Ghana's Law Curbing LGBT Rights Sparks Anglican Church Rift

By Rédaction Africanews with AFP

A proposed law in Ghana to toughen curbs on the LGBT community has triggered a rift between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the local Anglican church, which strongly supports the bill.

Gay sex is illegal in highly religious and conservative Ghana, but the proposed law will criminalise even LGBTQ advocacy while imposing longer jail terms for same-sex relations.

The so-called "Promotion of proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values" bill has been widely condemned by the international community and rights activists.

But the bill, currently being debated in parliament, is widely supported in Ghana, where President Nana Akufo-Addo has said gay marriage will never be allowed while he is in power.

Ghana's Anglican bishops endorsed the bill in a statement earlier this month, saying LGBT beliefs were "unbiblical and ungodly" and also against Ghanaian tradition and culture.

"This is about morality today and of the future generation," they said in a statement.

But that stance has put the bishops at odds with Britain's Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the leader of the global Anglican communion.

Welby said he was "gravely concerned" about the draft law and the Ghanaian church position on the bill.

"I will be speaking with the Archbishop of Ghana in the coming days to discuss the Anglican Church of Ghana’s response to the Bill," he said in a communique on Tuesday.

He said he reminded the Anglican Church of Ghana of its commitments.

"We are a global family of churches, but the mission of the church is the same in every culture and country: to demonstrate, through its actions and words, God's offer of unconditional love to every human being through Jesus Christ."

'Unrighteousness'

Asked about the archbishop's comments, Ghana's bishops stood by their position.

"We have seen and read about the statement by the bishops in the UK but what we have stated and stood for still stands," George Dawson-Amoah, director to Metropolitan Archbishop of Ghana, said.

"We see LGBTQI as unrighteousness in the sight of God and therefore we will do anything within our powers and mandate to ensure that the bill comes into fruition."

LGBTQI means lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex.

More than half the countries in sub-Saharan African have anti-homosexuality laws, with some punishing it with death penalty under sharia law, although there have been no known modern-day executions, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in 2014 signed a bill that increased the penalty for same-sex relations, but it was annulled by the courts six months later.

Chad and Burundi have all toughened their laws while Angola scrapped anti-gay laws from its penal code two years ago.

Botswana's High Court, also in 2019, decriminalised same-sex relationships, a ruling that is currently being appealed by the government.

South Africa is the only African nation to allow gay marriage and has become a haven for African homosexuals who flee persecution at home.

Discrimination against LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people is common in Ghana, but no one has ever been prosecuted under the colonial-era law.

'Grave attack' on rights

Activist groups say the new bill is a setback for human rights and have called on Akufo-Addo's government to reject it.

"This is a grave attack to human rights, including the right to freedom of expression," Article 19 international rights group said in a statement.

But nearly 90 percent of Ghanaians said they would approve of a decision by the government to criminalise same-sex relationships, according to research group Afrobarometer based on 2014 data.

Local churches are a powerful social force in Ghana. When activists tried to open a LGBT rights advocacy centre on the outskirts of Accra this year, the outcry was immediate.

The Catholic Church of Ghana publicly demanded the centre be shut down.

Following a huge media campaign, security forces closed it less than a month after it opened. Ghana's gender minister called homosexual practises "non-negotiable."

The proposed anti-LBGT law is currently in the initial parliament committee stage.

If approved, it would criminalise LGBT advocacy, require people to denounce "suspects", advocates for controversial conversion therapy and imposes jail terms of up to five years for same-sex relations.

"I'm convinced that the law that will come out of this, we'll protect the culture and values of our people and the Ghanaian identity," parliament speaker Alban Bagbin said this week.

"It's not only Africa but the whole world is looking for the outcome of this bill."

Former Congolese Prime Minister Clément Mouamba Dies

By Rédaction 

Africa News

The former Congolese Prime Minister, Clément Mouamba, passed away aged 77 in the Saint Joseph Hospital in Paris, France, following a brief illness.

Clément Mouamba, born in 1944 in Sibiti in the department of Lékoumou, was a Congolese public official.

The former Prime Minister for Clément Mouamba's government resigned on 4th of May, just after Denis Sassou Nguesso was sworn in for a fourth presidential term.

Mouamba was born on 13 November 1943 in Sibiti. Under President Pascal Lissouba, he was Minister of Finance from September 1992 to June 1993. Mouamba was a leading member of the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS), which was the ruling party under Lissouba and went into opposition after Lissouba's ouster in the 1997 civil war.

Mouamba was one of several top officials who served under Lissouba to face corruption charges in connection with the misappropriation of funds from selling oil, far below market value, to Occidental Petroleum in 1993. However, on 27 December 2001 the charges against Mouamba and Claudine Munari were dismissed because they were just following orders. Lissouba and four other top officials—who were tried in absentia, as they had fled the country when Lissouba was ousted—were convicted and sentenced to decades of hard labour.

At the first extraordinary congress of UPADS, held on 27–28 December 2006, Mouamba was elected as one of the party's 25 vice-presidents.

Mouamba broke with his party in the period prior to the 2015 constitutional referendum, choosing to take part in a government-sponsored dialogue, which the opposition boycotted, on the question of changing the constitution.

Mouamba was designated as the candidate of the ruling Congolese Labour Party (PCT) in the town of Sibiti for the July 2017 parliamentary election, taking the place of Thierry Moungalla, the Minister of Communications.

ECOWAS Delegation in Guinea Meets with New Government

JOHN WESSELS

By Africa News

A senior delegation of ECOWAS arrived on Thursday at Guinean capital, Conakry, for a three day visit.

The visit comes almost two months after ECOWAS suspended Guinea's membership following a coup in the country in early September.

The delegation is led by Commission President Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.

"The transition has produced a charter, important appointments have been made, and the government is gradually being set up. So we are here to meet with the authorities and take stock of the situation, and to see to what extent ECOWAS can provide practical support to the process underway", said the Chairman of the ECOWAS Commission.

Representing the government, Morissanda Kouyaté, Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs added, "the atmosphere is calm, we are meeting again and we expect a lot from ECOWAS, its accompaniment, its support. And I am sure that we will have fruitful discussions, so he is at home here".

