Category Archives: International news

International news

Dozens die, others injured as fuel tanker bursts into flames in Morogoro- Tanzania; President Uhuru’s message

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has sent a message of condolence and comfort to the families of the victims of the fuel taker fire tragedy in Morogoro town, in the neighbouring country of Tanzania. In his message, President Kenyatta said it was unfortunate for the country to lose citizens in such an unfortunate accident.

The President assured President John Pombe Magufuli of Tanzania of his support and prayers as the country comes to terms with the unfortunate incident. “To my Brother, President John Pombe Magufuli, may I assure you of my Government’s support during this trying moment,” the President said. President Kenyatta also wished quick recovery to those who were injured in the incident and admitted in various hospitals.

“My prayer is that God will comfort those who have lost their loved ones in this unfortunate accident,” said the President. “I also pray for quick recovery to those nursing injuries and are admitted in various hospitals,” he added. According to media reports over sixty people are said to have lost their lives while 70 others were seriously injured in Morogoro town, Tanzania, on Saturday morning when a fuel tanker burst into flames.

The Morogoro accident; details

It is reported that the victims rushed to collect leaking fuel from an overturned tanker which then burst into flames in an incident similar to what happened at Sachangwan in Nakuru County ten years ago.

Reports indicate that about 60 people perished on Saturday when a fuel tanker exploded after an accident at Morogoro, 200 kilometres (120 miles) west of the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam, police said. Some of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition.

Most of the victims were motorcyclists and food vendors who rushed to the accident scene to collect leaking fuel from the truck which had overturned on the Morogoro-Dar es Salaam Highway.

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Arusha, Tanzania, to host this year’s East Africa School games (FEASSSA) in August; details
International news

African countries request form more partnerships with Japan as the 2019 TICAD 7 summit kicks off

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African countries have called for more Public Private Partnership projects between their governments and Japanese entities. In a speech delivered by African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki at the opening ceremony of the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 7), African states advanced that the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) model of development was the most ideal approach of achieving sustainable development on the continent.

Mr Faki assured that through PPP’s, African enterprises with the support of Japanese investments will be able to fully exploit the resource potential of the continent for the benefit of all Africans. He said this aspiration was demonstrated by the strong private sector representation and participation in the TICAD 6 conference held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2016. “It is urgent to promote these strategies and Africa to take advantage of the situation and to take into account the SMEs and the SMIs of Africa and to make sure that we give great attention in order to improve the business climate within its member states,” Mr Faki said.

TICAD 7 which kicked off today in the Japanese port city of Yokohama south of Tokyo, is being attended by over 30 African Heads of State and Governments among them President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya. Speaking on behalf of the World Bank Group, the Chief Executive Officer of the International Finance Corporation, Philippe Le Houérou reiterated Africa’s position saying the future of African economies will largely be shaped by the performance of the continent’s private sector.

“We need the private sector to seize more of the brighter opportunity than the possible risk to do business in Africa. Together, the public and the private sector can literally ignite the continent’s economy,” Mr Le Houérou said. On his part, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged TICAD member states to tap more into the growing youth population in Africa by enhancing development through innovative solutions. The UN Secretary General said technology and innovation are central to unleashing Africa’s vast potential and realizing the UN’s shared vision of leaving no one behind.

During his opening remarks, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced a new initiative by the Japanese Government that seeks to strengthen judicial and law enforcement systems of African nations. The programme dubbed New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa (NAPSA) has already admitted 6, 076 police officers, public prosecutors and judges from 39 African into a capacity building initiative where they will be trained on criminal justice and crime prevention. “NAPSA will assist in making judicial, governmental administration and legislative systems stable and secure so that nation building doesn’t move backward,” PM Abe said. Prime Minister Abe further announced a pledge by his government to support the roll out of Universal Health Care programmes in Africa saying the initiative will benefit over three million recipients on the continent.

Through TICAD, PM Abe said Japan had invested over 20 billion dollars in Africa in the last 3 years. President Uhuru Kenyatta is accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Monica Juma (Foreign Affairs), Ukur Yatani (National Treasury), Sicily Kariuki (Health), Prof George Magoha (Education) and James Macharia (Transport).

International news

Algeria; Millions take to streets to protest their 81- years old President’s bid for a fifth term (Photos)

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Millions of Algerians have gone to the streets in different regions of the country to demand that :

  1. President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (Pictured above) should not go for a 5th term,
  2. Social justice and
  3. Good governance

Dozens of police officers were hurt in clashes between protesters and police in the Algerian capital, as tens of thousands rallied against a fifth term for ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika; who is 81 years old.

In previous demonstrations that began on February 22, Algerian authorities arbitrarily arrested demonstrators and journalists. Authorities have also refused to authorize meetings of a protest movement opposing a fifth term. The presidential election is scheduled for April 18. Algerian authorities should respect the right to free assembly and all other rights that are prerequisites for free and fair elections.

