SIGN THIS PETITION: 1° Netflix says they have no interest in PALOP content but now they use Njinga Mbande?

 

Netflix said that for now it has no interest in PALOP African content, we showed the film and the series Njinga Queen of Angola produced by Semba comunication in 2013 on behalf of Angola and they told us that they were not interested in our work, now they are making a documentary that tells The Story of Queen Njinga Mbande, without Angola having any benefit from it, it is not being filmed in Angola, nor is there technical team and Angolan actors.

We find this repugnant and skews the cultural usurpation for their own benefit, where they tell our story from their point of view and often distorting the real facts using their narrative about us, we cannot continue to tolerate it, we demand answers and reparation for the error, if they are going to tell our story, then we must be an integral part of the process and respected at all levels.

Enough of using our cultural identity for third-party elevation while we seem without content production for lack of international acceptance.

By Sílvio Nascimento, Angolan actor and producer.

Source: https://www.change.org/p/artistas-minist%C3%A9rio-da-cultura-netflix-will-smith-jada-pinket-comunidade-afrodescendente-1-a-netflix-diz-que-n%C3%A3o-tem-interesse-no-conte%C3%BAdo-palop-mas-agora-usam-njinga-mbande?

Source: https://bateubwe.co.ao/2021/08/27/njinga-mbandi-sera-destaque-na-serie-produzida-por-jada-pinkett-smith-para-netflix/

PLEASE HELP US AND SIGN THIS PETITION

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Across Africa in five minutes or less

 

NAMIBIA/BOTSWANA

The ministers of international relations of Botswana and Namibia signed a communiqué at the end of their two-day engagement held in Kasane and Katima Mulilo on Friday. Botswana’s Lemogang Kwape and eputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called on security clusters from the two countries to implement resolutions in the signed agreement, which include, among others, to co-exist peacefully. The agreement is aimed at bringing to a close the subject of the killing of three Namibians and their Zambian cousin last year by the Botswana Defence Force. The parties also reaffirmed their continued willingness to share natural resources along the border.

NIGERIA

Nigeria has maintained the infamous position as the poverty capital of the world, with 93.9 people in Africa’s most populous country currently living below the poverty line. Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited and a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC), Mr. Bismarck Rewane, has stated. Quoting a World Bank data, Rewane, in a presentation at the monthly Lagos Business School’s economic breakfast meeting for September 2021, stated that seven million Nigerians fell into extreme poverty in 2020. The report was titled: “Re: Growth Spikes (5.01 per cent), But People are Hungry?”

GUINEA/EGYPT

Egypt is following up the accelerated developments in Guinea with deep concern, asserting the seriousness of the ongoing crisis in the African country. In a statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Monday, Cairo called on all parties in Guinea to exercise self-restraint and abide by peaceful ways and dialogue to settle the crisis in the country in order to reach up to safe shores.

LIBERIA

Commerce Minister Mawine G. Diggs has refuted speculations here that there is a huge rice shortage in the country, casting blame against the opposition for allegedly spreading the rumor. Speaking at a press conference over the weekend at the Ministry of Commerce in Congo Town, Minister Diggs explained that the country’s current rice inventory shows that speculations surrounding rice shortage are far from reality.

KENYA

More than 400,000 people at the Coast are in dire need of food, with four out of the region’s six counties requiring urgent interventions, authorities have said. Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River and Lamu are among 23 counties on the national government’s red list as drought ravages Kenya’s north, east and coast regions. A number of boarding schools in Tana River County have already been closed due to lack of water as humanitarian organisations warn of a dire situation ahead if urgent measures are not taken.

SOUTH AFRICA

The Ad Hoc Committee to Initiate and Introduce Legislation Amending Section 25 of the Constitution, has adopted the Constitution 18th Amendment Bill, which will see the expropriation of land without compensation embedded in the Constitution. Committee chairperson, Dr Mathole Motshekga, said the Bill in its entirety, as well as the memorandum on the objects of the Bill, were endorsed by the majority of members in the committee. “There were three votes against the Bill and no abstentions,” Motshekga said. The purpose of the Bill is to amend section 25 of the Constitution, so as to provide that, where land is expropriated for land reform, the amount of compensation payable may be nil.

