AfricaWorld Newspaper July 1 - 15

...created to serve and inform JUL 1-15 2013 VOL 001 Nº38 FREE

SWAZILAND’S SHAM ELECTIONS: A D I C T A T E D D E M O C R A C Y

KING MSWATHI IIIKING OF SWAZILAND

By Mancoba Nxumalo Continue from page 3

NEW DEPUTY EDITORZIMBABWE ELECTIONSN E W S I N B R I E FAGONY CORNER

6 0 S E CO N D SMORE ON PAGE 2MORE ON PAGE 4MORE ON PAGE 7MORE ON PAGE 10

MORE ON PAGE 16

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2 JUL 1-15 2013AFRICAWORLD

NEWS

EDITORIAL

The summer calls for many activities for the African community in Ireland. However, the autumn brings another season of Beauty Competitions. Although there are not many but we have few queens. From the aims and objectives of their organisers, they do it for charity, and such is commendable.

Having said that, it is important the organisers spell out rules guarding such high profile competitions to contestants. People and possibly the contestants are getting tired of the process of having two (2) Beauty Queens in a year. The question about the organisation in ‘Miss Nigeria Ireland’ cannot be overemphasised. Our girls must know what is at stake in the aftermath of the competition. The past two years in the competition I mentioned has been bad and embarrassing.

Come in.

Uka

AFRICAWORLD & MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The Editorial team at AfricaWorld would like to point out that it is aware of the Millennium Development Goals

and seeks to synergise its work in accordance with those aims wherever possible. Those goals are to improve

issues of Education, Health, HIV/AIDS, Gender Equality, Environmental Sustainability and Global Partnerships.

EditorUkachukwu Okorie

Deputy EditorMartin Ekeocha

Chief ReporterPaul Kelly

Sub-EditorRoisin Morris

Graphic DesignMirco MascarinLeandro Tonetto OliveiraWelbert Silva de Andrade PhotographyDarek GutowskiAntoinette Keane

Published by Uyokanjo Media Services Ltd.46 Parnel Square West 3rd Floor +353 87 637 3210Dublin 1, Dublin City Republic of Ireland Skype: africaworld1E-mail: [email protected]

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AS AFRICAN BEAUTY PAGEANTS DRAW CLOSE

PROFILE OF THE DEPUTY EDITOR

“ I N E V E R W O N E U R O M I L L I O N L O T O ” C H R I S ( S H I P P I N G ) I K E

ANGLO-IRISH BANK AND ITS CORRUPTION PARADE

Martin Humble Obinna Ekeocha hails from Owerri-North in Imo State of Nigeria . He is an unassuming and amiable person who holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in philosophy from Imo State University as well as a Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil) degree from the Pontifical Urban University, Rome. Along with these degrees, he holds a Higher National D i p l o m a ( H ND) in Journalism from the International Institute of Journalism in Maiduguri,

F o l l o w i n g t h e announcement that a citizen of Ireland won the Euromillions Lotto of Tuesday 25th of June, 2013, amounting to €94million, the media and citizens went agog in search of the fortunate winner. The rumour went round that the fortunate person was a Nigerian Igbo resident in Dublin. However, the person mentioned in the rumour denied winning

The defunct Anglo-Irish bank is again making the headlines once again, bringing to the fore more sad facts about them. Details of how the bank mismanaged the country’s finances are still being unfolded. In the latest developments, an audio tape was discovered which contained conversation between top managers, John Bowe and Peter Fitzgerald in which they joked on their foreknowledge of the impending doom of the bank and how they still went ahead to defraud taxpayers into remitting money to the failing bank. In an interview with

Central Bank Governor, Patrick Honohan, he expressed that further scrutiny need be made in prosecuting the bank top executive, David Drumm. For him “that is the indication that Anglo Irish Bank was deliberately m i s r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e position of the bank with a view to accessing financial support from the Central Bank.” This comes up even as the bank faces allegations o f o v e r c h a r g i n g a s specialists reveal wrong interest calculations in most loans given.

Nigeria. He is presently a Post-Graduate student of Philosophy and Applied Ethics in the University College Dublin. His works include: The Beauty of Knowledge, a critical exposition of phenomenology; The Impasse of Cybernetics, a re-presentation of human functionality; Information Strangulation with Rights in a Dysfunctional Demo-Society, The Mitigations of Self-Ethics. He speaks English and French fluently. He loves reading, playing volleyball, table tennis and fencing.

the ticket. When our AfricaWorld reporter met with him, Chris Ike had this to say for himself; “I am a thorough Christian who do not play lotto or any other luck game. Since the rumour went wild that I won the ticket, I and my family members have known no peace.” This implies that the lucky winner of the ticket i s s t i l l ye t t o b e mentioned.

3JUL 1-15 2013 AFRICAWORLD

NEWS

The registration process towards Swaziland’s national elections ended on Sunday June 31,

2013, signalling the official start to the primary elections in the kingdom. The registration deadline had formerly been extended following poor voters turnout in most parts of the country. Struggling to reach the 600 000 target, King Mswati III, sub-Sahara’s last absolute monarchy, was forced to extend the registration to give more time for people to register.

Swaziland is a small landlocked kingdom on the southern tip of the African continent, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique. The nation, as well as its people, are named after the 19th-century king Mswati II. It has a population of only 1.2 Million and the size of America’s New Jersey.

The elections in Swaziland are happening amid a growing push for democracy b y p ro - d e m o c r a c y organisations who have intensified a call for a boycott.

King Mswati III rules a kingdom ravaged by poverty and the highest HIV prevalence rate in the world. It also has the lowest life expectancy while the king himself is rated by Forbes Magazine as the 15th richest monarchy in the world with a personal fortune of $100 Million. Swaziland is notoriously known for being one of four countries in Africa without multi-party democracy and the king being the last executive monarchy in Africa’s sub Sahara. He is after all the executive ruler of the kingdom.

Political parties will be banned from taking part in the elections, despite promulgating a 2005 constitution that was meant to usher in a new political life in a kingdom ruled by decree for over 30 years. Fifty-five (55) out of the sixty-five (65) members of the House are chosen by the electorate: the other 10 are selected by the king. No member of the Swazi Senate are elected: of 30 seats, 20 are appointed by the king and the other 10 are chosen by members of the House of Assembly.

SWAZILAND’S SHAM ELECTIONS: A DICTATED DEMOCRACYBy Mancoba Nxumalo

Mario Mazuki - Leader of the opposition PUDEMO

Swaziland is broken up into 55 inkhundla or administrative districts and each of these makes up one constituency in the House of Assembly. One Member of Parliament is elected from each inkhundla at the secondary election.

Authorities expect some 600 000 eligible voters – slightly more than half of the population – to put their names down for the legislative elections but the country’s opposition and unions have rubbished the vote as undemocratic and a mere rubber-stamping of the autocratic rule of King Mswati III.

The king announced that the controversial elections will be held on September 20, 2013. The primary elections will take place on August 24, 2013.

“We call for our people to boycott the elections because they are not democratic and they happen in an environment where people are denied their basic right to form political parties and contest for state power. They are a sham and they must not be legitimised by us hence the call for a boycott,” said Zakhele Mabuza, spokesperson of the biggest banned opposition party, the People’s United Democratic movement (PUDEMO).

PUDEMO is leading civil society and underground political parties calling for the boycott of the elections. Together with the newly formed Communist Party of Swaziland, PUDEMO has

been mobilising people to boycott the elections, using unorthodox means of communicating as the media is tightly controlled by the government in Swaziland. A simple walk around the city shows most of the graffiti calling for the boycott of the elections while in some areas the government has removed them through spray paints.

