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As political tensions and uncertainty continue to rise in Chad, Ruth Lago spoke with Attorney Max Loalngar to get more insight into the situation.
\t On Friday, internet and international calls were cut off across the West African nation in anticipation of the election results, according to locals and international observers in the capital, Conakry.
\t This was the third time that Conde matched-up against Diallo. Before the election, observers raised concerns that an electoral dispute could reignite ethnic tensions between Guinea's largest ethnic groups.
Almost 1 000 Western Cape residents are in quarantine, Premier Alan Winde announced on Wednesday.
Winde said the province's Economic Development Partnership had been tasked with helping to co-ordinate food relief, across civil society, in partnership with the City of Cape Town.
The humanitarian campaign to feed the hungry also scored a valuable goal on Wednesday after Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis received donations from Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato.
The equipment will help us to expand our outreach to residents and fill more empty stomachs,\" Ellis said
READ | Covid-19: Soup kitchens can no longer be policed or controlled court says
\"As a result of the severe impact of the national coronavirus lockdown, many residents have struggled to put food on the table.
These donations are intended to assist organisations feeding residents in need and, as a caring city, we are doing all we can to help residents,\" said Plato
He added food relief \"is the direct responsibility of national government, through the SA Social Security Agency\", but the City of Cape Town was attempting \"to fill the gaps, capacitating neighbourhood soup kitchens to feed hundreds of residents in their various communities\".
This makes it imperative for governments to apply social assistance programme for the poor and vulnerable .
According to the World Bank, per capita spending on social assistance programmes is lower in low- and middle-income countries (less than $1,000) than in high-income countries ($4,000-$5,000).
It reports that Nigeria's total spending on social assistance programmes is 0.28% of GDP and covers only 7% of the population.
This is aimed at financial support for the poor and vulnerable whose incomes or livelihoods are at risk due to natural, human or economic crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdown.
Others include youth employment and community social development projects, like the home-grown school feeding programmes to address poverty and hunger.
There was nothing we didn't love about Mills and Johanne Thenor's vow renewal ceremony. The style, cake, and family photos were impeccable. But most impressive was their determination to reaffirm […]
The post Bridal Bliss: Mills And Johanne's Vow Renewal appeared first on Essence.
While most of the world tries to slow the spread and limit the death toll of Covid-19, Burundi is expelling health experts.
This week, the government, which refuses to acknowledge the threat the virus presents, resorted to familiar tactics and declared the country representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and three of its experts persona non grata without giving any reason.
Although restrictions on movement to address the health crisis are warranted when necessary and proportionate, to have fair elections, Burundi should ensure they are open to independent monitoring and accountability for crimes and abuses.
Burundi's elections risk effectively taking place behind closed doors, which may be just what authorities want.
Since a political crisis broke out in Burundi in 2015, authorities have stopped at nothing to eliminate space for dissenting voices.
In May, the Cape Town-based clinical research organisation, TASK, began a clinical trial to see if a common TB shot — the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine normally given to newborns — could help protect hospital workers from developing serious Covid-19.
Speaking to Bhekisisa earlier this week, TASK scientist, Caryn Upton, said the firm had brought TB Proof — an organisation advocating for protection for health workers from occupational TB — on board to consult on the trial and “also in terms of fulfilling the community engagement and [volunteer] recruitment”.
“TASK requested TB Proof not to engage on behalf of the Trial Consortium at the civil society consultation that took place on 11 June and to limit answers directly related to TB Proof’s contributions and community engagement.”
Previously, TB Proof told Bhekisisa that information about the trial was circulated on several WhatsApp groups and social media platforms reaching around 2 000 healthcare workers collectively and it held a 27 May meeting with members of the department of science and innovation, Sahpra and civil society.
MUST READ | Covid-19: People living with HIV, TB at a 2-to-3-fold higher risk of death
They also noted that the 13 May Sanac meeting was “only one of several steps TB Proof undertook to engage other organisations and health workers in this trial” and that they do not consider their interactions with Sanac during the meeting as formal engagement about the trial.
