African press review 2 January 2012

Trouble ahead for South Africa's green paper on land reform, opposition parties in Uganda complain of government intimidation and the knock-on effect of the eurozone crisis on Rwanda's economy are grabbing the headlines in Africa's newpapers.

In South Africa, the Afrikaner rights group AfriForum has questioned the constitutional validity of the green paper on land reform, vowing to use all available avenues to oppose it.

According to the daily BusinessDay, the green paper’s proposals have been criticised by agriculture unions as a threat to property rights.

Some academics and nongovernmental organisations have said that the proposed legislation inadequately addresses the shortcomings of the government’s initial land distribution efforts.

Opposition parties have also criticised the bill for shying away from the question of women’s land rights.

Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti says that the paper is all about facilitating productive land use and ensuring an equitable land distribution.

AfriForum has rejected the whole document, saying its key proposals were "totally unacceptable".

The Herald in Zimbabwe is wondering what happened to 772,000 euros supposed to have been paid to Members of Parliament to cover their allowances last month.

The MPs say they are still waiting to receive the money while the Ministry of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs insists it disbursed the funds during the Christmas holiday.

Parliamentary welfare committee chairman Paddy Zhanda said they had not received any outstanding sitting allowances. He points out that if the money was disbursed during the holidays, it must have been delivered by hand because the banks were closed.

Opposition political parties in Uganda have accused the government of sustained harassment, torture and intimidation of their supporters.

According to this morning's Monitor, the opposition Forum for Democratic Change says several vocal party supporters have been remanded over fabricated charges while others are on the run for fear of government reprimand.

Several opposition officials are facing treason charges arising from their participation in last year's walk-to-work protests, organised to highlight the problems of ordinary Ugandans because of the increased cost of living.

Information Minister Mary Karooro Okurut has denied the claims, saying that those with a complaint can always apply to the courts for redress.

The Monitor does remind readers, however, that Uganda's Police Chief Kale Kayihura last year apologised before the Public Appointments Committee for the excessive use of force by some government agents.

The opposition Democratic Party says over 400 youths who were arrested during the 2010 pro-Buganda riots are still on remand in Luzira Prison and have never been charged.

The big story in today's Nairobi Daily Nation says the United Nations has named three Kenyans allegedly involved in smuggling gold from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the UN report, the network based in Nairobi carries out deals involving large quantities of gold.

Transactions in smuggled gold serve as a key source of financing for groups in the DRC, says the UN report, including criminal elements in the Congolese army.

Kenya recorded no official imports of gold from the DRC in either 2010 or 2011.

The Daily Nation also reports on tomorrow's return to school for millions of young Kenyans. Under government-sponsored changes, the first term will last 16 weeks, an extension which has been criticised by the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association.

The second term won't be much better, at 15 weeks, but the final period will be just 8 weeks long, to ensure peace and calm during the exam period in October and November.

Regional paper The East African reports that Rwanda is beginning to feel the pinch of the ongoing Eurozone crisis as foreign investors falter in funding key projects.

An example is the 232-million-euro Kigali Convention Centre, which was scheduled for completion in 2011 but is likely to be delayed by two years because of a 70 million euro shortfall in financing.

Another key strategic investment that has been delayed by financing gaps is the 250-million-euro methane gas energy project.

The government is also seeking 463 million euros for the construction of a new airport at Bugesera, originally expected to be completed over the next five years.