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Ahead of general elections, Zimbabwe deports South African journalists

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With only a few days to the general elections in Zimbabwe, authorities have deported four South African journalists who flew into the country to cover the elections scheduled for August 23.

The deported journalists led by former South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) broadcaster, Chris Maroleng, who is the Executive Director of Good Governance Africa (GGA) in the Southern African Development Community, and three of his colleagues, were denied clearance to cover the election and informed of their deportation last Thursday.

Zimbabwean government spokesperson, Nick Mangwana, who justified the deportation of the foreign journalists, said the journalists misrepresented their real purpose of being in the country to immigration authorities when they arrived the country.

“If you are an election observer, say so, we accredit such. If you are a journalist, say so, we accredit such. If you make misrepresentations to the immigration officer, you may find yourself on the next plane home,” explained in a statement he posted on X.

“We note a lot of interest in visiting our country and staying between August 2023 18 and 25. If you are an election observer say so, we accredit such. If you are a journalist say so, we accredit such. If you make misrepresentations to the immigration officer, you may find yourself on the next plane home,” said Mangwana.

Local media reports that Maroleng and his team had flown into Zimbabwe on Tuesday but were on Thursday afternoon told by immigration officials to leave immediately after being given permission to enter the country by officials at the Zimbabwean Embassy in Pretoria.

However, in a statement on Sunday, Maroleng said their visit to Zimbabwe was linked to field research on election conditions and challenges ahead of the general election on Wednesday but was surprised when immigration officials arrived at their hotel in Bulawayo for routine inspections of their passports and announced they were to be deported.

“When the officials arrived, they then summoned us to their offices and asked questions about the reasons for our visit to the country. I explained our research objectives. About an hour later, we were told we had to leave the country immediately. They escorted us back to the hotel and then to the airport,” he said in the statement he posted on the website of GGA.

“We are shocked and dismayed by this turn of events, but not surprised, as the pattern of bullying and anti-democratic behaviour by the Zanu-PF led-government, especially in the run-up to elections, is well-documented,” Maroleng added.

Metro

Nigerian govt denies bribery allegation by Binance CEO

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The Nigerian government has countered allegations by the CEO of cryptocurrency exchange giant, Binance, Richard Teng, that some government officials demanded a $150m bribe to settle the ongoing criminal charge filed against the firm.

In a publication carried by by the New York Times on Tuesday, Teng had alleged that unknown persons made the bribe demand to Binance officials shortly after they held a meeting with Nigerian lawmakers on January 8.

In the article, Teng accused the unidentified individuals of acting on behalf of government officials to demand $150m in cryptocurrency to resolve the tax evasion and money laundering case against the company and its officials.

Teng also claimed that the purported agent demanded “a significant payment in cryptocurrency to be paid in secret within 48 hours to make the issues go away.”

But in a statement on Wednesday, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the allegations as blackmail aimed at tarnishing the image of the country.

The Minister further dismissed the claims as “baseless and part of a wider attempt by Binance to evade accountability for alleged criminal activities.”

The minister noted that ongoing investigations against Binance in Nigeria centred on allegations of money laundering, terrorism financing, and illegal trading activities facilitated through its platform, stressing that it would not succumb to blackmail or coercion.

“This claim by Binance CEO lacks an iota of substance. It is nothing but a diversionary tactic and an attempted act of blackmail by a company desperate to obfuscate the grievous criminal charges it is facing in Nigeria,” Idris said.

“They lack any evidence and are merely a diversionary tactic employed by Binance to deflect attention from the serious charges it faces in the country.

“We would like to remind Binance that it will not clear its name in Nigeria by resorting to fictional claims and mudslinging media campaigns. The only way to resolve its issues will be by submitting itself to unobstructed investigation and judicial due process.

“The Nigerian government, therefore, pledged to address the legal issues surrounding Binance operations in the country.

“The government of Nigeria will continue to act within its laws and international norms and will not succumb to any form of blackmail from any entity, local or foreign,” the Minister added.

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‘Rights must go with responsibilities,’ traditional leader cautions on use of social media

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Mansa, Luapula Province: Annette Katema, the Head Woman of Chitumbi Village in Mansa District, voices concerns about the detrimental effects of irresponsible social media usage.

In a recent interview with Zambia Monitor, Katema argued that social media platforms were contributing to delinquency among the youth, particularly platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, and Facebook.

“Children are being exposed to inappropriate content on WhatsApp, which is harmful to their upbringing. Social media platforms are fostering moral decay,” remarked Head Woman Chitumbi.

She stated that this trend undermined the cultural values that were essential for societal cohesion.

Katema expressed reservations about the prevalence of nudity and offensive language on social media, calling for stricter moderation.

She advocated for proactive measures to steer young people away from harmful online content, suggesting the revitalization of traditional recreational activities like playhouses and sports.

“Instead of solely relying on punitive measures, let’s invest in creating positive alternatives to counter the allure of social media,” Katema proposed.

She urged the youth to uphold traditional values alongside their digital rights, stating the importance of responsible behavior online.

“We should not lose respect in the name of digital rights because rights should go with responsibilities,” the traditional leader said.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

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