Saturday, May 3, 2025
Malaria pose a serious public health threat in Namibia
WINDHOEK, Namibia
Namibia has recorded 56,130 malaria cases and 95 deaths since December 2024, Health Minister, Esperance Luvindao said.
Addressing the public in Oshakati town in northern Namibia, Luvindao said the outbreak has affected all 10 malaria-endemic regions of the country in the northern and northeastern parts.
Luvindao explained that the high caseload is partly due to favourable mosquito breeding conditions during the rainy season.
She emphasised that malaria continues to pose a serious public health threat in Namibia and urged communities to seek immediate medical care when symptoms arise.
The government has implemented several control measures to combat the spread.
Malaria transmission in Namibia generally peaks between December and May, aligning with the country’s rainy season.
Four Kenyan filmmakers released after dramatic arrest
NAIROBI, Kenya
All four filmmakers, who were arrested last night for allegedly sharing false information, have been released from Pangani Police Station.
The four, Nicholas Wambugu, Brian Adagala, Mark Denver Karubiu, and Christopher Wamae, had been arrested at their studio in Karen, Nairobi and their equipment confiscated by the police.
According to Ezekiel ‘Ezy’ Onyango, Chairperson of the Kenya Film and Television Professionals Association (KFPTA), the four were facing charges related to publishing false information and cyberbullying.
The arrest and subsequent release of the filmmakers came in the wake of the BBC's Blood Parliament documentary that exposed the police officers who shot protestors during the June 25, 2024, protests.
Veteran journalist John Allan Namu revealed on social media that he had been in contact with the filmmakers' lawyers at the station, who revealed that the quartet's arrest was related to the BBC documentary.
"Been in touch with lawyers at Pangani police station and have been told that the filmmakers arrested last night are being charged with false publication in relation to the BBC documentary #BloodParliament," Namu posted on X.
"Their equipment was confiscated and they were made to give statements without legal representation. That this is happening on World Press Freedom Day begs a lot of questions about the objective in these arrests."
A statement from the BBC Press Office, however, stated that the four filmmakers were not involved in the making of the exposé.
"We have been made aware of the arrest of four journalists in Kenya. To confirm, they were not involved in any way in the making of BBC Africa Eye's Blood Parliament documentary," the statement read in part.
Kenyan activist and photojournalist Boniface Mwangi also clarified that the four filmmakers work in his organisation, Sema Ukweli.
"They are my colleagues at Sema Ukweli and their arrest is worrying because they were not involved in the production of Blood Parliament. Some of the things confiscated belong to our organisation and it's concerning that our government is afraid of the truth," Mwangi posted on Instagram.
"There's nothing wrong with Blood Parliament. What they should do is investigate the killer cops who murdered innocent young people."
Tunisia jails former prime minister on terrorism charges
TUNIS, Tunisia
A court in Tunisia has sentenced former Prime Minister Ali Laarayedh to 34 years in prison on a raft of terrorism charges.
He is the latest high-profile critic of the president to be jailed as campaigners slam "sham trials" in the country.
The 69-year-old is a prominent opponent of President Kais Saied and leader of Ennadha, a moderate Islamist party that holds the largest number of seats in parliament.
Along with seven other people, Laarayedh was charged with setting up a terrorist cell and helping young Tunisians travel abroad to join Islamist fighters in Iraq and Syria.
"I am not a criminal... I am a victim in this case," he wrote in a letter to the court's prosecutor last month, according to the AFP news agency.
He was sentenced on Friday.
Laarayedh has consistently denied any wrongdoing and said the case was politically motivated.
In recent weeks, at least 40 critics of Tunisia's president have been sent to prison - including diplomats, lawyers and journalists.
Rights groups say these trials have highlighted Saied's authoritarian control over the judiciary, after dissolving parliament in 2021 and ruling by decree.
Since he was first elected six years ago, the former law professor has rewritten the constitution to enhance his powers.
Laarayedh was arrested three years ago and campaigners had called for his release -including Human Rights Watch, who said the affair seemed like "one more example of President Saied's authorities trying to silence leaders of the Ennahda party and other opponents by tarring them as terrorists".
Ennahdha governed the North African nation for a short while after a popular uprising dubbed the Arab Spring.
The protest movement originated in Tunisia - where a vegetable-seller called Mohamed Bouazizi set fire to himself in despair of government corruption - and mass demonstrations soon spread across the wider region in 2011.
