NewsHawks 8 July 2022

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 51

Issue 88, 8 July 2022

Lesotho due to hold elections despite
lack of progress on key political reforms

HOOLO 'NYANE establish an executive-based commis- gramme continued under the stew- ciary, parliament and security. These tution, judiciary, civil service, security
sion to implement the reforms. ardship of the National Reforms provisions need a two-thirds majority and media – there is a lack of clar-
LESOTHO is due to hold national Authority. in both houses of parliament — Sen- ity and consensus about the process
elections in  mid-October. The polls The bill never became law as it was ate and the National Assembly. Some of undertaking such thoroughgoing
were expected to be held under a greatly criticised by civil society and However, the reforms authority ex- changes even require a referendum. changes to the constitution.
new constitutional regime resulting other stakeholders because govern- ceeded its statutory lifespan without
from a reform process that started in ment had  designed the process uni- getting a single change to the consti- Given the improbability of es- The fact that the Omnibus Bill
2012. But, the process has not yield- laterally. A much more consultative tution approved by parliament. Be- pecially the entrenched provisions is now held up in parliament is em-
ed much fruit. approach was taken in 2018 when the fore its disbandment in  April 2022, being amended before parliament is blematic of a lack of clear process.
first  muti-stakeholder dialogue  was the reforms authority had completed dissolved, what then? There was no plan about how differ-
There is widespread consensus — organised. This resulted in the enact- proposed constitutional changes — ent changes, including changes to the
locally and internationally — that ment of the  National Reforms Dia- the 11th Amendment to the Consti- An option is to cherry-pick and entrenched provisions of the consti-
the constitutional kingdom of about logue Act. tution Bill 2022 . pass the amendments that need a tution, would be undertaken.
2.2 million must reform its political simple majority vote. But, that may Where to from here?
system to overcome recurrent politi- The law  established the Nation- The so-called Omnibus Bill that not make any meaningful impact. Now that the National Reforms
cal instability. But successive govern- al Leaders’ Forum and the National is now before parliament is not per- Most of the problematic provisions of Authority has been disbanded, and
ments have failed to bring about the Dialogue Planning Committee to fect. But it promises to arrest some the constitution are entrenched. parliament has failed to pass the
necessary changes. organise the second national dialogue of the longstanding constitutional Omnibus Bill, it means the next elec-
on the content and process of the re- problems. These include the excessive The only viable option, albeit re- tion will be held under the old legal
Now, with parliament legally re- forms. The second Multi-Stakeholder powers of the prime minister, a judi- grettable, is that parliament must framework. Then after elections, yet
quired to dissolve by 14 July 2022 National Dialogue was held  in No- ciary that is controlled by the execu- avoid tampering with the Omnibus another government will be expected
and elections held within three vember 2019, after which the Na- tive, politicised security agencies and Bill, and wait for the new parliament to reinvigorate the reforms.
months, there is simply no time to tional Reforms Authority Act of 2019 a weak parliament. after the elections to resuscitate the
undertake and complete the reforms. was enacted. Implications of failure entire reform programme. When the new programme starts
So, Basotho look set to vote without Despite the hype about passing the Why reforms always fail in Lesotho after election, the country must pay
the much-needed political changes, at The act established the  National Omnibus Bill  before the election, it This latest false start on reforms indi- particular attention to the process as
least the important ones. Reforms Authority (NRA). The NRA is almost certain that parliament will cates that Lesotho is struggling to im- previous attempts at reform were un-
was responsible for implementing the not have passed all the changes by its plement much-needed constitutional dermined by, among other factors, a
The proposed reforms that have broad and often vague  decisions of dissolution in mid-July. It is, there- changes. The country has had five poor process.
not been passed by parliament per- the Multi-Stakeholder National Di- fore, expected that the country will governments in 10 years. Every time
tain to the excessive powers of the alogue. hold election under the old political a government collapses, the reform — The Conversation.
prime minister, unprofessional me- design. The main hurdle is that the programme follows suit. *About the writer: Hoolo 'Nyane
dia, politicised security agencies and The process suffered a setback in majority of critical provisions in the is the head of the Public and Envi-
judiciary, parliament and the forma- 2020 after Prime Minister Thabane bill seek to amend the entrenched Another major cause of regular ronmental Law Department at the
tion of government. resigned, following allegations that provisions of the constitution. failure is the lack of clarity about the University of Limpopo in South Af-
Reasons for reforms he was implicated in the murder of process of reforms. While there is rica.
The biggest deficiency of Lesotho’s his ex-wife,  Lipolelo Thabane. A These include changes on the judi- some consensus about the broad areas
political system is that the prime new prime minister, Moeketsi Ma- for reform — parliament, the consti-
minister wields excessive powers. joro,  was sworn in. The reform pro-

These deficiencies became apparent
with the advent of fragile coalition
politics in 2012. In 2014 to 2015, the
then prime minister, Thomas Tha-
bane, capriciously replaced the chief
justice, the president of the court of
appeal as well as the leadership of the
security agencies.

He also prorogued parliament and
changed most of the senior person-
nel of the civil service. Consequent-
ly, calls for reform grew louder while
disagreements in the then tripartite
coalition became pronounced.

The then deputy prime minister,
Mothejoa Metsing’s party,  Lesotho
Congress for Democracy, withdrew
its support for Thabane’s government.
The government, which was formed
through a hairbreadth majority in
parliament — collapsed in 2015.

A new government was elected,
led by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mo-
sisili  in 2015. It made the reforms
its main agenda. But it didn’t have
a clear process for executing the re-
form programme. Instead, it was
consumed by the assassination of the
then commander of the Lesotho De-
fence Force, Maaparankoe Mahao, in
June 2015 by rogue army operatives.

