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BY REJOICE NCUBE BULAWAYO- BASED gospel artiste Sipho Snowy Ncube has said she will be releasing a video of his latest song
The post Byo gospel artiste on my heart is yours visuals appeared first on NewsDay Zimbabwe.
Nationwide protests have taken place since October 7 despite the disbanding of the controversial Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) police unit.
The demonstrators have been accused of attacking police stations and personnel.
The rallies which are mostly attended by young people have become avenues to vent against corruption and unemployment.
Rights groups say at least 15 people have been killed the demonstrations began in early October.
JOHN 14:27 (NLT) I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid. EXPLANATION: Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt and other forces are at war within us. The peace of God moves into our hearts and offer […]
By Adrian Tonon, Jabari Jefferson and Andre Reed On Detroit’s west side, I was raised around my family’s restaurant, Rina’s Pizzeria, and later Café | Cortina which still exists today. The long workdays and genuine hospitality guided and molded my adolescence into adulthood. In my twenties and thirties, I utilized the table to gather like-minded … Continued
The post After-H(ours) - After-H(ours) - Access, Equity, and Opportunity in a 24-hour Economy appeared first on The Michigan Chronicle.
Candidates in the special election for the U.S. Senate seat held by Georgia Republican Kelly Loeffler squared off in their first debate Monday afternoon. Loeffler faces a large field of opponents including Democrat Raphael Warnock and fellow Republican Doug Collins in a race for the seat she was appointed to 10 months ago. The debate was being held virtually, with […]
Actress and singer Amber Riley shared that her current relationship wouldn't have been possible if she didn't make the first move. Meet her handsome boyfriend, Desean.
Suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels freed more than 1,300 prisoners in an assault on a jail in Beni, eastern Democratic Republic Congo.
Only about 100 prisoners after the attack on Kagbayi prison on Tuesday morning.
The ADF are a Ugandan rebel group with bases in eastern Congo.
\"We had a count before the escape of 1,456 (prisoners), 110 (of them) stayed and I thank them for that. Some 20 (escapees) have already returned and I know that others are on their way back. We'll do a tally, and work out how many have come back\", said Modeste Bakwanamaha, the mayor of Beni.
Kagbayi prison is used to hold errant army soldiers and militiamen captured in fighting, including some from the ADF.
Jail breaks are common in Congo where conditions in detention facilities are said to be very bad.
Amnesty International said late Tuesday there was “credible but disturbing evidence” that security forces in the megacity of Lagos had fatally shot protesters who were demonstrating against police brutality despite a new curfew going into effect.
The Lagos state commissioner for information, Gbenga Omotoso, said in a statement Tuesday night only that “there have been reports of shooting at the Lekki Toll Plaza following the 24-hour curfew imposed on Lagos.”
“The state government has ordered an investigation into the incident,” he said.
Video shown on Nigeria’s Channels Television appeared to capture audio of live rounds being fired at the scene.
“While we continue to investigate the killings, Amnesty International wishes to remind the authorities that under international law, security forces may only resort to the use of lethal force when strictly unavoidable to protect against imminent threat of death or serious injury,” Amnesty tweeted.
The development came just hours after Lagos state Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu warned on Twitter that the growing protests against police brutality in Nigeria had “degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society.”
A police statement also had warned that security forces would now “exercise the full powers of the law to prevent any further attempt on lives and property of citizens.”
The reports of fatal shootings in Lekki come after two chaotic weeks of mounting protests leading to more widespread social unrest. On Tuesday, authorities said nearly 2,000 inmates had broken out of jail after crowds attacked two correctional facilities a day earlier.
The Inspector-General of Police said it was deploying anti-riot police across Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous nation, and ordered forces to strengthen security around correctional facilities.
The governor of Lagos state said the new curfew would cover the entire city of some 14 million people and surrounding areas. The announcement came after a police station was burned down in the city and two people were shot dead by police.
“Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem on our state,” the governor said.
Lagos has been the epicenter of the protests, with demonstrators at times blocking access to the airport and barricading roads leading to the country’s main ports.
A curfew also went into effect in Benin City after a pair of attacks on correctional facilities that left 1,993 inmates missing. Interior Ministry spokesman Mohammed Manga said large, armed crowds had attacked the two prisons, subduing the guards on duty. It was unclear what the prisons’ exact populations had been before the attack.
