By Emmanuel Muwamba – The Media Council of Malawi has raised a red flag over the amendment of the Penal Code on Friday saying the provision gives arbitrary exercise of power to the minister who invariably is a political appointee and a politician. In a statement released on Friday, MCM says the provision also gives the minister powers of judgement of what constitutes public interest. The statement is signed Rev. Patrick Semphere and George Dambula, the MCM national governing council chairperson and executive director respectively. The proposed amendment to section 46 reads; “If the minister has reasonable grounds to believe... Continue Reading
By Emmanuel Muwamba – Most countries in the SADC region have revised their initial assessment findings for the peak lean season due to better in-country food security conditions than previously projected, a report says. “A number of national Vulnerability Assessment Committees (VACs) have revised their initial assessment findings downwards for the peak lean season due to improving in-country food security conditions. “The MVAC [Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee] will announce its revised figures for the total number of food insecure people before December and it is anticipated to announce a smaller population following improvements in rural food availability and lower food... Continue Reading
By Bai Bai Sesay – The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Sierra Leone Police will be holding an ongoing Joint Training to enhance cooperation and collaboration between them as well as other security agencies and to also improve on their professionalism in delivering security for the state and its people, according to a public notice issued over the weekend. 3,110 personnel of the two primary forces have already been trained in the Western Area and 560 in Lungi. The next leg of Joint Training will take place in Kenema for the Eastern Province from 23rd -26th November,... Continue Reading
By Bai Bai Sesay – In a press release issued this week, Society for Democratic Initiatives, Sierra Leone (SDI) strongly, and unreservedly, condemns the political violence which occurred in the city of Koidu, in Kono District on the 12th and 13th November 2010. On the evening of 12 November, with the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) supporters and aspirant flagbearers in Koidu as part of the SLPP flagbearership national tour, the SLPP office was attacked with buckets of human excrement intended to disrupt proceedings in the most offensive of manner. Eye-witness reports suggest as many as 50 youths as the... Continue Reading
By Bai Bai Sesay – Former soldier in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces over the weekend apologized to the people of Kono district for what happened during the war years. Mohamed Savage,alias,Col. Savage, former commander of the defunct Armed Forces Revolutionary Council(AFRC)in Kono said he regretted joining the Army as at the end of the day he did not realize anything positive. He was testifying at a bon fire ceremony facilitated by Fambul Tok,a community reconciliation programme Savage said he joined the Army to protect lives and property adding that after a long spell he was accused of... Continue Reading