The country was thrown into in-
stability, culminating in the Southern
African Development Community
establishing a commission of inquiry
in July 2015 to investigate the death
and related matters. A key recom-
mendation of the commission was
that the country undertake a com-
prehensive constitutional reform pro-
gramme.

Mosisili’s government made re-
forms  one of its key objectives. But
the government failed to make any
meaningful progress until it collapsed
in 2017.
Fresh attempts at reform
A new government was elected in
2017,  led by Prime Minister Tha-
bane for the second time. There was
renewed vigour to execute the re-
forms programme. The government
proposed the National Reform Com-
mission Bill of 2018 to parliament to

Page 52 Africa News NewsHawks

Issue 88, 8 July 2022

THE former president of An- Former Angolan president Jose
gola, Jose Eduardo dos San- Eduardo dos Santos dies at 79
tos, has died at the age of 79.
Jose Eduardo dos Santos.
Dos Santos, who served as
president between 1979 and corruption had "for too long tion Forbes. the $1 billion mark," ac- ruption. In March, CNN Por-
2017, died in the Spanish enriched a small ruling elite While her first business en- cording to Forbes. The busi- tugal reported that dos Santos
city of Barcelona on Friday while more than two thirds of nesswoman was identified as had said that Angolan inves-
morning, CNN Portugal re- the country's population live deavor saw her open a restau- "one of the prime examples tigations into her business
ported, citing a government in poverty." rant in Angola's capital, Lu- of grand corruption in the dealings were based on "false
statement. The former presi- anda, in 1997, investments world" by Transparency Inter- documents and information"
dent had been hospitalized in His daughter, Isabel dos in publicly traded companies national. and a "political attack" by the
Spain prior to his death. Santos, in 2013 became Af- in Portugal and her assets in Angolan government.
rica's first female billionaire, at least one Angolan bank Isabel dos Santos has repeat-
Dos Santos' time in office according to business publica- "pushed her net worth over edly denied allegations of cor- — CNN.
was one of the longest-run-
ning presidencies in the
world.

In a statement, the Ango-
lan government said it "bows,
with the greatest respect and
consideration, to the figure of
a statesman of great historical
dimension, who governed for
many years with wisdom and
humanism the fate of the An-
golan Nation, in very difficult
moments."

The presidency said it was
sending "deep feelings of sor-
row" to the family and ap-
pealed "to everyone's serenity
in this time of pain and con-
sternation."

A former Portuguese col-
ony, Angola emerged from
the wreckage of a 27-year civ-
il war to become one of the
continent's major economic
players.

Dos Santos of the People's
Movement for the Libera-
tion of Angola (MPLA) par-
ty oversaw much of Angola's
post-war economic growth
and rebuilding efforts.

The anti-corruption watch-
dog Transparency Interna-
tional in 2017 said that "nep-
otism and cronyism" under
dos Santos had "stopped ordi-
nary Angolans from benefit-
ing from the country's natu-
ral resource wealth, especially
when oil prices were high."

In the same year — the year
dos Santos stepped down —
the organization said that

NewsHawks World News Page 53

Issue 88, 8 July 2022

African Union @20: Some reason
to cheer, but a lot of work ahead
CHRIS CHANGWE NSHIMBI

THE European Union (EU) has The African Union building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
lived up to the primary reason
it was created – ensuring that Unconstitutional hold on Some coup  plotters justify al reform  to  change constitu- to flourish.
member states will not wage power their actions by pointing to poor tions and prolong their stay.
physical war against one anoth- Africa has seen a troubling re- social, political and economic Disregard for the rule of law Looking ahead
er, but settle their differences surgence of military coups and conditions in their countries. Africa is seeing a relapse into the African leaders should address
amicably. leaders using unconstitutional For example, Colonel Mamady autocratic rule of the Cold War the problems which military
means to cling to power. There Doumbouya of Guinea cited en- era. An increasing number of leaders use as the pretext for
It owes some of its successes have been at least 32 coups and demic corruption  and  lack of democratically elected and legit- coups in African states — main-
to a combination of  enforce- coup attempts since 2013, when economic progress to justify de- imate governments are  cracking ly corruption, misrule and inse-
ment and management mecha- General Abdel Fattah El-Si- posing President Alpha Condé down on civil society organisa- curity. Solving these problems
nisms  to ensure member states si  toppled the government  in in September 2021. tions. This is worrying, even if it would deny the military an ex-
conform to rules and policies. Egypt. is part of a global trend. cuse to interfere in civilian mat-
Condé had manipulated the ters. Instead of cracking down
Other regional bodies, like the The AU handed him its ro- constitution to extend his term. The governments are squeez- on citizens and civil society,
Association of Southeast Asian tating chair-ship in 2019, tacit- This led to  political instabili- ing out institutions that should states should use their natural
Nations  (ASEAN), are advanc- ly endorsing power grabs. ty. But that does not justify the hold them accountable and are resources to grow their econ-
ing towards their  objectives  of coup. Turning a blind eye to un- silencing the media. They arrest omies and empower citizens.
economic growth, social progress Following the October constitutional leaders and their activists  and enact laws that re- Collective economic strength
and cultural development. ASE- 2021  coup in Sudan, United actions indicates a  backslid- strict civil society organisations will improve Africa’s standing
AN draws on its distinctive  in- Nations secretary general Anto- ing  from peaceful handover of and their activities. as a global actor. The response
formal and consensus-based nio Guterres expressed concern power and democracy. It threat- to coups and instability can’t be
principles and decision making. that some military leaders felt ens Africa’s security. This reversal in democratic limited to sanctions.
they could  do whatever they norms flies in the face of the nor-
What about the African Union wanted. Some African leaders have per- mative framework mechanisms The AU must also be firm and
(AU), which was modelled on fected the art of unconstitution- of the AU, which are about the consistent in dealing with con-
the EU? Five out of the seven coup ally  holding on to power. They rule of law, peace, security, de- stitutional violations. It’s no use
attempts since 2020  succeed- use violence to rig elections. Or mocracy, good governance and hoping that illegitimate officials
There is some reason to cheer ed. The coup leaders in the they doctor the rules of partic- human rights. will relinquish power. Recent
as the continental body cele- five countries — Burkina Faso, ipation to exclude rivals. That examples show that perpetrators
brates its 20th anniversary  on Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan happened in Tanzania, where The AU should deal decisive- simply defy calls to restore con-
9 July. Key among its achieve- — violently suppressed pro-de- laws that clamped down on free- ly with member states that un- stitutional order.
ments is the African Continen- mocracy protesters. doms of expression and assembly dermine the rule of law within
tal Free Trade Area, which com- were passed and enforced ahead their territories. The rule of law — The Conversation.
menced on 1 January 2021. It is The  death toll  from the sup- of the 2020 election. is  essential  for sustained and
expected to boost intra-African pression of anti-coup protestors inclusive economic growth, *About the writer: Chris
trade by about US$35 billion by in Sudan, for instance, is over Others  criminalise  popu- sustainable development, and Changwe Nshimbi is director
end of 2022. 100. Over 18 million Sudanese lar opposition leaders, as hap- the eradication of poverty and and research fellow at the Uni-
are threatened by food insecuri- pened to leading opposition hunger. The rule of law enables versity of Pretoria in South Af-
The larger market area will ty. But the AU acts as if it’s un- challenger Bobi Wine in Ugan- people, business and commerce rica.
likely attract investment for aware of the political paralysis in da. Some feign  constitution-
continental infrastructure de- Sudan.
velopment. The increased trade
will create jobs, enhance Africa’s
global competitiveness, improve
social welfare and position Afri-
ca for greater industrialisation.
The resultant economic growth
should help contribute to peace
and stability for the continent’s
more than one billion popula-
tion.

