Swaziland: Cop Kills Man On Bus in Swaziland

A plain-clothed policeman shot a suspected thief on a public bus in Swaziland on Friday 7 February.

The Times of Swaziland Sunday, a weekly newspaper, reported that "a man suspected to have stolen copper wire was shot dead aboard a bus, allegedly by a police officer".

According to the report the bus was travelling from Sitiki, in eastern Swaziland, to the commercial capital Manzini, located in the middle of the country.

"Majahonke Zikalala, the driver of the bus, confirmed the shooting. 'I thought we were being robbed when the police officer produced the gun', said Zikalala", reports the newspaper.

The Times Sunday details the shooting, describing the moment of the shooting.

The driver "then said while the man [suspected thief] was attempting to force his way out of the bus, the police officer shot him in the back, near the spine... the man fell on the floor after which he was handcuffed while he bled".

The police officer was said to have called an ambulance but it failed to show up on time and the man died.

Sierra Leonean story teller fights to preserve oral tradition

Usifu Jalloh who is the actor, dancer, percussionist and story teller and others want o revive the traditional of story telling in Sierra Leone before it is lost forever.  He talked about stories like tortoise and the hare Anansi, a spider character portrayed in West African storytelling. He said people need to have an understanding of their culture,  and storytelling can help with that. Storytelling has always been a part of African culture. He also said there are stories about animals depicting human beings and tell you things that would teach you about morality, teach you about your history, your family background, about the warriors that came, that conquered here or did not conquer."The more we lose our culture, the worse it becomes, because you're losing your identity," he says.

Storyteller Usifu Jalloh also wants to make sure these stories are not lost forever. Jalloh, who is currently based in the United Kingdom, has performed all over the world, entertaining and educating people with his storytelling.

He has been performing in Sierra Leone for the past few weeks. He says he is the only storyteller who still performs in the country.

He is reaching out to young people to get them interested and to hopefully revive this tradition. "One thing I am driving for is for my people to validate our own identity and relevance with the modern world," Jalloh told DW.

He grew up with storytelling in the village of Kamakwie, in the northern part of Sierra Leone. It was here that he first experienced storytelling from his grandparents and other relatives. "It's not just about sitting down and laughing.

My grandmother always said: Tickle them ... When their mouths are wide open with laughter, pour in the truth," Jalloh said. "So my stories are loaded with powerful information for them to grapple with and decipher and make informed decisions about where young people want to take their country."

The country, he says, has lost its way, lost is identity. He believes many factors have played a part, for example the British colonization of Sierra Leone.

President of Zimbabwe arrives in Malawi

President Mugabe arrived in Malawi on Sunday 9th February 2014 to attend the African Leaders Forum on Disability.  He was welcomed by Malawian president Joyce Banda and her foreign affair minister Ephraim Chiume. He was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba, and other government officials.The two-day forum seeks to improve the welfare of people living with intellectual disabilities in both their social and economic circumstances, and their access to basic human rights. Sexual abuse of people with developmental disabilities is common because of their greater risk of victimization, and often goes unreported. Most times, the perpetrators are authority figures in the victim's life.Research suggests that 97 to 99 percent of abusers are known and trusted by the victim.

Most abusers assume the mentally challenged will not report the abuse and, more often than not, they are right. Malawi and Special Olympics -- the largest organisation for people living with disabilities in the world -- are hosting the forum together with African leaders, disability and global development organisations, businesses and civil society, and Special Olympics athletes, to make a difference in the largely marginalised lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

The goal is to ensure that global development policies, programmes, organisations, and the post-2015 development agenda are fully inclusive of people with disabilities. Other delegates to the forum include the Chair of the African Union Commission Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, UNESCO director for education Mmantsetsa Marope, Malawi Minister of Disabilities Rachel Kachaje, and Unicef Zimbabwe deputy director Dr Jane Muita.

The forum will conclude tonight with a State dinner hosted by President Banda at Kamuzu Palace.

mandela's will made public

R64 million was the estimated provisional value of Mandela's assets.  In his will Mandela acknowledged his former PA Zedla le Grande, his personal chief Xoliswa Ndoyiya among other employees.  He left them with R50,000 each.  Others are the His personal staff, political home and various institutions of learning - all were remembered in the will of South Africa's anti-apartheid icon, former President Nelson Mandela.

Ndoyiya said she was happy and emotional because she had not expected anyone to do this for her.

"I got the shock of my life that he remembered me. I took him as my father than an employer and this shocked me because it shows that he also took me like his own child and for that I will be eternally greatful," Ndoyiya told SAnews.

The executors of Madiba's estate revealed the contents of this final will and testament, and the management of his estate - to his family at the the Nelson Mandela Foundation's offices in Houghton, Johannesburg, before informing the public shortly after.

Justice Dikgang Moseneke, who first met Madiba on Robben Island in 1963 where they were both imprisoned, Madiba's long-time friend advocate George Bizos and Eastern Cape Judge President Themba Sangoni, who worked on Madiba's legal matters - were named as executors of the will. Schools and institutions which Mandela attendedincluding the University of Fort Hare, Wits University, Qunu Secondary School and Orlando West High School.  bequeathed sums of R 100 000

In the will, Mandela stipulated that these institutions and schools should use the money towards bursaries. Mandela bequeathed R1.5 million to the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Family Trust. A minimum of 10% and maximum of 30% of the royalties of the trust will go to the African National Congress. According to the will, the ANC should use the royalties at the discretion of the ANC executive to spread principles and policies of the party dating back to its formation.

ANC Treasurer General Zweli Mkhize welcomed the will, saying it shows Madiba's dedication to the movement tasked with the betterment of the lives of the people in the country.

Hundreds of reptiles found dead at OR Tambo airport Johannesburg South Africa

Hundreds of reptiles and amphibias found dead at Johannesburg airport in a routine inspection.  The animals were shipped from Madagascar and left unattended in the cargo area of OR Tambo  International Airport in South Africa after bad weather delayed flights to the US.

The bad smell was coming from the sealed animal crates.  Animals were kept in small bags or plastic tubes for about 5 days before they were found in January 29.  Many animals could not move or turn around in their containers.  None had been provided with water.  The surviving animals which include geckos, frogs, chameleons, lizards and toads are being treated at the Johannesburg zoo.