JOHANNESBURG – Former South African president Jacob Zuma landed at OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday, following a trip to Cuba to receive medical care for an undisclosed illness.
Zuma was met at the airport by a group of supporters, mainly from the Radical Economic Transformation President Zuma Support Group. Senior ANC members were also on hand to receive the former president. A warrant of arrest was issued against Zuma after he failed to appear in court at his corruption trial on 4 February. His legal team submitted documents to the court, saying Zuma was ill and had not been in the country since 23 January. The warrant of arrest won’t be executed before he is due to appear in court again on 6 May. His supporters have claimed the warrant of arrest is “victimisation”, “unfair” and a form of “persecution”.
Malawi MPs reject bill to
amend presidential election law
BLANTYRE – Malawi lawmakers on Thursday rejected a bill that would have meant a president could only be re-elected after securing at least 50% of votes cast, dismissing a landmark order by the country’s top court. In its historic ruling, earlier this month the constitutional court overturned last year’s election of president Peter Mutharika and also ordered that a candidate should be chosen by more than 50% of the ballots cast. Under the current first-past-the-post electoral system for choosing a president, Mutharika won the election with 38,5% of the votes cast, a narrow win against his closest opponent Lazarus Chakwera. Just 109 parliamentarians voted in favour of the bill, failing to reach the two-thirds majority of 128 required to amend the constitution.
Summit urges Uganda to
probe ‘anti-Rwanda’ activity
GATUNA – Uganda was on Friday urged to look into allegations that anti-Rwandan rebels are operating on its territory before the long-shuttered border between the neighbours can be re-opened, during a summit of regional leaders. Rwandan president Paul Kagame and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, held a fourth round of talks mediated by Angolan president Joao Lourenco and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Felix Tshisikedi in a bid to end year-long tensions. In February 2019, Rwanda abruptly closed the border with its northern neighbour, severing a major economic land route. It accuses Kampala of supporting rebel groups and illegally arresting and torturing its citizens. Uganda, for its part, also accuses Rwanda of espionage. The heads of state met at the border town of Gatuna, which has become a virtual ghost town because of the closure.
Sudan to investigate violence
against protesters in Khartoum
CAIRO – Sudanese prime minister Abdalla Hamdok on Saturday ordered an investigation into a violent crackdown by security forces on protesters in Khartoum. Hamdok said in a televised speech: “I decided to form an investigative committee in the events that occurred on 20-21 February.” He said attorney general Taj-Elsir Ali would head the committee and a final report would be issued within seven days. On Thursday, Sudanese security forces used tear gas and batons to disperse thousands of protesters. They were demanding the reinstatement of army officers dismissed for refusing to crack down on demonstrations against former president Omar al Bashir, witnesses said. A doctors’ committee linked to the opposition said in a statement that at least 17 people were wounded, and many of the wounded were hit by tear gas.
– Nampa-AFP-Reuters-News24
