African voice newspaper 495

Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

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ISSUE 495

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

£1.00

Ethnic Minorities wait longer for kidney transplants

African Showcase Market: celebrates diversity in Barking

SEE PAGE 6

SEE PAGE 19

MODERNISATION OF HIV RULES TO BETTER PROTECT PUBLIC SEE PAGE 22

Opposition jumps on special May redactions

Home Secretary condemned for censoring immigration report

By Alan Oakley

Home Secretary Theresa May is under attack for using her powers to censor a report by Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, John Vine.

The report; Inspection of Juxtaposed Controls, November 2012 – March 2013, examines the way in which UK immigration officers liaise with French and Belgian counterparts. In particular, it concerns the way in which they cooperate to prevent unauthorised people from entering the UK illegally.

The Home Secretary made a total of 15 redactions to the report, something she is entitled to do under the UK Borders Act 2007 Section 50, providing that the edits are made on the grounds of national security.

Shadow immigration minister, Chris Bryant, has accused Mrs May of making the changes in an attempt to cover up her own failings, asking: “What possible reason can there be for redacting elements of a report by a highly-respected independent inspector?”

UKIP’s Nigel Farage, said: “It is extremely concerning that a report into the operations of our border security is being censored by the Home Office. We have to ask them, what on earth are they hiding?”

Defending the Home Secretary, immigration minister Mark Harper said: “If you look at the history of the reports that the Chief Inspector has produced, I think it would be fair to say that a number of them have previously been very critical for example of the UK Border Agency, in some cases very critical. In those cases, the Home Secretary has not used her powers to redact any of those reports”.

However, some commentators suggest that elements of this latest paper may be more personally embarrassing for the Home Secretary than previous reports because some of the Chief Inspector’s criticisms concern the operation of the UK Border Force, a body that was created by Mrs May in 2012. Writing in the Telegraph, David Barrett and Rosa Silverman point out that it has previously always been possible for Mrs May to blame the failures of the UK Border Agency (UKBA) on the previous Labour administration which created the agency in 2008.

The UKBA was terminated earlier this year for, according to Mrs May, being ‘not good enough’ and developing a secretive culture.

Continued on page 2

Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration John Vine’s report criticises the operation of the UK Border Force

Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

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Email: africanvoicenews@gmail.com

University brings massive boost to UK economy University study delivers huge benefits to both graduates’ earnings and the wider UK economy, Universities and Science Minister David Willetts will announce.

As hundreds of thousands of students get their A Level results new data published by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills shows female students who progress to university can expect to boost their lifetime earnings by £250,000, and men by £165,000.

University study is also shown to contribute significantly to the economy, with around 20 per cent of the UK’s economic growth between 1982 and 2005 attributable to an increase in the number of graduates, as well as at least one third of the increase in labour productivity from 1994 to 2005.

Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said: “As students discover their A Level results this new data highlights just what a great long-term investment university is.

“A degree remains one of the best pathways to achieving a good job and a rewarding career – as well as a hugely enjoyable experience for most students. What is more, there is a real incentive for working hard, because the research finds that gaining a higher degree classification boosts earnings even further.

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 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: 0203 737 3077

Email: africanvoicenews@gmail.com

African Voice is published by African Voice UK.

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News

Britain commits further investment to innovation Business Secretary Vince Cable has outlined a significant expansion in the groundbreaking Catapult centres that help turn great ideas into commercial realities.

Established by the Technology Strategy Board, the Catapults are a network of seven technology and innovation centres covering a range of sectors: High Value Manufacturing, Satellite Applications, Cell Therapy, Offshore Renewable Energy, Future Cities, Transport Systems and the Connected Digital Economy.

Following the success of these centres, a commitment has been made to invest in two new Catapults in 2015/16. An Energy Systems Catapult will help innovative UK businesses tackle the challenge of creating energy systems that meet future supply and demand, both in the UK and overseas. And a Diagnostics for Stratified Medicine Catapult will help identify and provide the right care for individual patients, allowing businesses to develop new treatments and reducing the cost of healthcare.

An extra £7 million is also being invested in the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. In its first year the centre has been involved in 830 projects and engaged with almost 2,000 small and medium sized enterprises.

Speaking during a visit to the Satellite Applications Catapult in Harwell, Oxfordshire, Vince Cable said: “Catapult centres have made a significant contribution over the last year, supporting businesses and developing new

Business Secretary Vince Cable

technologies. The total public and private sector investment in the Catapults sofar is £1.4 billion and further investment will follow.

“By committing to investment in new technologies now, we are laying the foundations for the high-growth businesses of the future. This will allow them to grow, take on more employees and keep the UK at the forefront of global innovation.”

Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board Iain Gray said: “The Catapult centres have been set up to make real changes to the way innovation happens in the UK – to make things faster, less risky and more successful.

We’re proud of the substantial progress made so far and excited by the very real prospects that the Catapults offer in support of future economic growth.”

The Technology Strategy Board has today published its annual review of the

Catapult centres highlighting their success so far. The Satellite Applications Catapult has played an important role in the development of firms like WeatherSafe. The company has developed an ‘app’ which allows Rwandan farmers to access weather information, improve the management of their coffee crop and fight pests.

The Cell Therapy Catapult is getting ready to open its new £7.5 million laboratory at Guy’s Hospital, London, and has already confirmed collaborations with GSK, the UK Stem Cell Foundation and Loughborough University. It has started developing projects that range from exploring new manufacturing technologies to formulating appropriate regulatory responses to emerging therapies. The global cell therapy industry is expected to have an annual turnover of $20 billion by 2025.

tion about the closure of the ‘Lille loophole’. This refers to fears that immigrants can avoid border security and enter the UK illegally by travelling from Lille to the UK. The Home Secretary had this section completely redacted from the report.

Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme, Mr Harper said that the Home Office was reviewing its procedures but dismissed tak-

ing fingerprints as impractical. He said: “It consumes a large amount of time for our officers to do that when they could be using that time to carry out other tasks to secure the border and it’s a balance and the decision that was taken in 2010 was to work very closely with our French colleagues [and] for them to process people trying to enter the United Kingdom illegally”.

Special May redactions

Continued from front page

John Vine

Mr Vine made several recommendations in his report, one of which was completely redacted by the Home Secretary. Among his other findings, the Chief Inspector suggests that UK Border Force officers should fingerprint those who are apprehended trying to enter the UK illegally so that they can later be identified if they try again using a different identity. He also made a sugges-

Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

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News

The UK’s migration-led population explosion Newly released figures show that the UK’s population rose by 419,900 in the year to June 2012.

Of this rise, about 40% (165,000) was caused by immigration and the rest by a baby boom in the UK. But analysis of the figures shows that many of the babies in that baby boom were born to first generation mothers and so immigration is responsible for a considerable proportion of this rise too.

There were 813,200 births over the year. More than 25% of these babies had mothers born outside the UK. The UK’s population rose by more than any other country in Europe over the year to June 2012. Its nearest rival was France where the population rose by 319,100.

The Office for National Statistics says that the level of net immigration was ‘about average’ for the last decade. The net immigration figure is calculated by taking the number of people who came to the UK intending to settle over a given period and subtracting the number of UK residents who leave the country permanently over the same period.

In the year to June 2012, 517,800 immigrants settled in the UK while 351,100 people left the country. Immigration has caused a population bulge among 23-33 year olds.

Most of the population growth has occurred in London and the south east. The population of London grew by over 100,000

over the year despite the fact that 50,000 people left the capital and went to live in satellite towns around the South-East.

The figures show that London’s population grew by 69,000 due to net immigration over the year in question.

There are other reasons behind the population surge. More men are surviving into their mid and late 70s. 26% more men survived past their 75th birthday than did so in 2002. There are also fewer still births.

Many economists see immigration as necessary for the UK. The UK’s independent Office for Budget Responsibility issued a report last month in which it said that the UK needed 7m more immigrants within the next 50 years to replace a disappearing workforce and to provide the tax income to pay for the UK’s ageing population.

Sanwar Ali of workpermit.com said: “Immigration has contributed to significant economic growth in the UK and has meant that much needed workers are available in a wide range of industries including specialist IT staff for the technology sector, doctors, nurses and fruit pickers on farms.

“No country that wishes to be prosperous and successful can afford to cut itself off from talented international workers. A considerable part of the UK’s success over recent years can be attributed to its relaxed immigration regime.

“If it hadn’t been for immigration, British icons such as Marks and Spencer, Easyjet, Tesco, Cobra Beer and Selfridges, wouldn’t exist. Britain has always been connected to the global economy”.

Immigration by region

Population growth by EU country 3

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Comment

Zimbabwe: UN urged to refer Mugabe to International Criminal Court

By Alex Bell

The United Nations (UN) is once again facing pressure to take the lead in confronting Robert Mugabe and the crimes against humanity he is responsible for, by referring the matter to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

New York based advocacy group AIDSFree World this week called on the UN Security Council to step in, warning that if there is no international intervention in Zimbabwe, more violence and human rights abuses could be seen there.

The warning comes two weeks after the highly disputed elections that saw Mugabe re-elected as President. The opposition MDC-T is challenging this outcome, saying the electoral process was clearly rigged and manipulated in ZANU PF’s favour.

AIDS-Free World co-director, Stephen Lewis, said Tuesday that this election outcome means Mugabe and his ZANU PF party has resumed “absolute control” of Zimbabwe.

“What has happened is that because ZANU PF now has an absolute majority which allows them to revise the constitution, and Mugabe has erected around him an impenetrable wall of impunity, and one never knows what he will unleash over the coming weeks, we felt the time has come for the international community to intervene. And there’s only one way to do that and that is through the International Criminal Court,” Lewis told SW Radio Africa.

He said there is deep concern of a return to violence in the coming weeks, with the election outcome being challenged.

Robert Mugabe

“The challenge from Morgan Tsvangirai is strong, and Mugabe feels like such a victor in this manipulated election that he may well unleash something pretty horrific,” Lewis warned.

He said that such a return to violence would not be unprecedented, explaining that the same man and his party has unleashed horrific violence repeatedly in the past. He referred to the Gukurahundi genocide in the 1980s, the Murambatsvina ‘cleansing’ operation in 2005, and the rape campaign that followed Zimbabwe last elections in 2008.

“This all amounts to crimes against humaity,” Lewis emphasised In 2009 AIDS-Free World released a shock report detailing the horrific rape

campaign against Zimbabwe’s women, as part of ZANU PF’s violent strategy to hold on to power. The report, ‘Electing to Rape: Sexual Terror in Mugabe’s Zimbabwe’, documents 380 rapes committed by 241 perpetrators, who all identified themselves to their victims as ZANU PF members. The report also detailed that the figures are just the tip of the iceberg, as many other rape victims are too fearful to come forward. Any kind of justice for the crimes has been nonexistent, and there has been no condemnation or action from either the African Union or the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The report states that the ZANU PF government was well aware of the rape campaign that, along with the election violence,

was masterminded by the Joint Operations Command (JOC). The report goes on to detail Mugabe’s own complicity in the rapes, explaining how he not only knew about the campaign, but also refused to prevent it or punish those responsible.

The report has formed the basis of an investigation set to be undertaken by the South African police, where AIDS-Free World was forced to turn for justice for the rape victims because justice in Zimbabwe was not possible. Lewis explained that every other avenue, apart from action from the UN Security Council, could be a dead end.

“Everything about the reign of Mugabe and ZANU PF has been extreme, authoritarian and episodically deranged. And it demands international notice,” Lewis said.

a Security Council, and if we are going to have a United Nations ... we will have to encompass African interests through a permanent seat at the Security Council.”

In 2000, the United Nations member

states met at a Millennium Summit to discuss and adopt development goals around eradicating poverty and hunger, eradicating HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases, and achieving environmental sustainability and development through global partnerships.

Member states agreed at the time that they would work towards achieving these goals in 15 years.

With the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals looming, NkoanaMashabane called on developed countries to remember the commitments they had made.

“The one commitment that the developed states [made was to] contribute 0.7% of their national budgets to developmental goals of the developing world. The last time we checked, we don’t know how many countries have [lived up to their promises],” she said.

“Secondly, it was that they would continue on that principle of equal but differentiated responsibility [on] issues that come with greenhouse gas emissions, because they have had 100 years of uninterrupted pollution ... and we woke up one morning and we were all affected.”

Africa: ‘Time for African Seats On UN Council’

South African International Relations Minister Maite NkoanaMashabane has called on the United Nations to give Africa a minimum of two permanent seats on the body’s Security Council.

Briefing journalists after hosting Vuk Jeremic, the president of the 67th session of the UN General Assembly, in Pretoria on Monday, Nkoana-Mashabane also called on developed countries to honour the promises of economic support for environmental sustainability that they had made to developing countries.