However many Tunisians say the democratic gains made have since been lost, pointing to the current president's authoritarian grip on power.
Yet President Saied has rejected criticism from inside and outside the country, saying he is fighting "traitors" and suffering "blatant foreign interference".
Jailed Tanzania opposition leader to commence hunger strike
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania
The chairman of Tanzania's main opposition party (Chadema) Tundu Lissu, who is currently facing a treason case, has announced a hunger strike while in prison as a sign of demanding justice.
Lissu who was arrested at a public rally in which he called for electoral reforms almost a month ago was forced into a police vehicle after he had finished addressing a public rally in Mbinga in southern Tanzania.
Since then, he has not appeared in an open court, as the prosecution team insist to hear his case online.
Lissu's lead advocate, Peter Kibatala, told the press here today that their client refused to have the case heard online because he was denied his right to have enough time to communicate with his lawyers.
"I am issuing an official statement fromaour client that Lissu intends to officially begin a hunger strike net week until justice is served." He told journalists.
His statement was echoed by Lissu's letter written from Ukonga maximum security prison and posted on his X platform.
"If I am not taken to court on Tuesday as I should be, I will commence a hunger strike." Lissu wrote.
Kibatala said that Lissu is taking the step not to gain sympathy, but to demonstrate his firm stance in demanding justice in the ongoing legal process against him at the Kisutu Court.
In addition, the lawyer strongly criticized the procedure for hearing cases online, explaining that the system has become a major obstacle to the efficiency of the case and the right of the accused to be heard in full.
He claimed that communication is often interrupted, which contributes to wasting time and affecting the right to a fair trial.
“The online system is disturbing us. Justice cannot be decided with unstable technology. We want citizens to be able to follow this case directly in court, as this is one way of civic education.” He added.
In another development, Kibatala called on those who are making threatening statements about the conduct of the case to encourage investigators to complete gathering evidence and present the case in court instead of street threats.
Shot 16 times in an assassination attempt in 2017, Tundu Lissu is the great survivor of Tanzanian politics - and one of its most persecuted politicians.
Still, he is undeterred. Despite the enormous risk, he believes he can pressure the government to institute reforms, ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections in October.
Friday, May 2, 2025
Anger as Uganda president's son says he's holding opposition bodyguard
KAMPALA, Uganda
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Uganda's president, has confirmed the detention of an opposition leader's bodyguard, who has been missing for five days.
Edward Sebuufu, alias Eddie Mutwe, was reportedly picked up on Sunday by unidentified individuals in both civilian clothes and military fatigues in the central town of Kiwango, sparking public outrage and concern about his safety.
In a series of posts on X, Gen Kainerugabai, who is also Uganda's military chief, said Mr Sebuufu was "in my basement", attaching the bodyguard's photo with a clean-shaven head.
He also threatened to use violence against Mr Sebuufu.
Gen Kainerugabai's remarks have sparked public anger with Ugandans using the hashtag #FreeEddieMutwe to demand Mr Sebuufu's release and condemn his detention.
Gen Kainerugaba frequently makes political comments on social media, which his critics say contravene the military's code of discipline.
He has also made a series of different threats, which he hasn't carried out.
The 51-year-old army general has several times pulled down his X account after posting controversial comments before later returning to the micro-blogging platform.
He is seen as a possible successor to his long-serving father, Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, who has denied that he is grooming his son for the presidency.
In 2022, he made headlines for discussing an invasion of neighbouring Kenya, a comment that forced his father to step in and apologise.
He recently sparked anger with a tweet in which he threatened to behead opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
Late on Thursday, he sparked another social media storm after he published a photo of Mr Sebuufu, Bobi Wine's bodyguard, appearing half-naked and clean shaved.
Gen Kainerugaba also threatened to castrate Mr Sebuufu.
Bobi Wine said Mr Sebuufu was on Sunday "violently abducted" from Kiwango by armed men travelling in a police van, popularly known as "drone", before he was whisked to an unknown place.
Four Kenya filmmakers linked to 'Blood Parliament' expose arrested
NAIROBI, Kenya
Four Kenya filmmakers connected to the explosive BBC documentary, Blood Parliament, have been arrested in Nairobi, amid mounting controversy over the government’s handling of police killings during last year’s protests, which were mainly led by Gen Z demonstrators, some of whom were killed by police.