On September 5th, a military uprising led by Mamady Doumbouya overthrew President Alpha Condé, dismissed the governmentnand announced a transitional charter.

Doumbouya was sworn in as transitional president on October 1st and pledged to respect the country's international commitments.

Colonial Art: Cambridge Hands over Looted Bronze to Nigeria

October 27, 2021

Master of Jesus College Sonita Alleyne, left and Director General of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments Professor Abba Isa Tijani pose for a photo ahead of a ceremony at Jesus College Cambridge, where the looted bronze cockerel, known as the Okukur, will be returned to Nigeria, in Cambridge, England, Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021. Jesus College announced in 2019 that it would return the Okukor, a statue that was taken from the Court of Benin in what is now Nigeria by British colonial forces in 1897. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)

LONDON (AP) — A Cambridge University college handed over a bronze cockerel looted from Africa in the 19th century to Nigerian authorities on Wednesday, as part of a modest but growing effort in some European countries to return African art taken by colonial powers.

Jesus College is the first U.K. institution to give back one of the artifacts known as the Benin Bronzes. Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s ceremony, college master Sonita Alleyne called it a “momentous occasion.”

British colonial forces took the Okukor statue in 1897 from the Court of Benin in what is now Nigeria — among thousands of artworks seized by occupying troops -- and it was given to the college in 1905.

The college removed the bronze from public view in 2016 after students protested, saying it represented a colonial narrative. The college set up a working group that concluded the statue belongs to the Oba of Benin, head of the historic Eweka dynasty of the Benin Empire. The empire centered on Benin City in modern-day Nigeria.

His Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, welcomed the handover decision. “We truly hope that others will expedite the return of our artworks, which in many cases are of religious importance to us,” he said in a statement.

Hundreds of seized Benin Bronzes ended up in the British Museum in London, and hundreds more were sold to other collections such as the Ethnological Museum in Berlin. Germany this year said it would return the items in its possession.

The British Museum said Monday it is working on a collaboration with Nigeria, linked to the construction of a new museum in the West African country, which will allow to “reunite Benin artworks from international collections.” The museum is also in a decades-long tug-of-war with the Greek government over a restitution of the Elgin, or Parthenon, Marbles.

Such returns are controversial in Europe, where many museums hold works acquired during colonial times.

Across the English Channel, France’s president on Wednesday announced the “rightful return home” of 26 looted colonial-era artifacts being sent to the government of Benin – some of the estimated 90,000 African artworks held in French museums.

The wooden anthropomorphic statues, royal thrones and sacred altars from the collection known as the “Abomey Treasures” were pilfered by the French army 129 years ago, and are currently on display in Paris before being handed over to Benin on Nov. 9.

President Emmanuel Macron visited the exhibit Wednesday with Benin Foreign Minister Aurélien Agbenonci, who called it a “historic moment.”

Describing his long-standing efforts to get the works back, the foreign minister said “No one could have predicted this happy outcome ... given how numerous the obstacles were.”

The 26 works are “an undeniable part of the cultural and religious identity of our country,” he said, calling the restitution a key step toward Benin’s efforts to develop its cultural sector and create jobs.

Macron is the first French president to call for systematic restitution of colonial art, but acknowledged that only two items have been returned so far: a sword to Senegal, and a crown to Madagascar. He called for “a law that would create a long-term framework for restitution” to make such art handovers smoother.

“These works will return home. They will find the men and women who will be able to understand the full power behind these works,” Macron said. “Their return home is a rightful return home.”

Airstrike in Ethiopia’s Tigray Kills 10, Including Children

Residents sift through rubble from a destroyed building at the scene of an airstrike in Mekele, in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021. An Ethiopian government spokesman says a new airstrike has hit Mekele, targeting a site used by rival Tigray forces to make and repair weapons, while a Tigray spokesman instead says it struck a "civilian residence" killing six people and wounding more than 20. (AP Photo)

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Children were among 10 people killed when an Ethiopian military airstrike hit the capital of the country’s Tigray region on Thursday, a doctor and a Tigray spokesman said. It was the deadliest of a new round of airstrikes that began last week as the year-long war intensifies.

International calls for a cease-fire have been in vain as Ethiopian and allied forces battle the Tigray forces who long dominated the national government before being sidelined by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Thousands of people have been killed in Africa’s second most populous country, and the world’s worst hunger crisis in a decade has begun.

Government spokesman Legesse Tulu told The Associated Press the new airstrike targeted a site in Mekele city used by Tigray forces to make and repair weapons. He said the site forms part of a compound belonging to Mefsin Industrial Engineering, which was also hit last week.

Tigray spokesman Nahusenay Belay denied that the airstrike hit a military target and said it struck a “civilian residence.” Three children were among the dead, he said. Hayelom Kebede, former director of Tigray’s flagship Ayder Referral Hospital, said 10 people were killed and 21 injured, and he expected the toll to rise.

Photos from the scene appeared to show rescuers pulling bodies from debris.

Ethiopia’s government has asserted that the latest airstrikes have been confined to military targets, but Tigray forces have asserted that civilian facilities including factories and a clinic have been targeted instead, with at least three children among those killed.

Meanwhile, fighting continues in Ethiopia’s neighboring Amhara region after Abiy’s government launched a ground offensive there earlier this month against the Tigray forces, who say they are trying to pressure the government to lift a blockade on the Tigray region.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced in recent weeks amid the new fighting as the humanitarian crisis grows.

China’s Pathways to Economic Self-Reliance: Lessons for Ethiopia

October 28, 2021 

Tsegaye Tegenu, PhD

Self-reliance is a commitment to use the natural and human capital of the country to generate sustainable growth and employment that is not excessively dependent on the outside world for markets, supplies and investments. China has followed different strategies to attain selfreliance and studying the journey and Chinese commitments provides valuable lesson for Ethiopia. The followings are some of the historical stages and strategies of Chinese economic self-reliance:

Commitment to Heavy Industry

Initially Chinese concentrated their efforts in the heavy industry sector even at the cost of agricultural development. Heavy industry refers to the industry which produces capital goods and provides various sectors of the national economy with necessary material and technical basis. It consists of three branches of production: i) mining, ii) raw materials industry, and iii) manufacturing industry. The heavy industries were state owned, where the means of production or income are owned by the state. These enterprises relied heavily on government subsidies through heavy taxation on agriculture. 