She said the world body could not continue “to ignore and exclude the 54 member states that form a very critical region, the African Union,” noting that “seventy percent of the issues taken to the UN Security Council and are tabled for discussion are about us.”

Jeremic, whose one-year presidential term of the 67th session ends in September, agreed that there was need for change, as well as fair representation of African states on the council.

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Jacob Zuma South African President

“If the institution does not keep up with the times and the environment, then the Security Council will become slowly but surely irrelevant,” he said.

“In the future, if we are going to have

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News Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities wait longer for kidney transplants The latest Organ Donation and Transplantation Activity Report published

by NHS Blood and Transplant reveals that three out of ten patients on the UK’s active kidney transplant waiting list at the end of March 2013 were from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.

However, only 23% of patients who received a kidney transplant during 2012/13 were from these communities and, on average, they will wait a year longer for a transplant than a White patient.* Kidneys are allocated according to many factors, with blood and tissue type amongst the most important and matching is likely to be closer when the ethnicity of the donor and recipient are closer. As only a small percentage (5%) of deceased donors are from BAME communities,this can delay a suitably matched organ being found for BAME patients.

On 31 March 2013, 2,037 (27%) of the 7.560 people on the Transplant Waiting List for any type of organ, were BAME patients.

Last year there were 1,212 deceased donors in the UK. Only 56 of them were from BAME communities. Of those: 21 were Asian 20 were Black 15 were from other ethnic backgrounds

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Sally Johnson, NHS Blood and Transplant’s Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation, added: “Patients from Black, Asian and some ethnic minority communities are more likely to need an organ transplant than the rest of the population as they are more susceptible to illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes and certain forms of hepatitis, all of which may result in organ failure and the need for a lifesaving transplant.

“We have seen an increase in consent ** among BAME families – one third (33%) approached about donation said yes in 2012/13, compared to a quarter (24%) the previous year. Although this is encouraging progress, the consent /authorisation rate remains much lower than the 61% consent rate seen among white families. We ask everyone in Britain’s diverse communities to make a decision to donate if and when they can, knowing that they can be proud to help someone in their own community.

Remember it’s really important to let your family know your decision and join the NHS Organ Donor Register” Kirit Modi, Chairman of the National Kidney Federation and co-chair of the NBTA, (the National Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Transplant Alliance) said: “I am today urging individuals from BAME backgrounds as well as appropriate community and religious groups to help improve organ donation and transplantation in our

An organ donorcard

communities. Please discuss this with close members of your family and join the Organ Donor Register. Together we can solve this problem and save lives.”

To join the NHS Organ Donor Regis-

ter visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 2323 or text SAVE to 62323.

It’s also important to talk to those closest to you about your organ donation wishes.

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Africa’s booming funerals business

From fish-shaped to beer bottle coffins, funerals in Africa are lavish affairs, providing a lucrative opportunity for insurance companies looking for business in some of the world’s fastest growing economies.

Many of the insurance industry’s big money-spinners in developed markets, like motor insurance and cover for household goods, are irrelevant to the majority of Africans who cannot afford a range of expensive personal possessions.

But due to the high death rate and low saving levels in some areas, funeral insurance is proving an easier sell among people daunted by the cost of ceremonies that can stretch to several months of income.

“That’s the whole problem with it.

People think that if you want a small intimate funeral, you don’t have money,” said Emily Chauke, a 43-year-old cosmetics consultant from Johannesburg who pays 570 rand ($64) a month for

An example of the lavish coffins in which some choose to be buried

family funeral cover.

“They have that thing of proving people wrong, that ‘I can afford to give my father or mother a big funeral,’” she said.

Africans are by no means alone in spending heavily on honouring their dead. But funerals on the continent are

more frequent per head of population than elsewhere in the world.

In South Africa, the continent’s biggest economy, the annual death rate nearly double the global average. Also it is reported six of the 10 countries with the highest death rates are in Africa, according to the CIA World Factbook.

While mortality rates are high, though, they are also falling—an attractive combination for insurers which raises the prospect of customers paying into their policies for longer.

High unemployment and above-average birth rates across much of Africa also mean employees can have many dependents; making it more likely they will seek funeral insurance.

“There’s a big demand for it because of the cultural behaviour that we need to have these big dignified funerals,” said Jacky Huma, head of micro-insurance at the South Africa’s Financial Services Board (FSB), which estimates funeral premiums in the country totalled 4.9 billion rand ($494 million) in 2011.

While that’s just under 2 percent of all long-term insurance in the comparatively developed South African market, she said demand was growing rapidly, a point echoed by global bank Standard Chartered, which said burial cover was also a crucial way of winning new customers in less developed markets.

Kenya begins mobile business registration process

Mobile phone use in Kenya has risen greatly over the past few years

Kenyan State Law Office has signed a Sh14 million ($160,919) deal with telecommunication company, Safaricom, which will allow the registration of businesses through a mobile device.

The deal will provide Kenyans the opportunity to start registering businesses, conduct name searches and pay the attendant fees over their handsets, thus saving them overhead registration cost, while speeding up the legalization of businesses process, Business Daily reported.

“It has been terrible that somebody is forced to come all the way from Lodwar just to pay Sh100 in Nairobi,” said Solicitor-General Njee Muturi.

Prior to this agreement, business owners or investors had to make long trips to Kenya’s capital city and spend several hours on a queue before having to obtain an official 8

incorporation certificate, but the attorney general of the country believes there will be a change of decorum in its service delivery process.

“We are reinventing the way we deliver services and in the next few days, the long queues that Kenyans associate us with will be no more,” said the Attorney-General, Prof Githu Muigai.

According to the World Bank, it takes an average of 10 procedures and 32 days — including 2 weeks to file the deed with the Registrar — to start a business, in sharp contrast to Rwanda, which only takes three days to fully incorporate a business.

However, with this deal, the East African country hopes to boost efficiency at the Registrar of Companies’ office, which will narrow the competitive gap with regional nations in the pursuit of international investors.

Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

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UK condemns attack at a mosque in Nigeria

Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds has condemned as “contemptible and cowardly” an attack on a mosque in northeastern Nigeria in which suspected Islamic extremists killed at least 44 worshippers and wounded another 26.

Attackers wearing Nigerian army camouflage fatigues struck under cover of darkness as residents were saying their dawn prayers at around 5:30 a.m. (GMT) Sunday at Konduga town, 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Maiduguri, said security agents who insisted on anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the press.

Another 12 civilians died in a simultaneous attack on Ngom village just outside Maiduguri, they said.

“Attacking innocent people in a place of worship is a contemptible and cowardly act,” the Foreign Office Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds said in a statement Tuesday.

He said Britain “stands with the government and people of Nigeria as they seek to reduce violence in the north east of the country.”

Sunday’s attacks are the latest in a series blamed on religious extremists wanting to oust the government and install strict Islamic law throughout the nation of more than 160 million people that is about equally divided between a predominantly Muslim north and mainly Christian south.

The government imposed a state of emergency in three northeastern states and deployed thousands more troops to try to put down the Islamic uprising that poses the greatest threat in years to security and unity in Africa’s largest oil producer.

Nigeria’s war is not Muslims against Christian. The Boko Haram terrorist network — the name means “Western education is forbidden” — has killed more Muslims than Christians, according to officials, attacking mosques and clerics that have spoken out against religious extremism.

Mark Simmonds Boko Haram also has attacked Christians outside churches and teachers and schoolchildren, as well as government and military targets.

Since 2010, the militants have been blamed for the killings of more than 1,700 people, according to a count by The Associated Press.

The news about Sunday’s violence in Borno state came as journalists received a video featuring Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, who gloats over recent attacks, threatens more, and says his group is now strong enough to go after the United States.

A state security service agent and Usman Musa, a member of a civilian militia that works with the military, said Monday they counted the bodies at the mosque after the attack. Musa said four members of

his group — known as the Civilian Joint Task Force —also were killed when they reached Konduga and encountered “fierce resistance from heavily armed terrorists.”

Musa and the security service agent said the attackers wore military camouflage uniforms used by the Nigerian army, probably acquired in one of their attacks on military bases.

On their way back from Konduga, the security forces came upon the scene of another attack at Ngom village, 5 kilometers (3 miles) outside Maiduguri, where Musa said he counted 12 bodies of civilians.

Twenty-six worshippers at the mosque were hospitalized with gunshot wounds, said a security guard at the emergency ward of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not permitted to give information to

reporters.

Nigeria declared a state of emergency covering one-sixth of the country on May 14 to fight the onslaught after Boko Haram fighters took over several northeastern towns and villages, raising their flag and demanding taxes from residents.

The military said it has driven Boko Haram out of most towns and villages.

But the extremists have continued to launch guerrilla-style attacks and bombings.

In the video received by journalists Monday, Shekau brushes off any gains asserted by the security forces.

“You soldiers have claimed that you are powerful, that we have been defeated, that we are mad people,” Shekau says, speaking in the local Hausa language. “But how can a mad man successfully coordinate recent attacks in Gamboru, in Malam Fatori, slaughter people in Biu, kill in Gwoza and in Bama, where soldiers fled under our heavy fire power?

“We have killed countless soldiers and we are going to kill more,” Shekau said in the video.

He further insists the extremists’ “strength and firepower has surpassed that of Nigeria. … We can now comfortably confront the United States of America.”

Shekau also said Nigeria’s military is “lying to the world” about its casualties.

“They lied that they have killed our members, but we are the ones that have killed the soldiers.”

Under orders from the military, cellphone and Internet service has been cut in Borno, making communications difficult.

The military says the extremists were using cellphones to coordinate attacks. But some government officials argue that the lack of communication prevents civilians from informing them of suspicious movements and getting help when they are attacked.

Nigerian troops ‘kill Boko Haram commander Momodu Bama’

Nigeria’s military has said it has killed the second-in-command of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

His death earlier in the month had been “confirmed by other arrested terrorists”, a military spokesman, Brig Gen Chris Olukolade said.

Momodu Bama, also known by his alias “Abu Saad”, was a specialist in manning anti-aircraft guns, he said.

In May, Nigeria declared an emergency in three north-eastern states in order to battle the militants.

There has been no independent confirmation of Momodu Bama’s death and Boko Haram has not commented on the statement.

On Tuesday, Nigeria’s Interior Minister

Abba Moro told the BBC that the army was making progress in its war against Boko Haram, despite the killing of 44 people in a mosque in the region on Sunday.

The attack by suspected militants took place in the town of Konduga, 35km (22 miles) from the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, where Boko Haram was first established.

Gen Olukolade, a spokesman for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, said Momodu Bama was one of the “most-wanted” militant commanders and had a 25m naira ($155,000, £100,000) bounty on his head.

He was killed during fighting in Borno state around “the Bama corridor”, he said.

Seventeen other militants, including Momodu Bama’s father Abatcha Flatari - “one of the spiritual guiding lights of the outlawed terrorist group”, were also killed, he

Islamic militant group Boko Haram members

said.

Another 24 fighters were arrested, his statement added.

Boko Haram is fighting to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north.

Thousands of people have died since it

began its insurgency in 2009.

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, said in a recent video that his fighters’ continuing attacks showed that the army’s claims to have inflicted heavy losses on the group were “lies”.

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Aregbesola Commended On Fish Farming

Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has been commended for his financial support towards the improvement of fish farming in the state.

The Managing Director, Fed-Agro Farms, Nigeria Limited, who is also the coordinator of the beneficiaries of the government agricultural funds loan of N25.3 million, Otunba Eniola Ogunsanya, gave the commendation in Ijeda-Ijesa, while speaking with the project monitoring team of the Ministry of Information and Strategy.

Ogunsanya said the government gave the financial support to boost fish farming and to liberate Osun, so as to make it a point of reference in farming for other states in the SouthWest region.

He stated further that, through the intervention, over 463 farmers have been empowered in fish farming, adding that employment of white men to train farmers in fish production and establishment of a factory that produces all raw materials needed to feed the fish have been put in place to improve the agricultural sector and standard of living in the state.

He said his farm can now boast of 52 fish

ponds, fully stocked with one million fishes, 80 synthetic tanks, 22 fibre tanks and 12 concrete tanks used at various stages of production at the hatchery, 20 smoking kiln that have the capacity of smoking 1000kg of fish per day, including an oxygenated vehicle for transportation of live fish to Abuja for consumption.

He therefore, advised youths to engage in farming, as this would have a positive impact on the country’s agricultural productivity and help in reducing the rate of unemployment in the country.

In the same vein, the manager of Fed–Agro Farms Nigeria Limited, Mr. Bello Adediran, also commended the efforts of Governor Aregbesola towards improving the agricultural sector in the state.

