Politics

The decline of the ANC: Opposition Councillor elected mayor of Pretoria

19, August 2016

The decline of the ANC: Opposition Councillor elected mayor of Pretoria 0

South Africa’s ruling party, African National Congress (ANC), has been dealt a major blow as an opposition politician is named as the mayor of the capital Pretoria for the first time since the end of Apartheid two decades ago. Opposition councilor Solly Msimanga, 36, of the liberal center-right Democratic Alliance (DA), was elected Pretoria mayor on Friday.

“The people decided which way they want the city to go, and it was not the direction that it has been taking in the last… years,” Msimanga said in his inaugural speech to the city council. People are “tired of corruption, they are tired of nepotism, they are tired of cronyism… they are tired of work only given to members of certain families and their friends,” he said.

Msimanga vowed to end the patronage that he said had left the capital in the red. “This city is technically bankrupt right now because of greediness and because of people who decided to put themselves first,” he said. “No more will our people suffer under the hands of the ANC.”  The ANC councilors heckled Msimanga during his speech.

It is the first time since the end of white-minority rule in 1994 that Pretoria, also known as Tshwane, is not headed by a mayor from the ANC. The loss for the ANC and victory for the DA follows nationwide municipal elections earlier this month. The ANC lost control of three major cities, namely, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Nationwide, as well, the party suffered its worst results in 22 years in the municipal vote, gaining less than 54 percent of ballots cast, an eight percentage point drop from the last local elections in 2011. The ANC was once viewed as the South African party upholding the ideas and tenets of anti-Apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, and the DA as the party serving rich white South Africans.

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US: Donald Trump shakes up campaign staff for the second time in 2 months

17, August 2016

US: Donald Trump shakes up campaign staff for the second time in 2 months 0

US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has shaken up his election campaign staff for the second time in two months. Trump is adding two officials to top posts supervising his campaign, with less than three months to the Election Day in November.

The business mogul named Steve Bannon, the executive chairman of Breitbart News and a former investment banker, to the post of chief executive. He also promoted Kellyanne Conway, a senior adviser and pollster to the position of his campaign manager, CNN reported on Wednesday. Paul Manafort, Trump campaign’s chairman and chief strategist, will continue to serve as campaign chairman, Conway said. “I look at it as an expansion of the team. Paul remains as Chairman,” Conway stated.

This comes in the wake of an increase in tensions inside Trump’s campaign in recent weeks as well as warnings by several people close to the campaign to have a shakeup as Trump’s relationship with Manafort soured. The negative headlines and alarming polls for Trump have influenced Trump’s decision. “I want to win,” Trump told the Wall Street Journal. “That’s why I’m bringing on fantastic people who know how to win and love to win.”

Two months ago, Trump fired his campaign manager Corey Lewandowski following weeks of internal disputes between Lewandowski and Manafort, who was initially named to oversee his campaign. “Mr. Trump doesn’t trust him anymore. That’s it. Pure and simple,” a source familiar with the tensions told CNN. “When Mr. Trump doesn’t feel comfortable with the way things are managed or the way things are, he has a tendency to try to do everything, thus his exasperation becomes apparent. It manifests itself,” the source said.

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President Lungu of Zambia wins closely-fought re-election contest

15, August 2016

President Lungu of Zambia wins closely-fought re-election contest 0

Zambian President Edgar Lungu has been declared as the winner of a closely-fought re-election contest in the South African country, amid vote fraud allegations made by the main opposition party.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia made the announcement on Monday, saying Lungu garnered 1,860,877 votes or 50.35 percent of the votes while his main rival and opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, of the United Party for National Development (UPND), received 1,760,347 votes.

Following the announcement of the result, hundreds of Lungu’s supporters, mostly young people, took to the streets, chanting slogans and singing in celebration.

“I’m happy that Edgar Lungu can continue to be president because I see a good future with him. I want him to create jobs for young people,” said a 15-year-old reveler.

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UN authorizes the deployment of a 4,000-strong protection force in South Sudan

13, August 2016

UN authorizes the deployment of a 4,000-strong protection force in South Sudan 0

The United Nations Security Council has authorized the deployment of a 4,000-strong protection force to the conflict-hit South Sudan despite Juba’s strong opposition to the move. On Friday, the Security Council approved the US-drafted resolution with 11 votes in favor, while Russia, China, Egypt and Venezuela abstained, granting extended powers to the peacekeepers present in the African country and authorizing them to exert “all necessary means” to protect UN personnel and installations there.

There will be a total of 17,500 soldiers in South Sudan after the new deployment from a number of African nations. The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has been under fire during the past few weeks both for its inability to fully protect civilians when UN sites came under attack in the capital Juba last month, and for allegedly failing to intervene in cases that government forces reportedly committed sexual assaults outside UN camps in the city.

