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Central Africans in Bangui express hopes and concerns about the draft of a new Constitution. Undecided voters still have a few days left before casting their ballot on July 30. The campaign is set to end on July 28.
South Africa is one of the hardest-hit countries in Africa with over 740,000 infections.
The country recorded 60 more virus-related deaths on Wednesday, bringing the death toll to 20,011.
The alleged financier of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, Felicien Kabuga, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday as he made his first appearance at a UN court after a quarter of a century on the run.
Once one of Rwanda's richest men, Kabuga allegedly helped set up hate media that urged ethnic Hutus to \"kill the Tutsi cockroaches\" and funded militia groups.
Now in his 80s, he was arrested in France in May and transferred to the court in The Hague in October to face charges of a key role in the killing of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
The frail Kabuga sat in a wheelchair behind a glass screen in the courtroom, wearing a coronavirus mask. A court official helped him adjust his headphones.
His defense lawyer Emmanuel Altit said Kabuga was \"very tired\" and \"preferred not to speak\" when asked by judge Iain Bonomy if the former businessman wanted to enter a plea.
\"Given the situation, I would be grateful if you could consider this lack of response as a plea of not guilty on all the counts, under the rules and procedures,\" Altit told the court.
Kabuga, who until his arrest near Paris was one of the world's most wanted men, had already denied the charges in his court appearances in France.
The Rwandan faces seven counts including genocide, incitement to genocide, extermination, and persecution.
The UN court will later decide if he will be transferred to its branch in Tanzania for trial.
'Contributed to deaths'
The UN says 800,000 people were murdered in a 100-day rampage that began in April 1994 in Rwanda, in scenes of horror that shocked the world.
An ally of Rwanda's then-ruling party, Kabuga allegedly helped create the Interahamwe Hutu militia group and the Radio-Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), whose broadcasts incited people to murder.
The lengthy indictment, read out by a court official, said that \"RTLM broadcasts contributed to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of persons identified as Tutsi civilians.\"
The radio station also identified the hiding places of Tutsis where they were later killed, it said.
Kabuga controlled and encouraged the station's content, failed to stop the broadcasts, and defended it when the minister of information criticized the broadcasts, the indictment said.
He is also accused of helping to buy machetes that were distributed to militias and ordering them to kill Tutsis.
Kabuga spent years on the run using a succession of false passports, with investigators saying that he had been helped by a network of former Rwandan allies to evade justice.
Following his arrest in a small apartment near Paris, his lawyers argued that Kabuga -- who says he is aged 87 but according to the arrest warrant is 84 - should face trial in France for health reasons.
But France's top court ruled he should be moved to UN custody on a warrant issued in 1997 by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).
Kabuga was initially to be transferred to the UN court's facility in Arusha, Tanzania, which took over the ICTR's duties when it formally closed in 2015.
