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TikTok admits to granting US govt a ‘kill switch’

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TikTok revealed that it proposed granting the US government the authority to shut down its platform in 2022, aiming to address lawmakers’ worries about data protection and national security.

This disclosure comes as TikTok and its parent company ByteDance battle against legislation that mandates the app’s ban in the US unless ByteDance sells it.

The legislation was introduced due to concerns that TikTok could potentially share data from its US users with the Chinese government, allegations vehemently denied by TikTok and ByteDance. Both companies are actively urging the courts to invalidate the legislation.

“This law is a radical departure from this country’s tradition of championing an open Internet, and sets a dangerous precedent allowing the political branches to target a disfavored speech platform and force it to sell or be shut down,” they argued in their legal submission.

They also claimed the US government refused to engage in any serious settlement talks after 2022, and pointed to the “kill switch” offer as evidence of the lengths they had been prepared to go.

TikTok says the mechanism would have allowed the government the “explicit authority to suspend the platform in the United States at the US government’s sole discretion” if it did not follow certain rules.

A draft “National Security Agreement”, proposed by TikTok in August 2022, would have seen the company having to follow rules such as properly funding its data protection units and making sure that ByteDance did not have access to US users’ data.

The government’s “kill switch” could have been activated if it violated the terms of this agreement, it asserted.

According to a letter disclosed by the Washington Post, TikTok’s attorney alleges that after proposing new regulations, the US government “terminated all substantive negotiations.”

Dated April 1, 2024, the letter asserts that the government disregarded requests for further discussions and declined an invitation to inspect TikTok’s Dedicated Transparency Center in Maryland.

Legal proceedings at the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia are scheduled for September, involving lawsuits filed by TikTok, ByteDance, and TikTok users.

The lawsuits challenge legislation signed by President Joe Biden in April, which mandates ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US assets by January next year or face a ban.

This legislation was enacted due to concerns that data from TikTok’s 170 million US users could potentially be accessed by the Chinese government.

TikTok has refuted allegations of data sharing with China, calling the legislation an unconstitutional restriction on free speech.

It maintains that US user data remains within the country and is managed by Oracle through Project Texas. However, a Wall Street Journal investigation in January 2024 revealed ongoing data sharing between TikTok in the US and ByteDance in China.

In May, a US government official informed the Washington Post that the proposed solution at the time was deemed insufficient to mitigate serious national security risks.

They added: “While we have consistently engaged with the company about our concerns and potential solutions, it became clear that divestment from its foreign ownership was and remains necessary.”

TikTok admits to granting US govt a ‘kill switch’

zamobserver
-
0

TikTok revealed that it proposed granting the US government the authority to shut down its platform in 2022, aiming to address lawmakers’ worries about data protection and national security.

This disclosure comes as TikTok and its parent company ByteDance battle against legislation that mandates the app’s ban in the US unless ByteDance sells it.

The legislation was introduced due to concerns that TikTok could potentially share data from its US users with the Chinese government, allegations vehemently denied by TikTok and ByteDance. Both companies are actively urging the courts to invalidate the legislation.

“This law is a radical departure from this country’s tradition of championing an open Internet, and sets a dangerous precedent allowing the political branches to target a disfavored speech platform and force it to sell or be shut down,” they argued in their legal submission.

They also claimed the US government refused to engage in any serious settlement talks after 2022, and pointed to the “kill switch” offer as evidence of the lengths they had been prepared to go.

TikTok says the mechanism would have allowed the government the “explicit authority to suspend the platform in the United States at the US government’s sole discretion” if it did not follow certain rules.

A draft “National Security Agreement”, proposed by TikTok in August 2022, would have seen the company having to follow rules such as properly funding its data protection units and making sure that ByteDance did not have access to US users’ data.

The government’s “kill switch” could have been activated if it violated the terms of this agreement, it asserted.

According to a letter disclosed by the Washington Post, TikTok’s attorney alleges that after proposing new regulations, the US government “terminated all substantive negotiations.”

Dated April 1, 2024, the letter asserts that the government disregarded requests for further discussions and declined an invitation to inspect TikTok’s Dedicated Transparency Center in Maryland.

Legal proceedings at the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia are scheduled for September, involving lawsuits filed by TikTok, ByteDance, and TikTok users.

The lawsuits challenge legislation signed by President Joe Biden in April, which mandates ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US assets by January next year or face a ban.

This legislation was enacted due to concerns that data from TikTok’s 170 million US users could potentially be accessed by the Chinese government.

TikTok has refuted allegations of data sharing with China, calling the legislation an unconstitutional restriction on free speech.

It maintains that US user data remains within the country and is managed by Oracle through Project Texas. However, a Wall Street Journal investigation in January 2024 revealed ongoing data sharing between TikTok in the US and ByteDance in China.

In May, a US government official informed the Washington Post that the proposed solution at the time was deemed insufficient to mitigate serious national security risks.

They added: “While we have consistently engaged with the company about our concerns and potential solutions, it became clear that divestment from its foreign ownership was and remains necessary.”

Hajj pilgrims: Over a thousand people reported dead in Saudi due to extreme heat

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Over 1,000 pilgrims have lost their lives during this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia, with temperatures soaring to a sweltering 51.8C in Mecca recently.

Approximately 1.8 million Muslims participated in this extensive, largely outdoor pilgrimage, a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for those who are able.

While the Saudi authorities have not yet provided an official death toll, reports indicate that around 10 countries have collectively reported 1,081 fatalities during the event.

At the Emergency Complex in Mecca’s Al-Muaisem neighborhood, crowds gathered to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones and seek information about missing relatives.

In a poignant scene outside the facility, an Egyptian man collapsed in grief upon learning of his mother’s death.

After an emotional outburst, he composed himself enough to call their travel agent for further assistance.

“He left her to die,” he shouted, referring to the agent. The crowd tried to calm him down.

A spokesperson solemnly announced the names and nationalities of the deceased, including individuals from Algeria, Egypt, and India. Only verified relatives were permitted inside to formally identify their loved ones.

According to an Arab diplomat speaking to AFP, the number of Egyptian fatalities has surged, surpassing 650, with 630 of them being unregistered pilgrims. Each year, tens of thousands attempt the Hajj through alternative means due to financial constraints preventing them from obtaining official permits.

Saudi officials have reported that they have removed hundreds of thousands of unregistered pilgrims from Mecca this month alone.

Out of around 150,000 pilgrims, Pakistan has recorded at least 58 deaths, a diplomat briefed on the tally told AFP. “I think given the number of people, given the weather, this is just natural,” the diplomat said.

Indonesia, which had around 240,000 pilgrims, said the nation’s death toll had reached 183 according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs. They added 313 deaths were due to heatstroke.

Khalid Bashir Bazaz, an Indian pilgrim, speaking near the Grand Mosque, said he “saw a lot of people collapsing to the ground unconscious”.

Deaths are not uncommon at the Hajj, There have also been stampedes and epidemics throughout the pilgrimage’s history. Each year, the Hajj draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from low-income nations, and illnesses can spread among the gathered masses, many of whom save their entire lives for the pilgrimage.

More than 1.83 million Muslims performed the Hajj in 2024, including more than 1.6 million from 22 countries, according to the Saudi Hajj authorities.

Saudi Arabia has allocated substantial funds for crowd management and safety measures during the annual five-day pilgrimage, but the large number of pilgrims poses significant challenges to ensuring their well-being.

Due to Islam’s lunar calendar, the Hajj shifts approximately 11 days earlier each year. By 2029, the Hajj will fall in April, and in subsequent years, it will take place during the winter months when temperatures are more moderate.

In 2015, a tragic stampede in Mina during the Hajj resulted in the deaths of more than 2,400 pilgrims, marking it as the deadliest incident ever recorded during the pilgrimage. Despite this, Saudi Arabia has never officially acknowledged the full extent of the tragedy.

Roman Catholic Priest fires gun in church

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A Bulawayo man suspected to be part of a gang of robbers that has terrorised Roman Catholic churches in the city was reportedly sold out by a priest’s finger ring that was stolen in one of the churches.

Sources said a member of the church in New Magwegwe spotted the special ring wrapped strangely on the finger of a young man in the suburb and alerted others, leading to the arrest of some of the robbers who have since appeared in court.

It has emerged that Roman Catholic churches have since last year been a target of robberies in the city with 22 churches being robbed of cash, laptops and cellphones, among other items. Last week, four suspected armed robbers, Mthulisi Ncube, Bernard Mudimba, Lucky Sibanda and Phathisani Ncube were arrested for allegedly robbing two Roman Catholic churches. They appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Collet Ncube facing three counts of armed robbery. They, however, pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Following the arrest, which was carried out by the police’s Homicide Section, Archbishop Alex Thomas of the Bulawayo Diocese said the church heaved a sigh of relief after the arrest of some of the suspects.

“We were worried because 22 churches were robbed recently. When the robbers got to those churches they attacked our church priests before stealing cash and electrical gadgets that ranged from cellphones to laptops. We reported all the cases to the police and we are happy because four robbers were arrested and we recovered some of the stolen items.”

The Archbishop said following the spate of robberies which plunged their churches, they engaged police.

“We held three meetings with police to express our concern about the robberies which targeted our churches and put our lives at risk. Police advised us to beef up our security in all churches and we have done that,” he said.

The Archbishop said the community and the police have joined hands to provide security for the churches.

“We have engaged Neighbourhood Watch Committee Members and ZRP to patrol and guard our churches. The arrangement has worked well and there are other security measures that we have implemented,” he said.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday at around 4am, suspected robbers struck at the Roman Catholic Church known as Christ the King Parish situated in Hillside suburb.

Describing the incident, a source said: “A robber smashed a kitchen window and entered through the window. While he was trying to open the door with an iron bar the resident priest heard the noise and walked to the door and fired a warning shot, forcing the robber to run away before he could take anything.”

Archbishop Thomas confirmed the incident: “This is a worrying sign that the robbers are back to carry out robberies at our churches. We hope the police will thoroughly do their investigations and arrest the suspects.”

Source – Erick Matotoba

Some US Airline staff suspended after deplaning 8 black passengers over purported body odour

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US Airlines has taken action against several employees following an incident where black passengers were asked to leave a flight due to a complaint about body odour.

The CEO, Robert Isom, addressed the issue in a communication to staff, acknowledging that the incident was unacceptable and that the airline failed to meet its customer service standards.

Three passengers filed a lawsuit in May, accusing the airline of racial discrimination related to the incident on January 5th.

“We are holding those involved accountable, including removing team members from service,” the airline said in a statement.
The company has also announced a number of initiatives aimed at preventing such incidents from taking place, including an “advisory group” focused on the experience of black passengers.

Three men, who were not seated together and unfamiliar with each other, filed a lawsuit in May alleging that every black male passenger on a flight from Phoenix, Arizona, to New York City was asked to disembark. In total, eight passengers were removed from the flight.

“American Airlines singled us out for being black, embarrassed us, and humiliated us,” they said in a statement.
The three men – Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal – were eventually allowed to re-take their seats on their original flight.

In a letter to employees dated 18 June, Mr Isom said he was “incredibly disappointed by what happened on the flight and the breakdown of our procedures”.

“We fell short of our commitments and failed our customers,” he said.

He stressed the airline’s firm commitment to partnering with civil rights groups like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to restore confidence.

This recent incident isn’t the first time American Airlines has faced allegations of discrimination. In 2017, the NAACP advised African American travelers to consider avoiding the airline due to ongoing complaints of disrespectful and discriminatory behavior.

There were also concerns about a corporate environment that appeared insensitive to racial issues and potentially biased.

Although the advisory was lifted the following year after American Airlines made operational changes, the NAACP issued a warning on June 4th of this year.

They indicated that they might reintroduce their advisory unless the airline swiftly and definitively addressed a January incident.

Namibian court overturns ban on same-sex acts

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In a historic victory for gay rights activists, Namibia has declared laws banning same-sex acts between men unconstitutional.

Although convictions for “sodomy” and “unnatural sexual offences”—remnants of colonial rule—were infrequent, these laws perpetuated discrimination and instilled fear of arrest among gay men.

There are no existing laws in Namibia that prohibit sexual relations between women. While same-sex marriage remains illegal within the country, Namibia does recognize the unions of same-sex couples married abroad, provided one partner is not a Namibian citizen.

Following the high court’s decision in Windhoek on Friday, members of the LGBTQ group Equal Namibia shared images of celebratory embraces in the courtroom.

“Welcome to a new Namibia. A born-free Namibia,” the group said on social media.

The term “born-free” was most famously used in neighbouring South Africa to describe the first generation of children growing up in the dawn of democracy after white-minority rule ended in 1994.

‘I no longer feel like a criminal’
This court case was brought by a Namibian activist called Friedel Dausab, with backing from the British charity Human Dignity Trust.

“It won’t be a crime to love anymore,” Mr Dausab said, reacting to the verdict. “I no longer feel like a criminal on the run in my own country simply because of who I am.”

Expressing his feelings, he simply said he was “just happy”. The United Nations has also praised the ruling, describing it as a “powerful step” towards a more inclusive society that would enhance access to health services and HIV treatment.

Amnesty International, fearing backlash from the ruling, has called on the Namibian government to safeguard the safety and dignity of LGBTQ individuals.