“Most of the inmates held at the centers are convicted criminals serving terms for various criminal offenses, awaiting execution or standing trial for violent crimes,” he said in a statement.
The protests began two weeks ago after a video circulated showing a man being beaten, apparently by police officers of
By Nhau Mangirazi FINANCE minister Mthuli Ncube has been urged to double the allocation of devolution funds to 10% of the national budget as stipulated in the Constitution as compared to the current 5%. The issue came out last week in Karoi during public hearings on the 2021 national budget by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget and Finance led by acting chairperson Goodlucky Kwaramba. The residents said the current 5% allocation was not enough to fund devolution. They suggested that the allocation should be doubled in order to improve service delivery which is a challenge in most local authorities. Their concerns come at a time people in Matabeleland have been clamouring for devolution to be adequately funded. Councils have also struggled to get the 5% allocation stipulated in the Constitution from central government. Bennedet Marengwa said: “We call upon the Treasury to increase devolution funds to at least 10% so that projects set aside for development can be completed on time. As much as we welcome these funds they must also cater for water and sanitation programmes that enhance access to clean water as part of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that the country aims to achieve globally.” Karoi Town Council chairperson Abel Matsika added: “These national budget consultations must be done on time so that if the devolution funds are pegged at the suggested 10%, councils will be able to plan their own budgets with this in mind. We need to move on the same wavelength with the national budget outcomes.” He said the government should consider making foreign currency part of the devolution funds. “I suggest that part of the money must be in foreign currency to make it easy for local authorities to purchase machinery, including equipment for roads as well as water treatment chemicals that are pegged in foreign currency. This will help in accessibility of clean water and improved service delivery in our communities,” Matsika said. Philemon Chiripanyanga, the Karoi district information officer, blasted some local authorities for diverting funds to projects that were not part of the central government thrust on development. “As much as these councils are asking for increased devolution funds, firstly, are they accountable to the same government that is giving them the funds? Do they even consult residents who have the right to know what must be done with these funds? We also challenge these local authorities to give feedback on what these funds have been used for as accountability and transparency is lacking on these public funds,” Chiripanyanga said. Stewart Jena said allocated funds should be disbursed on time, adding: “These devolution funds are disbursed late and with the current inflation rate, some projects then increase in value and hence the failure to achieve some goals set for development in some councils.”
By NQOBANI NDLOVU AN information communication technology (ICT) master plan to be called SMART Zimbabwe 2030 is on the cards and is expected to solve connectivity problems at schools in Matabeleland and other provinces in the country in order to bridge the ICT gap between rural and urban communities. This was revealed by ICT minister Jenfan Musvere last Thursday during the official opening of a community information centre (CIC) at Bulu Secondary School in Plumtree, Matabeleland South. The SMART Zimbabwe 2030 master plan, seeks, among other things, to exploit the potential of ICTs in the country, and will complement the Zimbabwe National Policy on ICTs of 2016. “The Master plan, once fully rolled out, will completely transform government processes, services and management, and make information access and service delivery more efficient,” Muswere said. “Again, the master plan, with the flagship projects to pilot its implementation, will steer the march towards the digital future that will transform the country to a regional technical hub, raise the country’s competitiveness and align the country in line with vision 2030’s ICT goals. “The ICT 2016-20 policy articulates the aim of providing connectivity in all schools in order to bridge the urban–rural digital divide, and to enhance teaching and learning through the use of technology,” he said. Postal and Telecommunications Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) director-general Gift Machengete said the Bulu secondary school CIC was modelled using the Connect a School-Connect a Community concept. “Arrangements can be made for community members to use the facility in the same manner as they would basic CICs without disrupting studies at the school,” Machengete said. The telecommunications regulatory authority is setting up CIC through the Universal Services Fund (USF) to ensure that ICTs are extended to marginalised members of the communities in Zimbabwe to bridge the digital divide. “Such projects aimed at advancing ICT access and use in rural and marginalised areas are essential for national development…initiatives such as the Bulu High School Computer Laboratory project which is strategic in ensuring the digital divide is bridged and everyone is at par in the digital economy,” he said. Potraz has so far established 12 CICs in Matabeleland South province.
In a deal that many more than likely did not see coming, the National Football League and Tommy Hilfiger signed a multi-year partnership and have unveiled the fruits of its first capsule collection.
Lena Waithe teams up with The North Face to lead the charge on advocating for change in the outdoor space for communities of color.
