News Africa Extended

News Africa Extended

Chad infant mortality rate still a concern: Unicef

Posted: 28 Jun 2016 12:08 PM PDT

Much progress has been made in recent years to improve the situation of children in Chad, but there is still a long way to go, Unicef reports.

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N’Djamena - Much progress has been made in recent years to improve the situation of children in Chad, but there is still a long way to go, Bakary Sogoba, chief of Children Protection Program of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Chad, told Xinhua on Tuesday.

Between 2010 to 2015, infant mortality rate fell from 106 per 1 000 to 72 per 1 000, Bakary said on the occasion of the publication of UNICEF annual report on “the situation of children in the world.” In the same period, the number of children in Chad vaccinated has tripled from 8 percent to 25 percent, and the number of children sleeping under mosquito nets went up from 12 percent to 36 percent, he said.

“Looking at these numbers, we imperatively need to help millions of disadvantaged and vulnerable children,” he said, adding, “the barriers to help these children are not technical. It is rather a question of commitment, it is a question of resources and it is a question of collective will.

”Based on current trends in the world, says the report of UNICEF, 69 million children will die of reasons which can be prevented, 167 million children will live in poverty and 750 million women will be married as children by 2030, the deadline for realising the Sustainable Development Goals.

Xinhua

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Call for Mugabe to quit over torture claims

Posted: 28 Jun 2016 12:03 PM PDT

The leader of the Zimbabwe Divine Destiny church, Bishop Ancelimo Magaya, urged President Robert Mugabe to resign over torture allegations.

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Harare - The leader of the Zimbabwe Divine Destiny (ZDD) church, Bishop Ancelimo Magaya, on Tuesday urged President Robert Mugabe to resign over the reported harassment, abduction and torture of innocent citizens by state security agents.

Addressing a press conference in Harare to as part of marking the United Nations Day Against Torture (June 26), Magaya said it was shocking that Zimbabwe had not ratified the Convention on torture, nor did it recognise the day despite being a member of the United Nations.

He said the reason why people had gone to war was so that they would have free space and the liberty to express themselves freely and to be protected from state harassment and night abductions, even when they differed in opinion.

“If I was given five minutes or less to talk to President Mugabe, I would say, Your Excellency Sir, you have done very well in leading Zimbabwe into liberation and independence. There are different gifts that are peculiar to each ethos and dispensation. God has endowed you with the gifting of fighting and dismantling (Ian) Smith’s regime, but we are in a Solomonic era of building, we are long past the Davidic era of fighting. We are now in the Solomonic era of building.

“Your anointing is fighting, now it is development and building and you need not to eat into your legacy. The Lord will require that you know when to rest,” he said.

Magaya said the church should stand up against despotic governments, adding that the church often misunderstood their biblical mandate and thought that their role was only to preach on Sundays, bury the dead and heal the sick.

Churches, he said, had remained quiet in the face of atrocities against citizens by the government, mostly because they were afraid, However, he added that a few prophetic voices were raising consciousness and needed to be harnessed so that the church could speak with more power.

“I don’t also want to rule out the fact that some of us within the church have received certain gifts, possibly from the government, possibly in the form of land and so on. And I have always said that a dog with bones in its mouth can never bark,” he said.

But Magaya said dictatorship was a complex monster that needed to be dealt with through confrontation.

“I also believe confrontation cannot be ruled out, provided that confrontation is not violent, as long as we don’t throw stones and hold arms. As long we are peacefully demonstrating it is proper, we need to use all sorts of approaches to ensure this machinery is dismantled,” he said.

He said the church had a moral obligation to speak out, admitting that the church in Zimbabwe had been quiet, although it was beginning to speak out now.

“I will understand certainly when you say the greater part of the church, particularly represented by the umbrella mother bodies, have been quiet in the past, possibly except for the Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice. We have also had smaller independent organisations that have been speaking up. The Zimbabwe Christian Council was quite active on matters of justice,” he concluded.

African News Agency

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Botswana to review laws for Kenyan immigration

Posted: 28 Jun 2016 11:41 AM PDT

President Uhuru Kenyatta has clinched perks for Kenyans during his state visit to Botswana, including negotiating for better migrant laws for Kenyans.

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Nairobi - President Uhuru Kenyatta has clinched perks for Kenyans during his three day State visit to Botswana, including negotiating for better migrant laws for Kenyans working in the southern African country.

Botswana will review its restrictive migrant laws for Kenyans’ work permits as well as allow more Kenya Airways flights, said a statement from the President’s office on Tuesday.

The statement said that Botswana’s President Ian Khama asked his ministers for Labour and Home Affairs (Immigration) to examine and resolve problems affecting Kenyans seeking employment in Botswana.

President Khama also said he would dispatch his ministers for Trade and Investment, and Agriculture, to Nairobi to explore areas of cooperation — with a specific mandate to boost investment by Botswana in East Africa’s largest economy.

