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South Africa to relax visa norms for skilled Indians
The Pioneer (April 26, 2006)

South Africa is close to signing an agreement with India on relaxing visa norms for skilled professionals, including teachers and engineers. "Currently, South Africa is facing shortage of manpower not only in the field of information technology, but also in areas of municipal management and education.

"We are looking at Indians to meet the shortage and who can act as mentors," South African Communication and Information System Minister Essop Goolam Pahad said here. He said South Africa was considering special visa for teachers, engineers and technically trained people with specialised expertise from India.

"Our ministry of public service and Administration is close to signing an agreement with the Indian counterpart," he added. "The current visa condition does not allow businessmen to do business with other countries when they come here. We need to address that issue as well," he added.

Asked if there was any specific number of workers that South Africa would like to attract from India and the number of visas that may be considered, he said the specifics were being worked out. "Right now, we are looking at the details and the specific areas where we would like to give preference," he added.
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South Africa becoming more tourist popular destination
USAtoday.com (April 25, 2006)

Photo: Johannesburg, South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) — A record 7.3 million foreign visitors flocked to South Africa last year, up from 6.7 million in 2004.

The country has become an increasingly popular destination since the dismantling of apartheid because of its spectacular scenery and wildlife, combined with cultural heritage and history.
Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said he was optimistic that the trend would continue, with tourism expected to receive a major boost during the 2010 World Cup.

"We have ignited the South African brand and are using it to set alight the possibilities," he said. "From China to Paris, from New York to Nairobi, the word is out that South Africa is the place where everything is possible, and all people are welcome."

The government has identified tourism as one of the key sectors to create jobs and reduce unemployment, which is near 30%.
Most foreign visitors spend time in Cape Town and also head to Kruger Park, home to the famed "Big Five" animals every wildlife-watcher hopes to see on an African safari — elephants, lions, buffaloes, rhinos, and the elusive leopard. But growing numbers of tourists are also venturing to South Africa's Indian Ocean beaches around Durban.

Officials say the country is also slowly shaking off its reputation for violent crime and has benefited from the fact that it has witnessed no terrorist attacks or significant political or religious upheavals in recent years.
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'Fearful' Zimbabwean MP Bennett joins queue
iol.com (April 25, 2006)

Photo: Roy Bennett

The department of home affairs has confirmed a request for asylum from Zimbabwean opposition party MP Roy Bennett who fears the Mugabe regime wants to kill him.

But department spokesperson Nkosana Sibuyi said Bennett was at the back of a long queue and was not sure when his request would be attended to.

"I can confirm we have received his request but there is a backlog of 103 000 applications for asylum and he is not going to jump the queue simply because of his status," Sibuyi said.

A home affairs initiative designed to expedite the backlog in immigration and asylum seeking requests was implemented early this year, but Sibuyi refused to estimate when Bennet's application was expected to be reached.

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Botswana shuts door on Zimbabweans
Zim Observer (April 21, 2006)

An estimated 10 000 Zimbabweans are winding-up business in Botswana and are planning to relocate elsewhere following the withdrawal of their work and residents permit by authorities in that country. Among those affected by this decision are doctors, nurses, teachers and engineers who have been based in Botswana for a number of years.

The immigration department in Botswana started withdrawing permits from Zimbabweans last year, claiming that most of its citizens had acquired the skills needed to take over the jobs.
Most Zimbabweans claim the action by the Botswana government was political and that there is a new wave of xenophobia sweeping through the country.

Don Mafingenyi, our correspondent in Gaborone, said most companies owned by Zimbabweans have closed shop and relocated mainly to South Africa.

‘Others are relocating to Europe, while a few have managed to find their way to Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Not surprisingly not even one person is considering going back to Zimbabwe,’ said Mafingenyi.

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Zim’s film cream can’t resist SA lure
Zimbabwe Independent (April 19, 2006)

THE continued downfall of Zimbabwe’s film industry has come as a blessing in disguise for South Africa, which has managed to lure local top-notch actors, producers and directors, Independent Xtra has established.