Smoke was billowing from a Lagos prison and gunshots were heard on Thursday as fresh unrest rocks Nigeria's biggest city after the shooting of protesters.
Police close to the scene told AFP that assailants had attacked the detention facility in the upscale Ikoyi neighbourhood.
A curfew is underway in Lagos after security forces shot at protesters on Tuesday. Amnesty International said at least 12 people were killed in the unrest.
The international community, including the African Union, has condemned the violence.
Nigeria's army said the shootings were \"fake news\".
Police Minister Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi told the BBC that troops were not ordered to open fire on protesters.
\"I cannot say who is involved in the shooting... definitely not the police. Soldiers have already spoken about this, they are denying their involvement,\" he said.
President Buhari has yet to comment publically while Nigeria's vice-president has promised justice for victims.
Yemi Osinbajo said his \"heart goes out\" to the victims of the shooting as well as policemen and others who have lost their lives in several days of turmoil in Africa's most populous country.
The protests started two weeks ago over brutality by the police's Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The protests quickly spiralled into broader demands for change as promises of reform failed to stem the anger and violence flared.
At least 56 people have died across the country since the demonstrations began, with about 38 killed nationwide on Tuesday alone, according to Amnesty.
By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Baseball Writer ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated as Cody Bellinger's drive soared deep into the Texas night. Bellinger flung his bat off to the side and strutted up the first-base line. All the way to the World Series. Bellinger hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the seventh inning, and the Dodgers advanced to the Fall Classic for the third time in four years by topping the Atlanta Braves 4-3 in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series on Sunday. 'This year is our year,' manager Dave Roberts said. Bellinger connected an inning […]
The post Bellinger HR sends Dodgers to 3rd World Series in 4 years appeared first on Black News Channel.
COMME des GARÇONS Adds Some Luxe Detailing To The Classic Air Force 1 Mid
… that tell the story of African American activism through sport.
With a … history.”
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is open …
Politics and Violence
A volatile presidential race with the current head of state Alassane Ouattara seeking a controversial third term saw mounting political tensions culminate in fatal ethnic clashes since Friday. Pascal Affi N'Guessan, President of the Ivorian Popular Front and current presidential candidate, addressed his supporters, \"This phase of civil disobedience aims to prevent the delivery and distribution of any election materials, prevent the display of election posters, prevent campaign rallies, prevent the distribution and collection of voter cards. To demonstrate in all forms, and by all appropriate means, opposition to the ongoing electoral coup d'état.\"
Civil Disobedience Leads to Belligerence
The clashes began Friday when young Affi N'Guessan supporters erected barricades on the roads, to express the opposition's slogan of \"active boycott\" of the \"electoral process\" to \"prevent the holding of any operation related to the election\" on October 31. In spite of the presence of the police force, numerous roadblocks held by young opposition supporters prevented traffic on the two roads leading to the prefecture.
As the main political opposition camps joined forces to denounce and boycott the current president’s perceived unconstitutional candidacy of the upcoming elections, supporters on both sides — often aligned by ethnicity with the Dioulas for Ouattara and the Agnis for Affi N'Guessan and Laurent Gbagbo, bumped heads in conflict in Broukro, a village on the outskirts of Bongouanou.
Presidential Candidate's Residence Set on Fire
According to local witnesses, the conflict saw many shops and restaurants looted and burnt, several cars set on fire and also resulted in at least 2 deaths — and even the burning down of the residence of the main opposition political candidate himself, Affi N'Guessan in Bongouanou was burned down.
In some areas, hundreds of pebbles, broken bottles and various objects, which were used as projectiles by both sides, littered the ground.
Both communities suffered losses and each side denied culpability.
Observers from the African Union and the Economic Comunity of West African States (ECOWAS) have said Guinea was conducted transparently, despite opposition claims of irregularities.
On Monday, opposition leader Cellou Diallo declared himself winner, saying his own tally gave him a first-round victory over president Alpha Conde.
Diallo’s claim was swiftly rejected by the electoral commission, which called it “premature” and “void”.
Addressing journalists in the capital, Conakry, Augustin Matata Ponyo, the AU’s head of mission in Guinea, said on Tuesday the ballot was held “in transparency”.
\"The elections were held in a transparent, secure, calm and peaceful environment, once again demonstrating the maturity of the Guinean people and political actors\", he asserted.
