Rwanda has set December 17 and 18 as the days on which it will hold a Referendum on term limits, a move that might pave the way for President Paul Kagame to rule beyond the mandatory two-seven year terms.
According to a statement by Cabinet chaired by President Kagame on Tuesday, Rwandans in the Diaspora will vote on December 17 while those at home will vote the next day.
The announcement of the Referendum dates follows strong criticism against a possible ‘third term’ for Kagame by global power centres including the US and European Union, which have since argued that the move ‘undermines democracy’.
The stance taken by the western powers has irked Mr Kagame, prompting him to tell them to keep off the internal affairs of his country.
Mr Kagame was first elected president in 2003 and won re-election in 2010, meaning his constitutional term ends in 2017.
The anxiety created by Kagame’s possible departure after 2017 prompted several Rwandans to call for Mr Kagame to continue in the driving seat, with millions petitioning Parliament to amend Article 101 of the Constitution in a bid to clear the way for Kagame’s continued presidency.
In response to the petitions the Parliamentarians conducted ‘constituency consultations’ in July, which also provided the same message and answer: ‘We want Kagame as President’.
Then the Senate debated the matter, making a few changes to Article 101 in respect to the term limits and, in their resolution the Senators agreed that Kagame could continue as President for the next seven years, after which the country would elect leaders to serve two five-year terms, in which Kagame would also eligible to contest.
In a related development, as cries for Kagame’s continued stay in power escalated, little-known Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR) carried out a sustained campaingn against changing the Constitution, with its leader Dr Frank Habineza taking to several platforms including the media, Parliament and court to thwart the process.
However, Dr Habineza’s efforts were futile, with the Supreme Court led by the Chief Justice Dr Sam Rugege handing him the last defeat onOctober 8 when it ruled that Mr Kagame could run for a third seven-year term.
Last week I was amazed by the Kampala City Traders’ Association (KACITA) move to close shops.
Kacita as an “umbrella” organization for traders in Uganda has always presented itself with lots of contradictions.
About two years ago, Kacita called for the closure of shops over the increasing dollar rate against the local shilling and demanded that government should have a fixed Dollar rate, and interest rate. The shops were closed for over one week and nothing came out of the industrial action!
A close look at Kacita’s industrial actions indicate that they have never yielded to the benefit of the traders, and in 2013 despite meeting the Head of State they just came back and told the traders to re-open their shops.
Last week, Kacita coerced traders (tenants) through their landlords to close businesses citing huge imports taxes, and Uganda Revenue Authority’s stance to arrest and imprison tax evaders, under declaration and selective importation of rice from Tanzania.
But analyzing Kacita’s concerns, it’s like legitimizing illegalities like tax evasion. Kacita’s actions are guided by the rich businessmen and owners of buildings who they ask to close without the consent of the sitting tenants who pay huge sums of money in form of monthly rent.
The tenants have a wide range of issues with the landlords (more so when it comes to hiking of monthly rent charges) but Kacita keeps a deaf ear and never attends to traders. Key among the impediments abnormal rent, exorbitant and exaggerated power rates per shop which range from monthly Shs50,000 to Shs200,000 per month charging tenants money to use the loos/washrooms yet they pay rent and refuse fee, on top of paying the trading license.
Kacita has failed to address business disputes which are widespread especially downtown and many upcoming traders have been kicked out businesses because the so called container leaders cheat and steal items in the process of clearing imports with the tax body.
All these issues are ignored by Kacita leadership who act in a manner which leaves a lot to be desired and one would keep wondering the level of education. For instance during the draft making of the financial year 2015-2016 budget what was there input that was not addressed? And this brings the question of the timing. Is it about catching the eye and attention of the president since it has been the practice?
In my opinion, the timing is wrong given that after suffering the earlier period of the year with low sales, traders need to enjoy and utilize every hour and day as they catch up with the festive season; closing shops will the last item on the agenda of a serious trade organization.
In advocacy and lobbying timing, issue articulation and the nature of the negotiation are core, where the parties walk out with a win-win solution but Kacita is always on the losing side this raises issues about Kacita’s bargaining skills, strategies, and sustainability of the industrial action.
The closure of the shops should be done voluntarily and at the trader’s discretion. There are many traders that do not subscribe to Kacita but keep falling victims of the Association’s poorly conceived industrial actions. The association must demonstrate that they can deliver on their promises and can live on beyond the founders. Key to this should be avoidance of politicking and address the technicalities in the trade and business sector, grow members and also promote exportation of Uganda products.
