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  • Tanzania Peacekeepers Seek Use of Deadly Force

    {Tanzania Army spokesman Col. Kapambala Mgawe addresses the media in Dar es Salaam }

    {{Tanzania is seeking to persuade the United Nations to allow its peacekeeping forces to use deadly force and heavy weapons to defend themselves when under attack.}}

    The development came just a day after seven Tanzanian soldiers who were part of the UN Mission in Darfur (Unamid) were killed and 17 others injured.

    Both the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and African Union Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma condemned the attack, but the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) believes the death toll would not have been as high if the troops were allowed to use deadly force to defend themselves.

    “We are only allowed to use armoured personnel carriers under Chapter VI. This puts our troops in danger in such volatile areas like Darfur. We are seeking permission for Unamid to be allowed to use heavier weapons, including tanks,” TPDF spokesman Colonel Kapambala Mgawe told The Citizen yesterday on the sidelines of a briefing on the Darfur tragedy.

    Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council’s powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to “determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression” and to take military and non-military action to “restore international peace and security”. This allows the use of heavier military equipment for defensive purposes.

    However, Chapter VI, despite having the same purpose of maintaining peace, puts more emphasis on peaceful settlement of disputes and allows only the use of light firearms for defence.

    The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which also involves Tanzanian troops, is well equipped and uses helicopter gunships and other heavy weapons.

    The Tanzanian soldiers were attacked by gunmen about 25 kilometres west of a Unamid base at Khor Abeche, north of the South Darfur state capital of Nyala on Saturday.

    NMG

  • Chronic Diseases Conference Kicks off in Kigali

    {{Rwanda is hosting a chronic diseases conference where over 150 participants have arrived from 18 countries for a two-day meeting of Non-Communicable (NCD) Disease Synergies Network.}}

    The keynote speaker is Sir George Alleyne, the director emeritus of the Pan American Health Organisation. His presentation is titled ‘NCDs, Technical Collaboration between countries, and the Struggle for Development.’

    Another speaker Srinath Reddy also president of the Public Health Foundation of India, will present a paper on planning and implementation strategies for fighting NCDs.

    NCDs, also known as chronic diseases, are not passed from person to person. The four main types of chronic diseases are cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

    The conference has attracted policymakers, healthcare providers, and NCD experts aimed at exploring ways to fight NCDs of poverty in low- and middle-income countries.

    The conference is organised by Ministry of Health, the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, and Partners In Health.

  • 2Face in Trouble Over ‘African Queen’ Song

    {Blackface and 2Face Idibia}

    {{Former member of the defunct music group, Plantashun Boiz, Blackface, seems to be ready for a showdown with another former member of the group, 2Face Idibia over the controversial hit song, African Queen, which the former claimed he co-wrote with the latter.}}

    Blackface is insisting that he also has a share in the glory and therefore is entitled to whatever revenue 2Face earns from the song.

    Though 2Face Idibia has been taking credit for the hit song, which was used as a soundtrack for a Hollywood movie, Phat Girlz, released in 2006, and which featured American star, Mo’Nique, Blackface has now cried out that he is also part of the song.

    But why it took him this long to voice out is what many still question.

    Shortly after the Plantashun Boiz broke up, the relationship between the duo was still intact, and it was believed that only Faze had a strained relationship with the other members of the group.

    The strain in the relationship between Blackface and 2Face became obvious during the April 2013 wedding of the latter in Dubai, which the former didn’t attend.

    When asked by a follower on Twitter why he was not at 2Face’s wedding in Dubai, which was attended by Faze, Blackface simply replied that he doesn’t go to where he is not invited.

    Blackface’s response raised questions and confirmed that the two erstwhile friends might not be on speaking terms.

    Speaking in an interview with Channels TV some days ago, Blackface stated that he was yet to receive any money from 2Face despite his incessant cry on the matter.

    “I still haven’t [received any payment from 2Face] because they have to backdate it, they have to check the revenues of the music, what it has generated, what is due to the co-writer and all that, all those things are just still hanging, but I still have one or two things that I am doing to find out what the issue behind all these stuffs are,” the singer said.

    Myjoyonline

  • Why Place a Fridge in Your Living Room?

    With an emerging middleclass mostly congested in urban centers, there is a growing anomally in the way certain gadgets are just acquired as status symbols as opposed to their purpose as prescribed from factories.