Commitment to Agricultural Transformation and Rural Industrialization

In the 1940s and 1950s the country had a large subsistence agricultural sector, subject to ravages of nature and a very high population pressure. Growth in the agricultural sector came from land reform and public investment in rural infrastructure and agricultural research. The government policy focused on raising public investments in agriculture instead of input subsidies to farmers. The government spent on agricultural research, education, irrigation system and rural roads and other infrastructure development. 

The public investment in agricultural infrastructure and research created demands for quantities of industrial inputs. For example, irrigation systems generate demands for building materials, earth-moving equipment, pumps, power. The constant supply of water and harvest increase demand for an increased fertilizer application. Greater output intensifies the pressure to mechanize some of the work tasks. These inputs were supplied by local and small-scale industrial enterprises in countryside. Rural areas which were previously specialized in handicrafts began to produce industrial inputs as a result of public investment in irrigation systems and transport infrastructure. 

Commitment to Growth-driven Urbanization and International Trade

Since the 1970s, heavy industry cities could no longer depend for their growth on the rural economy and domestic agriculture. Large factories which were broken down into subsidiaries and those bankrupted once were pressured to make profit or at least not loose so much money. Theses factories began to produce clusters (a geographic concentration of interconnected firms) with the support of the government. In addition to clusters, in 1978 China opened the domestic economy and the government established numerous special economic zones (SEZs) to attract foreign direct investment and technology. The numerous special economic zones (SEZs) and industrial clusters put considerable pressure on urban planning. Regulations and laws have been issued and amended to reduce restrictions on urban commercial and industrial land use. 

Commitment to Rural Market Reforms and Agriculture Productivity 

Since the 1978 reform period, urban growth in China (discussed above) became dependent on international trade and much less on rural economy. This shift of interdependence necessitated an introduction of domestic reform in the rural areas for the purpose of increasing agricultural productivity. To attract the rural surplus labor to the growth driven urban centers and to ease the burden on agriculture, and to ensure the self-sufficiency of the rural sectors the government introduced new institutional reforms.

The government introduced the household responsibility system in agriculture, instead of the collectivization policy. “Smashing the communal pot” solved old problems of low labor motivations, inefficient allocation of resources, and low agricultural productivity. Decollectivizing the ownership of productive resources was followed by a policy of encouraging the growth of town-and-village enterprises. TVE were run by local governments and some operated as private enterprises. 

Role of Central, Provincial, and Local Governments 

In China, economic self-reliance was the principle of not only the central government but also a value shared by all levels of government down to that of the communal and the individual enterprise. Self-reliance at all levels was associated with the way the economy is partitioned for planning purposes. Individual localities and enterprises were encouraged to develop on self-sufficient autonomous lines.

Large factories were self-sufficient like cities unto themselves, with hospitals, schools, housing and cradle-to-grave social programs for their workers. Factory management and work units in many ways served as local and community government. The government supported heavy industry such as steel making, and heavy machine making and large infrastructure projects and supported enterprises that produced an array of goods.

While heavy industries and military complexes were controlled by central government, rural industries were administered at county levels. The localities were free to initiate industrial undertakings without the approval of higher authorities as long as they solve their own problems of finance, equipment and raw material supplies. As the rural industrial enterprises began to grow rapidly, provinces came to play an important role in the coordination and supervision required by economies of scale. During the reform period of the late 1970s, the market structure was changed and there was a very substantial degree of integration as a result of interregional flows of goods, people, and funds.

What are the lessons for Ethiopia?

China has achieved self-reliance at different stages through different approaches and strategies: heavy industry, agricultural transformation (collectivization and commercialization), rural industrialization, growth-driven urbanization, and international trade. Notwithstanding the changes in policy choice and approaches (top-down and bottomup), self-reliance remained as the means for China’s continued rise within the global economic order. The Chinese have basically remained their own masters, despite China’s increasing dependence on imports and exports. They have not relinquished their “capacity for autonomous goal setting and decision-making”. 

Ethiopia’s economy is structurally dependent on the behavior of other country’s economy and politics. The country is excessively dependent on aid (basic needs), energy (oil), foreign exchange (FDI and external debt), international market (agricultural commodities), defense equipment, electronic goods, pharmaceuticals, etc. The country had six decades of planning experience and these challenges have not been addressed squarely to create resilience to negative economic shocks and rapid population growth effects. There is a glaring absence of the idea, principle and use of economic-self-reliance at all levels and in all time and space.

It is now high time that the Ethiopian government and people should commit themselves to the idea and principle of economic self-reliance. Without the idea of self-reliance, economic policies produce hit-and-miss successes, running twice to keep in the same place (menferaget, in plain Amharic word).

Editor’s note : This article was shared first by the author on P2P Ethiopian forum.

Dessie: TPLF Fired Artillery Targeting Civilians, at Least One Killed

October 28, 2021

In a video message released on Wednesday, TPLF leader claimed that his organization has support in Amhara region where it has been targeting civilians

Residents of Dessie took to the street after TPLF leader Debretsion released video message calling for residents of Dessie and Kombolcha to remain indoors. Photo : Melaku Ambaw, an activist and a resident of Dessie, shared it on social media

Borkena

At least one person is reportedly killed, and three others injured after Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) fired artillery targeting civilians in Dessie town, centre of the South Wollo administration. 

The spotter for the artillery attacks are said to be, according to informants, insiders who happen to be residents of Dessie with political and intelligence links to the TPLF terrorist group. At least seven arrests are reported. 

The TPLF forces had been fighting hard for over two weeks now to take control of Kombolcha and Dessie towns, and all the attempts failed so far. 

Debretsion Gebremichael, TPLF chairman, on Wednesday claimed, in a video message, that his party is getting support in Amhara region.

The cost of attempting to take control of these cities was expensive for TPLF, according to eyewitness accounts, who claim to have seen piles of dead bodies of TPLF combatants. Several thousands of TPLF combatants are believed to have been killed in the recent battles near Dessie. However, the government is yet to provide figures about the losses. 

However, the TPLF fight to control what are said to be key strategic locations – Dessie and Kombolcha – both militarily and economically does not seem to be over. 

