The IRN is proud to announce that first issue of OUTLIERS, the e-journal of IRN-Africa. OUTLIERS is a collection of essays and creative work on sexuality in Africa. This issue is entitled 'Theorizing (Homo)Eroticism in Africa', and contains works by Sybille N. Nyeck, Terna Tilley-Gyado, Crispin Oduobuk-Mfon Abasi, Rudolph Ogoo Okonkwo, Shailja Patel, Cary Johnson, and Bernadette Muthien, among others.

The Council for the development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) regrets to announce, yet again, the death of one of its illustrious members. Harris Memel-Fotê passed away inAbidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on 11 May 2008, having lost his battle against a prolonged illness that put him in a wheelchair for some time. He was 78 years old.

The African social science research community has been paying close attention to the evolution of the situation at the National University of Kinshasa. It is now four months since academic activities have been paralyzed as a result of a lecturer’s strike for decent wages. For a couple of days now, students have become prey to the police because they decided to conduct a march to pressure the government to respond positively to the lecturers’ demands.

A truck carrying 60 000 copies of the most popular Zimbabwean newspaper has been burned out. The driver, Christmas Ramabulana, a South African, and a distribution assistant, Tapfumaneyi Kancheta, a Zimbabwean, were admitted to hospital after the attack. The newspaper, the Zimbabwean on Sunday, was printed in South Africa and the truck crossed the border at Beit Bridge on Saturday.

It’s with a great sense of loss that Art for Humanity (AFH) reports the tragic death of celebrated KZN artist, Gabisile Nkosi in the early hours of this morning, 27 May 2008. Gabisile was involved with AFH for almost 10 years with her participation in two of AFH’s print portfolio projects. In 2000, Gabisile contributed a linocut, "Break the Silence" which discouraged the practice of polygamy in rural areas to AFH’s “Break the Silence” HIV/Aids awareness print portfolio. In her artist statement, Gabisile emphasized the important role art plays in advocating social issues, “If you want to get a message across, it’s better to do a colourful visual rather than text. As an artist, I feel privileged to play a role in HIV/Aids awareness through the medium of visual art.” AFH treasures the opportunity of having worked with Gabisile. She made such a powerful impact with her capacity as an artist and as an educator in numerous communities. Her passion, kindness and commitment to helping others through art inspired and touched many lives. We will miss you Gabi.

Chief Justice Pius Langa, Chief Justice of South Africa will deliver this lecture, which will address the relationship between the entrenchment and enforceability of socio-economic rights in South Africa and the fact that the Constitution is best understood as a manifesto for positive transformation towards a truly equal society.

More than 18,000 people have fled xenophobic violence around Cape Town since mobs began attacking foreigners and burning and looting their homes and businesses one week ago. Thousands more were chased out of their homes in the central Gauteng Province in the previous week. At least 42 have been killed in and around Gauteng's capital, Johannesburg. Terna Gyuse reports from a shelter in Cape Town.

The Network of African Freedom of Expression Organisations (NAFEO) has observed the escalating attacks and harassments of press freedom, media and journalists in Uganda. The latest development occurred on April 26, 2008 with the raids by Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) on the offices of privately-owned newspaper "The Independent" and the home of its publisher, Andrew Mwenda.

A Nurse Education Specialist / CPD Coordinator is sought to deliver an 18 month programme of CPD for nurse teachers as well as develop, coordinate and implement CPD programmes for nurses and midwives in Somaliland. The postholder will play a key role in strengthening nursing and midwifery in Somaliland. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of human and institutional capacity, crucial for the rebuilding of the health system in Somaliland. Closing date for applications: 13th June 2008. Telephone interviews in the week beginning 16th June 2008.

Reporters Without Borders is concerned about the detention of freelance journalist Al-Ghali Yahya Shegifat, who has been held incommunicado in an unknown location since 14 May. Neither his family nor his lawyer have been able to contact him and it is not known what he is charged with.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called on Sudanese authorities to lift the ban on Arabic-language newspaper Alwan, which has been accused of publishing “sensitive military information harmful to the country’s security” linked to a recent attack on the capital city Khartoum by Darfur rebels.

The 25 May is commemorated annually as Africa Day, recalling the founding of the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union, in 1963. Flowing from the communiqué issued by the African Civil Society Meeting held in Dar es Salaam in April 2008, we ask concerned organizations regionally and internationally to commemorate Africa Day, Sunday 25 May 2008, as one on which to show solidarity for the people of Zimbabwe – a “Stand Up (For) Zimbabwe” Day.

Although the concept originates with a group of southern Africa-based NGO’s, concerned for issues of democracy and human rights, in Zimbabwe, it is intended that people all over the world build on this concept and that the “Stand Up For Zimbabwe” campaign have varied and multiple dimensions.

On this day there would be protests and assemblies outside offices of the Zimbabwean government, like embassies; outside offices of SADC, the AU and the UN calling for stronger action; outside offices of those individual governments which have roles to play in resolving the crisis (specifically southern African governments). All such protests and assemblies are to stand in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe.

The campaign will also be carried out through other activities: through asking congregations assembled at places of worship to rise and stand in solidarity with those beaten, tortured and killed in the post-election violence in Zimbabwe;

HOW TO ORGANISE YOUR “STAND UP (FOR) ZIMBABWE” ACTIVITIES FOR 25 MAY 2008

The day in a nutshell:
We are asking organizations and people from around the world to “Stand up (for) Zimbabwe”, by planning and participating in a series of activities around the African continent and the world that seek to show solidarity with those Zimbabweans impacted by the unashamed attempt to subvert the people’s will who voted for a party of their choice and the escalating post-election violence. We ask that you plan these events to lead up to or coincide with the 25 May 2008, a day traditionally commemorated as Africa Day, being the day on which the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) was founded.

