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"You have given the nation hope that no one will ever be mistreated or abused under this democratic dispensation. I met with my lawyers and we wrote letters and we sent them to the court saying that we would like to plead our case.. if they can reduce it (sentencing) or strike it out" - Jacob Zuma
A November 26 letter from the presidency asked the head of Uganda's national drug authority to 'work out a mechanism' to clear the importation of the vaccines.
China has about five COVID-19 vaccine candidates at different levels of trials. It was not clear what vaccine was being imported into Uganda.
One of the frontrunners is the Sinopharm vaccine developed by the Beijing Institute of Biological Product, a unit of Sinopharm’s China National Biotec Group (CNBG).
On Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates said the vaccine has 86% efficacy, citing an interim analysis of late-stage clinical trials.
China has used the drug to vaccinate up to a million people under its emergency use program.
On Tuesday, Morocco said it was ordering up to 10 million doses of the vaccine.
Record cases
Uganda on Monday registered 701 new COVID-19 cases, the highest-ever daily increase, bringing its national count to 23,200.
The new cases were out of the 5,578 samples tested for the novel coronavirus over the past 24 hours, the country's health ministry said in a statement.
Tuesday's tally was 606, the second-highest ever number of new infections, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the east African country to 23,860.
Health authorities have blamed ongoing election campaigns which have drawn huge crowds for the rise in infections.
The cheetah is the rarest of the big cat species in Africa and the savannahs of Nambia are one of their last strongholds on earth.
But they are a farmer's worst nightmare because they hunt on agricultural land and prey on livestock.
A new study has found a way for the spotted creature and ranchers to live in harmony.
German and Slovenian researchers studied the behaviour of the animals by following 106 GPS-collared cheetahs over 12 years, from 2007 to 2018.
Researchers discovered that by studying the behaviour of the animals, they can reduce the number of opportunities the cheetahs have to prey on young calves.
Unlike most African felines, cheetahs hunt by day, covering vast distances.
Joerg Melzheimer, ecologist at Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research said tracking cheetahs gives an \"insight into their spatial behaviour and feeding ecology\".
He added \"the population is threatened because it doesn't occur inside of national parks but on commercially used farmland. This obviously leads to conflict as the cheetah occasionally prey on livestock of the farmers.\"
Cheetah hang outs
By learning how cheetahs use the landscape has allowed ranchers to reduce the number of calves killed annually so that farmers avoid those areas.
The researcher discovered there were particular areas around certain trees that cheetahs would use as a communications hub. It was in these areas the herds were most at risk.
Lead researcher Dr. Bettina Wachter, also from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research said a minority of farms were heavily affected.
\"It's about ten percent of the areas that is highly dangerous because of the concentrations of the cheetahs is very high,\" she said.
\"So it's about 30 farmers that are affected more or less. There are farms which are covered by nearly half of their area with such a cheetah territory and there are farms that just have an edge of it, maybe ten percent.\"
Farmers in control
The research on how cheetahs use the landscape has allowed some of the ranchers to reduce the number of calves killed annually by 86 percent.
This was mainly achieved by enabling the farmers to avoid areas in which the cheetahs congregated. Researchers call them communication hubs because the territorial males use these trees and also the others,\" said Wachter.
\"These territories are always stable they are always there and even if the territory holders disappear, die then the new territory holders are in exactly the same place.
\"So once we know where these territories are and the farmers know, they can really adapt the management to this, they know this is a high-risk area and they can just put their cattle to another place, always, this will not change,\" she added.
