Abas Hussein Abdirahman, 33, was killed in front of a crowd of some 300 people in the port town of Merka.

An official from the al-Shabab group said the woman would be killed after she has had her baby.

Islamist groups run much of southern Somalia, while the UN-backed government only control parts of the capital.

Al-Shabab official Sheik Suldan Aala Mohamed said Mr Abdirahman had confessed to adultery before an Islamic court.

Last month, two men were stoned to death in the same town after being accused of spying.

A 13-year-old girl was stoned to death for adultery in the southern town of Kismayo last year.

Human rights groups said she had been raped.

Source: BBC

Alain Akouala, former communications minister in Congo, accused Mr Mandela’s aides of treating the anti-apartheid icon’s name “like a brand”.

He told the BBC the foreword came from a 1997 speech made by Mr Mandela.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation had labelled the preface a “brazen abuse of Mr Mandela’s name”.

But Mr Akouala told the BBC’s Network Africa programme: “Those words are Madiba’s [Mandela's] words”.

He said Mr Mandela made the speech thanking the Congolese people and the president for their help while he was in prison in fighting South Africa’s apartheid government in Angola and Zambia.

South Africa’s ambassador to Congo also insisted the comments praising Mr Sassou-Nguesso were true. He told South Africa’s Times newspaper that the foundation’s accusations had embarrassed the country.

The Republic of Congo president took power in a coup and, after losing an election, regained it by winning a civil war.

The foreword praises Mr Sassou-Nguesso as “one of our great African leaders”.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation, which oversees the former leader’s legacy, said he had “neither read the book nor written a foreword for it”.

The BBC’s correspondent in the region Thomas Fessy says a Congolese presidential adviser had become almost abusive in reacting to the foundation’s claims.

“Mandela’s name doesn’t belong to the foundation but to the African continent,” the adviser said.

“We don’t need their authorisation to publish what Mandela said after the Congolese gave their blood for the liberation of southern African countries.”

The bookselling website Amazon says the semi-autobiographical Straight Speaking for Africa was published in English last month by Red Sea Inc of Africa World Press.

Source:BBC

The BBC’s Karen Allen, in Kinshasa, says the statement is being seen as a significant victory for Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe. He has long wanted an end to sanctions and has accused partners in the unity government of being slow on the issue. Mr Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai formed the power-sharing cabinet in February to try to end a political crisis following 2008’s disputed elections.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai has maintained that full implementation of the agreement needs to come before any easing of international sanctions. Speaking after the SADC meeting, South Africe can President Jacob Zuma said there was no reason to attach conditions to the lifting of sanctions. He said the removal of restrictions was needed to help the process of implementation of the power-sharing agreement. Human Rights Watch has condemned the SADC position, saying it appeared to reward those who sanctions targeted.

Source:BBC

In Bauchi, Mallam Isa Yuguda also moved back to the PDP from the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), but this time around not with the Deputy Governor, who has since been impeached by the state House of Assembly for reasons I consider frivolous. It is interesting, if not curious that Mr.. President whom I am told, does not waste time on inanities, would find ample time to leisure about in these states in the name of receiving returnee governors in what every discerning mind knows as a well crafted script by the PDP to undermine civil rule in Nigeria.

The cross carpeting of these governors has generated unusual tension in the polity, not on the political parties on whose platform they secured their respective ‘mandate’. The aftermath of the ignoble events has culminated in summering crisis in these parties who have gone to court to seek a nullification of thee infamous moves, or better to return the coveted governorship positions to the opposition parties.

In the PPA for instance, the party has been boiling since the inglorious, untidy exit of Ikedi Ohakim. The current crisis besetting the party is perhaps partly symptomatic of the undercurrents arising from the handling of that event by members of the National Executive Committee. However, it seems to me that it is not the root of the crisis. If the ongoing problem must be put in perspective, then political commentators would agree that it all has to do with the dearth of ideological politics in the land since 1979-1983, and the material dialectics that propelled the formation of these parties in the first place.

Ideology in its elementary from is an organized collection of ideas. The word was coined by count Antoine Destutt De Tracy towards the end of the Eighteenth century. It can be seen as a comprehensive vision, a perspective of reality, or a way of understanding, seeing things and events or actions. In fact, an ideology should serve as a mirror for the people, expressing how the people view themselves, and even more importantly, how they want to be seen by outsiders. Ideology embodies a system of goals and beliefs, or widely held ideas by members of a society or group. Ideology, well articulated sign posts the pattern of transition of each society and the roadmap to change. The utility of ideology is more apparent and alive in its application to the political realm.