The East Africa Community Director General of Customs and Trade Directorate Peter Kiguta has disclosed that the region is registering increased intra-regional trade, which has grown in more than four folds from US$1.6bn in 2004 to more than US$6bn in 2014.
Addressing over 1000 exhibitors at the beginning of the 16th edition of the annual EAC Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition Mr Kiguta said that the Jua Kali sector is expected to play a big role in regional integration as well as economic development process.
The theme for this year’s exhibition was ‘Buy Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) Products, Build East Africa’, and according to Mr Kiguta the EAC has made substantial inroads in the regional integration process with the implementation of the Single Customs Territory (SCT), which has recorded reduction in the times taken to clear goods at the ports of entry as well as movement of cargo within the region.
He also congratulated the people of Tanzania for peacefully holding general elections and smooth handover of power.
“Tanzania continues to be a beacon of political stability in East Africa and Africa in general and I appeal to other countries in Africa to emulate the example set out by the United Republic of Tanzania” asserted the EAC official.
Meanwhile, the week-long exhibition at the Mnazi Mmoja Grounds in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania was officially opened on Wednesday, December 2 by the Regional Commissioner for Dar es Salaam, Mr Said Meck Sadiki, who represented President John Pombe Magufuli.
In his speech, President Magufuli commended the Partner States, the EAC Secretariat, the East Africa Confederation of Informal Sector Organizations (EA-CISO) and Partners for the well-organized exhibition and for promoting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region.
President Magufuli urged Partner States to invest in human capital and called upon the artisans and the exhibitors to be more competitive, creative, and innovative so as to take advantage of the conducive environment prevailing in the region.
Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of East African Cooperation Ms Joyce Mapunjo welcomed the exhibitors to Tanzania and noted that the annual exhibition was giving the sector the required recognition and the artisans were not afraid of the integration process
She said the regional integration is meant for the ordinary people and they should be able to feel and enjoy its benefits and the Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi exhibitions provide the perfect forum for integrating the ordinary citizens of the Community.
The Chairman of the East Africa Confederation of Informal Sector Organizations (EA-CISO), Mr Josephat Rweyemamu informed the guests that the regional forum facilitates showcasing products by exposing the exhibitors to emerging technologies while at the same offering them an expanded market for their products.
He said this in turn leads to strengthening of the spirit of East African Community through increased employment opportunities and wealth creation hence contributing to poverty reduction.
Kenya’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Ambassador Chirau Ali Mwakwere was delighted that the quality of products had improved tremendously and said they can compete effectively with similar products from any part of the world.
Uganda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Dorothy Samali Hyuha asserted that the Medium and Small Enterprise sector plays a major role in Uganda’s economy in employment creation in both rural and urban areas.
The Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi exhibition was organized by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the Partner States and the Confederation of Informal Sector Organization East Africa (CISO-EA).
President Yoweri Museveni has said that the building of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is the most urgent need for at least five countries in East Africa and the Great Lakes region.
Speaking at 3-day Forum on China-Africa Co-operation held In South Africa late last week, Museveni observed that the 3000 km SGR will link Uganda with Kenya at Malaba, Rwanda at Mirama Hills, South Sudan at Nimule and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at Aruu, adding that the railway will be built in phases, starting with the Kampala-Malaba section of 273 kilometres.
During the conference Mr Museveni addressed a high profile Working Breakfast between Chinese President Xi Jinping and African Heads of State and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) at the Sandton Convention Centre before holding several bilateral meetings at his Suite at the Radisson Bleu, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
President Jinping and South African President Zuma co-chaired the summit, attended by 15 heads of State and Government and representatives of 50 African countries and President of the AU Commission.
The high level Johannesburg forum was held under the theme: ‘Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development’ and on Mr Museveni’s team were Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa Julius Peter Moto and Uganda’s Ambassador to ChinaCharles Madibo Wagidoso, among other dignitaries.
Mining industry experts are set to converge in Cape Town, South Africa for the ‘2016 Investing in African Mining’ summit slated for 8-11 February next year.
Organised by Mining Indaba, speakers at the four-day summit including investors, senior government officials and corporates will review the current and future investment opportunities in the mining industry. Mining Indaba CEO Jonathan Moore says the four-day event will set the platform for global deal-makers in the mining industry.
“Setting the benchmark as the world-class mining investment event and presiding as the convener of global and influential deal-makers to provide the platform that channels billions of dollars in capitalising the African mining value chain remains our core focus and we intend to deliver on this promise for the 2016 annual conference,” Moore was quoted as saying.
Among those to speak at the event are former Zimbabwe Finance Minister Tendai Biti, Makhtar Diop, Vice President, Africa, World Bank Group, Dr Axel Schimmelpfennig, Senior Resident Representative in South Africa, International Monetary Fund and Oliver Andrews, Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer, Africa Finance Corporation.
