African press review 15 August 2011

A mixed bag in the African press today...

Kenya’s Daily Nation reports Amos Wako could soon be replaced as Attorney General. According to the article, he could be replaced before the 27th August constitutional deadline to give his successor “time to settle in.”

Wako is the country’s longest serving Attorney General. He was appointed in May 1991 and has since written a number of laws and was one of the recent Committee of Experts who wrote Kenya’s new constitution.

On the same issue, the paper also published an editorial that says that Wako might have been “a good writer of laws,” but was terrible at enforcing them. The author even goes as far as saying “Wako’s appointment was a disaster,” because he let politicians meet when and wherever they wanted (with or without permission) and issue threats against the opposition.

The East African in Kenya says that “With South Sudan’s independence, investors eye eastern, northern Kenya.” According to the article, “Kenya’s Vision 2030” economic blueprint is actually based on South Sudan’s independence, because the country hopes to focus on its North.

The government has huge plans for infrastructure, but some policymakers are asking whether they will disrupt predominantly rural life in the region. Already, recent development has sent prices skyrocketing and some counties have had to put an embargo on land transaction.

In Uganda, the Daily Monitor reports that activists will meet the government head on if President Museveni “dares” to cut part of the Mabifa forest to make room for sugar plantations.

The Ugandan government responded by saying that Museveni is an “environmentalist,” and that that he even contributed to saving the forest when he came to power. Others also blame the government for using this crisis to divert from what they call “the real problem.”

They’re saying that the real reason there is a sugar shortage in the country is because most of it is being exported to South Sudan.

In Nigeria, the Guardian Nigeria says that shareholders want President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the nationalization of banks. The reason: they worry it could affect foreign investment in the country.

The President of the Independent Association of Nigeria, Dr. Sonny Nwosu is quoted as saying that “it is time for Jonathan to speak out in the interest of the investing public and the country at large,” saying that if he doesn’t, it could jeopardize his “transformation agenda” aimed at making Nigeria’s economy one of the strongest by 2015.

So far only three banks are being nationalized, but Nwosu says the government should take over all struggling banks, saying it is the only solution to the crisis. A deadline for the planned takeovers has been set for 30th September.

And in Zimbabwe,The Herald says that ZESA (Zimbabwe’s energy company) will distribute 5,5 million energy-saving bulbs before the end this year. With that move, they are hoping to save 200 megawatts since the company generates much less energy than the country needs - 1300 megawatts versus 2200 megawatts.

Energy saving bulbs last 8000 hours, while regular bulbs only last 1000 hours. There were fears the fluorescent bulbs could cause cancer, but officials say they are harmless if used correctly.