Being one of the world’s top ten largest producers of diamonds, Botswana would seek to assist Kenya to build its nascent mining sector, and also assist Kenya draw up a “very robust response” to poaching in order to stem the slaughter of elephants.

President Kenyatta had specifically asked that Botswana examines its migrant laws in order to encourage skilled Kenyans to work there freely.

President Khama also accepted a request by President Kenyatta to review an air services agreement to allow Kenya Airways to fly more frequently and to more destinations in Botswana.

President Kenyatta met the Kenyan Diaspora in Botswana and assured them that their host government would address the issue of work permits.

“I have already met President Khama and he has promised to solve the problem as soon as possible,” said the President when he addressed Kenyan professionals and businessmen who gathered at the Travel Lodge Conference Centre in Gaborone.

The Kenyans included those who work for the Botswana government and other professionals in private practice including doctors, engineers and architects.

Kenyatta also promised that the government would ensure voting rights for all Kenyans living in the Diaspora would become a reality.

“In keeping with the Constitution of Kenya, we are seeking to actualise the right of all Kenyan citizens to participate in the democratic processes of the country. I am pleased to inform you that you, and all Kenyans in the Diaspora, will be able to vote in the next general elections which are scheduled to take place in August 2017,” said the President.

In his push to advance business opportunities, President Kenyatta also opened the Botswana-Kenya Business Seminar where he urged for more intra-Africa trade.

The President said it was regrettable that African countries are yet to exploit the immense business opportunities that exist within the continent to bring more prosperity.

“I deeply believe in the value and need for greater intra-African trade which is why Kenya is part of the Tripartite Free Trade Area agreement along with Botswana, and which is why I am here today,” said President Kenyatta.

The business seminar organised by the Botswana and Investment Trade Centre in conjunction with the Kenya Government brought together more than 200 business people from both countries.

President Kenyatta said the trade volume between Kenya and Botswana should be higher than it currently is, given the fact that the two countries have exchanged human capital for more than 50 years.

For many decades Kenya has trained Botswana government officials in public administration. Kenya has also trained many Botswana nationals in other fields including railway engineering, agriculture, journalism, and defense, among others.

African News Agency

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Mujuru applauds Tsvangirai for revealing cancer

Posted: 28 Jun 2016 10:54 AM PDT

Joice Mujuru has applauded MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai for his bold decision to reveal his medical condition.

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Harare - Former Zimbabwe Vice President and leader of Zimbabwe People First, Joice Mujuru, on Tuesday applauded MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai for his bold decision to reveal his medical condition and wished the former Prime Minister a speedy recovery.

In a statement, Mujuru’s spokesperson Gift Nyandoro urged Zimbabweans to give Tsvangirai space to recuperate following his chemotherapy treatments for colon cancer.

“Dr Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru and the Zimbabwe People First (Zim PF) party would like to join Zimbabweans in praying for former Prime Minister, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, who is recuperating after surgery. We applaud the former prime minister for coming in the open about his medical condition,” read the statement.

He said given enough support, Tsvangirai would recover in a short space of time and quickly and resume his role as one of the country’s leaders.

Nyandoro later told African News Agency that no one could take away Tsvangirai’s role as the face of the fight for democracy in the country, along with Mujuru, who is on a countrywide tour to introduce her party to to the provinces.

“To that end there is nothing wrong or amiss in wishing each other well regard to matters of personal health more importantly being one of the political figures pushing for democratic transformation of the country,” he said.

He said the good health of Tsvangirai benefited the country in that he contributed the democratic transformation of Zimbabwe with other like-minded democrats like Mujuru.

African News Agency

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SADC gives Lesotho ultimatum

Posted: 28 Jun 2016 09:34 AM PDT

Lesotho must develop and present a comprehensive roadmap with clear timeframes on the implementation of all SADC decisions by the next summit in August.

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Gaborone - The Southern African Development Community Summit has resolved to assist the Kingdom of Lesotho in implementing reforms in the security sector and constitutional reforms.

The SADC Double Troika was held in Gaborone and attended by SADC Heads of State Chairperson Lieutenant General Ian Khama, Filippe Nyusi, Jacob Zuma, King Mswati III, Robert Mugabe and Kassim Majaliwa, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Botswana Foreign Affairs Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, SADC Executive Secretary Dr Stegomena Lawrence-Tax and Judge Mpahpi Phumaphi. Lesotho Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili was invited to the Summit and he was urged to lead in implementation of SADC decisions

“The Summit approved a team comprised of experts from Double Troika Members States in preparation for the holding of the Technical Workshop on Security Sector Reforms as well as a roadmap for Constitutional Reforms and implementation thereof,” says a communiqué issued late Tuesday afternoon.

