Kioo17 Journal

Kigali, RWANDA: Drawing cartoons or producing writing that "humiliates" a government official is now a crime in Rwanda. Journalists say the law that took effect on Thursday will greatly affect work that is meant to hold public officials, including Cabinet members to account. Defaming Rwanda's head of state, President Paul Kagame, already was illegal, bringing five to seven years in prison and a $11,000 fine. It was not immediately clear if the law affects people who post such writings on social media. A cartoonist who breaks the law faces up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $1500. If the cartoon targets a member of parliament or top-ranking official, the penalty doubles. " Any person who, verbally, by gestures or threats, in writings or cartoons, humiliates a member of parliament when exercising his/her mandate, a member of the Cabinet, security officers or any other person in charge of a public service in the performance or in conn...

Lusaka, ZAMBIA: A Kenyan law professor and former director of his country’s anti-corruption commission was on Saturday refused entry to Zambia due to “security considerations”, authorities said. Professor Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba (born 17 July 1962) is a Kenyan who served as the Director of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission from September 2010 to August 2011 and is currently the Director of The Kenya School of Laws since the year 2014. An eloquent lawyer , he holds PhD in Laws of the sea from the University of Ghent in Belgium. He is also a staunch Pan-Africanist and has delivered several powerful speeches to all about African solutions to African problems. Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, director of the Kenya School of Laws, had been due to deliver a talk on Chinese influence in Africa on Sunday. On arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International airport in Lusaka, however, he was refused entry before being deported back to Kenya. “(The) government through (the) immigr...

New York, UNITED STATES: Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for urgent reforms at the United Nations to ensure Africa is allocated two permanent seats at the Security Council complete with all attendant rights and prerogatives. Speaking when he delivered Kenya’s country statement at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday afternoon, the Head of State said, besides the two permanent seats being demanded by the continent, Africa deserves more non-permanent seats. Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for urgent reforms at the United Nations to ensure Africa is allocated two permanent seats at the Security Council complete with all attendant rights and prerogatives. Speaking when he delivered Kenya’s country statement at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday afternoon, the Head of State said, besides the two permanent seats being demanded by the continent, Africa deserves more non-permanent seats. Currently, Africa has three non-permanent seats at the UN ...

Jose Filomeno dos Santos. Luanda, ANGOLA: The son of Angola's former president Jose Eduardo dos Santos was taken into custody in connection with a US$1.5 billion corruption case, a state prosecutor told the AFP. Jose Filomeno dos Santos, nicknamed Zenu, the former head of Angola’s sovereign wealth fund, Fundo Soberano de Angola (FSDEA) was in March charged with fraud over an alleged illegal transfer of $500 million while in his former position. Another former fund manager, Angolan-Swiss businessman Jean-Claude Bastos de Morais, is also under investigation. Jean-Claude Bastos de Morais is a Swiss-Angolan entrepreneur who has founded and led several businesses over the course of his career. Among these are Quantum Global Group, an international investment group with a particular focus on Africa and Banco Kwanza Invest, Angola’s first investment bank.  “Given the complexity and seriousness of the deeds and in order to guarantee an effective enquiry...the state ...

New York, UNITED STATES: Members of the United Nations‘ General Assembly have laughed at Donald Trump after he told them his administration had “accomplished more than almost any ... in the history of our country”. Mr Trump on Tuesday began his address by noting that this is the second time he has spoken to the UNGeneral Assembly, and then began to tout the progress his administration has made since he took office. “One year ago I stood before you for the first time in this grand hall. I addressed the threats facing our world, and I presented a vision to achieve a brighter future for all of humanity,”  Mr Trump, who has frequently claimed the US is laughed at internationally for weak international policies, said. “Today I stand before the United Nations General Assembly to share the extraordinary progress we’ve made”. In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country,”  Mr Trump c...

Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA: This coming after the mr Mbeki warn his own party of towing the part of racialism. Former president Thabo Mbeki’s comments on land have caused a stir, with the EFF slamming him for criticising the party’s approach on the matter. In a leaked document, Mbeki criticised the ANC’s approach to land reform, which he said was not in line with the governing party’s non-racial character. Mbeki was responding to the ANC’s push for the expropriation of land without compensation, which the party adopted as a resolution at its 54th national conference last year. Independent Media has reliably established the authenticity of the document. The former president said the position the ANC had taken on the contentious land issue raised important questions about the strategic definition of the ANC as a representative of all the people of South Africa, as envisioned by the “people’s document”, the Freedom Charter. He said the party had been asserting...

Harare,ZIMBABWE: Lesbian‚ gay‚ bisexual‚ and transgender activists in Zimbabwe have commended the bravery of a top private school deputy headmaster for openly declaring his sexual orientation during assembly. Dr Neal Hovelmeier teaches at St John's College‚ one of the country's elite schools. He made the announcement to pupils at the school last week. Dr. Neal Hovelmeier. Hovelmeier said in a statement that he had decided to lead by example because of some of his former students' experiences.  "I have become increasingly aware that a number of former students who gain the confidence after school to pursue their chosen orientation‚ have reported back to me experiencing an environment of intolerance‚ intimidation and homophobia while they were at school‚"   He said . In a statement out 21 September 2018, attached to the show of support by the Headmaster Cav Trinci and his deputy A Sakala, Dr Hovelmeier said: "I have always...

A demonstration against ethnic violence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this month. Image: AP. Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA: The Ethiopian government has arrested thousands of people around the capital, Addis Ababa, over the last week and sent many of them to military camps for “rehabilitation,” the authorities said on Monday, as the government sought to respond to mounting criticism from Ethiopians who say it has done little as ethnic violence has flared. Ethiopia, to a degree unusual in Africa, has long exercised a degree of surveillance and control over its citizens. But earlier this year it embarked on a whirlwind series of reforms, mainly guided by the country’s new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, 42, a former army officer. Ethiopia has sought peace with its longtime adversary, Eritrea; it has freed prisoners; opened access to websites and television channels that it had blocked for political reasons; and it invited banned political organizations and their leaders to return from...

Lilongwe, MALAWI:    Malawi’s bishops have urged the country’s politicians to keep Pope Francis out of “petty politics.” The statement from the bishops’ conference came after Hophmally Makande, an official of the ruling Democratic Progressive Part, said those urging 79 -year-old President Peter Mutharika to resign should also ask Pope Francis, who is 81, to step down. Arthur Peter Mutharika born 18 July 1939  is a Malawian politician, educator and lawyer who has been President of Malawisince 31 May 2014. Image: AP. “Some of you are criticizing and speaking bad that President Peter Mutharika is old… is the pope a ten-year-old… is the pope a ten-year-old? Between the pope and Peter who is older? Isn’t it the pope … why does he not resign then? I am not despising the Church. But leave our president alone,”  Makande told a campaign rally in Blantyre. In a Sept. 13 statement the bishops said: “We call upon all political leaders, those governing...

Freetown, SIERRA LEONE: Air travellers to Sierra Leone and Liberia have been hit by report from KLM that it is cutting its services to both countries.  The Dutch carrier has made this decision in order to add new flight service to the American city of Las Vegas. This news comes as the government of Sierra Leone and the mayor of Freetown are making plans to improve tourism in the country. Sierra Leone is one of the least favoured destinations for tourism on the continent, comparing very poorly to the Gambia and Senegal. Fewer than 200 passengers arrive every day at Sierra Leone’s Lungi International Airport, and this is bad business for international flight carriers. But carriers such as Air France, Air Maroc, Turkish Airlines, and Brussels Airlines will continue their services to the West African cities. According to a report by Air Transport World (ATW), the Dutch SkyTeam carrier KLM will stop services to Freetown in Sierra Leone and Monrovia in Liberi...