SOUTH AFRICA: Education a Beacon of Hope for the Girl Child

South Africa has become a beacon of hope for the girl child in Sub-Saharan Africa, where poverty and outdated traditions have prevented girls from attending schools.

POPULATION-SOUTH AFRICA: Skills, Experience of Refugees Go to Waste

South Africa appears to receive the cream of African refugees seeking safe new homes, in Africa, but their skills and experience go to waste, says a survey released Thursday by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

RIGHTS-SWAZILAND: Abortion Remains a Controversial Issue

After banning abortion in the country, but then leaving an option for its eventual legalisation, the new draft constitution typifies the ambiguous feeling most Swazis have toward the procedure.

POLITICS-ZIMBABWE: President Mugabe On War Path

Zimbabwe, already in a dire economic, political and social situation, faces another bitter year ahead. The ruling ZANU-PF has declared war against the opposition, the West and the Commonwealth.

/ARTS WEEKLY/AFRICA: Kora Awards Attract Leading Musicians

From its humble beginnings when it attracted a mere 135 entries, this year 308 artists entered the 8th Annual Kora All-Africa Music Awards.

COMMONWEALTH: Summit Focuses on Democracy, Development – and Zimbabwe

The bi-annual Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting got underway in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, Friday with traditional dances and a parade of flags from the group's 54 member states.

COMMONWEALTH: Over to CHOGM. Anyone Listening?

As the Commonwealth People's Forum heads toward the finish line, attention has shifted to the organisation's Heads of Government meeting which begins in Nigeria today.

DEVELOPMENT-AFRICA: Seeds of Hope in the Agriculture Sector

Africa and other parts of the developing world are preparing to negotiate better access to the markets of wealthy countries at the next ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation, Ugandan Agriculture Minister Wilberforce Kisamba-Mugerwa said in Pretoria this week.

RIGHTS-ZIMBABWE: Woman In The Struggle

The demonstration was brutally put down. Police lashed out, their blows temporarily paralysing slower protesters who couldn't escape the random thrashing.

COMMONWEALTH: Civil Society Prepares for ‘Civil War’

Civil society organisations are scheduled to hold talks with Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon Wednesday, in the Nigerian capital - Abuja.

COMMONWEALTH: Put Your Heart Into Business

The Commonwealth will set up a new global index to measure socially responsible investment at a business forum in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, later this week.

COMMONWEALTH: No Democracy Without Access to Information

The Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting beginning in the Nigerian capital this week is committed to promoting development and democracy - both in heavy deficit among member countries. A report issued ahead of the meeting says that open government will be a key element in this process.

HEALTH-SOUTH AFRICA: Loving Life After World AIDS Day

In South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province, a train winds its way through the undulating hills. On board, six young people with HIV/AIDS, along with celebrities from local soap operas, television and radio are doing their bit to raise AIDS awareness.

COMMONWEALTH: Come To Us, People Tell Leaders

Civil society representatives have sent an urgent request to government leaders to hold talks with them Thursday, ahead of the official opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

HEALTH-SWAZILAND: AIDS a Greater Threat Than Ever Before

Swaziland is a small country geographically, and its population numbers less than a million. But, it has an oversized AIDS problem.

COMMONWEALTH: People’s Forum Gets Underway in Nigeria

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo opened the Commonwealth People’s Forum Sunday.

POLITICS-CENTRAL AFRICA: Rwanda and the DRC Buoyant About Peace

Peace efforts in the Great Lakes region were taken a step further this week when leaders from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo met in South Africa for talks.

EDUCATION-MALAWI: Making Universal Primary Schooling a Reality

When the Commonwealth heads of government gather in Nigeria next month for their bi-annual meeting, the agenda will probably be dominated by politics. But, if activist Julita Msanjama had her way, the leaders would spend most of their time discussing education.

HEALTH-AFRICA: AIDS Orphans – The Worst Is Yet to Come

"We are here to sound a new and more urgent alarm over what is arguably the most neglected crisis that has been spawned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic," Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund, said in Johannesburg Wednesday.

RIGHTS-ZIMBABWE: No Sign of Improvement as 2003 Ends

Zimbabwe is winding up another bitter year, and Samson Tawona, a teacher in the capital - Harare - is a depressed man.

ECONOMY-SOUTHERN AFRICA: A Challenging Road Ahead for Truckers

The road transportation business in Southern Africa is fraught with obstacles, in the shape of AIDS and crime. However, industry players say it is also providing opportunities for promoting black empowerment.