Muslim parents demanded the abolition of pork in all the school canteens of a Montreal suburb. The mayor of the Montreal suburb of Dorval has refused, and the town-clerk sent a note to all parents to explain why. Here’s that note:

“Muslims must understand that they have to adapt to Canada and Quebec, its customs, its traditions, its way of life, because that’s where they chose to immigrate.

“They must understand that they have to integrate and learn to live in Quebec.

“They must understand that it is for them to change their lifestyle, not  the Canadians who so generously welcomed them.

“They must understand that Canadians are neither racist nor xenophobic, they accepted many immigrants before Muslims (whereas the reverse is not true, in that Muslim states do not accept non-Muslim immigrants).

“That no more than other nations, Canadians are not willing to give up their identity, their culture.

“And if Canada is a land of welcome, it’s not the Mayor of Dorval who welcomes foreigners, but the Canadian-Quebecois people as a whole.

“Finally, they must understand that in Canada (Quebec) with its Judeo-Christian roots, Christmas trees, churches and religious festivals, religion must remain in the private domain.

The municipality of Dorval was right to refuse any concessions to Islam and Sharia.

“For Muslims who disagree with secularism and do not feel comfortable in Canada, there are 57 beautiful Muslim countries in the world, most of them under-populated and ready to receive them with open halal arms in accordance with Sharia.

“If you left your country for Canada, and not for other Muslim countries, it is because YOU have considered that life is better in Canada than elsewhere.

“Ask yourself the question, just once, “Why is it better here in Canada than where you come from?” ‘A canteen with pork’ is part of the answer.”

The African Union has failed to defend the African continent, many Africans say the AU is misguided and is working in the interest of the former colonial masters.

These Four Pan Africanists Who Must Sit On AU Decision Making Table.

Africans are of the opinion that their head of states while in power can’t speak the truth or truly defend the continent as they will be seen as jeopardizing the interest of their former colonial masters.

Speaking up for Africa is clearly telling the WEST and other continents benefiting from us to pay their fair share.

We all know if the other continents pay their fair share when dealing with Africa, some of those powerful countries that exploit Africa to remain in power, will have no significance in the world stage.

African dictators are giving out our natural resources for almost nothing, the only thing that truly matters to the African dictator is to remain in power for as long as possible and this can be obtained by foreign protection, this is why African leaders allow foreign countries to exploit us and stay quiet.

To solve this problem, we need to make sure some die heart Pan Africanists who are not sitting presidents attend the most important decision making meetings.

The Assembly of the African Union is the most powerful decision-making meeting, these meetings are attended by the African head of states and governments of its member states.

The African Union Commission is the AU’s secretariat and mostly implements decisions taken by the head of states and governments at the Assembly.

Pan Africanists like Dr. Arikana, Professor Lumumba, Julius Malema and even former Ghanaian head of state Jerry Rawlings should be made to attend the Assembly of the African Union where all important decisions are made, this is because these Pan Africanists have proven to us time without number that they can stand for Africa without fear of contradiction.

These Pan Africanist should have a say in these decisions making meetings and also have the same voting rights and all the privileges enjoyed by the other head of states.

They should also be allowed to take even the position of Chairman of AU, a position that is normally supposed to be held by a sitting head of state.

These Pan Africanist will be in the house for a term of office and can be reelected by the African diaspora if their activities in the AU were great.

Among the Pan Africanists, those who didn’t perform well will be replaced by other Pan Africanists who have proven their worth to the African diaspora.

These are proposals for the African diaspora to ponder on and if we find them reasonable, we can make an online petition and collect as many diaspora signatures as possible in other to push AU to adopt these ideas.

If we want changes in African, we the diaspora must bring the changes, we can’t count on our leaders who are trapped by other continents to make these changes, they can’t, their hands are tied.

The Malawi Law Society (MLS) has asked the Anti-CorruptionBureau (ACB) to speed up investigations intoallegations that some individuals attempted to bribe the five-member panel of High Court judges preparing judgement in the presidential elections nullification petition case.

MLS has since called for the immediate arrest of the suspects.The MLS statement follows an ACB confirmation that Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda lodged a formal complaint to the bureau that there were attempts to bribe two of the five judges.The ACB has kept names of the suspects under wraps.

In its letter addressed to ACB director general Reyneck Matemba, the Law Society says it has learnt with grave concern allegations of attempts to corrupt judicial officers handling the Constitutional case Reference Number 1 of 2019.