“Algerians should be allowed to express their views on a fifth term for the president without fear of being roughed up and arrested,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

International news

South Africa News- House Committee proposes ways to increase service delivery, reduce corruption

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Parliament, Tuesday, 2 July 2019 – The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has urged the Department of Home Affairs, and the Electoral Commission of South Africa to find innovative ways to mitigate against funding pressures that the department and its entities are currently facing.

The committee highlighted that funding challenges are a current reality for all departments, but this challenge presents an opportunity to innovate and find workable solutions to ensure effective service delivery. The committee is cognisant that diminishing revenue as compared to increasing demands for services are putting unavoidable pressures on the department and its entities. Today, the department and its entities briefed the committee on its Annual Performance Plan.

“The committee welcomes plans to reposition the Department of Home Affairs as a modern, secure and professional department. The committee also values the intention to strengthen Public Private Partnerships with banks to expand the footprint of the department as this will ensure service delivery is taken to the doorsteps of South Africans,” said Chairperson of the Committee Advocate Bongani Bongo.

The strengthening of Intergovernmental Relations with other key government departments such as the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) and the Department of Public Works should focus on improving the end user experience. The department must ultimately reach a level of service delivery acceptable to all. The committee will in its oversight place focus on ensuring that the department offers quality services which include reduction of down time of IT systems and overall improvement of quality of services.

The digitisation and modernisation of Home Affairs is also critical in enhancing the security of the national identity system. The credibility of the national identity system is central in ensuring security of the country. The Committee has also called for the strengthening of programmes to combat fraud and corruption within the department which have the potential to expose the national population register to external threats.

With regard to the Electoral Commission of South Africa, the committee notes and welcomes plans to improve the electoral process using the recent national and provincial elections as a baseline. The plans to replace the outdated Zip-Zip machines with new online voter registration technology, the updating of the voters roll as per the Constitutional Court ruling as well as increased voter education.

The committee welcomes the announcement by the IEC that they will conduct public hearings from August 2019 to conclude the regulations which are necessary to implement the Political Party Funding Act as ascended into law by the President. The committee emphasised the need to conclude the regulation process to ensure that the act is implemented.

In relation to the Government Printing Works the committee called for government wide utilisation of GPW as the main printer to eliminate wastage especially within the current financial challenges. The committee commended the good work that the Government Printing Works continues to do and has urged the Minister to explore processes to assess the feasibility of using GPW as the major printer for all government departments.

International news

Xenophobic attacks in South Africa; Latest news on torching of tracks driven by foreigners

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The Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour; of South African Parliament, today met with the Department of Employment and Labour to discuss the latest developments in the road freight and logistics sector, following the torching of trucks driven by foreign nationals on South African roads.

The Departments Director-General, Mr Thobile Lamati, told the committee during an oversight visit to the Supported Employment Enterprises centre in Ndabeni, Cape Town, that the department has conducted inspections in the road freight and logistics industry following complaints from disgruntled South African drivers who feel they have lost their jobs as a result of truck companies preferring to employ foreign nationals as truck drivers.

A joint inspection task team which comprised the Departments of Employment and Labour, Home Affairs, Transport, Police, the National Bargaining Council for Road Freight Industry, and the RTI confirmed the prevalence of foreign nationals employed as truck drivers.

Other findings include non-compliance with UIF legislation, failure to pay overtime, Sunday work, holiday rate and implementation of incentive schemes. The inspection also discovered non-compliance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

The committee also heard about the lack of a “labour migration policy” in South Africa and the department said a process was under way to develop one, and will soon be tabled before the Cabinet.

“We now have a clear understanding of what is happening and we will continue getting regular updates from the department and other relevant stakeholders on the matter, it is work in progress, an attack on any worker, foreign or local, is a criminal offence and cannot be condoned,” said Committee Chairperson Mr Mandla Rayi.

He also said they will meet with other select committees and the departments they are responsible for oversight on, so that to deal with the situation before it spreads to other sectors.

The committee was also briefed on the annual performance plans of the Supported Employment Enterprises, entities of the Department of Labour that provide work opportunities for persons with disabilities.

International news

President Magufuli orders the Army to buy all cashew nuts

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Tanzanian President, John Pombe Magufuli, has ordered the country’s army to buy all cashew nuts from farmers, immediately. This comes after the cashew nut dealers failed to buy the produce from farmers. The government had, last week, issued a four day ultimatum to the dealers to buy the cashew nuts. But, the farmers refused to sell the produce to the dealers citing low purchasing prices.

Yesterday, Monday 12th November 2018, the no nonsense Tanzanian President, Magufuli, said that the government will purchase all cashew nut stocks directly from farmers at a TShs. 3,300 per Kilogram. The Government will use its military instruments and the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB).

The latest move has left the dealers in anguish since they have already hired labour services, warehouses and even borrowed loans to purchase the cashew nuts.