African voice newspaper 493

Friday, 2 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

ISSUE 493

SINCE 2001

B R I TA I N ’ S N O . 1 A F R I C A N N E W S PA P E R Tutu refuses to worship homophobic God

Nigeria withdraws peace-keepers in Mali

SEE PAGE 24

SEE PAGE 9

Admiral killed in gang ambush

£1.00

SEE PAGE 11

Brit Govt immigration stats are guesswork

Unreliable source data could skew net figure, says report

By Alan Oakley

UK immigration figures are not fit for purpose, according to a report issued by a committee of MPs. The report calls for the ‘eborders’ system first proposed by Tony Blair in 2005 to be implemented as soon as possible.

With immigration again set to be a key battleground during the next election, the Coalition claims it has reduced net immigration from 260,000 a year when it came to power in 2010 to 163,000 in the year to June 2012. In the year to June 2012, inward migration was estimated at 515,000.

About 15 per cent of that was by British nationals, about 30 per cent by other EU nationals and about 55 per cent was by non-EU nationals. Outward migration was estimated at 352,000, with about 44 per cent of that being British nationals.

During this time it has abolished the Tier 1 (Post Study Work) visa which allowed foreign graduates to work in the UK for two years after graduation and the Tier 1 (General) visa which allowed foreign graduates to come to the UK and work It has also introduced a cap of 20,700 on the Tier 2 (General) visa for skilled workers and barred over 500 English colleges from sponsoring foreign students for Tier 4 student visas But the Public Administration Committee (PAC) of the House of Commons says that UK immigration figures are ‘not

adequate for understanding the scale and complexity of modern migration flows’.

Committee chairman Bernard Jenkin MP, a Conservative, said: “The top line numbers for the government’s 100,000 net migration target are little better than a best guess - and could be out by tens of thousands. Clearly, these statistics are not fit for purpose in the longer term.

“Even now, the really useful information from e-Borders data is at least five years off. Given the importance of immigration as a potentially explosive issue, this ought to be given a much higher priority.”

Chris Bryant MP, Labour’s immigration spokesperson, said the report cast doubt on the Government’s claims to have cut net migration. “People want a bit of honesty on immigration, so the Home Secretary should look at how to measure it more accurately as a matter of urgency.”

He added: “Grand speeches, gimmicks and dodgy statistics don’t cut much ice, especially when the Government still doesn’t even have a plan to count people in and out of the country.”

A spokesman for Home Office said in a July 29 interview on the BBC: “We disagree with the report’s conclusions. Government reforms on immigration are working and the statistics do show that net immigration is at its lowest level for a decade”.

Continued on page 2

Bernard Jenkin MP believes net migration figures could be out ‘by tens of thousands’

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Have You GotNews For Us Newsdesk: 020 7274 3933

Email: africanvoicenews@gmail.com

Legal Aid cheats to have cars seized to pay costs Criminals who deliberately cheat the system and leave taxpayers to foot their legal aid bill, despite being able to pay, face having their cars seized.

Too often people appearing in court avoid paying what they owe. The Crown Court legal aid bill tops £700 million a year, yet only around 20% of the amount that should be paid back is currently recovered.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Convicted criminals have cheated innocent taxpayers for too long by dodging requirements to contribute to the legal costs of their defence. I am determined that where they can pay, they will pay.

“Legal aid is not free – it is taxpayers’ money. We must bring down the cost of legal aid and our starting point has to be that law-abiding citizens don’t foot the bill when those concerned could pay themselves.

“With £34 million owed to taxpayers from the last three years alone, it’s time to get tough. I am clear - you can’t avoid paying your legal aid bill and expect to keep a fancy car on the driveway.”

Under the scheme the Legal Aid Agency will now be able to apply to clamp any vehicles identified as belonging to the defendant.

Publisher and Editor-In-Chief Mike Abiola Editorial Board Adviser Dr Ola Ogunyemi News Editor Peter Olorunnisomo Managing Editor Alan Oakley Sports Editor Abiodun Teriba Assist. Sports Editor Olubunmi Omoogun Arts Editor Golda John Columnists Ryan Holmes Ben Savill Photo Journalist Isaac Adegbite Graphic Designer African Voice UK Legal Adviser Nosa Kings Erhunmwunsee London Office: Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP

Tel: 020 7274 3933

Email: africanvoicenews@gmail.com

African Voice is published by African Voice UK.

2

News Councils to get £1.9m to ease B&B crisis Five London local authorities will get a share of a £1.9 million fund to help put an end to end bed and breakfast living for hundreds of homeless families.

Communities Minister Don Foster said on August 1 that the money must be used by councils to reduce the number of families unlawfully stuck in this unsuitable accommodation in their area. He also called on councils to put new measures in place to ensure that this situation doesn’t happen again.

The law is clear that families must only be placed in bed and breakfast accommodation as a last resort, and only then for no more than 6 weeks. But recent figures have shown a huge variation in the way councils help homeless people in their area, with only 15 councils accounting for nearly 80% of all families living in bed and breakfast accommodation for more than 6 weeks.

The £1.9 million funding will go to seven of these councils, five of which are in the Greater London area, to help them raise their game and discover innovative new ways to help meet the housing needs of these most vulnerable of families.

All lessons learned from these councils will be shared across the country, ensuring that every area can find the best way to provide stable, suitable homes for local residents as soon as possible.

Communities Minister Don Foster said: “Today’s £1.9 million funding will help

Don Foster is concerned at the length of time homeless families spend in bed & breakfast accommodation

to get families across the country out of bed and breakfast accommodation and into stable homes.

“But this isn’t just a short term fix about cutting numbers - I want these councils to find long-term solutions to homelessness in their areas. They have a legal duty to help these families, and with this fund-

ing I expect them to ensure that no family need ever be stuck in this unsuitable accommodation for weeks on end.”

The councils that will benefit from the fund are: Barking & Dagenham, Birmingham, Crawley, Croydon, Hounslow, Redbridge and Westminster.

Gov’t immigration stats are guesswork Continued from front page The Government arrives at a net immigration figure by calculating the difference between an estimate of the number of people who come to the UK who intend to live in the country for more than a year, and the number of UK residents who leave over the same period. The PAC says that the figures are unreliable because they are based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS), which was designed only to indicate tourism trends. Data from the survey are extrapolations from random interviews with passengers.

Fewer than 0.7 per cent of the passengers interviewed tend to be migrants and the responses given by this tiny proportion may, the report says, ‘be reticent to give full and frank answers’. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) appends information about asylum-seekers and other Home Office statistics to this information to reach its final figure.

This means that the Office for National Statistics and the Home Office are producing ‘blunt instruments for measuring, managing, and understand-

ing migration to and from the UK’, which do not, the report says, measure the impact of migration on local areas, the social and economic impacts of migration or the effects of immigration policy.

The Public Administration Committee report calls the UK immigration figures little more than an educated guess and says that the headline net immigration figure for the year to June 2013; 153,000 might be out by about 30,000 in either direction.

The report also says that the statistics are of little value for the government in the formulation of public policy and the provision of services because they do not break down immigrants into categories. It is therefore impossible for government to use them to decide how many schools, hospitals and other services are likely to be required to cater for their needs.

Mr Jenkin said: “ Most people would be utterly astonished to learn that there is no attempt to count people as they enter or

leave the UK. As an island nation with professional statisticians and effective border controls, we could gain decent estimates of who exactly is coming into this country, where they come from and why they are coming here.”

He added that the government should ensure that the e-borders project is upand-running as soon as possible.

Work began on e-borders in 2007 with a remit to collate information on all people entering and exiting the UK. Six years later and eight years since it was proposed, the project is not yet operational. A £742m contract was awarded to a US software firm, but this was terminated in 2010 after the government lost confidence in the company.

The Home Secretary announced in April that the e-borders scheme would not be up and running until 2016 at the earliest and it is understood that the government will put new contracts to complete the project out for tender later this year.

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

News Coalition split on ‘Go Home’ immigration campaign Last week’s ‘Go Home or Face Arrest’ advertising campaign run by the Home Office (African Voice Issue 492, lead story) has caused a public disagreement between senior ministers in the Coalition government.

The campaign, which ran for a week and ended on Sunday (July 28), was intended to persuade illegal immigrants to leave voluntarily.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said that the adverts seemed to have been designed ‘to create a sense of fear in the British population’. Mr Cable said that Liberal Democrat ministers in the Coalition government had not been consulted about the campaign.

Mr Cable went onto say that the campaign was ‘stupid and offensive’ and said that he thought that it would be discontinued. Mr Cable said that the country did have a small problem with illegal immigration but said that this should be dealt with ‘in a measured way’.

Since then, the Home Secretary, Theresa May and the Prime Minister, David Cameron, both Conservatives, have defended the campaign. On Monday, Mr Cameron’s spokesman told the press that the Home Office was satisfied that the campaign was working. He did not provide any figures to support this claim.

In recent weeks, there have been a number of open disagreements between the coalition partners. Political commentators say that this is by agreement and is designed to allow them to differentiate themselves before the next general election which will be held in 2015.

The Home Office’s advertising campaign was run in six London boroughs.

Mobile advertising hoardings were placed on vans and driven through the streets of the six boroughs. They told illegal immigrants to ‘go home or face arrest’ and featured a number for people to text to receive ‘free advice’ on leaving the country.

The adverts attracted a great deal of criticism. Muhammed Butt, the leader of Brent Council, one of the boroughs chosen for the pilot, said that he was ‘horrified’ that his borough had been chosen and said that it would just drive illegal immigrants underground.

Many saw the adverts as a political ruse aimed at persuading Conservative voters who might be thinking of voting for the UK Independence Party that the government was trying to get illegal immigration under control. In recent months, opinion polls showed that many Conservatives were intending to vote UKIP and cited concerns about the government’s failure to tackle immigration as a major factor.

Nigel Farage, the leader of UKIP, described the campaign as ‘nasty’ and ‘unpleasant’. He said ‘what the billboards should say is ‘Please Don’t Vote UKIP. We’re Doing Something’’.

Former head of the Equality and Human Rights Committee Trevor Phillips joked that any position on immigration that is more radical Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Tim Wigmore, a political commentator, agrees with Mr Farage. He says that the vans are part of a Conservative electoral strategy to sideline UKIP. He detects the hand of the Conservative’s controversial election strategist Lynton Crosby. Mr Crosby is an Australian who helped former Australian Conservative prime minister John Howard to win three elections. He often used immigration as an issue to win support for the party.

Wigmore argues that Crosby is determined to win back support from UKIP for the Conservatives before the upcoming European elections. He hopes to achieve this by appearing tough on immigration.

On Sunday, speaking on the BBC, Trevor Phillips, the former head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said that the adverts were ‘stupid’. Mr Phillips said ‘When Nigel Farage tells you you have gone over the top on immigration, you know you are in the wrong place’.

Writing in The Week magazine, The Mole, a political commentator, argues that the campaign may also have been designed to distract attention from a report issued by a committee of MPs which claims that the government’s immigration statistics are so unreliable that it is impossible to have any confidence in the government’s claims to be reducing the net level of immigration.

On Sunday, the Public Administration Committee issued a report which said that UK immigration statistics are little better than a guess and might be out by as much as 30,000 in either direction.

3

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

News

Deputy Prime Minister calls on banks to do more to support ethnic minority businesses The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, has called on Britain’s banks to do more to ensure that everyone who wants to start a business is given the opportunity to turn their ideas and aspirations into successful enterprises. Speaking at a meeting in Manchester with senior banking figures and entrepreneurs from ethnic minorities, he said, “It is vital that all businesses have fair access to viable finance as the country looks to rebuild the economy.”

The Deputy Prime Minister’s words come as a new report he commissioned found that although the banking industry is working hard to ensure ethnic minority businesses have access to finance, there is more to be done to help under-represented groups reach their goals.

As a result of the findings, the Government has agreed with the British Bankers’ Association that the banking industry will commit to a series of measures to improve access to finance for ethnic minority business groups. This includes collecting data through independent research, for the first time, on the experiences of ethnic minority businesses seeking finance.

Speaking in Manchester, where he met representatives of the banking industry and the ethnic minority business community, the Deputy Prime Minister said that while there is no evidence that the challenges ethnic minority businesses face are due to racial discrimination, they do still have problems accessing loans.

The Deputy Prime Minister said: ”This is a tremendously valuable report, and I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to get us to this point – officials, businesspeople from ethnic minorities and the British Bankers’ Association. I welcome the fact that the report finds no evidence of racial discrimination, and I am pleased to see the banking industry has agreed to a range of measures to address the various factors that have prevented some entrepreneurs from getting loans. I am particularly glad to see the banks commit to independent research on ethnic minority businesses and their experience of accessing finance so that they can monitor the situation.

“This report is a good start, and a valuable statement of intent, but there is much more to be done to make sure that entrepreneurs from ethnic minorities have a fair chance to achieve their goals.”

The Ethnic Minority Businesses and Access to Finance report is published today by the Communities Minister, Don Foster, following detailed discussions between the British Bankers’ Association, Government and business representatives. The report finds that, while there is good work 4

•

Nick Clegg wants banks to give ethnic minority entrepreneurs a fair chance to achieve their goals

already underway by the banks - including improved data collection on the experiences of ethnic minority businesses - there is more that the banking industry can do to ensure that those who are under represented are given every opportunity to succeed.

Don Foster said: “We are determined to help people who want to work hard and get ahead, make the most of their untapped talents and realise their full potential, irrespective of their background.

“All too often, people from ethnic minority communities don’t get the chance to meet their aspirations to start up their own business, with those from a Black African or Caribbean heritage particularly underrepresented among our entrepreneurs.

“We all have a shared stake in this country’s economic future. So I want today’s report to be a catalyst for change, to ensure that the necessary support is in place to turn ideas into successful businesses for the future.”

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 99.9 per cent of all enterprises, 59 per cent of private sector employment and 49 per cent of the UK’s economic output. The ability of these SMEs to access finance is important for funding business investment, ensuring businesses reach their growth potential, and for entrepreneurs facilitating new businesses.

The report: • calls on the British Bankers’ Association, the banks and professional advisors, including accountants, to improve their efforts to ensure that business support and advice reaches the widest range of ethnic minority businesses, by working with a broad range of ethnic minority businesses and local and national ethnic minority business groups;

encourages ethnic minority business groups to make full use of initiatives like ‘Mentorsme.co.uk’ to raise awareness of, and demand for, mentoring and other sources of business advice; and • calls for “systemised referrals” between banks and Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) to be rolled out in all areas where there is a demand for alternative sources of finance, including in deprived ethnic minority communities, across the country. A pilot has already taken place where banks referred small businesses who were declined finance to CDFIs, who may have been able to help.