The propaganda wing of TPLF disseminated lies about a week ago claiming that the TPLF forces have controlled the city. 

There was heavy fighting on Thursday in the morning. Several TPLF combatants are captured, including retired civil servants. 

According to an informant who spoke to borkena on condition of anonymity, residents in the city are vigilant and mobile patrols with rotating shifts are in place to ensure security in the city. 

Well over one million displaced people, from North Wollo and other areas, are currently residing in Dessie. 

AL-BURHAN, SAUDI ENVOY, UNITAMS HEAD DISCUSS WAYS TO END SUDANESE CRISIS

OCTOBER 28, 2021

October 28, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – Abdel Fattah al-Burhan head of the Transitional Military Council discussed ways to settle the political crisis in Sudan with the Saudi Ambassador to Sudan and the head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS).

According to the Armed Forces Newspaper on Thursday, al-Burhan held separate meetings at his office in the army headquarters on Wednesday with the Saudi ambassador Ali Hassan bin Jaafar and UNITMAS head Perthes Volker.

“The meeting dealt with developments in the political situation in the country and efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis through consultations with all relevant parties,” said the newspaper about his meeting with bin Jaafar.

The Saudi ambassador affirmed his country’s keenness to achieve stability in Sudan and its support for everything that leads to achieving reconciliation between the political forces, further added the newspaper.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Saudi Foreign Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Tuesday condemned the military takeover in Sudan pointing it would affect the stability of Sudan and the region.

The State Department said that Blinken during the call with Al-Saud underscored the need for the immediate restoration of Sudan’s civilian-led transitional government.

The Sudanese military took over power on 25 October and dissolved the transitional government institutions as the coalition of the Forces for Freedom and Change rejected their call to form a broad-based government.

Regarding his meeting with the UNITAMS chief, the army newspaper said that Volker called for dialogue with the former prime minister and other stakeholders and expressed his mission’s readiness to provide the necessary support in this regard.

“We made some proposals to resume a comprehensive dialogue and restore partnership on the basis of the Constitutional Document and the Juba Peace Agreement,” said the UNITAMS head.

He further said he was keen to reach a safe exit from the current crisis.

(ST)

AL-BURHAN SACKS SUDANESE PRODEMOCRACY DIPLOMATS

OCTOBER 28, 2021

October 27, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – The head of the transitional military council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan dismissed five Sudanese ambassadors after their public support to the civilian-led government led by Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok.

Between Monday to Tuesday, about nine Sudanese ambassadors condemned the military takeover by General al-Burhan who dissolved the transitional institutions and re-established the transitional military council.

The Sudanese diplomats further said they would not resign and would continue to work actively supporting the reinstatement of the transitional government and mobilising international support for democracy and civilian rule in Sudan.

On Wednesday al-Burhan issued a decree relieving five of them including Omer Manis, Sudanese Ambassador to France, Noureldin Satti Sudan’s Ambassador to the U.S, Sudanese Ambassador to Switzerland Ali ben Yahya Abi Talib, Ambassador to Belgium and the EU Abdel Rahim Ahmed Khalil, Sudan’s Ambassador to China Gaafar Karrar and Sudanese Ambassador to Qatar Abdel Rahim Siddiq.

Meanwhile, more Sudanese ambassadors have joined the diplomatic revolt, as 42 ambassadors and 21 diplomats signed the statement issued by the eight diplomats on Tuesday.

Satti told Aljazeera TV that they would that they stand by the Sudanese people and admitted that as public servants they have to observe political neutrality.

“However, there are some exceptions and the will of the people must be respected when they uprise for freedom and justice,” he further said.

Blinken speaks with al-Mahdi

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Wednesday with Sudanese Foreign Minister Mariam al-Mahdi to discuss the way forward as the United States is leading international mobilisation to restore the democratic transition in Sudan.

Blinken wanted “to solicit her views about what steps the United States can take to support the Sudanese people in their call for a civilian-led transition to democracy in accordance with the Sudanese Constitutional Declaration,” said State Department Spokesperson Ned Price.

(ST)

SECURITY COUNCIL JOINS CALLS TO RESTORE SUDAN’S TRANSITIONAL AUTHORITY

OCTOBER 28, 2021

October 28, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – The Security Council called to restore the civilian-led transitional institutions in Sudan and to release the political detainees, increasing regional and international pressures on the military junta.

The 15-member body Thursday expressed serious concern about the recent military takeover and declaration of the state of emergency as well as the detention of the civilian leaders including Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok on 25 October.

“The members of the Security Council called upon Sudan’s military authorities to restore the civilian-led transitional government on the basis of the Constitutional Document and other foundational documents of the transition,” reads a statement by the Council on Thursday.

They further urged the parties to engage in dialogue without preconditions on the full implementation of the Constitutional Document and the Juba Peace Agreement.

(…) The members of the Security Council took note of the African Union Peace and Security Council’s Communiqué of 26 October 2021 (PSC/PR/COMM.1041 (2021),” added the statement.

The African Union PSC  on Tuesday suspended Sudan’s membership in the regional organisation until the restoration of the civilian-led authority.

Also, it requested the Chairperson of the AU Commission to dispatch a delegation to Sudan to discuss with the Sudanese stakeholders the steps needed to expedite the restoration of constitutional order in Sudan.

Al-Burhan calls to expand the basis of the transitional government and to include some political groups that were allied to the former regime.

In return, the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) reject his request but say ready to reform their cabinet and form the legislative council.

(ST)

Climate Change Could Further Impact Africa’s Recovery

By News Ghana 

Oct 28, 2021

The World Bank’s new Groundswell Africa reports, released today ahead of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26), find that the continent will be hit the hardest by climate change, with up to 86 million Africans migrating within their own countries by 2050.

The data on countries in West Africa and the Lake Victoria Basin show that climate migration hot spots could emerge as early as 2030, and highlight that without concrete climate and development action, West Africa could see as many as 32 million people forced to move within their own countries by 2050. In Lake Victoria Basin countries, the number could reach a high of 38.5 million.

“From pastoralists travelling the Sahel to fishermen braving the seas, the story of West Africa is a story of climate migrants. As countries are experiencing rises in temperatures, erratic rainfall, flooding, and coastal erosion, Africans will face unprecedented challenges in the coming years,” says Ousmane Diagana, World Bank Vice President for Western and Central Africa. “This series of reports identifies priorities for climate action that can help countries move towards a green, resilient and inclusive development and generate opportunities for all African people.”