Film experts and actors who have crossed the Limpopo are, among others, Michael Auret, the acting chief executive officer and consultant of the Southern African International Film and Television Market Initiative (Sithengi), gifted directors Dan Jawitz and Sunu Gonera.

Producers Joel Phiri and Tendekai Matatu are also now in South Africa together with actors such as Yellow Card star Leroy Gopal and Kudakwashe Maradzika who stars in Zimbabwe’s latest feature film, Tanyaradzwa. Award-winning actor Arnold Chirisa has also crossed the border.

Zimbabwe two decades ago stood as the premier filming destination in the region, then boasting the now defunct Central Film Laboratories which was the only facility in sub-Saharan Africa used for film processing and mastering.

Today’s it’s a different story for Zimbabwe due to the socio-economic problems bedeviling the country, while the lure of the rand in the competitive South African film market is irresistible. Foreign film investors have also shunned Zimbabwe because of its political crisis.

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Jackson to make new album in Bahrain
BBC news (April 19, 2006)

Singer Michael Jackson is to record his first new album since 2001 on a label based in the Gulf state of Bahrain.

Jackson, who has lived in the Middle East since being acquitted of child abuse charges, is expected to release the new record next year.

The 47-year-old said he is "incredibly excited" about the new project.

Guy Holmes, chairman of UK label Gut Records, is expected to manage the album's production and look after Jackson's business interests.

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South African police use rubber bullets on Swazi protesters
Zimbabwe Independent (April 19, 2006)

JOHANNESBURG - South African police shot and injured at least one person with rubber bullets on Wednesday when they tried to disperse a crowd trying to blockade a border crossing with Swaziland in a political protest, police said.

Mpumalanga provincial police spokesman Superintendent Izak van Zyl said police fired at protesters at South Africa's Matsomo border crossing near the Swazi kingdom's northern tip, injuring at least one

At least 25 people were arrested at Matsomo and other border posts when activists sought to blockade all traffic to demand political reform in the tiny African kingdom.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), which joined Swazi pro-democracy groups in organising Wednesday's protests, said eight people were wounded in the shooting incident and protested strongly to the government.

"They are in hospital in serious condition, they are bullet wounds," said COSATU chief Zwelinzima Vavi.

The protesters were demonstrating against the rule of Swaziland's King Mswati, who critics accuse of tightening his grip on the tiny country of 1 million people, using a new constitution to entrench royal rule and maintaining a ban on organised opposition parties.
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Zimbabwe’s president threatens Critics
ABC news (April 18, 2006)

Photo by AP: Robert Mugabe during the 2006 ‘independence celebrations’

President Robert Mugabe threatened in a speech Tuesday to bring down "the full wrath of the law" against anyone who disturbs Zimbabwean peace and stability.

The threat follows calls by the country's main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, for street protests to topple Mugabe's 26-year rule.

"Anyone who dares go against the law, … dares lead any group of persons to embark on a campaign of violence or terrorist activity, will be inviting the full wrath of the law to descend mercilessly on him and, or on those who follow him," Mugabe, 82, said in a rambling and repetitive speech broadcast on state television to mark the 26th anniversary of independence.
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Zimbabwe: Opposition in defections set back
Business Day Johannesburg (April 18, 2006)

A SPATE of resignations and defections has dealt a major blow to the president of the pro-senate faction of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Arthur Mutambara, and exposed deep divisions within his group.

Zimbabwe's opposition party was split last year when its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, refused to participate in elections for the country's senate. Mutambara was elected to lead the faction opposed to Tsvangirai's stance.

Last week one of Mutambara's most senior officials, Blessing Chibundo, MP for KweKwe, the faction's chief whip and its director of elections, resigned and rejoined Tsvangirai after what he described as "pressure from my constituents".

The first to quit Mutambara's faction was Binga parliamentarian Joel Gabuza, who rejoined Tsvangirai at his faction's congress last month and reclaimed his post as the party's spokesman on environmental issues.

Meanwhile, leading lights in the MDC faction's UK branch have also resigned and aligned themselves with Tsvangirai.

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