African press review 7 October 2016

Kenya suffers setback in war on terror as suspected Al Shebaab Islamists kill six on a work sit, while an Ugandan MP tables a bill to ban booze.

Terrorism

We begin in Kenya where there is revulsion over the killing of six workers at a project site by suspected Al Shabaab terrorists in Mandera.

Standard Digital reports that the attack was carried out at about 2am on Thursday as the tenants at the work place were asleep.

The news website quotes police as saying that the gunmen used a grenade to break the entrance into the plot, shooting at the victims randomly. Up to 33 people were at the plot at the time of the attack, according to the newspaper.

Daily Nation reports that the Al Shebaab have staged at least eight attacks on Kenyan soil in the past three months, denting a blow to border control efforts put in place by security agencies.

Zuma and the Guptas

And South Africa's Mail and Guardian speculates about the key questions outgoing public protector Thuli Madonsela is set to ask President Jacob Zuma when they meet today in what the paper describes as a much-awaited showdown in Pretoria.

The meeting is part of an inquiry into allegations surrounding the Gupta family’s appointment of state ministers.

The paper says that while it “can’t be a fly on the wall” to hear what Zuma will say about the Guptas influence over South Africa’s political sphere, it is able to guess what questions he will have to answer.

According to Mail and Guardian, Zuma has to tell the public protector if he feels “captured” by the Guptas and how he thinks he can be released from their grip.

The publication says he also has to explain what he was doing at the Gupta home in Saxonwold while Vytjie Mentor was being offered a ministerial job by the family in the next room? Mentor is former ANC MP accompanied President Jacob Zuma to a state visit in India at the request of the Guptas.

BusinessDay reports that former government spokesman Themba Maseko told the Public Protector that the Guptas had tried to exert pressure on him to direct state advertising to their businesses.

MTN's troubles

 The South African mobile phone provider MTN is fined 1.5 billion euros for maintaining five million unregistered users on its network. The Tribune reports that this time the telecoms giant is facing action by the Senate for the retrenchment of over 500 workers.

According to the paper, despite the MTN Nigeria’s explanation that the employees involved were on short term contracts, the Chair of the House Committee warned that they won't fold their arms and watch their constituents being oppressed.

The Tribune reports that is the second time in a week that MTN has been forced to make a public denial and it refuted allegations that it illegally repatriated more than 11 billion euros to South Africa.

Anti-Booze bill

And Uganda could soon become the latest African nation to tighten control over alcohol consumption. Red Pepper reports that a motion on the controversial bill is expected to be on today’s order of Parliamentary business today.

According to the paper, MP Betty Nambooze who is sponsoring the bill brands “booze” as a life wrecker, going on to blame drinking for poverty, unemployment, cancer and parents refusing to take their children to school.