Metro

UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Tuerk, calls on Egypt’s President El-Sisi to release activist on ‘dry hunger strike’

Published

2 years ago

November 9, 2022

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Tuerk, has called on Egyptian President, Abdel Fatah El-Sisi to immediately release British-Egyptian rights activist, Alaa Abdel Fattah, who has been in a ‘dry hunger strike’ since last week.

A spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner, Ravina Shamdasani, in a statement on Wednesday, urged the Egyptian authorities to release the activist as his condition was becoming critical.

“Abdel Fattah stepped up his hunger strike on November 1. He stopped drinking water on November 6, the first day of COP27, which is being held in Egypt’s Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh.

“Abdel Fattah’s condition is fragile and his dry hunger strike puts his life at acute risk. We are very concerned for his health and there is a lack of transparency as well around his current condition,” the statement said.

“We understand that his family has not been able to contact him over the past couple of days and there are serious concerns about his health. We again stress the need for him to be urgently, immediately be released and for him to receive the necessary medical treatment as soon as possible.”

Abdel Fattah, a pro-democracy activist who has been in prison since 2019, went on a full hunger strike last week with no food or liquid after being on a partial hunger strike for over two years and reports from his family say his life is hanging on a balance.

The activist who has been described as a thorn in the side of the Egyptian authorities for more than a decade, has been in and out of prison due to his defense of civil rights and protest against human rights violations by Egyptian security forces.

Abdel Fattah who is currently serving a five-year sentence on charges of publishing and spreading false news, began a partial hunger strike in April to protest his imprisonment and cruel conditions of detention, but moved on to a full hunger strike few days to the start of the UN Climate Summit, COP27, which Egypt is hosting.

Click to comment

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.