On the diplomatic front, the
AU has established a permanent
mission  in Beijing, China, to
strengthen economic, commer-
cial and cultural ties with Afri-
ca’s largest trading partner. This
consolidates Africa’s global pro-
file and ability to speak with one
voice on world affairs.

Still to be achieved is  re-
form of the UN Security Coun-
cil to give Africa at least two per-
manent seats.  Over two-thirds
of the council’s agenda concerns
Africa, yet the continent is ex-
cluded from permanent repre-
sentation.

In my view, the AU still needs
to address two main problems
to steer Africa into a prosperous
future.

These are the use of uncon-
stitutional means by leaders to
hold on to power; and disregard
for the rule of law.

Page 52 World News NewsHawks

Issue 88, 8 July 2022

THE suspected killer of Japan’s Assassination suspect admits
former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe targeting Shinzo Abe: Police
admitted targeting the politician
and said he held a grudge against Police say suspect bore a grudge against a ‘specific organisation’
an organisation he believed Abe and believed Abe was part of it.
was connected to, police have said.

Senior police officers in the west-
ern region of Nara, where the mur-
der took place, named the suspect
on Friday as unemployed 41-year-
old Tetsuya Yamagami, who said he
had used a handmade gun.

“That’s the suspect’s assertion,
and we have determined that [the
gun] is clearly handmade in ap-
pearance, although our analysis is
currently ongoing,” an officer told
reporters.

Police said it was not clear if
the “particular organisation” men-
tioned by the suspect actually exist-
ed, adding that investigations were
continuing, but several Japanese
media outlets described the organi-
sation as a religious group.

Yamagami was pictured at the
scene holding a large boxy black
object that appeared to have two
barrels.

Officers in protective gear began
searching the suspect’s home after
5pm and have confiscated “several
handmade gun-like items”.

The suspect, who addressed po-
lice in a “matter-of-fact way”, told
officers he had worked for the Mar-
itime Self-Defense Force – Japan’s
navy – for three years from 2002,
but those claims were also under
investigation. Yamagami also told
police he had learned about Abe’s
visit online, the officers said.

They added that they were prob-
ing whether there were any prob-
lems with security at the campaign
event where the assassination took
place on Friday morning.

“We will take appropriate mea-
sures if problems were discovered.”

The police said they were in-
vestigating whether he had acted
alone.

