AfricaWorld Newspaper 15th April 2023

EDIT ORIAL

By:
 The
Editor­in­Chief

Z A M B I A
 N E E D S
 A G R I C U L T U R A L
 B O O S T

Th i s w e e k , w e

h a v e b e e n
 c l o s e l y
 m o n i t o r i n g t h e
 e s c a l a t i n g m e a l i em e a l s h o r t a g e i n
 Z a m b i a , p a r t i c u l a r l y
 i n i t s m a j o r u r b a n
 centers.
 Despite
 the
 g o v e r n m e n t ' s
 assurance
 that
 it
 has
 enough
 maize
 stock
 t o s u s t a i n t h e
 p o p u l a t i o n u n t i l t h e
 next
 harvest
 season
 t h r o u g h t h e F o o d
 Reserve
 Agency ,
 the
 Finance
 Ministry
 has
 lifted
 import
 duty
 on
 m a i z e a n d m e a l i em e a l p r o d u c t s t o
 e n c o u r a g e c i t i z e n s
 t o a c c e s s t h e s e
 c o m m o d i t i e s e v e n
 f r o m n e i g h b o r i n g
 countries.

However ,
 this
 is
 the
 l e a s t o f o u r
 concerns.
 Our
 focus
 is
 on
 the
 shortage
 of

m e a l i e ­ m e a l
 a n d

t h e

a l l e g e d
 s m u g g

l i n g
 o f

m a i z e
 t o

n e i g h b o r i n

g

c o u

n t r i e s s u c h a s D R

Congo,
 which
 is
 a
 clear

indication
 of
 the
 high

d e m a n d f o r m a i z e .

D e p e n d i n g o n t h e

government's
 priorities

in
 reducing
 production

c o s t s a n d i n d i v i d u a l

f a r m e r s ' m a r k e t

analysis,
 this
 calls
 for

increased
 productivity

i n t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l
 sector .

Z a m b i a h a s t h e

potential
 to
 feed
 itself
 and
 become
 a
 regional

f o o d b a s k e t f o r

S o u t h e r n A f r i c a W e

challenge
 Zambians
 to

t a k e a g r i c u l t u r e

seriously It
 is
 a
 sector

t h a t c a n p r o v i d e

e m p l o y m e n t a n d

e m p o w e r m a n y

j o b l e s s y o u t h s w h o

w a s t e t h e i r t i m e

d a n c i n g a n d m a k i n g

u n p a l a t a b l e

c o m m e n t s o n s o c i a l
 media.
 Let
 us
 return
 to

t h e l a n d a n d m a k e

agriculture
 a
 priority

J E S U S
 I S
 T R Y I N G
 T O

C A T C H
 O U R
 A T T E N T I O N

Je s u s i s
 c o n s t a n t l y
 i n v a d i n g o u r
 spaces
 trying
 to
 catch
 our
 attention.
 He
 is
 the
 g r e a t H o u n d o f
 Heaven.
 Each
 apostle
 a r e c h o s e n a s a
 u n i q u e p e r s o n n o t
 just
 a
 follower
 as
 one
 might
 be
 in
 a
 cult.
 M e n a n d w o m e n
 w i t h u n i q u e n e e d s
 a n d q u i r k s , f a i l i n g s
 and
 successes
 –
 all
 w i t h t h e f a i t h t o
 follow
 Jesus
 and
 to
 h a v e t h e g r e a t
 p r i v i l e g e o f s e e i n g
 Him
 in
 action.
 T o

experience
 the
 great
 a w e , p o w e r ,
 a d o r a t i o n o f t h e
 c r o w d a n d t h e
 turning
 of
 the
 crowds
 against
 Jesus.
 The
 Risen
 Lord
 tutors
 the
 a p o s t l e s . H e h e l p s
 t h e m m o v e t h r o u g h
 the
 dark
 days,
 trouble,
 d i s a p p o i n t m e n t , p a i n
 a n d t h e c o n f u s i o n .
 Everything
 they
 need
 k n o w a b o u t J e s u s
 t h e y h a v e w i t h i n
 themselves.
 They
 and
 us,
 just
 require
 His
 h e l p i n p i e c i n g i t a l l
 together .

Jesus
 reveals
 Himself
 t o H i s d i s c i p l e s
 through
 familiar
 words
 and
 actions.
 John
 was
 the
 first
 to
 make
 the
 c o n n e c t i o n o f t h e
 m i r a c u l o u s c a t c h o f

fi s h t o t h e e a r l i e r

i n c i d e n t w h e n J e s u s
 called
 Peter
 to
 follow

H i m . T h e G o s p e l

r e c o r d e d t h a t P e t e r
 jumped
 out
 of
 the
 boat

to
 join
 Jesus
 but,
 is
 not

the
 first
 time
 we
 have

the
 boat.

In
 these
 days
 following
 Easter ,
 we
 are
 invited

t o fi n d t i m e w i t h t h e
 Lord.
 T o
 sit
 quietly
 with
 Him
 and
 allow
 Him
 help

Halleluyah!!
 Amen

Lord
 Jesus,
 you
 are
 the
 R e s u r r e c t i o n a n d t h e
 Life.
 Increase
 our
 faith
 i n t h e p o w e r o f Y o u r
 resurrection
 and
 in
 the
 t r u t h t h a t Y o u
 are
 truly
 alive!
 Amen

L o r d J e s u s ,
 may
 we
 never
 doubt
 Y our
 lifegiving
 word
 nor
 stray
 from
 Y our
 p r e s e n c e .
 Amen

r e a d o f P e t e r d o
 something
 like
 this.
 In
 other
 gospel
 accounts,
 Jesus
 beckons
 Peter
 to
 come
 to
 Him…across

t h e w a t e r T o d a y w e
 see
 Peter
 jumping
 into
 the
 water
 to
 swim
 to

J e s u s w h o w a i t s f o r

Him
 on
 the
 lakeshore.

In
 both
 of
 these
 stories,
 Peter
 knows
 he
 needs
 to
 get
 to
 Jesus.
 But
 that

m e a n s l e a v i n g t h e

b o a t . T h a t b o a t ,
 remember ,
 represents
 what
 he
 knows
 best
 –

fishing.
 It
 is
 his
 comfort
 zone.
 But
 Peter
 knows

what
 he
 needs
 to
 do.

And
 it
 means
 leaving

u s s e e o u r w a y
 f o r w a r d W e m i g h t
 need
 to
 jump
 out
 of
 our
 b o a t s , l e a v i n g b e h i n d
 w h a t i s f a m i l i a r a n d
 safe.
 Open
 your
 heart
 to
 Jesus
 and
 allow
 Him
 into
 the
 worst
 areas
 of
 your
 life.
 He
 is
 gentle,
 c o m p a s s i o n a t e , a n d
 “ r i c h i n m e r c y ” ( E p h
 2 : 4 ) . H e w a n t s t o

r e s t o r e , c l e a n s e , a n d
 empower
 you
 to
 help
 Him
 build
 His
 kingdom.

PRA YERS

Praise
 the
 risen
 Jesus,
 Whose
 name
 is
 above
 e v e r y o t h e r n a m e !

L o r d J e s u s ,
 remove
 all
 that
 m a k e u s h i d e
 from
 Y ou.
 Help
 us
 to
 open
 wide
 our
 life
 to
 Y ou.
 Burn
 away
 our
 u n w o r t h i n e s s
 and
 consume
 us
 in
 Y our
 love.
 Amen

Lord
 Jesus,
 this
 and
 all
 our
 prayers
 we
 present
 to
 Y ou
 grant
 them
 we
 pray .
 Amen

M Y
 P O E T R Y
 C O R N E R

By:
Iroegbu
Chibuike

THY ENVELOPE

G r a c i o u s s u p r e m e

m a j e s t y o f a l l b e i n g s

R e m e d y l i v a n t t o
 w o n d e r o u s p o w e r s

L o r d o f h e a v e n l y b l i s s
 w h e r e a n g e l s t e a m ;

Singing
lullaby
of
offerings

i n v e r s e

Who
 tha
 hell
 say
 yes
 when
 y o u n o t s p o k e n ?

Y ou
 superwave
 leeches
 in
 r o a r s o f w i n d

Eggs
 vanderwaal
 lent
 and
 n e v e r t r o d d e n ;

O f s n a r e m i n d d i s r u p t

w h e n n e t i c d o c t r i n e ;

Perches
 it's
 thrust
 dupy
 of
 d i l a p y ;

A g e s b e y o n d m e a s u r e s ,
 m y e n v e l o p e !

In
 you
 i
 hide
 from
 vultures
 t h a t ' s i t c h y

Ruder
 ride
 circle
 for
 dead

c a r c a s s d o p e ;

As
 bright
 the
 morning
 and

r a i n b o w c o l o u r s ;

So
 my
 soul
 beautify's
 for

changing
 course.

LOVE
 RIPE

o r d i n a t e R e d a n d g r e e n a p p l e
 p e r p e t u a t e e y e b a l l s

D u t y g l a n c e b e t r a y s i t ' s

s t a l k i n g i n s t a t e

Dandelion,
 sweet
 nature
 for

b e a u t o u s c o u r s e

L o v e b r i n g s e c s t a t i c

p h e n o m e n o n b i n d

I n g e n d e r m a g n e t i c

a t t r a c t i o n fi e l d

L i o n e y e s g i m m i c k w i t h
 e m o t i o n s r e w i n d

Paramount
 to
 heart's
 seek
 w h i c h p h a n r e t c h n i l

The
 hazardous
 swing
 out

f r o m t h e c i r c l e

M o m e n t o u s t h r u s t m o t i o n

o u t i n p r o j e c t

U n s t i r s s p i r i t o f t o l e r a n c e
 t o p l e

A g a p e b e s t i a l , n o g u s t
 r i c o c h e t

My
 fruitful
 love
 emerge
 trust

n o t a s t o n e d

A placenta
 bond
 undaisical
 cone.

S P R I N G O F L I V I N G
 W A TER

The
 tongue
 buds
 are
 thirsty

f o r w a t e r

W h o w i l l q u e n c h t h e d r y
 s a l i v a o n s l e e p ?

Spring
 lines
 of
 moldy
 rock
 at

K i n s h a s h a

River
 is
 dry
 and
 can
 desert
 h o u s e fi s h ?

