IGIHE

Category: Politics

  • Outrage over Helen Zille’s colonialism tweets

    {Former DA leader apologises for social media posts suggesting that the legacy of colonialism was not all negative.}

    The former leader of South Africa’s main opposition party has sparked a public outcry over a series of social media posts that suggested colonialism brought benefits to the country.

    “For those claiming legacy of colonialism was ONLY negative, think of our independent judiciary, transport infrastructure, piped water,” Helen Zille, the ex-head of the Democratic Alliance (DA) party and the current premier of the Western Cape province, wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

    She tweeted that the transition into “specialised healthcare and medication” may have not been possible without “colonial influence”.

    Zille’s comments drew strong criticism from political opponents and those within her own party, as well as on social media.

    Mmusi Maimane, who took the reins from Zille in 2015 to become the DA’s first black leader, criticised his predecessor, tweeting “colonialism, like apartheid, was a system of oppression and subjugation. It can never be justified”.

    Maimane told local media that Zille’s tweets were “completely unacceptable and indefensible”.

    In a statement , the party reiterated Maimane’s remarks, saying colonialism “oppressed millions of people and violated human rights in a cruel and inhumane way”.

    The DA, which won 22 percent of the vote in 2014’s general election, has been gaining popularity and trying to shed its image as a “white” party before 2019’s presidential election.

    It promotes itself as a liberal equal-opportunity party, but efforts to broaden its appeal among black voters have been hurt by social media scandals, and the party has struggled to present itself as a credible alternative to the ruling African National Congress (ANC)

    {{Opponents demand Zille’s removal}}

    The ANC urged the DA to immediately remove Zille as Western Cape premier, calling her tweets “reckless and ignorant claims”.

    The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), another opposition party, also demanded Zille “step down”.

    The EFF called Zille’s remarks “cold-hearted racism”.

    South Africa was colonised by the Dutch and British for about 300 years. The country then experienced white-minority rule under apartheid, which ended in 1994.

    Racial tensions, however, have continued to endure in the years after apartheid.

    Helen Zille's comments drew widespread criticism

    Source:Al Jazeera

  • Kenya:More Jubilee smart cards on the way, says Raphael Tuju

    {A shortage of smart membership cards has hit Jubilee after the party sold all the seven million cards it had procured since the recruitment started in January.}

    Jubilee Secretariat Chairman Raphael Tuju said the party had ordered extra 2.5 million cards and were expected in the country on March 23.

    {{SH 20}}

    Each card costs Sh20, meaning the party has already cashed in Sh140 million and is intending to mint an additional Sh50 million, if it sells all the extra cards to its supporters.

    Aspirants have been flocking the party headquarters at Pangani in Nairobi and many have been leaving disappointed after failing to get the cards.

    “We ran out of the smart cards due to high demand,” Mr Tuju told the Nation on Thursday evening.

    “The cards are selling like hot cakes but we have placed an order and by March 23 we will have more cards for our members.”

    {{ELECTION BOARDS}}

    He said the party was in the process of forming nine-member election boards in all counties to be in charge of nominations, slated for next month.

    He downplayed fears by some aspirants that the primaries will be marred by irregularities.

    “The fears are unfounded. We have politicians who believe an exercise is fair only when they win but when they lose it is unfair and not free. We guarantee our candidates that the party primaries will be fair,” said Mr Tuju.

    “The board will be in charge and not the interim officials. The officials were for presidential campaign and mobilisation of new voters during the recent registration,” he added.

    {{DIRECT TICKET}}

    He revealed that there were wealthy politicians attempting to compromise the party officials to get direct tickets.

    “There are politicians who want to compromise the process and are making financial advances but we have rejected,” he said.

    The party, according to Mr Tuju, has established a national tribunal to handle complaints that may arise from the primaries.

    He confirmed that there were aspirants peddling lies and intimidating their rivals that they are close to the presidency and would secure direct tickets.

    {{DECAMPING}}

    “We want to ensure we get what the people want,” he said.

    Mr Tuju further said the party had forwarded its nomination rules to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of the Sunday deadline.

