(Johannesburg) -  THE opposition says it has won, but Zimbabwe is holding its breath, with the official results of the presidential election still undeclared 12 days after the poll. In the meantime, Robert Mugabe is tightening the grip he seemed to have lost last week. People in his ruling ZANU-PF have been hinting at a second round; after a five-hour meeting of its top body on April 4th, the party said it would be firmly behind Mr Mugabe in the event of a run-off.

Hundreds of war veterans, who have been used in the past to bully people, marched through the streets of Harare, the capital; others began invading some of the farms still in white hands. The opposition says that dozens of its people in rural areas have been assaulted by pro-government militias. Two foreign journalists have been arrested but were freed on bail after a few days behind bars. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has asked the courts to make the electoral commission announce the results, and is accusing the authorities of wanting to impose a state of emergency.

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South African President Thabo Mbeki says there's no crisis in Zimbabwe, where the results of presidential elections held two weeks ago have still not been announced.

Speaking after an hour-long meeting on Saturday in Harare with his counterpart, Robert Mugabe, Mbeki urged people to wait patiently for the results.

"There is no crisis in Zimbabwe," Mbeki said. "There has been a natural process taking place and we are all awaiting the ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) to announce the results and there is also the matter of the court case," he said, referring to the main opposition party's legal fight to force the government to release official election results.

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(Cape Town)- This is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, one of the greatest achievements of the previous Century. Whereas the Universal Declaration and subsequent international human rights treaties are targeted most explicitly at governments, there are increasing expectations of business to play an important role in promoting and protecting human rights. 

A draft United Nations report argued in 2003 that companies ?have the obligation to promote, secure the fulfilment of, respect, ensure respect of and protect human rights? within their spheres of activity and influence.? Though the report was not formally adopted by the UN it provoked much debate.

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(Johannesburg) After two days of stimulating discussion, the ?Human Rights and Business Conference 2008: Business, Development, and Poverty? has come to a close. The conference drew delegates from the South African private, public, and non-profit spheres to open a constructive dialogue surrounding these important issues. The conference organizers ? the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship, South African Human Rights Commission, and UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights ? celebrated the success of the event, noting that they hope many of the recommendations arising from the conference will be translated into tangible policy action and change. A report on major conference outcomes will be prepared for public distribution.

To participant in the interactive human rights scenarios click here.

To participant in the ongoing discussion forums click here.

Please check back in the near future ? as a full report of the conference will be posted on AfricaGrowth.net!
 

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