IGIHE

Author: admin

  • Egypt’s cabinet to debate fate of Muslim Brotherhood

    {{Egypt’s deputy prime minister will propose a way out of a bloody confrontation between the security forces and the Muslim Brotherhood of deposed president Mohamed Mursi when the cabinet discusses the crisis on Sunday.}}

    But his ideas seemed to run counter to a suggestion by the prime minister to dissolve the Islamist organization, the target of a fierce crackdown by the army-backed government last week.

    The authorities declared a state of emergency and killed hundreds of people in raids on Wednesday on protest camps set up in Cairo to demand Mursi’s reinstatement.

    The capital’s frenetic streets, unusually empty in the past few days, were returning to normal on Sunday, although the army kept several big squares closed and enforced a curfew overnight.

    At night, soldiers standing beside armored personNel carriers man checkpoints, and vigilantes inspect cars for weapons.

    Banks and the stock market reopened for the first time since Wednesday’s carnage, with shares rapidly falling 2.5 percent.

    “As long as we have bloodshed on the streets, it takes away any reason for foreign and regional investors to buy in Egypt,” said Amer Khan, director at Shuaa Asset Management in Dubai.

    The initiative by Deputy Prime Minister Ziad Bahaa el-Din, a liberal, calls for an immediate end to the state of emergency, political participation for all parties and guarantees of human rights, including the right to free assembly.

    The Brotherhood has said it will keep up mass protests until Mursi, toppled by the army on July 3 after huge demonstrations against him, is freed from jail and returned to office.

    {reuters}

  • Pistorius to Face New Weapons Charges

    {{Paralympic gold medalist Oscar Pistorius will face new charges of recklessly discharging a weapon in public when he appears in a South African court next week accused of murdering his girlfriend, local media reported on Friday.}}

    Neither prosecutors nor lawyers for Pistorius would comment on the reports carried by TV broadcaster ENCA, radio’s Eyewitness News and the national SAPA news agency, citing law enforcement officials.

    They said he would face the new charges for allegedly discharging a weapon in a restaurant in January and from a car while driving home from a holiday. Both incidents are alleged to have happened before his girlfriend was killed.

    The hearing on Monday is expected to be swift and procedural, with the case moved to a high court and a date set for the start of his trial, legal sources have said.

    The double-amputee, known as “Blade Runner” for the prostheses he wears in competition, has admitted to firing four shots through a bathroom door at his Pretoria home, hitting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, 29, in the head, arm and hip.

    Pistorius said in an affidavit presented at a magistrates’ court the shooting on Valentine’s Day had been a tragic mistake and he was acting in self-defense against what he thought was an intruder.

    Prosecutors accused him of premeditated murder for killing Steenkamp, a model and budding reality TV figure.

    Pistorius, 26, was one of the most celebrated athletes of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in London, making the Olympic 400m semi-final and winning Paralympic gold over the same distance.

    {reuters}

  • Kenneth Kaunda International Airport Expansion Given Green Light

    {{The Zambian government and China Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic and Technical Cooperation have concluded negotiations for the expansion of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) at a cost of US$385mn}}

    According to information obtained from National Airports Corporation (NAC), the terminal building, which is expected to be completed within four years, will have a capacity of four million passengers per year, with the expansion work expected to create more than 3,000 jobs.

    “The long-awaited project to upgrade KKIA has finally come to fruition. This follows the conclusion of negotiations with the successful bidder, China Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic and Technical Corporation, at a cost of US$385mn with a delivery period of 54 month,” said NAC managing director Robinson Misitala.

    The contractor is expected to move onto the site soon to start the works. The programme will be conducted in phases to avoid major disruptions to the smooth running of the airport and avoid inconveniencing passengers, employees and the general public.

    New infrastructure at Lusaka’s main airport will include an airport hotel with an 80-room capacity, fuel farm, in-flight catering and airport hangars. It will also have six aero bridges and a 30-room transit hotel to accommodate passengers in transit.

    Other amenities will encompass an office complex with conference facilities, a shopping mall, cargo facilities, rescue and fire services.

    There will also be a new aircraft parking area, car park, aircraft underground refuelling facility and stand-alone control tower. The existing terminal building will be rehabilitated.

    “The project will create a number of jobs and it is expected that more than 3,000 workers of different skills will be employed during the construction period,” Misitala pointed out.