The organization noted it had already observed instances of “alarming” and “threatening” rhetoric in the lead-up to the court case.

Namibia, which was first colonized by Germany, achieved independence from South Africa in 1990 after a long and difficult war.

In recent years, several African countries have repealed anti-LGBTQ laws, but South Africa remains the only nation on the continent where same-sex couples can marry and adopt children.

Namibian court overturns ban on same-sex acts

zamobserver
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0

In a historic victory for gay rights activists, Namibia has declared laws banning same-sex acts between men unconstitutional.

Although convictions for “sodomy” and “unnatural sexual offences”—remnants of colonial rule—were infrequent, these laws perpetuated discrimination and instilled fear of arrest among gay men.

There are no existing laws in Namibia that prohibit sexual relations between women. While same-sex marriage remains illegal within the country, Namibia does recognize the unions of same-sex couples married abroad, provided one partner is not a Namibian citizen.

Following the high court’s decision in Windhoek on Friday, members of the LGBTQ group Equal Namibia shared images of celebratory embraces in the courtroom.

“Welcome to a new Namibia. A born-free Namibia,” the group said on social media.

The term “born-free” was most famously used in neighbouring South Africa to describe the first generation of children growing up in the dawn of democracy after white-minority rule ended in 1994.

‘I no longer feel like a criminal’
This court case was brought by a Namibian activist called Friedel Dausab, with backing from the British charity Human Dignity Trust.

“It won’t be a crime to love anymore,” Mr Dausab said, reacting to the verdict. “I no longer feel like a criminal on the run in my own country simply because of who I am.”

Expressing his feelings, he simply said he was “just happy”. The United Nations has also praised the ruling, describing it as a “powerful step” towards a more inclusive society that would enhance access to health services and HIV treatment.

Amnesty International, fearing backlash from the ruling, has called on the Namibian government to safeguard the safety and dignity of LGBTQ individuals.

The organization noted it had already observed instances of “alarming” and “threatening” rhetoric in the lead-up to the court case.

Namibia, which was first colonized by Germany, achieved independence from South Africa in 1990 after a long and difficult war.

In recent years, several African countries have repealed anti-LGBTQ laws, but South Africa remains the only nation on the continent where same-sex couples can marry and adopt children.

man who was tricked into going to hospital by a “friend” woke to find his genitals had been removed

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A man who was tricked into going to hospital by a “friend” woke to find his genitals had been removed.

The bizarre “sex change” operation was reportedly part of a twisted plot that would allow the pair to get married.

The so-called friend had even allegedly colluded with doctors to lure the 20-year-old victim there under false pretences before they carried out the life-changing surgery.

The incident happened in Uttar Pradesh in India, the Hindustan Times reports.

The victim had allegedly been threatened and harassed by the same person for two years and went to hospital on June 3, 2024, after being told he needed an immediate inspection.

He was put under anaesthetic before unknowingly going under the knife.

When he came around, the “friend” told him that they would now have to live together and marry as no-one from his family or the community would accept him. The sick friend threatened to shoot his father and take his share of his family’s land if he didn’t comply, it is claimed.

Speaking to News18, the victim said: “I had no idea what was going to happen in the hospital. I just came with faith.

“When I regained consciousness the next day, he told me that I have become a woman now and we both will have to get married.

“He told me that he changed me from a man to a woman and now we will have to live together.

“He said a lawyer had agreed to conduct our court marriage and we will soon move to Lucknow, where his uncle lives.

“He wants to build a house there and he also withdrew Rs 35,000 from my account.”

Farmer leader Shyam Pal, staged a protest in front of the medical college demanding action against the accused and the hospital staff who allegedly carried out the procedure without the victim’s consent.

He linked the incident to the “illegal business of selling body parts.”

But doctors deny the claim and said the victim underwent sex reassignment of his own will.

Officer Ramashish Yadav said: “The family members of the youth alleged that the other party had got the operation done by misleading them.

“The accused will be investigated.

“Further legal action will be taken on the basis of whatever facts come to light.”

man who was tricked into going to hospital by a “friend” woke to find his genitals had been removed

zamobserver
-
0

A man who was tricked into going to hospital by a “friend” woke to find his genitals had been removed.

The bizarre “sex change” operation was reportedly part of a twisted plot that would allow the pair to get married.

The so-called friend had even allegedly colluded with doctors to lure the 20-year-old victim there under false pretences before they carried out the life-changing surgery.

The incident happened in Uttar Pradesh in India, the Hindustan Times reports.

The victim had allegedly been threatened and harassed by the same person for two years and went to hospital on June 3, 2024, after being told he needed an immediate inspection.

He was put under anaesthetic before unknowingly going under the knife.

When he came around, the “friend” told him that they would now have to live together and marry as no-one from his family or the community would accept him. The sick friend threatened to shoot his father and take his share of his family’s land if he didn’t comply, it is claimed.

Speaking to News18, the victim said: “I had no idea what was going to happen in the hospital. I just came with faith.

“When I regained consciousness the next day, he told me that I have become a woman now and we both will have to get married.

“He told me that he changed me from a man to a woman and now we will have to live together.

“He said a lawyer had agreed to conduct our court marriage and we will soon move to Lucknow, where his uncle lives.

“He wants to build a house there and he also withdrew Rs 35,000 from my account.”

Farmer leader Shyam Pal, staged a protest in front of the medical college demanding action against the accused and the hospital staff who allegedly carried out the procedure without the victim’s consent.

He linked the incident to the “illegal business of selling body parts.”

But doctors deny the claim and said the victim underwent sex reassignment of his own will.

Officer Ramashish Yadav said: “The family members of the youth alleged that the other party had got the operation done by misleading them.

“The accused will be investigated.

“Further legal action will be taken on the basis of whatever facts come to light.”

Roberto Baggio breaks his silence after he was beaten and locked up by armed robbers

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Italian football legend, Roberto Baggio has opened up about the ‘violence’ he and his family suffered after armed robbers launched a ‘lighting attack’ against them as they watched the Euro 2024 match between Spain and Italy in their home.

Baggio, 57, was at his home in Altavilla Vicentina in Italy when the gang of five broke in at around 10 pm local time last night

While he tried to fight the thugs off, he was hit in the head with a gun before he and his family, made up of his wife, two sons, his mother- and brother-in-law, were locked in a room.

The robbers stole watches, jewellery, and money from the isolated agricultural estate in which he and his family have lived in for 15 years.

The Ballon d’Or winner, who scored 27 goals in 56 caps for his national team was able to break his family out of the room they were locked in, but not before the robbers got away.

According to Corriere della Sera, the robbery took place over 40 minutes.

Baggio was seen walking around his estate today sporting a bandage on his head following the treatment he suffered at the hands of the robbers.

Investigating cops have been handed CCTV footage to assist their inquiry.

Baggio, meanwhile, had to go to a hospital in Arzignano, roughly eight miles from his home, to be treated for his forehead injury, for which he was given stitches.

Speaking to Italian media through his agent Vittorio Petrone, Baggio said: ‘First of all, my family and I would like to thank everyone for the great love we have received. Thank you very much.’

‘In similar circumstances, anything can happen, and fortunately, the violence suffered only generated a few stitches to my person, bruises and a lot of fear. Now all that remains is to overcome the fear.’

Mr Petrone told Italian media: ‘The lightning attack, in full light, did not allow the activation of all the best security systems with which the villa is equipped.

‘Now, from what happened, we will further strengthen the daytime detection systems throughout the entire perimeter.

‘Only when you are hit do you realize the wounds left by an episode of violence and oppression suffered in your home, together with his family Roberto once again amazed me with the clarity and strength of spirit he expressed immediately following the attack he suffered.

‘I am sure that Roberto will once again be the pillar on which his entire family can lean to leave this behind brutal attack. The investigators are working intensely to bring the culprits to justice.’

Diego Fabbi, Baggio’s brother-in-law, told reporters outside the villa that he and the rest of the family haven’t spoken about the shocking attack.

‘We talked little about what happened. They were all watching the match together when the shot occurred. Where did they come in from? That’s the problem. We don’t know, the criminals found themselves in the living room.

‘Roberto’s two sons were there and also my mother. The criminals spoke little, it was not clear where they were coming from but they acted well with their hands, beating Roberto. I can’t say anything else.’

US Supreme Court rules that American citizens can’t sue if their non-citizen spouse is denied visa

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The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens are not violated when the government bars their non-citizen spouses from entering the country without explanation.

The court in a 6-3 decision on Friday, June 21, said Sandra Munoz, a U.S. citizen and civil rights lawyer, cannot challenge the U.S. Department of State’s denial of her El Salvadoran husband’s visa application after the agency waited three years to explain that it suspected him of being a gang member.

In the US, Visa denials are not reviewable in court unless the government violates an applicant’s constitutional rights in the process. With this ruling, it means a non-citizen spouse of a US citizen can be denied a visa to the country without any explanation. So non-citizens don’t have a guaranteed right of access to the US or its territories.

Munoz and her husband, who she married in 2010 and with whom she has a child, have been separated since 2015, according to court filings.

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected Munoz’s claim that the delay in explaining the denial violated her due process rights by interfering with her fundamental right to marry.

Munoz sued the State Department in 2017 after the agency declined to reconsider its earlier denial of her husband’s visa, and before it explained its determination. Munoz’s husband, who has no criminal record and denied any gang affiliation, had travelled to El Salvador to apply for a visa.

Her claim “involves more than marriage and more than spousal cohabitation — it includes the right to have her non-citizen husband enter (and remain in) the United States,” Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote for the court.

The ruling reverses a 2022 decision by the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that revived Munoz’s lawsuit against the State

The Immigration Reform Law Institute, a conservative group that filed a brief backing the State Department, praised the ruling.

"To hold for this couple would let those Americans who choose to marry dangerous aliens force their choice on the rest of us," Dale Wilcox, the group's executive director and general counsel, said in a statement.

US Supreme Court rules that American citizens can’t sue if their non-citizen spouse is denied visa

zamobserver
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0

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens are not violated when the government bars their non-citizen spouses from entering the country without explanation.

The court in a 6-3 decision on Friday, June 21, said Sandra Munoz, a U.S. citizen and civil rights lawyer, cannot challenge the U.S. Department of State’s denial of her El Salvadoran husband’s visa application after the agency waited three years to explain that it suspected him of being a gang member.

In the US, Visa denials are not reviewable in court unless the government violates an applicant’s constitutional rights in the process. With this ruling, it means a non-citizen spouse of a US citizen can be denied a visa to the country without any explanation. So non-citizens don’t have a guaranteed right of access to the US or its territories.

Munoz and her husband, who she married in 2010 and with whom she has a child, have been separated since 2015, according to court filings.

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected Munoz’s claim that the delay in explaining the denial violated her due process rights by interfering with her fundamental right to marry.

Munoz sued the State Department in 2017 after the agency declined to reconsider its earlier denial of her husband’s visa, and before it explained its determination. Munoz’s husband, who has no criminal record and denied any gang affiliation, had travelled to El Salvador to apply for a visa.

Her claim “involves more than marriage and more than spousal cohabitation — it includes the right to have her non-citizen husband enter (and remain in) the United States,” Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote for the court.

The ruling reverses a 2022 decision by the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that revived Munoz’s lawsuit against the State

The Immigration Reform Law Institute, a conservative group that filed a brief backing the State Department, praised the ruling.

"To hold for this couple would let those Americans who choose to marry dangerous aliens force their choice on the rest of us," Dale Wilcox, the group's executive director and general counsel, said in a statement.

WE NEED MILITARY INDUSTRIES, BUT NOT THE ZNS WAY – Fred M’membe

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WE NEED MILITARY INDUSTRIES, BUT NOT THE ZNS WAY

It’s certainly not right at law and otherwise for the Commandant and deputy Commandant of Zambia National Service (ZNS) to hold shares in their own names in ZNS owned companies.

Shares in ZNS run Eagles Holdings Limited are held by the Commandant and his deputy.

We agree with Mr. Dickson Jere’s opposition to the maner in which ZNS is doing business. Public assets can not be held and managed in this way. This is too much power being given to two employees of ZNS to literally do as they please. The two are the sole shareholders and directors of ZNS companies.

Whatever personal relationship they may have with the President or the Minister of Defence, this is unacceptable and unjustifiable. It’s a recipe for corruption and gross abuse.

Let us help build incorruptible systems that will help us develop this country and give our people a better life regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation.

It is also important for our political leaders and citizens to fully understand the purpose, nature, and meaning of defence industries. Without a clear understanding of the concept of defence industries, corruption and other abuses will set in, and those involved may have to face charges and possible prosecutions when there’s a regime change.

The military should not be made to focus on business lines that our people, with a bit of support, can easily engage in. The military should focus more on businesses that advance or promote the defending of our country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It’s not about just making money. Once we lose it and dangle a carrot in front of them, the military will end up forgetting their role of defence and start thinking more about making money for themselves or their families and when sent to the battle field they will not concentrate because they will be thinking more about their assets and investments and fail to fight.

The military worldwide run investments or industries that directly benefit them. For example, ammunition, weapons, armoured vehicles, manufacturing of military uniforms, and so on and so forth. It is important to note here that the military will grow and diversify their businesses only when their main business lines have matured. The primary business is then sustained by the development of secondary businesses.

