Editorial

In this issue, we carry stories on topical issues not restricted to a particular theme.

The Federal Chancellor of Germany Gerhard Schroeder paid a historic visit to Africa last month. The visit – the first one to Africa since he took office in 1998 - was significant given Germany’s commitment to help Africa in conflict resolution and regional integration. NewsfromAfrica Associate Editor Zachary Ochieng followed Schroeder on his whistle stop tour and brings you this report.

From Uganda, Henry Neondo reports that the International Court of Justice based in the Hague, Netherlands has issued an arrest warrant for the Lord’s Resistance Army [LRA] chief Joseph Kony following atrocities that he continues to perpetrate against humanity,

Since the beginning of this month, many Kenyans have been walking to work as most public service vehicles keep off the roads due to non-compliance with new safety regulations aimed at reducing the death toll on Kenyan roads. But as Fred Oluoch argues, the new regulations were well intended but were hurriedly implemented, causing untold suffering to commuters.

Controversy-prone Zimbabwe is now grappling with a health crisis. A January outbreak of the deadly cholera in the north-western part of the country laid bare the dilapidated health system. As Rodrick Mukumbira reports, the government was ill-prepared to handle the disaster, leading to more deaths.

After years of mismanagement, Kenya’s coffee sub-sector is on the path to recovery following the National Rainbow Coalition [NARC] government’s efforts to restore sanity in the once vibrant sub-sector. Esther Mwangi has the details.