Editorial

Kenya joined the rest of the world in marking World Press freedom Day on May 3. This day was in honour of hundreds of journalists all over the world who have either lost their lives or become disabled in the course of duty. However, the media scene in Kenya is yet to see significant legal and policy changes to guarantee the requisite freedom. Zackary Ochieng, AFRICANEWS associate editor, reports. As Sam Sarpong reports, Ghana loses 300 million dollars annually through road accidents. The loss covers vehicle damage, hospital treatment and loss of working capacity apart from the human cost. This is the outcome of a study conducted on road accidents and their effect on the economy by the Agency for Sustainable Development (ASD), a developmental organisation.
Three thousand African children die daily of Malaria, with the death rate bound to escalate. This is according to a report prepared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF). According to the report The Africa Malaria Report 2003 writes Zackary Ochieng, the epidemic continues to take its toll due to lack of access to medical care, failure to use insecticide treated nets and increased resistance to drugs.

From Swaziland, King Mswati recently told a delegation of pastors that although the whole world is preaching democracy, it does not mean we have to follow them. As AFRICANEWS correspondent James Hall reports King Mswati had just heard religious leaders preach in favour of an absolute monarchy, and in this spirit he described democracy as a fashion that has taken hold of the world, but which has no place in his kingdom.