IGIHE

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  • Tanzania Refutes Claims on Rwanda & Uganda Rejection of Dar es Salaam Port

    {{Tanzania’s Minister for East African Cooperation Samwel Sitta dismissed rumours that Rwanda and Uganda were planning to boycott the Dar es Salaam Port with effect from next month.}}

    He told journalists at State House in Dar es Salaam yesterday that his office had not received documentation to the effect the two landlocked EAC member states had opted for the Mombasa Port rather than Dar es Salaam Port for handling of their cargo.

    Sitta was cornered by journalists during the swearing in ceremony of newly appointed eight permanent secretaries and 14 deputies to various ministries in the State House grounds, declining to give further comments on the current status of the two countries with regard to their relations with the DR Congo.

    On their trade links with Tanzania, Sitta said the government had since 2011 reduced the number of barriers from 43 to the current 15 along major roads, adding that barriers disturbed goods’ transportation.

    He noted that in order to facilitate smooth operation of trade movement within the region, his office had future plans to further reduce the barriers and remain with only 3 by 2020.

    President Jakaya Kikwete on Tuesday this week announced a major reshuffle of permanent secretaries, promoting 10 deputies and dropping three others.

    He moved three permanent secretaries to new portfolios and moved Prof Sifuni Mchome from the Tanzania Commission of Universities to become the new Education Permanent Secretary in changes that saw the Permanent Secretary of the ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Patrick Rutabanzibwa stepping down voluntarily.

    The President picked 14 new deputy PSs, and shuffled five in a decision that saw the return of suspended chief medical officer in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Deodatus Mtasiwa who now heads the ministry of Local Government Authority and Regional Administration.

    Those dropped were Sethi Kamuhanda from the Ministry of Information and Culture, Omar Chambo from Transport and Mrs Kijakazi Mtengwa from Community Development, Women and Children.

    Announcing the changes at a news conference on Tuesday evening at State House in Dar es Salaam, Chief Secretary Ombeni Sefue said the three dropped PSs would be assigned other duties, without specifying.

    {ippmedia}

  • 28 Commissioners & Senior Police Officers to Graduate at National Police College

    {{Twenty eight Commissioners and senior Police officers will this Sunday graduate at the National Police College (NPC) in Musanze District.}}

    The Commissioners and senior officers from 12 African countries have been attending the maiden Police Senior Command and Staff course, which started on September 22, 2012.

    The officers are from Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Djibouti, Zambia, Kenya, Somalia, Ghana, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia and the host, Rwanda. Sixteen of the graduates are Rwandan and three out of all graduates are female.

    The school, which was officially, inaugurated on 11 June, 2013 by His Excellence the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, moves to becoming an international centre of excellence in police training and development.

    The courses, which are products of Rwanda National Police (RNP), are offered in partnership with the National University of Rwanda and the UK-based Bramshill College of Policing formerly known as the International Academy- Bramshill.

    The college also gives the officers more knowledge and skills in tactical policing and offers them a global understanding of peace and conflict dimension.

    The Police College which operated as a “Police academy” since 2001 until June this year when it was elevated to a college, has since conducted various courses including five officer cadet and four intakes of officer supervisory courses.

    Others include police station commanders and intermediate command and staff courses.

    The college also introduced other specialized academic programmes offering bachelor’s degrees in policing related fields. The college offers a masters degree in conflict management and can also offer a certificate of senior command.

    In partnership with Kigali Institute of Education (KIE), it offers bachelor’s degree in Professional Police Studies (PPS), with 72 officers already graduated from this field.

    Other two degree programmes offered by the college are Law and Information Communication Technology (ICT) offered in partnership with the National University of Rwanda (NUR) and Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), respectively.

    The college is in the process of transforming both Law and ICT courses into “criminology and Law” and “Information Security with focus to cyber and hi-tech crimes respectively, and will host the CID school.

