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Showing posts with label latest news in Africa. Show all posts
Monday, April 8, 2013
Richest Countries in Africa According to their GDP
For those who don't know, Gross domestic product (GDP) is the “Total market value of the goods and services produced by a nation’s economy during a specific period of time.
GDP is customarily reported on an annual basis (yearly). It is defined to include all final goods and services – that is, those that are produced by the economic resources located in that nation regardless of their ownership and are not resold in any form.
While 'Per Capita' is commonly and usually used in the field of statistics in place of saying “for each person” or “per person”.
Now to the list:
1. Equatorial Guinea – GDP per capita: $30,200
2. Botswana – GDP per capita: $15,800
3. Gabon – GDP per capita: $14,900
4. Libya – GDP per capita: $14,900
5. Mauritius – GDP per capita: $12,400
6. South Africa – GDP per capita: $10,400
7. Angola – GDP per capita: $9,100
8. Tunisia – GDP per capita: $8,000
9. Algeria – GDP per capita: $7,100
10. Egypt – GDP per capita: $5,500
For those wondering where Nigeria is on the list or why she is not on the top 10.... Well that's because according to Wikipedia her GDP is $2500. After some people would say she is the 'GIANT OF AFRICA'
Thursday, April 4, 2013
DSTV ACCIDENTLY AIRS NELSON MANDELA’S OBITUARY
Universal Networks International has released an apology after the erroneous broadcast of Nelson Mandela’s obituary on DStv’s Universal Channel on Tuesday night...
Universal, which is broadcast on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV platform, says the feature about Mandela - who is very much alive - was broadcast due to a "technical error".
In the statement, Universal Networks blames its technical team for this embarrassing blunder, which was aired while SA’s much-loved Madiba spends some time in hospital for complications with a recurring lung infection. According to Mandela’s doctors, he is making progress in his recovery.
"Like any international broadcaster, Universal Networks holds obituaries ready for every major statesman in the word," reads the apologetic statement by the red-faced owners of the Universal Channel.
“Universal Networks wishes to offer a sincere and heartfelt apology for the airing of such an announcement for Nelson Mandela, which broadcast last night (Tuesday 2nd April) on the Universal Channel due to a technical error by our team.”
“We unreservedly apologise to the Mandela family, to Universal Channel viewers and to DStv subscribers for the alarm and offense caused by this error.
“Our thoughts and best wishes are with Madiba and his family for a speedy and full recovery.”
Sunday, March 24, 2013
8 Years Old Boy Who Married 61 Yrs Old Mama, Now Living As Husband
Settling down for a relaxing night in with his new bride of 61, eight-year-old Sanele Masilela says married life is child’s play.
The schoolboy stunned the world by wedding Helen Shabangu in Tshwane, South Africa.
He claims his dead grandad asked him to wed the mum-of-five, who already has a husband, from beyond the grave.
Although the union is not legally binding, Sanele says he does think of himself as married.
He added: “The day was great, exactly what I had imagined.
My friends thought it was really funny I was getting married but I do now feel like a husband.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
How TB Joshua Delivered Ghanian Musician Denise Williams...
Denise Williams, former group leader of RnM (winners of the maiden edition of the Vodafone Icons) has revealed that popular Television Evangelist, TB Joshua has saved her from a possessed world of confusion, prostitution and drug abuse.
She admitted that she was lost until a friend took her to TB Joshua’s popular church, the Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN). According to her, many men offered to have sexual relationships with her in order to advance her dreams of having a successful music career before, during and after the various singing competitions she had participated in.
The talented singer added that when she finally won Vodafone Icons with RnM, with all the promise that came with it, her personal devils led her astray. “Something came in me and said leave them alone.
They are holding you back, why don’t you just pursue your solo career and I just left those girls and those girls have moved on, they are elevating, great things are happening to them and I start singing at another karaoke bar again. So I am not moving forward anymore” she said.