Tolbert was ousted in a military coup on April 12, 1980, by Master Sgt. Samuel K. Doe, backed by the U.S. government. Does rule was characterized by corruption and brutality. A rebellion led by Charles Taylor, a former Doe aide, and the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), started in Dec. 1989; the following year, Doe was assassinated. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) negotiated with the government and the rebel factions and attempted to restore order, but the civil war raged on. By April 1996, factional fighting by the countrys warlords had destroyed any last vestige of normalcy and civil society. The civil war finally ended in 1997.
In what was considered by international observers to be a free election, Charles Taylor won 75% of the presidential vote in July 1997. The country had next to no health care system, and the capital was without electricity and running water. Taylor supported Sierra Leones brutal Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in the hopes of toppling his neighbors government and in exchange for diamonds, which enriched his personal coffers. As a consequence, the UN issued sanctions against Liberia.
In 2002, rebels—Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD)—intensified their attacks on Taylors government. By June 2003, LURD and other rebel groups controlled two-thirds of the country. Finally, on Aug. 11, Taylor stepped down and went into exile in Nigeria. By the time he was exiled, Taylor had bankrupted his own country, siphoning off $100 million and leaving Liberia the worlds poorest nation. Gyude Bryant, a businessman seen as a coalition builder, was selected by the various factions as the new president.
Zanu PF is brutally taking advantage of the rare opportunity to annihilate the MDC Alliance.
As this drama unfolds, it is clear that the future of the MDC Alliance is now more in the hands of Zanu PF than it is in the hands of the MDC Alliance and its supporters.
Those who are weary of the antagonism between Zanu PF and the MDC Alliance may see the GNU as a reprieve.
It is in the best interests of Zanu PF for some of the MDC Alliance parliamentarians to cross the floor and join MDC-T.
Fourth, by suspending by-elections and the 2023 elections, Zanu PF will isolate the MDC Alliance from its supporters.
The national Budget for the Financial Year 2020/2021 is the first in the third phase of the National Development Plan (NDP) III which runs until 2025.
The budgetary allocations placed said priorities at the bottom with Agriculture sector getting 2.91 per cent, Tourism with 0.44 per cent while Energy and Mineral development which superintends over oil and gas is placed among the 10 in the Budget with 5.72 per cent.
While unveiling the Budget, Mr Matia Kasaija, the Finace minister, revealed: \"The Agriculture sector plays a central role in Uganda's economy.
But NDPIII maintains that for successful implementation of its programmes, key development strategies such as; agro-industrialisation, fast-track oil, gas and mineral-based industrialisation, import replacement/promotion of local manufacturing, export promotion, harness the tourism potential, and provide a suitable fiscal, monetary and regulatory environment for the private sector to invest must be at the fore front.
Mr Kasaija cast the outlined priorities of the Third National Development Plan (NDPIII) FY2020/2021 to FY 2024/2025 at far bottom yet the plan is meant to guide the allocations.