Most organisations that observed the 2008 elections dismissed the elections as a farce. There was little international interest in observing Swaziland’s elections in the past but the

first poll posted the promulgation of the constitution in 2005 saw an improved interest in observing Swazi elections. In the 2003 elections, EISA deployed a Fact Finding Mission, while the Commonwealth deployed two Expert Teams, one to obser ve the voter registration and one to observe the elections themselves. Other teams were deployed by the governments of Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. In 2008, however, there were eight missions in all. These included EISA, the African Union, the Commonwealth, the Electoral Commissioners’ Forum of the Southern African Development Community, the Japanese Embassy, the Pan African Parliament, the Southern African Development Community and the Embassy of United States of America.

A report from EISA after the elections stated that “enormous power is concentrated in the hands of the King. The direct and active role that the King plays in the political life of Swaziland has polarised the Swazi people. This is in direct conflict with his higher and more crucial role as the living embodiment of the Swazi nation and of its culture.”

It went on to state that the King effectively had the power to veto legislation and Parliament could not override the veto. “The executive authority is vested in the hands of a hereditary

monarch and not in the hands of a democratically elected office- bearer who is answerable to the electorate. The Team recommends that executive power be vested in a Prime Minister who should be answerable to the House of Assembly as the elected representatives of the citizens of Swaziland,” reads the report in part. The government has been working very hard to ensure that the boycotting of the elections fails. The sole mobile company in Swasiland, owned by the King, MTN Swaziland, has been incentivising the people to vote by giving them freebies like caps and T shirts while the government has been placing registration centres in all public facilities, in some instances next to public toilets.

The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), a South African based pro Swazi

democracy group, reacted with anger at news that the people of Swaziland were now ‘coerced’ into registering for the vote.

“MTN Swaziland has since shamefully joined the fray, sponsoring this sham exercise, knowing well that poor Swazis will not pass the opportunity to have free T-shirts and caps. We ask a simple question to these friends of dictatorship, “Does this mean that the company does not value those amongst its subscribers who wish to live in a democratic country?” Surely if it valued them then it would not plough the profits it makes from their patronage into sustaining their oppression. If this gesture is innocent and has nothing to do with pleasing the king then MTN should also give out its products to those organizations who called for a boycott of the elections, failing which the Mass Democratic Movement is rightly advised to boycott this company, difficult though this may be, since it is a total monopoly thanks to the fact that its “esteemed shareholder” pulls the strings to ensure that there is no competition in the mobile telephone industry,” Lucky Lukhele, SSN spokesperson said in a statement.

The Commonwealth expert team who observed the 2008 elections said that “we do not regard the credibility of these National elections as an issue: no elections can be credible when they are for a Parliament which does not have power and when political parties are banned.”

PUDEMO’s Zakhele Mabuza said they wanted the world to see the elections as a sham to pile pressure on the regime to conduct free and fair elections where political parties will be allowed.

However, the repression has intens i f ied in Swaziland, with the government ensuring that its enemies either do not make it to parliament by p i l o t i n g h i g h l y controversial Bills to arresting some of its advisories with dubious charges to ensure that the next House of Assembly becomes a smooth-sailing government already feeling besieged from within and without.


NEWS

MUGABE PERFECTS RIGGING MACHINERY AHEAD OF ELECTIONS

P R E S I D E N T R O B E R T M U G A B E ’ S Zanu PF has r e p o r t e d l y

manipulated its party primary elections result figures to suit its template for predetermined victory in the next critical general elections, with party o f f i c i a l s t e l l i n g supporters and voters e s p e c i a l l y i n i t s strongholds that would translate into a landslide at the polls.

Last week the former re vo l u t i o n a r y p a r t y conducted its internal processes countrywide to select candidates to represent the party in the forthcoming make-or-break polls scheduled for July 31.

However, high voter turn-out in almost all the country’s ten provinces s h o c k e d e v e n t h e opposition Movement for D e m o c ra t i c C h a n g e (MDC) whose internal polls were marred by voter apathy.

“There is no doubt Zanu PF’s primary results are meant to send shock waves in the MDC formations and this is clear the next harmonised elections will be rigged and justif ied by the current voting trends,” opined a senior MDC-T official.

Zimbabweans were shocked as Zanu PF’s aspiring candidates were romping to victory with astronomical figures of up to 19 000 when a

c o n s t u e n c y h a s a population of close to 25 000.

“Zanu PF is clearly perfecting its rigging machinery ahead of crucial elections by manipulating figures so that during the general elections there will be no room to complain if their candidates win by such margins,” said top MDC-T sources.

This is not the first time that elections results are manipulated in order to win elections.

In 2008 disputed presidential polls the Zimbabwe Elec toral Commission (ZEC) held onto the results for close to six weeks and only released them after an outcry by the international community.

The results however showed that there was no outr ight winner although many believe M D C - T ’ s M o r g a n Tsvangira i t rounced Mugabe.

In the just ended c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r e fe r e n d u m f i g u r e s released by ZEC showed t h at vo t i n g t re n d s showed an increase of voters in Zanu PF-dominated areas such as Mashonaland provinces and key regions l ike Manicaland, Masvingo and Midlands, raising quest ions over the accuracy of the results.

Voting trends showing traditional Zanu PF rural strongholds recorded high turnouts to drive the “Yes” vote compared to urban areas, there are fears the party could manipulate the results to register a convincing victory in the imminent make-or-break elections.

Zec says 3 259 454 voted on March 16 and is the highest turnout in a n y p o l l s i n c e independence, beating the previous record of 3 046 891 set in the 2002 presidential election.

Zec chairperson Justice Rita Makarau initially projected a voter turnout of close to two million on M a r c h 1 7 b e f o r e announcing a turnout of more than three million – a huge increase on its earlier projection.

Zanu PF has vowed to go for broke in the forthcoming high-stakes elections and is known for using all sorts of strategies and tactics to win by fair means or foul. Suspicion abounds that the more than three million voter turnout in the referendum may have been manipulated to give Zanu PF leverage in its rigging plot ahead of elections.

Those who questioned the referendum figures pointed to the virtual absence of queues at

most polling stations countrywide, contrary to Zec’s claims of a high voter turnout.

N C A c h a i r p e r s o n Lovemore Madhuku said t h e r e s u l t s w e r e doctored.

“ To claim that there was close to a million more voters in the referendum than in the March 2008 harmonised elections is to take the public for fools,” said Madhuku. “In any event, the claim that more than three million voted is a fraud by Zec.”

Sources in the security sector said there was a paral lel col lat ion of results carried out by the police during the voting process.

“Police sent results e ve r y h o u r t o a n unknown centre not under the Zec command centres,” said the source.

P o l i t i c a l a n a l y s t Blessing Vava said Zanu PF used the referendum to test i t s r igging machinery in preparation for the elections.

“This referendum was a dress rehearsal for Zanu PF to test its machinery for r igging the next elections,” said Vava.

Vava said the NCA had o b s e r ve r s at e ve r y polling station and is convinced the figures are nowhere near three million. He said the MDC parties would “suffer the consequences of their folly in joining Zanu PF to endorse what was clear ly a fraudulent process”.

“ W h i l e i t i s understandable for Zanu P F t o c l a i m h i g h turnouts, especially in r u r a l a r e a s , i t i s sur pr is ing the MDC par ties endorsed the f r a u d u l e n t p r o c e s s . Having endorsed this process, the MDC parties will no longer have the moral high ground to complain when rigging i s re p e ate d i n t h e elections,” Vava warned.

By Andy Mambo

Robert MugabePresident of Zimbabwe


COLUMN

DD’S CUBICLEHAS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT REALLY HELPED THE COUNTRIESSHE COLONIZED? WHY THIS R ACIST VISA BOND POLIC Y?By Dunstan Ukaga

“In the long run we’re interested in a system of bonds that deters overstaying and recovers costs if a foreign national has used our public services. We’re planning a pilot that focuses on overstayers and examines a couple of different ways of applying bonds. The pilot will apply to visitor visas, but if the scheme is successful we’d like to be able to apply it on an intelligence-led basis on any visa route and any country.”