She also revealed that she attempted suicide severally with no success and admitted that it was the grace of God. “I attempted suicide more than three or four times and I wouldn’t die because every time I tried someone will come and find me and save me from it.
I’m saved, I’m healed, I’m delivered, I’m happy” she added. She indicated that she wasn’t the same Denise any more as her life had been transformed. She assured the pastors of SCOAN that she was a baby in Christ and wanted God to direct her in her music career. Denise has been on several singing competitions including Idols West Africa and Vodafone Icons: Mixed edition.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Lagos, Abuja Among Top 4 Most Expensive Cities In Africa
Lagos and Abuja have been listed among the top four cities in Africa with high cost of living, according to an index released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on 25 African cities.
The key results of cost of living per city by the EIU reveal that Abuja is the second most expensive city with total expenditure score of 107.4, next to Luanda with a score of 131.8, while Lagos comes fourth with 100.8 total expenditure, as Addis Ababa came last with a score of 60.8.
A breakdown of the index shows that Abuja emerged number 12 out of 25 cities, in terms of consumption of alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics, scoring 78.3, while Lagos scored 63.8 to emerge number 21 of the cities that consume same.
Meanwhile, Khartoum in Sudan comes tops on the list of cities with highest consumption of alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics, scoring 121.3. On the other hand, Douala in Cameroon ranked last of the 25 cities sampled with 46.9 consumption rate.
In terms of transport, Lagos and Abuja emerged 15 and 22 out of the 25 cities, scoring 107.5 and 91.7, respectively. Top in the list is Abidjan with 172.0 score spent on transportation, while Alexandra in Egypt came last with a score of 71.7.
According to the EIU, per capita expenditure is higher in each of the sampled cities, as the index indicates that citizens in cities spend 94.4 percent more, per capita, than their counterparts in the countryside.
“Africa is urbanising fast and cities are attracting more and more migrants. As a result, we are witnessing the emergence of “super cities”- each bringing considerable opportunities. The demographic profile of these cities can be much different than the national level picture,” the EIU notes in the survey.
Africa’s growth is becoming more diverse as a result, companies are more interested than ever in expanding into Africa, it says further.
A recent survey conducted by The Economist Group of 217 global companies based in 45 countries reveals that expansion in Africa is a priority for two thirds of them within the next decade.
EIU’s key result of expenditure per capita differs markedly across cities. For instance, US$/per capita expenditure of Abuja and Lagos are 2,185 and 2,159, respectively, in terms of total expenditure on all items.
Johannesburg in South Africa emerged number one of the cities with highest US$/per capita expenditure, scoring 7,436, while Dar es Salam in Tanzania spend is lowest, scoring 572 US$/per capita expenditure.
A breakdown of the US$/per capital expenditure indicates that Lagos and Abuja scored 4 and 3, respectively, in terms of spend on alcoholic beverages and tobacco.
In the area of transport, US$/per capita expenditure of Abuja and Lagos stood at 157 and 147, respectively. Tripoli in Libya emerged the top most city with 1,780 US$/per capita expenditure on transport, while Lusaka in Zambia is at the bottom of the list with 31.
Even though, it says challenges remain, which include corruption, poor roads, inefficient border posts, inadequate railway networks, poor skill base, congested ports, and unwitting airports, among others.
To the EIU, to expand, companies need Africa city-level data and analysis, as “companies looking to expand into Africa want to concentrate their strategy where growth and demographics are most favourable – in major cities. It is not enough to plan a strategy around nationally-forecasted growth, but rather to have critical forecasting and business information on a particular city.”
The Economist Intelligence Unit also notes that 25 African cities present best opportunities for growth - based on key economic drivers, client feedback and a survey of economists.
In Corporate Network members, the EIU identifies 25 African cities (across 19 countries) that are of particular interest. The EIU collects and analyses the data needed to support the case and strategy for market entry.
Friday, March 8, 2013
2 school pupils turn into baboons as teacher gives them bangles from church
THOUSANDS of people yesterday thronged Hatcliffe Number 1 Primary School where two Grade 5 pupils reportedly turned into baboons after being given rings and bracelets by their class teacher.
