News Africa Extended

News Africa Extended

Zambia braced for bruising election

Posted: 10 Aug 2016 07:17 PM PDT

Zambian President Edgar Lungu and his main rival - Hakainde Hichilema - are both confident of outright victory.

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Lusaka - Zambia braced for what is expected to be bruising battle on Thursday to elect a new president and legislators, contested against the backdrop of lethargic growth as weak commodity prices have hit Africa's second-biggest copper producer.

President Edgar Lungu and his main rival Hakainde Hichilema both have said they are confident of outright victory, but either could fail to garner more than half of the vote as required by electoral law, necessitating a second round.

After a campaign marred by violence, Lungu and Hichilema on Wednesday made their final plea for votes in the capital, Lusaka, each pledging to steer the economy onto a firmer footing.

“I have been on probation for one year, six months and I think I have done very well. I promise to serve you even better,” Lungu told thousands of supporters at his final rally, referring to last year's vote to replace late president Michael Sata in which he narrowly beat Hichilema.

“And I promise to respect the results and I will not fight even one day, to remain in State House. But I will not allow somebody to come to State House (through) violence or intimidation,” he added.

Tension running high

Supporters of Lungu's ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and Hichilema's United Party for National Development (UPND) have clashed in the run-up to the poll, forcing the electoral commission to temporarily suspend campaigning at one point.

Tensions are high in what is otherwise one of Africa's most stable democracies, as Zambians grapple with rising unemployment after mine closures, chronic electricity shortages and soaring prices of household goods.

Economist-turned-businessman Hichilema says Lungu, a former lawyer, lacks the expertise to manage the economy.

“The difference between PF and UPND is what we bring to the table, knowledge of the financial markets and economics,” Hichilema said on a radio programme on Wednesday. “We are business people. We understand the economy, this economy is broken.”

Zambia is in talks with the International Monetary Fund over a possible financing deal, after conceding its budget deficit, which has averaged 4.8 percent of gross domestic product in the last two years, was unsustainable.

Lungu insists the economic downturn was beyond his control given Zambia's heavy reliance on copper exports, but that his government has made strides in commissioning new power plants and investing in diversifying the economy toward sectors like agriculture.

To win, a presidential candidate will have to garner 50 percent of the valid votes cast plus at least one additional vote, and a re-run must be held within 37 days if no one succeeds.

Hichilema also says that with the police blocking several of his rallies and coverage by state media biased in favour of the ruling party, the election will not be free and fair. Lungu, however, insists the playing field has been level.

“The probability of a contested election result is growing, which would undermine the credibility of the vote and trigger more widespread partisan violence,” said Robert Besseling, head of the EXX Africa think tank.

REUTERS

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We know what happened to Itai Dzamara: brother

Posted: 10 Aug 2016 09:11 AM PDT

The brother of missing Zimbabwe activist Itai Dzamara said the family had no doubt in their minds that Itai was abducted by the government of President Robert Mugabe.

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Harare - Partson Dzamara, brother to missing Zimbabwe activist Itai Dzamara, has lashed out at authorities for failing to properly investigate the matter and reiterated their family’s belief that he was abducted by government forces.

Addressing a demonstration this week to mark 17 months after the disappearance of Itai, Partson said the family had no doubt in their minds that Itai was abducted by the government of President Robert Mugabe and called on him to account for his actions and those under his command.

Demonstrators at Africa Unity Square in the capital Harare, wary of the possible police retaliation, deployed young children armed with flowers and pancakes.

Anti-riot police retreated to their waiting trucks as the children approached them to hand over the flowers and the pancakes.

“Police have been harassing us for simply asking them to account for the disappearance of our brother but we want to believe that love will win this war for us, that is why we have brought these children,” Partson said.

“We are trying to demonstrate that we mean well and want to show our love for the police by having these children give them flowers.”

Jestina Mukoko, an activist who was also abducted and kept incommunicado for two months, said it was painful for children to just wake up one day and find themselves without a father because of other people.

“I have been through this, with the police denying any knowledge of my whereabouts, only for me to emerge from Matapi police station. If he (Itai) is dead, he must have died a very painful death because I know how brutal they are and what they do to inflict pain,” she said.

She said it was important for Itai’s family to know where he was, and whether he was dead or still alive, so that they could bring closure to his case.

“Someone has got to know that even in death we still deserve dignity and those who took Itai must account for their actions,” she said.

Former Zanu PF member, Acie Lumumba, who now leads the opposition VIVA party, said Zanu PF had become a terror organisation as it relied heavily on the use of violence and fear to achieve its political ends.

