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BBC Monitoring Quotes From the African Press 5 Aug 2005

Posted on: Friday, 5 August 2005, 06:00 CDT

The following is a selection of quotes from editorials and other material published in the 5 August editions of the African press. As indicated, some material from 4 August is also included. Unless otherwise stated, the newspapers are published in English.

Zimbabwe paper hails visit by New Zealand cricket team

Zimbabwe's Herald [govt daily]: "The New Zealand cricket team is in town, its leadership having chosen to put the value of sport ahead of petty political considerations, and we welcome the Black Caps to our lovely country...We hope you will enjoy your cricket and, when the time comes, you will go back home and give a different Zimbabwe story to the one that comes daily from the likes of BBC, CNN and Sky..." (Editorial - "Touring cricketers' stance laudable")

South Africa urged to "save Zimbabwe from further ruin"

South Africa's Citizen [independent]: "Mugabe is in a weak bargaining position and South Africa should use its leverage to help save Zimbabwe from further ruin... The only way any loan to Zimbabwe can be justified is if there are watertight guarantees of reform. This won't be achieved by pussyfooting around Mugabe." (Unattributed commentary - "Mugabe, oilgate and spin")

2. "And on Zimbabwe, Mbeki is no saviour." (From above commentary)

African Union urged to "show its teeth" over UN reforms

Zimbabwe's Chronicle [govt daily ex-Bulawayo]: "It is clear that countries like Britain and the United States would want to see a divided African continent. This suits them well in their bid to perpetuate the master/servant relationship on the continent hence their continued interference in the internal affairs of those countries they perceive as not toeing the line." (Editorial - "AU should speak with one voice on UN reform")

2. "That the UN needs reform is no longer an issue. The issue is how much the world body can be reformed. And this is where the AU [African Union] comes in. It has to show its teeth by calling for reforms that will improve the life of the ordinary man." (From above editorial)

Mauritania junta "must be put under intense pressure"

Kenya's Nation [top selling daily - independent]: "Coups d'etat are supposed to be an anachronism in Africa and the rest of the world since they lost their popularity in the 1980s... But the army in poverty-stricken Mauritania does not seem to have heard the word... The rest of the world has unequivocally rejected coups, and it should not make an exception of Mauritania... The new junta in Mauritania must be put under intense pressure by African leaders to relinquish power at once, if not to President Taya, at least to a civilian ruler after democratic elections..." (Editorial - "Coup a setback for Africa")

"Mauritania's coup is interesting"

South Africa's Business Day [independent]: "Mauritania's coup is interesting because at first glance, at least, it looks like a step in the direction of democracy and away from authoritarianism... Putting an autocrat back in power is hardly the answer. But colluding with those who resort to coups as a means to power is not the answer either... If ever there was a case for the African Union to intervene to ensure that democracy is the outcome, this is surely it..." (Editorial - "Case for intervention")

Mauritian paper on London bombings

Mauritius' Le Mauricien [French-language, pro-govt daily]: "I am not going to go as far as Tony Blair to say that suicide bombing is unacceptable in any form and in any circumstance whatsoever - that would be denying the historical fact that in all cultures, at all times, and, from an evolutionary-biology point of view, even in all species, collective suicide to cause damage to an identified source of utter despair is not uncommon. However, one has to be sub-human or pathologically insane to evoke concepts of a religiously- inspired spiritual trip to paradise as motivation for bombing a public place where the likelihood of making innocent victims is overwhelming." (Commentary in English on 4 August by Slahoodine Malleck Amode - "Refusing to romance suicide-bombers and 'democracy'- peddlers")

2. "Even at the risk of being branded a potential terrorist by whatever intelligence service reading this piece, I maintain that only my lack of courage prevents me from being a suicide bomber let's say against the Abu Ghurayb prison or Guantanomo bay or, for that matter, Diego Garcia [Mauritian island housing an American military base]. The reasoning is that even if a few innocents might be killed by such an act, if successful, more oppressors would be killed and a major source of oppression and/or illegal geo- strategic domination (as in the case of Diego Garcia) would be, if not wiped out, at least severely damaged." (From above commentary)

3. "The final equation involves a rebalancing of fear with hope." (From above commentary)

Nigerian paper challenges legislators over new constitution

Nigeria's Daily Champion [Lagos-based, pro-Igbo]:"The ball is now squarely in the court of the legislators and history will not judge them favourably if they fail in this critical assignment of providing the country with a constitution that would move it forward in the right direction." (Editorial - "New constitution now!")

Nigerian writer lauds president over debt relief

Nigeria's Daily Champion [Lagos-based, pro-Igbo]:"President Obasanjo must be commended for making this dream a reality despite the cynicism of some Nigerians for debt relief... He has not rested on his oars...amidst all the criticisms by his opponents." (Commentary by Ameh Monday - "Debt relief as fruit of anti- corruption war")

Nigerian politics "about begging, begging and begging"

Nigeria's Daily Independent: "...Political leadership around here is about begging, begging and begging - from debt forgiveness from Paris Club and other creditors, to provision of electricity by Chinese and Libyan investors - and that accomplishment in office is measured by how much sympathy and financial aid is attracted from foreign benefactors. Shame! Somebody somewhere should save this country." (Commentary by Dianam Dakolo - "Air, land and sea, this country is a disaster!")

