News Africa Extended

News Africa Extended

National strike looms in Zimbabwe

Posted: 13 Jul 2016 12:02 AM PDT

Zimbabwean police have issued a warning to citizens planning a nationwide protest on Wednesday.

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Harare - Zimbabwean police will be out “in full force” to deal with a planned national strike on Wednesday, Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo said, hours after a Baptist preacher who leads a protest movement was arrested.

Read also: Zimbabwe businesses closed during stay-away

“Let me warn the instigators behind the intended protest that they will face the full wrath of the law,” Chombo told reporters on Tuesday in the capital, Harare. He accused some embassies of supporting anti-government demonstrations as part of “Western-sponsored regime change agenda”.

Police earlier arrested Pastor Evan Mawarire, 39, on charges of inciting violence after he helped to organise a nationwide strike on July 6. He’ll spend the night in police cells, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights spokesman Kumbirai Mafunda said. Mawarire has repeatedly called for non-violent protests in the southern African nation and has demanded that corrupt ministers be fired and that civil servants be paid their salaries on time. His #ThisFlag movement was one of several groups behind a strike on July 6 that brought much of the country to a halt.

Mawarire came to prominence in April when he draped a Zimbabwean flag over his shoulders and recorded a lament on the state of his nation on YouTube.

Last week’s strike followed a Finance Ministry announcement that it was delaying pay for state workers, including the military, and riots sparked by protests by taxi drivers over alleged police harassment. Violent clashes also erupted at Zimbabwe’s main border post with South Africa, forcing its closure, when the government banned the import of certain goods.

President Robert Mugabe’s administration has faced a worsening cash shortage in recent months. Since abandoning its own currency in 2009 to end hyperinflation, Zimbabwe has used mainly US dollars, as well as South African rand, euros, and British pounds. The government spends about 83 percent of its revenue on wages, according to Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa.

Chombo warned against similar protests on Wednesday.

“If you gather your friends and block cars, you will be arrested,” he said. “We want orderliness in this country.”

* With assistance from Chengetai Zvauya

BLOOMBERG

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Shot Lesotho editor moved to Bloem

Posted: 12 Jul 2016 12:40 PM PDT

The Lesotho Times newspaper editor Lloyd Mutangamiri who was shot has been transferred from the capital Maseru to a hospital in Bloemfontein.

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Johannesburg - The Lesotho Times newspaper editor Lloyd Mutangamiri who was shot in the face late on Saturday, was transferred on Tuesday from the capital Maseru to a hospital in Bloemfontein.

Mutangamiri was shot at the gate of his house in Maseru just before midnight after completing the edition of the Sunday Express, a sister newspaper of the Lesotho Times.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa, (MISA) a regional media watchdog group, said Tuesday that Lesotho police had confirmed that a single bullet had been fire at Mutangamiri, causing severe trauma, particularly to his mouth. He was hospitalised under 24-hour police security in Maseru and neither the public nor his colleagues were allowed to see him for security reasons.

MISA Lesotho added that at noon on Tuesday he was relocated to Bloemfontein for further medical attention “According to police on guard Mutangamiri is stable”.

Mutangamiri was shot just days after his employer, Lesotho Times publisher Basildon Peta was charged with defamation and crimen injuria relating to a satirical column published by the Lesotho Times which suggested Lesotho's military chief General Tlali Kamoli was the real ruler of Lesotho. This referred to the fact that Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili has so far disregarded an instruction from regional leaders that he fire Kamoli.

This followed a recommendation of a regional commission of inquiry appointed by the regional leaders to investigate the killing of Kamoli's predecessor, General Maaparankoe Mahao, in June last year, by Lesotho soldiers.

Misa also said that Harvest FM radio reporter and current affairs presenter Bongani Faki reported that he had received death threats from an unknown man.

He described how this man had arrived at his home and brandished a gun, telling his children to tell Faki that he would be shot. Misa further said on May 6 there had been a shooting at the house of Professor Mafa Sejanamane. No one had been injured. Misa noted that Sejanamane manages a blog, Lesotho Analysis, which had criticised the government for failing to implement the recommendations of the regional leaders concerning the killing of Mahao.

“MISA Lesotho appeals to the government of Lesotho to commission urgent investigations into the attack against Mutangamiri and all other incidents that are undoubtedly aimed at silencing critical voices,” Misa said.

