| Former South African president Nelson
Mandela is still in hospital for medical tests, although the government has said there is
no cause for alarm. President Jacob Zuma confirmed in a statement on Saturday that the 94-year "Tata" as he is known by his supporters, was admitted to to a Pretoria hospital for "medical attention" but it gave no details of Mandela's condition. "President Zuma assures all that Madiba is doing well and there is no cause for alarm," it said, referring to Mandela by his clan name. Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said the former president is undergoing routine tests at a military hospital in Pretoria, the capital, just north of Johannesburg. Like many South Africans, Maharaj referred to the anti-apartheid icon by his clan name, Madiba. “President Zuma assures all that Madiba is doing well and there is no need for alarm. We have previously said, and we repeat, that he will be receiving medical attention from time to time which is consistent with his age,” he said. However Maharaj gave few details, citing patient confidentiality. He would not say whether Mr. Mandela was taken to the hospital by helicopter or what medical tests he was undergoing. The military has largely taken over responsibility for the former president's medical treatment. Maharaj said the hospital was chosen because it has all the facilities Mandela needs and where his privacy is secure. This is the second time Mandela has been admitted to hospital, in February he was admitted because of abdominal pain, but released the following day after a keyhole examination showed there was nothing seriously wrong with him. He has since spent most of his time in his ancestral home in Qunu, a village in the impoverished Eastern Cape province. His frail health prevents him from making any public appearances in South Africa, although in the last few months he has continued to receive prominent visitors, including former US President Bill Clinton. |
Sunday, 9 December 2012
Nelson Mandela still in hospital
Friday, 7 December 2012
Ghana election: John Mahama VS Nana Akufo-Addo
Long queues were reported as voters in Ghana are selecting their next president and a 275-seat
parliament in elections which is seen as a model for democracy in Africa.
Some 14 million people are expected to turn out for Friday's poll. President John Dramani Mahama, in office only since July when he as vice president succeeded President John Atta Mills when he died in office, is facing seven contenders.
His main opponent is Nana Akufo-Addo, a former foreign minister, who lost the 2008 election to Mills by less than 1 percent.
Ghana, a nation of 25 million, has previously held five transparent elections in a row. Nearby Mali, which was also considered a model democracy, was plunged into chaos this March following a military coup.
Some 14 million people are expected to turn out for Friday's poll. President John Dramani Mahama, in office only since July when he as vice president succeeded President John Atta Mills when he died in office, is facing seven contenders.
His main opponent is Nana Akufo-Addo, a former foreign minister, who lost the 2008 election to Mills by less than 1 percent.
Ghana, a nation of 25 million, has previously held five transparent elections in a row. Nearby Mali, which was also considered a model democracy, was plunged into chaos this March following a military coup.
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Ghana Police team up with Military to beef up security during election
Ghana’s police have teamed up with the military to provide a “five layer
security force” as part of an effort to bolster security to ensure a
peaceful general election Friday.
“We have managed to put together a very encompassing security arrangement in place to ensure that this very important election will come and go peacefully," said police spokesman Cephas Arthur.
“We are putting one unarmed security officer at the polling station to handle any security disturbance there,” continued Arthur. “The next tier is the Patrol Team who will move from one polling station to another. We also have the Reserved Unit, which has been attached to every district and region, and we also have the Action Unit. If these units can’t handle the situation then we will call in our friends from the military as the last resort.”
Arthur’s comments came after security personnel voted Tuesday to enable them provide protection against violence during the vote.
He said the police have been taking precautions to prevent any acts that could undermine the election as well as the country’s stability. He also said they are working with other security organizations to provide a formidable security arrangement for the election.
Arthur says the agencies are ready to protect prospective voters in the run up to the election.
But, some Ghanaians have expressed concern about possible violence during the vote despite a pledge by all of the presidential candidates to encourage their supporters to eschew violence.
Supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have clashed following accusations and counter accusations of intimidation and harassment during campaigns in the run up to the election.
“The campaign period also served as a test case and we are lucky to have recorded very minimal incidents," he said. "We recorded numerous incidents in the previous elections, but because this one has been secured, just a couple of them occurred. It has largely been very peaceful this time.”
He called on Ghanaians to have confidence in the police, saying they and other security systems have “been able to secure and deliver safely five different elections since 1992. We do it to the admiration of the world.”