The quote is from British Home Secretary Theresa May and outlines her plans for a £3,000 cash bond to deter “high risk” Asian and African short-term visitors from overstaying in Britain. Has the British government really helped the countries she colonized? From Asia to Africa, what has the British government done for the countries she once lorded over? What legacies did the British colonialist leave in her former colonies? Certainly your guess is as bad as mine. The news was emerging last week of a new British visa bond policy. At first, I did not believe it. But reading through the social media, I could not accept what I saw. An African national from a former French colony would easily walk or fly into France without any hassle. Why has the British government toed a racist line again? This is pure racism. This is indifference at the highest level of government.

As I read through the Guardian newspaper, I saw further that Theresa May’s plans are being hastily rewritten after Nick Clegg declined to sign off the details of a pilot scheme due to start in November. The scheme was floated at the weekend by the Home Secretary and provoked uproar in India and Nigeria, which were among the six countries named as possible targets, with threats that reciprocal action would be taken against British visitors. The other countries were Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Ghana.

“The policy has not yet been signed off,” said a Liberal Democrat source. “We are in favour of the principle but the exact details of how it is to be piloted, including the size of the bond, is still being discussed in government.” Clegg has said he favours the introduction of a £1,000 cash bond to deter overstayers. Home Office sources confirmed that the level at which the bond is to be set was among the details yet to be decided, and said the pilot scheme was still in the planning stage. They stressed that the requirement to post a bond would not apply to all visitors from the designated countries but only to individuals regarded as high risk.

The scheme might apply to hundreds of visitor visa applicants initially, before being expanded to cover many thousands later. The Home Office wants to pilot the scheme for six-month visitor visas and will extend it to student and work visas if it proves successful. Those who overstay their visa and fail to return home will forfeit the money.

The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that the announcement of a

£3,000 bond scheme at the weekend was in danger of provoking a diplomatic backlash in India, months after David Cameron had tried to combat the perception that Britain was closing its doors to students from the subcontinent.

This to me does not sound well at all. Anyway, who wants to go to Britain and for what? For an average Nigerian, £3,000 will start a good business in Lagos or Kano.

The proposed policy was immediately criticised by the nations identified as likely to be targeted:

INDIAIndian business leaders

have criticized the plans. The Confederation of Indian Industry said it was “highly discriminatory” but Home Secretary Theresa May defended the “selective” approach to migration. The Confederation of Indian Industry, which represents the country’s largest businesses, said the plan was “very unfortunate” and risked further undermining Anglo-Indian relations already strained by changes to the UK visa regime for students.

“We share the UK’s concern on i l legal immigration but surely there are other more effective and non-discriminatory ways to put a check on it,” the Confederation said in a statement. It added that this and other recent changes threatened the “special relationship” that UK politicians often speak of with India. “The industry in India is disappointed by the way the immigration rules in UK have been changing over the last few years. It strongly feels that such blanket rules for visas will negatively affect not only businesses, especially small

businesses, it will also further bring down the number of students going to UK for higher studies and affect the tourism inflow from India to UK.”

NIGERIA.Every Nigerian views this

visa policy as racist and unfriendly. There were indications early this week that the federal government would opt for a retaliatory measure if the United Kingdom implemented its proposed bond. Nigeria was said to have made this known during a private meeting between Foreign Affairs Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, and British High Commissioner, Andrew Pocock, in Abuja. Nigerian politicians have also criticized the plan as “unacceptable” and pledged to stand up for their country’s interests.

“They should realise that it is not in the best interests of the UK,” said Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, who chairs the foreign affairs committee in the country’s House of Representatives. “It is targeted at the non-white Commonwealth. It is contrary to the commitment made to our president by David Cameron during their last meeting. We believe it is for political reasons ahead of a general election. We seek that our long historical relationship should take precedence over political expediency.” The Home Office said the details of the pilot scheme had yet to be finalised and the countries yet to be selected.

The Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has claimed that the United Kingdom will pay dearly if i t s C o n s e r v a t i v e government goes ahead with the planned bond. Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, speaking as a

guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, demanded a policy of reciprocity by the federal government on all British travellers to Nigeria, adding that they should “even be made to pay a lot more”. According to the lawmaker, some level of politics is involved in this policy as she claimed the ruling Tory party, which is seeking re-election, might be using the immigration policy to drive up support ahead of the polls. She warned, however, that “it’s probably going to hurt them more”. The Nigerian senate threatened a retaliatory move to introduce the same measures on British nationals travelling to Nigeria.

GHANA.The Foreign Affairs

Ministry is expected to officially respond to the visa bond policy which the British government is proposing in respect of prospective Ghanaian travellers to the UK. Addressing the media on the matter on Tuesday at Flagstaff House, Felix Kwakye Ofosu said the matter has now come to the attention of government and is being considered.

We have not yet seen or heard any off ic ial Pakistani, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi government statements in this regard. But whichever way, no country will accept this policy and it serves the British government better to kill this idea. However, there is an agency report today that British Prime Minister David Cameron has halted the controversial plan.

I ask again, how have the Commonwealth nations really benefited from the British government and peoples?


PEOPLE

PRIDE OF AFRICABlessing

MomohBlessing Momoh our Pride of Africa was born in Ogun State

in Nigeria. Pretty Blessing was a pageant at the last Miss Africa Ireland contest. She is a presenter at VICKIE ROBERT HOSPITALITY 4 CELEBRITIES, an hospitality organisation that caters for visiting celebrities to Ireland. She loves dancing and listening to music.


NEWS

N e w s i N B r i e f

Algeria: Football clubs have begun to d i r e c t l y e n c o u r a g e

women and girls to become fans. The move has been condemned by many male fans, who see the stadiums as a “male sanctuary”.

-Angola’s Defence Minister has announced that he will begin strict measures to eradicate anti-social behaviour within the country, arguing it leads to political destabilisation.

-Benin has hosted the West African Regional Anti-Corruption Workshop. The workshop was organised by the US and involves equipping West African leaders in tackling domestic corruption.

-Botswana: bushmen have won a landmark legal victory meaning they may stay on their land. They were previously threatened with eviction due to the fact they lived on a proposed “wildlife corridor”.

-Burkina Faso have won a significant victory over Congo-Brazzaville in the World Cup qualifiers. The 1-0 win means hope remains strong for Burkina Faso’s first World Cup appearance.

-Burundi has adopted a National Agricultural Investment Plan. The plan is to last until 2017 and is aimed at cutting food shortages.

-Cameroon: Jean Marc Ndjofang has won second place in the World Draughts Championship in Russia.

-Cape Verde have launched a Land Management scheme to clarify land ownership and borders. The scheme is expected to benefit 13,000 citizens and cost $17.3 million.

-Central African Republic: a witness for former President Bemba, who is currently being prosecuted in the ICC, has claimed that the blame for the atrocities committed during the civil war there lies with the rebels, rather than the state.

-Chad: Reporters Without Borders have been refused entry to N’Djaména, where representatives were to meet three imprisoned journalists, as well as local media personnel.

- Co n g o - B r a z z av i l l e : together with Angola, the government have launched a joint exploration of Lianzi oil field, which lies between their two borders. $2.5 billion will be invested in the exploration.

- D R C : A m n e s t y International have warned that Chinese mining companies in the country continue to abuse the human rights of their employees as well as of the local population through forced evictions.

-Cote d’Ivoire: frustration is building at the failure of the ICC to begin the trial of former President Gbagbo. Protesters claim the uncertainty is hindering reconciliation in the country.

-Djibouti: wildfires have destroyed 11 homes in Balbala town. The cause is unknown, but summer winds appear to have worsened the blaze.

