Metro

Sudanese women activist, Amira Hamed, wins prestigious Human Rights Prize

Published

2 years ago

May 27, 2022

A Sudanese women’s rights activist, Amira Osman Hamed, has won the 2022 edition of the Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.

Hamed, who is also an engineer, picked up the prestigious award on Friday following her consistent advocacy for Sudanese women and girls rights which has spanned over two decades, while also facing several arrests and detentions over the years, the award organisation said in a statement while conferring the award on her.

Earlier this year, Hamed was also among defenders from Afghanistan, Belarus, Zimbabwe and Mexico who received the 2022 Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.

Hamed’s brushes with the law in Sudan began in 2002 after she was first arrested and charged for wearing trousers in public which drew international condemnation and support.

In 2013, she was also detained and threatened with flogging for refusing to wear a headscarf, both charges falling under the morality laws during the rule of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir who was overthrown in a military coup last October.

In 2009, Hamed established “No to Women Oppression”, an initiative to advocate against the Public Order Law which was seen as being discriminatory to women who were banned from wearing trousers and skirts and offenders were publicly flogged.

Due to Hamed’s persistence with her group, the obnoxious law was finally repealed in 2019 after Bashir’s ouster following a popular mass uprising.

In late January 2022, Hamed told journalists at a press conference that “30 masked armed men” had stormed her house in Khartoum in the middle of the night, “taking her to an unknown location.”

She was freed in early February following international outcry led by the United Nations mission to Sudan which called for her release.

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Metro

World Bank pledges $3b to support Zambia’s development goals

Published

16 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The World Bank Group has pledged to avail Zambia with approximately $3 billion to support the country’s development goals under the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2025-2029, with nearly half of the funds already disbursed.

World Bank Country Manager, Achim Fock, who made this known at the CPF launch at the Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka on Wednesday, outlined the global lender’s focus areas, which included enhancing jobs, human capital, and climate resilience.

Fock highlighted that $200 million had been approved to strengthen Zambia’s social protection programs, including the Refugee and Host Community Project.

He also expressed optimism for upcoming approvals, including the Climate and Economic Resilience Financing and the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector.

Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, who also spoke at the event, noted that 2.3 million Zambian households have so far benefited from social protection interventions such as the Cash for Work Programme, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives amid crises like the recent drought.

Musokotwane further reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting lives during times of crises such as the recent drought.

“More than two thirds of the Zambian population was affected by the drought. It was the government’s view that the first priority was to save lives,” Musokotwane stated.

Metro

Chinese mining giant CNMC set for $1.6 billion investment in Zambia

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A Chinese mining giant, China Nonferrous Metal Mining Company (CNMC), has announced the investment of over $1.6 billion in Zambia, following successful discussions with President Hakainde Hichilema at the State House on Tuesday.

CNMC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Wen Gang, who held the discussions with Hichilema along with the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Han Jing, confirmed the company’s commitment to furthering Zambia’s economic development.

“We are actively investing in critical sectors of Zambia’s economy,” Gang said after the meeting.

He noted that CNMC was currently pumping water from Shaft 28 at Luanshya Copper Mine, where 29.9 million cubic liters have been cleared as part of intensified dewatering efforts, adding that the company plans to inject an additional $200 million to develop a greenfield mine on the Copperbelt.

President Hichilema who welcomed CNMC’s commitment, highlighted the potential economic impact of the firm’s investment which will include job opportunities for Zambians.

“This $1.6billion investment, alongside advanced technology and expansion, will extend operations and create more jobs and opportunities for Zambians, especially in mining contracting and supply,” the President said.

He also expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government for their shared commitment to fostering growth and cooperation between the two countries.