P i n e s u n t o t h e b a l l o o n s
 r e s t i n g o n t h o r n s

B e r e f t t o p i n c h o f v u l g
 p o a c h i n g t a n t r u m s

T o l o f t t e n a c e e s t e e m ,
 w h i c h s o m e b o r n O f n i g h s e v e r e h a r d s h i p
 a n d p o o r f u l c r u m

T h e u m b r e l l a t r e e s h i e l d
 m o n o c o t y l s

From
 the
 rays
 of
 sunlight
 for
 i t ' s o w n g a i n

Throt
 deray
 of
 elongating
 c o t y l s

That
 duly
 turn
 to
 dark
 beam
 o f n o v a i n

I
 weep
 for
 no
 water
 in
 the
 g a r d e n

Where
 unripe
 fruits
 waiting
 for
 it's
 season.

M O U L D I N G
 C H I L D R E N

F O R
 T H E
 B E S T

Fr o m t h e

m o m e n t o u r
 c h i l d r e n a r e
 b o r n , t h e y a r e
 i n c r e d i b l y s e n s i t i v e
 to
 the
 world
 around
 t h e m . E v e n a s
 toddlers
 who
 cannot
 yet
 speak,
 they
 are
 a w a r e o f w h a t i s
 happening
 and
 have
 t h e i r o w n w a y s o f
 e x p r e s s i n g
 t h e m s e l v e s .
 Children
 are
 a
 true
 b l e s s i n g a n d b r i n g
 joy
 to
 every
 home.
 As
 p a r e n t s , i t i s o u r
 r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o
 s t u d y a n d
 understand
 each
 of
 o u r c h i l d r e n a s
 i n d i v i d u a l s . N o t w o
 c h i l d r e n a r e t h e
 s a m e , e v e n i f t h e y
 are
 twins.
 Some
 may
 b e s m a r t e r , w i s e r ,
 t a l l e r , f a t t e r , o r
 stronger
 than
 others.
 S o m e m a y r e q u i r e
 s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n .
 However ,
 all
 children
 s h o u l d b e t r e a t e d
 with
 love
 and
 made
 to
 feel
 accepted
 and
 wanted.

C h i l d m o l d i n g a n d
 training
 should
 begin
 f r o m b i r t h . I t i s
 i m p o r t a n t t o a v o i d
 using
 bad
 language

around
 them,
 as
 they
 are
 quick
 to
 pick
 up
 on
 things.
 Parents
 must

put
 in
 a
 lot
 of
 ef fort

and
 make
 sacrifices

t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e i r

c h i l d r e n

g r o w u p t o

b e a d u l t s

with
 a
 fear
 of

G o d ,

c o m p a s s i o n

, a n d a

w i l l i n g n e s s

t o

c o n t r i b u t e

positively
 to

the
 world.
 It
 is
 crucial
 for

p a r e n t s t o

k n o w w h a t

t h e i r
 children
 are

d o i n g ,

w h e r e t h e y

a r e , w h o
 their
 friends

a r e , a n d
 their
 friends'
 parents.

C h i l d r e n s h o u l d
 believe
 and
 trust
 their
 parents,
 seeing
 them

a s r o l e m o d e l s , a

b a c k b o n e , s t r e n g t h ,
 and
 support.
 Parents

s h o u l d n e v e r t a l k
 down
 to
 their
 children

or
 compare
 them
 to
 others.
 Instead,
 they

s h o u l d b e t h e i r

c h i l d r e n ' s f r i e n d ,
 behave
 appropriately

f o r t h e i r a g e , a n d
 a l w a y s e n c o u r a g e
 them
 in
 all
 they
 do.

T eaching
 children
 to
 be
 satisfied
 with
 what

t h e y h a v e i s

chores.
 Boys
 and
 girls
 should
 be
 taught
 how
 t o c o o k a n d h o w t o
 r e s p e c t o t h e r s Children
 should
 never
 b e a f r a i d o f t h e i r
 p a r e n t s , a s t h i s c a n
 lead
 them
 into
 danger .

It
 is
 also
 important
 for
 children
 to
 know
 their
 culture
 and
 origin.

e s s e n t i a l . T h e y
 should
 not
 be
 living
 beyond
 their
 means.

F r o m a n e a r l y a g e ,

c h i l d r e n s h o u l d b e

t a u g h t h o w t o p r a y

a n d e n g a g e i n

C h r i s t i a n a c t i v i t i e s .

P a r e n t s s h o u l d b e
 open
 and
 truthful
 with
 t h e i r c h i l d r e n ,
 teaching
 them
 moral
 values
 and
 engaging
 t h e m i n d o m e s t i c

Lastly ,
 it
 is
 important
 to
 n e v e r h a r b o r h a t r e d
 t o w a r d s a c h i l d .
 I n s t e a d , a p p r o a c h
 t h e m w i t h p a t i e n c e
 and
 correct
 them
 with
 l o v e . W h e n t h e y d o
 well,
 praise
 them
 and
 remind
 them
 of
 their
 i n h e r e n t b e a u t y a n d
 w o r t h E n c o u r a g e
 them
 by
 telling
 them
 that
 they
 are
 the
 best.
 Rather
 than
 imposing
 your
 will
 upon
 them,
 engage
 in
 discussions
 a b o u t t h e i r a f f a i r s .
 R e a s o n w i t h t h e m
 a n d , w h e n
 a p p r o p r i a t e , a l l o w
 them
 to
 be
 a
 part
 of
 the
 d e c i s i o n ­ m a k i n g
 process
 in
 the
 home.
 B y t r e a t i n g c h i l d r e n
 w i t h r e s p e c t a n d
 kindness,
 we
 can
 help
 t h e m g r o w i n t o
 confident
 and
 capable
 individuals.

P r ophe tess
Ngo zi
Jo y

E X P L A I N I N G
 T H E

S N A I L
 S P E E D

Ma n k i n d a s

w e l l a s

a n i m a l s ,

b i r d s a n d o t h e r s

o f t e n p o n d e r w h y

M r S n a i l a n d h i s

f a m i l y w a l k s o

slowly .

I n w h a t w a s t h e n

r e g a r d e d a s t h e

l o n g r a c e t o O r i e

O k w u m a r k e t , t h e

Snail
and
members

o f h i s h o u s e h o l d

w e r e d e c e i v e d b y

jealous
 neighbours

many
 centuries
 ago.

The
 deception
 was

p l o t t e d b y o t h e r

a n i m a l s e s p e c i a l l y

h u m a n s w h o

d i s c o v e r e d t h r o u g h

a
 fortune
 teller
 that

a n y o n e t h a t e a t s

S n a i l w i l l l v e l o n g

a n d s t a y h e a l t h y

M e a n w h i l e a n

epidemic
 broke
 out

a t t h a t t i m e a n d

many
 died.

Orie
 Okwu
 was
 the

v i l l a g e m a r k e t
 s q u a r e w h e r e
 f e s t i v a l s a n d o t h e r
 f o r m s o f s o c i a l
 activities
 happen.
 As
 a
 matter
 of
 fact,
 the

h u m a n f a m i l y
 w a n t e d t o s u r v i v e
 f r o m t h e e p i d e m i c .
 So
 they
 set
 a
 trap
 by
 creating
 a
 different
 path
in
which
thorns
 were
 laid
 have
 to
 run
through
the
new

p a t h n o t k n o w i n g
 t h a t t h o r n s w e r e
 place.

Being
 that
 Snail
 and
 kith
 and
 kin
 must
 run
 through
 the
 path,
 it
 didn't
 end
 well
 as
 the
 t h o r n s p e r f o r a t e d
 their
 flesh
 during
 the
 r a c e . I t w a s u t t e r
 genocide
 against
 the
 snail
 community
 and
 t h e r e m a i n i n g o n e s
 learn
 a
 bitter
 lesson.

U n l i k e m a n y
 centuries
 ago
 when
 S n a i l s w a l k f a s t e r ,
 they
 now
 walk
 slowly
 to
 4
 as

By
Uk achuk wu
Ok orie

G R O U N D B R E A K I N G
 A S
 G H A N A
 A P P R O V E S

M A L A R I A
 V A C C I N

Gh a n a h a s
 made
 history

b y b e c o m i n g
 t h e fi r s t c o u n t r y t o
 a p p r o v e a n e w

m a l a r i a

v a c c i n e , R 2 1 ,
 w h i c h h a s
 been
 hailed
 as
 a g a m e ­

changer
 by
 the
 scientists
 who
 developed
 it.

A c c o r d i n g t o
 t h e B B C , t h e
 v a c c i n e h a s
 s h o w n g r e a t
 e ff e c t i v e n e s s ,
 w h i c h i s a
 s i g n i fi c a n t
 i m p r o v e m e n t
 o n p r e v i o u s
 attempts
 in
 the
 same
 field.

The
 final
 trial
 data
 on
 the
 vaccine's
 safety

a n d e ff e c t i v e n e s s
 has
 been
 evaluated
 b y G h a n a ' s d r u g
 regulators,
 who
 have
 decided
 to
 use
 it
 and
 t h e W o r l d H e a l t h
 Organisation
 (WHO)
 i s a l s o c o n s i d e r i n g
 a p p r o v i n g t h e
 vaccine.

Malaria
 is
 a
 deadly
 d i s e a s e t h a t k i l l s
 a b o u t 6 2 0 , 0 0 0

E

By:
V esla
C enturion
K als

p e o p l e e a c h y e a r ,

w i t h y o u n g c h i l d r e n

b e i n g t h e m o s t

affected;
 developing
 a

d e p e n d s o n t h e
 results
 of
 a
 larger
 trial
 involving
 nearly
 5,000

c h i l d r e n , a n d

b e t w e e n fi v e m o n t h s
 to
 three
 years
 old.

O t h e r A f r i c a n
 c o u n t r i e s a r e a l s o
 s t u d y i n g t h e
 d a t a , a s w e l l
 as
 the
 WHO.

vaccine
 that
 protects

t h e b o d y f r o m t h e
 malaria
 parasite
 has

b e e n a m a s s i v e ,
 century­long
 scientific
 undertaking.

T r i a l d a t a f r o m

preliminary
 studies
 in

B u r k i n a F a s o h a s
 revealed
 that
 the
 R21
 vaccine
 is
 up
 to
 80%

effective
 when
 given

in
 three
 initial
 doses,

and
 a
 booster
 a
 year
 later

although
 these
 results
 were
 expected
 to
 be
 published
 at
 the
 end
 of
 2022,
 they
 have
 not

b e e n o ffi c i a l l y
 released
 yet.

H o w e v e r , t h e y h a v e

b e e n s h a r e d w i t h

s o m e g o v e r n m e n t
 bodies
 in
 Africa
 and

s c i e n t i s t s ; b u t

G h a n a ' s F o o d a n d

D r u g s A u t h o r i t y ,

w h i c h h a s s e e n t h e

d a t a , h a s a p p r o v e d

the
 vaccine's
 use
 in

c h i l d r e n a g e d

P r o f A d r i a n
 Hill,
 director
 of
 t h e J e n n e r
 Institute
 at
 the
 U n i v e r s i t y o f
 Oxford,
 where
 t h e v a c c i n e
 was
 invented,
 s a y s t h a t
 A f r i c a n
 c o u n t r i e s
 have
 been
 left
 behind
 in
 the
 r o l l o u t o f
 C o v i d ­ 1 9
 v a c c i n e s d u r i n g t h e
 pandemic.