The crisis Zambia finds itself in today can only be resolved quickly by the government paying attention to the empowerment of the private citizens and not ZNS.

Then what is the role of the Ministry of Defence businesses? The answer from me would be: defence industries provide governments with military capabilities across the naval, land, aerospace, and electronic systems domains in support of current and future defence and military requirements.

The orientation of ZNS businesses seems to be veering away from this conception, and the ending can be disastrous. Yes, we need military industries – and it’s very difficult to develop a country without military industries or businesses, but not the ZNS inherently corrupt way.

Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party

The Misguided Attack on Kaunda’s Legacy: A Call to Kenyan Youth to Focus on Their Own Struggles

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GUEST ARTICLE: LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

The Misguided Attack on Kaunda’s Legacy: A Call to Kenyan Youth to Focus on Their Own Struggles

By Njoya Mulonga Tembo, MZIM
June 21, 2024

As the youth of Kenya take to the streets to express their grievances, it is disheartening to see the name of Dr Kenneth Kaunda fondly known as KK, a legendary freedom fighter and Pan Africanist, being dragged through the mud. The placards bearing the phrase “the devil wears Kaunda” are not only misguided but also disrespectful to the legacy of a man who dedicated his life to fighting colonialism, apartheid, and imperialism. We kindly advise the people and Government of the Republic of Kenya through its embassy in Zambia to apologize.

Kenneth Kaunda, the first President of Zambia, was a key figure in African politics and a champion of liberation struggles. During his reign from 1964 to 1991, he took several iconic actions that benefited Kenya and Kenyans:

1. Support for Kenyan Independence: Kaunda actively supported Kenya’s fight for independence from British colonial rule. He provided diplomatic and material support to Kenyan nationalists, including late Jomo Kenyatta. Ask former president Uhuru Kenyatta who is still alive today for more information.

2. Hosting Kenyan Freedom Fighters: Kaunda offered sanctuary to Kenyan freedom fighters. He worked with late Dedan Kimathi, who fought against British colonial rule. Zambia served as a safe haven for Kenyan liberation movements. In 1956/7 the year Kimathi was captured and executed, a Zambian named Mpundu “Zanco” Mutembo was tasked to learn how to forment rebellion that the Mau Mau uprising had been doing in Kenya.

3. Backing the African Liberation Struggle: Kaunda was a founding member of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), precursor to the African Union (AU). He supported liberation movements across Africa, including those in Kenya, fighting against colonialism and apartheid.

4. Economic Cooperation: Kaunda fostered economic cooperation between Zambia and Kenya. He promoted trade and investment, strengthening regional ties and development.

5. Education and Healthcare Support: Kaunda’s government provided scholarships to Kenyan students and supported healthcare initiatives in Kenya, demonstrating his commitment to regional solidarity and development.

6. Mediation and Diplomacy: Kaunda played a mediating role in regional conflicts, including the 1982 coup attempt in Kenya. He used his diplomatic influence to promote peace and stability in the region.

The misuse of Kaunda’s name could be said to have many facets. One thing for sure is that we should not compartmentalize his legacy to a suit type. Kenyan youths and Africa as a whole can derive numerous lessons from this great son of Africa.

Kaunda’s life and leadership offer valuable insights:

– He became President of Zambia at 40, a testament to his vision and leadership potential.

– He lived a long life, despite being exposed to many challenges, and passed on at 97.

– He was not materialistic, choosing a simple life over wealth and extravagance.

– He believed in empowering youths, appointing 21-year-old Vernon Mwaanga as Zambia’s ambassador to the United Nations (UN).

– He stood firm against corruption and upheld his values.

– He embraced vegetarianism, rejecting the oppressive systems of the past. He refused to buy beef through a pigeon hole.

– He united a nation of over 70 tribes with his “One Zambia One Nation” motto.

– Nelson Mandela, a fellow icon, chose to thank KK and Zambia first after his release from prison.

– When Kaunda lost elections in 1991, he peacefully handed over power to his successor, demonstrating his commitment to democracy.

Let us honor Kaunda’s legacy by embracing the lessons he taught us. Let us focus on building a brighter future for Africa, free from corruption, colonialism, and oppression. The youth of Kenya must keep to their own struggles and avoid distractions. Let us celebrate Kaunda’s life and leadership, and strive to emulate his values and principles.

The decision to abandon European dress codes, embraced by the Kenyan Parliament, was a deliberate choice made by Kaunda to reject the symbols of colonialism and embrace African culture. His iconic image, complete with a white handkerchief symbolizing peace, is a testament to his commitment to Pan Africanism.

However, the issues facing Kenya today – undiscerning voting for lack of better words, and the proposed tax hikes and controversial finance bill – require the youth’s attention and action. It is essential to focus on addressing these pressing matters rather than misdirecting energy towards attacking Kaunda’s legacy.

The bills being introduced will not disappear by attacking Prada or Kaunda. Instead, the youth must gather their consciousness and focus on the issues at hand. It is crucial to engage in constructive dialogue, demand accountability from leaders, and work towards finding solutions to the economic and social challenges facing Kenya.

Kaunda’s name deserves respect, and his contributions to the African liberation struggle should not be tarnished by misguided placards and slogans. The youth of Kenya must keep to their own struggles and avoid distractions. Let us honor the past, focus on the present, and build a brighter future for all Africans.

The ZRA/FQM Grand Theft Against Zambia’s Impoverished – Sensio Banda

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The ZRA/FQM Grand Theft Against Zambia’s Impoverished

In recent news, the exposure of the grand tax scandal involving the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and First Quantum Minerals (FQM) has sent shockwaves through the country. Thiery Charles, a whistleblower, brought to light the alarming fact that FQM’s tax obligation was reduced from an estimated 1 billion US dollars to a mere 23 million dollars. This staggering 98% reduction raises serious questions about the integrity of Zambia’s tax system and the accountability of those involved.

One of the most concerning aspects of this scandal is the silence of the Minister of Finance in response to these allegations. The fact that such a huge amount of tax revenue could be waived without a proper explanation is an indictment on the UPND government. The Minister of Finance must answer to the people of Zambia and provide transparency on the decision-making process that led to this massive reduction in FQM’s tax obligation.

It begs the question: what criteria were used to justify such a drastic reduction in tax obligations? Who were the key players involved in making this decision, and who ultimately gave the final approval? The lack of transparency surrounding this issue is deeply concerning and raises doubts about the fairness and integrity of Zambia’s tax system.

It’s Worth noting that the deliberate reduction of FQM’s tax obligations by 98% amounts to nothing short of economic and financial crime. The actors involved in this scandal must be held accountable for their actions, as this is not simply a case of tax avoidance but a blatant theft against the impoverished people of Zambia. The impact of this grand theft is far-reaching and has serious implications for the country’s economy and social welfare.

The repercussions of this scandal are dire for the people of Zambia, particularly the poor and vulnerable. The government’s emergency response budget is already strained, and the high cost of living, electricity deficit, and deteriorating health standards are exacerbating the situation. The grand theft committed by FQM not only deprives the country of much-needed revenue but also undermines the basic needs and rights of its citizens.

It is imperative that those responsible for this egregious act of theft are held accountable and face the full force of the law. The lack of oversight and regulation in Zambia’s mining sector has allowed such practices to flourish, but it is never too late to enact fair and equitable policies that prioritize the well-being of the country and its people. The government must take swift and decisive action to rectify this injustice and ensure that such flagrant abuses of power are never repeated.

Therefore, the ZRA/FQM grand theft against Zambia’s impoverished is a stark reminder of the systemic issues that plague the country’s governance and economy. It is a call to action for all citizens to demand accountability, transparency, and justice from those in power. Only through collective action and a commitment to upholding the rule of law can Zambia hope to overcome this dark chapter in its history and pave the way for a brighter and more prosperous future for all its people

The Struggle Continues

Sensio Banda
Former Member of Parliament
Kasenengwa Constituency
Eastern Province

The ZRA/FQM Grand Theft Against Zambia’s Impoverished – Sensio Banda

zamobserver
-
0

The ZRA/FQM Grand Theft Against Zambia’s Impoverished

In recent news, the exposure of the grand tax scandal involving the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and First Quantum Minerals (FQM) has sent shockwaves through the country. Thiery Charles, a whistleblower, brought to light the alarming fact that FQM’s tax obligation was reduced from an estimated 1 billion US dollars to a mere 23 million dollars. This staggering 98% reduction raises serious questions about the integrity of Zambia’s tax system and the accountability of those involved.

One of the most concerning aspects of this scandal is the silence of the Minister of Finance in response to these allegations. The fact that such a huge amount of tax revenue could be waived without a proper explanation is an indictment on the UPND government. The Minister of Finance must answer to the people of Zambia and provide transparency on the decision-making process that led to this massive reduction in FQM’s tax obligation.

It begs the question: what criteria were used to justify such a drastic reduction in tax obligations? Who were the key players involved in making this decision, and who ultimately gave the final approval? The lack of transparency surrounding this issue is deeply concerning and raises doubts about the fairness and integrity of Zambia’s tax system.

It’s Worth noting that the deliberate reduction of FQM’s tax obligations by 98% amounts to nothing short of economic and financial crime. The actors involved in this scandal must be held accountable for their actions, as this is not simply a case of tax avoidance but a blatant theft against the impoverished people of Zambia. The impact of this grand theft is far-reaching and has serious implications for the country’s economy and social welfare.

The repercussions of this scandal are dire for the people of Zambia, particularly the poor and vulnerable. The government’s emergency response budget is already strained, and the high cost of living, electricity deficit, and deteriorating health standards are exacerbating the situation. The grand theft committed by FQM not only deprives the country of much-needed revenue but also undermines the basic needs and rights of its citizens.

It is imperative that those responsible for this egregious act of theft are held accountable and face the full force of the law. The lack of oversight and regulation in Zambia’s mining sector has allowed such practices to flourish, but it is never too late to enact fair and equitable policies that prioritize the well-being of the country and its people. The government must take swift and decisive action to rectify this injustice and ensure that such flagrant abuses of power are never repeated.

Therefore, the ZRA/FQM grand theft against Zambia’s impoverished is a stark reminder of the systemic issues that plague the country’s governance and economy. It is a call to action for all citizens to demand accountability, transparency, and justice from those in power. Only through collective action and a commitment to upholding the rule of law can Zambia hope to overcome this dark chapter in its history and pave the way for a brighter and more prosperous future for all its people

The Struggle Continues

Sensio Banda
Former Member of Parliament
Kasenengwa Constituency
Eastern Province

HAMASAKA DEFENDS HH’S DOCTORATE

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HAMASAKA DEFENDS HH’S DOCTORATE

London, Friday 21st June 2024

HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY EXTOLS HH’S STEWARDSHIP

SCOTTISH University, Heriot Watt, says President Hakainde Hichilema’s transformative stewardship exemplifies the virtues of dedication, resilience and foresight.

In conferring an honorary Doctorate of the University on the Head of State on Thursday at the University’s Edinburgh Business School, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Williams said outstanding leadership is measured through its impact on society.

He said that no society could flourish where the greater part is poor and miserable.

Prof. William said that education is the key that unlocks the pathway for society to flourish.

He noted that President Hichilema had experienced the privilege and journey of education and has unlocked the pathway to education for a whole nation through his personal mission to provide free education for all, in Zambia.

“It is with great honour that the Heriot Watt University bestows an honorary doctorate upon Hakainde Hichilema, the President of Zambia.”

He described the President as a “distinguished leader whose profound journey from business acumen to transformative stewardship exemplifies the virtues of dedication, resilience and foresight”.

He noted that Zambia and Scotland have had a special relationship for a century and a half with Heriot Watt contributing to that journey.
Prof. William said President Hichilema has demonstrated outstanding leadership in business in various capacities, notably serving as the chief executive officer for Coopers and Lybrand Zambia from 1994 to 1998 and later as chief executive officer of Grant Thornton Zambia from 1998 to 2006.

He noted that his views and expertise have been curved through his life as farmer, businessman, entrepreneur, and key roles in investment, and as director of over a dozen corporations and organisations and lately as a national leader.
“His leadership in all these roles has been characterised by his creation of strategic growth initiative and robust ethical management practices. His pathway to the Presidency was neither direct nor devoid of hardship. His resolve was tested through trials of imprisonment on allegations of treason and being subjected to torture,” he said.

Prof. William said the President was finally released following representation from numerous local and global leaders and prayers of many people around the world.

“His unwavering demand for democratic processes and transparency was at the heart of these tribulations, and it has emerged as a symbol of resistance and hope, galvanising public support for governance reform,” he said.

“The university, especially wishes to acknowledge our graduand’s personal leadership as a business performer and his pervasive ethical principles, in particular his achievement of the progressive change in education.”

Prof. William noted that President Hichilema had taken the education of the common man seriously and had opened pathways for all Zambians to have opportunity for quality education.

Prof. William noted that increasing local development spending through the Constituency Development Fund had led to the construction of hundreds of new schools, with his free education policy leading to over 1.6 million young people entering education who otherwise might not have been able to afford it.

He also said the recruitment of over 39,000 teachers in two years is an incredible achievement.