So, on Monday, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) issued a threat against purported and alleged cyber-bullying of government officials including President Emmerson Mnangagwa. editorial comment Interestingly, ZRP issued its statement after Zanu PF acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa said colonial masters had turned to social media to “discredit icons like Mnangagwa” who were “working for economic emancipation.” Well, the President is not God, he is very human. If we voted him into office, please allow us to hold him to account. Checks and balances must apply to him too. Didn’t he say he was “a listening president?” If he cannot stand criticism then he should stay out of public office or politics altogether. Perhaps the ZRP needs to furnish us with their definition of cyber-bullying. We may also need to know why we should be limited or be told what to and not to say. Why does the ZRP keep quiet when ordinary Zimbabweans are subjected to cyber-bullying only to grow teeth after politicians give them instructions? But things have changed from the old days of German philosopher Jürgen Habermas’ public sphere. It's high time government accepted that people think, they have hopes and hunger for engagement. It should be easy especially in the internet age where social media has prompted the return of the public sphere. Social media platforms attract millions of users who connect digitally. Looking closely at all alleged cases of cyber-bullying, the people are simply calling on the government to act on corruption, poor governance and lack of accountability. It’s only particular individuals who carry the burden of excessive bootlicking who try to gag people. There should be no intimidatory tactics on social media platforms. Citizens must express their opinions freely. Some issues are tip offs on corrupt activities which the ZRP ignore and focus on threatening people. A government that does not allow for checks and balances is likely to be involved in unconstitutional acts which it fears could be exposed. The arrests of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, Jacob Ngarivhume, a politician, and the hounding of another scribe, Mduduzi Mathuthu, are exactly what is wrong with a regime that fears being made to look into the mirror. The media or social media users did not create the animal you see in that mirror. Mnangagwa and his administration should respect freedom of expression and engagement as prescribed by the Constitution. It should sink into politicians' heads that a healthy functioning democracy is premised on the electorate making informed choices based on engagement. Clearly, the government of Zimbabwe wants people to live in fear and not to openly express their wishes and hopes, it’s not new. We saw it even during the Mugabe era. A process where citizens are empowered to participate in public decision-making is an effective means to tackle “democracy deficits” and improve public accountability.
The NCCC is now considering how it can limit large gatherings over Christmas - with 'second wave restraints' coming under consideration.
[Africa In Fact] West Africa: lessons from Ebola
A HUMAN rights group has urged authorities in Bulawayo to immediately activate disaster response mechanisms as flash floods continue to pound parts of the city, destroying infrastructure and property. By NQOBANI NDLOVU/PATRICIA SIBANDA Flash floods hit Bulawayo on Monday, leaving several houses waterlogged and in the process destroying household property. Some of the affected areas include Pumula, Nketa, Emganwini, Nkulumane and Cowdray Park, among others. The Matabeleland Institute of Human Rights (MIHR) said the damage caused meant that the authority should immediately activate disaster response measures to prevent loss of lives and property. “MIHR urges responsible authorities to immediately start instituting climate crisis disaster response measures to avert loss of lives and human rights violations due to floods,” the MIHR said in a statement. “We need climate resilient infrastructure and to partly solve this there is a need to localise disaster response mechanisms. Most of our urban local authorities are not doing disaster planning, and at the local level there are no disaster response committees.” Bulawayo deputy mayor Mlandu Ncube said the local authority had deployed disaster management teams in the western suburbs to rescue residents in the event of flooding. 'Our fire rescue team is ready to work in case floods occur. We do not usually have serious floods but what we have done is to dispatch our teams to the western areas to attend to any emergencies,” Ncube said. Last year, the State’s disaster management agency, Civil Protection Unit (CPU) was blamed for poor response mechanisms after failing to take measures to prepare for, and reduce the effects of Cyclone Idai which killed hundreds and displaced thousands in the country. In April 2019, human rights activist Khumbulani Maphosa petitioned the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) to investigate the CPU after accusing the disaster management agency of incompetence; omission and failure after Cyclone Idai hit the country. Zimbabwe is not spared the effects of climate change disasters such as drought and flash floods, which have become commonplace, destroying property and other infrastructure.
A man suspected of being mentally unstable, who allegedly murdered a 12-year-old Gweru girl by stoning her on Tuesday was yesterday remanded in custody at Hwahwa Prison where he will be examined before his re-appearance in court. STEPHEN CHADENGA The man, who was only identified as Derick in court, struck Natasha Manunure, a Grade Seven pupil near her home in Mtapa suburb in Gweru. Gweru magistrate, Beuality Dube, had a tough time trying to make Derick understand why he was appearing in court as the accused started speaking inaudibly. The man even insisted before the court that he was not Derick, but Danisa, adding that Derick was the name of “a donkey at the market.” When he was told that he was going to be mentally examined before coming back to court he exclaimed in surprise, asking if it was going to be in Harare. The State counsel then made an application to have the accused mentally examined by two doctors before the magistrate granted the request and remanded the accused to December 23. Allegations are that Natasha was coming from school when accused struck her with a stone on the left ear leading to her falling down and dying on the spot. Natasha, of section 3, Mtapa, who was preparing for her exams, was walking home reading a question paper when she met her fate. The accused then fled from the scene but was caught by members of the public who handed him to the police. Derick, who usually roams the streets of Gweru is notorious for assaulting girls and women usually with stones and other objects that he picks on the streets.
