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The Judicial Conduct Committee was tasked with probing several complaints against Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, and also whether he had contravened the Code of Judicial Conduct.
In May, Burundi held a presidential election which was won by Evariste Ndayishimiye, candidate of the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) party.
Ndayishimiye was hurriedly sworn in after the untimely death of president Pierre Nkurunziza in June.
Rights violations continue
The Council encouraged donor countries which had suspended aid to Burundi to continue dialogue towards resumption of development assistance.
A report by a UN watchdog in September said human rights violations were still being committed in Burundi, including sexual violence and murder.
The country was plunged into a crisis in April 2015 when Ndayishimiye’s predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run for a controversial third term, which he ultimately won in July 2015.
His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted in a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup in May 2015.
Hundreds of people were killed and over 300,000 fled to neighboring countries.
THE Supreme law of the Republic of Zimbabwe, namely the Constitution, places squarely on the shoulders of the government the obligation to defend and protect the rights of citizens from harm and abuse.
The recognisable cases in the recent past involve former Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association president Peter Magombeyi and more recently the MDC trio of Harare West MP Joanah Mamombe, youth leaders Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri.
We have incessantly heard of theories of the kidnappings being stage-managed or a third force being behind the wanton abductions witnessed in recent incidents in the country.
This would be a protective measure for the government without which the continual human rights violations so rife in the country would constitute own goals for the government.
As it stands, the international community at large views Zimbabwe as intolerant of human rights and as an administration which strives to obfuscate the true facts of the violations.
After listening to Mrs. Justice Justine Fofung epouse Nabum Wacka, Acting President of the Audit Bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, present her report on recent activities and plans for the future, most of the senators who reacted recommended the urgent need for the Audit Bench to be granted management and financial independence.
The discussions took place during the 14th Exchange Forum between the Senate and the Audit Bench of the Supreme Court at the Yaounde Conference Centre.
Though some of the senators were of the opinion that the house should initiate reforms of the Audit Bench of the Supreme Court, others suggested lobbying the Ministry of Justice for an eventual government bill on reviewing the functioning of the Audit Bench.
Some senators pointed out that granting the Audit Bench of the Supreme Court financial autonomy required deep constitutional reforms.
Earlier in her presentation on the \"Evolution of the Jurisdiction of the Audit Bench and its Impact on the Management of Regional and Local Authorities,\" Mrs. Justice Fofung said only 16 out of the 374 councils in the country submitted their audited reports to her office in 2016.
BY MOSES MATENGA THE South African ruling African National Congress (ANC) party yesterday defiantly told Zanu PF that its delegation would soon head back to Harare to meet other stakeholders as part of efforts to initiate dialogue to resolve Zimbabwe’s political and economic crises. Zimbabwe is in the throes of its worst political and economic crises in a decade, and critics accuse President Emmerson Mnangagwa of persecuting opposition members and perceived political opponents under the guise of COVID-19 lockdown regulations. Lately, activists have used a Twitter hashtag #ZimbabweanLivesMatter to draw international attention to gross human rights violations and the deterioration of the rule of law since Mnangagwa was adjudged the winner of a highly-contested election in July 2018, and to pile global pressure on his government. Mnangagwa replaced long-time ruler Robert Mugabe in a November 2017 military coup, but critics say he has failed to keep his promise to break with Mugabe’s authoritarian style. The ruling Zanu PF party vehemently denies that there is a crisis in Zimbabwe, a claim it repeated during the two meetings with the ANC delegations. But ANC, a fellow liberation party, has insisted that its northern neighbour is in a “mess” which required urgent intervention. Zanu PF has refused the ANC delegations permission to meet other stakeholders on their two visits, but appears to have relented. In a statement yesterday, the ANC said it was “excited” about Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu’s position on the possibility of the ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule-led delegation to meet other stakeholders, including the MDC Alliance, Transform Zimbabwe and United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Brian Nichols, among others. The named organisations requested to meet the ANC delegation last week, but Zanu PF remained adamant that such would not take place, accusing the ANC of playing “big brother”. “The ANC welcomes and concurs with the comments made by the Zanu PF secretary for administration Cde Obert Mpofu that the recent engagement between ANC and Zanu PF was both frank and constructive,” Magashule said in a statement. He reiterated the need for Zanu PF to respect human rights and end the challenges faced by the citizens. “The ANC, therefore, warmly welcomes the constructive approach of Zanu PF with regards to the ANC meeting with other stakeholders, opposition parties and civil society organisations in Zimbabwe,” Magashule said. “In this regard, it was agreed that the ANC will in the foreseeable future return to Zimbabwe in order to proceed with these envisaged meetings.” Zanu PF also denied there was a crisis in Zimbabwe and accused the opposition of working in cahoots with the US and more than 4 000 non-governmental organisations in the country to porttray a “non-existent crisis”. Magashule described his delegation’s mission as successful. However, the delegation was under fire back in South Africa for using an Air Force jet during its visit to Zimbabwe.Magashule conceded that the delegation erred an
EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Timo Olkkonen, speaking in an interview with the Alpha Media Holdings-owned Heart and Soul TV yesterday said Zimbabwe was still failing to break from her past of corruption, human rights abuses and fiscal indiscipline.
