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10, January 2019

Congo-Kinshasa: Felix Tshisekedi from opposition scion to provisional president-elect 0

The son of DR Congo’s veteran opposition leader, Felix Tshisekedi, has taken the prize that long eluded his father – the presidency of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest country – in a surprise result his main opponent has denounced as an “electoral coup”.

On Thursday Tshisekedi was named by election officials as the provisional winner of the country’s long-delayed, chaotic and controversial presidential poll, in a surprise announcement that appeared to contradict both pre-election surveys and the findings of independent monitors.

Runner-up Martin Fayulu, the pre-election favourite, promptly denounced the results as an “electoral coup” that does “not reflect the truth of the ballots”.

In a rare comment on a foreign election, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also waded into the controversy, describing the results as “the opposite to what we expected”. He added: “The Catholic Church of Congo did its tally and announced completely different results.”

If Tshisekedi’s stunning victory is confirmed by the constitutional court, he will become the first Congolese leader to take power at the ballot box since Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, who was toppled and killed in a coup shortly after independence in 1960.

‘A historic vote and a historic win’

Tshisekedi is the head of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), a party founded by his father Etienne, who spent decades as the country’s main opposition leader but died in February last year.

Known to his friends as “Fatshi”, the portly 55-year-old is now poised to replace President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled the volatile, poverty-stricken nation with an iron fist since 2001.

But for a while, it looked like he wouldn’t even be on the ballot.

Pentecostal rivals

On November 11, Tshisekedi joined six other opposition leaders in rallying behind Fayulu to take on Kabila’s handpicked successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.

But the deal drew a furious response from his supporters, prompting him and fellow opposition leader Vital Kamerhe to abandon the deal and run on a joint ticket, weakening and splitting the opposition.

The pair had previously agreed that if they won, Kamerhe would become Tshisekedi’s prime minister.

Profile: Felix Tshisekedi

Since his father founded the UDPS in 1982, the party has served as an opposition mainstay in the former Belgian colony – first under dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, then under Kabila’s father Laurent-Desire Kabila, who ruled from 1997 until his death in 2001. A father of five, Tshisekedi goes to the same Pentecostal church as Fayulu in Kinshasa, the capital.

Although he does not enjoy the same degree of popularity as his father, he has risen steadily through the party ranks. “Etienne was stubborn and proud,” said one keen observer of the country’s opposition. “Felix is more diplomatic, more conciliatory, more ready to listen to others.”

‘Coup’

In 2008, Tshisekedi became national secretary for external relations and was elected to the national assembly in 2011 as representative for Mbuji-Mayi, the country’s third city.

However, he never took up his seat as he did not formally recognise his father’s defeat to Kabila in a presidential election the same year. A month after his father’s death, Tshisekedi was elected as party head.

Although he holds a Belgian diploma in marketing and communication, his opponents point out that he has never held high office or had managerial experience. And some detractors have even suggested his diploma is not valid.

The legacy of DR Congo’s Joseph Kabila

Tshisekedi has promised a return to the rule of law, to fight the “gangrene” of corruption and to bring peace to the volatile east of the country, where several militias remain active more than 15 years after the end of DR Congo’s bloody civil war.

However, the result of the presidential election, which observers said was marred by a spate of irregularities, is certain to fuel suspicions among Fayulu’s supporters that Tshisekedi struck a power-sharing pact with Kabila – suspicions heightened by his victory speech on Thursday, in which he described his former bitter opponent Kabila as a “partner of democratic change”.

Fayulu, who was running well ahead of Tshisekedi in opinion polls ahead of the election, on Thursday called on the Congolese people to “rise as one man to protect victory.” Analysts have warned that any widespread perception the election has been stolen could trigger a cycle of unrest, particularly in the eastern borderlands where Fayulu enjoys some of his strongest support.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)

The war in Cameroon

9, January 2019

The war in Cameroon 0

History defines us. Perhaps it is the only thing we truly own. Embrace it, own it. Mend it where it was once broken, enlighten it where it was once misguided, for what you are this minute isn’t what you were only a minute ago.