THE THEME

The theme of the International Day of Action is “Stand up (for) Zimbabwe” to highlight that the people of the region and the world are standing up and with the people of Zimbabwe in their desire for a democratic, peaceful transition of government and an end to the violence that is so much part of their lives.

On 25 May

1. We call on people to join TAC and other organisations from South Africa and from around the world to literally stand up at 12:00pm local time.

2. In South Africa TAC will be marching upon the Presidency on Sunday 25th May.

3. Mobilise, organise and popularize this mass event to STAND UP FOR ZIMBABWE

*For more information, please visit:

*Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at http://www.pambazuka.org/

Here below, Comrade Fatso remembers Tonderai Ndira, described by Voice of America as Zimbabwe's best-known activists. Speaking of Ndirai the VOA says "his family and friends believe he has been arrested at least 35 times, certainly a record in Zimbabwe's political history. (And) last year he spent five months in detention.

Dead. A cold body in a mortuary. That’s how they found Tonde today. Abducted last week, he was tortured and beaten to death. An inspiring, young township freedom fighter whose words were in my ears last week, his breathing body in my eyes. Today the breath has been beaten out of him because he dared to believe that his people could be free. And dreams here are criminal things these days.

Tonderai Ndira was an example of everything that this military junta is trying to weed out and destroy. An energetic township organizer for the MDC, Tonde was inspiring to watch as he would lead us through his tree-lined Mabvuku suburb showing us his community’s problems and how they were determined to solve them. He was a true community activist, greeted by all who walked by and more popular than the local MP.

Once me and other comrades joined him for one of the most creative actions I’ve been in here. Mabvuku has had endless water shortages due to a corrupt City Council so letters supposedly from the Council were sent out to residents calling on them to come to the local Mabvuku council offices to discuss their plight. Soon there was a gathering at the offices of hundreds of Mabvuku residents, from water-bucket-on-head grandmothers to dread-locked scud-in-hand youths. The council representatives were overwhelmed and denied ever sending the letters. Angry residents told the officials and police where they wanted to stick their empty water buckets. Tonde, as usual, was in the forefront. The young and the old were united in their disdain for the answer-less officials. The riot police were called in. Santana trucks began hungrily chasing us and other township youths as we all evaporated into the sprawled out veins of dusty Mabvuku. But the point was made. No justice for us. No respect for you. And that is the message that Tonde’s activism has left written in the soil of his much-loved Mabvuku.

* Samm Farai Monro, better known as Comrade Fatso, is one of the most popular poets in the Zimbabwe arts scene. You can visit his blog at: http://comradefatso.vox.com

*Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at http://www.pambazuka.org/

Progressio has a policy of recruiting nationals for Country Representative posts. For this post, we can only consider applications from Zimbabwean nationals. Educated to a degree level in a relevant field, the postholder will have a minimum of fiveyears of direct experience in NGO management, strategic planning and project appraisal, as well as financial management. In addition, s/he should have relevant work experience in Zimbabwe and/or in the Southern Africa region; and experience of fundraising and of recruitment.

The Open Society Fellowship supports outstanding individuals from around the world. The fellowship enables innovative professionals—including journalists, activists, academics, and practitioners—to work on projects that inspire meaningful public debate, shape public policy, and generate intellectual ferment within the Open Society Institute.

The Independent Review Commission (IREC) was established to assess a number of aspects of the 2007 General Elections in Kenya. As part of its mandate, it is required to examine the conduct of the Electoral Commission of Kenya and make recommendations aiming at improving the fure electoral process in the country. To assist the Commission in its endeavour, IREC wants to apply a well qualified electoral researcher.

“People who ignore their history are bound to repeat it” said Desmond Tutu. If we really wish never again to see a repetition of the traumatic events that we experienced after the 2007 Kenyan elections, we CANNOT AND WE MUST NOT bury the memory of what happened in the early months of 2008.

WAJIBU, in this first double first issue of the year brings you not simply the events of that period as lived by many Kenyans but also the reflections of thoughtful writers (many of them young but established) on the underlying reasons for this outbreak of violence. At the same time, we give you the thoughts of religious leaders as well as of social activists on the paths we must choose if we wish to live in “unity, peace and liberty” in the Kenya we love.

Some of the well-known writers and leaders who have contributed to this issue are: Sheikh Said Athman, Muthoni Garland, Shalini Gidoomal, Fr. Patrick Kanja, Mukoma wa Ngugi, Yvonne Owuor, Stephen Partington, Binyavanga Wainaina and Rasna Warah.

WAJIBU can be obtained for Ksh. 100/= at the following outlets: Stanley Kiosk, Simply Books, University of Nairobi Bookshop, Catholic Bookshop, LISS library at the Rahimtulla Trust Building on Mfangano Street.

If you would like to subscribe or purchase copies, please contact:[email protected], tel: 254 720 970197

On 6 May 2008, about a dozen armed, plain-clothed policemen from the Niger State Command (in north-central Nigeria) raided the head office of "Leadership" newspaper in Abuja, Nigeria's Federal Capital, and arrested the newspaper's deputy editor, Danladi Ndayebo, over a feature article published by the paper.

The theme of the conference is The Nigerian Trade Union Movement: Retrospect and Prospects. The keynote speaker isDr. Festus Iyayi, Department of Business Administration, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. Date: 30-31 May 2008.

An African leader has dismissed the UN's food agency as a "waste of money" and called for it to be scrapped. President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal spoke out days after the UN announced an emergency plan to bring soaring world food prices under control.