Politics

Zimbabwe: Court dismisses opposition leader, Job Sikhala’s plea for 15th time. Here’s why

Published

2 years ago

March 18, 2023

A Zimbabwean court has refused to dismiss the plea of opposition lawmaker, Job Sikhala, over an allegation of inciting public violence.

The 50-year-old politician has been held in a maximum security prison in the capital Harare since June when he was arrested alongside fellow members of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

The presiding magistrate, Marewanazvi Gofa ruled there was “overwhelming” evidence against Sikhala despite the argument of the defence attorney, Harrison Nkom that the state’s case was weak and should be dismissed,

“Circumstances call for an answer from the accused person… it cannot be said that the state’s evidence at this stage is unreliable,” Gofa said.

“Application for discharge…is hereby dismissed,” the magistrate ruled.

The troubled politician who is Citizen’s Coalition for Change Zengeza West Legislator has been behind bars for 275 days and has unsuccessfully applied for release on bail 15 times.

He has been arrested 67 times but never convicted, according to one of his lawyers. Charges against him are based on a video in which he allegedly demanded justice for the murder of another opposition activist whose mutilated body was found in a well.

General elections are expected to be held in Zimbabwe in July or August 2023. The President of Zimbabwe is elected using the two-round system. The 270 members of the National Assembly consisting of 210 members elected in single-member constituencies and 60 women elected by proportional representation in ten six-seat constituencies based on the country’s provinces.

There have been concerns over the restriction of civil space and opposition voices in the Southern African country.

The United Nations in a report published in February urged Zimbabwe’s President to reject enacting a bill that would severely restrict civic space and the right to freedom of association in the country.

The UN in the report held that the oversight regime in the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill for civil society organisations provides for disproportionate and discretionary powers to the newly established Office of the Registrar of PVOs, without independence from the executive branch.

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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.