Politics

Zimbabwe: Tension in court as Police arraign opposition MP, Costa Machingauta, others after raid

Published

2 years ago

January 17, 2023

The Police in Zimbabwe have arraigned Zimbabwean opposition activists, including a lawmaker arrested at the weekend when the MP’s home was raided.

The political activists are seeking bail in court after last week’s raid by the police.

Their party, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) confirmed that Riot police stormed the home of the politician who was allegedly molested with his wife and their 17-year-old daughter was beaten by police at their home in the suburb of Budiriro, south of Harare.

Spokeswoman of the party, Fadzayi Mahere. “We are continuing to see an escalation of political violence… It’s an arrest that was calculated to persecute our members.”

“We want elections, we don’t want war. This doe not bode well for a free and fair election,” she told reporters outside the court.

The hearing was marked by a media blackout as the country gears up for crunch national elections expected later this year. A tense atmosphere prevailed at the magistrates court in the capital Harare where journalists were harassed and most barred from covering proceedings by armed anti-riot police officers.

Reporters at the scene say officers armed with AK47 assault rifles, teargas canisters, and batons shoved reporters away, with one ordering them to “leave the court building or get injured”.

The media watchdog MISA-Zimbabwe, police should “not selectively apply their directives to some journalists while excluding others.”

The Law Society of Zimbabwe said in a statement, said the attack is “a new low for Zimbabwe and we are deeply disappointed that of all people, the police who have a constitutional obligation to protect the rights of all citizens have taken a front row seat to violating the same.”

The government recently approved a proposed law that will punish ‘unpatriotic” citizens who criticises the government in what opposition figures.

Related Topics:Costa Machingauta Featured Zimbabwe

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.