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African press review 7 September 2011

There is something of a violence theme in the southern African media this morning, added to which details of one country's demonstrations are turning up in another country's papers. This of course has to do with freedom of expression, or the lack of it.

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For instance, a week of protests is under way in the small bankrupt kingdom of Swaziland, wedged between South Africa and Mozambique. The protests are organised by the trade unions and are all about the fact that the government and king are profligate while 7,000 civil servants are being retrenched. Now the Times of Swaziland does tell us that demonstrations have taken place, but not much else.

The Namibian however counted about 300 demonstrators in the streets of the Swazi capital Mbabane on Monday and a few more in Manzini on Tuesday. That may not sound like many protesters but by Swazi standards it's a good turnout. Political parties have been banned since 1973 and on Sunday MTN, the mobile phone company, switched off the network so people couldn't get organised.

The Namibian also provides the only extensive coverage of a violent demonstration in the Angolan capital, Luanda, last Saturday. Quoting Portuguese media, The Namibian says a demonstration by about 200 students against the high cost of living turned violent after the police arrested one of them. The police clashed with the crowd and admitted arresting 24 people... though they admitted it to the Portuguese media, not to Angolan journalists.

There are moves to regulate South African press freedom but for now the country's media remains big and relatively diverse. The online Mail & Guardian reports that protests against corruption, poor housing and water shortages continued for a second day in Thembelihle, south of Johannesburg.

These service delivery protests mark the first time residents have used live ammunition against the police. So far this week in the township a 15-year-old girl has been hospitalised after she was trampled by the crowd and an 11-year-old has been hit in the cheek by a police rubber bullet.

Another online paper, the Zimbabwe Guardian reports on street clashes in Harare on Tuesday. It says the official opening of parliament was disrupted when youths loyal to the Movement for Democratic Change clashed with pro-government demonstrators outside the building.

In his speech to parliament President Robert Mugabe called on Zimbabweans to turn away from violence and find strength in diversity. But outside the building several people were hit by flying stones and bricks. The Zimbabwe Guardian reports that police just stood by and watched.

On a lighter note, the Lesotho Times takes a look at 16 ways you can steal from government. In a witty article, the paper offers tips to hard-up public servants.

Tips for stealing include: taking a roll of loo paper home from the office. If you are a cleaner who earns 1,200 maloti a month then steal two rolls a week and by the end of the year you'll have taken 364 maloti from the government which is enough to buy a 140kg bag of maize meal.

The Lesotho Times says people lucky enough to have access to government vehicles are sitting on a goldmine. Options include taking fee-paying passengers and draining the fuel tank and selling the contents.

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