News Africa Extended

News Africa Extended

Togo official slates inaccurate piracy statistics

Posted: 11 Oct 2016 11:44 PM PDT

A Togo official has criticised maritime insurance companies, saying piracy statistics include many false alarms.

|||

Lome - A Togo official criticised maritime insurance companies here on Tuesday for inaccurate statistics on piracy, which include many false alarms.

During an expert debate on the fight against piracy and trafficking, Rear Admiral Fogan Adegnon, Togo's general director of the Port of Lome, said "statistical data on maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea are still to be checked".

The debate is a side-event of the ongoing African Union summit, which aims to adopt a common strategy for the fight against maritime insecurity, illegal fishery in Africa and for blue economy development on the continent.

"It is true that piracy acts are decreasing in the Gulf of Guinea," Adegnon said.

Many of the figures on piracy are false alarms given by vessels laid up in the Gulf of Guinea, especially in the waters of Togo. Leftovers from the laid-up vessels made their vicinity fish-rich, which attracted local fishermen. At the sight of fishing motor boats, some vessels issued warnings of piracy but never took the trouble to correct their false alarms.

The wrong data were never corrected, said Takougnadi Nayo, chief of staff of the Togolese Navy.

Figures on maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea show 47 acts recorded in 2013, 33 in 2014, 29 in 2015 and 19 in 2016 up till now.

Xinhua

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Pastor petitions pope to excommunicate Mugabe

Posted: 11 Oct 2016 07:24 PM PDT

Zimbabwean pastor Phillip Mugadza wants Pope Francis to excommunicate Robert Mugabe for running down Harare’s economy.

|||

Harare - A Zimbabwean pastor on Tuesday petitioned the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, to excommunicate President Robert Mugabe for running down the country’s economy and exposing the country’s citizens to poverty.

Pastor Phillip Mugadza, who first made headlines in December last year when he was arrested for staging a one-man demonstration against Mugabe at the Zanu-PF conference in Victoria Falls, handed in the petition at the Catholic Nunciature in Zimbabwe.

The petition was handed over to Father Gabriel Pesce, the secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Zimbabwe. The Catholic Nunciature is like an embassy representing the pope in the country.

“We of the above-mentioned nation hereby hand you this petition asking you to excommunicate the president of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Robert Gabriel Mugabe. The nation and its peace-loving people have been subjected to poverty of unimaginable levels when Zimbabwe is endowed with all minerals discovered so far,” read part of the petition.

The petition noted that since Mugabe called himself a Catholic, it was only proper for Zimbabweans to petition the pope to help the country before the ageing leader carried out his threats to crush all dissenting voices.

“We so very much Your Holiness beg for your intervention. We are so very much aware of how you are so compassionate about the oppressed and the suffering. According to Romans 13:4, a leader is a representative of God here on Earth, but according to the given account, there is no proof of godly representation in his leadership,” the petition read.

Mugadza later told journalists after handing over the petition that it was his hope that the pope would see sense in the petition and take action.

“I handed over the petition to Father Gabriel Pesce who is the secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Harare. I strongly believe that if they take heed to this petition then the pope will do the right thing because the nation of Zimbabwe is going through a very difficult time,” he said.

He said Zimbabwean pastors could no longer stand and watch things going wrong in the county and had to demand good governance, adding that what was happening in the country was too ghastly to narrate to future children and should immediately be addressed.

“If our president was 29 years then there was a bit of hope, but being 92 years old shows us that there is no more hope, so we need to tell him that in no uncertain terms he should retire, it is time for him to go. I just want to urge the nation of Zimbabwe to make sure that in their little ways they try to send a message to say that he has got to go,” he said.

Mugadza urged Zimbabweans to demonstrate for seven consecutive days next week to demand the exit of Mugabe in any way they could.

“I am suggesting that with our national radio and television stations wherever you could be if you know there’s going to be a live call in, just make a call; whatever will be discussed there don’t worry about it. Just make a call on national television and just begin to say that Mugabe must go,” he said.

He said he would continue to don his national flag wherever he was despite the purported ban on carrying, selling or displaying the national flag.

AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Zuma takes S Sudan rebel leader to task

Posted: 11 Oct 2016 12:58 PM PDT

President Zuma slammed South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar for calling for an armed struggle against the government of President Salva Kiir.

|||

Nairobi – South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday slammed South Sudan’s rebel leader, Riek Machar, for calling for an armed struggle against the government of his arch-rival, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir.

Zuma’s ANC has historical ties with South Sudan’s ruling SPLM party which split when Kiir and his then deputy Machar had a power struggle in December 2013, plunging the country into a bloody civil war.

“There is absolutely no need for fighting. Further fighting will only exacerbate the human suffering in South Sudan. We call on Dr Machar to return to Juba and participate in the transitional government,” Zuma at a joint news conference with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi on Tuesday.