    The completion of the infrastructure upgrade will trigger an increase in passenger, cargo and aircraft movements at KKIA, which is poised to become a hub for international traffic.

    Source: {Africanreview}

  • Driving Licence Tests Set For September

    {{The traffic and road safety department has advised all those who missed the recent driving licence tests, to register with driving schools, whose tests are set to be conducted next month.}}

    “We are aware that some of the candidates missed the recent provisional and practical tests due to various reasons, and we urge them to register with driving schools instead of waiting for other public tests,” Chief Superintendent Rafiki Mujiji, the Director of Testing and Licensing in Traffic department, said.

    The registration which started on August 10 is set to be closed on August 20.

    He disclosed that the tests in driving schools will be held on September2.

    “There will be no need to pay registration for those candidates who had paid; they will use their previous payment receipts. Only those registering for the first time are required to pay registration fee,” he explained.

    About 1,418 out of 5,279 candidates, who registered to sit for theory driving tests, missed, while out of 3,195 who registered to do practical tests, missed.

    Source: {RNP}

  • Indigenous Families in Kiramuruzi Cry For Help

    {Man stands besides his hut which he says risks being washed away by the ongoing heavy rains in the area.}

    {{Four families of indigenous Rwandans resident at Nduba village in Kiramuruzi sector, Gatsibo District have appealed for urgent rescue before the rains could ruin their livelihoods whose main occupation is pottery.}}

    The lack of descent shelter and health insurance among other urgent basic needs are the major challenges of these families whose livelihoods are in contrast with other residents a few kilometers away.

    They say local authorities have abandoned them despite several promises that they would be given shelter and cultivation land.

    IGIHE made an impromptu visit to Nduba village in Akabuga cell where these families are based.Only one family of six members has managed to secure health insurance.

    Two families have occupied an abandoned kral. Other families live in makeshift huts which will most likely get destroyed by rains expected to intensify in September.

    The families say were resettled at the site by Sector authories near a livestock farm belonging Col.Twahirwa Dodo.

    Meanwhile, one family had started building a mudbrick house but authorities stopped without any substantive reason.

    Hitimana Emmanuel and wife Uwamariya Angelique are calling for help especially provision of shelter that would shield them from heavy rains and the cold. They also lack land on which to grow crops to feed their families.

    He adds that they have on several occassions appealed for help from Cell authorities and the most recent was last week when authorities promised to visit them on Monday.

    Uwamariya told IGIHE, “We were brought here by Murama Thomas (Akabuga Cell Executive Secretary) telling us that they would build houses for us but have been waiting invain. We are also Rwandans that deserve decent shelter.”

    These familes told IGIHE that they were directed to join local community groups where every member contributes funds pooled together to cater for their Health Insurance fees. However, Uwamariya says they have no source of reasonable income and thus cannot join the groups meaning they live without health insurance.

    She explains, “Only one family of six members receives health insurance cover provided by the sector authority while other families on the site are not catered for”.

    Murundikazi Claudine said she travelled all the way from Rugende near Kigali to find a husband, “iam lucky I found a man but our livelihood is not interesting”. The couple now occupied an abandoned livestock kral.

    Kayitesi Elina a mother of five resident at Nduba village, says she was evicted from her fathers land which the sector authorities say was a wetland. “I was brought here in the cattle kral.”

    {{Local Officials Decline to answer Phone calls}}

    Attempts to obtain comments from Murama Thomas the Executive Secretary at Akagari Cell were fruitless as his mobile phone was persistently unreachable.

    However, Kiramuruzi Executive Secretary Munyaburanga Joseph did not answer his mobile phone and also never responded to our text messages that informed him about the demands of the affected familes at Nduba village.

    By Press time, when contacted, Uwimpuhwe Esperance incharge of welfare at Gatsibo district didn’t answer her phone.

    The District Mayor Ruboneza Ambroise declined to answer his phone despite repeated attempts to obtain a comment from him.

    {Below are some IGIHE photos to show the life of the Indigenous Rwandan families}

  • Tanzania’s Debt Burden Rises

    {{Despite its increased receipts from traditional and manufactured goods exports as well as tourism during the year ended June 2013, Tanzania had a heavier external debt burden to bear due to increased borrowing by the government, according to a new report from the Bank of Tanzania.}}

    The value of exported goods and services during the year topped $8.2 billion compared with $8.05 billion recorded in June 2012, but the external debt was a lofty stock of $12.08 billion.