MLS says failure to act on the issue has the serious potential to affect all operations of law enforcement agencies, thereby creating a recipe for loss of public trust.

Credit ; NationOnline

Public Appointments Committee (PAC) is expected to summon Malawi Electoral Commission Jane Ansah within the next 10 days to question her on the allegations being made by Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) that she presided over a fraudulent election in May.

HRDC has called for Ansah to be fired and PAC summoned them to find out what their claims against the MEC chair are.

PAC as the appointing committee is mandated to recommend the firing of an officer deemed incompetent to President Peter Mutharika who is the appointing authority.

Mutharika told British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC) that he can not succumb to pressure to fire Ansah because he does not see any wrong doing in the way she handled the results which made him president.

PAC will investigate the claims made by HRDC in three days and has seven days to get Ansah to Parliament to defend herself.

Since the political debacle started Ansah has remained adamant and exercised her right to remain silent as the matter is in the Constitutional Court.

UTM and Malawi Congress Party are challenging the outcome of the results.

PAC Chairperson Collins Kajawa said the meeting with HRDC showed them there are contentious issues that need to be investigated but they want to uphold protocol.

However, there could be an obstacle to expedite the process of summoning Ansah as Parliament will be meeting to pass the 2019/2020 budget.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has announced a coalition government, seven months after the inauguration President Félix Tshisekedi.

Tshisekedi, son of the late veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, won a bitterly contested election in December, marking the first peaceful transition of power since DR Congo gained independence from Belgium in 1960.

Since coming to power, President Tshisekedi has agreed to work with the party of former President Joseph Kabila.

“The government is finally here. The president has signed the decree and we will begin work soon,” the AFP news agency quotes Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga as saying.

UTM leader Saulos Chilima has warned Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah that if she does not resign after next week’s vigils, protesters will hold peaceful demonstrations at her house.

Chilima, the former Malawi vice president, said this at a UTM thanks giving rally in Zomba on Saturday.

At the rally, Chilima noted that Ansah whom he called Mai Madando refused to resign after the June 20 demonstrations. He then warned that opposition parties will continue to hold demonstrations until the MEC chairperson resigns.

On Thursday and Friday, civil society organisations will hold demonstrations aimed at forcing Ansah to step down.

The UTM leader has since urged his supporters to join next week’s vigils saying it is their right to protest. He however advised them to be peaceful during the protests and not to fear anything as the police will protect protesters.

Chilima’s UTM and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) want Ansah to step down accusing her of favouring President Peter Mutharika who was declared winner in the May 21 elections.

Mlhakho wa Alhomwe and Chiwanja cha a Yao have urged Malawians to be united despite their political differences.

The remarks come as some people from Mulanje Limbuli constituency are reported to be chasing their incumbent member of parliament Daudi Chida claiming he is not a lhomwe.

Reports reaching this publication indicate that for the past weeks since MEC declared Chida a winner on DPP ticket, some disgruntled people are forcing the MP to leave as he is not one of their sons.

Reacting to this development Mlhakho wa Alhomwe Chief Executive Officer Mutchanakhwayi Mpuluka, described the development as sad saying politics should not bring in tribalism in the lhomwe belt let alone in Malawi.

Abdulazizi Yasin chairperson of Chiwanja cha a Yao condemned the behavior saying it is uncalled for and retrogressive to development of Malawi.

Member of Parliament for Mulanje Limbuli constituency confirmed the development with FaceOfMalawi and was quick to say that those behind the issue are losers in the 21 May Tripartite elections.

June 12 is officially a national holiday in Nigeria for the celebration of “Democracy Day” in Africa’s most populous country.

A number of African leaders are in the capital Abuja for the inaugural celebration of the day the military handed over power to an elected civilian government back in 1999.

Until June 6, 2019 when President Buhari signed the law that slated the day as “Democracy Day,” May 29 each year had been celebrated for the particular purpose.

Nigeria is this year thus celebrating two decades of uninterrupted civilian administration spanning four presidents, starting from Olusegun Obasanjo to Umaru Musa Yar Adua, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the incumbent Muhammadu Buhari.

African leaders in Abuja according to local media

• Paul Kagame of Rwanda – who had earlier joined Buhari at an anti-corruption summit on Tuesday
• George Manneh Weah of Liberia
• Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo Republic
• Hage Geingob of Namibia
• Macky Sall of Senegal
• Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania
• Mahammadou Issoufou of Niger
• Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana
• Idris Deby Itno of Chad
• Yoweri Museveni of Uganda
• Moussa Faki Mahamat of Head of African Union Commission, AUC.

