Daily podcast – July 22, 2013.

22nd July 2013

July 22, 2013.
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane.
Making headlines:
 

The Hawks are investigating corruption allegations against former Communications Minister Dina Pule.

Sex scandals cloud Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s election campaign.

And, the African National Congress lekgotla is expected to demystify 'anecdotes' on South Africa’s progress.
 

A spokesperson confirmed on Sunday that the Hawks are investigating corruption charges laid by the Democratic Alliance against former communications minister Dina Pule.

Captain Paul Ramaloko conceded that the matter was reported in the Western Cape central police station, and that it was now in the Hawks’ hands. “We are giving it the attention it deserves," he said.

In May, the DA submitted an affidavit to the Cape Town central police station asking it to probe possible criminal activities by Pule, Phosane Mngqibisa, who was said to be her boyfriend, suspended SABC CFO Gugu Duda and current CEO Lulama Mokhobo.

DA MP Marian Shinn, however, said on that the party wasno’t pleased with the progress made in the investigation.

 

Zimbabwe's sole television station, state-owned and tightly controlled by President Robert Mugabe, is targeting the private life of his arch rival Morgan Tsvangirai with "attack ads" aimed at discrediting him before July 31 elections.

In the adverts, three former lovers reveal how they were dumped by Tsvangirai, 61, before Mugabe's ZANU-PF party chimes in to tell voters that the prime minister is unfit for office.

While there are many questions about the tone and taste of the adverts in the socially conservative southern African nation, the message is rubbing off on even die-hard Tsvangirai supporters, who say he has only himself to blame.

Tsvangirai's sex scandals, along with his failure to deliver on key promises while in government, have steadily eroded the almost messianic support he once enjoyed among many of Zimbabwe's 13-million people for daring to challenge the three-decade rule of the ruthless and cunning Mugabe.


 

The African National Congress secretary general Gwede Mantashe said  last week that the party’s national executive committee lekgotla would try to "demystify" some of the stories about progress in the country. He told reporters at the St George Hotel and Conference Centre, near Pretoria that the ruling party would try to demystify anecdotal things.

Mantashe said the lekgotla would focus on figures and statistics to assess progress made by government near the end of its term. Members would also be divided into commissions to focus on specific issues.

He said the ANC's election committee would report to the lekgotla later.
 

Also making headlines:
 

Four electoral officials and a deputy mayor were kidnapped by suspected Tuareg separatists in northern Mali on Saturday.

And, Egypt is concerned that Ethiopia hasn’t responded to an invitation to discuss a dispute over a giant dam that Ethiopia plans to build on the Nile river.
 

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.