CAPE VERDE

Super Eagles players and officials have arrived at the Amilcar Cabral International Airport ahead of Tuesday’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match. Their arrival was confirmed on the team’s official Facebook page. “We have landed in Sao Vincente, Cape Verde! GAME On… ” a statement on the Super Eagles official Facebook page read. The team was however unable to arrive at their earlier designated airport at Sao Vincente, the venue of the match, as the airport was closed down.

ANGOLA

Luanda province is due to host, on 23 March, the 3rd Natural Medicine congress, focusing on the potential of medicinal plants to combat and prevent pandemics and endemic diseases. According to specialist José Nguepe, the intention is to promote greater interaction, dialogue and cooperation between health professionals from the most varied specialties of natural and conventional medicine, in order to respond to major pandemics and endemics. According to him, the idea is to bring together specialists in areas linked to medicine and promote an approach on the impact and weight of traditional medicine in the modern world.

TUNISIA

The Government of Canada will allow fully vaccinated foreign nationals meeting specific conditions to enter Canada for discretionary (non-essential) purposes starting on September 7, Tunisair said on Monday. Foreign travellers eligible to enter Canada for discretionary travel must meet the following requirements: – be fully vaccinated: travellers must have received the full series of a vaccine or combination of vaccines accepted by Canada at least fourteen days before entering the country (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson).

ETHIOPIA/SUDAN

Yesterday, Sudanese state media SUNA, and multiple international news outlets reported that Sudanese authorities seized an Ethiopian airlines cargo of 72 boxes of Russian made weapons that arrived in Khartoum international Airport via Addis Abeba. The shipment was seized by the Empowerment Removal Committee according to Sudan Tribune. The committee tasked with dismantling the former regime. The report said that Sudanese authorities were informed about the shipment of weapons and its intended arrival on Saturday. In a statement it released this morning, Ethiopian airlines clarified the “shipment of weapons to Sudan is a legal and commercial transportation of hunting guns with all proper documents of the shipper and the consignee.” The shipment was also cleared by both Ethiopian and Sudanese authorities,” Ethiopian said with an attachment of Air waybill or consignment note.

MALAWI

Malawi registered a 72 percent rise in suicide deaths between January and March 2021, statistics from the Malawi Police Service have shown. Connect Plus Resource Institute (CPRI) Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Mwafulirwa, has since called for urgent action to address the problem. In a statement issued ahead of the launch of the first ever Suicide Prevention Week (SPW) in Malawi, Mwafulirwa emphasized that need to raise awareness on the need to promote measures for reducing cases of suicide and suicide attempts.

CAMEROON

“I play music to bring light into people’s life and to allow people feel different emotions they experienced in their daily lives”, these were the words of 23 year old Audrey Forbin a Cameroonian artist who is making her entry into the music world. She has just release her first extended play with six songs that touches different aspect of life. The album include songs like “Nene”, “Ask and receive”, “No safety”, “Bola na nginya”, “Blessings and running”. She told CT that she started playing music in their church choir and with such a talent she got in contact with music director Sango Edi, who has been helping her out so far. Audrey has performed in so many concerts and ceremonies like the music night organised by the Institut français du Cameroun to sell her Afro-beat genre of music which she says is spiritual, celestial and brightens people’s life. The song writer who was born and raised in the South West region of Cameroon also does arts and paintings and sometime she illustrate her music through drawing and other artistic works.

RWANDA/UGANDA

Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has confirmed that the government of Rwanda has reduced the mandatory quarantine for passengers from Uganda to one day. Passengers from Uganda were in the last two months subjected to a seven-day quarantine period upon arriving in Rwanda, according to information from Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), the country’s central health implementation agency. When asked yesterday whether the restriction was eased, Mr Fred Bamwesigye, the UCAA director general, said: “Yes it is true,” but didn’t give more details.

