By Own Correspondent ,from Monrovia ,Liberia for Shout-africa.com – The Governments of Liberia and Japan have signed a debt cancellation agreement. The agreement formalizes the terms the two countries agreed upon during last year September Paris Club meeting. According to a reliable source in the Liberian capital ,Monrovia ,the debt cancellation is in the tune of 16 billion yen or US$194.1 million. The signing ceremony took place Tuesday, March 9, 2011, in the conference room of the Ministry of Finance. Japan’s Ambassador to Liberia Keicihi Katakami in his delivery during the signing ceremony he expressed his happiness about the debt... Continue Reading
By Own Correspondent – According to United Nations News Agency the United Nations refugee chief today called on the international community to forge ahead with humanitarian efforts as fighting in Libya escalates and people continue to flee the North African nation by the thousands. UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),says the number of people who have fled the violence since the start of mass protests against leader Muammar Al-Qadhafi three weeks ago has passed 212,000, including 112,000 who have reached Tunisia, with more than half of them Tunisian and Egyptian migrants. In addition, there are 98,000 people in Egypt, over... Continue Reading
By Elias Mhegera – EIGHT civil society organizations including the Commission for Human Rights in Tanzania have aired a growing concern over secrecy in the Government and its institutions which could hamper freedom of expression and the dispensation of justice. The statement came in the wake of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), phase two, which was deliberating on the freedom of expression (FOE) and information (FOI), in Tanzania. The organizations which attended the session are the National Organization for Legal Assistance (NOLA) Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF-Tanzania), the Commission of Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG), and... Continue Reading
By Nangayi Guyson – Harare – A court in Zimbabwe has freed 39 of 45 people charged with plotting an Egypt-style uprising against the country’s long time ruler. The group was arrested on February 19 while attending a lecture and watching television footage of uprisings in North Africa. Police say they were preparing for an anti-government revolt but the group says it was only an academic lecture. Magistrate Munato Mutevedzi ruled on Monday that former lawmaker Munyaradzi Gwisai and five others will face treason charges later this month. Treason is punishable by death. Mutevedzi dismissed charges against the other 39... Continue Reading
By Own Correspondent – Public Works Minister Samuel Kofi Woods has expressed confidence that the reconstruction of the crumbled Vai Town Bridge (popularly known as Old Bridge) would be completed and ready for use on time December this year but has frowned at claims that the restoration of the critical infrastructure is being used as campaign machinery. ‘This bridge is expected to be completed way beyond October 2011 at which time elections will have been over…I cannot comprehend how government is using the completion of the bridge as a campaign strategy…’ Minister Woods is reported to have told West Point... Continue Reading
