Bus Accident in Zimbabwe Kills Over 30
A tragic bus crash in Zimbabwe Sunday has left at least 33 people dead and many people hurt. The vehicle hit an oncoming truck on one of the country’s most dangerous roads, The Harare to Masvingo, and overturned three times. The wife of the country’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Susan, was killed in a car accident on that same road earlier this year. With the nation’s high economic woes and past political instability, the maintenance on the roads has not been kept up. The accident occurred about 55 miles south of the country’s capital city, Harare.
 

Strike Ends in South Africa
The week-long strike by South Africa’s municipal workers has come to an end, reports the BBC.  Protesters wanted a pay raise, and a deal was recently reached to give them at 13 percent pay increase. “It’s over … we signed an agreement this [Friday] afternoon. Our workers will return to their posts on Monday,” Mathandeki Nhlapo, a South African Municipal Workers’ Union official told the South African Press Association. About 150,000 people participated in the strike that effectively shut down the country’s services: buses didn’t run, trash wasn’t collected and local police officers did not work, the BBC reports. The raise is a little less than what they wanted, but is keeping with the pace of inflation. The country’s economic woes has made it difficult for new President Jacob Zuma to step up spending; in recent weeks residents of the nation’s townships have hit the streets protesting because the government isn’t covering their basic needs: electricity, water and housing.

Zimbabwe got a whopping $950 million line of credit from China, a move seen as a major step toward the southern Africa nation’s much-needed recovery. Zimbabwe’s astronomical inflation and overall shaky economy has made its outreach for funds a top priority. During his three-week visit to Europe and the United States, Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai met with heads of state in London, Washington, Berlin, Stockholm, Brussels and Paris to appeal for assistance. He called the tour an “overwhelming success,” saying he was able to re-connect Zimbabwe with foreign donors and that the first formal engagement in seven years with the European Union had led to a commitment of 150 million dollars. “While I was away, government through Finance Minister Tendai Biti also secured lines of credit from China totalling 950 million dollars (672 million euros),” said Tsvangirai, who returned to Harare at the weekend from a three-week tour to Europe and the United States. “The EU committed itself to availing us with transitional and humanitarian support to the tune of more than 150 million dollars.” Leaders had expressed reservations about the delays in full implementation of the deal underpinning the unity government with Tsvangirai’s former arch rival President Robert Mugabe, he said. “They asked, why, after almost five months, had fundamental obligations undertaken by the respective political parties not been implemented.”

Zimbabweans Denied Medical Care in S.A. Zimbabweans, many of whom fled their homeland because of the poor economy and rights violations, are not getting needed medical care in neighboring country, South Africa, according to Doctors Without Borders. Many of the injured are charged astronomical fees by hospitals or are just being flat out rejected. About 25 percent of Zimbabwe’s population (three million people) has migrated to South Africa, reports the BBC. And while the country’s government announced that they would be giving out permits to Zimbabweans, which would allow them to stay in the nation for six month and receive employment and healthcare, they are still “treated very poorly,” the nonprofit claims. “Our medical teams see a shocking array of illnesses and they hear stories from our patients which are quite horrifying,” a representative told the BBC. “We are witnessing daily a kind of failure of the South African government, and also United Nations agencies that do have a mandate to protect refugees, asylum seekers and so forth.” Children traveling alone across the border also rises concern because they are exposed to all kinds of danger.

Somalia Experiencing Worst Crisis in Africa The humanitarian crisis in Somalia is the worst in Africa, according to representative from Oxfam International. There are currently 1 million displaced Somalis (many of whom are surviving with limited food or water) and 3.2 million residents are in need of food aid. “I have seen the situation in Darfur, northern Uganda, some parts of Congo, but what is actually happening now in Somalia is indeed the worse kind of humanitarian in Africa in many years,” Oxfam’s Somalia coordinator, Hassan Noor, told the BBC.  ”There are hundreds of children all over the area with tubes on their faces and [saline] drips on their hands. Some of them are actually unconscious and suffering from all sorts of diseases, mainly acute diarrhea and cholera.” Many of the displaced were driven away by severe fighting between pro-government and guerrilla forces. The east African nation has not had a stable government since 1991. There are currently 4,300 African Union peacekeepers in the capital, Mogadishu, but they don’t have permission to go after insurgents, the news service reports.

Zimbabwe Will Get World Bank Money
Again The World Bank has promised to give Zimbabwe $22 million in aid. This is the Bank’s first aid to the country since 2000, when Zimbabwe started falling behind in repayments. The African nation, struggling with the world’s highest inflation rate, high unemployment and other difficulties has been asking the international community for $8.5 billion to help repair its economy, reports the BBC. The nation, though, has to start paying off its current debt if they’d like to see more World Bank money, an official said. “The first task is to see how Zimbabwe can get on with debt reduction,” said a World Bank official. Zimbabwe currently owes the organization and the African Development Bank more than $1 billion. Tendai Biti, Zimbabwe’s finance minister, said that the government would work out a repayment plan with the World Bank.
 

