Thursday January 27, 2011

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Mary-Anne O'Donnell

Making headlines:

According to Rand Merchant Bank economist Rudolf Gouws, government’s New Growth Path (NGP) does not speak to the issues that would boost real economic growth. Gouws, who was addressing a Gordon Institute of Business Science economic outlook conference in Johannesburg, said that Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel’s plan was not really a map to growing an economy, but rather a “reactionary jobs plan”. The plan aims to create five-million jobs in the next ten years in strategic areas of the economy. But Gouws stressed that the NGP was focusing too much on creating jobs through State intervention, rather than promoting a more enabling business environment.

Sudan Foreign Minister Ali Karti said that the US should look beyond the Darfur issue and quickly normalise ties with Sudan to build on progress from its successful secession referendum. "Normalisation of relations should not be held hostage by Darfur," Karti told a Washington think-tank audience before a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
In their meeting, Clinton reaffirmed the willingness of the US to move towards normalising relations but outlined several steps, which must take place before this can happen, the State Department said.

Tunisia’s Justice Minister wants to have ousted President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and his family arrested and put on trial for theft and currency offences. The international police organisation Interpol has been asked to help arrest Ben Ali, his wife and other family members who have fled the country, Lazhar Chebbi told a news conference. Ben Ali went to Saudi Arabia this month after weeks of violent protests against poverty, repression and corruption. He amassed vast riches during his 23 years in power, with his family controlling many of Tunisia's biggest companies.

Also making headlines:
The United Nations has acknowledged that Somalia would miss an August deadline to adopt a new constitution and hold the first elections in the Horn of Africa nation for decades.
The head of Nigeria's electoral commission has asked lawmakers to extend the time allocated to register voters for April's nationwide polls, after supplier problems and technical glitches caused delays.
And, South African policy research institution, the Centre for Development and Enterprise, has called on Parliament to reject the current Immigration Amendment Bill and to instruct officials to draft a new version that would make the country more attractive to skilled immigrants.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.