Tension is building in the country ahead of the release of official results. Diallo's supporters have held celebrations in the capital.
Francis Behanzin, ECOWAS' Peace and Security commissioner urged candidates \"to resort to legal avenues\" if they are aggrieved.
Tory Lanez decided to hop on Instagram Live Tuesday night (Oct.21) to tell his side of the story that saw Megan Thee Stallion suffer gunshot wounds to both of her feet. Megan Thee Stallion responds to his claims on Twitter.
By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — China's shaky economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic is gaining strength as consumers return to shopping malls and auto dealerships while the United States and Europe endure painful contractions. Growth in the world's second-largest economy accelerated to 4.9% over a year earlier in the three months ending in September, up from the previous quarter's 3.2%, official data showed Monday. Retail spending rebounded to above pre-virus levels for the first time and factory output rose, boosted by demand for exports of masks and other medical supplies. China is the only major economy […]
The post China's economy accelerates as virus recovery gains strength appeared first on Black News Channel.
Former Burundian President Pierre Buyoya, who is the current High Representative of the African Union for Mali and the Sahel, \"rejected\" Wednesday his conviction in absentia in Burundi to life imprisonment for the murder of his predecessor Melchior Ndadaye in 1993.
\"We reject these judgements, which can in no way commit us,\" a statement from him signed by co-defendants says.
\"Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the new government has just proved to the world that it follows this line of lawlessness,\" they said.
Melchior Ndadaye, Burundi's first democratically elected president and the first Hutu to come to power, was assassinated in October 1993 in a military coup that would lead the country into a civil war between the army, dominated by the Tutsi minority, and Hutu rebel groups. It will result in 300,000 deaths until 2006.
Mr. Ndadaye had succeeded Mr. Buyoya, carried by the army in power in 1987 and who became president again in a new coup between 1996 and 2003, before handing over power to Domitien Ndayizeye, a Hutu, under a peace agreement signed in 2000 in Arusha (Tanzania).
Mr. Buyoya was convicted of \"attack against the head of state, attack against the authority of the state and attack tending to bring about massacre and devastation\", according to the text which only contains the operative part (conviction and sentence) of the decision handed down by the Supreme Court.
The name of Pierre Buyoya had already been cited in connection with this assassination, without the beginning of any proof being provided.
Eighteen senior military and civilian officials close to the former head of state were sentenced to the same sentence, three others to 20 years in prison for \"complicity\" in the same crimes and only one, the former transitional Prime Minister, Antoine Nduwayo, was acquitted.
Only five defendants, four retired Tutsi high-ranking officers and a serving police general, Ildephonse Mushwabure, were present at the trial.
According to Mr. Buyoya, the trial was conducted \"in violation of the Arusha Accords\" and was neither \"fair\" nor \"equitable\" as the rights of the defence were allegedly violated.
guest column:Eness Paidamoyo Mutsvangwa-Sammie MANY countries in sub-Saharan Africa commit resources to promote agricultural innovations. This is based on the assumption that rural livelihoods are mainly agricultural and that the innovations will increase agricultural production and household income. As resources come under pressure from growing populations and natural resource degradation, governments and donors want to see that agricultural research and innovation has an impact. They want to see “success” and “value for money”. But success is understood in different ways. It depends on how it’s framed and by whom. Studying conflict in agricultural innovations can lead to a better understanding of the appropriateness of certain technologies in terms of how they are designed, promoted and how they are linked to rural livelihoods. Conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe provides a good example of an innovation like this. This approach to farming has been widely promoted by non-governmental organisations, research institutes and the State. It’s also promoted in other countries in eastern and southern Africa. The method is based on minimal soil disturbance, mulching soil with crop residue and crop rotation. These are meant to conserve moisture, reduce soil erosion and build up soil organic matter to improve crop yields and rural livelihoods. We wanted to know how this innovation was promoted and implemented in Zimbabwe and how its “success” was framed and assessed. Our study found that there were differences in how farmers and promoters of conservation agriculture defined its success. These differences matter when investments are made in promoting agricultural innovations. It’s particularly important to understand the diversity of rural livelihoods. The research Our study was conducted in Gwanda and Insiza districts in south western Zimbabwe. Droughts are a common feature in the area, occurring on average every two or three years. We collected data via a household questionnaire survey, interviews and focus group discussions. Participants included farmers, NGO and government extension officers. We found that innovation was understood by the majority of respondents as having three main attributes, namely, “novelty”, “adaptability” and “utility”. Despite novelty being mentioned more often than other understandings of innovation, some felt that it existed in theory and not practically. For example, a farmer said interventions promoted in their communities were not new but rather repackaged existing technologies with different names. Some were not suitable for the area. Conservation agriculture was identified as the innovation most often promoted by non-governmental organisations and government extension officers in the area. Huge investments were committed to promoting it — the Department for International Development set aside about US$23 million to promote it in Zimbabwe. Yet after the project’s three-year lifespan, farmers mostly abandoned the practice. The locals gave it the name “dhiga ufe”, which means “dig and die”, bec
More than 6 million households missed their rent or mortgage payments in September as the economic fallout from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic intensifies, a recent study found.
