Ugandan legislator, Francis Zaake, detained after the president’s convoy was stoned, has been “brutalised” by security personnel, an opposition figure said on Wednesday as images of the bruised lawmaker emerged on social media.

Supporters of an independent candidate running in a parliamentary by-election threw stones at President Yoweri Museveni’s motorcade on Monday in the West Nile region near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, police and Museveni said.

Police used tear gas and shots to halt the stoning and detained at least five members of parliament along with several other people.

Those arrested included Robert Kyagulanyi, an independent lawmaker and musician, who has gained popularity since he joined parliament in 2017 through scathing criticism of Museveni’s government, sometimes expressed through music.

During Monday’s incident, Kyagulanyi’s driver was shot dead, according to police, who have said they are not yet able to identify who shot him.

Mugisha Muntu, a former Head of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda’s biggest opposition party, said on Twitter: “Hon. Zaake was badly brutalised by security forces … journalists too weren’t spared.

We must reject this lawlessness.”

Images circulated on WhatsApp and Facebook showing Zaake apparently lying on a bed, eyes closed, with a swollen face and a cut ear. One of his hands was swollen while the other had a wounded palm.

Muntu also said on Twitter that Kyagulanyi was being held incommunicado and was “in urgent need of medical attention.”

Police did not answer repeated calls for comment and Museveni’s spokesman Don Wanyama also did not answer a Reuters’ call for comment.

Deputy Prime Minister, Moses Ali, told parliament Kyagulanyi “was found with a gun” and would appear before a court martial in Gulu, northern Uganda, on Thursday.

Ali said 33 people had been arrested in connection with the incident.

Rights activists have long accused Museveni’s government of using tactics including beatings by security forces and detentions to stifle opposition to his rule.

Officials reject those accusations and say Museveni’s rule is based on mass support.

Critics say Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, is set to rule for life after parliament last year scrapped an age limit for presidential candidates.

Kizza Besigye, who has run against and lost to Museveni four times, has been jailed dozens of times for alleged offences including illegal assemblies, rape and treason. Besigye says the prosecutions are politically motivated. He has won some cases in court while others are pending.

Museveni blamed the stoning on “weak management by the police and the criminal behavior of some of the opposition leaders.”

“Some leaders have been acting with impunity … these acts are strongly rejected and will be punished,” he said in a statement, adding he was unharmed in the incident.

Police have said they are investigating the MPs for blocking Museveni’s convoy among other offences.

Reuters/NAN

Kenyan Anti-Corruption Crusader Prof. Patrick Lumumba has blamed the challenges to Africa’s greatness on the problems of leadership structure in Nigeria.

Lumumba said this on Wednesday in Abuja, electronically, at the Summit of the Alternatives (SOTA) with the theme “Citizens Framing the New Nigeria of Our Dream.”

The occasion was organised by a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSO).

The anti-corruption crusader called on Nigerians to fix the leadership structure of the country, adding that it was a missing link to Africa’s greatness.

According to him, out of every five Africans, one is a Nigerian, by that the economic potential of Nigeria cannot be gainsay.

He said that the problem of Nigeria was simply leadership, adding that if fixed, every problem would be addressed.

“Nigeria had great leaders during the times of Sir. Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe among others shortly after independence.

“ The question, therefore, is that when did the rain start beating us? I can tell you that no sooner had the gains of independence been realised that we began to see abuses, then came the ear of coup d’état.

“Then, we began to see armed men in the political arena, I can say without fear of contradiction, that, that was when the rain started beating us.

“I remember that where ever Nigeria has provided leadership, the African continent always occupy her pride of place, be it in football, literature and medicine”.

Lumumba said that the political elite who ought to liberate from the politics of money and money bags were responsible for the leadership challenges facing the country.

According to him, it is time for Nigerians to throw aside things that hold them down and must recognise that whatever Nigeria does is important to Africa.

“ It is time for Nigerian leadership to recognise that Nigeria ought to be the political Mecca to which we pay pilgrimage.

“When the Nigerian leaders wake up to this reality, Africa will be great because Nigeria’s leadership is the missing link to Africa’s greatness,” he said.

