National Agricultural Research Organization in Uganda (NARO) Boss Dead

The director general for National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) in Uganda is dead following her admission at one hospital in Nairobi in Kenya. She ascended to the chair of Director General in 2011 having replaced Dr Kyetere. The sixty year old made many changes in the organization which saw many support staff being transferred to different institutes and others leaving the organization. More information will be availed soon.

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Egypt political crisis under calamity: Anti-coup Alliance demands inquiry into deaths

A cluster of Anti-Coup Alliance calls for international analysis over the deaths of 36 protesters under police custody. This has forced cohorts of the deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to hold a formal investigation into the killing of 36 protesters in police custody while

Being transported in a police van. On addition to other horrific crimes committed by leaders of the 3rd of July coup". It’s said that the men were killed while being transferred to Abu Zaabal prison near Cairo in a convoy of about 600 detainees. The real account to the death is not yet addressed.  Since conflicting reports has it to what exactly lead to the deaths. "We approached the chief attorney and requested a commission be formed and as we speak, the chief prosecutor has not taken any steps." The group earlier alleged that their supporters were killed in cold blood, but Egyptian security forces said the protesters suffocated when tear gas was used to stop them from escaping.  The Anti-Coup Alliance leaders say that some of the bodies were seen at the morgue bore marks of violence. This statement blamed the military chief, General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Mohammed Ibrahim, the interior Minister, who is in charge of the police, for Sunday's incident. "The initial reports from the Interior Ministry said that armed attackers had attempted to free the prisoners. This was then amended to the fact that prisoners being transferred from a police station to another prison had overcome one of the escorts, and they had to be attacked to free that particular escort. "Then the version emerged that prisoners who were being transported from a police station or stations to another prison tried to escape, and tear gas was used which led to loss of life." 'Evidence of assassination'  the Anti-Coup Alliance had said it had "obtained evidence of the assassination of anti-coup detainees in a truck transferring them to Abu Zaabal prison". "They were reportedly assassinated in their truck with live ammunition and tear gas fired from windows." Abu Zabaal was the scene of a mass breakout of prisoners in 2011 as police abandoned their posts during protests against former President Hosni Mubarak. On Sunday, Anti-Coup protesters broke a military curfew to march through Cairo, as the latest violence added to the rising death toll in days of unrest. On Saturday alone, clashes between Morsi supporters and police killed 79 people, according to a government tally released on Sunday and carried by MENA, raising the death toll for four days of unrest across the country to more than 800 people killed. About 70 police officers were killed in clashes with protesters or retaliatory attacks during the same period, according to the interior ministry. The military of deposed Morsi on 3 July, saying that the army could not ignore the millions of protesters who had been demanding the resignation of Egypt's first democratically elected president.

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Luanda Angola’s capital is world’s most expensive city

Part of Luanda city

Luanda Angola’s capital has for the second time in three years been proclaimed the most expensive city world over for expats according to Mercer a renown human resources consulting firm. Luanda takes the lead from Tokyo which topped all cities last year.

The high cost of leaving in the South African country is attributed to Hotels which are said to be the visitor's biggest expense. Despite the booming construction in the city coupled with an increasing number of hotel construction, prices have generally remained high. For instance at about $500 one can spend a night for a five-star hotel, $370 for an average four-star and $325 for a medium level guesthouse. A meal in a good restaurant may go for $100 per person.

The exorbitantly high cost of leaving is however, not commensurate with peoples’ incomes. There is a colossal disparity between income levels. For instance, were as a mid-level expat professional might earn $ between $8,000-10,000 a month, a low income earning housemaid parts home with $300-500. In fact majority of the citizens cannot afford such services and basically stay in the suburbs of Luanda.  Angola relies mainly on the oil sectors with little domestic production. The former war ravaged country, had its economy crippled by the 27 year insurgency. The population was significantly annihilated during the rebellion leading to low domestic production. As a result most of the commodities used are imported from outside and the government heavily taxes them making survival very expensive.

There are however, a few affluent isolated populations in and around Luanda who can afford Escalades and Range Rovers. However, going by the number of people who can afford such expensive services, one would wonder where the demand for such expensive services comes from.

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Zimbabwe: Vote counting continues amid claims of rigging

voters in long cues

Vote counting and tallying by Zimbabwe’s electoral commission (ZEC) has entered the second day following Tuesday’s polls. Zim citizens yesterday voted in the country’s general election following the recent referendum which introduced presidential term limits.