    His sentiments come as a section of Nyeri politicians hinted at ditching the party over fears over the impeding nominations.

    Others have opposed use of the smart cards in the exercise, saying it would be better if identity cards and voter cards were used.

    Senator aspirant and former Mathira MP Ephrain Maina said decamping from the party is imminent if the primaries will be shambolic.

    {{RIVALRY}}

    Mr Maina warned that if party officials mismanage the primaries, the president’s party will be faced with stiff rivalry from smaller parties which have declared support for his re-election.

    “We want to use of the voters’ register instead of the smart cards. The party should take care because in case of favouritism, locals will decamp and support other parties,” Mr Maina said.

    Parties such as the Party of National Unity, Democratic Party, Narc-Kenya and Maendeleo Chap Chap have opened offices in Jubilee strongholds and vowed to field candidates in all elective seats except president.

    {{REGISTER}}

    Tetu MP aspirant Peter Kamuthu also called on the party to conduct the nominations using voters’ register and identity cards instead of the smart cards.

    Mr Kamuthu said there were problems with accessing the cards and thus only few party members will participate in the primaries.

    “Many supporters mostly the aged have problems in their transactions and so it is better they allow IDs to vote and then IEBC provide the voter’s register. This is the only way which will ensure free and fair nominations,” noted the aspirant.

    He said if the nominations are marred by irregularities, the party should expect fall-out.

    President Kenyatta (right) and his Deputy William Ruto display the Jubilee Party membership cards at Kasarani, Nairobi, on January 13, 2017. The cards have sold out.

    Source:Daily Nation

  • DRC resumes stalled political dialogue amid uncertainty

    {Following a long and uncertain wait, doubt has been cast over the political dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo.}

    It is becoming more and more difficult for authorities and the opposition to implement the late December deal on power sharing.

    This has raised concerns within the episcopal conference which has been influential in the power-sharing deal.

    It is in this climate of uncertainty that the talks resumed this Thursday in Congo’s capital Kinshasa.

    The Bishops remain optimistic to finding rapid solutions at a time when the Congolese public seem impatient.

    According to one of the mediators, Archbishop Fridolin Ambongo, “one afternoon could be sufficient to complete what remains, except stakeholders are not willing,”

    The comments say a lot about the uncertainty which was discussed during the parliamentary opening session on Wednesday.

    Members and Senators had pointed out during the opening that a reassuring electoral process is key to peace and stability in the DRC.

    Source:Africa News

  • Rubavu school dormitory catches fire

    {A dormitory accommodating 20 senior six male students at Ecole Secondaire Baptiste de Fraternité (ESBF) in Gisenyi sector of Rubavu district has caught fire this morning destroying property worth millions. }

    No one died as the incident took place when students were in class.

    Destroyed materials include beds, mattresses, suitcases, bags, clothes, laptops among others whose value has not yet been established.

    Fire-fighting trucks at Gisenyi airport have intervened to put out the fire.

    Rwanda Energy Group (REG) employees at the scene have attributed the cause of fire to substandard equipment and poor electrical installation.

    The mayor of Rubavu district, Sinamenye Jeremie has asked students to share items with affected schoolmates.

    He also lauded security personnel and students for intervention to put out the fire.

    Students escaping the dormitory on fire.

  • Rwanda’s Green Party mulls bank loan to fund presidential campaign

    {The Green Party is considering a bank loan to finance its presidential flag bearer in the August elections, reflecting the difficulties Rwandan political parties are facing with election financing.}

    Frank Habineza, the president and presumed presidential flag bearer of the Green Party said borrowing to support his campaign was one option that the party will discuss in the near future.

    The Green Party’s political bureau elected Mr Habineza as its presidential flagbearer last December, a decision the party’s assembly is expected to confirm before the end of this month.

    “We are still trying to see how much we are going to raise from our members, but if we don’t raise enough, we are considering a loan from a bank, though we are yet to discuss this as a party,” Mr Habineza said.

    Although the party has in the past had trouble with getting even a meeting venue, Mr Habineza said he did not expect any trouble in getting lenders to extend credit to the party.