-Egypt: tens of thousands of Muslims have rallied in Raba’a al-Adaweya Mosque in Cairo as a part of a million man march to renounce violence.

-Equatorial Guinea: police have cracked down on protesters who are demanding a free and credible parliamentary election. Tear gas and live bullets were used on the protesters.

-Ethiopian and Egyptian officials have met in a bid to ease tensions after Ethiopia began to divert the river Nile in order to power a hydroelectric dam. The move has led to threats of war between the two states.

-Gambia: the government has banned the import of frozen chicken legs, citing economic and health reasons.

-Ghana: MP Dr. Anthony Akoto-Osei has advised government ministers to shut up about issues that they are ignorant of. The MP was speaking about a report from the Finance Committee on a $3 billion loan being made from the China Development Bank.

-Guinea: 15 protestors are dead after security forces cracked down violently on those opposing the delay of Parliamentary elections.

-Guinnea Bissau: local leaders have called for increased protection for Muslim children who are reportedly being abused in Islamic schools.

-Kenya: government officials have announced that new VAT measures will not affect commodity prices, thereby decreasing the pressure on the country’s poorest.

-Lesotho: a major new report has questioned the independence of the Judiciary, claiming it is far too open to political interference. T h e r e p o r t w a s commissioned by two independent regional NGO’s.

-Liberia attended the G8 summit in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland last week. Representatives were invited by British Prime Minister David Cameron.

-Libyan Judicial Officials have begun prosecuting two Libyan National Party Officials over blasphemy charges. The ‘crimes’ allegedly occurred during last year’s election. Both officials could face the death penalty.

-Madagascar: candidates for July’s elections have been forced to resign their current government positions. Madagascar’s electoral laws require presidential candidates serving in government to resign their positions 60 days before Election Day.

-Malawi: Justice Anastasia Msosa has been confirmed as Malawi’s first female Chief Justice. She was appointed in a landslide vote, with none voting against her appointment.

-Mali: government forces and Tuereg rebels have signed a ceasefire accord. The move is hoped to bring stability to the region.

-Mauritania: the IMF has approved a $16.9 million disbursement to the nation after a sixth inspection found macroeconomic planning was sound.

-Morocco: Human Rights Watch have condemned trials in Morocco where torture has allegedly been used to get confessions.

-Mozambique: former rebels are allegedly behind the murder of two civilians

who were ambushed while t r a v e l l i n g a l o n g Mozambique’s main north-south highway. Five others were wounded.

-Namibia: a new report by the Institute for Public Policy Research has claimed that Namibia’s mining industries are plagued by middle-men involved in high-level corruption between the mining companies and government officials.

-Niger: unidentified gunmen have attacked a prison in the capital using explosives. Two guards died in the attack.

-Nigeria: Anambra State drug enforcement agencies have arrested 195 suspected drug dealers. Two have already been tried and imprisoned.

-Rwandan Stanislas Mbanenande has been sentenced to life in prison by a Swedish court for his role in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi people.

-Senegal: US President Obama is to begin his three day African tour in Senegal on June 26th. Senegal is a key US ally in its ongoing War on Terror.

- S e y c h e l l e s : t h e International Fund for Agricultural Development has made a $3 million loan to Seychelles. The loan is hoped to revive commercial agriculture.

-Sierra Leone’s President has announced he will visit China at the end of June. The visit is hoped to boost Chinese investment in the country.

-Somalia: Hiran police chief Colonel Isaaq Ali Abdullahi has condemned brutal attacks by terrorist group Al Shabaab, saying it shows contempt for Sharia law.

-South Africa: former President Nelson Mandela is expected to be discharged from hospital soon. The iconic former President’s ailing health has become a matter of international attention.

- S o u t h S u d a n e s e Ambassador to Uganda, Samuel Luate Lominsuk, has announced that although Sudan will retaliate if efforts are made to destabilise it, it will not begin any attack on neighbouring Sudan.

-Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir has hinted that he may run for re-election, after previously arguing the necessity of bringing “fresh blood” into the political sphere.

-Swaziland: Only 822 passengers per day are expected to use the new Sikhuphe Airport when it eventually opens, official figures have revealed. This is equivalent to only two flights daily.

-Sao Tome and Principe: Foreign Ministry officials have announced that Angolans may now enter the country visa free. They may then stay for a maximum of fifteen days.

-Tanzania: police have been accused of the rape and torture of sex workers and homosexuals. The actions were condemned in a new report by Human Rights Watch.

-Togo has agreed with five other West African states to expand the Lagos-Abidjan highway into a six-lane road. The move is expected to boost trade between the countries.

-Tunisia: a landmine has exploded on Mount Chaambi. None were injured.

-Uganda: President Museveni has condemned the recent cuts by aid donors as “high-handed”. The President announced new taxes would have to be introduced to recuperate the short-fall.

-Western Sahara: The Association of Saharawi Missing People’s Families has discovered communal graves containing up to 60 Saharawi bodies each. Moroccan authorities have been accused of their murder.

-Zambia: ZamBeef Plc have removed all imported beef from shelves amid rumours they contain dangerously high levels of aromatic aldehydes. The chemical is used to embalm dead bodies.

-Zimbabwe: Former Mines Minister, Cde Edward Chindori Chininga, has died aged 58 from a car accident after his brakes failed.

By Paul Kelly


Lara Royal launched her album ‘Fujispel’ on 30th June at Noboring Junction, Co Meath

Join the carnival train this summer! The Nigerian Carnival Ireland

2013 Road Show was declared open by Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr

Oisín Quinn yesterday at the Mansion House. The Nigerian Carnival

Ireland 2013 will hold from 12th-18th August.

PHOTO NEWS

Ghanaians, family, friends and well-wishers graced Christy Fab birthday bash on Saturday, 22/June.

US First lady Michelle Obama, left, meets Mariame Faye Sall, first lady of Senegal.

Ifrah Foundation, a non-profit organisation based in Ireland led a protest march to the South Africa Embassy. They are asking for justice on the jungle justice meted on Somalians by criminals in the Republic of South Africa.

We are delighted to congratulate Dr Bisi Adigun upon his PhD at TCD Graduation Ceremony on Friday, June 28th 2013. In the picture, Dr. Bisi Adigun is congratulated by the president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins.

A Service of Songs for Late Mr. Isaiah Okoroigwe, the father of Pamela Kpaduwa at Julianstown Co. Meath.


PICTURES

Family, friends and well-wishers gathered to rejoice with Chief & Lolo Romanus Nwanguma on the Silver Jubilee of their wedding on Saturday 22th of June.

PHOTO NEWS


With Abdul Yusuf

BEAUTY & FASHION LOVE

Indigenous cultures, Christianity, and Islam recommend marriage for everyone. For instance, Christianity

teaches that he who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour from God (assuming that such a being exists). Because The Holy Bible appears to have been written from a fundamentally masculine perspective, there is no mention of a wife finding a good thing if she gets a husband. Islam also encourages marriage, while according to native customs and traditions, an unmarried state for both men and women is an abomination.

Marriage has some advantages over remaining single; but it does not follow that everyone ought to marry. The benefits of matrimony are obtained at a heavy price. Albert Ellis, in his highly entertaining and informative book, Sex and the Single Man, discussed the advantages and disadvantages of marriage.

Now, since majority of Africans are convinced that marriage is good and that it is an institution established by God for human benefit there is no need to belabour its advantages here. Instead, we shall highlight its disadvantages to encourage those considering marriage to reflect deeply and dispassionately before crossing the Rubicon, so to speak.

One of the most serious disadvantages of marriage, particularly monogamy, is the restriction on sex, companionship, and love. We have already identified the instinct for sexual variety in humans, which make lifelong fidelity to one’s spouse difficult despite the exhortations of religious teachings. Let us consider the issue of companionship and love.

