ZIMBABWE: Mugabe concerned over economy
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on
Monday said the government was "concerned" over current economic
problems in the country and urged business stakeholders to work together,
media reports said.
"Government is concerned at the prevailing difficult economic conditions that business is going through," Mugabe said. "Currently the nation is having to grapple with issues of unemployment, shortage of foreign exchange and high interest rates."
Mugabe was speaking at the launch of a new programme for the tourism industry called Destination Recovery. "The potential for our economy to grow is vast," Mugabe said, adding that development could however "only be attained when all stakeholders cooperate".
ZIMBABWE: New cabinet named
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Saturday announced a new cabinet following parliamentary elections in June. According to news reports, the new line-up is as follows:
President - Robert Mugabe; Vice President - Joseph Msika (unchanged); Vice President - Simon Muzenda (unchanged); Defence - Moven Mahachi (unchanged); Home Affairs - John Nkomo (moved); Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs - Patrick Chinamasa (new); Foreign Affairs - Stan Mudenge (unchanged); Finance and Economic Development - Simba Makoni (new); Industry and International Trade - Nkosana Moyo (new); Mines and Energy - Sydney Sekeramayi (moved); Transport and Communication - Swithun Mombeshora (new); Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement - Joseph Made (new); Environment and Tourism - Francis Nhema (new); Local government, Public Works and National Housing - Ignatius Chombo (moved); Rural Resources and Water Development - Joyce Mujuru (unchanged); Health and Child Welfare - Timothy Stamps (unchanged); Higher Education and Technology - Herbert Murerwa (moved); Education, Sports and Culture - Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (new); Public Services, Labour and Social Services - July Moyo (new); Youth Development and Employment Creation - Border Gezi (new).
Ministers in the President's Office: Dept of National Security - Nicholas Goche (former deputy Foreign Minister); Dept of Information and Publicity - Jonathan Moyo (new).
NAMIBIA: Six held for 'UNITA collaboration'
Six Namibian youths from Muhopi village in the Kavango region in northern Namibia were arrested on Friday for allegedly collaborating with Angolan UNITA rebels in recent months, 'The Namibian' said on Monday. Muhopi village is near Sambyu, about 25 km east of Rundu.
The Namibian Press Association (NAMPA) was quoted as saying that the six were being questioned by Namibian security forces at Rundu about their alleged involvement in "banditry activities". The group, according to the reports, were said to have been used by UNITA to plant explosive devices in the Kavango.
MOZAMBIQUE: Fuel price increases
Mozambique at the weekend increased prices of liquid fuels by up to 19.5 percent with immediate effect, media reports said.
The highest increase, said the reports, is for kerosene, which went up by 19.5 percent a litre. Petrol went up by 5.7 percent a litre, while a litre of jet fuel increased by 4.6 percent. A litre of diesel, meanwhile, will cost 1.7 percent more and cooking gas prices remain unchanged. Fuel oil prices, on the other hand, were reduced by 2.1 percent, added the reports.
MOZAMBIQUE: CPLP summit opens in Maputo
The third summit of the Community of the Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) opened in the Mozambican capital Maputo on Monday, with the aim of reinforcing cooperation among the member states in human and economic development, news reports said.
The heads of state will focus on cooperation in education and training which has been put high on the agenda of the two-day summit. On arrival at Maputo airport, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres said that the summit will focus on human development, economic cooperation and globalisation.
Heads of state are also likely to discuss flexibility of diplomatic visas and the creation of a working group for studying the new legal framework for the movement of citizens among the Portuguese-speaking countries. Mozambique will take the rotating presidency of the community, while Dulce Pereira from Brazil will replace former Angolan prime minister Marcolino Moco as CPLP's executive secretary.
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