RELIGION: Gay Controversy Spreads to Other Churches

The controversy surrounding the Anglican Church over homosexuality appears to be spreading to other churches.

CULTURE-ZIMBABWE: Communities Make Funerals Their Core Business

It's the first Sunday of the month. On the streets in Mpopoma - a working class area - many adults, both men and women but especially men, are distinguishable by their smart ties and dark blazers.

CULTURE-SWAZILAND: Women in the Forefront of the Battle Against AIDS

Gogo ("Granny") Mkhatjwa, 62, has had enough of watching her grandchildren die of "the disease that cuts you down completely," as AIDS is colloquially known in the SiSwati language.

LABOUR-ZAMBIA: Strike Shrinks Revenue Base

Like dominos, sectors of the Zambian public workers have gone on strike one after the other, since March, costing the government over 10 million U.S. dollars a week in revenue collection.

RIGHTS: Child Slave Rings Rife in Southern Africa

Trade in children, literally slave trading in infants to teenagers, has been a problem that African law enforcement officials thought was mostly confined to the western part of the continent.

HEALTH-AFRICA: AIDS Drugs Slowly Reaching the Needy

It may seem an impossible task to eradicate AIDS amongst children globally but the staff from the U.S.-based Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation appears to be committed to this vision.

POLITICS-ZIMBABWE: Mugabe Keen to Keep Tight Grip on Power

No sooner had U.S. President George W. Bush left Southern Africa that what could be the full impact of his much-heralded African tour is being felt in troubled Zimbabwe.

DEVELOPMENT-SWAZILAND: Gov’t, Critics Use Summit to Highlight Their Case

A growing reform movement, abetted by radical labour unions, is being heard louder than ever this week at the commencement of a British Commonwealth summit being held in Swaziland from Aug. 12 to Aug. 16.

RELIGION: Gay Debate Splits Africa

The Anglican Church in Central Africa is threatening to cut ties with America over a decision by the church in the United States to confirm a gay bishop.

HEALTH-SOUTH AFRICA: AIDS Activists Wary of Broken Promises

Wary of broken promises, anti-HIV and AIDS activists are keeping a guarded eye on the South African government, despite its most concrete commitment to develop a comprehensive treatment plan for people living with the disease by the end of September.

/ARTS WEEKLY/CULTURE/SOUTH AFRICA: A Legacy of Apartheid

India has the Gandhi memorial park in Delhi, the United States has its Vietnam memorial in Washington and the French have the Eiffel Tower, now South Africa is seized with how it will remember apartheid and establish a legacy project that speaks quintessentially of the country and its history.

RIGHTS-ZIMBABWE: Women of Amazing Courage

When she opened the front door to her house, 28 year-old Patience Makoni (not her real name) thought she was letting in a friend who had called earlier to say she would be visiting her later that day.

HEALTH-SOUTHERN AFRICA: Sex Workers Join Efforts to Contain Spread of AIDS

Commercial sex workers are not responsible for the rise in AIDS cases regionally, but their activities do contribute, and efforts to contain the spread of HIV now include members of the world's oldest profession.

RIGHTS-ZAMBIA: Civic Groups File an Injunction to Restrain Head of State

The battle between President Levy Mwanawasa and the women's movement in Zambia is enjoined.

CORRUPTION-SOUTH AFRICA: Inquiry Unlikely to Affect Next Year’s Elections

South African deputy president Jacob Zuma is a returnee, like President Thabo Mbeki. He was born in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa's most populous province and one that remains firmly in the hands of Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a self-proclaimed Zulu aristocrat who heads the Inkatha Freedom Party.

HEALTH-SOUTH AFRICA: AIDS Group Forms Company to Provide Cheap Drugs

AIDS activists have launched a new company to sell cheap anti-retroviral drugs to people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa.

TRADE-AFRICA: Growth Depends on Access to Market, Not Aid

As the next round of trade talks gets underway in Cancun, Mexico next month, it has emerged that Africa would benefit far more from the better access to the European Union and the United States markets than it does from aid.

CORRUPTION-SOUTH AFRICA: Arms Deal Probe Worries Ruling Party

After months of investigations, South Africans are no nearer to the truth behind accusations that the country’s deputy-president, Jacob Zuma, was part of alleged corruption in the government’s multi-billion-dollar arms acquisition deal.

HEALTH-SOUTH AFRICA: Gov’t Reluctant to Approve Anti-AIDS Drugs

The South African government's efforts to tackle the AIDS epidemic are persistently overshadowed by its apparent determination to delay introducing a treatment programme for people living with the disease.

CULTURE-MALAWI: Hunger Promotes Underage Marriage

Vyalema Mwakasungura (not real name) has always harboured one ambition: to become a nurse.

LABOUR-SWAZILAND: Protest Marches to Coincide with Heads of State Summit

Former South African President Nelson Mandela will lead a global contingent of present and past heads of state at the British Commonwealth SMART Partnership Summit, or Global 2003, which will be held in Swaziland on Aug. 13.