Tuesday’s polls have been described as having been peaceful but largely compromised according to monitors. Morgan Tsvangirai, Mugabe’s challenger called the elections a "huge farce", just a day after his attempt to dislodge President Robert Mugabe from power.

The Movement for Democratic Change boss already cried foul on Thursday during a press conference saying that the election had been heavily manipulated and was below standards by any scale. Tsvangirai said "The shoddy manner in which it has been conducted and the consequent illegitimacy of the result will plunge this country into a serious crisis,”

"Its credibility has been marred by administrative and legal violations which affect the legitimacy of its outcome. It is a sham election that does not reflect the will of the people." He added.

Zimbabwe Election Support Network said on Thursday that Up to 1 million people was denied chance to vote due to their names missing from the register.

The spokesman for the Zanu-PF Rugare Gumbo, has however, dismissed claims of sham poll. He described the Zimbabwe Election Support Network as British and America’s sycophants. He asked "What do you expect from the Zimbabwe Election Support Network anyway?

"They are sponsored by the Americans and the British to destabilize our elections. As you could see for yourself yesterday's election was peaceful," Mr. Rugare said.

About information on Zanu PF twitter account claiming landslide victory in Wednesday's election, Gumbo said results were not official and that they were awaiting official results from ZEC who have the mandate to release electoral results by law. He further said "I am the national party spokesperson and I haven't said anything about election results. It's all hogwash”. "If it doesn't come out of my mouth, it is not credible." He added.

Another official from Zanu FP who did not want to reveal his identity said that Morgan Tsvangirai’s movement for Democratic change should accept the will of the people. He added that those were kicks of a dying horse and that MDC had been buried.

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Zimbwabe general election: I will leave if I lose says Mugabe

Zimbabweans cast their votes today Wednesday in Presidential, parliamentary and locals government elections as President Robert Mugabe battles with his Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.  The 89, has been in power for close to 34 years and seeks to extend his ZANU FP party dominance to 38 years in Zimbabwean politics.

The oldest president in Africa, Dr. Robert Matibire Karigamombe Mugabe in a rare twist has this time said he will relinquish power if he loses. He blamed the current economic crisis in Zimbabwe on the sanctions imposed on his government by western powers. Mugabe derided the West saying: "Keep your pink nose out of our affairs, please,” In the 2008 elections violence broke out after opposition leaders accused Mugabe of rigging the elections and he was later coerced to form a power-sharing government with Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change.

Voting started at 06:00 am and news reaching us indicates that people are cued up in long lines waiting to cast their ballots. Armed forces including the army and police voted early in a bid to beef-up security on the general day of elections. About 6.4 million Zimbabweans are eligible to vote according to ZEC.

The opposition has already indicated their mistrust for the electoral commission (ZEC) alleging that they are Mugabes allies ready to help him rig the elections.  Tsvangirai said: "There is clear evidence of manipulation," in poll preparations. He claimed ballot papers cast in his favor during early voting were discovered tossed in a bin. Tsvangirai also lambasted the ZEC saying that they had deliberately refused to display the final voter register having the actual number of voters. This he said would make it impossible for them to know the actual number of voters and also any tracking malpractices.

Rights groups have also accused the government of daunting and battering opposition supporters. The election comes after the referendum and the constitutional amendments that restored the presidential term limits. In this arrangement Mugabe is allowed to rule till when he is 99 at least theoretically.

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Morsi supporters defiant

The National Defense Council, warned on Sunday of what they called "firm and decisive" action against protesters who go on rampage. The council warned demonstrators of serious consequences if they went near any military installations. Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim the interior minister, has also repeatedly echoed his warning that the brotherhood would be dispersed "soon".  

Protesters have however, defied council’s order and moved towards the military installations, airport road and the interior minister's home. The state of Egypt is in calamity after continued riots and clashes since the removal of President Mohammed Morsi. The Muslim Brotherhood has called on their supporters to storm the city in sit in strikes opposing the manner in which their leader was deposed.

Morsi was ousted by the military on 3 July and his administration replaced by an interim government after large demonstrations against his rule.

Brotherhood supporters say they staged three marches on Monday morning. One is said to have targeted the headquarters of military intelligence. So far there are no reports of confrontation of military intervention.