    “Borrowing is a viable option for us because all that banks require of us is a register of our members and the contributions they make. We have more than 200,000 members so we can borrow the same way schools borrow against student enrolment,” he said.

    {{Three-week window}}

    Rwanda’s presidential campaigns have been squeezed into a tight three-week window starting July1 4, reflecting efforts to lighten the financial burden on the candidates.

    Even President Paul Kagame’s Rwanda Patriotic Front which is assumed to be well funded is understood to be planning to spend less compared with previous elections.

    The Green Party, which is the most vocal opposition party, says it has come up with a budget of Rwf1.6 billion ($2 million), but says that it is struggling to raise the money.

    “What we have managed to collect at the moment is laughable when you compare it to the budget we have. This will definitely affect our reach countrywide and sensitisation campaigns,” Mr Habineza said adding that, “The only thing we are fully guaranteed of is security during the campaigns offered by the police, but when it comes to money, it is a real struggle.”

    The Liberal Party’s Donatile Mukabalisa refused to discuss the party’s campaign budget while the Social Democratic Party President Vincent Biruta was not available for comment.

    However inside sources told The EastAfrican that even these parties were struggling to finance their candidates’ campaigns.

    “In the 2013 presidential campaigns, the Liberal Party got a bank loan to finance its campaigns, and to date are still struggling to repay that loan,” a source who preferred anonymity said.

    Frank Habineza, the president and presumed presidential flag bearer of the Green Party.

    Source:The East African

  • DOJ seeks more time on Trump wiretapping inquiry

    {Justice department says more time needed to respond to lawmakers about President Trump’s claim Obama wiretapped him.}

    The Department of Justice has requested more time to respond to a request from lawmakers on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee for evidence about President Donald Trump’s allegation that then-president Barack Obama wiretapped him.

    The department had been expected to provide a response by Monday to the House Intelligence Committee, which has made Trump’s wiretapping claims part of a bigger investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

    But spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said in a statement that the department has asked for more time to “review the request in compliance with the governing legal authorities and to determine what if any responsive documents may exist”.

    The committee replied in a statement that it wanted a response by the time of a planned hearing on March 20.

    “If the committee does not receive a response by then, the committee will ask for this information during the March 20 hearing and may resort to a compulsory process if our questions continue to go unanswered,” a spokesman said.

    The justice department is not required to respond to the representatives’ request for evidence or meet its deadline.

    {{Not ‘literally’ wiretapping}}

    Trump tweeted earlier this month that Obama had ordered him to be wiretapped. He presented no evidence, and the former intelligence director said last week that the claim was false.

    The White House on Monday appeared to soften Trump’s claim.

    Spokesman Sean Spicer said the president was not using the word wiretapping literally, noting that Trump had put the term in quotation marks – which he did only in his first tweet.

    “The president used the word wiretap in quotes to mean broadly surveillance and other activities,” Spicer said.

    He also suggested Trump was not accusing Obama specifically, but instead referring to the actions of his administration.

    Trump himself has not commented on the matter since his March 4 tweets.

    Source:Al Jazeera

  • Niger’s opposition leader Hama Amadou jailed in absentia

    {A court in Niger has sentenced main opposition leader Hama Amadou to a year in prison for child smuggling.}

    Amadou stood against President Mahamadou Issoufou in elections in March. He is now in exile in France and was tried in absentia.

    His lawyers were also not present in court in protest over a trial which they said was a parody of justice.

    Amadou has repeatedly denied charges that he profited by buying new born babies from neighbouring Nigeria.

    It was alleged that he and his wife – along with several others – were involved in a plot falsely to claim the parenthood of about 30 children from Nigeria who were then sold to affluent couples in Niger.

    Defence lawyers argued that the case against him was politically motivated and should be adjourned to allow time for documents relating to the case to be sent to Amadou in France.

    But their request was rejected by the trial judge.

    The defence also argue that the ultimate aim of the trail is to prevent Amadou from running in 2021 elections.

    Those defendants who were in court refused to answer questions – their lawyers say it is likely they will appeal.

