East Africa

East Africa

Details: East Africa; 15 March 2022; 708

Acting for the Zimbabwe Anti Sanction Movement, attorney Lesley Ramafhilo. Image: Supplied./Photo Courtesy

The ZASM (Zimbabwe Anti Sanction Movement) has brought a case against United States President Joe Biden, his government and local and American financial service providers to declare the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the US as illegal and a crime against humanity.

The ZASM is calling for support from the global community to put pressure on the US and the United Kingdom to lift all sanctions.

The movement has set up a base in South Africa where they are engaging banks, big corporate and civil society to act on the “blatant disregard of human suffering imposed by sanctions of over 20 years ago”.

Acting for the ZASM, Attorney Lesley Ramafhilo said: “A 21 years old in Zimbabwe was not born when the sanctions that effect him or her were applied. The people of Zimbabwe still find it difficult to trade or to participate in the global economy. First the people of Zimbabwe fought colonialism, now they fight the sanctions, some of them imposed by the colonisers themselves. If Indeed President Biden stands for freedom and democracy, not withstanding the freedom of those who are darker than him in skin, he must assist to liberate Zimbabwe economically”.

In a statement on Friday, ZASM accused South Africa of applying western unilateral financial sanctions on Zimbabwe which ZASM says was to avoid penalties from the USA.

The Zimbabwean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on its website, has bemoaned that the sanctions have disrupted regional trade, and caused the suffering of ordinary Zimbabweans.

On 28 October 2021 the United Nations Special Rapporteur submitted a report, which stated that the unilateral sanctions on Zimbabwe caused the suffering of ordinary Zimbabweans, was unlawful, and should be removed.

“Even after the reasons motivating economic sanctions have gone: President Mugabe has been replaced by President Mnangagwa; white farmers will be compensated for loss of property; Zimbabwe has been lauded for economic reforms by international investors; but the coercive sanctions have remained.

The recent economic sanctions on Russia can be an example of the unintended damage that sanctions cause. The price of oil has exceeded USD 110.00.

The increase in the cost of fuel will result in the increase on the cost of productivity, everything will become more expensive, at a time in the South African and regional economy has been ravaged by Covid 19.

While Russia is also a major wheat exporter 20% of global exports of which 70% goes to west Asia and Africa where the vast majority of the most vulnerable people live.

The removal of Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system, in an interconnected world, in reality is a form of economic sanctions on everyone on the planet, not just Russia. The vast majority of the unintended victims of these sanctions will be the developing countries who have nothing to do with the political impasse in Eastern Europe.

Similarly, the unintended victims of the current sanctions program on Zimbabwe are vulnerable, mostly a young population, punished for historic political decisions, which took place two decades ago “ continued the statement.

The American Embassy had not yet responded to questions about the sanction on Zimbabwe at the time of print.

The Star has contacted the United States Foreign office for comment but was redirected to the Embassy.

This is a developing story. Source:The Zimbabwean

Details: East Africa; 15 March 2022; 757

Four men who posed as DCI sleuths and were armed with a police radio, handcuffs and a pistol were on Monday arraigned in a Kibera court.

Joseph Ngui Musunza, Andrew Nzioki, Peter Matata Mungeli and David Mwangi Kaguru were brought before chief magistrate Ann Mwangi.

The charge sheet says the accused violently robbed Robert Miano of Sh145, 000 on September 28, 2018, at the Kariobangi area in Nairobi while armed with a pistol.

The charge sheet also says the accused were armed with a spanner and some pistols.

According to the court documents, the complainant had gone to Equity bank to deposit Sh145,000.

When he reached the bank there was a queue and he decided since it was a Saturday he could bank the money on Monday.

While along the Outering Road near Harmony Bar, someone hooted at him from a vehicle.

The complainant then saw the person holding a radio and when he went close to where he was, the person alongside others told him that they had been monitoring him from the bank and that they were DCI officers from Buruburu police station.

Other suspects joined the fracas and the complainant was bungled into a vehicle, handcuffed, placed between the two men and forced to face down.

The accused drove him towards Buruburu and later to an unknown destination.

He was driven for some hours and robbed of Sh145, 000 and a Tecno phone valued at Sh29,999.

He was later dumped in Githurai where he made a report to the police.

The suspects were later arrested and arraigned in court where they were charged with robbery with violence contrary to the penal code.

They were arrested along Thika road while in possession of a police radio call, handcuffs, and a certificate of appointment.