“Furthermore, the outcome of the investigations should be made public to enable informed decision-making by the people of Lesotho and the world, particularly in this very polarised and politically volatile situation.

“Without linking Mutangamiri's shooting with any of the previously mentioned information on this alert, MISA-Lesotho condemns the attack against Mutangamiri which it regards as a grave threat to media freedom and freedom of expression in Lesotho.”

African News Agency

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#ZimShutDown: Protesters to face ‘full wrath’ of the law

Posted: 12 Jul 2016 10:30 AM PDT

Zimbabwe's government warned protesters not to heed a call by a detained preacher to continue with the demonstrations against President Robert Mugabe.

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Harare - Zimbabwe's government warned protesters on Tuesday they would face the “full wrath of the law” if they heeded a call by a detained preacher to continue with the biggest demonstrations in a decade against President Robert Mugabe.

Baptist minister Evan Mawarire has become a household name in Zimbabwe since he started a social media campaign in April that has tapped into mounting public anger over corruption, high unemployment and economic woes.

In a video recorded before his arrest on Tuesday, Mawarire urged supporters to go ahead with further 'stay at home' demonstrations. He had called for a one-day protest last week which closed businesses across the southern African nation in the biggest strike since 2005.

“The police whose mandate is to protect life and property will be out in full force to deal with any disturbances that may arise,” Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo told reporters.

“Let me warn the instigators behind the intended protests that they will face the full wrath of the law,” said Chombo, flanked by the ministers of defence and state security.

Chombo said there were no plans to deploy the military.

Mugabe, Africa's oldest leader at 92, has led the former British colony since independence in 1980. Since then it has gone from being one of the continent's most promising economies to being a country mired in economic crisis with a reputation for rights abuses.

After initially ignoring his grainy online videos, shot on a cellphone and calling for mass protests, Mugabe's administration has started to push back, especially after they attracted support from thousands of unpaid civil servants.

“Yes, he has been arrested for inciting public violence and disturbing peace,” Mawarire lawyer Harrison Nkomo told Reuters. He said police had raided his client's Harare home, office and church.

Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba was not available to comment on the charges.

A copy of a search warrant seen by Reuters said police believed Mawarire was in possession of a stolen police helmet, baton stick and “other subversive material” that could be used to incite public violence.

The law under which the bespectacled 39-year-old has been detained carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years. According to Zimbabwean law, he must appear in court within 48 hours. He was summoned by police early on Tuesday morning.

Mawarire said he broke no law in calling for the one-day shut-down last Wednesday.

International Crisis Group analyst Piers Pigou said Mawarire's #ThisFlag movement had rattled Mugabe's government but was still a long way from becoming the first “Arab Spring” south of the Sahara.

“It's provoked a certain amount of panic from the authorities given the scale of the stay-away,” Pigou said. “But a stay-away doesn't translate into active support for rebellion against the regime.”

More protests are planned for Wednesday and Thursday as part of #ThisFlag, which aims to appeal to Zimbabweans' national pride and exploit the widespread use of social media in the country.

In a pre-recorded video posted on Twitter under the #ThisFlag hashtag after he was charged, Mawarire said his arrest should not stop Zimbabwe's 13 million people going ahead with demonstrations.

“No matter what has happened to me, you and I have done well. We have stood up and raised our voices to build this nation,” Mawarire said.

Last Friday police summoned and arrested Prosper Mkwananzi from social media group Tajamuka - meaning 'We refuse' - on charges of public violence. Mkwananzi was released on bail on Monday.

Mawarire launched #ThisFlag in April after struggling to pay school fees for his two daughters or bus fares. His complaints struck an immediate chord with Zimbabweans and 120 000 people watched his video in its first week.

Within three months, some have even started likening him and his adherence to non-violence to Indian anti-colonial hero Mahatma Gandhi, who started becoming politically active as a lawyer in neighbouring South Africa in the early 1900s.

“There is nothing wrong from learning from the people like Gandhi because they achieved a lot of things in pushing the non-violent aspect of things,” Mawarire said in an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper this month.

“If we fight violence with violence, the result will be more violence,” he said. “There comes a time when we have to use a different strategy to that being used by the people we are confronting.”

Reuters

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#ThisFlag pastor arrested ahead of #ZimShutDown

Posted: 12 Jul 2016 06:10 AM PDT

"#ThisFlag" organiser and activist Pastor Evan Mawarire was arrested one day before the planned #ZimShutDown campaign.