Dr Omar Khan, Head of Policy Research at the Runnymede Trust, said: “Runnymede welcomes this review in access to finance for black and minority ethnic entrepreneurs, especially the agreement of banks to fund independent research into the experiences of BME businesses in accessing finance. We also welcome the recent announcement by the Chief Secretary that the banks will reveal how much they lend at a postcode level. Black and Asian business have long felt that they are not treated fairly by lenders and these changes could improve the economy across a variety of sectors. We hope that Government also engages in further initiatives to understand better why racial inequalities persist, not only to improve the lives of ethnic minorities in the UK, but also to grow the UK economy.”

Following detailed discussions, the British Bankers’ Association has agreed to a set of immediate actions which involve promoting existing initiatives aimed at helping SMEs more widely, so that ethnic minority businesses are fully aware of the support

and finance schemes available to help them access finance.

Anthony Browne, Chief Executive of the British Bankers’ Association, said: “We have been working closely with the Government on this report and are pleased that it concludes that ethnic minority businesses are not discriminated against by finance providers in the UK. Banks are committed to tackling any perception that ethnic minority-led businesses are less able to access finance and to ensuring that all entrepreneurs feel confident about approaching their bank for finance. We are working with a range of business groups to support ethnic minority led businesses on how to access finance, providing mentoring support through Mentorsme.co.uk and further guidance through betterbusinessfinance.co.uk and its initiatives.

“At the same time banks are also monitoring ethnic minority led business needs closely through the independent SME Finance Monitor research on ethnic minority led businesses that will be published for the first time later this year. Our aim is that every business should approach their bank with confidence to discuss their financing needs.”

The actions the British Bankers’ Association has agreed to: • fund the independent research group BDRC Continental to extend the Small and Medium sized Enterprise Finance Monitor research on ethnic minority businesses’ experience of accessing finance and, through funding from Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and RBS, create the new Enterprise Research Centre with a research strand focused on business diversity; • establish a British Bankers’ Associationchaired committee comprising ethnic minority business groups to look at the findings from the Small and Medium sized Enterprise Finance Monitor so that it informs future work in this area; • organise and deliver a series of road show events across the country, with its partners, focusing on areas with a high ethnic minority population, on issues around access to finance and ‘investment readiness’; • ensure that mentoring support provided

by Mentorsme, the national online portal hosted and operated by the British Bankers’ Association, allows mentoring organisations to highlight where specific ethnic minority business support is offered; • expand the CDFI pilot project nationally ensuring that referrals from banks to alternative providers of finance takes place across the country; and • engage with ethnic minority business groups to ensure a continued dialogue on issues around access to finance, and include ethnic minority business representation on the Association’s Business Finance Roundtable. This will be through representation from the Enterprise Diversity Alliance and the Enterprise Research Centre.

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

5

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

News

Home Secretary extends consultation into stop and search Consultation into police use of stop and search was extended by the Home Secretary. It gives members of the public an extra six weeks to have their say on the effectiveness of this power, which is especially important in relation to combating gangs, knife crime and drug offences.

The Government has so far had an extremely positive response to the consultation, which will now last until September 24.

People who want to have their say on stop and search can also take part in a shorter online poll as an alternative to completing the full consultation document.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: “The Government supports the ability of police officers to stop and search suspects, but it must be applied fairly and in a way which builds community confidence.

“There has been a strong initial response to our consultation, but campaigners have said there are many more people who want to take part and need more time to voice their opinions.

“We particularly want to ensure young people have their say, so extending the

6

deadline beyond the summer holidays will give schools and colleges the chance to get involved.”

The Home Secretary announced the launch of consultation earlier this month.

The Government wants to know whether stop and search is being used appropriately and fairly, and how it can be better targeted and more intelligence-led.

In the last year in London alone, stop and searches resulted in 45,000 criminals being arrested, including more than 3,000 who were carrying weapons and guns and more than 7,000 in possession of suspected stolen goods.

But when the power is overused or when people are targeted when they do not need to be, it is a waste of police time and erodes community confidence in the police.

The Home Secretary has said she wants to see stop and search used only when it is needed and better search-to-arrest ratios, as well as improved community engagement and more efficient recording practices across the country.

The results of the consultation will shape future work with HMIC, the College of Policing, police forces and Police and Crime Commissioners to ensure stop and search works fairly and in the interests of all members of the public.

Home Secretary Theresa May

The Government intends to respond to the results of the consultation by the end of the year.

The full consultation document can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/stop-and-search

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Quoting Ref: 332

(07424892206) 7

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Angola set to be promoted to middle income state

It might sound surprising but Angola is Africa’s biggest oil producer behind Nigeria, which is one of the reasons they maybe promoted to a list of middle-income countries.

This means the country will get better terms from international lenders such as the World Bank, according to a United Nations (UN) official.

The UN has started a study on Angola’s economic vulnerability as part of a threestep project that will result in a new ranking by 2020, Tesfachew Taffere, director of the UN Africa Division for Least Developed Countries, said on Tuesday.

“Angola will make it to the middleincome category because it has a growing economy, the government is moving toward the right direction and it has the financial capacity to invest,” Mr Taffere said.

“It’s a bit ambitious because dependency on oil has made Angola vulnerable.”

Angola, a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, wants to diversify its $114bn economy away from crude, which makes up almost

Tesfachew Taffere

all of its exports and 80% of tax revenue.

Middle-income status will help it rebuild from a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002 by gaining access to risk and credit

guarantees that lower the cost of public investments containing private funding.

The next step is to submit the study by 2015 to the UN secretary-general for ap-

proval, the Angolan foreign ministry’s Angela Braganca said. The transition to the new list may be completed by 2018, she said.

Angola’s gross national product was more than double a threshold of $1,190 per capita a year to qualify for the move from least developed nation status, according to the UN Committee for Development Policy.

The income level absolved the country from having to meet at least one of two other criteria: an index of health and education, and a measure of external risk to the economy. Angola has opted to study the latter.

Angola’s push for economic diversification began after it secured a $1.3bn loan from the International Monetary Fund following the 2008 oil-price crash. Last year, the government began a five-year plan to improve training, build more infrastructure and encourage banks to invest in thousands of companies.

Other countries that have graduated to the UN’s middle-income list include Botswana, Cape Verde, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

SA bank set to swoop to Nigeria Absa Group Limited, one of the ‘big four’ consumer banks in South Africa, has shown interest in entering the Nigerian market in a move to boost its presence across Africa.

“The bank needs a competitive advantage before it can enter Nigeria, Africa’s second-largest economy and biggest oil producer,” Bloomberg quoted Absa’s Chief Financial Officer, David Hodnett, to have said in an interview in Johannesburg.

The lender could take advantage of its experience in corporate banking, he added.

Absa CEO Maria Ramos also told investors in Johannesburg that the bank planned to spend 1.25 billion rand (£83 million) by 2015 on refurbishing branches in Africa,.

The bank said last December that it would buy the bulk of parent company Barclays Bank’s African assets in an all-share deal worth 18.3 billion rand.

The economy of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with more than 160 million people, is set to grow 7.2 per cent this year, compared to an average of 5.6 per cent 8

for the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Absa is not looking at any of the nationalised Nigerian banks, Hodnett pointed out.

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), set up by the federal government to buy bad debts from banks, is seeking to sell the three banks it acquired in 2011 next year.

The banks are Keystone Bank Limited, Mainstreet Bank Limited and Enterprise Bank. They were acquired through a bridging process after an intervention by regulators.

Financial and legal advisers to the transaction have already been selected by AMCON.

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Nigeria withdraws peace-keepers in Mali

By Peter Olorunnisomo

Ban Ki Moon – UN Secretary-General

Nigeria is withdrawing its peacekeeping troops from Mali and leaving behind only members of its signal corps. The country has a 1,200 man strong representation on the ground and the strategic withdrawal is seen in some quarters as the result of a multi-lateral diplomacy review.

This would also affect the country’s participation in peace-keeping efforts in Darfur, Sudan. It is expected that similar steps are being contemplated in response to any such need arising to ensure that actions that have to do with co-operation with other nations or/and international organisations are agree with Nigeria’s excellent peace-keeping and politically-correct records in the West African and African region.

While it would appear, as reports say, that diplomatic sources at the United Nations may have indicated why Nigeria and the UN’s secretariat are at loggerheads over the running of the UN peace-keeping operations inspite of the country’s contributions in key appointments in those operations.

It was reported that a diplomat in the United States alleged that the current Under Secretary-General in the UN

Peace-keeping Department recently stopped a Nigerian Army General from commanding the international troops in Mali on the ground that he does not speak French. The interview was personally conducted by the Head of the UN Peace-keeping Department, Mr. Herve Ladsous, himself a French man.

The Africa-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) includes a significant number of Nigerian soldiers, as well as other UN international troops. Nigeria has been ranking fourth or fifth in UN Troops Contributing Countries (TCC) over the years.

Though the Federal Government had before now explained that the troops’ withdrawal was predicated on pressing “security issues at home,” it was gathered that Abuja was now keen on seizing the Malian opportunity to re-order its engagement patterns and chart a new peace-keeping trajectory to make it impossible for observers to continue the affirmation that “for all her efforts in peace-keeping and the liberation of parts of Africa, Nigeria has been paid in bad coin.”

Besides the raised eyebrows over the appointment of the 50-year old Rwandan, Gen. Jean-Bosco Kazura, as commander of the Multi-dimensional In-

tegrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the deputies of both the military and political heads of the operation in Mali are as well non-Nigerians.

This means that in Mali, Albert Gerard Koenders (Netherlands) is the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MINUSMA while Abdoulaye Bathily (Senegal) is Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General.

It is reported that opinions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over politicking on the Mali issue indicates that things Mali “took a worse dimension with events in the last couple of weeks…to signal the beginning of the implementation of our grand strategy that we have always spoken about.”

While it is reported that Nigeria’s participation in external military missions since 1960, and beginning with her participation in the Congo, has cost the country a staggering $13billion on peace-keeping.

Statistics from the UN department indicate that Nigeria’s contributions in manpower have on;ly been surpassed by those of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh while over 250,000 members of the Nigerian Armed Forces have participated in UN-sponsored missions worldwide, translating to 73 per cent involvement, having participated in 40 of the 55 UN peace-keeping missions.

Noting that France has withdrawn its troops, it is isn’t too far-fetched that Nigeria’s withdrawal will further impact on possible security challenges that may portend soon after Mali’s elections. Moreso as Nigeria’s decision also affects funds and logistics.

Consequently, the head of the UN Peace-keeping Field Support Department in Mali, Ameerah Haqrt, noted: “We are unable to deploy our mobile communications system to Kidal because its sensitive components will melt. This operation would be one of the most logistically- challenging missions the UN has ever launched.”

We gather that a ‘source at the UN explained that the head of the UN Peace-keeping Department, Ladsous, personally took charge of the interview because he was determined to oust the Nigerian in favour of a Chadian General, who is French-speaking’.

According to report, Ladsous refused to grant Aso Rock’s request that a Ni-

gerian General heads the UN mission since the country’s leadership of some of the UN missions have expired. A University of California professor of international politics, Dr. Wale Adebanwi, “this is unacceptable and another demonstration of a long-standing policy of France regarding Nigeria... since the earliest years of independence in Africa, France has always attempted to play the principal préfet (senior prefect), especially in the West African sub-region” “And because generations of policymakers in Paris have always considered Nigeria’s size, population, resources, power and potentials as constituting a threat to their country’s influence in the sub-region, they have always shown their readiness to subvert Nigeria’s influence and interests.

“Even though the past successes of France could be seen as a reflection of the limitations of the fumbling leadership that Nigeria has reproduced over the years, this one must not be allowed to stand. It is an insult to Nigeria, a slap in the face despite our contributions to peace in the sub-region.”

UN sources said it was reasonable to have another national head of the UN troops in Darfur while a Nigerian leads the political wing. However, the USG for Peace-keeping is said to have insisted that a non-Nigerian takes charge both at the political and military departments, despite Nigeria having the largest number of UN soldiers in Darfur.

It is instructive to note that there is no Nigerian in a senior appointment at the UN except Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, a former Director-General of NACA, who is the Executive Director of UNFPA. However, sources at the UN Secretariat explained that part of the problem is a perceived notion that some of Nigerian troops have been performing below par and also that Nigeria’s standing in the UN has been declining in significance over the years.

This notion was clear when the UN Peace-keeping Operations Department simply acceded to Nigeria’s request to withdraw troops from Darfur without any offer of negotiation, because the country has been “loosing its respect at the world body over the years.”

9

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

FG commits to clearing Nigeria

The Nigerian Government, last Tuesday, constituted a committee to expedite Nigeria’s removal from the list of countries known to be on the Financial Action Taskforce on Anti-Money laundering/ Counter Financing Terrorism regimes.

The committee, which is led by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, held its maiden meeting on Tuesday, and pledged to ensure that Nigeria is completely removed from the list in line with its mandate.

Namadi Sambo stated that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration believes that Nigeria should no longer be on the public statement of the FATF with the measures regarding laws and regulations already put in place by the government.

He was quoted to have said: “I urge you all to work hard towards ensuring that we maintain the integrity of our financial system through effective implementation of laws and regulations against financial improprieties.”

The Vice President then directed, for immediate focus, the sanitisation of the

country’s international airports, and the enforcement of the currency regime declaration by air farers.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on FATF, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, in his comments noted that the committee had made considerable inroads in ensuring that Nigeria was removed from the FATF list, particularly in areas of strict implementation of rules and regulations in the financial system.

Governor Aregbesola launches Pentavalent Vaccine in Osun

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) Immunising a child, during the Launching of Pentavalent Vaccine at NYSC Orientation Camp, Ede the State of Osun

Vice President Namadi Sambo

L-R Chief Executive, Fellow Nigeria Computer Societ and President , Nigeria Computer Society, Sir Demola Aladekomo, Minister of Communication, Mrs Omobola Johnson, Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chief Don Etiebet, Professor Gabriel Obi and Deacon Ojinta Oji-Alala during a get-together dinner party marking the 11th International Conference of Nigeria Computer Society [N.C.S] at the royal hotel, Iloko-Ijesa, State of Osun

The Ameer, Muslim Corpers’ Association of Nigeria [MCAN], Mr. Issa Abdullahi presenting an Award of Excellence to the Executive Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola while Commissioner for home affairs, culture and tourism watches during a Dinner Party organized by the Governor at the State Government House, Oke-fia, Osogbo

10

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

USA

Seven dead in Florida hostage siege

A wrecked highway in Gansu, where deadly mudslides are now a major threat

Seven people were killed in a Florida apartment building last weekend when one tenant went on a shooting rampage, killing six before being taken down himself by a SWAT team.

Two unharmed hostages were also rescued by the SWAT team, Miami police said.

The shootout began on the evening of Friday 26 July when the gunman, identified as Pedro Vargas, 42, set fire to the apartment he shared with his mother.

Police spokesman Carl Zogby described how the building’s elderly managers, Italo and Camira Pisciotti, rushed to the apartment went they saw smoke pouring out of it.

“He came out of the door and shot both of them several times, killing them right at the scene,” he said.