Dr Oby Ezekwesili, one of the conveners of the summit, said the event was orgnaised by a coalition of CSO and 66 political parties to change the status quo of the wrong narratives of governance in Nigeria.

Ezekwesili said the idea was also to begin to address the transformation of Nigeria’s political leadership through deliberations by patriotic Nigerians.

“The gathering will present a formidable platform for people who believe that Nigeria has right to develop a deliberate framework to demand for termination of the decadent political class.

“In medium term, an expected outcome is that, they will provide back end support to drive the ideology of the new Nigeria of our dream.

“It is ostensibly a call to duty and civic action,’’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the coalition comprises of Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Enough is Enough, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA)-Africa.

Others are Budgit, Red Card Movement and Nigeria First among others. (NAN)

The process to merge South African Express (SA Express) with South African Airways (SAA) is underway, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Wednesday.

In his presentation to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, the Minister said the first step had already been taken.

“The first step of consolidating SA Express with SAA has just been concluded, which was to place both airlines within one Shareholder Ministry. SAA has been transferred back to the department,” he said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this month transferred the administration of the South African Airways Act and accompanying functions from the Minister of Finance back to the Minister of Public Enterprises.

The transfer was signed by the President on 25 July 2018 and gazetted on 1 August 2018. In December 2014, government announced the move of SAA from the Department of Public Enterprises to National Treasury.

In his update, Gordhan said the boards and executive leadership of both airlines have been tasked with identifying quick wins to stabilise the two State-owned airlines. These quick wins include technical, fuel and route rationalisation.

He said the SA Express board is expected to submit a bankable business model for commercial recovery and long-term sustainability.

In May, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced the suspension of SA Express’s air operator’s certificate and the certificates of airworthiness (CoA) of nine of the 21 aircraft being operated by the airline.

The CAA reinstated its Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) certification on 22 June 2018. Subsequently in July, SA Express announced that it was readying itself for take-off.

It has undergone a stringent and rigorous process to meet the regulator’s high standards.

On Wednesday, Gordhan said SA Express – with its new interim Chief Executive Officer Siza Mzimela – would commence operations next week.

“The entity has received an airline operating certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority and will resume a flight schedule shortly,” said the Minister.

He said the airline plans to build continuously on its flight schedule.

At a media briefing in May, Gordhan said government wanted to merge national carrier SAA with SA Express and Mango, as the three airlines fly to the same destinations.

The Minister told Parliament on Wednesday that SA Express continues to face liquidity and solvency challenges. While government has provided the airline with a government guarantee of R1.74 billion, the department says immediate recapitalisation is required.

In addition, the airline is in the process of finalising its annual financial statements for the 2016/17 and 2017/18 financial year due to going concern challenges.

Gordhan said the lack of revenue generation due to the grounding of the airline has exacerbated the challenges of the airline. This is against the backdrop of allegations of high levels of corruption, among other things.

Eskom

The Minister also gave the committee an update of other State-owned companies (SOCs) falling within the ambit of the Department of Public Enterprises.

Government has reviewed the board of directors of Eskom, Denel, Transnet and SA Express, which now have new and experienced boards.

Regarding the power utility, Gordhan said when it came to governance issues, lifestyle audits of senior management were in progress.

There have also been investigations into irregular supplier contracts, with five no longer doing business with the utility that runs 25 power stations. They recovered R902 million from McKinsey, which has apologised to South Africa for its role in State capture.

Denel

When coming to the armaments manufacturer, projections show the entity is likely to post a record loss. Denel experienced liquidity challenges with unpaid creditors at R1.1 billion. This resulted in suppliers withholding supplies, further putting operations under pressure.

“As a result, the SOC is likely to realise a significantly lower revenue than planned in the 2017/18 Corporate Plan,” Gordhan said, adding that temporary reprieve was received, with Denel getting R580 million.

Meanwhile, irregular expenditure for 2016/17 was at R116 million, with the newly acquired division, Denel Vehicle System, responsible for R83 million.

Disciplinary hearings were held for 144 cases and no instances of criminal proceedings were instituted.

The Minister said the new board, which was put in place in May is getting to the bottom of all the forensic reports to ascertain if more disciplinary actions could be taken. Also, lifestyle audits are yet to commence.

