The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Zimbabwe

  • Victorious U-19 cricket team returns to Nigeria

    Nigeria U-19 cricket team, the Young Yellow Greens, returned to the country on Monday after their victorious performance at the ICC U-19 World Cup qualifiers in Windhoek, Namibia.

    The team’s unbeaten run at the qualifiers earned the country a slot in the ICC-19 World Cup slated for South Africa in 2020 for the first time.

    The country also won the Africa Division 1 after defeating Sierra Leone, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and host, Namibia.

    Ogbimi Uthe, Coach of the team, told NAN at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos that the victory was a feat for the country in cricket.

    Uthe attributed the team’s success to hard work and adequate support from the Nigeria Cricket Federation before and during the competition.

    “I am happy and proud of the boys with what they have been able to achieve for the country in cricket.

    “Before the qualifiers in Namibia, the team was in Zimbabwe for tournament tour and that really brought the best out of them because Zimbabwe is far ahead of us in cricket.

    “They faced some of the top countries at the qualifiers and were able to achieve an unbeaten run at the end of the event,” he said.

    The coach said that the next agenda was to prepare the team early enough for the World Cup, adding that they want to compete with the best.

    “The next thing on our agenda is preparations for South Africa 2020, we don’t want to be there for participating sake but we want to compete as well, ” he said.

    Also, Silvestre Okpe, captain of the team, told NAN that he was grateful to God for the team’s performance in Windhoek.

    Okpe thanked the NCF for doing everything possible to ensure a good outing for the players, urging for more support for the task ahead in 2020.

    “I am excited and the team is grateful to God for giving us the victory because it was not an easy one for us.

    “We appreciate the federation and we hope our performance will spur the government and other corporate organisations to support our preparation for the World Cup,” he said. (NAN)

  • It’s a new dawn for cricket in Nigeria, says NCF boss

    The feat achieved by the Nigeria’s U-19 cricket tea at the just concluded ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifiers in Namibia has been described as a new dawn for the sport in the country as the Sylvester Okpe-captained side became the first Nigeria team to qualify for a cricket World Cup.

    After emerging the overall winner at the six-nation qualifiers held in Namibia following their unbeaten run in the competition, Nigeria became the first team from the continental championship to join top playing cricket nations like Pakistan, South Africa, Afghanistan, Australia, India, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe and host – South Africa as teams that had already booked their places at the global championship holding in 2020.

    An excited President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), Professor Yahaha Ukwenya described the feat as a new dawn for the sport. “As a President, it is great and incredible and I cannot believe the boys have done this. We trained them to be true Nigerians, tough in character and spirit and not giving to anybody and to tell everybody that we are Africa’s largest nation and some of the toughest human beings from the continent are from Nigeria and they played that way. But we had no idea that they will get this far and by match by match, they fought and came out victorious,” Ukwenya said.

    For the coach of the team, Uthe Ogbimi, the feat did not come on a platter of gold. “It has been a long trek coming all the way from last year to qualify from the division two to division one and to come to division one and clear everybody is indeed so massive in our heart. We want to thank the federation for allowing us to go to Zimbabwe for a playing tour against strong opposition and it indeed lifted the game of the players. I think Nigeria should celebrate and corporate bodies should rally round the team to support us for the World Cup.”

    An elated Okpe said: “We had a little up and down in the game and we must thank God for the success here in Namibia. This qualification means a lot to me and it is the best moment in my life since I started playing cricket particularly to be part of the first Nigeria team to qualify for any cricket World Cup. We will go back to drawing to check our mistakes and correct it before the World Cup.”

  • NLC to African leaders: be alive to challenges of climate change

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked governments in Africa and beyond to be alive to the challenge posed by Climate Change especially with regards to making provisions for climatic early warning systems and robust architecture of rescue initiatives cum resources to deal with disasters of this nature.

    In a statement by Acting President, Comrade Najeem Yasin, the Congress regretted the cyclone that ravaged four African countries of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Madagascar, leaving several people dead

    The statement reads: “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expresses its deeply felt grief and commiseration with the workers and people of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Madagascar affected by the horrendous landfall of Cyclone Idai.

    “It is really tragic that this climatic and environmental disaster has left in its wake death in hundreds, thousands of displaced persons and large scale destruction and disruptions of public infrastructure, social facilities, property and livelihood. In Beira, the second largest city in Mozambique, Cyclone Idai left its most devastating footprints as it is estimated that nearly 90% of the city has been destroyed.