For peace to return to Cameroon, Anglophones and Francophones must first realise that at one point, they shared a common history, under German Cameroon. But like a river that splits into two courses at some point, they broke off only to be joint later downstream. This is not disputed.

What is disputed is the fact that during this separate journeys, each of them acquired new and separate experiences on their independent courses, perhaps new streams flowed into them, they flowed through new landscapes acquiring new flavours, visited different places with different sunsets and sunrises, making new friends and partnerships. Though they later became one again at the new confluence further downstream, they were essentially different by now; chemically, physically, in what they now know and have seen and experienced, where they have been, and enriched by new and different life principles and values.

The Francophone led leadership in Yaounde must realise and appreciate this difference, which they haven’t for over five decades. They can’t erode a people’s culture with guns, regardless of how that culture was acquired, for the effects of colonialism are an integral part of our history that we can never run away from. As sad as it is. The mass killings in Anglophone Cameroon must be brought to a stop via a political solution of inclusive dialogue without any precondition. In essence, the two Cameroons have to revisit the Fumban drawing board.

Peace can’t be achieved simply because the government that caused the problem in the first place is asking separatists fighters to put down their arms, because the government didn’t buy them the guns. You can’t ask a revolting people to stop revolting without proposing a tractable solution to their grievances, you can’t do so either by threat of the gun to which they have become accustomed. And you can’t eradicate someone’s family and expect them to love you, live with you, dine with you and laugh with you as if you are best friends. Worse, trust you.

What the Cameroonian government is doing to the Anglophones in Cameroon is criminal, calling them terrorists and all. Citizens can’t step out in the streets to protest for legitimate reasons and you turn your big guns on them, guns bought with their money, money from all the natural resources that are being wantonly exploited in their backyard.

It is this stupidity, lack of vision and diplomacy that sparked the wrath of the Anglophone Cameroonians, now operating under the name of the separate state called, Ambazonia, to retaliate and sought to protect themselves. The Francophone leadership in Yaounde without thinking, joyfully declared outright war against the 8 million Anglophones, add or take, by calling them terrorists, as the most parsimonious way of solving the differences.

The same regime once said when Yaounde is breathing Cameroon is alive when the Anglophone regions were in strife. The same regime at one time or another, called Anglophones enemies in the house. And at the onset of the present conflict, the Francophone led national assembly refused to discuss the problem because Anglophones are supposed to tow the line quietly. How much provocation should a people be subjected to before they break? Even a fool, under these circumstances, is bound to revolt at some point. This is the point where we are unfortunately at now.

No happily married man or woman would deliberately destroy a gratifying union, except they have lost their minds to the devil. Marriages only fall apart because of discontent and an accompanying inability to mend the problem.

Source: Not available

Southern Cameroons War Crimes Tribunal to Convene

9, January 2019

Southern Cameroons War Crimes Tribunal to Convene 0

Two years after declaring unilateral independence, Africa’s newest country, Ambazonia, is in a deadly spiral of ever increasing violence .  After decades of marginalization the two English speaking provinces of Southern Cameroons declared independence.  Ambazonian self-defense units have fought a running battle with government forces over control of villages and strategic roads.  The government of President Paul Biya, Africa’s longest serving ruler, has ordered mass arrests and a military campaign against what he terms terrorists.  The result for civilians has been catastrophic, over ten thousand casualties, hostages taken, schools closed, and displacement of tens of thousands fleeing battles, brigands and marauding government forces. Indiscriminate violence has claimed thousands of innocent lives including an American missionary and Ghanaian priest.  Villages have been burned, civilians butchered, limbs hacked off with summary arrests and executions carried out with impunity.

The international response to date has been nonexistent because of the Biya regime’s long-standing trade and diplomatic relations with France, Canada, the USA, and UK and as a partner in the war against Boko Haram. Respected NGOs like Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and International Crisis Group however have been quick to identify the human rights abuses, many of which are recorded on cell phone video.  Nonetheless, the UN, African Union, ECOWAS, the Commonwealth and other international organizations have failed to step in while the casualties and atrocities mount.