AGONY CORNERFACTS AND FALLACIES ABOUT MARRIAGE

Hypocrisy and self-deception aside, in majority of cases the intensity of love and desire for companionship with which marriages begin tend to dissipate with passing years due to a number of factors, most especially the deadening effect of excessive familiarity with each other as a result of living under the same roof for a long time.

As a result, many married people feel suffocated by the expectation that it is their duty to love their spouses “till death do them part”. However, to feel it is one’s duty to love so-and-so is one of the surest ways to stifle love, since love can only flourish when it is free and spontaneous.

O f t e n t i m e s c l o s e friendships end abruptly because of marriage, and matrimonial restrictions a g a i n s t i n t e n s e l y emotionally satisfying affairs and friendships with others make marriage a prison that nourishes jealousy and deceit.

Other drawbacks of m a t r i m o ny i n c l u d e economic inconvenience (especially for husbands who are usually the breadwinners, although these days an increasing number of women are assuming that role), the extremely challenging burden of raising children, c u r t a i l m e n t o f extracurricular activities and adventure, legalised bondage, intrusion into one’s privacy and private space, difficulties from in-l aws, a n d m a r i t a l unhappiness.

This leads us to the second fallacy, which is that the dignity and honour of a woman resides in her husband. Certainly, a successful marriage is one in which the husband and wife (or wives) enrich each

other’s life. Still it is a simplistic hyperbole to assert categorically that having a husband necessarily dignifies a woman.

Although re levant statistics about the condition of married women from different social strata in Africa is difficult to get, there is no doubt in my mind that a large number of African men do not have the qualities needed to sustain marriage which can override t h e d i s a d v a n t a g e s highlighted above.

The same thing, mutatis mutandis, is applicable to for example, Nigerian women also. Far from “living happily ever after”, marriage is usually an exceedingly difficult and miserable endeavour for a sizeable number of women because o f t e m p e r a m e n t a l inadequacies of their husbands.

Many husbands are neurotic, unintelligent, intolerant, stingy, arrogant, untidy, overbearing, d i s h o n e s t , v i o l e n t , impecunious, lazy, and immature in love. Some of them see themselves as God’s gift to their wives, and believe the ancient superstition that women are innately inferior to men and, therefore, must be submissive to them at all times. To be candid, some husbands are just impossible.

There are innumerable cases of women either killed or maimed by irascible and drunk husbands; in other instances, some husbands have forced their wives to abandon successful businesses or careers just because of stupid jealousy and possessiveness.

Indeed, some men are so insecure, so afraid of their wives being more successful than themselves that they

compel them to be complete homemakers. Hence, rather than bringing dignity and honour to their wives, a significant number of husbands bring hell to the unfortunate women.A typical example is the recent case of Ireland-based N iger ian, late M rs Omodolapo Yetunde Jagha (Nee Olotu) also known as Dolapo GoodGod who was buried in Ireland few weeks ago.

Unfortunately, women have been brainwashed through religion and intimidated by unfair customs and economic dependency to endure bad, boring and unhappy marriages. On the strength of what we have said thus far, it is clear that only a tiny percentage of marriages are genuinely happy or successful.

There are just too many pressures connected to living together as husband and wife such that fulfilment is rare in marriage. Fulfilment in life depends on the extent to which an individual is able to unfold his or her productive powers in work and in love without undue interference and oppression. It connects with the ability to meet one’s legitimate goals and aspirations.

Thus, it is evident that a single man or woman with the appropriate mental, intellectual, and spiritual dispositions and skills can lead a fulfilled life, whereas it would take much more for a married person, with all the difficulties associated with matrimony, to achieve the same feat. Let us now summarise the essential points of our discourse.

Marriage is an important social institution created by human beings at the dawn of civilisation to cater for their biological, economic, and emotional needs – it is

definitely wrong to attribute its origin to a divine being. Religious conceptions of matrimony are inadequate for our time because they stem from antiquated superstitious conceptions of humans and flawed understanding of the need for intimate relatedness between man and woman. Marriage has advantages, especially in the cooperative effort of parents to produce responsible offspring.

However, because of its numerous restrictions and the high demands it makes on privacy it leads to f r u s t r a t i o n s a n d unhappiness. For men and women with the right mental disposit ions, marriage can enhance the quality of their lives, provided they establish s t r o n g e m o t i o n a l c o n n e c t i o n a n d compatibility as good friends before they decide to tie the knot.

Most African women tend to become strongly attached to an unhappy marriage, to desperately want children, to feel that once they have been supported by their husbands for a number of years they cannot stand on their own feet economically if the marriage breaks up, to care too much about their marital status after a certain age – and for other silly reasons – to hang on to a bad marriage.

The wrong notion that everyone must marry, that a woman is incomplete or without honour if she is unmarried, and that fulfilment in life requires matrimony has led to many hasty marriages that ended disastrously. Therefore, marriage is not compulsory at all; but if you must marry please look very carefully before you leap or else you might not even live long enough to regret it.


COLUMN NEWS

Having surveyed the condition of Nigerian society today vis-à-vis the youth whose fates are inextricably tied to this society, I consider it pertinent in this column t o g i v e s o m e consideration to the youth of our time. Amidst growing tensions, violence, anxieties, etc. arising from various aggressive forces that seem to offer no hope to the Nigerian youth, it becomes very urgent to r e a p p r a i s e t h e opportunities that young people can still explore to make meaning ful existence out of a seemingly hopeless environment. I’ll proceed by exploring who our youth are, the challenges confronting them, the survival strategies and sources for laying a solid foundation, the possible mistakes young people can make and their consequences, then remedial measures for rowing through the rough waters of youthfulness.

MEANING OF YOUTH The dictionary defines

youth as the time of life when a person is young, especially the time before a child becomes an adult. Youth, denotatively, simply means a quality or state of being young. In his 24th World Youth Day Message in 2009, Pope Benedict XVI portrayed youth within the confines of hope. According to him, “Youth is a special time of hope because it looks to the future with a

By Fr. Vincent Ezeoma ArisukwuX-RAY

with Fr. Vin

LET ’S TALK AB OUT THE AFRICAN YOUTH whole range of expectations. Youth is the time when decisive choices concerning the rest of our lives come to fruition. Perhaps this is why it is the time of life when fundamental q u e s t i o n s a s s e r t themselves strongly: Why am I here on earth? What is the meaning of life? What will my life be like? How can I attain happiness? Why is there suffering, illness and death? What lies beyond death? These are questions that become insistent when we are faced with obstacles that s o m e t i m e s s e e m i n s u r m o u n t a b l e : difficulties with studies; unemployment; family arguments; crises in friendships or in building good loving relationships; illness or disability; lack of adequate resources as a result of the present widespread economic and social crisis. We then ask ourselves: where can I obtain, and how can I keep alive, the flame of hope burning in my heart?

Scripture offers a plethora of definitions of youth and the various expec tat ions that characterize it:

• A period of fruitfulness: Job recounted thus, “Shall I ever see my days of harvest again when God protected my tent; when Shaddai still dwelt with me, and my children were around me; when my feet were bathed in milk, and streams of oil poured from the rocks?” (Job 29:4)

• A period of reverence for God: When Obadiah wanted to exonerate himself from the evils of Ahab, he told the prophet Elijah, “Your servant has revered the Lord from his youth. Has no one told my lord what I did when Jezebel butchered the prophets of Yahweh, how I hid a hundred of them in the cave, fifty at a time, and kept them provided with food and water?” (1Kgs. 18:12-13)

• A period of divine instruction and learning, declaring God’s goodness: David exclaimed, “God, you have taught me from my youth, and I am still proclaiming your marvels” (Ps. 71:17).

• A period of total reliance on God: King David echoed, “For you are my hope, Lord, my trust, Yahweh, since my youth. On you I have relied since my birth, since my mother’s womb you have been my portion, the constant theme of my praise” (Ps. 71:5-6). “Often as men have attacked me since I was young -let Israel repeat it - often as men have attacked me since I was young, they have never overcome me” (Ps. 129:1-2).

