15 March 2015 — Pambazuka News

The authoritative electronic weekly newsletter and platform for social justice in Africa

Pambazuka News is delivered free to you with the support of donations from Friends of Pambazuka.

KEEP PAMBAZUKA FREE AND INDEPENDENT! BECOME A FRIEND OF PAMBAZUKA NOW!
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/friends.php

Follow Pambazuka #PambazukaNews

Pambazuka News (English edition): ISSN 1753-6839

CONTENTS: 1. Features, 2. Announcements, 3. Comment & analysis, 4. Advocacy & campaigns, 5. Books & arts, 6. Letters & Opinions

////////////////////////////////////
1 Features
THE UNITED NATIONS AND LIBYA: AGAIN
Horace G. Campbell

Another multinational military deployment in Libya is being suggested,
following the spread of ISIS violence to parts of that country. But the
world must not be railroaded into another UN-supported deployment of troops
to back Western military and economic interests in Libya. There should be
clear opposition to proxy wars in Libya and for the UN to expose and expel
Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia from their mischief-making in Libya.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/94140
******

CHILDREN OF SA LIBERATION ICONS CONDEMN ISRAELI APARTHEID
Relatives of Mandela, Kathrada, Sisulu, Dadoo, Naude, Chikane and other
stalwarts speak out

It is the Israeli Apartheid Week in South Africa. The children of
celebrated liberation heroes have come out to support the boycott,
divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel, denouncing the Jewish
state’s brutal colonial occupation of Palestine. The campaign is supported
by 85 South African organizations and institutions.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/94130
******

WHY IS AU SITTING ON SOUTH SUDAN INQUIRY REPORT?
Civil society groups ask for release and disemmination of findings to aid
peace process

A coalition of 76 civil society organisations from within and outside
Africa has written to the African Union seeking immediate publication of
the report of the AU Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan (AUCISS), whose
findings they believe will make a critical contribution to the the peace
process in the war-torn nation.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/94138
******

LIFE SENTENCE FOR FIGHTING AFRICA’S LAST COLONIAL POWER
Peter Kenworthy

A life-sentence in prison, torture and no medical treatment is the price
Sidahmed Lemjayed and 22 of his fellow Saharawis have had to pay for
fighting for independence and against the exploitation of resources in
their homeland, Western Sahara.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/94141
******

RWANDA GENOCIDE: REACTION TO ALEX ODORA-OBOTE’S REPLY TO ERLINDER AND BLACK
Chief Charles A. Taku

Debate about the quest for justice following the Rwandan genocide of 20
years ago continues. A former defence counsel at the International Criminal
Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) adds his voice, responding especially to former
Prosecution official Alex Odora-Obote’s defence of the Tribunal.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/94128
******

TANZANIA’S POLITICS AND JANUARY MAKAMBA’S QUEST FOR THE PRESIDENCY
Evans Rubara

Tanzania’s general elections are set for October 2015 and the liberation
party CCM that has ruled since independence already has 20 presidential
aspirants. One of them is the young and ambitious January Makamba, whose
announcement to stand for presidency has caused some excitement in the
land. What chances does he have?
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/94127
******

CRICKET, THE WAR GAME
Image: Courtesy India Engineers Cricket Club http://www.ieccjapan.com
Douglas Schorr

As the British Empire travelled around the globe, annexing land and
enslaving people, bloodshed was always closely followed by cricket. It is
for this reason that cricket has the power to bring people and nations
together and it is for this reason that this legacy, left behind in the
greedy and brutal pursuit of power and wealth, can be considered a gift.
The Cricket World Cup is under way in Australia and New Zealand, 14
February – 28 March, 2015.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/94129
******

////////////////////////////////////
2 Announcements
IRRI RIGHTS IN EXILE NEWSLETTER: MARCH ISSUE

The November issue of the International Refugee Rights Initiative’s Refugee
Legal Aid Newsletter (formerly the Fahamu Refugee Legal Aid Newsletter) is
out. Find the full newsletter here ( http://rightsinexile.tumblr.com/ ) .
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/announce/94136
******

AFRICAN HIGHER EDUCATION SUMMIT: REVITALIZING HIGHER EDUCATION FOR AFRICA’S
FUTURE

The Summit in Dakar, Senegal, March 10-12, 2015 seeks to build a movement
of like-minded institutions to transform the African higher education
sector.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/announce/94067
******

////////////////////////////////////
3 Comment & analysis
ELECTRICITY COMPANY OF GHANA A VICTIM OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES
Yao Graham

The Ghanaian government’s failure to pay its bills has affected the ability
of the country’s national power to provide electricity to its customers,
despite Ghana’s much-touted participation in the Millenium Challenge
Compact. It is time to demand accountability.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/94133
******

GERMAN LESSONS FOR AN UNSTABLE AND DESTABILIZING KAGAME REGIME
An open letter to the German Foreign Minister
Theogene Rudasingwa

The German Foreign Minister recently visited Africa and described Rwanda as
an “anchor for stability”. On the contrary, the true characterization of
President Paul Kagame’s ruling clique is that the last 20 years have been a
reign of terror with a distorted and deceptive narrative that criminalizes
and marginalizes Hutus in particular and all his opponents in general.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/94143
******

HOW TO PLANT A BILLION TREES IN MOROCCO
Yossef Ben-Meir

A billion indigenous trees of different varieties hold the potential to
significantly reduce widespread poverty among Morocco’s farming
communities. The government is establishing community tree nurseries. It is
an initiative that the people should wholeheartedly embrace.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/94124
******