H e e x p e c t s R 2 1 t o
 m a k e a s i g n i fi c a n t
 i m p a c t o n m a l a r i a
 mortality
 in
 children
 in
 the
 coming
 years
 and
 c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e
 o v e r a l l fi n a l g o a l o f
 m a l a r i a e r a d i c a t i o n
 and
 elimination.

The
 Serum
 Institute
 of
 I n d i a i s p r e p a r i n g t o
 produce
 between
 100200
 million
 doses
 per
 year .

L I B E R I A ' S
 U N I T Y
 P A R T Y
 L E A D E R
 B O A K A I
 T O
 A N N O U N C E
 R U N N I N G
 M A T E

By:
Naomi
T appia

The
 Unity
 Party
 of
 Liberia,
 led
 by
 Africa's
 first

d e m o c r a t i c a l l y

e l e c t e d

f e m a l e

P r e s i d e n t

E l l e n

J o h n s o n

S i r l e a f , h a s

a n n o u n c e d

t h a t i t s

s t a n d a r d

b e a r e r

J o s e p h

N y u m a h

B o a k a i w i l l

soon
 reveal

h i s c h o i c e

f o r r u n n i n g

mate
 in
 the

u p c o m i n g

g e n e r a l

p r e s i d e n t i a l
 e l e c t i o n s
 s c h e d u l e d f o r
 October
 2023.

B o a k a i h a s b e e n

under
 pressure
 from

t h e p u b l i c ,
 p a r t i c u l a r l y

s u p p o r t e r s o f t h e

o p p o s i t i o n U n i t y

P a r t y , t o a n n o u n c e

his
 running
 mate.

T h e r e h a v e b e e n

g r o w i n g c a l l s f o r a

c o l l a b o r a t i o n

between
 Boakai
 and

C u m m i n g s , w h i c h

m a n y b e l i e v e w o u l d

be
 the
 best
 alternative

f o r u n s e a t i n g t h e

o n e o f t h r e e m a i n
 politicians
 who
 have
 b e e n s h o r t l i s t e d b y

t h e U n i t y P a r t y :

ruling
 party .

L u t h e r T a r p e h , t h e

C h a i r m a n o f t h e

f o r m e r r u l i n g p a r t y ,

c o n fi r m e d v i a

telephone
 on
 a
 local

station
 T ruth
 FM
 that

t h e p u b l i c s h o u l d

e x p e c t B o a k a i t o

unveil
 his
 choice
 for

t h e v i c e p r e s i d e n t i a l

position
 in
 the
 coming
 days.

It
 is
 speculated
 that
 Boakai
 might
 choose

S e n a t o r J e r e m i a h

Kpah
 Koung,
 Senator

Y o u n g b l e e K a r n g a

L a w r e n c e , a n d

r e n o w n e d t a l k s h o w

h o s t a n d p o l i t i c a l
 c o m m e n t a t o r H e n r y
 Costa.

On
 Thursday ,
 April
 13,
 2023,
 some
 Liberians
 took
 to
 the
 streets
 of

M o n r o v i a t o p e t i t i o n

t h e t w o l e a d i n g

o p p o s i t i o n fi g u r e s i n

the
 country
 to
 form
 a

m e r g e r , w h i c h t h e y
 b e l i e v e w o u l d b e a
 f o r m i d a b l e f o r c e t o
 o u s t t h e r u l i n g
 e s t a b l i s h m e nt
 that
 t h e y
 f e e l
 h a s
 f a i l e d
 t h e
 L i b e r i a n
 p e o p l e
 m a s s i vely . T h e
 g r o u p
 o f
 p e t i t i o n e r s
 i m p l o r e d
 b o t h C u m m i n g s a n d
 B o a k a i t o p u t a s i d e
 their
egos
for
the
sake
 o f e m a n c i p a t i n g t h e
 m a s s e s a n d m e r g e ,
 s o m e t h i n g t h e y s a i d
 w o u l d y i e l d f r u i t f u l
 results
in
the
elections
 i f t h e t w o l e a d i n g
 p o l i t i c a l fi g u r e s a r e
 both
 presidential
 and
 v i c e ­ p r e s i d e n t i a l
 c a n d i d a t e s o n t h e
 same
 ticket.

S I E R R A
 L E O N E E N A C T S

F I N A N C E
 A C T
 2 0 2 3

By:
Naomi
T appia

Pa r l i a m e n t h a s

o n T u e s d a y ,
 4th
 April,
 2023
 debated
 and
 passed
 i n t o l a w , t h e B i l l
 entitled:
 'The
 Finance

A c t 2 0 2 3 ″ , f o r t h e
 economic
 growth
 and
 d e v e l o p m e n t o f
 S i e r r a L e o n e , t h e
 l o c a l C a l a b a s h
 n e w s p a p e r h a s
 reported.

T h e B i l l s e e k s t o
 p r o v i d e f o r t h e
 i m p o s i t i o n a n d
 alteration
 of
 taxes,
 to
 g i v e e ff e c t t o t h e
 financial
 proposals
 of
 the­Government
 and
 to
 provide
 for
 related
 m a t t e r s f o r t h e
 Financial
 Y ear
 2023.

Presenting
 the
 Bill
 to
 P a r l i a m e n t , t h e
 M i n i s t e r o f F i n a n c e ,
 A h m e d F a n t a m a d i

Bangura
 said
 the
 Bill
 is
 predicated
 on
 the

G o v e r n m e n t ' s
 c o m m i t m e n t t o
 d o m e s t i c r e v e n u e
 m o b i l i z a t i o n , i n l i g h t
 o f i m p r o v i n g
 e c o n o m i c

aspirations,
 payment
 o f s a l a r i e s a n d

building
 confidence
 in
 g r o w t h a m i d s t
 multiple
 crises
 across
 the
 world.

h e M i n i s t e r t o l d

purpose
 of
 the
 Bill
 is
 to
 s u p p o r t t h e
 G o v e r n m e n t ' s e ff o r t s
 t o i m p r o v e d o m e s t i c
 revenue
 collection
 of

v a r i o u s t a x e s t h a t
 have
 no
 adverse
 effect

on
 the
 welfare
 of
 the
 vulnerable
 people.

F r a n c i s A m a r a K a iS a m b a u s e d t h e

o p p o r t u n i t y t o

r e i t e r a t e t h e i r
 f u n c t i o n s , i n l i g h t o f
 l a w ­ m a k i n g . H e
 e m p h a s i z e d o n t h e
 p u r p o s e s a n d

asked
 the
 House
 not
 to
 r a i s e c o n c e r n o n t h e
 t i m e o f a r r i v a l o f t h e
 document.

H o n . H i n d o l o M o i m o
 Ngevao
 said
 the
 Bill
 is
 n o t c o n t e n t i o u s a n d
 G o v e r n m e n t

Speaking
 further ,
 the
 Minister
 told
 MPs
 that

t h e B i l l i s s e t t o

i n t r o d u c e m i n i m u m

a l t e r n a t i v e o n t a x e s ,

r e s t o r e t a x e s o n

aviation,
 and
 GST on

p l a n t m a c h i n e r y

e q u i p m e n t a m o n g s t

m a n y o t h e r s . H e

c o m p r e h e n s i v e l y

h i g h l i g h t e d s e v e r a l

i m p o r t a n t a s p e c t s o f

the
 Bill.

The
 Chairman
 of
 the

Finance
 Committee
 in

importance
 of
 the
 Bill.

T h e M P w e n t o n t o
 s a y , t h e B i l l w h e n

a p p r o v e d w o u l d
 cushion
 the
 economy
 t h r o u g h t h e
 r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a n d
 a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e
 N a t i o n a l R e v e n u e
 A u t h o r i t y ( N R A ) . H e
 asked
 colleague
 MPs

to
 enact
 the
 Bill
 into
 l a w , t o c l o s e t a x
 mobilization
 leakages
 a n d m a n y t a x
 exemptions.

“ T h e B i l l i s o f n o
 mistake,”
 he
 said
 and

d e v e l o p m e n t i s
 predicated
 on
 taxation.
 H e r e f e r r e d t o t h e
 c a l c u l a t e d
 G o v e r n m e n t
 d e v e l o p m e n t s a n d
 t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s a n d
 insisted
 that,
 it
 is
 only
 t h r o u g h t a x a t i o n t h e
 S t a t e w o u l d a c h i e v e
 g r o w t h . H e u s e d t h e
 o p p o r t u n i t y t o a d v i s e
 the
 Minister
 and
 NRA C o m m i s s i o n e rG e n e r a l t o b e
 c o n s i d e r a t e w i t h t a x
 l e v i e d o n b u y e r s o f
 properties.

P i c t o r i a l
 N e w s

K elechi
Nz elu

B u h a r i
 G o v e r n m e n t ,
 N i g e r i a n
 I m m i g r a t i o n
 S e r v i c e
 M u s t
 P r o d u c e
 I m p e r s o n a t o r
 W h o
 W a s
 I s s u e d
 P e t e r
 O b i ’ s
 P a s s p o r t ,
 S h a r i n g
 H i s
 I d e n t i t y
 –
 A t i k u
 C a m p

G e o r g e
 W e a h
 a n d
 J a y - J a y
 O k o c h a :
 o n e
 p i c ,
 t w o
 l e g e n d s ! !

W i l l i a m
 G a l l a s :
 “ R a m s d a l e
 i s
 m a y b e
 o n e
 o f
 t h e

b e s t
 k e e p e r s
 i n
 t h e
 w o r l d
 a t
 t h e
 m o m e n t ,
 b u t
 t o
 b e
 t h e
 b e s t ,
 y o u
 n e e d
 t o
 b e
 a t
 t h a t
 l e v e l
 f o r
 y e a r s .
 I
 l i k e
 t o
 s e e
 p l a y e r s
 w h o
 p e r f o r m
 s e a s o n
 i n ,
 s e a s o n
 o u t I
 t h i n k
 R a m s d a l e
 i s
 t h e
 b e s t
 k e e p e r
 A r s e n a l
 h a v e
 h a d
 s i n c e
 J e n s
 L e h m a n n ”

K i n g
 C h a r l e s
 o f
 E n g l a n d

 i n s p e c t
 t h e
 2 0 0 t h
 S o v e r e i g n ' s
 P a r a d e
 a t
 t h e
 R o y a l
 M i l i t a r y
 A c a d e m y
 S a n d h u r s t .