Political ideology is a certain ethical set of ideals, principles, doctrines, myths or symbols of a social movement, institution class or large group that explains how society should work, and offers some political or cultural blueprint for a social order. Political ideology is majorly concerned with how to allocate power and to what ends it should be used (see wikipedia).

In societies where democracy has taken root and become firmly consolidated parties are delineated by their ideologies, for instance in the United States, the Democratic party is known over the years, indeed through out its history, for its liberal platform. It emphasizes increased regulation, worker protection, increase social spending, big tax, decreased spending on defense, liberal immigration policies, big government, pro-choice policies towards abortion, government control of health care, ban on death penalty etc.

on the other hand, its main opposition, the Republican party arraign itself on a seemingly contradictory premise- as it shows its conservative learning in its encouragement of private participation, de-regulation, decrease social spending, a cut in taxes to protect owners of capital, increase defense spending, lean government, decrease minimum wage and maintenance of death penalty etc. The same scenario replicates itself in U.K France, Italy etc.

Regrettably, the situation is totally dissimilar in Nigeria. In Nigeria, political parties are not delineated ideologically. This may seem to be a product of ideological confusion, or a total lack of ideology in the development or formation of these parties.

In the United States, Britain etc, it is easy and simple to predict not only the programmes of these parties, but also how the congressmen and women would vote on any particular issue. Not so in Nigeria, where the parties are united in their mutual quest to loot the treasury for personal aggrandizement. In Nigeria, politics follow Machiavellian thesis as it moves without principles. Even those who are gifted with prophetic wisdom and discerning spirit cannot tell the pattern of voting on any national issue amongst Nigeria representatives and senators. At least it does not reflect party affiliation, but rather, what one observes sadly is a tragic reminder of the ethnic bases of our nationality.

In Nigeria, there is not much to differentiate the parties in terms of national posture. This marriage of strange bed fellows masquerading as political parties led the cerebral Late Bola Ige to dismiss them as five leprous fingers of one hand under the Abacha regime. The complexion of parties has not changed even under civil rule (not democratic) as we shall soon demonstrate.

The PDP which is the leading party in terms of its control of majority of states, the presidency and also the legislature, is in spite of its dominance of the political land scope ideologically bankrupt. What the party stands for and what benefits the masses are expected to reap, even the now bastardized democratic dividends are unclear. The only thing that Nigerians know about the party is its consuming passion to violate the sanctity of the electoral process and increase its stranglehold on the nation till eternity.

The party is a behemoth of sorts providing stinking refuge for persons of diverse ideological hues (or better still of no ideology at all). What havoc PDP’s dominance of the polity holds for Nigerians is better imagined than described. Its primitive quest for more of the remaining fragile states to come under its control is perhaps one of the greatest threats to the survival of the current republic.

Nevertheless the opposition as it is comprised and composed cannot provide alternative succour for Nigerians, as they too are bereft of any ideology, and do not poses the capacity and competence to challenge the rampaging dominant PDP. The ANPP have been unmasked by the greedy manner it went into the so called Government of National Unity (GNU) whatever that means. That arrangement confirmed my earlier suspicion that Nigerian politicians owing to prebandalism and patrimonialism cannot survive, without angling for a piece of the national pie under whatever guise. The way and manner it has been decimated by the PDP is a story for another day. As for the PPA, its acceptance of the GNU was a further demonstration of ideological inertia and an infantile move for national relevance and clout.

That move ought not to have been made if the party was serious about providing alternative template to governance in Nigeria. Those who believe that the PPA is a party for the future are now currently reminded by the events in the party that its history, its defence of capital and establishment policies are all too alienating to the masses of this country. I am sure by now the BOT Chairman of PPA may have realized that it takes more than uncommon bravado, or even huge material war chest, qualities he possesses aplenty to prosecute successfully opposition polities. Not too many people will last there if they are tempted by the filthy lucre offered by the awesome corrupting state like we have in Nigeria.

He needs to reeducate and reposition himself by first developing a coherent ideological framework that will appeal to the perennial hunger of Nigerians for a better life. The current bemoaning of the fate of PPA by its members over the desertion of Ikedi Ohakim et al typifies ignorance or complete lack of knowledge of extant realities in Nigeria. All that is happening are quite expected in situations of ideological hiatus driven by politics of the belly.