Also speaking, the Chairman, of Aquaculture and Fish Farmers’ Association in the state, Mr. Michael Olaoye, on behalf of fish farmers, lauded the financial intervention of Governor Aregbesola in boosting fish farming in the state.

Olaoye then urged the youths to go back to the land and engage in farming in order to contribute to the growth of the nation’s economy.

Source: Osun Defender.

FROM RIGHT- Ataoja of Osogbo land, His Royal Majesty, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Asiwaju Musulumi of Yoruba land, Alhaji Babatunde Badmus and former Senator, Osun Central, Senator Bayo Salami during this year Eid-el-fitr Festival at Osogbo Central Eid-ground Oke-Baale

Photos: Taofeeq Adejare

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in a dynamic style addressing the teeming Osogbo muslims shortly after Eid-el-fitr prayers session at Osogbo Central Eid-ground Oke-baale

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola receiving the enthusiastic mammoth crowd of Iwo residents during the official flagging-off of Igi-Iye plantation in Iwo Grammar School, Iwo, State of Osun

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Netherlands

Hebrew bookstore to close after 40 years

Anne Frank is perhaps the Jew most closely identified with Amsterdam

One of Western Europe’s largest Hebrew bookstores has closed down in Amsterdam as its former owners prepare to immigrate to Israel.

Samech, located in southern Amsterdam, has been supplying Hebrew-language books to members of Holland’s Jewish community for nearly 40 years and possessed a stock of 100,000 books, according to the website of the Dutch Israelite Religious Community, or NIK.

The store, which used to be the largest of its kind in the Netherlands, belonged to Daan and Shulamit Daniel, who are planning to move to Israel. All their children had already moved out of the Netherlands in favour of “places with richer Jewish lives than Amsterdam,” according to NIK. The store’s entire stock was sold or given away last month, the report by NIK said. Holland has a Jewish population of 41,000 -45,000, according to the European Jewish Congress.

Immigration to Israel from Western Europe brought 3,243 new arrivals to Ben Gurion Airport in 2012, an increase of six percent from the previous year. However, immigration from the Benelux area - Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg dropped last year by 26 per cent to 209 new arrivals.

Samech used to service Holland’s outsized population of Israeli expats, estimated by the Dutch Jewish community to be around 10,000.

According to Dr. Yinon Cohen of Tel Aviv University, there are about 6,600 Israelis living in France and fewer than 3,000 in Spain, Italy and Portugal put together. Britain has the largest population of Israeli expats in Europe, with 40,000 of them living in London alone, according to Israel’s foreign ministry.

Jews have lived in Amsterdam, the centre of the Dutch Jewish community, beginning with the arrival of pockets of Marranos and Sephardic Jews at the end of the 15th, and beginning of the 16th century. Amsterdam’s most celebrated Jew, Anne Frank, moved to the city with her family from Germany when she was four years old.

Serbia

Doctor helps himself to drug mule’s swallowed stash

A police image showing the surgeon minutes after his arrest

A surgeon summoned to remove packets of heroin swallowed by a suspect has been arrested after he was found to have stolen some of the drug.

Police in the Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk say that after investigators discovered that some of the drugs were missing, they searched the surgeon and found a packet containing 5 grams of heroin hidden in his clothing.

The surgeon, who was not identified, was under the influence of drugs when he was apprehended, according to a police statement issued on Tuesday (August 13). He was arrested in Bogotol, a town of 21,000, about 3,100km (1,930 miles) east of Moscow.

He has been charged on two counts: with illegally acquiring and possessing

a large quantity of drugs, and stealing a large quantity of drugs.

Vladimir Yourchenko, police press secretary for the Krasnoyarsk region, said that the drama began when a passenger aboard a train from the city of Krasnoyarsk to Bogotol had become ill. Police had information that the passenger, a national of one of the former Soviet republics, was carrying several containers of heroin in his stomach.

Removed from the train, the man was taken to a district hospital where an operation was performed to extract the containers.

If convicted of stealing the heroin, the doctor, who has refused to comment without his lawyer being present, faces up to 15 years in prison.

New Zealand

Police seek ban after woman’s 190 mile dream journey Police in New Zealand are seeking an urgent order to revoke a woman’s driving licence after she was found slumped over her steering wheel having driven, apparently asleep, from her home in Hamilton to a former home in the beachside town of Mount Maunganui – a distance of 190 miles!

Police said they received an emergency call just after midnight Wednesday (August 14) from a friend concerned the woman had gone out in her car after taking sleeping medication.

Told that the woman had been out sleepdriving 10 months previously and had a

fondness for the beach, police ordered patrol cars to keep a lookout for her silver hatchback and began tracking her via her mobile phone. They said data showed the phone was on and she was sending texts as she drove from her home to Mount Maunganui via Auckland, a distance of almost 300 kilometres.

After five hours on the road, the woman was found asleep in her car, in the driveway of a house she used to live in, with no recollection of her journey.

Senior police sergeant David Litton said: “We have sought an urgent order forbidding her to drive and to seek medical advice on her suitability to remain holding her driver’s licence.”

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Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

News

Fear of rebels still haunts Mali’s herders Despite the victory of Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in Mali’s peaceful presidential elections at the weekend, sporadic violence continues in the north, where for months herders have been cut off from accessing traditional routes in search of pasture for fear of attacks by bandits and rebels.

Sporadic attacks continue in Gao, Timbuktu and parts of Kidal, pastoralists told News Agency.

Many are also too scared to enter towns which have seen clashes between locals and displaced people who have settled in their outskirts; or they fear rebels might steal their cattle and sheep on market days if they do enter town.

The rebels include National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) members, mainly in Kidal, but also in some villages north of Menaka in Gao Region. Elsewhere, locals joined one of several Islamist groups or the separatist Tuareg rebels.

“Some Islamists stayed behind in villages and rural areas following the French-led military intervention, hiding in and among the local populations when they were driven out of major towns,” said Capt Traoré with the Malian army in Bamako.

Keita will have his work cut out to end the insurgency and bring lasting peace to the north.

Herders in Forgho, 25km north of Gao city, and Bourem in Gao Region on the road to Kidal, told News Agency they had been attacked when they left the market on their way back into the desert with their animals. “They [the rebels] would threaten herders in the bush and stop stockbreeders on their way to the market and steal their cattle,” said Aklini Moliomone, a Songhai pastoralist from Forgho.

Robberies along the road from Gao to Tessalit in Kidal Region have also risen, according to French army communications officer Cyrille Zimmer.

Violence has also broken out between herders in Mali and displaced people or refugees returning from Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania, all of whom are also vying for access to scarce grazing land, according to Malian NGO Tassaght, based in Gao. Northern Malian refugees have started to return to Mali from Mbera camp in Mauritania, travelling via Niafunké in Timbuktu Region, to Timbuktu town.

“The pastoralists from Burkina Faso who used to cross the border into Mali with their animals were not ready to share the limited resources with the displaced,” explained Wanalher Ag Alwaly 12

behind by the armed groups, and hidden in the terrain, pose another threat to herders and their animals.

The tensions just reinforce pastoralists’ plight - many had most of their herd of confiscated by rebels or Islamists, or have had to eat their animals to survive, given the high prices and low availability of food across most of the north since the Islamist occupation. “Many [herders] fled without their animals. Others lost their herds when the rebels attacked their villages. They returned with nothing having lost their only source of income”, said Tassaght’s Ag Alwaly.

“The months of May, June and July are always hard for Mali’s herders,” he continued.

The rainy season arrived later than usual, which affected grazing land

with Tassaght in Gao. Last year’s rains meant good pasture throughout much of the north, but many of these herders said they were unable to fully take advantage of it. This year rains arrived late in most of the north coming two weeks ago - and have so far been weak, thus pasture is minimal, say pastoralists.

Competition for grazing land “There is almost no grass and no water, because there are so many herders in this area and only limited grazing land.

We have to walk far to find food for our animals,” said Moliomone.

On market day in Forgho, where thousands of herders congregate, 60-yearold herder Moussa Ag Bilal hoped to get a good price for his animals - mostly goats, plus one cow that is so thin that it has stopped producing milk. When a potential buyer approached to inspect the animals, Ag Bilal gently turned it

to hide its sticking-out ribs. Afraid of rebels, he told IRIN he is too scared to move his animals to the grazing areas north of Gao. While UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) forces and Malian soldiers are posted in most major towns, rural areas are sometimes left unmonitored.

According to MINUSMA, in some areas of the region around Menaka, MNLA are still in control, while suspected members of Ansar Dine and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) have been spotted in parts of Kidal Region. The road from Gao to Kidal - especially north of Tessalit - has seen an increase in bandit attacks; improvised explosive devices are occasionally used. “Last week a food truck was stopped and the cargo was taken away by rebels,” said MINUSMA spokesperson Michel Bonnardeux in the capital Bamako.

Undetonated explosives and arms left

Pastoralists from nearby villages come to market day in Forgho

Animals weaker than last year “The cattle are starving. This year the Islamist occupation, the following conflict and continued rebel attacks made life extra difficult,” Ahmed Ag Algarbi, a Tuareg pastoralist from Teshak, a Tuareg village in Timbuktu Region, told IRIN: “For two years we have had nothing to eat. We were forced to kill our goats to feed our families. Life in the desert is hard. Before, we at least had our animals, now we have nothing.”

Most of the animals IRIN came across were frail and very weak, even more so than the same time last year, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Since January ICRC and the Malian Red Cross distributed roughly 400 tons of animal feed hoping to reach 30,000 herders during the lean season. Tassaght buys meat at above-market value to distribute among families in Gao and nearby villages to boost both livelihoods and food security. According to Gao-based herder Atarouna Abdoulaye, prices for goats and sheep went from US$30 to $6-8 in some markets.

The Red Cross also vaccinated two million cattle, sheep, goats, camels and donkeys to help restore their health as the rains approached. Often thin and weakened animals succumb to illness or drowning when the rains arrive, according to Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières in Bamako. But between January and July insecurity hampered the ability of NGOs and ICRC to distribute food, seeds, fertilizers and tools in some areas, according to Jean Cimangay, ICRC’s project officer.

Tassaght plans to give returning herders small stocks of around 10 animals each, to help them build anew. “Some pastoralists had herds with over 100 animals. Ten goats is not much but at least it’s a start,” said Ag Alwaly.

Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

News

Government warns of forced marriage risk during school holidays The UK government issued a warning to teachers, doctors and airport staff to be alert to forced marriages over the school holidays.

The summer marks a peak in reports of forced marriage cases, when youngsters can be taken on “holiday”, unaware of the real purpose of the trip.

Between June and August last year, the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU), a joint operation by the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, received over 400 reports.

This year the Unit is handing out “Marriage: it’s your choice” cards, to provide help and information to potential victims, signposting them to confidential advice.

The cards also remind young people to speak to police or airline staff if they find themselves at an airport with nowhere to turn.

Crime Prevention Minister Jeremy Browne said: “The rise in forced marriage reports over the school holidays is shocking. Teenagers expecting their GCSE or A-level results should be embarking on a bright future, not condemned to a marriage with someone they have never met and do not want to marry.

“This is a serious abuse of human rights and that is why we are legislating to make it illegal.

“My message to young people who feel they are at risk is please come forward; you do not have to suffer in silence; there is help available and it can be stopped.”

Foreign Office Minister Mark Simmonds said: “The school summer holidays are the time when young people are at the highest risk of being taken overseas for a forced marriage.

“Our ‘Marriage: it’s your choice’ cards highlights that people who are at risk of forced marriage know they can turn to our

Forced Marriage Unit for support – whether they are at home or are already abroad.

The Forced Marriage Unit has a confidential helpline, and can be contacted for advice on 0207 008 0151.”

The founder of Freedom Charity, Aneeta Prem, said: “The ‘Marriage: it’s your choice’ card is a concise and accessible way to receive information that could save someone’s life.

It’s vital that young people travelling abroad for a family wedding this summer realise it could be their own wedding they’ll be going to - and know who they should contact for help should they find themselves in danger.”

The Forced Marriage Unit was set up in January 2005 as the Government’s onestop shop for dealing with forced marriage policy, outreach and casework. It operates both inside the UK, where support is provided to any individual, and overseas, where consular assistance is provided to British nationals, including dual nationals.

Further information can be found at www. fco.gov.uk/forcedmarriage

Crime Prevention Minister Jeremy Browne

Parents on higher incomes reminded to register for Self Assessment Parents on higher incomes who continued to receive Child Benefit after January 2013 have been reminded that they must register for Self Assessment by 5 October 2013 to avoid any penalties in relation to the High Income Child Benefit Charge.

This month, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will be writing to around two million higher rate taxpayers, including those affected by recent changes to Child Benefit.

