MRB
August 2008
Vol.17. No. 08
SA scrutinizes post-election business scene as relations warm _ P.1
China dominates infrastructure finance _ P.5
POLITICS
Region:
Zimbabwe crisis warms up SA and Angola relations _ P.5
Angola:
Harassment and restrictions, but election likely to be judged fair _ P.7
Angola:
Little change expected, except inside ruling party _ P.7
Zambia:
Little threat to stability in three-month presidential campaign _ P.8
South Africa:
Asylum may be granted to groups to overcome backlog _ P.9
COMMODITIES
Zimbabwe:
Increased diamond production boosts RTZ's local profits _ P.10
Zimbabwe:
Anglo 'holding talks with MDC for mining rights' _ P.10
Zambia:
New smelter to boost copper output _ P.10
Botswana:
Local polisher's demand bring drop in diamond exports _ P.10
Malawi:
Hoarding continues despite food surplus projection _ P.11
INFRASTRUCTURE
Mozambique:
Brazilian firm wins deal to build $3bn Zambezi dam _ P.11
Namibia:
Eskom fails to focus on Kudu gas scheme _ P.12
TRADE
Region:
Free trade area slammed as more show than substance _ P.12
International:
EU may soften on EPA demands _ P.13
Mozambique:
Border hassles slow SA trade _ P.14
Botswana:
Despite crisis Zimbabwe remains top trading partner. _ P.14
SECURITY
Angola:
Harassment could endanger election legitimacy warns rights body _ P.15
Angola:
Soldiers' guns collected ahead of vote _ P.16
Region:
Concerns grow over fresh social unrest in Comoros _ P.16
July 2008
Vol.17 No.07
Southern Africa Monthly Regional Bulletin
Region:
Governments start crisis planning for increased cost of food _ P.1
Mozambique:
China secures farms in exchange for infrastructure _ P.2
Swaziland:
Unions plan protests over food prices _ P.2
ECONOMY
Congo:
Kabila seeks French help against IMF on foreign debt _ P.2
BUSINESS
Mozambique:
New investment bank plugs into China deals _ P.4
South Africa:
Fewer blue-chip companies listed _ P.5
Angola:
Portuguese bank under pressure to sell stake to Sonangol _ P.5
INFRASTRUCTURE
Region:
Eskom neglects regional power projects in favour of nuclear expansion _ P.5
Mozambique:
Ethanol plants under construction _ P.6
Region:
DRC, Angola discuss common oil interests _ P.6
TRADE
International:
EU funding for trade bloc should help regional mergers _ P.7
International:
French report condemns EPAs as obstructing development _ P.7
Region:
US signs agreements with SACU, EAC _ P.8
POLITICS
Zimbabwe:
Parties haggle over division of power and seats _ P.8
Zimbabwe:
Disinvestment in carrot-and-stick plan for talks _ P.10
Zambia:
List of contenders grows to replace Mwanawasa _ P.11
Congo:
PM succession battle leads to paralysis in Kinshasa _ P.12
Angola:
Ahead of election government bans Unita's radio _ P.12
SECURITY
Zimbabwe:
Concern grows over post-Mugabe culture of crime and violence _ P.12
Region:
SADC brigade to become active _ P.13
Botswana:
Military report adds to pressure on Mugabe _ P.13
International:
UK probe focuses on Zimbabwe and SA arms dealer _ P.14
Angola:
Landmines cleared ahead of poll in Bie _ P.15
Region:
June 2008 P.1Concern in Uganda over Rwandan link with Buganda _ P.16
Vol.17 No.06 P.1
MRB P.1
Southern Africa Monthly Regional Bulletin P.1
Region:
International nuclear enrichment centre may be founded on increased uranium mining in region P.1
South Africa:
Nuclear policy to become mainstay for energy production P.3
Namibia:
Biggest uranium mine to go ahead P.3
COMMODITIES
Angola:
Diamond production likely to reach 10m carats P.4
Mozambique:
Government joins mining transparency initiative P.4
Mozambique:
Cashew production overshoots target P.4