A c r o b a t s
 b a l a n c e
 o n
 t o p

o f
 T h e
 E m p i r e
 S t a t e

B u i l d i n g ,
 1 9 3 4

S o m e
 9
 y e a r s
 a g o
 s c h o o l g i r l s
 f r o m
 C h i b o k
 i n
 B o r n o
 s t a t e
 w e r e
 k i d n a p p e d
 b y
 B o k o
 H a r a m
 t e r r o r i s t s ,
 t h e
 w o r l d
 r o s e
 h y s t e r i c a l l y
 t o
 d e m a n d
 t h e i r
 u n c o n d i t i o n a l
 r e l e a s e ,
 t o d a y
 t h e r e
 a r e
 s t i l l
 9 6
 o f
 t h e
 g i r l s
 i n
 c a p t i v i t y
 b u t
 t h e
 w o r l d
 h a s
 a l s o
 h y s t e r i c a l l y
 m o v e d
 o n .

A c h r a f
 H a k i m i
 h a s
 p r o v e d
 b y
 a c t i o n s
 t o
 m a n y
 o f
 u s
 t h a t
 t h e
 w o m a n
 y o u
 a r e
 d a t i n g
 o r
 y o u
 m a r r i e d
 w i l l
 n e v e r
 b e
 y o u r
 r e l a t i v e .
 O n l y
 y o u r
 m o t h e r
 o r
 s i s t e r
 i s
 y o u r
 r e l a t i v e .

T o g e t h e r ,
 I r e l a n d
 a n d
 t h e
 U n i t e d
 S t a t e s w i l l
 d e f e n d
 t h e
 v a l u e s
 h a n d e d
 d o w n
 t o
 u s
 f r o m
 o u r
 a n c e s t o r s .

C r o w d
 i n
 T i m e s
 S q u a r e
 c e l e b r a t i n g
 t h e
 s u r r e n d e r
 o f
 G e r m a n y ,
 M a y
 7 t h ,
 1 9 4 5 .

P e o p l e
 a r e
 k i l l e d
 i n
 K a d u n a ,
 I
 h o p e
 t h e
 G o v
 w i l l
 l e a d
 o t h e r
 G o v s
 t o
 p r o t e s t
 a g a i n s t
 t h e
 F G
 a s
 t h e y
 d i d
 d u r i n g
 t h e
 N a i r a
 p o l i c y . I
 a m
 s t i l l
 w a i t i n g .

N e a r l y
 2 0 0
 y e a r s
 l a t e r ,
 t h e
 b r i c k s
 t o u c h e d
 b y
 m y
 g r e a t - g r e a t - g r e a tg r a n d f a t h e r ’ s
 h a n d s
 s t i l l
 h o l d
 S t .
 M u r e d a c h ' s
 C a t h e d r a l
 a l o f t .

F o o t b a l l e r
 A c h r a f
 H a k i m i ' s
 w i f e
 fi l e d
 f o r
 d i v o r c e
 a n d
 d e m a n d e d
 h a l f
 o f
 h i s
 p r o p e r t y .
 S h e
 w a s
 h o w e v e r
 i n f o r m e d
 b y
 c o u r t
 t h a t
 h e r

" M i l l i o n a i r e '
 h u s b a n d
 o w n s
 n o t h i n g
 a s
 a l l
 h i s
 p r o p e r t y
 i s
 r e g i s t e r e d
 u n d e r
 h i s
 m o t h e r ' s
 n a m e s .

A i r t e l
 U g a n d a
 r a l l i e s

Ka m p a l a ,

Uganda
 |
 Airtel

U g a n d a h a s

t o d a y r a l l i e d

Ugandan
 Media

to
 join
 the
 fight

a g a i n s t

H I V / A I D S b y

taking
part
in
the

u p c o m i n g

Kabaka
 Birthday

R u n s l a t e d f o r

S u n d a y 1 6 t h

April
 2023.

The
 Run
 is
 the
 biggest
 platform

f o r m i l l i o n s o f

U g a n d a n s

a c r o s s t h e

c o u n t r y t o t a k e

p a r t i n a n o b l e

cause
 that
 aims

to
 reduce
 public

h e a l t h

c h a l l e n g e s l i k e

e n d i n g t h e H I V / A I D S

e p i d e m i c b y 2 0 3 0 ,

fistula,
 and
 sickle
 cell.

This
 year ,
 the
 Kabaka
 Birthday
 Run
 is
 in
 its

10th
 year
 since
 it
 was

i n i t i a t e d i n 2 0 2 3 t o

c e l e b r a t e t h e l i f e o f
 Kabaka
 Ronald
 Mutebi
 II
 of
 Buganda.

H e a d B r a n d a n d

C o m m u n i c a t i o n a t

A i r t e l U g a n d a N o e l a

Byuma
 said,
 “W e
 call

u p o n o u r m e d i a

partners
 to
 join
 in
 the
 fight
 against
 the
 spread

of
 HIV/AIDs
 by
 taking

as
 a
 platform
 to
 support

t h e e f f o r t s t o E n d

HIV/AIDS
 by
 2030”

drive
 by
 purchasing
 a
 kit
 for
 themselves
 and
 their
 loved
 ones.

p a r t i n t h e u p c o m i n g

m a r a t h o n O u r m e d i a

partners
 have
 played
 a
 great
 role
 in
 telling
 the

K a b a k a B i r t h d a y R u n

s t o r y s i n c e i t s

i n c e p t i o n , 1 0 y e a r s
 ago.”

She
 added,
 “I
 call
 upon

y o u t o j o i n m e i n

c o n g r a t u l a t i n g H i s

M a j e s t y t h e K a b a k a

u p o n h i s b i r t h d a y

c e l e b r a t i o n . I ' m
 humbled
 by
 his
 gesture

of
 using
 this
 celebration

Byuma
 recognized
 the

r o l e o f B u g a n d a

K i n g d o m i n

s p e a r h e a d i n g p o s i t i v e

social
 impact
 initiatives

l i k e t h e K a b a k a

Birthday
 Run,
 Masaza

C u p , a m o n g o t h e r
 activities
 that
 continue
 to
 transform
 the
 lives
 of
 many .
 He
 encouraged
 Ugandans
 to
 come
 out

i n b i g n u m b e r s t o

s u p p o r t t h i s n o b l e

c a u s e o f c r e a t i n g

H I V / A

T h e
 r u n n i n g
 k i t s w o r t h
 U s h s
 2 0 , 0 0 0 / ­
 i n c l u d e a
 v e s t , a
 w a t e r
 b o t t l e a n d
 cap.
 These
 c a n b e
 p u r c h a s e d
 a t s e l e c t
 A i r t e l
 shops
 like;
 N e w P a r k
 K y a g g w e
 R o a d ,
 S h o p r i t e
 building
 on
 B e n
 K i w a n u k a
 and
 Thobani
 Centre.

A l t e r n a t i v e l y , o n e c a n
 u s e A i r t e l M o n e y b y
 d i a l i n g * 1 8 5 # , s e l e c t
 p a y m e n t s , e n t e r t h e
 amount
 plus
 their
 PIN
 to
 confirm
 the
 payment
 and
 then
 pick
 their
 Kit
 at
 the
 mentioned
 points.

A i r t e l i s t h e
 S m a r t p h o n e N e t w o r k
 W i t h t h e w i d e s t 4 G
 coverage
 in
 Uganda. **

Source:
 independent

U g a n d a n
 m e d i a
 t o
 j o i n

fi g h t
 a g a i n s

t
 H I V / A I D S .

i v e r p o o l
 r a l l y

Lo n d o n , U K |
 A R S E N A L .
 COM
 |
 Arsenal
 h a d t o s e t t l e f o r a
 d r a w a f t e r l e t t i n g a
 two­goal
 lead
 slip
 in
 a
 f r e n e t i c , f e i s t y
 encounter
 at
 Anfield.

It
 started
 so
 well
 for
 t h e m w h e n G a b r i e l
 M a r t i n e l l i s t a b b e d
 A r s e n a l a h e a d
 before
 Gabriel
 Jesus
 doubled
 the
 lead
 with
 his
 head.

M o S a l a h b r o u g h t
 Liverpool
 back
 into
 it

late
 in
 the
 first
 half,

b e f o r e h e m i s s e d a

p e n a l t y a f t e r t h e
 break.

As
 time
 was
 running
 out
 substitute
 Roberto

F i r m i n o g r a b b e d a

l a t e e q u a l i s e r, a n d
 two
 huge
 late
 saves
 from
 Aaron
 Ramsdale
 preserved
 the
 draw .

It
 moves
 Arsenal
 six
 points
 clear
 at
 the
 top,
 but
 having
 played
 a
 g a m e m o r e t h a n
 Manchester
 City

Ci t y t u r n o n t h e
 s t y l e i n

C h a m p i o n s
 League
 quarter­final. (Man
 City
 3
 Vs
 Bayern
 0)

Manchester ,
 UK
 |
 City
 will
 take
 a
 commanding
 C h a m p i o n s L e a g u e
 quarter­final
 advantage
 t o t h e A l l i a n z A r e n a
 n e x t w e e k a f t e r a
 c l i n i c a l a t t a c k i n g
 display
 ensured
 a
 3­0
 w i n a g a i n s t B a y e r n
 Munich
 on
 an
 incredible
 T u e s d a y n i g h t a t t h e
 Etihad.

R o d r i g o s c o r e d t h e
 opener
 on
 27
 minutes
 in
 front
 of
 an
 expectant
 52,257
 Etihad
 crowd
 –
 a n d w h a t a n e ff o r t i t
 was.

Collecting
 the
 ball
 from
 a p i n p o i n t B e r n a r d o
 S i l v a p a s s f r o m t h e
 right,
 Rodrigo
 swivelled
 past
 Jamal
 Musiala
 and
 sent
 a
 rocket
 left­foot
 drive
 past
 the
 helpless

Y a n n S o m m e r i n t h e
 Bayern
 goal.

Bernardo
 doubled
 the
 a d v a n t a g e w i t h a
 thumping
 header
 on
 69
 m i n u t e s , p o w e r f u l l y
 m e e t i n g E r l i n g
 H a a l a n d ' s c r o s s f r o m
 the
 left.

Haaland
 made
 it
 three
 with
 a
 right­foot
 ef fort
 on
 76
 minutes,
 his
 45th
 of
 the
 season
 ensuring
 h e ' s n o w s c o r e d t h e
 m o s t g o a l s i n a l l
 c o m p e t i t i o n s b y a
 p l a y e r a t a P r e m i e r
 League
 club.