The letter reminds them that if their income is over £50,000 and they or their partner received Child Benefit in 2012/13, they will need to complete a Self Assessment tax return for the 2012/13 tax year. They must register now with HMRC for Self Assessment if they have not already done so.

Over 390,000 people with higher incomes have already opted out of receiving Child Benefit.

HMRC’s Chief Executive, Lin Homer, said:“HMRC is committed to helping people pay the right amount of tax. If you have had certain changes to your income in the last year, including those affected by the changes to Child Benefit, you have until 5 October to register for Self Assessment.”

The High Income Child Benefit Charge came into effect on 7 January 2013. You are liable to pay the tax charge if all of the following statements apply, or applied to you in the 2012/13 tax year: • you have an individual income of over £50,000 a year, and • either you or your partner received any Child Benefit payments after 7 January 2013, and • your income for the tax year is higher than your partner’s. The partner with the higher income is liable to pay the charge if

both partners have income over £50,000.

People who stopped Child Benefit payments before 7 January 2013 do not need to take any further action. To check whether the tax charge applies and to register, go to http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefitcharge.

If the charge does apply, then you must register for Self Assessment for the 2012/13 tax year by 5 October 2013,so that you can declare the Child Benefit you received, pay the tax charge on time and avoid any penalties.

You might be able to come out of Self Assessment in future years if you (or your partner if they are the Child Benefit recipient) choose to opt out of receiving Child Benefit and avoid incurring the tax charge.

Go to http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefitcharge if you want to opt out.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Simon Hughes has welcomed the findings of the Operation Black Vote (OBV) report into the effect that black and ethnic minority (BME) votes will have on the outcome of the general election in 2015.

way reveals a picture of more than two out of five parliamentary seats in England and Wales where BME voters could decide the result.

“Black, other minority ethnic and mixed race adults are now not only key voters in the more obvious parts of English inner cities, they are now significant political communities in many other urban, suburban and predominantly rural seats as well.

“Unless all parties and candidates engage with and seek to win BME support, they could be in political difficulty locally – and see their general election prospects significantly set back. Registered BME voters are as likely to vote as other groups. And they have specific concerns that the inequalities of Britain in general are more clearly experienced by those in their communities.”

13

Ignore BME voters at your peril – Hughes

Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes

Liberal Democrat councillor and OBV consultant Lester Holloway worked on the report, which finds that in 168 marginal seats the BME vote is bigger than the majority of the incumbent MP. Simon Hughes said the report would encourage parties to appeal to a wider proportion of the local population.

Simon Hughes said: “This latest analysis by Lester Holloway is very welcome – and very significant. Based on the most up to date census figures, Lester Hollo-

Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

CRIME

Man jailed for assault Woman sentenced for on police officer attempted trafficking

Alexander Holm, jailed for seven years

A man who assaulted a police officer based at Lewisham Police Station with a pair of scissors after he responded to a domestic violence incident in February has been sentenced at the Old Bailey today, Monday 12 August.

Alexander Holm, 48, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent, assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm and criminal damage to property and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

Detective Chief Inspector Greg Pople, head of public protection at Lewisham Police: “This is an example of how police take every allegation of domestic violence and hate crime extremely seriously” “This is an illustration of where positive action was taken by officers attending the scene and arresting a perpetrator for domestic violence who then used violence on the officers who were trying to protect the victim.”

“Had he not been wearing body armour at the time of the incident life changing injuries could potentially have been inflicted.”

On Wednesday 6 February 2013 police were called at 12.14hours to reports of a disturbance at an address in Farmcote Road, SE12.

Officers attended after a man assaulted a woman in her 60s at the address.

The 36-year-old male PC was injured after the man attacked him with scissors.

He was taken to hospital by officers at the scene and received treatment for a fractured rib.

The woman in her 60s was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service, her injuries were not serious and she was later discharged.

A woman who attempted to bring into the UK a baby she had bought in Nigeria has today, Friday 9 August, been given a 12-month sentence suspended for 12 months.

Rose Oviebo was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court after pleading guilty to an offence of facilitating a child into the country.

The conviction follows a successful investigation by officers from Operation Paladin - a joint team of police and immigration officers - which aims to identify child trafficking victims, safeguard their welfare and tackle those who attempt to traffick children into the UK. In 2008 Oviebo travelled to Nigeria and visited a ‘traditional herbal clinic’, where she was informed that for a fee of around 200,000 Nigerian Nira (approximately £1,000) she would be provided with medicine which would bring on pregnancy. She purchased the medication and returned to the UK where she took it mixed with water.

Oviebo returned to Nigeria on a number of subsequent occasions, the last of which was in May 2010, when five days after her

arrival she claims she ‘gave birth’ at the same clinic to a baby boy.

On 16 June Oviebo attended the British High Commission in Nigeria where she attempted to apply for a passport for the child. Unable to provide any ante-natal or delivery notes in support of the application, she instead produced a CD-Rom of the “labour”. But rather than illustrating the actual birth it simply showed Oviebo on a bed with a newborn baby positioned between her legs, and no sign that she had recently given birth to the child. A second woman was shown holding the umbilical cord aloft in what appeared to be a staged event.

Officials requested DNA tests be taken to prove parentage. While the results were awaited Oviebo returned to the UK, leaving the child in the care of relatives.

The tests proved there was no relationship between Oviebo and the child. She disputed the result and insisted on a second test - which also returned a negative result.

On 12 December 2012 she was arrested at her home address on suspicion of the facilitation of a child into the UK, contrary to Section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971.

Man convicted of bouncer shooting

Convicted Jerome Marshall

A man has been convicted at Woolwich Crown Court today, 9 August, after a member of security staff was shot at a pub in SW4.

Jerome Marshall, 27, was found guilty of one count of wounding with intent, one count of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and one count of possession of a firearm. He also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a quantity of cannabis.

He will be sentenced at the same court on 9 September.

Police were called at approx 04:25hrs on Saturday, 2 March to reports of a man in14

jured following the discharge of a firearm outside the White House venue in Clapham Park Road, SW4.

Officers and LAS attended and the victim, a man aged 26, was taken to hospital for treatment to a superficial leg wound.

He has since made a full recovery from his injuries.

The victim started his shift the previous evening. At approximately 02.30hrs on the Saturday he dealt with a disturbance inside the premises involving a group of young men. This led to Jerome Marshall, one of the men in question, being ejected.

After the incident, the victim took up his position beside the front door of the club.

Around 40 minutes later he saw Marshall return to the street outside. He noticed that he had changed his clothing and was now wearing a hooded top and a balaclava.

Marshall loitered outside speaking to a group of men. At one stage, the victim heard him say, “I’m going to do it” and noticed that he was putting his hands inside his trousers as if to produce a knife or gun.

The victim also watched him pull the balaclava up and down over his face on a number of occasions. Marshall produced a handgun from within the rear waistline of his trousers and fired it in the direction of the victim. Marshall then left the scene as a passenger in a black one series BMW convertible that had been parked up nearby.

The vehicle was unregistered, however, police were able to link Marshall to the BMW as he was the sole insured driver.

Despite extensive police enquiries, the vehicle has never been recovered.

On Thursday 7 March, a firearms search warrant was executed at an address in Cottage Grove, SW9, and Marshall was arrested in connection with the shooting. He was later charged.

A hooded top similar to the one worn by the suspect at the time of the shooting was found at the address. Forensic examination later established that this item of clothing bore gunshot residue.

Forensic examination of a cartridge case recovered from the scene confirmed that the firearm used had also been discharged during a non-fatal shooting outside the Fiesta Bar, Acre Lane, London, SW2, on 12 September 2009. No arrests have been made in relation to this incident.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Le Pere, Trident Gang Crime Command, said: “Marshall is a dangerous known gang associate and this case further demonstrates the chaotic lifestyle of gang members.

“Today’s verdict shows the dedication of Trident detectives to investigate and bring to justice those who harm their communities through their violence and gang criminality.

“Shootings in the capital have fallen by

27 per cent, which equates to 40 fewer shootings, and Trident officers have recovered over 100 firearms from the streets of London over the last 12 months. We will continue to target gang members for their violent behaviour and place them before the courts.”

Appeal following stabbing in Brixton

Detectives in Lambeth are appealing for information and witnesses to a serious assault.

The incident occurred on Sunday, 4 August on Gresham Road at the junction with Coldharbour Lane, Brixton An 18-year-old male was attacked and stabbed in the chest.

Following the attack, a group of males left the scene on foot towards the junction of Brixton Station Road.

The victim received serious injuries and remains in hospital receiving treatment.

There were a large number of people in the area at the time.

“Anyone with information should call Lambeth CID on 020 8649 2189. Alternatively you can report information anonymously to Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.”

Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Sounds of Diaspora People of America

Usher junior back playing again after pool fright

Usher with his sons Naviyd and Usher V

Usher’s child with ex-wife Tameka Foster has been released from hospital following an incident in his father’s swimming pool last week

Five-year-old Usher Raymond V was being supervised by his aunt when he got stuck in the pool drain hole. Contract workers at the Atlanta, Georgia residence are credited with freeing the boy and giving him CPR until medics arrived at the scene to transport him to a local hospital’s intensive care unit.

Since his release, Usher junior has been seen with his grandmother at an Atlanta

play centre wearing a bandage on his arm, reportedly looking happy and active.

Usher won primary legal guardianship of Usher V and his brother Naviyd Ely (4) after a bitter custody battle in 2012. Following the pool incident, mother Tameka filed legal papers requesting an emergency custody hearing. She claimed Usher was a negligent and unresponsive father who often put the care of their children into someone else’s hands. However, no modification to the existing order has been granted.

The couple divorced in 2009 after nearly two years of marriage.

Can reunited Ashanti and Ja Rule mesmerise again?

Naomi returns to her favourite runway

BA banned Naomi Campbell in 2008

After five years on her national airline’s blacklist, Naomi Campbell has been allowed back on board British Airways flights.

Streatham girl Naomi flew BA First Class to Milan earlier this year, prompting complaints from workers who are accusing bosses of giving the supermodel special treatment because of her wealth, according the Daily Mail.

Ms Campbell, 43, boarded the Milan flight at Heathrow accompanied by the airline’s special services staff, who give VIP treatment to First Class fliers. An

insider said: “Naomi upset a lot of staff, so to have her back on BA flights feels like a bit of a kick in the teeth.

“The company should be taking a hard line against people who are abusive or aggressive – whether they are rich and famous or not.”

Campbell was banned after a row over her luggage at Heathrow Airport in 2008. A court hearing was told she ranted at the aircraft’s crew, including accusations of racism, before she was ordered off.

She was fined £2,300 and sentenced to 200 hours of community service for the incident.

Bobbi Kristina pictured with grandmother Cissy Houston

Ja Rule and Ashanti performing before their falling out

R&B singer Ashanti has reunited in the studio with rapper Ja Rule for the first time in almost a decade.

The Baby star fell out with her Murder Inc. Records labelmate in the mid2000s and left the label in 2009, but she recently admitted she was eager to reunite with Ja Rule following his release from prison on tax and weapons charges in May. Ashanti’s wish came true over the weekend when she shared a photo of the old collaborators back together via her Instagram.com account. The accompanying caption read:

Uhh ohhhhh me & my bro in the lizzaaaabbbbb!!!!!!! We haven’t seen each other in 4ever!!! & it feels great!!!”

In June of this year, Ashanti spoke to VladTV about Ja and explained, “He’s super excited about the music…Hopefully, we get it all popping. It’s no denying our chemistry.”

Ashanti rose to fame in 2001 when she featured on Ja Rule’s hit single ‘Always on Time’. They also scored chart success in 2002 with Fat Joe on ‘What’s Luv?’ and released their last collaboration, ‘Wonderful’, in 2004.

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Friday, 09 August 2013 – Thursday, 15 August 2013

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Gospel

By Michael Adekoya

IT IS SETTLED!

“There shall be a performance of those things which were told you of the Lord.” Luke 1:45.

Dear Reader, do you know that confident Christians act differently from every negative thing that happens around them? They do! They don’t try to make things happen or manipulate circumstances to get what they want. They already know what God has promised and they settle for that.

Financial reversals may strike them; their health or age may fail; spouse, friends, family or business partners may let them down and they may look like they are living in the Book of Job; but their confidence in God is not subject to any of these things, because they know, “There shall be a performance of those things which were told them of the Lord.”

My friend, when Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side, “ it didn’t mean there wouldn’t be any storm, it just meant that none of them was bigger than Him. In this day and age, some days you’ll feel like all you did was just to get through, but do you know that just getting through with your faith intact is a major victory? It is! For the mere fact that you’re still alive to go through that challenge, that past disappointment, defeat or failure, that in itself is a major victory.

My friend, it matters what you believe this year? Believing in God and in His Word and His promises is not an option this year!