Prof. William said Heriot Watt University acknowledges not only his past achievements but also as a leader who continues to inspire, innovate, and instill hope in many hearts.

“Your life and work resonates with the ethos of Heriot Watt University, a dedication to building sustainable knowledgeable and a just society,” he said.

“It is now my pleasure to present to you, in the name of the university and by the authority of Senate, in recognition for services to the economic advancement of Zambia and its citizens, enabling citizens’ access to education and to the revitalisation of international trade, I will confer the honorary degree of Doctor of the University on Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia.”

And the President said he accepted the award on behalf of his children, wife and Zambians who continue to believe in the power of education.

He said education is the greatest equaliser, best investment and inheritance “to our children and genetic material after us”.

President Hichilema said education lifted him from a small village in Zambia into the international arena and later to the Presidency. He said education is a human right.

The Head of State said without education, there was no chance for him and that he resolved to make education free upon assuming government.

President Hichilema invited graduates, professors, associates and academic leaders of Heriot Watt University to support Zambia’s efforts to avert hunger arising from the current drought situation.

“It is our responsibility to encourage climate change justice for marginalised groups while we utilise the best technology and research from this university and elsewhere,” President Hichilema said.

“We can only continue to invest in education, health, social justice when we have the economic capabilities to do so.”

President Hichilema said his focus is on economic transformation and success.

He said that as Zambia had restructured its debt and had become the first country under the G20 global framework to qualify for a debt restructuring, he would like other countries “to walk the difficult steps we have walked”.

He thanked the UK government for supporting Zambia in its debt restructuring process.

And the President noted that through Heriot Watt’s Go-Global initiative, students were being exposed to a variety of cultures and experiences.

“We believe in the fundamentals that when we are able to know each other better, we are able to work together more effectively. With this greater understanding of our fellow men and women around the world, we create peace together, an ingredient necessary for the economic prosperity that we all aspire to have in our countries,” he said.

“What we do in our small communities affects others in another, miles and miles away. We know the Ukraine/ Russia war is affecting all of us, so we must do good to our communities. Let’s walk out there to do good for society. When we do good for society, our own good will be taken care of.”

HAMASAKA DEFENDS HH’S DOCTORATE

zamobserver
-
0

HAMASAKA DEFENDS HH’S DOCTORATE

London, Friday 21st June 2024

HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY EXTOLS HH’S STEWARDSHIP

SCOTTISH University, Heriot Watt, says President Hakainde Hichilema’s transformative stewardship exemplifies the virtues of dedication, resilience and foresight.

In conferring an honorary Doctorate of the University on the Head of State on Thursday at the University’s Edinburgh Business School, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Williams said outstanding leadership is measured through its impact on society.

He said that no society could flourish where the greater part is poor and miserable.

Prof. William said that education is the key that unlocks the pathway for society to flourish.

He noted that President Hichilema had experienced the privilege and journey of education and has unlocked the pathway to education for a whole nation through his personal mission to provide free education for all, in Zambia.

“It is with great honour that the Heriot Watt University bestows an honorary doctorate upon Hakainde Hichilema, the President of Zambia.”

He described the President as a “distinguished leader whose profound journey from business acumen to transformative stewardship exemplifies the virtues of dedication, resilience and foresight”.

He noted that Zambia and Scotland have had a special relationship for a century and a half with Heriot Watt contributing to that journey.
Prof. William said President Hichilema has demonstrated outstanding leadership in business in various capacities, notably serving as the chief executive officer for Coopers and Lybrand Zambia from 1994 to 1998 and later as chief executive officer of Grant Thornton Zambia from 1998 to 2006.

He noted that his views and expertise have been curved through his life as farmer, businessman, entrepreneur, and key roles in investment, and as director of over a dozen corporations and organisations and lately as a national leader.
“His leadership in all these roles has been characterised by his creation of strategic growth initiative and robust ethical management practices. His pathway to the Presidency was neither direct nor devoid of hardship. His resolve was tested through trials of imprisonment on allegations of treason and being subjected to torture,” he said.

Prof. William said the President was finally released following representation from numerous local and global leaders and prayers of many people around the world.

“His unwavering demand for democratic processes and transparency was at the heart of these tribulations, and it has emerged as a symbol of resistance and hope, galvanising public support for governance reform,” he said.

“The university, especially wishes to acknowledge our graduand’s personal leadership as a business performer and his pervasive ethical principles, in particular his achievement of the progressive change in education.”

Prof. William noted that President Hichilema had taken the education of the common man seriously and had opened pathways for all Zambians to have opportunity for quality education.

Prof. William noted that increasing local development spending through the Constituency Development Fund had led to the construction of hundreds of new schools, with his free education policy leading to over 1.6 million young people entering education who otherwise might not have been able to afford it.

He also said the recruitment of over 39,000 teachers in two years is an incredible achievement.

Prof. William said Heriot Watt University acknowledges not only his past achievements but also as a leader who continues to inspire, innovate, and instill hope in many hearts.

“Your life and work resonates with the ethos of Heriot Watt University, a dedication to building sustainable knowledgeable and a just society,” he said.

“It is now my pleasure to present to you, in the name of the university and by the authority of Senate, in recognition for services to the economic advancement of Zambia and its citizens, enabling citizens’ access to education and to the revitalisation of international trade, I will confer the honorary degree of Doctor of the University on Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia.”

And the President said he accepted the award on behalf of his children, wife and Zambians who continue to believe in the power of education.

He said education is the greatest equaliser, best investment and inheritance “to our children and genetic material after us”.

President Hichilema said education lifted him from a small village in Zambia into the international arena and later to the Presidency. He said education is a human right.

The Head of State said without education, there was no chance for him and that he resolved to make education free upon assuming government.

President Hichilema invited graduates, professors, associates and academic leaders of Heriot Watt University to support Zambia’s efforts to avert hunger arising from the current drought situation.

“It is our responsibility to encourage climate change justice for marginalised groups while we utilise the best technology and research from this university and elsewhere,” President Hichilema said.

“We can only continue to invest in education, health, social justice when we have the economic capabilities to do so.”

President Hichilema said his focus is on economic transformation and success.

He said that as Zambia had restructured its debt and had become the first country under the G20 global framework to qualify for a debt restructuring, he would like other countries “to walk the difficult steps we have walked”.

He thanked the UK government for supporting Zambia in its debt restructuring process.

And the President noted that through Heriot Watt’s Go-Global initiative, students were being exposed to a variety of cultures and experiences.

“We believe in the fundamentals that when we are able to know each other better, we are able to work together more effectively. With this greater understanding of our fellow men and women around the world, we create peace together, an ingredient necessary for the economic prosperity that we all aspire to have in our countries,” he said.

“What we do in our small communities affects others in another, miles and miles away. We know the Ukraine/ Russia war is affecting all of us, so we must do good to our communities. Let’s walk out there to do good for society. When we do good for society, our own good will be taken care of.”

MAGISTRATE REJECTS ASSERTIONS THAT MALANJI IS INTERFERING WITH WITNESSES -MAGISTRATE

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MAGISTRATE REJECTS ASSERTIONS THAT MALANJI IS INTERFERING WITH WITNESSES -MAGISTRATE

Lusaka Magistrate Ireen Wishimanga has dismissed an application by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) to warn former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Malanji for allegedly interference of witnesses in the matter.

This followed an application by the Prosecution that presented a senior investigations officer from the Anti-Money Laundering Unit, Mukelabai
Kwaleyela, who submitted that as an arresting officer, he had great difficulties to help prosecute the case as he had information that accused number two, Mr. Joseph Malanji, was interfering with witnesses.

However the Defence led by Makebi Zulu from Makebi Zulu Advocates, objected to the submissions deeming them speculative, unproven and had potential to prejudice the accused persons.

Magistrate Wishimanga dismissed the application for lack of evidence and refused to mete any sanctions or punishment. She however warned that if there was anyone interfering with State witnesses, they will be punished.

Hon. Wishimanga earlier in the week cautioned the Drug Enforcement Commission against wasting the court’s time as they insisted on adjourning the matter on the pretext that some witnesses were writing exams and that others had other commitments and couldn’t come at short notice when the matter was last adjourned in April 2024.

The magistrate has urged the commission to make efforts to ensure witnesses were always available in the case.

This was after the prosecution applied for an adjournment after failing to secure witnesses for that day

VERBATIM

Fredson Yamba, Joseph Malanji Vs The People
Before Magistrate Hon. Ireen Wishimanga

Lusaka-Friday, 21st June 2024

Prosecution; we have an issue of concern that we wish to bring to the attention of the court. To avoid giving evidence from the bar, We call our witness.

Witness; I’m Mukelabai Kwaleyela, Senior Investigations Officer, Anti Money Laundering Investigations Unit of the Drug Enforcement Commission.

Kwaleyela; Your honour I’m facing serious challenges in bringing witnesses to court in this matter.

I have information that my witnesses are being interfered with by one of the accused persons. The witness were called by accused number two, Mr. Joseph Malanji while we were in Turkey in 2022.

When I head about this, I confronted the witness, and he confessed to me that Mr. Malanji called him. This was in December 2022.

I also received a call yesterday from our contact in Lubumbashi Consul in DRC, that my witness was being called by persons using a Zambian number and being offered money not to travel to Lusaka to come and testify in this case.

I also recently suffered a setback were all my witnesses in Turkey, including embassy staff were uncomfortable to come and testify citing security reasons.

Some of those witnesses are in the employ of the Zambian Government.

Your Honour, the accused person, is also interfering in the case. Your Honour, my case is being frustrated.

Magistrate Wishimanga; Witness, state clearly to the period and details of the allegations. We need to know if the alleged interference is taking place now or in the past. Do you have evidence for your assertions?

Kwaleyela; I can’t remember exactly but this interference started since the list of witnesses was provided to court as per procedure.

Prosecutor; When was the list provided to the Court?

Kwaleyela; I don’t remember but it is sometimes this year after April 2024.

Prosecutor; What is the name of the witness from Lubumbashi?

Kwaleyela; Charles Kabozya.

CROSS EXAMINATION

Makebi Zulu; Witness, you had mentioned of Mr. Sam Sankenga, yet at the time you say he was called, he had already testified.

Kwaleyela; Yes. He had testified already.

Makebi Zulu – who called you from Lubumbashi.

Kwaleyela; a member of staff from the Consular.

Makebi Zulu- It’s your testimony that a member of staff, told you that a witness was being called? What’s the name of the member of staff?

Kwaleyela; I can’t disclose the name.

Makebi Zulu- so you were told by the witness or by member of staff who was told by another person?

Kwaleyela; by another member of staff.

Makebi Zulu-do you have the phone numbers that were calling the staff?

Kwaleyela; no I don’t.

Makebi Zulu- Can you state with certainty that it is the accused person (Hon. Malanji) who was calling your witness?

Kwaleyela; I cannot, I’m not certain. It is based on my reasonable suspicions.

Makebi Zulu – Your reasonable suspicions? I have no further questions Your Honour.

RE-EXAMINATION

Prosecutor- what do you mean that it is reasonable suspicions.

Kwaleyela; I suspect it is Mr. Malanji.

Witness released.

Prosecutor; Your honour this development is serious. The accused persons were granted bail. One of the cardinal issue is that they must not interfere with the case in court. You have heard that the accused person started interfering with witnesses from the moment investigators travelled to Turkey.

Your honour, the court has got powers to revoke the bail as the conditions are precedent to the orders of the court.

It is important that the Court is made aware of the issues affecting this matter in the background. It is important that the Court strongly warns any person interfering with the witnesses.

Prosecutor 2- We have informed the Court of the difficulties we are facing in prosecuting this matter. We are now hearing of possible interference of witnesses.

RESPONSE BY MAKEBI ZULU

Makebi Zulu- the submissions made by the Prosecution are based on suspicions, assumptions, conjecture, were speculative and highly opinionated.

These assertions remain unproven. No evidence or documents have been submitted to prove the assertions but have potential to prejudice the accused persons.

We must remember that it is the State that has been persuading the Court to adjourn matters stating that they had difficulties in presenting witnesses to court.

The Prosecution has submitted in the past that witnesses could not travel because of short notice, or were writing exams.

We don’t know who those witnesses are. We don’t know which witnesses could not travel at short notice or were writing exams.

We therefore object to the call for direct reprimand to the accused persons as their application is based on mere speculations and unproven allegations.

Bernard Steffani Defence Lawyer; Your Honour, as Hon. Makebi is saying, the submissions by the arresting officer are mere speculations.

Prosecutor; What we seek from this court is to strongly caution any persons interfering with the witnesses.

Prosecutor; Your Honour we hold that our witnesses have been contacted before they come to testify.

Makebi Zulu- Objection Your Honour. There is no such evidence before.

Prosecutor – we have suspicions that the witnesses have been contacted, like the case of our witness from Congo.

Therefore inference can be drawn that there has been attempts to interfere with witnesses.
We wish to put it on record that we are having great difficulties to bring witnesses to court.

RULING BY MAGISTRATE WISHIMANGA

I have heard the application by the Prosecution and response by the Defence.
I have also analysed the evidence submitted in the allegations to that the accused persons are interfering with witnesses.

There is no evidence provided to the court that interference of witnesses is taking place.

