For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: Trade and Industry Minister unveils regulations on governance of special economic zones; UN calls on Zimbabwe president to show restraint; And, Kenyan experts to partake in ongoing South Sudan mediation talks

Trade and Industry Minister unveils regulations on governance of special economic zones

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies is inviting public comment on draft regulations on the governance and composition of special economic zones, his department said today.

The South African government implemented a new SEZ policy after identifying weaknesses in its Industrial Development Zones programme whose main aim is to attract foreign direct investment and promote the export of value-added commodities.

The SEZ Act commenced by presidential proclamation in February 2016 and introduced a new regulatory framework for the planning, design, development, management and operation of SEZs. The new regulatory framework replaces the old framework for IDZs.

UN calls on Zimbabwe president to show restraint

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres asked Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa to ensure that his country’s security forces “show maximum restraint” following post-election violence.

UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a statement that the UN chief also advised opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to pursue electoral grievances through legal channels, adding that any legal decision on the election results “would need to be independent”.

Haq said Guterres expressed hope that Zimbabweans would move forward in unity and reiterated UN calls on political leaders and the population “to exercise restraint and to reject any form of violence”.

And, Kenyan experts to partake in ongoing South Sudan mediation talks

A team of Kenyan negotiators will lend their expertise, in conjunction with Sudanese mediators, on ways to handle the latest round of South Sudan peace talks.

Discussions are to revolve around the implementation of the revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, according to a statement released by regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.

This follows a decision taken by the leaders of the East African bloc on August 5 that Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir would continue to facilitate the talks until the revitalized agreement is finally signed.

It was also agreed that Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta would support the next phase by deploying a team of experts to support the finalisation of the process.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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