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Powerful Zulu King, Misuzulu KaZwelithini feared poisoned

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Powerful South African Zulu King, Misuzulu KaZwelithini has been hospitalized in Eswatini after he was feared to have been poisoned, his traditional Prime Minister, Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, confirmed in a statement on Sunday.

Buthelezi said the Zulu King sought medical attention in a hospital after he felt uncomfortable with seeking treatment in South Africa following the sudden death of one of his senior advisers, Douglas Xaba who was the King’s Induna or Headman,
who was also suspected of being poisoned.

Though the true state of health of King KaZwelithini is not clear, conflicting statements from Buthelezi and his spokesperson, Prince Africa Zulu, have fuelled anxiety around the health of the Zulu King.

While Buthelezi’s statement said King KaZwelithin was being treated in the Kingdom of Eswatini after fears that he could have been poisoned, Prince Africa’s statement, however, countered the claim that the monarch is in the hospital.

“It is with great concern that I have received news from HRH Prince Vumile, brother to His Majesty King Mswati III, that His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini is being treated in a hospital in eSwatini, having taken ill earlier today,” Buthelezi’s statement said.

“I am informed that His Majesty’s senior Induna, Mr Xaba, who stayed with the King, passed on quite suddenly and that there are suspicions that he was poisoned.

“When His Majesty began to feel unwell, he suspected that he too may have been poisoned. He immediately sought out medical treatment in eSwatini.

“I am informed that His Majesty felt uncomfortable seeking treatment in South Africa, as his parents, King Goodwill Zwelithini and Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu, had both received treatment in South Africa and subsequently died. It is understood that His Majesty is under medical care and is doing well,” Buthelezi said in his statement.

However, Prince Africa’s statement disputes the one issued by Buthelezi, denying that the Zulu King is admitted in a hospital in Swaziland.

“It appears that there is an orchestrated agenda and a desperate narrative to communicate defamatory and baseless claims of His Majesty’s ill health,” he said.

“King Misuzulu is in good health and has not been admitted to any hospital in the neighbouring kingdom. His Majesty wishes to once again reassure the nation that he remains in perfect health and is not currently admitted at any hospital.

“His Majesty frequently pays courtesy visits to Swaziland to go see his uncle, His Majesty King Mswati. The office of the King felt it prudent that during this visit, the King should undergo a thorough medical examination while there.

“This was informed by the context of our current times of pandemics such as Covid-19 and other dangerous ailments. His Majesty’s office decided to err on the side of caution and ensure that all possible impediments were tested, in order to mitigate against any untimely eventuality, given the reports of Mr. Xaba’s sudden passing”, he added.

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Metro

Following backlash, Nigerian govt withdraws treason charges against minors

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The Nigerian government has officially withdrawn the treason charges it entered against some minors who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest that spread across the country from August 1 to the 10th.

The nation was thrown into shock on Friday when the Nigeria Police presented 76 protesters at the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on treason. Among the suspects were four minors who slumped before they could be arraigned before the court.

This caused serious uproar in the country with Nigerians condemning the government and calling for the unconditional release of the kids and the dismissal of the charges against them.

The decision to withdraw the charges against the underage accused came following a directive by President Bola Tinubu who ordered the immediate withdrawal of the charges and an in-depth investigation into what led to the arrest and detention of the minors.

Tinubu had also ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN) to officially take over the case file as well as review the cases following public outcry that came with the arraignment of the minors.

The charges were finally withdrawn on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja through an application for discontinuance filled by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar, on behalf of the AGF.

According to Abubakar, the discontinuance application was based on provisions of sections 174(1), (b) and (c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.

The DPPF also applied for further proceedings to be conducted without the presence of the minors in the courtroom, in line with provisions of Section 266(b) of the ACJA, 2015, and Section 1 of the Childs’ Rights Act.

In response, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Fanala (SAN), who stood in for the accused as well as other defence lawyers in the matter, did not oppose the applications which promoted the judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, to strike out the charges, while the four affected minors were also delisted from the charge sheet.

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Zambia: President Hichilema urges traditional leaders to invoke rainmaking powers amid drought

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Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, has called on traditional leaders to call upon their rainmaking powers by praying for rain as the nation continues to face the menace of drought.

Hichilema, who made the plea while speaking during the Shikaumpa traditional ceremony of the Ila people in Namwala on Sunday, expressed hope for divine intervention and sufficient rains.

“We pray that this year, God will give us rains, sufficient rains, so we can grow more food, so we can take care of the things, the assets that we keep,” the President stated.

He noted that he was informed of certain chiefs known for their rainmaking abilities, including Senior Chief Mwamba of Northern Province, Chief Sailunga of North-Western Province and Mwami Monze from the Southern Province and urged them to use their powers to invoke rain, adding that the chiefs should continue their prayers for rain, believing that “God will hear our cry.”

The President also encouraged not only the chiefs but also the churches and the entire nation to join in prayers for rain.

“All of us, the churches, everybody, we must pray for rains so that we can take care of God’s people properly,” he said.

The head of state further urged farmers to intensify efforts at planting crops and maximizing their harvest for national food security once the rain comes.

The drought in Zambia in recent
seasons have left 84 districts severely impacted, leading to food shortages and a worsening electricity deficit due to low water levels.

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