Nigeria’s Military Rescues Hostages
Over the past couple of days, Nigeria’s military says they’ve rescued 18 hostages captured in the nation’s oil-rich Niger Delta region by militants, reports CNN. Nine Filipinos and five Nigerians were released Saturday and four Ukrainians were released Sunday, according to a military spokesman. Fighting between the government and militants from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), a group that is calling for the nation’s oil wealth to be distributed equally, has killed as many as 1,000, according to one official. MEND’s activities include damaging the nation’s oil facilities, which has resulted in a reduction of the nation’s oil exports.  The group declared war against the government late last week, following what they believe was a fatal bombing attack on civilians. “Casualties are mostly women, children and the elderly who could not get away quickly into the bush or high see,” the group said. Col. Rabe Abubakar, though, insists that while villages have been destroyed in the wake, civilians are not the target of any attacks by the government. “We are not attacking villages – just (militant) camps,” he said. “We want the international community to know that we are getting rid of criminals and terrorists in our communities so foreigners who come here to work and invest here are safe,” Abubakar said.

Zimbabwe Jails Activists Again
About two months after being released on bail, 18 prominent Zimbabwe rights activists have been thrown back into jail, accused of planning to overthrow longtime President Robert Mugabe. Many of those jailed are members of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change. And MDC officials say that the move could jeopardize the nation’s unity government Mugabe formed with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. “Today’s ruling seriously threatens not only the life and health of the inclusive government, but its longevity and durability,” said a statement from the group. The activists were arrested last December and held for three months. During that time, they claim they were tortured and coerced into making false confessions, reports the BBC. The latest indictment accuses the activist leaders of sabotage, terrorism and banditry.
 

Island Nation Offers Lifeline to Stressed Workforce
In response to the struggling economy, the Island nation of St Kitts and Nevis will sell government property people who earn minimum wage at a reduced price, reports the BBC. Prime Minister Denzil Douglas announced that the government will offer land at 43 cents per square foot of land to people earning $49.34 a week. The government will aid homeowners as well by creating a $3.8 million credit line to assist those who can’t manage to pay their mortgages.

African Nations Give Struggling Zimbabwe $400 Million
Zimbabwe, a nation going through large economic struggles, has received $400 million in credit from fellow African governments, according to the nation’s Finance Minister Tendai Biti. South Africa gave $50 million, Botswana gave $70 million and the remaining amount came from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, reports the BBC. The money won’t be enough, though, to get the nation (whose money woes propelled it to have the highest inflation rate in the world) out of financial trouble. According to Biti, the nation needs about $45 billion to help restore its economy over the next five years, reports the BBC. But political turmoil in the nation surrounding longtime controversial leader Robert Mugabe, the invasions of White-owned farms and the jailing of opposition party members has made many Western nations weary about giving Zimbabwe money, even though the unity government has asked for billions.

Caribbean-born Teacher Sues a London School
A London school teacher, originally from Grenada, is suing an east London school for over $1 million alleging she suffered abuse at the hands of her students, reports the BBC. Shaaira Alexis, 52, told the court that one of her students poisoned her by putting blackboard cleaner in her water bottle. The incident caused her to have a mental breakdown, she said. In addition to the alleged poisoning, Alexis claims that a student slammed a laptop lid on her hand, injuring her finger. She also detailed alleged abuses suffered by other teachers; one male teacher had his tires slashed and a student attacked a female school official with crutches, she said.

Zimbabwe Leader’s Grandson Dies
The grandson of Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, 2-year-old Sean Tsvangirai, drowned in a swimming pool Saturday afternoon, reports CNN. This is the second tragedy to hit the family t his year; last month Tsvangirai’s wife, Susan, died in a car crash. Sean was at Tsvangirai’s home when he was found. “He had wandered off and was found later in the pool of the house,” a spokesman for Tsvangirai said. Tsvangirai was attending a retreat for government officials in Victoria Falls at the time of the accident. The child will be laid to rest in the village of Buhera Monday.

New South African Party Feels ‘Intimidated’
The Congress of the People (COPE), a new South African political party hoping to make waves in this month’s elections, is accusing the powerhouse African National Congress (ANC) of trying to intimidate them by showing up to and disrupting their rallies, reports the BBC. ANC members have sent in loud hecklers to the COPE gatherings and some have blocked entrances to the rallies, according to COPE’s deputy leader Mbhazima Shilowa. The alleged actions are making a fair election nearly impossible, he said. ‘The ruling party has determined that any other party will not be allowed to campaign. I therefore cannot continue to say that the poll will be free and fair,” said Shilowa. COPE is made up of former ANC members and current loyalists to ex- President Thabo Mbeki, who was forced to step down last year under pressure from his party.

