JOHANNESBURG , 12 October 2007 (IRIN) - COMOROS: Non-cooperation has a price

After a series of fruitless negotiations and proposals, sanctions against Anjouan's "illegal authorities" are the African Union's (AU) latest attempt to resolve the political deadlock between the Union of Comoros and one of its semi-autonomous islands. The AU has been trying to negotiate a resolution to the conflict since individual island elections in June reignited inter-island hostility between Anjouan and the other two islands in the archipelago, Grande Comore and Moheli.

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MALAWI: Achieving MDGs will be a close run thing

Malawi will have a difficult time meeting its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, despite achieving improved food production, while rebuilding a battered economy against a background of high levels of poverty and maternal mortality. "It would be wrong to conclude that Malawi will not achieve the MDGs come 2015," Information minister Patricia Kaliati told IRIN. "Looking at the performance of President Bingu wa Mutharika's government in the past three years in sectors such as agriculture, education and economic development, one is compelled to say that there are indications that we will achieve these goals."

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ZIMBABWE: State violence targets women says report

In a preliminary report detailing widespread state violence, including the torture and the unlawful detention of its members, a Zimbabwean social movement is warning southern Africa's political leaders to temper their optimism about the country's prospect of free and fair elections next year. Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), whose 55,000 membership is comprised of women aged between 16 and 73, mainly in low-income employment, released its interim report after the 14-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) expressed confidence in Zimbabwe's progress towards free and fair elections at its summit in August.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=74763

SOUTHERN AFRICA: Struggling with soaring cereal prices

Record high wheat prices globally are forcing consumers in Southern Africa to dig deeper into their pockets: the price of bread has almost doubled since the beginning of the year and, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), have already caused food riots in some parts of the world. Wheat and maize prices have been at their highest in the past few months: the price of yellow maize doubled from an average of US$88 per metric tonne (mt) in 2000 to $177 per mt in February 2007, while the price of wheat rose from an average of $119 per mt in 2000 to $277 per mt in August 2007.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=74758

AFRICA: First global Arms Trade Treaty would particularly benefit Africa, experts say

The creation of a global Arms Trade Treaty, currently being debated by the United Nations' first committee, would particularly benefit Africa, according to various arms control experts. "Arms don't necessarily cause conflicts in Africa, but they do fuel them and make them bloodier and more costly," said Oxfam's Debbie Hillier, a policy advisor on small arms.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=74745

SWAZILAND: Water crisis threatens economy

Swaziland's continuing water crisis is jeopardising more than just food security: foreign investors are threatening to pull out, and employment opportunities, already scarce, are quickly drying up too. Struggling to cope with one of the longest dry periods in memory, about 40 percent of Swaziland's one million people are facing acute food and water shortages, according to UN agencies. Rivers and dams are at record low levels and in early September the national water utility announced rationing regimens throughout the country.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=74734

ZIMBABWE: Schools close as hordes of teachers resign

A South African recruitment drive for teachers, combined with an exodus of education professionals escaping Zimbabwe's seven-year recession, is creating staff shortages so severe that some schools are closing. At least four schools have closed and several more are facing the same situation. The students are being transferred at a time when they are preparing to write their year-end examinations, placing even greater pressure on the recipient schools.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=74698

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