Vargas then went back inside his apartment, walked out on the balcony and fired between 10 and 20 shots into the street, Zogby said, killing a man who lived across the street as he walked home. Vargas also shot at the emergency services, preventing

them from giving immediate aid to the victims, police said.

The gunman then went to a third-floor apartment, kicked down the door and shot dead a couple and their teenage daughter, Zogby said.

Vargas then ran through the building, firing erratically and exchanging gunfire with police as they arrived and tried to engage him. He ran to the fifth floor, where he took two people hostage and barricaded himself inside their apartment, police said.

Negotiators made arrived during the night but the talks broke down and a SWAT team entered at about 2 a.m., police said. Vargas was still firing and “ready to fight” when police took him out, Zogby said.

“All this while, officers are trying to save the hostages, grab them, pull them out of the apartment while this gun battle was going on,” he said.

Police are still trying to uncover the motive behind the attack, saying that it may have been “an irrational act and many times there is no rational explanation.” Neighbours say that the gunman may have been facing eviction.

Mexico

Admiral killed in gang ambush

Vice Admiral Carlos Salazar, whose car was ambushed

One of Mexico’s highest ranking military officials was killed at the weekend in an ambush on a rural road in the western state of Michoacan, where the president has sent armed forces to regain control of areas dominated by warring drug cartels.

Assailants armed with high-calibre rifles killed Vice Admiral Carlos Salazar, who commanded the naval base at the Pacific beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, along with another officer, the Mexican navy said in a statement.

The authorities have now detained three alleged members of the Knights Templar gang in connection with the killing.

The attack, which happened near the town of Churintzio, comes days after two police officers were killed in another ambush.

The men were attacked after they were diverted off the motorway running between

Demonstrations as Nazi war criminal turns 100

Demonstrators gathered in Rome on Monday 29 July outside the home of Erich Priebke, a former Nazi SS officer celebrating his 100th birthday.

Priebke is considered responsible for one of the worst wartime atrocities to have taken place in Italy, the 1944 Fosse Ardeatine massacre, in which 335 Italian civilians were shot dead in a cave near Rome as retaliation for an ambush on the SS by the Italian resistance movement the previous day.

Priebke fled to Argentina after the war but was extradited to Italy and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1998, although lives

in his own apartment in the capital under house arrest.

There, according to the BBC, he enjoys a roof terrace, “lined with geraniums and shaded by vines,” and is permitted to come and go. With an escort, he has always been allowed to do his shopping, take walks in the park, or go out to restaurants in the evening to eat with friends.

Many have protested that Priebke’s living conditions are far too comfortable and lenient for a major war criminal.

According to Reuters news agency, there were brief scuffles on Monday as a man identified as Priebke’s grandson arrived with a bottle of champagne and demonstrators jostled him with cries of “Shame!” and

“Disgrace!”

“It’s a provocation! Arriving with a bottle of champagne!” one demonstrator shouted.

Many of the demonstrators were members of Rome’s Jewish community, and some waved Israeli flags.

Yet in a country where the wartime past remains deeply divisive, tensions around the birthday of Priebke, who has never expressed remorse for his actions, were heightened by reports of posters put up nearby hailing the former Nazi officer.

“Happy Birthday Captain Priebke” read one poster signed by a group calling itself the Militant Community of Tiburtina, the Corriere della Sera newspaper reported.

the state capital of Michoacan and Guadalajara, and onto a country road.

Gunmen then opened fire on the car, killing the admiral and his bodyguard. The admiral’s wife and his driver were injured.

Local media reported a group of demonstrators had blocked the highway. Michoacan has seen a surge of protests and armed vigilante groups that have risen up this year, claiming authorities are failing to stop gang violence and extortion.

President Enrique Pena Nieto admitted last week that organized crime controlled areas of Michoacan, but he pledged to restore order in the same state were his predecessor Felipe Calderon launched his military campaign against drug gangs.

Pena Nieto came to power last December promising to reduce violent crime. Seventy-thousand people are estimated to have died in drug-related violence in Mexico since 2007.

Italy

Erich Priebke oversaw the deaths of over 300 Italian civilians in 1944 ANPI, the national association representing former wartime resistance fighters, said its headquarters had been scrawled with swastikas and comments supporting Priebke.

Similar graffiti was seen elsewhere, Italian newspapers said.

11

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

News Scientists endorse insect delicacies in Africa’s hunger war The most commonly consumed insect in Africa, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), is the cricket whose consumption preference of either being fried, smoked or dried in the sun depends on local communities.

In Algeria, the desert locust, which is a good protein source is ‘harvested’, soaked in salt water and dried in the sun and eaten mainly by the poor.

Caterpillar eating is common in central African countries and in Botswana, where either the legs of the caterpillars are plucked off and the insect deep-fried, or the gut removed before what is left is cooked.

Studies have shown that in every 100 grammes of dried caterpillars, there are about 53 grammes of protein, 15 per cent of fat and about 17 per cent of carbohydrates — which is a higher content of fat and protein than would be found in a similar amount of beef.

The Mopane worm found mainly in Zimbabwe is huge export business. It is dried and exported to Botswana, South Africa and sometimes onwards to African hotels in Europe.

In May, when the FAO released a report advocating more consumption of insects, it attracted support and criticism in equal measure. The report, Edible Insects: Future Prospects for Food and Feed Security, promotes the creatures as lowfat high-protein diets for people, pets and livestock.

Though currently two billion people eat insects globally, FAO has launched a campaign for their increased uptake as

Fried locusts

an alternative source of food for the continent’s growing population which is expected to double in 2050.

According to Dr Suresh Raina, a principal research scientist with the Nairobi-based International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), the uptake of insects though significant in Africa is greatly hindered by perceptions. “So many people think about what the insects do when they are alive and where they have been and this negative picture actually creates the unpalatability perception in their minds,” he said.

Dr Raina says that urbanisation also plays a role, especially in cases where people who used to eat insects in their rural areas do not now want to be associated with what is seen as poverty.

“The public needs to be educated on the benefits of eating insects because they are more nutritious than red meat,” he said.

“Most people are just put off because of the presentation of the cooked insects but if people came up with protein bars and shakes made from insects people would

be more receptive.”

The scientist admits that it will, however, take time before “high class” people in African cities walk into a restaurant and order a plate of worms or other edible insects, however, exquisitely they may have

been cooked.

In line with the FAO’s campaign, Icipe has already dedicated a department for the mass production of caterpillars and grasshoppers to increase their population in areas where they are highly consumed.

Dr Raina, who is involved in a project to promote beekeeping for pollination purposes in Kenya, also wants to champion the consumption of drones locally and export them to a ready market in Japan.

“Male drones in the hives have now other work apart from populating with the queen bee and studies have shown that they are quite a high source of protein,” he says.

“So apart from farmers having a bumper harvest from the cross pollination and honey which they can sell, they will in time be able to harvest the drones to supplement their food stores,” he said.

Children in Africa are being encouraged to eat more insects

Former PM ahead in Mali presidential poll Mali’s prime minister from 1994 to 2000, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, holds the wide lead and could easily win the first round of the West African country’s presidential election, officials say.

According to preliminary results, which represent one third of the votes from constituencies throughout the country, Keita could win an outright first-round victory in the presidential vote.

“There is one candidate, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who has a wide margin compared with the other candidates,” Minister of Territorial Administration Colonel Moussa Sinko Coulibaly stated on Tuesday (July 30), adding that, “There will not be a need for a second round if maintained.”

Keita’s rivals have rejected the partial results, asking Coulibaly, who is tasked with overseeing the elections, to resign.

12

They have also urged an international commission to be launched to tally the

ballots.

Former finance minister Soumaila Cisse,

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was President of Mali’s National Assembly between 2002

who according to Coulibaly holds second place, also failed to accept the results, with his spokesman Amadou Koita calling the announcement “scandalous.”

The competitors believe the elections must go to a second round, while observer missions have hailed the peaceful voting.

Tensions are feared to rise as the announcement of official results is approaching. The vote counting is expected to be completed later today, Wednesday.

People of Mali went to the polls on July 28 to vote for a new president from among 27 candidates to lead Mali following a recent French-led war and months of political tensions. The European Union’s top observer put the average voter turnout in the West African country, which has an electorate of seven million, at over 50 percent. This is reported to be above Mali’s record high of 40 percent.

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

News

South Sudan frees Ugandan journalists South Sudan authorities have freed two Ugandan journalists who have been in detention since Saturday (July 27). Justin Dralaze and Hillary Ayesiga, who were filming in capital Juba without clearance, were held for four days before their release was secured at midday July 31.

A group which supports and protects the rights of journalists operating in sensitive or unstable environments has criticised the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army for holding the two visiting Ugandan journalists and their South Sudanese fixer and driver. Ayesiga and Dralaze were arrested with their driver Sunday David Tut on the airport road in Juba.

“The government’s silence about these three journalists’ place of detention and present state of health, and what they are alleged to have done, was unacceptable and worrying,” Reporters Without Borders said.

“We condemn the fact that they had no contact with the outside world since their arrest and we fear that they may have been mistreated.”

Reporters Without Borders criticised the regime’s paranoia and the brutality of its security forces in a 2012 report.

Following their arrest, the three journalists were reportedly taken to National Security Headquarters, which is notorious for the appalling conditions in which suspects are held. According to some official sources, they were arrested for having no documents proving they were journalists.

Ayesiga, who normally works for China’s CCTV, and Draleze, a former Reuters journalist in Uganda, were on assignment in Juba for Feature Story News (FSN) of the United States to cover the security and political situation after President Salva Kiir’s decision to fire his entire cabinet on July 23 and impose a curfew in the capital.

Tut usually works for the South Sudanese radio station Liberty FM. South Sudan is ranked 124th out of 179 countries in the 2013 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index, a fall of 13 places from its position the year before, when it was ranked for the first time.

Eritrean refugees bemoan Israel’s coerced repatriation

Hillary Ayesiga

Eye in the sky aims to thwart Kenya’s poachers

Eritrean asylum seekers in Israel have been involved in several violent confrontations

A group representing Eritrean refugees have told Israel to suspend its practice of “voluntary deportations” and begin comprehensively examining asylum requests.

During a press conference on Sunday (July 28), the group produced a letter addressed to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, in which they refuted the view that the returns signed by prisoners in Israeli detention centres are voluntary, saying “despite the fact that they have chosen to call it ‘voluntary return,’ when they have no choice about their return, [that] means it is not voluntary.

“Our friends were deported to the place they fled, and their agreement was secured through extortion,” the letter continued.

“Because of the exploitation of their situation at the hands of the government, their lives are in danger.”

The group of migrants then asked Netanyahu to suspend the “voluntary” returns –

saying that they entail returning the asylum seekers to the same regime from which they fled lifelong military service and a lack of democracy.

“It is important to us to emphasise that we didn’t come here in order to bother Israelis or destroy their homes,” the letter read. “We didn’t come here to look for work or money. In every place on Earth they recognise the fact that people who flee Eritrea need protection until the regime changes and they can return home.”

Earlier this month, a group of 15 Eritreans was deported from Israel to Eritrea after they signed an agreement with Israeli authorities to leave. All 15 signed the agreement while in detention centres in the south, and their only alternative to “voluntary” deportation was to stay imprisoned indefinitely under the anti-infiltration law.

According to Interior Ministry figures, the overwhelming majority of the around 55,000 African migrants in Israel are from Eritrea.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy is situated in the Laikipia District of central Kenya

Ol Pejeta, East Africa’s largest black rhino sanctuary, is about to send up an unmanned drone to watch over its endangered guests.

The drone will be able to cover 130 miles during its 90 minute flight time and will track the animals by locking onto radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.

It will be fitted with thermal imaging ‘night vision’ cameras, which will allow the presence of animals or humans to be monitored day and night, even under a tree canopy.

The sanctuary hopes the drone will solve the problem of “trying to keep track of endangered species across 36,420 hectares of wilderness and with only a rela-

tive handful of rangers,” according to Ol Pejeta’s commercial director, Rob Breare.

The conservancy hosts examples of the ‘big five’ - lions, buffalo, elephants, leopards and rhinos, as well as apes and at least 300 bird species.

The $70,000 drone was partially funded by an appeal on charity site Indiegogo, which collected $35,000 for the project.

While it’s not known how effective a drone will be in the fight against poaching, the World Wildlife Fund is investing in similar technology. With $5 million from Google’s 2012 Global Impact Awards program, the organisation’s drones are due to start flying over Africa and Nepal next year.

13

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

CRIME Man sentenced after brutal knife attack

Nathan Watson

Nathan Watson, of no fixed address, was ordered to serve a minimum of 12 years having been found guilty of the attempted murder of a 30-year-old man and threats to kill.

The court heard the incident happened on Wednesday 9 May 2012 at 23.50hrs in Welham Road, Tooting.

Watson and the victim had previously been good friends who had spent the day together.

As they walked along Welham Road near the junction with Freshwater Road with a friend, Watson suddenly stabbed the victim in the neck with a knife in a preplanned attack.

He severed 80 per cent of his jugular vein and stabbed him another three times in the arm and shoulder before fleeing.

The victim’s life was saved by his friend and, in particular, two local residents who came out of their house, administered first aid and called police.

Watson was arrested on 15 June 2012 after extensive enquiries by Wandsworth police assisted by officers from the Met’s Operation Artemis who specialise in locating offenders evading capture.

The victim was initially reluctant to help police because he was afraid. However, in October 2012 Watson threatened the victim’s brother, resulting in additional evidence becoming available to the investigation, and Watson being charged in November 2012.

The court heard that Watson, who had previous convictions for violence, carried a knife as a matter of course and nicknamed it “Ugly Betty” - the Judge described this as “a macabre name”.

During sentencing the Judge added that gang member Watson was a “professional criminal” who had attacked the victim to enhance his standing.

Offers of thanks were made to the members of the public as their efforts helped the victim survive this terrible attack.

Counter Terrorism Command help to convict kidnapper

Guilty man are finally arrested

A man has been found guilty of being part of the gang which murdered a British tourist and kidnapped his wife in Kenya.

David Tebbutt was shot and killed when the group burst into the couple’s villa at a remote Kenyan holiday resort at around midnight on 10 September 2011.

Judith Tebbutt was abducted and taken to Somalia where she was held for over six months before being released.

Ali Babitu Kololo, who guided the kidnappers to the resort and the Tebbutts’ location, was convicted of robbery with violence following an investigation by the Kenyan authorities which was assisted by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15).

A small team of SO15 officers travelled to Kenya shortly after the murder and kidnap to support the local police investigation. Inquiries matched footprints found on the beach after Judith’s abduction to the shoes worn by

Kololo when he was arrested shortly after the incident.

The MPS has continued to work with the Kenyan authorities to piece together the events of the murder and kidnap by mapping the scene, providing expertise in forensic evidence and combing through witness interviews.

Officers travelled to Kenya on two occasions in 2012 to assist the Kenyan prosecutors prepare for the trial and give evidence in court. They have also provided family liaison support to Judith and her relatives.

