African press review 10 September 2012

The state of relations between Christians and Muslims in East Africa is a topic in some of the papers today, as well as the clean-up operation in Mogadishu ahead of yesterday's vote..

“Are Christian-Muslim relations under attack across East Africa?”, leads the regional East African.

The assassination of outspoken Islamic cleric Sheikh Aboud Rogo in Mombasa two weeks ago set off days of violent protests in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa, reports the paper.

The article notes that the riots brought into focus the deteriorating state of Christian-Muslim relations in Kenya and the rising rage of the country’s unemployed youth.

But the killing also capped a sinister trend of murders and disappearances of Muslim leaders across East Africa.

According to the author, what is happening today is the culmination of a silent but deep crisis that has enveloped the Muslim community in East Africa since the 1998 terrorist bomb attacks on the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.

The paper concludes with a warning: “In East Africa, different faiths have co-existed peacefully for centuries; the region has never seen large-scale religious riots of the sort that routinely kill thousands in Nigeria or India. It is the kind of precedent that East Africa
emphatically wants to avoid”.

Somali yesterday held elections in a relatively clean capital. For weeks leading up to the elections, about 800 workers have taken part in the Mogadishu cleaning campaign, reports the Sabahi Online.

The Head of Mogadishu’s hygiene and sanitation department told the papers that most of the workers are volunteers, and some are employed under the "food for work" programme, whereby they receive food rations every month in exchange for their work.

The paper features one of the female cleaners who is 68. "Love of my country and encouraging younger women to participate in this noble task prompted me to go out and carry a broom," she told Sabahi. "We are willing to volunteer night and day to build our capital and we will continue until Mogadishu regains its beauty and prestige."

Injured Revolutionaries Feel Neglected by Libyan Embassy in London. The Libyan Tripoli Post leads with the unbelievable story of injured revolution fighters being pressurised by the embassy to return home against the advice of their British doctors.

According to the former fighters’ spokesman, the men are so exasperated by the injustice, that they are prepared to occupy the embassy to protest their treatment by what they say are “corrupt” officials.

“Those who made the new Libya a reality …struggle to remain in Britain and complete their medical treatment”, concludes the paper.

South African’s Sowetan reports an innovative use of ambulances by the Eastern Cape health dept employees. In some cases the critical medical vehicles have reportedly been used to transport prostitutes.

This “alternative” use of ambulances was uncovered following the complaints of paramedics who recently complained about a shortage of rescue vehicles.

The paper quotes the health department spokesman who said corruption cost the department money and at times the lives of patients.

To stay on the subject of health, Malawi’s Nyasa times features a Malawi preacher who gives married couples sex tips.

The paper says that Malawi’s popular evangelist Linly Mbeta captivated her audience as she explained to them about the importance of making love in a relationship and satisfying one another.

The prominent preacher gives some tips on how to avoid infidelity. “Agree, if one wants more rounds, then go for it and in that way we won’t see husbands or wives enjoying sex outside,” she said.

In short, if you wish to preserve your marriage – Do more rounds!