The
 win
 ensured
 Man
 City
 are
 now
 unbeaten
 i n t h e l a s t 2 5
 C h a m p i o n s L e a g u e
 h o m e g a m e s , t h e
 l o n g e s t r u n b y a n
 E n g l i s h t e a m i n t h e
 competition's
 history

f r o m
 2 - 0
 d o w n
 t o
 h o l d
 A r s e n a l

i t y
 t u r n
 o n
 t h e
 s t y l e
 i n
 C h a m p i o n s
 L e a g u e

q u a r t e r - fi n a l . ( M a n
 C i t y

3
 V s
 B a y e r n
 0 )

F A S H I O N

P L E A T E D
 S K I R T
 M A K E S
 T R I U M P H A N T
 C O M E B A C K

By:
Jemimah
Chungu

Fa s h i o n

e n t h u s i a s t s ,
 r e j o i c e ! T h e
 p l e a t e d s k i r t h a s
 m a d e a t r i u m p h a n t
 return
 to
 the
 fashion
 scene.
 This
 timeless
 p i e c e h a s b e e n
 r e i n v e n t e d a n d i s
 now
 one
 of
 the
 most
 t r e n d y a n d s t y l i s h
 fashions
 of
 all
 time.

P l e a t e d s k i r t s a r e
 flared
 skirts
 made
 by
 folding
 the
 fabric
 into
 c r e a s e s o r p l e a t s .
 T h e s e c r e a s e s a r e
 created
 by
 sewing
 or
 ironing
 the
 fabric
 to
 create
 permanent
 or
 l o n g ­ l a s t i n g p l e a t s .
 T h e b e a u t y o f
 pleated
 skirts
 is
 that
 they
 are
 versatile
 and
 can
 be
 worn
 in
 any
 season.
 They
 are
 a
 g o ­ t o f a s h i o n

a c c e s s o r y t h a t i s

c o n v e n i e n t , s i m p l e ,

e a s y t o s t y l e , a n d
 s u i t a b l e f o r m a n y

o c c a s i o n s . W h e t h e r
 you're
 dressing
 up
 for
 the
 of fice,
 going
 for
 a

c a s u a l l o o k , o r

a t t e n d i n g a c o c k t a i l
 party ,
 a
 pleated
 skirt

is
 the
 perfect
 choice.

I n A f r i c a n f a s h i o n ,
 pleated
 skirts
 are
 a

c u l t u r a l s t a p l e f o r

t r a d i t i o n a l e v e n t s

s u c h a s w e d d i n g s ,

r i t u a l c e r e m o n i e s ,

and
 other
 traditional

c e r e m o n i e s T h e s e

s k i r t s a r e u s u a l l y
 very
 short
 mini
 skirts

o r m a x i s k i r t s ,
 fashioned
 ravishingly
 using
 African
 printed
 f a b r i c s a n d
 accessories.

P l e a t e d s k i r t s h a v e

b e e n a l o n g ­ l a s t i n g
 t r e n d i n t h e g l o b a l
 fashion
 environment
 since
 the
 mid­2000s.

T h e y w e r e o n c e
 r e f e r r e d t o a s " h e y
 m a m a s k i r t s , " b u t

they
 have
 never
 really
 disappeared
 from
 the
 fashion
 scene.
 T oday ,
 they
 are
 at
 the
 top
 of
 the
 trend
 and
 one
 of
 t h e m o s t p o p u l a r
 fashion
 apparel
 on
 the
 market.

Fashion
 designers
 and
 l a b e l s g l o b a l l y h a v e
 e n t h r o n e d p l e a t e d
 skirts.
 They
have
been
 f e a t u r e d i n 2 0 2 3
 f a s h i o n s h o w s ,
 r u n w a y s , l a u n c h e s ,
 s t o r e s , b l o g s , a n d
 m o r e S o m e o f t h e
 m o s t n o t a b l e
 d e s i g n e r s i n c l u d e
 A l t u z a r r a 2 0 2 3 a n d
 Chanel
 Spring
 2023.

Pleated
 skirts
 remain
 a
 t i m e l e s s f a s h i o n p i e c e
 that
 has
 stood
 the
 test
 of
 time.
 They
 are
 versatile,
 stylish,
 and
 suitable
 for
 any
 occasion.
 Whether
 y o u ' r e d r e s s i n g u p o r
 d r e s s i n g d o w n , a
 p l e a t e d s k i r t i s t h e
 perfect
 choice.
 So,
 go
 ahead
 and
 add
 one
 to
 your
 wardrobe
 today!

U n r e p o r t e d
 T o x i c
 T r a i t s
 o f
 W o m e n

Women
 have
 long
 b e e n r e g a r d e d
 as
 the
 fairer
 sex
 ­ n u r t u r i n g , g e n t l e , a n d
 p u r e . H o w e v e r , l i k e a l l
 h u m a n b e i n g s , w o m e n
 are
 capable
 of
 toxic
 traits
 t h a t c a u s e h a r m t o
 t h e m s e l v e s a n d t h o s e
 around
 them.
 Sadly ,
 these
 traits
 often
 go
 unreported
 and
 unaddressed
 due
 to
 l o n g ­ s t a n d i n g s o c i e t a l
 s t e r e o t y p e s t h a t p l a c e
 w o m e n o n a p e d e s t a l .

This
 week's
 SPOTLIGHT

a i m s t o s h e d l i g h t o n
 some
 of
 the
 m o s t

c o m m o n

u n r e p o r t e d
 toxic
 traits
 of
 w o m e n ,

t h e i r i m p a c t

o n s o c i a l

c o n n e c t i o n s

,
 and
 how
 to

r e c o g n i z e

and
 address

t h e m B y

o p e n i n g u p

t h e

c o n v e r s a t i o

n a n d

b r e a k i n g

d o w n t h e s e

s t e r e o t y p e s ,

w e c a n

c r e a t e

h e a l t h i e r
 a n d m o r e
 e m p o w e r i n g
 relations
 for
 us
 all.

D e fi n i n g

t o x i c t r a i t s a n d t h e i r
 impact
 on
 relationships

T oxic
 traits
 are
 negative
 q u a l i t i e s t h a t c a n h a r m

r e l a t i o n s h i p s a n d c a u s e
 e m o t i o n a l d i s t r e s s i n
 t h o s e i n v o l v e d . W h i l e
 t o x i c b e h a v i o r i s
 c o m m o n l y a s s o c i a t e d
 with
 men,
 women
 are
 just
 as
 capable
 of
 exhibiting
 h a r m f u l t r a i t s , y e t t h e i r
 a c t i o n s o f t e n g o
 unreported
 or
 overlooked.

T h i s a r t i c l e e x p l o r e s t h e
 unreported
 toxic
 traits
 of
 women
 and
 shed
 light
 on
 h o w t h e y c a n i m p a c t
 relationships.

T h e M y t h o f W o m e n ' s
 Innocence
 and
 Purity

S o c i e t y o f t e n p o r t r a y s

w o m e n a s i n n o c e n t ,
 nurturing,
 and
 pure,
 while

m e n a r e s e e n a s
 aggressive
 and
 dominant.

T h i s h a r m f u l s t e r e o t y p e

c r e a t e s t h e i l l u s i o n t h a t

w o m e n a r e i n c a p a b l e o f
 toxic
 behavior ,
 which
 can
 lead
 to
 their
 actions
 being

and
 manipulation
 are
 two

c o m m o n t o x i c t r a i t s

e x h i b i t e d b y w o m e n

T h e s e b e h a v i o r s c a n

m a n i f e s t i n r e l a t i o n s h i p s

as
 subtle
 digs,
 guilt­trips,
 and
 emotional
 blackmail,
 causing
 emotional
 harm
 to
 the
 other
 person.
 The
 root

c a u s e s o f t h e s e t o x i c
 behaviors
 might
 stem
 from
 past
 experiences
 or
 a
 lack

o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n s k i l l s

R e c o g n i z i n g t h e s e t r a i t s

c a n h e l p i n d i v i d u a l s
 e s t a b l i s h h e a l t h y
 boundaries
 and
 seek
 help

By:
Ollus
Ndomu
&
Jess y
Madur a

c a n i n c l u d e c a l l i n g o u t
 h a r m f u l b e h a v i o r ,
 e s t a b l i s h i n g
 c o m m u n i c a t i o n p r o t o c o l s ,
 a n d a p o l o g i z i n g w h e n
 necessary

All
 and
 above,
 women,
 like
 men,
 can
 exhibit
 toxic
 traits
 t h a t h a r m r e l a t i o n s h i p s A d d r e s s i n g a n d
 r e c o g n i z i n g t h e s e
 b e h a v i o r s i s c r u c i a l f o r
 b u i l d i n g h e a l t h y
 relationships
 and
 creating
 a
 more
 equitable
 society

T h e D a m a g e C a u s e d b y

brushed
 aside
 or
 excused.

H o w e v e r , w o m e n a r e
 human
 and
 have
 the
 same
 capacity
 for
 harm
 as
 men.

It
 is
 essential
 to
 challenge
 these
 gender
 stereotypes
 and
 recognize
 that
 women
 can
 exhibit
 toxic
 traits
 in
 dif ferent
 ways.

P a s s i v e ­ A g g r e s s i v e n e s s
 a n d M a n i p u l a t i o n :
 C o m m o n T o x i c T r a i t s o f

if
 necessary

The
 Dark
 Side
 of
 Female
 Friendships
 and
 Gossip

F e m a l e f r i e n d s h i p s a r e
 often
 seen
 as
 supportive
 and
 nurturing,
 but
 they
 can
 a l s o h a v e a d a r k s i d e Gossip
 and
 betrayal
 can
 cause
 emotional
 harm
 and
 damage
 friendships.
 It
 is
 essential
 to
 address
 these
 t o x i c b e h a v i o r s i n
 friendship
 groups
 and
 set
 h e a l t h y b o u n d a r i e s T h i s

W o m e n ' s U n r e a l i s t i c

Expectations
 of
 Men

T h r o u g h o u t h i s t o r y , m e n
 have
 been
 expected
 to
 fulfill
 c e r t a i n r o l e s a n d m e e t
 c e r t a i n e x p e c t a t i o n s t o
 p r o v e t h e i r m a s c u l i n i t y However ,
 women
 have
 also
 c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e s e
 societal
 expectations,
 often
 with
 unrealistic
 and
 harmful
 expectations
 of
 their
 own.
 When
 women
 place
 unfair
 expectations
 on
 men,
 it
 can

l e a d t o d a m a g i n g

c o n s e q u e n c e s , b o t h f o r
 m e n a n d f o r t h e
 relationships
 they
 share.