Commander Richard Walton, head of theCounter Terrorism Command, SO15 said: “Kololo played a key role in this murder and kidnap bringing the attackers to the resort and helping them search for victims.

The police made a statement paying tribute to Judith, her son Oliver and their family who have all shown extraordinary courage and dignity.

full recovery from his injuries.

Police believe the suspect has links to West Yorkshire.

Detectives would like to speak to Alfie Gannon, 20 (31/10/1992) in connection with the shooting.

Detective Constable Paul Buckley, Trident Gang Crime Command, South Reactive Team, said: “This was a shocking incident at a child’s birthday party. Understandably both the children and guests at the party where extremely traumatised by the senseless actions of the suspect.

“Trident are today releasing an image of a man wanted in connection with the shooting in the hope that he himself will come forward, or those who may know his whereabouts contact the police.

“I would like to reassure any potential witnesses who may be worried about making contact with police that Trident has extensive expertise in protecting witnesses and there are a range of measures that can be taken to protect you.

“Members of the public are urged not to approach the suspect and instead call 999 or the Trident team on 0208 785 8580 immediately or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Police appeal after childs party shooting

Police appeal to speak with Alfie Gannon

Detectives from the MPS Trident Gang Crime Command are appealing for help to trace a man wanted in connection with a shooting at a ten year old girl’s birthday party.

On Saturday 18 May 2013, a man attended an address in Ravenscar Road, Bromley where a children’s birthday party was taking place.

At approximately 16:00hrs he became involved in an argument with 14

one of the family members, a 21 year old man, and he was asked to leave the party. On leaving the address he made threats to kill him.

He returned to the venue at 21:30hrs and asked to speak to the man he had argued with previously. The 21 year old had left the venue 30 minutes earlier. The man then entered the address and witnesses describe him as behaving very aggressively.

He asked for the brother of the 21 year old to come outside and speak with him.

His brother, a 22 year old man, went to the front of the address and was confronted by the man who was in possession of a firearm, believed to be a semi-automatic pistol.

The armed man then pointed the firearm at him and shot him in the leg. The victim’s seven year old stepson was with him at the time.

The armed man then ran out of the front of the address and drove off in a purple Ford Fiesta.

The 22 year old victim has made a

Appeal for Lambeth teenager Police are appealing for assistance in tracing a teenage girl who has been missing since Monday 29 July.

Tyra Hyman, 15, was last seen by her parents when they dropped her off at her friend’s home address in Chandler Way SE15 at 15:00hrs.

Police are increasingly concerned for her welfare.

Tyra is of slim build with black curly shoulder length hair and is between 5’ 6” to 5’ 7” in height.

Enquiries have suggested she may be in the Croydon area.

Anyone who has seen her or knows of her whereabouts should call police at Lambeth Missing Person’s Unit on 020 8649 2113 or via 101.

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Sounds of Diaspora People of America

Killing Me Softly director fathered his six grandchildren

Aswad Ayinde wanted to create a ‘pure’ bloodline in preparation for the day of reckoning.

Aswad Ayinde, the award-winning music video director, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison, having been found guilty on a second count of raping his own daughter. This in addition to a 40 year term imposed in 2011 for raping another of his seven daughters.

Ayinde, 55, will now face trial for raping three of his other daughters, one of whom faced the ordeals from as young as 8 years old. Reports suggest he fathered six children as a consequence of the assaults, which carried on until he and his wife separated. Mrs Beverly Ayinde testi-

fied that the depraved father also starved and beat her girls using wooden boards and steel-toed boots for ‘minor transgressions.’

Ayinde allegedly told his wife he was trying to create a ‘pure family bloodline’ by impregnating his daughters. He even claimed during a pre-trial hearing before the first trial that the world was going to end, and it was just going to be him and his offspring and that he was ‘chosen’.

He managed to keep his crimes concealed by delivering the babies himself at home, failing to register the births or deaths of two that did not survive and home-schooling the others.

Mrs Ayinde told the court that her husband kept her in a state of fear for her life.

“As time went on, he was god-like. I had to call him, ‘my god.’ He equated himself to Jesus Christ … He would sit us all down and lecture us about his greatness and his power … At another point, he equated himself to Prince and Michael Jackson,” she told jurors.

Ayinde won an MTV award for directing The Fugees’ Killing Me Softly in 1996.

Destiny’s forgotten child quashes beef rumours

Litigious wedding planner was not hired, claims Real Housewife

Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes is being sued by her “celebrity wedding planner” for a million dollars in expenses that she says were promised but never paid.

Tiffany Cook claims that Leakes brought in her Dream Design Weddings company to plan the party for her wedding day on June 22, 2013. She also claims that Leakes promised her 15% of the wedding budget as well as fees for design and execution of the wedding and travel expenses.

The budget for Leakes’ wedding was $1.8 million of which Cook says she was entitled to $270k plus another $889,900 for design fees and $1750 for plane tickets from Florida to Georgia. According to Cook, she was initially paid a down payment of $18,750 but hasn’t received anything since then. She is suing for the balance of $1,142,900 plus damages. In total Cook Is asking for more than $2.5 million for her troubles.

A Leakes representative told TMZ.com that the planner used for the wedding was a man named Tony Conway and not Cook. The rep adds, “This lawsuit has no merit and it appears to be a baseless

Leakes (pictured with husband second time around, Gregg) is reported to be making $1m per episode for the upcoming season of ‘Housewives’

attempt to grab 15 min of fame.”

In three separate tweets on Friday (July 26), Neakes posted: “My wedding planner was Tony Conway & I don’t owe him a dime! My wedding was paid 4 n cash! Tune n Sept 17th @ 9pm on Bravo & see 4 yourself” “I don’t roll like that! I’m good 2 everyone that is good 2 me & I pay my bills!

Wrong person hunni” “U thirsty? Ain’t no water over here 4 ya! LOL” The wedding and its build up was filmed for ‘I Dream of NeNe’, which will air in the US in September. Presumably all will become clear then.

Former Destiny’s Child LeToya Luckett played the lead role in 2010 movie Preacher’s Kid and, in the same year, became the face of Luster hair products

Plenty of speculation exists about alleged acrimony between the original Destiny’s Child line-up and the replacements that became household names, but LeToya Luckett says that is definitely not the case.

“People create their own stories in their head a lot of time when they know no parties involved on a personal level,” she told S2Smagazine.

Luckett and LaTavia Roberson left Destiny’s Child when the group’s manager, Beyoncé’s father Matthew Knowles, refused to allow them to appoint their own separate management.

LeToya recalls the first time she met Michelle Williams, who, along with Farrah Franklin, replaced her and LaTavia prior to the group shooting the video for ‘Say My Name’, even though the track featured Luckett and Roberson’s voices. She said since their first meeting at a Dallas fund-

raiser, Michelle has been a ‘blessing’ and a ‘sweet person’.

“I was sitting with my friends at the time and she said, ‘I’ve been watching you from afar and you inspire me, and you don’t even know it. I’m so, so proud of you.’ It was mind-blowing!”

LeToya and her Destiny’s Child alumni are no strangers to gossip and rumours, but she takes it all in stride, knowing that she still has strong relationships with many of the former group members.

“People are so messy sometimes, and they try to create mess around a situation they know absolutely nothing about,” she said. “We love each other. We support each other and we genuinely mean it.”

An owner of an upmarket boutique in her hometown of Houston, Texas, Luckett has carved out a singing, acting and modelling career since leaving the group and has just begun hosting a magazine show in cable TV in the US. 15

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Gospel

WHERE TO FIND HELP IN TIME OF NEED “...O our God, won’t You stop them? We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us.

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” 2Chro. 20:12.

By Michael Adekoya

Dear Reader, have you ever been in what appeared to be an impossible situation?

Have you ever desperately needed something, but it seemed you would never have it? Have you ever thought you had missed it and there was no future for you again? Have you ever thought there could be no second chance for you? Is this where you are right now?

Maybe you are now thinking there is no way for you out of that unemployment, out of that sin, out of that bondage, out of that sickness, out of that defeat, out of that hardship, out of that failure, out of that drug, alcohol or sex addiction, out of that lack, out of that single life and loneliness. Well, if you’ve ever felt that way or feeling that way now, then I have Good News for you! You need to know that God can answer prayer and can turn situations around. He can turn people around and when necessary and even, He can even change the course of nature.

It has always been said, “If you are swept off your feet, it’s time to get on your knees.” Considering this statement, one example that immediately comes to mind is King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Here was a man who had begun to lead the people back to worshiping the true and living God during his era.

Suddenly a warning comes: “King Jehoshaphat, your enemies are gathered to attack you.” My friend, listen! Spiritual warfare always surrounds the birth of something miraculous. If you don’t know this, Satan will ambush you and grind you to a halt. When God be-

gins to move in you, in your home, family, career, divine assignment, ministry, community, city, nation or in His church, you’ll see the difference in people. The Bible says Jehoshaphat at was alarmed just like anyone of us will do when the enemy launched an attack on his divine assignment. But what is important is what he did with his alarm, fear, panic, concern, worries and anxiety.

The Bible says immediately he gathered the people together and prayed and said to the Lord God, “We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (2 Chronicles 20:12). My friend, that’s the key! When you are overwhelmed, worried, struggling, afraid, confused or in need for a solution, who and where do you turn to? When Micah was in deep sorrow for Israel’s sins and his heart was very heavy, he said, “I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” (Micah 7:7) Today, many people look elsewhere, except unto God, for solution, protection or provision.

Listen to what David said, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills from where comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1) And concerning you whose eyes are upon God, like Jehoshaphat, David went further to say, “He (God) will not let you stumble; He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your protective shade. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall keep you and preserve you from all evil; He watches over your life. The

Are you looking for a church? ­­

Not settled in any particular congregation?

Perhaps now is the time to pray about it If you are not yet saved try one of the following: Jubilee International Churchmeets at 2,30pm on Sundays at Kings Avenue, school, park hill. London SW4. Part of Jubilee International Churches worldwide. For information, you may call (020)8697 3354 New Wine Christian Church- 11am holds meeting at Ringcross Tennants club, Lough Road, Holloway, N7. a member of the Icthus fellowship

16

worldwide. For more information call 020 7609 959 or 07957 757 663.

Praise Tabernacle- 10:30am holds meetings at 620 Western Avenue (A40), park royal Business centre, opposite Warner Bros. Cinema Complex, W3. part of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. For information you may call 020 8993 3010 New Life Christian Centre 10.30am & 6.00pm. meetings at Cairo New Road, Croydon. The church has

Soweto Gospel Singers

Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.”

(Psalm 121:2-8) My friend, did you hear that? When your focus is on God, He keeps watching over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

My friend, I can testify to the truth that the eyes of the Lord are always on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry... When the righteous cry out to Him, He hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. ..Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him or her out of them all. (Psa 34:15-19). Because Jehoshaphat’s eyes were upon God, He cried unto Him. In answer to his prayer, Jahaziel was moved by the Spirit of God to speak from the midst of the congregation and gave the Lord’s answer: “You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, stay connected and focused, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord who

is with you….Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” (2 Chron 20:17). Listen! When your eyes are on God and you truly pray to Him (not to foreign god) He answers (read Jer 33:3) Here is a picture of a vulnerable king and his people who don’t know what to do when they were faced with a seemingly impossible situation but who are completely dependent upon God. It is a great picture of what to do in time of need. God answered the prayer of the king and dramatically altered his circumstances by destroying his enemies. My friend, you can turn to the same true and living God today in prayer in desperate circumstances, and He will hear your cry.

The Bible says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psa 46:1) He is but do you believe? Do you have intimate relationship with Him?

a bible school, primary, is involved in extensive mission work in Eastern Europe, Italy and India. For information you may call 020 8680 7671 Ruach Ministries - holds meeting at 9am, 11am and 6pm. For information you may call 020 8678 6888 International Central Gospel church - Battersea chapel, holds meetings on Sundays from 2.00pm. . For information you may call 020 8684 4934 Jesus Arena International- Sunday service at 11.00am at Broadwater farm centre, Adams road N17 The Bible Life Church UK- They meet on Sunday mornings at 2.30pm at St Giles Centre, Camberwell

Church Street, London SE5 Christ Apostolic church (Full Gospel & Pentecostal) Surrey Docks District 163 Ilderton Rd South Bermondsey London SE16 2UT. Tel. 020 7252 2086.

Time of worship: Sunday English service 9- 11.30am. Yoruba service 11.30 -2.30pm. Prophetic counselling: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 12noon- 5pm, Saturday only 5- 7pm.

Holy Cross Church InternationalSunday 10.am- 1 pm at Crown House 71-73 Nathan way London SE28 0BQ Tel: 07904 234 126, 07809 381 886 Times of service:Bible study: Thursdays 8pm. Night Vigil: Friday Forthnightly 12am

If not, today is your day of salvation.

The Bible says “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

(Roman 10:9-10). That’s what you need to do to begin your relationship with Him and be at the centre of His help. One word, idea, connection or revelation from Him is enough to sort you out.

He is the Saviour, Healer, Deliverer, Provider, Prince of Peace, Counsellor, Defender of the weak, Blesser, Lifter, and Connector! He is the only One who is secured enough to keep you secured. Unless He builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless He watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. I can testify to that!

Remain blessed!

Sunday Service: Sundays 10am - 1pm Winners Chapel London- part of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, at Unit B1 Galleywall Trading Estate, South Bermondsey, London SE16 3PB meets Sunday 7am & 9am and 11am and Wednesdays at 7pm. For details call 020 7237 7894 CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH GRAVESEND, ST. AIDAIN’S CHURCH, ST. AIDAN’S WAY, GRAVESEND, KENT, DA12 4AG TEL. 01474 355 841, 07956 38 38 70 TIME OF WORSHIP: Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30pm to 9:00pm Friday, Night Vigil: 9pm to 11pm Sunday Worship: 12:30pm to 3:00pm

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Africa Newsround

Mali

Presidential election hailed as “great success” as former PM holds lead International observers have praised the organisation and turnout of Mali’s presidential election, the first since last year’s coup and Islamic-led insurgency, as initial reports suggest that Ex-Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubakar Keita has taken the lead.

France, the country’s former colonial ruler and a major military force in the country since January, has hailed the elections a “great success”, while EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has praised the way in which they were handled with “calm and serenity.”

“Despite the difficult conditions, the Malian administration showed its determination to guarantee the transparency and the credibility of the elections,” she said.

At the time of going to press, votes are still being counted, but there have been indications since Sunday that former

South Sudan

Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita – known as “IBK” – has a comfortable lead.

Keita’s supporters have been celebrating his expected victory since Sunday night.

On Tuesday Colonel Moussa Sinko Coulibaly, the minister of territorial administration, told reporters in the capital Bamako that Keita “has a wide margin compared with the other candidates.”

“If maintained, there will not be a need for a second round,” he said, adding that he results represented a third of ballots cast from constituencies across the country.