    Meanwhile, 36 other police officers who have been taking police professional studies (PPS) graduated on Thursday August 23, 2013. The PPS is a four-year course.

  • Rwanda Condemns Continued DRC Bombing of Rwandan villages

    {{The Rwanda Defence Force has confirmed that five further bombs were fired on Rwandan territory from DRC military positions on Friday. }}

    Five bombs were fired into Busasamana Sector in Rubavu, Western Rwanda along the border with DRC, landing in Bukumu, Kagezi, Kageyo and Rusura Villages successively in a span of three hours from 3.30 to 6.30 on Friday afternoon.

    All were identified as 120mm mortar bombs and the estimated trajectory suggests that they were fired from FARDC positions near Mutaho in Eastern DRC.

    In condemning the attacks, Defence Spokesman,

    Brig Gen. Joseph Nzabamwita said: “The continued bombing of Rwandan villages by DRC armed forces is unacceptable. We again urge MONUSCO and the government of the DRC to intervene immediately to stop these attacks. Signatories to the Peace Framework must uphold their pledge to move away from conflict and work towards peace.”

    Today’s bombings follows the firing of a 107mm rocket at Bugu Village in Rubavu District on Thursday. At Rwanda’s request, the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) today visited the site of Thursday’s bombing to carry out investigations.

    Brig. Gen Nzabamwita said: “The nature and pattern of these shelling suggests that they are not accidental. The Government of Rwanda has again asked the EJVM to investigate today’s provocative bombings. We are also briefing bilateral partners on these repeated incidents.”

    The EJVM, which is a mechanism of International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) has investigated repeated violations by the DRC. The EJVM report of 22 July 2013 confirmed the firing on Rwanda territory on 15 July 2013 from the FARDC position of Kanyarucinya, using a T55 Main Battle Tank.

    Brig. Gen. Nzabamwita noted that the Government of Rwanda has avoided being drawn into the current DRC conflict and remains committed and active in the search of sustainable solution.

    He however pointed out that the RDF remains prepared to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population and that acts of provocation that endanger the lives of Rwandan citizens will not remain unanswered indefinitely.

    source: MOD

  • Mau Mau Fighters claim Were Denied Compensation

    {{When the British Government decided to compensate Mau Mau-era detainees in an out-of-court settlement, Ms Esther Njeri was ready for her share of the Sh2.6 billion payout.}}

    The 74-year-old from Thuita village in Githunguri, Kiambu, says she was among the 5,228 beneficiaries shortlisted as a genuine Mau Mau detainee.

    She is now protesting that she did get the Sh340,000 each person was entitled to.

    Njeri is blaming Mau Mau War Veterans Association officials in her village for her woes, alleging they hid a notification letter given to her by British representatives who jetted into the country to verify fighters who deserved compensation.

    The document was her only confirmation that she was entitled to the share of the money released in June this year and announced by British Foreign Secretary William Hague.

    {{Bank account}}

    Members were to attach their bank account numbers and present it to local officials for signing to okay the deposit of the cash in their accounts.

    The woman who said her role was to cook and serve freedom fighters, was tortured and detained for months during the struggle for independence.

    “I was the first person to be interviewed by the British officials who were here to verify who are genuine and who are not,” she said.

    “I was given a notification and I was told I would use it while claiming my share once the money was out,” she added.

    Njeri said on the day she was to go for the signing, she sent her husband Njihia Ngaruiya, 86, also a beneficiary, to take the notification document with him for signing.

    This was the last time she was to see a document she had treasured and knew it was her way to receive the money.

    But she is not alone; according to area acting Chief Samuel Njoroge, he has heard of several other similar cases although they have not been officially reported to his office.

    “Word has been going around that a number genuine fighters who were entitled to compensation did not get their money when others did,” he said.