President Buhari raised eyebrows during his inauguration for a second term which took place on May 29 after he failed to deliver an inaugural speech.

At the time, the official government position was that the ceremony had been done on a low-key without the usual fanfare as the government put more efforts into today’s event.

The president has as expected delivered an address on the occasion of the inaugural commemoration.

The May 29 event had no invited guests and the normal military parades and change of flags were done to symbolize a change of order. Buhari and his vice Yemi Osinbajo took their respective oaths and the event ended.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP), People’s Party (PP) supporters and other concerned people are holding a peaceful march to deliver their petition to Zomba District Council regarding the outcome of the May 21 presidential election.

There is a heavy police presence in Zomba City while other security officers have accompanied the protestors on their journey.

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) says it is impressed with what they have seen during the opening hours of the voting process.

The Chief Observer of the EU EOM, Miroslav Poche, on Tuesday morning observed the opening of a polling station at Namiwawa Primary School in Blantyre and as well as a number of polling stations around the city.

“This morning, EU Observers were present at polling stations across Malawi to observe the opening procedures. They have since been mobile in their respective areas, observing voting at a number of polling stations, and they will be maintaining their observation throughout the day and into the night,” said Poche.

“We will not offer any assessment on the conduct of voting until our preliminary statement on 23 May, so that we can reflect on the entire day and also the counting and tallying. However, it is pleasing to note that polling appears to be underway in all the areas where we have observers, meaning materials have been delivered and polling staff were ready,” said the Chief Observer.

The Chief Observer also stated: “Many polling stations have lengthy queues, indicating that Malawians are turning out in large numbers to vote. We hope the day goes calmly, enabling all who want to cast their votes to do so.”

Later in the day, he will visit Zomba to observe voting there before returning to Blantyre to observe the close of a polling station and the counting of votes.

EU Observers will cover polling stations in rural and urban areas and has 83 observers currently deployed across Malawi.

The EU EOM will issue its preliminary statement on Thursday 23 May at 08.30 at the Protea Ryalls Hotel. The preliminary statement will cover all aspects of the electoral process for the 2019 elections in Malawi.

Poche will receive regular updates from EU Observers throughout Election Day on the conduct of voting and counting, as well as follow-up reports on the tallying and results processes over subsequent days.

Source: Kulinji.com

Mzuzu University students have been allowed to vote at any centre in Mzuzu City after the Malawi Electoral Commission instructed them to vote where they registered earlier.

Confirming the development, Mzuzu University Student’s Union President, Louis Kapesa, said the students were planning to protest for being denied to vote in Mzuzu city.

He added that other students have joined them to vote which has raised the number to 1000.

Previously, MEC chairperson, Jane Ansah said those who did not transfer will not be allowed to vote.

Source : Times

This year’s International Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD) commemoration will be held on June 13 in Chiradzulu District under the theme “Still Standing Strong”.

The theme has been adopted as announced by the United Nations (UN) amidst following attacks and killings of persons with albinism in the country that make others live in fear.

Chief Disability Awareness and Equalisation Officer in the Department of Disability and Elderly Affairs Julian Mabangwe told District Executive Committee (DEC) members Friday that the theme aims at recognising, celebrating and encouraging strength in persons with albinism.

“The theme also recognises that despite all the past and on-going challenges facing persons with albinism, they are still standing strong,” Mabangwe said.

She added that persons with albinism are targeted for their body parts by those who believe that body tissues from persons with albinism have mystical and magical powers to bring luck, power and money.

Mabangwe further said this year’s commemoration objectives include raising awareness and understanding of albinism in order to fight against discrimination and stigma against persons with albinism.

The commemoration is also aimed at providing platform to dispel mythical understanding of albinism in the country.

“It is also aimed at amplifying and strengthening the voice of persons with albinism to relevant stakeholders,” she said.

The district’s Director of Planning and Development Kelvin Harawa assured the department that all preparations for the day will be done and asked council officials to work together towards the event.

Chiradzulu District Association of People with Albinism (APAM) chairperson Benard Makhanga thanked the department for taking the event to Chiradzulu saying communities will understand their importance in development of the district.

Malawi joined the rest of the world in 2015 in commemorating the day. The population of people with albinism in the country is estimated between 10,000 and 15,000.

According to Malawi Police Service, at least 165 cases related to persons with albinism have been reported since November 2014 and out of which 23 involve murder.

