Politics

Zambia at 58: Gains, pains as President Hichilema gives hope of better days

Published

2 years ago

October 24, 2022

The president of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, in his speech for the commemoration of the country’s 58th independence has called on Zambians to uphold the values and virtues of its past heroes.

The theme for this year’s independence anniversary is: “Promoting Inclusiveness towards a sustainable Social and Economic Recovery.”

With a population of over 18 million, Zambia is located in Southern Africa, east of Angola. The country until independence in 1964 was known as Northern Rhodesia.

The Southern African country has had a mixed political history from its precolonial era, colonialism, and the era of self-rule which was characterized by one-party rule for 19 years from 8 December 1972 and 1991, military interregnum, and the current multi-party system.

The country currently enjoys some sort of political stability under President Hichilema. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has consistently put Zambia among the top ten most democratic African countries, ranking it 8th in Africa and 99th in the world as of 2018 (167 states).

But there is a struggle on the economic side. Zambia was the first African country to default on its external loan during the COVID-19 era as it struggled with debt that reached 133% of GDP at the end of 2021.

It then opted to bow out of a $42.5 million Eurobond repayment in 2020 and is seeking $8.4 billion of debt relief from 2022 to 2025.

As recently hinted by a senior official of the International Monetary Fund, IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, work is on for a timely debt restructuring for Zambia as the country now seeks a present value of $6.3 billion debt reduction or 49% of the external debt being restructured, a level some bondholders have said would be unacceptable.

There is a lot to cheer for Zambia on its 58th independence. Hopefully, the government’s projection of the country’s economic growth at 4% per year in the medium term and its focus on resolving the country’s debt crisis would hit the target.

Happy Independence Zambia.

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Politics

Again, Rwanda denies it attacked displaced persons in DR Congo

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

For the sixteenth time, Rwanda refuted US charges on Saturday that its troops attacked a camp for internally displaced persons in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), placing the blame instead on militants it claimed were backed by the military of the Congo.

The US State Department released a statement in which it vehemently denounced the incident that claimed at least nine lives on Friday.

There have been persistent accusations against Rwanda of providing support to the armed organizations, which has resulted in diplomatic tensions between the neighbours in East Africa.

Citing the threat that Rwanda’s surface-to-air missile systems posed to civilians, U.N. and other regional peacekeepers, aid workers, and commercial aircraft operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the US demanded in February that Rwanda remove its systems and all of its armed forces from the DRC immediately. Rwanda denies providing any assistance to the rebels.

According to the U.S. statement, the M23 rebel group, which Rwanda supports, and the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) held the positions from which the attack was launched. The United States is “gravely concerned about the recent RDF and M23 expansion” in eastern Congo.

Speaking on behalf of the Rwandan government, Yolande Makolo refuted claims that the RDF was responsible for the attack, blaming instead rebels backed by the Congolese military.

“The RDF, a professional army, would never attack an IDP (displaced persons). Look to the lawless FDLR and Wazalendo supported by the FARDC (Congolese military) for this kind of atrocity,” she said in a post on X.

Wazalendo is a Christian sect, while the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) is a Hutu organization that was founded by Hutu officials who left Rwanda after planning the 1994 genocide.

Thousands of people from the surrounding areas have fled to Goma in eastern Congo as a result of the M23 rebels’ two-year offensive, which has advanced toward the city in recent months.

Politics

Liberia: President Boakai signs order to create war crimes court

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

To provide long-overdue justice to those who suffered grave injustices during the two civil wars that raged in Liberia, President Joseph Boakai has signed an executive order to establish a war crimes court. Boakai granted his final approval and congratulated the lawmakers for their effort in the legislation.

Many atrocities, such as rape, massacres, and the use of child soldiers, occurred during the wars that lasted from 1989 to 2003. A special court was eventually ordered to be established to try those who were deemed to be at fault by the Truth and Reconciliation Committee.

President Boakai proposed a resolution to create a special court, which was later backed by Liberia’s lower house and senate.

“The conviction that brings us here today is that, for peace and harmony to have a chance to prevail, justice and healing must perfect the groundwork,” Boakai said in a special address.

Activists and civil society organizations that have demanded greater justice for crimes committed during the conflicts that claimed the lives of almost 250,000 people have praised the initiative.

With support from global organizations like the UN, the court would function in Liberia under international norms once it was operational. Economic offences will also be handled by it.

Meanwhile, some in Liberia are against its development, arguing that it could weaken the amnesty law that was already in place and cause old grievances to resurface. This helped put a stop to the violence.