Slow-onset climate change impacts, like water scarcity, lower crop and ecosystem productivity, sea level rise, and storm surge will increasingly cause people to migrate. Some places will become less livable because of heat stress, extreme events, and land loss while other areas may become more attractive as consequence of climate-induced changes, like increased rainfall. Unattended, these shifts will not only lead to climate-induced migration, potentially deepening existing vulnerabilities and leading to increased poverty, fragility, conflict, and violence

The authors highlight that people’s mobility will be influenced by how slow onset of climate impacts will interact with population dynamics and the socio-economic contexts within countries. However, efforts to support green, inclusive, and resilient development, could reduce the scale of climate migration by 30% in the Lake Victoria region and as much as 60% in West Africa.

“Investments in resilience and adaptation can promote green industries, and when paired with investments in health, education, the digital economy, innovation, and sustainable infrastructure, they also have tremendous potential to create climate-smart jobs and boost economic growth,” asserts Hafez Ghanem, World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa. “As part of this, a focus on women’s empowerment is critical to improve human capital and to reap the demographic dividend—significant aspects of building climate resilience in the years to come.”

The scale and trajectory of climate-induced migration across Africa will require countries to take bold, transformative actions:

Net-zero targets: the global community has the responsibility to cut greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the scale and reach of climate impacts.

Locality and context matter: countries will need to embed internal climate migration in far-sighted green, resilient, and inclusive development planning across Africa.

Data: investing in research and diagnostic tools is key to better understand the drivers of internal climate migration for well-targeted policies.

Focus on people: invest in human capital to engage people in productive and sustainable climate smart jobs.

The Groundswell Africa series is a sequel to the 2018 Groundswell report and complements the recently released Groundswell II report, providing in-depth analysis on potential scale and spread of internal climate migration in West African and the Lake Victoria Basin, with country level analysis from Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda to better inform policy dialogue and action.

Ghana: Kill Anti-LGBTI Bill; Do Not Emulate Nigeria

By Leo Igwe 

Oct 28, 2021

LGBT Rainbow Flag © 2008 Ludovic Berton (Wikimedia Commons)

I urge Ghana not to emulate Nigeria, and to reject a proposed new law that sanctions harsh punishments for gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender persons. Under this law, gay persons in Ghana will be imprisoned or forced to undergo conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is a discredited procedure to change a person’s sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual.

This bill provides for punishment for advocacy for LGBTI rights, public display of gay affection, and cross-dressing. The bill makes it a duty for Ghanaians to report anybody suspected of being gay or engaging in homosexual relationships. So, how could any lawmaker who is worth his/her salt in this century vote in support of this outrageous bill?

Mischaracterized as bill for the “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values”, this piece of legislation is not good for Ghana and Africa. Ghana is a nation that prides itself as a beacon of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

But a critical look at this proposed law shows that it drips with intolerance, oppression, tyranny, and injustice. The bill will legitimize violence, persecution, and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Ghana. This retrogressive piece of legislation will cost Ghana its place among the comity of progressive and civilized countries.

As the case of Nigeria has demonstrated, the bill has nothing to do with the promotion of sexual rights and family values. Instead, the proposed law undermines sexual rights and family life because it would legitimize extrajudicial attacks and killing of LGBTI persons. The bill prohibits advocacy of LGBTI rights. It will endanger and poison social relationships in Ghana.

In Christian parlance, the anti-LGBTI bill will turn families against families, parents against their children, mothers against their daughters, fathers against their sons, siblings against siblings, community members against themselves. The bill will fuel hatred, prejudice, mistrust, and intolerance. It will undermine the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of persons in the country.

Ghana should endeavor to use this opportunity to demonstrate itself as a shining example in protecting human rights. Ghana should not emulate Nigeria. It should distance itself from the homophobic wave sweeping across the region. As the bill goes through the parliament, I urge the lawmakers to exercise foresight and thoughtfulness; they should be forward looking and put the humanity and human rights of LGBTI Ghanaians first. Parliamentarians should vote against the anti-LGBTI bill.

Once again, history beckons on Ghana to provide moral leadership and set a shining example for other countries.

Global Wealth Has Grown, But at the Expense of Future Prosperity – World Bank

By News Ghana 

Oct 28, 2021

World Bank report provides data for a more comprehensive view of economic growth and sustainability; finds share of total global wealth in renewable natural capital is decreasing and threatened by climate change

Global wealth has grown overall—but at the expense of future prosperity and by exacerbating inequalities, according to the World Bank’s new Changing Wealth of Nations report released today.

Countries that are depleting their resources in favor of short-term gains are putting their economies on an unsustainable development path. While indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are traditionally used to measure economic growth, the report argues for the importance of considering natural, human, and produced capital to understand whether growth is sustainable.

The Changing Wealth of Nations 2021 tracks the wealth of 146 countries between 1995 and 2018, by measuring the economic value of renewable natural capital (such as forests, cropland, and ocean resources), nonrenewable natural capital (such as minerals and fossil fuels), human capital (earnings over a person’s lifetime), produced capital (such as buildings and infrastructure), and net foreign assets. The report accounts for blue natural capital—in the form of mangroves and ocean fisheries—for the first time.

“A deeper and more nuanced understanding of the sustainability of wealth is crucial to a green, resilient, and inclusive future,” said World Bank Managing Director for Development Policy and Partnerships, Mari Pangestu. “It is essential that renewable natural capital and human capital are given the same importance as more traditional sources of economic growth, so that policymakers take steps to enable long-term prosperity.”

According to the report, global wealth grew significantly between 1995 and 2018, and middle-income countries are catching up to high-income countries. However, growing prosperity has been accompanied by unsustainable management of some natural assets. Low- and middle-income countries saw their forest wealth per capita decline 8% from 1995 to 2018, reflecting significant deforestation. Meanwhile, the value of global marine fish stocks collapsed by 83% due to poor management and overfishing over the same period. The projected impacts of climate change may exacerbate these trends.