But a UN
A MUTARE man lost his vehicle and some belongings to two machete-wielding robbers who pounced on him last Friday. BY KENNETH NYANGANI Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa yesterday confirmed the incident to NewsDay. He said on November 6 at around 4pm, the complainant, Marshal Jujuwa, was at Dangamvura bus terminus in Mutare when he was approached by two unknown persons who requested to hire his vehicle. The two said they wanted him to take them to Zimunya township claiming they wanted to consult a prophet there. At around 6pm when they were in Zimunya at a secluded place, the two produced a machete and threatened to kill Jujuwa. They tied his legs with electric cables and gagged him with insulation tape. The robbers then took his money and other belongings and drove off. The complainant untied himself before making a police report. The assailants are still on the run. Follow Kenneth on Twitter @KennethNyangan1
THERE is much debate about the 2020 US elections. However, there are neither cogent arguments nor consistent scientific analysis that explain what is going on. This article seeks to cut through the noise and bring rationality and reason to the discourse. GUEST COLUMNIST: AUTHOR. G. O. MUTAMBARA A new electoral system In their national efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the November 2020 electoral process, the United States, through its various States, introduced a new electoral system with the following provisions: Postal ballot voting for anyone who wants to use it; Early in-person voting for anyone who wants to do so; Election day, in-person voting. This contrasts with the old system: Election day, in-person voting (as the primary electoral method); Postal ballot voting for a few who apply and justify; Early in-person voting; only for a few exceptional cases. Although the new electoral system was put in place to mitigate COVID-19, it presents different and better voting opportunities to citizens than the old system. It is not equivalent to the old system. Why do we say this? The new system makes it easier and less onerous for a citizen to cast a vote. The new system leads to a higher turnout for every candidate who embraces it. For purposes of illustration, if a candidate has 100 supporters, under the old system, we can assume 60 will vote, whereas under the new system the number will increase say to 80. There are various reasons why supporters do not cast their votes. Under the new system, those reasons are reduced, hence the increased turnout. Another impact of the new electoral system was to remove voting logistical constraints experienced in some constituencies such as few polling stations, prohibitive documentation requirements, and other voter suppression shenanigans. The new system radically enabled the voter. Trump’s strategic error Donald Trump did not embrace the new system, while Joe Biden did. Trump's wrong assumption was that all his supporters would show up on election day, November 3, 2020. He did not understand that the new system has the potential to affect the turnout for every candidate. Biden and the Democrats whole-heartedly embraced the new system and mobilised their supporters to take advantage of postal votes and early in-person voting. In some cases, Trump did the opposite by casting aspersion about the new system, thus discouraging his supporters from utilising postal voting and early in-person voting. This was disastrous. Trump practised voter suppression against himself. If he did not like the new system, he had two options: Launch legal challenges at the state level to stop the new system in all the states, way before the election date. Of course, this was not going to succeed because the states have the power to run elections in the United States. The Federal Government has no role. Having failed to stop the new system, Trump should have embraced it and encouraged his supporters to utilise it maximally. He did not exercise either of these two opti
BY KENNEDY NYAVAYA THE burial of the late fitness trainer-cum-model Michelle “Moana” Amuli could be delayed for about two weeks as the family has to follow a lengthy Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) testing process to verify her remains after she was burnt beyond recognition in a freak accident on Sunday morning. The 26-year-old video vixen was in the company of controversial businessman Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure whose Rolls-Royce Wraith II vehicle collided head-on with a Honda Fit along Borrowdale Road, Harare, while driving back to his Domboshava home. They were coming from Moana’s birthday party that was held at Ginimbi’s Club Dreams, formerly Sankayi in Harare’s avenues area. Also in the car was Limumba Karim, believed to be from Malawi and Alichia Adams believed to be from Mozambique who both perished in the accident. In an interview with NewsDay Life & Style yesterday, at the deceased's home in Highfield, Moana’s sister and family spokesperson Tatenda said the funeral arrangements had been thrown into disarray as her sister’s remains were holed up at Doves Funeral Parlour in Harare, awaiting DNA test results from Parirenyatwa. “We thought the body that we saw the day before yesterday (Sunday) was the one, but it was not. So today (yesterday) they refused to do another post-mortem, saying they will need to do DNAs tests which means that we have to wait two weeks,” she said. “We appealed for the process to be quickened and they promised to call us today (yesterday) to let us know if they can reconsider.” A family friend, only identified as Mai Karara pleaded with Moana’s influential friends to assist to speed up the DNA tests. “We have known her (Moana) since she was a child, the DNA process is too long and we cannot wait for weeks as it is too much time to mourn. I am, therefore, pleading with her friends, whoever she used to hang around with including all the famous people, so they can come and assist us to identify the body for her to rest,” she said. “We are appealing to the whole of Zimbabwe to help. These children died in a painful manner. So we are pleading with anyone because her mother’s state now is not so good and for her to stay like this is not right.” Since the passing on of Moana there have been different narratives about her life with interviews with the father and mother shading more light about her. “Those who know her as a celeb, they know her in that capacity, but for us she never changed, she was friendly to everyone. This is why you see that even local peers are here because she embraced everyone even when she became rich,” a neighbour said. As a video vixen, Moana had featured in a number of videos among them Jah Prayzah’s Munyaradzi, Miridzo by Freeman, Takura’s Zvemoyo and Enzo Ishall’s Mwenje. Follow Kennedy on Twitter @ken_nyavaya
[Nation] The electoral commission wants to procure its ballot papers locally in what it said will be 10 times cheaper than getting them from abroad.
