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The Judicial Conduct Committee was tasked with probing several complaints against Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, and also whether he had contravened the Code of Judicial Conduct.
In May, Burundi held a presidential election which was won by Evariste Ndayishimiye, candidate of the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) party.
Ndayishimiye was hurriedly sworn in after the untimely death of president Pierre Nkurunziza in June.
Rights violations continue
The Council encouraged donor countries which had suspended aid to Burundi to continue dialogue towards resumption of development assistance.
A report by a UN watchdog in September said human rights violations were still being committed in Burundi, including sexual violence and murder.
The country was plunged into a crisis in April 2015 when Ndayishimiye’s predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run for a controversial third term, which he ultimately won in July 2015.
His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted in a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup in May 2015.
Hundreds of people were killed and over 300,000 fled to neighboring countries.
Mbabane — In its effort to accelerate Rwanda's green growth development initiative, its local businesses encouraged their Italian counterparts to invest in the East Africa region.
Two webinars, organised by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in partnership with Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) as part of an agreement between the Italian and Rwandan ministries of environment, were held this month.
Kiiza was speaking during the Jun. 10 webinar that targeted major stakeholders, such as institutions, entrepreneurs, investors, developers etc., who have a key role in the green growth and sustainable development of their country's economy in both Italy and Rwanda.
In the virtual discussion, REMA Deputy Director-General Faustin Munyazikwiye urged business people to embrace green investment to help the country meet its climate action plan and achieve its Vision 2050 -- Rwanda's growth plan to achieve high-income status.
According to Claudia Beretta, who works on a project that is focusing on private sector engagement with GGGI, the Government of Rwanda does not leave out the word 'green' when talking about development.
[ICTJ] Tunis -- The Truth and Dignity Commission's (TDC) final report was at last published on June 24, six year after the TDC began its work. It marks an important milestone in Tunisia's transition, but the journey ahead to justice and democracy is a long one. The policymakers and practitioners leading the country's transitional justice process now have the responsibility to take the next step forward. Using the report's findings and recommendations, they must consult with civil society and the public to shape and adopt
Nairobi — The Judiciary has introduced an electronic filing system of cases in Nairobi courts.
Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Ann Amadi said the system, which will take effect from July 1, is aimed at increasing efficiency in handling of cases.
\"This is a key part of the Judiciary's efforts to increase the use of technology in all its functions and achieve higher levels of efficiency and convenience to our stakeholders,\" she said.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), police, and members of the public have been advised to familiarize themselves with the e-filing system by visiting the Judiciary portal ahead of its launch.
Following the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic in the country in mid March, the Judiciary has been stepping up efforts to incorporate the use of technology in delivering services to Kenyans.
Commencement of trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) has been pushed to a tentative date in January next year.
AfCFTA's Secretary General Wamkele Mene said African governments are currently focusing on the fight against the pandemic, saving lives and livelihoods.
During that period, we had intended to complete some pending technical elements, such as rules of origin -- products made in Africa -- for some sensitive sectors, the exchange of tariff concessions on goods trade and commitments on trade in services which are critical in the negotiations,\" said Mr Mene.
The AfCFTA secretariat said in order for the continent to recover from the crisis and to spur growth, there was a need to implement the continental trade agreement since it is an opportunity to develop Africa intra-trade.
Mr Mene said due to the pandemic, African exports are expected to decline from 53 per cent in 2019 to less than 30 per cent this year due to travel restrictions abroad due to Covid-19 containment measures.
Tired of the media-driven, negative stereotypes that shape the dangerous narrative surrounding young Black men.
Tired of overlooking the purposeful or passive suppression of talented Black professionals in Corporate America.
Tired of explaining why I like to spend time with Black people, while White people are never asked to explain why they like spending time with people that look like them.
We are a nation with vast resources of money and intelligence, and this Pandemic of Racism can be cured, but Black people alone can not put an end to this virus.
My heart is warmed to see so many of the protesters across this country and around the world to be a full mix of young White, Black, yellow, and brown people.
Incorporating and tapping into African youth skills and talents require recent data on the current state of young people and the skills and talents they possess.