INTERESTING, THIS SHUTDOWN OF SOME KENYAN TV STATIONS
Susan Onyango

Four top TV stations have been off air for about three weeks following a
dispute with Kenya’s telecommunications regulator over digital migration.
The plight of these mainstream media outlets has attracted little sympathy
from the public, as Kenyans are increasingly losing confidence in corporate
media as reliable allies in their democratic struggles.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/94126
******

NIKE DESECRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH SPECIAL SHOE
Avis Jones-DeWeever

For the past decade, Nike has used this annual sacred period of remembrance
as nothing more than a marketing tool to sell even more of its obscenely
overpriced athletic shoes. But this year the annual release of its Black
History Month line of sneakers and apparel was met with righteous
indignation.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/94137
******

PRESIDENT LUNGU NEEDS TO TOLERATE DISSENT
Henry Kyambalesa

Just over a month after being elected president on Jan 20, Zambia’s new
head of state has said he will crush members of the ruling party who will
not be happy with his decisions. A Zambian commentator finds this threat
disturbing.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/94132
******

SOUTH AFRICA’S NEW FOOD AND NUTRITION POLICY FAILS TO ADDRESS
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FOOD
Busiso Moyo

The proposed food policy shies away from confronting capital interests
within the food value-chain. Apart from acknowledging that the emerging
agricultural sector is in need of assistance, the policy is silent on the
influence of big-business in the food system.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/94125
******

US IMPERIALIST MILITARISM BREEDS INSTABILITY IN AFRICA
Training exercises coordinated by the Pentagon take place again on the
continent
Abayomi Azikiwe

Following increased ISIS violence in Libya, the Egyptian President Abdel
Fatah Al Sisi, a US ally, has called for intervention by the “international
community”. But another aggressive Pentagon-NATO operation in Libya would
be just as disastrous as the war of regime-change in 2011.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/94134
******

////////////////////////////////////
4 Advocacy & campaigns
BASSEM EID: PALESTINE DENOUNCES PRO-ISRAEL ACTIVIST IN SA
Press release of the Embassy of Palestine

Man claiming to be a human rights activist is currently in South Africa as
a guest of the pro-Israeli lobby. His agenda is to undermine the current
nationwide 11th international Palestine solidarity campaign, Israeli
Apartheid Week.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/94135
******

OAU AUTHORITIES SHOULD REINSTATE VICTIMIZED STUDENT ACTIVISTS

The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR), Osun State Chapter
hereby calls on the authorities and Prof. ‘Tale Omole-led administration of
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife to reinstate six student
activists currently under politically motivated suspension.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/94139
******

SIERRA LEONE :HOW WERE EBOLA FUNDS USED? MOVEMENT WANTS A REPORT

Movement for Social Progress calls for full investigation of Ebola funds,
free health care for all citizens and nation to properly remember medical
personal who died fighting Ebola.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/94142
******

////////////////////////////////////
5 Books & arts
EXISTENTIAL MAXIMS: A REVIEW OF LAMNYAM’S ‘STRIVE TO BE HAPPY’
Peter Wuteh Vakunta

‘Strive to be Happy’ is an inspirational work replete with didactic
messages. Throughout this book Lamnyam’s voice sounds like that of a quiet
peace-maker calling for non-resistance as a modus operandi needed to ward
off the pangs of pain occasioned by social injustice, exploitation and
disenfranchisement.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/books/94131
******

////////////////////////////////////
6 Letters & Opinions
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE
Nicholas Meitiaki Soikan

The constitution of Kenya places great importance on citizen participation
in their governance. Under the devolved system, county governments should
do everything they can to ensure citizen’s voices are taken into account in
decision-making process.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/letters/94144
******

////////////////////////////////////

Fahamu – Networks For Social Justice
http://www.fahamu.org

Pambazuka News is published by Fahamu Ltd.

(c) Unless otherwise indicated, all materials published are licensed under
a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0
Unported License. For further details see:
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/about.php

Pambazuka news can be viewed online: English language edition (
http://www.pambazuka.org/en )
Edicao em lingua Portuguesa ( http://www.pambazuka.org/pt )
Edition francaise ( http://www.pambazuka.org/fr )
RSS Feeds available at http://www.pambazuka.org/en/newsfeed.php

Pambazuka News is published with the support of a number of funders,
details of which can be obtained here (
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/about.php ) .

To SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE go to:
http://pambazuka.gn.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pambazuka-news
or send a message to editor@pambazuka.org with the word SUBSCRIBE or
UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line as appropriate.

The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily
represent those of Pambazuka News or Fahamu.

With around 2,600 contributors and an estimated 600,000 readers, Pambazuka
News is the authoritative pan-African electronic weekly newsletter and
platform for social justice in Africa providing cutting edge commentary and
in-depth analysis on politics and current affairs, development, human
rights, refugees, gender issues and culture in Africa.

Order cutting-edge climate titles from Pambazuka Press:

‘Earth Grab: Geopiracy, the New Biomassters and Capturing Climate Genes (
http://fahamubooks.org/book/?GCOI=90638100969040 ) ‘ – OUT NOW

To Cook a Continent: Destructive Extraction and the Climate Crisis in Africa ( http://fahamubooks.org/book/?GCOI=90638100628980 ) – OUT NOW

* Pambazuka News is on Twitter. By following ‘@pambazuka’ on Twitter you can receive headlines from our ‘Features’ and ‘Comment & Analysis’ sections as they are published, and can even receive our headlines via SMS. Visit our Twitter page for more information:
http://twitter.com/pambazuka.

* Pambazuka News has a Del.icio.us ( http://Del.icio.us/ ) page, where you can view the various websites that we visit to keep our fingers on the pulse of Africa! Visit http://delicious.com/pambazuka_news.

End of Pambazuka-news Digest, Vol 348, Issue 2
**********************************************