The Madagascan government announced on Sunday, the end of the state of health emergency which was introduced due to the (COVID-19) pandemic.
According the president Andry Rajoelina, the country had 96% recovery rate.
He attributed the recovery to some of the measures taken like the distribution of more than seven million doses of Covid-Organics distributed free of charge throughout the island.
Despite lifting the state of emergency, the reopening of the country's borders which was scheduled for October 29 has been postponed due to the increase in cases in other countries.
Nosy Be airport will remain open to countries not suffering from a second wave of the pandemic while International flights to mainland Madagascar remain completely suspended,
As of Monday, October 19 Madagascar recorded 238 deaths out of over 16,000 confirmed cases
Tech analyst John Prosser claimed that Apple is already working on the 120Hz display and that there is about a 50 percent chance that the iPhone 13 will feature a built-in fingerprint display. BUT, when it comes to the USB-C port, Prosser says that it's "not happening (ever)."
[Thomson Reuters Foundation] Mexico City -- We asked activists, academics and religious leaders how the pope's comments could affect the lives of LGBT+ Catholics
Guinea's opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo declared on Monday declared himself winner of Sunday's vote, defeating Alpha Conde, the incumbent president.
Speaking at a press conference in the capital Conakry a day after the hotly contested election, Diallo said he had emerged \"victorious\" despite \"anomalies which marred the ballot\".
\"I invite all my fellow citizens who love peace and justice to stay vigilant and committed to defend this democratic victory,\" the 68-year-old said, dressed in a sky-blue robe, from his party headquarters.
Outside the building, supporters erupted in joy and chanted \"Cellou, president\". Elsewhere in the city, security forces fired tear gas canisters at crowds assembling in support of Diallo.
Bakary Mansare, the vice-president of Guinea's electoral authority, told AFP that Diallo's self-proclaimed victory was \"null and void\".
\"It is not up to a candidate or a person to proclaim himself the winner outside the bodies defined by the law,\" he said.
Conde's RPG party also said in a statement Monday that it condemned \"with the utmost firmness the irresponsible and dangerous declaration\" by Diallo. It called for its activists to remain calm.
Diallo's announcement sets the stage for a showdown with the government, which insists that Sunday's vote was fair and that the official electoral authority must declare the results.
Signs of a looming electoral dispute began to appear during the vote, however, when Diallo told reporters that Conde could \"cheat\" his way to power.
'Chaos'
Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, a cadre in Diallo's UFDG party, said that results at individual polling states were public, enabling the party's own observers to conduct a count.
\"If we are the winners, we will defend our victory,\" he said. \"We won't wait.\"
Earlier on Monday, Guinea's government said in a statement that the opposition \"clearly intended to create chaos and to call into question the real results that will come out of the ballot box\".
Much of the tension in Guinea relates to President Conde's controversial bid for a third term.
He pushed through a new constitution in March which he argued would modernise the country. But it also allowed him to bypass a two-term limit for presidents, provoking mass protests.
Prime Minister Kassory Fofana said that the opposition publishing results ahead of the official results was tantamount to pouring \"oil on the fire\".
Second round
Guinea's acrimonious political campaign saw Conde and Diallo trade insults, and was marked by violent incidents in some parts of the west African country.
But it also raised the spectre of ethnic strife, with Conde accused of exploiting divisions for electoral ends - a charge he denies.
Guinea's politics are mainly drawn along ethnic lines: the president's base is mostly from the ethnic Malinke community and Diallo's from the Fulani people.
A second round of voting, if needed, is scheduled for November 24.
