JOHANNESBURG, 24 November (IRIN) - CONTENTS

ZIMBABWE: Child abused every hour, new data reveals ZIMBABWE: 15 held during novel five-minute protests DRC-ZAMBIA: Border closed after cholera outbreak ZAMBIA: Zambians wary of "exploitative" Chinese employers SWAZILAND: Giving parentless children an identity SOUTH AFRICA: New social grants plan cautiously welcomed BOTSWANA: Army rolls out carpet for women MADAGASCAR: Attempted "coup" fizzles in desire for peaceful poll

ZIMBABWE: Child abused every hour, new data reveals

A child is abused every hour in Zimbabwe, according to new data released by a group of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) working to stop the suffering.

"More than 8,600 cases of child abuse were reported in Zimbabwe in 2005 - that is 24 every day ... More than half of all cases reported involve sexual abuse of children," said James Elder, the United Nations' Children's Fund (UNICEF) spokesman in Zimbabwe. The data was compiled by the Child Protection Working Group (CPWG), a network of NGOs, churches, community groups, UN agencies and the government, formed in 2002 to respond to the humanitarian needs of children.

Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56443

ZIMBABWE: 15 held during novel five-minute protests

Fifteen students were arrested as a group of Zimbabwean nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) held the first of a planned series of five-minute lunchtime protests across Zimbabwe on Wednesday. "The protest is against the ever-increasing cost of living, collapsing health sector, the demise of education, food shortages, falling life expectancy, suffocation of democratic space and violation of women's rights by the Zimbabwean government," said the organiser, Save Zimbabwe Convention, an alliance of NGOs and churches. Hooting car horns, shouting, whistling, clapping hands and beating any object to make a noise, members of political organisations, trade unionists, women's rights activists, students and ordinary citizens brought the capital, Harare, and the second city, Bulawayo, to a temporary halt during the lunch break.

Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56477

DRC-ZAMBIA: Border closed after cholera outbreak

An outbreak of cholera in northern Zambia has forced the government to shut a border post with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after reported cases rose to 105 on Monday. "We have closed Chiengi border post with immediate effect, in order to ensure there is no further spread of the disease. There have been a lot of people crossing to Zambia for free medical facilities, and we suspect this heavy traffic of people is largely responsible for the outbreak of the disease in the area," Peter Mumba, permanent secretary in the Ministry of the Interior, told IRIN.

Five people have died since the outbreak was reported on 30 October, and the government and nongovernmental health organisations have rushed to set up emergency treatment centres in the area to help cope with the patient load, said ministry of health spokesperson Canisius Banda.

Full report:

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56444

ZAMBIA: Zambians wary of "exploitative" Chinese employers

China has pledged investments worth millions of dollars to development-hungry Zambia, but ordinary citizens are wary of the quality of jobs that would be on offer. Earlier this month China wrote off US$211 million owed by Zambia, as part of President Hu Jintao's three-year aid package to Africa. China has pledged $3 billion in preferential loans and $2 billion in preferential credits over the next three years, and has set up a China-Africa development fund that will grow to $5 billion. The aid package includes the cancellation of all interest-free government loans that matured at the end of 2005 for least developed countries with diplomatic relations with China. The package also provides for the establishment of five economic zones, including one in Zambia.

Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56492

SWAZILAND: Giving parentless children an identity

A joint initiative between the Swaziland government and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to waive birth certificate fees for orphans and children in rural areas has boosted registration figures. Over 60,000 children in Swaziland have been orphaned by AIDS and, according to UNAIDS, that number will continue to grow. At least 40,000 new birth certificates were issued this year in a country of just over a million people, where nearly 39 percent of those between the ages of 15 and 49 are living with HIV - the highest percentage of infected people in the world.

Full report:

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56457

SOUTH AFRICA: New social grants plan cautiously welcomed

South Africa's Department of Health confirmed on Thursday that a new social grant system was on the cards for chronically ill people, including those living with HIV/AIDS. At present, government policy stipulates that HIV-positive grant recipients be deregistered once antiretroviral (ARV) treatment restores them to good health and they are able to start seeking work.

However, local AIDS activists charged that with national unemployment estimated at around 35 percent, most beneficiaries were usually jobless and too ill to work before they started receiving the monthly stipend of US$109, which was often used to support their or their family's nutritional needs.

Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56497

BOTSWANA: Army rolls out carpet for women

Forty years after independence, Botswana is ready to recruit its first women soldiers to private and officer ranks, depending on their academic qualifications. "It took 20 years of lobbying, the last bastion is finally down," remarked an elated Ntombi Setshwaelo, spokeswoman for Emang Basadi, a women's rights NGO.

The Botswana Defence Force (BDF), established in 1977, plans to recruit its first women soldiers in March 2007, but those aspiring to a career in uniform should not expect any preferential treatment. "They will follow military standards and be required to walk 100km in the burning sun with a pack on their back, just as male soldiers do," BDF commander Lt-Gen Tebogo Masire told a recent press conference.

Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56473

MADAGASCAR: Attempted "coup" fizzles in desire for peaceful poll

Tensions flared briefly in Madagascar as an army general's call for President Marc Ravalomanana to stand down ahead of next month's presidential elections was "misinterpreted" as a coup attempt.

Local media reported that retired General Andrianafidisoa, commonly known as 'General Fidy', had called for military action against Ravalomanana and allegedly distributed leaflets announcing a provisional government led by the military, at a base near the international airport of the capital, Antananarivo, last Friday.

Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56449

IRIN news

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