An identification parade was made and some of the suspects were arrested.

The suspect were charged in court and was released on an Sh500, 000 bond with the surety of the same amount.

The magistrate directed that the matter proceeds for hearing on April 22. - CLAUSE MASIKA, The Star

(Edited by Tabnacha O)

Details: East Africa; 14 March 2022; 679

Former State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita has rubbished reports that he has pulled out of the Machakos gubernatorial race.

In a statement on Sunday, Waita insisted that he is firmly in the race to succeed Governor Alfred Mutua.

He noted that the report aired on NTV that he could deputise former Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju were the works of his competitors who had been cowed by polls showing that he is leading.

"It appears that my opponents are in a full panic mode having seen the latest Machakos Gubernatorial race polls for themselves and how their candidate’s lead has been decimated by a first-timer," Waita said in a tweet.

Reports indicated that the two have been proposed by leaders allied to the Azimio la Umoja coalition.

Speaking in February when he officially announced his bid for the county's top job, Waita said that his plan was to serve the people of Machakos, as he outlined his larger dream of making the county a metropolis for Nairobi.

"Machakos, Kiambu, Murang’a and Kajiado counties are within the Nairobi ecosystem. I want to make sure the county of Machakos benefits from the growth of the Nairobi metropolitan and the metropolitan infrastructure," he said on Citizen TV.

"Nairobi can only expand in the direction of Machakos and when the expressway is done Machakos’s role as the bedroom of the city will be reinforced."

Waita said he aspires to create wealth for the county and use the revenue from Nairobi to develop infrastructure in the other areas where it is needed.

He insisted that he will make Machakos a city in five years if elected governor.

He will battle out with Wavinya Ndeti (Wiper Party), Johnson Muthama (UDA), among others for the seat. By Brian Aruta, The Star

Details: East Africa; 14 March 2022; 789

Photo Courtesy

Equity Bank Uganda and the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, to facilitate and strengthen collaboration between the two entities in the areas of enterprise development and financial inclusion, energy, and environment, food and agriculture, education, health, and oil and gas.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, which took place at the Kingdom headquarter in Hoima, Executive Director Public Sector and Social Investments, Elizabeth MwerindeKasedde, thanked the Kingdom for its commitment to supporting the efforts of Equity Bank in expanding socio-economic opportunities for the population at the bottom of the economic ladder.

“The MoU shall drive a sustainable and scalable approach to social and economic transformation in the kingdom through a scholarship fund, internship, adolescent sexual and reproductive health and low-cost financing of health providers among others,” said Elizabeth MwerindeKasedde, Executive Director Public Sector and Social Investments, Equity Bank.

The Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Andrew Byakutaga said, “Today is yet another milestone. We are here to sign a Memorandum of Understanding which will guide the two institutions to collaborate in areas of social service, gender, tourism, and production.”

Adding, “We realized that our people still have challenges of managing financial resources hence the need to empower them with knowledge and skills for them to make informed financial decisions. We pray that this partnership grows to give us the fruits we desire to see in our region.”

Through programs run by Equity such as Young Africa Works and products such as EquiMama, the parties shall work to scale up financial inclusion and shared prosperity through financial literacy to the Bunyoro population, especially women and youth in their organized groups.

Also, financial support to agriculture in the Kingdom, especially women groups, Saccos, livestock value chain and unlock local content in the food supply.

The two entities shall also collaborate on climate change mitigation and adoption initiatives such as environmental conservation and implementation of carbon offsetting programs such as tree planting, natural forestry conservation, and horticulture.

Equity Bank will also support renewable energy programs such as solar and clean cooking. The two parties shall also cooperate in areas of mutual concern related to the commercial activities across the oil & gas value chain and mitigating the negative impact of petroleum. By Audrey Ninsiima, Tower Post

Details: East Africa; 14 March 2022; 720

South Africa’s aviation authority suspended low-cost carrier Comair Ltd. from flying indefinitely pending a review of concerns raised about safety.

A response presented by the operator of IAG SA-owned British Airways flights in the country and the domestic Kulula carrier is being reviewed, the Civil Aviation Authority said Sunday. The suspension follows a spate of incidents “affecting a concerning number of flights,” the regulator said.

Kulula is one of the biggest local airlines in South Africa. Owner Comair went into administration during the Covid-19 crisis, which grounded much of the world’s aircraft fleet. The company was later revived by private investors. Source: Bloomberg L.P.