Zimbabwe:
Anglo attempts to stake its claim to mine platinum reserves P.4
Zimbabwe:
Crisis threatens upward trend in platinum production P.5
Zimbabwe:
Gold output crashes further P.6
INFRASTRUCTURE
Mozambique:
Cahora Bassa pays for its keep P.6
Angola:
S. Korea to fund IT institute P.6
Region:
EU programme aims at IT regulation P.6
INVESTMENT, TRADE
Zimbabwe:
SA investors gear up to go in when Mugabe leaves P.7
Angola:
BNI bank to move into Brazil, China P.8
Angola:
Growth projected at 16.5 percent P.8
Region:
Kenya's budget diverted from development P.8
Region:
Uganda budget shows booming economy P.9
Region:
SACU wrestles with its future in face of new EPA deadline P.9
Region:
Slow intra-African trade blamed on lack of regional integration P.10
Region:
Largest trading bloc planned P.10
Mozambique:
Companies 'not taking advantage of AGOA' P.10
POLITICS, SECURITY
Angola:
Confidence grows that election will not follow Zimbabwe and Kenya models P.11
Angola:
Focus on SA's xenophobia excludes Congolese expulsions P.12
Zimbabwe:
Figures add up to give Mugabe control again P.13
Region:
SA and Zambia brace for a Zimbabwean exodus P.13
Swaziland:
Parliament closes for next poll on region's list P.13
Angola:
Dos Santos joins SA and seeks to broker deal in Guinea Bissau P.14
Region:
Governments seek to fill embarrassing intelligence gaps P.14
Kinshasa says its army will oust Kony P.16
Congo:
Belgian missions in east to be closed P.16
South Africa:
New SANDF force design to be unveiled P.16
__________
MRB May 2008
Vol.17 No.05
Zimbabwe:
SA investors ready to enter as soon as Mugabe goes P.1
INFRASTRUCTURE
Angola:
Chinese technology 'cheaper' but companies hit snags P.4
Angola:
Lonrho plans $9m dry port plan to beat hold-ups P.4
Angola:
Over 26,000 landmines deactivated countrywide P.4
Angola:
Hydro project to cost 12m Euros P.5
Region:
Japan to fund Mozambique-Zambia power lines P.5
Mozambique:
Vodacom plans to boost investment P.5
Botswana:
Commonwealth support for free trade zone P.5
COMMODITIES
International:
'Conflict diamonds' scheme may be extended to all Congo minerals P.5
Tanzania:
Government will seek more tax revenues from miners P.6
Botswana:
Lower US dollar benefits diamond sales P.6
Angola:
Nigerian oil production is overtaken P.6
AGRICULTURE
Region:
AfDB approves fertiliser scheme P.7
Malawi:
Tobacco price swings anger farmers P.7
Mozambique:
Zambezia to re-start tea-growing P.7
AID, DEVELOPMENT
Region:
New HIV infections still rising, says World Bank P.7
Malawi:
Aid will not be conditional on signing of EPAs P.8
POLITICS
Region:
SA's bid for continental leadership is damaged by pogroms P.8
Congo:
Money laundering charge as relations with Belgium plummet P.9
Congo:
Bemba's arrest opens battle for leadership of the opposition P.11
Angola:
Sarkozy's visit heralds new honeymoon with France P.11
Angola:
Unita warns of possible Zimbabwe scenario for election P.11
Swaziland:
Opposition stays barred for election P.12
Region:
Equatorial Guinea leader gets 100 percent vote P.12
SECURITY
Congo:
Great Lakes group puts shot across MONUC's bows P.12
Congo:
ICC faces Nkunda and government with dangerous dilemma P.13
Region:
SANDF agrees HIV discrimination is unconstitutional P.14
International:
Chinese hackers attack websites focused on Central Africa P.14
Region:
SA to boost Lake Albert patrols as Uganda registers oil find P.14
Zimbabwe:
Concern mounts about possible military takeover P.15
Region:
Chinese ship puts spotlight on SA's arms policy P.16
Tanzania:
Crackdown on Pemba separatists P.16
MRB April 2008
Vol.17 No.04