Multilateral financial institutions have given a moratorium to many countries, including those in Africa to stop servicing their debts during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Zimbabwe is not among them.
The EU ambassador said Zimbabwe had failed to pursue economic reforms leading to the end of the International Monetary Fund Staff-Monitored Programme, thereby blocking the path that could lead to debt relief.
On the political front, the EU said it remained worried over allegations of abductions and human rights violations in Zimbabwe and the failure by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to break from the past.
“We have been discussing with the authorities that Zimbabwe wants to make a break with the past, a very crucial part of the break is to end human rights violations.
Félicien Muhitira, Rwanda's finest middle and long distance runner, has resumed training as he gears up for the 16th Kigali International Peace Marathon.
A fortnight ago, the Ministry of Sports allowed athletes in non-contact sports - including athletics - to restart individual outdoor training after nearly three months of the Covid-19 lockdown and total ban on all sports activities in the country.
Speaking to Times Sport on Wednesday, Muhitira said that he was progressively picking up the pace again and his ultimate target is to win gold in this year's Kigali Peace Marathon.
The local athletics governing body (RAF) announced last month that the Kigali Peace Marathon had been moved to October but the date of the event was yet to be determined.
The 2021 Tokyo Olympics, originally scheduled to take place this year but postponed due to Covid-19, will mark Rwanda's 10th consecutive appearance in the world's biggest sports event.
As Burundi holds elections, the UN's human rights body says the country fails to meet conditions for free and credible polls.
As elections were taking place, DW talked to Doudou Diene, president of the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi at OHCHR, the United Nations body mandated to promote and protect human rights.
The commission has been tasked to investigate human rights violations and abuses in Burundi since 2015.
Burundi has a history of the highest level of violence and the violations of human rights in the context of electoral process.
This is why we had to put it in our [Commission of Inquiry 2019] report to call upon the authorities of Burundi to prove to the internal community that there is change and that human rights will be respected and elections will be held in a credible and a free conditions.
The 36-year-old left back announced his decision to quit professional football on social media on Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Former Indomitable Lions defender, Henri Bedimo Nsame, has officially retired from football.
The 36-year-old left back announced his decision to quit professional football on social media on Tuesday, June 16, 2020.
Bedimo played 447 professional football matches and scored 30 goals for club and country.
The former Cameroonian international began playing football in Grenoble, France in 1999 at the age of 15.
Bedimo had a bitter experience at Olympique Marseille where he was dismissed for having created and inaugurated a football academy in his home town, Douala, Cameroon in partnership with his former club, Montpellier.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa on Tuesday accused Mr Wamalwa of politicking at the expense of the lives of residents.
\"Wamalwa is taking the luhya nation for a ride, how do you hire a helicopter to come and distribute ten bags of rice donated by government,\" Mr Barasa claimed.
Over the weekend Mr Wamalwa distributed rice to Khasoko residents in Bumula and Webuye after meeting with Luhyia elders where him and Kakamega Governor Wyclife Oparanya were endorsed as luhya spokespersons.
Mr Barasa further accused Wamalwa of using government resources to do politics saying his forays in the region were nothing to do with development but 2022 succession politics.
\"Wamalwa and the four governors are roaming the region in the name of sensitizing residents about development issues, this is serious because they are holding public meetings which endangers the lives of our people,\" Mr Barasa said.
This greater need for peacekeeping efforts offers an opportunity for the UN to explore a real spectrum of peace operations beyond the large multidimensional model.
Unlike recent closures in Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire - where missions ended following successful peace processes - those in Darfur and Congo will be leaving with far greater risks of relapse into large-scale violence.
The UN should treat the current COVID-19 crisis as an opportunity to transform its approach to peace operations.