Kenyatta, who has been mediating the conflict, did not address the issue at the news conference, but Zuma’s statement reflected their closed-door meeting, officials said.

When the two leaders were asked if they were going to freeze the assets and impose sanctions on South Sudan’s rebel leaders who are causing violence in their country from their lavish homes abroad, they never answered the question.

The South African government has a memorandum of understanding for closer co-operation with the Government of South Sudan.

Zuma and Kenyatta said they addressed issues “related to peace and security in the continent.”

“We expressed our grave concern about the ongoing conflict in these sister countries which affect the entire region. We urge the government and the people of Burundi to step up the national dialogue process… We condemn the recent call by SPLM-In-Opposition, under Riek Machar, for a popular armed resistance against the government in Juba. On the DRC we urge all stakeholders to participate in the national dialogue process,” said Zuma.

Zuma also addressed the instability in Somalia, but he did not touch on the civil strife that has thrown Ethiopia into a state of emergency.

African News Agency

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Kenya nabs four suspects linked to al-Shabaab

Posted: 11 Oct 2016 11:20 AM PDT

Four terror suspects linked to the Al-Shabaab and the Islamic State militants were arrested in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa.

|||

Mombasa - Kenyan police on Tuesday arrested four terror suspects linked to the Al-Shabaab and the Islamic State (IS) militants in the coastal city of Mombasa.

The four, Ali Musa, Hamisi Hakumu, Yassin Ahmed and Mwinyi Hamisi were arrested by special unit of anti-terrorism police unit and special crime prevention unit. The suspects were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Julius Nang'ea but were not allowed to take plea after police requested for more days to complete investigation.

The court granted police three days to detain the suspects at port police station in Mombasa. “They are facing serious charges that pose serious threat to state security, so I hereby order the suspect be detained in police custody for three more days, at port police station,” said Nang'ea.

The four are being represented by lawyer Chacha Mwita.

According to reports, the four were arrested in the on going counter terrorism operation being conducted in Mombasa and Nairobi.

At least nine suspects linked to the IS have been arrested in the country recently including a doctor and intern doctors in the coastal town of Malindi. Reports indicate the doctor had recruited several intern medical students in Malindi and Nairobi through the social media. “We suspect he was recruiting more students to travel to Somalia and to Syria to join the IS group,” said a senior anti-terrorism police officer who is the lead investigator.

Meanwhile, Mombasa police boss Peterson Maelo said the security apparatus are working with foreign agents to apprehend individuals behind IS network in the country. “We have heightened intelligence gathering, to deal with emerging threat posed by IS group by working with different agents in gathering intelligence reports,” said Maelo on Friday.

ANA - Xinhua

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Nigerian parliament to probe judges’ arrest

Posted: 11 Oct 2016 11:18 AM PDT

The Nigerian House of Representatives resolved to set up a committee to investigate the Department of State Service over arrest of seven judges.

|||

Lagos - The Nigerian House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the Department of State Service (DSS) over arrest of seven judges in some states across the country.

Kingsley Chinda, a parliament member, made the call in a motion, which was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.

Chinda had in the motion expressed concern over the action of the arrest of the judges by the security operatives, saying that it was an invasion and a violation of the law. He argued that section 53 sub-section 1 of the 1999 Constitution as amended clearly stated the principles of separation powers. He recalled similar actions by the DSS in previous times, which had brought to question the statutory functions of the DSS.

The lawmaker said if the activities of the security agency were not checked, the nation's democracy may be tempered with. “The essence of the investigation which I am urging the house to carry out is to state clearly where the DSS derives its powers to prosecute on matters bordering on corruption,” he added.

The House announced that the ad hoc committee would be constituted immediately to investigate the matter and report back within six weeks.

Meanwhile, the Senate urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call all security agencies to order and direct the full observance of the rule of law in the discharge of their duties. The call came after deliberation of a motion by Senator Joshua Lidani, condemning the action of the Department of State Service in the arrest of some judges across the country last weekend.

DSS operatives had in the early hours of Saturday, arrested Justice John Okoro and Justice Sylvester Nguta, both of the Supreme Court. Also arrested was a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Innocent Umezulike, Justice Namdi Dimgba and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja. Others were Justice Kabiru Auta from Kano judiciary and Muazu Pindiga of Federal High Court, Gombe. The judges were, however, released on bail late Sunday on self-recognition.

ANA - Xinhua

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Zimbabwe's street vendors turn on the style

Posted: 11 Oct 2016 11:00 AM PDT

Joblessness has forced many to Zimbabweans to take to the streets, selling anything from medicines to car parts. A good gimmick can help...

|||

Harare - In his three-piece suit, matching hat and bow tie, Farai Mushayademo could easily pass for a celebrity musician " if only his job didn't involve dodging cars at a busy intersection in Harare, selling bottled water and potato chips to passing motorists.

Mushayademo's distinctive dress sense, with a different shiny suit every day, makes him a darling of customers and helps him beat the "rising competition", he said.