South Sudan has witnessed a new wave of conflict since early July, when gunfire erupted near the state house in Juba, where President Salva Kiir and then Vice President Riek Machar were meeting. The gunfire turned into a much heavier fighting, which involved tanks and helicopters, between the two sides during the next several days. More than 300 people were killed in the clashes. The UN resolution also calls for an arms embargo on South Sudan if the government blocks the regional force.

 

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Chad: The butcher of N’Djamena sworn-in for another 5 years term

8, August 2016

Chad: The butcher of N’Djamena sworn-in for another 5 years term 0

21 cannon shots were fired Monday in N’Djamena, at the inauguration ceremony of President Idriss Deby for a fifth term as head of the country. The head of the Chadian government was sworn in before the Constitutional Council for a new mandate. Idriss Deby, 64, has ruled Chad for over 25 years and was re-elected in the first round of voting on April the 10th with 59.92% of votes. The inauguration this Monday, August 8, has handed the Chadian dictator another five years term.

Fifteen Heads of State and Government made the trip to N’Djamena for the occasion. They included Rwandan Paul Kagame, Sudan’s Omar Hassan al-Bashir, Niger’s Mamadou Issoufou, the Mauritanian Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Egyptian Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi, the Ugandan Yoweri Museveni, Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari , Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, Guinea’s Alpha Conde, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali, Burkina Faso’s Roch Christian Kaboré, the Central African Republic Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Benin Patrice Talon and the Congolese Kabila. President Paul Biya of Cameroon whose country is engaged in the war against Boko Haram with the republic of Chad was conspicuously absence.

The day before the inauguration, a Chadian youth was shot dead in an anti-President Deby demonstration. During his speech, Idriss Deby announced a continuation of the military reform and the preservation of peace and security.

By Chi Prudence Asong

Pan-African Parliament: MPs hold political discourse on terrorism

5, August 2016

Pan-African Parliament: MPs hold political discourse on terrorism 0

Secretaries from more than half of African national assemblies have met in South Africa for their annual conference. The elected representatives are to discuss the benefits of ratifying African Union treaties notably the new protocol of the Pan-African Parliament.

Earlier, members of the committee on cooperation, international relations and conflict resolutions of the Pan-African Parliament were urged to improve the continent’s response to terrorism by making it a national priority.

Professors Magloire Ondoua and Vincent Ntuda Ebode from Cameroon were guest-speakers at both events.
The Pan African parliamentarians expressed outrage at repeated armed attacks on some of their colleagues. The MPs staged a protest against the violence.

The two Cameroonian Professors, Joseph Vincent Ntouda Ebode and Magloire Ondoa educated parlementarians, Secretary Generals and Presidents of parliaments of the continent on the challenges to be surmounted in the fight against terrorism. The discourse on terrorism was in view of the full activation of the legislative powers of the continental parliament.

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Race for the White House: Hillary Clinton enjoying financial support from billionaires

4, August 2016

Race for the White House: Hillary Clinton enjoying financial support from billionaires 0

US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is enjoying financial support from a growing list of American billionaires who oppose Republican nominee Donald Trump.

According to a recent report by Fox News, the former secretary of state’s presidential campaign has so far received more than $42.5 million in donations from a total of 24 billionaires.

So far, movie producers Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg, financiers Warren Buffett and George Soros, and Walmart heiress Alice Walton have all made contributions to the former first lady’s campaign.

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey (pictured below) has also thrown her weight behind Clinton. Haim Saban is another media magnate that will support Clinton in the battle against Trump.

Billionaire environmentalist Thomas Steyer joined the list and endorsed Clinton in early June. Some of the multimillionaires have donated millions to a top Clinton superPAC named Priorities USA Action.Saban ($10 million), Soros ($7 million), hedge fund billionaire James Simons ($7 million), Hyatt Hotel heir J.B. Pritzker and his wife Mary Kathryn Pritzker ($6.5 million), Slim-Fast founder S. Daniel Abraham ($3 million), Hedge fund billionaire David Shaw ($2.25 million), investors Jon and Pat Stryker ($1.5 million each), Spielberg ($1 million), Legendary Entertainment founder and CEO Thomas Tull ($1 million), and the list goes on.

Jewish movie producer and director Steven Spielberg

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg are some of the other major figures who are siding with Clinton.

In addition to the pro-Clinton billionaires, some of the Republican-leaning tycoons have announced that that they will not support Trump as the party nominee.

 

George Soros (L) and Hillary Clinton

Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman, for instance, has joined industrial power-brokers Charles and David Koch in withdrawing support from fellow GOP billionaire Trump.