    {Standardmedia}

  • Pistorius ‘Seeks Deal’ With Dead Lover’s Family

    {{South Africa’s Paralympic sprint star Oscar Pistorius is trying to negotiate an out-of-court compensation deal with the parents of his slain lover Reeva Steenkamp, a local newspaper said.}}

    Lawyers for Pistorius, who goes on trial in March on murder charges for shooting dead Steenkamp, are mulling a settlement for emotional stress and loss of income, The Times reported.

    They reportedly want the matter settled before trial opens on March 3 next year.
    The Steenkamp family lawyer Petrus de Bruyn confirmed discussions were under way, but refused to give details.

    “We have both said that we are in talks with each other and that’s all we are prepared to say,” he told media.

    The paper said Pistorius’s lawyer Kenny Oldwage had also spoken of talks with the Steenkamp family.

    Oldwage said: “I am not aware of these discussions and I can’t comment.”

    Steenkamp and her half-brother had financially supported their parents, who are pensioners.

    The support had included paying rent for their house in the southern coastal city of Port Elizabeth.

    The parents are reportedly planning to lodge a civil suit claiming three million rand ($300,000) in damages.

    The 26-year-old Pistorius wept and prayed in court on Monday before being served with his indictment for murder and given his trial date.

    Steenkamp, a blonde cover girl and law graduate who would have turned 30 on Monday, died in the bathroom of Pistorius’s upmarket Pretoria home in the early hours of February 14.

    The double amputee athlete known as “Blade Runner”, who is currently out on bail, has admitted to killing Steenkamp but denied murder, saying he shot her through a locked bathroom door because he believed she was an intruder.
    Prosecutors will argue he is guilty of premeditated murder.

  • Botswana Expells More Zimbabweans

    {{Botswana has reportedly intensified the deportation of Zimbabweans this year in what is being seen as an escalation of hostilities between the two neighbours.}}

    Botswana has sent back more than 135,000 Zimbabweans between January 2009 and July this year, mainly for lack of proper travel documents.

    A Zimbabwean immigration official said the deportations by Botswana had intensified this year.

    “Over the past four years the figures were gradually dropping but they are on the increase again,” Mr Nqobile Ncube, the assistant immigration officer-in-charge of the western region, said.

    “Our figures for this year are quite alarming as we have handled 15,392 deportees between January and July for the three border posts.

    “This is about 2,000 less than last year’s annual figure of 17, 402.

    “We have realised this increase because Botswana seems reluctant to renew work permits for Zimbabweans.”

    The release of the figures came a week after Botswana controversially deported a 96-year-old Zimbabwean man who has lived in that country for 70 years. (Read: Outrage as Botswana deports frail Zim man)

    Mr Alfred Khumalo who was removed from a hospital bed in Bostwana after suffering a stroke has been admitted at a hospital in the border town of Plumtree as Zimbabwean authorities are still trying to establish if he has any relatives in the country.

    Zimbabwe’s state media claimed the deportation was politically motivated.

    Botswana is the only Southern African country that initially refused to endorse President Robert Mugabe’s re-election and called for an audit of the results of the July 31 elections.

    President Mugabe and his Botswana counterpart Ian Khama have in the past clashed over Harare’s alleged poor human rights record.

    Zanu-PF also accused Botswana of sponsoring former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) during the previous elections.

    Millions of Zimbabweans have sought refugee in neighbouring countries such as Botswana and South Africa since the southern African country started experiencing economic problems in 1997.

    The two countries regularly deport undocumented immigrants from Zimbabwe who immediately find their way back through illegal entry points.

    wirestory

  • Madagascar Announces Presidential Poll for October

    {{Madagascar will hold a much-delayed presidential election in October in a vote designed to end a deep political crisis prompted by a coup four years ago, officials have said.}}

    The electoral commission said on Thursday that the polls will be conducted on October 25 while parliamentary elections will follow on December 20, along with a second presidential round if the October vote does not deliver an outright winner.

    The new dates follow two earlier postponements amid a lack of funding and controversy over the candidacies of three top contenders.