    “Similar waves of destruction impacted other cities and communities in different parts of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Madagascar where Cyclone Idai bared its monstrous fangs.

    READ ALSO: Don’t throw Nigeria into crisis, NLC tells politicians

    “We wish to commend the resilience of those in the affected communities.

    “We salute the efforts of the governments of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Madagascar in scrambling rescue resources it could avail as a first line response to the victims.

    “We also appreciate the intervention of multilateral institutions and aid organizations both local and international for coming to the rescue of the people of Southern Africa hit by this calamitous disaster.

    “As devastating and painful as Cyclone Idai is, it affords all of us a moment of quiet reflection. Climate Change is real! We can only mitigate and adapt to its realities.

    “The NLC calls on all governments in Africa and beyond to be alive to the challenge posed by Climate Change especially with regards to making provisions for climatic early warning systems and robust architecture of rescue initiatives cum resources to deal with disasters of this nature.

    “We pray for the repose of the souls of those that died. We ask that God will grant fortitude to bereaved families, give strength to those whose loved ones are still missing or injured and imbue resilience in those experiencing great discomfort as occasioned by this natural disaster.”

  • Buhari condoles with Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi over cyclone

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sent condolences to families who have lost loved ones, homes and means of livelihood in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi as Tropical Cyclone Idai takes a toll on Southern Africa.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, deeply shared in the pain and struggle of the governments and people in the region who have been working hard to ensure safety of citizens and minimize the devastating effect of the cyclone.

    Read Also: Buhari, service chiefs meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari assured the governments and people of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi of the prayers and support of Nigeria as they pass through the trying period, while commending all the humanitarian organisations for their interventions.

  • Labour picket Zimbabwean Embassy in Abuja

    …demand release of detained workers

     

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Friday picketed the Zimbabwean Embassy in Abuja, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of workers and labour leaders arrested while protesting the increase in the prices of fuel in that country.

    President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba who led the workers said if the Zimbabwean government refuse to release the Union leaders, workers across the world will be mobilised to shut down the Zimbabwean embassies across the world.

    Wabba who is also the president of the International Trade Union (ITUC ) asked the United Nations to invoke relevant international conventions to protect the right of workers in Zimbabwe.

    He said ITUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress will petition the International Court of Justice to protest the violation of human rights in that country and the violence that follow the peaceful protest by the workers.

    Wabba also asks the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the African Union to invoke relevant labour conventions in dealing with the issue in Zimbabwe, adding that it was an irony that the same government which the labour union fought for is the one hunting down labour leaders.

    He said organised labour in Nigeria will not hesitate to seal up the embassy in Abuja if the Zimbabwean government failed to adhere to their calls and release the detained labour leaders in that country.

    Wabba called on the Zimbabwean Government to release detained leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and 39 others arrested for participating in protest march over fuel price increase.

    Wabba said that the NLC has followed with a sense of outrage the ugly incidents that have trailed the mass protests in Zimbabwe, adding that that the protest was occasioned by the sudden increase in pump prices of petroleum products by the government of Zimbabwe.

    He said: “the protest is against what many Zimbabweans perceive as insensitive policy choices by the government of Zimbabwe. The Nigerian working class family is sad that what should have passed as a civil action in democratic climes was met with disproportionate use of force by the Zimbabwean military and security forces.

    “The brazen show of force culminated into widespread suppression and violation of the fundamental human rights of ordinary Zimbabweans, who were exposed to an orgy of violence, bloodshed and acts of state cruelty.

    “The NLC is particularly concerned about allegations of home raids, killings, rapes, robbery and physical assaults against workers, women, children and civilians generally, during the so-called crackdown of protests by the Zimbabwean security forces.’’

    Read Also: Labour banks on Rewane Committee

    He reminded the Zimbabwean Government that the action of the security forces was in violation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 87 on the Right to Unionise and Organise, saying ” the Nigeria Labour Congress reiterates its firm support for democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights cum dignity everywhere and at all times.

    “We, therefore, extend our strong solidarity to the workers and people of Zimbabwe as they express their democratic rights to peaceful assembly and protest. We stand with you today, being Feb. 1, 2019 and always as we lead Nigerian workers and all lovers of democracy, freedom and civil liberties on a march to the Zimbabwean High Commission, Abuja.

    “This is a protest against the descent of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to a reign of cold-blooded dictatorship, brutality and tyranny, adding that “what was happening right now in Zimbabwe was out of tune with democratic tenets and certainly not in tandem with Mnangagwa’s promise of a new Zimbabwe.“

  • Alrosa to launch diamond mining in Zimbabwe

    The Russian diamond producer, ALROSA, has announced plans to launch mining operations in Zimbabwe.