    {{Hama Amadou – ‘Phoenix of Niger’}}

    A former prime minister and parliamentary speaker, he has been dubbed “the Phoenix” because of his political comebacks

    He was forced last year to campaign for the presidency from in prison

    In March 2016 he was released from prison on medical grounds

    His party boycotted the run-off vote on 20 March, won by President Issoufou with 92% of the vote

    Hama Amadou's lawyers argue that the criminal proceedings against him are politically motivated

    Source:BBC

  • Kanya:Raila most preferred candidate for presidency in Nasa, poll shows

    Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga is the most preferred presidential candidate among Nasa supporters if elections were to be held today, a new opinion poll shows.

    The poll by research firm Infotrak, shows Mr Odinga enjoying huge support among Nasa supporters with 68.3 per cent of those sampled in the poll saying they would recommend his candidature for the ticket.

    Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka comes second with 13.1 per cent while Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi is third with 12.3 per cent.

    The poll shows Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula, who has abandoned the race for Senate seat in Bungoma, trailing his three co-principals in the race for the presidential ticket at 2.2 per cent while 4.1 per cent of the respondents say they would not vote for any of the four candidates despite their support for Nasa.

    Regionally, Mr Odinga draws his support from the Coast at 84 per cent, Nyanza 81 per cent, North Eastern 75 per cent, Nairobi 67.9 per cent, Rift Valley 64 per cent, Western 59 per cent, Eastern 47 per cent and Central 40 per cent.

    Mr Musyoka is stronger in Eastern with 39 per cent saying he is their preferred candidate, while Mr Mudavadi is strongest in Central.

    “The poll also revealed that a good number of Jubilee supporters prefer Mr Mudavadi as the Nasa flagbearer though we did not ask why,” said Infotrak Executive Director Angella Ambitho.

    Ms Ambitho said that the number of undecided voters was also high, adding that it was an opportunity for political parties to rebrand in order to attract their attention.

    PREFERRED CANDIDATE

    When the pollster asked Jubilee Party supporters who their preferred Nasa candidate was, 27.3 per cent said Mudavadi while 26.5 pc said Mr Odinga. 24.6 pc of those sampled preferred Mr Musyoka.

    Nasa supporters who thought Mr Odinga is best placed to fly their flag cited his experience and track record as his strongest attributes while those who preferred Mr Musyoka said he is the most peaceful of all the candidates.

    Those in support of Mr Mudavadi reason that he ranks higher in terms of integrity than the other three while those who support Mr Wetang’ula single out his party’s manifesto.

    “When we asked them about qualities that make them prefer some of the candidates, on Mr Odinga, experience and track record is what is cited by many, but he is also ranking very low on integrity,” Ms Ambitho said.

    The poll did not explain why respondents had a low opinion of Mr Odinga on integrity despite featuring in much fewer scandals. Nasa experts working on the nominations have profiled the four candidates detailing their strengths and weaknesses.

    Findings also revealed that President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party is the most popular party with 36.4 per cent, ODM follows with 22 per cent, Wiper 3.4 per cent, Ford-Kenya 1.0 per cent, and Chama Cha Mashinani 0.8 per cent.

    The poll was carried out between February 24 and March 2 and sampled 1,500 respondents.

    Source:Daily Nation

  • PM Modi’s party takes firm lead in state elections

    {Victory for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh would boost his chances of winning the 2019 general election.}

    Early counting on Saturday in India’s most populous state showed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party leading in the country’s most important electoral test since the 2014 general election.

    Victory for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh, which is home to 220 million people, would boost his chances of winning the 2019 general election and underscore his popularity after he made himself the face of the party’s campaign.

    The prime minister would also see success as vindication of his sudden decision in November to abolish high-denomination banknotes to rein in corruption.

    The move was seen as politically risky, because most transactions in India are carried out in cash and millions of Indians were forced to join long queues outside banks to deposit their old bills or get hold of new ones.

    READ MORE: India – Modi’s radio show

    Though it was premature to call the outcome, the election commission put the BJP leading in 262 of the 403 seats in the state, putting it on course for a large majority.

    The BJP’s vote share based on early counting is more than 40 percent, the election commission said.