Fearing another Liberia or Sierra Leone type conflict, in which murder, torture, and war crimes became endemic; several Ambazonian groups have come together now to declare the formation of a War Crimes Tribunal – The Southern Cameroons Special Tribunal Coordination Committee (SCSTCC).  The initial backers include the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC), the Southern Cameroons Defense Force (SOCADEF), the African Peoples Liberation Movement (APLM), the Organization of Emerging African States (OEAS) and the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium.  Other groups are expected to join soon.

Dr. Jonathan Levy, an international lawyer specializing in human rights was appointed Chief Coordinator of the tribunal.  According to Dr. Levy, the special tribunal’s immediate mission is to use existing courts and procedures to investigate and prosecute war crimes: “Right now we have solid proofs of numerous crimes against civilians committed by government forces.  There are also reports of brigands and bandits.  However, the overwhelming evidence shows a policy and pattern of brutality against civilians by government forces engaged in the so called anti-terrorist campaign. The command structure is such that these atrocities could not be committed on such a large and ongoing scale without the knowledge and consent of president Paul Biya, the Minister of Defense and their field commanders.”

The next step according to Dr. Levy is to assemble a team of experts through the good offices of the International Criminal Bar and other organizations and to immediately begin both civil and criminal prosecution against Paul Biya and his military commanders in worldwide courts. “We hope someday to have our own UN backed war crimes tribunal and chambers, but we cannot wait years while people are dying, we will act now using all legal means available to us.” Said Levy, who added, “Right now we need lawyers who are willing to take these cases to court in London, Washington, Barcelona, Banjul, and any other venue in which a civil or criminal case can be lodged against Paul Biya and his commanders.”

Dr. Jonathan Levy

9, January 2019

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah retains African Footballer of the Year award 0

Egypt striker Mohamed Salah has been named African Footballer of the Year for the second successive year at the Confederation of African Football’s 2018 awards ceremony in Dakar on Tuesday. “I have dreamt of winning this award since I was a child and now I have done so twice in a row,” Salah said soon after receiving his trophy in Dakar.

“My thanks go to my family, my team-mates and my fans and I dedicate this trophy to my homeland, Egypt.”

Just as he did 12 months ago, Salah beat fellow nominees including Liverpool FC Senegalese teammate Sadio Mane and Gabon’s (and Arsenal) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to land the award.

Fans favourite

It was an identical outcome to last year when Salah became only the second Egyptian after 1983 winner Mahmoud al Khatib to be voted the best footballer in Africa.

Award caps ‘incredible 2018 for Mohamed Salah’

A poll of CAF’s national teams’ head coaches and technical directors, members of the governing body’s technical and development committee and a panel of media experts selected Salah as the continent’s outstanding footballer in 2018.

The Liverpool forward was also named in the Africa Best XI for 2018, along with Mane and Naby Keita. He scored 44 times during a 2017-18 campaign in which he helped his club reach the Champions League final, before then netting twice at last summer’s World Cup.

Salah scored four goals in three Africa Cup of Nations qualification outings for his country in 2018 and a further 16 goals in 29 appearances across all competitions for Liverpool in 2018.

Salah completed a memorable day for Egyptian football, as the country beat sole rivals South Africa earlier Tuesday to decide which country hosted the 2019 Cup of Nations.

Memorable day for Egypt

Salah was born in the northern Egyptian town of Nagrig and used to make eight-hour return trips to train with Cairo-based El Mokawloon.

Spotted by scouts from Swiss club Basel, he moved there in 2012 before joining Premier League giants Chelsea two years later.

The Egyptian had his share of setbacks. Early in his career Salah found scoring difficult, resulting in him quitting Chelsea for Italian outfits Fiorentina and then Roma. Salah blossomed in Rome, averaging close to a goal every two matches, and Liverpool paid almost €41 millionn (£37 million) to sign him two years ago.