‘A loud bang and then smoke’ People pay their respects in front of a makeshift memorial outside Yamato-Saidaiji Station, where former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe (pictured below) was shot:
Abe, the longest-serving lead- Credit: Philip Fong/AFP
er of modern Japan, was gunned
down on Friday while campaign- deep wounds to the heart and the four hours, Hidetada Fukushima, news conference. or former Japanese leader since a
ing for a parliamentary election, right side of his neck. the professor in charge of emergen- Members of the public laid flow- 1936 coup attempt, when several
shocking a country where guns are cy medicine at Nara Medical Uni- figures including two ex-premiers
tightly controlled and political vio- He had received more than 100 versity Hospital, told a televised ers near the spot where Abe fell. were assassinated.
lence almost unthinkable. units of blood in transfusions over TV Asahi reported that Abe’s body
Abe, 67, was pronounced dead would be transferred to his Tokyo Post-war Japan has prided itself
around five and a half hours after home on Saturday. on its orderly and open democra-
the shooting in the city of Nara. cy. Senior Japanese politicians are
Abe had been making a cam- ‘Stunned, outraged’ accompanied by armed security
paign speech outside a train station “I am stunned, outraged, and agents but often get close to the
when two shots rang out. deeply saddened by the news that public, especially during political
Security officials were then seen my friend Abe Shinzo, former campaigns when they make road-
tackling a man in a grey T-shirt and Prime Minister of Japan, was shot side speeches and shake hands with
beige trousers. and killed while campaigning,” US passers-by.
“There was a loud bang and President Joe Biden said in a state-
then smoke,” businessman Mako- ment. Abe served two terms as prime
to Ichikawa, who was at the scene, “This is a tragedy for Japan and minister, stepping down in 2020
told Reuters. for all who knew him … He was a citing ill health. But he remained a
“The first shot, no one knew champion of the alliance between dominant presence over the ruling
what was going on, but after the our nations and the friendship be- Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),
second shot, what looked like spe- tween our people.” controlling one of its major fac-
cial police tackled him.” The United States is Japan’s most tions.
Kyodo news service published a important ally. Similar messag-
photograph of Abe lying face-up es of sympathy and shock poured Prime Minister Fumio Kishida,
on the street by a guardrail, blood in from around the world follow- who won the prime ministership
on his white shirt. ing news of Abe’s death, including with Abe’s backing, said the LDP
People were crowded around from neighbouring Taiwan, China would continue election campaign-
him, one administering heart mas- and Russia, as well as from across ing on Saturday to demonstrate its
sage. Asia, Europe and the United States. resolve to “never give in to vio-
Abe was taken to hospital in It was the first killing of a sitting lence”, and to defend a “free and
cardiopulmonary arrest and show- fair election at all cost”.
ing no vital signs. He was declared
dead at 5:03pm local time (08:03 — Aljazeera.
GMT), having bled to death from

NewsHawks World News Page 53

Issue 88, 8 July 2022

UK PM Boris Johnson quits amid latest
scandal, a messy end to a messy tenure
In a dizzying two days, Conservative Party lawmakers who had defended
LONDON — Bowing to intense the prime minister through crises turned against him, and now some are he could replace them – including
pressure from his own party, UK vying to replace him despite harsh economic headwinds. Michelle Donelan –who Johnson
Prime Minister Boris Johnson of had appointed education secretary
Britain said Thursday that he would Outgoing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. just two days before. Whatever hap-
step down, ending a stormy three- pened behind the scenes, Johnson
year tenure that was marked by a The government’s initial line was 2. Wave of resignations portance of honesty and integrity, ultimately realised he could no lon-
landslide election victory and a suc- that Pincher recognised he had done When health secretary Sajid Javid the fact is that until very recently, ger continue.
cessful drive to pull Britain out of wrong so would keep his job as an and chancellor Rishi Sunak re- numerous MPs and ministers were
the European Union, but collapsed MP and face no further action. But signed, it seemed the writing was on outwardly supportive of Johnson no 4. Resignation speech
under the weight of relentless scan- Pincher had a history of this sort of the wall for Johnson. But given his matter how disingenuous that re- Johnson’s resignation speech was
dals. behaviour. Behind the scenes, MPs “Teflon” track record, many won- quired them to be. heavy on distortions, and light on
were unhappy — and many asked dered whether this time would be remorse – other than for the fact
Johnson insisted even on Wednes- questions about how much Johnson any different. By the next morning, 3. Cabinet showdown that he was leaving the job he had
day night that he would fight to re- knew before he promoted Pincher dozens more MPs had resigned of- Despite the growing pressure to spent so long scheming to acquire.
main in power. But only hours later, to a position of power within the ficial positions, and the letters kept go, Johnson insisted on staying. Af- Johnson tried to present himself as
he gave way, overwhelmed by a mu- party. Just like the lockdown parties, coming. ter a meeting of the 1922 committee, a successful prime minister brought
tiny in his cabinet, a wave of govern- Johnson initially denied knowing Johnson tried to brush it off, in- an influential group of backbench down by the whims of his party fol-
ment resignations and a devastating anything before evidence began to sisting he had a personal mandate Conservative MPs, its chair Sir Gra- lowing their “herd instinct”.
loss of party support — all prompt- emerge to the contrary. from his 2019 general election ham Brady paid Johnson a visit and He claimed he “got Brexit done”,
ed by his handling of the latest scan- success. He tried to replace the va- urged him to step aside, as did other despite currently being involved in
dal to engulf his leadership. For several days, the government cancies, but there were just too senior MPs. While the continued a major dispute with the EU over
insisted Johnson had not been aware many. After surviving a party con- backing of people like culture sec- the deal he signed in 2019 and now
“It is clearly now the will of the of any specific allegations when ap- fidence vote in June, the arithmetic retary and core supporter Nadine wants to change. He praised his han-
parliamentary Conservative Party pointing him as deputy chief whip, now made it clear that he wouldn’t Dorries was hardly surprising, the dling of the pandemic, and spoke
that there should be a new lead- but later had to backtrack, stating weather another one. fact that the home secretary Priti Pa- of his “levelling-up” agenda with a
er,” Johnson said in a brief midday that Johnson had indeed known, It seems that many senior MPs tel sided with those who thought he vagueness that neatly summed up
appearance outside 10 Downing but had simply “forgotten”. had become tired of expending their should go likely made his position the unclear and non-existent policies
Street. “The process of choosing that own political credibility and capital more untenable. His new chancellor, relating to it.
new leader should begin now.” Such tactics worked well in the defending Johnson from scandal Nadhim Zahawi, was also backing Johnson either does not believe,
past, but this time, people weren’t after scandal. It remains to be seen those telling Johnson to leave. By or does not want to admit, that he is
The decision capped a dizzying 48 buying it. whether finally turning their backs Thursday morning, Johnson was still unpopular with voters. In his view,
hours in British politics that began on him will save their careers, or if defiant. He had fired Michael Gove he was given a personal mandate by
on Tuesday evening with the un- Days later, Lord McDonald, they’ve already missed the boat. For — the levelling-up secretary and was 14 million people in 2019, and his
expected resignations of two of the crossbench peer and a former top all the current talk about the im- attempting to fill vacancies. But the ousting is against their wishes. The
highest-ranking cabinet ministers, civil servant, accused the govern- resignations were coming faster than simple reality is that he is a populist
followed by dozens of resignations ment of continuing to lie about the who has become unpopular. While
of other ministers and officials all Pincher timeline – the first cabinet his core support will back him come
day Wednesday and into Thursday resignations followed soon after. what may, Johnson has become an
morning. electoral liability and is dragging his
party down with him. Despite his
Whoever takes over as prime best efforts, Johnson will not be re-
minister will inherit a daunting set membered in the manner he tried to
of challenges, with double-digit in- portray himself in his speech.
flation, mushrooming labor unrest 5. Drawn-out departure
and the specter of a recession. Brit- Johnson may have resigned as
ain shares those problems with oth- party leader, but he is not yet gone.
er advanced economies, but there is His intention is to stay on as a “care-
evidence that Brexit has imposed an taker” prime minister until a re-
extra burden on its economy. placement is formally chosen, but
others want him gone immediately
However after weathering numer- and someone else appointed. Ulti-
ous storms that would have sunk mately, the decision will rest with
others, Boris Johnson’s time as prime the 1922 committee, who will set
minister comes to an ignoble end, the rules and timetable for the lead-
mired in scandal and having lost the ership contest.
support of nearly all his MPs. Opinions are divided as to wheth-
er he should stay on until a new lead-
The resignation didn’t come out er is selected or whether he should
of nowhere – Johnson was already step aside for a caretaker while the
losing support from his party, nar- leadership contest takes place. Some
rowly surviving a confidence vote claim that staying in post a little
in early June. Just two weeks later, longer is just another attempt by
things were looking even grimmer, Johnson to ride things out until they
after losing two byelections in sup- calm down, a tactic that has worked
posedly safe seats. so many times before.
But it might prove difficult to
But the events of the past week un-resign. If nothing else, it might
have been the final straw. Here’s how allow Johnson to remain prime min-
it played out. ister long enough to have outlasted
his predecessor Theresa May, saving
1. The Pincher scandal him some embarrassment. Others
What began June 30 as Conserva- are concerned about any further
tive MP Chris Pincher’s resignation damage he could do to the party
after drinking “far too much” at a in the interim and want to distance
London private members’ club the themselves from him as soon as pos-
night before turned out to be much sible.
more serious — Pincher was accused — New York Times.
of sexually assaulting two men.
Having shrugged-off previous
scandals, being accused of lying
about what he knew (and when)
about his deputy chief whip’s be-
haviour was the nail in the coffin for
Boris Johnson. Any goodwill and
room to manoeuvre had run out.

Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model

&Life Style

STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING

Page 56 Issue 88, 8 July 2022

Rick Ross is not coming to
celebrate Mnangagwa regime

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA his biggest performances ever.
“I am celebrating for you. You better get
ROAR Entertainment, the show promoters behind Rick Ross'
debut performance in Zimbabwe, have debunked reports that your tickets now. One time for the whole
the American rapper is coming to celebrate the Second Re- team. It’s the biggest boss!” he said while
public’s anniversary on 18 November 2022. holding his favourite Belaire Blue cham-
pagne.
The concert, scheduled for the Harare International Con-
ference Centre (HICC), comes a day when President Em- Prior to releasing his debut single, Hus-
merson Mnangagwa ousted Robert Mugabe after 37 years in tlin in 2006, Rick Ross was the subject of
power. a bidding war, receiving offers from  Did-
dy’s Bad Boy Entertainment and Irv Got-
Since then, 17 November 2017 has remained a significant ti’s Murder Inc until signing a multi-mil-
date for the regime, with critics saying by bringing Rick Ross lion-dollar deal with Jay-Z  on Def Jam
aka The Biggest Boss to Harare the beneficiaries of the mili- Records.
tary coup are celebrating. ROAR Entertainment has offices in
South Africa, Washington DC and Zimbabwe. The Boss, as he is affectionately known,
released his debut album, Port of Miami,
But even then, the company has no known history of pro- through the label later that year, debuting at
moting any concerts in Zimbabwe besides the upcoming Rick the top spot on the US Billboard 200 album
Ross gig. chart, with sales of 187 000 units during the
first week. To date, Rick  Ross has released
In an interview from her South African base, Shaleen "Ms over 10 albums, including God Forgives,
Shally" Nullens, the spokesperson of ROAR Entertainment, I Don’t, Teflon Don, Rather You
confirmed they were newcomers on the scene. Than Me and Trilla.

“ROAR Entertainment is a new name in the mar- Rick Ross
ket, but the founders have been in the industry for
over 10 years. Our Rick Ross event is powered by Bet-
terbrands Petroleum,” she said.

Apparently, Pedzisayi "Scott" Sakupwanya, a
Zanu PF councillor and prominent gold dealer,
has interests in Betterbands.

Ms Shally said it was a coincidence that the date
of the concert was 18 November.

“We focus on what we do best in the
industry and that’s bringing premium
events to our people; dates are based on
the availability of the artiste we would have
booked,” she said.

Asked whether or not there will be local supporting
acts, Ms Shally said they were looking at talented hip-
hop artistes. She said all the paperwork regarding the
concert was in order.