    Having campaigned in the state for two months, Modi, and his election strategist Amit Shah, can take credit if the BJP wins – but may face a backlash from sidelined party elders if they come up short.

    “The results will redefine the prime minister’s political destiny and his future course of action,” an aide to Modi in the capital, New Delhi, told Reuters news agency.

    Post-election surveys had suggested Modi’s BJP had done enough to come first in Uttar Pradesh, home to one in six Indians, but that it might fall short of an outright majority.

    The exit polls, which are often wrong in India, also put the BJP ahead in three of four other states that will declare election outcomes on Saturday.

    According to early voting trends, opposition Congress party was leading in the state of Punjab, while the BJP was ahead in the northern state of Uttarakhand and in the coastal state of Goa.

    Results of a ballot in a fifth state, Manipur, were also due on Saturday.

    The BJP’s opponents include an alliance between Congress and the ruling Samajwadi Party, a tie-up that caught Modi’s party off guard. A better than expected showing by a third party could complicate the picture as results filter out.

    A strong BJP showing would be welcomed by investors counting on further economic reforms – including the launch of a national sales tax – in the absence of any credible opponent who might halt Modi’s march to a second term in 2019.

    Short of a majority, the BJP could see opponents block its path to power in the state by forming a coalition, although Modi’s party will also look to convince its smaller rivals to join forces.

    “If the BJP fails to secure a majority, then Modi’s economic decisions will be questioned and his failure to create jobs will impact his political future,” said Mohan Guruswamy, who heads the Centre for Policy Alternatives, an independent think-tank.

    Uttar Pradesh and four other Indian states are holding state legislature elections.

    Source:Al Jazeera

  • Burundi limits cooperation with UN

    {Nearly two years after the political impasse started in Burundi, national authorities are reducing their cooperation with the United Nations system.}

    The move risks undermining efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis and cutting assistance to a population in need, the Security Council has been told.

    Presenting the first Secretary-General’s report on the situation in Burundi, the Special Adviser on the topic noted that “the report is factual and speaks for itself”.

    Jamal Benomar told the Council on Thursday the UN has tried to constructively engage with the government and support the people of Burundi in their search for peace and stability, to no avail.

    “We have engaged quickly, refrained from public criticism and encouraged modest, small steps to build confidence with the parties. Despite this modelled approach, the doors to engagement and cooperation have been largely shut by the authorities,” Benomar said.

    In the past several months, the government has decided to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, suspend cooperation and collaboration with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and refused cooperation with the commission of inquiry mandated by the Human Rights Council.

    The government has also avoided signing a document with the African Union that would allow human rights observers and military experts to be deployed, to aid Burundians.

    READ: 10 reasons you should be concerned about Burundi

    These actions were taken as “human rights violations and abuses continue to be reported on a worrying scale,” according to the report.

    In addition, at the end of February, President Pierre Nkurunziza suggested that he might seek a change to the Constitution allowing him to seek a fourth term in office.

    The move, as written in the report, “has the potential to plunge the country into an even deeper crisis”.

    Referring to the report, Benomar called on the Burundian Government “to fulfil its moral obligation and political responsibility to return the country to a path of peace”.

    He noted that most Burundians do not want to continue on the track of “international isolationism, violence and repression”.

    The UN envoy urged the international community – guided by the Security Council – to do its part to support those who seek a peaceful resolution of this crisis, and underscored the UN’s continued commitment to helping the Burundian people.

    The Security Council also heard by video-conference from former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, who is facilitating discussions between the Government and the opposition in accordance with the Arusha Agreement. Benomar stressed in his statement that Mkapa has the UN’s full support in his work.

    Also speaking to the Council was Jurg Lauber, the Chair of the Burundi Configuration of the UN Peacebuilding Commission.

    Lauber will visit Burundi at the end of this month to get first-hand impression of the situation and meet with the Government, opposition and civil society representatives.

    In his statement Labuer echoed Benomar’s call to the international community to remain active in Burundi. “Abandoning Burundi now would mean wasting past efforts and putting the country and its people at risk of recurring conflict.”

    Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza has suggested that he might seek a change to the Constitution allowing him to seek a fourth term in office.

    Source:Enca