    Some urban homes boast of a fridge these days. However, fridges are fixed in a corner of the living room, and not the kitchen.

    It is a funny situation when the woman in house has to keep walking into the livingroom to retrieve onions, tomatos and other stuff from the fridge.

    The matter is made worse by landlords that construct tiny houses that one has to exit the kitchen to get enough elbowroom to blow their nose. In most situations, Kigali houses have bogus kitchens.

    She has to navigate her way past her husband’s stretched feet, which is not very romantic when the two have been sleeping back-to-back for the past three weeks because he was caught answering a phone call in the toilet.

    Annoyingly, after having used half of the tomato, she has to negotiate her way past his scaly legs to deposit the remaining bit in the fridge.

    But even when the fridge is rightfully in the kitchen, it is never used for storage. How would it, when all it has is a bottle of water and a packet of milk? It is true; most of those elephant-sized fridges that buzz on and on are so empty you get tempted to store your shoes in them.

    When you think about it, fridges should not be a Rwandan thing, they might be good for Muzungu who shop in bulk.

    However, with our small economy, we buy one onion, two tomatoes, a quarter kilo of meat, one cabbage and a few grams of cassava flour for one meal.

    We live one day at a time. So why do we pretend that we will have enough food to store in a fridge for one month?

    In any case, our countries in the region tomatoes and onions can be bought from vendors. The day’s dinner comes stuffed in a woman’s voluminous handbag and when she alights from taxi in the neighbourhood, she even gets veggies that have been chopped. Why, then, would she need a fridge?

    Besides, shopping in bulk is not strategic because it encourages waste and theft. Studies have shown that when the housemaid notices a bag of rice in the store, she ensures that some kilograms disappear.

    In the circumstances, one would be crazy to stuff a whole goat carcass in that gigantic fridge stuck next to the TV set. That hunky watchman will have a meat bash at your expense!

    {adapted from standard}

  • Malawi Says No Deal with Tanzania in Lake Border Row

    {{Malawi President Joyce Banda has told the former leaders of Mozambique and South Africa that there will be no deal on the Lake Malawi wrangle.}}

    Mr Joachim Chissano and Mr Thabo Mbeki had gone to Lilongwe to mediate on the Malawi-Tanzania lake border wrangle.

    Malawi is disputing Tanzania’s claim of ownership of part of Lake Malawi.

    The two countries referred the matter to the Southern Africa Development Corporation (SADC) Forum of Former Heads of State and Government, which is headed by Mr Chissano.

    President Banda also gave a thinly veiled indication that if Malawi if is not satisfied with the resolution of the mediators, that country might consider taking the matter to International Court of Justice.

    Malawi President made the remarks in Lilongwe when she jointly addressed the press soon after the discussion with the duo.

    “We cannot enter into any deal over the lake until the matter is resolved,” Mrs Banda said.

    President Banda insisted that Malawi owns the lake with only a part that was ceded to Mozambique.

    President Banda is said to have quoted the 1896 agreement between Britain and Germany, former colonial masters of Malawi and Tanzania respectively that recognised the lake to be owned by Malawians.

    Mr Chissano said he would pass the message to Tanzania.

    “We are determined to resolve the matter within three months,” Mr Chissano said.

    NMG

  • AU Court Says has no Power to try Kenyatta

    {{The African Union Court on Human and People’s Rights has no jurisdiction to handle crimes against humanity charges facing Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, its president said on Sunday.}}

    Lady Justice Sophia Akuffo, however, said there were plans by the 54-member African Union to expand the court’s jurisdiction.

    Speaking to journalists at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Nairobi, Lady Justice Akuffo, who is Ghanaian said a recommendation on the expansion of the court’s work is expected to be tabled before the AU Heads of State summit in January 2014 before being put to a vote.

    “A team of experts is working on the recommendation,” she said.

    Among the issues the experts are deliberating on is the definition of an unconstitutional change of government following the Arab Spring that swept through Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.

    An AU summit had proposed that the court be strengthened to handle the cases facing President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto, who are being prosecuted at The Hague in Netherlands, among others.

    But on Sunday, Lady Justice Akuffo said the court as presently constituted could not handle criminal cases.

    “We are only a court of human and people’s rights. However, if expanded, the African Court will be a different thing altogether,” she said.