Source Voice of America
“We have managed to put together a very encompassing security arrangement in place to ensure that this very important election will come and go peacefully," said police spokesman Cephas Arthur.
“We are putting one unarmed security officer at the polling station to handle any security disturbance there,” continued Arthur. “The next tier is the Patrol Team who will move from one polling station to another. We also have the Reserved Unit, which has been attached to every district and region, and we also have the Action Unit. If these units can’t handle the situation then we will call in our friends from the military as the last resort.”
Arthur’s comments came after security personnel voted Tuesday to enable them provide protection against violence during the vote.
He said the police have been taking precautions to prevent any acts that could undermine the election as well as the country’s stability. He also said they are working with other security organizations to provide a formidable security arrangement for the election.
Arthur says the agencies are ready to protect prospective voters in the run up to the election.
But, some Ghanaians have expressed concern about possible violence during the vote despite a pledge by all of the presidential candidates to encourage their supporters to eschew violence.
Supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have clashed following accusations and counter accusations of intimidation and harassment during campaigns in the run up to the election.
“The campaign period also served as a test case and we are lucky to have recorded very minimal incidents," he said. "We recorded numerous incidents in the previous elections, but because this one has been secured, just a couple of them occurred. It has largely been very peaceful this time.”
He called on Ghanaians to have confidence in the police, saying they and other security systems have “been able to secure and deliver safely five different elections since 1992. We do it to the admiration of the world.”
Source Voice of America
Sakina Kamwendo failed to meet the SABC's editorial policy- SABC
South Africa Broadcasting Cooperation acting Chief Operations Officer (COO), Hlaudi Motsoeneng,
says the broadcaster pulled the Metro FM talk show on the "Road to
Mangaung" off air last night because it did not meet the corporation's
editorial policy code of balance and fairness.
Motsoeneng made the remarks during a media briefing at Auckland Park on the SABC's decision to stop the radio station's panel discussion with newspaper journalists on the media coverage of the ANC elective congress.
According to reports the journalists were denied the right to go on air by a mysterious caller who canned their scheduled interview on Metro FM's "Talk with Sakina".
However in a media statement, the SABC claims that there was no mysterious caller, but rather an editorial decision was taken to cancel the interview.
He says going ahead with the discussion would have transgressed the SABC's Editorial Codes. "The discussion was about the ANC. Our view is simple; you need the ANC to be part of that discussion. We are not banning anyone as people say. We are only saying we should be fair to all citizens of this country and we stick by that decision."
In agreement with Motsoeneng SABC Group Executive of Radio, Leslie Ntloko, agrees with Motsoeneng. "According to the SABC editorial policy, which is guided by the broadcasting act, when an event of national importance is of a party political nature, editorial staff must ensure that SABC policies of objectivity, accuracy, fairness, impartiality and balance are adhered to. So our decision was made in view of the fact that these were not followed," says Ntloko.
Motsoeneng made the remarks during a media briefing at Auckland Park on the SABC's decision to stop the radio station's panel discussion with newspaper journalists on the media coverage of the ANC elective congress.
According to reports the journalists were denied the right to go on air by a mysterious caller who canned their scheduled interview on Metro FM's "Talk with Sakina".
However in a media statement, the SABC claims that there was no mysterious caller, but rather an editorial decision was taken to cancel the interview.
He says going ahead with the discussion would have transgressed the SABC's Editorial Codes. "The discussion was about the ANC. Our view is simple; you need the ANC to be part of that discussion. We are not banning anyone as people say. We are only saying we should be fair to all citizens of this country and we stick by that decision."
In agreement with Motsoeneng SABC Group Executive of Radio, Leslie Ntloko, agrees with Motsoeneng. "According to the SABC editorial policy, which is guided by the broadcasting act, when an event of national importance is of a party political nature, editorial staff must ensure that SABC policies of objectivity, accuracy, fairness, impartiality and balance are adhered to. So our decision was made in view of the fact that these were not followed," says Ntloko.
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
Military Police Clash anti-Morsi protesters in Cairo
Egyptian riot police have fired teargas at protesters demonstrating
against President Mohamed Morsi near the presidential palace in the capital Cairo.
According to local press almost ten people have been injured in clashes, reports further indicates that
Protesters have broken through police lines in front of the palace.
Thousands of protesters gathered to march to the presidential palace in protest of Morsi's decree which grants him near absolute powers, and a draft constitution which was quickly adopted by his allies.