[Daily Maverick] South Africa could be a global leader in the cannabis sector. The plant has major potential for job creation and medicinal, spiritual and cultural uses. But the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill is woefully lacking in proper research.
IMPLYING that the masses of South Africans are stupid for repeatedly voting for the African National Congress (ANC) is a denial of the enormous sacrifices they made during the struggle against apartheid — and of the huge gains we have made since the advent of democracy. guest column:Oscar Van Heerden Justice Malala implied during a panel discussion on eNCA recently that our people are stupid for electing the ANC over and over again, regardless of how much the party messes up. He stated, and I am not quoting verbatim, they mess up the economy, the people vote for them; they allow State capture, they vote for them; there is blatant corruption with respect to COVID-19 protective gear, the people vote for the ANC. He concluded that there is a problem with our people. On the one hand, he might imply they, therefore, deserve what they get, which would be callous, or on the other hand, they are stupid. I decided to take serious issue with his sentiments because I have often also heard it being expressed by my white compatriots: the ANC can do whatever it wants and the stupid masses will keep on voting for them and they know it, so don’t expect any change from the ANC any time soon. I presume these are the same people who fought for centuries to rid themselves of slavery, colonial occupation and apartheid? These stupid people are the same ones who have bled and died in pursuit of their freedoms, justice? Many of them chose to languish in our prisons, jail cells and indeed on the gallows, stupid fools. These are the stupid people you are referring to, right? A people who saw the fruits of their labour come to fruition in 1990 and as a result could savour that sweet taste of freedom on that fateful day, April 27 1994. After so many of them died between the period of 1989-1994, right until the eve of the election day. Are these the stupid people you are referring to? They, who experienced first-hand in many communities how their ordinary poor and destitute lives were improving and taking shape in the right direction post-1994. Perhaps you are not used to not having piped water, but they saw this ANC government give them access, similarly with electricity, a most basic commodity. It was slow on the job front, yes; the global economy can be a very complex and lonely place, but these are the people who saw their government making the effort and at least giving them a child grant, equalising old-age pensions across the colour line and restoring the dignity of our aged and most vulnerable. Even at a time of a desperate shortage of extra cash, it is this ANC government that went an extra mile and provided an additional seven million of these stupid people with some relief to assist in a desperate situation with the COVID-19 special grant. You might have the luxury of debating dependency syndromes etc, but the stupid people can feel the difference in their tummies. With literally thousands of service delivery protests all over the country for a number of years already now, with civil society taking good shape in holding government at
FOW-chee, CAW-ma-la….dah-VIN-chee? America’s preeminent infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, and its incoming vice president, Kamala Harris, join the Renaissance master himself, Leonardo da Vinci, atop this year’s list of most mispronounced words, as compiled by the U.S. Captioning Company, which captions and subtitles real-time events on TV and in courtrooms. The list released Wednesday identifies […]
FLORIDA, United States (CMC) - Strategies for the quick recovery of Caribbean economies from the devastation wrought by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will be discussed by regional and global stakeholders at a virtual forum on Friday.The event is being hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), the Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), and the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC).
By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and RYAN FOLEY Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Arguments over mask requirements and other restrictions have turned ugly in recent days as the deadly coronavirus surge across the U.S. engulfs small and medium-size cities that once seemed at a safe remove from the outbreak. In Boise, Idaho, public health officials about to vote on a four-county mask mandate abruptly ended a meeting Tuesday evening because of fears for their safety amid anti-mask protests outside the building and at some of their homes. One health board member tearfully announced she had to rush home to be […]
The post Tensions rise over masks as virus grips smaller US cities appeared first on Black News Channel.
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) - Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for seven of the top 10 causes of death before the novel coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization said yesterday, with heart disease killing more people than ever before.
While Congress debates another potential round of PPP funding for small businesses, the urgency for this money is becoming more acute by the minute. Alignable's latest poll conducted from 12/5 to 12/7/20 among 5,500 small business owners reveals that 85% say additional funding is very important for the survival of their businesses from now to June 2021. On […]
The post 85% Of Small Businesses Need New Federal Funds Now appeared first on Milwaukee Community Journal.
TWO elderly female amputees from the Kitson Town community in St Catherine have received wheelchairs through a collaboration involving the Social Development Commission (SDC) and Food For the Poor (FFP).The needs of the two women came to the attention of the SDC through their work with the Kitson Town Central Citizens Association, after which they sought help from FFP, and the charity organisation donated the wheelchairs.
[Nation] Fluctuating prices and ineffective management of cooperative societies are derailing the revival of the cotton industry in Siaya county.