“Yes, everything is secured. We will be selling 4 500
tickets (and) we encourage everyone to get their tick-
ets early as there will be no tickets sold at the venue,”
she said.

However, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe
marketing and public relations head, Rodney Ru-
wende, denied having been approached by ROAR
Entertainment regarding the concert.

“Our programming department has not yet been
approached by any local promoter seeking to bring in
Rick Ross,” Ruwende said.

Asked whether ROAR Entertainment was registered
as a promotion company with the arts council, Ruwende
declined to comment, saying such information was confi-
dential.

The arts regulatory body clears concerts whether by foreign
or local artistes and the law allows the arts council to charge
5% of the venue capacity based on average ticket prices for the
show as clearance fees for international artistes.

In a promotional video, Rick Ross of Maybach Music
Group (MMG) confirmed the dates, promising fans one of

NewsHawks Poetry Corner Page 57

Issue 88, 8 July 2022

Title: A long story Title: Accursed Of man's craving for unconventional plea-
Poet: Igal Pikai Musara Poet: Professor Ngugi waMkirii sure
Carry me now!
These lines are not enough. Strutting on this rugged present, I choose to dig my own grave today
Just thoughts in summative form. My past dead, Bury this old self and never see it again
Worlds ground into words. Yet her weight I bore. For in pursuing its demands and gratifying
Existence captured in limiting expressions. The death of yesteryear, it; My soul was on the losing end -
It's a long story, Sags like a patch on my behind, Carry me to where my putrefying corpse
telling the tale is tough. Still carrying the curse of time, lies!
Many winds have blown by. To feed yet another morrow.
Heart beats every day. Blotted is the future, ************************************************
Fleshy mirrors everywhere. Askewed like a locomotive in smoke, Title: A Drought In The Making.
Nature's signature is on everything. Defunct on its rails, Poet: WekwaChiyangwa
Life was there before, Like a quiver of dead arrows.
and the show goes beyond. To the left my heart throbs, A glaring mid-afternoon sun
We are branded protagonists in it, And still lies a quiver of my freedom, Lonely in the clear blue of bored mid-Octo-
but we don't belong. The harbinger of my sure morrow, ber sky
Forces at play precede thoughts in summative Yet still I stand, Where no speck nor flimsy wisp of wander-
form. Transfixed on this godforsaken patch, ing cloud lingers
These lines are engraved on iron, That bleeds in dust, No daring bird flies aft of sky's naked blue
a pilot episode of a season that never ends. And chock with spite. belly; A shimmering sky-blue of substantial
Still ahead lies a little Canaan, nothingness floating above receptive earth
Title: Prison Debauchery In lofty semblance of my pain, Who cowers submissively beneath sharp
Poet: Obey Chiyangwa That withers like prey, prodding beams of unparalleled ferocity
At the dead of winter. glowering at her acute vulnerability
We slept on swollen feet, Writhing and fretting at the rays spearing
Dozing within broken shoes, .***************************************************** down on her exposed nudity
Snores that awakened flies, Title: Goodbye Intense heat!
We farted away drunkenness, Poet: Andrew Manyika A monumental tragedy in the making
Swimming in deep wretchedness, Tormented earth sheds tears plain and
Blindfolded and in pitch darkness. Word built like granite tears bloody
Death was rumoured to be around the corner, Granting more of take than give As gaunt trees whose once gallant boughs
Lurking sternly amid lacking remorse, Made with more of die than live are now bent double mourn their imminent
Reckless strides towards awaiting eternity, Leaving bitter after-taste demise; Hoping that one day soon sky will
Prison garb were the tag tags of hell, After every time I depart in haste, allow cloud to blot these angry rays of un-
And heaven featured only in dreams Leaving… shielded sun; And block her intensity from
Leaving often suckling the ground dry of the little moisture
***************************************************** Often never feeling the full force of departure that sits tentatively and nervously on the
Title: The Light From The Ash fearful that underneath it I would come undone dull greyness of dying leaves and aging
Poet: Stephen Mupoto that I would splinter and break brown grass early every morning
that I would shudder and shake Assured of their fate in the cauldron of heat
Dying cinders slumbered, that I would stumble and fall that assails them from the onset of sunrise
Under the heap of ash- that I would crumble and all The fruit-laden trees are also worried about
cigar flame that dies in an ashtray. that would remain in my wake relentless heat
The fall of a Love's leaf, Is smithereens and splintered dreams They shiver and wither and shrink and
Into a shrivelled past, And crimson streams shrivel at the stare of each blistering beam
Woke me to the chimes of my own sobs. And little things; A collage of brokenness of offensive sun
I died! So I steal myself away Criss-crossing the depleted spine of dis-
Time flew in a fragrant whiff, Steel myself – counting down the days gruntled earth are yawning strips of forlorn
That tinged my nose to a sneeze. rivers dry and coughing
Death it was; Seized by seismic pain, ***************************************************** Sick looking streams whose beds are dry
Tortured and defeated. Title: Unorthodox Pleasure caked and hugely cracked
Under sods of my sorrow's dust, Poet: Justice Mfiri Ugly festering wounds that only a generous
I crackled as buried seed. flow of consistently unhindered and liberat-
But stormed back to life, Carry me to where my putrefying corpse lies: ed rainfall can heal
With renewed vigour. For dead I became when I chose this servitude Dry veins holding on to slippery life with
My past a pale indistinct shadow; Enlisted to the lustful desires of human flesh their last ounces of strength
Picking up the pieces- Carry me to where my corpse lies Precarious sights of random meander drip-
Antennas of my life, That I may experience the displeasure ping pitiful saliva at the remnants of river
I refocused. Of looking death in the eyes life that litter their pathetic beds
To misery I said adios; Where it follows shameful secrets of the night A catastrophic drought is in the making
In Christ I dwell in peace, Carry me there that I may curse my cravings In an ancient village whose other wounds
With love that fades not. And take a screenshot of heaven's displeasure are far from mending

Page 58 People & Places NewsHawks

Issue 88, 8 July 2022

Beitbridge business expo lively

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is participating at the second edition of the Beitbridge Business Expo which runs until this weekend. The tourism sector
has a little over 10 operators exhibiting at the expo which seeks to promote investment and the town's economic growth in line with it's vision to transform
into a medium city un the near future. The expo is running under the theme Beitbridge24/7. It is organised by the local community, Beitbridge Town Coun-
cil & ZTA. Dr Annah Muleya is the head of the organising committee.