    An electoral court on Saturday dropped the names of strongman Andry Rajoelina, the wife of his exiled rival Marc Ravalomanana, and a former president after the three refused to withdraw from the presidential race.

    Former disc jockey Rajoelina ousted President Ravalomanana in an army-backed coup in 2009, plunging the island country into a protracted crisis.

    Ravalomanana, a milk mogul who is living in exile in South Africa, has been blocked several times from returning home.

    The poll will be one year behind schedule according to a 2011 agreement to return to political stability brokered by regional bloc the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

    Rajoelina, formerly also mayor of the capital Antananarivo, swore not to run for president, but threw his hat in the ring when Ravalomanana’s wife Lalao declared she would be a candidate.

    Both pose a legal problem, since Rajoelina submitted his candidacy after the deadline and Lalao Ravalomanana had not lived in Madagascar six months prior to the nominations as election rules require.

    Another potential front-runner and former leader, Didier Ratsiraka, filed his candidacy papers two days after he returned from 11 years of exile in France.

    {presidential palace}

    {agencies}

  • Nigeria Coach in Racism Row

    {{Malawi coach Tom Saintfiet is to report Stephen Keshi to Fifa after the Nigeria coach called him “a white dude who should go back to Belgium”.}}

    The pair have been arguing since Malawi asked Fifa to move next month’s crucial World Cup qualifier from Calabar for safety reasons.

    Saintfiet told journalists: “It is unacceptable that any person says these words – it is clear racism.

    “It is 100% sure that my lawyers will lodge a complaint with Fifa.”

    The row erupted earlier this month when the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) wrote to Fifa, seeking a new venue for their 7 September Group F qualifier away to the Super Eagles – a match which Malawi, who trail Nigeria by two points, must win to progress to the play-offs.

    Belgian Saintfiet told local media at the time that he was concerned about security because he claims “the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office says it is a no-travel area”.

    Keshi hit back shortly afterwards, saying “this is where we play our games and other countries are fine with that”.

    And the Nigerian Football Federation complied with Fifa’s request for a written guarantee that the game would go ahead safely.

  • Nigeria Gunmen Kill Dozens of Worshippers

    {{Men dressed as soldiers opened fire on worshippers leaving a mosque in Nigeria’s far northeast earlier this week, killing at least 35 people in the second such attack this month, officials said.}}

    The attack in Demba village happened on Monday but details were only emerging on Friday because the area is remote and phone lines had been cut off by authorities to disrupt activities of the armed group Boko Haram.

    Officials blamed Boko Haram for the attack which occurred close to Baga town in northeast Borno state, which was a stronghold of the group until a military crackdown in mid-May pushed many fighters into hiding or across the Cameroon border.

    “It is impossible to access the area. Human rights and civil society groups are also being prohibited to visit the area where the army has launched an onslaught against the rebels,” Al Jazeera’s Yvonne Ndege, reporting from the capital, Abuja, said.

    “What we were told by army is that these people were killed because they refused to join Boko Haram and worked against them.”

    wirestory

  • UN troops in DR Congo Shell M23 Rebels

    {{UN troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo have launched an offensive, shelling positions held by rebels near the eastern city of Goma.}}

    The UN was responding to shelling from M23 rebels on Goma on Thursday, a UN spokesman said. Congolese officials say five civilians in the city died.

    A M23 spokesman told media it had not attacked the city, blaming the army for provoking the fighting.

    A new UN intervention brigade is deploying to the area to tackle rebels.

    It has a mandate to neutralise and disarm rebel fighters. Its 3,000 soldiers are joining the regular UN peacekeeping force, Monusco, which has more than 18,000 troops on the ground with a mandate to protect civilians.

    UN spokesman Lt-Col Felix-Prosper Basse said two UN helicopters were involved in the latest operation, which was being backed by the Congolese army, attacking rebel positions in Kibati about 15km (nine miles) north of Goma.

    “Fighting has entered a new phase as Monusco is now engaging the rebels together with the government forces,” he told media.

    {wirestory}