The coronavirus pandemic coupled with the imminent winter season means an increasing number of homeowners will be spending more time indoors. So, why not take advantage of this opportunity to give your kitchen the love it deserves. “Although some homeowners may be skeptical about scheduling a kitchen remodel during the wintertime, in actuality, it’s a highly […]
The post Callen Construction Highlights Kitchen Remodeling for Winter appeared first on Milwaukee Community Journal.
[This Day] The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, on Tuesday, signed a new partnership to strengthen the capacity of the Africa CDC to prepare for and respond to public health threats in Africa.
For most, the year 2020 has been the most trying year of our lives. The…
The post Is It Worth It? Adding up the Cost of Escalating Violence appeared first on Houston Forward Times.
South Africa recorded 6 709 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, with Health Minister Zweli Mkhize confirming a second wave has hit its shores.
[Swazi Media] King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland (eSwatini) is reportedly set to grab more than 90 percent of the shares in some of the kingdom's prestigious hotels.
[New Times] The international federation of volleyball (FIVB) has announced that the 2020 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour star 2 has been postponed to 2021.
By ZEINA KARAM Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — The Lebanese prosecutor probing last summer's port explosion in Beirut filed charges on Thursday against the caretaker prime minister and three former ministers, accusing them of negligence that led to the death of hundreds of people, Lebanon's official news agency said. The four are the most senior individuals to be indicted so far in the investigation, which is being conducted in secrecy. Judge Fadi Sawwan filed the charges against Hassan Diab and former Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, as well as Ghazi Zeiter and Youssef Fenianos, both former ministers of public works. […]
The post Lebanese judge charges caretaker PM in August port explosion appeared first on Black News Channel.
(Reuters) - England’s tour of Sri Lanka will go ahead in January and will feature two test matches behind closed doors in Galle, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said yesterday.
The article England’s tour of Sri Lanka rearranged for January appeared first on Stabroek News.
It’s Thursday 10 December 2020, and this is TheSouthAfrican.com Daily News Wrap - with the latest news you really need to know - when you need it.
Philadelphia is working together with the city's tourism bureau, Visit Philly, to promote Black businesses that are struggling to stay open amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
1/5 say they are detoxing in preparation for a boozy holiday season. 34% admit they start drinking first thing in the morning on Christmas Day. Infographic included showing America's favorite Christmas drink by state . As temperatures drop, trees go up and fireplaces are aflame, it can only mean one thing… the countdown to Christmas 2020 has […]
The post Eggnog Voted Wisconsin's Favorite Christmas cocktail! appeared first on Milwaukee Community Journal.
Health workers in Kenya protested on Wednesday over poor working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic, which they say have caused the death of colleagues.
They blame missing adequate protective equipment, such as surgical masks, and lacking health insurance.
\"Our health system has collapsed, if we do not take a collective responsibility, then I do not know that in the next five or ten years what will be doing as a country, \" said doctor John Anyul in Nairobi.
The demonstrators also held a vigil outside the Health Ministry in Nairobi, paying tribute to the young doctor Stepehen Mogusu, who died on Monday after contracting the virus.
The 28-year-old father of one reportedly had no health insurance.
Mogusu was employed on a temporary contract and was reportedly not paid for the five months he worked in a COVID-19 ward at a public hospital in the town of Machakos.
Mogusu told Kenya's Nation newspaper after falling ill that he could not afford diapers for his 5-month old daughter.
Before his death, he wrote a letter to fellow medics in which he told them to “ get out while you can with your health or life intact\".
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union estimates up to 40 healthcare workers have succumbed to the virus while working on the frontline.
\"We need our government, we need everyone to be aware that we make sacrifices in our line of duty, and we do not mind it because we took an oath,\" said Morgan, a doctor at the protest who did not give his surname.
\"But it's important that we be protected, adequate protective equipment, and adequate healthcare cover,\" said Morgan, a doctor who did not give his surname.
More than 88,000 people have contracted the virus since the first case was reported in March and just over 1,500 have lost their lives.
In order to return to a welcome normalcy, we need to do our part—get the vaccine.
The post The vaccine is coming. Let’s get ready to roll up our sleeves appeared first on Los Angeles Sentinel.
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has sounded the alarm about the increasing number of coronavirus deaths in the U.S. With approximately 273,000 reported deaths in 2020, Dr. Redfield said this week that the nation is on […]
The post Health officials sound alarm on rising COVID cases appeared first on Afro.