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has been a victim of state induced manipulation directed by the PDP. The unending feud between Victor Umeh and Chekwas Okorie has the imprimatur of external manipulation. But then, it must be conceded that the party has also suffered phenomenal crises and rudderless particularly because of lack of ideological clarity. In Anambra state where the party is a charge of the executive arm of government, the state is now besieged by the worst form of banditry as security of lives and property the raise of government historically has been seriously assaulted.

The Action Congress (AC) however is gaining prominence in the West because of some portrayal of a tinge of ideological seriousness. It must be noted through that its ideological history, the fact that it shares ancestry with the Unity Party of Nigeria and Action Group (AG) both founded by the late sage Obafemi Awolowo may be the main reason why it is gaining prominence after the near forceful disbanding of its camp (Alliance for Democracy) by the Obasanjo presidency.

With what is happening in Lagos and perhaps Edo, it is not yet too late in the day to plan for, look towards the birth of a new party premised on clear cut ideology and distinct membership. Not to do so, but to continue along side the current arrangement is to imperil eternally their chance(s) of confronting the PDP anytime that a free and fair election will be held in this country. It is also unwittingly a massive support for, and surrendering of state authority to PDP. In spite of what admirers of PDP and their members would claim, a one party state is a recipe for disaster in Nigeria.

•AU. Nkemdili Nnonyelu PhD (Associate Professor), teaches Sociology at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa.

By AU. NKEMDILI NNONYELU Ph.D

The revelation by NNPC GMD came just as it was also revealed by a senior military officer, attached to the office of the National Security Adviser, AVM Salihu Atawodi, that the NNPC was informed 10 days before Atlas Cove attack of the vulnerability of the area.

Mr. Barkindo spoke while delivering a lecture at the Chief of Naval Staff Annual Conference (CONSAC) in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, explaining that the NNPC has also spent about N19 billion on repairs of oil facilities that were destroyed during the various attacks around the country by militants.

He said the attack on infrastructures have been persistent in recent times, adding that these attacks were impacting on oil, gas and petroleum products infrastructures.
He said Atlas Cove facility of the corporation accounts for 35 per cent of the petroleum products consumed around the country. He applauded the NNPC for ensuring that the supply of petroleum product was sustained after the attack.

He further explained that the electricity load shedding currently experienced in the country was as a result of the disruption of production activities in the area by militants.
He revealed that the facilities of oil and gas companies spread across the Niger Delta area was of enormous scale estimating it to about $110 billion.
While lamenting the cost of militants’ activity in the Niger Delta, Barkindo said the attacks was taking a heavy toll on the NNPC.

For instance, he revealed that the production management staff of the NNPC who prior to the attack were working in the Niger Delta have been relocated and were now being flown into Warri from Lagos and Port Harcourt daily at a very huge cost.
“The attacks on the infrastructure have been persistent in recent times, impacting oil, gas and petroleum products infrastructures.

Recent attacks on gas facilities included ELPS (Escravos-Warri) pipeline. Attack of May 14, Ogbolobo-Focados crude /condensate line attack of June 12 and the recent attacks on Chevron facilities leading to complete severance of gas supply for Chevron. The combined effect of these attacks is power outage of about 1.1GW of electricity.

The NNPC boss stated that though the situation in the area had improved tremendously, an improved collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and oil companies in terms of security in the area was needed.
“Collaboration between the Navy and the Oil and Gas Industry to weaken the militia can be achieved through tactical information flow and exchange, strategic regional collaboration, security design into oil and gas installation and financial collaboration,” he noted.
The NNPC GMD said Nigeria’s hydrocarbon potentials was enormous by global standard, explaining that crude oil and gas reserves were estimated at about 35 billion barrels and 187 trillion cubic feet respectively.

On a global bases, Nigeria ranks within the tenth in terms of crude oil reserve and within the top 12 in terms of daily crude oil production capacity in barrels of  oil equivalent. This position underpins the importance of the Nigerian oil and gas industry both to Nigeria and to the world in general.

“The industry has a major capacity expansion plan under way. Crude oil capacity is planned to grow to about three million barrels per day by 2015. Growth is imperative as competing countries, particularly Angola, have continued to grow capacity aggressively over the recent years. Failure to grow will result in yielding market share and potential OPEC quota. This will in turn impact on revenues.