Minister Gordhan said the SOC models must be reviewed to ensure their sustainability and that they play an effective role in the economy, while also driving transformation and localisation.

He said corruption and State capture have had a dire impact on SOCs.

“[The] failure of SOCs has major downstream impact on other industries and SMMEs and to the economy,” he told Parliament.

The Department of Public Enterprises has six SOCs under it. – SAnews.gov.za

Roadworks along Malibongwe Drive (R512) in Fourways/Randburg, Johannesburg, have been completed.

The roadworks took place between 22 July and 5 August 2018 following consultations with affected stakeholders, business and communities in the area.

“The roadworks necessitated the closure of R512’s northbound section with traffic accommodated on the southbound carriageway at Epsom Ave to River Road intersection. The 700 metre stretch in the northbound section between Epsom Avenue and Boundary Road was completely closed off to traffic,” Gauteng Department for Roads and Transport spokesperson Melitah Madiba said.

Madiba said the department conducted a milling-off exercise of the existing surface and replaced it with new asphalt to improve the route’s ability to carry traffic at adequate speeds, while also enhancing road safety over the long-term.

The department is also undertaking a number of provincial road maintenance projects to ensure extension of the networks’ lifespan, reducing travel times and improving overall road safety. – SAnews.gov.za

By Amos Tauna

A socio-cultural group from Benue State North Central Nigeria, Mdzough U Tiv has lauded Benue State House of Assembly, traditional rulers, national Exco of Mdzough U Tiv and Governor of the state, Samuel Orton for working and signing the anti open grazing bill into law.

The group believes  that those opposed to the world best practice, are enemies of Benue people.

A communique issued at the end of  its national meeting by Shimakyaa lorkyase and Engr. Williams Takpugh, acting chairman and secretary respectively said, “Mdzough U Tiv Chapter Presidents Worldwide noted and appreciated the Benue State House of Assembly, the Traditional Rulers, the national Exco of Mdzough U Tiv worldwide and His Excellency,the Governor of Benue State for working on the bill and signing it into law.

“It is therefore our firm believe that those oppose to this world best practice are enemies of Benue People. It is our considered position that this law will restore peace to Benue land thereby increasing food and livestock production in most decent manner.”

Mdzough U Tiv condemned in a very strongest terms and ramifications the deliberate onslaught on peaceful and defenceless Nigerians, the Benue indigenes by Fulani herdsmen.

The communique explained, “MUT chapter Presidents Worldwide condemned in a very strongest terms and ramifications the deliberate onslaught on peaceful and defenceless Nigerians especially Benue indigene by Fulani herdsmen.

“We call on the Federal government of Nigeria and the international community to assist in ensuring the end to these barbaric, heinous and unprovoked killings. We also demand that the sponsors and perpetrators be fished out and brought to book.”

The meeting viewed with concern the worrisome trend with which the personnel of the Nigeria police and Department Security Service, DSS, were used particularly to teargas the civil and people of Benue State and subsequent blockade of the Benue State House of Assembly complex.

“This portend danger to democracy and the Tiv peope in particular. This act is unprofessional and it is therefore condemned vehemently,” the meeting lamented.

Mdzough U Tiv commended His Royal Majesty, Orchivirigh Chief Prof. James I. Ayatse, Tor Tiv V for establishing Ayatutu Foundation.

“We are not unaware of the fact that he ascended the throne at the most trying times for Tiv nation. But with God, we shall overcome all hurdles.

“The efficacy of this foundation cannot be overemphasised. We call on all Tiv sons and daughters, all chapters of MDZOUGH U Tiv worldwide as well as friends of Tiv nation to as a matter of deliberate obligation make or be making donations to the foundation,” the meeting observed.

“It is with very deep concern that we observe the worrisome political situation in Benue state in recent times. The issues are dicey. However, we enjoined all actors to shield their swords and put the Tiv nation above personal political interest.

“We strongly advised and warned that no political salt should be added to the already injured Tiv nation.

“We equally implored President-General, Mdzough U Tiv Worldwide, Chief Engr Edward Ujege, all the First class Chiefs and the Paramount Ruler of the Tiv nation to quickly intervene. ‘Ayatutu’ must be ‘Se’ at all times.” the Communique said.