Unconfirmed reports say the demonstrators marched around the installation for close to 15 minutes before retreat. Morsi supporters say they are planning a mega demonstration on Tuesday dubbed a "million-man march". Morsi supporters, have turned the mosque the central point of their escalating protests.

Several killings have happened with Saturday’s being the most recent ones. More than 70 people are said to have been killed in clashes with the security forces on Saturday.  There were more clashes elsewhere on Sunday, with two people killed in cities north of Cairo - Kafr el-Zayat and Port Said.

On Saturday, Mena state news agency reported that 10 Islamists were killed by the army in the Sinai Peninsula. In a related development, gunmen on Sunday night attacked and killed one soldier in the same region.

Several people have condemned the recent killings with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar mosque calling for an investigation. The vice-president of the interim government, Mohamed ElBaradei, admitted that military used excessive force.

John Kelly, US Secretary of State also condemned the killings calling on the authority in Egypt to "respect the right of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression".

Meanwhile, as more foreign pressure builds on Egypt, Catherine Ashton EU foreign policy Chief is said to be in Cairo. She is to meet leaders of Muslim Brotherhood, the head of the Egyptian armed forces, and interim President Adly Mansour.

She said in a statement that she would advocate for a "fully inclusive transition process, taking in all political groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood".

There is doubt whether the brotherhood will agree with the proposal as they continue to push for Morsi’s re-instating to office. They insist Morsi was unlawfully ousted and have since rejected the interim government.

Mr Morsi who has been detained in unknown location since 3 July, has now been formally remanded in jail, according to a court order. Him together with other senior brotherhood members have been accused of the 2001 jailbreak and "premeditated murder of some prisoners, officers and soldiers" in which he and several Muslim Brotherhood leaders were set free. They are jointly charged with Hamas and Hezbollah militants for the killings.

However, many have questioned the spirit of the charges saying that they could be politically motivated. Hamas have since denied any involvement in the attack. 

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2011 Jailbreak Charges labeled against Morsi

A judicial statement on Morsi’s detention has been formerly released following over a month since he was ousted from power. The former president is accused of having connived with Hamas militants, the Palestinian Army and Hezbollah to launch attacks on the country’s prison in 2011 freeing prisoners including Brotherhood leaders like him. Together with other Muslim brotherhood members they are accused of premeditated killing of police officers, soldiers and prisoners.

The order issued on early morning on Friday is the first official communication on Mr Morsi's judicial status since he was removed from power. Morsi has been ordered jailed for an initial 15 days.  The Islamist has been kept at an undisclosed location since his removal through bloodless military coup on 3rd July. Egypt’s military overthrew the country’s first ever fairly and democratically elected civilian president after days of mass demonstrations.  

The claims have been rubbished by the the Muslim Brotherhood described them as laughable. They added that what is shown makes the return of the old regime.

Ther is no statement from the co-accused parties regarding the judiciary’s claims that Morsi and his Muslim brotherhood colluded with foreign elements to break jails and release prisoners.

Mr Morsi's supporters are holding a mass rally in Cairo to show their dissatisfaction with the manner in which their beloved was removed and to demand his re-instating.  A counter demonstration is expected as this week, the head of the military Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, called for parallel mass demonstrations Friday to support the country's armed forces. He particularly called brotherhood's opponents to turn out to support the new government and protest what he called terrorism.

Following the bloodless coup, prosecution opened an investigation into allegations that Morsi and senior Muslim Brotherhood leaders fomented violence. However, the labeled charges disclosed on Friday are investigation into the jailbreak from Wadi-Natroun prison in the days after Egypt's 2011 revolution was initiated two weeks ago. It is alleged that during the incident, 19 Brotherhood members escaped from the prison, including Morsi.

Ever since the coup, several Muslim Brotherhood leaders have been arrested including eight leading Freedom and Justice Party icons.  Muslim brotherhood spokesman said that the arrests were politically motivated and unlawful.

Meanwhile UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon has called for the unconditional immediate release of Morsi and other apprehended leaders or that their cases be expedited transparently delay.

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Egypt's rival rallies turn deadly

Ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi Supporters and opponents have clashed in central and north parts of Cairo the capital, throwing rocks at each other as security forces fired tear gas and several rounds of bullets to try to disperse them, witnesses said. The clashes which started a few days ago have turned violent and threat to turn into a civil war said one of the political analysts.

