Over 300,000 turned away at Zimbabwe polls, say observers

Harare, Friday. Nearly 305,000 Zimbabwean voters were turned away and 206,000 received assistance from election officials during last week’s disputed vote, organisers said on Thursday.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said nearly 3.5 million people cast their ballots in the July 31 polls, which extended President Robert Mugabe’s 33-year rule.

The commission’s statistics show the largest number of voters, 64,483, were turned away in the capital Harare.

Urban areas have long been a stronghold of Mugabe’s rival Morgan Tsvangirai, who claimed the vote was rigged.

Regular voters were reportedly turned away because their names were missing from the voters’ roll, they were registered in another ward or they did not have adequate identification.

But independent poll monitors have reported widespread manipulation of the roll and said the real number of disenfranchised voters could be much higher.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) said over 750,000 urban voters were missing from the electoral list, in what they described as “a systematic effort to disenfranchise an estimated million voters.” “A total of 99.97 percent of rural voters were registered while only 67.94 percent of urban voters were registered,” said Solomon Zwana, chairman of ZESN.

Rights groups say police forced some people they believed to be opposition supporters to feign illiteracy and seek the assistance of police officers or polling officials, with their votes going to Mugabe.

Zimbabwe has the highest literacy rate in Africa.

The country’s former finance minister, Simba Makoni who defected from Mugabe’s ZANU-PF in 2008, joined those voices rejecting the outcome.

“We reject the results announced by ZEC as not free, not fair, not credible and not legitimate,” said Makoni.

“These results do not reflect the expression of the free will of the people of Zimbabwe.” (AFP)

Acid attack on two British women in Zanzibar

Victims ... Kirstie Trup and Katie Gee

By HARRY HAWKINS
A BRITISH teen was today “inconsolable” after she and her friend suffered “burns beyond imagination” in an acid attack on the east African island of Zanzibar.

Katie Gee and Kirstie Trup, both 18, were in their final week working for a charity when they had acid thrown in their faces by two men on a moped.
Kirstie's devastated dad Marc told how a passer-by came to the aid of the girls and phoned him on the spot to tell him what happened.

Injured ... girls were taken to hospital

He said: “He tried to put me on to them. You couldn’t get anything out of them. I couldn’t speak to them. Terrible. Absolutely shocking. Kirstie was inconsolable.”

Mr Trup added: “Both girl are very shocked and very frightened.”

Katie’s father Jeremy said: “I spoke to Katie three hours after the incident and again an hour and a half ago.


TWO teenage volunteer teachers injured in an un-provoked incident are named as Katie Gee and Kirstie Trup

“We are devastated. The photos I’ve seen are horrendous.

“The level of burns are beyond imagination.”

Police say two men on a moped in the capital Stone Town threw the acid at theteenage volunteers, splashing it on their faces, chests and hands.

Acid ... men threw substance from moped
SKY NEWS

The victims were airlifted to hospital on the mainland of Tanzania before being discharged this morning.
They will be flown home to London tonight and taken on to hospital consultants.
Their trip had been organised by i-to-i travel and they were in the final week of their stay.
A statement from i-to-i travel said: "All our efforts remain focused on ensuring they are supported whilst assisting them and their relatives with the arrangements for their return home.
"The motive for the incident is as yet not known and we will await the report from the local authorities in Zanzibar before any comment can be made."
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: “We are aware of an incident and are providing consular assistance.”
She added that officials became aware of the incident last night.

Acid ... attack took place in capital Stone Town

Deputy police commissioner Mkadam Khamis said: “Police in Zanzibar have launched a manhunt, and we ask for public assistance in identifying the attackers."
He added: "The motive for the attack on the volunteers aged 18 years has not been established. Investigations are on until we apprehend the criminals."
Zanzibar is a popular holiday island in the Indian Ocean around 22 miles off Tanzania.
The semi-autonomous region is predominantly Muslim and has been the scene of some religious violence in recent years. Last November a cleric was hospitalised in an acid attack and two Christian leaders were killed earlier this year.
i-to-i Travel, which is based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, runs gap year trips to parts of Africa, Asia, central and South America and Australia, with teaching visits in Zanzibar's Stone Town starting at £669 for two weeks.
Foreign Office travel tips for Tanzania warn that although most visits to the country are trouble-free, “violent and armed crime is increasing”.
The advice on its website adds: “Mugging, bag snatching (especially from passing cars) and robbery have increased throughout the country.
“In Zanzibar incidents have taken place in Stone Town and on popular tourist beaches.”

Released ... pair left hospital this morning
SKY NEWS





Scene ... street where attack took place
Barcroft Media

Source: Japan Today

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania — 

Two young British women were recovering after unknown attackers in the Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar threw acid into their faces, the first such assault against foreigners in the popular tourist destination, police said Thursday. 

Late Wednesday night, two men on a moped threw the acid at the 18-year old women as they strolled through the streets of Stone Town, the historical center of the capital of the semi-autonomous Tanzanian archipelago, splashing their faces, chests and hands. 

