A large group of former prominent anti-Apartheid activists and leaders from religious, civil society, business and labour organisations have launched a campaign to defend South Africa’s Constitution and democracy and prevent the country from becoming a failed state. They include Reverend Frank Chikane, a top aide to former President Thabo Mbeki, former Minister Sipho Pityana, and Cheryl Carolus. They have strongly condemned former President Jacob Zuma’s defiance of the Constitutional Court. Zuma publicly defied the order to appear before a graft commission chaired by deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo, citing personal relations with him. Zondo rejected this claim, saying they…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says nearly seven million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Africa. WHO Regional Office for Africa disclosed this in a statement issued from its headquarters in Brazzaville, Congo, on Thursday. It stated that the vaccines had been administered after months of waiting on the side-lines for vaccines and many of the first wave of countries had started vaccinating high-risk groups. The statement stated that Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, spoke at a virtual press conference on COVID-19 in the regional office headquarters. The UN health agency said countries had accessed vaccines…
Former South Africa’s President, FW de Klerk, on Friday announced that he is undergoing treatment for cancer. The country’s last Apartheid-era President who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela issued the statement to mark his 85th birthday. He said he has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, which is a cancer that affects the tissue that lines the lungs. He was a heavy smoker for decades. The life expectancy for most mesothelioma patients is about 12 months after diagnosis. De Klerk served as State President from 1989 to 1994 and as Deputy President from 1994 to 1996. PANA
Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar has called on political leaders in the country to take the COVID-19 vaccine in public. Abubakar, who made the lea while speaking at a sensitisation programme on COVID-19 vaccine for Muslim Scholars and Imams in Nigeria in Abuja on Friday, said this would encourage and boost the confidence of Nigerians on the vaccines. According to him, doing that would further drive acceptance of the novel coronavirus vaccines, most especially the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, in the country. “We have seen the president take the vaccine publicly and we expect to see more political leaders take the vaccine openly.…
A former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen has revealed why President Muhammadu Buhari removed him from office in 2019. He made the revelation at a book launch titled, “Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009, Practice, Procedure, Forms and Precedents”, authored by a renowned legal luminary, Chief Ogwu James Onoja in Abuja on Friday. According to Onnoghen, he was sacked by Buhari on the allegation he (Onnoghen) met with former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar in Dubai, preparatory to the 2019 general elections, an allegation that was not only false but fabricated in order to do what they wanted. He…
The Lagos police command say it arrested a suspected gay-rapist with nude pictures and videos of victim on Thursday. This is contained in a statement by the spokesperson of the Command, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Friday. According to the statement, “operatives attached to Makinde Police Station, Osodi, have arrested one Jane Otubo, m, 28, of No 3, Eniola Street, Mafoluku, Osodi, a food stuff trader, who hails from Enugu state for alleged homosexuality on 18th March, 2021. “The suspected gay had invited one Francis Azeez, m, who resides at Gwagwalada Area of Abuja and paid for his transportation fare to…
The Sokoto state government and correspondents chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, have agreed on the call off of the ongoing boycott by the chapel of coverage of government activities. This is contained in a statement jointly signed and issued by the chairperson and secretary of chapel, Habibu Harisu and Ankeli Emmanuel on Friday. According to the statement, the call-off of the boycott followed series of meetings and consultations with delegated members, officials of the chapel and that of the Council on one hand and the officials of the state Ministry of information, including the Special Adviser to…
The state of Georgia in the United States on Friday, reported the death of a nurse after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine in southwestern city of Akhaltsikhe on Thursday. The 27-year-old nurse, Megi Bakradze, who developed an alleged anaphylactic reaction after receiving the first shot of the vaccine, died after being transported to a hospital in Tbilisi, local Interpressnews reported. The report said four cities, Khelvachauri, Keda, Shuakhevi and Khulo in the western region of Adjara has suspended the vaccination process. Earlier on Thursday, after assessing the case, Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze announced that Georgia will continue using the AstraZeneca…
Tanzania on Friday, got its first ever female president with the swearing in of Samia Suluhu Hassan, after the sudden death of John Magufuli from heart complications, AfricaNews has reported. The 61-year-old appeared dressed in black suit and red headscarf and took the oath of office in Dar es Salaam before she inspected troops at a military parade as well as received a cannon salute. Personalities that attended the inauguration were members of the Cabinet and Tanzania’s former presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Jakaya Kikwete and Abeid Karume. Taking the oath, Suhulu said: “I, Samia Suluhu Hassan, promise to be honest…
Yesterday, I had my first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine in one of the general hospitals in the FCT. It was easy; no crowds, no ceremony, no fuss and no pain. I had expected a huge crowd as all persons of a certain age and with brains between their ears know that it is important for their survival that they take it as soon as possible. I assume all the conspiracy theories against Covid19 vaccinations have been so discredited that everyone would be eager to have the jab. I asked how many people have had the jab in the FCT…