By yesterday the clash, had claimed four lives, one of the dead was killed on the outskirts of Tahrir Square, a hot seat for anti-Morse demonstrators throughout the protests and the three were killed in Qalyoub City. Though the source of bullets could not be claimed by either the military or the rioters, it is clear that all factions seem to be heavily armed. 

Since the 1952 July 23 anniversary was on. It created an avenue  for Adly Mansour, Egypt's interim president address the nation and re-iterate appeals for reconciliation, without outlining solid terms for how that could be achieve. "We want to turn a new page in the country’s book with no hatred, no malice, no division," he said in a per-recorded speech that also highlighted the importance of the army in Egypt's history. 

As violence worsened, two people in Qalyoub had been killed by gunfire and the third was hit by a train while fleeing the violence .since July 16 tremor, it has been noted that 27 people have been injured 7 dead and three under critical condition while 7 Morsi support's have also been arrested.

Daily protests

The violence started when several hundred pro-Morsi protesters were marching towards the US Embassy to hold a demonstration against alleged American meddling in Egypt's affairs, the official said.

Since Morsi was deposed on July 3, The Muslim Brotherhood has staged daily protests across the country demanding his reinstatement. The violence was initially peaceful not until several hundred pro-Morsi protesters marched towards the US Embassy to hold a demonstration against alleged American meddling in Egypt's affairs, the official said. The march passed an entrance to Tahrir Square manned by anti-Morsi protesters, and the two sides pelted each other with rocks. Gunfire was heard, but it was not clear who was firing.

Armored vehicles moved and blocked the road, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press

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Family accuses Egypt army of kidnapping Morsi

Morsi family speaks

 Since Morsi’s fall on July 3, his family has broken silence for the very first time to accuse the country’s military of “kidnapping" him, it holds the military responsible for his safety and security. The overthrown president's daughter, Shaimaa, read out the statement at a news conference in Cairo which asserted that;

 Morsi has been held incommunicado at a hidden location since the military coup.

"We are taking local and international legal measures against Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the leader of the bloody military coup, and his accomplices," Shaimaa Morsi told reporters.

Morsi has been held incommunicado at a undisclosed location since the military coup. Government officials have said he is safe and is being held for his own protection.

 Osama one of presidents Morsi’s son, described his father's confinement as the "embodiment of the abduction of popular will and a whole nation," and said the family would take all legal actions to end his unlawful detention.

"What happened is a crime of kidnapping our father," said Osama.

"I can't find any legal means to have access to him.

"We warn Abdel-Fatah el-Sissi and his coup leaders against harming the life, health or safety of the legitimate president and our father."

Morsi supporters have pressed on demonstrating since July 3.  Thousands of His loyalist have crowded Cairo rabaa al adawiya square for over three weeks  demanding his restoration and denouncing of general Abdel F Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief behind his overthrow. 

U.S. denies meddling into Egypt’s affairs

Meanwhile the US embassy in Cairo has issued a statement distancing them from the coup that saw Morsi out of power. The statement affirms that the rumours are fabricated and completely untrue. The US government has been caught up in Egypt’s turmoil with the rival factions accusing it for meddling in the country’s affairs. Several Brotherhood leaders have come out to blame the US for deposing their leader. On Monday, a senior Brotherhood figure escalated the campaign against the United States, calling on protesters to "besiege" the embassy and expel the ambassador. Essam el-Erian, deputy head of the Brotherhood's political party also said Monday, "the American role in the coup is very clear and no one can hide." "I call upon all the masses of the Egyptian people to besiege the embassies until they leave," he said at a meeting of some 100 other Islamist former lawmakers from the now-disbanded upper house of parliament, which under Morsi was the only legislative body.

Fresh clashes in Egypt

After the mobilizations several hundred Morsi supporters tried to march toward the U.S. Embassy in order to seize it. As they passed near Tahrir Square, where Morsi opponents have been camped out, stone-throwing clashes broke out between the two sides. Several gunshots were also heard though it was not clear how many deaths resulted, but at least one was confirmed dead and four wounded in the fight.

Security forces barricaded the road with an armored vehicle and fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse the pro-Morsi march. More clashes were heard of in Suez city and Alexandria. 

In addition to the demonstration in Cairo, pro-Morsi protesters also held gatherings in Suez, Alexandria, Fayoum, Minya, Bani Suef, Mansoura, El-Arish and Ismailia. 

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