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Harare – As the Zimbabwean government readies itself for the “#Shut Down” campaign set for Wednesday and Thursday, police have targeted known activists in an apparent attempt to stifle the intended protests.

In Harare, police arrested “#ThisFlag” twitter campaign organiser and activist Pastor Evan Mawarire on Tuesday and charged him with inciting violence.

Mawarire is regarded as the key person behind the demonstrations that rocked the country last week which saw the national shutdown of schools, shops, businesses and public transport.

Mawarire is being accused of stealing police helmets and baton sticks which he allegedly used to incite public violence during the July 6 protests.

According to a search warrant issued by the court on Tuesday, there were reasonable grounds to believe that Mawarire was in possession of the items.

“Evan Mawarire is believed to be in possession of a stolen police helmet, baton stick and other subversive material which he used to incite public violence on 6 July 2016 and others for intended use on 13 July 2016 for public violence,” read part of the warrant.

It further stated that the items could be used as evidence of commitment of an offence or suspected commission of an offence.

“Of incitement to commit public violence as defined in Section 187 (1)(a) as read with section 36 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.”

Mawarire, who was accompanied by his lawyer, handed himself over to the police on Tuesday morning with his flag and bible, but did not have his cellphone.

Head of CID Law and Order section, Chrispen Makedenge, was reportedly seeking a warrant from the magistrate’s court to get access to his mobile phone, which the State believes was being used to send messages about the protests to citizens.

Mawarire’s lawyer, Harrison Nkomo of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, confirmed the development, saying Mawarire had been charged under Section 187 of the Criminal Law Act.

He said the police had taken Mawarire to his house at Monmouse Avenue in Avondale for searches and were heading to his church offices at Van Praagh Avenue in Milton Park for further searches.

Almost 10 detectives from the law and order section conducted the searches.

In Masvingo, pro-democracy campaigner Prosper Tiringindi, who is also the Coordinator for the Masvingo Residents Trust, was summoned to court to answer to charges of disorderly conduct, while MDC-T legislator, Thabitha Khumalo was also summoned to Bulawayo Central Police Station.

Khumalo was accompanied to the station by lawyers from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

This comes hot on the heels of the arrest of #Tajamuka member, Promise Mkwananzi and other activists last week on charges of public violence.

African News Agency

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An eerie calm falls on South Sudan

Posted: 12 Jul 2016 05:14 AM PDT

Quiet fell on Juba after a ceasefire declaration appeared to halt, at least temporarily, four days of deadly gun battles in the city.

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Juba - Quiet fell on South Sudan's capital Juba on Tuesday after a ceasefire declaration appeared to halt, at least temporarily, four days of deadly gun battles in the city.

It was too early to tell whether the ceasefire, called by both President Salva Kiir and his opponent Vice President Riek Machar, would hold but the lull allowed civilians to leave their homes.

There were no helicopter gunships in the sky, no tanks on the streets, no artillery barrages and soldiers in their machine gun-mounted pick-up trucks appeared to have stayed in their barracks.

The calm was welcomed by Juba residents who have stayed mostly indoors for days.

“The situation is quiet near the airport,” said August Mayai, a local resident. “There are people in the streets.”

The fighting began in earnest on Friday evening - killing over 300 soldiers that day alone according to government estimates - then paused on Saturday, the country's fifth anniversary of independence, before resuming with intense fighting on Sunday.

There has been no estimate of casualties from the recent days' fighting.

The violence has raised fears of a return to civil war that began in December 2013 and has been characterised by ethnic massacres, rape, murder and the use of child soldiers.

An August 2015 peace deal was supposed to end the conflict but has so far failed to do so, despite the return of rebel leader Machar in April to join a government of national unity alongside his enemy Kiir.

On Monday evening Kiir and then Machar both ordered ceasefires after a chorus of condemnation from the United Nations, regional bloc IGAD, the United States and others.

Despite the pause in fighting Juba remains on tenterhooks.

“We are on the lookout because anything can happen,” said one resident who did not want to be named. “We've had the same situation before: we thought it was going to be fine, and it wasn't.”

Flights in and out of Juba's international airport were still suspended on Tuesday morning and foreign governments' advisories that their citizens stay indoors remained in place.