Some scaled the pre-cast wall while others climbed up trees to catch a glimpse of the pupils. Police officers battled to control the crowd that was baying for the teacher's blood. Other teachers, the two minors and their parents were driven to Borrowdale Police Station. Residents demanded that the school headmaster, identified as Ms Khoza, release the teacher, who was only identified as Mr Bhuru, so that they could deal with him.
Some parents immediately withdrew their children from the school. Two women traded blows after one accused the other of pulling her in the melee. The pair was immediately arrested. People at the school said the incident happened after the teacher gave the two minors (names withheld) white bracelets and rings on Wednesday.
"They were locked in the class' storeroom by Mr Bhuru who went to his house during the break. He forced them to wear the rings and bracelets saying it would make them brilliant in school," the sources said.
"He stopped them from going for break and said he would open the door for them afterwards. While inside, we peeped through the window and were surprised to see the other child had bitten off his nails and fingertips. He started writing on the window of the storeroom with the blood oozing from his fingers before he started sucking it off his hands. At the same time, they developed hairs on their hands and had long canine teeth. The teacher returned and we saw he had developed scales like those of a fish."
Mr Masimba Charubva expressed concern over the surge in Satanism scares in schools.
"Many things have been happening of late regarding the issue of Satanism. The ministry must do something about it because we are scared something worse will happen to our children. Government as a whole must do something over these new churches. We are no-longer feeling comfortable with the rate the so-called prophets have been performing miracles," he said.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Tariro Dube confirmed the skirmishes.
"It started after pupils raised speculations that a teacher gave the pupils bangles from UFI. The teacher said he gave them as motivation before various versions of the incident started generating from the spectators. Parents got wind of that and wanted to assault the teacher before the headmistress intervened and hid him. The police took parents and the teacher for discussions."
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Ghanaian Footballer Bathed With Acid (PICTURED)
Amoah, a miner, committed the act at 12:30pm on November 11, 2012 at Manso Kwabenaso in the Amansie West District, shortly after the complainant's arrival in the community to join his teammates.
Amoah was remanded in prison custody when he appeared before a circuit court in Bekwai presided over by Daniel Kwaku Obeng on Monday.
Kwasi Amoah, also 29, was caged to re-appear on March 20, 2013 after pleading not guilty to the charge of assault and causing harm.
The miner lost his cool that afternoon and subsequently launched the deadly attack on the footballer, who had joined his teammates in his manager's residence where the accused was a tenant.
Beeko, who lost an eye due to the incident, is still on admission at the St. Martin's Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum where he was rushed to for treatment.
The prosecutor, Detective Sergeant Stephen Ofori, informed the court that Yaw Beeko became a victim of the unfortunate incident while he was washing his apparel shortly after his arrival in the community.
According to him, the complainant, on November 11, 2012, lodged into the residence of his team manager to await a football match between his team and another at Manso-Kwabenaso.
Upon arrival, prosecution stated, Beeko decided to wash his clothes as they were dirty due to the dusty road leading to the community.
Sergeant Ofori narrated that the accused person, who was a tenant in the house, emerged and confronted the complainant, accusing him of flirting with his (Amoah's) wife.
Amoah, who was armed with concentrated acid in a Tampico container, immediately poured the fluid on the complainant's face and body without verifying if the rumour was true or not.
Prosecution added that the aggressive man, apparently not satisfied with his action, chased Amoah, who was running from danger.
Sergeant Ofori said it took the intervention of people around to save the victim.
The case was later reported to the police, while the victim was taken to the St. Martin's Hospital at Agroyesum.
The suspect was later arrested and charged with the offence after police investigations
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Photo Story of the Day... (Blood Drinking Warrior)
Suri tribal warrior from Omo Valley, Ethiopia drinking cow blood as his morning breakfast. Cattle are enormously important to the Suri. They do not see cattle simply as a material asset but as a life-sustaining and meaningful companion. Suri even sing songs in praise of their cattle and make fires to warm them. They even mourn their cattle when they die.