“The planed capacity growth is aggressive and has resulted in significant amount of spend b the industry. Relative to prior years required FGN funding of the industry is expected to ramp up from the usual 5.6 billion dollars to over 10 billion dollars. This is a massive step in investment requirement. Relative to man OPEC counties, Nigeria is expected to see a more pronounced spend. While this level of investment is imperative, it also imposes a major burden on the federation. It is therefore essential that all attempt to manage industry cost down are postured vigorously,” he added

By Philip Nwosu

Source:SUN

As a Nigerian, I appreciate Obama’s choice of Ghana for his first visit to Sub-Saharan Africa, a nation which has managed to maintain a clean image in a continent so smeared in electoral fraud and political conflict. I applaud and agree with Prof. Wole Soyinka’s bold assertion: “If Obama decides to grace Nigeria with his presence, I will stone him. The message he is sending by going to Ghana is so obvious, is so brilliant that he must not render it flawed by coming to Nigeria any time soon”. Why would Obama choose to associate with a nation so embroiled in corruption and lust for control at all costs, a nation in the hands of power-hungry tyrants parading themselves as politicians, a nation touted to be the most religious and yet the most reckless?

I reflect in sadness on the state of our ‘religious’ nation. Rather than stand up against the obvious abuse of responsibility by those in power, many religious leaders in Nigeria openly frolic with political champions for the sake of cheap publicity, political influence and their share in the taxpayers’ money. As such, they are publically condoning this greed and power-mongering by their very attitude, abandoning the role of torch-bearers in society. As Ebenezer Obadare wrote of such dubious relationships, “…in a dynamic that works quite well for the state and serves the ends of holders of political power, religious leaders attend their (office holders’) birthday ceremonies, bless their respective families, and, at the end of each year, unfailingly prophesy positive things for the country they so spectacularly misgovern.”

I am reminded of how Pastor Enoch Adeboye of RCCG, recently voted as ‘Nigeria’s Greatest Living Legend’, regularly fraternised with Obasanjo, now generally considered as one of Africa’s most corrupt and crooked rulers. As Adeboye played host to him in his Redeemed headquarters, received his endorsement for evangelical crusades, posed with him in pictures for the papers, Obasanjo in return waived RCCG’s tax imports and gave them various political privileges. Yet in the course of their closeness, it was not reported that Adeboye ever publically denounced OBJ’s corrupt practices and immoral activities.

In a similar vein, Adeboye hailed Gbenga Daniel’s tenure in Ogun, endorsed his campaigns and often visited the state on invitation for prayer sessions. However, with the current crises engulfing Ogun State, calling into question the integrity of OGD and his political rivals in the Gateway state and further re-iterating the catastrophic level of double-mindedness and vulgarity that has ensnared our nation, one wonders whether such a level of intimacy will remain between the two. Success is everybody’s child while failure has no father.

Well did Martin Luther King say, “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.” It is clear our religious leaders have a part to play in the gross mismanagement of resources and talents that Nigeria has come to be known for – not mainly for what they have done, but rather for the truth, however unpalatable, that they have failed to stand up for and compromised for the sake of personal gain and political appeasement. Many turn a blind eye to the words of Jesus Christ: “What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.”(Luke 16:15)

However, when the Ghanaian president, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, came to power this January in a peaceful election applauded internationally, his first point of call following his inauguration was The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria to give thanks to God for his historic and unexpected victory. There, he shocked the continent with his declaration that Pastor TB Joshua had accurately predicted specific details of his three-round election victory, even calling Pastor Joshua ‘his mentor’, testifying that his humility and generosity had greatly impacted and inspired him. Joshua, in his turn, called on Mills to help the less privileged in Ghana, and support charitable organisations who ‘spend more on others and less on themselves’. The difference is evident.

It appears strange that the Nigerian churches are still busy arguing among themselves about the authenticity of Pastor TB Joshua, the very man Atta Mills has publically hailed and honoured. I think the results of these relationships speak louder than any pontificating on the qualifications of a true man of God.

In any case, we thank God that Ghana is moving from strength to strength, the present visit from Obama solidifying its reputation of democratic commitment, and the discovery of oil in its territory pointing to a bright future ahead. Africa should be proud of Ghana’s achievements, and learn the necessary lessons from Obama’s visit rather than ruminating on why he didn’t choose another nation. As Bono recently said: “Quietly, modestly — but also heroically — Ghana’s going about the business of rebranding a continent. New face of America, meet the new face of Africa.”

I pray this visit will usher in a new wave of loyalty to the principles of democracy, in tandem with the timeless African values of being your brother’s keeper, doing unto others as you would have them do unto you and considering the good of your nation of greater moment than your own personal ambitions.