MADAGASCAR

On July 22, the authorities in Madagascar, a country with a very long history of military coups and political unrest since it gained independence from France in 1960, announced that a plan to assassinate President Andry Rajoelina, had been foiled. Mr Rajoelina has made at least four claims of threats to his life since 2009 when he seized power with the help of the island nation’s military, but supporters of Mr Marc Ravalomanana, who he deposed before defeating in a controversial December 2018 poll, have often dismissed those claims.

DNT News, Accra

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Five in hospital after Anglesey poultry plant chemical leak

 Five people have been taken to hospital after reports of a chemical leak at a north Wales food processing plant.

Three ambulances and two rapid response vehicles were called to the 2 Sisters poultry factory in Llangefni, Anglesey, at about 09:15 BST on Monday.

Ambulance officials said there were reports of individuals needing medical attention after “exposure to a noxious fume or chemical”.

Four more people were treated at the scene.

North Wales Police said they were aware of the incident but were not involved as the incident response was being managed by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

2 Sisters said there had been a leak of ammonia at the factory and those affected were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

“Colleague safety is our number one priority, the factory was evacuated as per emergency protocols and the fire brigade and ambulance service quickly attended,” a company official said.

“The fire brigade advised when the building was safe to re-enter and they have now left the site.”

The firm said the factory was now operating “as normal”.

The people taken to hospital are being treated at Bangor’s Ysbyty Gwynedd.

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There is a shortage of tractor drivers in the Czech Republic

 There is a shortage of up to 20,000 tractor drivers, milkers, and feeders in Czech agriculture. The main reason for this is the retirement of workers who are not being replaced by the younger generation.

Jaroslav Chýla, a tractor driver, should have been retired for ten years, but instead, like his colleagues, he is still working. He believes the idea of low earnings is to blame for the lack of young replacements.

“The money is quite below. Tractors are modern, and they have air-conditioners. But, of course, it requires more hours of work, ” Chýla says, adding that the boss should finally hire someone new.

Yet, the chairman of the agricultural cooperative in Nečín, Jan Koukolíček, has been unable to do anything about the shortage of tractor drivers for years. When young blood arrives at the cooperative, he breaks his grip on farming after a few years.

The shortage of new tractor drivers is not only a problem in Nečín. In agriculture, a fifth of the workforce is missing. According to the Agrarian Chamber of the Czech Republic, the average age of agricultural workers is around 50.

“It’s dirty and smelly work,” says one of the young men interviewed. “Our interests are a bit different. We prefer to work in the service sector. I want to be an economist, ” adds another. “What would attract you to it? Well, maybe taking care of cattle or driving a combine harvester, ” one of the respondents looks for positives.

On the other hand, there is a shortage of milkers and milkmaids in the cowsheds, most often replaced with help from abroad. “We have two employees from Ukraine. We are happy for them. They are skilled, ” says Koukolíček. The education system’s approach could change the unfavorable outlook. Young children have been going on more field trips to cooperatives and fields as part of their education.

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Crucial meeting ongoing at Guinean presidential palace to form new government

 THIS JUST IN – A crucial meeting is currently taking place at the Guinean presidential palace in Conakry to form the new government, and everyone is reported to be in attendance.

The directive that went out was simple: all past officials of the Guinean government regardless of political affiliation are invited to this meeting to form the most inclusive government Guinea has ever had.

The invitation, which was also extended to the immediate past officials of the just upended government, also suggested that you were in attendance or you were against the new direction that the country has embarked upon.

   

It is a tightly closed-door meeting after which Guineans are expecting to hear key names announced to be part of the new transition government that is expected to last for 18 months.

Colonel Mamadou Doumbia led a military coup d’etat to remove president Alpha Conde whom he guarded and served as his trusted military aide. But he cited Conde’s manipulation of the country’s constitution and subsequent third term as part of the reasons for his removal.

   

In a speech to the nation, Doumbia cited the dysfunction of the republican institution, crusting of citizenship rights, lack of respect for the democratic principle, abuse of power, mismanagement and corruption as the resons for Conde’s removal.

Guineans hit the streets to hail the soldiers as heroes for liberating the people and their suffering. But the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as other African countries have issued strong statements of condemnation of the military take over.