“Police in Zanzibar have launched a manhunt, and we ask for public assistance in identifying the attackers,” deputy police commissioner Mkadam Khamis said. 

The attack on the women, both working as volunteer teachers at a school on the island, came at the end of the Muslim holy month of fasting of Ramadan, and as people began to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

READ MORE http://www.japantoday.com/category/world/view/acid-attack-on-two-british-women-working-as-charity-volunteers-in-zanzibar 

Central African Republic leader pleads for regional recognition

Central Africa Republic (CAR) leader Michel Djotodia Wednesday defended a coup he masterminded in his country early this year as regional leaders pored over solutions to incessant conflicts.

Addressing a delegates’ meeting in Nairobi, Mr Djotodia said his Seleka rebels resorted to a coup because there “was no alternative other than using force.”

“In some strong countries, when the people feel they are being oppressed, they have the right to take over and stop the oppressor,” he said at the special summit on the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), in Nairobi.

“We did not do this because we are greedy for power. There was no alternative other than use of force.”

Mr Djotodia who was visiting Kenya for the first time told the gathering they had gotten worried former president Francois Bozize was planning to eliminate a certain section of the country’s population so he could stick to power.

“Can you imagine a parliament where the head of state was represented through his friends, his wife, his children, and even his girlfriend was also elected? Is that democracy?

"Bozize was in the process of planning genocide in the eyes of all. We understood that it was no longer feasible to negotiate with him because he was not willing," he argued.

Mr Djotodia led the Seleka rebel coalition when they took power in March from the then leader Bozize in a coup. The takeover had been preceded by talks in Libreville, Gabon, where the rebels had signed a pact with Bozize for inclusive reforms to start.

Persistent conflicts

But the former rebel leader argued Bozize reneged on the pact as soon as they went back to Bangui, inciting them into a rebellion. The coup was immediately rejected by Economic Community of Central African States and later followed by the Africa Union which suspended the country from its sessions until it returned to constitutional order.

Yesterday, the persistent conflicts in CAR, south Sudan and Sudan as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo were part of discussion at the sixth ICGLR summit chaired by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

Mr Djotodia pledged his country was on the path to reforms because he had formed a constitutional council which would draft an interim constitution on which elections would be held. He called for support from the AU and the region.

But he was ridiculed by Museveni who charged that the events in CAR were reasons the region should not allow “negative forces.”

At the start of the conference, President Uhuru Kenyatta told the session it would be the responsibility of the region to seek peace.

“It is an African habit to seek brotherhood and work in solidarity; every community of our great continent has a saying that enunciates the Kiswahili proverb, Umoja ni Nguvu (Unity is Strength),” he said.

“We, therefore, appeal for a cessation of attacks on civilians especially women and children, and for a quick resolution of the crisis,” he added referring to the conflict in eastern Congo.

At the summit, representatives of South Sudan and Sudan both pledged to continue pursuing peaceful means to resolve the remaining bits about their separation.

Although south Sudan seceded two years ago, the two Sudans have yet to agree on where the boundaries should be.

Lake Victoria boating accident kills nine

Nine Ugandans have died in a boat accident on Lake Victoria, the Nile River's main reservoir.

According to police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba, the 16 passengers on board were travelling from Kabenyanje Landing Site to Kigungu Landing Site on Tuesday night.

The boat capsized near Bussi Landing Site.

Out of the 16 passengers who were on board, according to police, only one was wearing a life jacket.

'Dead' woman wakes up as doctors were about to remove organs for donation

Getty

A mum thought to be dead opened her eyes as surgeons were about to remove her organs for transplant.

Colleen Burns, 41, was being prepared as a donor when she showed a flicker of life – and went on to make a miraculous recovery.

The mother of three had been admitted to hospital following a drug overdose – and was later pronounced dead.

Medics ordered her body to be taken to theatre to harvest her vital organs.

But they failed to carry out a number of basic tests – including an examination to see if her brain was still functioning.

The blunder led to her heartbroken family giving permission for her life support to be switched off and her organs donated.

In reality Colleen was in a coma brought on by the drugs she had taken.

After her shock awakening she was discharged two weeks later from St Joseph’s hospital in New York.

The case, which happened in October 2009, only came to light following an investigation by journalists – and the hospital has now been fined £4,000 by health chiefs for its failings.

Troubled Colleen never bothered to sue over the incident. And, sadly, 16 months later she took her own life.

Her mother, Lucille, said: “She was so depressed that it really didn’t make any difference to her.”

A hospital spokesman said: "We have learned from this and made changes.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news

10 Celebrities Without Their Trademark Looks

Adele

This numerous award-winning singer is known for her voluptuous hair and smoldering eye makeup. How does she look with more relaxed hair and no makeup? Adorable. According to sources, when Adele was initially spotted she pulled her cozy sweater up but gave in soon after to peeking out with a friendly wave.

Marilyn Manson

This instantly recognized metal rock star is known for his outrageous and eerie appearance. Often sporting more makeup than the average teenage girl, he looks like the average eyebrow-less nice guy when barefaced.

