IGIHE

Category: Rubrique

  • Tsvangirai Concedes:’We can’t do without Mugabe’

    {{Zimbabwe’s main opposition party MDC-T has conceded that the party alone cannot guarantee the future of Zimbabwe without Zanu-PF and President Mugabe.}}

    The statement was made by Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai while addressing his supporters at Tsvovani Stadium in Chiredzi.

    “For the future of this country, it is dependent on Zanu-PF and MDC . . . for the future stability of this country, it is between Morgan Tsvangirai and President Mugabe to ensure that this country moves forward,” he said.

    Tsvangirai who has been primed by his handlers to call for security sector reforms, said he would not fire any servicemen should he assume power.

    Mr Tsvangirai, who is also Prime Minister in the inclusive Government, left his supporters in stitches when he said smaller parties were insignificant and not deciding factors.

    “As the MDC we do not hate anyone in the army or the police. What we simply want is for them to be professional. They are the future of this country. We will not sack anyone when we get into power . . . where will we get other soldiers?” he said.

    Earlier on, the party’s Masvingo provincial chairman Mr Wilstaff Sitemere had decried serious factionalism tearing the party apart.

    There were reports of aspiring legislators busing their supporters to register as voters.

    MDC-T officials in Masvingo said there was rampant indiscipline in the party where candidates employed unorthodox means such as creating fake membership cards to ensure they got approval to contest in primaries.

    Herald

  • Nicolas Maduro Wins Venezuela Elections

    {{Nicolas Maduro, won a razor-thin victory in Sunday’s special presidential election in Venezuela but the opposition candidate refused to accept the result and demanded a full recount.}}

    Maduro’s stunningly close victory followed an often ugly, mudslinging campaign in which the winner promised to carry on Chavez’s self-styled socialist revolution, while challenger Henrique Capriles’ main message was that Chavez put this country with the world’s largest oil reserves on the road to ruin.

    Despite the ill feelings, both men sent their supporters home and urged them to refrain from violence.

    Maduro, acting president since Chavez’s March 5 death, held a double-digit advantage in opinion polls just two weeks ago, but electoral officials said he got just 50.7% of the votes to 49.1 % for Capriles with nearly all ballots counted.

    The margin was about 234,935 votes. Turnout was 78 percent, down from just over 80% in the October election that Chavez won by a nearly 11-point margin over Capriles.

    Chavistas set off fireworks and raced through downtown Caracas blasting horns in jubilation.

    But analysts called the slim margin a disaster for Maduro, a former union leader and bus driver in the radical wing of Chavismo who is believed to have close ties to Cuba.

    In a victory speech, he told a crowd outside the presidential palace that his victory was further proof that Chavez “continues to be invincible.”

    But in a hint of discontent, National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello, who many consider Maduro’s main rival, expressed dismay in a tweet: “The results oblige us to make a profound self-criticism. It’s contradictory that the poor sectors of the population vote for their longtime exploiters.”

    AP

  • Venezuelans Vote today

    {{Voters who kept Hugo Chavez in office for 14 years decide Sunday whether to elect the devoted lieutenant he chose to carry on the revolution that endeared him to the poor but that many Venezuelans believe is ruining the nation.}}

    Nicolas Maduro sought to ride Chavez’s endorsement to victory with a campaign nearly bereft of promises but freighted with personal attacks that was otherwise little more than an unflagging tribute to the polarizing leader who died of cancer March 5.

    The 50-year-old longtime Chavez foreign minister pinned his hopes on the immense loyalty for his boss among millions of poor beneficiaries of a socialist government’s largesse and the heft of a state apparatus that Chavez skillfully consolidated.

    The governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela deployed a well-worn, get-out-the-vote machine spearheaded by loyal state employees.

    It also enjoyed a pervasive state media apparatus as part of a near monopoly on institutional power.

    Challenger Henrique Capriles’ aides accused Chavista loyalists in the judiciary of putting them at glaring disadvantage.

    Prosecutors and state regulators impoverished the campaign and opposition broadcast media by targeting them with unwarranted fines and prosecutions, they said

    Capriles’ main campaign weapon was thus jujutsu: To simply point out “the incompetence of the state,” as he put it to reporters in a news conference Saturday night.

    Maduro was still favored, but his early big lead in opinion polls halved over the past two weeks in a country struggling with the legacy of Chavez’s management of the world’s largest oil reserves.

    Many Venezuelans believe his confederates not only squandered but plundered much of the $1 trillion in oil revenues during his time in office.

