Category: International News

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World in shock as gruesome photos, videos emerge from Cameroon

Cameroon

The world is in shock following the leaking of gruesome videos and photos from Cameroon.

One gruesome video shared online shows a middle-aged woman being slaughtered in cold blood. Her body is then seen being dragged across the road as she bleeds to death.

Other heart-wrenching photos show bodies which are later burned to char. The photos are gruesome, to say the least. Below is a tweet made by Carol Radull after she viewed the photos and videos.

Hundreds of social media users have come out strongly to condemn the atrocities being meted against Cameroonians. Strange enough, Cameroonian media has given the incidents a blind eye.

The UN through its spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric has condemned the killings terming them “serious human rights violations and abuse.”

“On Cameroon, we have seen recent reports of serious human rights violations and abuses in that country,” said Stéphane Dujarric citing the video showing the murder of the middle-aged woman.

In the video, three suspected separatist fighters in Muyuka, South-West region of Cameroon, beat and drag a 35-year-old woman, identified as Confort Tumassang over the ground with her hands tied behind her back. She begs for mercy before she is beheaded, her body left in the street.

The mother-of-four is said to be just the latest casualty in brutal attacks against civilians committed by separatist groups across the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon – some of them similarly captured on video.

The human rights abuses are said to be carried out by separatists.

Below are some tweets by Kenyans condemning the horrific acts.

Viewer Discretion advised before viewing the video below!!!!!

https://twitter.com/thuogithuku/status/1294606599957471232?s=20

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IFC announces Sh500m loan to Equity Bank to support Kenyan SMEs during COVID-19

International Finance Corporation(IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced a Sh500 million loan to Equity Bank Kenya to help it increase working capital and trade-related lending to its small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) clients, especially those facing COVID-19 related challenges.

The loan, which will ultimately support hundreds of Kenyan businesses in the manufacturing, health, trade, transport, and consumer goods sectors, is part of IFC’s global $8 billion fast-track COVID-19 facility, announced in March and designed to help businesses maintain operations and jobs during—and after— the COVID-19 crisis.

Dr. James Mwangi, Equity Group CEO, said, “IFC’s loan, part of our business continuity management plan, will help Equity Bank extend much-needed support to our clients, particularly to SMEs in sectors hit hard by COVID-19. We have purposed to support and walk with them so that they can survive during this crisis, recover, and thrive after it. I call on customers looking to seize emerging opportunities in the health and medical sector to manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE) or support the logistics of the entire ecosystems and value chain to take advantage of the Sh500 million facility.”

Manuel Moses, IFC Country Manager for Kenya, said, “IFC’s longstanding partnership with Equity Bank underscores our commitment to Kenya’s financial sector and wider economy, especially during these difficult economic times. Keeping businesses solvent and protecting jobs are essential parts of IFC’s response to the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted trade and value chains in Kenya, across Africa, and around the world, affecting commodity prices, reducing foreign financing flows, and collapsing tourism revenues.

Smaller businesses are the life blood of Kenya’s economy, accounting for about 81 percent of employment.

IFC’s portfolio in Kenya stood at $884 million as of June 30, 2020, with investments supporting growth and jobs in the financial, manufacturing, agribusiness, services, infrastructure, and other sectors.

IFC has reiterated commitment to scaling investment and advisory support in Kenya, especially within the context of Kenya’s Big Four Agenda of manufacturing, affordable housing, affordable healthcare, and food security.

 

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President Kenyatta challenges African leaders to tap into young people

President Uhuru Kenyatta has challenged his African counterparts to tap into the innovative abilities of the continent’s youth as they roll out Covid-19 mitigation and recovery strategies.

The President said the youth are Africa’s biggest resource adding that young people’s creative minds and immense energy can be utilized to boost Coronavirus response measures.

“I also wish to reiterate that the biggest resource at our disposal is our own people and especially the youth.

“Indeed, we need to harness the digital revolution and innovation witnessed during this pandemic as a catalyst for post COVID-19 economic revival, and which is key in creation of jobs for our youth,” President Kenyatta said.

The President spoke last evening at State House, Nairobi during the 5th virtual meeting of the Bureau of the Assembly of the African Union (AU).

The meeting convened by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa who is the current Chairperson of the African Union, was also attended by Chairpersons of the African Union Regional Economic Communities (AU RECs).