Ihechukwu Njoku – Lagos, Nigeria

Upon perusal of the apparent grouses and grudges of the Pentecostal Leaders of Nigeria against the enigma and personality of Prophet TB Joshua, high up on the list is the issue of his mentorship. “Where was he when he was called to ministry? Who are the men of God who can point at him, that we raised him into ministry, laid hands on him and sent him forth into the ministry?” says Paul Adefarasin, the charismatic founder of House of the Rock, Lagos. “We don’t know Joshua’s Pastor; we don’t know where he was raised from. He has no testimony from where he got born again. So, we cannot accept that he is one of us… There is no proof of his salvation,” explains Matthew Ashimolowo, the prosperity preacher and founder of KICC in London. “There are only two questions Ayo Oritsejafor (President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria) asked us to ask Joshua or anybody who comes from him: When were you born again? Which church did he attend and who was his pastor or mentor?” fumes Bishop Abraham Olaleye, a vice chairman of PFN. “Who were his contemporaries when he gave his life to Christ? What led to his confession of Christ? How did it happen? Where was he baptised? Who baptised him? Who are his pastors? Where did he train? Who is the Paul of his Timothy?” asks Bola Akin-John, a Pentecostal church growth expert.

That miracles and commendable charitable works are happening in his church is attested to by almost all, but such leaders can’t seem to fathom how a man so mightily gifted could have attained such a level without human tutorship and training. As such cannot be explained by the logic and lectures of theological training, they readily write him off as demonic and diabolic. Surely, a man of God of such stature and status could not just spring up without the approval and appraisal of some top-notch Christian leaders? Thus, they have proclaimed to all willing to listen that anyone who associates with TB Joshua does so to their own folly, be him a president or pauper, simply because they have adopted a strong position without investigating its foundational validity.

However, the phenomenon of men being used by the Almighty without human tutelage is not isolated to the instance of Pastor TB Joshua. Thorough biblical exploration would reveal many of God’s generals with no record or register of human mentorship. Who was the mentor of Jeremiah, who the Bible says God called right from his mother’s womb? Who was the mentor of John the Baptist, sent from above to prepare the way for the Saviour? Who was the mentor of Apostle Paul, who was blinded on the road to Damascus while intent on the destruction of Christians, subsequently to become a leading figure in New Testament Christianity? What about Moses, Elijah or King David? Human backing and tuition are clearly not a qualification for divine assignments.

What then is the premise for church leaders today to demand proof of mentorship as a seal of apostleship? Can this assertion be attributed to the application of biblical principles, or to personal misgivings and prejudice? Why has the Nigerian Pentecostal church chosen to adopt a stance on a particular person that contradicts and conflicts with scriptural authority and experience? It appears to be a case of addressing private qualms and jealousies under the guise of Christian comradeship and censorship, misguiding and incensing millions of followers against TB Joshua and projecting the image of a warring and divided church in the process.

The current president of PFN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has consistently remained one of Joshua’s most vocal critics, even expelling any PFN members who attempt to fraternise with him. He makes his stand known clearly on the pulpit and in the pages of newspapers: “T.B. Joshua is not a Christian. If T.B. Joshua can show me his pastor who pastored him before he said he was called into the ministry; if T.B. Joshua can tell me when he got converted and how he got converted, then we would consider him.”

Yet, T.B. Joshua’s own website recounts the extraordinary tale of his calling into the ministry, available for all to read and dissect: “I was in a trance for three consecutive days, then I saw a hand that pointed a Bible to my heart and the Bible entered my heart and my former heart seemed to immerse with the Bible immediately… I heard a voice saying, “I am your God; I am giving you a divine commission to go and carry out the work of the Heavenly Father… I would show you the wonderful ways I would reveal myself through you, in teaching, preaching, miracles, signs and wonders for the salvation of souls”. So, is it a crime for God to call one for His service without consulting certain people or meeting certain manmade criteria? Are we mere mortals in a position to query God’s wisdom and ways?

Chiji Okafor, the celebrated Nigerian columnist and artist, wrote of such a disposition and demeanour: “It is amazing that anybody who lays claim to being a pastor of God should be talking about mentoring in matters of the faith as if talking about some rookie artisan being shepherded into ‘freedom’ from his master’s workshop. Such drivel simply speaks volumes of the man who utters it. It reveals the depth of vulgarity to which our ‘modern’ men of God have allowed the gospel of Jesus Christ to sink.

“Anybody who boasts in God’s vineyard about his mentor and such other inane subjects as earthly endowments has simply not imbibed the lessons of Christ’s personal life. Jesus Christ the Son of God could have been born a prince, if He so chose. On the contrary, God made man, decided to come into this world, the son of a wretched carpenter born in, of all places, a manger and side-by-side animals! He had neither an earthly mentor, nor did the Bible tell us that He had doctorate degrees in sacred theology and dogmatic philosophy.