    People are fed up with chronic power outages, crumbling infrastructure, unfinished public works projects, double-digit inflation, food and medicine shortages and rampant crime that has given Venezuela among the world’s highest homicide and kidnapping rates.

    Associated Press

  • Central African Republic Council Elects President

    {{Central African Republic rebel leader Michel Djotodia has been elected president by the National Transitional Council.}}

    Djotodia was the only candidate and was elected unanimously Saturday by the 105 members of the National Transitional Council in a ceremony that was attended by political leaders, the press and representatives of international organizations accredited in Central African Republic.

    Djotodia led the Seleka rebels who overthrew President Francois Bozize three weeks ago.

    Djotodia has 18 months to set up elections to select a new leader, according to guidelines set by neighboring countries in the Economic Community of Central African States.

    Leaders of the neighboring countries are expected to attend a summit on April 15, 2013 in N’Djamena, Chad, to consider the situation in Central African Republic.

  • President Uhuru Hosts Raila Odinga at State House

    {{Kenya’s new president Uhuru Kenyatta has today met Raila Odinga his fierce opponent in the recently concluded elections that ended with a supreme court ruling declairing Uhuru the absolute winner.}}

    Raila Oding and his runningmate Kalonzo Musyoka met President Uhuru and Vice President William Ruto at Kenyas state House.

    Uhuru’s meeting with the Pair of CORD leadership has been seen as a brotherly gesture by people in the region signaling an end to previous situations where losers in political competitions never met eye to eye with their opponents.

    The Saturday meeting focused on the upcoming State Opening of the 11th Parliament, which the two CORD leaders promised to attend.

    President Kenyatta and Deputy President Ruto pledged that the Jubilee Coalition, which commands majority in both houses, is committed to ensuring the existence of a strong opposition party as a necessary tool for democratization and to ensure steady check on the government.

    The President and his deputy said they were keen to see the minority party playing a critical role in key committees like the Accounts Committee.

    The leaders agreed to ensure ethical relations between the parties and in general politics.

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  • Kenyan Chief Justice Defends Tanganyika-Zanzibar Union

    {{Tanzanians have been urged to use the opportunity of writing a new Constitution to iron out problems facing the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar for the agenda of East African Federation to make sense and materialise.}}

    Addressing the fifth Julius Nyerere Intellectual Festival at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) in the city yesterday, the Chief Justice of Kenya, Dr Willy Mutunga, said it wouldn’t make sense to speak of federations or African unity if the first union in Africa which gave birth of Tanzania collapses.

    “I urge my Tanzanian brothers and sisters to uphold the Union and you can do that by choosing a fair Union format that will take on board good politics for common benefits to all citizens,” he said.

    Dr Mutunga, an alumnus of the university’s Faculty of Law (now School of Law), was presenting a paper on how “viruses” of the 1967 Arusha Declaration have impacted his life to this point.

    He arrived at the UDSM for his bachelor studies in 1968, only 15 months after the adoption of the declaration.

    “During that time, we used to debate a lot about the declaration regardless of our nationalities, and from it, I still hold up to this day that all human beings are equal and Africa is one,” said the Kenyan CJ. Dr Mutunga said, he drew a number of useful lessons from the declaration and he is still living them, as a true “Nyerereist.”

    The declaration was founded by Tanzania’s first president, Julius Nyerere, who borrowed ideas and concepts from the Marxist school of thought.

    “I was impressed on how the declaration talked about equality and social justice, something which is now expressed in our (Kenya) Constitution which I fought for it nearly four decades,” he said.

    Dr Mutunga said he vied for the post of CJ of Kenya to ensure the foundation of social justice he learned from the Arusha Declaration was preserved his country’s justice corridors.

    “We should now focus our attention on spreading the ‘viruses’ of Arusha Declaration to youths. The principles set by the declaration are of essence up to date,” he said.

    In her vote of thanks, the director of Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), Dr Hellen Kijo-Bisimba, said Justice Mutunga during initial stages of the formation of her centre.

    Dr Mutunga was elected CJ in 2011. He did both his bachelor and master degrees in law at the UDSM.

    Just two weeks ago he delivered historic ruling over presidential elections in Kenya, which upheld Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory in a petition filled in the Supreme Court by the first runner up in the March polls, Mr Raila Odinga, who contested results of the elections.