UK equated with Herod over Kenyan minister visa ban

Kenya's People Daily [independent]:"...Like John the Baptist, [Kenyan Transport Minister Chris] Murungaru [who has been slapped with a UK visa ban] has displeased the British Herodias, who as a major donor and a leading foreign investor, has demanded his head on a silver platter. The question then is,...will President Kibaki...please the British and foreign interests or defend Murungaru and risk their wrath?" (Commentary by MP Koigi wa Wamwere - "Will Kibaki sacrifice Murungaru?")

2. "One reason why Kenya's foreign debts were not forgiven was the failure of Kibaki's government to 'combat corruption.' Retaining a banned minister in the cabinet will provide foreign governments with additional ammunition to impose travel bans on other ministers and maybe economic sanctions" (From above commentary)

3. "... The British should extend their travel bans not just against those who are corrupt in the National Rainbow Coalition government but corrupt politicians and functionaries of the [ex- ruling] KANU (Kenya African National Union) regime and those who perpetrated brutal dictatorship against Kenyans. Justice is best when it is applied equally to all" (From above commentary)

Kenyan paper condemns attacks on American over UK visa ban

Kenya's Standard [independent]: "The people of Kieni Constituency [central Kenya] whose MP is [Transport Minister] Dr Chris Murungaru...on Wednesday [3 August]...vented their anger on a [white] farmer... [who] turned out to be an American...as the police watched... The issue of Murungaru's visa is one between the British government and the minister... This issue may be bigger than what the people of Kieni perceive it to be. They have no justification to push it to the absurd levels they are now doing..." (Editorial - "Murungaru's visa not a race issue")

King Fahd "remembered for his tireless dedication to his country"

Kenya's Standard [independent]: "The late King Fahd...will be remembered for his tireless dedication to his country... Besides pioneering the extraordinary development of his own country, King Fahd had ensured that poorer Muslim countries also benefited from the kingdom's wealth..." (Commentary by Badi Muhsin - "King Fahd was a mature, prudent and diplomatic mediator and peacemaker")

Recent Ugandan referendum "useless and meaningless"

Uganda's New Vision [govt]: "As Ugandans recover from the effects of the just concluded wasteful, useless and meaningless referendum, I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathies for the lost time and resources...Such a low turn-up showed that Ugandans are 'no longer at ease;' with the reckless lies and unfulfilled promises... To the genuine parties in this country, the battle to dislodge Mr Museveni has been boosted..." (Commentary by Joel Luliko Wakayima - "Low voter turn-up is a setback for Museveni")

God to determine self-determination for southern Sudanese

Uganda's New Vision [govt]: "It has been comforting to hear...messages from [new Sudanese Vice-President] Salva Kiir and Rebecca Garang. The self-determination of southern Sudanese is going to be established by God himself, and there is no reason for decline in trust when He sees it fit to change the vassals... Unexpected deaths, like that of John Garang, ought to serve the purpose of teaching us to number our days rightly." (Commentary by Nick Twinamatsiko - "Dr Garang's death a lesson for believers")

Abolition of nuclear weapons "becoming an ever more distant dream"

South Africa's Star [independent daily]: "Decades after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings brought a new dimension of horror to war, the abolition of nuclear weapons is becoming an ever more distant dream... Obviously the ideal scenario is when all A-bombs are obliterated from the face of the earth. Yet humankind has proven to be too selfish - and too foolish - to aspire to this. This is in spite of the evidence seen in Hiroshima and Nagasaki of what devastation atomic weapons can wreak." (Editorial - "A-bombs: No end in sight")

DRCongo writer condemns state appointments

DRCongo's Le Potentiel [French-language, govt-controlled daily]: "To you all new and old predators (re)taking your places at the head of public-owned companies: Greetings! The Congolese people... say bon appetit to you. In spite of themselves." (Editorial on 4 August - "Bon appetit!")

2. "How could [the political parties and other groups] so lack humanity as to give new official responsibilities to senators and MPs who already have had full-time jobs since 30 June 2003? Would fighting unemployment by offering these new opportunities to other jobless Congolese not, in reality, have demonstrated a national solidarity that is more often sang than danced?" (From above editorial)

"Cote d'Ivoire is being held to ransom"

Burkina Faso's Le Pays [French-language, privately owned daily]: "Cote d'ivoire is being held to ransom by the two camps [government and rebels] to the great chagrin of the people. This is happening under the very nose and beard of the international community, which has chosen to look the other way." (Editorial on 4 August - "Who is afraid of peace?")

Sources: As listed

Source: BBC Monitoring Newsfile

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