"Freedom or we die! Mohammed Morsi! Illegitimate! Brotherhood! Illegitimate!," a crowd of several hundred protesters chanted outside a mosque in the Abbasiyah district earlier Tuesday.
Protesters also gathered outside Morsi's residence shouting, "Down with the sons of dogs. We are the power and we are the people!"
Morsi has called for a nationwide referendum on the draft constitution on December 15.
According to local press almost ten people have been injured in clashes, reports further indicates that
Protesters have broken through police lines in front of the palace.
Thousands of protesters gathered to march to the presidential palace in protest of Morsi's decree which grants him near absolute powers, and a draft constitution which was quickly adopted by his allies.
"Freedom or we die! Mohammed Morsi! Illegitimate! Brotherhood! Illegitimate!," a crowd of several hundred protesters chanted outside a mosque in the Abbasiyah district earlier Tuesday.
Protesters also gathered outside Morsi's residence shouting, "Down with the sons of dogs. We are the power and we are the people!"
Morsi has called for a nationwide referendum on the draft constitution on December 15.
Monday, 3 December 2012
Statement on the Humanitarian Situation in North Kivu - Humantiarian Coordinator in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Moustapha Soumare
Twelve days after the take-over of Goma
by the M23 rebel movement, the humanitarian and protection situation
remains extremely worrying in North Kivu. At least 130,000 people are
displaced in spontaneous sites and camps in and around Goma. The
majority have fled the fighting in the area over the past two weeks.
As the implementation of the decisions of the Kampala Declaration gets underway and the M23 withdraws from Goma, the protection of the civilian population must be a priority for all, in line with the ongoing efforts of MONUSCO and international partners. Goma has a population of nearly 800,000 and while awaiting that the Congolese authorities regain full control over the city, one cannot exclude the risk of looting or renewed violence.
I call on all parties to honour their obligations under International Humanitarian Law to protect all civilians.
Humanitarian agencies are stepping up their effort on the ground to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable. NGOs and UN Agencies provide the displaced with water, food, basic necessities and medical care, including for the wounded. Humanitarian protection activities are equally important in this context, including assistance to victims of sexual violence and reuniting separated children with their families. Humanitarians are also facing an additional challenge with the contamination of many areas by explosive remnants of war, particularly north of Goma.
Some of the displaced people have already chosen to leave the crowded camps in Goma to return to their homes, where the fighting has stopped. However, thousands of people are at the same time fleeing armed groups’ brutal attacks which are on the rise in other areas of North Kivu, particularly in Masisi. In this context, the situation will remain volatile and hundreds of thousands of people will continue to depend on emergency aid for their survival.
I salute the persistence of humanitarian actors who continue their work under extremely precarious security conditions in the Goma area. To sustain these efforts, I call on all parties to ensure unhindered humanitarian access to people in need wherever they are, and to ensure the protection of displaced and host communities and their access to assistance.
I hope to see the ongoing regional initiatives lead to an effective and lasting resolution of the recurring crisis in eastern DRC, to allow the hundreds of thousands of Congolese to no longer have to suffer from the human tragedies seen every day on the ground.
I thank donor countries for their generosity. Thanks to resources made available through the Humanitarian Pooled Fund, we have been able to rapidly organise an effective humanitarian response. New pledges made by several partners following the most recent deterioration of the situation in the Kivus will help continue alleviating the suffering of thousands of people, in spite of the low funding levels of the 2012 Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP). The HAP has so far received only 56 per cent of the US$791 million required to respond to the humanitarian needs in the country. The DRC is also affected by severe epidemics (measles, cholera…), alarming levels of chronic malnutrition or food insecurity that has worsened since the beginning of this year.
As the implementation of the decisions of the Kampala Declaration gets underway and the M23 withdraws from Goma, the protection of the civilian population must be a priority for all, in line with the ongoing efforts of MONUSCO and international partners. Goma has a population of nearly 800,000 and while awaiting that the Congolese authorities regain full control over the city, one cannot exclude the risk of looting or renewed violence.
I call on all parties to honour their obligations under International Humanitarian Law to protect all civilians.
Humanitarian agencies are stepping up their effort on the ground to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable. NGOs and UN Agencies provide the displaced with water, food, basic necessities and medical care, including for the wounded. Humanitarian protection activities are equally important in this context, including assistance to victims of sexual violence and reuniting separated children with their families. Humanitarians are also facing an additional challenge with the contamination of many areas by explosive remnants of war, particularly north of Goma.