For example, Charles from Lubumbashi should have travelled many days ago but we are being told that he was called yesterday not to travel.

What about the case of local witnesses?

At this stage, there is no evidence provided to court that the accused persons have been interfering with witnesses.

I wish the Prosecution could provide credible evidence of the assertions that would prove that the accused persons were interfering with witnesses.

I therefore cannot provide sanctions against the matter that has not been proven.

However, as the Court, I wish to warn sternly that if anyone is interfering with witnesses or the process of the court, if proven, such a matter will be dealt with serious sanctions.

Prosecution; We wish to apply for adjournment. We have four witness.

Matters adjourned to Monday, 24th June 2024 for status conference.

MAGISTRATE REJECTS ASSERTIONS THAT MALANJI IS INTERFERING WITH WITNESSES -MAGISTRATE

zamobserver
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MAGISTRATE REJECTS ASSERTIONS THAT MALANJI IS INTERFERING WITH WITNESSES -MAGISTRATE

Lusaka Magistrate Ireen Wishimanga has dismissed an application by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) to warn former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Malanji for allegedly interference of witnesses in the matter.

This followed an application by the Prosecution that presented a senior investigations officer from the Anti-Money Laundering Unit, Mukelabai
Kwaleyela, who submitted that as an arresting officer, he had great difficulties to help prosecute the case as he had information that accused number two, Mr. Joseph Malanji, was interfering with witnesses.

However the Defence led by Makebi Zulu from Makebi Zulu Advocates, objected to the submissions deeming them speculative, unproven and had potential to prejudice the accused persons.

Magistrate Wishimanga dismissed the application for lack of evidence and refused to mete any sanctions or punishment. She however warned that if there was anyone interfering with State witnesses, they will be punished.

Hon. Wishimanga earlier in the week cautioned the Drug Enforcement Commission against wasting the court’s time as they insisted on adjourning the matter on the pretext that some witnesses were writing exams and that others had other commitments and couldn’t come at short notice when the matter was last adjourned in April 2024.

The magistrate has urged the commission to make efforts to ensure witnesses were always available in the case.

This was after the prosecution applied for an adjournment after failing to secure witnesses for that day

VERBATIM

Fredson Yamba, Joseph Malanji Vs The People
Before Magistrate Hon. Ireen Wishimanga

Lusaka-Friday, 21st June 2024

Prosecution; we have an issue of concern that we wish to bring to the attention of the court. To avoid giving evidence from the bar, We call our witness.

Witness; I’m Mukelabai Kwaleyela, Senior Investigations Officer, Anti Money Laundering Investigations Unit of the Drug Enforcement Commission.

Kwaleyela; Your honour I’m facing serious challenges in bringing witnesses to court in this matter.

I have information that my witnesses are being interfered with by one of the accused persons. The witness were called by accused number two, Mr. Joseph Malanji while we were in Turkey in 2022.

When I head about this, I confronted the witness, and he confessed to me that Mr. Malanji called him. This was in December 2022.

I also received a call yesterday from our contact in Lubumbashi Consul in DRC, that my witness was being called by persons using a Zambian number and being offered money not to travel to Lusaka to come and testify in this case.

I also recently suffered a setback were all my witnesses in Turkey, including embassy staff were uncomfortable to come and testify citing security reasons.

Some of those witnesses are in the employ of the Zambian Government.

Your Honour, the accused person, is also interfering in the case. Your Honour, my case is being frustrated.

Magistrate Wishimanga; Witness, state clearly to the period and details of the allegations. We need to know if the alleged interference is taking place now or in the past. Do you have evidence for your assertions?

Kwaleyela; I can’t remember exactly but this interference started since the list of witnesses was provided to court as per procedure.

Prosecutor; When was the list provided to the Court?

Kwaleyela; I don’t remember but it is sometimes this year after April 2024.

Prosecutor; What is the name of the witness from Lubumbashi?

Kwaleyela; Charles Kabozya.

CROSS EXAMINATION

Makebi Zulu; Witness, you had mentioned of Mr. Sam Sankenga, yet at the time you say he was called, he had already testified.

Kwaleyela; Yes. He had testified already.

Makebi Zulu – who called you from Lubumbashi.

Kwaleyela; a member of staff from the Consular.

Makebi Zulu- It’s your testimony that a member of staff, told you that a witness was being called? What’s the name of the member of staff?

Kwaleyela; I can’t disclose the name.

Makebi Zulu- so you were told by the witness or by member of staff who was told by another person?

Kwaleyela; by another member of staff.

Makebi Zulu-do you have the phone numbers that were calling the staff?

Kwaleyela; no I don’t.

Makebi Zulu- Can you state with certainty that it is the accused person (Hon. Malanji) who was calling your witness?

Kwaleyela; I cannot, I’m not certain. It is based on my reasonable suspicions.

Makebi Zulu – Your reasonable suspicions? I have no further questions Your Honour.

RE-EXAMINATION

Prosecutor- what do you mean that it is reasonable suspicions.

Kwaleyela; I suspect it is Mr. Malanji.

Witness released.

Prosecutor; Your honour this development is serious. The accused persons were granted bail. One of the cardinal issue is that they must not interfere with the case in court. You have heard that the accused person started interfering with witnesses from the moment investigators travelled to Turkey.

Your honour, the court has got powers to revoke the bail as the conditions are precedent to the orders of the court.

It is important that the Court is made aware of the issues affecting this matter in the background. It is important that the Court strongly warns any person interfering with the witnesses.

Prosecutor 2- We have informed the Court of the difficulties we are facing in prosecuting this matter. We are now hearing of possible interference of witnesses.

RESPONSE BY MAKEBI ZULU

Makebi Zulu- the submissions made by the Prosecution are based on suspicions, assumptions, conjecture, were speculative and highly opinionated.

These assertions remain unproven. No evidence or documents have been submitted to prove the assertions but have potential to prejudice the accused persons.

We must remember that it is the State that has been persuading the Court to adjourn matters stating that they had difficulties in presenting witnesses to court.

The Prosecution has submitted in the past that witnesses could not travel because of short notice, or were writing exams.

We don’t know who those witnesses are. We don’t know which witnesses could not travel at short notice or were writing exams.

We therefore object to the call for direct reprimand to the accused persons as their application is based on mere speculations and unproven allegations.

Bernard Steffani Defence Lawyer; Your Honour, as Hon. Makebi is saying, the submissions by the arresting officer are mere speculations.

Prosecutor; What we seek from this court is to strongly caution any persons interfering with the witnesses.

Prosecutor; Your Honour we hold that our witnesses have been contacted before they come to testify.

Makebi Zulu- Objection Your Honour. There is no such evidence before.

Prosecutor – we have suspicions that the witnesses have been contacted, like the case of our witness from Congo.

Therefore inference can be drawn that there has been attempts to interfere with witnesses.
We wish to put it on record that we are having great difficulties to bring witnesses to court.

RULING BY MAGISTRATE WISHIMANGA

I have heard the application by the Prosecution and response by the Defence.
I have also analysed the evidence submitted in the allegations to that the accused persons are interfering with witnesses.

There is no evidence provided to the court that interference of witnesses is taking place.

For example, Charles from Lubumbashi should have travelled many days ago but we are being told that he was called yesterday not to travel.

What about the case of local witnesses?

At this stage, there is no evidence provided to court that the accused persons have been interfering with witnesses.

I wish the Prosecution could provide credible evidence of the assertions that would prove that the accused persons were interfering with witnesses.

I therefore cannot provide sanctions against the matter that has not been proven.

However, as the Court, I wish to warn sternly that if anyone is interfering with witnesses or the process of the court, if proven, such a matter will be dealt with serious sanctions.

Prosecution; We wish to apply for adjournment. We have four witness.

Matters adjourned to Monday, 24th June 2024 for status conference.

HON EMMANUEL JAY BANDA APPEARS BEFORE CHIPATA MAGISTRATES COURT AS COURT ORDERS THAT HE BE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION

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HON EMMANUEL JAY BANDA APPEARS BEFORE CHIPATA MAGISTRATES COURT AS COURT ORDERS THAT HE BE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION

By Chanoda Ngwira – Chipata

Hon. Emmanuel Jay Banda has appeared before the Chipata MAGISTRATES court where he went for mention and committal to the High Court..

The defense through counsel Kennedy Mambwe raised preliminary issues before the lower could proceed with the mention and committal..

In His submission, Counsel Mambwe said the matters before hand in regards to the charges of Attempted Murder and aggravated Robbery are arising from the same facts as the assault charges which were delt with in 2016 by a competent court and hence the need for a preliminary inquiry.

However the state has objected to this preliminary application stating that neither the court nor the defense have been furnished with the documents of disposition regards the matter. In short the State argues that there is nothing to show that the matters were disposed off..

In response, Defense team argued that the reason they have made this application and ask the Lower Court to have a preliminary inquiry is to establish facts regards disposition in respect of Autrefois aquit.

The court has set, Friday, 27th June for ruling on the same.

In another application, the defense applied to the court to order that Hon Jay Banda due to his health complications he developed while in custody at Chipata Central Police and confirmed by Zambia Police Medical team, be taken to a health facility in order to be attended to by competent medical personel.

However the state objected stating that the court can not rely on a mere statement without proof that indeed the Petauke MP developed a Health condition. They further submitted that the charges before court are serious charges hence the accused ought to remain in Police cells and be attended to whilst there.

The defense in response argued by saying that basically the State is agreeing with their application and that the certainty can only be done by taking the accused to a health facility. And further said the kind of charges before court are irrelevant as someone remains innocent until proven guilty.

The court granted the application by the defense and has since ordered that Hon Jay Banda be taken to Chipata Central hospital for a thorough medical examination.

HON EMMANUEL JAY BANDA APPEARS BEFORE CHIPATA MAGISTRATES COURT AS COURT ORDERS THAT HE BE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION

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HON EMMANUEL JAY BANDA APPEARS BEFORE CHIPATA MAGISTRATES COURT AS COURT ORDERS THAT HE BE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION

By Chanoda Ngwira – Chipata

Hon. Emmanuel Jay Banda has appeared before the Chipata MAGISTRATES court where he went for mention and committal to the High Court..

The defense through counsel Kennedy Mambwe raised preliminary issues before the lower could proceed with the mention and committal..

In His submission, Counsel Mambwe said the matters before hand in regards to the charges of Attempted Murder and aggravated Robbery are arising from the same facts as the assault charges which were delt with in 2016 by a competent court and hence the need for a preliminary inquiry.

However the state has objected to this preliminary application stating that neither the court nor the defense have been furnished with the documents of disposition regards the matter. In short the State argues that there is nothing to show that the matters were disposed off..

In response, Defense team argued that the reason they have made this application and ask the Lower Court to have a preliminary inquiry is to establish facts regards disposition in respect of Autrefois aquit.

The court has set, Friday, 27th June for ruling on the same.

In another application, the defense applied to the court to order that Hon Jay Banda due to his health complications he developed while in custody at Chipata Central Police and confirmed by Zambia Police Medical team, be taken to a health facility in order to be attended to by competent medical personel.

However the state objected stating that the court can not rely on a mere statement without proof that indeed the Petauke MP developed a Health condition. They further submitted that the charges before court are serious charges hence the accused ought to remain in Police cells and be attended to whilst there.

The defense in response argued by saying that basically the State is agreeing with their application and that the certainty can only be done by taking the accused to a health facility. And further said the kind of charges before court are irrelevant as someone remains innocent until proven guilty.

The court granted the application by the defense and has since ordered that Hon Jay Banda be taken to Chipata Central hospital for a thorough medical examination.

POLICE STATEMENT: SUDDEN AND UNNATURAL DEATH INVOLVING A COUPLE IN CHONGWE

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POLICE STATEMENT: SUDDEN AND UNNATURAL DEATH INVOLVING A COUPLE IN CHONGWE

June 21, 2024

The Zambia Police Service at Kanakantapa Police Post yesterday June 20, 2024 received a report concerning the sudden and unnatural death of a couple in Shimwengwe village of Kanakantapa in Chongwe District. The report was made at 12:00 hours by Mr. Mutafela Kalima, aged 28, of the same Village.

Mr. Kalima reported that his cousin, Mr. Charles Umba, aged 29, and his wife, Mrs. Saliva Hatembo Umba, aged 32, both residents of chongwe, died suddenly between 01:00 hours and 08:00 hours on June 20, 2024.

On the evening of June 19, 2024, around 20:00 hours, the now-deceased couple went to bed. Unfortunately, at approximately 01:00 hours, Mr. Charles Umba discovered that his wife was cold and unresponsive. He informed their neighbor, Ms. Bertha Mwanza, aged 48, around 06:00 hours. Ms. Mwanza confirmed that Mrs. Umba had already passed away and assisted in transporting her body to Kanakantapa Police Post to obtain a brought in dead certificate.

Tragically, while at the police post, Mr. Charles Umba suddenly became unconscious. He was rushed to Kanakantapa Health Post, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Umba were inspected, and no physical injuries were observed. The bodies have been deposited at Chongwe District Hospital Mortuary pending postmortem examinations to establish the cause of death.

A Crime scene visit was conducted, during which a jug of water mixed with herbs was found in the house. This has been secured for a toxicology examination.