    NMG

  • Malaysia Landmark Elections Set for May

    {{The date for Malaysia’s highly anticipated polls, which are expected to be the closest in the country’s history, has been set, the head of the country’s electoral watchdog has announced.}}

    Malaysia’s general election is to be held on May 5, Aziz Yusof, the Election Commission chairman, said on Wednesday.

    Yusof said balloting would be preceded by a two-week official campaign period kicking off on April 20.

    The general elections will determine whether Prime Minister Najib Razak’s governing coalition, can extend nearly 56 years of uninterrupted rule and prevail over an opposition alliance that accuses it of corruption and authoritarianism.

    The opposition Peoples’ Alliance, led by Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy minister won five of Malaysia’s 13 states in 2008 and stands a strong chance of toppling the coalition.

    Najib has promised regular cash allowances for the poor as one of numerous incentives for voters to hand his National Front coalition another five-year mandate.

    Ibrahim however is calling for faster political and economic reform and has pledged to tackle government authoritarianism and corruption.

    He has promised tax cuts, an increase in subsidies and to address complaints of discrimination against minority ethnic Chinese and Indians.

    About 13.3 million Malaysians will be eligible to cast ballots to fill 222 seats in the federal parliament and to choose representatives for 12 state legislatures.

    The National Front won 2008 polls with less than a two-thirds parliamentary majority in its worst electoral performance since independence from Britain in 1957.

    {agencies}

  • Uhuru in, Kibaki Out

    {{Uhuru Kenyatta has been formally sworn into office as Kenya’s 4th president in historic and colourful ceremony witnessed by 12 Heads of States.

    Uhuru takes oath office administered by Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Gladys Shollei in the presence of the Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga as prescribed in the Constitution.}}

    After taking the oath of solemn affirmation of allegiance and due execution of the functions of office of president.

    His wife who stood by him as he took oath office accompanied Uhuru. It was interesting to see the new president use the Bible that used by his father in 1963.

    His wife Margaret did not hold the Bible for him as widely reported in the media days before the inauguration.

    Uhuru was then presented with a duly signed certificate of inauguration, which he waved amid roaring cheers from jubilant crowds gathered at the Moi International Sports Centre- Kasarani.

    He was then handed with instruments of power – a sword and a copy of the Constitution by the out-going President Kibaki.

    The sword represents his take over as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kenya.

    Uhuru’s mother Mama Ngina Kenyatta who saw a second family member take office inside 50 years witnessed the ceremony.

    The ceremony was spiced with military full regalia parade and new presidential standard navy blue flag and a 21-gun salute.

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  • Museveni main Speaker as Uhuru takes Oath

    {{Analysts are keen on what will be contained in President Yoweri Museveni’s Address during the swearing in ceremony of Uhuru Kenyatta today.}}

    President Museveni is the key speaker at the event.

    Political analysts predict that Museveni’s speech is likely to rotate around regional security and the need for political and economic integration.

    Kenya’s smooth political transition is important for the East African region, particularly for Uganda that depends on its seaport for its economic survival.

    A total of 54 heads of states have been invited to the ceremony during which President Kibaki will hand over power to Mr Kenyatta.

  • Odinga Hits at Judges For Uhuru Win

    {{Prime Minister Raila Odinga has criticised the decision by the Supreme Court to uphold the election of Uhuru Kenyatta as the fourth President.}}

    He termed the decision by the country’s highest court a week ago, unpopular. He said the decision was like the wrong persecution of Jesus Christ.

    “The decision is like the persecution of Jesus Christ that occurred more than 2000 years ago.

    But like Jesus, I am still alive,” said the premier, while addressing hundreds of residents in Kondele, Kisumu on Friday.

    The PM said the Supreme Court, under its President Willy Mutunga, made its decision during Easter, on the same period Jesus was persecuted, died and rose again.

    Raila said he would continue to fight for democracy, despite losing the presidency.

    He urged Kenyans to continue to fight for justice and democracy, adding he would spearhead this struggle. “When the cooking stick breaks, it does not mean the process of preparing meals should stop,” he said.

    Carrying a black Bible and dressed in a checked blue shirt and black pair of trousers, the premier said Kenyans had been let down by last week’s decision.

    “Kenyans waited anxiously for the ruling. However, they were betrayed by the court’s ruling intended to kill my political career,” said Raila, amid chants from the crowd.

    The decision by the Supreme Court sparked protests in some parts of the country, and two people were shot dead in Kisumu.

    Raila said the court had ignored vital evidence presented by the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD).

    “We presented adequate evidence to the Supreme Court but it was expunged without any consideration,” he said.

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