• A period of honour: David wrote in the Psalms, “Royal dignity has been yours from the day of your birth, sacred honour from the womb, from the dawn of your youth” (Ps. 110: 3).

• A period of rejuvenation, valour and vigour: The King went on to say, “…he contents you with

good things all your life, renews your youth like an eagle’s” (Ps. 103:5). For prophet Isaiah, “Youths grow tired and weary, the young stumble and fall, but those who hope in Yahweh will regain their strength, they will sprout wings like eagles, though they run they will not grow weary, though they walk they will never tire” (Is. 40:29-31). When Zophar’s turn came to speak concerning Job’s situation in relation to the past, he said, “His bones used to be full of youthful vigour: and there it lies, in the dust with him, now!” (Job: 20:11)

• A period of joy and gladness, of exuberance and caution: The wise Qoheleth says, “Young man, enjoy yourself while you are young, make the most of the days of your youth, follow the prompting and desire of heart and eye, but remember, God will call you to account for everything” (Eccles. 11: 9). He continued, “Remember your Creator while you are still young, before the bad days come, before the years come which, you will say, give you no pleasure…” (12: 1ff).

• Prone to sin: David was quick to recognize the susceptibility of the youth to sin when he said, “Hold not my youthful sins against me, but remember me as your faithful love dictates” (Ps. 25: 7). And for this reason, he advised

the youth to take refuge in the commandments that help the young person keep the dictates of God: “How can a young man keep his way spotless?” His answer was, “By keeping your words” (i.e. God’s words) (Ps. 119: 9). This became clearer when David tried to adumbrate on the impact of the word of G o d t o w a r d s steadfastness: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Ps. 119: 104).

These definitions simply give us a global picture of what youth looks like. It is a stage in life characterized by numerous factors: anxiety, curiosity, ambition, consolidation, r e s o u r c e f u l n e s s , vibrancy, optimism, etc. The Nigerian youth, however, is continuously threatened by the e n v i r o n m e n t o f apparent hopelessness in which he finds himself. I intend to take a closer look at this environment subsequently to see how the young Nigerian man or woman is constantly harassed by human forces that seem insurmountable, but which if properly addressed could become posi t ive challenges that would contribute to the enhancement of both the individual and society.


FAMILY CORNER IT/ CELEBRITY

WHISPERS FROM THE REEDSTiny James (James J. Akpotor)

TECH_PILOt >>>>>>>>with Uchenna Onyenagubo

I recently lost my phone and realised it was not updated and didn’t have the “find my phone” app on it...very unlike me but it happened. It was a new phone that was replaced few weeks ago and procrastinated to install the app. Anyway, before it happens to you, be warned.

The smart phones are highly sophisticated and expensive too so, you don’t want to loose it. When purchase a new smart phone, ensure the following are performed to protect it when lost and stolen.

THE LOST PHONEAlways passcode protect your

phone if you canEven before your phone is lost,

learn its unique code. To do that press the following buttons on your phone keyboard or panel: *#06# - IMEI number. Keep the information in a secured place for the day when your phone is missing. (Its the first question your provider request when you report a lost phone)

If you have an iPhone, always download the app “Find My iPhone”. It shows where your phone is on Google Maps and you will be able to lock your phone, erase your data and send a message to your lockscreen. The Android OS has many apps similar to iphone “Find my Phone”

The many features of this app include the following:

• Locate your smart device on a map

• Display a custom message on the screen

• Play a sound for two minutes

Taking full advantage of what he calls being “first black Irish generation”, the Nigerian born (Delta State) father of three girls, actor and comedian swears by the advantages of his “first generation” status. “Tiny James” has graced the Irish small screen more than a few times, eg. the popular RTE TV show Raw. He has also featured in a few theatre productions, not to mention his true passion - comedy -

with shows all around Ireland in the company of other great acts.

It was never smooth sailing though.

How do you choose your material?

From life, the things I experience in my everyday life. It can be a conversation, it can be in a restaurant or with friends, but then of course it must have structure and be informative.

What makes you laugh?

It depends on the moment. There are

things that can strike you and make you laugh or make you sad. I am a comedy kind of guy. I enjoy comedy. It’s one of the best medicines. It makes you laugh and in that moment you forget your troubles.

What are your challenges as an emerging African artist?

One of the challenges I take as a blessing in disguise is the fact that as I like to call myself

a first generation black Irish person, getting work as an actor or comedian is not that hard because the market is still virgin in Ireland for black artists. This is unlike places like America or England which have evolved into the fourth generation of black families and competition is very high.

What is your fondest childhood memory?

I loved going back to the village way back in the day. I especially loved going to the farm even though most of the time it was more fun than work, regardless of the scorching sun. Then there were the music festivals every September. My father would load us on the van to the festival, it’s a big deal in my place. I used to look forward to it - the food, music and the people. I still do it but its not nearly as exciting as when I was young. I want my kids to experience it too.

How do you define “beautiful”?

It depends on how you look at things – with your eyes, your mind. It could be the shape or colour of the object,

but I find the simple things beautiful.

In your opinion, is Africa just a war zone?

Every nation, every continent every country and village goes through a phase, it all depends on how each of them react to the change. Things change over time, it’s just life. It might take a longer period of time, but that time will come and for it to come we have to individually contribute to the changes.

What are your influences?Personally, it is my

environment, the things that happen around me daily. Then there are a few people that have been there through it all. I would love to follow suit to some of the people I admire, to leave a legacy imprinted on history books somewhere.

Would you take your children through some of your experiences?

Yes, the whole idea of running free outdoors is far more favourable than watching television. I think one should be like a tour guide to one’s children,

guiding them through but still letting them make up their own minds to stand on their own.

What are your views on education?

I am not sure if one can really rate education, but I have noticed that in western education if ever you fall off the system you get support to get back on track. That is what education in Africa lacks. Nigeria used to have free education. Education is very important but it is also important to follow your passion.

Abuse?Personally, despite the

agenda or race, one cannot disrespect another human being. It’s like being bullied. If you can overcome letting words or name-calling affect you (as the old saying goes, sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me), if one applies this, whether as a woman or boy, as an African in Ireland or white person in South Africa, then you will well be on your way to achieving anything.

at full volume (even if your device is set to silent)

• Remotely lock your device• Remotely wipe your device to

erase your personal data• Display Lost Mode on the screen

• Provides you with driving directions to device location

• Battery charge indicatorAnd for the Android version 2.3:

Camera AndroidLost can take pictures with the front facing

camera in case the phone is stolen.

Keep your contact details on the homescreen of the phone. This can help when an honest finder gets hold of your phone and just wants to return it to you. Make it clear you’ll do the collecting/paying for its return, to al leviate any concerns they might have about paying for traveling to you or shipping it back to

B AC K U P y o u r p h o n e regularly and subscribe to icloud to secure your data, information and pictures. If nothing else backup your contacts.

If you find your phone try your best to remember to keep it in a safe place.

Lastly, if your search is unsuccessful and on a bill-pay package, report incident to your provider to ensure that your services are discontinued. And if you are wise enough to insure the device then process a replacement as quickly as possible.