… .S. elect its first ever African-American President, Barack Obama. While the … on the deaths of unarmed African-Americans at the hands of law …
As Black people disproportionately suffer from Covid-19, there are lingering questions about the distribution process that will determine who gets the coronavirus vaccine first.
We have decided to extend the national state of disaster to 15 December, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his address to the nation on Wednesday night. Read his full speech.
By SEAN MURPHY and REBECCA BOONE Associated Press OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Celebrations marking Veterans Day gave way to somber virtual gatherings Wednesday, with many of the nation’s veterans homes barring visitors to protect their residents from the surging coronavirus that has killed thousands of former members of the U.S. military. Cemeteries decorated with American […]
Presidential inaugurations can be challenging in even the best conditions. Taking place in late January, the weather in DC is often numbingly cold. Large crowds of people clamoring to get near a stage isn't always fun. And this year, with a surge of Covid-19 cases, requirements for testing, and possible quarantines, will people even come? Judging by hotel bookings, the […]
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The S&P 500 is ticking closer toward its record in mixed trading on Wednesday, and this time big technology stocks are also rising on Wall Street. The benchmark index was up 0.4% in morning trading to climb within 0.5% of its all-time high set in September. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 53 points, or 0.2% , at 29,367, as of 10:24 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was gaining 1.4%. Enthusiasm about the economy's possible return to normal has vaulted stocks higher this week following encouraging, but […]
The post S&P 500 ticks closer to record, including Big Tech this time appeared first on Black News Channel.
Power. Respect. Finally. When Eric Sheffield first saw Joe Biden take the lead in the vote count in Georgia, the 52-year-old Black man immediately thought about all the years he spent urging his Black friends and family to vote and all the times he saw his preferred candidate lose. “Over the years, a lot of Black people have said, ‘Well, […]
President Cyril Ramaphosa has made a lockdown address to the nation on Wednesday night - and he came equipped with a major announcement on alcohol.
The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Zimbabwe (ICSAZ) has been admitted to the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) as an associate member, only the second Professional Accountancy Organisation in Zimbabwe to become a member. IFAC is the global organisation for the accountancy profession. It has more than 175 member and associate member organisations in 130 countries and jurisdictions, together representing nearly three million professional accountants. The decision to admit ICSAZ as an associate member was announced following a virtual meeting of the IFAC Council today (Wednesday), which accepted an IFAC board recommendation, made in September, that ICSAZ be admitted as an associate member. Previously the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe was the only local institute belonging to IFAC IFAC membership is a globally recognised hallmark of a high quality professional accountancy organisation. Its requirements for membership include the adoption of international standards and support for their implementation, thereby demonstrating a member organisation’s expertise in and commitment to international standards, best practice and serving the public interest. Commenting on the institute’s admission to IFAC, ICSAZ chief executive Dr.Lovemore Gomera said he was delighted that the institute’s application for membership had been accepted. “ICSAZ as a division is unique within the global Chartered Governance Institute (CGI) in producing chartered governance professionals who are also professional accountants. Our members are able to register as public accountants with the Public Accountants and Auditors Board (PAAB), a body on which ICSAZ is also represented. “It has long been our wish to become members of IFAC, the international accountancy body. Our admission as a member of IFAC is a significant milestone for ICSAZ and confirms our place within the accountancy profession,” Dr Gomera said. Issued on behalf of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Zimbabwe by MHPR Public Relations Consultants, 59 Van Praagh Avenue, Milton Park, Harare. Tel. 2251538-40. 2798761 E-mail: mhamilton@mhpr.co.zw Contact Person: Mike Hamilton (Mobile: 0772 469 801)
Multiple people were wounded Wednesday when an explosive device hit an international ceremony commemorating the end of World War I.