The Summit urged the Kingdom of Lesotho to ensure that the processes is comprehensively inclusive and involves all stakeholders in the Kingdom.

“Summit approved the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the Oversight Committee, as an early warning mechanism that will also provide assistance in the implementation of the Constitutional, Security and Public Sector Reforms. The summit directed the Secretariat to immediately operationalize the Oversight Committee, which will be headed by the Republic of Mozambique in her capacity as the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation”.

The Summit called upon the Opposition leaders in exile to return by the end of August 2016 in order to facilitate participation in ongoing reforms. In view of the foregoing, the Summit directed the Double Troika, supported by the Facilitator, to assist in their return and report progress to the next Summit.

The Summit reiterated that the Government of Lesotho, with the assistance of the SADC Double Troika members must develop and present a comprehensive roadmap with clear timeframes on the implementation of all SADC decisions, in particular Security and Constitutional reforms and submit report with tangible progress to the next Summit in August 2016. King Mswati III is expected to take over the chairmanship during the August Summit.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports indicate that Mosisili was escorted out of the Summit due to the heavy presence of Lesotho opposition activists at the venue of the Summit.

Foreign Bureau

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Tsvangirai undergoing cancer treatment in SA

Posted: 28 Jun 2016 02:46 AM PDT

Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said he has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatment in South Africa.

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Harare - Zimbabwe's main opposition leader and President Robert Mugabe's chief rival for the last 17 years said on Tuesday he has been diagnosed with cancer of the colon and is undergoing treatment in neighbouring South Africa.

Morgan Tsvangirai, 64, who was Zimbabwe's prime minister in an uneasy coalition government with the 92-year-old Mugabe from 2009 until 2013, said it was important for national leaders to disclose their health status.

Mugabe routinely denies local media reports that he is suffering from prostate cancer and says his frequent trips to Singapore are for routine medical checks.

“As a leader and a public figure, I have taken a decision to make public my condition,” Tsvangirai said, adding that he had an operation last month and is on chemotherapy treatment.

“It is my firm belief that the health of national leaders, including politicians, should not be a subject of national speculation and uncertainty.”

Tsvangirai, who lost the 2013 presidential vote against Mugabe, has since 1999 led the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) but the party has, however, been weakened by splits over how to confront Mugabe's ZANU-PF.

The MDC chief, a three time loser to Mugabe, said although his condition was unfortunate, he intended to confront “this development with the determination to overcome it”.

The MDC, evicted from the unity government after its crushing defeat in the 2013 election, is split over whether to dump Tsvangirai before the next vote in 2018. Critics say he has often been outsmarted by Mugabe, Africa's oldest leader.

The turmoil within the MDC has been a boost for Mugabe, whose ZANU-PF party has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980 amid charges of rigging recent elections.

Mugabe, who intends to contest the 2018 vote at the age of 94, has denied rigging previous elections.

Reuters

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Conservationist survives 'surprise' elephant attack

Posted: 28 Jun 2016 02:14 AM PDT

World renowned conservationist Ian Redmond has expressed shock after he was charged by an elephant while out in the field in Kenya.[VIDEO]

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Cape Town - World renowned conservationist Ian Redmond has expressed shock after he was charged by an elephant while out in the field in Kenya.

After working for 36 years with elephants at the Mount Elgon National Park and forest reserve, Redmond said he had never expected to see an elephant attack a human.

Redmond, who is a wildlife consultant with Born Free Foundation in Western Kenya, said the incident happened while he was watching a herd cross a forest glade which was about 150m away.

At that point one of the elephants in the reserve turned and started charging towards him.

The elephant’s behaviour is believed to be caused by poachers and charcoal burners who operate illegal charcoal kilns at the nature reserve, causing the elephant’s unease towards people.

Recalling the scene of the attack which was captured on video last month, Redmond said: “I vividly recall as the elephant made its approach.

“The feel of my hand on its tusks and the softness of the skin on his upper lip.

“I was pushed into a high speed backward roll and found myself momentarily upside down between his front legs with my feet touching his chest and then completed the backward roll and landed on my hands and knees under his belly facing his hind legs.”

The wildlife conservationist managed to escape the danger he faced and said he believed that the elephant aimed to put him in a position so that it could reach him with its trunk or kneel on him.

Rangers from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) foiled the attack by firing shots in the air.

Kitili Mbathi, director of KWS, said: “What an incredible encounter. It makes compelling reading and I am pleased that Ian survived to tell the story.

“We must eliminate charcoal burning and hopefully an appeal will generate some funding to help us in our efforts to protect the Mount Elgon Forest and its elephants.”

Born Free will now also launch a new appeal to support the Mount Elgon Elephant Monitoring team, the KWS, and to help eradicate illegal tree-felling and charcoal burning in their forest habitat.

nwabisa.masiza@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

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