Cows also have a social and symbolic meaning in Suri’s society.
Suri men are judged on how much cattle they own. In desperate times, Suri men can risk their lives to steal cattle from other tribes. Cattle ownership bring status; when two Suri meet they'll ask each other how many cows they have. Cows are a store of wealth to be traded, and a source of milk and blood which the Suri drink daily.
Bleeding a cow is more efficient than slaughtering it for meat, and blood can be drawn during the dry season when there's less milk. An animal can be bled once a month, from the jugular.
The animals aren't generally sold or killed for meat, though they are slaughtered for certain ceremonies. They are treated with reverence. Fires are lit to keep them warm and to protect against insect bites, they are covered with ash. Every boy is given a young bull to look after when he reaches the age of 8, and his friends call him the name of his bull.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
BIZARRE! 8 Year-Old Boy Marries 61-Year-Old Woman - PHOTO
About 100 people were witness to a most unusual wedding at the weekend.
The bride was 61 years old and the groom was an eight-year-old boy! Both families were present at the wedding of Sanele Masilela (8.) and Helen Shabangu (61) and the bride's husband and her five children were also at the wedding in Zimbabwe.
The boy's aunt, Patience Masilela (46), explained why the wedding took place.
She said: "The boy was named after his late grandfather who never had a white wedding, so the ancestors told the boy to get married and he chose Helen to be his bride. The family took his desire to get married very seriously. They paid for the bride in March last year and spent a lot on the wedding because they believed it was what the ancestors wanted."
The bride said: "I'm married and have five kids of my own, but I know that this is what the ancestors wanted – and now they are happy. It is a ritual. We are just playing now, but it is a sign that he will get married one day."
The young groom said: "I told my mother that I wanted to get married because I really did want to. I chose her because I love her and I'm happy that I married her – but I will go to school and study hard. When I'm older I will marry a lady my own age."
The bride's long-time husband, Alfred Shabangu (65), said that he never had a problem with her marrying the boy because he too knew that it was what the ancestors wanted. My kids and I are happy. We don't have any problems with it," he said.
However, some community members said they were shocked.
One woman said: "How can a family go this far for the ancestors? It shows that people do take messages from the ancestors seriously."
This was a not a legal marriage – it was only done for ritual purposes. The happy couple seal their marriage with a kiss.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Woman Kisses Two Lions In South Africa (VIDEO And PHOTO)
Woman Kisses Two Lions In South Africa
Monday, February 11, 2013
Widow K**led By Lover For Money Ritual
KAFILAT Lateef was a young woman of 36 years. Widowed five years ago and left with three children, she must have felt the absence of a companion which made her yield to the love overtures of Gbenga Taiwo, then a plank seller at Bodija market, Ibadan. Their paths had crossed over two years ago, as she was also a trader in foodstuffs at the same market.
Happy that she had found love again, Kafilat put in all she had into the relationship. Her family members were also happy that she was looking bright again. Putting her trust in the man she had had intimacy with several times since their relationship started, Kafilat did not think twice when Taiwo called her on January 19 , inviting her to Oyo town, where he had relocated since 2012. She returned to Ibadan on January 20 and went back to Oyo on January 21. He reportedly told her to come for the N50,000 he promised her.
Happy that she would be seeing her lover again, she went to Oyo, and when her sister called her later, she told her that she was with Taiwo at Idi Ope area of Oyo. She was given food and drinks, which she took with happiness, not knowing that she was drinking to her own death. Unknown to her, her drink had been laced with drug, which sent her to sleep, from where she slipped to death.
Information gathered from her lover, Taiwo, who had been arrested along with four others in connection with Kafilat’s death, revealed that immediately she became unconscious, the loverboy and his friends, Afeez Kareem and Lukman Ganiyu, who had already planned her death, clubbed her on the head with a digger, after which they put a kolanut in her mouth and buried her in a shallow grave already dug for the purpose.
