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African press review 21 April 2015

The Zulu king blames the media for the current wave of violence against foreigners in South Africa, as President Jacob Zuma has his own gripe against the press. A Kenyan anti-corruption official is suspended for alleged corruption. And will Stephen Keshi keep his job as Nigerian football coach?

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In South Africa, financial paper BusinessDay reports that a crowd of 4,000 people jeered the Zimbabwean and Nigerian ambassadors during Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini’s meeting against xenophobia yesterday.

Last month King Zwelithini said publicly that foreigners should "go home". His comments are being probed by the Human Rights Commission to see whether or not they constitute hate speech.

According to The Sowetan, the Zulu king blamed the media for spreading misleading reports and rumours which were fuelling the violence.

At the same meeting yesterday President Jacob Zuma took issue with the publication of images of the killing of Mozambican Emmanuel Sithole. He implied that the images damaged South Africa's reputation overseas.

In a separate story BusinessDay reports that mining company Kenmare Resources has repatriated 62 South Africans working at its titanium mine in Mozambique.

The company said it was sending the workers back home temporarily for their safety in case of reprisal attacks.

At least seven people have been killed in the South African violence which started in Durban in April.

The front page of the Kenyan Daily Nation carries the chilling news that the death toll from Sunday's migrant vessel capsize in the Mediterranean may rise above 800.

The 27 survivors are from Mali, Gambia, Senegal, Somalia, Eritrea and Bangladesh.

Italian police say a Tunisian and a Syrian among the survivors have been arrested on suspicion that they were members of the gang thought to have organised the fatal voyage.

The Daily Nation also reports that the deputy chief executive of the Kenyan anti-corruption agency, Michael Mubea, was yesterday suspended for 90 days. He has been under investigation for allegedly concealing information on the acquisition of Integrity Centre, the headquarters of the anti-corruption body.

The Egypt Independent reports that the Port Said Criminal Court has decided to postpone until today the case involving Mohamed Badie and other leading members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The 191 accused are charged with inciting acts of violence and murder in Port Said in August 2013.

In a related story, the Egyptian Grand Mufti yesterday endorsed the death sentence for Badie and other well-known leaders of the Brotherhood in a separate case concerning violent demonstrations in Cairo two years ago.

The front page of the Nigerian daily Punch carries a story claiming that Nigeria's president-elect Muhammadu Buhari was not eligible to stand for election.

The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs Doyin Okupe says Buhari never passed the West African Senior School Certificate and was therefore not eligible to contest the presidency.

The Nigerian Guardian gives the top of the front page to a sports story.

Later today the Nigeria Football Federation is scheduled to sign a new contract with national coach Stephen Keshi, a former captain of the Super Eagles. But the chairman of the federation’s technical committee, has questioned Keshi's suitability for the job.

Anyansi Agwu told The Guardian yesterday that the delay in hiring a coach for the Super Eagles was to ensure the federation explored all options available before committing to any individual.

He noted that it would be parochial and unprofessional if the federation narrowed its search to Keshi alone without looking at what other coaches could offer.

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