    In its July 2013 Monthly Economic Review, released Thursday, the central bank said the external debt stock increased by $444 million and $1,734,600 from the amount recorded at the end of May 2013 and the corresponding period in 2012 respectively.

    “The government share in total external debt stock increased to 78.4 per cent from 76.2 per cent recorded at the end of the preceding month,” said the report, attributing the increase to new disbursements and accumulation of interest on arrears..

    NMG

  • Bralirwa Profits Drop 2.41%

    {{Bralirwa, has posted a marginal 2.41% drop in profit after-tax with very little growth in revenues following slow sales in the first six months of this year.}}

    The brewer, which is listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE), on Wednesday reported net profits of Rwf7.74 billion ($12 million) for the period ended June 2013 compared to Rwf7.93 billion posted for the period ended June 2012.

    Revenues grew by only 2.56% to Rwf37.7 billion ($57.8 million) in the first six months of the year compared to Rwf36.08 billion ($58.9 million) similar period last year following a 0.6% drop in the volume of beverages sold.

    “In response to the slowing beverage market, the launch in July 2013 of the new 50cl Primus at a recommended consumer price of Rwf500 ($0.77) maintains brand affordability which is key to our consumers,” said Bralirwa in a statement that accompanied the results.

    Its stock at the RSE last traded at Rwf890 ($1.37), a price that is more than two and a half times its opening price of Rwf330 ($0.523) on the first day of trading this year.

    At the end of last year, the brewer cut its dividend payout for the period ended December by 17.4% so that it can shore up cash needed for ongoing expansion projects its brewery and soft drinks plants and did not declare an interim dividend for the period ended June 2013.

    “In the second half of 2013, Bralirwa anticipates modest volume growth. Despite continued uncertainty globally, the Rwanda beverage market context is expected to remain broadly positive and supportive,” said the brewer.

    Bralirwa said that the investment programme in capacity upgrade and expansion will continue helping it to make sure it is able to meet growing consumer demand.

    {NMG}

  • ICC: Bensouda Loses bid to Strengthen Charges Against Ruto

    {{A bid by International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to strengthen her case against Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua arap Sang suffered a blow on Saturday.}}

    This is after the Pre Trial Chamber II rejected her request to amend charges against the duo to include crimes that were allegedly committed in Eldoret between December 30 and 31, 2007.

    Ekaterina Trendafilova, sitting as a single judge ruled that allowing such an amendment in the absence of any justification would be an ‘unfair burden’ to the defence, which would require time to conduct its investigations ahead of their trial scheduled to commence on September 10.

    “This course of action would unduly compromise the rights of the accused persons to be informed promptly of the nature, cause and content of the charges, to have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of their defence and to be tried without undue delay,” she ruled.

    “In light of the foregoing, the single judge cannot but reject the Prosecutor’s request.”

    Ms Bensouda had sought the chambers permission to extend the scope of the crimes against the deputy President and Mr Sang in Eldoret to prove that crimes in the greater Eldoret area began on or about 30 December 2007.

    The Prosecutor argued that she had since the confirmation of charges, obtained evidence from twelve witnesses who allege that crimes were committed in the greater Eldoret area – namely in Kimumu, Langas, Yamumbi and Huruma areas – “soon after the announcement of the presidential election results on 30 December 2007”

    According to the Prosecutor, the Defence has been provided with the statements of these twelve witnesses between 30 November 2012 and 9 January 2013 and that rejecting her request would cause monumental prejudice to her case.

    However, the defence teams for Mr Ruto and Mr Sang called for the rejection of the Prosecutors’ request as it will be prejudicial to their rights to a free and expeditious proceedings and adequate time to prepare their defence.

    Mr Rutos defence team said the proposed amendment was far from insignificant, as contended by the Prosecutor, because it would extend the temporal scope of the charges by 50 per cent.

    They argued that granting the request would impel the Defence from being ready to effectively represent Mr. Ruto given the upcoming commencement of the trial as currently set.

    “Further, this would require additional time to conduct Defence investigation, thus negatively impacting on Mr Ruto’s right to expeditious proceedings, as enshrined in article 67(l)(c) of the Statute,” Ruto’s lawyers argued.

    Lawyers representing Mr Sang on the other hand said the incidents mentioned in the newly collected evidence of the Prosecutor would need to be analysed and investigated prior to the trial.