Whitman has pushed the envelope even further by stating that she will endorse and help fund Clinton.

In addition to Priorities USA Action, million have been paid to other Clinton funds Hillary for America and Hillary Victory Fun. Pro-Clinton such as PACs American Bridge 21st Century, Priorities USA Action 2016 and Correct the Record have also received huge donations.

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After student motion of support: Biya heading for early re-election

4, August 2016

After student motion of support: Biya heading for early re-election 0

All the lights are now green in Cameroon for a possible re- election of the 83 years old Cameroonian dictator. After multiple calls teleguided by members of the CPDM crime syndicate and facing an opposition that has ran short of ideas and extremely lacking political finesse, President Paul Biya now has the backing of the student community.

The students have stormed the streets of the nation to say “thank you” to the head of state, for promising to make available 500 000 computer laptops to them.  The 75 billion CFA francs is a loan that the Francophone Beti-Ewondo head of state has contracted with the Peoples Republic of China, spread over a repayment period of 20 to 25 years.

Our source at the presidency of the republic hinted that the repayment of the 75 billion FCFA will run until 2036 and could be rescheduled in 2041.  Staff man Cham Victor Bama, who contributed to this report observed that in every country in the world, students are always in the opposition. He added that “The reaction coming from the student community is politically motivated.”  What is evidently clear is that President will seek another mandate soon.

UK Labour Party leadership crisis: Jeremy Corbyn slowly but surely chasing away the Blairites

2, August 2016

UK Labour Party leadership crisis: Jeremy Corbyn slowly but surely chasing away the Blairites 0

UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn says the challenge to his leadership has created a “massive opportunity” to unite people across the country. Addressing up to 10,000 of his supporters at a campaign event in Liverpool on Monday, Corbyn said the ongoing battle for leadership in the party provides an opportunity to unite Britons against the “Tory philosophy.”

“I don’t see this leadership contest as a distraction,” said Corbyn. “I see it as a massive opportunity to reach out to people all across this country and have the strength and confidence [to stand up to] those who tell us that nothing we’re trying to do is possible, that what we have to do is compromise with the Tory philosophy and free market ideas and all will be well.”

Corbyn, who needs to beat former BBC producer Owen Smith in order to keep his throne as the opposition leader, described the audience as the largest crowd he had at a leadership campaign rally.

“This is a campaign about, on one level, the leadership of the Labour Party, but it’s also a campaign about how we do politics in our society,” he noted, before getting more specific about issues such as mental health services, workers’ rights and homelessness.

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Obama says Hillary Clinton more qualified to be president

28, July 2016

Obama says Hillary Clinton more qualified to be president 0

US President Barack Obama has strongly endorsed Hillary Clinton as his successor, saying she is more qualified to be president of the United States than Bill Clinton or himself. The former secretary of state is a “leader with real plans to break down barriers, blast through glass ceilings, and widen the circle of opportunity to every single American, the next president of the United States, Hillary Clinton,” Obama said in a speech at the packed Democratic National Convention center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Wednesday night.

“That’s the Hillary I know. That’s the Hillary I’ve come to admire. And that’s why I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman — not me, not Bill, nobody — more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America,” he added. He said “nothing truly prepares you for the demands of the Oval Office, but Hillary’s been in the room.”

“I know Hillary won’t relent until ISIL is destroyed. She’ll finish the job – and she’ll do it without resorting to torture, or banning entire religions from entering our country. She is fit to be the next commander in chief,” he said, referring to the Daesh terrorist group in Iraq and Syria.

Obama went on to say that “we’re going to carry Hillary to victory this fall, because that’s what the moment demands.” “This year, in this election, I’m asking you to join me — to reject cynicism, reject fear, to summon what’s best in us, to elect Hillary Clinton as the next president of the United States,” Obama said in his concluding remarks.

Obama addresses the Democratic National Convention. (AFP photo)
Hillary Clinton arrives on stage on Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 27, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (AFP photo)
Barack Obama stands on stage with Hillary Clinton on Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 27, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (AFP photo)

Earlier commenting on Clinton’s choice for vice president, Tim Kaine, Obama said, “He will be a great vice president. And he’ll make Hillary a better president, just like my dear friend and brother Joe Biden has made me a better president.”

Obama also denounced Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, saying “America is already great. America is already strong. And I promise you, our strength, our greatness, does not depend on Donald Trump.”

“Our power doesn’t come from some self-declared savior promising that he alone can restore order as long as we do things his way. We don’t look to be ruled,” he stated.

“Ronald Reagan called America a shining city on a hill,” Obama recalled. “Donald Trump calls it a divided crime scene that only he can fix.”

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