Zimbabwe’s Cholera Numbers Decreasing
It looks like the cholera epidemic that has been devastating Zimbabwe for months has passed its peak, according to the World Health Organization. In the most recent numbers, the number of new cases dropped to 2,000 a week in middle of March, reports the BBC. Earlier in the month, there were 3,800 new cases a week and there were 8,000 cases a week in February. “The situation with the current cholera outbreak is improving. …The overall trend over the last two months is of a decreasing number of cases and deaths,” the health organization said. But the weekly data aren’t always exact, WHO says, and the country’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said that the numbers were most likely a huge underestimate, reports the BBC. In addition, while the numbers have decreased nationwide, the number of cases in the capital, Harare, has been increasing. “The risk of the outbreak restarting in those areas of the country is real,” the report said. Since the start of the epidemic last August, there have been more than 90,000 cases of cholera in the country. About 4,000 people have died from the water-borne illness. 

Mandela’s Ex Can Run for S.A. Parliament
Even though she was convicted of fraud, Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife, Winnie Mandela, is eligible to run for a spot in South Africa’s Parliament during next month’s elections, officials ruled. Her opponents had argued that the nation’s constitution prevented her from running because of her conviction. But her party, the African Nation Congress, contended that since she was never actually sent to jail, she’s still eligible. And South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission agreed. The Constitution says that anyone who is “sentenced to more than 12 months imprisonment without the option of a fine” cannot serve in Parliament until “five years after the sentence has been completed,” reports the news service. Winnie Mandela got a three-and-a-half year sentence in 2004 for the charges, but it was suspended for five years. Critics have argued that even though the sentence has been delayed, it’s still active. The commission has stood by its ruling stating, “The candidate is not disqualified from standing as a candidate in the election of April 22, 009. The objection is accordingly dismissed.” The opposing party, the Democratic Alliance, is waiting on further explanation before planning their next steps, reports the BBC.

Zimbabwe Leader Now Believes Crash Was Accident
After initial speculation, Zimbabwe opposition leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai now says that Friday’s car crash that killed his wife Susan was indeed an accident, reports CNN. “When something like that happens there is speculation, but I want to assure you if it was foul play, it is one in a thousand. It was an accident that took her life,” he said Monday. Officials from Tsvangirai’s Movement of Democratic Change had called the crash an assassination attempt. In addition, MDC Secretary-General Tendai Biti, says the crash might not have happened had there been adequate security (in the form of a police escort) provided for the couple. They will conduct their own independent investigation. Last year’s disputed presidential elections left the African nation in turmoil. After months of negotiations, Tsvangirai entered into a unity government with longtime controversial President Robert Mugabe. For now, Tsvangirai, who sustained some injuries from the crash, is looking to move on. “Life has to go on and I’m certain that if she was here she would like life to go on. It will be difficult to fill the gap left be her,” he said. 
 

Four Killed At Jamaica Nightclub
A shooting at a Jamaican nightclub early Sunday morning killed four and injured four people, reports the BBC. Five men carrying guns entered the Montego Bay club and shot bullets onto the crowded dance floor randomly, sending people scrambling to find cover, according to police. Investigators think the shooting was a part of a dispute between rival gangs.

Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Injured, Wife Killed
A car crash left the wife of Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai dead and the leader himself injured in the ordeal, and as CNN reports, some are left questioning whether the tragedy really was an accident. Tsvangirai sustained head injuries in the crash and went to nearby Botswana for treatment. He and his wife of 31 years, Susan, were traveling between Buhera and the nation’s capital, Harare, when a truck crashed into their vehicle. Members of Tsvangirai’s party, the Movement for Democratic Change, recently announced that they will be holding a rally in honor of Mrs. Tsvangirai Tuesday, saying she was “a mother to all of us. She was a pillar and foundation to our prime minister.” She is set to be buried in Zimbabwe on Wednesday. Tsvangirai “will definitely be back in the country in time for the burial set for Wednesday and the other formalities that go with the funeral. But I cannot give the media his itinerary as that comprises his security,” MDC spokesman, Nelson Chamisa, said. Mrs. Tsvangirai left behind her husband and six children. Tsvangirai, who not too long ago became part of a unity government with controversial longtime President Robert Mugabe, reportedly told party members he believed the truck drove into them deliberately. Members of the MDC reportedly are conducting their own investigation. Former U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe, Tom McDonald, told CNN, that he, too, was skeptical about the crash, considering it’s not the first time Mugabe’s political enemies were involved in car accidents in the nation. He pointed out past fatal wrecks involving former Employment Minister Border Gezi in 1999; Defense Minister Moven Mahachi in 2001; and a government official Elliot Manyika in 2008. He also said, though, that traffic accidents are common in the country.
Haiti Gets $5 Million to Rebuild Schools
Last week, the World Bank announced they will be giving Haiti $5 million to rebuild the schools that were damaged by several storms last year, reports Agence France Presse. In 2008, four huge back-to-back storms (Tropical Storm Fay and hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike) devastated a swathe of the Caribbean nation’s infrastructure, including 1,000 elementary schools. The damaged schools led to a shortened school year for about 200,000 students, said the World Bank in a statement. “The project will set the foundation for the revision of school designs, the use of some schools as community shelters in times of crisis, and increased community ownership in the schools to rebuilt,” a World Bank official said. In total, last year’s storms killed 793 people and caused about $500 million in damage.