If there is no outright win, a run-off vote will be held on 11 August.

Coulibaly repeatedly refused reporters’ requests for exact figures. He said the results had been certified by the elections commission.

Keita was Prime Minister of Mali from 1994 to 2000 and President of the National Assembly of Mali from 2002 to 2007. He founded the political party Rally for Mali in 2001, of which he is

Sacked VP seeks to lead country

Riek Machar was South Sudan’s first vice president

Riek Machar, the former vice president of South Sudan who was sacked last week, has said that he now wants to challenge President Salva Kiir for the leadership of the country’s ruling party and then run for president himself in the 2015 elections.

Kiir dismissed Machar – alongside the rest of his cabinet – in a televised statement on Tuesday 23 July, following an apparent power struggle within the South Sudan government which analysts believe has been going on for months.

Kiir also sacked the head of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Pagan Amum, as well as 17 police brigadiers.

Machar said he accepted the president’s decision to fire him. He stressed the legality of Kiir’s actions, told people to remain calm, and not give the president the opportunity to

declare a state of emergency.

“This is a constitutional mandate of the president to remove and form a government.

This is within the powers of the president.

There should be no violence,” he said.

Machar nevertheless condemned Kiir’s failure to appoint a new government immediately after sacking the cabinet, causing a “vacuum” of power.

He announced at a press conference in the capital Juba that he now plans to run for the chairmanship of the ruling party, the SPLM, before the forthcoming elections, South Sudan’s first since its 2011 independence.

“I have told my colleagues in the politburo that come the next elections in 2015, I would contest those elections,” Machar said.

Meanwhile Abgon Agao, South Sudan’s leading civil servant, said the president would appoint a new cabinet “very soon.”

He said he believed that a “good number” of sacked ministers would be reappointed to the cabinet.

Keita is expected to clinch the victory in the widely-praised election

still the leader.

He studied in Paris, Dakar and Bamako.

Prior to his political career he was the Mali director of the Geneva-based children’s rights NGO Terre des Hommes.

Keita ran his campaign under the banner of “For Mali’s honour,” playing on the

Somalia

fact that many Malians felt humiliated by having to rely this year on the help of their old ruler France, the BBC suggests.

In the run-up to the elections he was the favourite of many prominent religious leaders, as well as the military – including the leaders of last year’s coup.

Turkish embassy workers killed in bombing

In the latest of a series of blasts claimed by the militant group al Shabaab, a car loaded with explosives hit an office housing Turkish embassy staff in the Somali capital Mogadishu, witnesses and officials said last weekend.

“A suicide car bomb targeted a building housing Turkish embassy workers near K4 [Kilometre Four],” police officer Ahmed Mohamud told the news agency Reuters.

“The car was taking advantage of a Turkish car that was going into the building, thus the car bomb exploded and destroyed the gate,” he said, claiming that three people were killed and nine others wounded.

Al Shabaab, which said earlier this month it would increase attacks during the Ramadan fasting period, claimed responsibility for the attack via Twitter.

“Mujahideen forces in Mogadishu have just carried out an operation targeting a group of Turkish diplomats in Hodan district,” they said.

“All the Mujahideen who carried out the operation have returned safely back to their bases inside Mogadishu, preparing for the next operation.”

Turkey has been highly involved in aid work in Somalia, having put around $400 million (£260 million) into the country since 2011. In that year Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan became the first non-African leader to visit Somalia in almost two decades.

In a live-broadcast speech, Erdogan said that the attack was carried out by “supposed Muslims.”

“They are doing this against our government,” he said. “Why? Because we are helping our brothers in Mogadishu.”

The scene at Mogadishu, where three were killed and nine more wounded

17

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Nollywood News

I’ve found another love —Ayo Adesanya acted in many films before that, that particular film brought out the talent in me. And it was a film where I acted with the who is who in the industry then.

Seth Oteng is Executive Director of the Youth Bridge Foundation

Ayo Adesanya

Ayo Adesanya is not a new face in Nollywood. She has acted alongside veterans like Regina Askia, Liz Benzon, Ucharia Anunobi and many others. The University of Ibadan graduate of Communications and Language Arts, like many of her peers, ventured into movie production. She spoke with AJIBADE ALABI recently on several issues in the industry.

I also acted in church. So, it has been part of me right from the beginning.

Who are your contemporaries in the industry?

I have Bimbo Akintola, Sandra Achums, Eucharia Anunobi and some others I can’t remember now.

Why acting and not practicing what you studied in school?

I have always liked acting; it is just inborn. Right from my childhood days, I knew I would end up being an actress.

How did you join the industry?

I went for an interview somewhere, where I met Ifeanyi. It was he who invited me for an auditioning, and in that auditioning I was given a waka pass role. That was my first role, and that was how the journey began.

But I had always wanted to be an actress. I had started right from when I was in nursery school. I acted also when in secondary school.

18

Ayo Adesanya

What about Regina Askia?

Ha! Regina started before me. The reason people always think we stated together is because we acted many films together, like in Most Wanted, where I played a lead role with her, and that film shot me into limelight. So many people thought we were contemporaries. No, we were not; she started before me. I must give God the glory for that film (Most Wanted). Though I had

People seem to see you as being arrogant. How do you take that?

I don’t know where you got your fact from, but all I can tell you is that I am not arrogant. I am a normal person. I am a cool person.

The fact that one plays one role in a movie does not make that person to be wicked, arrogant or controversial. There are roles that you will play that people will like you, and there are also roles that you will play that people will feel like stoning you to death. People should know the difference between when one is on set and when one is living one’s normal life. These are two different things. The fact that I acted as prostitute in a movie does not make me a prostitute.

After Goriola Hassan, your exhubby, what next?

What next as in what? I am leaving my life as normal. Goriola is a closed chapter in my life; it is one of those things in life. Life continues. Will I continue to ruminate over that? A beg, life continues

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Nollywood News note that a lot of improvement has occurred in Yoruba film industry.

The cameras, the location and the costumes and even the effects that are now being used cannot be compared to what we had in the past.

So, I can tell you that good things are now happening in the Yoruba section of Nollywood.

Did you have a taste of sexual harassment as an up-and-coming actress?

I did not believe anyone is harassing anybody. If you are talented and you know what you are doing, nobody will ever harass or molest you.

Fine, as a fine lady, you are bound to be toasted, it now depends on you to succumb to whoever you want to date. It is not a matter of life and death. I don’t believe anybody can be harassed sexually, except they are not good. If you know what you want, nobody can harass you.

All my roles have been challenging. Take for instance, my role in Osuka, where I played two roles.

In that movie, I played the role of a young girl and an old woman – which was very challenging. But you need to watch this my latest film, entitled Amope Alasela. In this one, I played a dual role. I must tell you it was very daunting and tasking, because I had to change many times to play the roles of different people. The director had to wait for me to change. And there was a scene where both characters met. It was very demanding. Apart from that, I also acted some funny part in the film.

Talking about being funny, it seems you have added that to your acting now?

That is what I was telling you. That is to tell you that as an actress, I’m versatile. There is no role I cannot play. Source: Nigeria Tribune You have acted in many films. Newspapers.

Which one can you say was most challenging?

Ayo Adesanya

Have you found another love?

English sector to join the Yoruba.

Yes. I have found another love. I Tell us why? am into a new relationship.

I just feel I should go back to my roots. Even while I was doing EngBut has love been fair to you? lish movies, I was still appearing Yes. Love has been fair to me, and I in Yoruba movies. For instance, I thank God for that. acted in Iru Oka alongside Ramsey Nouah while I was still in the Do you still remember 2005 when English caucus. So, it was not as if you were voted as one of the sexi- I did not act in Yoruba before or I est actresses of the 90s? just dumped English for Yoruba. I I still remember. just feel I want to come fully to the Yoruba sector.

Then, you said your eyes were your sexiest part. Are you still holding to that view?

I still believe that my eyes are the sexiest part of me, and people always talk about my eyes as being the sexiest. And I do not doubt that; my eyes are sexy and captivating!

As someone who has done both Yoruba and English films, what can you say is the difference between the two?

There is no much difference; the only difference is that Yoruba is rich in story line and they (producers) have very deep story lines that teach morals. I am not castigating You are one of the very few Yoru- any tribe here, mind you; I’m just ba actresses who dumped the telling you what I feel. If you take

Ayo Adesanya 19

Events calendar What’s On & When Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Arts

Theatre, Shows and Musicals

By Ryan Holmes

man standing in their path, the virtuous King Duncan. But to maintain his position, Macbeth must keep on killing – first Banquo, his old comrade-in-arms; then, as the atmosphere of guilt and paranoia thickens, anyone who seems to threaten his tyrant’s crown.

21 New Globe Walk, London, Greater London SE1 9DT

The American Plan Now-August 10th

Lenny Henry as Troy and Tanya Moodie as Rose

Fences Now- Sept 14th

Troy Maxson was once an extremely gifted athlete who was deprived of his shot at the big time and now struggles within regular society in Pittsburgh. Indignant of a world he believes has denied him chances at every turn, he vents his anger on his loyal wife and sports-obsessed son.

Fences, is one of the eminent American dramas of the 20th century, and winner of the New York Drama Critics’ Award, two Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Set between the Korean and Vietnam wars, it is essentially the story of a family trying to claw themselves from despair and what happens when a strong man is robbed of his dreams - a universal story which will strike a chord in everyone of us.

The Duchess Theatre, 3-5 Catherine St, London WC2B 5LA

Sound of Music July 25th -Sep 1st

Rachel Kavanaugh gave up her tenure at the helm of the Birmingham Rep last year; now, she’s flipping her attention to directing a new stage version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Nazis-and-yodelling classic.

It’s the Open Air Theatre’s traditional end of season musical blow out, but, surprisingly, this is the first time a Rodgers and Hammerstein-penned show has graced the Regent’s Park stage. Alongside Kavanaugh will be choreographer Alistair David and Olivier award-winning set and costume designer Peter McKintosh. While the acting talent comes from the Olivier nominees Charlotte Wakefield and Michael Xavier who will play Maria Rainer and Captain Von Trapp.

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, NW1 4NR

The Amen Corner Now- August 14th 20

As the gospel singing soars, Sister Margaret, uncompromising pastor of her Harlem church, has a congregation already in mutiny against hardnosed leadership. Their resentment soon escalates with the return of her absentee husband, a jazz tromboneplaying sinner, and the wayward conduct of her formerly paragon, musical son.

Charges of hypocrisy hang in the air and Margaret’s devout world looks perilously close to falling apart.

Beautifully expressed through the rousing beat of the gospel choir, the community’s sense of love, grief and spiritual survival will be given full voice in the National’s production of James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner.

Olivier Theatre. South Bank, London SE1 9PX

Sweet Bird of Youth Now-31 Aug 2013

Kim Cattrall stars alongside acclaimed Broadway actor Seth Numrich in Tennessee Williams’ powerful and poetic play, Sweet Bird of Youth, directed by Olivier Award-winner Marianne Elliott.

A fading Hollywood legend ravaged by the bitterness of failure and despair.

Fleeing the disastrous premiere of her comeback film, Alexandra Del Lago travels incognito as The Princess Kosmonopolis seeking refuge in drink, drugs and the arms of Chance Wayne, an idealistic young dreamer turned gigiolo and hellbent on achieving his own movie stardom. A trip to Chance’s hometown in a bid to win back his childhood sweetheart sees their relationship of convenience unravel The Old Vic. The Cut London SE1 8NB

Macbeth Now- 13th October

When three witches tell Macbeth that he is destined to occupy the throne of Scotland, he and his wife choose to become the instruments of their fate and to kill the first

A tangle of ravaged dreams, broken souls, twisted motives and deceit, The American Plan takes place against a backdrop of the Catskill Mountains during a 1960s summer. Lili Adler, the beautiful, fragile daughter of a wealthy German-Jewish refugee, meets Nick Lockridge, a handsome young stranger, and finds herself falling in love. But when her overbearing mother learns of their relationship, she proceeds to poison the young man’s affection and Lili’s one chance to escape her mother’s control looks like being lost forever.

St. James Theatre, 12 Palace Street London SW1E 5JA

The Color Purple Now-September 14th

An unforgettable story of enduring love and triumph over adversity, The Color Purple is a landmark musical from the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Alice Walker.

This stirring family chronicle follows the inspirational Celie, as she journeys from childhood through joy and despair, anguish and hope to discover the power of love and life. With a fresh, joyous score of jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues, this European premiere is directed by John Doyle (Road Show at the Menier Chocolate Factory), adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize and Tony award winner Marsha Norman, with music and lyrics by Grammy award winners Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.

The Menier Chocolate Factory, 53

Southwark Street, London SE1 1RU .A Season

in the CongoNow-August 24th

BAFTA Award winning director Joe Wright (Anna Karenina, Atonement, Pride & Prejudice) directs Olivier Award winner Chiwetel Ejiofor (BBC2’s Dancing on the Edge, Othello at the Donmar Warehouse, Children of Men, Dirty Pretty Things) in the UK premiere of an epic retelling of a vibrant nation’s turbulent first year of freedom.

Even by the prodigiously visual values of the Young Vic, Wright’s production of French polymath Aimé Césaire’s 1966 sort-of-tragedy ‘A Season in the Congo’ is aesthetically pleasing stuff, a rainbow of song and dance, puppets and people, polyrhythms and sub bass, comedy and tragedy that spins and swirls like a tropical storm as it portrays the last years in the life of Congolese politician Patrice Lumumba (Chiwetel Ejiofor) in vividly impressionistic brushstrokes.

The Young Vic, 66 The Cut SE1 8LZ

Meschac Gaba: Museum of Contemporary African Art Now- September 22nd

Meschac Gaba’s Museum of Contemporary African Art is an immersive twelve-room installation, a ‘museum within a museum’, which is currently sprawling through Tate Modern Gaba has claimed that the Museum of Contemporary African Art is ‘not a model… it’s only a question.’ It is temporary and mutable, a conceptual space more than a physical one, a provocation to the Western art establishment not only to attend to contemporary African art, but to question why the boundaries existed in the first place.

Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Arts

Edinburgh Fringe: Curtains

By Peter Olorunnisomo

The atmosphere is tense. There is stillness everywhere. Only the winds whisper. Dozens of brains are concentrated, ears straining for the short blast. For the few who have a whole load more at stake, every muscle lie still yet ready to spring. The eyes are closer to the earth, the horizon; a distant view that must be conquered very pretty soon.

That is a similitude of this day as the Edinburgh fringe prepares for its first performances tomorrow. The acts are on the ground. There is a flux and reflux to getting all aspects engaged. Accommodation has been settled even though a few really on the ‘fringe’ still need to sort theirs out. The venues are parked with people and posters filling out on the venue walls. The performance halls and theatre spaces experience a hustling as technical crews going into sessions with the artistic directors. The act must be realised as envisioned.