Congo:
Breakthrough grant announced for Inga in midst of region's power crisis P.1
INFRASTRUCTURE
Mozambique:
Cahora Bassa increases power supply P.2
Mozambique:
Steel factories opened P.4
Mozambique:
Beira dry dock repaired P.4
ECONOMY
Congo:
Relations with Belgium chill over corruption and Chinese contracts P.4
Region:
SA-DRC bilateral meeting focuses on finance P.5
South Africa:
Chinese seek stake in second-largest SA bank P.6
Zambia:
'Smart' partnership dialogue in Lusaka P.6
TRADE
International:
EU hardens position on initialled EPAs P.6
COMMODITIES
International:
Angola now leads China's oil suppliers P.7
Congo:
Illegal mining continues to finance Kivu militias P.8
Region:
Major SA clans edge in on Great Lakes oil P.9
Mozambique:
Cashew harvest to exceed 85,000 tonnes P.10
Mozambique:
Wheat seed imports promised P.10
International:
Chinese plan investment in African agriculture P.10
Mozambique:
Sugar benefits from Zimbabwe crisis P.10
Region:
Cattle disease stands in way of meat boom P.10
POLITICS
Zimbabwe:
As SADC credibility fades the key to crisis remains with ANC P.11
Namibia:
Veterans return in Pohambo's first shake-up P.13
Angola:
Dispute grows over voters' lists delay P.13
Angola:
In pre-election move government closes human rights office P.14
SECURITY
Region:
UN threatens sanctions as war resumes in Burundi P.14
Swaziland:
Pudemo deputy leader killed in SA P.15
Region:
SA and Congo-Brazzaville sign military deal P.16
International:
India revives security interest in Indian Ocean Rim P.16
MRB March 2008
Vol.17 No.03
__________
Zimbabwe:
Major donors wait in wings, aim for billion-dollar fund P.1
Zambia:
Riot at Chinese smelter highlights regulation issues P.4
INFRASTRUCTURE
Region:
Neighbours eye Zimbabwe's power plants P.4
Botswana:
China begins major dam construction P.5
Angola:
China to improve power supply in Luanda P.5
Region:
Uganda's e-government fibre backbone ready P.5
TRADE
Region:
SA cools its criticism on EU negotiations P.6
Mozambique:
European Commission compensates sugar sector P.6
International:
Trade soars between China, Lusophones P.6
Region:
Mauritius to house new Chinese commercial hub P.6
COMMODITIES
Congo:
Tough negotiations with companies loom on mining contracts P.7
International:
India counters diamond producers' plans P.8
BUSINESS MARKERS
Region:
Sino-Africa business conference in Tanzania soon P.9
Region:
SA's Liberty Group to enter East Africa P.9
Region:
Move toward East African capital market by 2009 P.9
Zimbabwe:
Tourism chief hopes for deals with Russia P.9
Namibia:
Setback to EPZ policy as large investor leaves P.10
Angola:
Massive Sino-Japanese auto plant opens in April P.10
Angola:
Sonangol increases share of banking sector P.10
SECURITY
Region:
Concern in Uganda as SA moves in on peace deal with rebels P.10
Region:
Military chiefs meet to plan East Africa brigade P.11
International:
SA death in Iraq ignites recruiting controversy P.11
Swaziland:
Army deployed to boost police to counter strikes P.12
Region:
AU has a success in the Comoros, France faces demonstrations P.12
POLITICS
Angola:
Zuma signals historic shift in SA policy to Luanda government P.13
Congo:
Kabila seeks to propitiate BaKongo but bans sect P.14
Congo:
Mini-state functions grow in rebel territory in the east P.15
Botswana:
New president unlikely to open up democratic space P.15
DEVELOPMENT
International:
EU wants HIV/AIDS in all donor funding P.16
Region:
SADC considers single visa for member states P.16
MRB February 2008
Vol.17 No.02
Southern Africa Monthly Regional Bulletin
__________
Congo:
Call for reforms to maintain strong upward growth trend P.1
Region:
Consternation grows as SA warns neighbours on EU deals P.3
MARKERS
Swaziland:
Budget surplus expected this year P.5
Angola:
Macro-economic gains may not ensure MPLA a clear run P.5
Botswana:
Central bank abandons yearly inflation targeting P.6
Region:
SA helps draft anti-monopoly legislation P.6
Region:
Rwandans switch to Vodacom P.6
COMMODITIES
Region:
Food price rises spell economic and political implications for region P.7
Congo:
Confusion swirls around mining contracts review P.8
MARKERS
Malawi:
Tea growers seek to boost prices P.9
INFRASTRUCTURE
Region:
Energy solutions exclude Inga's grand scheme P.10
MARKERS
Region:
SADC Power Pool acts to end energy shortage P.11
Region:
SA offers Algeria nuclear energy help P.11
Mozambique:
Environmental go-ahead for pipeline to SA P.12
POLITICS
International:
Sarkozy announces energy, business, aid deals P.12
MARKERS
Congo:
Kabila makes judicial coup P.13
Angola:
Political tension grows as election nears P.13
Angola:
As in SA, German shipbuilders suspected P.13
SECURITY
International:
France sets about rewriting security pacts P.14
MARKERS
Comoros braces for invasion of Anjouan P.14
Congo:
Skirmishes continue between Nkunda and Mai-Mai P.15
Region:
South African armoured car exports boost Chad's regime P.15
South Africa:
Peacekeeping policy to be rewritten P.16
International:
German company to take majority stake in Denel P.16
Mozambique:
Demonstrators force government retreat on fuel prices P.16
MRB January 2008
Vol.17 No.01
ECONOMY
=======
Region:
Energy crisis hits economic plans, undermines SADC neighbours P.1
Zimbabwe:
Blackouts mount as neighbours cut power supplies P.2
TRADE
International:
Protest grows against EU's partnership agreements P.2
Region:
Count-down to SADC free trade zone begins P.4
Zimbabwe:
China trade set to increase P.4
Region:
Uganda, DRC agree on anti-smuggling operations P.4
Malawi:
Beijing reward expected as link to Taiwan is cut P.5
Zimbabwe:
Worthless Zimdollar replaced by regional currencies P.6
Zimbabwe:
Elite finds ways to leverage currency crisis P.7
Zimbabwe:
State employees get pay hike P.8
Zimbabwe:
Forex drought postpones phone interceptions P.8
COMMODITIES
Botswana:
Bushmen consulted on diamond mine P.8
Congo:
Copper, cobalt in return for China's giant loan P.8
DEVELOPMENT
Region:
Warnings on drug-resistant TB crisis P.9
POINTERS
South Africa:
Jobs will be focus of reformed macro-economic policy P.9
Region:
Central Africa avoids Kenya to take southern route P.9
Region:
AfDB wipes out US$24m in debt arrears P.10
Region:
Debt distressed Burundi secures IMF package P.10
Mozambique:
45,000 miners In South Africa remit $93m P.10
Region:
Rwanda gets stock market P.10
Easy money to stay as interest rates drop P.11
Region:
Bank sees African growth despite financial crunch P.11
__________
POLITICS
========
Congo:
Contradictory demands at stormy peace conference P.12
Region:
Kenya crisis plays in SA's domestic battles P.13
Zimbabwe:
Few signs of free election as MDC seeks postponement P.13
Zambia:
Uncertain outcome for constitutional conference P.14
International:
Bush finishes up with call for more HIV funding P.14
Region:
Relief in Kampala at Mbeki's defeat P.14
Mozambique:
Three-quarters of voters register P.15
Mozambique:
Anti-corruption forum abolished P.15
Angola:
New Gulf of Guinea group meets P.15
SECURITY
Region:
Border tensions raise stakes for Uganda and Kenya P.15
Region:
SA presses for more support in Darfur P.16
__________
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