FAMILY CORNER

F O L K T A L EMy Grandfather asked: „Children, can any of you tell me why dogs live with human beings? „No‟! We replied,

and he started: >>Once Upon a Time! In the Animal Kingdom where humans lived peacefully side by side other animals, there was

a great famine. The famine was caused by an attack on crops by the Locust‟s family when one of their friends was assaulted by a group of other animals in the jungle. In retaliation, they ate all green leaves and left the rest to dry. This was to serve as a warning to other animals for the injustice meted out to one of them. In response, the Animal Council banished the Locusts from the Kingdom but their expulsion did not resolve the food scarcity. Rather, the dearth continued to ravage the tranquillity that existed in the kingdom and starvation became rife.The food shortage caused pandemonium among all animals and each of them devised means to tackle the

impending starvation. Humans, who formed the biggest animal group however, were the first to run out of food supplies. They failed to heed to warnings and lavished the last of their stock in merriments. They were soon left with nothing and began begging for food from one animal to the other. The other animals, scared that “a hungry man is an angry man” and that humans could besiege their terror on them gave them their last food crumbs.Within a short period, most animals also ran out of stock and very little food was left in the Kingdom. As the fang

of starvation began settling in, humans resorted to extreme measures and began poaching from other animals‟ barns. On one night, one animal caught a human stealing from his barn of yams. The human became afraid that the animal will report him and so strangled the animal and ate his meat so as to get rid of all traces. It soon became a way of life for humans to kill other animals and use as food if they were caught pilfering.Meanwhile, the disappearances of animals stirred further problems and instilled fear in all candidates of the

Kingdom. With the cold case continuing, the dog decided to carry an independent investigation, without the knowledge of other animals with the hope of surprising them of his ingenuity. During one of his investigative trips, he caught a human strangling an antelope but was too frightened by the strength demonstrated by the human to intervene to rescue the antelope or attack the human.The human realised that he had been caught again, this time by the dog and turned to pounce on the dog.

Seeing the strength displayed by the human, the dog was so terrified that he hurriedly guaranteed the human of his confidential competence. He assured the human that if he spared his life, he would never disclose what he had witnessed. Upon hearing this, the human requested that they took a vow of “Trust and Perpetual Friendship” where the dog would not tell of what he had just witnessed and the human on the other hand, would never prey on dogs.Back in the Kingdom, the famine became ferocious and more and more animals vanished without a trace. The

Leopard too became desperate to get answers on why animals were vanishing and set up his own independent investigation. While out on an investigative trip, he came upon a young human who was roasting the remains of a Grass Cutter by the side of a bush stream. The sheer shock and horror of what he saw incensed him to get revenge on the perpetrator and he chased after the young man biting off his wind pipe.This discovery, by the Leopard, caused mayhem in the animal kingdom and the Animal Council established a

Jungle Court from where an inquest was set up to unravel the barbaric acts that were being committed. The Court warned that while the inquest was going on, anyone involved or caught in these acts will be burnt to ashes, alongside their offspring.As the jungle inquest went on, the humans began parking their belongings, in the silence of the night for fear

of what will happen to them once the inquest found them guilty. They were moving to an undisclosed destination where they could build and start a new type of life. On their final trip to move their last belongings out of the animal kingdom, the dog and his family, fearing that the wrath of other animals would turn on them if they were caught in aiding and abetting humans, followed the humans into their new land of the living.The rest of the animals woke up one morning to the discovery that the humans and dogs were gone. The inquest

passed a resolution that from that moment onward humans and dogs were their enemies because they had unjustly sent souls to the great beyond.In addition to this declaration, the Leopard was assigned to execute the Jungle Judgement that was to kill humans

whenever they ventured into their former home.Settling in their new abode, the dog became human‟s best friend so much so they decided to live together.

From time to time, they all go back together to their former home to continue from where the humans stopped hunting other animals.“And that, Children, is my story tonight”, my Grandfather ended.

A good friend is better than a bad brotherMeaning: Life saving help can come from anywhere

The eyes eat first before the mouthMeaning: There’s a process in life

All that glitters aren’t goldMeaning: Character beats beauty in man

Connect with

AfricaWorldon

HOW THE DOG BECAME A DOMESTIC ANIMAL

The wages of sin is deathMeaning: Bad deed has repercussion

Emergency situations determine the level of a man’s discretionMeaning: A real man is tested through shouldering responsibilities

Decayed teeth is better than the gum Meaning: Half bread is better than non

COOKING- Steam the meat with onion, add little salt and one cube of maggi. Then allow it 2 steam for 10mins.- Add water in the steamed meat depending on the quantity of the meat & fish.- Put your dry or fresh fish, 4 or 5 table spoon of pepper, 3 table spoon of Tomato, 1/3 of table spoon of salt, 2 or 3 table spoon of crayfish if u like, one cube of Maggi,then allow to boil for 20mins.- You can put Pumpkin leave [ugu] or bitter leave[onugbu] if u like & allow it to boil for 1min, then bring it down from fire. You can serve with Pounded Yam or Semovita.

Ingredient

Meatfishpeppertomatosaltmaggicrafish

RECIPE COLUMN OFE NSALA [WHITE SOUP]

by Genevieve Agorua

THE LORD OF THE SKY

He rode astride on the moonGalloping slowly along the cloudOn its rocky meadow and coastWith his flock of stars to tend

Slashing his stick in the skyHe halted the colt to a halt,Alighted unto the moonlit pastureAnd grazed the stars brightly fed

When the dusk got darkerAnd slumber came to the eyelidsThe lord then took them gently inAnd leisurely drew the cloudy drape

By Ukachukwu Okorie

Swaddled in the fleecy blanketMelodious sound of the sky beamingLike sweet jingles of sleigh bellsAs the moon sailed over the shore

And he ushered in the sunHer young rays tearing the swatheGlistening the silvery grayish dewsIn the sweet songs of the sky

IF I WERE A BIRDIf I were a big black birdI’d swim in the airy oceanOf the cloud, and rise and fallLike a tide in the starry skyI’d my eyes tightly closed

PoemsBy Ositadinma Amakeze

Fearless of the storms and tempestOf scudding cloudy ice-bergWhile I sail like peace

My fingers like sun’s sprayAs I strum the bands of heightsTo all spheres, at my own willAs would wind winds and blows

I’d rove and dive in frolicAll day long, till night comesAs if it were to be foreverIn making freedom all mine

Then I’d in aerobatics swerveO’er the mountains to the valleysScooping a thing or another aloftAnd drifting like rafter aboveWith wind thus ‘neath my wingsUnbounded, shall my flight be

In springing forth from the sky-boardTill I rest in an Eternal nest.

Dream of WingsIf I were with wingsI shall soar in heightOver life’s waves and stormsIn strength and might

There I shall float in peaceIn liberty that knows no boundsLike the birds in sky’s ambienceSliding and swerving in bliss

Behold my fingers wide spreadTo the ends of the blue skiesStealthily caressing the cloudIn soft beams of the sun rays

I would ride on the rainbowTo the cave of the roaring thundersTill the lightning sets my face aglowAs I strum the rainbow’s strings

I shall imbibe of the spirit’s breathIn no more want of this lifeDwelling for aye in mirthBereft of all cosmic strife

Beyond the Skies!

When I look into your eyes little manI see visions of greater days to comeAnd my eye lashes stand out in ovationFor I see neither imitation nor limitationAs in our days when the sky was the endBut in you, over these colours of rainbowAre set your feet as upon springing boardBeyond the skies of glories of your being

Wisdom Bits


NEWS COLUMN

During the recently concluded 39th Summit of the Group of Eight (G8) in Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, Syria was at the top in the agenda, although the so-called ‘world economy’ was not left out.

Syria is engulfed in conflict. It began on 15 March 2011, sparked by demonstrations that grew nationally by April 2011. It was part of the wider Middle Eastern remonstration know as the Arab Spring. The demonstrators demanded the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad, whose family has held the office of the presidency since 1971 and called for the end to the Ba’ath Party. According to the Human Rights Data Analysis Group, the conflict has so far claimed 92,901 lives, but it could be more. Furthermore, UNICEF stated that more than 3.7 million children are at risk of starvation and require immediate humanitarian assistance. Yet the crisis in Syria has taken a new dimension with reports that the Syrian army used chemical weapon on her people, a step that President Obama described as crossing a red line.