The performers feel their grounds and mark their bearings. The flyers, programme schedules and the voluminous encyclopaedia of performances are checked to be sure the listings are made as appropriate. If there are omissions or errors, it has to be reported to officials who are afield. The bustle has

Edinburgh Fringe 2013

begun. A thousand requests spoken amidst the din of last minute constructions. Panic is buried in the hubris of nine hundred and ninety-nine things yet to do. The eyes say so much but the smile lies.

The artistes are edging for time and space to ‘feel out’ before tomorrow. Rehearsal venues may not be the performance venue so the walk-about starts maps in hand. A tourist at work who dares not comprehend the failure of his purpose yet must conquer the maze. It is in Edinburgh, we are in Edinburgh, I am in Edinburgh.

The listings excite everyone. There are loads to see. At once, the promo synopsis of shows captures the mind and reveals

expectations that must remain inaudible like secret codes to a vault for tomorrow.

Where to go, who to see, the prospects to learn, to meet, to chat, to hook up: all a riotous buzz that must not yet make a ripple in the sea of great expectations. But ah! Your show starts it all. It begins with you, your group, and your audience. Yes, your audience. Where do you get them from?

You get word from the liaison man that you will need to ‘fly’ perhaps at the square, somewhere near Princes Street, or the Underbelly venues, or the heart of the city. Anywhere you’ll like to go. You’ve got to ‘brew’ your audience too. Thought they were ready and just about to queue at

Poet of the Week: Ingrid Jonker Ingrid Jonker was born on 19 September 1933 on a farm in the rural area of Douglas, near Kimberley in the Northern Cape. In her early adulthood she had a short, unhappy marriage.

She started writing poetry at the age of six and her first published poems appeared in her high school magazine. Her first known collection of poems, Na die Somer (After the Summer) was compiled in 1946, when she was just thirteen.

By sixteen, she was corresponding with seasoned Afrikaans poets such as D.J. Opperman and her work was published regularly in family magazines such as Die Huisgenoot.

The first collection of poems by Jonker to be published was Ontvlugting (Escape), in 1956. Her second collection of poems, Rook en Oker (Smoke and Ochre), was published in 1963. This collection was received amid much critical acclaim from writers, poets and critics, and fierce official opprobrium.

Jonker’s work was also condemned by her father, then a leading member of the National Party and the chairperson of the parliamentary committee responsible for the apartheid system of censorship.

Through sheer depth and the impact of her

Ingrid Jonker words, Rook en Oker won the prestigious Afrikaanse Pers-Boekhandel Prize.

Jonker was an active member of Die Sestigers, a group of anti-establishment writers and poets, which included Breyten Breytenbach, Andre Brink, Adam Small and Bartho Smit, who had taken it upon themselves to challenge the conservative literary norms of the time.

South Africa lost a gifted and sensitive poet when, at the age of 31, Ingrid Jonker

ended her own life on 19 July 1965. Much of Jonker’s early writing evidently relates to the episodes and trauma of her early life.

Yet as a mature poet, Jonker never failed to express compassion for her fellow human beings, reflecting a refreshing innocence devoid of pernicious social prejudice and hatred. This seminal Afrikaans language poet sensitively engaged with the cause of the poor and the lot of black South Africans from the position of a common humanity.

The advanced ideas inherent in Ingrid Jonker’s poems have made her a recognized literary figure internationally, with her poems being studied, translated and published in many languages including English, German, French, Dutch, Polish, Hindi and Zulu.

Former President Nelson Mandela, in commenting on Jonker’s poem Die Kind (The Child), which he read out in full in his inaugural State of the Nation address to Parliament in May 1994, said, “… in this glorious vision, she instructs that our endeavours must be about the liberation of the woman, the emancipation of the man and the liberty of the child”. Of Jonker herself, Mandela said that: “She was both a poet and a South African. She was both an Afrikaner and an African. She was both an artist and a human being. In the midst of despair, she celebrated hope. Confronted by death, she asserted the beauty of life.”

the door? It just doesn’t happen that way though it could. Oh, so many factors woven around and about.

But you are new, as new as your audience and possibly your hired crew: everyone, each to the other. Yet all must be meshed into the performance – a fusion of passions; giving and receiving. Each one feeding into the other for the pleasure and the memory facilitated by cash at the Edinburgh Fringe.

You must be ready now. You have been rehearsed, publicised, and sold. Now you are bought, its curtains!

Ingrid Jonker’s sensitive, humane and forward-looking perspectives have made her a literary icon of a whole new generation of Afrikaners and South Africans, who have re-discovered her relevance in a free and democratic South Africa.

For her excellent contribution to literature and a commitment to the struggle for human rights and democracy in South Africa, the South African Government bestowed Ingrid Jonker with the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver at the National Orders awards on 19 October 2004.

Ek Herhaal jou (I repeat you) I repeat you without beginning or end, I repeat your body. the day has a thin shadow and the night yellow crosses and the landscape without regard and the people a row candles while I repeat you with my breasts that reforms the hollow of your hands.

21

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Health

Lambeth hops, skips and jumps to Artie’s Beat Artie Beat, the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) loveable mascot, joined the action at Lambeth Country Show last weekend to get children moving and protect their hearts.

The costume character got children skipping, hoola hooping and bouncing balls to show families how fun and easy it can be to stay active.

Keeping active is a great way to help protect your heart health. But worryingly, 28% of boys and 36% of girls in England don’t get the recommended amount of physical activity they need (1).

In the UK’s African Caribbean community, just 31% of adults manage the recommended amount of physical activity each week proving that all generations need to get moving.

Ali Orhan, BME Project Manager at the BHF, said: “We wanted to show families that exercise can be fun. It doesn’t have to be a chore and you don’t have to run miles or spend hours in the gym to stay healthy.

“It was great to see so many families having fun with Artie Beat. We hope that parents continue to encourage - and even join in with - their children in getting active this summer; simple games in the garden or the park are fun for all the family and help protect every generation’s heart health.”

The BHF sponsored the Activate Zone at Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park,

Lambeth- Artie skipping

Brixton, on July 20 & 21. Children should do at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each day including brisk walking, PE lessons or swimming. At least twice a week, they should take part in ac-

tivities that help to develop and maintain muscular strength, flexibility and bone health including climbing, gymnastics and dance.

To find out more about heart health for African Caribbean communities, visit bhf.org.uk/africancaribbean

Call to action on health checks More than 650 lives a year could be saved if simple NHS Health Checks were offered throughout the country and taken up, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said today in a call to action for people to start thinking more seriously about their health.

A Public Health England (PHE) review has confirmed that checking 40-74-yearolds’ blood pressure, cholesterol, weight and lifestyle could identify problems earlier and prevent 650 deaths, 1,600 heart attacks and 4,000 cases of diabetes a year.

Before local authorities took over responsibility for commissioning Health Checks in April, there was considerable variation in how widely they were offered. PHE, which leads the NHS Health Check programme, has now launched a ten-point plan to help councils roll them out to 20 per cent of their eligible local population a year –15 million people by 2018/19.

PHE will also soon launch a website where it will be possible to show how many Health Check offers are being made by each local authority. In the future it will also be possible to look up the details of your nearest NHS Health Check service.

22

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “Around 15 million people in England are eligible for a free NHS Health Check that could identify serious conditions early and add years to their life.

“I’d like to see all 40-74 year olds taking up this potentially life-saving opportunity.

And I’d like to see the NHS and local authorities encouraging people in their area to get involved. We could save 650 lives a year if there was full take-up.

“We are an ageing population and thinking about our health early is vital to living

a long and prosperous life.”

Director of Health and Wellbeing for Public Health England, Professor Kevin Fenton added: “NHS Health Check programme offers a real opportunity to reduce avoidable deaths and disability, and tackle health inequalities in England.

“We must do more to increase uptake and referral to appropriate risk management services, particularly in those communities at greatest risk, to remove blocks in processes that get in the way and make sure the programme is of consistent high quality across the country.

“We will establish an expert clinical and scientific advisory panel to review and advise on the evidence base and we will work with partners to develop a research and analysis programme to support the delivery and evaluation of the programme at both local and national levels.”

Between 2010 and 2020 the number of people aged 65 and over is expected to rise by 27 per cent with those aged 85 and over rising by 44 per cent.

Already in England: • more than four million people are estimated to have vascular disease; • around 670,000 people are living

with dementia; • more than ten million people are drinking at increased levels; • up to 850,000 people are unaware that they have type two diabetes; and • in more than 90 per cent of cases the first heart attack is related to preventable risk factors.

The NHS Health Check programme is for people aged 40-74 in England and is focussed on preventing conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. It is a key part of the Health Secretary’s ambition to save 30,000 lives a year by 2020 following his call to action on avoiding premature mortality.

In June he also exposed the local variation in early death rates through ‘Longer Lives’, a new Public Health England (PHE) website which allows local people to see easily how their areas perform on early deaths from the major four killers, like heart disease and cancer.

NHS Primary Care Trusts began offering NHS Health Checks in 2009 and good progress has been made. However, access has been patchy with some areas facing barriers and challenges to maximising the impact of the programme.

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Culture

The Oromo People of Ethiopia The Oromo make up a significant portion of the population occupying the Horn of Africa. In the Ethiopian Empire alone, Oromo constitute about 30 million of the 55 million inhabitants of the Ethiopian Empire.

In fact, Oromo is one of the most numerous nations in Africa which enjoys a homogeneous culture and shares a common language, history and descent and once shared common political, religious and legal institutions. During their long history, the Oromo developed their own cultural, social and political system known as the Gadaa system. It is a uniquely democratic political and social institution that governed the life of every individual in the society from birth to death.

Ecologically and agriculturally Oromia (Oromo country) is the richest region in the Horn of Africa. Livestock products, coffee, oil seeds, spices, mineral resources and wild life are all diverse and abundant.

In spite of all these advantages, a century of colonisation by Abyssinia (Ethiopia), a backward nation itself, has meant that the Oromo people have endured a stagnant existence where ignorance and famine have been coupled with ruthless oppression, subjugation, exploitation and above all, extermination. Thus for the last one hundred years under the Ethiopian rule, the Oromo have gained very little, if anything, in the way of political, social and economic progress.

The Oromo were colonised during the last quarter of the nineteenth century by a black African nation - Abyssinia - with the help of the European colonial powers of the day. During the same period, of course, the Somalis, Kenyans, Sudanese and others were colonised by European powers.

The fact that the Oromo were colonised by black African nation makes their case quite special.

During the process of colonisation, between 1870 and 1900, the Oromo population was reduced from ten to five million.

This period coincides with the occupation of Oromo land by the Abyssinian emperors Yohannes and Menilek. After colonisation, these emperors and their successors continued to treat Oromo with utmost cruelty.

Many were killed by the colonial army and settlers; others died of famine and epidemics of various diseases or were sold off as slaves. Those who remained on the land were reduced to the status of gabbar (a peasant from whom labour and produce is exacted and is a crude form of serfdom).

Haile Selassie consolidated Yohannes and Meniiek’s gains; and with the use of violence, obstructed the process of natural and historical development of the Oromo society - political, economic and social.

In all spheres of life, discrimination, subjugation, repression and exploitation of all 22

Oromo Woman in regalia

forms were applied. Everything possible was done to destroy Oromo identity - culture, language, custom, tradition, name and origin. In short Haile Selassie maintained the general policy of genocide against the Oromo.

Ethiopia’s Oromo people

The 1974 revolution was brought about by the relentless struggle over several years by, among others, the Oromo peasants. The military junta, headed by Mengistu HaileMariam, usurped power and took over the revolution. This regime has continued on the path of emperors Yohannes, Menilek

and Haile Selassie in the oppression, subjugation and exploitation of Oromo, the settlement of Abyssinians on Oromo land and the policy of genocide.

Forced to fight against Eritreans, the Somalis and others, many Oromo have fallen in battle. Many others have died on the streets of cities and towns during the so-called “Red Terror” period and in a similar programme that has been expanded in the countryside since then. Massacres in towns and villages coupled with bombing and search and destroy programmes have caused the destruction of human lives, crops, animals and property, have driven Oromo from their land and forced them to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. Not surprisingly, this ruthless oppression and persecution of peoples has resulted in the largest flight of refugees in Africa. A very large proportion of the refugees in the Horn of Africa are Oromo.

The struggle of the Oromo people, then, is nothing more than an attempt to affirm their own place in history. It seeks equality, human dignity, democracy, freedom and peace. It is not directed against the masses of a particular nation or nationality, nor against individuals, but rather against Ethiopian colonialism led by the Amhara ruling class and the naftanyas (Amhara colonial settlers) and against feudalism and imperialism. Thus it is the Ethiopian colonial system and not the Amhara masses or individuals’ which is under critical consideration.

Today when nearly all of the African peoples have won independence, the Oromo continue to suffer under the most backward and savage Ethiopian settler colonialism.

All genuinely democratic and progressive individuals and groups, including members of the oppressor nation, Amhara, who believe in peace, human dignity and liberty should support the Oromo struggle for liberation.

Although the Oromo nation is one of the largest in Africa, it is forgotten by or still unknown to the majority of the world today. Unfortunately even the name Oromo is unknown to many, and this should not be allowed to continue.

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

News UK tourist murder: Kenya gives death penalty to resort worker A Kenyan court has sentenced a hotel resort worker to death after convicting him of being in a gang which in 2011 shot dead the British tourist David Tebbutt and kidnapped his wife Judith, who was then held for six months in Somalia.

Ali Babitu Kololo, 27, was found guilty of robbery with violence.

Kololo had been dismissed from his job several months before he guided the kidnappers to the Tebbutts’ villa at the remote resort on an island in Kenya’s Lamu archipelago.

The Tebbutts, from Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, traveled to the resort, close to the Somalia border, after visiting the Masai Mara game reserve.

In an interview with the BBC last week, Judith Tebbutt, 58, said she felt uncomfortable after arriving at the beach resort for a two-week stay as she and her publisher husband were the only guests.

She said was awoken by the sounds of her husband struggling with someone in the dark. Then she was jabbed with the barrel

Judith Tebbutt, from Hertfordshire, was kidnapped in 2011

of a rifle and dragged down to the beach.

She added that she was unaware that

Tutu refuses to worship homophobic God

Tutu said he was as “passionate” about gay rights as apartheid

Noble laureate and Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town Desmond Tutu caused a stir last week when, speaking at the launch of a UN gay equality campaign in Cape Town, he said that he would rather go to hell than worship a homophobic God.

He further likened the gay rights struggle with that of the anti-apartheid movement.

“I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to the other place,” the retired archbishop said.

“I would not worship a God who is homophobic and that is how deeply I feel about this,” he said, condemning the use of religious justification for anti-gay prejudice.

“I am as passionate about this campaign as I ever was about apartheid. For me, it is at the same level,” said Tutu, 81.

Launched by the UN Human Rights Office, the public education campaign “Free and Equal” aims to raise awareness of anti24

gay violence and discrimination.

Navi Pillay, head of the UN rights agency and herself South African, said at the Cape Town event that same-sex relationships were illegal in more than a third of countries around the world and punishable by death in five.