South African Chrestinah Kgatlana was voted Women’s Player of the Year and South Africa coach Desiree Ellis and the Nigeria national team were the other female winners. The Goal of the Year award also went to Kgatlana.

France 24

US: Trump reiterates call for border wall funding amid government shutdown

9, January 2019

US: Trump reiterates call for border wall funding amid government shutdown 0

US President Donald Trump has described the situation along the country’s border with Mexico as a “growing crisis,” reiterating his call for funding a wall that he claimed was “absolutely critical to border security.”

In a televised speech from the Oval Office on Tuesday night, Trump said there was a “humanitarian and national security crisis” at the southern US border, adding that all Americans had been hurt by illegal immigration.

“This barrier is absolutely critical to border security,” Trump said in his address. “This is just common sense. This is a choice between right and wrong, between justice and injustice.”

The US president pointed the finger of blame at congressional democrats for the partial government shutdown which has caused political turmoil in Washington for nearly three weeks over disagreement on funding the construction of a border wall.

Trump stressed that the only solution to resolve the deadlock was for democrats to pass a spending bill which would include funding for a border wall with Mexico.

The US president said that law enforcement needed $5.7 billion to build border fence, which he claimed would stop the influx of drugs, criminals and illegal immigrants to the country.

Trump also said that he would invite congressional leadership to White House on Wednesday to negotiate a deal over border security.

Results of a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday showed 51 percent of Americans believe Trump deserves most of the blame for the shutdown, up 4 percentage points from last month.

Roughly one-third said congressional Democrats were to blame and 7 percent blamed congressional Republicans.

Congressional Democratic leadership swiftly responds to Trump

Shortly after the Oval Office address, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Charles Schumer condemned Trump’s remarks in a joint statement and accused him of trying to “stoke fear” with his calls for a wall on the Mexican border.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (R) and Senate minority leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) pose for photographs after delivering a televised response to President Donald Trump’s address to the nation on border funding at the Capitol in Washington DC on January 8, 2019. (Photo by AFP)

“Sadly, much of what we have heard from President Trump throughout this senseless shutdown has been full of misinformation and even malice,” said Pelosi, who spoke first. “The President has chosen fear. We want to start with the facts.”

Schumer criticized Trump for using the Oval Office to make his pitch for the US-Mexico border wall.

“Most presidents have used Oval Office addresses for noble purposes. This president just used the backdrop of the Oval Office to manufacture a crisis, stoke fear, and divert attention from the turmoil in his administration,” he said.

Schumer insisted that the US president should separate the government shutdown from the debate over border security, calling on Trump to end the shutdown “now.”

Source: Presstv

Southern Cameroons refugees say Akwa Ibom State churches, residents covered ‘our nakedness’

8, January 2019

Southern Cameroons refugees say Akwa Ibom State churches, residents covered ‘our nakedness’ 0

SOUTHERN Cameroonians currently taking refuge in Akwa Ibom State after fleeing from the lingering crisis in their country, have expressed appreciation to Akwa Ibom people, particularly churches, for providing shelter, clothing, and food for them.  The refugees, who spoke to NDV during the presentation of clothing materials and other items to them by the Lutheran Church of Nigeria, Anua Offot community, Uyo, said they would remain grateful to the different churches that decided to accommodate and support them in their hopeless situation.

Army killed my mother, my children’s whereabouts unknown- Epolle Speaking, a widow and representative of the refugees in the state, Mrs. Agnes Epolle,  said: “I am a refugee from Southern Cameroon  and I  have stayed in Akwa Ibom for more than one year. “What this church has done today is to help us cover our nakedness. And I cannot express enough thanks to them for the support the members have given to us. I can only pray that the good God help me to reward them. I pray God to reward those that have reached out to us to feed us and cover our nakedness. “When I ran away from Cameroon, I lost contact with my family, because people were running for safety. I left my children in the custody of my mother, but I learnt that the Army came and killed my mother and burnt down the house. Although I feel at home here in Akwa Ibom, but part of me is not here because I do not know the fate of my children.”

