African press review 26 May 2016

What will South Africans do to Jacob Zuma's grave after the president is dead? Opposition leader Julius Malema has one suggestion. How fragile is the position of Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe? Who will take over from Uganda's Yoweri Museveni? And is Nigeria doing enough to end recession?

DR

Julius Malema, leader of the South African opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), yesterday launched a blistering attack on President Jacob Zuma, accusing the president of using public resources to look after his four wives.

Malema was speaking in Umjindi in Mpumalanga as he continued his campaign across the country ahead of August's local government elections.

The EFF leader said Zuma had spent half a million euros on cars for his wives while the people of Umjindi lived in poverty.

Malema’s scathing attack on the president did not end there: he said future generations would urinate on Zuma's grave when he died.

Thousands take to the streets to support Mugabe

In Harare thousands of supporters of Zimbabwe’s ruling party marched yesterday in support of President Robert Mugabe.

Zanu-PF’s youth league staged the march to coincide with Africa Day celebrations, with Mugabe insisting he would stay on as leader despite calls for him to step down.

In power since 1980, Mugabe’s rule is facing increasing challenges. These include worsening factional fights in the ruling party due, among other issues, to Mugabe’s advanced age (he's 92), dissent from the war veterans group and a struggling economy.

And no review of African presidencies would be complete without a glance at Uganda.

Museveni's son says he's not after his father's job

The Kampala-based Daily Monitor reports that President Yoweri Museveni’s son, Maj Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, yesterday broke his silence on the raging debate over suspicions that he is being groomed to replace his father, saying he harbours no presidential ambitions.

Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, will be barred by the constitution on the basis of age from running for another term in 2021. The president is a sprightly 72. The Ugandan constitution bars anyone over the age of 75 from running for the top job.

Maj Gen Muhoozi also dismissed concerns about his rapid ascent through the ranks, saying all his promotions have been approved by the army promotions and commissions board.

Where do Saudi cluster bombs come from?

The Egypt Independent is reporting that the authorities in Britain are investigating reports that cluster munitions made in England during the 1970s have been used by a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies began a military campaign in Yemen in March last year with the aim of preventing Iran-allied Houthi rebels and forces loyal to Yemen's ex-president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, taking control of the country.

Amnesty International announced this week that it had documented Saudi use of cluster bombs in Yemen adding that the weapons had been manufactured in Britain.

Britain has ratified an international treaty prohibiting the use of cluster bombs, which scatter smaller bombs over a wide area. Saudi Arabia has not ratified the treaty.

Row over Kenya electoral commission continues

The ongoing dispute about the Kenyan electoral commission continues to dominate the front pages in Nairobi.

The main story in the Standard says the opposition group Cord has decided to temporarily suspend anti-IEBC protests to give room for dialogue, warning that demonstrations will resume on 6 June if negotiations fail.

The coalition said the decision to put on hold next Monday's protests was to give room for dialogue in resolving the standoff over the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

The dispute centres on the integrity of the commission and its capacity to oversee free and fair elections.

Nigerian financial woes deepen

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said the sharp drop in the price of oil globally had put Nigeria in a volatile situation.

According to the daily paper Punch, the country's senators have summoned Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun and Central Bank governor Godwin Emefiele to brief them on policies being adopted to salvage the worsening economic situation.

Nigeria is currently in recession.