Neighbors reported that the deceased couple had hosted a witch doctor, commonly known as “Dr. Simple,” for three days prior to their deaths. A manhunt for this individual has been launched.

The Zambia Police Service urges anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the witch doctor commonly known as “Dr. Simple” to come forward. Your cooperation is crucial in helping us resolve this case.

The Zambia Police Service is committed to thoroughly investigating this incident to determine the exact circumstances leading to the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Umba. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time.

Rae Hamoonga
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER.

IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HAKAINDE HICHILEMA’S LEADERSHIP OF DISCIPLINE – SIMANGOLWA

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IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HAKAINDE HICHILEMA’S LEADERSHIP OF DISCIPLINE – SIMANGOLWA

In the Previous regime it was normal for men and women in uniform to salute and take orders from party cadres. It was normal for cadres to collect revenue in public places as opposed to the local authorities. It was normal for party cadres to be paid for goods and services that were never supplied. In short lawlessness became normal.

Young people started admiring party cadres at the expense of pursuing professional careers. Some UPND members fought for the regime because they wanted to replace the PF cadres as the new thugs. Youths thought they would come and run markets and bus station Iike PF cadres used to. Those in offices thought they were going to replace PF thieves and become the new thieves. People admired mansions that were being built using proceeds of crime.

When Hakainde Hichilema took over office things were not as people anticipated. Discipline and order were introduced both in the party and in government. Cadreism was suppressed and the rule of law was brought back. Accountability in government institutions was restored. For the first time we saw ruling party members being arrested for breaking the law. We saw senior police officers including permanent Secretaries being arrested for committing crimes.

This came as a surprise to many. To some UPND members this came as disappointment. Ruling party members thought they would be allowed to carry offensive weapons and revenge what the former ruling party members did to them but President Hakainde Hichilema maintained that national peace was more important than political revenge. Former President Edgar Lungu and team should thank President Hakainde Hichilema because if it was not for him, many PF cadres would have died in cold blood as a result of revenge.

Many people including some UPND members have not yet accepted the new way of doing things. Hakainde Hichilema’s way of leadership is still facing resistance and it will take time for people to understand that it’s better to make money genuinely than through illegalities. Look at how PF commanders are suffering today? If these young people were taught how to make money genuinely through businesses, today would be better people. If PF cadres were told that it was better to live in peace with everyone, today they would not be hiding in other countries and villages.

Hakainde Hichilema means well for both the government and the party. All well meaning Zambians must support the President in trying to bring back sanity in the country. We must help the President to build a better Zambia for everyone. It is okay for poor Zambian from Kazhinakazhi to get a job as a civil servant without bribing someone. It is okay for boys/girls from Namushekende to be given bursary and meal allowances as opposed to a politician buying 90 cars for his children or hide money with his girlfriend or nieces.

If we do the right thing as a country, We shall leave a better Zambia for generations to come. It is not normal for us as citizens to give solidarity to criminals. Zambia is bigger than anyone regardless how much money one has.

God bless you and congratulations Mr President on your Doctorate

Mellbin Simangolwa
Copperbelt Businessman

IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HAKAINDE HICHILEMA’S LEADERSHIP OF DISCIPLINE – SIMANGOLWA

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IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HAKAINDE HICHILEMA’S LEADERSHIP OF DISCIPLINE – SIMANGOLWA

In the Previous regime it was normal for men and women in uniform to salute and take orders from party cadres. It was normal for cadres to collect revenue in public places as opposed to the local authorities. It was normal for party cadres to be paid for goods and services that were never supplied. In short lawlessness became normal.

Young people started admiring party cadres at the expense of pursuing professional careers. Some UPND members fought for the regime because they wanted to replace the PF cadres as the new thugs. Youths thought they would come and run markets and bus station Iike PF cadres used to. Those in offices thought they were going to replace PF thieves and become the new thieves. People admired mansions that were being built using proceeds of crime.

When Hakainde Hichilema took over office things were not as people anticipated. Discipline and order were introduced both in the party and in government. Cadreism was suppressed and the rule of law was brought back. Accountability in government institutions was restored. For the first time we saw ruling party members being arrested for breaking the law. We saw senior police officers including permanent Secretaries being arrested for committing crimes.

This came as a surprise to many. To some UPND members this came as disappointment. Ruling party members thought they would be allowed to carry offensive weapons and revenge what the former ruling party members did to them but President Hakainde Hichilema maintained that national peace was more important than political revenge. Former President Edgar Lungu and team should thank President Hakainde Hichilema because if it was not for him, many PF cadres would have died in cold blood as a result of revenge.

Many people including some UPND members have not yet accepted the new way of doing things. Hakainde Hichilema’s way of leadership is still facing resistance and it will take time for people to understand that it’s better to make money genuinely than through illegalities. Look at how PF commanders are suffering today? If these young people were taught how to make money genuinely through businesses, today would be better people. If PF cadres were told that it was better to live in peace with everyone, today they would not be hiding in other countries and villages.

Hakainde Hichilema means well for both the government and the party. All well meaning Zambians must support the President in trying to bring back sanity in the country. We must help the President to build a better Zambia for everyone. It is okay for poor Zambian from Kazhinakazhi to get a job as a civil servant without bribing someone. It is okay for boys/girls from Namushekende to be given bursary and meal allowances as opposed to a politician buying 90 cars for his children or hide money with his girlfriend or nieces.

If we do the right thing as a country, We shall leave a better Zambia for generations to come. It is not normal for us as citizens to give solidarity to criminals. Zambia is bigger than anyone regardless how much money one has.

God bless you and congratulations Mr President on your Doctorate

Mellbin Simangolwa
Copperbelt Businessman

Stop Misleading Us and the Zambian People on AFRICOM – Kafwaya Tells Minister of Foreign Affairs

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Stop Misleading Us and the Zambian People on AFRICOM – Kafwaya Tells Minister of Foreign Affairs

Lusaka, June 20, 2024 – Lunte Member of Parliament Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya has implored the Zambian Government to stop misleading the Zambian people about the actual existence and modus operandi of AFRICOM.

“The Minister indicates that AFRICOM exists in Zambia for the sole purpose of training troops for UN missions,” Hon. Kafwaya stated.

“Madam Speaker, AFRICOM is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the United States Department of Defense, headquartered at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. It is responsible for U.S. military operations, including fighting regional conflicts and maintaining military relations with 53 African nations.”

“Madam Speaker, AFRICOM is responsible for fighting regional wars! But is the Minister in order to mislead us and the nation that this particular AFRICOM establishment in Lusaka, which I doubt is a creation of Cabinet because if it was, it would have been brought here for rectification? Is he in order to mislead us that this particular establishment in Lusaka is for training UN operations when, in fact, this reason he has mentioned is not even highlighted in the objectives of AFRICOM?”

According to the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) official website, the following are the Cole objectives of AFRICOM:

  1. Deter and defeat transnational threats
  2. Protect U.S. personnel and facilities
  3. Prevent and mitigate conflict
  4. Build defense capabilities and capacities of partner nations
  5. Support U.S. Government interagency efforts

Hon. Kafwaya’s remarks highlights the growing skepticism and demands for transparency regarding the true purpose and operations of AFRICOM in Zambia.

His challenge comes amid widespread concerns over the potential implications of hosting an AFRICOM office, which many fear could align Zambia too closely with the West.

The hosting of AFRICOM in Zambia has significant implications for the nation’s foreign policy. Decisions such as these can affect Zambia’s diplomatic relations, influence its standing in regional organizations, and potentially strain ties with neighboring countries wary of Western military presence.

The debate over AFRICOM’s presence in Zambia continues to spark significant political and public discourse, as citizens and lawmakers alike call for clearer and more honest communication from the government.

Stop Misleading Us and the Zambian People on AFRICOM – Kafwaya Tells Minister of Foreign Affairs

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Stop Misleading Us and the Zambian People on AFRICOM – Kafwaya Tells Minister of Foreign Affairs

Lusaka, June 20, 2024 – Lunte Member of Parliament Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya has implored the Zambian Government to stop misleading the Zambian people about the actual existence and modus operandi of AFRICOM.

“The Minister indicates that AFRICOM exists in Zambia for the sole purpose of training troops for UN missions,” Hon. Kafwaya stated.

“Madam Speaker, AFRICOM is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the United States Department of Defense, headquartered at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. It is responsible for U.S. military operations, including fighting regional conflicts and maintaining military relations with 53 African nations.”

“Madam Speaker, AFRICOM is responsible for fighting regional wars! But is the Minister in order to mislead us and the nation that this particular AFRICOM establishment in Lusaka, which I doubt is a creation of Cabinet because if it was, it would have been brought here for rectification? Is he in order to mislead us that this particular establishment in Lusaka is for training UN operations when, in fact, this reason he has mentioned is not even highlighted in the objectives of AFRICOM?”

According to the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) official website, the following are the Cole objectives of AFRICOM:

  1. Deter and defeat transnational threats
  2. Protect U.S. personnel and facilities
  3. Prevent and mitigate conflict
  4. Build defense capabilities and capacities of partner nations
  5. Support U.S. Government interagency efforts

Hon. Kafwaya’s remarks highlights the growing skepticism and demands for transparency regarding the true purpose and operations of AFRICOM in Zambia.

His challenge comes amid widespread concerns over the potential implications of hosting an AFRICOM office, which many fear could align Zambia too closely with the West.

The hosting of AFRICOM in Zambia has significant implications for the nation’s foreign policy. Decisions such as these can affect Zambia’s diplomatic relations, influence its standing in regional organizations, and potentially strain ties with neighboring countries wary of Western military presence.

The debate over AFRICOM’s presence in Zambia continues to spark significant political and public discourse, as citizens and lawmakers alike call for clearer and more honest communication from the government.

Kampyongo Questions Government on Hosting AFRICOM Office in Zambia

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Kampyongo Questions Government on Hosting AFRICOM Office in Zambia

Lusaka, June 20, 2024 – Shiwang’andu Member of Parliament Hon. Stephen Kampyongo has raised a crucial question to the Zambian government regarding the hosting of the AFRICOM office in Zambia.

This inquiry was directed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation this afternoon, highlighting regional concerns about the presence of the AFRICOM office in the country as highlighted by the Zimbabwean President.

The move has sparked a debate over Zambia’s foreign policy direction and its potential impact on regional stability.

“Is your government in a position to reconsider hosting AFRICOM if you realize during your conversation with other member states that they are equally as concerned as Zimbabwe? They may be quiet but they share the same concerns as Zimbabwe,” asked Hon. Kampyongo.

Last week, Zimbabwe’s President Emerson Mnangagwa sought assistance from Russian President Vladimir Putin to protect Zimbabwe from what he described as Zambia’s increasing alignment with Western interests.

In his remarks, President Mnangagwa stated that the West was consolidating their power in Zambia in terms of security and financial assistance.

In his response, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation failed to directly address Hon. Kampyongo’s question. Instead, the Minister diverted the focus to the authenticity of the said video footage of Zimbabwe’s President and his Russian counterpart.

This evasion has not gone unnoticed and has further fueled the controversy, leaving many to question the government’s transparency and commitment to addressing the serious concerns raised by both domestic and regional stakeholders.

“We risk involving ourselves in a discussion based on purely speculations and scenarios. What I expected was the Member to bring factual information that the following member states have raised concern,” the Minister stated.

However, Hon. Kampyongo’s question was based on whether the UPND government is able to reconsider its decision in the event that Zambia discovers its neighboring countries share the same concerns.

As the situation develops, the Zambian government faces a critical decision that could shape its diplomatic relations and regional dynamics in Southern Africa.

GOVERNMENT HAS TODAY RESTARTED THE 105 MEGAWATTS POWER PRODUCTION AT NDOLA ENERGY POWER PLANT

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GOVERNMENT HAS TODAY RESTARTED THE 105 MEGAWATTS POWER PRODUCTION AT NDOLA ENERGY POWER PLANT.

Here are the highlights:

1. Minister of Energy and Guest of Honour Hon. Peter Kapala.
✅Zambia like other countries in the sub region has recently experienced a severe drought which has resulted to reduced power generation caoacity.
✅There is therefore an urgent need to identify renewable energy and other alternatives to mitigate the power shortage in the country and ensure continuous service delivery to the public.
✅In order to supplement current power rationing by ZESCO Limited, Government through the Ministry of Energy intends to promote investment and participation of the private entities in the energy sector.
✅Ndola Energy Power Plant which signed a power purchase agreement with ZESCO Limited was commissioned in two phases with the first one completed in 2013 with the installed capacity of 48megaWatts.
✅The second phase with a total 57Megawatts was installed in 2016 bringing the total installed capacity to 105Megawatts and contribute positively to the Zambian economy.
✅Other positive impacts of Ndola Energy Power Plant include:
1. Increasing the country’s power generation by 105 Megawatts.
2. Diversifying the country’s energy needs by 3 percent as 85 percent of Zambia’s power is hydro which is more prone to climate change.
3. The plant addresses the huge environmental issues with the waste from the refinery.
✅The Indeni refinery earlier was shut down due to lack of fuel.