NewsHawks Sport Page 59

Issue 88, 8 July 2022

Coach David Mutendera (back row, middle in dark jacket and tie) poses with his triumphant St John's football team.

ENOCK MUCHINJO Nurturing footballers on commented Mutendera.
the other side of town Mutendera is a firm believer
FIVE other black Zimbabwe- et-keeping because I started as the side to glory the last time the the Lomagundi tournament – has
an cricketers had played for the a goalkeeper in football in grade tournament was staged in 2019 earned himself a football scholar- in schoolboy sports stars diversi-
country before him, but in a sport five.” before the pandemic disruption. ship to complete his education at fying the codes, before making a
that never misses every bit of mile- San Domenico School in Califor- decision on the one to pursue as
stone, David Mutendera emerged 43-year-old Mutendera holds a In 2014 when St John’s were nia, United States. a career. He has experienced that
onto the scene 22 years ago with full-time job as a sports coach at first crowned champions, Mu- himself in his sporting journey.
his own piece of history. Harare’s St John’s College, one of tendera was an assistant under “There are also other very good
the country’s most prestigious pri- revered former Zimbabwe captain players that I coached who have When Mutenda started excel-
In an ODI away to Kenya on vate schools. He initially arrived Norman Mapeza, one of the most since left the school,” said Muten- ling in cricket at Prince Edward
25 September 1999, the pace at St John’s principally as a cricket successful football coaches in the dera. School in the 90s, making the
bowler from Glen Norah in Ha- coach, via the prep school, right country. first-team in form four, he made
rare became the first cricket player through to taking charge of the “Some are still making strides up his mind that it would be his
with roots in the townships to be college’s first cricket side. A widespread view in Zimba- in Europe and the States, the likes professional route.
a Zimbabwe international. bwe is that football is treated as of Tinashe Mpala and Simba Mta-
Ever the footballer, Mutendera less of a priority by students and sa.” But that did not prevent him
Yet the man who is now the would quickly return to his first staff alike at schools like St John’s. from playing football too – as
convenor of selectors for his coun- love, and he now doubles as the The most prominent though, a defender, midfielder and later
try’s cricket board did not play the first-team football coach. None, perhaps, is better quali- for now, of Mutendera’s protégés, striker.
game until he was 11-years-old. fied than Mutendera to dispel that is former Zimbabwe youth inter-
And he has scored some notable long-held perception. national Calum English-Brown. Mutendera possessed enough
Before that age, Mutendera’s successes in a sport that is far from talent to break into a star-stud-
childhood fantasies would have the heartbeat of such schools as St “Football has always been big in The skilful midfielder now turns ded PE first-team alongside future
probably pointed out to him pull- John’s. private schools, but it is perceived out for Whawha FC in Zimba- household names in Zimbabwean
ing over the green-and-gold of the that rugby, cricket or hockey are bwe’s top-flight league, and Mu- football like Tonderai Ndiraya,
Warriors, rather than the red or Last month, St John’s, under dominant,” he remarked. tendera reckons English-Brown’s Tostao Kwashi, Alan Johnson
Test whites of a team nicknamed Mutendera, retained its title in an story is an indicator of very good as well as the sports broadcaster
the Chevrons these days. exclusive competition at Loma- There are quite a few of Mu- talent in previously untapped Spencer Banda.
gundi College reserved for private tendera’s players from the 2022 catchment areas.
And it seemed destined to hap- schools belonging to the Confer- title-winning side that he tips to “I rated ‘Stanza’ (Ndiraya) very
pen that way, growing up around ence of Heads of Independent gain recognition in the near fu- “National selectors should also highly in our PE football team
an older brother — Lennon Mu- Schools in Zimbabwe (CHISZ). ture. These include the captain attend the private school match- then,” Mutendera said.
tendera — who played Premier Takudzwa Matunga, Sizwe Mpo- es and tournaments to identify
Soccer League (PSL) football in St John’s beat Matabeleland’s fu, Taona Nyaumwe, Tapuwa talent, like what Moses Chunga Nearly three decades later, both
Zimbabwe as a centre-back for Falcon College 2-0 in the final of Mungwariri, Justin Musariri and did when he attended the CHISZ Mutendera and Ndiraya find
Blackpool, Sporting Lions and a well-attended tournament. Robert Sandys-Thomas. event in 2017, where he spotted themselves coaching. Albeit at dif-
AirZim Jets. Calum, who he then selected for ferent levels, and in totally differ-
It was a third title for the Rams, Attacker Sandys-Thomas – vot- the national Under-17 team,” ent environments.
“The first time I started playing with Mutendera having also led ed player of the tournament at
cricket at Shiriyedenga Primary Perhaps Mutendera could do his
School, I was terrible at it,” Mu- old mate a huge favour by sending
tendera revealed to The News- over some red-hot St John’s talent
Hawks this week. to Dynamos next year, if Ndiraya
survives what is turning to be an
“I was only good at wick- inconsistent 2022 season with the
record Zimbabwean champions.