Katy Perry

Katy Perry is known for her fun makeup with pops of unexpected color and wacky wigs. But what does the singer look like with natural hair color, no makeup, and no crazy candy-bedazzled tops? Shocked! This image was taken by her ex-husband Russell Brand right after she woke up! Russell Brand tweeted the image but it was quickly taken down.

Adam Lambert

This American idol almost-winner is known for his glamorous stage-wear, extensive eye makeup, and heavily styled hair in addition to his powerful voice. Without all of the above though, Adam Lambert looks like an all-American boy next door.

Lady Gaga

Known for her avant-garde appearance and ensembles, this petite superstar causes buzzes with her outlandish looks. What does the unmade and unwigged singer look like? A little tired and pretty unremarkable.

Kesha

Ke$ha is known for dancing to the beat of her own drum with her "talky" rapping and excessive use of glitter. On her face. Without her signature overdone makeup, the singer looks more normal but still...unique.

Taylor Momsen

The Gossip Girl actress did a 180 image change to a punk rocker. See the actress with and without tons of eye makeup!

Dita Von Teese

The ex-wife of Marilyn Manson, burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese is known for signature look of heavy white, red lips, cat-lined eyes, and waved hair. Without her makeup, she looks dewy and adorable instead of smoldering!

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj has experienced practically every hair color from hot pink, lime green, and multiple neon stripes. Her outrageous and colorful wear is as distinctive as her fast-paced voice! Here is a comparison of a toned down version of her and a glammed up one!

SOURCE: AFROLEO

While Nelson Mandela is fighting for his life in a Pretoria hospital, members of his family are fighting each other

While Nelson Mandela is fighting for his life in a Pretoria hospital, members of his family are fighting each other, in a feud which is being played out in lurid details in the local media.

Several family members have taken his eldest grandson, Mandla, to court in a bid to exhume three of the former president's children, so they can be reburied in the family graveyard in Qunu, where Mr Mandela wants to be laid to rest.

And the battle over the exhumations is a sign of much deeper divisions within Mr Mandela's large

and complex family – his three wives, 17 grandchildren and 12 surviving great-grandchildren.

According to some elders from his clan, while his family is at war, his spirit cannot be at peace.

Deep symbolism
Sixteen members of the Mandela family and local chiefs were last week granted an interim order by the Mthatha High Court to exhume the remains and return them to Qunu, where Mr Mandela's home is located.

But Mandla Mandela, who according to local media reports moved the remains 22km (14 miles) from Qunu to his homestead in Mvezo in 2001, is now contesting that ruling.

The remains are of Makgatho Mandela, Mandla's father who died from Aids-related diseases in 2005 and his siblings, Thembekile, who was killed in a car accident in 1969, and Makaziwe, his first daughter who died when she was nine months old.

The three were apparently exhumed without consulting the rest of the Mandela family and the elders of the AbaThembu royal house, into which Mr Mandela was born.

While this may seem obscure and complicated to outsiders, it carries deep symbolism to South Africans.

Disturbing the dead is considered a bad omen in traditional culture.

A battle for power?
Some relatives and elders believe that Mr Mandela's recurrent illness is a message from the ancestors, a sign that they are unhappy with Mandla.

They believe Mr Mandela's spirit is troubled by the feuds in his family and that is why he is not "letting go".

There are 16 applicants in the exhumation case, reportedly including Mr Mandela's wife Graca Machel, his daughter Makaziwe and senior members of the AbaThembu clan.

Underlying this dispute, and others, is the question: "Who will replace Mr Mandela as head of the family?"

As his oldest male heir, the former South African president nominated Mandla as chief Zwelivelile of the Thembu people, to succeed his father. He is also an MP with the governing African National Congress (ANC).

But many within the family are becoming increasingly unhappy with him, including Makaziwe, who is the oldest of Mandela's surviving children.

His plans to open a heritage centre in Mvezo, in the estate where the graves are at the moment, have left a bitter taste in the mouths of many within the family.

n a separate dispute over Mr Mandela's legacy, his daughters Makaziwe and Zenani have gone to court in a bid to oust three of his aides from Mr Mandela's companies.

The two want control over the companies said to be worth millions of dollars.

Unfinished business
Makaziwe last week convened an urgent "ibhunga" – traditional meeting – in which Mandla was apparently chastised by family elders for moving the remains of his relatives to begin with.

He has been at odds with his family since, the BBC understands.

Some believe the ailing family head needs to see this matter resolved before he can be at peace.

According to "isintu" – traditional South African culture – one of the reasons a person fights death is because they have "unfinished business".

Some believe that Mr Mandela's "unfinished business" is unifying his divided family the same way he united black and white South Africans after ending apartheid in 1994.

According to local culture, Mandla and his relatives will need to make peace before the bodies are exhumed.

The AbaThembu royal house has convened a meeting on 8 July in Qunu to try and resolve the matter, the Sapa news agency reports.

One of Mr Mandela's greatest personal pains was not seeing his children grow up – because he dedicated his life to politics and spent 27 years in prison for his opposition to white minority rule.

So while he could not be with them for most of his lifetime, his family wants to make sure that they are at least together for eternity.

BBC