    The news was announced during Zimbabwe’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s trip to Moscow.

    “Today we see opportunities for a new stage of our partnership. We are ready to develop new joint projects for diamond exploration and extraction,” said Sergey Ivanov, CEO of ALROSA.

    “We also seek to support Zimbabwe in the development of its diamond-mining industry in line with industry’s best practices.

    “We are happy to share with our partners a wealth of experience in the field of mineral exploration and diamond mining, including the industry self-regulation and responsible business.”

    Namibia’s Mines and Energy Deputy Minister highlights women’s role in mining. The decision follows negotiations between the Russian company and Zimbabwean officials, which took place in 2018.

    “We have opened a small window for foreign countries to participate in our industry,” said President Mnangagwa at a press conference, reported Africa News.

    “We believe we can participate meaningfully in the diamond industry. We are ready to share all our technologies and know-how with our colleagues, so that Zimbabwe can establish itself in the global diamond mining market,” commented Sergei Ivanov, President of ALROSA, at the press conference.

  • One confirmed dead, 200 arrested in Zimbabwe riots

    One person was killed and over 200 arrested during protests in Harare over fuel price hike and worsening economic conditions, Zimbabwe’s security minister, Owen Ncube, has said.

    “It is unfortunate that a life was lost, and several were injured during the skirmishes.

    “Over 200 people have been arrested mainly in Harare, Chitungwiza and Bulawayo,” Ncube added.

    Zimbabwe police fired live ammunition and tear gas at protesters in parts of Harare on Monday after they turned out following a call by unions for a nationwide shutdown.

    Zimbabwe’s Congress of Trade Unions called for a three-day strike after President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced on Sunday that he was doubling petrol prices given a fuel shortfall.

    The headquarters of Zimbabwe’s main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were damaged overnight on Monday to Tuesday.

    Read Also: Protesters block roads over fuel price hike in Zimbabwe

    “Unknown assailants tried to set the building on fire and destroyed windows,” Jacob Mafume, MDC spokesman told dpa.

    Businesses and government offices were closed.

    The government has deployed soldiers to Harare’s high density suburbs, where most of Monday’s unrest took place.

    President Mnangagwa is currently out of the country, in Moscow, and is later scheduled to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, looking to shore up investment.

  • Protesters block roads over fuel price hike in Zimbabwe

    Protesters in Zimbabwe on Monday barricaded the main roads into major cities to protest a fuel price hike announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

    According to video footage from the Centre for Innovation & Technology, police fired teargas to disperse youths protesting outside the high court in Zimbabwe’s second city of Bulawayo.

    In the southern city of Bulawayo, commuter bus drivers and touts blocked thoroughfares with burning tyres, tree branches, and blocks of stone.

    Riot police tried to quell demonstrations in the western suburbs of Emakhandeni and Luveve, firing warning shots and tear gas but the protesters remained defiant.

    Demonstrator Glen Ncube, 25, expressed anger at the president’s announcement on Saturday of a 150 per cent fuel price increase and the police actions.

    “What kind of a man does this? Can Mnangagwa even be called a president? He’s making life hard for us and these police are trying to stop us as if they don’t know our pain,’’ Ncube said.

    The government has vowed it “will not hesitate to take action” against protesters who threaten to destabilise the country and the military was deployed to assist police.

    Report says Zimbabwe is going through its worst economic crisis in a decade.

    The government announced an increase from 1.34 dollars for a litre of petrol to 3.31 dollars with diesel surging to 3.11 dollars per litre, igniting widespread discontent.

    A three-day nationwide shutdown was called by workers’ trade unions in protest.

    The action came shortly after junior doctors ended a 40-day strike demanding salaries in US dollars and better working conditions.

  • Mnangagwa on my mind Zimbabwe was first free; is now free indeed Plus your responses

    ZIMBABWE’S Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa has been removed from his post. The country’s Information Minister, Simon Khaya said seventy five year old Mr Mnangagwa had displayed traits of disloyalty….”

    One year ago this first week of November, that was the news that went out on the Zimbabwe debacle. Today, as I look back at all that has happened in that nation in the short space of twelve months, I not only marvel, but feel I just must share.

    First up, I admit that like many other Nigerians I interact with, finding a political hero, or even a political role model (as against the political-godfatherism style in operation) is a tall order. So in order to get any inspiration, I tend to focus on continental heroes like Nelson Mandela, Kenneth Kaunda and even Robert Mugabe! No, it is not the now- Mugabe that I admire, he is the archetypical Sit-Tight African Ruler.

