Friday, April 9, 2010

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Brad Dubbelman.

Making headlines:

The World Bank last night approved a controversial $3,75-billion loan for the development of the Medupi coal-fired power plant by South African State power utility Eskom, despite a lack of support from major shareholder countries.
The US and the Netherlands said that they abstained from voting on the loan because of environmental concerns about the project, while Britain said that the project raised "several sensitive and potentially controversial issues" that it had been unable to resolve ahead of British elections.
Eskom has defended the development of the 4 800-MW Medupi plant, saying that it is critical to easing the country's chronic power shortages as well as to ensure electricity flows to neighbouring States.
The World Bank said that the loan would help "South Africa achieve a reliable electricity supply." World Bank vice-president for Africa Obiageli Ezekwesili said that South Africa would face hardship for its poor and limited economic growth without an increased energy supply.

Zimbabwe will one day be a "shining example of black economic empowerment" to South Africa, according to an editorial in Zimbabwe's Herald on line yesterday.
White South Africans need to cooperate with the government to address inequalities, the editorial read, adding that "South Africans will also begin to take what is rightfully theirs by force if they see no progress in land redistribution," just as Zimbabweans became frustrated with the willing buyer-willing seller approach. The writer said that the fruits of Zimbabwe's land reform programme were beginning to be seen through the large payouts received by new tobacco farmers.
The writer found it sad that African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema's call for the redistribution of wealth was being "myopically dismissed by the whites in South Africa as madness".

President Jacob Zuma yesterday described the visit by Congo Republic President Denis Sassou-Nguesso as a fitting reminder of the determination of African countries to forge their own destinies.
The two Presidents signed agreements on economic cooperation, maritime transport, and arts and culture at the Union Buildings in Pretoria yesterday. Zuma said that these would lay the basis for greater economic interaction between the two regions and expressed commitment in ensuring that sufficient attention is given to the effects of climate change for Africa.
Zuma also announced the launch of the Joint Commission for Cooperation, which had been agreed on in 2003, aiming to deepen cooperation.

Also making headlines:

African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema says that he is not "remorseful" about chasing a BBC journalist from a media briefing yesterday.
The Sudanese government is adamant that elections will go ahead despite fraud claims, boycotts by opposition parties and international pressure.
The African National Congress launches its appeal against an interdict on singing "shoot the boer", but says that its call to exercise "restraint" in singing the lyrics remains in force.
And, the International Crisis Group says that the Democratic Republic of Congo risks falling into anarchy owing to an "authoritarian trend" in governance.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.