President Kenyatta told the meeting held to assess the effectiveness of the joint continental strategy on Covid-19 as well as receive a progress report from the AU Covid-19 Special Envoys that cooperation among African countries has helped slow down the spread of Coronavirus on the continent.

“I am happy to note that the quick action by the Chair, coupled with the solidarity and concerted efforts demonstrated by the AU Member States, AU RECS, Regional Mechanisms, African Business Leaders and the Private Sector, have so far slowed down the spread of the virus and averted a full blown catastrophe in Africa,” he said.

The Kenyan Head of State revisited the recent Inter-Sessional Summit of the Organization of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), which he hosted in his capacity as the President-in-Office of the institution, saying the meeting helped consolidate the developing world’s voice on Covid-19 response and recovery.

“I encourage us to continue using these kind of platforms to elevate our position in the global arena, in articulating critical issues in relation to transcending the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly, on addressing the debilitating debt burden and its effects on the socio-economic wellbeing of our nations,” President Kenyatta said.

The AU Covid-19 Special Envoys panel was constituted by the AU Bureau on 12th April this year and comprises of Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist Strive Masiyiwa, Nigerian economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Ivorian banker Tidjane Thiam.

Other members of the panel, whose mandate is to advance Africa’s Covid-19 agenda in multilateral fora, mobilise resources for Coronavirus response and expand Africa’s access to Covid-19 response supplies in the competitive global marketplace, are former President of the African Development Bank Donald Kaberuka and Prof Mbaya Kakwenda of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

 

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How Kenya-Tanzania border closure will affect Nakuru Traders

Nakuru traders are likely to feel the pinch of the ongoing cold diplomatic and border wars between Kenyan and her neighbor Tanzania

With the border closed and Kenyan truck drivers barred from entering Tanzania, traders within Nakuru county who rely on supplies from Tanzania will have to look for an option.

James Mwangi, a cereal seller based at Bargain market in Nakuru says that most cereals traders in the town buy their supplies from Tanzania due to the availability and affordability.

He observes that now with the border closed to Kenyan trucks, most traders will have to source for products from other markets something he  says will lead to price hikes.

“We normally go to Tanzania because their prices are fair and they have much to sell,” he said.

Kenyan traders also rely on Tanzania for the supply of tomatoes, onions,watermelons and oranges.

The Tanzanian authorities yesterday ordered that Kenyan trucks and their drivers will not be allowed access into the nation

The move came days after Kenya closed her borders with the nation and Somalia in a bid aimed at containing the spread of corona virus through the border points.

It is being argued that Tanzania took the move as a retaliatory measure after Kenya closed the border.

 

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Pineapple prices shoot up in SA as homemade pineapple beer picks up

The cost of pineapples in South Africa has gone high with as much as 900%. The rise has been occasioned by many residents who are buying the pineapples to brew beer at home.

The nationwide thirst in South Africa follows orders by the South African Government to close down social places in a bid to deal with coronavirus. Bars have been closed since March 2020 following orders by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

And true to the maxim that necessity is the mother of invention, residents have now turned to pineapples to make home-brew beer as an alternative. Reports say that the demand for pineapples in Johannesburg, the capital of the South African country has risen from 10,000 to 100,000 per day.

Online searches for recipes to make pineapple beer have also risen after news broke out about the ease of making beer from pineapples at home.

To make the beer, all you need are pineapples, sugar and water. Yeast is can also be used to help in fermenting but it is optional.

The beer is ready to take after only four days but it’s at its best on the seventh day. Although it gets better with time, it’s not advisable to brew for more than seven days.

How to make homemade pineapple beer at home.

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“Please Call Me” inventor wants 5 billion dollars compensation

As a Kenyan, you must have used or received the “Please Call Me” service made popular by Telecoms giant Safaricom. The “Please Call Me” service has been used in the country since September 2009 saving many a situation.

Before being introduced in Kenya, the idea was initially used in South Africa, first on trial basis, then in a full-blown way after it became overly successful.

However, the man who invented the idea, Kenneth Nkosana Makate, says that Vodacom owes him billions of shillings. Before going to court demanding payment Makate used to work for Vodacom as an accountant.

Inventing a revolutionary idea “Please call me”

Kenneth Makate was employed by Vodacom as a trainee accountant. At that time, he was in a long distance relationship with his girlfriend whom he later married.