The act was carried out in a house where Ganiyu was working as a security guard.
Sunday Tribune learnt that Taiwo was hellbent on becoming wealthy, not minding the means through which that would be achieved. He had reportedly approached an Islamic cleric, Mohammed Saheed, that he was interested in money ritual. Saheed claimed that he told Gbenga that he could not do such but gave him an alternative which could also yield money if done.
Saheed reportedly told him to put a kolanut in the mouth of the corpse of an elderly man or woman and bring it the following day after the kolanut must have dropped from the corpse’s mouth. To quicken the process, Gbenga decided to employ the services of LovePeddlers which he would kill to achieve his aim.
“However, when I approached LovePeddlers, I could not afford what they said I would pay if they should sleep in my house overnight. That was why I decided to make use of one of my numerous female friends,” Taiwo said. He further confessed that he tried two other lovers. He gave the names of his other lovers as Mama Iroko who came to him from Iroko, a surburb of Oyo town, and Mama Dada, a trader at Gbagi market whom he invited from Ibadan.
He disclosed that while Mama Iroko did not sleep after her drink was laced with drug, Mama Dada suspected his motive, especially when she noticed the shallow grave that was dug. According to him, “she did not sleep throughout the night and when it was daytime, she asked me whether it was good for me to think evil towards her. She left thereafter.”
Unfortunately, Kafilat became the victim, as she fell asleep after her drink was laced with drug. The following morning after she was buried, her suspected killers went to the graveside to take the kolanut as expected but to their consternation, there was none. They scrapped the earth off the remains and saw the kolanut still in the mouth of the corpse.
When the trio saw that their plan had not worked, they reportedly decided to dismember her remains after severing the head. They allegedly burnt the pieces and buried them in another shallow grave by a dumpsite behind the house where the dastardly act was committed. Taiwo confessed to the police that he took the head to a herbalist, one Adeyemi Adedokun a.k.a. Baba Agbadu to use it for money ritual for him.
Adedokun, however, denied being given the head, though he admitted that Taiwo brought the head to his house.
Also, Mohammed Saheed from Ilesa-Baruba in Kwara State, whom Taiwo alleged to have asked him to bring kolanut, denied telling him to kill someone, saying he was only tring to help. Saheed, who said he was a Quranic teacher, told Sunday Tribune, that Taiwo came to him for money ritual but claimed that he told him he was not into such things.
Saheed added that Taiwo also brought his friends Afeez and Lukman, who also wanted to do charms for authority and favour respectively.
According to Saheed, “I told him what our forefathers used to do with kolanut from the mouth of an elderly dead person, saying that if this is done, it would be found by the graveside by the following day.
“ I also told him that the deceased’s spirit would try to resist the kolanut being taken but if it could be forcefully taken, it would be used for a charm that would be bringing any fortune from wherever one may want.
“Three days after, he came back with the kolanut but told me that he did not find the kolanut by the graveside, so he had to exhume the corpse to take it.
“I sent him away that I would not be involved in such a thing because I had already told him that the kolanut should not be used on exhumed corpse, an accident victim or someone deliberately murdered.”
We further gathered that Taiwo was a wanted suspect in Oyo State Police Command in relation with cases of robbery in which he was involved. He was said to have abandoned his wife and only child, relocating to Oyo from Ibadan immediately he knew there was a manhunt for him.
Police sources aslo told us that Taiwo’s father had already disowned him as a result of the robbery cases he was allegedly involved in, unknown to him that he would still commit another crime. The father, Mr Joseph Taiwo, is said to be the pastor of God’s Foundation Church at Jakan area of Agbowo, Ibadan.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku who is currently investigating the case, Mrs Janet Agbede, told us that policemen comprising of Oyo SARS operatives, detectives from CID and Durbar Division set to work when Kafilat’s family reported the case of their missing relation, after efforts to locate Kafilat proved abortive. The family members had told the police that two days after Kafilat left for her lover’s place in Oyo, her line was not going through.
