Category: General

Six of the nine members of the ‘host’ gang are fighting to be released on bail in the Keetmanshoop Magistrate Court.

The accused persons appeared before Magistrate Erich Dandu on Friday, who postponed their case to 15 August for continuation of the bail application.

The accused persons who are seeking bail are 23-year-old Ronald Kaffer, Zane Mathys,20, Denzel Wolming,25, Michael Hendriks,19, Elton Kooper,26 and 26-year-old Jonathan Mathys.

At the start of the bail hearing last week, all accused persons indicated to the court that they are not flight risks as they intent to stand their trial, while some indicated that they are bread winners for their families.

The group was arrested in April this year and faces 18 charges ranging from theft, assault by threat, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, trespassing, robbery, malicious damage to property, impersonating a member of the police and contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

State representative, Lewis Chigunwe, at the start of the bail hearing said the State opposed the granting of bail because the State believes it has a strong case against the accused persons and it is not in the interest of the justice system for bail to be granted.

‘The State fears the accused persons will interfere with witnesses, I am told some escape the police cells to intimidated witnesses. If accused person are released on bail, they will definitely commit further offences and there is also a clear indication that they will not stand trial,’ stressed Chigunwe.

Other accused persons in the case are 23-year-old Brandon Dreyer, who remains in custody, and two minors who were released in the care of their guardians.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Executive Director (ED) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata has said that the body conditions of livestock in the ||Kharas and Hardap regions range from fair to poor.

In their Prospect, Food Security and Drought Situation report availed to Nampa on Friday, the ministry stated that livestock body condition is very poor around the Kalkrand area in the Hardap Region compared to the rest of the region.

“In the Omaheke Region, livestock is mostly in fair body condition in large stock and good to poor in small stock while in the Otjozondjupa Region, and in the southern areas where resettlement farmers are predominantly located, such as Versailles and Groot Aub, livestock conditions are fair in body conditions,” Nghituwamata said.

In the north-eastern regions, livestock body condition range between good to fair.

Meanwhile, in the same report, the ED stated that the overall water supply situation is a major concern in many areas of the country due to poor rainfall received for the season.

Nghituwamata stated that the water supply in the Otjozondjupa Region is fair with boreholes as the water source, however, boreholes are drying up and also need to be rehabilitated in areas such as Otjongombe, Okamboro and Okasuvandjiwo.

“In Erongo, the water situation remains critical especially for Utuseb, Omatjete, Otjimbingwe, Spitzkoppe and Uis areas, while in the Khomas Region, water is satisfactory with earth dams being the main sources,” she said.

She also said water availability in the Hardap and ||Kharas regions is fair. Still, areas such as Snyfontein and Warmbad in ||Kharas have salty water that is not fit for livestock and human consumption.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

A defense force that fits the greatness of Ethiopia and serves the country bravely is established, according to Prime Minster Abiy Ahmed.

Commandos and anti-terrorist special force members that have undergone rigorous training at Bilate Commando and Airborne Training Center graduated in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy today.

The premier congratulated the graduates for successfully completing the tough training given by the center.

The PM noted that a defense force that fits the greatness of Ethiopia and serves the country bravely is established.

According to him, the defense force has been paying sacrifice to make Ethiopia stand tall and firm.

He further stated that the main objective of the army is to deter war and ensure quick victory if it happens.

Ethiopia’s foremost desire is peace, the premier stressed, adding that this has not been confined to the country but also in peace keeping activities in different countries.

Abiy pointed out that Ethiopia has built a peace keeping force that can effectively meet the mission of keeping peace in Africa.

Ethiopia will make African brothers proud and be the guardian of its neighbors, he said.

The prime minister stated that Ethiopia will never be a source of war but a source of peace for all its neighbors.

“Ethiopia is a country that believes in the principles of negotiation, consultation and respect in everything it needs; but not a country that wants to bully its neighbors and seize things that it wants. Ethiopia is a country that has dignity, culture, loves others and stands for peace,” Abiy underscored.

The prime minister finally urged today’s graduates to always be ready to put their country and people first.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Armed with modern technology and equipped with military science and art, the National Defense Force is now in a strong position to protect the country, Field Marshal Berhanu Jula said.

The 41st round Zobel Course Commandos and Anti-terrorist Special Force members graduated in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed today.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Field Marshal Berhanu Jula said a modern army has been built based on the strategy of having a strong defense force.

According to him, a strong and modern army has been built to save Ethiopia from any force of destruction.

He also confirmed that the National Defense Force is armed with the latest technology and military science and art so as to protect the country.

Field Marshal Berhanu finally stressed that the National Defense Force is the last bastion of Ethiopia’s sovereignty.

The building of a modern army will continue, he pointed out.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The population of Bamenda have described the maintenance of road networks currently taking place in the town of City, as abnormal and untimely.

The reactions comes in at a time that authorities of the region are currently rehabilitating some stretches.

Rehabilitation work is currently taking place on the stretch from Miss Ngeng junction to City Chemist roundabout.

Speaking to CNA, road users say scrapping the old tar to replace with ground will be dangerous, especially with the dry season fast approaching.

“I don’t support what they are doing because I have never seen it anywhere that maintenance is done in the heart of a town with ground. The kind of dust we will experience during the dry season will be horrible,” a road user said.

Others have warned that the situation may lead to a lot of health problems.

“It has not been long they did the same thing on the road from Veterinary junction to Old Town. Only the dust that is coming out is terrible. It seems we are already in the dry season. All these is dangerous for our health,” a bike rider by name Ernest said.

Some taxi drivers are of the opinion that the roads won’t last, just like some sections that were rehabilitated some months back.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

At least seven persons have died and several others injured after a portion of the Zaria Central mosque collapsed on worshippers during prayers on August 11, 2023, in Zaria city, Kaduna State, Northeastern Nigeria.

The Council spokesman of Zaria Emirate Council, Abdullahi Kwarbai stated that the incident occurred as hundreds of faithful observed their afternoon prayers

“Four bodies were found initially, and then three others were found after the rescue team searched the collapsed mosque,” he said, local media, the cable news reported.

According to the state Emergency Management Agency, the 23 persons who were injured were taken to nearby hospitals by firefighters.

As part of the Muslim culture, the deceased were buried immediately, and the faithfuls returned to pray for their souls.

State officials revealed that the mosque was constructed in the 1830s.

The Governor of Kaduna state, Uba Sani has however ordered an immediate investigation into the disaster and promised to assist those affected by the incident, media reports said.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The executive committee of the Cameroon Football Federation met on Friday, August 11, and denounced CAF’s statement on “alleged improper conduct” by Samuel Eto’o.

While reiterating their support for the FECAFOOT president, the members expressed disappointment at the communique published by CAF on its website on August 9.

The confederation had said it was contacted by several Cameroonian stakeholders over the alleged “poor” management of the Cameroon Football Federation by Eto’o.

The executive committee members said such a declaration by CAF was “inappropriate” and aims at “tarnishing the image of Samuel Eto’o as well as that of the Cameroon Football Federation.”

“Consequently, the members of the executive committee of the Cameroon Football Federation invite CAF to be more prudent in the treatment of complaints submitted to its attention and call on the confederation to withdraw the said communique from its platforms” a section of the communique signed by first vice president Eko Celine read.

She indicated that the executive committee members are waiting for the elements of the complaints CAF said it received from “several Cameroonian stakeholders.”

Before the meeting held by the FECAFOOT executive committee, Eto’o’s lawyer, Elam Bony Privat, had also released a statement expressing shock at CAF’s communique which he said was “hasty”.

Source: Cameroon News Agency