Models without a military component exist, including the peacebuilding mission in Guinea-Bissau, the new political mission in Haiti, the regional prevention work of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, and a range of successful conflict prevention initiatives by the UN in non-mission settings.
As the UN reflects on 72 years of peacekeeping, it should not be consumed with how to draw down its big operations or how to survive with its current models.
The Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19 is a joint initiative between the People's Republic of China, the Republic of South Africa in its capacity as the Chair of the African Union (AU), and the Republic of Senegal in its capacity as the Co-Chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
We recognize the importance of public health issues to global peace and security and the well-being of people around the world, particularly the fact that Africa is extremely vulnerable to the ravages of this virus and needs solidarity and support, including resources from various parties to bolster its response to the pandemic and to support its economic and social development.
We welcome the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution on COVID-19 response, which expresses deep concerns about the negative impacts and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizes the importance of global collaboration, and calls for intensified international cooperation, unity, solidarity and joint efforts to contain and mitigate the pandemic, and to pay particular attention to the needs of people in vulnerable situations.
China commends the solidarity and support extended by African countries, the AU and other regional organizations for China's COVID-19 response and appreciates the establishment of the AU COVID-19 Strategy and the appointment of Special Envoys to mobilize international support for Africa's efforts to address the economic challenges faced as a consequence of the pandemic, and further commends the resilience African countries have demonstrated and the positive results thus achieved in curbing the spread of the virus by adopting preventive measures.
We fully recognize the positive role of China-Africa investment and financing cooperation in promoting development and improving people's lives in Africa, and call on the international community to work in solidarity and collaboration, share best practices, and provide more material, technical, financial and humanitarian support to help African countries overcome the impact of COVID-19 and achieve independent and sustainable development.
Total confirmed cases = 3,954 (new cases = 195)
Total recoveries = 934
Total deaths = 65
Active cases = 2,953
\tFigures valid as of close of day June 18, 2020
\t
June 13: Ethiopia passes 3,000 mark as deaths reach 55
\tA total of 268 new cases within 24-hours took Ethiopia’s tally past the 3,000 mark.
Confirmed cases = 3,166
\t\tNumber of deaths = 55
\t\tRecoveries = 495
\t\tActive cases = 2,614
\tJohn Hopkins Uni stats valid as of June 13, 2020
\tVIDEO
June 8: 2,070 cases, PM defends ‘no lockdown’
\tEthiopia crossed the 2,000 mark on Sunday when 86 new cases took the tally to 2,020.
Confirmed cases = 2,070
Deaths = 27
Recoveries = 344
Active cases = 1,647
Total tests = 142,960
June 3: 1,486 cases, community transmissions mounting
\tEthiopia’s Health Minister is worried over the spate of community transmissions of COVID-19.
Total confirmed cases = 731 (new cases = 30)
Total recoveries = 181
Total deaths = 6
Active cases = 544
\tFigures valid as of close of day May 27, 2020
May 24: 193 cases in 5 days as tally hits 582
\tEthiopia has recorded back-to-back one-day spikes, record 61 new cases on Saturday and a further 81 on Sunday toppling the Saturday record.
Total confirmed cases = 582 (new cases = 88)
Total recoveries = 152 (new recoveries = 8)
Total deaths = 5
Active cases = 423
\tTrajectory of infections between May 20 – 24
\tMay 20: 389 (24 new cases)
May 21: 398 (9 new cases)
May 22: 399 (10 new cases)
May 22: 433 (34 new cases)
May 23: 494 (61 new cases)
May 24: 582 (88 new cases)
May 19: 365 cases with 60 new cases in three days
\tTotal confirmed cases = 365 (new cases between May 17 – 19 = 60)
Total recoveries = 120 (new recoveries = 8)
Active cases = 238
\tEthiopia’s case count spiked on Monday by 35 new cases (a daily record) whiles 14 new cases were recorded today.
He was a fierce proponent of free and fair elections (FFE) in Guyana.
Depoo, a Miss Phoebe native, migrated with his family to the US in the mid 1970s, qualified as a lawyer, worked with the US State Department, and later made Trinidad his home.
He made Trinidad his home for a further 20 years before deciding to settle in Guyana earlier this year.
After the Mingo fraud, Depoo spearheaded a signature campaign calling on the US State Department to take actions against those who were involved in the electoral fraud.
He was very active among the Guyanese diaspora in Trinidad where I met him at public events related to Guyana.