The filmmakers, including Nicholas Gichuki, Brian Adagala and Mark Karubiu, were taken into custody early Saturday morning from their studio in Karen.
The identity of the fourth filmmaker remains unknown.
The three men are currently being held at Muthaiga and Pangani police stations.
The arrest follows the release of a 40-minute documentary by BBC Africa Eye, which investigates the killing of peaceful protesters during anti-tax demonstrations outside Parliament in June 2024.
The film focuses particularly on the death of Eric Shieni, a finance student at the University of Nairobi, who was shot as he was leaving the protest.
In its documentary, BBC Africa Eye claimed to have reviewed over 150 images and videos taken before and after Shieni’s death.
The network said its investigation identified the officer responsible for the killing, who they say is a member of Kenya’s armed forces.
However, the officer’s identity has not been officially confirmed, and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has denied any involvement.
The documentary has generated a significant public outcry, raising questions about the use of force by the Kenyan security forces during the protest.
Critics have demanded accountability for those responsible for the deaths and injuries of unarmed protesters.
On Monday, Kenyan officials blocked a public screening of the documentary, a move that many view as an attempt to silence the investigation and prevent further scrutiny.
BBC confirmed that the screening was abruptly cancelled after intervention by local authorities.
“The screening was stopped at the last minute under pressure from the government,” the BBC said in a statement.
“This action appears to be an effort to prevent the public from viewing the documentary and its contents.”
The arrest of the filmmakers is seen as part of a broader effort by the government to suppress information related to police misconduct during the protests.
Human rights organisations have condemned the arrests, calling them an attack on free speech and press freedom.
The incident has sparked fears of increased government control over the media, especially regarding sensitive political topics.
Many journalists and filmmakers working on politically sensitive stories have expressed concerns about facing similar reprisals.
The Blood Parliament documentary has put the spotlight on the issue of police violence during the June 2024 protests, which saw dozens of people killed or injured.
Although the government has pledged to investigate the deaths, there have been no significant actions taken to hold security officers accountable for the killings.
UK court jails Ugandan judge over slavery conviction
LONDON, England
A senior judge who worked for the United Nations as well as Uganda's High Court has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison after she was convicted of enslaving a young woman to work as a maid in the United Kingdom.
The Oxford Crown Court found that Lydia Mugambe had taken "advantage of her status" over the young Ugandan woman in the "most egregious way."
Prosecutors said the Mugambe tricked a young Ugandan woman to move to the UK in 2022 to work as a maid and provide childcare without pay.
Mugambe was studying her PhD at the University of Oxford at the time.
He was also charged with conspiring with John Leonard Mugerwa, then Uganda's deputy high commissioner in London, to get the victim into Britain by lying on her visa application.
The judge was found guilty in March on four counts: conspiring to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law, facilitating travel with a view to exploitation, forcing someone to work, and conspiracy to intimidate a witness after a trial.
Two of the charges came under Britain's Modern Slavery Act.
Judge David Foxton on Friday called it a "very sad case," pointing out Mugambe's legal accomplishments included working for the protection of human rights.
"You have shown absolutely no remorse for your conduct. Instead, you continue, wholly unjustifiably I am afraid, to depict yourself as the victim," Foxton said.
The victim reported living in "almost constant fear," according to a written statement that was read out in court.
Due to Mugambe's powerful standing in Uganda, she said she "can't go back" to her country and was afraid she may never see her mother again.
DR Congo, Rwanda reach preliminary agreement after Doha talks
DOHA, Qatar
DR Congo and Rwanda were expected to submit a draft agreement to end the war in Congo's East this Friday.
The agreement would be in line
with a declaration of principles signed in Washington a week ago.
Delegations from Kinshasa and
Kigali have been meeting in Qatar to iron out their differences.
On Wednesday, the US
president's Africa envoy Massad Boulous joined Congolese, Rwandan, Togolese and
French representatives at the talks in Doha.
The draft deal would cover
issues such as territorial sovereignty, the fight against armed groups, the
mineral trade, refugees, and the role of international forces, particularly
MONUSCO.
Rwanda-backed rebels took
control of two provincial capitals in eastern Congo earlier this year, forcing
Kinshasa to soften its stance on dialogue with the M23 group.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Tanzania Catholic Church secretary brutally attacked amid escalating election tensions
By Our Correspondent, DAR ES SALAAM Tanzania
The Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church in Tanzania (TEC) Secretary, Father Dr. Charles Kitima, was brutally attacked and seriously injured on Tuesday evening at his residence in Kurasini, Dar es Salaam.