They added that they later received a call from Kafilat’s line telling them that she had an accident in Lagos and was hospitalised in a general hospital but was disappointed when all efforts to locate Kafilat in any Lagos hospital proved abortive.
Describing the act of the suspects as callous and despicable, Mrs Agbede, advised women to be wary of men they regard as lovers so that they would not fall victim to evil-minded persons.
We gathered that a pathologist has told police that the charred remains of the deceased would have to be taken abroad for autopsy and DNA. The cost was put at N1 million.
Monday, February 4, 2013
B.I.Z.A.R.R.E: Two Women Claim To Be The Mother Of One Child
Two women caused a stir at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) in Zimbabwe when they sought a Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test following a dispute over a four-year-old child which they both claimed to be theirs.
A DNA test is done to ascertain a person's genetic material and identity. An official from the hospital who preferred anonymity said the two women, Ms Priscilla Phiri and Ms Siphilisiwe Sibanda, arrived at the hospital on Thursday at about 5pm accompanied by their relatives.
"That was a shocking incident. These women came here with the child and their relatives. They approached the hospital staff at the Casualty Department and requested to have DNA tests," said the official.
UBH communications officer Matron N Thaka confirmed the incident.
"Yes, we attended to such people but we did not have the equipment to assist them. We referred them to private doctors and they left the hospital," said Matron Thaka.
Our news crew caught up with Ms Phiri at her home at Arda Balu Estate in Umguza District where she told her story yesterday. The child in dispute, whose name is withheld, was also present.
"She (Ms Sibanda) came here on 24 December as a visitor. What I know is that her child went missing sometime in 2008. Surprisingly, when she came here for the first time, she likened my child to her missing child and we did not have a problem with that because we knew her child went missing in 2008. She came again early last month, this time around claiming that she had a letter from the police and insisted that the child belonged to her. We had a misunderstanding over the issue and last week Thursday we went to Queens Park Police Station with the child to have the matter clarified.
"We arrived there at around 11am and discussed the issue until the police advised us to go to the hospital for tests. I was accompanied by my sister Mrs Christine Nkomo, my daughter's father, Sipho and the woman who assisted me when I gave birth, Mrs Simeleni Luphahla. Ms Sibanda was accompanied by her sister," said Ms Phiri.
Ms Phiri said hospital officials told them that doing a DNA test was expensive as they needed at least $450 for the service. Mrs Nkomo also confirmed the incident and said the family was shocked about the development.
"I was staying with this child with my husband when my young sister was away. It is so painful that someone just comes from nowhere and suddenly claims the child belongs to her. We were there when this child was born and the whole community knows about it," she said.
Mr Limukani Nkomo, husband to Christine, said he was aware that Ms Sibanda's child went missing.
"We are related to Ms Sibanda because she was once married to my cousin. It is true that her child went missing in 2008 but I think that thing is affecting her mentally. At some point she told us that she went to some prophets who told her that the child was alive and was kept by some relatives. I know this child from birth because I was staying with my sister-in-law when she gave birth to the child," said Mr Nkomo.
Efforts to get a comment from Ms Sibanda were fruitless as she could not be located.
Contacted for comment Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo said he was yet to obtain facts about the matter.
"I do not have the facts about this matter. I am yet to find out whether these people came to our police base," said Insp Moyo.
The incident resembles the Biblical story in which King Solomon, regarded as the wisest leader in history, handled a case which involved two women who were fighting over a child.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Pastor (70) rapes niece (12) several times
The man, aged 70 years and belongs to the Twelfth awas on Tuesday convicted on his own plea by Hwange resident regional magistrate, Mrs Dambudzo Malunga.
Asked why he committed the offence, the man of the cloth, claimed that his niece had started coming home late and when he asked her why she was coming late she told him that she had a boyfriend. He further claimed that the girl told him that her breasts were itching prompting him to send her packing until a neighbour intervened and told him to take her back. He told the court that he then succumbed to temptation and decided to bed the niece.