If there is anything that can block your miracle this year, it is your unbelief or doubt, not the devil or demon! The people of Nazareth recognized that Jesus had a reputation for performing miracles

(L-R) Bishop Love, Angela Young, American Idol winner and Grammy-nominated artist Fantasia and Diana Barrino Barber attend the Super Bowl Gospel 2013 Show

and speaking with extraordinary wisdom. But, although Jesus was present in their midst, they didn’t receive His sovereignty, majesty, instruction or His wisdom. They didn’t experience His miracles in their own lives. You may ask, “Why not?” The Bible gives two reasons: They looked at Jesus in human terms, as just a man, and they were filled with unbelief.

They didn’t believe that Jesus could save them, heal them, deliver them or perform miracles for them. They didn’t have the faith or willingness even to ask Him to help with their problems. This lack of faith prevented Jesus from doing “many miracles there.” They missed their visitation and opportunity. He went on to other towns where people had faith and didn’t allow their biases to block 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

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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

work of God. My friend, these two hindrances still keep many people, including people in churches, from receiving Jesus as the Messiah, God’s wisdom and experiencing His miracles today. Instead of being filled with faith, they approach their problems with doubt and unbelief.

They fail to realize that God is still the God of miracles, and His Word is still true. With Him, nothing is impossible (Matt 17:20).

My friend, listen! God’s Word is settled in heaven (Psa 119:89).

It is eternal and it never changes!

If God looks at your heart today, what is He going to find there… faith or fear, believe or doubt? Are you filled with faith or unbelief?

Do you come to God with expectation or doubts? Are you blinded by your biases, or you trust 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

and believe Him for miracles? Ask God to help you put aside your human limitations and human reasoning and be willing to believe Him boldly this year.

Truly, God can do anything. He is ready to save you, heal you, restore you, bless you, answer your prayers and give you a new song if you have faith and don’t doubt.

The God who answered Sarah, Abraham, Ruth, Boaz, and Hannah, will answer your prayers this year. He’ll perform what He has promised you.

Mary and Elizabeth believed the impossible – virgin birth – and it came to pass. God sent forth His word to both of them announcing the virgin birth and they believed that word! My friend, why not try to convince yourself, your spouse, friends, family members, neigh-

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

bours, business partners and coworkers of that one this month.

You aren’t too stressed to be blessed with anything God has promised in His Word! You are not too old to get married or have your own baby. You are not too sick to be healed! You are not too lost to be saved! It is not too late to be promoted from pit to palace.

Don’t give up and don’t give in.

Trust and obey God! That’s the only way to be happy in Christ Jesus. Position yourself for God’s salvation, healing, connection, wealth and restoration this year!

We are now living in the days of His power. He’ll empower you to witness to others. He’ll bless you to bless others!

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, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

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Africa Newsround

South Africa

Marikana shop steward gunned down near home A female employee has been shot and killed near the controversial Marikana mine, according to platinum producer Lonmin.

Despite the massacre of 44 Marikana workers last August, mostly at the hands of the police, union rivalry has meant the killings have continued.

Benin

Rival sent packing in Cabinet shake-up

The shooting is the latest in a string of incidents that underscore the fragile labour environment at the site of last year’s violent strike, which left dozens dead.

The union shop steward was shot on Monday morning while walking near her home in the community next to the mine, a Lonmin spokeswoman said.

The National Union of Mineworkers said the woman was one of its leaders at the Marikana mine and described the killing as ‘cold-blooded murder’.

It is not clear whether Monday’s killing is connected to the conflict between the NUM and the Association

of Mineworkers and Construction Union, which was formed last year.

The rivalry between the National Union of Mineworkers, which is aligned with South Africa’s ruling African National Congress, and relative newcomer the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union has fuelled much of the labour unrest.

AMCU has usurped NUM’s dominance, attracting new members on the promise of higher wages and better working conditions. At Lonmin, AMCU has 70% of unionised employees, along with a majority at Anglo American Platinum Ltd., the world’s largest producer.

One Lonmin employee said tensions remain high between the two unions and “if people can hear you talking about the situation they can kill you.”

Angola

Harry visits project forever linked with Diana

Prince Harry has been in Angola to visit mine clearance projects run by the same charity backed by his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

Diana visited Angola in support of the Halo Trust in 1997, not long before her death in a car crash in Paris.

Images of her wearing protective gear as she witnessed mine-clearing efforts in the towns of Huambo and Kuito helped draw the world’s attention to the suffering caused by landmines.

Her son’s private visit to Angola comes three years after he travelled to Mozambique to see Halo’s work there.

“Prince Harry is visiting a number of demining teams across the region and will be touring minefields and meeting with beneficiaries of Halo’s work,” said the charity’s chief executive, Guy Willoughby.

The trip will include a stop in the southern Angolan town of Cuito Cuanavale -- which according to Halo is believed to be the most heavily mined town in Africa.

Pascal Koupaki was unceremoniously dumped, along with his post, from Benin’s revised parliament.

The president of the tiny cotton-producing West African state of Benin has named a new Cabinet, eliminating the post of Prime Minister, three days after he dissolved his entire government in a surprise move on Friday (August 9).

President Boni Yayi said the decision not to reappoint or replace Pascal Koupaki as premier and name a 26-strong Cabinet was intended “to breathe a new dynamic” into the government. But speculation has been rife for almost a year that Koupaki, who is widely viewed as a top contender for the presidency in elections set for 2016, had fallen out of favour with the president. Neither man has publicly commented.

A statement read on state television on Sunday night detailed the 26-member team composed of 13 new members and

13 officials who served in Koupaki’s old government.

The posts of Prime Minister and Minister for Presidential Affairs have been eliminated, according to the statement.

Other notable departures include the justice and the interior ministers, who were both replaced.

Benin, situated to the west of Nigeria, has enjoyed two decades of political stability since multi-party democracy was restored. Yayi won the last election with an outright majority in the first round.

Yayi has said he wants to amend parts of the constitution to introduce bodies like an independent election commission and a court to oversee state audits. He has pledged not to pursue any amendment that allows him to stand for a third term.

Critics suspect his camp has not ruled out this idea.

One of the now iconic images of Princess Diana walking amongst Angola’s many unexploded landmines in 1997

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African Fashion Travelmusic artist

Eccentric Fashion Sun crazy style

Eccentric is creative work of award winning photographer Daniel Sync.

Daniel captures a young ambitious woman and others like her who love fashion for its eccentric, quirky ‘out of the box’ looks more than any. She focuses on unconventional and innovative designs.

Eccentric pushes the boundaries of fashion and enjoy switching her swag up at any given chance.

Daniel said, “I recently met this babe and I immediately fell in love with her style. I thought it is only fair to share her Eccentrik-sm with you”. Enjoy!

African Fashion Week in London is currently in its third year, the glamorous event saw dozens of big names and up-andcoming designers from across the continent descending on the UK capital’s hip district of Shoreditch to unveil their latest stylish creations.

The CNN, reported the event extensively, quoting Ronke Ademiluyi, founder of the event to have said, “Our platform is about promoting emerging and established Africa-inspired designers,”

Vibrant colors

The runways featured designs from countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Kenya and Morocco -- but also from the diaspora, including Britain and the Caribbean.

Credit: Daniel Sync/ Sync PHOTOS

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Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

In association with

Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

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Event

African Showcase Market: Celebrates diversity in Barking An outdoor event with vibrant colours, style and artistic representations from eight participating African countries and the Caribbean took place on Wednesday 14 August at the Market Square, Town Centre of borough of Barking and Dagenham Cllr Hardial Singh Rai, Mayor of Barking and Dagenham alongside dignitaries and top members of the council declared the African Showcase Market open.

The market had on display the best of African artifacts, music, food, dance and other cultural memorabilia.

The African market attracted people from all walks of life, e.g professional returning from work, families on shopping, and visitors to the borough.

There were over 40 market stalls all displaying authentic African products and services.

African Showcase is in its tenth year, Ola Mustapha, the event organiser, was so elated that all went very well. She used the opportunity to say a big thank you to the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, Lebara and Arik Air for their sponsorship support. “This is to showcase the inherent beauty of African culture to the Afrophiles who live in the great borough of Barking and Dagenham”.

Cllr Hardial Singh Rai Mayor of Barking and Dagenham and Ola Mustapha (Kiskirine, Event Organisers)

Photos by - Daniel/ Sync PHOTOS

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Events calendar What’s On & When Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

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Arts

Theatre, Shows and Musicals

By Ryan Holmes

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 Ladykillers Now- October 25th

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

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Zoonation:Groove down the road Now-September 1st

After the success of ‘Into the Hoods’ and ‘Some Like it Hip Hop’, Kate Prince’s groundbreaking hip-hop dance theatre company ZooNation delivers another extraordinary show with ‘Groove on Down the Road’.

The performance is based on the 1939 film ‘The Wizard of Oz’, but Prince packs it full of contemporary twists and curves – with a subversive message on the importance of creativity in the education system.

Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank London, SE1 8XX

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 man standing in their path, the virtuous King Duncan. But to maintain his position,

‘The Ladykillers’ is back in town. Now on its third cast of bumbling, murderous crims, it’s as anarchic and free-wheeling as anything you’ll see on a West End stage.

Graham Linehan’s script takes the setup of the 1955 Ealing comedy, in which five crooks hole-up in a little old lady’s lopsided house to plan a robbery, and cranks up the contrast. The gags come faster, the killings are crueller and there’s a delicate knowingness to the dialogue that never oversteps the mark.

Vaudeville Theatre, Strand, London, WC2R 0NH

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, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

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Arts

Rivers Float and Afro Beat at Notting Hill Carnival UK

Carniriv, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Carnival will return to Notting Hill Carnival for a second year with a resplendent creative float depicting Rivers culture and its impact on shaping the African Diaspora.

Led by Zmirage UK in partnership with the River State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA), Rivers at Nottinghill 2013 will join People’s World Carnival Band to showcase the best of Carniriv. Current plans include a contingent of 14 masquerades who will join the float in order to give it added cultural value.

Last year the float attracted an adhoc crowd of mainly Nigerians and Africans generally. Apart from the nationalistic identity, their attraction to the float was mainly because of Afro Beat music emanating from it The music which has become very popular in the UK was refreshing on the parade route at Notting Hill and has encouraged People’s World this year to accommodate this presence in a more creative and inclusive manner.

In developing the collaborations between RSTDA and People’s World, the creative float will be dedicated to Afro Beat music along the route on 26th August. This is a major development born out of the collaborations last year and as a unique offering will form a part of the Rivers at Notting Hill Carnival project. To this end People’s World is inviting indigenes of River State in particular and African generally to join

the band in costume on Monday 26th August in celebration of this unique collaboration especially in the 50th Anniversary year of African Union Also included in the collaboration this year is De CORE, who is currently partners with People’s World. This collaboration has been fuelled by a small grant from the Arts Council that makes it possible for De CORE’s artists to work alongside artists from River State on the designs and con-

struction of the float.

As a means of publishing Carniriv to the world, a London bus campaign will be launched across key areas in London on the 19th August. This advertising campaign is an attempt by the RSTDA to lure visitors to Carniriv for ‘7 days of pure fun’ scheduled from 15th – 21st December in Port Harcourt Nigeria.

A special reception featuring a performance by the visiting Rivers masquerade is

scheduled at the Africa Centre for Friday 23rd August 7pm -11pm. At the reception guest will get an insight into Nigeria’s first Carnival and what to expect over the 7 days of Carniriv. It will also give you an opportunity to register for joining the float at Notting Hill.

For further information and how you can get involved in parading with the Rivers float please contact: Email: zmirageuk@ gmail.com

Poet of the Week; Christopher Okigbo Christopher Okigbo, (born Aug. 16, 1932, Ojoto, Nigeria—died August 1967, Nigeria), Nigerian poet who is one of the best and most widely anthologized African poets.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Western classics at the University of Ibadan in 1956, Okigbo held positions as a teacher, librarian at the University of Nigeria, private secretary to Nigeria’s federal minister of research and information, and West African editor of Transition, an African literary magazine. He was awarded first prize for poetry in the 1966 Festival of the Negro Arts in Dakar but declined the prize because he felt that writing must be judged as good or bad, not as a product of a specific ethnic group or race. In 1967 Okigbo’s efforts to launch a publishing company in Enugu with the novelist Chinua Achebe came to an abrupt end after his death while fighting in the war for Biafran independence from Nigeria.

Okigbo published three volumes of poetry during his short lifetime: Heavensgate (1962), Limits (1964), and Silences (1965).

His collected poems appeared posthu-

this, his verse is intensely evocative and shows careful craftsmanship. Okigbo became the most widely translated of all Nigerian poets. A volume entitled Collected Poems was published in 1986.

