also defaced by two men a few weeks ago.

South Africa's The Star doesn't seem too impressed. It's referred to the painting  as "vulgarity masquerading as art"  - this as ANC supporters prepare to march on the gallery. The paper says freedom of expression is one of the the most abused liberties the country has and says "There are too many people today coming up with outrageous ways to express their thoughts and opinions, which leave very much to be desired" before comparing it to a carricature of Mohamed.

A topic that has divided the South African press, as not every newspaper editor there would agree there was such a thing as too much freedom of speech.

The British Virgin Islands is a tax haven which has pledged to help Kenya establish who are the owners of the company, Clinix Limited, which is linked to a national health insurance scandal. The Daily Nation reports that this comes as a parliamentary committee prepares a report of its investigations into companies without clinics who were paid to provide civil servants with medical services.

The Kenyan paper says it was informed that the departmental committee on health, which has been investigating the scandal, might give the Attorney General three months to provide the identities of the shareholders of Pharma Ltd as well as TBL Mirror Fund, which owns 16 per cent of Meridian Medical Centre, the other company contracted alongside Clinix. To be continued...

In Nigeria The Punch looks at the Airworthiness of the Dana airline flight that crashed in Lagos on Sunday afternoon. As can be expected conflicting reports on the plane's condition have appeared. The plane's owners insist it was fit to fly after undergoing a test flight between Ibadan and Lagos on Saturday.

Meanwhile an official from the airline, told television that the plane had been faulty shortly after it left Lagos and stopped over in Calabar. She said it had a history of faults with its hydraulics and said that the Indian owners of the airline insisted that the plane must take to the air with passengers, when it should have returned to Lagos for further repairs.

However the Director of Flight Operations at Dana Air, Captain Oscar Wason confirmed the aircraft had undergone a test flight and said he had personally flown it, adding that it was in perfect condition and that the airline’s engineers would never sign any aircraft into operation if it was not airworthy.

Relatives of the passengers on board will no doubt have to wait until the debris is cleared and an investigation is carried out before they can point a finger. As The Guardian reports, the plane's Black box has already been found. Preliminary findings suggest both engines failed, said The Punch.