He said what had happened to Itai Dzamara should never happen to anyone again in the country.

African News Agency

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Mogadishu gets first US ambassador in over 25 years

Posted: 10 Aug 2016 06:25 AM PDT

The United States has appointed its first ambassador to Somalia since the closing its embassy following the overthrow of Mohamed Said Barre’s regime in 1991.

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Johannesburg - The relationship between the United States and Somalia has switched into top gear following the arrival of the first American Ambassador to Somalia in over 25 years.

Relations between the two countries collapsed in 1991 after the US closed its embassy following the overthrow of Mohamed Said Barre’s regime as violence erupted between warring clans and militias.

In 1992 George H W Bush sent US troops into the capital Mogadishu to support a UN mission to avert mass starvation.

However, the shooting down of an American Black Hawk helicopter and the killing of 18 American soldiers, with some of their bodies mutilated and dragged through the streets of the capital by rebels, marked the nadir in the relationship between the two countries, culminating in the withdrawal of US troops the following year.

On Tuesday, US Ambassador Stephen Schwartz, met with Somali Foreign Affairs Minister Abdisalam Omar Hadliye and presented his credentials to the Somali government.

In an interview with the African News Agency (ANA) on Wednesday morning, Somali Ambassador to South Africa, Jamal Mohamed Barrow said the arrival of Schwartz, who will help in trying to stabilise Somalia, was a significant development.

“The appointment of the new US Ambassador is vitally important for Somalia diplomatically,” said Barrow.

“It signals that Somalia has returned into the arena of international politics and it is also an indicator of the improving security situation in the country,” Barrow told ANA.

“The reopening of the US embassy in Somalia after 25 years will enable the Somali government and its people to get American support in terms of security, politics and humanitarian aid.

“Previously this aid was channelled indirectly through other agencies, including the United Nations and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs),” said Barrow.

The new relationship between the US and Somalia will also enable the war-torn country to once again stand on its own feet economically, politically and socially, added the ambassador.

“Furthermore, this positive development will enable the large Somali community living in exile in the US to return home voluntarily, thereby investing in the country economically and intellectually,” said Barrow.

Prior to the collapse of Somalia’s central government in 1991, Washington had funded numerous large-scale development projects.

Barrow said he was hopeful that these projects would be reactivated in the near future in order to contribute to the country’s economic development.

“In regards to Somalia’s fight against terrorism, the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with the US will also involve the two countries organising strategically in counter-terrorism operations in the most efficient and effective way possible,” said Barrow.

Schwartz, meanwhile, praised Somalia’s progress over the last eight years and urged Somali leaders to deepen their commitment to improving the lives of Somali people, including women and youth, according to a statement from the Somali Foreign Ministry.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday praised Somali preparations for upcoming presidential elections, following the announcement of a new timetable for these by the Somali Federal Electoral Implementation Team (FEIT) that set October 30 as the date for presidential elections.

Africa News Agency

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Body found in search for missing Burundian journalist

Posted: 10 Aug 2016 03:01 AM PDT

Two decomposed bodies have been discovered in the part of Burundi where a journalist Jean Bigirimana disappeared.

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Bujumbura - Two decomposed bodies have been discovered in the Mubarazi River in the part of Burundi where Iwacu Group Press journalist Jean Bigirimana disappeared two weeks ago.

The bodies, thought to be of men, were found in Bugarama commune, in the province of Muramvya, 30 kilometres from the capital Bujumbura.

The second body was discovered on Tuesday evening when a team comprising the National Commission for Human Rights (CNIDH) personnel, the civil protection police and intelligence services went to the river to try to identity the first body.

The first body was discovered there on Sunday by Iwacu Group Press reporters, who were looking for their missing colleague.

The discoveries were made between the Gatamera and Nyabisiga zones, which are uninhabited.

The area is not easily accessible, being wedged between two steep small mountains.

The team finally decided to cancel the identification mission when it became dark.

"The mission will continue on Wednesday morning," said a spokesperson for the CNIDH.

A week ago, inhabitants of the two zones living near the Mubarazi River told Iwacu Group Press reporters they heard gun shots coming from the direction of the river in the night. This raised suspicion that Bigirimana had been killed that night.

Iwacu Group Press reporters found the first body and then asked CNIDH to help to identify it.

Bigirimana disappeared on July 22.

According to anonymous sources he was arrested by state agents of local intelligence. But both the local and national intelligence have denied this.

African News Agency

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