In Africa itself, homosexuality is illegal in 38 of its 54 countries.

Pillay said that even in countries where gay rights are upheld, challenges remain.

She claimed that South Africa has “some of the worst cases of homophobic violence” despite having some of the world’s best legal protections.

A South African lesbian was last month found dead, having been sexually assaulted with a toilet brush.

“People are literally paying for their love with their lives,” said Pillay.

The campaign, which aims to push for legal reforms and public education against homophobia, will have a strong focus on working with governments.

Tutu’s comments met strong criticism amongst some members of the southern African religious and political establishment.

African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) leader Reverend Kenneth Meshoe said Tutu was “out of order.”

“We ask Archbishop Tutu not to confuse people who respect the scriptures, and advised him to keep his unbelief to himself if he does not believe in the teaching of the Holy Bible,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe was similarly scathing. “When you are a bishop and cannot interpret the Bible, you should resign and give it to those who can. We will not compromise our tradition and tolerate homosexuality,” he said.

the gang had killed her husband for the first two weeks of her kidnapping.

Tebbutt’s family reportedly paid a ransom, after which she was released. Her memoir of the event, ‘A Long Walk Home’, was published last month.

Neil Wigan, the UK ambassador to Somalia, wrote on Twitter: “Welcome conviction in Lamu today of Kololo for his role in Tebbutt kidnap and murder.”

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) confirmed the death penalty had been imposed, but said it was not expected to be carried out because of a moratorium in place since 1987.

Kololo is expected to serve a prison sentence instead.

An FCO spokesman said: “We welcome efforts by the Kenyan authorities to bring those responsible for the kidnap of Judith Tebbutt and the murder of her husband, David, to justice.

“Today’s news that Ali Babitu Kololo has been found guilty of robbery with violence is a positive development, but the wider Kenya investigations continue.”

New Zealand to deport South African chef for being “too fat”

Albert Buitenhius and his wife, who emigrated from South Africa in 2007

Immigration authorities in New Zealand have told South African chef Albert Buitenhuis, who weighs 130kg (286 pounds) he is too fat to be allowed to live in the country.

He now faces expulsion for his failure to have “an acceptable standard of health,” despite shedding 30kg since he moved to the city of Christchurch six years ago.

Buitenhuis and his wife moved from South Africa to Christchurch in 2007. At the time, the chef weighed 160kg.

His wife Marthie said that their annual work visas had been hitherto renewed with “very little problem.”

“They never mentioned Albert’s weight or his health once and he was a lot heavier then.”

But this summer the couple was told their work visas had been declined because of Mr Buitenhuis’ weight.

An immigration spokesman said Mr Buitenhuis’ application had been rejected because his obesity put him at “significant risk” of complications including diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

New Zealand has one of the highest obesity rates in the developed world, with nearly 30% of people overweight.

“It is important that all migrants have an acceptable standard of health to minimise costs and demands on New Zealand’s health services,” the spokesman said.

“The irony is that at the moment he weighs less than when we first arrived in New Zealand and also less than in his first medical, which was accepted,” his wife said.

The couple has appealed to New Zealand’s immigration minister.

His wife said: “We’ve committed no crime and did nothing wrong other than my husband being a foodie.”

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

News New South African UN Women chief: “we have to become smarter” on women’s issues Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the newly appointed Executive Director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and former Deputy Prime Minister of South Africa, has told interviewers that there is still a “lot to learn” in terms of safeguarding women’s rights in Africa and around the world, as the problems at stake become “more complex.”

Speaking to the Guardian newspaper, she said that there may also be “a little bit of fatigue” in how these issues are being confronted.

“Women’s issues have become more complex. If you look at new violations against women, like cybercrime-related gender-based violations, if you look at human trafficking, that is very well organised and well-funded, and it’s a push-of-a-button money exchange. There’s a sense in which we have to become smarter about how we fight these women’s issues and recruit new people.

“For instance, the law enforcers in many of our countries might not have moved

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka appointed as Executive Director of UN Women

as fast to identify these new crimes and deal with them as effectively as possible.

So there’s a lot to learn, also for us as the women’s movements.”

She also dismissed the idea that African governments could legitimately ignore the

women’s movement on account of it being a “western ideology” as outdated.

“I don’t think there are many governments who have a leg to stand on as far as that is concerned, which doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, but they don’t have the courage to stand up and say that,” she said.

“The fact that, in many countries, sexism can be criminalised means that it is very difficult to be a leader and public representative and be blatantly sexist.”

She added: “You also need to engage with traditional institutions. In many countries there are organised traditional authority institutions; one needs to engage with them head on because not all members of those institutions are backwards in their thinking.

“There’s still some people you could actually win over and they become the inside voice in those institutions to advocate for a more gender-responsible approach” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced Mlambo-Ngcuka’s appointment as head of UN Women on 10 July, praising her “combination of strategic leadership, consensus building and hands-on management experience.”

She was the first woman to hold the position of Deputy President of South Africa

from 2005 to 2008 under Thabo Mbeki, and also served as Deputy Minister in the Department of Trade and Industry, Minister of Minerals and Energy, and briefly as acting Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.

When Mbeki was ousted by the African National Congress, it also meant the departure of Mlambo-Ngcuka.

She told the Guardian that she does not believe her gender was a factor.

Last year, another South African woman, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, was elected chair of the African Union.

Having left office, Mlambo-Ngcuka established the Umlambo Foundation in 2008 to provide support to schools in impoverished areas in South Africa through mentorship and coaching for teachers and in Malawi through school improvements with local partners.

She is also a former teacher, and led a gender-equality organisation during the racial apartheid era. Unsurprisingly, education is her main point of emphasis.

“Education for me is a cross-cutting priority. It is the equaliser, not only for girlchildren but for all the women who need second chances.”

Senegalese immigrant has realistic shot as German MP

Karamba Diaby engages with a citizen in his Halle constituency earlier this month

22 years ago this month, two youths punched Karamba Diaby in the face and chased after him in a racist attack in Halle, an eastern German town with a significant neo-Nazi problem. Now he’s about to campaign in the city to become the first black member of the German parliament in the September general election.

Diaby, 51, who has a PhD in chemistry, was born in Senegal and has spent almost three decades in Germany. He moved to East Germany in 1985 before the fall of the Wall to study at the University of Leipzig before moving to Halle a year later. He has been nominated as the candidate for the centre-left Social Democratic Party. The fact that he has been given the third slot in the party’s list of candidates means he has a very solid chance of securing a seat in the Bundestag, or federal parliament, in Berlin.

“It could be that some people have problems with the colour of my skin,” he told SPIEGEL. “But I hope I will be accepted because I am involved in many projects.”

Diaby gained German citizenship in 1991, is married to a German and has two children. He doesn’t like talking about what campaigning is like for a black person in Germany. He doesn’t want to belittle the

problem of racism in eastern Germany, but he doesn’t want to accuse all voters of racism either. He’d prefer just to be able to ignore his origins and to focus the campaign on his pet issues like education, social justice and the environment.

That may not be possible though. Two years ago, the right-wing newspaper Junge Freiheit printed a photo of him on its front page and shortly afterwards Diaby, who was working on a project to help immigrants integrate into German society, was showered with abusive letters calling him a “Nigger” and telling him to “get back into the bush.”

These days, he says he doesn’t suffer from neo-Nazi violence. “I can take a taxi when I’m in an uncomfortable neighbourhood,” he says. In some districts in the city, the far-right National Democratic Party (NPD) scored almost 10 per cent of the vote during the last state election in 2011.

And some parts aren’t even considered safe for people with darker skin at night.

As a campaigner, he says he’s going to get out and meet many people. “I’m not naïve,” he says. “I don’t rule out that someone might feel provoked.”

But he adds that he won’t let himself be intimidated. “I’m an authentically eastern German politician,” says Diaby.

25

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

News

UN delivers ultimatum to DR Congo rebels The UN recently threatened to use force against M23 rebel forces near Goma if they do not disarm within 48 hours.

A new UN intervention brigade will be used for the first time to help the DR Congo army set up a “security zone” in the city, the international body said.

A statement by the UN mission in DR Congo, MONUSCO, gave M23 rebels around Goma until 4:00 pm local time (1400 GMT) on Thursday (August 1) “to hand in their weapons to a MONUSCO base” and join a demobilisation programme. After then, “they will be considered an imminent threat of physical violence to civilians and MONUSCO will take all necessary measures to disarm them, including by the use of force in accordance with its mandate and rules of engagement”.

The UN-proposed security zone includes Goma and its northern suburbs.

The M23, a mainly Tutsi Congolese group founded in 2012, launched a new offensive against the DR Congo army outside Goma on July 14. Diplomats say fighting in the past two weeks has left hundreds dead.

“The M23 has used indiscriminate and indirect fire, including by heavy weapons, resulting in civilian casualties,” MONUSCO said.

“The M23 has also targeted UN installations with its fire. The security zone will push these indirect fire threats out of range

Rebels may face force from UN forces unless they disarm

of Goma.

“The security zone may be expanded and repeated elsewhere, where it is needed,” the statement said.

The new heavily armed 3,000-strong UN intervention brigade in eastern DR Congo is drawn in roughly equal numbers from Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania.

It joins the 17,000 peacekeepers already deployed in the area with MONUSCO, the stabilisation force. Its mission is to carry out offensive operations, alone or with

Congolese troops, against rebel fighters.

Goma is the capital of North Kivu province, which borders two of DR Congo’s eastern neighbours, Rwanda and Uganda.

M23 rebels captured the city on November 20 last year, holding it for 10 days.

They left only when leaders from the Great Lakes nations of central Africa promised fresh negotiations, opening the Kampala talks.

UN experts and the DR Congo government have said Rwanda has supplied

troops and military aid to the M23, allegations denied by Kigali.

The United States last week called on Rwanda to end its alleged backing of the rebel forces. Rwanda and DR Congo are both signatories to a UN-brokered peace and security framework signed in March agreeing not to interfere in each other’s affairs. DR Congo further agreed to reform its security forces and take new efforts to spread government authority.

The UN refugee agency has also reported a spike in sexual violence in the region, with 705 cases recorded since January, including 619 cases of rape.

“We are worried that the fighting between the ADF, a Ugandan rebel group, and the (DR Congo) army as well as renewed fighting between the army and the M23 rebels near (Goma) will increase the danger for women in the region, including those living in camps,” it said.

More than half of the cases of sexual violence were committed by armed men, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in the statement. On Friday (July 26), the government in Kinshasa issued arrest warrants for four of M23’s leaders it said had taken refuge in neighbouring Rwanda.

It accused them of “war crimes, crimes against humanity including murder, imprisonment, torture, rape, sexual slavery, ethnic persecution” and several other charges.

Source AFP

Doors open on Mugabe’s final election Voting started on July 31 in Zimbabwe’s election as Robert Mugabe bids to extend his 33-yearrule amid suspicions that the poll will be rigged in his favour. Zimbabwe’s new constitution, which will henceforth limit the number of consecutive terms a president may spend in office, means that the 89-year-old will be competing in his last election.

Mr Mugabe has said he will stand down as

president if he loses and claims the army will respect any victory for his main rival, Morgan Tsvangirai. But many have dismissed the president’s words and Mr Tsvangirai himself has said he takes the promise “with a pinch of salt”.

Fresh suspicions of vote rigging were sparked by a Research and Advocacy Unit study which said the electoral roll includes one million dead voters or people who have emigrated.

Voters appear keen to have their say, with some queuing up wrapped in blankets four hours before polling stations opened. Several hundred people waited to vote in green tents in Mbare, the old26

Zimbabweans brave the chilly conditions to cast their vote

est township in the capital, Harare.

Zimbabwe’s economic problems have seen millions leave the country to find work in recent years. Hyperinflation reached 231,000,000% five years ago but a scarcity of US dollars - now the country’s main currency - means the economy has stabilised and inflation is back in single digits.

Violence marred the last election in

2008, with Morgan Tsvangirai pulling out of a second round run-off against Mr Mugabe after 200 of his supporters were killed.

The African Union and the The Southern African Development Community have both sent observers to monitor this year’s elections. However, there are still

worries that violence and intimidation could be used.

“We are very worried that if the result does not go Robert Mugabe’s way we could see a return to the violence that marred the 2008 election,” said Tiseke Kasambala, Southern Africa Director for Human Rights Watch.

She said on Sky News: “The heads of his security forces have made clear that they are not going to accept a victory by the opposition or by Morgan Tsvangirai.”

Tsvangirai has based his latest campaign on a plan to lure back foreign investors, create a million jobs in five years and improve public services. Casting his vote in Harare, he predicted his MDF party would win “quite resoundingly” and called it a “historic moment”.

Mr Mugabe has focused his promises on expanding the redistribution of wealth to poor black Zimbabweans, as well as making threats of violence against homosexuals.

Some 6.4 million people are eligible to vote before polling stations close at 7pm local time today, Wednesday. Final results are expected in about five days.

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

News Teachers’ union warns of consequences over withheld pay

The chairman of Kenya’s National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Wilson Sossion, has warned of “dire consequences” if teachers’ salaries and allowances for July are not fully paid by close of business on July 31.

“It’s wrong for the government to violate an agreement and raid the payrolls of teachers to raise revenue to service [government] needs,” said Sossion, adding: “Teachers’ salaries, together with the new commuter allowances which were agreed to end the strike, must be in their bank accounts by 31st July, failure of which the teachers of this country will take drastic measures against the government.”

The teacher’s group accepted the government’s offer for a commuter allowance of between US$33 for the lowest earning teacher and US$126 for the highest earning teacher to be paid in two phases over the next 12 months.

Sossion accused the government of provocation following an announcement that teachers will not get their July pay because of their strike. KNUT executives suspended a three-week teacher’s strike following negotiations with the administration.

Sossion says KNUT has notified the Teachers Service Commission as well as

various government institutions to pressure the administration to keep its promises.

“We still have a lot of energy to stage another strike to prevent the infringement of our rights by the government,” said Sossion.

The Teachers’ Service Commission says it did not commit to pay striking teachers July’s salaries in the return-to-work formula it signed with KNUT. The commission said it was not victimising teachers, citing the Employments Act and labour laws as its justification to withhold pay.

Sossion’s comments came after some government officials expressed concern about the country’s high wage bill. They proposed ways to cut down the wage bill and the broadening of the tax base to raise more revenue for the government. But Sossion, suggesting the teachers are not to blame for the high wage bill, said: “That is not an excuse to punish workers. We are not asking for additional money. [They should] pay the salaries at the level that they have been paying. And so the argument of the huge wage bill has no correlation whatsoever with the running salaries of teachers.