✅Considering the fact that the country is currently facing power deficit due to climate change, Government is trying by all means to source some power from neighbouring countries as well as restarting the power plants within the country like Ndola Energy Power Plant.
✅Government has resolved to restart the plant and repurposed it to burn disease transported using the pipeline to ensure that the feed stock is landed at a competitive price via the use of the pipeline.
✅In the diversification agenda, Government has requested Ndola Energy to expand the plant and add 200MegaWatts of solar.
✅Government is happy to work with private players tom participate in the diversification of the power needs experienced in the country.
✅Independent power producers are also welcome to invest in the energy sector as the government has put up conducive environment for private sector participation.
✅The first 50MegaWatts will be injected into the grid within the next four months once the power purchase agreement with ZESCO is signed off.
✅Government shall support negotiations and ensure that they conclude so that Ndola Energy Solar Plant expand power generation.

2. Minister of Information and Media and Chief Government Spokesperson Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa.
✅ Government is elated with the restart of the production of 105 Megawatts power by Ndola Energy Power Plant.
✅The coming on board of Ndola Energy Corporation is a clear demonstration of Government working together with the private sector in responding to the drought that has hit the country and the SADC region.
✅The government is elated to be in the partnership with Ndola Energy responding to energy problems which is affecting power generation, production of food, mealie meal and access to clean drinking water due to the droughts in the country.
✅Government is further elated to hear the prospects of Ndola Energy Company that they intend to invest in the production of another 200 Megawatts of power.
✅The government is encouraging the private sector to come on board and take advantage of conducive environment to invest in the energy sector and ensure that the current electricity deficit is dealt with.
✅Government last week concluded discussions around funds mobilization for the construction of the second phase of thermal power at Mamba couriers.
✅Investment of Solar energy and other hydro power cannot come at a right time as this when government has set eyes on the production of at least 3,000,000 metric tonnes of copper and is emphasizing expansion of the agricultural sector through irrigation which require more energy.
✅Government calls on all stakeholders to turn around misfortunes to opportunities for economic growth.
✅The recall of power from the export market by ZESCO and now the addition of 105MegaWatts by Ndola Energy Company will not end load shedding immediately but will help mitigate the current power challenges the country is faced with.
✅The second phase of the construction of Mamba Couriers will require at least a year for it to complete.
✅The current crisis faced with in the country and region is not merely about lack of rain but as result of successive governments in the past that did not invest in alternative source of energy.
✅Government is doing everything possible to get power back into industry, manufacturing and production sectors and further ensures that national resources are directed where there is need.
✅As the government is investing in the alternative energy sources and also as anticipate for a normal rain season ahead, citizens must be calm and support the government in doing the right thing.
✅Government still stands with election commitments of the new dawn of ending load shedding.
✅Recently, in an effort to reduce load shedding, President Hakainde Hichilema commissioned the Kafue Gorge Lower four turbines that where not working before.
✅Mamba couriers which was owed by ZESCO and Government about US$590million is now on schedule of being paid toward the dismantling of the same debt.

ZIMBABWEAN MAN MARRIES HIS OWN MOTHER AFTER IMPREGNATING HER

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The Zimbabwean woman and her son claim to be in love with each other and they decided to take their relationship to the next level and get married considering that the mother, Betty Mbereko (from Mwenezi in Masvingo) is now six months pregnant and expecting her son’s child, and her grandchild.

Mbereko, 40, has been a widow for the past 12 years and has been living with her 23-years-old son Farai Mbereko.

She confirmed that she is six months pregnant and that she has decided it is better to “marry” her son because she does not want to marry her late husband’s young brothers, whom she says are coveting her.

Betty stunned a village court last week when she said the affair with her son had begun three years earlier.

She said after spending a lot of money sending Farai to school following the death of her husband, she felt she had a right to his money and no other woman was entitled to it.

“Look, I struggled alone to send my son to school and no one helped me. Now you see that my son is working and you accuse me of doing something wrong.

“Let me enjoy the products of my sweat,” she told the village court council.

Farai said he was more than prepared to marry his mother and would pay off the lobola balance his father had left unpaid to his grandparents.

“I know my father died before he finished paying the bride price and I am prepared to pay it off,” he said.

“It is better to publicise what is happening because people should know that I am the one who made my mother pregnant.Otherwise they will accuse her of promiscuity.”

But local headman Nathan Muputirwa says: “We cannot allow this to happen in our village, mashura chaiwo aya, (This is a bad omen indeed). In the past they would have to be killed but today we cannot do it because we are afraid of the police.”

He warned them to immediately break off their marriage or leave his village. They chose the latter and have since left the village for an undisclosed destination.

Source-Daily Express

ZIMBABWEAN MAN MARRIES HIS OWN MOTHER AFTER IMPREGNATING HER

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The Zimbabwean woman and her son claim to be in love with each other and they decided to take their relationship to the next level and get married considering that the mother, Betty Mbereko (from Mwenezi in Masvingo) is now six months pregnant and expecting her son’s child, and her grandchild.

Mbereko, 40, has been a widow for the past 12 years and has been living with her 23-years-old son Farai Mbereko.

She confirmed that she is six months pregnant and that she has decided it is better to “marry” her son because she does not want to marry her late husband’s young brothers, whom she says are coveting her.

Betty stunned a village court last week when she said the affair with her son had begun three years earlier.

She said after spending a lot of money sending Farai to school following the death of her husband, she felt she had a right to his money and no other woman was entitled to it.

“Look, I struggled alone to send my son to school and no one helped me. Now you see that my son is working and you accuse me of doing something wrong.

“Let me enjoy the products of my sweat,” she told the village court council.

Farai said he was more than prepared to marry his mother and would pay off the lobola balance his father had left unpaid to his grandparents.

“I know my father died before he finished paying the bride price and I am prepared to pay it off,” he said.

“It is better to publicise what is happening because people should know that I am the one who made my mother pregnant.Otherwise they will accuse her of promiscuity.”

But local headman Nathan Muputirwa says: “We cannot allow this to happen in our village, mashura chaiwo aya, (This is a bad omen indeed). In the past they would have to be killed but today we cannot do it because we are afraid of the police.”

He warned them to immediately break off their marriage or leave his village. They chose the latter and have since left the village for an undisclosed destination.

Source-Daily Express

Vision 2030: Zanu-PF’s Secret Strategy to Keep Mnangagwa in Power Beyond 2028 Unveiled

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How Zanu-PF Plans to Extend President Mnangagwa’s Term Beyond 2028 Unveiled

The slogan “2030 VaMnangagwa vanenge vachipo” might become a reality as reports suggest that Zanu-PF has devised a strategy to keep President Emmerson Mnangagwa in power beyond 2028 when his current term is set to end.

How Zanu-PF Plans to Extend President Mnangagwa’s Term
Zanu PF is plotting to amend the law to decouple the harmonised elections and ensure parliamentary elections take place in 2028, with presidential elections being held in 2030.

Alternatively, Zanu-PF is contemplating postponing all elections until 2030 with a faction of the opposition being mobilised to back the proposal.

Zanu-PF will seek to postpone the elections under the guise of implementing reforms.

Senior Zanu-PF Member Unveils Secret Strategy
A senior Zanu-PF member who spoke to The News Hawks said President Mnangagwa has abandoned his bid for a third term because it is complicated.

The senior member said Mnangagwa has now shifted his focus to making sure the elections are held separately.

“He no longer wants to have a third term because that route is complicated as it involves amending the constitution and a two-thirds parliamentary majority, plus a referendum, which doesn’t benefit the incumbent, a disincentive to do that. Now the new plan under consideration is to 2028 to 4 August 2028. amend the constitution and electoral law to de-harmonise elections, with the effect of holding parliamentary polls in 2028; presidential election in 2030. That’s different from a third term and it’s less complex,” the senior member told The News Hawks.

Public Statements by President Mnangagwa
Despite these behind-the-scenes maneuvers, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has publicly stated he does not intend to extend his time in power. In an interview with The Sunday Mail, he emphasized his commitment to respecting the country’s Constitution and not seeking a third term.

“There is not an iota of evidence where ZANU PF or I, as President, has ever expressed the violation of our Constitution. But we allow people to dream properly or widely. They will still wake up and find things are working and the Constitution hasn’t changed,” President Mnangagwa said earlier this year.

Vision 2030: Zanu-PF’s Secret Strategy to Keep Mnangagwa in Power Beyond 2028 Unveiled

zamobserver
-
0

How Zanu-PF Plans to Extend President Mnangagwa’s Term Beyond 2028 Unveiled

The slogan “2030 VaMnangagwa vanenge vachipo” might become a reality as reports suggest that Zanu-PF has devised a strategy to keep President Emmerson Mnangagwa in power beyond 2028 when his current term is set to end.

How Zanu-PF Plans to Extend President Mnangagwa’s Term
Zanu PF is plotting to amend the law to decouple the harmonised elections and ensure parliamentary elections take place in 2028, with presidential elections being held in 2030.

Alternatively, Zanu-PF is contemplating postponing all elections until 2030 with a faction of the opposition being mobilised to back the proposal.

Zanu-PF will seek to postpone the elections under the guise of implementing reforms.

Senior Zanu-PF Member Unveils Secret Strategy
A senior Zanu-PF member who spoke to The News Hawks said President Mnangagwa has abandoned his bid for a third term because it is complicated.

The senior member said Mnangagwa has now shifted his focus to making sure the elections are held separately.

“He no longer wants to have a third term because that route is complicated as it involves amending the constitution and a two-thirds parliamentary majority, plus a referendum, which doesn’t benefit the incumbent, a disincentive to do that. Now the new plan under consideration is to 2028 to 4 August 2028. amend the constitution and electoral law to de-harmonise elections, with the effect of holding parliamentary polls in 2028; presidential election in 2030. That’s different from a third term and it’s less complex,” the senior member told The News Hawks.

Public Statements by President Mnangagwa
Despite these behind-the-scenes maneuvers, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has publicly stated he does not intend to extend his time in power. In an interview with The Sunday Mail, he emphasized his commitment to respecting the country’s Constitution and not seeking a third term.

“There is not an iota of evidence where ZANU PF or I, as President, has ever expressed the violation of our Constitution. But we allow people to dream properly or widely. They will still wake up and find things are working and the Constitution hasn’t changed,” President Mnangagwa said earlier this year.

Zimbabwe struggles to explain US$2.7B debt discrepancy amid deepening crisis

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A staggering US$2.7 billion discrepancy in Zimbabwe’s debt figures has raised alarm bells, casting a shadow over the country’s already precarious debt crisis and prompting urgent calls for clarity and transparency in the government’s handling of the nation’s finances.

The country’s debt arrears are ballooning to unprecedented levels, posing a significant threat to national development and access to global financial markets, and prompting urgent efforts by the government to negotiate a sustainable repayment plan with international financial institutions and creditors.

According to Deputy Minister of Finance, David Mnangagwa, the debt figures are still undergoing validation and reconciliation.

“Our debt figures are still going through some validation and reconciliation. There has been US$1.9billion recapitalisation of the Mutapa Fund and an additional US$1.2billion that was assumed from the RBZ.

“These would still need to be reconciled and validated before they are entered in the debt profile. That process is still underway.,” he revealed this to Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

However, Mnangagwa acknowledged that the debt reported to the African Development Bank at the end of April by the Treasury boss Mthuli Ncube was approximately US$2.7 billion higher than that approved in the budget for this year in December 2023.

“Indeed, there is an additional US$2.7 billion that was presented at the AfDB by the Hon. Minister, which is still going through a validation process,” he confirmed.

The government’s efforts to address the debt crisis are being hindered by the lack of clarity on how the funds were used.

Mnangagwa assured Zimbabweans that the government is working to ensure that the expenditure is validated and reconciled before it is entered into the debt profile.

“…the process of validation and the reconciliation, particularly for the debts that we have assumed from the RBZ, as to what exactly these monies were used for, and to make sure that they were actually used for the purposes they were said to have been used for.,” he said.

Despite the government’s efforts, Zimbabwe’s debt situation remains uncertain. The country’s national debt register shows that about 76% of its external bilateral debt, amounting to approximately US$6.2 billion, is in arrears.

The Paris Club members, including Germany, France, Britain, Japan, and the USA, are owed US$4.1 billion, nearly 98% of which has defaulted due to the economic crisis that began two decades ago in Zimbabwe.

The government’s appeal for substantial debt forgiveness and the waiving of additional penalties has yet to bear fruit.

Mnangagwa acknowledged the challenges facing the government, saying, “We are keen to make sure that we close this process as quickly as possible and ensure that our books are in good order.”

In January this year, the United States stopped participating in a critical program for restructuring Zimbabwe’s debt, which now amounts to more than US$18 billion, due to alleged lack of progress on democratic reforms, alleged voter fraud, and political violence targeted at opposition parties.

Zimbabwe struggles to explain US$2.7B debt discrepancy amid deepening crisis

zamobserver
-
0

A staggering US$2.7 billion discrepancy in Zimbabwe’s debt figures has raised alarm bells, casting a shadow over the country’s already precarious debt crisis and prompting urgent calls for clarity and transparency in the government’s handling of the nation’s finances.

The country’s debt arrears are ballooning to unprecedented levels, posing a significant threat to national development and access to global financial markets, and prompting urgent efforts by the government to negotiate a sustainable repayment plan with international financial institutions and creditors.

