Editorial

This issue does not focus on a particular theme but all the same carries issues of concern from across the continent.

Kenya was plunged into mourning last month following the death of the country s Vice President and Minister for Regional Development, Mr Michael Wamalwa. Wamalwa became the third cabinet minister and the fifth NARC MP to die, only eight months since the ruling coalition was voted into office, writes Africanews Associate Editor Zachary Ochieng.

Zimbabwean schools and colleges, once citadels of academic excellence are now tottering on the brink of collapse. As Rodrick Mukumbira reports, political turmoil and a crumbling economy have led to this sad state of affairs.

As the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues unabated, the International Human Rights watchdog Amnesty International takes the lead in condemning a new dimension to the war - the use of child soldiers. Africanews Managing Editor Clement Njoroge has the details.

From Botswana, Rodrick Mukumbira reports that media activists are up in arms over a proposed Communications Bill, which seeks to curtail the freedom of the press.

On the political arena in Malawi, politicians and church leaders are going for each other s jugular following the clergy s penchant for making political statements from the pulpit. As Charles Banda reports, the pertinent question on most people s lips is whether politics and religion are compatible.

The Southern African kingdom of Swaziland has in the recent past been hit by poor harvests occasioned by drought among other calamities. It is against this background that the small scale farmers are now moving away from traditional farming methods in tandem with the changing times, writes James Hall.

Civil war engulfed Angola for almost 30 years. The death of Jonnas Savimbi in February 2002, a cease-fire in April and subsequent events provide new opportunities for sustainable peace and for Angola to begin to realize its potential. But there is still much to do, especially regarding the security of people and their goods. Fredrick Mvemba reports on the issue of weapons in the possession of civilians thus posing a security threat.

In our Action and Contacts section, we highlight the achievements and lessons learnt by the African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) a Pan African child rights organization which has also been at the forefront of community development. To mark a decade of community development activities, the organization held a conference last month at Nairobi s Panafric Hotel. Zachary Ochieng attended the conference and brings you the details.