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[NEWS] Artisanal and small-scale mining is the main source of income for more than 100,000 gold and diamond miners in Liberia. Out of the 1,293 mining operations in the country, 1,142 (88.3 per cent) are artisanal and small-scale miners.
In May, Burundi held a presidential election which was won by Evariste Ndayishimiye, candidate of the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) party.
Ndayishimiye was hurriedly sworn in after the untimely death of president Pierre Nkurunziza in June.
Rights violations continue
The Council encouraged donor countries which had suspended aid to Burundi to continue dialogue towards resumption of development assistance.
A report by a UN watchdog in September said human rights violations were still being committed in Burundi, including sexual violence and murder.
The country was plunged into a crisis in April 2015 when Ndayishimiye’s predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run for a controversial third term, which he ultimately won in July 2015.
His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted in a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup in May 2015.
Hundreds of people were killed and over 300,000 fled to neighboring countries.
THERE is a call for school nurses to be afforded the same benefits as nurses in clinical settings to reduce the deficit of school nurses islandwide as institutions prepare to reopen amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.The number of nurses in secondary schools have increased over the years, but a majority of primary institutions have none in place.
In September last year, Doudou Diene, chairman of the commission of inquiry set up by the UN on Burundi, said the country was primed for a genocide.
[Moroccan American Center] Many countries are facing declining growth rates due to the pandemic and Morocco is no exception. Given lockdowns and flight restrictions implemented worldwide early on, tourism and hospitality, usually the third largest component of GDP, have suffered enormous losses and the sector almost collapsed during the first 90 days of the global response to C-19.
QUITO, (Reuters) A small tailings dam associated with a mine run by Ecuadorean firm Austro Gold has collapsed, Ecuador’s government said yesterday, sending mining waste into a nearby river.
The article Small tailings dam collapses in Ecuador, communities denounce pollution appeared first on Stabroek News.
On Wednesday, the United States seized a shipment of $800,000 worth of weaves and other hair products, according to the Associated Press. The hair, which was made by Lop County []
The post That Hair You Just Bought Could Be From A Chinese Prison appeared first on Essence.
By Stephen Kinzer
Stephen Kinzer is an award-winning author and foreign correspondent who has covered more than 50 countries on five continents.
The article Back off of Venezuela already appeared first on Stabroek News.
A multistate outbreak of salmonella poisoning that has sickened almost 400 people in 31 states has been traced back to red onions, federal health officials said. And a company based in Bakersfield, California is the likely source of the potentially contaminated onions, according to the Food and Drug Administration. 'Although the investigation has determined that red onions are the likely […]
The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has demanded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to terminate Youth Minister Kirsty Coventry's membership.
\"We urge the IOC Advisory Committee on Human Rights and IOC Ethics Committee to revoke the status of Ms. Kirsty Coventry as an International Olympic Committee member due to her participation in the continued brutalisation and abuse of the Zimbabwean and the widespread human rights abuses carried out by the government which Ms Coventry is an essential component.
\"Revoke the status of Ms Coventry as an IOC member due to her ongoing enforced eviction and illegal expropriation of land in Zimbabwe which violates basic human and international rights.
\"Examine the extent to which IOC member Kirsty Coventry has been complicit in the participation in human rights violations in Zimbabwe,\" said Sthole.
Sithole added: \"The MDC Youth Assembly wishes to alert the IOC to the existence of serious risks of human rights abuses surrounding IOC member Ms Kirsty Coventry and it is our wish that the relevant authorities take up the issues with seriousness and gravitas human rights violations deserve.\"
The robots were donated by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to the Kanyinya treatment center that treats Covid-19 patients in the capital city, Kigali.
The robots — named Akazuba, Ikirezi, Mwiza, Ngabo, and Urumuri — were received by the country’s Minister of Health and Minister of ICT and Innovation last week.
According to Dr. Daniel Ngamije, Rwanda’s minister of health, they also have the capacity to capture sound and visual data of patients and can notify health workers on detected abnormalities.
The robots have the capacity to deliver medicine, food, and other essentials in place of frontline workers to Covid-19 patients undergoing treatment, Ngamije said.