H o w S o c i e t a l

E x p e c t a t i o n s o f

M a s c u l i n i t y c a n b e

Harmful

In
 many
 cultures,
 men
 are
 e x p e c t e d t o b e s t r o n g ,
 d o m i n a n t , a n d
 e m o t i o n a l l y r e s t r a i n e d

T h e s e e x p e c t a t i o n s c a n
 b e h a r m f u l t o m e n ' s
 m e n t a l h e a l t h a n d s e l festeem,
 as
 they
 may
 feel
 pressure
 to
 suppress
 their
 emotions
 and
 behave
 in
 a
 way
 that
 is
 not
 natural
 to
 them.
 Furthermore,
 when
 w o m e n r e i n f o r c e t h e s e
 e x p e c t a t i o n s , t h e y c a n
 f u r t h e r p e r p e t u a t e a
 c u l t u r e o f t o x i c

masculinity
 that
 is
 harmful
 to
 both
 men
 and
 women. The
 Impact
 of
 Unrealistic
 E x p e c t a t i o n s o n

Romantic
 Relationships

U n r e a l i s t i c e x p e c t a t i o n s
 of
 men
 can
 also
 lead
 to
 d a m a g i n g r o m a n t i c
 r e l a t i o n s h i p s W o m e n
 may
 expect
 their
 partners
 t o b e ' p e r f e c t ' i n e v e r y
 way ,
 without
 allowing
 for
 flaws
 and
 imperfections.

T h i s c a n p l a c e a
 t r e m e n d o u s a m o u n t o f
 pressure
 on
 men,
 leading
 t o s t r e s s , a n x i e t y , a n d
 f r u s t r a t i o n . I t c a n a l s o
 make
 it
 dif ficult
 for
 men
 to
 connect
 emotionally
 with
 t h e i r p a r t n e r s , a s t h e y
 may
 feel
 that
 they
 must
 always
 be
 strong
 and
 in
 control.

T h e S c a p e g o a t
 S y n d r o m e : W o m e n ' s
 T endency
 to
 Blame
 and

V ictimize
 Others

Another
 toxic
 trait
 that
 is
 o f t e n o v e r l o o k e d i n
 women
 is
 the
 tendency
 to
 b l a m e a n d v i c t i m i z e
 others.
 W omen
 may
 feel
 t h a t t h e y h a v e b e e n
 w r o n g e d b y o t h e r s ,
 leading
 them
 to
 play
 the
 role
 of
 the
 victim.
 They
 may
 also
 blame
 others
 for
 t h e i r o w n s h o r t c o m i n g s ,
 r e f u s i n g t o t a k e

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e i r
 actions.

T h e c y c l e o f V i c t i m h o o d

and
 Scapegoating

When
 women
 fall
 into
 a

p a t t e r n o f b l a m i n g a n d

v i c t i m i z i n g o t h e r s , i t c a n

c r e a t e a t o x i c c y c l e o f

behavior
 that
 is
 dif ficult
 to
 break.
 They
 may
 become
 stuck
 in
 a
 pattern
 of
 playing
 the
 victim,
 blaming
 others
 f o r t h e i r p r o b l e m s , a n d

r e f u s i n g t o t a k e
 r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e i r

a c t i o n s . T h i s c a n
 ultimately
 lead
 to
 damaged
 relationships
 and
 a
 lack
 of
 personal
 growth.

How
 to
 break
 free
 from
 the

p a t t e r n o f b l a m e a n d
 victimization

B r e a k i n g f r e e f r o m t h e

c y c l e o f b l a m e a n d

v i c t i m i z a t i o n r e q u i r e s a

w i l l i n g n e s s t o t a k e

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r o n e ' s

a c t i o n s a n d t o e x a m i n e

o n e ' s o w n r o l e i n a
 situation.
 It
 also
 requires
 a
 willingness
 to
 forgive,
 let

go
 of
 grudges,
 and
 move

f o r w a r d i n a p o s i t i v e
 direction.
 Seeking
 support

f r o m a t h e r a p i s t o r

c o u n s e l o r c a n a l s o b e

helpful
 in
 learning
 how
 to

b r e a k f r e e f r o m t h e s e
 patterns
 of
 behavior .

T h e I m p o r t a n c e o f

R e c o g n i z i n g a n d

Addressing
 T oxic
 T raits
 in

W omen

While
 toxic
 traits
 can
 be

f o u n d i n b o t h m e n a n d

women,
 it
 is
 important
 to

r e c o g n i z e a n d a d d r e s s

them
 in
 women
 as
 well.

I d e n t i f y i n g t o x i c t r a i t s i n
 oneself
 or
 in
 others
 is
 the

first
 step
 towards
 creating

h e a l t h i e r a n d m o r e

empowering
 relationships.

The
 benefits
 of
 identifying
 and
 addressing
 toxic
 traits

in
 women

B y r e c o g n i z i n g a n d

addressing
 toxic
 traits
 in
 women,
 we
 can
 break
 free

f r o m h a r m f u l p a t t e r n s o f

b e h a v i o r a n d c r e a t e

h e a l t h i e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s

This
 may
 include
 setting

boundaries,
 having
 dif ficult

c o n v e r s a t i o n s , a n d

l e a r n i n g h o w t o
 communicate
 ef fectively It
 can
 also
 lead
 to
 greater

s e l f ­ a w a r e n e s s a n d
 personal
 growth.

H o w t o s t a r t t h e

c o n v e r s a t i o n a n d s e e k
 support

S t a r t i n g a c o n v e r s a t i o n
 about
 toxic
 traits
 in
 women
 can
 be
 dif ficult,
 but
 it
 is
 important
 to
 do
 so
 in
 order

t o c r e a t e h e a l t h i e r
 r e l a t i o n s h i p s T h i s m a y
 i n v o l v e e x p r e s s i n g y o u r
 c o n c e r n s i n a n o nthreatening
 way ,
 seeking

s u p p o r t f r o m f r i e n d s o r
 f a m i l y m e m b e r s , o r
 s e e k i n g t h e h e l p o f a
 p r o f e s s i o n a l t h e r a p i s t o r
 counselor

C o n c l u s i o n : M o v i n g
 T o w a r d s H e a l t h y a n d
 E m p o w e r i n g

Relationships

In
 order
 to
 create
 healthy

a n d e m p o w e r i n g
 relationships,
 we
 must
 be
 w i l l i n g t o r e c o g n i z e a n d
 address
 toxic
 traits,
 both
 in
 ourselves
 and
 in
 others.
 By
 breaking
 free
 from
 harmful
 p a t t e r n s o f b e h a v i o r , w e
 can
 create
 a
 more
 positive

a n d f u l fi l l i n g l i f e f o r
 o u r s e l v e s a n d f o r t h o s e
 a r o u n d u s W i t h a
 willingness
 to
 learn,
 grow ,
 and
 change,
 we
 can
 create
 a b e t t e r w o r l d f o r a l l . I t ' s
 time
 to
 acknowledge
 that
 women
 are
 not
 immune
 to
 toxic
 traits
 and
 behaviors,
 and
 that
 these
 traits
 can
 be
 just
 as
 damaging
 as
 those
 d i s p l a y e d b y m e n . B y
 r e c o g n i z i n g t h e s e t r a i t s
 a n d w o r k i n g t o a d d r e s s
 t h e m , w e c a n c r e a t e
 h e a l t h i e r , m o r e
 empowering
 relationships
 w i t h t h e w o m e n i n o u r
 lives.
 Let's
 break
 free
 from
 h a r m f u l s t e r e o t y p e s a n d
 w o r k t o w a r d s b u i l d i n g
 r e l a t i o n s h i p s b u i l t o n
 m u t u a l r e s p e c t ,
 u n d e r s t a n d i n g , a n d
 personal
 growth. F AQ

D o t o x i c t r a i t s i n w o m e n
 m a n i f e s t d i f f e r e n t l y t h a n
 toxic
 traits
 in
 men?

While
 many
 toxic
 traits
 can
 be
 found
 in
 both
 men
 and
 women,
 they
 may
 manifest
 i n d i f f e r e n t w a y s d u e t o
 s o c i e t a l e x p e c t a t i o n s a n d
 gender
 roles.
 For
 example,
 w o m e n m a y d i s p l a y
 p a s s i v e ­ a g g r e s s i v e
 b e h a v i o r r a t h e r t h a n
 a g g r e s s i v e b e h a v i o r i n
 order
 to
 conform
 to
 societal
 expectations
 of
 femininity

Why
 do
 these
 toxic
 traits
 o f t e n g o u n r e p o r t e d a n d
 unaddressed
 in
 women?

Long­standing
 stereotypes
 t h a t p l a c e w o m e n o n a
 pedestal
 as
 pure,
 nurturing,
 a n d i n n o c e n t m a k e i t
 dif ficult
 to
 acknowledge
 and
 a d d r e s s t o x i c t r a i t s i n
 women.
 W omen
 may
 also
 feel
 pressure
 to
 conform
 to
 these
 stereotypes
 and
 fear
 b e i n g l a b e l e d a s
 aggressive
 or
 unfeminine
 if
 t h e y d i s p l a y t o x i c
 behaviors.

H o w c a n I a d d r e s s t o x i c
 traits
 in
 the
 women
 in
 my
 life
 without
 being
 accusatory
 or
 hurtful?

It's
 important
 to
 approach
 t h e s e c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h
 e m p a t h y a n d
 u n d e r s t a n d i n g ,
 a c k n o w l e d g i n g t h a t t o x i c
 behaviors
 are
 often
 rooted
 i n d e e p e r i s s u e s A v o i d
 b l a m i n g o r a c c u s i n g
 l a n g u a g e a n d f o c u s o n
 e x p r e s s i n g y o u r o w n
 feelings
 and
 setting
 healthy
 boundaries.

What
 can
 I
 do
 if
 I
 recognize
 toxic
 traits
 in
 myself
 as
 a
 woman?

Recognizing
 toxic
 traits
 in
 oneself
 is
 a
 crucial
 first
 step
 t o w a r d s p e r s o n a l g r o w t h
 and
 healthier
 relationships.
 S e e k o u t t h e r a p y o r
 c o u n s e l i n g , a n d w o r k t o
 understand
 the
 root
 causes
 of
 these
 behaviors.
 Practice
 self­compassion
 and
 focus
 o n p e r s o n a l g r o w t h a n d
 development.

A F R I T A I N M E N T

N I G E R I A ' S

B A S K E T M O U T H
 U R G E S

G H A N A T O
 P R O M O T E

L O C A L
 M U S I C

By:
A yishie tu
A siedu

Ni g e r i a ' s

r e n o w n e d

c o m e d i a n ,

B r i g h t

O K m o c h a ,

p o p u l a r l y

k n o w n a s

B a s k e t m o u t h ,

h a s o ff e r e d

v a l u a b l e
 a d v i c e t o

Ghanaians
 on

h o w t o
 promote
 music
 artists
 at
 both

l o c a l a n d

i n t e r n a t i o n a l
 levels.