African countries, the African Union, the United Nations, the African Development Bank, the World Bank, think tanks, and other stakeholders that have an interest in harnessing the youth dividend to bring prosperity and sustainable development to the African continent post- COVID-19 need to have real-time data.
These surveys should seek to capture the unique challenges that African youth have faced before and during the pandemic and get feedback on the future aspirations of the youth, including the type of jobs and employment opportunities they will seek post-COVID-19.
Once African countries have data, it is crucial to put together task forces consisting of diverse experts, including young experts, to analyze the survey data and use the answers to come up with blueprints and white papers on how best they can use the talents and skills of young people to develop the continent while creating employment opportunities.
Efforts towards engaging, empowering, and tapping onto African youth skills, talents, and capabilities as countries continue to battle COVID-19 and work towards reopening countries must be intensified and accelerated at local, national, and regional levels.
[Capital FM] Nairobi -- The process of recruiting a new Chief Justice will officially kick off on Monday, January 18.
The radical proposal comes at a time JSC is locked in a vicious tussle with the Executive, after President Uhuru Kenyatta declined to appoint 41 new judges proposed by the commission.
On advise of the National Intelligence Service, President Kenyatta says some of the judges are tainted but Chief Justice David Maraga holds that he has no choice, in law, but to make the appointments.
Maraga called a rare press conference last week, flanked by no other official from the Judiciary or the commission, to blast the Executive, and lamented that he was frustrated after failing to secure an appointment with the President to resolve the matter.
And on Tuesday, Kitonga, who played a key role in writting the current constitution, under which JSC was established, said the new face of the commission should the Treasury Cabinet Secretary in place of the AG \"because as part of government, he (Treasury CS) is able to advise the JSC on the budget available for recruitment of judges.\"
Chief Justice David Maraga is the current chairperson of JSC with membership drawn from the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme court- with each contributing a member, the AG, 2 advocates, a presentative of the Public Service Commission and 2 appointees of the President.
Afterwards, a relieved Finance Minister Thabo Sofonea said he was happy the budget had been passed and the government ministries now had to get down to fully addressing the populace's demands for efficient service delivery.
The rest of the ministries and other public offices were allocated as follows: Trade and Industry (M292 498 085); Development Planning (M1, 1 billion); Agriculture and Food Security (M666 174 038) and Foreign affairs (M453 994 761).
The Ministry of Communications Science and Technology received M219 985 523; Public Works (M937 208 200), Energy and Metrology (M862 919 535); Forestry, Range and Soil Conservation (M156 742 108); Prime Minister's Office (M129 893 609); Labour and Employment (M55 246 804) and Tourism, Environment and Culture (M118 782 117).
The Ministry of Defence and National Security got M633 578 653; Local Government and Chieftainship (M801 865 039); Gender, Sport and Recreation (M309 198 235); Public Service (M42 112 367); Social Development (M410 183 058); Mining (M40 983 221); Police and Public Safety (M746 218 735); Small Business, Cooperatives, Marketing and Development (M135 087 482); Transport (M101 705 504); Water (M487 258 488); Justice, Human Rights and Correctional Services (M242 472 787) and Law and Constitutional Affairs (M96 219 389).
The Auditor General's Office got M32 371 698; His Majesty's Office (M123 095 565); National Assembly (M84 292 115); Senate (M58 561 696); Judiciary (M136 011 995); Public Service Commission (M14 705 429); Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (M25 928 888); Ombudsman (M10 514 614); Statutory salaries and allowances (M40 351 213); pensions and gratuities (M2 326 182 218); refunds on erroneous receipts (M2 268 000); centralised items (about M1, 1 billion), Public Debt (M2, 1 billion) and subscriptions to international organisations (M84 434 160).
South Africa has the most reported cases – 80,412, with deaths numbering 1,674.
Other most-affected countries include Egypt (49,219 cases), Nigeria (17,148), Algeria (17,735), and Ghana (12,590).
The numbers are compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (world map) using statistics from the World Health Organization and other international institutions as well national and regional public health departments.
For the latest totals, see the AllAfrica clickable map with per-country numbers.
Also see: Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization Africa and African Arguments.