AFP

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Zimbabwean protests ‘sponsored’, says ANC

Posted: 12 Jul 2016 05:00 AM PDT

The ANC said it was concerned by civilian protests in Zimbabwe, which it labelled as "sponsored elements seeking regime change".

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Johannesburg - The African National Congress (ANC), on Tuesday said it was concerned by civilian protests in Zimbabwe against President Robert Mugabe’s government which it labelled as “sponsored elements seeking regime change”.

“The struggling Zimbabwean economy, which has been going on for a long time, should not give a licence to regime change elements to revive restlessness in Zimbabwe. Every citizen of Zimbabwe should appreciate the difficulties and contribute positively in the regulation of the Zimbabwean economy,” said ANC secretary Gwede Mantashe.

He said South Africa would assist Zimbabwe as a fellow member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), but that it was up to Zimbabweans to effect the initiative to build their country’s economy.

A social media campaign dubbed “ThisFlag” and “ZimShutDown2016” saw Zimbabwean citizens stay home last week, in protest against Mugabe and the ruling Zanu-PF.

The activists decried the ailing economy, lack of jobs and late payment of civil servants’ salaries.

The mass stay-away was a defiance against alleged government corruption and to force Mugabe to step down after being at the helm for over three decades.

Video clips and images of anti-riot police beating up citizens in an effort to suppress the protests went viral on social media.

The organisers have since indicated that a second stay-away was scheduled Wednesday and Thursday this week.

On Tuesday Zimbabwean pastor Evan Mawarire, who leads the “ThisFlag” movement, was arrested and charged with inciting public violence but urged activists in a pre- recorded video to go ahead with demonstrations planned for Wednesday.

African News Agency and Reuters

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Southern Africa facing acute food insecurity

Posted: 12 Jul 2016 03:37 AM PDT

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network says a “higher than normal” number of people are already facing acute food insecurity in six Southern African countries.

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Gaborone - The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) says a “higher than normal” number of people are already facing acute food insecurity in six Southern African countries and warns that the number could rise to nearly 17 million by March 2017 after three consecutive disastrous crop farming seasons.

In its latest Southern Africa food security outlook report, FEWSNET said the El Nino-induced drought which overshadowed the 2015/2016 farming season destroyed crops and left the region saddled with a cereal deficit of between 6 and 8 million metric tonnes.

In Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho and Madagascar, more households would enter the Integrated Food Security Classification Phase 3 of “acute” food insecurity throughout 2016.

“FEWSNET estimates that a higher than normal number of people are currently facing acute food insecurity and about 17 million people will be in Crisis (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Phase 3) between January-March 2017, requiring immediate assistance.

“At the height of the harvest period, many poor households in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, Lesotho, and Swaziland currently face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) food insecurity outcomes.

“Households in these countries are facing consumption gaps because they did not produce much staple this season and labour incomes are well-below average, constraining food access for households that are relying on market purchases for consumption much earlier than usual. For households in many drought-affected areas in the region, this is the second or third consecutive year of poor production,” FEWSNET said.

The agency said although there could be cereal exports from Tanzania, Zambia and international markets to the needy countries, such supplies would not be enough to mitigate the regional food deficit of up to 8 million metric tonnes. Further, food prices are expected to rise on the back of high demand for cereals in the same period.

“Maize prices, which are already above last year and the five-year average, are expected to rise further and remain significantly above these levels especially in Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar and Zimbabwe. Some of the main drivers of the high food prices are low maize supplies and substantially higher demand for market purchases,” the report stated.

However, FEWS-NET predicted a normal start to the 2016-17 cropping season across the region. According to a report released by the agency's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) last month, a “La Nina” event, which tends to be associated with above-average rainfall in Southern Africa, is likely to develop over the region at the beginning of the 2016-17 farming season.

African News Agency

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Dlamini-Zuma leaves 'big shoes to fill' at AU

Posted: 12 Jul 2016 03:37 AM PDT

One of the crucial events which is expected take place at the 27th AU Summit will be the election of a new AUC chairperson to replace Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

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Kigali - Whoever replaces Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's as chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) is going to have big shoes to fill,” Ndumiso Ntshinga, South Africa's ambassador to the African Union (AU), told the African News Agency (ANA) on Tuesday.

One of the crucial events which is expected take place at the 27th AU Summit in Kigali will be the election of a new AUC chairperson to replace Dlamini-Zuma.

The positions of deputy chairperson and four commissioners (Political Affairs; Human Resources, Science and Technology; Infrastructure and Energy; and Rural Economy and Agriculture) are also open.

