Eclipse dazzles African press

Newspapers in Southern Africa have been having a field day over Thursday's eclipse of the sun.

In Zimbabwe, where the eclipse was total, the opposition newspaper The Daily News delivered some hard-hitting comment.

"We will still be in misery after the eclipse of the sun," it said, accusing the government publicity machine of going "overboard".

This is truly a one-day wonder. The next day will be an entirely normal day in Zimbabwe. The misery of the people will continue

The Daily News

"It is as if the government itself or Zanu-PF had arranged for it to happen. The big surprise for all those overzealous government and tourist functionaries falling all over themselves is that this is truly a one-day wonder."

"The next day will be an entirely normal day in Zimbabwe. The misery of the people will continue."

The "hostile attitude" of "a xenophobic government" towards foreign journalists meant that "many thousands of potential tourists" had stayed away, The Daily News said, painting a picture of economic hardship and lawlessness at the hands of the so-called war veterans.

Zimbabwe's pro-government The Herald dwelt on ominous signs of a different kind.

"While the modern world is euphorically awaiting the once-in-a lifetime wonder of the total eclipse, traditionalists in Zimbabwe are wishing it never happens."

'Rotting of the sun'

Angola was the first country to see the full eclipse

"African traditionalists regard the convergence of the moon and the sun as 'kuwora kwezuva - rotting of the sun', which they say is a bad omen preceded by misfortunes caused by a vengeful spirit called Maruvembere, which punishes evil-doers."

The Herald warned that "new incurable illnesses, deaths of prominent people and natural disasters" were "some of the misfortunes that might befall Zimbabweans after Thursday".

New incurable illnesses, deaths of prominent people and natural disasters... some of the misfortunes that might befall Zimbabweans after Thursday

The Herald

Such fears were also highlighted in South Africa's Daily Mail & Guardian, which dedicated a large part of its output to different aspects of the eclipse.

In Madagascar, The Mail & Guardian said, there was "fear of sick sun".

"With their cosmology linking the sun to rulers and power, many of Madagascar's 15 million, mostly illiterate, inhabitants will view Thursday's total solar eclipse with awe and fear."

'End of the world'

Many families say they would rather die together with their next of kin

AngolaPress

In Angola, according to the Angolan news agency AngolaPress, the authorities in central Huambo province expressed concern at"speculation" about the affects of the eclipse.

"Many families are abandoning Katchiungo district, saying they would rather die together with their next of kin and the eclipse of the sun is the end of the world."

"Local authorities say this is occurring because of the ignorance of the population, mainly those recently freed from Unita rebel captivity," AngolaPress said.

The eyes have it

Health and safety issues were also to the fore in the media, with eye protection given particular prominence in all the eclipse countries.

South African scientists have discovered a cheap substitute for special glasses... the foil wrapper from 'Five Roses' tea, folded once, will serve perfectly well

Mozambique Online

In Mozambique, there were fears of "drastic consequences for those who tried to observe the phenomenon with the naked eye", the internet news service Mozambique Inview reported.

Mozambique Online warned that viewing the eclipse without protection would lead to "an unprecedented number of cases of blindness. At least 125,000 people in the centre of the country where the eclipse will be seen best already suffer diverse eye problems".

But according to Mozambique Online, help was at hand. "South African scientists have discovered a cheap substitute for special glasses to view the eclipse. They have found that the foil wrapper from 'Five Roses' tea, folded once, will serve perfectly well."

In South Africa, where the eclipse was only partial, The Mail and Guardian confirmed the Mozambican report, saying scientists at the Johannesburg Planetarium had come up with the cheap alternative.

There was a heavy demand for special glasses in the Angolan capital of Luanda, "as the population is eager to observe the eclipse in a safe manner", Angolapress reported, adding that the government had announced the distribution of 2 million pairs "for free delivery to the underprivileged".

Four pairs of glasses for a whole school

Zimbabwe's Daily News said it donated four pairs of solar viewers to a primary school in Shurugwi. "The headmaster said pupils would form four queues and take turns to view the eclipse safely."

Tourists

Zambia had welcomed more than 500 Indian tourists, including a team of scientists, the country's The Post newspaper reported.

"There has been indeed great interest about the eclipse in Zambia by India. The teams from India represent the participation of developing world," it quoted the Indian High Commissioner as saying.

Incredible, fantastic. I have never seen it before. There can never be a better ambassador for Zambian tourism

President Chiluba

Another Zambian paper, The Daily Mail, said the country's safari operators had lost out to safari operators in neighbouring countries, mainly Namibia and Zimbabwe, who had poached incoming tourists.

After the eclipse, President Frederick Chiluba described it as "incredible, fantastic. I have never seen it before. There can never be a better ambassador for Zambian tourism".

In the Madagascan capital Antananarivo, the on-line MadaNews reported, "the authorities implemented some draconian measures".

This included a total ban on vehicular traffic one hour before the eclipse.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.