Source: Malawi News Agency

By Dalitso Chaona

Lilongwe City South West independent MP candidate, Nancy Tembo has slammed Malawi Congress Party’s Rhino Chiphiko’s followers for swearing in public in their recent campaign rallies at a campaign rally she held Wednesday afternoon in Katondo, Area 24 in Lilongwe .

Speaking at the campaign rally, Tembo said that she is sad to note that some people are swearing in public instead of addressing people how they plan to develop the constituency.

“Malawi Congress Party’s values condemn things which incite violence, and it’s sad that they’re swearing in public when we have a man of God as our presidential candidate. We should unite and help Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to claim the presidency come 21 May.

“It will be useless when we’ll have more MPs and another party’s president” said Tembo.

Tembo also urged women to use their logic very well to avoid electing selfish and untrustworthy leaders.

She said it has been noted that some candidates are lying to women that they will give them K30,000.00 loans to start businesses which is impossible for a constituency as big as Lilongwe City South West.

Adding to that, Nancy Tembo’s constituency chairman Beaully Gondwe said people should vote for an MP who is ready to protect them not intimidate them.

“An Mp should  not be scaring our chiefs. Choose people who are ready to serve you. Last weekend we were told to stay away from Chakwera’s rally but because of confidence we still went there, and nothing happened,” said Gondwe.

Nancy Tembo is contesting on independent ticket after losing primary elections to Rhino Chiphiko in MCP. Despite that she is still endorsing Dr. Lazarus Chakwera with hope of returning to the party if she wins the upcoming elections.

Government has directed that no child should be excluded from public schools for dressing according to their religious rights.

According to a statement which Radio Islam has seen addressed to all heads of departments in the ministry of education, various faith-based organizations have been raising concerns on the dressing code especially in primary and secondary schools.

On this background, the ministry of education has advised all heads of department not to send back students on dressing code.

Reacting to the development, Hijab Task Force spokesperson, Abdul-salaam Faduweck, commended government for considering their concerns.

Source : Radio Islam

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) running mate Everton Chimulirenji has urged party’s supporters from the Southern Region to be united and remain focused ahead of May 21 polls so that they can vote for president Peter Mutharika and DPP member of parliament and councilors into power.

Chimulirenji made the call on Sunday at Namitembe Primary School ground in Chiradzulu South during the campaign launch for the party’s candidate for the constituency Joseph Mwanamvekha.

He said with only two weeks left for the people to cast votes, some opposition members bring strategies that frustrates voters up to an extent that others refrain from voting.

“Much is being said about our party and our president just to discredit us, but there is nothing that can work to our disadvantage because Professor has done everything to develop this country in the past five years. However, the opposition is trying hard to corrupt people’s minds and that might end up frustrating you and avoid voting. Let me encourage you to remain united and focused so that come May 21 we should have DPP in power again,” Chimulirenji said.

Also available at the rally were DPP’s director of elections Ben Phiri, Minister of Information Henry Mussa, Southern Region Governor Charles Mchacha, director of women in the south Bertha Nachuma, Leston Mulli and others.

In his remarks, Mussa assured Chimulirenji that the party is intact in the region.

He then took a swipe at independent parliamentary candidates saying they have nothing to offer to the electorate.

Phiri then described other parties like United Transformation Movement (UTM) as clueless full of drama.

Mwanamvekha asked constituents to rally behind him for more developments in the area citing he has managed to initiate developmental projects like Chiradzulu Teachers Training College, markets, schools and provision of potable water in the area.

Mwanamvekha who is also Minister of Agriculture and Water Development faces competition from an independent candidate he floored during the party’s primary elections Oliver Nakoma.

Other candidates vying for the post include Peter Tikiwa of UTM and McPherson Chirombo of the Malawi Congress Party.

During the rally Mwanamvekha also launched a K3 million football and netball trophy.

Source : Kulinji

Ugandan Afro pop star and lawmaker Bobi Wine has been granted bail by the Buganda Road court in a case connected to his involvement in anti-social media tax protests last year.

Real name, Robert Kyagulanyi, the Kyadondo East MP’s bail hearing was conducted with him in a dock at the Luzira Maximum Security Prisons where he is being held.

He was due to appear in court today for the hearing after he was arrested by police for escaping house arrest. He is to deposit one million Ugandan shillings as part of his bail bond.

The submissions of the case were being heard from the the court with the accused linking up via video conference. Political watchers say it is the first time the measure is being applied in the country’s justice system.