    What I do for myself is I narrow my source of inspiration to the Mugabe of lore, the Mugabe we read of who freed his country from white minority rule. I am inspired by his doggedness in wresting his nation from the grips of a racist regime to ta self-ruling one, changing it from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe.

    That was why I took a long, careful look at him where he sat at the end of the row from me at the state box during Nigeria’s 2015 Presidential Inauguration, on my way to my seat. It was intriguing for me to set my eyes on ‘the Mr. Robert Mugabe’.

    Only that in my rating, he had plummeted to the lows, by virtue of his maintaining a vice-like grip on the reins of  power, even when he could no longer give any semblance of effective governance.

    And then, just two years later in 2017, the whispers came to ear that Zimbabwe’s former Intelligence Chief and partaker in the liberation struggle – Emmerson Mnangagwa was being tipped as the most likely person to be Zimbabwe’s next leader. Meaning there was hope for a Mugabe exit!

    The shame of Mugabe’s poor and endless rule masking as a democracy was the shame of all Africa. Zimbabwe’s Vice President seemed a plum choice. But somebody wasn’t having it. Somebody felt that the stepping aside by Mugabe should not be such a very big step: it should rather be no more than a slight shift in the seat.

    Mrs. Grace Mugabe, Zimbabwean First Lady and leader of that nation’s kitchen cabinet wielded enormous power at that time. She thought through the Zimbabwean succession plan and decided that SHE herself was the most suitable person to succeed the ninety-three year old Mugabe. In fact, she had even earlier called on her husband to remove his Vice President.

    Then in the first week of November 2017, it happened, the V.P was sacked from office, just as the First Lady had planned. With the removal of Mnangagwa, the next step was to have been for the ruling party, the ZANU-PF to convene a special congress in December 2017.

    That “special” congress was to be held to announce the “appointment” of Grace Mugabe as Vice President; preparatory to her anointing and subsequent election as presidential candidate and then President of Zimbabwe.

    Unknown to them all, the sacking of the Vice President was to be the last straw that would break the Zimbabwean peoples’ back. There would be no secret special congresses for predetermined candidates anymore!.

    Today, after the awful upheaval at the “beginning of the end”, Mr. Emmerson Mnangagwa now sits as the democratically elected President of the nation of Zimbabwe and Mr. Robert Mugabe’s stronghold is broken forever!!

    A special thought goes out to the brave people who lost their lives in the initial struggle to eject the Mugabe’s from the Presidential Villa. Their deaths were not in vain.

    Your Responses

    Re Labour Strike Suspension, A Temporary Truce

    I am very interested in your newspaper column on this issue of minimum wage. I want to say that N56,000 is just nothing. Consider what is the present inflation trend and economic reality. Can that money even feed a politician’s dog in a week, not to talk of paying their child’s 1 term school fees? So what is the complaint of people on that figure? To me, that figure is too mean.

    Oowi, Civil Servant, Otukpo.

    Please what was the outcome of the Tripartite Committee Meeting?

    Comrade Andrew, Ministry of Defense, Abuja.

    Although the Tripartite Committee put forth N24,000 as new minimum wage, state governors are saying they would only pay N22,500. Neither the federal government nor organized labour is in support; in fact labour has now threatened to revert to its earlier proposal of N66,500. Strike action looms in two days’ time. Princess

    I wish to inform that the relevant law stipulates that every time the minimum wage is reviewed, pension and gratuity is reviewed at every 5 years but this has not been the case in Ogun State. Since 2011 pensioners still earn N5,000. I appeal to the Tripartite Committee to remember the pensioners in their recommendations thanks.

    08068—-023.

    Your October piece of the Princess Files drew my surprise and or ire.

    An N18,000 minimum wage in a depressed economy to my mind smacks of deliberate pauperization of the citizenry. And government with the promise of Eldorado should halt the workers’ poverty condition. Give the workers’ a living wage please.

    Adeniyi Moshood Oyo State.

    You would do well to reread my piece for better understanding. Here is a quote from what I wrote “N18,000 monthly, it bears saying is abysmally low for a minimum wage. That is $49 a month… Nigerians now grapple with very high cost of living”. Princess

    Re How Transient Power Is

    Dame Jonathan fought while still in charge at the Presidency for the installation of Wike as the Governor of her state. Thank God Wike has not forsaken this particular helper, ostracized by other fair weather friends. One expects you to end your piece with “though belated, happy birthday to “Madam Peace”.

