African press review 29 October 2013

Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda put regional business on a faster track. ICC investigators are accused of dirty tricks. Stalin Mau Mau is in trouble in Zimbabwe, which is hoping to boost is platinum output.

According to the main story in this morning's Daily Monitor, Uganda will abolish work permit fees for Kenyan and Rwandan citizens from 1 January 2014, one of several reforms launched yesterday at a regional meeting intended to reduce the cost of doing business and speed up the movement of goods and people in east Africa.

But, the top story in regional newspaper the East African notes, two regional leaders, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, were absent from yesterday's infrastructure summit in Kigali.

Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni told journalists in a brief press conference on Monday that talk of a “coalition of the willing” involving Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya was inaccurate since the three countries were discussing infrastructure projects along the northern corridor and would involve Tanzania once discussions moved to the southern corridor.

However, the final communiqué read out after the meeting of the Ugandan, Rwandan and Kenyan heads of state did not include any update on efforts to fast-track east African political federation.

In Kenya the Standard reports that International Criminal Court officials were yesterday accused of harassing, bribing and jailing witnesses to coerce them into giving false testimony against Deputy President William Ruto. Ruto is on trial for his alleged role in the violence which followed Kenya's 2007 presidential election.

In sworn statements filed at the High Court in Nairobi on Monday, two individuals who withdrew as prosecution witnesses in the case against Ruto detail alleged unorthodox means used by International Criminal Court investigators to gather evidence.

The investigators work under the authority of ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.

Simon Kipkolum Rotich claims he was jailed for a year in a Dutch prison after he fell out with ICC officials. And Samuel Kimeli Kosgei claims Dutch authorities took his children away from him.

The statements were filed in support of journalist Walter Barassa's attempt to avoid extradition to the Hague court, where he is himself accused of attempting to bribe and intimidate witnesses in the Ruto trial.

A chap with the remarkable name of Stalin Mau Mau is making news in Zimbabwe.

According to today's edition of NewsDay, published in Harare, the boxing promoter was earlier this month ordered to perform 175 hours of unpaid work and fined 145 euros after he pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and negligent driving. He has now appealed against the sentence, saying 175 hours of work is harsh, considering his age. Stalin Mau Mau is 59 years old.

In South Africa, the main story in the Johannesburg-based financial paper, BusinessDay, says Zwelinzima Vavi, the suspended general secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has warned that the ruling African National Congress faces its toughest election ever next year, with the opposition Democratic Alliance set to gain most from ANC weaknesses.

Vavi cited rampant corruption, a lack of accountability, tribalism and policy dithering as obstacles to the ANC surmounting "apathy" at the polls.

Zwelinzima Vavi is fighting for his political life as elements within Cosatu attempt to force him from his high-profile post because he has admitted to an affair with a junior employee of the federation.

On its African business pages BusinessDay reports that the authorities in Zimbabwe are considering a review of mineral royalties to help the country’s miners as the country attempts to attract investment to capitalise on its abundant natural resources.

Zimbabwe's chamber of mines recently said the country needed investment of more than five billion dollars and stable mining policies if it wanted to boost its platinum output to vie with Russia as the second-biggest producer   after South Africa   of the precious metal.