“So we have given our warning in black and white and we expect the government to

KNUT Chairman Wilson Sossion has threatened another walk-out if pay demands are not met

comply. If it doesn’t we will further invoke the powers granted to us as a union by the Labour Relations Act.” Supporters of the ruling party have accused the teachers group of creating a crisis in education through blackmail. They said the recent teachers’ strike was politically

motivated. Sossion disagrees, saying: “We do not engage in politics as a labour union and we operate within the [confines] of the law and therefore we are quoting the law. We are not playing politics. It is government, which is playing politics.”

Mail told to pay defamed Uganda PM damages Uganda’s Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi has accepted substantial damages from the Daily Mail after it falsely claimed he and his “cronies” siphoned off millions of dollars of foreign aid, according to a High Court judgement.

The tabloid has also issued a public apology over two stories that appeared in the newspaper and on its website late last year.

Britain suspended all aid to the Ugandan government in November after Uganda’s auditor general found that €10 million (RM42.7 million) of aid from major Western donors had been funnelled into officials’ bank accounts.

But it was staff in Mbabazi’s office that came under suspicion rather than the prime minister himself as reported by the Daily Mail, which runs one of the world’s most popular news websites.

The Court heard that on 31 October 2012, the Daily Mail published an article headed “£10m foreign aid went to cronies of Ugandan PM” and on the same day, MailOnline published an article headed “Britain and Ireland suspend aid to Uganda after £10m of funding ends up in Prime Minister’s account”.

Andrew Stephenson, solicitor for the Prime Minister, told the court that the

Amama Mbabazi has accepted an undisclosed sum in damages

Auditor General in Uganda had produced a Report which had revealed irregularities, fraud and forgery on the part of staff working within the Office of the Prime Minister.

He further noted that “There was no suggestion in the Report that the Prime Minister was responsible for, or benefitted from, the theft of the money.”

Julian Darrall, solicitor for Associated

Newspapers, confirmed that the publisher had undertaken not to repeat the allegations and agreed to pay the Prime Minister a substantial sum in damages and the legal costs. On behalf of the publisher, he apologised for the offence caused.

Speaking today from his office in Kampala, Mbabazi said: “I was shocked that these headlines were published in the English press. Neither I nor my friends

benefitted from the acts of fraud and forgery.”

He added: “On the contrary it was at my direction, through the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Prime Minister, that the Auditor General’s investigation was instigated. Far from being involved or implicated in theft, I was responsible for the process which exposed the serious offences which have resulted, in June this year, in the conviction and sentencing of the former Principal Accountant.”

Mbabazi has accepted substantial undisclosed damages from the Daily Mail’s publisher Associated Newspapers, the court heard, while the articles have been taken down from its website.

MailOnline recorded more than 120 million unique visits from users around the globe last month, according to figures released last week by the British media monitor ABC. Denmark, Norway and Ireland also suspended millions of dollars of funding to Uganda over the missing aid, which was meant to go to parts of the country that were ravaged by its civil war.

A guerrilla campaign was waged between 1987 and 2006 in Uganda by the Lord’s Resistance Army, which became notorious for kidnapping children and forcing them to become child soldiers.

Uganda has repaid some of the misappropriated funding to donors including Sweden and Norway.

27

Events calendar What’s On & When WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

28

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

To advertise call 020 7274 3933 or email info@africanvoice.co.uk

AfricanVoice

SUBSCRIBE

TODAY

£100 FOR 1 YEAR £100 FOR 1 YEAR £100 FOR 1 YEAR lnclu P&Pz

A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OUT EVERY FRIDAY! Name: Full Address: Post Code:

Tel No: I wish to subscribe to AfricanVoice

1 Year:

£100

I enclose a cheque/postal order for £

made payable to: AfricanVoice.

Please invoice me/my company Pls make a cheque of £100 payable to African Voice.

Mail to Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7JN 29

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Ayew: I want more from Ghana “There’s no point opening the wound again.

Amongst the players, we hardly ever talk about it anymore because it’s too hard to swallow. It’s very difficult to turn the page, but the time’s come to move on.”

‘Something’s not right’

Andre Ayew playing for Marseille

Three years may have passed since the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, but the adjective ‘historic’ remains an apt description of so many features of this memorable competition. Indeed, it was the first edition of the global showpiece to be held on African soil and was capped by a first triumph for Spain yet, for Ghana at least, their own major ‘first’ slipped agonisingly out of their grasp.

The Black Stars seemingly had everything in their favour to become the first African nation to reach the last four, only for their run to be blocked at the quarter-final stage by Uruguay in dramatic and extremely cruel fashion. Andre Ayew experienced that painful end to Ghana’s South African adventure first-hand and, even amidst his involvement in his country’s qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014, what happened against La Celeste clearly still rankles.

“No, it’s not been forgotten and perhaps it never will,” the Marseille midfielder told FIFA.com. “The hardest thing is the way we were knocked out. If you lose a match because they’re the better team then that’s that, you can put it behind you. But I think that the way things panned out, we deserved to be in the semi-finals.”

‘The way’ Ayew alluded to ended thus: with the scores level at 1-1 in injury time of the second half of extra time, a goal-bound effort from Ghana’s Dominic Adiyiah was blocked by the hand of Luis Suarez on the line. The Charrúa forward was duly handed 30

his marching orders and a penalty awarded to the Black Stars, only for Asamoah Gyan to thump the spot-kick against the bar and send the match to a shootout – where it was the South Americans who prevailed.

“Of course, for a moment we all thought it: we all already saw ourselves in the semi-finals,” admitted Ayew, who had to sit out the game due to suspension. “We already felt like we were on our way once Sulley Muntari opened the scoring from 40 metres out [on the stroke of half-time].

“Even when they levelled [via Diego Forlan on 55 minutes] we never stopped believing and, once we got that penalty, we thought ‘that’s that, we’re through’.

What’s more, Gyan is a penalty specialist.

But there you go – the ball hit the bar and went over.”

Sympathy for Suarez An African team had never been so close to the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, but that missed penalty and the shoot-out that followed extended the continent’s wait for a last-four berth for another four years at least. Two-time world champions Uruguay, for their part, fell at the next hurdle against the Netherlands, with Suarez’s actions against Ghana earning him hero status back home but widespread condemnation across much of the rest of Planet Football.

Ayew, despite his huge disappointment at the time, does not hold a grudge against the Liverpool striker. “What will stick in the memory is that Suarez made a heroic gesture. He sacrificed himself and in the end it worked, because they went through,” said the player voted third in South Africa

2010’s Best Young Player Award, behind Thomas Muller and Giovani Dos Santos.

“He [Suarez] left his team with ten men and gave away a penalty in the last minute, but it worked out for them,” Ayew went on.

“When the Uruguayans got home they were given a heroes’ welcome. There was a kind of injustice done against us but they took a risk and it paid off. Obviously Ghanaian supporters and perhaps even the whole of Africa were angry at Suarez, but it was an action that us players can understand. If it had been me in that situation, perhaps I’d have done something similar.”

Even so, the culmination of that encounter on 2 July 2010 remains painfully fresh in the minds of the Ghana players. “We’ve never spoken about that penalty to Gyan and we never will either,” said Ayew, the son of former Ghana legend Abedi Pele.

Andre Ayew. celebrates scoring for Ghana

Fortunately, the Black Stars can focus on their bid to reach Brazil 2014, a campaign which has them a point clear at the top of Group D after five games of the second round of African Zone qualifying. With four wins and one defeat so far – against closest challengers Zambia – a win against the Zambians on 6 September would send Ghana into the ten-team final round, from which five nations will earn a trip to Brazilian soil.

Would Ayew consider that a just reward for one of the most consistent and bestorganised national sides in African football this past decade? “It’s true, a lot of people say that, but when things go well we ought to be winning trophies,” said the older brother of fellow Marseille man Jordan. “However, we’ve not won anything for years, apart from the U-20 World Cup 2009 and the same year’s African U-20 Championship.

“True, we’re always among the semi-finalists or finalists [in continental competitions]. It’s nice enough, we play well, we go far but, at the end of the day, we don’t win anything. That’s not enough for me,” he said forcefully. “We may be among Africa’s most consistent sides, but if we don’t manage to win titles then something’s not right. If we can focus a bit more on that issue, we could achieve great things.”

And if, as the saying goes, you learn more in defeat than in victory, Ayew and Co will no doubt have learned plenty from their 2010 heartbreak. But will it be enough to earn them another shot at making history come Brazil 2014?

Friday, 02 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Burundi make history in CHAN qualifiers

City release the ‘next Yaya Toure’ Manchester City have released the ‘next Yaya Toure’ Abdisalam Ibrahim on a free transfer.

Burundi National football team Burundi have reached the finals of a CAF senior national team competition for the first time after fighting back to draw 1-1 with Sudan in an African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier and going on to the win the penalty shootout 4-3.

Sudan is a happy hunting ground for Burundi as top club Vital’O won the regional CECAFA championship there last month. Victory earned the Swallows a place at the 16-team tournament in South African cities Bloemfontein, Cape Town and Polokwane next January.

Burkina Faso, Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria and Uganda have also qualified. And South Africa are automatic participants as hosts of the biennial competition for home-based footballers.

The remaining four places will be split between countries from the central and southern regions in a regional qualifying competition.

Sudan were favoured after forcing a 1-1 draw in Bujumbura and first-leg scorer Nadir El

Tayeb struck again 18 minutes into the return game. However, Gilbert Kaze levelled five minutes after half-time and the Burundians proved more accurate in the shootout.

There were many tense finishes in the other seven second legs with three settled by penalties, one by away goals and two by one-goal overall margins. It took the away-goal rule to decide the Congo-Congo DR derby in favour of the former, with Dimitri Bissiki scoring the only goal a minute from time. The 1-0 victory squeezed the Red Devils through after they lost the first leg 2-1 in the Democratic Republic of Congo three weeks ago.

Mali were indebted to goalkeeper Soumalia Diakite after losing 1-0 to Guinea in Conakry, but advancing 3-2 on aggregate. Diakite conceded a goal to Ibrahima Sory Camara just past the hour mark, but blocked a penalty from the same player soon after.

Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe are well placed to move on after their first-leg matches while the Cameroon-Gabon tie is

finely balanced. Goals from Almiro Lobo, captain Dario Khan and Mario Sinamunda earned the Mozambicans an easier-than-expected 3-0 win over Namibia. The Namibians made their intentions clear by taking just one striker to Maputo, but conceded two goals within 10 second-half minutes.

Angola await the winners in a final-round qualifier having eliminated Swaziland during June with 1-0 home and away victories. Zimbabwe coach Ian Gorowa could not have wished for a happier debut as his side triumphed 3-0 over Mauritius in rain-lashed Curepipe.

Nelson Maziwisa bagged a brace and Milton Ncube one goal to virtually ensure the Warriors a second-round slot. They are likely to face Zambia for a place in South Africa after their northern neighbours forced a 1-1 away to Botswana. Cameroon returned to international football after FIFA lifted a ban by pipping Gabon 1-0 in Yaounde via a Jacques Haman penalty.

Cisse about-turns on shirt sponsor

Newcastle United’s Senegalese striker Papiss Cisse has said he will wear the club’s Wonga-sponsored kit after consulting his Islamic teachers.

The 28-year-old missed Newcastle’s training camp in Portugal after refusing to wear the shirt due to his religious beliefs (African Voice, Issue 492).

“It has been a very difficult time for me and the club, and also for the fans,” Cisse was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

“I have had some useful discussions with my club, my family and Islamic teachers in the last few weeks. After a huge amount of thought and reflection, I have made the decision to follow my team-mates and wear the kit.

“Now I think it is important for the team and the fans that we concentrate 100 per cent on football.”

Cisse made his first pre-season appearance in a friendly game against Scottish side St Mirren on Tuesday (July 30).

“Although I did not go to Portugal on the training camp, I was back here working hard on my fitness and preparing for the start of the new season,” he added.

Cisse wearing the logo that caused him a crisis of conscience against St Mirren

The midfielder, who possesses similar characteristics to Yaya Toure, is currently on loan at Norwegian side Stromsgodset.

Sky Sports reported that City have opted not to hand the Norwegian an extension to his current contract which comes to an end next year.

The player himself has revealed that he was released, but with a number of English teams interested in his services, he is hoping his future will be resolved soon.

“Yes, it’s true the club gave me a free transfer last week and my advisors are speaking with clubs at this stage,” Ibrahim said.

“I’m hoping to have my future sorted in the next couple of weeks hopefully by mid-August.”

Okagbare sets new African record Continued from page 32

“I have no doubt that if she maintains her current form and peaks at the right time she will win the women’s 100m at the World Championship in Russia”.

In his capacity as the Technical Director of AFN, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama was reported to have noted that ‘a lot of people have complained that Okagbare might get burnt out before the World Championship because of her participation in many races. For us at the AFN, we don’t see it from that angle’.

“People should know that Okagbare is taking part in three different events (100m, long jump and the 200m). For her to be in good shape and compete for medals in all the events in Moscow, she has to give it a trial in the various Diamond Leagues.

“As you can see, Okagbare is very mindful of what she is doing going by events she has competed in so far in the Diamond League. If she competes in the 100m in one event, she registers for either the long jump or 200m in another Diamond League. It is good for her. Okagbare knows she has a duty to perform for Team Nigeria in Moscow. She normally informs us of what she intends to do at any particular competition and we have to give her the approval.”

31

Friday, 2 August 2013 – Thursday, 08 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

ISSUE 493

Ayew: I want more from Ghana SEE PAGE 30

Okagbare sets new African record

Blessing Okagbare

By Peter Olorunnisomo

An African record was set in the 100m finals over the weekend by Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria who was competing at the IAAF flagship championships in London.

London was in the anniversary sports celebration of the Olympic Games which she hosted and a number of world class athletes particularly those belonging to the commonwealth bent and the Caribbean.

Blessing hit great form, raising hopes that

the 14th World IAAF meet in Moscow could well experience a show down at the Women’s 100m dash if this is considered a dress rehearsal.

Blessing had cancelled the African sprint record in the semi-finals when she ran the race in a time of 10.86secs. This made her the fastest African woman so far. But the bigger surpriase was to show when in the finals, she cancelled her own African record to set another by a shave of 7 seconds.

Though she is behind in points to Jamaica’s reigning Olympic champion, Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce who has run a world leading time of 10.77secs, she had still written an extra line in the history pages by becom-

ing the second African woman, after police woman - Gloria Alozie to win an individual medal at the IAAF flagship championship after 13 years.

Barbara Pierre of the USA came in behind Okagbare with a time of 10.85secs.

On the rating of the IAAF Diamond League points, Blessing has a maximum of 10 points which is two less than that of Fraser-Pryce.

The Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi while congratulating Okagbare said ‘she has consistently shown by her performances that she has got what it takes to be a world champion. It is an

impressive performance by any standard, breaking the Africa record two times within a short period. It shows that she is worldclass and ranks among the best athletes in the world’.

Continued on page 31

African Voice Newspaper is published by African Voice Communications. Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP. Tel: 020 7274 3933 Registered at the British Library as a newspaper. ISSN 1475-2166.Email: africanvoicenews@googlemail.com