Similarly, Mrs. Itah Sone, also from Southern region of Cameroon said: “Since we came here to Akwa Ibom, some churches have been assisting us. Right now, we do not have a particular area where we are living. For now, churches and some people, who know some of us over there in Cameroon; have shown us love by providing us accommodation. “There was a time some of us were disturbed by immigration. But I am happy that the UN came in and addressed that challenge. The UN came to identify us and register us and that is why we can now move freely and look for something to do to earn a living. We are also appealing to Akwa Ibom State Government to give us a place where we can stay together until the crises in our country is over because we are scattered all over the state,” she said.

Also, Mr. Emmanuel Malete, said he had been in the state for more than five months, he, however, lamented that he is finding it difficult to get a job to do to be able to feed and take care of his wife and four children. “Life has not been easy for me and my family. It is difficult to get a job that can fetch you N2000 a day. We are grateful to God for using the church to provide for the needy and helpless,” he lamented. Why we decided to lend a hand – Elder Jacob Presenting the items to the representatives of the refugees, Chairman of the Church, Elder Emmanuel Jacob, decried the killings and wars that displaced families all over the world, saying that the gesture by the church was borne out of the desire and passion to lend helping hand to helpless victims of such unfortunate circumstances. “As a Lutheran Church family in Anua Offot, we have been doing this in our little way to support this kind of people.  It can happen to anybody, which is why when we heard about their plight, as a church, we agreed to support them in our own small way. We do not have much to offer them, but we believe that the little we are giving will go a long way to help. “Nothing is too small or too big. If we had more, we would have done more. We pray that God will support you and in whatever you do, God will never depart from you. I appreciate members of the church for the kind heart, and passion in giving to those in need. The items are clothes, shoes for men, women and children and toiletries”, he stated.

www.vanguardngr.com

Ambazonians in Nigeria Demand Unconditional Release of S. Cameroons leaders

8, January 2019

Ambazonians in Nigeria Demand Unconditional Release of S. Cameroons leaders 0

Southern Cameroonians while commemorating the abduction of 12 of their nationals on January 5, 2018 have called for the unconditional release of all their abducted citizens. They made the call in a peaceful protest and one million Twitter tweets in their various countries, stating that the activists were arrested over one year ago.

In a statement to LEADERSHIP signed by Nfor James Abinda in Anambra state, it stated that January 5 2018- January 5 2019 is a year already since the abduction of Southern Camerouns Pro independence activists. He said “those abducted by alleged Nigerian secret security and deported, in violation of the international law of non-refoulement include Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe,  Dr Cornelius Kwanga Barr. Shufai Blaise Berinyuy,  Tassang Wilfred, Dr Kimeng Henry, Dr Nfor Ngala Nfor,  Dr Fidelis Ndeh Che,Dr Ogork Ntui,  Professor Awasum Augustine,  Barr. Eyambe Elias and Dr Ojong Okongork.

He recalled that amidst world outcries, the deportees were held incommunicado for 9 months before making their first public appearance at the Yaounde military court in December 2018. “Some of their conditions include the unconditional release of all Southern Cameroonians held in prisons, withdrawal of French Cameroon military and civil administrators from Southern Cameroons, and a neutral ground for negotiations in the presence of a third party notably the UN, USA, UK among others”.

Their next court appearance in the military court is scheduled for January 10th 2019. Given insight to the crises in Cameroun since 2016, Abinda said “The silence of the United Nations(UN) the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West  African States (ECOWAS) and the powers that be, to ensure the rights of the people of the British Southern Cameroons is respected is what gradually degenerated into the crisis happening in Cameroon since 2016.”

