Malawi Expels British High Commissioner and Britain retaliates, view from a Malawian living in the UK
By Mark | April 27, 2011
The report on the expulsion of the British High Commissioner Mr Fegus Cochrane-Dyet to Malawi has raised concerns from all quarters of Malawian society. The Malawi government through the Minister of Foreign Affairs told the British High Commissioner to leave Malawi within 48 hours. According to various academics and historians alike, the decision is a misjudgement and there is rising demand for the President to reverse the decision. The British government have since informed the Acting Malawian High Commissioner to London to leave as soon as possible. Read the rest of this entry »
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Aid, development and solidarity
By Tony | March 4, 2011
ACTSA’s Director, Tony Dykes comments on the government’s aid review
On 1 March the Secretary of State for International Development announced the results of the aid review. There were winners, where the aid budget was increased and losers where aid was cut completely. Action for Southern Africa is asking that the decision to cut the UK aid budget to Lesotho be reviewed. It is one of the poorest countries in the world and has the 3rd highest rate of HIV/AIDS. Nearly 50 per cent of the population try to live on less than $1.25 cents a day. The Department for International Development (DFID) spent £5 million in Lesotho in 09/10. Not a lot, but Lesotho is relatively small with 2 million people and £5 million spent well there can make an important contribution to poverty reduction and development. It could have a much greater impact in Lesotho than being re-allocated. (DFID) says Lesotho is one of the poorest countries in the world with a high degree of vulnerability. So we think right to push for a rethink. Read the rest of this entry »
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British government blocks arms sale to Swaziland
By Mark | March 1, 2011
Mark Beacon, Progress, 1 March 2011
Last week it emerged that in 2008 the British government refused a $60 million licence for assault rifles, heavy machine guns, armoured personnel carriers and helicopters to be exported to Swaziland. Read the rest of this entry »
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Three lions ate my shirt
By Mark | January 24, 2011
Beyond the din of the vuvuzelas what was the impact of World Cup 2010?
From the moment that Wayne Rooney put the fifth and final goal past the opposition keeper to complete England’s 5-1 defeat of Croatia – and to clinch World Cup qualification – the banter about South Africa began. Within days the Sun’s shopping list of clichés had been joined by murkier tales of spiralling murder and armed robbery rates, uncompleted stadia, the risk of catching AIDs, and the grinding poverty that would leave the local population resentful at best and vengeful at worst. This was a land where those of us who wear the three lions on our chest might just catch a glimpse of the threesome in the real world. But the wildlife, the landscape, the culture and history – as well as the not insignificant fact that South Africa had recently successfully hosted the cricket world cup, rugby world cup and the 2009 British Lions tour – earned scarcely a mention. Read the rest of this entry »
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The ANC has not and shall not wilt under criticism or close scrutiny
By Info | August 25, 2010
Pallo Jordan, ANC Today, Vol 10 No 31,20 – 26 August 2010
Freedom of expression, of which is Media Freedom an important dimension, is one of the fundamental rights South Africans secured through the democratic political revolution of 1994. After more than a hundred and fifty years of hard-fought struggles, entailing the loss of thousands of lives, imprisonment, torture and assassination, these rights should be cherished and defended by us all, citizens and government alike.Historically, the struggle for media freedom and the struggle against colonialism and racial oppression in South Africa have been integrally connected. That link is encapsulated in the person and the struggles of Thomas Pringle who arrived in South Africa as an immigrant from Britain in 1820. Read the rest of this entry »
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The British Museum: Celebrating Mandela Day
By Mark | July 7, 2010
Chris Spring is the Curator of the Sainsbury African Galleries at the British Museum, a writer on African art as well as an artist in his own right. Kaya Makarau Schwartz, ACTSA’s Membership and Campaigns Assistant interviewed him recently about the museum’s celebration of the first International Mandela Day on the 18th July 2010 and its wider programme on South Africa. Read the rest of this entry »
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Mauritius: Life for a trade unionist
By Info | June 23, 2010
Mauritius, to many in the UK it is a delightful holiday island in the Indian Ocean. It is generally regarded as a well run democracy and regularly features near the top of lists of well run African countries. It is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Yet Mauritius has been criticised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for its actions toward trade union leaders and public gatherings. Read the rest of this entry »
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France v South Africa: A win to celebrate South Africa
By Campaigns | June 22, 2010
I am supporting South Africa in today’s match, although part of me feels that the French team needs all the support it can get. With Nicolas Anelka sent home, the team refusing to train on Sunday, resignations from within their camp and both teams needing to win today it will definitely be a great match to watch. Read the rest of this entry »
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Support the boys, the boys this Youth Day
By Info | June 16, 2010
We’ve been writing for WDM’s World Cup site www.whoshouldIcheerfor.com about this evening’s match, South Africa v Uruguay.
Today is an important day for South Africa, and not just because it’s Bafana Bafana’s second group match of the World Cup against Uruguay. The date has a significant place in the country’s history and the campaign against apartheid and is marked annually with a public holiday to celebrate ‘Youth Day’. Read the rest of this entry »
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South Africa, football and solidarity: An interview with Lebo Mashile
By Info | June 9, 2010
Lebo Mashile, a poet, actress, presenter and producer is a popular face on stage and screen in her native South Africa. A recipient of countless awards for her post-apartheid new generation poetry, Lebo continues to feature prominently on television, hosting programmes such as ‘Drawing the Line’. Lebo spoke to Tom Brigden, an intern at ACTSA, before she performed at the World Cup Diski Party on 4 June organised by Philosophy Football and supported by ACTSA. Read the rest of this entry »
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