Elections2022: MPLA open to dialogue, rules out pacts

 Luanda - The secretary of the Political Bureau for Information of MPLA Rui Falcão said on Friday that his party, which won an absolute majority in the general elections, “was open to dialogue" and has no need to "make pacts.

The politician was speaking to the press in Luanda at the end of the meeting of the Central Coordination Structure of the Campaign, chaired by the party’s leader João Lourenço. 

MPLA has always been open to dialogue. " With a qualified majority we negotiate changes to the Constitution, but now we will be better positioned with an absolute majority". 

Absolute majority rules out "pacts 

The MPLA spokesman ruled out a "hypothetical pact" with UNITA, the opposition party (…). 

"We have an absolute majority. Nowhere in the world a regime pact is made when there is a majority to govern." 

He said the party leader and candidate for the country’s top job, João Lourenço, will not speak until after the release of the final results. 

"We will continue to do our job. This was a first reading and the others will follow,  immediately after the release of the final results", the party official has said. 

With 97.03% of the votes counted across the country and abroad, CNE said on Thursday the MPLA, which garnered 51.07% of the votes, obtained 124 MPs.

While UNITA (44.05%) got 90 MPs, followed by the PRS, the FNLA and PHA with two seats  each.

CASA-CE with 0.75% (46,750) did not get any seat, as did the APN with 0.48% (29,740) and P-NJANGO with 0.42% of the votes (26,268).

Eight candidates run for the country’s top job during the 24 August Elections, which brought together 14.3 million voters, including 22,560 residents abroad, who, for the first time, exercised their right to vote.

Elections 2022: National observers highlight peaceful polls

 Luanda - National observation missions said Friday in Luanda they were pleased with the transparent, speedy and efficient way in which the electoral process took place, which gave victory to MPLA, with 51.07 percent.

Expressing congratulation on the process, João Lusevikueno of Eu Acredita Association project said the National Electoral Commission (CNE) successfully fulfilled its mission, and encouraged the actors of the electoral process to accept the results of the 24 August elections.

The prophetess Suzete João, who was speaking on behalf of the Mission of National Observers of Civil Society Organisations, said that she noted with satisfaction the orderly capacity of the Angolans throughout the process, which reveals a great sense of citizenship.

With 97.03% of the votes counted across the country and abroad, CNE said on Thursday the MPLA, which garnered 51.07% of the votes, obtained 124 MPs.

While UNITA (44.05%) got 90 MPs, followed by the PRS, the FNLA and PHA with two seats  each.

CASA-CE with 0.75% (46,750) did not get any seat, as did the APN with 0.48% (29,740) and P-NJANGO with 0.42% of the votes (26,268).

Eight candidates run for the country’s top job during the 24 August Elections, which brought together 14.3 million voters, including 22,560 residents abroad, who, for the first time, exercised their right to vote.

Elections2022: US congratulates Angola’s high voter turnout

 Luanda - The United States has congratulated the Angolans on their participation en masse in 24 August elections, having expressed its availability to cooperate with Angola in favour of "transparent, democratic governance and a prosperous country."

In a press note from its Embassy in Angola reached Angop on Friday (26), US said it is looking forward to working together on the path of transparent and democratic governance, and for a safer and prosperous Angola for all.

 

The secretary of US Embassy for Press, Culture and Education, Cynthia Day, said that her country’s authorities hope that the results reflect "the voice of all Angolans.

 

In press release, she states that the United State continues to "work on strengthening of democracies and promotion of respect for human rights in Angola and the world.

 

In document, she said to await that regardless of the outcome, the winning party will provide the opportunity for various perspectives to be heard in order to develop a secure, prosperous and healthy future for all Angolans.

 

The note concludes that as the vote counting and the tabulation  continues, the U.S. encourages everyone to keep composure and  develop patience.

 

 

National Electoral Commission (CNE)’s latest update:

 

With 97.03% of the votes counted, CNE said the MPLA, which garnered 51.07% of the votes, obtained 124 MPs.

 

While UNITA (44.05%) got 90 MPs, followed by the PRS, the FNLA and PHA with two seats  each.

 

CASA-CE with 0.75% (46,750) did not get any seat, as did the APN with 0.48% (29,740) and P-NJANGO with 0.42% of the votes (26,268).

Zimbabwe reporters beaten and made to delete footage

 The authorities in Zimbabwe have been urged to investigate the brutal assault of four independent journalists on Thursday.

The Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) said the group was attacked after they filmed a convoy of governing Zanu-PF party supporters, which had blockaded a road in the town of Gokwe west of the capital, Harare, ahead of an opposition rally.

About 10 people then emerged from vehicles emblazoned with the Zanu-PF logos and dragged the journalists from their car, beat them up, ordered them to delete their footage and stole the car keys.

One of the journalists, Tongai Mwenje who works for SportBrief, told the BBC they stomped on his head and body and punched him, causing him to lose a tooth.

He said his colleague Pellagia Mpurwa, from the online magazine Technomag, briefly lost consciousness and suffered a fractured leg.

The other journalists attacked were Technomag’s editor Toneo Rutsito and Chelsea Mashayaombe from the Zimbabwe Daily.

Social embed from twitter

The main opposition party, the Citizen’s Coalition for Change (CCC), said the convoy of its leader Nelson Chamisa was also chased and pelted with stones.

The CPJ said impunity for crimes against journalists remains high in Zimbabwe, where general elections are due to be held next year.

Previous polls have been marred by violence and voter intimidation.

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Niger Begins Making Artificial Rain To Curb Drought

 Niger has deployed rainmaking technology aimed at alleviating the effects of drought in the country, weather authorities said Thursday.

The desert country has faced a food crisis for years because of extended dry spells.

The head of the national meteorology institute, Katiellou Gaptia Lawan, told AFP news agency: “We had to do something about this drought.”

The “induced rain” technology involves using an aircraft to spray chemicals into clouds.

The intervention is targeting areas where people farm.

Some parts of the country have experienced flooding further adding to the food crisis.

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Vanessa Bryant Wins $16M From LA County After Emergency Responders Shared Photos of Late Husband Kobe And Daughter Gianna’s Bodies

 Kobe Bryant’s dead body was unlawfully photographed by officials, a Los Angeles jury has concluded at the end of a two-week invasion of privacy trial brought by his widow Vanessa.

The jury awarded Vanessa Bryant $16 million in compensation, after less than a day deliberating. Her co-defendant Chris Chester, who lost his wife Sarah, 45, and daughter, Payton, 13, in the helicopter crash that killed nine, was awarded $15 million.

Bryant broke down in tears as the verdict was announced. She was comforted by her daughter Natalia, whose 13-year-old sister Gianna also died in the helicopter crash that killed the 41-year-old basketball superstar.

A court reporter for the website Law and Crime said that Bryant turned in her seat to look at the jury, mouthing the words ‘thank you’. She then hugged her lead lawyer, Luis Li.

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