Massive joblessness has forced many to flood the streets, where they hawk anything from medicines to car parts. A good gimmick can help a vendor stand out from the crowd.

While such scenes are common throughout Africa, they are unusual in Zimbabwe, where vendors once were found only at legally designated stalls. Now, as the economy plunges, such order is breaking down.

Sidewalks in Harare and other cities and towns are hardly passable for pedestrians due to the high volume of vendors. Some plunge into the streets to target motorists.

"The suits are part of my marketing strategy," Mushayademo said.

"Vendors are associated with shabbiness, but people want to buy food from someone who is smartly dressed," said the 35-year-old father of three, a tailor by profession. Tailors have been hit hard because of an influx of secondhand clothes smuggled from neighboring Mozambique that sell for as little as $1.

Zimbabwe's official unemployment rate is 11 percent, according to the country's statistics agency,

This country's longtime leader, President Robert Mugabe, had promised to create 2.2 million jobs in five years during his 2013 election campaign. That hasn't happened.

With the growing population of street vendors, some get creative to get ahead.

Tired of shouting to market their wares, some have recorded sales pitches that they blast repeatedly over speakers, creating a chaotic buzz throughout Harare's downtown area.

Others turn to performing.

"My antics are meant to cultivate a personal relationship with customers," said Gilbert Mundicha, who sells mobile phone airtime vouchers on a street in a wealthy, multi-racial suburb. He dances, makes military salutes and greets nearly every passing motorist while mimicking what he described as a "British accent."

Motorists love him for it, and he appears to have built a loyal customer base. Some stop their cars to buy specifically from him. Others roll down their windows to greet him by name.

"Business is good," Mundicha said.

The brashness of some street vendors has drawn the attention of established businesses, which are moving in to maximize their own marketing.

Mundicha was wearing a T-shirt branded with the logo of a popular radio station. He said marketing people often gave him their branded T-shirts to wear.

Mushayademo, whose trademark is his three-piece suits, last month appeared in an issue of a leading clothing chain's in-store magazine.

"I am looking for an agent. I can be a successful fashion model," he said.

His eyes darted around for signs of both customers and the police, whose running battles with street vendors in a bid to clean up what was once one of Africa's cleanest cities recently involved firing tear gas.

AP

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Kenyan pilots call strike to demand change

Posted: 11 Oct 2016 04:24 AM PDT

A major Kenyan pilots' union has called for an indefinite strike to protest what it describes as poor management.

|||

Nairobi - A major Kenyan pilots' union has called for an indefinite strike beginning October 18 to protest what it described as poor management at the troubled national carrier Kenya Airways, the union's general secretary said on Tuesday.

"We have no confidence in the airline's recovery," said a circular from Captain Paul Gichinga, the head of the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA).

"KALPA's members will from 5am (local time) Tuesday 18th of October down their tools until a comprehensive change of guard at Kenya Airways is effected."

No one from Kenya Airways was immediately available for comment.

Last month Kenya Airways, which is 27 percent-owned by Air France KLM, said it was seeking foreign institutional investors to raise cash. The company has said it needs about 70 billion shillings ($692 million).

Kenya Airways has been cutting and modernising its fleet, selling land and cutting jobs to recover from losses caused by a slump in tourism.

Reuters

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

We will have a showdown - Kagame

Posted: 11 Oct 2016 12:22 AM PDT

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has scoffed at a French bid to reopen their probe into the 1994 assassination of Juvenal Habyarimana.

|||

Kigali - Rwandan President Paul Kagame scoffed on Monday at French investigators' bid to reopen their probe into the 1994 assassination of former Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana.

On April 6, 1994, a French-crewed plane carrying Habyarimana was shot down by a missile. His assassination ignited ethnic tensions and helped spark the Rwandan genocide in which about 1 million people were killed in 100 days.

In 2006, French investigators implicated several Rwandan officials and issued arrest warrants for several army officers, prompting a diplomatic row, in which Rwanda cut off its diplomatic ties with France.

In 2008, after a two-year investigation, Rwanda accused 33 French political and military officials, including former Prime Minister Dominic de Villepin and the late President Francois Mitterand, of playing an active role in the Rwandan genocide. France dismissed the accusation as "unacceptable."

In 2014, the case was closed as French judges countered the earlier report that blamed Rwandan officers for the assassination.

However, media reports last week said French investigators want to reopen the case and question Rwandan dissidents, including Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa who served as the chief of army staff between 1994 and 2004, and is now living in exile in South Africa.

"If starting all over again is a showdown, then we will have a showdown," Kagame said at the opening of the 2016/17 new judicial year.

"After investigating the case for two years, not finding anything, they want to start all over again. I have no problem with that. I have to remind some people that the judicial system of Rwanda is not subordinate to France or French interests," Kagame said.

"France should be the one being tried for the genocide, not anybody in Rwanda and not Rwandans," he added.

Kagame suggested the French embassy in Kigali be closed again.

Xinhua

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now