But social media postings have forcefully pushed back at the regional body and those countries wondering where were they when Conde abused his power and overstayed his two-term mandate.

As Guineans await what transpired at this crucial meeting, questions are now being asked whether the new leader can trust officials of the Conde administration to be part of his transition government given that many sees his removal of Conde as a betrayal of trust.

Update: All of Conde administration officials were asked at the meeting to surrender their passports and other traveling documents as well as keys to their government assigned vehicles.

Stay tuned to DNT for updates on this developing story.

DNT News with reporting by Julius Ouya.

 

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COVID-19: Second jab takers express low confidence in vaccine efficacy

 Wa, Sept. 6, GNA – Some health workers in the Upper West Region awaiting their second shot of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine have expressed low confidence in the efficacy of the vaccine due to the delay in receiving it.

On August 30, 2021, health authorities in the region commenced administration of the second jab after a delay of about two extra months due to the challenges the government faced in the supply of the vaccine.

This according to some of the health workers is making them doubt if the vaccine would still be protective of them as it would have been if they had taken it within the eight to 12 weeks recommended period.

Some of the health workers, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after receiving their second jab, said they were only taking it for the sake of it as they doubt it would work.

Low confidence

Madam Patience Aduna, a nurse, noted that because of the delay now she believes that the chain had been broken because vaccines deal with chains.

“Now, we are taking the second jab just for the sake of it, because we don’t know whether it can still complement the first one”, she said.
Mr Mumuni Yakubu, a retired health worker said they know vaccines have timelines within which they are able to work well, noting that, if the timeline for a particular vaccine elapses for a long period, the chain would break and the support the second dose will have to give to the first one, will be compromised.

“So I’m just doing it for doing sake as we are in doubt whether it will work”, he said.
Mr Ambrose Kundisab, a Laboratory Technician says it is about five months now since they took the first shot of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine.

“We were not even sure of receiving the second shot because – so for me, it is a probability because I don’t know if it will work the way it is suppose to work”, he emphasized.

Ms Patience Weltaa, a nurse who also expressed doubt noted that, “I was thinking it will not be potent again because they gave us a time period, which exceeded by two months – so I think the first one might have expired by now”.

“I decided to take the second jab because we are all health personnel, and if it is not potent I don’t think they will give it out “, she said.

Mr Sampson Abu, the Wa Municipal Hospital Administrator, said he took the second jab just to satisfy the requirement for all to be vaccinated, but for the efficacy of it, he thinks the chain is broken.

“So we are doing it for the sake of it – so if it works fine for us and if it doesn’t, we can’t be blamed for not taking it”, he said.

COVID-19 situation in Upper West

Meanwhile, the Upper West Region currently has a total number of 607 confirmed cases, 73 active cases, and 20 deaths with Wa and Nandom Municipalities contributing more to the total number of cases.

Allaying of fears

Dr Richard Wodah-Seme, the Acting Upper West Regional Director of Public Health, encouraged the public not to entertain fears, adding that, the time limit within which the second dose should have been taken they were not out of the limit yet.

“Even though we had promised and anticipated that it should be done within 12 weeks, if it goes beyond the 12 weeks, it still does not cause any concern”, he said.

“Because initially, in our communication, we were saying between eight to 12 weeks and now this is coming beyond that and of course, legitimately people should raise concerns”, he added.

“But we want to allay their fears that it will still work, it will still confer the same immunity. Again, there’s still a lot more we’re learning about this vaccine and as and when new evidence emerges, we will be able to communicate same but for now, we will encourage everybody who has taken the first dose to try and go for the second dose”,
“These are legitimate fears they are raising, but once we keep on explaining to them, they will understand”, Dr Wodah-seme noted.

Meanwhile, Dr. Damien Punguyire, the Upper West Regional Director of Health Service, on September 1, 2021, received his second dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and encouraged other people awaiting the jab to also go for same.

“I took my second shot of the AstraZeneca brand of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier today, 1st September, 2021”, he said.

Dr Punguyire who said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Wa, noted that “It feels good to note that l am fully vaccinated and protected against the virus”.