“In His divine wisdom, God chooses whom He crowns king and decides whom He endows with any gift He likes – and we all have our different gifts. Anybody who challenges this wisdom of God Almighty blasphemes against Him, by querying His authority. So, why would God choose a humble, even innocent, or bucolic Temitope Balogun Joshua for the enormous anointing he has received? Why didn’t He pick one of those blue-blooded, Oxford-trained peers of the realm?”

Bolu-Olu Esho, a journalist with The Sun Newspaper further wrote on the issue: “Pastor T.B Joshua has a simple background that could tempt one to ask questions about how he achieved the feat he’s known for today. But minds of history would be at ease, as they would consider him as another manifestation of the mystery assigned to God Almighty. The question of academics in the work of God is inconsequential, as God does not consider this as a criterion for choosing people for His work…The stance of these ministers of God against Pastor Joshua makes one question how versed they are in the Word of God. Is it not written in the Bible that God used the foolish things of this world to confound the wise?”

Clearly, the question our revered gentlemen should ask is not, ‘Who is your mentor?’ but ‘By what authority are you acting?’ in conjunction with the biblical standard: ‘By their fruits, you shall know them.’ The attributes and qualities a person possesses speak volumes of their source of strength. The steadfast consistency, prophetic insight, charitable disposition, healing gifting, practical teaching, heavenly wisdom and childlike simplicity of T.B. Joshua cannot possibly be the product of illusion, sorcery or man’s acumen. The testimony of Ghana’s new head, Prof. Atta Mills, alone is enough to confirm the genuineness and greatness of Joshua’s ministry and calling. Has history ever heard of a sitting president visit a church and publically testify that the pastor accurately predicted the outcome and specific details of the election to him? His testimony echoes the tens of thousands who rush to Joshua’s church on a weekly basis to receive a touch from God.

Sadly, the gap between the accusers and the accused is ever widening as many leading pastors in Nigeria are becoming more embroiled in the pursuit of money and material gain than the essence of Christ’s gospel and work. Kingdom business seems more like worldly business, with pastors making headlines for expensive acquisitions, lavish living and political speeches as opposed to solving problems, meeting needs and changing lives. Ilobi Austin, a catholic in faith, wrote, “While God is ordering his (T.B. Joshua’s) counterparts to acquire more automobiles and in some cases, private jets with cost in the billion bracket, the same God is asking him to love humanity like himself and consequently, improve their earthly and heavenly fortunes. He is today, father to the fatherless, mother to the motherless, friend to the friendless and government to the government-less. Little wonder then, that the good Lord magnanimously found him worthy for the arduous task of delivering his people from the vice grip of the devil. Such powers in the hands of such ministers, who have made the criticism of his ministries their pastime, would have seen deliverance going to the highest bidders.”

So what has TB Joshua to say on all this? Here is his own response when asked about his non-admission into PFN in a recent interview with The Sun: “As a point of correction, I never applied to be a member of any association. Okay? Two, the way and manner God executes His plan in our lives differ. Some He brought them from this direction, some from another direction. Some He allowed to go to Theology school, some He allowed them to go to the university and they may not even go to Theology school. Some, they may not even go to school at all. Yet they would become whatever God wants them to become.  There is a university of God – and in the University of God, however brilliant you may be, you will not be given double promotion – you must take every course, because each course serves a purpose.”

Ihechukwu Njoku – Lagos, Nigeria

To term the United Bulawayo Hospital [UBH] a ‘hospital’ is an overstatement. Almost thirty years under the clutches of a senseless, abusive dictatorship, Zimbabwe’s once fine medical system has turned into a hellhole. A ‘hospital’ with no blankets, no food, no drugs, blocked plumbing, and two solitary tungsten bulbs dangling from the cracked ceiling is a good setting for a horror movie.

Ms Ngwenya is one of many women in the ward that looks after fractures, but due to an astronomical flight of doctors out of the country, she has to make do with a North Korean practitioner whose knowledge of English is limited to one word: ‘bones’. The early morning visiting hour slot greets you with an overwhelming stench of cheap medicine, human odour and stale food. Ironically, a few blocks down the road, a state-of-the-art health investment worth several millions of United States Dollars lies idle, almost ten years after its completion. Ekusileni Medical Centre was a brainchild of Zimbabwe political icon Joshua Mqabuko kaNyongolo Nkomo. Because President Robert Mugabe hated this man, the entire ZANU-PF system of governance condemned the project to oblivion.