LOVE APART The moon has ascended between us, Between two pines That bow to each other; Love with the moon has ascended 5 Has fed on our solitary stems; And we are now shadows That cling to each other, But kiss the air only Christopher Okigbo mously in 1971 under the title Labyrinths, with Path of Thunder. Okigbo had a deep familiarity with ancient Greek and Latin writers and with modern poets such as T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound, as well as with Igbo (Ibo) mythology. His poems are highly personal, richly symbolic renderings of his experiences, his thoughts on the role of the poet, and other themes. He weaves images of the forests, animals, and streams of his native Igbo landscape into works that are often obscure, allusive, or difficult. Despite

WATERMAID Eye open on the sea, eyes open, of the prodigal; upward to heaven shoot where stars will fall from.

Secret I have told into no ear, save into a dug hole, to hold, not to drown with – Secret I have planted into beach sand Now breaks salt-white surf on the stones and me, and lobsters and shells in iodine smell-

maid of the salt-emptiness, sophistic rearmy, whose secret I have covered up with beach sand…

Shadow of rain over sun-beaten beach, Shadow of rain over man with woman.

Bright with the armpit-dazzle of a lioness, she answers, wearing white light about her; and the waves escort her, my lioness, crowned with moonlight.

So brief her presencematch-flare in wind’s breathso brief with mirrors around me.

Downward… the waves distil her; gold crop sinking ungathered.

Watermaid of the salt-emptiness, grown are the ears of the secret.

And I who am here abandoned, count the sand by wave lash abandoned, count her blessing, my white queen.

But the spent sea reflects from his mirrored visage 21

Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

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Health

Modernisation of HIV rules to better protect public

Public protection against HIV will be strengthened under new plans to help people get diagnosed and treated earlier, Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies announced today.

Outdated rules designed to combat the threat of AIDS in the 1980s, when attitudes were very different and risks were less understood, will be modernised in line with the most recent science.

The changes mean that: people will be able to buy HIV self-testing kits once the kits comply with regulations; and doctors, nurses and other skilled healthcare workers with HIV who are undergoing treatment will be able to take part in certain medical procedures from which they are currently banned.

Up to 100,000 people have HIV in the UK but around a quarter are living with it undiagnosed. These changes will give people more choice on how to get tested and therefore get treatment earlier, which

will reduce the risk of new HIV infections.

Following independent scientific advice, the Department of Health will lift the ban on healthcare workers with HIV being able to carry out certain dental and surgical procedures. Strict rules on treatment,

monitoring and testing will be in place to safeguard patients.

This brings the UK in line with most other Western countries. Under the new system, patients have more chance – around one in five million – of being struck by lightning than being infected with HIV by a

healthcare worker. There is no record of any patient ever being infected through this route in the UK. There have been just four cases of clinicians infecting patients reported worldwide and the last of these was more than a decade ago.

The changes announced today could reduce that risk even further because healthcare workers will be more likely to get tested themselves and therefore less likely to potentially put people at risk.

Because of the stigma attached to HIV, some people are reluctant to use existing testing services and as a result half of HIV infections are discovered late, meaning they are harder to treat.

Removing the ban on the sale of selftesting kits will make it easier for people to get tested as early as possible and get the best treatment available.

If a test indicates a positive result people are advised to get a follow-up confirmatory test at an NHS clinic. Clear information about how to interpret the result and what to do afterwards will be included with the kit.

Get active to get healthy

One year on from the Olympics and Paralympics more than half the adult population is doing the recommended amount of physical activity, but worryingly more than a quarter are not doing even 30 minutes a week and putting their health at risk, Public Health Minister Anna Soubry has warned.

Only a third of boys and a quarter of girls meet the recommendation for at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day and latest statistics also show that almost 30 per cent of adults are active for less than 30 minutes per week – prompting a call for everyone to get up and get active.

To encourage this the Department of Health has today announced more than £5 million of funding to encourage children and families to exercise more. · £3 million for Change 4 Life Sports Clubs; · £1.1 million for Street Play; and · £1 million for walking initiatives.

Public Health Minister Anna Soubry said: “It’s fantastic that more than half of English adults are doing the recommended amount of physical activity, but I am shocked that more than a quarter are not getting even 30 minutes of exercise a week.

“We were all inspired by the Olympics and Paralympics and as part of their legacy we want to encourage everyone – children and adults – to get active and get healthy.

“We want to do everything we can to help people lead longer, healthier lives, which is why for the first time ever, we’ve given local authorities increased and ring-fenced budgets to tackle public health issues in 22

Cycling is just one of the great ways to stay active and healthy

their local area.”

The Youth Sport Trust will use the additional £3 million pounds to extend Change4Life School Sports Clubs to areas with the highest childhood obesity, building on the success of the 8,000 clubs already established.

Last year more than 100,000 children and young people took part in Change4Life sports clubs with double the amount of primary school children who attended exercising for an hour a day.

Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust John Steele said: “This new funding is a major boost and will help to build an even

stronger network of school sport clubs across the country, offering young people the opportunity to try a range of new sports.

“Supporting schools to engage less active children in physical activity and school sport and making this fun is vital to ensure they go on to lead healthy active lifestyles.

We know that young people were inspired by what they saw last year, so now we need to turn this inspiration into participation; we don’t want them put off physical activity for life.”

Play England will use their £1.1 million to help residents and encourage chil-

dren and families to play together on their streets, reviving old favourites like hopscotch and hide-and-seek. This funding will enable Play England help residents close their roads from time to time to allow children and families to play out in a safer environment.

Earlier this year the government also announced £300 million of investment which will go directly into the hands of primary headteachers to spend on improving sport, PE and encouraging healthy lifestyles for their pupils over the next two years.

Director of Play England Cath Prisk said: “Active kids become active adults and we know one of the places kids are most active is on the streets outside their own houses when they are able to simply go out there and play, like most adults did.

“Everyone can do something to make their own communities more playful and we are very happy to be given this opportunity to support residents and local voluntary groups across England in making their own streets playful again.”

Regular physical activity can significantly reduce avoidable mortality and prevent conditions, such as stroke, heart disease and diabetes which cost the NHS £1 billion a year in England alone.

There are already lots of initiatives and projects which encourage people to get involved in physical activity and later this month the government will launch its new Change4Life campaign encouraging families to kick-start the new school year by being more active and eating healthier.

Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

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The Igbo Culture of Nigeria Igbo, also called Ibo, people living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria who speak Igbo, a language of the Benue-Congo branch of the NigerCongo language family. The Igbo may be grouped into the following main cultural divisions: northern (Onitsha), southern (Owerri), western (Ika), eastern (Cross River), and northeastern (Abakaliki).

Before European colonization, the Igbo were not united as a single people but lived in autonomous local communities. By the mid20th century, however, a sense of ethnic identity was strongly developed, and the Igbo-dominated Eastern region of Nigeria tried to unilaterally secede from Nigeria in 1967 as the independent nation of Biafra. By the turn of the 21st century the Igbo numbered some 20 million.

Most Igbo traditionally have been subsistence farmers, their staples being yams, cassava, and taro. The other crops they grow include corn (maize), melons, okra, pumpkins, and beans. Among those still engaged in agriculture, men are chiefly responsible for yam cultivation, women for other crops. Land is owned communally by kinship groups and is made available to individuals for farming and building. Some livestock, important as a source of prestige and for use in sacrifices, is kept. The principal exports are palm oil and palm kernels.

Trading, local crafts, and wage labour also are important in the Igbo economy, and a high literacy rate has helped many Igbo to become civil servants and business entrepreneurs in the decades after Nigeria gained independence. It is notable that Igbo women engage in trade and are influential in local politics.

Except for the northeastern groups, the Igbo live in rainforest country. Most Igbo occupy villages of dispersed compounds, but in some areas villages are compact. The compound is typically a cluster of huts, each of which constitutes a separate household. Traditionally the village was usually occupied by a patrilineage.

Before the advent of colonial administration, the largest political unit was the village group, a federation of villages averaging about 5,000 persons.

Members of the group shared a common market and meeting place, a tutelary deity, and ancestral cults that supported a tradition of descent from a common 22

Igbo Warriors

ancestor or group of ancestors. Authority in the village group was vested in a council of lineage heads and influential and wealthy men. In the eastern regions these groups tended to form larger political units, including centralized kingdoms and states.

Traditional Igbo religion includes belief in a creator god, an earth goddess, and numerous other deities and spirits, as well as a belief in ancestors who protect their living descendants. Revelation of the will of the deities is sought by divination and oracles. Many Igbo are now Christians.

The Igbos place great emphasis on individual achievements and initiative.

Individualism is rooted in a group solidarity. There is great emphasis placed on cooperation and group actions. The traditional government is democratic in nature, based primarily on consensus of opinion -- one man, one vote. Great emphasis is also placed on communal cooperation and achievements. The communal character of the Igbos may be traced from the formative influence of their traditional social pattern, the influence of their nucleated residence pat-

Igbo Chiefs

tern and the ideological urge to improve their life.

There are legends of men who have started from extremely humble beginnings and made it to the top without losing touch with humanity and charity. One of these is the story of the Igbo genius slave, born Jugbo. Jugboha from Amaigbo, Nkwerre Imo State, later known as King Jaja, began life as a slave in Bonny, graduated to a canoe paddler, successful trader, and, ultimately, head of the House of Pepple and finally became King of Opobo; a king not to be surpassed. ‘The Saga of Jaja so charmingly written up by de Cardi (1899); Dike (1956); Jones (1961) etc., illustrates the Igbo at his best: courageous, adventurous, hard working, charitable, obstinate, proud and faithful to his friends and benefactors.”

Other examples, from our own time (the mid-20th century), are the late Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu and the late middleweight champion of the world Dick Tiger. Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu started life as a petty trader, rose to an ex-produce inspector, a multinational businessman, a transport rnagnate, a banker, a finan-

Culture

cier, and, finally, a Knight of the British Empire. The late Mr. Dick Tiger Ihetu from Nkwerre-Orlu, Imo State, started as a bottle picker and retailer at Eke Oha, in Aba Township in 1951-1952. Within this time he entered boxing and rose to become world middleweight champion before 1960. Tiger was also a businessman, a school proprietor and a member of the British Empire (M.B.E.).

The modern Igbo, with his Christian education and Western orientations has the belief that the good should be rewarded in heaven and the bad should be treated with hellfire after death on earth. The traditional Igbos believe in the ideology that the spirit goes neither to heaven nor hell, but comes back on earth to join his lineage unaccomplished mission which was cut short on earth. Infant mortality may be one case in which a person may return on earth. in certain cases, a child lives for a certain period of years and, just when the time comes for her to be useful, she dies. When such an event occurs, the individual family seeks the help of a diviner (the medicine man) who specializes in the reading of the future through his “Oracles.”

Such inspiration is regarded as an act of God. Another cause of infant mortality is attributed to the nefarious act of witchcraft.

The Igbo people are increasingly mobile, but not nomadic. They were found in all parts of Nigeria before the Nigeria/Biafran Civil War. They are also presently found in many African countries, particularly Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (Fernando Po), Ghana, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Liberia and Dakar. Because Igbos are known by their neighbors as hard workers, “The go-and-get people”, and petty traders, they have come to be hated by their Nigerian counterpart.

The Igbos accept changes easily and adapt to them. They readily embraced the Western type of education through Christian philosophy of evangelization.

The priesthood, farming, taking of titles, welfare and trading are among the traditional avenues to status. The nature of the exposure to different situations has made it possible for the Igbos to accept certain innovations, modify elements of their social, religious, economic and political structures in order to accommodate the changes, and retain other basic patterns, such as achievement orientation, long-term goals, hatred of autocracy and a strong communal character.

Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

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News

King of Morocco revokes pervert’s pardon King Mohamed VI of Morocco has rescinded his pardon of a Spanish paedophile following furious protests. Baton-wielding police broke up a protest in Rabat by hundreds outraged by the pardon. In running clashes, the police clubbed demonstrators to prevent them from gathering in front of the Moroccan parliament; injuring several people including journalists.

Daniel Galvan Fina was one of 48 Spaniards imprisoned in Morocco for various crimes, who were given a Royal pardon

by King Mohamed at the personal request of Spain’s King Juan Carlos on his recent visit. However, now Morocco’s ruler’s aides claim, via a palace statement, that he had not been aware of the serious nature of Fina’s crimes. Fina was serving a 30 year sentence for raping 11 children aged from 4 to 15.

King of Morocco

The investigation should “determine the responsibilities and the failures that led to this regrettable release,” the statement

said.

Referring to Fina’s offences as “monstrous”, the statement concluded: “The

king was never informed - in any way or at any time - of the seriousness of the abject crimes of which the person concerned was convicted (…) It is clear that the sovereign would never have consented (to his release).