He maintained that in the wake of all these experiences, Southern Cameroonians, have continued to pursue diplomacy and legal action for the UN resolution 1608 of 1961 that granted their independence be respected. Abinda added that since November 2017, there has been continuous influx of Southern Cameroons refugees into Nigeria, with the figure now standing at over 150,000 though the number registered under the UNHCR is still far below 50,000. “They are found in about 14 refugee settlements in Cross River, Benue and Taraba, Ogun, Lagos, Nassarawa, state and Abuja. More keep coming into Nigeria as the war that was declared by Paul Biya on November 30th 2017 continues with worsened Humanitarian situations’ He  further revealed  that the Interim Government of Southern Cameroons with the appellation “The Federal Republic of Ambazonia” had extended a hand for the negotiations to end the war.

Source: Leadership.ng

Ambazoniagate: Barrister Nalova speaks of the NERA 10 and the Abuja abduction

8, January 2019

Ambazoniagate: Barrister Nalova speaks of the NERA 10 and the Abuja abduction 0

My name is Nsoh Nalova Bih, I was 1 of the 12 Ambazonian activists who gathered at the Nera Hotel in Abuja on January 5, 2018. Here is MY STORY on how we were abducted, why I was not taken to Cameroon with the Nera10 to face bogus terrorism charges

On that fateful day, we had gathered in Abuja to discuss the growing refugee crisis in the Cross River State of Nigeria caused by the war that President Biya had declared on the people of Southern Cameroons.

The group consisted of Profs, Lawyers, Teachers: Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, Prof. Awasum Augustin, Dr Henry Kimeng, Deacon Tassang Wilfred, Dr. Fidelis Ndeh-Che, Dr Conerlius Kwanga, Dr Ogork Ntui, Eyambe Elias, SHUFAI Bliase, Nfor Ngalla Nfor, Dr OJONG & myself.

We had barely settled downed when a group of unidentified heavily armed men appeared, handcuffed and blindfolded us, and took us to an unknown destination. All i could remember was that we drove for hours.

When we arrived at our destination, all I can remember is that I was still with the 11 others. Our abductors then took us from the car, one after the other. I was searched & taken to a cell. This was a Friday.

On Monday morning, a girl walked in and blindfolded me then took me to a dark room where I was questioned. I refused to answer. I was fingerprinted, and my picture taken.

Two wks later, I was once again blindfolded and taken to a car where I realized that I was with the other 11 male ACTIVISTS. I knew who they were despite the blindfold because I recognized them from their voices.

When we got to our destination, we were told to remove our blindfolds, which we did. We were then ushered into a building which turned out to be the offices of UNHCR Nigeria. This was on January 18, 2018.

Being at the UNHCR was a huge relief given that 4 of the abducted activists were legally recognized Refugees in Nigeria, while 6 others had their applications pending, the coming of the UNHCR was a relief.

Nigeria assured us that they were working with the Nigeria government to secure our release. This was the first confirmation that the Nigerian government was behind our abduction, although we still did not know why.

On Jan 25, 2018, at about 4pm, I was again blindfolded and taken to a car where I heard the voices of my friends again. We drove for quite a while before getting to our destination.

Upon arrival, we were asked to remove our blindfolds & behave. Only then did we realize we were on our way to Nnamdi Azikiwe Intl. Airport, Abuja. When Sisiku Ayuk asked where we were going, we were told “back home”. We didn’t know what home meant.

When we got to the airport, a Cameroun military plane was waiting for us. We realized we’d been abducted by military & held by the Defence Intelligence Agency. How could we fight back? They were heavily armed & looked ready to shoot anyone who resisted.

When we were ordered to board the plane, Dr. Ojong objected saying 2 among the 12 activists were of Nigerian descent, that is, he and myself. The BIR officers alighted from the plane and insisted that they had come to pick up 12 not 10 of them.

After hours of discussions, 2 of us were finally left behind while the 10 others boarded the plane. The Nigerian govt had just violated its own laws, while unhcrnigeria had failed in its mission to protect the vulnerable asylum seekers.

Dr. Ojong and I were taken back to the DIA and locked up until Feb. 20, 2018 when we were finally transferred to Asokoro police station.

On Feb. 25, 2018, I had a miscarriage while in detention. I was 3 months & 2 weeks pregnant. It was due to this miscarriage that I was granted bail on a 1-million-naira bond and had to be reporting to a Police Station.