According to Deputy Minister of Finance, David Mnangagwa, the debt figures are still undergoing validation and reconciliation.

“Our debt figures are still going through some validation and reconciliation. There has been US$1.9billion recapitalisation of the Mutapa Fund and an additional US$1.2billion that was assumed from the RBZ.

“These would still need to be reconciled and validated before they are entered in the debt profile. That process is still underway.,” he revealed this to Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

However, Mnangagwa acknowledged that the debt reported to the African Development Bank at the end of April by the Treasury boss Mthuli Ncube was approximately US$2.7 billion higher than that approved in the budget for this year in December 2023.

“Indeed, there is an additional US$2.7 billion that was presented at the AfDB by the Hon. Minister, which is still going through a validation process,” he confirmed.

The government’s efforts to address the debt crisis are being hindered by the lack of clarity on how the funds were used.

Mnangagwa assured Zimbabweans that the government is working to ensure that the expenditure is validated and reconciled before it is entered into the debt profile.

“…the process of validation and the reconciliation, particularly for the debts that we have assumed from the RBZ, as to what exactly these monies were used for, and to make sure that they were actually used for the purposes they were said to have been used for.,” he said.

Despite the government’s efforts, Zimbabwe’s debt situation remains uncertain. The country’s national debt register shows that about 76% of its external bilateral debt, amounting to approximately US$6.2 billion, is in arrears.

The Paris Club members, including Germany, France, Britain, Japan, and the USA, are owed US$4.1 billion, nearly 98% of which has defaulted due to the economic crisis that began two decades ago in Zimbabwe.

The government’s appeal for substantial debt forgiveness and the waiving of additional penalties has yet to bear fruit.

Mnangagwa acknowledged the challenges facing the government, saying, “We are keen to make sure that we close this process as quickly as possible and ensure that our books are in good order.”

In January this year, the United States stopped participating in a critical program for restructuring Zimbabwe’s debt, which now amounts to more than US$18 billion, due to alleged lack of progress on democratic reforms, alleged voter fraud, and political violence targeted at opposition parties.

Zimbabwe Govt denies claims First Lady is profiting from national fabric sales

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The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry has refuted claims that First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa is profiting from the sale of the Zimbabwe National Fabric.

In a statement, Minister Barbara Rwodzi dismissed the allegations as “false and malicious”.

“The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry wishes to remind all concerned that it is the sole custodian of the Zimbabwe National Fabric and is responsible for distributing the fabric through its Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) Provincial offices at a gazetted nominal fee of USD 4 per metre,” Rwodzi said.

She added, “We take exception to false and malicious claims by some media outlets that the First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa is cashing in on the national fabric.

“Such claims are not only unfortunate, but appear calculated to soil the good image of our hard working mother of the nation who is our patron.”

The Ministry noted that the National Fabric was previously sold between USD 9 and USD 12 before they intervened to have the price reduced to USD 4.

“The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry encourages the nation to continue taking pride in our identity, our culture and our Heritage through our National Fabric,” Rwodzi said.

However, reports suggest that the national fabric is being sold at the First Lady’s offices, with Zanu-PF and ZTA acting as principal retailers.

The cloth is reportedly fetching USD 4 a metre at the ZTA offices in Harare, while an average cloth sells for USD 1.50 in retail shops.

Farai Marapira, Zanu-PF director of information, claimed that the national fabric is selling very well, with high demand and orders being filled through the ZTA and the party’s commercial arm, House of Cheneso.

He added that the national dress is not a partisan symbol, but a representation of national identity, available to all Zimbabweans, not just Zanu-PF members.

“There has been a very serious uptake of the national dress. We are seeing a lot of excitement in things to do with our nation. We are inundated with people who are looking for that dress since it’s the topic at hand.

“The House of Cheneso does orders with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and within a week, it will be sold out. That is how serious the uptake of the national dress is.

“This is not a partisan dress. It is a dress for everyone. It’s about our national identity. It is not for Zanu-PF people but for every Zimbabwean.

“What we only do as Zanu-PF is we just take orders through our commercial House of Cheneso so that it is easier for our party members to access it. It’s just us as Zanu-PF supporting a national initiative,” he said.

Usher reveals he doesn’t eat on Wednesdays: ‘I typically try to start around 11 pm the previous day’

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R&B singer Usher has made a startling disclosure about his unique fitness and diet routine. Preparing for his upcoming “Past, Present, Future” tour starting in August, Usher in an interview with the Wall Street Journal said he avoids eating any meals on Wednesdays as part of his wellness regimen.

“I fast, not for religious purposes, but it’s something my grandmother practiced,” he said. “I fast on Wednesdays. I typically try to start around 11 pm the previous day, then go the entire day on Wednesday just drinking water.”

Usher, known for his hit “Yeah!,” disclosed that he usually doesn’t eat until after his morning workout. When he does have breakfast, he typically opts for eggs, without a specific preference for their preparation.

“I sometimes eat eggs scrambled with cheese,” Usher said. “For the most part, I like them poached or over easy. But I don’t like to eat breakfast before I’ve worked out or done something physical: taking a walk, stretching or doing yoga, sitting in the sun, and raising my body’s natural heat levels. Then I eat.”

Usher revealed that his morning routine includes meditation and self-reflection before he eats breakfast or begins any physical activity.

“I try to wake up early enough to have a moment of reflection. Some days I may grab a book and read to stimulate my mind. I may sit quietly and meditate,” the 45-year-old revealed. “One thing that is a frequent practice is yoga. It really does help to activate my organs and get my mind moving in the right direction – as Tony Robbins would say, ‘make my move,’ you know what I mean?”

The father of four said he prefers celery juice and a hot mixture of lemon, ginger, water, and cayenne pepper over coffee to start his day.

Reflecting on his rigorous preparation for his acclaimed Super Bowl halftime performance in February, the “My Boo” singer described it as the “hardest 15 minutes” of his life, noting that he had to train daily and follow a low-carb diet.

“Being able to go after [the halftime show] the way that I needed to do – vocally, energetically, spiritually and physically – it did call for me to consistently work out every day. I didn’t really have the time to do a lot of other things,” Usher shared. “I was remedying my body the night before and waking up the next day and eating a very regimented, low-carb diet.”

Usher explained that his routine gym workouts included walking, knee activations, and reverse walking to engage his quads, knees, and glutes. He also stays fit through swimming, bike riding, and weight lifting.

How a flight attendant became the first female pilot for a commercial airline in Côte d’Ivoire

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Steadily rising through the ranks, Aya Gertrude Konan is now the first female commercial pilot in Cote d’Ivoire. The Ivorian’s passion for aviation was stoked at a young age, she told Afrique Magazine.

“I must have been eight years old. At the beginning of the school year, on the form we filled out, I wrote that I wanted to become an airplane pilot,” she recalled. “This was the first time I had expressed this so clearly. The master called me and said: ‘You have a very big dream. If you stick with it and work hard, you’ll get there.’”

Konan maintained her childhood aspiration of becoming a pilot even after starting her work in the aviation sector in April 2013 as a flight attendant. Learning to fly was expensive but she did not give up.

She took advantage of an opening that presented itself in late 2014 when Air Côte d’Ivoire announced a competition to train and hire young Ivorians for positions in aviation, such as pilots and aircraft mechanics.

Konan was one of 15 people chosen from roughly 1500 candidates after a rigorous recruitment procedure that included file analysis, psycho-technical testing, and assessments in disciplines such as mathematics, physics, and English. According to Rising Africa, she was the only female candidate chosen.

She studied theoretically at the National Polytechnic Institute Houphouët Boigny (INPHB) in Cote d’Ivoire. She then pursued practical training in France, fully committing herself to gaining the proficiency necessary to fly.

Konan became the first female civilian airline pilot trained by the State of Côte d’Ivoire after completing two years and four months of rigorous training from 2015 to 2017, marking a significant milestone in her career.

Konan’s legacy as a trailblazer in her industry was cemented when she obtained qualification as a Bombardier Dash Q400. At the moment, she pilots the Airbus A320 as a first officer with Air Côte d’Ivoire.

The 35-year-old recently expressed the freedom and awe she finds while flying an airplane. She told Afrique Magazine, “When I fly, there is only the sky and me. It’s a wonder, a freedom. It’s inexplicable. You take off this wide-body aircraft, with more than a hundred passengers on board… You have the weight of this responsibility, but you say to yourself: ‘I am alongside the clouds’, ‘I am in the skies’.”

How a flight attendant became the first female pilot for a commercial airline in Côte d’Ivoire

zamobserver
-
0

Steadily rising through the ranks, Aya Gertrude Konan is now the first female commercial pilot in Cote d’Ivoire. The Ivorian’s passion for aviation was stoked at a young age, she told Afrique Magazine.

“I must have been eight years old. At the beginning of the school year, on the form we filled out, I wrote that I wanted to become an airplane pilot,” she recalled. “This was the first time I had expressed this so clearly. The master called me and said: ‘You have a very big dream. If you stick with it and work hard, you’ll get there.’”

Konan maintained her childhood aspiration of becoming a pilot even after starting her work in the aviation sector in April 2013 as a flight attendant. Learning to fly was expensive but she did not give up.

She took advantage of an opening that presented itself in late 2014 when Air Côte d’Ivoire announced a competition to train and hire young Ivorians for positions in aviation, such as pilots and aircraft mechanics.

Konan was one of 15 people chosen from roughly 1500 candidates after a rigorous recruitment procedure that included file analysis, psycho-technical testing, and assessments in disciplines such as mathematics, physics, and English. According to Rising Africa, she was the only female candidate chosen.

She studied theoretically at the National Polytechnic Institute Houphouët Boigny (INPHB) in Cote d’Ivoire. She then pursued practical training in France, fully committing herself to gaining the proficiency necessary to fly.

Konan became the first female civilian airline pilot trained by the State of Côte d’Ivoire after completing two years and four months of rigorous training from 2015 to 2017, marking a significant milestone in her career.

Konan’s legacy as a trailblazer in her industry was cemented when she obtained qualification as a Bombardier Dash Q400. At the moment, she pilots the Airbus A320 as a first officer with Air Côte d’Ivoire.

The 35-year-old recently expressed the freedom and awe she finds while flying an airplane. She told Afrique Magazine, “When I fly, there is only the sky and me. It’s a wonder, a freedom. It’s inexplicable. You take off this wide-body aircraft, with more than a hundred passengers on board… You have the weight of this responsibility, but you say to yourself: ‘I am alongside the clouds’, ‘I am in the skies’.”

Euro 2024: Experts say Mbappe may require surgery as broken nose could change his looks forever 

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French professional footballer Kylian Mbappe, who plays for Real Madrid and captains the France national team, suffered a broken nose during a collision with Austria’s Kevin Danso in Monday night’s Euro 2024 match.

Despite initial concerns, 25-year-old Mbappe will not require surgery for now following his injury in the Austria-France match in Düsseldorf. Medics had initially estimated he could be sidelined for at least ten days.

“Ultimately if he can breathe it is not a functional injury,” London-based NHS plastics surgeon Mark Mikhail told MailOnline. Dr. Mikhail noted that while Mbappe might not need immediate surgery for his facial trauma, any cosmetic adjustments should be made within three weeks to avoid undesirable results.

He suggests that Mbappe’s nose may have been realigned shortly after the match, potentially eliminating the need for immediate surgery.

“When a break is really fresh like that because he is playing football and there is loads of adrenaline, they may have had enough mobility to nudge his nose back in place,” he said. “The surgery for a broken nose is often just done a few days later with a local anesthetic, rather than full-blown surgery and they just nudge it back into place,” he added.

Journalist Julien Laurens reported early Tuesday that Mbappe will not require surgery on his nose. French outlet L’Equipe confirmed he left a Düsseldorf hospital late Monday after various tests. The French Football Federation stated the tests were reassuring, indicating no need for surgery.

The French Football Federation also said he has returned to France’s team hotel, where he will be closely monitored by medical staff over the next few days.

In a statement, the federation said: “Kylian Mbappe suffered a broken nose during the second part of the Austria-France held this Monday in Dusseldorf.

“The captain of France was treated first by the medical staff and Dr. Franck Le Gall, who diagnosed him with a nose fracture. Mbappe will receive treatment in the next few days, but he will not undergo surgery in the immediate future.

“A mask will be made for him so that the number 10 of the French national team can prepare for his return to the competition after a period dedicated to treatment.”

The NHS recommends avoiding sports for at least six weeks if there’s a risk of facial impact. However, athletes might opt to wear specialized plastic face and nose guards to return to play sooner while minimizing further injury, according to Dr. Mikhail.

“If the nasal bones are broken, then it will obviously be fragile. Even if the bone is sat in the right place you want to keep it there, so you will want to protect it from further injury,” Dr Mikhail said.

“[A mask] is slightly different to a post operative splint, which is trying to hold it in place, instead this would just try and protect the nose,’ he added.

In most cases, surgery doesn’t happen immediately after a break because the face is very swollen.

“You generally wait for the swelling to settle down before assessing it and seeing if anything needs to be done,” Dr Mikhail said.

“After the swelling has died down you can also work out whether there is a breathing problem or a deviation that will have a significant cosmetic outcome.”

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