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Hundreds of miners who spent three days underground as part of a union dispute were leaving a gold mine in South Africa on Wednesday, the union at the center of the standoff said.
Many people have been killed since clashes began on Monday. Scores too had been killed in the run up to the vote as protestors marched against Conde's bid for a third term.
Two seven-year-old boys who were found lifeless in a Mfuleni dam, were reported missing by their families in Khayelitsha last week.
[GroundUp] Municipality must return land to 84-year-old pensioner because it didn't obtain his consent, suggesting that parts of the Expropriation Act are unconstitutional
Today Representatives sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urging them to immediately reverse the recent interim policy decision “COVID-19 Pandemic: Work Eligible for Public Assistance.”
BY PRAISEMORE SITHOLE WORKERS at the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) offices countrywide have downed tools citing incapacitation. The job action comes after the workers petitioned government over poor and delayed salaries. Last week, the workers wrote to Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda and Home Affairs secretary Aaron Nhepera demanding a review of their working conditions. In a follow-up petition to the management dated October 21, the workers said they were incapacitated. “As the staff members, we write to notify you of our incapacitation from October 21,” the letter read. “Previous correspondences to the head office have not yielded positive results and in some instances have not been replied to. We are left with no other option, but the unfortunate decision to declare incapacitation due to meagre salaries.” The workers said their salaries which average $3 700 were no longer sustainable. “Regrettably, the organisation selectively and intermittently provides supplementary transport assistance to members reporting for duty,” the letter added. “Our plea remains unsolved as the bus fare is not enough given the challenges that Zupco is facing and the current restricted access to the Public Service Commission buses.” NMMZ executive director Godfrey Mahachi yesterday blamed the salary delays to technical issues which he said were being addressed. “The ministry is doing something to rectify the delays and technical issues. We are trying to talk to the workers because this is not the time for them to be doing that. The money is there, it is the process of paying that is taking time but there is no dispute,” he said.
Western Bureau: As the nation continues its relentless drive to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus, two communities, Rae Town, in Kingston, and Cornwall Courts, in St James, were placed under special area curfew because of the troubling...
[GroundUp] Fikile Ntshangase, a vocal opponent of plans to extend the Somkhele coal mine, was murdered in her home on Thursday night.
Four more people have died from COVID-19 and another death is under investigation, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has reported. \tThis means Jamaica has now recorded 186 deaths from the disease since it's first case on March 10. ...
Kolpak player Wayne Parnell has been released by Worcerstershire County Cricket Club with a year left to run on his contract.
By REBECCA BOONE and DAVID CRARY Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. coronavirus caseload has reached record heights with more than 83,000 infections reported in a single day, the latest ominous sign of the disease's grip on the nation, as states from Connecticut to the Rocky Mountain West reel under the surge. The U.S. death toll, meanwhile, has grown to 223,995, according to the COVID-19 Dashboard published by Johns Hopkins University. The total U.S. caseload reported on the site Friday was 83,757, topping the 77,362 cases reported on July 16. The impact is being felt in every section […]
The post US sets coronavirus infection record; deaths near 224,000 appeared first on Black News Channel.
By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Hurried, harassed and hit repeatedly, Carson Wentz completed the comeback this time. Wentz threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Boston Scott with 40 seconds remaining and the Philadelphia Eagles overcame an 11-point deficit in the final seven minutes to beat the New York Giants 22-21 on Thursday night. Wentz led a depleted offense to 22 fourth-quarter points only to miss a 2-point conversion at the end in a 30-28 loss to Baltimore on Sunday. He wouldn't be denied against the Giants. 'He battled, faced adversity and hung in there,' Eagles […]
The post Carson Wentz rallies Eagles to 22-21 win over Giants appeared first on Black News Channel.