Sports Nurturing
footballers
on the other
side of town

Romanticism v
Realism: How we
blew it againThursday 1 October 2020

Friday 8 July 2022 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com

CULTURE

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Romanticism v Realism:NEWS WHAT’S INSIDE
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How we blew it againtourists
Story on Page 3
under review

Story on Page 8

THIS time, the blow was not as stinging Chamisa reac
as in 2014, for some of us who had seen it
coming a mile away.

Eight years ago, Zimbabwe had put to-
gether its best rugby team in many years, a
formidable side that stood just a few min-
utes away from qualifying for the World out to Khupe
Cup in England in 2015.

Some Zimbabwean fans would have al-
ready started making visa enquiries as the
Sables led Kenya 28-10 quite comfortably,
eventually the result. But came the horri-
bly ill-fated decision to kick into touch in
the game’s dying moments — in search
of field position – when taking the points Unofficial president calls for emerge
was the logical decision in pursuit of the
desperately needed bonus-point win.
It was heart-wrenching stuff, more
miserable than the defeat to Namibia in
France on Wednesday night this week to
be denied a chance of going to the World
Cup yet again.
Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan
Dawson was the Sables coach in that cam-
paign of 2014, as he was in this recent one.
Two coaches sandwiched between
Dawson’s return for a second spell, there
was high expectation that the heartache
of 2014 in Madagascar, the lessons learnt,
the coach’s undying affection for ZimRug-
by and his country – would all play the
role of a spur and banish the bad memo-
ries of past failures.
You cannot question Dawson’s passion
for his sport. And you can also not doubt
his loyalty to each one of his players, as re-
markably diversified the squad’s social and Zimbabwe lost to Namibia 34-19 on Wednesday to be eliminated from World Cup qualification contention.

racial backgrounds are. from Bulawayo who on the field sudden- the better of him. At the pick of his pas- pack to be of unquestionable internation- problem started there for Zimbabwe
The players too are a great bunch of ly turns into a ferocious competitor who sion, he tends to forget that you can never al standard – polished in line-outs, scrum- in this campaign, the lack of a fearsome
lads. The chemistry, camaraderie and loathes losing. stretch a player’s ability beyond reality, no maging, breakdowns, and solid with ball front-row. Too experimental for an im-
brotherhood in the group is a thing of In their coach, they have a unifier who matter how much words of motivation, in hand. portant tournament, the one that we used.
beauty. makes them one team, and tells every- no matter how many games of Super- One weak link in the pack costs you Next, in the second-row, you of course
From the highly focused Shingi Kats- one that no one is better than them. It Sport Challenge or Currie Cup they have dearly. Zimbabwe had not one, not two, need two beasts that put the fear of God
vere with his Mbare upbringing, the son is a desirable personal strength in a man, played. not three, but almost four starting players in the opposition. In the entire Zimbabwe
of an ex-footballer, a rugby player who to proclaim trust in somebody, and have It is a reality of professional sport. squad, that wasn’t any.
embraces opportunities and understands their back always. For Dawson, though, it It is appallingly poor judgment to go to Turn to the loose-trio, an area
how the sport can transform not only is also a weakness, and his downfall, cer- a big tournament — your most import- that Zimbabwe is often spoilt for
his life, but the livelihoods of his loved tainly in this campaign. ant in four years — without a competent choice, and you will see that the Sa-
ones. To the gentlemanly captain Hilton You can bet your bottom dollar for this hooker, scrumhalf and fly-half. HawkZone bles were also poor this time around.
Mudariki, a man of very outstanding group of players to sing the national an- It is a lack of pragmatism that leaves If you have so many weaknesses
breeding, never one to take anything for them from the heart, then go out on the you wondering just how we possibly in the pack, you then cannot have
granted in his life, including the privilege park and put their bodies on the line for thought we could halt the well-oiled ma- a solidly all-round side that can win
of being sent by his business executive Enockthe flag, with immense pride and sacrifice.
mother to one of South Africa’s most pres- And the talent is there too, lots of it.
tigious private schools. To the most affable ALIcvShoinOrye CtIhoNaatsSitsIfNoDrawmEairbdisa,inaFfttiehnrewaqinutnaceretsesirnM-fginitahnlesisty wipes out $3.2 Billion depositors fuadgenaciednnstst 1t0h,eabnedstZd, owimnoor'stsehialfavyetoaeusscltaruclkmaa-nd c
MuchinjoTo a man, though, in the rugby Press delightfully put some phases together
bloke you will ever meet, the vice-captain corps we all had long concurred that the even as they lost to the Sables. half that is dynamic.
For me, the saddest outcome
Biselele Tshamala, Hwange-raised son of squad we sent to France was quite a way Test rugby is no stroll in the park, and of this campaign is that a group of
very good Congolese folks, a veteran of short of the standard we needed to quali- while Zimbabwe does have very exciting good rugby players — and equally
the side and natural leader whose mul- fy for the World Cup, with the perennial talent and a lot of pace in the backline, in the forwards – half of the department good young men who love their country
tilingual prowess is like a glue that holds threat of a superior Namibian still lurking you cannot beat the best team on the con- – not sufficiently equipped to stand up to – have been asked to perform a task that
everyone together. To the laughing and around. tinent without some brutal forwards. Namibia’s monstrous pack. is just a bit too heavy for them to carry
laid-back Matthew McNab, the prankster Dawson is a romantic person, it gets You need every player in the forwards Break it down and start upfront. The for now.

ALSO INSIDE Nurturing footballers on the other side of town