Others are Harry G. Broadman, Director, Council on Global Enterprise and Emerging Markets and Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins University; Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive Officer, Anglo American PLC; Alan Davies, Chief Executive, Rio Tinto; Robert Friedland, Executive Chairman and Founder, Ivanhoe Mines Ltd and Dr Anil K. Gupta, Michael Dingman Chair in Global Strategy & Entrepreneurship, Smith School of Business from the University of Maryland. ‘The conference programme will provide extensive insight on how investors, governments, and corporates can come together to take a close look at how they can improve operational efficiencies, evaluate how to best mitigate risks associated with investing in the sector, and to identify the critical partnerships for ensuring the development and future sustainability of mining in the years to come’ a release by the Africa Press Organisation (APO) states in part.
lberto Moreno's volley was wrongly denied by an assistant's offside flag
Georginio Wijnaldum’s late strike helped Newcastle beat in-form Liverpool to earn their third win of the season.
The Magpies moved above Sunderland into 18th place in the table after Wijnaldum’s shot was deflected off Martin Skrtel’s knee, before the Dutchman added a second late on.
Liverpool, who had won seven of their last eight games, were poor.
Alberto Moreno was wrongly denied by an offside flag as Reds boss Jurgen Klopp suffered a second defeat in 12 games.
But in a scrappy game which lacked quality, Newcastle achieved a much-needed victory for Steve McClaren, who admitted earlier this week that confidence at the club has been “fragile”.
After conceding eight goals in their last two games, the result came courtesy of a much-improved defensive display from the hosts.
And in Wijnaldum, who took his tally to seven for the season following his £14.5m move from PSV Eindhoven in July, they have a player who has offered the goal-scoring threat they have been previously missing.
lberto Moreno’s volley was wrongly denied by an assistant’s offside flag
Did Liverpool waste chance to close on top four?
Following Liverpool’s 6-1 win at Southampton in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday, Klopp’s reputation at Liverpool reached new heights.
But his decision to make six alterations, including the omission of Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi, who scored five goals at St Mary’s between them, seemed to backfire.
Winger Jordon Ibe was their best outlet going forward but Christian Benteke was left isolated ahead of him and wasted a good chance from a corner, while Roberto Firmino looked a vastly inferior player to the one who tormented Manchester City two weekends ago.
Once Benteke and Firmino were replaced by Sturridge and Adam Lallana after the hour mark, Liverpool found a better rhythm to their play.
However, Sturridge, playing in only his fifth Premier League game of the season after injury, wasted a good chance to equalise and Moreno was denied a wonderful volley from an angle.
The result leaves Liverpool in seventh place, six points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.
Newcastle show resilience previously lacking
Liverpool did not reach the levels of recent weeks, when they secured away wins at Chelsea and Manchester City, but Newcastle showed a ruggedness and willingness to track back which has been in short supply this season.
Right-back Paul Dummett had a busy afternoon as he came up against the energetic Ibe, but kept the Liverpool youngster at bay, while Vernon Anita and Jack Colback were robust in central midfield.
Elsewhere, forward Siem de Jong, on his first Premier League start of the season, often tracked back to help out his team-mates which helped Newcastle set up a platform for the victory.
Liverpool were more positive once Sturridge was introduced, yet it allowed McClaren’s team to sit back and break, which suited the pace of Sissoko and Wijnaldum, and they combined superbly for the second goal, which sent St James’ Park into raptures.
Manager reaction
Newcastle manager Steve McClaren on the win:“It’s absolutely huge, absolutely massive. Once or twice we’ve taken ourselves to the brink of crisis and clawed our way back and that’s what we’ve done today.
“We worked hard, it is so tough to get a result in this league. We’ve crawled off the field, we’ve put in so much effort. That’s what we need every week.”
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp:“I think we deserved a point maybe but not more because we didn’t play well enough. I like to play the dirty points too – it’s no problem. If Alberto’s goal was given it was 1-1 then the game can change. Until then we didn’t play as well as we like to.
“I have to watch the game again. We were not really in the game. We were not aggressive enough or close enough. There were good moments for pressing but we didn’t do it.”
Steve McClaren admitted his team had been on the brink of a crisis but said the win was “absolutely massive”
Stats you need to know
Newcastle have won four of their last six home Premier League matches against Liverpool (D1 L1), including the last two.
The Magpies netted as many goals in this game versus Liverpool as they had in their past five Premier League games combined.
All seven of Georginio Wijnaldum’s Premier League goals for Newcastle have arrived at St James’ Park.