    NMG

  • Community Policing Donates Money to Genocide Survivor

    {{Omar Nishimwe 31, is a genocide survivor, resident at Masaka sector in Kicukiro District, was overwhelmed by excitement on July 12, when a delegation showed up at his house and handed him Frw300.000 in cash.}}

    Omar was attacked during the genocide, but he survived the killings. He fell in a whole and broke his back, which resulted into parysis.

    He only moves in a wheelchair. With no family to help, and no resources left, Omar’s life is constantly at the threshold.

    The community policing committee (CPC) of Kicukiro district was thus compelled to mobilize funds and help him. Madjid Ndambendore is the representative of the committee. He said the act was part of their mechanisms of providing peace and security in their neighborhood.

    “Seeking solutions to our problems is one of the ways of ensuring a peaceful community,” he said.

    Omar lives with his relative, Chantal Mukeshimana, in a small house. But Chantal has many other orphans to look after. Even the house isn’t enough for the family.

    According to Madjid, the funds will help buy more iron sheets to expand the house. He said members of the CPC have promised to volunteer expand the house. Omar could not hide the excitement. He appreciated the love and care demonstrated to him.

    The gesture from the CPC is part of the strategies learnt from the recent trainings across the country offered by the Rwanda National Police Community Policing Department. More than 600 members benefited from the training in Kicukiro District alone.

    RNP

  • Nissan to unveil Datsun in India

    {{Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) takes the veil off the first car in its resurrected Datsun brand in New Delhi on Monday – a sub-400,000-rupee ($6,700) hatchback that is part of a foray by the Japanese auto maker into cheap cars for emerging markets.}}

    With the Datsun hatchback and other Datsun models to follow over the next three years – one of which could be priced as low as $4,000 (240,000 rupees) if Nissan can meet its aggressive manufacturing cost objectives – Nissan is treading ever so closer to the ultra-low-cost car market.

    That market in India is now famously occupied by the Tata Nano, a barebones car that retails for between 150,000 and 220,000 rupees.

    “We try to keep the price positioning for Datsun competitive, so that products are appealing” to the lower half of the auto market in India where Nissan has few products competing today, Nissan’s program director for Datsun, Ashwani Gupta, told Reuters in an interview.

    It is a move that has been generally resisted so far by other global auto giants, such as Toyota Motor Corp.(7203.T), out of concern a scruffy, ultra-cheap car model could tarnish their high-value brands.

    Top Toyota executives, including current chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada, rejected a chief engineer’s design for a low-cost emerging market car several years ago, saying it was too cheap to be called a Toyota, an engineering executive said.

    The car has since undergone some design iterations and was finally launched in India in 2010 as the Toyota Etios sedan, which starts at 545,000 rupees. A hatchback version of the car, launched in 2011, starts at about 450,000 rupees.

    Since Nissan plans to market Datsun cars in India through its existing Nissan-branded dealerships, Datsun could expose the Japanese auto maker to similar risks, though executives downplay the possibility.

    They say use of a separate brand name should effectively shield Nissan’s brand image. Datsun, which Nissan once used for its cars outside Japan, has a history dating back to the 1930s.

    “We’re serving different customers” with Datsun, said Tatjana Natarova, a Datsun spokeswoman. “That’s why we came up with a different brand.”

    To make Datsun cars affordable, Nissan has been aiming to reduce manufacturing costs to $3,000 to $5,000 per vehicle. The first car is due for a launch in India early next year and Gupta said the company has partially achieved the cost goals.

    Still, as price-competitive as that may be, it will face formidable competition from Maruti Suzuki (MRTI.NS) and Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS), which together control two-thirds of India’s passenger car market, excluding SUVs and vans.

    Maruti has about 1,200 retail stores in India, while Hyundai operates a network of more than 350 stores. Nissan, by contrast, has only about 100 dealers, though it says it plans to triple the number of its stores to 300 by March 2017.

    Nissan said last year it would revive the Datsun name as a marquee for emerging markets, starting with India, Russia and Indonesia. Eventually, it wants to expand into Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

    To make the new name stick, Nissan does not plan to stop with a sub-400,000-rupee car. It plans to expand the Datsun brand’s appeal by following its first car with a second model by the end of next year and a third vehicle by 2016.

    Nissan is still trying to meet the goal of producing a Datsun car for as little as $3,000 per vehicle, said an executive speaking on condition of anonymity.