He says that it was unusually hard to keep in touch with his girlfriend whom he says could not then afford to buy airtime to call him. True to the adage that necessity is the mother of invention, Makate claims he came up with the idea where someone without airtime could request the other person to call them.  During that time, he came up with “Please call me.”

Makate wrote the idea down and, on the advice of his manager and mentor at Vodacom, took the idea to Vodacom’s Director and Head of Product Development, Mr Geissler. They agreed orally that Vodacom would experiment with the idea and, if it proved commercially viable, Makate would be paid a share of the proceeds subject to the exact terms being negotiated at a later stage. Vodacom rolled out the idea in March 2001 which proved to be a runaway success, generating billions of rands for Vodacom.

The “Please Call me” concept was later adopted by other subsidiaries of Vodafone who own part of South Africa’s Vodacom. In Kenya, Safaricom which is 40% owned by Vodafone introduced the service in September 2005.

Makate, however, did not receive a penny and after unsuccessful attempts to have Vodacom honour his oral agreement, he instituted legal proceedings, which eventually culminated before the Constitutional Court.

Ongoing Court cases

Kenneth Makate first went to court in 2011 to seek compensation for his contribution. This was after he met Chris Schoeman who helped him fund his legal battle against Vodacom. The Constitutional Court ruled that the company must pay Makate “reasonable compensation” for his help on the Please Call Me.

Vodacom has now offered Makate R49 million (Kshs. 371 million) but he terms this as a “shocking insult.” Instead, Makate wants R70 billion (Kshs. 530 billion). There is even a movement associated with ANC which has started to push Vodacom to pay Kenneth Makate the stupendous amount.

 

Please Call Me movement
Please Call Me movement
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Interesting facts about Cuba’s Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro, former president of Cuba was an enigma. He could possibly be the longest serving president before he handed over power to his brother Raul in 2008.

Here are some interesting facts about him

  1. Fidel was born in August 13 1926. His dad was a wealthy sugarcane farmer but his mother was an unmarried domestic worker in his father’s house.

    Fidel Castro
    Fidel Castro, Cuba’s benevolent dictator
  2. Fidel ruled Cuba for a record 49 years from 1959 when he overthrew Dictator Fulgencio Batista up to 2008 when he handed over power to his brother Raul Castro.
  3. He started his revolutionary campaign to overthrow Batista’s government with only 2 guns and less than 100 men in 1957.
  4. The former Cuban leader has survived the most assassination attempts in history. The CIA alone made 638 attempts on him. At one time, the CIA even tried giving him a powder that would make his beard fall and thus lose his influence.
  5. In 1960, he took over and nationalized all US businesses in Cuba without compensation. This marked the beginning of frosty relations with the US which only thawed in 2015 when diplomatic relations between the two countries were re-established.
  6. In 1961, CIA trained Cuban exiles attacked Cuba but failed with more than a hundred dead. The others were captured and were later released in 1962 in exchange for medical supplies and baby food worth over 52 million US dollars.
  7. Fidel Castro has gone into Guinness Book of records for making the longest speech. On 26th September 1960, he made a speech at the UN that was 4 hours, 29 minutes long. But the icing on the cake was on 24th February 1998 after he was re-elected president of Cuba. He made a speech that lasted for 7 hours, 30 minutes.

Fidel Castro’s Achievements

Fidel Castro was a man who could be described as a benevolent Dictator. Although he did a lot that did not augur well with his people, he also did a lot to improve the living standards of Cubans.

  1. Immediately he took over power, Fidel Castro embarked on a program to make sure that electricity reached the rural areas thus opening up the interior. This is something his predecessor had failed to do.
  2. Fidel also abolished racial discrimination which had been legal previously.
  3. The new president’s greatest achievement was providing full employment to Cubans. In addition, he introduced a Work-Study program where one could work for half a day and study the next half.
  4. Advanced medical health care became a reality with Fidel. Healthy centers were established in the rural areas offering free health care and mandatory free vaccination for all children.
  5. Salaries were equalized in the new regime and rent for poor people cut by half.
  6. A new land policy was introduced in Cuba by Fidel Castro. Foreigners could not buy land in Cuba and no one could own more than 993 acres.

That was Fidel Castro. The man who passed away today 26th November 2016 at the ripe age of 90.

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