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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 16 May 2017

South African opposition wants secret ballot on Zuma vote

y CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA Baleka Mbete, the Nation- has become a flashpoint
Associated Press al Assembly speaker and a for concerns about gov-
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — member of the ruling Afri- ernment corruption and
South Africa’s political can National Congress, has mismanagement in one
opposition on Monday said parliamentary rules of Africa’s most powerful
mounted its latest chal- don’t allow a secret bal- economies.
lenge to President Jacob lot. The scandal-plagued Zuma fired Pravin Gord-
Zuma, saying in court that president has survived past han, the widely respected
a parliamentary vote of no votes of no confidence in finance minister, in a Cabi-
confidence should be by the parliament, although net reshuffle in late March.
secret ballot. more ruling party members Some top ruling party lead-
Opposition lawyers argued are speaking out against ers openly criticized the de-
for the measure at the him. Opposition activists cision. Two agencies, Fitch
Constitutional Court in the marched peacefully to the and Standard & Poor’s, re-
Opposition party members, picket outside the Constitutional belief that disgruntled law- courthouse in Johannes- sponded by lowering South
Court in Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday, May 15, 2017. makers in the ruling party burg as the judges consid- Africa’s credit rating to
South Africa’s political opposition on Monday mounted its lat-
est challenge to President Jacob Zuma, saying in court that a could turn against Zuma if ered arguments on the se- below investment grade,
parliamentary vote of no confidence should be by secret ballot. their votes are not publicly cret ballot. raising concerns about a
(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) disclosed and they have Zuma, who is in his second weakening currency and
less fear of reprisals from his five-year term after be- price increases in a country
UN forces retake strategic areas loyalists. coming president in 2009, with high unemployment.q

of Central African Republic city

By HIPPOLYTE MARBOUA secured the mosque and
Associated Press the displaced who were
BANGUI, Central African inside.”
Republic (AP) — United Na- A Moroccan peacekeeper
tions peacekeeping forces was killed in Saturday’s at-
in Central African Repub- tack by some 700 anti-Bal-
lic retook strategic points aka rebels who targeted
of Bangassou Monday af- Bangassou’s Muslim district
ter armed rebels attacked of Tokoyo and the U.N.
over the weekend, killing a base. Many residents said
peacekeeper at a nearby they locked themselves in
U.N. base and displacing their homes as the anti-Bal-
several thousand, the Unit- aka forces controlled the
ed Nations said Monday. city.
More than 1,000 residents Doctors Without Borders
had fled their homes and said at least 21 people
had taken refuge in a were wounded but access
mosque; some 1,500 oth- to the area is needed to
ers in a cathedral; and 500 determine the full toll.
others in a hospital, human- Cardinal Dieudonne Nza-
itarian agencies said. palainga of Bangui initi-
U.N. forces pushed the ated negotiations with the
Christian anti-Balaka reb- Christian rebels to stop the
els from areas around the violence Sunday, accord-
mosque, allowing those ing to Arnold Fagba, Chan-
inside to leave for a more cellor of the Archdiocese
secure area, according of Bangui. But sporadic
to U.N. mission spokesman gunfire rang out Sunday
Herve Verhoosel. evening, and they had not
“Airstrikes carried out all retreated by Monday.
day on Monday have al- Earlier, “armed men pro-
lowed the troops on the ceeded to destroy all of the
ground to reconquer stra- bridges in Bangassou and
tegic points of the city be- had occupied the roads,”
fore held by the assailants,” according to a statement
he said. “The U.N. force by the U.N.’s humanitarian
has also taken over and coordination agency. q