BY BLESSED MHLANGA ZANU PF political commissar Victor Matemadanda has claimed that the statement he made at the party’s annual conference last December where he was quoted as saying “if elections fail, we will use any other means necessary” to retain power was not an incitement to commit public violence. Instead, Matemadanda claims he meant that the ruling party was prepared to form a transitional government in the event that elections failed to deliver a clear result. In his answering affidavit filed at the High Court in Harare after being taken to court by the Electoral Resource Centre (ERC) for contravening the Electoral Act, Matemadanda said his remarks were not meant to demean public elections. “The statement that is the basis of this application, if interpreted by a reasonable person, is by no means a threat of violence. Clearly, I stated that “if elections fail”, which is a real possibility in any society, then other means necessary would be employed. However, this does not mean that I do not believe in elections for that would make my position as the political commissar redundant, given that my main task is to mobilise and campaign for the support of the electorate,” Matemadanda submitted. He claimed that he meant that Zanu PF could engage in a power-sharing deal with the opposition if elections were to fail. “I meant any means necessary within the confines of the law. These means may include dialogue, litigation, transitional government or the tried and tested government of national unity. It is, therefore, surprising how the applicant has interpreted the statement ‘any means necessary’ as a synonym of violence, which is wrong and this honourable court should dismiss it as such,” Matemadanda said in his defence. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) fought in Matemadanda’s corner, saying the matter should be dismissed on a technicality. In her opposing affidavit, Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba said ERC was not a voter and, therefore, did not have the right to bring the matter before the courts. “The applicant has no locus standi to approach the court for the relief sought in this matter. The issue pursued by the applicant, that of intimidation of voters, is a matter that speaks to and ought to be pursued by individual voters who, in consequence of the words attributed to Matemadanda, have suffered intimidation as defined by the Electoral Act,” she submitted. Further she noted that Zec had referred the matter for investigation to the police and any order coming from the court would be subject to interference with the operations of the independent body. ERC said the statement made by Matemadanda should never be taken lightly as the country had had violent elections in the past. The electoral watchdog cited the violent manner in which Zanu PF refused to cede power after being defeated by the opposition MDC-T in 2008. “His (Matemadanda) utterances cannot be taken lightly. They carry the force of authority and directive to members of the ruling party, war veterans and those that fall under his minis
State of Emergency and curfew declared in LA amidst ongoing protests
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles as protestors and police clashed during a protest Saturday.
Earlier in the afternoon, LAPD police cars were set on fire and vandalized near the CBS Television City on Fairfax Ave. and 3rd Street.
Although the protest began as a peaceful march through the Beverly Hills area, by the afternoon, tensions ran high as LAPD police officers stopped protestors from moving forward.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti called for a curfew for downtown LA late Saturday afternoon but later extended the curfew to the entire city of LA— Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Pasadena and Culver City shortly following.
People in the City of Los Angeles are required to stay indoors tonight, starting at 8 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. on Sunday morning” and a phone alert shortly followed this announcement.
Nairobi — The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Kenya has urged the Ministry of Labour, Social Security, and Services to ensure the inclusion of all elderly persons who qualify for the Inua Jamii program, which is aimed at cushioning Kenyans from effects of COVID-19.
During a meeting on the impact of the pandemic on the poor and vulnerable in society held Tuesday, ICJ also urged CS Simon Chelugui to incorporate the use of cashless transfer to ensure that elderly persons are able to access their funds without the risk of being exposed to the highly contagious disease when going to banks.
\"Based on the extensive and highly interactive deliberations guided by thematic experts, we urge the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Labour to incorporate the use of cashless fund transfer to ensure that elderly persons who are vulnerable are able to access their monies without having to travel to banking halls,\" ICJ Kenya Chairman Kevin Mogeni said through a statement.
At the same time, the Kenyan section of ICJ wants the stimulus package to cater to persons in the formal and informal sectors, raising concern that the package only benefits those in the formal sector.
\"Partner with relevant institutions to ensure courts in rural areas and in prisons are equipped with the necessary infrastructure to enable cases to be disposed of expeditiously, \"ICJ Kenya pointed out in their recommendation to Judiciary.
Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza, who died of a heart attack aged 55 according to an official statement released on Tuesday, has left behind a mixed legacy.
Viewed as a pan- Africanist by his East African Community (EAC) peers and as a ruthless dictator by his critics, Nkurunziza was a dominant figure in Burundi's politics in the last 26 years.
\"Death has robbed East Africa of a prominent leader whose contribution to the integration and progress of the region shall be sorely missed,\" President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a statement.