July, another irony, is commemoration month of the death of Joshua Nkomo. State media is currently engrossed in an orgy of primitive egotistic hypocrisy, praising Nkomo as ‘Father Zimbabwe’ and yet, his party and properties either remain expropriated or like Ekusileni Medical Centre, lie idle.

While Ms Ngwenya is gasping for life at UBH, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirayi and President Robert Mugabe brandish swords at each other on issues a far cry from life-saving reality. Of course Zimbabweans want a new constitution – at least they can guarantee a quick exit of the forgettable ZANU-PF machinery of deceit, repression, corruption and violence. But Mugabe is not giving up without a fight. The agreement that brought about the Inclusive Government was succinct in that Zimbabweans have to debate and reach a consensus on a new constitution within eighteen months from September 2008.

Article 6 of this agreement created an all party Select Committee of Parliament to supervise constitutional debates in communities. But other members of civil society, particularly the National Constitutional Assembly [NCA], argue that a process driven by Parliamentarians is not only prone to partisan contamination, but also subverts the will of the people. Their definition of ‘popular’ excludes
politicians, who on the other hand claim they were themselves elected by ‘the people’.

The conflict of constitutionalism is not new in this Southern African country. Ian Douglas Smith, the last colonial ruler of Rhodesia, also had his brand of constitution that was rejected by the British who eventually brought him kicking and screaming to Lancaster House, London in 1979 where technically, Zimbabwe was born. Both Mugabe and his late revolutionary colleague, Joshua Nkomo, resented the British-brokered document that guaranteed property rights of the white minority for ten years.

By 2008, Mugabe had amended the Lancaster House constitution a record nineteen times, hence the ire of NCA and their constituents. In fact, 1999 was another battlefield because the NCA, at that time fronted by the then Secretary General for the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions [ZCTU] Morgan Tsvangirayi, dismissed Chief Justice Chidyausiku’s Mugabe appointed Constitutional Commission as a
sham. Almost every protagonist ran a parallel process, so that by the time Mugabe’s propaganda hit man Professor Jonathan Moyo took his version of the Draft Constitution to a referendum, the NCA and Tsvangirayi had galvanised enough Zimbabweans to vote ‘No!’

Since then, the NCA, through its never-say-die chairperson Dr Lovemore Madhuku, has waged a campaign against using Mugabe’s amended constitution to drive the electoral process. His argument is that as long as Mugabe is afforded unlimited executive authority, he will, as he has, manipulate all electoral outcomes, even if he appointed what he terms an ‘independent’ electoral authority. Some neutral commentators have however put a damper on Madhuku’s crusade. At one time, the NCA was meant to have changed guard, but Madhuku is alleged to have ‘manipulated’ the organisation’s constitution to enable him to resume another term as chairman. Thus, the critics argue, the good doctor has lost the moral [high] ground to wage a democracy war against fellow constitution abuser Robert Mugabe!

The bulk of civil society is also divided. Recent stakeholder consultations have not produced hard and fast resolutions on desisting from participating in the government brokered process. Some argue that the Select Committee of Parliament co-chaired by lawyers Eric Matinenga of MDC and Paul Mangwana of ZANU-PF is ‘not representative enough’, since there are other [small] parties that did not make it to Parliament but have a following, like Dr Simba Makoni’s Mavambo Kusile Dawn [MKD]. However, others say that MDC and ZANU-PF are THE political parties that represent THE people, so their legitimacy is unquestionable. The second group urges its constituents to participate to ensure content reflects sectoral interests, while the last groups claim to be ‘observers’ to the process.

On July 3, both the NCA and ZCTU stayed out of another stakeholder ‘people’s convention’ running under the “Our Country Too” brand attended by two thousand civil society representatives. This group divided constitutionalism into eight thematic entities who took common resolutions on issues like enshrining fundamental liberties in the Bill of Rights, devolution of power and proportional
representation. Enshrining local governance in the national constitution and infusing powers of recall was said to be key in progressive constitutions.

The ‘people’s convention’ was resolute in trashing the GNU Kariba Draft, while arguing that if the Select Committee of Parliament so much as manipulates the process, they will campaign, like they did in February 1999, for a No Vote at the next constitutional referendum in 2010. Taken whichever way, until there is a system of governance that allows for democratically elected representation guaranteeing of individual liberties and good governance, the likes of Ms Ngwenya and her young brother Rejoice, will have to make do with dilapidated public health delivery system.