I n a r e c e n t

interview
 with
 local

m e d i a ,

B a s k e t m o u t h

e m p h a s i z e d t h e

i m p o r t a n c e o f

b e i n g a g g r e s s i v e

i n p r o m o t i n g a n d

s u p p o r t i n g m u s i c ,

c i t i n g N i g e r i a ' s

s u c c e s s i n t h e

music
 industry
 as
 a

r e s u l t o f t h e i r

a g g r e s s i v e
 approach.

Basketmouth
 urged

Ghanaian
 artists
 to

p u s h t h e i r m u s i c

with
 the
 same
 level

o f i n t e n s i t y a n d

passion,
 in
 order
 to

a c h i e v e s i m i l a r
 success.

He
 also
 highlighted
 the
 fact
 that
 Ghana
 boasts
 better
 event

c e n t e r s a n d

a v e n u e s t h a n
 Nigeria,
 providing
 a
 u n i q u e o p p o r t u n i t y
 for
 Ghanaian
 artists

t o s h o w c a s e t h e i r
 t a l e n t o n t h e
 international
 stage.

B a s k e t m o u t h ' s
 advice
 serves
 as
 a
 valuable
 reminder
 to

G h a n a i a n a r t i s t s
 that
 success
 in
 the

m u s i c i n d u s t r y
 requires
 hard
 work,

d e d i c a t i o n , a n d a
 relentless
 pursuit
 of

e x c e l l e n c e ; b y

a d o p t i n g a m o r e

a g g r e s s i v e

a p p r o a c h t o

p r o m o t i n g t h e i r

m u s i c , G h a n a i a n
 artists
 can
 achieve

t h e i r d r e a m s a n d

m a k e a n a m e f o r

t h e m s e l v e s o n t h e
 global
 stage.

It
 is
 the
 desire
 of
 every
 human
 being
 to
 look
 their
 best
 at
 all
 times.
 It
 is
 the
 innate
 desire
 of
 e v e r y o n e t o a p p e a r
 attractive
 wherever
 he
 o r s h e g o e s . F e e l i n g
 attractive
 is
 one
 of
 the
 best
 ways
 to
 boost
 your
 confidence.
 When
 you
 look
 your
 best
 and
 feel
 beautiful,
 then
 c o n fi d e n c e w i l l
 n a t u r a l l y e x u d e
 f r o m y o u S o ,
 when
 it
 comes
 to
 what
 beauty
 is,
 we
 a l l h a v e o u r
 d e fi n i t i o n s . O n e
 thing
 I
 have
 come
 t o b e l i e v e i s t h a t
 physical
 beauty
 is
 only
 skin
 deep
 and
 t o o m u c h
 importance
 should
 not
 be
 attached
 to
 it
 so
 t h a t t h e i n n e r b e a u t y
 w h i c h i s c h a r a c t e r i s
 n e g l e c t e d o r
 u n d e r v a l u e d . I n o u r
 world
 today ,
 the
 quest
 to
 a p p e a r f a i r e r , c u r v i e r ,
 taller ,
 prettier
 and
 more
 h a n d s o m e i s r i s i n g i n
 leaps
 and
 bounds.
 Little
 w o n d e r , t h e c o s m e t i c
 and
 skin
 care
 industry
 is
 now
 a
 multi­billion
 dollar
 business.

P e o p l e s p e n d
 o u t r a g e o u s s u m o f
 m o n e y i n a b i d t o
 enhance
 their
 physical
 a p p e a r a n c e Y o u w i l l
 agree
 with
 me
 that
 when
 you
 meet
 some
 people,
 y o u w i l l fi n d o u t t h a t
 a p a r t f r o m t h e i r
 cosmetic
 beauty ,
 there
 i s n o t h i n g f a s c i n a t i n g
 a b o u t t h e m P h y s i c a l
 b e a u t y g a i n s m o r e
 r e l e v a n c e d u e t o t h e
 magnitude
 attached
 to

i t . B e a u t y d r a w s a

p o s i t i v e r e s p o n s e f r o m

t h e b e h o l d e r , b e a u t i f u l
 people
 tend
 to
 gain
 more

f a v o u r , m o r e

o p p o r t u n i t i e s a n d e v e n
 better
 chances
 of
 getting
 life
 partners.
 This
 is
 what

this
 article
 centres
 on,
 Mr
 G i b s o n , w h o s u ff e r e d

w h o l e l o t o f p h y s i c a l
 t h e r a p y b u t c r e a t e s a
 n o t a b l e i n c r e a s e i n
 height.
 What
 a
 pain!

A forty­one
 (41)
 year
 old
 Moses
 Gibson
 from
 M i n n e s o t a U S s p e n t
 more
 than
 a
 whopping
 sum
 of
 170,000
 dollars
 w h i c h i s a b o u t 1 2 6

By:
Chioma
Madonna
Nduk wu

g a t h e r f o r t u n e f o r a
 painful
 surgery
 journey
 to
 gain
 the
 desired
 physical
 appearance.

r e j e c t i o n s i n h i s
 relationship
 because
 of
 h i s p e r c e i v e d " n o t t o o
 good
 appearance".

Mr
 Gibson
 had
 to

u n d e r g o p a i n f u l

s u r g e r i e s a i m e d a t

i n c r e a s i n g h i s h e i g h t .

T h e s u r g e r y i s u s u a l l y

c a r r i e d o u t o n p e o p l e
 with
 cases
 of
 dwarfism
 or
 p r e v i o u s i n j u r y D u r i n g

the
 surgery ,
 the
 leg
 or

arm
 of
 a
 patient's
 bone
 is

s t r e t c h e d t o g e t h e r w i t h

t h e s u r r o u n d i n g

m u s c l e s , t e n d o n s a n d

ligaments.
 Small
 incision

is
 made
 in
 the
 leg
 and
 an

external
 fixator
 device
 is
 inserted.
 The
 fixator
 has

m e t a l p i n s p l a c e d i n t o

the
 bone
 and
 connected

to
 a
 metal
 frame
 outside

t h e l e g T h e p i n s a r e

g r a d u a l l y a d j u s t e d t o

s t r e t c h t h e b o n e a n d

create
 new
 bone
 growth

o v e r s e v e r a l m o n t h s .

The
 surgery
 involves
 a

million
 naira
 in
 Nigerian
 c u r r e n c y t o r a i s e h i s
 short
 stature.
 Before
 the
 surgery ,
 he
 was
 only
 but
 five
 inches,
 a
 height
 he
 w a s n o t p r o u d o f a n d
 w h i c h h e c l a i m e d
 i n h i b i t e d h i m f r o m
 s e c u r i n g s e r i o u s

r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e
 f e m a l e f o l k . T h e
 r e p u g n a n c e h e
 e n c o u n t e r e d s p u r r e d
 h i m t o s e a r c h f o r
 solutions.
 He
 took
 pills
 to
 amplify
 his
 height
 as
 he
 was
 made
 to
 believe,
 he
 visited
 spiritualists
 who
 t o l d h i m t o e ff e c t t h e
 desired
 height
 by
 using
 the
 power
 of
 his
 mind,
 all
 to
 know
 avail.
 He
 later
 discovered
 that
 it
 is
 only
 s u r g e r y t h a t c o u l d g e t
 h i m o u t o f h i s

p r e d i c a m e n t , h e o p t e d
 f o r i t H e w o r k e d
 tirelessly ,
 doing
 different
 jobs
 at
 different
 times
 to

The
 first
 surgery
 was
 in
 2 0 1 6 a n d i n c r e a s e i n
 height
 was
 recorded
 but
 h e w a n t e d m o r e T h e
 second
 procedure
 which
 took
 place
 early
 this
 year ,
 a c t u a l l y g a v e
 him,
 the
 desired
 r e s u l t h e
 h a n k e r e d a f t e r T h e s u r g e r y i s
 expected
 to
 help
 him
 attain
 at
 least
 5ft
 and
 1 1inches
 a s h e u s e s a
 h e i g h t
 l e n g t h e n i n g
 d e v i c e t o h e l p
 h i m g r o w b y
 millimetres.
 What
 a
 transformation
 modern
technology
could
 o ff e r T h e h e i g h t t h a t
 e l u d e d h i m n a t u r a l l y ,
 m o d e r n s c i e n c e g a v e
 b a c k t o h i m a f t e r
 i n e x p l i c a b l e a n d
 excruciating
 pain.
 I
 still
 a s s e r t t h a t a p e r s o n ' s
 a p p e a r a n c e i s n o t a s
 i m p o r t a n t a s h i s
 c h a r a c t e r . P h y s i c a l
 beauty
 fades
 with
 time
 but
 character
 stands
 the
 test
 of
 time.

This
 is
 where
 I
 rest
 my
 ink.
 Hope
 the
 write
 up
 was
 worth
 your
 time.

E N V I R O N M E N T A L

P R O B L E M S
 F A C I N G
 A F R I C A

By:
Jemimah
Chungu

Af r i c a i s
 c u r r e n t l y
 f a c i n g t w o
 m a j o r t h r e a t s t o i t s
 e n v i r o n m e n t : a i r
 p o l l u t i o n a n d
 e c o n o m i c c r i s i s T h e s e i s s u e s
 h a v e t h e
 p o t e n t i a l t o
 s i g n i fi c a n t l y
 i m p a c t h u m a n
 life
 in
 a
 variety
 of
 ways.

Air
 pollution
 is
 a
 p a r t i c u l a r l y
 p r e s s i n g
 c o n c e r n i n
 A f r i c a , a s
 s t u d i e s h a v e
 shown
 that
 it
 is
 more
 deadly
 to
 people
 than
 in
 o t h e r p a r t s o f
 t h e w o r l d . I n
 f a c t , a i r
 p o l l u t i o n a n d
 r e l a t e d
 i l l n e s s e s a r e
 responsible
 for
 over
 40%
 of
 deaths
 o n t h e c o n t i n e n t ,
 d e s p i t e g r e e n h o u s e
 g a s e m i s s i o n s
 a c c o u n t i n g f o r o n l y
 a r o u n d 5 % o f t h e
 total.

H o w e v e r , i t i s
 important
 to
 note
 that
 g r e e n h o u s e g a s
 emissions
 do
 play
 a

r o l e i n c l i m a t e
 c h a n g e , w h i c h c a n
 h a v e f a r ­ r e a c h i n g

e ff e c t s o n b o t h t h e

e n v i r o n m e n t a n d
 humanity .
 The
 United

N a t i o n s

E n v i r o n m e n t a l

P r o g r a m ( U N E P )

e s t i m a t e s t h a t A f r i c a

c o u l d p r e v e n t o v e r

region
 have
 all
 been
 affected
 by
 economic

c r i s e s , w i t h

n e i g h b o r i n g r e g i o n s

a l s o f e e l i n g t h e
 impact.