Some of the displaced people have already chosen to leave the crowded camps in Goma to return to their homes, where the fighting has stopped. However, thousands of people are at the same time fleeing armed groups’ brutal attacks which are on the rise in other areas of North Kivu, particularly in Masisi. In this context, the situation will remain volatile and hundreds of thousands of people will continue to depend on emergency aid for their survival.
I salute the persistence of humanitarian actors who continue their work under extremely precarious security conditions in the Goma area. To sustain these efforts, I call on all parties to ensure unhindered humanitarian access to people in need wherever they are, and to ensure the protection of displaced and host communities and their access to assistance.
I hope to see the ongoing regional initiatives lead to an effective and lasting resolution of the recurring crisis in eastern DRC, to allow the hundreds of thousands of Congolese to no longer have to suffer from the human tragedies seen every day on the ground.
I thank donor countries for their generosity. Thanks to resources made available through the Humanitarian Pooled Fund, we have been able to rapidly organise an effective humanitarian response. New pledges made by several partners following the most recent deterioration of the situation in the Kivus will help continue alleviating the suffering of thousands of people, in spite of the low funding levels of the 2012 Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP). The HAP has so far received only 56 per cent of the US$791 million required to respond to the humanitarian needs in the country. The DRC is also affected by severe epidemics (measles, cholera…), alarming levels of chronic malnutrition or food insecurity that has worsened since the beginning of this year.
Friday, 19 October 2012
BRITIAN AND GERMANY BLAMED FOR TANZANIA, MALAWI BORDER WRANGLE
As Tanzania and Malawi are still fighting over the long-time territorial dispute concerning Lake Malawi, thought to sit over highly coveted oil and gas reserves, the wrangle has taken another level as Tanzanian government blames the colonial masters over the dispute.
Malawi
recently cut off dialogue concerning the border issue after intelligence reports showed that Tanzanian troops starts
patrolling the eastern side of the lake while negotiations were still in place.
Recently
Malawi president Joyce Banda said her country will take the long standing
dispute with Tanzania to the International Court of Justice for arbitration.
Banda’s move
to call for arbitration follows reports that Tanzania troops arrested and
harassed Malawian fishermen in the disputed waters.
Malawi also
accused Tanzania for including the lake in its new map and harassing Malawian
fishermen.
“ I have
decided to take the matter to the international Court of Justice to determine
and resolve this wrangle, the issue has gone too far and Malawi will seek
international help to ensure that justice prevails” Banda was quoted in the
local media.
Speaking in
an interview Malawi minister of foreign Affairs, Ephraim Chiume, also accused
Tanzania for including lake Malawi on their new map without reaching an agreement.
Msiska said
it is very unfortunate that director of survey a Mr Mayunda who developed the
new map was a chief negotiator between Tanzania and Malawi.
“Issuing a
new map which includes Lake Malawi means that the dispute has been cleared, however
the negotiations are still going on, it shows that Tanzania is not ready to negotiate” said Msiska”
Msika added “Deploying
troops to patrol our lake it is like they are calling for war, Tanzania is
challenging us however this is a legal matter and that is the reason why we are
seeking support from the International Court of Injustice.
Tanzanian Reaction
However
Tanzania government has challenged Malawi to go ahead and take the boundary
wrangle to the International Court of Justice .
Speaking in
a telephone interview Tanzania High Commissioner to South Africa Ravhia Msuya
blamed colonial masters , Britain and Germany on the issue.
Msuya
claimed that Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique use to share Lake Malawi before
the colonial era but it was later divided.
“We are only
claiming what is ours and nobody is to blame here despite the colonial masters,
back then we use to share the lake that is the reason why we have nyasa
speaking people in both Tanzania and Malawi.’
She further
rejects Malawi’s claims that her government is patrolling and harassing
Malawian fisher men saying it’s only defending its territory, She claimed that
50 percent of the lake which forms its borders with Malawi belongs to Tanzania.
Msuya
further conquered with her Malawian counterpart Tanzania’s High Commissioner to
Malawi Patric Tsere saying she’s confident that talks on the border dispute
will resume soon.
She said
that Malawian authorities had not formally informed the Tanzanian government
that it is pulling out of the talks.
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