In addition, mispricing of assets like carbon-emitting fossil fuels can lead to overvaluation and over-consumption. Development can be put on a more sustainable path by taking a comprehensive view of wealth and putting in place policy measures including carbon pricing to better value and nurture assets such as forests, mangroves, and human capital.

Global wealth inequality is growing, the report indicates. Low-income countries’ share of global wealth has changed little from 1995 to 2018, remaining below 1% of the world’s wealth, despite having around 8% of the world’s population. Over one-third of low-income countries saw declining wealth per capita. Countries with declining wealth tend also to be degrading their base of renewable natural assets. For low-income countries, appropriately managing renewable natural capital, which accounts for 23% of their wealth, remains crucial.

Globally, the share of total wealth in renewable natural capital (forests, cropland, and ocean resources) is decreasing and being further threatened by climate change. At the same time, renewable natural capital is becoming more valuable as it provides crucial ecosystem services. For example, the value of mangroves for coastal flood protection has grown more than 2.5 times since 1995 to over $547 billion in 2018. The value of protected areas per square kilometer has also rapidly increased.

“The Changing Wealth of Nations provides the data and analysis to help governments get prices and policies right for sustainable development,” said World Bank Global Director for Environment, Natural Resources, and the Blue Economy, Karin Kemper. “By ignoring polluting and climate warming impacts, fossil fuel assets have historically been overvalued, while assets that contribute to climate mitigation, like forests, are undervalued.”

The report shows that human capital, measured as the population’s expected lifetime earnings, is the largest source of worldwide wealth, comprising 64% of total global wealth in 2018. Middle-income countries increased their investment in human capital and in turn saw significant increases in their share of global human capital wealth.

Although the long-lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still unknown, low-income countries are likely to experience the most severe impacts, with a projected loss of 14% of total human capital. Human capital is additionally constrained by gender gaps across all regions and income groups, with little improvement since 1995. Air quality also has serious consequences for both human capital and climate change, and accounts for over 6 million premature deaths annually.

Nonrenewable natural capital wealth (minerals, fossil fuels) has declined since 2014, mainly due to falling commodity prices. The report looks at the projected impacts of a low-carbon transition and border carbon adjustment taxes on fossil fuel wealth and provides recommendations for managing the economic risks posed for resource-dependent countries. Countries that are heavily dependent on fossil fuel wealth were found to have lower shares of wealth from human capital, despite their high income levels, with human capital only comprising 34% of their wealth.

The report outlines several priorities for policymakers to diversify and rebalance their national portfolios to be more resilient and sustainable. It recommends actively investing in public goods like education, health, and nature, to prevent unsustainable depletion, and manage future risks. Recommendations also include policy and pricing measures that help reflect the social value of assets and to steer private investment toward better outcomes for all. This may include, for example, actions like repurposing fisheries subsidies, and taking action to price carbon and promote renewable energy assets.

AIDO Network International Moves To Promote African Culture

By Ike Dzokpo 

Oct 28, 20210

AIDO Network International has organised its 3rd annual convention in Accra with the ultimate aim of promoting culture and unity among Africans.

The event which was held under the theme: Culture and Business Uniting Africa and Her Diaspora” attracted over nine countries representing the NGO.

Ambassador Namboka Omositson, Vice President, AIDO addressing the media explained that the NGO is a culture–based Organisation with the objective of reviving the valuable original traditional values and norms which guided the African prior to the arrival of Western Culture.

This he said, AIDO has arrived at the conclusion early this year that Mother Africa needs to rethink the past to build a different image of itself and the rest of the world.

“With a mission to improve the lives of ordinary people by reviving a sense of self-dignity, hard effort, and confidence, we choose to collaborate with elders and traditional leaders to encourage local initiatives and talent.”

Our view is that the past half-century of predominantly modern state-led efforts needs to be significantly complemented by society–based initiatives such as AIDO.

The above history outlines our long-term approach to what we hope to accomplish: promoting culture and heritage, exploring, networking, and beginning commercial, business, investment, and entrepreneurship inside particular countries.

The Founder and Chairman of the 6th Regional Global Chamber of Commerce Dr. Melida Harris Barrow, in her presentation, entreated Africans to unite in order to help develop the continent.

She also admonished Africans to discard the mentality that they are impoverished, claiming that the continent is rich in natural resources.

The Executive Director of Aido Network Ghana Lady Rev. Dr. Abena Tay also noted that the conference focuses on empowering individuals from all walks of life to understand who they are and where they originated from.

This, she claimed, would help them appreciate and embrace their culture. It’s past time for us to stop adopting identities and start referring to ourselves as true Africans.

In addition, the conference will also pave way for investment opportunities, business networking, and also exhibitions.

The Organizing Director for AIDO Network Ghana Rev. Dr. Nanayaa Owusu –Prempeh, also underscored the need for parents to cultivate the habit of raising their kids by communicating with them in their native languages.

According to her, the child will grow to understand his identity and will be equipped with adequate knowledge of his culture to pass it on to the next generation as a result of this.

Aido Network International

Aido Network International (AIDO) brings together different stakeholders within the cultural, community, educational, faith, and sporting sectors, to challenge Human Rights abuses and use culture to promote unity, development, and social change.

Source: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo/newsghana.com.gh

Less Than 10 Percent of African Countries to Hit Key COVID-19 Vaccination Goal – WHO

By Xinhua 

Oct 28, 2021

Photo taken on May 20, 2021 shows the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Chen Junxia)

Just five African countries, less than 10 percent of Africa’s 54 nations, are projected to hit the year-end target of fully vaccinating 40 percent of their people, said the World Health Organization (WHO) Thursday.

Three African countries, including Seychelles, Mauritius and Morocco, have already met the goal that was set in May by the World Health Assembly, the world’s highest health policy-setting body, said WHO’s regional office for Africa, based in the Congolese capital Brazzaville, adding that Tunisia and Cape Verde will also hit the target.

Limited access to crucial commodities such as syringes may slow the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Africa, warned the WHO, noting that some African countries, such as Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa, have experienced delays in receiving syringes.

“The looming threat of a vaccine commodities crisis hangs over the continent. Early next year COVID-19 vaccines will start pouring into Africa, but a scarcity of syringes could paralyze progress,” said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.