    Elder L. David Efon Alaaye, Ekiti State.

    Greetings, good piece on Patience but do another comparing hangers on our country to vultures. You know vultures converge when cows are slaughtered.

    08037—688.

    Re. NBA President Paul Usoro

    I pray that the Almighty God grant you more purposeful years, continued good health and vitality in the service of NBA and Nigerian people at large. (for Mr. Paul Usoro) Gabriel Oko, Lagos.

    (Responses to 07055547031)

  • AFCON 2019: The stage is getting set

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

     

    Five out of twenty four nations have qualified for the 32nd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations billed to hold in Cameroon in June 2019, after match day four of the qualifying series.

    The competition, which used to have sixteen teams battle for the big prize was expanded to accommodate twenty-four nations, after an Executive Committee meeting  of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on 20th July, 2017

    The teams already qualified as it stands now are Cameroon (the hosts), Senegal, Madagascar, Tunisia and Egypt.

    The Teranga Lions of Senegal and Madagascar both have ten points from four matches each, after winning three and drawing one game. The drawn game happened on 9th September 2018, at the Mahamasina Municipal Stadium, in Antananarivo, when both teams played out a 2-2 draw with Paulin Voavy and Koulibaly getting on the score sheet for the Barea, and Pape Moussa Konaté and Keita Diao scored one goal each for the Teranga Lions.

    Both teams had in the process conquered Equatorial Guinea and Sudan to seal their place in Cameroon, Madagascar earning their place in the biggest football showpiece in Africa for the first time ever.

    Senegal and Madagascar meet on the last match day, but that will only be a formality.

    Tunisia and Egypt also had an easy ride in Group J, Egypt whitewashing Niger Republic 6-0 in Alexandria, Swaziland 4-1 in Cairo, and 2-0 in Manzini. Tunisia on their part beat Swaziland 2-0 in Manzini, Niger Republic 1-0 In Rades, and visited Niamey to conquer them 2-1.

    The Egyptian Pharaohs only tasted defeat when they travelled to Rades to face Tunisia, and the Carthage Eagles piped them 1-0, Taha Yassine Khenissi finding the net, two minutes into the second half.

    Both sides meet again in Egypt next month, and it will be a battle of who finishes top of the group.

    Read Also: 2019 AFCON Qualifiers: Eagles in first training session

    In Cameroon’s group, things are slightly different, being the host of the coming Africa Cup of Nations . It turns out that three teams from that group will be at the AFCON, with only one losing out. If the Indomitable Lions finish first, then the second and third advance, and if second, the first and third will make it.

    As things stands, after match day four, Morocco and Malawi are at advantage, with Cameroon, leading with eight points, Morocco with seven, and Malawi with four points. Comoros only has two points so far.

    The road is still rough in other places, though some teams are very close to qualification. Countries like Algeria, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Guinea are one win away from qualification for AFCON 2019. A point can do the magic for Guinea, provided Ivory Coast fails to win their remaining matches. It is safe to conclude that a great cracker awaits on 16th November, when Guinea hosts Cote d’Ivoire. It should be recalled that the Syli Nationale won the first leg in Bouake in June, 2017

    In Group E Seychelles is out of the race, as there is still a slim chance for Libya to make it through. Mathematically, a win against Seychelles in November, and and at least a draw against South Africa at home will guarantee a place for the Mediterranean Knights, provided South Africa fails to win any of their remaining fixtures. Nigeria on their part need a  point from the available six to seal their place in Cameroon.

    There is still all to play for in Group C, where Mali, Gabon and Burundi have eight, seven and six points respectively. Group D sees Algeria, Benin Republic struggle with seven points each, and Togo has five, Group G, seeing Zimbabwe in eight points, DR Congo with five, Congo and Liberia with four points each. Zimbabwe visits Liberia on match day five, before hosting Congo on the last match day.

    Group I is dicey. Mauritania, also seeking its first appearance at the finals currently has nine points, its only loss against Angola, in Luanda, Burkina Faso has seven points, Angola has six points, and already eliminated Botswana has one point.  And Group K has former African Champions, Zambia, sitting at the bottom of the group with four points, but still having a chance, as Guinea Bissau and Namibia have seven points respectively, and Mozambique has four.  The Chipolopolo, who had a 2-1 victory and defeat to Guinea Bissau within four days, will visit Mozambique, before they host Namibia, knowing what destiny holds for them.