MUTARE-BASED freelance journalist Sydney Saize has sued Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri and State security agents for humiliation and unlawful arrest in Chimanimani while investigating alleged theft of Cyclone Idai donations last year. BY KENNETH NYANGANI The matter was heard on Thursday by High Court judge Justice Hlekani Mwayera who reserved judgment on whether it should to a full hearing. The journalist is claiming $500 000 damages. Saize cited Muchinguri, State Security minister Owen Ncube, Sports minister Kirsty Coventry, Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Phillip Vallerio Sibanda and Central Intelligence Organisation director-general Isaac Moyo as respondents. Muchinguri and Sibanda, who were represented by lawyer Mutumbwa Mugabe, raised preliminary objections that the case should not go to a full hearing. Mugabe told Justice Mwayera that Saize in his summons to sue the State security agents did not name the officers who harassed and arrested him. Saize’s lawyer Passmore Nyakureba of Maunga Maanda and Associates said the arguments raised by State were meant to delay the finalisation of the matter. “These arguments are ill taken, they are meant to delay the finalisation of the matter because my client complied with everything the State needed,” Nyakureba said. “He was unlawfully arrested by officers from the army, Central Intelligence Organisation and from the Border Gezi while doing investigative journalism on Cyclone Idai donations to verify if allegations that they were stolen were true.” Saize claimed that on April 11, he travelled to Chimanimani to investigate alleged theft of Cyclone Idai donations by State security agents and government officials. It is alleged that while interviewing the survivors at Ngangu Primary School, the journalist was arrested by some members of the security forces. He was detained at Ngangu Primary School and some officers later forced him to accept a food donation and ordered him to sign for it before posting messages on social media that he had stolen the donations. Saize was handed over to police in Chimanimani who refused to open a docket against him, saying they recognised him as an accredited journalist.
In one of the most unique voter mobilization efforts this year, Atlanta Metro area NAACP branches and other civil rights organizations will “Party at the Polls” on Saturday, Oct. 24, the last weekend of early voting, in an ambitious one-day event to get more than 100,000 African-American voters to the polls., part of a voter mobilization effort across19 Georgia counties […]
Electoral authorities in Guinea on Saturday declared President Alpha Conde winner of Sunday's election with 59.49% of the vote, defeating his main rival Cellou Diallo.
\t Some people went to the streets to protest immediately after the announcement. Such demonstrations have occurred for months after the government changed the constitution through a national referendum, allowing Conde to extend his decade in power.
\t Opposition candidate Cellou Diallo received 33.50% of the vote, the electoral commission said. Voter turnout was almost 80%.
\t Political tensions in the West African nation turned violent in recent days after Diallo claimed victory ahead of the official results. Celebrations by his supporters were suppressed when security forces fired tear gas to disperse them.
They accuse the electoral authorities of rigging the vote for incumbent president Alpha Conde.
\t At least nine people have been killed since the election, according to the government. The violence sparked international condemnation by the U.S. and others.
\t ``Today is a sad day for African democracy,'' said Sally Bilaly Sow, a Guinean blogger and activist living abroad. The government should take into account the will of the people who have a desire for change, he said.
ICC warning
The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor warned on Friday that warring factions in Guinea could be prosecuted after fighting erupted.
“I wish to repeat this important reminder: anyone who commits, orders, incites, encourages and contributes in any other way to crimes … is liable to prosecution either by the Guinean courts or the ICC,” she said.
#ICC Prosecutor #FatouBensouda: "I wish to repeat this important reminder: anyone who commits, orders, incites, encourages or contributes, in any other way, to the commission of #RomeStatute crimes, is liable to prosecution either by #Guinean courts or by the #ICC."
— Int'l Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) October 23, 2020
\t On Friday, internet and international calls were cut off across the West African nation in anticipation of the election results, according to locals and international observers in the capital, Conakry.
\t This was the third time that Conde matched-up against Diallo. Before the election, observers raised concerns that an electoral dispute could reignite ethnic tensions between Guinea's largest ethnic groups.
Deaths from the coronavirus pandemic continue to affect Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries and some regional states are again urging its nationals to comply with the various measures and protocols aimed at curbing the spread of the disease.
By GRANT SCHULTE Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska will never be mistaken for a swing state given that it hasn't supported a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964, but if the race is close this fall, the state could have a key role in choosing the next president. It's all thanks to a law approved decades ago that was intended to attract presidential candidates to a state they usually ignore because it's so reliably conservative. While the statewide vote will clearly go to President Donald Trump, former Vice President Joe Biden has a good chance of winning in the […]
The post Nebraska, Maine could play pivotal role in presidential race appeared first on Black News Channel.
President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden took the stage for the final presidential debate Thursday night. Here's what you missed.