However, world leaders President Obama of the USA and President Putin of Russia have different ideas on how to end the civil war in Syria. Mr Putin has insisted on suppor ting the leadership of Mr Bashar al-

D i m p k aLEST WE FORGET: WINNERS AND LOSERS

Assad as the legitimate President of Syria. Although we understand the psychology behind Mr Putin’s support to Assad as not only economic but strategic, should Mr Putin set aside the significance of the peoples’ voice and the deaths of thousands at the hands of Mr Bashar al-Assad because of economic and strategic interests?

On the other hand, President Obama’s strategy in Syria is pedestrian. His lukewarm attitude may be as a result of past US e n g a g e m e n t s i n Afghanistan and Iraq, which cost American taxpayers billions of dollars and contributed to the adverse economic downturn in America. But America can’t ignore the political and strategic significance of its allies in Arab states and Israel. David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister, promised a “common ground” on Syria but this didn’t materialise. What did materialise were US statements on arming the opposition forces, claiming that America had evidence that the iron-fisted tyrant Mr Bashar al-Assad’s army had used chemical weapons on their own people on a “small scale”. The use of chemical weapons by President Bashar raised the ante in the international community, especially in the European Union and the USA.

Mr Bashar al-Assad has been known to be a supporter of the dreaded Shi’a Islamic militant group Hezbollah, literally “Party of God”, based in Lebanon. They are linked to Syria and Iran who finance their activities. The US can’t ignore the impact of Hezbollah in the war against terrorism and the ongoing war in Syria, in which they are heavily involved. During the parley at the G8 meeting, Mr Obama

promised to provide $300m in aid for refugees both inside and outside of Syria. I think this is not enough; the US should do more by pressing for international sanctions against President Bashar and his military, pressing for a non-fly zone in Syria as a way of protecting the vulnerable, especially the women and children. Personally, I am against arming the o p p o s i t i o n . A n y ammunition provided to opposition forces may end up in the hands of the Islamic jihadists who have infiltrated the opposition army, which will prove catastrophic in the long run.

The supply of ammunition to both the Syrian army and opposition fighters does no good to the overall interests of Syrians and the country’s stability. The experiences in Iraq and Libya have shown that the long wounds and destruction outweigh any gains. Rather, what is needed is an arms embargo and intelligence-gathering to forestall any movement, especially the private armies ( o t h e r w i s e c a l l e d mercenaries) who are recruited and paid to cause confusion in the country and the region. Syrian democracy and the country’s future should be in the hands of the people to decide - not Russia, the US, and the EU.

Another issue worth mentioning here is the trade deal agreed between the supra-organisation the EU and the US. The deal centred on free trade between the two super states that will strengthen their economic, political and military ties. The rewards will be a net £100bn ($157bn; 117bn Euros) for the EU, whilst the US economy will net £80bn. Not only will it strengthen the economy, it will also benefit the two zones in areas of diplomatic and

security alliance.To my chagrin, while these

deals were cemented, Africa was once again left to lick its own wounds. It was alleged that President Obama said that African leaders should stop whinging about colonialism. I think President Obama misses the point. Colonial legacies in Africa created dysfunctional states, and distorted and dehumanised the people of the continent. That effect continues to date and can’t be wiped away by mere statement. There is a recognition of the Holocaust committed against the Jews, which is good. The same thing should be accorded to Africa in relation to the Atlantic slave trade. These men and women need respect and Africa should be compensated by Europeans and Americans. The post-colonial African states inherited lopsided and unfavourable political and economic dislocation caused by colonialism. Mr Obama is aware of this structural handicap.

President Obama’s policy on Africa has not been a cheering one. For the past quarter of a century, as the wind of change blows across Africa after decades of sham, stagnation and unimaginative leadership, the leaders in Africa have for the first time taken up the challenge to rebuild. Consequently, Africans have awaited courageous and ingenious leadership from United States in terms of political and economic direction. But the United States fiddled; Africa had to look elsewhere.

The reluctance of the US to commit to Africa’s infrastructural development has opened a gateway to China, which seized the opportunity to open up

t r a d e, i nve s t m e n t , c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d infrastructural development in the continent. There is another opportunity for President Obama to show Africans that his policy isolation of Africa was not deliberate and that he has plans to move the continent forward. President Obama’s visit to Ghana in 2006 raised the hopes of the continent but those hopes have been dashed because after Mr Obama’s first term, his report card is nothing to write home about. Africans, both at home and in the diaspora, are waiting patiently to hear from President Obama during his visits to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania on his visions for Africa. Africa cannot compromise its independence, however, neither politically nor economically. It is still in the hands of mercenaries and its liberation is still some time off. It is interesting to see one of us who happens to be the President of the most powerful country in the world. It would be nice to see Mr Obama helping to solve the myriad political and economic problems of Afr ica rather than introducing prescriptions that are anathema to African culture and style. Kwame Nkrumah was categorically apt in his thinking about Africa. He made it categorically clear that the liberation of Africa is meaningless unless the “political and economic liberation and unification of Africa includes Indian Oceans, and the Rea Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea”. It is our glorious ancestors who left us with the allegory that: “You have something of value if you have land. You have something of value if you have water. Water is life and land is essence. When you alienate land a bit of you dies.”

Mazi Uche Osakwe


ENTERTAINMENT

OUR AFRICA- Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater lake in the world and

located in east central Africa along the equator and borders Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.

- Sahara desert in Africa is the most extensive desert in the world, and a larger area than the United States.

- The most ancient civilization originated in Africa was the state of the Pharaohs in Egypt. It started in about 3300 BC and ended in 343 BC.

- Somalia has one of the most advanced and affordable telecommunications system in the world.

- Mauritius is one of the richest as well as the most developed countries in Africa.

- Casablanca is the economic city of Morocco while Rabat is the political capital.

- Coffee originated from Ethiopia. Presently, the country is one of the the largest manufacturers and exporters of coffee worldwide.

- Ethiopia is one of the very few countries in the world that has never been occupied by foreign powers. Italy tried twice but was defeated by the Ethiopians.

- Senegal gained independence from France in 1960 and the government is a multiparty democratic republic.

- Some culture groups in Ghana like the Asante have a matrilineal family organization where inheritance is passed down through the wife’s family rather than the husband’s, and the wife holds most of the chief responsibilities in the family.

DID YOU KNOW?

C A R T O O N S

By Max Chijioke Okafor

By Linie


TALENT

6 0 S E CO N D S W I T H T H E D U C H E S SSinger, model, TV presenter

and fashion icon, Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu was born in Ghana to an Ashanti father and Romanian mother. Being from two different cultures gave her the ability to see things from more than one perspective and thus made her open to diversity, readily identifying the beauty in things as well as developing a genuine interest in people and cultures.

She grew up in Accra, attended Christ the King Int. School, then Wesley Girls High School. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in publishing studies from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, followed by a masters degree in book/journal publishing from the University of the Arts London in the UK. She has shown her professionalism and passion for her chosen field by working successfully for both small enterprises as well as big corporations in Ghana, the United States and United Kingdom.

This multi-talented lady recently took the world by storm with her first release as a music artiste after years as a back-up singer. Her single ‘Uncle Obama’ featuring the FOKN Bois broke Ghanaian Youtube and WSHH records with over 150,000 and 70,000 views respectively in its first week. She was interviewed on CNN right before the second U.S. presidential debate as a result of the controversy surrounding her song and also had a full feature on the BBC in January 2013 because of it.

Deborah is a talented and passionate professional with an exceptional work ethic. She dropped in for a chat with us on her way to perform at this weekend’s Glastonbury Festival and we believe many big things are on the way for her. Connect with her via twitter: @deborahvanessa7

With Nena Duchez Huntaz

AfricaWorld Newspaper July 1 - 15

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Transcript of AfricaWorld Newspaper July 1 - 15