Wednesday, May 20, 2009
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Beth Shirley.
Making headlines:
Speaking at a Business Development Forum event, United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said that President Jacob Zuma's newly enlarged Cabinet has a chance to prove that size does matter.
It may look like a "bloated bureaucracy," he said, but if service delivery is improved then President Zuma cannot be faulted
Holomisa believes that Zuma's Cabinet appointments indicate that he has "rewarded his lieutenants". He adds that it remains to be seen whether they will be competent in running a government.
Lack of experience among Ministers may mean they take "a long time" to get off the ground, said Holomisa, especially where new departments have to be launched.

In regional news, the World Bank says that grant funding to Zimbabwe will not go through the government, which has yet to demonstrate to the international community that it can manage the country's economy with prudence and transparency.
The World Bank's Vice President for Africa says that some $22-million in grants from the Bank are being spent on behalf of donors through international agencies, aid and church groups, to help small farmers and the poor in Zimbabwe.
Media reports this week said that the World Bank would make its first grant available to the Zimbabwe government since 2001, signalling re-engagement with the bankrupt southern African country. However, the institution has denied the reports, saying the World Bank is not lending to Zimbabwe's government.
Re-engagement with Zimbabwe would require the new unity government of President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to develop a credible programme to rebuild the country's economy and implement reforms.
In normalising relations with donors and securing financing, it is also important for Zimbabwe to clear its arrears with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and African Development Bank.

Back in South Africa, the National Consumer Forum will request that the National Energy Regulator of South Africa rejects Eskom's proposed 34% price hike.
The forum alleges that Eskom is using contradictory arguments to push for price increases, expecting consumers to pay more while the economy shrinks. NCF chairperson Thami Bolani says that Eskom had, this time last year, argued that a positive economic climate causing unexpected growth in energy usage, was the reason for getting consumers to pay more.
Bolani says that it is in direct contradiction to its previous argument that Eskom now says it wants a 34% increase because the economy has worsened.
In a worsening economic climate, demand falls and prices are meant to drop, said Bolani.

Also making headlines:
Madagascar's new leader Andry Rajoelina seeks recognition in Africa after a takeover that has been branded a coup by many.
An antipiracy body backs off from the proposal of an international maritime force to fight piracy.
And, Human Rights Watch accuses Democratic Republic of Congo troops of war crimes.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.