The latest report of Afrobarometer corruption survey shows brides in Mozambique but it still high.

The perception of corruption in Mozambique remains high, says Afrobarometer.

Half the population believe it necessary to pay a bribe to avoid a fine or going to court or register a property.

Two thirds are convinced a rich person is easily able to buy their way out of trouble.

A third of respondents believe most or all people in public service are corrupt.

This includes the presidency, judges, parliament and local government. It extends to business and non government organizations.

This perception has not changed since the previous survey four years ago although faith in the presidency has increased marginally.  

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An Egyptian referendum has overwhelming given new muscle to strongman President Abdelfattah El Sisi.

It has endorsed a law allowing the former military commander, who came to power in  a 2014 coup, to stay at the helm until 2030.

The referendum was a popularity test for Abdelfattah el Sisi who is now firmly entrenched as another dictatorial  Egyptian leader.

His compatriots voted by 89 percent to 11 to extend his term in office and give him sweeping new powers over parliament and the judiciary.

The turnout in three days of voting that ended last Monday was 44 percent.

Opposition and human rights groups say El Sisi’s regime is more oppressive than that of Hosni Mubarak who unseated by the 2011 Arab Spring.

And they fear things will only get worse. 

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Parliament earlier this week voted overwhelmingly to extend the President’s term for two year and then to allow him a further term of six years.

Amnesty International is one of a few critical voices in Egypt where the outcome of a referendum extending President Abdelfattah El Sisi’s term in office if a foregone conclusion.

It fears El Sisi will further curb freedom of speech, suppress opposition political parties and crackdown on the independent media.

Of the 554 MPs who voted, 531 gave the nod to the President.

The referendum is also expected to endorse the President getting increased power in a reformed Senate where he will personally nominate a third of the members.

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Parliament  and the court in Nairobi have issued conflicting versions of what should happen next.

A Kenya’s High Court’s ruled that Ekuru Aukot, who placed third in August’s overturned presidential election, can contest the re-run.

But Aukot’s expressed his doubts about standing.

Parliament’s passed an amendment to Kenya’s

election laws, saying that if one candidate withdraws from a repeat presidential election, the other one will automatically win.

Opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote on the measure that’s  awaiting President Uhuru Kenyatta’s signature to take effect.

Raila Odinga’s supporters have begun demonstrations calling for electoral reform.

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Pressure on Zuma remains unrelenting as Parliament prepares today to debate an opposition resolution to impeach the president over the judgment that he effectively broke his oath of office.

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The ANC backed Zuma after the Constitutional Court rebuked him for ignoring Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s order that he pay back some of the nearly 20 million euros spent on upgrading his private home.

The scandal, one of several which have dogged Zuma over the past decade, could strain relations between the ANC and its allies the South African Communist Party  and labour federation Cosatu, which have helped it to retain power since the fall of apartheid in 1994.

Analysts say the Constitutional Court ruling is a blow to Zuma’s credibility and could harm the ANC ahead of municipal elections due between May and August.

The biggest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, knows that the ruling party’s impeachment motion will be dashed up against the ANC’s 62 percent parliamentary majority.

But it also knows that growing anger against Zuma, expressed by the soldier’s trade union calling for his resignation, threatens to erode that majority.

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The Libyan government insists it’s still in full control despite attacks on the legislature.

A militia group led by General Mohktar Farnana says General Khalifa Hifter headed the group that took Libya’s parliament.

Farnana says the legislature will operate on an emergency basis but he didn’t elaborate.

He says Hifter’s action isn’t a coup but fighting by the people’s choice.

Farnana says the group can’t allow the country to continue being used as an incubator for terrorism.

It’s not clear where Farnana, who stood before a Libyan flag, was speaking from.

He serves as commander of Libyan forces.

Hospital officials say one person died in the attacks in which 20 officials and MPs were abducted.

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