The event was being held at a cemetery in the Saudi city of Jeddah, according to French government officials.
Several countries had representatives at the ceremony, held at a cemetery for dead non-Muslims, the officials from the French Foreign Ministry said.
The identities of the victims were unclear.
Saudi state television broadcast from outside the cemetery and acknowledged that an attack involving an explosive device took place.
However it stressed that things were under control and the security situation was now \"stable.\"
The report said an official statement about the cause and casualty details was upcoming.
The stabbing was carried out by a Saudi man, who was arrested. His motives remain unclear.
France has suffered two deadly attacks by foreign-born Muslims in the past month alone.
A teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded outside Paris for showing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad to his class for a debate on free expression. Three people were later killed in a church in the southern city of Nice.
The depictions of the prophet sparked protests, leading to calls for boycotts of French products among some Muslims in the Middle East and South Asia.
France has urged its citizens in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim-majority countries to be \"on maximum alert\" amid the heightened tensions.
Wednesday marks the 102nd anniversary of the armistice ending World War I and is commemorated in several European countries.
The French officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, condemned the attack.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion and Saudi officials have not commented on the attack.
SAD news broke yesterday about a pregnant Chivhu woman who beheaded her four daughters and set the family house on fire before handing herself to the police following a dispute with her husband over infidelity. EDITORIAL COMMENT It was indeed a sad day for motherhood in the country. No one can ever, even in their wildest dreams, expect such an unthinkable thing to happen. Life is precious and some people spend millions in hospital bills to boost their fertility and chances to have a child, but the Chivhu woman chose to take life. Not hers, but that of four innocent blooming flowers which she compounded by trying to drink poison while she was pregnant, in effect attempting to take two more lives. Cases of both domestic and gender-based violence are increasing, especially during these times when the country is reeling under harsh economic conditions. The situation will likely get worse, hence it is time we invested in counselling. Research has established that violent behaviour is often a result of an individual’s interaction with various situational and individual factors, meaning community and other cultural influences come to play, if not influenced by alcohol or drugs. Studies have also shown that children are the most victims of domestic violence. The violence can cause physical and emotional harm not only to children, but all people close to the disturbing behaviour. Children can suffer emotional stress, depression and even sleeping disorders. In this case, it is not only sad that the children lost their lives, it is devastating and unimaginable for any community. It is difficult to imagine what was going on in the mind of the woman, what sort of demons was she dealing with which made her lose her mind. This goes a long way in explaining the importance of mental health, which we have ignored for generations. Who can imagine a mother slitting her child’s throat in front of the others? Imagine the trauma they went through while watching the gruesome deed. Couples do have misunderstandings and it is very important to seek counselling and monitor each other until the emotional wounds are healed. It is important for people to learn how to diffuse violent situations, which should start with situational awareness and understanding of each other’s state of mind. Government should invest in counselling. In the past, traditional leaders were the custodians of ensuring peace in families, but with the advent of courts, home-grown solutions to solving domestic disputes have been discarded and this has brought about tension. People should seek counselling instead of engaging in needless loss of life. Mental health is an important issue and counselling is one of its biggest remedies. Government should also invest in social workers to conduct counselling in communities. As a country, we cannot afford to ignore this anymore.
By ALEXANDRA OLSON and DAVID KOENIG Associated Press Fifty-one separate elections — one in each state and one in Washington, DC. Each with different rules and regulations, and no national elections commission to tell the world who wins. How, then, to quickly and accurately determine who won the highest office in the land? That's where the news media come in — and have done so since 1848, when The Associated Press declared the election of Zachary Taylor as president. The Electoral College actually chooses the president under the U.S. Constitution, acting in a process that starts with the popular vote […]
The post EXPLAINER: Why do the media call races in US elections? appeared first on Black News Channel.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Wednesday, 11 November 2020, giving an update on the country’s efforts to counter the spread of COVID-19