Environmental
 factors

p h y s i c a l , h u m a n , a n d
 e n v i r o n m e n t a l
 resources.

It
 is
 clear
 that
 both
 air
 pollution
 and
 economic
 c r i s i s p o s e s i g n i fi c a n t

8 0 0 , 0 0 0 d e a t h s p e r
 year
 by
 taking
 action

t o a d d r e s s a i r
 pollution.

The
 economic
 crisis
 in

A f r i c a i s a l s o a
 significant
 threat
 to
 the

w e l l ­ b e i n g o f m a n y

p e o p l e o n t h e

c o n t i n e n t . C o u n t r i e s

s u c h a s M a l a w i ,

K e n y a , t h e

D e m o c r a t i c R e p u b l i c

o f C o n g o ,

M a d a g a s c a r , G a b o n ,

Ghana,
 and
 the
 Sahel

s u c h a s n a t u r a l

disasters,
 political
 and

s o c i a l u n r e s t ,

e n v i r o n m e n t a l

d e g r a d a t i o n , a n d

r e s o u r c e d i s t r i b u t i o n

have
 all
 contributed
 to

t h e s e e c o n o m i c

c r i s e s A d d i t i o n a l l y ,

Africa
 has
 been
 hit
 by

a n u m b e r o f d e a d l y

d i s e a s e s , i n c l u d i n g

m a l a r i a , E b o l a , a n d

C O V I D ­ 1 9 v a r i a n t s ,

w h i c h h a v e f u r t h e r

s t r a i n e d e c o n o m i c ,

t h r e a t s t o A f r i c a ' s
 e n v i r o n m e n t a n d t h e
 well­being
 of
 its
 people.
 A d d r e s s i n g t h e s e
 i s s u e s w i l l r e q u i r e a
 c o n c e r t e d e ff o r t f r o m
 g o v e r n m e n t s ,
 o r g a n i z a t i o n s , a n d
 individuals
 across
 the
 c o n t i n e n t a n d a r o u n d
 the
 world.
 By
 working
 together ,
 we
 can
 help
 e n s u r e a h e a l t h i e r ,
 m o r e s u s t a i n a b l e
 future
 for
 Africa
 and
 its
 people.

H o w
 d o
 A f r i c a n s
 e x p l a i n
 t h i s
 c u l t u r e
 o f
 j u n g l e
 j u s t i c e
 f o r
 p i l f e r i n g
 w h i l e
 h a i l i n g
 c r i m i n a l
 l e a d e r s ?

U k a c h u k w u
 O k o r i e

-
 P o e t
 &
 W r i t e r

UY

Uy ok anjo
T r ading,
a
r egis ter ed
media
entit y
(in
Z ambia)
oper ating
as
 A fricaw orld
Ne w spaper ,
A fricaw orld
Repor ts ,

The
A frican
International
 Magazine
and
Uy ok anjo
T V ,
invites
applications
fr om
suitably
qualified

Z ambians
f or
the
position
o f
Of fice
Secr e tar y .

Main
Responsibilities

T o
under tak e
the
pr o vision
o f
secr e tarial
and
adminis tr ativ e
ser vices
 in
or der
to
f acilitate
e f f ec tiv e
oper ations .

Qualifications:

-
F ull
Gr ade
t w elv e
(12)
C er tificate;

-
Secr e tarial
cer tificate
with
30
w or ds
per
minute
t yping
speed
 

(added
adv antage)

-
C omputer
Liter ate;

-
Able
to
use
Micr oso f t
Suit

-
C oor dinating
and
or ganisational
abilities;

-
Mus t
hav e
at
leas t
one
(1)
y ear
pr ac tical
experience

-
Mus t
no t
be
abo v e
28
y ear s
old.

-
Mus t
be
a
r esident
o f
Ndola
to wn

Individuals
mee ting
the
abo v e
qualifications
should
send
their
 application
le t ter ,
C V
and
cop y
o f
NR C
 to:
africaw orldne w s@gmail. com +260
96
3839574,
+353
(89)
975
6769.

NB:
Only
shor tlis ted
applicants
will
be
contac ted.

A R S H E R
 A N T I - L G B T Q + B I L L
 S T A N D S

m o u n t i n g l a s t ­ d i t c h
 efforts
 to
 try
 and
 stop
 the
 legislation.

T h e h a r s h e r a n t iLGBTQ
 bill
 imposes
 the
 d e a t h p e n a l t y f o r
 " a g g r a v a t e d
 homosexuality"
 and
 life
 i m p r i s o n m e n t f o r
 "recruitment,
 promotion
 and
 funding"
 of
 samesex
 acts.

W e s t e r n g o v e r n m e n t s
 a n d m i n o r i t y r i g h t s
 g r o u p h a v e w i d e l y
 criticised
 the
 Ugandan
 g o v e r n m e n t , w i t h t h e

UN
 high
 commissioner
 for
 human
 rights
 urging
 President
 Museveni
 not
 to
 sign
 it.

U g a n d a n L G B T Q
 activists
 are
 calling
 on
 t h e p r e s i d e n t n o t t o
 ratify
 the
 bill.

Nicholas
 Opiyo,
 one
 of
 U g a n d a ' s t o p h u m a n
 rights
 lawyers,
 told
 RFI
 t h a t P r e s i d e n t
 Museveni,
 who
 has
 30
 days
 to
 sign
 the
 bill,
 is
 in
 a
 difficult
 position
 on
 the
 i s s u e a s h e f a c e s
 potential
 sanctions
 from
 h i s i n t e r n a t i o n a l
 partners.

" M u s e v e n i h a s s h i f t e d
 his
 position
 a
 little
 bit
 f r o m 2 0 1 4 , w h e n h e
 said
 that
 LGBT people
 were
 disgusting",
 Opiyo
 said.

"Now ,
 he
 seems
 mostly
 preoccupied
 with
 what
 he
 calls
 the
 promotion
 of
 h o m o s e x u a l a c t i v i t i e s

Nonetheless,
 he
 has
 to
 deal
 with
 a
 constituency

t h a t h a s a l w a y s h i g h l y

s u p p o r t e d t h e a n t i ­

h o m o s e x u a l i t y l a w , b u t
 he
 also
 has
 to
 take
 into
 account
 the
 view
 of
 the
 rest
 of
 the
 world."

That
 makes
 the
 bill
 "both

a
 domestic
 matter
 and
 a

w h o l e o f A f r i c a i s n o t
 imported
 from
 the
 W est,
 but
 the
 hatred
 against
 it
 definitely
 is,"
 he
 said.

S t e l l a N y a n z i , a
 p r o m i n e n t U g a n d a n
 h u m a n r i g h t s a d v o c a t e
 w h o w a s a r r e s t e d f o r
 insulting
 Museveni
 and
 n o w l i v e s i n e x i l e i n

a n d p r i v a t e s e c t o r t o
 a p p l y p r e s s u r e t o
 Museveni
 not
 to
 sign
 the
 bill.

Canadian
 Prime
 Minister

J u s t i n T r u d e a u h a s
 condemned
 the
 bill
 "in
 the
 a b s o l u t e s t r o n g e s t
 terms",
 and
 urged
 other
 world
 leaders
 to
 reject
 it
 too.

P M Tr u d e a u c a l l e d o n
 global
 governments,
 and
 e s p e c i a l l y
 C o m m o n w e a l t h
 countries,
 "to
 come
 out
 and
 clearly
 condemn
 this
 d e s p i c a b l e p i e c e o f
 legislation".

f o r e i g n p o l i c y m a t t e r " ,
 Opiyo
 points
 out.
 "So
 it's

a
 very
 difficult
 position.

But
 my
 opinion
 is
 that
 Museveni
 will
 sign
 up
 to

t h i s l a w , t h o u g h I ' m
 hoping
 he
 doesn't."

O p i y o a l s o m e n t i o n e d

t h e r o l e t h a t

c o n s e r v a t i v e A m e r i c a n

C h r i s t i a n g r o u p s h a v e
 played
 in
 promoting
 anti­

L G B T Q + p o l i c i e s i n
 Uganda.

"Ugandans
 have
 no
 time
 to
 care
 about
 who
 you
 love
 and
 what
 you
 do
 in
 your
 private
 life,"
 he
 told

R F I " T h e r e a r e m o r e
 pressing
 issues
 here.

" H o m o s e x u a l i t y i n

U g a n d a , a n d i n t h e

G e r m a n y , h a s fi e r c e l y
 c r i t i c i s e d t h e b i l l o n
 social
 media.

" I w a s i n s i d e t h e
 C o n s t i t u t i o n a l C o u r t
 w h e n t h e A n t iHomosexuality
 Act
 was
 annulled
 in
 2014,"
 she
 wrote
 on
 T witter .
 "I
 will
 c e l e b r a t e a g a i n w h e n
 U g a n d a r e v o k e s
 homophobic
 laws."

I n a n o t h e r p o s t , s h e
 w a r n e d : " A l a s , w e a r e
 witnessing
 a
 new
 wave
 of
 exodus
 and
 flight
 from
 Uganda's
 homophobia!"

L a s t w e e k , p r o t e s t e r s
 g a t h e r e d o u t s i d e t h e
 parliament
 in
 Ontario
 in

C a n a d a t o c a l l o n t h e

C a n a d i a n g o v e r n m e n t

I f t h e p r o p o s e d A n t iH o m o s e x u a l i t y B i l l i s
 adopted,
 Human
 Rights
 W a t c h w r o t e i n a
 s u b m i s s i o n t o U g a n d a n
 l a w m a k e r s , " i t w o u l d
 v i o l a t e m u l t i p l e
 f u n d a m e n t a l r i g h t s
 g u a r a n t e e d u n d e r
 U g a n d a ' s C o n s t i t u t i o n
 and
 international
 human
 r i g h t s i n s t r u m e n t s t o
 which
 Uganda
 is
 a
 party". A c c o r d i n g t o t h e
 c a m p a i g n g r o u p , " t h e
 rights
 at
 stake
 include
 the
 r i g h t s t o f r e e d o m o f
 e x p r e s s i o n a n d
 a s s o c i a t i o n , l i b e r t y ,
 p r i v a c y , e q u a l i t y , a n d
 f r e e d o m f r o m
 d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a n d
 inhuman
 and
 degrading
 t r e a t m e n t " C o ­ r e p o r t e d
 b y O l l u s N d o m u a n d
 Joshua
 Illya