Culture

Tunisian rapper and presidential candidate sentenced to prison for alleged vote buying

Published

4 weeks ago

August 15, 2024

A Tunisian rapper, Karim Gharbi, popularly known as K2Rhym, has been sentenced to four years in prison in absentia on allegations of buying voter signatures to qualify for the country’s upcoming presidential elections.

A judicial spokesperson, Alaedine Aouadi, told journalists that a court sitting in Jendouba on Wednesday, also fined Gharbi 5,000 dinars or $1,600, as well as stripping him of the right to vote in the election.

“The court also sentenced the president of the commune of Jendouba to one year in jail and a fine of 1,000 dinars, and a colleague of the rapper to four years in prison and a fine of 5,000 dinars,” Aouadi said.

Gharbi who lives abroad and was the son-in-law of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, had announced in a video in July his intention to run in the presidential candidate scheduled for October.

Reacting to the sentence in a post on social media, the entertainer had said:

“What are you afraid of? The ballot boxes? Why organise elections?”

Gharbi who is seen as a controversial figure in Tunisia due for his tattoos and flashy lifestyle, had become known for his charitable endeavours with orphans, lower-income families, hospitals and schools.

The electoral law in Tunisia states that to be listed on the ballot, candidates are required to present a list of signatures from 10,000 registered voters.

Local media reports that the same court had, on August 2, sentenced four women working for the rapper to between two and four years in prison for having provided money or gifts in kind in exchange for voter signatures.

However, on August 5, the night before the deadline for submitting applications, the rapper had accused the government of refusing to provide him with a form showing he had no criminal record, preventing him from becoming a candidate.

Political experts say presidential hopefuls face significant constraints in their bid to challenge President Kais Saied, who was elected in 2019 but orchestrated a sweeping power grab in 2021 and is now seeking another term in office.

“Candidates from across the political spectrum have complained that the new, tougher endorsement requirements make it nearly impossible to get on the ballot,” a political analyst said in an interview.

Only two candidates, a former Member of Parliament Zouhair Maghzaoui and the leader of a small liberal party, Ayachi Zammel, were pre-selected to run against Saied who has been accused of authoritarianism by political opponents.

Click to comment

Culture

Crocodiles eat South African man during hunt in Zimbabwe

Published

18 hours ago

September 9, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A 44-year-old South African man, Scott van Zyl, has been eaten by crocodiles after he went missing during a safari hunt in Zimbabwe.

Authorities say van Zyl who owns a professional hunting company in South Africa, reportedly disappeared on Friday on the banks of the Limpopo River in Zimbabwe.

Local media reports that the dogs he was hunting with returned without him and his rifle and personal items were intact in his pickup truck while a search team traced his tracks to the banks of the river and found his backpack.

“Police and park authorities decided to shoot two suspected Nile crocodiles and found what could possibly be human remains in them”, a member of the search party told reporters.

“The remains are reportedly being tested by forensic experts to verify if they belong to Scott van Zyl,” a Zimbabwean tabloid reported.

“Crocodile attacks are common near river banks with at least four people killed in Zimbabwe in the past month. In March, a 19-year-old Mozambican football player Estevao Alberto Gino was killed by a crocodile along the Zambezi river in western Mozambique.

“The crocodile came out of the water abruptly and took him by the waist. After that, the animal ran back into the water.”

Culture

Algeria to host Afreximbank’s CANEX 2024

Published

3 days ago

September 7, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced that the 2024 edition of its Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX 2024) will hold in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, with the theme, “One People, United in Culture.”

According to a statement from the bank, the CANEX 2024, which is a premier event that showcases Africa’s vibrant creative and cultural industries, will be the major focus of the four-day event taking place from October 16-19.

“CANEX 2024 offers a unique platform for creatives from across the continent and beyond, to showcase their work, network with industry leaders, and explore business opportunities, including exhibitions, roundtable discussions, masterclasses, live performances, gastronomy showcases, music, dance, poetry, and other artistic expressions,” the statement said.

“Since the event was launched in 2020, it had committed a $1bn facility for Africa’s creative and cultural industries, and has deployed specialised products for financing some CCI sectors, including the Film Financing Development Facility and the Music Development facility.

“The bank has also identified key gaps in creative production value chains, and created interventions to bridge those gaps, with a focus on access to markets.

“The event will be a gathering of creatives, investors, and industry professionals from across the continent and the world over.

“CANEX WKND 2024 will feature an exhibition and market, roundtable discussions, masterclasses, live performances, and networking opportunities. The event is open to industry professionals, individuals, corporate investors, and governance bodies. It provides a unique platform for creatives to showcase their work, connect with industry leaders, and explore business and investment opportunities,” the statement added.