Libérat Mfumukeko, a Burundi national who serves as EAC's Secretary- General, said in a statement on June 9: \"President Nkurunziza's unequivocally decided to lead Burundi into the community in 2007, having figured out that the economic, social and political homogeneity of the region provided vast opportunities for his country's economic recovery and national reconciliation.\"
Nkurunziza, a former leader of a Hutu rebel group, was elected by lawmakers after promising peace but oversaw a crackdown on political opponents and the media when he was re-elected five years later.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on Thursday asked UK citizens to be cautious and cited \"possible clashes throughout the country\" during the November 28 inauguration.
\"Political tensions are high and demonstrations and clashes are possible throughout the country, particularly in the western region; you should exercise caution and, where possible, avoid travelling around areas where demonstrations may take place,\" the FCO said in a statement.
The office is anticipating possible demonstrations and clashes during the inauguration and Britons planning to visit Kenya during this period have been asked to exercise caution and, where possible, avoid travelling around areas where demonstrations may take place.
The areas where FCO advises against all but essential travel does not include Kenya's safari destinations.
In April, when political parties were scheduled to hold their nominations ahead of the deadline by the electoral commission, UK advised its nationals against all but essential travel to north eastern counties of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera as well as Eastleigh in Nairobi.
While Lesotho outgoing Prime Minister, Tom Thabane still ponders when exactly to vacate office, it will be imperative for incoming leader of the Mountain Kingdom, Prime Minister-designate Dr Moeketsi Majoro to prepare for office in earnest.
Against this fleeting background, it will be incumbent upon Dr Majoro to consider the following six action points as his immediate priorities in order to save the US$2.73 billion landlocked economy:
With at least one positive case of coronavirus having been confirmed, Lesotho may not afford to rely on South Africa to test cases for far too long.
Besides political sectarianism in government departments, the morale among Basotho public servants is very low, and it is understandable.
The new Prime Minister should now ensure that the security cluster is permanently kept out of politics and into the service of protecting Basotho.
Re-arrange foreign missions and explore more into Basotho in the diaspora
Lack of diplomatic presence in South America and the Oceania means Lesotho has no direct representation in a market of almost half a billion people.
Mali held a state funeral on Tuesday for former president Amadou Toumani Toure, an emblematic figure who steered the troubled nation to free elections and led it for a decade before being ousted in a coup.
Toure, sometimes called Mali's \"soldier of democracy,\" died on November 10 at the age of 72 after he had been transferred to Turkey for medical care following heart surgery.
A coffin draped in the national flag and borne by six soldiers was slowly carried into the centre of a square in the capital Mali for ceremonies attended by the leaders of the country's latest putsch and by foreign dignitaries.
\"A great man has fallen,\" the master of ceremonies declared.
\"It is an incalculable loss for Mali. He came bringing the breath of life, he leaves with the wind of hope.\"
Those in the VIP stand included Bah Ndaw, a former military officer who is currently president of Mali's transitional government, and the vice president, Assimi Goita, who led the August 18 coup.
Niger and Guinea-Bissau were represented by their prime ministers, and other countries in the region sent their envoys.
Ceremonies were to conclude with a parade by troops and aircraft, according to the programme.
Toure, a former soldier, first took charge of the country for a year in 1991.
He helped overthrow the iron-fisted regime of Moussa Traore, who had been in power since 1968.
He then took the helm of a transitional committee, exercising the duties of head of state and steering the country to elections.
These were won in 1992 by Alpha Oumar Konare -- the first democratically-chosen president in Mali's post-independence history.
Popularly known by his initials as ATT, Toure won presidential elections in 2002 and again in 2007.
His presidency was abruptly curtailed in 2012 by rebel troops who accused Toure of failing to support their battle against Tuareg and jihadist insurgents in the north of the country.
Toure fled to Senegal, only returning from exile in 2017.
The chaos that followed his downfall wrecked Mali's poorly-equipped and demoralised army.
The jihadists swiftly overran the north of the country before being forced out in 2013 by French intervention.
They regrouped and advanced into central Mali, a flashpoint region where they ignited ethnic conflict, and then headed into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.
Thousands have died and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes.
