Repatriation of Angolans from Zambia continues undisturbed

Posted on May 17, 2012 by

From Michael Malakata in Lusaka, Zambia The Zambia government and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have continued with the repatriation of Angolan refugees as cessation of their status approaches although some of them were unwilling to go back to Angola. A total of 33 Angolan refugees returned to Angola’s Huambo Town on Wednesday 16 May by plane from Mongu Airport in Western Zambia. An additional 45 Angolans were yesterday (Thursday) repatriated to Moxico Province from Mongu, while 41 were repatriated from Solwezi destined for Luena. This brings to 119 the total number of Angolan refugees repatriated in the last two days from the two refugee settlements of Meheba and … Continue reading →

Posted in Angola, Zambia | Leave a comment

South Sudan set to purchase anti-aircraft missiles from the U.S.

Posted on May 17, 2012 by

South Sudan is set to acquire anti-aircraft missiles to defend its territory against air attacks it says are frequently carried out by warplanes from neighbouring Sudan, the South Sudanese military said on Wednesday. Since South Sudan became the world’s newest independent nation in July last year, its government has accused northern neighbour Sudan of continuing aerial bombing raids on South Sudanese territory, a charge routinely denied by Khartoum. Foreign reporters in South Sudan have witnessed bombings by Sudanese warplanes of targets including a market, a refugee camp and oil infrastructure, and border skirmishes between the two countries’ armies last month included a series of air raids by the northern nation. The United … Continue reading →

Posted in Southern Sudan, Sudan | Leave a comment

South African courts to investigate Mugabe’s generals

Posted on May 11, 2012 by

From Michael Malakata in Lusaka, Zambia A South African court has ruled that it has the jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute military generals and loyalists from Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s party, the Zanu-PF. The decision by Judge Hans Fabricius could force the South African government to investigate senior Zanu-PF officials who are accused of torture and human rights abuses during the 2008 elections that resulted in the power-sharing government with opposition MDC. The judge ruled Tuesday that South African legal system can be used to investigate and prosecute Zimbabwean citizens suspected of having committed crimes against humanity. The names of suspects have not been released by a dossier compiled by … Continue reading →

Posted in Zimbabwe | 1 Comment

Kikwete sacks six corrupt cabinet ministers

Posted on May 5, 2012 by

By Staff Writer Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has sacked six of his senior cabinet ministers amid allegations that they were involved in corrupt activities. In an unprecedented move, Mr Kikwete who is just beginning his second and last term of office surprised many of his contemporaries when he gave marching orders to Mustapha Mkulo who has been the country’s Finance Minister. Energy and Minerals Minister William Ngeleja, Tourism Minister Ezekiel Maige, Industry and Trade Minister Cyril Chami, Transport Minister Omari Nundu and Health Minister Haji Mponda followed suit. Sacking senior cabinet ministers in Africa is almost unheard of. In neighbouring Uganda, calls to President Yoweri Museveni to sack senior cabinet … Continue reading →

Posted in Tanzania | Leave a comment

Battle to save banda’s son from Interpol arrest goes to the U.N.

Posted on May 2, 2012 by

From Michael Malakata in Lusaka, Zambia The battle to save former Zambian President Rupiah Banda’s son Henry Banda from being arrested by International Police (Interpol) has now been taken to the United Nations by his lawyers. The legal team representing Banda filed two letters with several United Nations Special Rapporteurs requesting that Urgent Appeals be addressed to the Government of Zambia regarding what they call ‘politically motivated accusations’ against Banda and harassment and threats against his legal counsel, Robert Amsterdam. “These documents are the first of many appeals we are preparing before international bodies to expose the unlawful conduct of the Zambian government in the Henry Banda matter, and highlight … Continue reading →

Pages: 1 2
Posted in Zambia | Leave a comment

Saitoti urges police to read and learn country’s constitution

Posted on April 29, 2012 by

From Collins Wanzala in Nairobi Police in Kenya have been advised by the Internal Security Minister Prof George Saitoti to read the new constitution and uphold it to the letter to avoid being seen as agents resisting change in the country. The Kenyan Police have come under heavy scrutiny lately by their actions in the recent past where they have been captured in the media committing acts that go against the constitution, which was promulgated in August 2010. Prof Saitoti held a closed meeting with senior Police Officers drawn from the Kenya Police and Administration Police at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) training school on the evening of Thursday, April … Continue reading →

Posted in Kenya | Leave a comment

CJA deplores attack on Nigerian newspaper offices

Posted on April 28, 2012 by

The Commonwealth Journalists Association has issued a statement expressing outrage and concern over recent bomb attacks on the premises of a prominent Nigerian newspaper, This Day, and other media in both Abuja and Kaduna on 26 April 2012. In the statement, Rita Payne, the CJA President said: “We deplore the loss of life and consider any bid to silence important media voices in any country to be a blow struck against the universal values of democracy and freedom of expression of which the Commonwealth is a standard bearer.” She went on to add: “We are particularly concerned as Nigeria is a major Commonwealth country with a dynamic and independent media, … Continue reading →

Posted in Nigeria | Leave a comment

Letter from Kampala
Term limit restoration out of order – Museveni

Posted on April 28, 2012 by

By Nangayi Guyson Ugandan politicians both in the ruling NRM party and in the opposition parties have been so creative in finding possible ways to mount pressure on Museveni to leave office but he has always been so quick to silence them with strong words of persistence. There have been moves to unseat President Museveni from all corners, but all seems to be failing. A recent move led by a populist Member of Parliament John Ken Lukyamuzi to impeach Museveni, quickly gained popularity but failed to get enough support among parliamentarians and vanished in less than a month.  Now, even the new move of term limits restoration which has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Uganda | Leave a comment

Sata signs Zam-Zim mega hydro power plant

Posted on April 27, 2012 by

From Michael Malakata in Lusaka, Zambia Zambia and Zimbabwe have agreed to construct a US$4 billion 1, 650 megawatt hydro-power station at the Batoka Gorge in order to increase power generation by the two countries. Zambian president Michael Sata who is on a State visit to Zimbabwe witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understand (MoU) together with his counterpart Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe yesterday. The two countries also signed another MoU on Co-operation in Tourism and Youth Development. Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi and Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere signed on behalf of Zimbabwe while Zambian Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Given Lubinda signed … Continue reading →

Posted in Zambia, Zimbabwe | Leave a comment

Maina Njenga charged with violent robbery

Posted on April 25, 2012 by

From Collins Wanzala in Nairobi Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga was on Tuesday charged in a Nairobi court with robbery with violence alongside four others among them his personal assistant Mr. Francis Mwangi. They were accused of violently robbing personal effects and guns from police officers, all valued at over Ksh522. They five were arrested at the Kasarani Police Station where they had been summoned for questioning over the chaos that rocked his church over the weekend. They were arraigned before the Nairobi Chief magistrate Elijah Obaga and charged with nine counts including five counts of robbery with violence that carries a death sentence. The former Mungiki leader, now turned … Continue reading →

Posted in Kenya | Leave a comment