The Peace and Security, Trade and Industry, Social Affairs and Economic Affairs ministers are also running for re-election. Currently there is uncertainty over whether elections will take place during the Summit as planned or whether they will be postponed to the next AU Summit in January 2017.

However, during an interview with ANA Ntshinga, said that the new AUC chairperson would struggle to match Dlamini-Zuma's legacy. “They will not be able to come up with a vision or an implementation plan to compare with that of the outgoing chairperson,” said Ntshinga.

“Dr Dlamini-Zuma has already given the AU its first-ever vision and a structure for its implementation. This vision involves the AU's 10-year implementation plan which is part of the 'Agenda 2063',” said the SA ambassador.

Agenda 2063 is both a Vision and an Action Plan. It is a call for action to all segments of African society to work together to build a prosperous and united Africa based on shared values and a common destiny.

“If we want to talk about Dlamini-Zuma's legacy in concrete terms, we can look at her active involvement in peace and security matters, for instance Burundi's deteriorating security situation,” Ntshinga told ANA.

“She was the one who alerted the AU to the fact that the situation on the ground in Burundi had reached ominous proportions. She visited the country and met and spoke with stake holders on the ground before pushing the AU to get more involved,” said Ntshinga.

When Ebola broke out in Africa it was Dlamini-Zuma who mobilised the continent's resources and took a lead role in fighting the disease. This involved motivating Africa's private sector to bring in money and other resources, explained the ambassador.

“Furthermore, her leadership has been dramatic in regards to human rights and women's issues. She has been a champion of gender equality and the rights of women in addition to peace and security matters and health issues,” said Ntshinga.

“So her replacement will not only have to keep the momentum going but up the ante.”

Turning to the AU Summit, currently underway in Kigali, Ntshinga said delegates were busy tackling some of the more difficult questions which faced the AU.

“The heads of state are going to discuss the elephant in the room which is the AU's critical financial predicament.

“We will also be discussing our 10-year implementation plan and 'Agenda 2063' because this is the first time the AU has had a vision. And now we want it to extend beyond a vision and incorporate the implementation plan,” explained Ntishinga.

And as the situation in South Sudan spirals out of control with hundreds killed in the last few days of fighting, between the army of South Sudan President Salva Kiir and the armed followers of First Vice President Riek Machar, unexpected security developments will also be forced on to the AU's agenda.

“Now obviously there will also be issues that come up unexpectedly on the peace and security front such as things getting very bad in South Sudan so probably we will have to find time to sit down and discuss what can be done on that front,” said Ntishinga.

African News Agency

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#ThisFlag protest pastor says charged by police

Posted: 12 Jul 2016 02:44 AM PDT

Zim Pastor Evan Mawarire, who organised a shut-down last week, said on Twitter that police had charged him with inciting violence.

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Johannesburg - Zimbabwean Pastor Evan Mawarire, who organised a “stay at home” anti-government protest last week, said on his Twitter page on Tuesday that police had charged him with inciting violence.

“Pastor Evan Mawarire is being charged with section 36 for inciting public violence and disturbing peace,” a tweet from Mawarire's #ThisFlag protest page said.

 

 

Earlier Mawarire said he had been ordered to report to the police on Tuesday, stoking tensions on the eve of more demonstrations over the state of the economy.

Mawarire - who has issued a series of online video statements tapping into mounting public anger over corruption, high unemployment and other economic woes - said no one had told him the reasons for the order.

Mawarire said the police criminal investigations department in Harare had called him on Monday evening, telling him to go to the city's central station. "I will be going there because we have not broken any law," he told Reuters.

Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba said she had no details on the issue and could not immediately comment.

Mawarire called a one day shut-down last week that closed businesses across the southern African nation, the biggest strike action since 2005.

More protests were planned on Wednesday and Thursday as part of his #ThisFlag movement - a reference to a reflection on the colours of the national flag during one of his talks.

Zimbabweans's use of the Internet in recent weeks to mobilise for street protests has bypassed traditional opposition parties.

Last Friday police summoned and arrested Prosper Mkwananzi, spokesman for social media group Tajamuka (We refuse) on charges of public violence. Mkwananzi was freed on $300 bail on Monday.

Mugabe, Africa's oldest leader at 92, has led the former British colony since independence in 1980.

Reuters

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