The robot in a hospital in Seattle was employed to check the man’s vitals, limiting contact with health workers.
[263Chat] President Emmerson Mnangagwa Monday called for peace in the country after weeks of high political and social tensions which has seen the government coming in hard on its critics and opposition leaders.
BY HARRIET CHIKANDIWA/STEPHEN CHADENGA FINANCE minister Mthuli Ncube has been urged to include policy reforms in the 2021 national budget which will decriminalise artisanal mining activities, given the reports that small-scale miners were actually remitting more gold than big mines to Fidelity Printers and Refiners. This was said by the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (Zela) in its 2021 budget proposal paper presented in Parliament early this week. The organisation has also petitioned Parliament to investigate machete gangs that are terrorising artisanal miners. Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda has since referred the petition to the Edmond Mkaratigwa-led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines. “Formalisation of the sector will help to reduce revenue illicit flows from the artisanal and small scale miners. There are low levels of tax compliance in the ASM players, largely because they are treated as illegal and there is inadequate financial support to the sector,” the Zela statement on the 2021 budget read. “The informality of the ASM activities has jeopardised the capacity of the sector to contribute towards domestic resource mobilisation of the country.” In 2019, artisanal miners accounted for 63% (17 478,74kgs) of total gold deliveries (27 650,26 kgs) to the government’s sole buyer. Zela noted that the artisanal miners sector had also been associated with a number of disputes arising from multiple claim ownership. “There is no transparency in the awarding of claims, and this has fuelled corruption, leading to loss of claims by women and men in the sector. Ultimately, this has affected livelihoods for a number of women.” Centre for Conflict Management and Transformation (CCMT) director Wonder Phiri yesterday said women should play an active role in the mining sector to promote economic recovery. Phiri said this during the launch of a collaborative research done by CCMT and the Midlands State University Gender Institute which looked at challenges and opportunities for women in Zvishavane district. “This research paper is being launched at a time the country’s economic recovery is being anchored on the mining sector. It cannot be business as usual without women involvement in mining. Women’s involvement should go beyond selling trinkets at mining spots,” he said. Phiri added that there was need to solve all gender disparities in the mining sector, as well as to address mining conflicts that deter women from participating in mining activities.
SOUTH AFRICA-BASED Zimbabwean secessionist Mthwakazi Democratic Alliance leader Hloniphani Ncube has launched the #PunishZimLootersChildrenabroad to prod countries hosting Zimbabwean top officials’ children to deport them on account of their fathers’ gross human rights abuses and corruption. BY SILAS NKALA Ncube launched the campaign last Wednesday after former South African opposition Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane joined forces with Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema (pictured) to draw the world’s attention to the Zimbabwean crisis through a similar social media campaign, #ZimbabweanLivesmatter. Following pressure from Maimane and Malema, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa immediately appointed two special envoys to fly to Harare in a bid to try to resolve the crisis. Ncube said Zimbabwean “looters’ children in the diaspora” should not be spared as they were benefiting from their parents’ ill-gotten wealth while innocent citizens were struggling to feed their families under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government. “The struggle towards removing the looters in Zimbabwe must be extended towards their children residing in foreign land enjoying the taxpayers’ money, while their parents are busy abducting civilians, killing innocent infants and arresting innocent journalists who are fighting against corruption and looting of State coffers,” he said. “I urge the foreign governments who are against human rights violations to punish the children of the looters by cancelling their residence permits as well as their study permits. The children of the coup regime cannot live a good life while innocent people are punished by their relatives. All democratic forces must join hands and stop the influence of the looters, including those who are connected to them.” Ncube said businesses of corrupt Zimbabwean politicians in foreign lands should be shut down until human rights issues are addressed. “Innocent infants are dying. Journalists and activists are in hiding as the coup regime is after their blood. It’s time we have a direct confrontation with them and teach them how it feels to be punished for standing for our rights. Those who violate civil rights must not be allowed to live a peaceful life,” Ncube said. Human rights activist Effie Ncube said everything has to be done to rid the country of injustice, oppression, repression, the erosion of the rule of law and the escalation of human rights abuses. “The circumstances are such that you cannot ignore what is taking place in the country with the hope that it will self-correct or it will be corrected by those in power,” he said. Ibhetshu Likazulu secretary-general Mbuso Fuzwayo added:“It is fair to have them back so that their criminal parents can stop externalising money, but build good health centres and competent government schools. It is unfair for them, but their thieving parents have destroyed the jewel of Africa.”