Not suspending a portion of the sentence Mrs Mlaunga said the pastor's blameworthiness was very high in that he betrayed the trust that had been bestowed on him. She said, as a man of the cloth, the pastor was expected by society to lead by example and protect the young child, who looked up to him for protection against any form of abuse.
Mr Bhekimpilo Tshabalala, for the State told the court that sometime in June last year, the pastor's wife left for South Africa living him to take care of the girl.
A few days after the wife had left, the pastor called the girl to his bedroom, grabbed her and threw her onto his bed. He threatened to assault her if she made any noise and raped her. From that date it became a daily occurrence until the end of the year. The girl later relocated to Bulawayo to join her parents. On 31 December 2012, her mother noticed that her panties were bloodstained and when asked the girl related her ordeal.
A report was made to the police leading to the pastor's arrest.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Talking tree that proposes love to women has declared drought!
The strange incident of a talking tree stump from Gwen'ombe Langwani area under Chief Mazvihwa in Zvishavane of Zimbabwe has reportedly taken a turn for the worse following reports that the stump has 'read a riot act' to villagers threatening them with incessant drought.
It is reported that the talking stump is claiming that the area would never receive moderate rainfall for agricultural activities as it was 'allegic' to heavy downpours. The mysterious stump, which villagers mostly school children and women claimed to have witnessed talking, was left after a tree was cut down for firewood.
The tree is also said to be in a habit of proposing love to women who come near it. Several women have confirmed this claim and two of them claimed have been 'told sweet nothings' by the tree stump late last year.
A source, who identified herself as Mrs Mufari and stays a few kilometres from the place where the "talking stump" is located said she got shocked when two local women came to her homestead on the same day claiming that they had also witnessed the stump talking.
"Two women indicated to me that the stump was talking to them like a male person proposing love to them. I then accompanied them to the scene and was shocked when the stump started talking. The voice was hoarse and it kept on proposing love to us while threatening that there will be no rain if we turned down its proposal. What is however frightening is that the stump only talks to women and children," she said.
Meanwhile, the startling drought threat which had reportedly sent shivers down the spines of villagers is living true as the area since late last year has reportedly not yet received moderate rainfall which can afford villagers to till their land. According to villagers who spoke to ouyr news crew, the threat shocked the whole Gwen'ombe communirty and those who doubted the existence of the mysterious stump were beginning to believe the fairly tale as the area still remains very dry.
"At first when reports emerged that there was a talking stump here which was terrorising and threatening villagers by calling their names many people dismissed the claims as a hoax. As we speak right now our area has not yet received moderate rainfall to kick-start the planting season and doubting Thomases are now beginning to believe the story following the latest threats by the talking tree that there is going to be drought in the area since it is allergic to heavy rains," said a distraught Leonard Svondo.
Another villager, Anold Chikodzero said they were now living in fear and most villagers have since stopped using the road at night.
"We no longer use the road at night for fear of risking our lives and the strange thing is that the stump has a register of names for EVERY VILLAGER as it calls them by their names as one passes by," said Chikodzero.
Following incessant threats by the talking stump, Chief Mazvihwa has planned to organise a traditional ceremony at the scene saying the issue has caused a lot of alarm in Zvishavane.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Meet Africa's Richest Woman - Mrs Folorunsho Alakija
Mrs Folorunsho Alakija used to be a designer back in the day, don't know if she still is. I modeled for her Rose of Sharon label for many years and she was such an incredibly pleasant woman to work with.
Yes, I'm claiming...haha!
Anyway, she went into the oil business many years back; she has an oil bloc that pulls in N157 million a day.
Yes, you read right! She is the Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil and Gas limited and has emerged the richest woman in Africa according to Forbes November 2012 edition, with a net worth of $600million, which is about N94 billion.
The 61 year old former FADAN president is married and has four boys.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Meet 19yr Old First Teenage Federal Lawmaker In Africa
At just 19 years old, Proscovia Alengot Oromait was recently elected to Ugandan Parliament, making her the youngest (and first teenage) politician in all of Africa.