The COVAX Facility is working to address this threat by securing deals with syringe manufacturers, and through better planning to avoid deliveries outpacing the supply of syringes, Moeti said.

At the current pace, Africa still faces a 275 million shortfall of COVID-19 vaccines against the year-end target of fully vaccinating 40 percent of its people.

Africa has fully vaccinated 77 million people, just 6 percent of its population, while over 70 percent of high-income countries have already vaccinated more than 40 percent of their people.

With nearly 8.5 million COVID-19 cases and more than 217,000 deaths recorded in Africa, 10 African countries are still in resurgence, including four with upward trend or high plateau, such as Gabon, Congo-Brazzaville, Cameroon, and Egypt, according to the WHO.

African States Pledge US$17 Billion to Revitalize Maternal, Child Health

By Xinhua 

Oct 28, 20210

Review Performance

Eight Sub-Saharan African countries have pledged about 17 billion U.S. dollars to help resuscitate maternal, infant and adolescent healthcare services that suffered disruptions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH), the new financial pledges from African countries reaffirmed their commitment to improve the health of women, children and youth in the post-pandemic era.

Helen Clark, board chair of PMNCH, said in a statement issued in Nairobi Wednesday that middle and low-income countries, with majority in Africa, have taken the lead in promoting domestic financing toward maternal and infant health.

According to Clark, out of the 32.1 billion dollars that had been pledged to support healthcare services for women, girls, children and youth to date, 60 percent or 18.9 billion dollars was committed by low and middle-income countries.

The eight African countries that have pledged to increase domestic financing toward maternal, infant and adolescent health were Burkina Faso, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Among crucial services that will benefit from the latest funding includes safe deliveries, improved access to modern contraceptives, nutrition, provision of safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

Childhood immunization, recruitment of additional healthcare personnel, as well as sustaining the supply of essential medicine and health commodities have also been factored in the latest financial commitment by African states.

Joy Phumaphi, executive secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, said that adequate financing is key to ensuring that women, children and adolescents have access to quality healthcare services and social protection, suggesting that African governments should prioritize the revival of sexual and reproductive health services for women and girls to reduce unintended pregnancies. 

Global COVID-19 Cases and Deaths on Rise – WHO

By SPUTNIK 

Oct 28, 20210

New COVID-19 cases and deaths worldwide are rising again for the first time in two months on account of renewed spread in Europe, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said on Thursday.

“The global number of reported cases and deaths from COVID-19 is now increasing for the first time in 2 months, driven by an ongoing increase in Europe,” Tedros said at a virtual press conference on the latest global developments of COVID-19.

As for 12:40 GMT Thursday, WHO reported 244,897,177 COVID-19 cases, including 4,970,429 deaths. In comparison, on October 11, the number of registered COVID-19 cases was estimated at 240,307,120 with 4,893,877 deaths.

African Union Suspends Sudan After Military Coup

27 OCTOBER 2021

Deutsche Welle (Bonn)

The African Union has suspended Sudan's participation in activities until the restoration of a civilian-led authority. Earlier, the EU had condemned the army for toppling Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok's government.

The African Union on Wednesday suspended Sudan from all its activities until civilian rule is restored in the country.

The continent-wide bloc said it "strongly condemns the seizure of power," branding it "unconstitutional."

It said Sudan would be suspended from all AU activities "until the effective restoration of the civilian-led transitional authority."

Sudanese General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had on Monday ordered the dissolution of the government and declared a state of emergency.

Since then, thousands of citizens have mounted protests, chanting "No to military rule."

The AU suspended Sudan in June 2019 after pro-democracy protesters were gunned down outside army headquarters in Khartoum.

Membership was reinstated 3 months later after Hamdok announced the appointment of Sudan's first cabinet since the ousting of veteran leader Omar al-Bashir.

Earlier, the EU also condemned the "unconstitutional change of government in Sudan," saying it continued to recognize the transitional government.

What did the EU say?

The EU Delegation to Sudan made a joint statement that also included Switzerland and the so-called "troika" of countries involved in mediation -- Norway, the US, and the UK.

It condemned the military's actions, but welcomed the fact that coup leaders had allowed Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok to return to his residence.

Hamdok was detained Monday along with his ministers and civilian members of Sudan's ruling council.

The statement demanded that signatories' ambassadors be allowed to meet the prime minister and his cabinet, saying it recognized them as constitutional leaders.

The statement went on to address reports of security service using live ammunition and tear gas against protestors.

It spoke of "the importance to respect the fundamental right to demonstrate by all Sudanese citizens and the need to respect all other human rights of all citizens."

"The security forces and other armed elements must refrain from violent attacks at all times, and peaceful protesters must be protected."

Earlier on Wednesday, Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called the coup a "catastrophic development" and condemned it "in the strongest possible terms."

What is the current situation in Sudan?

The prime minister and his wife were returned home "under close surveillance," Hamdok's office said Tuesday. However, other ministers and civilian leaders remain under full military arrest.

Hamdok's return did little to appease protesters who had backed the planned transition to civilian rule.

Their demonstrations continued on Wednesday, despite security forces making several arrests and tearing down makeshift barricades in Khartoum.

Three prominent pro-democracy figures were among those arrested overnight into Wednesday.

A doctors' group said four people were killed on Monday when soldiers opened fire on protesters.

Internet services have been blocked with shops around the capital closed after calls for a campaign of civil disobedience.

The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), a group of unions that was instrumental in the protests against Bashir has also urged "million-strong protests" on October 30.

Sudan's Khartoum airport, which has been closed to flights, was set to reopen on Wednesday afternoon, according to the country's civil aviation authority.

What is the background to the Sudan coup?

The coup followed a two-year transition outlined in a power-sharing deal agreed in August 2019 between the military and civilians.

This followed the ouster of autocrat Omar al-Bashir on the back of mass protests against his rule.

Sudan had found itself isolated after nearly three decades of isolation under Bashir, and it remains one of the world's most underdeveloped countries.

In particular, it fell into pariah status as Washington imposed tough sanctions on Bashir's regime for sheltering Islamic extremists, including al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, in the 1990s.

New strongman Burhan has pledged to hold elections as planned in July 2023. In the meantime, a technocrat government would be appointed.

