Tuesday, February 24, 2009
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Amy Witherden.
Making headlines:
The Congress of the People's President Mosiuoa Lekota has promised that his party will not give members top jobs or forgive their mistakes by way of reward for their suffering during apartheid.
He said that party members would not be appointed because they had spent time on Robben Island or in exile.
In a veiled reference to disgraced African National Congress spokesperson Carl Niehaus, Lekota vowed not to tolerate corruption or cronyism. He also criticised the ANC for using former President Nelson Mandela in its campaign, emphasising that he would never endorse racketeering and theft.
Lekota also denied reports that he had opposed the naming of Mvume Dandala, former Methodist bishop, as Cope's Presidential candidate.

In other news, at the conference on Implementing Environmental Water Allocations in Port Elizabeth, it has been reported that African economies are especially vulnerable to water shortages.
World Bank senior water resources specialist Rafik Hirji says that many African economies are held hostage to hydrology. Africa's vulnerability stems from the extreme variability of its climate, a condition exacerbated by increasing climate change.
Hirji cites Ethiopia, Kenya and Mozambique as examples of African countries where there is a strong correlation between rainfall and gross domestic product.
The international conference aims to promote the sustainable use of water.

Also making news today, the United Nations' Human Rights Council says that rich nations should not cut back on their aid to the world's poor because of the global financial crisis.
In a resolution that failed to win the support of Western powers, the 47-member council urged all States "to refrain from reducing international financial resources for development".
The council backs recent calls to boost participation of developing countries in international economic decision-making, such as on the boards of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
The resolution states that the council is concerned that the universal realisation and effective enjoyment of human rights are being challenged by multiple and inter related global economic crises.

Also making headlines:
The International Criminal Court is to make a ruling on March 4 on whether to issue a warrant for the prosecution of Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.
The Independent Electoral Commission sets April 15 as the date for special votes.
Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change begs the Southern African Development Community not to withhold aid because of what has happened to money under Zanu-PF.
And the Azanian People's Organisation says that the SABC is biased.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.