Liberia's Foreign Minister Gbehzohngar M. Findley has reaffirmed the country's commitment to work with other Africans in the region and the rest of the continent to promote the achievement of Africa's goal.
\"We, therefore, reaffirm Liberia's commitment to work with other Africans in our region and the rest of our Continent to promote the achievement of the goal of our Continent and we should be proud of our identity as Africans,\" he said Monday, 25 May in a statement to mark the 57th year when 32 independent African states converged in Ethiopia to establish the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union.
He urges Africans to strive to achieve the continent's goal of a conflict-free Africa, to make peace a reality for all its people and to rid the continent of wars, civil conflicts, human rights violations and humanitarian disasters.
He believes that Africans can only achieve a united and prosperous Africa if the guns are silenced, adding: \"Let us keep in mind that our progress and prosperity can be achieved if the guns are silenced ... \"
The Foreign Minister suggests that until the achievement of lasting peace in all of Africa, its people's endeavors to peace and security, and development remain unwavering.To this end, he notes that Africans must do all in their power to work towards achieving the African Development Agenda 2063, which clearly projects the Africa they want.
Mr. Findley calls on Africans from all walks of life to remain committed to the goals and aspirations of a united and prosperous Africa inspired by their forefathers, stressing that only Africans will transform Africa.On behalf of President George Manneh Weah, Mr. Findley congratulates Africans all over the world as they celebrate this great day.
It appears that embattled Trelawny Northern Member of Parliament (MP) Victor Wright is fighting battles on two fronts - one with Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ) Holdings, which says it is taking him to court for a debt of just over $3 million, and the other with his constituency executive who have made damaging accusations about him and his leadership style.
By Miriam Mangwaya THE Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum has called on local police officers to adopt the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO) guidelines to instil discipline in the force. The call came at a time the police are being accused of heavy-handedness, especially when deployed to enforce the COVID-19 lockdown measures. In its latest COVID-19 lockdown weekly monitoring report, the human rights body said police should stop unlawful attacks on citizens. Since the beginning of the lockdown on March 30, the police throughout the country have subjected more than 800 people, including journalists, to beatings, torture, abductions and harassments, according to statistics released by the forum. “Government should ensure ZRP (Zimbabwe Republic Police) develops a code of conduct in line with SARPCCO guidelines to help strengthen police discipline,” the human rights group said. “The forum remains concerned by the conduct of police and other law enforcement officers, who continue to use excessive force during law enforcement.” The rights group added: “The forum urgently calls upon the Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe, ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga to ensure that members of ZRP stop perpetrating human rights violations, including, but not limited to beatings, excessive use of force, torture, abductions and intimidation of civilians.” The report also reveals that cases of police brutality are on the rise following the return of commuter omnibuses in major cities and towns after relaxation of lockdown restrictions by the government. The forum commended the Judiciary for upholding human rights through recent court orders which include instructing Harare City Council to ensure that pregnant women receive emergency medical services.
Guyana Goldfields Inc today announced phase two of the reduction of its workforce at the Aurora Gold Mines in Region Seven.
A circular sent to employees today follows:
Following our announcements about transitioning from open pit mining to underground mining at our Aurora mine site and the interruption this will cause in our operations for an undetermined period, we will now proceed with the second phase of our workforce reduction plan on Tuesday, June 9, 2020.
The outline of the process we will be following:
• Employees who will be part of this workforce reduction initiative while being on their break will be contacted by HR in order to report to the office in Georgetown to get their final papers
• Employees who will be part of this workforce reduction initiative while being at site will be informed by their supervisors on Monday afternoon or Monday night (depending on their work shift) to report to the HR office on Tuesday morning before they fly back from Aurora to Ogle Airport to get their final papers.