Sudan has experienced only rare democratic interludes since independence from Britain in 1956.

rc/rt (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)

Zimbabwe Churches Hail Progress Despite Blockade

27 OCTOBER 2021

The Herald (Harare)

By Zvamaida Murwira-

Churches on Monday hailed the Second Republic for steering the economy despite the yoke of illegal sanctions imposed by the West and described Zimbabweans who called for the imposition of the embargoes as unpatriotic.

The churches met in the capital under the banner of the Zimbabwe Indigenous Interdenominational Council of Churches.

Eminent clergymen that included Zion Christian Church founder, Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi and Reverend Andrew Wutawunashe, who is also chairperson of the Faith for the Nation Campaign, attended the meeting.

Others who were present were Roman Catholic priest, Father Fidelis Mukonori, economist Dr Tinashe Manzungu and former legislator Cde Makhosini Hlongwane who was head of Zimbabwe Parliamentary delegation to the African, Caribbean, Pacific and European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

In his address, Bishop Mutendi said the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa was doing well under the sanctions' yoke given the massive infrastructure development it is carrying out.

Bishop Mutendi likened those who called for sanctions to the bible story about the judgment of King Solomon who solved a conflict of custody of a child on two women by suggesting that they cut the baby in two with either of them receiving half.

One mother was content with Solomon's proposal, indicating that if she couldn't have the baby, then neither of them should while the other one pleaded that the baby be spared resulting in the latter being declared as the legitimate mother.

"These sanctions are a huge test for patriotism. There are those that want the child to be killed, why do you take a knife for the baby to be cut, that Zimbabwe should collapse by calling for sanctions. The (biblical) bush continue to burn but without being consumed. We have seen what is being done on our roads by the Government, shops are now full. These sanctions must be removed unconditionally. The West must leave us to do our things," said Bishop Mutendi.

He said a person must be judged by his or her neighbour and Sadc has spoken when it rallied behind Zimbabwe in denouncing the sanctions.

"It is your neighbour who can give testimony to you. Just like Sadc has done to us," he said.

Rev Wutawunashe said as churches they were calling for the West and the United States of America to remove the burden of sanctions they imposed on Zimbabwe.

"My Lords Bishops, the Churches' prayers is an appeal to such nations as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other relevant parties to urgently and unconditionally grant Zimbabwe relief from all forms of sanctions and restrictive measures," he said.

Rev Wutawunashe described the sanctions as unjust, misdirected and inhuman, adding that they had not yielded any positive benefit.

Father Mukonori chronicled several meetings that he chaired that had former white commercial farmers, Government led by founding leader President Mugabe and war veterans, where a call was made in vain to the white farmers to voluntarily surrender extra land so that it could be shared with other Zimbabweans.

In his presentation, Cde Hlongwane unpacked the nature of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and their effects and also narrated several meetings he held during ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly plenaries calling for the removal of sanctions.

He said the Second Republic was right in pursuing engagement and re-engagement with countries that imposed illegal sanctions on Harare.

"As a country, we need to diversify our source markets. Let us not abandon the West but let us add more like looking East, the relationship with the East such as China must be emboldened and solidified. The current Government is correct in engagement and re-engagement. The decision on the Article Eight political dialogue with the EU is equally good," said Cde Hlongwane, a former Cabinet Minister.

Cde Hlongwane was invited to give expert knowledge on sanctions given the experience he gathered during his stint as legislator representing Zimbabwe to ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly where he was elected President of the Standing Committee on Political Affairs of the ACP Parliamentary Assembly in November 2013.

Economist Dr Tinashe Manzungu said sanctions had an adverse effect on business as there was limited lines of credit coupled by deficit in balance of trade.

Read the original article on The Herald.

Zimbabwe: Diplomats Condemn Sanctions

26 OCTOBER 2021

By Herald Reporters

The Western imposed illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe are a violation of international law and human rights, the Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe has said.

The embassy said this on its Twitter handle, @ChineseZimbabwe, yesterday on the third anniversary of the Sadc initiated anti-Zimbabwe Sanctions Day.

The day is being commemorated under the theme; "Friend to all, enemy to none: Forging ahead and enhancing innovation and productivity in adversity of sanctions" after the Sadc Heads of State and Government Summit adopted a resolution declaring October 25 as a day to stand in solidarity with Zimbabwe in the fight against the sanctions that have devastated the country's economy and brought untold suffering to ordinary people.

"Unilateral sanctions violate international law, sovereign equality, human rights & hurt the people. 13 years ago, China said NO for Zimbabwe. Today, we continue to call for complete & immediate lifting of all unilateral coercive measures. #RealDemocracy #ZimSanctionsMustGo," the Chinese embassy tweeted.

Ambassador of the State of Palestine Tamer Almassri said sanctions against Zimbabwe were a violation of human rights of its people and amounts to collective punishment of innocent citizens.

Speaking during an anti-sanctions indaba in Harare yesterday, Ambassador Almassri said the economic sanctions impede Zimbabwe's efforts to improve its economy and people's livelihoods and tramples on the Zimbabwean people's right to subsistence and development.

"The illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe for over two decades without the support of the security council lays bare the illegitimacy of this action. The UN Charter calls for sanctions to be applied only by the UN Security Council precisely to ensure wanton attacks on nations are avoided.

"International sanctions must have a lawful purpose, must be proportional and must not harm the human rights of ordinary citizens, and none of these criteria are met in this case.

"The sanctions are a massive, flagrant and unacceptable violation of human rights of the Zimbabwe people and amounts to collective punishment of the local citizens," he said.

Cuban ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ms Carmelina Ramirez said the promoters of sanctions do not care about the social and economic development of other countries and the welfare of the majority of the population.

Ambassador Ramirez said the objective of sanctions was to create an antagonistic environment between the population and the Government due to the economic hardships.

"The decision of Sadc to declare 25th of October the day of anti-sanctions give us the opportunity to sensitise the general public on a topic of great interest, the negative impact of the persistent economic sanctions on the economy and people of Zimbabwe.

"The initiative of the SADC has put the case of Zimbabwe in the agenda on African Union as an important issue for the region. Our governments and the majority of people of Zimbabwe, Cuba continue resisting in the name of our independence and sovereignty and moving forward," she said.

Read the original article on The Herald.