WHAT a low-spirited start to the New Year it has been. All the dark episodes of 2020, with all the grief and death seem to have spilled to 2021 with COVID-19 arguably the worst nightmare. This time, it appears it is more deadly and has a strong appetite to devour judging by the soaring numbers of infections and deaths. After the reckless partying that ushered merrymakers into the New Year, authorities had to act and indeed, the lockdown was the only viable action. The swift reaction by the government to impose a lockdown that includes closure of bars, bottlestores, gyms and other facilities could not have come at a better time. It was timely and life-saving but of course with its own negativity. In the last week alone, Zimbabwe recorded 1 342 COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths, representing the highest number of cases recorded to date. On January 2, 2021, 407 new cases were recorded and eight deaths and such numbers are nothing to ignore. The reality we all feared is with us now. COVID-19 is a killer and is ravaging communities hence the need to stop the recklessness that had taken centre stage. The lockdown will, however, mean nothing if there is no proper enforcement and this time, vigilance is needed by enforcers. Of course we are not saying the military and police should use maximum force that borders on human rights violations like we witnessed last year. Soaring cases, particularly in the last two months have risen to terrifying levels and we have been waiting for the government to act. Government was relaxed in that period with some of its officials posting on their social media platforms pictures of themselves partying, completely oblivious of COVID-19 regulations. That was inexcusable recklessness by Cabinet ministers at a time the people needed to be shepherded into responsible behaviour. As if such carelessness by ministers was not enough, President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressed hundreds of Zanu PF supporters in Chivi, Masvingo province, exposing them to the deadly disease. Well, that is now in the past but the point remains that it is incumbent upon the leadership to lead by example so that the followers will follow responsibly. We also witnessed towards the end of the year a “super-spreader” event in the form of a chaotic MDC-T extraordinary congress and that Thokozani Khupe was immediately taken ill after the indaba. This is no longer a joke and the deaths, some of them of prominent people in the last two days, should be enough lessons for authorities to act responsibly. Thankfully, the lockdown is a step in the right direction. It will, however, come to naught if it ends just as a lockdown without putting in place other measures including availing ventilators in hospitals and improving testing for the virus. In these trying times, we must not forget those in the frontline, the health workers who are daily exposed to COVID-19 as they try to save lives. The government needs to act and provide all the necessary support. It is a fight we must win together, and we will.
The activity is carried out by UCB Company as contribution to the fight against Covid19
As part of her social corporate responsibility, the UCB Company has been distributing free mineral water to the inhabitants of Douala.
According to the commercial director, Jacques-Derce Mouen, the company puts at the disposal of the population, four water tankers with a capacity of 26.000 litres each which provide some 104.000 litres of water to the city dwellers every day.
The company has also been distributing respirators, protection equipment for medical staff, oxygen contractors, test kits as well as nose mask to hospital centres retained for the treatment of coronavirus as well as other health units in need.
They have so far distributed 10.000 nose masks, 20.000 covid19 test kits and fifteen respirators to the tune of 38 million each.
He said the operation is taking place nationwide as the company has entered into a partnership with the Ayah Paul Foundation and the Samuel Eto'o Foundation which have helped distribute protection material to the people of the North West and South West as well as the Littoral Regions.
\"Money consuming government agencies and departments/arms (like Parliament and others) have continued to receive lots of money than production facilitating MDAs - which are critical in creating jobs and related opportunities,\" says Ramathan Ggoobi, the senior economics lecturer at Makerere University Business School.
\"The coronavirus pandemic has helped us to once again demonstrate the economic capacity and the vast opportunities that our country has,\" Kasaija said, \"The budget for Financial Year 2020/21 will support the economy to fully recover, harness the potential that we have, and get back to our progressive journey of double digit GDP growth rate.\"
It is now estimated that the economy will grow by just 3.1% in the financial year ending June 30, about 40% slower than the average growth rate of 5.4% in the previous four years.
Even the new measures in the budget which Kasaija said would stimulate the economy to safeguard livelihoods, create jobs, support businesses, and ensure industrial recovery, are not universally convincing; not least his claim that \"the budget would focus on production and not consumption\".
That is an 8% increase from last year in taxes on business laying off workers, cutting salaries, and crying out for waivers over the COVID-19 crisis.