The pardon sparked outrage in the conservative North African nation, which has seen several high-profile paedophile arrests in recent months. Protesters slammed the pardon as “an international shame” with one demonstrator saying the state “defends the rape of Moroccan children”.

The king often pardons prisoners on special occasions, such as Throne Day, but the decision to release the Spaniards at the request of the monarch of a former colonial power riled many Moroccans.

Fina is thought to have already left the country. According to the Palace, Morocco’s justice minister would discuss with Madrid “the next step after the pardon’s revocation.”

Hacker shouts abuse at twoChinese zoo under fire, as it year old through baby monitor tried to pass off dogs as lions

Dog dressed as African lion

A zoo’s attempt to pass off fluffy dogs as “African lions” and rats as “snakes” has infuriated the zoo’s visitors.

In the zoo in Luohe in Henan , a cage marked “African lions” actually contained a Tibetan mastiff, a breed of domestic dog with fluffy brown fur around its face, according to photographs published by mainland media.

A zoo administrator tried desperately to explain. “The wolves are there,” he told an Oriental Daily reporter.

“But the wolf is somewhere else in the pen and the dog is a pet. The African lions will be back. They went to another zoo to breed.”

But the zoo had no explanation for abnormalities such as “fox-like creatures” in the leopard’s pen.

Visitors were outraged. Sharon Liu, who had taken her six-year-old son to the zoo, was alarmed to hear barking coming from inside the lion’s cage.

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“To use a dog to impersonate a lion is definitely an insult to tourists,” she said.

The practice of dyeing pets’ fur to make them look like other animals, such as painting dogs black and white to make them look like pandas, has been a trend reported on the mainland before. But the bogus animals in the Luohe zoo drew denunciations across the internet yesterday. A blogger joked that this publicity might actually bring more visitors to the zoo.

“People would want to know what they could think of next. Earthworms as pythons? … An eggplant disguised as a sea cucumber?”

Yu Hua, head of the People’s Park where the zoo is located said private contractors ran the zoo. In 2010, the government stopped giving contracts to private operators for animal parks and zoos, but the contract for the Luohe zoo has not expired yet. Yu said the signs would be “promptly corrected”.

An example of a similar baby monitor that was hacked

A hacker was able to shout abuse at a two-year-old child by exploiting a vulnerability in a camera advertised as an ideal “baby monitor”.

It has been revealed how a couple in Houston, Texas, heard a voice saying lewd comments coming from the camera, made by manufacturer Foscam.

Vulnerabilities in Foscam products were exposed in April, and the company issued an emergency fix.

Foscam said it was unable to provide a statement at this time.

However, a UK-based reseller told the BBC it would contact its entire customer database to remind them “the importance in setting a password to their cameras”.

The spokesman added that it would be urging Foscam’s head office - based in Shenzhen, China - to send out a memo to all its resellers suggesting they too contact their customers.

Marc Gilbert and wife Lauren were left shaken when they heard a “British or European accent” coming from the camera.

Mr Gilbert said the voice directed offensive, sexualised words at their daughter Allyson, who was asleep in bed.

The family believed the hacker was able to call the child by her name because it was spelt out on the bedroom’s wall.

The two-year-old is deaf, something the couple described as “something of a blessing” in the circumstances.

Foscam products in the UK are also sold under the trading name of GadgetFreakz - as well as being sold through Amazon.

A spokesman for GadgetFreakz said the company was looking at ways to better inform customers of the importance of setting secure passwords, adding that it prided itself on good customer service.

Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

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News

Israel denies Eritrean husband and father residency Immigration authorities in Israel are refusing to grant permanent resident status to an Eritrean man who is married to an Israeli woman on the grounds he cannot prove he has no criminal record.

The guidelines for determining the status of foreign citizens who are married to Israelis stipulate that, even if the applicant cannot provide such proof, permanent status can be granted but Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority is standing firm in its refusal. The couple has asked a Jerusalem court to instruct the Minister of the Interior to determine the status of the man, ‘T’, without the requested document. The Eritrean government is refusing to provide the document, since the man is an army deserter who fled the country.

The couple has a two-year-old daughter, who is an Israeli citizen, and the applicant’s wife is in advanced stages of pregnancy.

Lawyers for the couple said: “The applicants have repeatedly told the respondent that the claimant is a deserter from the Eritrean army and that it is impossible for someone who fled the army of a totalitarian dictatorship to obtain such a document. Yet, again and again, despite regulations established by the respondent authority itself, which often recognizes situations in which it is impossible to obtain criminal records from countries of origin, the application is denied without any pertinent response.”

‘T’ arrived in Israel six years ago after fleeing Eritrea. Upon his arrival, he was imprisoned for two months, but later released on the basis of a letter from the UN Refugee Agency supporting his application for asylum in Israel. He was subsequently given temporary residency and a work permit.

In 2008, he met his wife ‘M’, who came to Israel from Ethiopia 16 years ago. The two were married three years ago, when the wife registered a civil marriage in Paraguay, so that they could be registered as a married couple in Israel upon her return.

In June 2011, the couple set out to formally determine T’s status in Israel. They were asked to provide a series of docu-

ments, most of which they were able to obtain - including his Eritrean passport, birth certificate and a certification of bachelorhood. The Eritrean authorities would not provide a clean criminal record and a relative of T’s in Asmara, Eritrea’s capital, was warned by police not to approach them again on behalf of a deserter. The couple’s explanations were to no avail and the Population Registry refused to give T’ permanent resident status.

Six months after the initial application was filed, the authority asked T to close his petition for asylum as a precondition for dealing with his status as M’s partner.

He did so in January 2012 and promptly received a letter requiring him to leave the country within 14 days. His temporary residence and work permits were revoked, leaving him without legal status in Israel.

Requests to regain these permits were initially denied but his work permit has since been reinstated.

Attorney Dotan Berman, representing the population authority, said that the insistence on obtaining a criminal record is reasonable. Even though the situation in Eritrea is “far from satisfactory”, the Authority should not have to relinquish its demand for a criminal record from that country, he said in a statement. Since T’s work permit has been reinstated, he is in no danger of being deported and can provide for his family with “minimal damage” to himself and his family, Berman said.

In the suit filed with the District Court, attorneys Hasin and Feller argued that the damage to the family is not minimal. “Employers are reluctant to take in someone with an uncertain employment future. The applicant will at best only be able to find menial work, with limited contribution to the family’s welfare”, they wrote. “In the absence of even temporary residence status, the applicant has no social benefits and is not insured under the state medical insurance system. He cannot obtain a permanent driving license. The couple does not enjoy the full benefits given by the National Insurance Institute nor can they obtain a mortgage.”

Africans in Israel are having to endure a struggle for acceptance

Speaking to Israeli daily Haaretz, ‘M’ said that she would have expected the state to allow her to live with her chosen mate. “It’s really sad. You supposedly live in a state that’s considered modern. The whole world knows that an army deserter can’t provide documents. I’m sure he would be taken in

by other countries”.

Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority declined to answer specific questions, saying that “the issue would be examined on its merits as part of the legal process” and that the authority would give its response in court.”

A group of Eritreans bear the Israeli flag alongside their own

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Zimbabwe election Zimbabwe stock exchange plummits as Mugabe resumes power Fear of returning to the days of food shortages and empty supermarket shelves has gripped Zimbabweans again, following another disputed election that saw the stock market take a nose dive Monday.

Voters were still reeling from the shock ZANU PF victory in last week’s election, as the headlines said there was an 11% drop in stock prices. Experts say this is the result of uncertainty over Zimbabwe’s future under Robert Mugabe.

According to the official Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, share prices for some top companies dropped by up to 20 percent on Monday, which was the first full day of trading following ZANU PF’s disputed landslide win against the MDC-T. Comments by ZANU PF top officials that they would now more fiercely pursue their party’s indigenization and empowerment policies have done nothing to reassure potential investors.

On Tuesday the Indigenization Minister Saviour Kasukuwere told reporters that government plans to take foreign owned mining companies without compensation.

But he said banks would be compensated if government took their companies. Large international banks, including Barclays, have been identified as targets.

“When it comes to natural resources, Zimbabwe will not pay for her resources,” Kasukuwere is quoted as saying, adding: “If they don’t want to follow the law that’s their problem.”

Kasukuwere went further to say that a new stock exchange will open within 100

Zimbabwe stock exhange plummited when Robert Mugabe won the election this month

days of the new ZANU PF government taking office. He added that this new Harare Stock Exchange will only be open to black Zimbabweans and will trade the blackowned shares in the seized companies.

Harare based economist John Robertson rubbished the idea, describing it as “taking absurdities to new limits. He said: “I think he is re-introducing a form of apartheid for which he should be pilloried, I believe, by the markets and by international observers.

The claim that such a thing should even exist is out of place in the 21st century and was even out place in the last century.”

Regarding the seizure of mining firms without compensation, Robertson explained that Kasukuwere claims that minerals under the ground are the contribution made

by Zimbabwe to the enterprise of mining.

But they have no value until machines have been put a place and people hired to extract them.

“So the claim that they don’t have to pay compensation to mining companies is outrageously unjust. And the sheer absurdity of that claim is the one that has got to be challenged,” Robertson said. He added that

he hopes the legality of these seizures will be challenged by those countries that have Bilateral Investment Protection Agreements (BIPPA) with Zimbabwe.

Robertson confirmed that the price of fuel has already gone up due to expectations of a return to the Zimbabwean currency, which he said would not last for more than a week, because no-one would accept it as payment for goods. People are also reported to be withdrawing their money from the banks.

By law, foreign companies in Zimbabwe are required to give up 51% of their shares to locals. But observers and critics say this has benefitted only those in Mugabe’s close circle.

ZANU PF’s track record in this regard is catalogue of mismanagement, corruption and large-scale looting. Little is growing on most of the commercial farms illegally taken over from white farmers. And profits from the sale of diamonds have not made it to the national coffers.

With ZANU-PF and Mugabe now fully in control of the economy, it is feared the country will slide back to the record breaking inflation of years past. A news report from 2nd December 2008 said the monthly inflation rate in Zimbabwe was running at 13.2 billion per cent, and was set to reach an all-time world record within weeks.

These figures put Zimbabwe’s annual inflation rate at 516 quintillion per cent. That’s 516 followed by 18 zeros.

This galloping inflation was only controlled when the MDC-T came into the power sharing government, and Zimbabweans remember this very well.

Robert Mugabe gives defeated foes advice: “Go hang” Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe on Monday said those upset by his disputed landslide election victory could “go hang”.

Robert Mugabe won the election in a landslide victory, gaining 64% of the vote.

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The 89-year-old vowed never to let go of his victory as his opponent Morgan Tsvangirai lodged a petition in court challenging the election outcome.

“Those who were hurt by defeat can go hang if they so wish,” Mugabe told thousands at a rally to honour heroes of the country’s liberation wars.

“Never will we go back on our victory,” he said in his first public address since the July 31-vote.

Mugabe was declared the winner with 61 per cent of the ballots, against Tsvangirai’s 34 per cent. He insisted that the Zimbabwean people’s choice in government was clear. “We are delivering democracy on a platter. We say take it or leave it, but the people have delivered democracy,” he said.

Tsvangirai meanwhile vowed to expose “glaring evidence of the stolen vote”through a court bid. His lawyers

on Friday filed a petition at the Constitutional Court challenging the poll, which extended Mugabe’s 33-year rule by another five years.

“All I can see is a nation in mourning over the audacity of so few to steal from so many,” he said in a statement.

But “the thief left so much evidence at the scene of crime as we shall expose in the people’s petition that we filed last week.”The elections were to end a shaky power-sharing government formed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai to avoid a tip into conflict in the aftermath of a bloody run-off election in 2008.

Tsvangirai’s defeat has relegated his Movement for Democratic Change back to the opposition benches. Local observers have called the polls flawed and Western powers have raised serious doubts over the vote.

However, regional organisations the African Union and Southern African Development Community (SADC) were less critical.

Friday, 16 August 2013 – Thursday, 22 August 2013

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Focus on Egypt

UN Rights Chief Urges Talks to Save Egypt USA

Muslim Brotherhood members and ousted Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi supporters rally at Raba Al Adaawyia

Egypt’s violent crackdown on supporters of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi has triggered The United Nations human rights chief appealed to all parties in Egypt to act with restraint and initiate talks, following a day of bloody violence that left hundreds dead and many more injured.

“I deplore the loss of life and call on all in Egypt to seek a way out of the violence.

I urge the Egyptian authorities and security forces to act with the utmost restraint,” said Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“What is needed is genuinely inclusive reconciliation. I therefore appeal again to all sides to engage in urgent dialogue to avoid further violence and hate speech, with the aim of restoring constitutional order through free and democratic elections.”