• Extra flights have been scheduled to depart Aurora on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 and flight manifests will be released later this afternoon
• Final payout will be deposited to the bank accounts of impacted employees no later than June 19, 2020
All personal protection equipment will have to be handed over to your supervisor; the GTM medical card and AGM ID card will need to be handed over to HR.
Following our first phase of workforce reduction, this second phase also marks another day in the history of AGM Inc. where this initiative will adversely impact many lives.
EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Timo Olkkonen, speaking in an interview with the Alpha Media Holdings-owned Heart and Soul TV yesterday said Zimbabwe was still failing to break from her past of corruption, human rights abuses and fiscal indiscipline.
Multilateral financial institutions have given a moratorium to many countries, including those in Africa to stop servicing their debts during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Zimbabwe is not among them.
The EU ambassador said Zimbabwe had failed to pursue economic reforms leading to the end of the International Monetary Fund Staff-Monitored Programme, thereby blocking the path that could lead to debt relief.
On the political front, the EU said it remained worried over allegations of abductions and human rights violations in Zimbabwe and the failure by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to break from the past.
“We have been discussing with the authorities that Zimbabwe wants to make a break with the past, a very crucial part of the break is to end human rights violations.
Chinese Merchants in Black Community Targeted for Sanctions-Boycott Nationwide on 5-19-2020
WASHINGTON, DC, USA, May 15, 2020 /EINPresswire.com/ -- EVENT: News Conference Announcing International Economic Sanctions as a response to Human Rights Violations by China/Chinese Merchants Blacks/Africans in China, Africa, and America during COVID-19 Pandemic
WHERE: Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States
2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW – Washington, DC
WHEN: 9 am EST Tuesday – May 19, 2020 - (Malcolm X Birthday Observation)
WHO: Several National Black groups will take street action May 19th
A national and international economic sanctions and boycott campaign is being announced against Chinese businesses in America, and Africa, as a result of Africans living in China having faced recent vicious human rights violations and anti-Black racism in China and abroad and continuing complaints of disrespect by Chinese merchants in domestic U.S. Cities.
These demonstrations are designed to shut these businesses down and send a message to China that “Harm to Africans in China can bring Harm to Chinese in America, Africa, and worldwide.”
Organizations participating enforcing the street shutdowns are Black-Empowerment (BE); the New Black Panther Party for Self Defense (NBPP); Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee (OBPP); Black Lawyers for Justice (BLFJ); Movement for Black Power (MBP); Nubians United For Defense (NUFD); Justice League United (JUL) in conjunction with local Pastors and community activists and over 30 community groups in various cities.
China is taking on vast infrastructure projects in Africa that leave weaker African governments and people held hostage to Chinese interests.
SANCTIONS
Cities Targeted for Live Shutdowns/ Boycotts on May 19, 2020:
Atlanta, GA – China Town 5383 New Peachtree Road – Chamblee GA
Benton Harbor, MI – (see NC – Carolina Beauty Store – 3301 Freedom Drive
Delaware: – (see NY – Red Star Restaurant 7th Avenue at 123rd
Hawaii – (Live Educational Webcast beginning at 10 am EST)
Houston, TX – Kim’s Food Mart – 9851 Mesa Drive
Jacksonville, FL – Beautys R US - 7912 Lem Turner Road
Madison, WI – (see – (see Black-Empowerment.
