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Thursday 31st July
In Mozambique the rise in fuel prices is now threatening the fishing industry. The sector's operators say they can hardly afford to keep their fishing boats operational. They are callingon the government to come to their rescue in order to keep this vital part of the economy afloat. Jose Tembe reports from Maputo.
Wednesday 30th July
They say you can judge a man by his beer. Well, in Botswana President Seretse Khama Ian Khama, has judged that many of his compatriots are having more drink than they need. He has therefore proposed to increase the price of beer by 70% to discourage the habit. General Khama blames excessive alcohol consumption for social ills such as domestic violence, road traffic accidents and juvenile delinquency. Later today the country's parliament will be debating this proposal. The move has however attracted severe criticism from beer outlets as well as consumers. Our reporter in Gaborone, Letlhogile Lucas has been hearing why.
Tuesday 29th July
In many places around the world, kings and other rulers are normally placed in mausoleums and expensive tombs upon their death. But in Lesotho, the kings are buried on a mountain known as Thaba Bosiu or Mountain of the Night. It was from here that King Moshoeshoe first established and defended the Kingdom of Lesotho in the 19th century. He now lies buried on the hilltop alongside other Basotho kings. Mountain guide, Edgar Mungwa Randawlay has been taking locals and tourists up the mountain for 23 years. He explained to the BBC's Alice Lander the meaning behind the name Thaba Bosiut.
Thursday 24th July
The UK-based charity Oxfarm has warned that millions of people in the Horn of Africa face starvation because of escalating world food prices and a devastating drought. Elizabeth Blunt travelled to the Afar region in north east Ethiopia, one of the worst affected areas. She visited Kori district with Valerie Browning of the Afar Pastoralist Development Association, who took her to see some the work that's being doen to combat water shortage.
Wednesday 23rd July
Francis Njuakom Nchii has made caring for the elderly his life's work. He runs an organisation based in Bamenda in the north west assisting the elderly and providing home care support, it caters for over 50,000 people. Now, after nearly 10 years of work his efforts have been recognised. He has been given a major international award for his campaigning and he received it from Prime Minister of Britain, Gordon Brown. Paul Bakibinga asked him if he expected the award?
Tuesday 22nd July
President Ernest Bai Koroma has vowed that Sierra Leone will not tolerate drug trafficking. He made a statement following the seizure almost 10 days ago, of a plane loaded with cocaine. The plane was abandoned at the country's international airport and in a nationwide broadcast the president promised to deal with the situation without favour, if only to ensure his country does not become a safe haven for traffickers. Umaru Fofana listened to the president's address.
Monday 21st July
Violence erupted in Kenya following controversial elections. The country was plunged into violence and over 1,200 people died and several thousands were left homeless and Kenyans were divided along ethnic lines. At the height of the violence the Assemblies of God church in Kiambaa, Western Kenya was set ablaze, killing at least 30 people who had sought refugee inside the church. A number of people also survived the balze including Mary, a young girl who is still recovering at the Kijabe Mission hospital, about 40 miles from Nairobi. She spoke to Solomon Mugera about her ordeal.
Thursday 17th July
Guinean musician N'Faly Koyate releases his second album of Kora music, a follow up to the critically acclaimed Kora Grooves. He spoke to Komla Dumor about life as a Kora musician.
Wednesday 16th July
The city of Durban in South Africa is calling for prostitution to be legalised for the 2010 football world cup. Muncipaity officias in this coastal city want designated adult entertainment areas that will continue to operate after the tournament ends. However, the suggestion has met with opposition from church leaders and some political parties. Mpho Lakaje reports from Johannesburg.
Tuesday 15th July
Music always features heavily at the Zanzibar International Film Festival. Taarab, or sung Swahili poetry is an important musical form on the island and many groups play during the festival. The festival also premiered, 'Poetry in motion: 100 years of Zanzibar's Nadi Ikhwan Safaa', a film that celebrates a musical club of this art form which has survived colonialism, revolution and reform. Freddie Boswell was at the festival and met the filmakers.
Monday 14th July
In just under five months, Ghanaians will go to the polls for the country's fifth parliamentary and presidential elections since 1992 when multiparty democracy was restored. Whatever the outcome, there will be a change in the top post as President John Kufuor steps down after completing his two terms in charge. Our reporter, David Amanor has been looking at some of the issues ahead of the election.
Friday 11th July
In so many parts of the continent music and politics seem to go together very well with artists choosing to back politicians of one party or the other. Or they may express their own political views and ambitions through music. The Malawian musician Lucius Banda did all that - and even won a seat in parliament but he was found to have faked his educational credentials and had to give it all up. His career as a musician is flourishing though and he's just released an album called Freedom. Joel Nkoma met him in Lilongwe.
Thursday 10th July
Ethiopia has reclaimed a massive stone obelisk looted by the Italians who briefly occupied the country in the 1930s. Dismembered into three parts - the obelisk is being reassembled in the ancient city of Axum in the north of Ethiopia. Elizabeth Blunt has details of the project's progress.
Wednesday 9th July
In the aftermath of a disputed election in Lesotho ten years ago, there was rioting and much discontent on the part of the opposition. When junior officers of the Lesotho Defence Force staged a revolt, the Prime Minister appealed for help from its southern African neighbours. To help restore stability, the regional body SADC sent troops into the country. The ruling party has been in power since 1998 and Alice Lander spoke to veteran opposition leader Vincent Malebo to find out if he thought Lesotho was now a democratic country.
Tuesday 8th July
South African Henrietta Rose Innes is the latest African writer to win the prestigious - and lucrative Caine Prize for African Writing. She won it for her story 'Poison'. She was chosen from a list of ninety entries from seventeen countries. Her story is set in Cape Town and explores the effect on human behaviour of a massive ecological disaster that befalls the city. She told Audrey Brown what it feels like to have won.
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6 mins 39 secs
Monday 7th July
The ripples of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa in May are still being felt. It's thought that around 36,000 Mozambicans left the country - and while some are making their way back - others are staying home for good. All of them have to start over again so a group of Mozambican and South African musicians got together in Maputo to try and raise money to help them. Our reporter, Jose Tembe, was at the concert.
Friday 4th July
As security in Somalia deteriorates more and more people are fleeing the country. Many risk a dangerous boat journey to cross the Gulf of Aden and seek safety in Yemen. The aid organisation, Medecins Sans Frontieres, says more than 20,000 Africans have made the journey across the Gulf into Yemen this year - twice as many as during the same period last year. Many arrive with terrible stories of their suffering in Somalia. Stephanie Hancock reports from the south coast of Yemen.
Thursday 3rd July
Emmanuel Neba Fuh is a 35 year-old man from Cameroon and he's concerned about Africa. He has just finished a 125 mile barefoot trek across the UK to bring attention to the continent's problems. Damian Zane met him at the end of his long walk.
Wednesday 2nd July
Illegal fishing is thought to cost Africa one billion dollars in revenue annually. TheIvory Coast is one country trying to defend its waters from being plundered by pirate fishermen. The government however says it cannot adequately defend its waters, because the country's two patrol boats are both broken and cannot be repaired because of a UN arms embargo. John James in Abidjan has been looking at the problem.
Tuesday 1st July
In Tanzania many businesses will have to hold on to their day's takings because, for the first time in 46 years of independence, the new Bank of Governor of the Bank of Tanzania has declared July 1st a bank holiday. The decision was reached to give banks and other financial institutions the opportunity to take stock of their transactions at the end of the fiscal year. Vicky Ntetema reports from Dar es Salaam on how customers have reacted to this new holiday.
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