She had plans to go to college after graduating high school last year, but those plans were derailed when her father, also a politician, died in July.
She decided to run for his spot as a Parliament member in their local Usuk county, and ended up winning by a large margin, with almost twice as many votes as the race's runner-up
Some, naturally have questioned her age. But Oromait said in a local TV interview that age shouldn't be a concern: "It does not matter.
It's not age that works, it's the brain and the knowledge that one has."
Oromait is not the world's first teenage Parliament member. Sweden elected an 18-year-old in 2010, while Canada elected a 19-year-old in 2011.
Outside of working on her father's campaigns, Oromait's experience comes from school, where she headed the debate club, the school newsletter, and the patriotism club. In Parliament, she says she'll focus on things like improving roads and education.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Islamists excluded from new unity govt
An official of Mali’s interim government has said that radical Islamists who are in control of the country’s north have no place in a new national unity government.
The government, announced on Monday, comprises 31 ministers, including five believed to be supporters of former coup leader, Captain Amadou Sanogo.
It replaces a transitional government created in April.
According to VOA, Hamadoune Toure, Mali’s Minister for Communication and government spokesman, said all ministers of the new government had to subscribe to maintaining the territorial integrity of Mali and no Islamic values or Sharia law as the norm of government.
Toure said the new government’s mandate is to liberate northern Mali from hardline Islamists, what the old transitional government plagued by infighting could not achieve.
“For a long time, we are asked to establish a government of national union to mobilise all political forces and civil society so that we can go for the north to re-establish our territorial integrity.
The new government has to work on two aspects. The first one is the recuperation of the territorial integrity and the second aspect is to organise elections,” he said.
Toure downplayed suggestions that the new unity government included five members believed to be supporters of recent coup leader Captain Amadou Sanogo saying the ministers are chosen to work for the Malian government and people and not for an individual.
“Well, I don’t know how close they are to Captain Sanogo. If you are a minister, you work for the government and if you work for the government you work for the country.
So, they are here to work for Mali, not for someone,” Toure said.
The Islamists in northern Mali have said they want to impose Sharia law, but Toure said hardline Islamists would not be welcome into the new unity government.
“To be a member of the government you need to accept two things: you don’t accept partition and you don’t express Islamist values to be as a state in Mali. So, those are the two values we have,” he said.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) wants to deploy a 3,000-member force to Mali, but one key holdup has been the lack of a united Toure said the new national unity government should make it easier for ECOWAS troops to be deployed.
“The government has two priorities re-establish the territorial integrity of Mali in the north, and the second priority is organizing elections. The government will start working as soon as possible and try to get support from ECOWAS, from the African Union and from the United Nations,” Toure said.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Woman takes Polygamous Ex-husband to court for turning her into a Snake at a Funeral
A Harare woman sent tongues wagging after confessing in court that she once turned into a snake.
The woman, Ester Chirawo had dragged her former husband, Davison Guvamombe to court where she was seeking a protection order against him.
The woman said her ex-husband was responsible for the horror that saw her turning into a snake during a funeral for a family member.
“My relatives were shocked when they saw me moving with my tummy at the funeral. I acted like a possessed person.
I was acting like a snake and I said things that no one could understand,” she said.
Ester went on to say his ex-husband, who is a member of Johane Masowe apostolic sect, is polygamous and violent.
She alleged that the two parted ways due to Davison’s violent nature.
“I used to spend three months without having s*x because he would have it with his other wives. He once stripped me naked before bashing me with a belt and I sustained severe injuries.
I left my children in his custody but he is denying me access to see my children,”she said.
Responding to the allegations, Davison vehemently denied the accusations and said Ester just left their matrimonial home without giving any notice.
“How can I assault someone whom I do not stay with? I have been wondering why she left home because I never assaulted her,” he said.
Magistrate Milton Serima, who presided over the case granted a protection order in Ester’s favour and urged her to apply for custody if she wants to stay with the children.
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