Our abduction & the forcible/illegal transfer of 10 of us to Cameroon was a watershed moment that violated Nigerian law, international refugee law, & basic human rights. This travesty must be corrected with #Justice4Nera10 via their immediate and unconditional release

8, January 2019

Zimbabwe teachers to strike over pay as currency crisis deepens 0

Zimbabwean teachers will strike from Tuesday to press for US dollar salaries as talks with the government failed to bring a breakthrough, a union says, adding pressure on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to contain a runaway currency crisis.

Cash shortages have plunged Zimbabwe’s financial system into disarray, threatening social unrest and undermining Mnangagwa’s efforts to win back foreign investors sidelined under his predecessor Robert Mugabe.

With not enough hard currency to back up funds showing in bank accounts, the value of electronic money has plummeted, prompting businesses and civil servants to demand payment in US dollars they can withdraw.

Just over four months into Mnangagwa’s contested presidency, the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Union (ZIMTA) said its members would strike as spiraling inflation has left them unable to buy basic goods and fuel that are in short supply. Government doctors have been on strike for more than a month over the same issue.

ZIMTA president Richard Gundani told Reuters a meeting between public sector unions and acting Labor Minister July Moyo only resolved to re-start talks, but teachers would not report for duty from Tuesday.

“We were very frank to each other and all the unions agreed that workers are incapacitated and we provided sufficient justification that they are unable to work,” Gundani said.

“ZIMTA’s declaration of incapacitation stands and teachers will not go to work.”

Moyo did not immediately answer calls to his mobile phone.

The government employs more than 100,000 teachers and ZIMTA has 44,000 members.

On Monday, police arrested and later released 9 members of the smaller Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe who were picketing at a park in central Harare, their lawyer said.

There was a heavy presence of police with water cannon elsewhere in the capital.

As doctors continue their strike, Zimbabwe’s public hospitals have been left short of drugs and reliant on patients to buy them. Pharmacies have stopped accepting insurance policies for purchases and demand payment in dollars.

Zimbabwe is also struggling with acute shortages of fuel, forcing motorists to queue for hours.

Civil servant salaries accounted for 90 percent of the budget last year but Mnangagwa’s government has made an ambitious pledge to cut this to 70 percent in 2019 as part of reforms aimed at boosting growth and investment.

Mnangagwa came to power in November 2017 after Mugabe was forced to resign following an army coup. He was declared president in August 2018 after a presidential vote that his main opponent says he won fraudulently.

(Source: Reuters)

8, January 2019

Trump attacks the US news media, calling them ‘crazed lunatics’ 0

US President Donald Trump has launched a new attack on mainstream American news organizations, calling the press “crazed lunatics,” and again used the term “enemy of the people” and “fake news” to degrade journalists.

“With all of the success that our Country is having, including the just released jobs numbers which are off the charts, the Fake News & totally dishonest Media concerning me and my presidency has never been worse,” Trump said in tweets on Monday.

“Many have become crazed lunatics who have given up on the TRUTH!,” he added. DIt was not clear what provoked Trump’s fresh onslaught against the news media.

In earlier tweets Monday, Trump claimed, without citing any specifics, that the “Fake News” knowingly lies and fabricates sources to make him look bad.

“The Fake News Media in our Country is the real Opposition Party,” Trump said. “It is truly the Enemy of the People! We must bring honesty back to journalism and reporting!”D

PressTV-Trump's attacks on media may lead to violence: UN

Trump has frequently criticized journalists and described news reports that contradict his opinion or policy positions as “fake news.”

The Republican president’s comments reflect a view held by many conservatives that most newspapers and other news organization in the US often distort, fabricate or exclude facts because of their liberal tendencies.

The UN human rights commissioner warned in August that Trump’s verbal attacks on the media are “very close to incitement to violence” against journalists.

In September, the publisher of the New York Times made a similar warning and urged Trump to stop attacking the news media.

Source: Presstv

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