On the issue of his recent arrest, he had escaped from preventive house arrest to attend a funeral before he was re-arrested, slapped with charge of disobedience of statutory duty and remanded till his hearing today.

He maintained his defiant tone when he was granted the opportunity to speak. “It is not me on trial, it is the court itself on trial. If standing for what is right is going to hand me my freedom, I will thank God for it.

“If standing for what is right is going to keep me in this prison then I will thank God even louder. After all, I have a lot of work to do, even here in prison,” he stressed.

Security watchers say the police and prison authorities must have taken the televised hearing option to reduce the incidence of exchanges with supporters of Bobi Wine’s People Power movement.

Source : Africanews

Ras David chikomeni Chirwa’s endorsement of Peter Mutharika did not come as a total surprise.

He is the only famous of all the presidential wannabes whose nomination papers Malawi electoral commission rejected. With May 21 around the corner, and political parties desperate for votes, it was just a matter of time before one desperate party sought after the deadlocked Rastas influence.

However, the way Chikomeni and DPP’s policies ended up compromising over a meeting is totally surprising. Out of this meeting, which the DPP’s vice president for the south-Honourable Kondwani Nankhumwa hosted Ras Chikomeni, came the decision to endorse Mutharika.

From their discussions Chikomeni concluded Mutharika is the only candidate with the ability to develop this country and improve living conditions of Malawians.

This contradicts the rastaman’s earlier sentiment that he would be a better leader than the incumbent, who is failing to address unemployment and many other problems, Malawi is struggling with it is not clearly understood how the Rastafarian’s political ideologies changed overnight.

Rumor has it that huge sums of money changed accounts during the meeting, Ras chikomeni dismisses the rumour, he insists he did it for the kids who are denied places in government schools because of religious beliefs. He was quoted-“Anyone approaching me was supposed to understand what we, rastas, want.

I am a Malawian and the DPP is a party in power. It is the government, which approached me. i consider that as a sign that the government is taking care of us.

We have been crying that we want to go to school in dreadlocks.” Like a joke, Ras Chikomeni came into the spotlight. his decision to stand for the presidency got him the fame, but it seemed to have been made under the influence of a little too much grass. His drafted policies for transforming Malawi had Malawians thinking otherwise.

He promised a million jobs from the hemp industry alone and to fight for the rights of his fellow dread-locked Rastas who do not enjoy full citizenry rights.

No wonder he pulled a huge crowd during the ceremony of presenting his nomination papers, the crowd testified of the many hearts, which had fallen for Ras Chikomeni, it proved Ras Chikomeni very influential. will the influence which has got him involved with DPP deliver or betray.

If DPP gets re-elected, will we have dread-locked students in government schools?. Only time will tell.

Lawmakers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, on Wednesday elected Jeanine Mabunda as head of the national assembly.

Mabunda was the only candidate fielded for the position after her main opponent, Henri Thomas Lokondo, was disqualified. The main opposition boycotted the process citing political manoeuvering.

The new speaker belongs to the Common Forum for Congo, FCC coalition, which is led by former president Joseph Kabila. She also got the backing of president Tshisekedi’s CACH coalition.

She becomes the first woman to occupy the top legislative seat. She is the sixth substantive speaker and takes over from Aubin Minaku – speaker between 2012 – 2019.

“It is done!” she said in a tweet after she was duly elected. She had earlier in her address to lawmakers promised to work with all parts of the legislative chamber in the interest of citizens.

Among other roles, she has served as Minister of Industry and advisor in the fight against sexual violence and the recruitment of child soldiers under Kabila’s presidency. She is also leader of the women’s league in Kabila’s party, the PPRD.

The lawmakers – 500 in total – had gathered since Wednesday morning to elect the president of the National Assembly. Jeanine Mabunda, who formerly chaired the Industry Promotion Fund (FPI), takes the role whiles she will be deputized by the ruling UDPS’s Jean-Marc Kabund.

With the election of a leader for the National Assembly, the next important step being awaited is the nomination of a Prime Minister for the country, four months into Tshisekedi’s presidency.

The main opposition led by the Lamuka coalition had decided to boycott the vote to protest against the “majority coalition” which involves the supporters of President Felix Tshisekedi and his predecessor Joseph Kabila.

Lamuka’s candidate in the December 2018 polls, Martin Fayulu, still insists that he is the rightful winner of the first post-Kabila polls. He is widely regarded as having won the vote but a poll petition he filed was dismissed by the courts.

(Source: Africanews)