    “If we met that, there would be a good possibility we could offer the car for $4,000 on the retail market,” the executive said.

    That is not as cheap as the Nano, but Nissan is not aiming to compete head-on with the Nano any way, the executive said.

    By the year ending March 2017, Nissan wants to capture 10 percent of India’s overall passenger vehicle market that includes sedans, sport-utility vehicles and vans. Nissan had a market share of less than 1 percent as of May, data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers shows.

    By then, Datsun aims to generate one third to a half of overall sales in India, which bought 2.7 million passenger vehicles in the year ended March 2013, Gupta said.

    To achieve low manufacturing costs, the Datsun product team designed and engineered cars so that “nearly all” the components needed to build them could be procured within India, Gupta said.

    India has a relatively limited auto parts supply base so procuring almost all the necessary components locally poses a challenge. Gupta said though that Nissan aims to pull off the feat not only in India, but in Indonesia and Russia as well.

    Gupta said Datsun cars would be stripped of features and functions that do not offer “value” to customers in markets they target to make cars affordable.

    Nissan thus will likely avoid developing new technology. Instead, it will use tried technology, in particular vehicle underpinnings, engines and transmissions, which are costly to develop. It is also likely to pare down expensive features such as power-windows, navigation systems, and extra safety airbags.

    {wirestory}

  • Wole Soyinka Dismisses Rumour that he got 3rd Class Degree

    {{Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has dismissed age-long speculation that he acquired a third class degree from university and declared he had actually a second class upper.}}

    Soyinka was awarded a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986. However, there has been wide speculation that he had poorly performed while at university and had prefered to remain incommunicado on the matter.

    On Sunday, the Nobel Laureate spoke at his private residence, when he hosted 79 secondary school students across the country as part of activities marking his 79th birthday.

    He explained that he had kept silent over the years on the matter but decided to open up for the sake of the children as a mark of respect for them.

    Soyinka, fielded questions from all his 79 guests who participated in an essay competition to commemorate his birthday.

    “Don’t be satisfied with failure but rather strive to excel in all your endeavours,” he said.
    While advising students not to be discouraged by certain negative happenings in the country, Soyinka urged them to draw inspiration from the life of a 16-year-old Pakistani girl, Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head on October 9, 2012 by Taliban fighters over her campaign for girl-child education in Pakistan.

    On his non-believe in any religion, Soyinka said he believes religion should be a private thing. He stressed the need for inter-religious tolerance among all Nigerians.

    On his role model, Soyinka, described his first teacher (one Mr. Olagbaju) as his role model, even as he explained that there was no mystery behind his grey hair.

    On his aspiration in life, the literary giant pointed out that he would have loved to become an architect, musician or a pilot. “I would have loved to be an architect, or a musician, but not an amateur, a trained one.

    When I left school, I wanted to be a journalist. I actually sat for an exam to be absolved in Daily Times, but after the exam, I was told that I wrote a short story and not a news story. So, I was not taken. Thank goodness, I did not become a journalist,” he added.

    The event, tagged: “Memoirs of our future”, was organised by a Lagos-based multimedia company, Zmirage, in conjunction with the Ogun State government.

    patrick@igihe.com

  • Congolese influx to Uganda reaches 60,000

    {{At least 60,000 refugees from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have now arrived in neighbouring Uganda after fleeing a rebel attack on a town near the border, Red Cross officials said.}}

    Catherine Ntabadde of the Uganda Red Cross said on Sunday that her organisation had already registered 41,000 refugees and that 20,000 more were waiting for registration.

    The numbers show a dramatic rise from earlier estimates and due to the fact the rebel attack was a surprise, the influx is stretching humanitarian capacities.

    “Given such numbers there is need for urgent humanitarian assistance, as some of the refugees are sick and have left all their belongings in Congo,” said Ntabadde.

    The refugee influx is continuing three days after the Ugandan rebel group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), attacked Kamango town, killing a number of people and briefly occupying it, according to Ugandan military officials.

    Refugees have streamed across the border into western Uganda’s Bundibugyo district since then, though the numbers of new arrivals crossing on Sunday had slowed to a trickle.

    “Many new arrivals are also reported to be staying in the community,” United Nations refugee agency official Karen Ringuette said.

    Aljazeera