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China to play positive role in promoting Africa’s peaceful development
On May 19, at the initiative of China, which holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC) this month, the Security Council held an Open Debate on “Peace and Security in Africa: Addressing Root Causes of Conflict in Post-Pandemic Recovery in Africa” via video link.
A presidential statement of the UN Security Council drafted by China was unanimously approved at the meeting. The presidential statement stressed, the UNSC is seriously concerned about the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Africa’s economic, political, security and humanitarian spheres, and its exacerbation of conflict in Africa. A multi-pronged approach and concerted efforts are required to promote the realization of sustainable economic growth and development, poverty reduction and other goals, and to cement the foundation of peace.
The meeting would build consensus and synergy, and inject new impetus to Africa’s lasting peace and sustainable development.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, African countries have suffered severe impacts, facing huge missions and challenges in fighting the virus, stabilizing economy and ensuring livelihood. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the pandemic is feeding many of the drivers of conflict and instability in Africa, and many communities and countries on the African continent already face a complex peace and security environment.
How to help Africa build a line of defense against the pandemic and advance common development on the continent is a test for international equity and justice, as well as human conscience.
China and Africa are good brothers, good friends and good partners. On the meeting, China proposed to help Africa bridge the “pandemic divide,” solve the “peace deficit,” narrow the “development gap,” and refine “unfair governance,” receiving high appraisal from each party concerned.
Facts once again proved that China is always firmly standing together with Africa on achieving peaceful development for the continent.
China has always been a firm supporter of Africa’s fight against the pandemic. The country is actively implementing the measures announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 73rd World Health Assembly and the outcomes of the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19, supporting Africa in its fight against the virus, and working with Africa to build a China-Africa community of health for all.
Forty-six Chinese medical teams based in Africa stood up to the challenge instantly to support local response efforts; China has sent 15 ad hoc medical expert teams to Africa and swiftly set up a cooperation mechanism for Chinese hospitals to pair up with 43 African hospitals. China has been, and is, providing vaccines to over 30 African countries on the basis of their urgent need. China’s timely assistance has won sincere compliment from African countries.
China has always been an active participant in Africa’s development and revitalization. After the outburst of the pandemic, China has fully implemented the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative, signed or reached agreement with 16 African countries on debt service suspension, and canceled the debts of 15 African countries in the form of interest-free government loans that were due to mature by the end of 2020 within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Despite the pandemic, over 1,100 cooperation projects have kept going and nearly 100,000 Chinese technicians and engineers worked dutifully under the limitations caused by COVID-control.
China has always been a strong upholder of Africa’s peace and stability. At present, there are 2,043 Chinese peacekeepers in Africa, safeguarding peace on the continent. With major changes and a global pandemic unseen in a century, and facing the rising unilateralism, protectionism and power politics, China will keep speaking up for Africa in the UN, urge parties concerned to respect the sovereignty of the continent, respect African countries’ choices for their development paths, and respect their rights to equally participate in international affairs.
China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future. There sincere friendship becomes even more solid in hardships. China will firmly safeguard and practice multilateralism, and work with the international society to play a positive role in promoting peaceful development in Africa, which is also a contribution to global peace and development.
He Yin
Zimbabwe’s justice minister introduced to parliament Tuesday a controversial constitutional amendment bill that would extend the term of the president, but faces fierce opposition and court challenges.
Parliament has to vote on sweeping changes to the constitution approved by the cabinet in February that include a provision that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term until 2030.
The measures would also do away with general presidential elections, giving parliament the power to appoint the president, and extend the terms of lawmakers from five to seven years.
The amendment has become one of the most contentious political issues in Zimbabwe, where Mnangagwa’s Zanu-PF party enjoys an overwhelming majority in parliament.
After introducing the proposal, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told journalists the government was determined to push the measure through a parliamentary debate.
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Opponents say the consultations were marred by intimidation and violence, with anti-amendment activists assaulted by suspected state agents or arrested.
Several legal challenges seeking to stop or invalidate the amendment process are before Zimbabwe’s courts.
Critics say the bill would entrench the Zanu-PF, which has governed the resource-rich country since independence in 1980, overseeing crippling economic crises and accused of corruption and repression.
Mnangagwa came to power in 2017 in a military-backed coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, president for 30 years.
He was elected for two five-year terms, in 2018 and 2023, which is the constitutional limit for a president.
AFP
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Top 10 Performers:
- Kaduna State 73%
- Delta State 70%
- Anambra State 65.5%
- Niger state 65.1%
- Ekiti State 64.5%
- Akwa Ibom State 64%
- Lagos State 64%
- Oyo State 61%
- Enugu State 56.5%
- Borno state 54%
Middle 10 Performers:
- Kwara State 53.5%
- Abia State 52%
- Ondo State 51%
- Nasarawa State 50.5%
- Osun State 49.5%
- Ogun State 48.5%
- Kano 48.5%
- Kogi State 48%
- Edo State 47%
- Jigawa State 46.8%
Worst 10 Performers:
- Bauchi State 44%
- Ebonyi State 42%
- Katsina State 41.5%
- Gombe State 40%
- Kebbi State 34%
- Plateau 33.5%
- Rivers State 30%
- Benue State 25%
- Yobe State 22%
- Taraba State 20%
These rankings are based on the CIAPS Governance Performance Index (CGPI) report, which evaluates states’ performance in areas like e-governance, transparency, and accountability.
The CIAPS Governance Performance Index (CGPI) is an initiative of the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies, CIAPS. CGPI was conceived as a catalyst for benchmarking, documenting, measuring and encouraging good governance in Nigeria.
Following the conclusion of party primaries, Rising Up for a United Nigeria (RUN) as a civil society group championing the cause of all youths and middle age citizens has congratulated His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his landslide victory in the presidential primaries recently held.
RUN also congratulated Senator Godswill Akpabio for emerging unopposed and the wild jubilation that greeted his victory as the Senator representing his constituency, the good people of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large.
In a press release signed by Amb. Solomon Adodo and made available to journalists, a copy of which was sighted by our correspondent, the group described the win of the duo as beam of hope for Nigeria beyond 2027.
According to him, “the win of Asiwaju and Akpabio signals a beam of hope for Nigeria that beyond 2027, we shall be consolidating on the gains of synergetic partnership between the legislature and the executive as a precursor for rapid development.
“The support extended to Mr. President by the Senate President has yielded significant strides in fasttracking development across all parameters that affect national productivity”
The group therefore called on all Nigerians to come out in their numbers to support the president while outlining series programs with potentials to foster national unity across regional and religious lines.
“As a group representing the interests of Nigeria youths, we are determined to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President towards improving the skill set of Nigeria youths towards increased productivity and an end to unemployment”, the release stated.
The group expressed confidence in the possibility of a new Nigeria of our dreams with the victories of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Godswill Akpabio who will definitely be handed a second term as the Senate President “to continue synergizing with Mr. President for a better Nigeria”.
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