Rejoice Ngwenya is President of Coalitin for Liberal Market Solutions,a think tank, base din Harare and affiliated with www.AfricanLiberty.org

Rejoice Ngwenya, 6 July 2009, Harare, Zimbabwe

Like other countries visited during Mr. Tsvangirai’s three weeks in Europe and North America, Britain told the prime minister it wants Harare to take further steps toward democratization and economic reform, including a new constitution and new elections, before more substantial aid would be forthcoming.
British PM Gordon Brown & Zimbabwe PM Morgan Tsvangirai at 10 Downing Street, 22 June 2009.Economics Professor Tony Hawkins of the University of Zimbabwe says that given the realities of his mission, Mr. Tsvangirai probably fared as well as could be expected.

“From a strictly realistic viewpoint, he’s done as well as you might have expected. Expectations here were really quite low as to what he could achieve because of all the problems on the ground,” he noted.

With state-controlled media in Zimbabwe heavily supportive of long-time President Robert Mugabe, Professor Hawkins says the Tsvangirai mission also stirred low expectations in public opinion and drew sparse coverage at home.

“When you see the state media, the media that’s still loyal to Mr. Mugabe, it’s enjoying what it sees as Tsvangirai’s failure, and therefore, one gets the impression that they see the failure of the mission, as they would portray it, as being a setback for Tsvangirai,” he explained.

Mr. Tsvangirai, a champion of electoral reform, received a warm personal welcome in Britain, Germany, Belgium, Norway, and the United States. But Hawkins points out that many of those abroad who met with Tsvangirai repeatedly voiced concern that the promise of last year’s Global Political Agreement (GPA) that produced a Zimbabwe unity government was proceeding too slowly.“I think the meeting that he held in Southwark Cathedral in London over the weekend, at which he took a fair bit of criticism from the audience, who kept shouting, ‘change, change’ at him, this was evidence of how people felt, that the new government hasn’t changed very much, and that there’s disappointment. Therefore, what he did achieve is probably about as much as you could have expected,” he said.

While donor countries visited by Prime Minister Tsvangirai restating their willingness to pledge additional aid if reform efforts intensify, Professor Hawkins says substantial international assistance will be linked to Harare’s conduct in human rights and concerns about press freedom.“I think it really boils down to progress on the law and order side, human rights, all these issues of people being arrested, particularly human rights, demonstrators and activists, and so on. The other area, of course, is the area of the media, where so much attention is being paid to the clamps on the media that appear to be still in place,” claimed Hawkins.

On the issue of land ownership, the University of Zimbabwe economist says he does not believe that efforts to change the practices of the previous ZANU-PF government will be made in order to attract greater foreign donor aid. “There’s no real momentum for changes in land ownership,” he says. “I don’t think many people tie it to the attainment of implosive aid. I think they’re seen as two very separate issues.”

By Howard Lesser
Washington, DC

Source:VOA

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, said in a statement e-mailed to journalists that the group had destroyed two Royal Dutch Shell oil pipelines in Rivers state. It is the first attack by militants in the eastern delta since MEND launched its latest campaign of sabotage.

MEND said it also attacked a Shell offshore facility on Sunday. A Shell official has confirmed the attack on two Shell oil pipelines in Rivers state but denied that its offshore facility had also been targeted.

Sunday’s attacks came one day after militants blew up an oil pipeline in nearby Bayelsa state.

Nigeria is Africa’s top oil producer, but production has been badly affected in the wake of attacks by MEND and other smaller groups.

MEND has threatened more acts of sabotage against the oil industry.

Ikoyil Wilson, the leader of the Ijaw Youth Council, a prominent youth group in the Niger Delta, told VOA that aggrieved groups in the region should be encouraged to enter into dialogue with the government. He also wants militants to consider the government’s pledge to grant an amnesty.

“The people of the region have the right to agitate, but such agitation should be channeled in such a way that there is room for dialogue,” Wilson said. “On those who are armed, I have said, this is our time and this is our moment to cash in to disarming, so that we can have an opportunity to continue to dialogue. Dialogue may be slow but one thing at a time, we will get there.”

MEND emerged in early 2006 as a leading group calling for a greater share of Nigeria’s oil revenue for the producer region. It has carried out a series of deadly attacks in recent months.

President Umaru Yar’Adua took office in 2007 promising to address the root causes of the violence. But MEND has repeatedly accused the government of “insincerity” in handling the situation.

Unrest in the Niger Delta has substantially reduced Nigeria’s oil output, putting pressure on crucial export earnings.

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
Source:VOA