The Regional Director of Health said that notwithstanding, he was not taking any chances at all as far as the virus was concern.

“I will continue to mask up, sanitize my hands, ensure social distance and limit being in crowded and enclosed areas until new evidence proves that it is safe to return pre-pandemic social environment”, he emphasized.

Dr Punguyire also encouraged all to go for the vaccine when the opportunity comes and in addition, observe all the proven public health and social measures, adding, “Vaccines Safe Lives’!!!”.

Second jab exercise

The administration of the second jab became possible after the arrival of the 249,600 doses of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine under the auspices of the COVAX facility by the government of the United Kingdom (UK).

Vaccines received by the region

Dr Wodah-Seme told the GNA that the region received a total of 8,400 of the AstraZeneca double schedule vaccine and had commenced its administration to those who qualify for the second dose in the region.

He added that the region equally received a total of 700 of the Johnson and Johnson single dose vaccine and was presently administering it to those that had not been vaccinated yet.

Meanwhile, the region initially received a total of 10,000 of the AstraZeneca vaccines and was able to vaccinate a total of 9,783 people with 217 representing 2.2 per cent being wasted.

According to the data, Wa Municipal received a total of 2,170 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and has since vaccinated a total number of 2,077 people including health workers, some personnel of the security services, and the media.

A total of 30 doses are still available and are expected to be used to vaccinate members of the health committee.

A total of 63 doses representing 2.9 percent were also wasted.
Explaining what is meant by wasted, Dr Punguyire said that, “a vial meant for 10 people but could not be exhausted. The remaining doses become wasted after six hours”.

“This usually happens in the evenings where sometimes, few people are left to be vaccinated and you are compelled to open another vial because you cannot tell them to go and come the next day – in this case, the number of doses left cannot be kept till the next day , hence, are wasted”, he said.
GNA

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Guinea coup: Who is Col Mamady Doumbouya?

 Col Mamady Doumbouya is seen as the new man in charge of Guinea after he led a unit of elite soldiers to seize power on Sunday.

Announcing the military takeover, the 41-year-old former French legionary said the army had little choice because of the rampant corruption, disregard for human rights and economic mismanagement under President Alpha Condé.

“The president is with us, he’s in a safe place,” he told French media on Sunday.

Dressed in a red beret, sunglasses and army fatigues, he had announced earlier on Guinea’s state TV that “the Guinean personalisation of political life is over. We will no longer entrust politics to one man, we will entrust it to the people”.

President Condé remains in detention while the UN, African Union and regional body Ecowas all condemn the military junta that claims to have replaced him.

After meeting ministers from Mr Condé’s government on Monday, the colonel said a new “union” government would be formed within weeks and promised there would be no “witch-hunt” against former officials.

Little is known about Col Doumbouya’s early life, except that he is from the Malinké community like President Condé and hails from Guinea’s eastern Kankan region.

By some accounts he is a brilliant commander, while others say his credentials are dubious.

image caption Col Mamady Doumbouya is said to have led the coup against President Alpha Condé (centre)

Notably, Col Doumbouya is among 25 Guinean officials the EU has been threatening to sanction for alleged human rights abuses committed in recent years under President Condé.

Yet after Sunday’s takeover, he told the nation “we will learn from all the mistakes we have committed and all Guineans”.

Col Doumbouya also quoted the late Jerry Rawlings of Ghana – who seized power in 1979 – saying “if the people are crushed by their elites, it is up to the army to give the people their freedom”.

His 15-year military career has seen him serve in missions in Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Central African Republic and close protection in Israel, Cyprus, the UK and Guinea.

He is said to have “brilliantly completed” the operational protection specialist training at the International Security Academy in Israel, as well as elite military training in Senegal, Gabon, and France.

After serving in the French foreign legion for several years, Col Doumbouya was asked by President Condé himself to return to Guinea to lead the newly established elite Special Forces Group (GFS) in 2018.

He was then based in Forecariah, western Guinea, where he served under the bureau of territorial surveillance (DST) and the general intelligence services.

In recalling Col Doumbouya to set up the GFS, President Condé will have had no idea that he was hastening his own political demise.

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