Martinez Zogo: One year after his death, what next?Grand Welcoming Ceremony Held for Second Generation EthiopiansNational Assembly launches 2023-2027 Strategic Plan

A year after the gruesome murder of journalist Martinez Zogo, authorities in Cameroon are yet to fully shed light on the circumstances surrounding his kidnapping, torture, and killing. Martinez was 50 years old when his body was found on an empty plot of land in Ebogo, a locality in Yaounde, Cameroon, on 22 January 2023. He had left his radio station, Amplitude FM, at about 8 PM on 17 January. People saw a group of men in a black Toyota Prado follow his car as he drove quickly to a nearby Gendarmerie brigade. But the gate was closed, his car was hit by the Prado, and the journalist was spirited away. Five days later, his naked corpse was found dumped on the outskirts of the capital. Following Zogo's abduction and killing, authorities arrested several people, including two key suspects, Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, and Léopold Maxime Eko Eko. However, the military court in charge of the matter has yet to conclude its investigation. One of the suspects, Amougou Belinga is a businessman and media tycoon who owns the newspaper L'Anecdote and TV channels Vision 4 and Telesud while Maxim Eko Eko is the director of the state external intelligence service. On December 1, a leaked military court document showed that a release order was allegedly signed by Justice Sikati II Kamo, ordering the pair's release from continued detention. However, Justice Kamo denied the report as 'false information'. A few days later, the judge was replaced by another magistrate. Consequently, in less than ten months, two judges working on the Martinez Zogo investigation have been removed and replaced by the authorities. This has not only derailed the investigation and the court proceedings but has raised concerns about interference by the authorities in the case, casting doubt on the independence of the judicial system in Cameroon. Recently, reports said that another public official, Stéphane Martin Savom, mayor of Bibey municipality, in the center of Cameroon, was summoned for interrogation, plus other alleged suspects in connection wi th the case. The investigation into the murder of Zogo is believed to hold considerable suspense, given the implication already of top public figures and close allies to rival political clans in the country. However, family members of the late host of the 'Embouteillage program', organized a mass on January 17, 2024, to pay him homage, followed by Amplitude's staff on January 18, 2024, while they wait for the government to get hold of Martinez's murders. Source: Cameroon News Agency The Addis Ababa City Administration in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ethiopian Diaspora Service organized an official welcoming ceremony for the Second-Generation Ethiopians at Friendship Park today. It is to be recalled that the premier invited the second-generation diaspora to come to their origin in three rounds from 30th December 2023 to the end of September 2024 under the theme 'Back to your origins.' The first-round homecoming under the motto "Connect to Your Culture" began from 30 December 2023 and ends on 29 January 2024. As part of the first round of the invitation, Ethiopian Diasporas from across the globe are arriving in Addis Ababa. An official welcoming ceremony has been conducted today for the Second-Generation Ethiopians at Friendship Park today. This event marks official welcoming of the first phase Ethiopians abroad returning to their homeland. Speaking on the event, Addis Ababa City Administration Mayor Adanech Abiebie officially welco med them inviting to know Ethiopia well and contribute to their homeland where they should certainly be proud of to invite others visit it. The Mayor lauded their courage in choosing to experience Ethiopia firsthand, defying inaccurate portrayals often disseminated through social media and certain media outlets. Tourism Minister, Nasise Chali highlighted Ethiopia's wealth of stunning destinations and dives experiences just waiting to be discovered, including the Ethiopian Epiphany festivity set to be celebrated this weekend. The minister urged the returning Ethiopians to become ambassadors of their homeland, sharing its beauty and immense resources with the world. Source: Ethiopian News Agency WINDHOEK: The National Assembly on Thursday launched the 2023 to 2027 Strategic Plan in the capital. The National Assembly provides an important platform for members of parliament to discuss Government policy, propose new legislation, amend or repeal outdated laws, amend the Constitution, or discuss other topics of national interest. Speaking at the launch, Peter Katjavivi, Speaker of the National Assembly, said, 'The National Assembly has been unwavering in its pursuit to rekindle the agenda for change as envisioned by our founding fathers and mothers. Over the next five years, our focus will be on two strategic pillars: first, enhancing the effectiveness of legislation, oversight, and representation, and secondly; elevating service delivery. These pillars are designed to position the National Assembly not only to implement its mandate effectively, but also to embody our mission and perform our core functions, underpinned by values of accountability, integrity, patriotism, inclusivity and teamwork.' Refle cting on the 2018-2020 Strategic Plan, Katjavivi expressed joy at the substantial advancements in integrating information and communication technology. He noted that the successful rollout of the first phase of the e-Parliament initiative marks a significant milestone. The Director of Committee Services at the National Assembly, Joyce Nakuta, said at the event that, 'as a constitutional democracy, our focus is people-centred; our mission is to provide effective and efficient support services to members of the National Assembly to enable them to execute their constitutional duties of legislation and representation in the best interest of the people of Namibia. Our core value is patriotism; we take pride in devoting ourselves as the National Assembly to the diversity of Namibia and our devotion to the people of Namibia.' The strategy's implementation arrangement is spearheaded by the Speaker's Roundtable, bringing together the secretariat and key stakeholders including the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Elec toral Commission of Namibia, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Public Service Commission, and numerous civil society organizations, with the aim of fostering accountability. Source: The Namibia Press Agency