    Thursday, Judge Trendafilova said if rejecting her request would cause monumental prejudice to her case, the Prosecutor should have “seized’ the Chamber much earlier, at a minimum when she learned about the new date for the start of the actual trial and not only few weeks before its commencement.

    She said one cannot assume that the defence was in a fair position to prepare its case on the basis of facts and charges related to particular dates which were explicitly rejected by the Pre Trial Chamber in their confirmation of charges decision.

    “Parties and participants in a case are expected to prepare on the basis of the charges as confirmed which shape the subject-matter of the case, and thus, to take into consideration the evidence that is only relevant to the charges confirmed,” Judge Trendafilova ruled.

    “Thus, the Prosecutor’s argument that the Defence was on notice of these additional dates cannot be sustained,” she went on.

    The judge said even though the prosecutor is not barred, under legal framework of the court, from continuing her investigations ‘post confirmation of charges’, the exercise of such discretion should be diligent and professional and should also not lead to abuse.

    However, Judge Trendafilova said a brief review of the procedural history of the two cases arising from the Kenya situation reveals lack of efficiency and due diligence on the part of the Prosecutor in handling the said request.

    NMG

  • Jacob Zuma Painting Vandal Convicted in South Africa

    {{One of the men accused of vandalising a painting showing South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed has been convicted of malicious damage to property, local media say.}}

    A court found that Louis Mabokela, a Limpopo taxi driver, intended to damage the painting, The Spear, at the Goodman Gallery in Rosebank in May last year.

    Mabokela had pleaded not guilty, saying he had done nothing wrong.

    He said he was merely protecting the image of the president.

    He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for five years.

    The second defacer, Barend la Grange, has paid a 1,000 rand ($100; £65) fine after admitting guilt.

    The painting was said to be worth about 100,000 rand but gained value after it was defaced, the SABC TV reported.

    The painting is by Brett Murray, who is known for his political and provocative work.

    The African National Congress condemned the work as “rude, crude and disrespectful” and went to court for an order that the gallery should remove it.

    {Agencies}

  • Egyptian Firm Eyes EAC Poultry Market

    {{Wadi Group, an Egyptian agri-business firm has announced plans to enter the Kenyan poultry market, with the establishment of hatcheries in several semi-arid regions.

    Speaking during the African Food Security Conference in Nairobi, Wadi Group Chief Executive Officer, Tony Freiji, said the investment will see Kenyan poultry farmers in semi-arid and arid counties receive specialised training in best poultry-rearing practices to meet local demand for high-quality animal proteins as well as produce for export.}}

    ”We know the Kenyan government is very keen and serious in putting the necessary measures and fundamentals for achieving food security by providing fast-growing, disease-free day-old chicks, as well as well-balanced feed for a solid and profitable poultry industry,” Freiji said.

    Wadi Group said it hopes to start operations in Kenya by April next year to provide local farmers with high-quality breeding stock by setting up state-of-the-art poultry farms and incubation facilities, provide high-quality feed and advanced technical services.

    This is expected to increase productivity, make poultry farming more profitable and spur economic growth in semi-arid counties.

    Among areas targeted by Wadi Group include Mombasa, Mogotio, Kwale and Garissa.

    Wadi Group has been a key player in the development of the poultry industry in Egypt where it has been in operation since 1984. It has also set up operations in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, KSA and Sudan from scratch on a fast track, by expanding vertically and horizontally in other industries that serve the poultry sector.

    Over the years, Wadi Group has acquired the capacity and expertise in moving poultry consumption in arid countries from subsistence to industrialisation in more than six countries.

    In those countries, Wadi Group has played a major role in educating the farmers through their free veterinary and husbandry services, which empowered them to develop their own poultry enterprises and grow to profitability.

    Wadi Group has interests in other poultry farming related ventures such as manufacturing of chicken feed, cooling pads, grain handling, and logistics among others.

    “Food security is a legitimate right for every developing country; you neither have to be timid about it nor intimidated by pressure upon you,” concluded Freiji.

    While in Kenya, the Wadi Group delegation will also meet senior officials at the ministries of Agriculture and Industrialisation and Enterprise Development, the Investment Authority, as well as the Veterinary Authority.

    They will also meet County Governors for Marsabit, Mogotio, Garissa, Isiolo and Kitui to establish the legal and other logistical requirements for rolling out operations.

    wirestory