HARARE, 22 October 2010 (IRIN) – A call by President Robert Mugabe to hold national elections in 2011 and end any possibility of extending the government of national unity (GNU) has been greeted with concern by NGOs, fearing a surge in political violence. “We want to get to elections and get into a situation where ZANU-PF can rule the country. We do not want to pass June [2011] without elections. We want acceleration of the pace [to ensure that the polls are held],” Mugabe, who has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980, told a ZANU-PF women’s league... Continue Reading
By Nangayi Guyson –Kampala – AFP- The opposition leader Dr Kiiza Besigye, the flag bearer of the Inter-Party Cooperation alliance who arrived in a convoy of seven vehicles at the EC at around 7am was on Thursday denied entry by guards manning the entrance. Besigye and a group of supporters approached the commission’s office in central Kampala early Thursday, aiming to meet election officials about preparations for the country’s upcoming vote. “The reason we came here was to remind the individuals running the electoral commission that they have a non-negotiable constitutional duty to organise free and fair elections,” Ssemujju Ibrahim... Continue Reading
NAIROBI, 21 October 2010 (PlusNews) – Shunned by mainstream society, sex workers with HIV-related illnesses in Nairobi are unlikely to receive help from concerned neighbours. Instead, some of them are being cared for by fellow sex workers. A group of 25 sex workers who call themselves ‘Knight Nurses’, have been active for a little over a year in the slum of Huruma. They regularly visit fellow members of the group and their family members who are HIV-positive and bedridden to cook for them, wash them and tidy their homes. They also organize hospital visits and ensure they are taking their... Continue Reading
By Nangayi Guyson – Kampala -Gays in Uganda say they have faced a year of harassment and attacks since the introduction of a bill — later shelved — that would have imposed the death penalty for some homosexual acts and life in prison for others. The legislation was drawn up following a visit by leaders of US conservative Christian ministries that promote therapy they say allows gays to become heterosexual. Recently, one of the Uganda’s newspaper known as “Rolling Stone” published a list of Uganda’s 100 “top” homosexuals, with a bright yellow banner across it that read: “Hang Them.” Alongside... Continue Reading
By Nangayi Guyson – Freetown – The government of Sierra Leone on Tuesday banned children under the age of 18 from taking part in this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca in a bid to combat child trafficking. “We will no longer allow children to accompany adult pilgrims to Mecca as has happened in the past. As a responsible administration, we realise that children are vulnerable and could be easily trafficked so this is why the stringent action has been taken.” Social Welfare Ministry Senior Permanent Secretary Brima Rogers told AFP that “there is now a moratorium on children leaving the country... Continue Reading