The assault, allegedly carried out by individuals linked to state actors, has sent shockwaves across the country and drawn condemnation from human rights defenders and religious communities alike.
The attack comes amid escalating tensions between the Catholic Church and the government, as religious leaders increasingly voice concern over growing authoritarianism, human rights violations, and electoral injustices under President Samia Hassan’s administration.
Fr. Kitima has been one of the most vocal critics of the regime, recently asserting that “no one can silence the Church” in its advocacy for social justice.
While police claim they are investigating the matter.
Observers and sources close to TEC say the assault appears to be politically motivated.
It follows a pattern of threats and intimidation targeted at clergy and other civil society voices who have criticized the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) governance, particularly its handling of upcoming general elections and treatment of the opposition.
"There is a clear and worrying trend,” said a TEC insider who requested anonymity for security reasons. “Whenever the Church raises its voice against oppression, someone tries to make us pay.”
This is not the first time the Catholic Church has clashed with the state. In 2018, during the presidency of the late John Magufuli, TEC issued a bold pastoral letter condemning the government’s deteriorating human rights record, including the suppression of political dissent, media freedom, and civil liberties.
In response, the government revoked the passport of TEC’s then-secretary general, Fr. Raymond Saba, rendering him stateless.
He died under mysterious circumstances months later.
Fr. Kitima, his successor, has continued that legacy of moral resistance.
He has frequently criticized systemic corruption, electoral malpractice, and the harassment of opposition leaders – issues he describes as both political and spiritual sins.
“Our mission is to serve the whole human person; spiritually, socially, and economically.” He has repeatedly said, on several occasions.
“Guiding people against injustice is part of our divine calling.”
The attack comes just months before the scheduled October general elections, which have already drawn widespread criticism.
The main opposition party, CHADEMA, has declared a boycott and has vowed to block it, claiming it would never again take part in an election in the absence of fundamental changes in the electoral systems.
The party's Chairman, Tundu Lissu, was arrested three weeks ago and slapped with treason charges by a Dar es Salaam court barring him from doing political activities.
Chadema's members, 23 in number were arrested by police at the court premises, brutally beaten and dumped in bushes outside of the city.
Civil society actors and international observers have raised concerns about the shrinking democratic space, arbitrary arrests of opposition members, and a heavily compromised electoral commission.
In recent statements, various religion leaders have urged the government to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful electoral process.
However, some ruling party hardliners have accused the clergy of overstepping their spiritual mandate and engaging in political agitation.
Yet, the church leaders insist that justice, peace, and human dignity are inseparable from their faith mission.
The assault on Fr. Kitima is widely interpreted as an attempt to silence dissenting voices ahead of the polls.
Kenyan legislator shot dead in 'targeted' attack
NAIROBI, Kenya
Kenyan member of parliament has been shot dead in the streets of the capital Nairobi by gunmen on a motorcycle in a suspected assassination.
Police said the attackers had been trailing Charles Ong'ondo Were's vehicle before one of them got off the motorbike and shot him at close range.
"The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and predetermined," police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement.
The opposition MP had two months ago complained about threats to his life, local media reported.
After the shooting on late Wednesday, his driver and bodyguard, both unhurt, managed to rush the injured MP to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The attack happened along Ngong Road near a busy roundabout often manned by traffic police officers and well secured with security cameras.
Shortly after the shooting, senior police commanders and detectives visited the scene and investigations are underway, police said.
President William Ruto has ordered police to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack, adding that: "Those responsible must be held to account."
Forensics experts have been examining Were's vehicle
Fellow legislators who visited the scene expressed shock and outrage at the killing and called for swift investigations and justice.
Parliament Speaker Moses Wetang'ula described the MP as a "fearless and distinguished" legislator, calling his shooting "devastating".
Were represented the Kasipul constituency in western Kenya as a member of the Orange Democratic Movement, led by veteran politician Raila Odinga.
In his statement, Odinga condemned the killing, saying the legislator was "mercilessly and in cold blood, gunned down by an assassin".
"We have lost a gallant son of the soil!" Odinga added.
Odinga lost to President Ruto in the 2022 election and rejected the results due to alleged irregularities.
The former prime minister has since struck a political deal with Ruto which saw some opposition members join cabinet in what is referred as the "broad-based government".
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