STATE-owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) has applied for exclusive diamond prospecting rights in an area covering 38 573 hectares located in Chihota, Mashonaland East province. BY FIDELITY MHLANGA In a general notice 1 093 of 2020, government said: “It is hereby notified, in terms of section 87(4) of the Mines and Minerals Act Chapter 21:05 that Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company Private Limited has applied to the Mining Affairs Board for an exclusive prospecting order, over an area described in the schedule in the Mashonaland East mining district in relation to map reference Chegutu SE 36-9 second edition and of the scale 1:250 000, produced by the surveyor general.” ZCDC intends to prospect for diamonds within areas which have been reserved against prospecting pending determination of this application. An exclusive Prospecting Order gives mining companies express rights to search for minerals and peg claims in designated areas. However, concern has been raised that some companies are not scouting for minerals but are only holding EPOs for speculative purposes. “An area of approximately 38 573 hectares in extent, situate in Mashonaland East provincial mining district bounded by a line commencing at a point grid reference (36KTR 283855-8004013) which is approximately 17,2km southeast of Trig beacon 4714 Cecil,” the notice further read. As alluvial diamonds are running out in the Marange area, the company is desperately exploring other areas. ZCDC has put in place an ambitious target to produce 4,1 million carats this year. At its peak in 2012, the country produced 12 million carats, before production plummeted to 2,8 million carats in 2018. Amid fierce resistance, authorities in 2015 directed a consolidation of all diamond mining companies in Zimbabwe to form ZCDC. Private mining firms were ordered to terminate operations, leave their equipment and evacuate premises. Chinese firm, Anjin conjointly owned by Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company Ltd and Matt Bronze, an army investment vehicle has since been directed to commence operations in Chiadzwa. Government last July launched an ambitious roadmap for the achievement of a US$12 billion mining industry by 2023.
A Tanzanian small-scale miner has become a multi-millionaire after uncovering two of the biggest of the country's precious tanzanite stones ever found and selling them to the government.
[DW] Zimbabwe's President Mnangagwa is cleaning up the legacy of his predecessor Mugabe: The state is compensating white farmers who were evicted during the great land reform of the 2000s. But many problems remain unsolved.
June 2020: African nations drag US to UN human rights council
\tAfrican nations have prepared a draft resolution at the U.N.’s top human rights body that singles out the United States and would launch intense international scrutiny of systemic racism against people of African descent in the wake of recent high-profile killings of blacks by American police.
It calls for a Commission of Inquiry — the rights body’s most powerful tool to inspect human rights violations — to look into “systemic racism” and alleged violations of international human rights law and abuses against “Africans and of people of African descent in the United States of America and other parts of the world recently affected by law enforcement agencies” especially encounters that resulted in deaths.
On Monday, the council agreed unanimously to hold the urgent debate on “racially inspired human rights violations, systemic racism, police brutality and the violence against peaceful protests” in the wake of the George Floyd killing in the United States.
AP report
May 2020: US must sit up, eliminate racial discrimination: AU on George Floyd ‘murder’
\tThe Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat has waded into the death of a black American man, George Floyd at the hands of police in the United States.
Over in South Africa, the Economic Freedom Fighter, EFF, also lambasted the US in a statement calling on African countries to call the US government to exercise restraint and to “call on Trump to seize from his genocidal deployment of the military against protesters.”
Human rights violations are still being committed in Burundi, including sexual violence and murder, a report by a UN watchdog said.
Hopes had been pinned on new President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who was elected in May. He took over from his predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza, who was in office for 15 years.
During his tenure, at least t 1,200 people were killed and more than 400,000 displaced during unrest between April 2015 and May 2017, according to the UN.
It was hoped the new leader could change the face of the central African country.
But the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi described evidence of killings and disappearance in recent weeks.
It also said during the election there was evidence of summary executions, torture and sexual violence.
“In recent weeks there have continued to be killings, there have continued to be arbitrary detentions and there have continued to be disappearances,” said Commission of Inquiry member Francoise Hampson.
\"It’s slightly surprising that it is continuing as it was even though elections have finished. And that is a matter of very grave concern.”
The investigators also looked at serious violations committed on youngsters under 18, who they said were \"specifically targeted.”
“They are forcibly recruited into the ruling party’s youth league, the Imbonerakure, other times they were harmed when other family members are the real targets,” the commissioners said.
“We very much fear the consequences of the 2015 crisis for Burundi’s future, not least because of the long-term impact it will have on the children”, said Commissioner Lucy Asuagbor.
Over the past four years, the commission has been the only independent mechanism to report on human rights violations in Burundi
The panel is concerned that this oversight will disappear when it ends its mandate this year.
The report will be presented to the Human Rights Council on 23 September.