Yesterday, security forces clashed with demonstrators demanding the reinstatement of deposed President Mohamed Morsy.

Ms. Pillay noted that there were conflicting reports about the scale of the violence as Government officials said more than 500 had been killed while the Muslim Brotherhood put the figure at more than 2,000.

“The number of people killed or injured, even according to the Government’s figures, point to an excessive, even extreme, use of force against demonstrators,” she said. “There must be an independent, impartial, effective and credible investigation of the conduct of the security forces. Anyone found guilty of wrongdoing should be held to account.”

Ms. Pillay reminded Egyptian authorities that their security forces are bound by the rule of law and must act with full respect for human rights, including the rights

to free speech and peaceful assembly. She also stressed that Government opponents who have reportedly attacked public buildings and religious sites should be brought to justice, and underlined that demonstrators must ensure their gatherings remain peaceful.

“Wednesday’s tragic events highlight the degree to which Egypt is becoming dangerously polarized,” Ms. Pillay said, pointing to reports of violent incidents in several parts of the country in response to the clearing of sit-ins in Cairo.

Reacting to Wednesday’s announcement

by Egyptian authorities of a month-long national state of emergency, Ms. Pillay said it should be implemented in conformity with Egypt’s obligations under international law, ensuring that human rights are respected and protected.

Ms. Pillay added that under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Egypt is a party, no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her life or be subject to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, even in times of emergency.

“Everyone deprived of their liberty must be treated humanely and afforded all the judicial guarantees under international law,” she said.

Egypt has been undergoing a democratic transition following the toppling of President Hosni Mubarak two years ago in the wake of mass protests. Last month, renewed protests - in which dozens of people were killed and wounded - led to the Egyptian military deposing Mr. Morsy. The Constitution was then suspended and an interim government set up.

The United States strongly condemns the use of violence against protesters in Egypt.

We extend our condolences to the families of those who have been killed, and to the injured.

We have repeatedly called on the Egyptian military and security forces to show restraint, and for the government to respect the universal rights of its citizens, just as we have urged protesters to demonstrate peacefully. Violence will only make it more difficult to move Egypt forward on a path to lasting stability and democracy, and runs directly counter to the pledges by the interim government to pursue reconciliation. We also strongly oppose a return to a State of Emergency law, and call on the government to respect basic human rights such as freedom of peaceful assembly, and due process under the law. The world is watching what is happening in Cairo. We urge the government of Egypt - and all parties in Egypt - to refrain from violence and resolve their differences peacefully.

United Kingdom

Foreign Secretary William Hague daid Britain is deeply concerned at the escalating violence in Egypt and condemns the use of force in clearing protestors.

Speaking, Foreign Secretary William Hague said: “I am deeply concerned at the escalating violence and unrest in Egypt, and regret the loss of life on all sides. The UK has been closely involved in intensive diplomatic efforts directed at reaching a peaceful resolution to the standoff. I am disappointed that compromise has not been possible. I condemn the use of force in clearing protests and call on the security forces to act with restraint. Leaders on all sides must work to reduce the risk of further violence. Only then will it be possible to take vital steps towards dialogue and reconciliation.”

A boy holds the Egyptian flag in Raba’a Al-Adaweya square

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Muntari: We will make Ghanaians smile

Sulley Muntari celebrates with AC Milan

With just one match remaining in the group stage of the African qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, Ghana are only a point away from reaching the final round. However, standing in the Black Stars’ way on 6 September are Zambia, who have ambitions of making their first global finals after conquering the continent in 2012.

Veteran Ghanaian Sulley Muntari, who scored twice in seven appearances over Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010, doesn’t plan on allowing the Chipolopolo spoil his dream of playing at a third FIFA World Cup – a feat most Africans can only dream of.

“We want to go to Brazil and we are focused on qualifying,” the AC Milan player, who has featured in every qualifier so far, including Zambia’s hardfought 1-0 defeat of Ghana in June 2013, told FIFA.com. “We are committed to that goal.

“We are ready for them this time. It will be a tough game and we will do our best to win. We are on top of the group, closer to Brazil, and we want to finish it in grand style.”

Ghana dislodged Zambia at the section summit thanks to nine points won from Sudan and Lesotho, but their narrow advantage will not quell nerves about recent history against the south30

ern Africans. Zambia recorded a surprise double over Ghana last year, a semi-final triumph at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations accompanying a Brazil 2014 qualifying success. Muntari featured in both matches, but the 28year-old believes the Black Stars can manage to find more than the necessary draw at home.

“They have troubled us for a long time, have given us sleepless nights,” he said. “But we are ready for them and want to make it big this time. We are poised to plant broad smiles on the faces of Ghanaians in Kumasi.”

The former Udinese, Portsmouth and Inter Milan player believes the potential returns of Michael Essien, Kevin Prince Boateng, Andre Ayew and his brother Jordan to international football will bring the Ghanaians back to their best. The quartet have hinted of a comeback following a variety of selfimposed exiles.

Muntari said: “Andre and Jordan are coming back, so is Boateng. Hopefully Essien will also be back in the team and it will be amazing.”

Unlike the Ayew duo, who missed out on trips to Sudan and Lesotho in June, Boateng and Essien have played no part in the qualifiers. In the absence of such world-class players, Muntari has stepped up and brought his ample experience to the national team. Along with 80 international appearances over

11 years, he helped Ghana to the final match of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2001, and has also won a pair of Scudetti, a UEFA Champions League and a FIFA Club World Cup with Inter Milan.

In 2012, Muntari made a shock move to Inter’s cross-town rivals AC Milan, and after a couple of solid seasons they finished third in the 2012/13 Serie A - he is hoping to break his trophy drought with the seven-time European champions this campaign.

“It is such an amazing and united family at Milan,” Muntari explained. “Last season was great and I hope we can do better this term.”

Muntari has often been seen as something of a rebel in Ghanaian football for his outbursts on the pitch. He has been criticised in local media over his bittersweet relationship with officials, but he claims his attitude has never been better. However, against Lesotho in Maseru, he made headlines yet again for a glum gesture over his substitution, an incident which incurred the displeasure of the public.

“If you are substituted at a time you don’t expect, definitely you will react,” he said. “But it is in the past and I have explained my actions to the coach. I have told him how I felt at that time. I never meant to disrespect him.”

Muntari playing for Ghana, he has 78 caps for his national side

Friday, 09 August 2013 – Thursday, 15 August 2013

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Carthage Eaglets eyeing new horizons

Tunisia fans

Though political instability has afflicted Tunisia in recent times, the nation’s U-17 team have been quietly and impressively getting on with things, securing a bestever third place at the CAF African U-17 Championship earlier this year and earning a ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup United Arab Emirates 2013.

While the Carthage Eaglets have reached the world finals on two previous occasions, this latest qualifying achievement has a special feel to it, coming as it has in spite of all the upheaval back home. On top of that, the Tunisians booked their UAE 2013 berth in neighbouring Morocco, reaching the last four before eventually eclipsing their North African rivals 11-10 in a record-breaking

24-kick penalty shoot-out in the match for third place.

Reflecting on the performance of his players, coach Abdelhay Ben Soltane said: “We pulled it off thanks to the hard work of the coaching staff and the players, who kept their heads despite their young age and who executed their game plans perfectly right through the tournament. They gave their very best on a technical and tactical level, and that’s not easy at this age.”

The draw for UAE 2013 takes place in Abu Dhabi on 26 August. In the meantime the Carthage Eaglets are preparing hard for the tournament behind closed doors at a training camp in Switzerland. All 29 players called up by Ben Soltane play their football in Tunisia, with the exception of Mohamed Tarraga, who is on Freiburg’s books.

The North Africans will play two friendlies against local sides before returning to Tunis for another training camp on 26-31 August, during which time they will play another friendly on the 29th, most probably against Libya.

Their preparations will continue with a squad get-together on 9-15 September, when they will play two more friendlies.

Then, at the end of the month, Ben Soltane’s charges will take part in the North African Football Federation Championships, which will take place in either Morocco or Tunisia and will feature a number of African, European and Asian sides, depending on the results of the UAE 2013 draw.

At the start of October comes a three-day training camp involving another friendly.

The Carthage Eaglets will then take off for Qatar, where they will complete their preparations and play a final warm-up match, most likely against a team from the Aspire Academy.

Tunisia’s UAE 2013 plans suffered a major blow when their star forward Chamseddine Samti, who plays for Esperance, suffered a serious injury at the end of last month. The player underwent immediate surgery and will be sidelined for three whole months, ruling him out of the world finals, which begin on 17 October.

Ben Soltane’s task in the meantime is to find a suitable replacement who can help the Tunisians improve on their best ever performance in the competition, which came at Korea 2007, when they reached the last 16 before losing 3-1 to France.

Malawi coach blasts Eagles again

Malawi coach Tom Saintfiet has dismissed African champions Nigeria as only “super” on paper.

Saintfiet, who last year was appointed technical director for Nigeria but never got to take up the job, will lead the Flames of Malawi to Calabar next month for a crucial 2014 World Cup qualifier.

Malawi need to beat the Super Eagles to stand any chance of qualifying for the final play-off round for the 2014 World Cup. “Nigeria Super Eagles are super on paper,” boasted the young Belgian coach.

“But this is one game, 90 minutes and one goal is all we need. I may have a bunch of home-based players who just featured in the COSAFA Cup, but I know we can do it in Calabar.

“I took this job for one reason, and that is to qualify Malawi for the final round playoff of the World Cup qualifiers.”

Malawi mind games ahead of the September 6 clash began with their request for the match to be moved from Calabar to Abuja, where there are better hotels, and for the appointed match referee to be changed.

Malawi forced Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in Blantyre when they first clashed last year.

Eto’o back in the Lions’ den While the Indomitable Lions’ skipper is on his way out at Anzhi Makhachkala, he had his first training session this Tuesday in Paris with the rest of the national team.

According to insiders, Samuel Eto’o was happy to see his teammates and seemed concerned with the preparation of the 6th and last day of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Libya, scheduled for the 8 September in Yaoundé.

After revealing that he would consider all offers his agent may receive, the four-time African Ballon d’Or does not seem really worried about his future during this training camp that will end on Wednesday.

Absent against the Spare hawks of Togo and the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo last June, Samuel Eto’o had not visited the Lions’ den since March earlier this year where he scored twice against Togo in Yaoundé in their third qualifier.

Barcelona scout Africa to find new superstar

Continued from page 32

But of the current first-team squad, only former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song hails from Africa with Eto’o having left for Russia in 2009, Toure for Manchester City a year later and Mali’s Seydou Keita for China in 2012.

Now Barcelona are hoping the new link-up will not only provide wider commercial opportunities but a pathway for future stars to establish themselves in one of the world’s biggest clubs.

“This could be a great chance for some young players to develop in the best surroundings,” said Faus.

“We have a lot of fans across the world but Africa is the final frontier.

We want to spend time and effort to introduce ourselves to the continent. Our willingness is to tap into that market over the next decade because we know that is something that doesn’t happen overnight.”

Malawi coach Tom Saintfiet

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ISSUE 495

Muntari: We will make Ghanians smile SEE PAGE 30

Barcelona scout Africa to find next superstar

Cameroon superstar Alex Song ia just one example of Africas fantastic talent

By Agency Reporter

Barcelona have unveiled plans to unearth future generations of African talent which they hope can one day follow in the footsteps of Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure and Alex Song.

The Spanish champions have agreed to allow coaches from their world-famous La Masia academy to visit a number of southern African countries as part of a sponsorship deal with an African beverage company.

The coaches will pass on their techniques to local coaches in countries including Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania

and Zambia.

It’s also hoped that the new link-up will give emerging talent the opportunity to develop in the surroundings that produced the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta.

“This goes beyond just signing a sponsorship contract,” Barcelona financial vicepresident Javier Faus told BBC Sport.

“We know there is a lot of talent in Africa but we are happy to provide the expertise of our coaches to help the game develop in these countries.

“We are doing the same thing in Israel and Palestine this summer and are also planning to bring coaches from Africa over

to La Masia to see how things are done here.”

He added: “In the last 20 years most of the talent has come from west Africa but I think in the next two decades the continent will become even more important in producing players. I’m sure that in that time we will see an African team winning the World Cup.” At the last count, there were approximately 20 African players on the books at La Masia, with the majority having arrived as a result of the link-up with former Barca striker Eto’o’s own foundation.

Before the Cameroon star joined the Catalans in 2004, the famous academy had not

produced any players of African origin but now teenage striker Jean Marie Dongou is on the brink of making the breakthrough to the first team having starred for Barcelona’s B side over the last two seasons.

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