Martin Skrtel now has seven Premier League own goals – only Richard Dunne (10) has more (Jamie Carragher also has 7).
Fabricio Coloccini made his 200th Premier League appearance. Only one other Argentine (Carlos Tevez – 202) has bettered this milestone.
What next?
Newcastle travel to Tottenham next Sunday before hosting Aston Villa the following Saturday, while Liverpool are at FC Sion in the Europa League and host West Brom next Sunday.
Representatives have shaken hands but the deal needs to be approved by the rival assemblies
Representatives have shaken hands but the deal needs to be approved by the rival assemblies
Libya’s two rival parliaments have reached an initial agreement aimed at resolving the political crisis that has plagued the country for years.
The deal, agreed at talks in Tunis, is intended to lead to a single government and elections within two years.
It needs to be endorsed by both the internationally recognised parliament in eastern Libya and the Tripoli-based General National Congress (GNC).
The agreement is separate from UN efforts at mediation in Libya.
The United Nations special envoy to Libya, Martin Kobler, called it a very good basis for going forward.
In October, the UN submitted its own blueprint for a deal leading to a unified government, but neither side has endorsed it.
The UN is due to host peace talks between the two factions next week in Rome.
Libya has been unstable since long-serving strongman Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in October 2011, with militias ruling various parts of the country.
“This is a historic moment the Libyans were waiting for,” Awad Mohammed Abdul-Sadiq, the first deputy head of the GNC, said after the deal was signed on Sunday.
Libya has been plagued by instability since Col Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011
“If this solution receives real Libyan support – from the people and institutions – we will surely arrive in no more than two weeks or a month to a solution to solve the political crisis,” he told reporters.
Under the “declaration of principles” agreed in Tunis, the two sides would set up a committee to nominate a prime minister pending elections, while another panel would review the constitution.
The GNC is supported by a loose alliance of armed groups, including Islamists, that seized the capital in August 2014.
This forced the existing, internationally recognised government to flee to the eastern city of Tobruk.
President Yoweri Museveni through head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet John Mitala has made changes among the permanent secretaries.
Key among those reshuffled is long serving Foreign Affairs’ Amb. James Mugume and Internal Affairs’ Steve Kagoda. Whereas Mugume has been transferred to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Kagoda has been taken to Ministry of Education. Mugume was replaced by Amb. Patrick Mugoya as new PS Ministry of Affairs.
Dr Rose Nassali Lukwago, from Education to JSC.
Dr Rose Nassali Lukwago who has been PS, Ministry of Education has been transferred to Judicial Service Commission replacing Kagole Kivumbi who has been transferred to Judiciary.
Francis Lubanga, outgoing PS Health Service Commission.
Other transfers are Dr John Mbabazi who has been at Education Service Commission has been moved to the Inspectorate of Government; Dorcas Okalany goes to Ministry of Local Government, Doreen Katusiime from Public Service to Education Service Commission, Teopista Wenene to Health Service Commission replacing Francis Lubanga. Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire is the new permanent Secretary Ministry of Public Service.
A high-ranking Fifa official has been identified by the FBI as a suspect in a £6.6m bribe paid in return for votes for 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa.
A new indictment from the US Department of Justice refers to the official as ‘co-conspirator 17’. He is not named.
It states he made three payments to the now-disgraced former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner.
The indictment emerged the day after 16 officials were charged by authorities investigating corruption at Fifa.
Fifa vice-presidents Alfredo Hawit and Juan Angel Napout were among that group and have since been suspended from all football-related activity for 90 days.
The pair were arrested in Switzerland on Thursday at the request of the US authorities, on suspicion of accepting millions of dollars of bribes.
The new indictment states the £6.6m paid was in return for World Cup votes by Warner and his deputy Chuck Blazer, who has pleaded guilty.
In September, Warner was banned from football for life as Fifa’s ethics committee ruled he committed “many and various acts of misconduct continuously and repeatedly”.
Google hopes that by improving internet capacity in the city, local telecom companies will then be able to offer faster, cheaper broadband access to their customers.
The company estimates that one day’s unlimited data using the new network should cost 1,000 Ugandan shillings ($0.30, £0.20), although local providers will decide how much they want to charge for the service.
Three Businesswomen Texting
Critics say it would have been better to focus on Uganda’s rural areas, where high-speed internet access is very limited.
The wireless network forms part of a wider project to improve web infrastructure in Africa, which has seen Google lay 800km (500 miles) of cables in Uganda to establish a fibre optic network.
There are now plans to expand the project to the Ghanaian cities of Accra, Tema and Kumasi.