GOVERNMENT has approved a steep hike in school fees, which will see some pupils at boarding and urban day high schools forking out in excess of $55 000 up from $6 000 and $20 000 up from $3 000, respectively. BY HARRIET CHIKANDIWA NewsDay Weekender has also heard that some schools are demanding payments in United States dollars for non-examination classes set to return to school on Monday. This comes amid complaints by parents and guardians that the fees were too high considering that the term was short and most teachers were on strike. Teachers’ unions described the increases as “daylight robbery” and insisted that their members would continue with their industrial action until government has addressed their demands for a pay hike. Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema yesterday confirmed the fees hike, adding that no parent had formally raised objections with his ministry. “No parent has complained to the ministry, every parent or guardian knows what needs to be done,” he said. Schools reopened for examination classes on September 28 following a six-month break triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The second batch of students comprising Grade 6 and Forms Three and Lower Sixth will report for lessons on Monday while the last batch is expected on November 9. Schools such as Catholic-run Gokomere and Silveira, Rusununguko and Prince Edward, among others, have reviewed their fees upwards with the latter now demanding $55 000 for boarders and $20 000 for day scholars. Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou said the fees were certainly beyond the reach of many parents, particularly civil servants. “Our position is that parents must stop paying fees until teachers and government find each other over teachers' welfare, health and safety. Sending kids to school when teachers are not teaching is a waste of time; the fees are certainly beyond the reach of many parents, particularly teachers,” Zhou said. Parents interviewed by NewsDay Weekender said school heads just presented them with figures ranging from $28 000 to $55 000 and asked them to vote. “The process was not clear, we were just told figures to choose from and those figures will be presented to the government as coming from the parents. We are still under COVID-19, where our incomes were affected. Where will we get that money?” a parent whose child is at Rusungunguko asked. A parent with children at Price Edward in Harare asked: “Where can we get the $50 000 demanded by the school?” Other schools like Roosevelt also announced fees ranging from between $33 000 and $40 000, depending on pupils’ subject combinations. Parents of day scholars paid about $3 000 at Prince Edward before COVID-19, while boarding students at Roosevelt paid about $6 200. Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu said fees were effected in consultation with the parents. “The onus to justify the fees level lies with school responsible authorities in liaison with parents and guardians of concerned learners,” he said
Three SANParks employees, among them two security guards, have been arrested in possession of fresh rhino horns outside the gates of the Kruger National Park.
By Bob Wallace Since starting my mayoral campaign, we have walked over 500,000 steps as I have canvassed 32 zip codes and most neighborhoods across Baltimore City. Through these walks, during a pandemic, I have heard the pleas of the people of our great city. Consequently, our mission has been made clear and our path […]
The post Op-Ed: The Nehemiah Plan for Rebuilding Baltimore One Neighborhood at A Time appeared first on Afro.
Voters in Seychelles are casting their ballots in the presidential and parliamentary elections spanning three days.
Saturday was the main and last day of voting. The exercise had opened on Thursday for voters on fringe islands and essential workers such as hospital staff in the Indian Ocean island country.
74,600 people are eligible to vote.
Most of the Indian Ocean islands making up the Seychelles, a prized honeymoon destination famed for white beaches and lush vegetation, are uninhabited and the archipelago's 98,000 residents mainly live on the islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue.
The opposition is hoping to unseat incumbent president Danny Faure, in power since 2016. Faure was not elected but took over after his boss, James Michel, resigned as president.
Faure is running under the United Seychelles party, which has been in power since 1977.
His main rival is the Anglican priest Wavel Ramkalawan, who is taking his sixth shot at the presidency and lost by only 193 votes to Michel in an unprecedented second round of voting in 2015.
Virus and economy
The main concern of voters is the economic situation in the country, which has suffered the loss of vital tourism -- its main earner -- because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Seychelles has recorded only 149 mostly imported cases, but the virus has been a key campaign issue, with the health minister banning election rallies which would have been a barometer of support for various candidates in a country without a polling institute.
The campaign has mainly happened over social media, where the opposition and its supporters are the most active, and on television where the country held its first ever debates between the candidates, which proved extremely popular.
Since the start of the pandemic, the economy has slowed significantly, with some 700 Seychellois losing their jobs, according to government figures.
And while average income is among the highest in Africa, the national statistics agency says that about 40 percent of Seychellois live in poverty because of the high cost of living.
Another key theme of the campaign has been corruption, a largely taboo topic in the tiny country where business and politics are often intertwined.
Former Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku is not going down without a fight. He's on a mission to have the SIU findings deemed invalid.
