CodeAddis

2021-02-23 11:42:28 S. Africa: Zondo commission requests 2 year jail time for Zuma
https://codeaddis.com/s-africa-zondo-commission-requests-2-year-jail-time-for-zuma


The commission probing widespread state corruption when Jacob Zuma was president of South Africa, on Monday requested the Supreme Court to hand down a two year jail time for Zuma over his refusal to testify. Since the creation of the commission in 2018, Zuma, already implicated by some forty testimonies, has on several occasions tried to avoid having to explain himself, thus, piling up appeals or asserting his right to silence. After months of avoiding to testify, Judge Raymond Zondo's commission put his threats into action by filing an urgent appeal with the Constitutional Court to punish the former head of state, for "intentionally and illegally" refusing to advance the investigation. On Monday, February 15, the former South African president again snubbed the anti-corruption commission before which he was summoned all week. However, this time, he had at the same time ignored a January ruling by the Constitutional Court, forcing him to appear and denying him the right to remain silent. The commission is now asking the Supreme Court to decide whether Zuma's latest affront constitutes "contempt of justice" and, if so, whether he should be sent to prison. Last week, the former head of state accused some judges of being "without faith or law". He said he was certain that Judge Zondo's desire to have him convicted of contempt of court would be fulfilled, accusing the president of "political propaganda". The arm wrestling between the two men has been going on for months, with both of them using the legal arsenal to launch their attacks. President, Cyril Ramaphosa, who has made the fight against corruption a battle horse, on Monday warned of the possible consequences of the remarks made by his predecessor. Jacob Zuma, 78, testified only once before the commission in July 2019. He said he was being treated as an "accused" and not a ‘’witness’’. Dozens of ministers or former ministers, elected officials, businessmen or high-ranking civil servants have already been heard, unpacking the scandal’s in the Zuma era. Zuma, who ruled the Southern African nation between 2009 and 2018, was forced to resign in 2018 following a slew of scandals in his administration. Open / Comment

2021-02-23 11:41:32 Kenya’s Debra Mallowah has been appointed as the new Vice president for Coca- Cola’s East and Central African franchise, effective February 15, 2021.
The role based in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, will see Mallowah oversee the development and implementation of business strategies across the East and Central African franchise for the global soft-drinks company.
On Monday, President of Coca- Cola Africa operating unit, Bruno Pietracci, described Mallowah as ‘’ a highly accomplished leader’’ with a wealth of experience gained within leading multinational entities.
Mallowah has held senior leadership positions in fast-moving consumer goods, including the beverage industry, manufacturing and tech companies.
The Kenyan was optimistic as she took up the new role.
She notes that ‘’a lot has changed around the environment we operate in especially in the last year driven by the ongoing pandemic, but there are many growth opportunities for the Coca- Cola business and that is my focus’’.
Mallowah joins Coca- Cola from Safaricom Plc. of the Vodafone Group, where she was Business Development Officer and played a crucial role in developing a blueprint for entry into geographical territories and expanding the business to new growth areas.
According to her LinkedIn page, she worked as General Manager for GSK (GlaxoSmithkline) between 2016 and 2019. Prior to that, she was Vice President in charge of ''Personal Care'' at Unilever Africa.
Between 2010 and 2013, Mallowah was Group Marketing and Innovation Director with Diageo East Africa. She recently concluded an Oxford Fintenh Programme, according to her LinkedIn profile. Open / Comment

2021-02-23 11:41:32 Open / Comment

2021-02-23 11:41:32 Coca-Cola appoints Kenya's Debra Mallowah as VP for East, Central Africa franchise
https://codeaddis.com/coca-cola-appoints-kenyas-debra-mallowah-as-vp-for-east-central-africa-franchise


Kenya’s Debra Mallowah has been appointed as the new Vice president for Coca- Cola’s East and Central African franchise, effective February 15, 2021. The role based in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, will see Mallowah oversee the development and implementation of business strategies across the East and Central African franchise for the global soft-drinks company. On Monday, President of Coca- Cola Africa operating unit, Bruno Pietracci, described Mallowah as ‘’ a highly accomplished leader’’ with a wealth of experience gained within leading multinational entities. Mallowah has held senior leadership positions in fast-moving consumer goods, including the beverage industry, manufacturing and tech companies. The Kenyan was optimistic as she took up the new role. She notes that ‘’a lot has changed around the environment we operate in especially in the last year driven by the ongoing pandemic, but there are many growth opportunities for the Coca- Cola business and that is my focus’’. Mallowah joins Coca- Cola from Safaricom Plc. of the Vodafone Group, where she was Business Development Officer and played a crucial role in developing a blueprint for entry into geographical territories and expanding the business to new growth areas. According to her LinkedIn page, she worked as General Manager for GSK (GlaxoSmithkline) between 2016 and 2019. Prior to that, she was Vice President in charge of ''Personal Care'' at Unilever Africa. Between 2010 and 2013, Mallowah was Group Marketing and Innovation Director with Diageo East Africa. She recently concluded an Oxford Fintenh Programme, according to her LinkedIn profile. Open / Comment

2021-02-23 11:40:42 53 Hostages Have Been Freed
Kidnappers have released 53 hostages including 20 women and 9 children whom they seized on a state-owned bus in Kundu village in Niger State, Nigeria, as confirmed by local authorities.
While dozens of others taken from a school in Kagara in a separate incident are still missing.
Abubakar Sani Bello, the Niger State Governor, issued the following statement:
"We went through one week of dialogue, consultations, hard work, sleepless nights because we had to ensure that we secured at least within this shortest possible time. We still have students from science secondary school in Kagara and everything is being done to ensure that they are released the soonest."
More to Resolve
It is unknown if a ransom was paid for the release of the freed bus passengers who received medical checkups before being reunited with their families.
Criminal gangs known locally as "bandits" in the northwest and central regions of Nigeria have scaled up attacks in recent years — kidnapping, raping and pillaging.
The gangs are largely driven by financial motives and have no known ideological leanings. Open / Comment

2021-02-23 11:40:42 Open / Comment

2021-02-23 11:40:42 Nigeria: Kidnappers Release 53 Hostages
https://codeaddis.com/nigeria-kidnappers-release-53-hostages


53 Hostages Have Been Freed Kidnappers have released 53 hostages including 20 women and 9 children whom they seized on a state-owned bus in Kundu village in Niger State, Nigeria, as confirmed by local authorities. While dozens of others taken from a school in Kagara in a separate incident are still missing. Abubakar Sani Bello, the Niger State Governor, issued the following statement: "We went through one week of dialogue, consultations, hard work, sleepless nights because we had to ensure that we secured at least within this shortest possible time. We still have students from science secondary school in Kagara and everything is being done to ensure that they are released the soonest." More to Resolve It is unknown if a ransom was paid for the release of the freed bus passengers who received medical checkups before being reunited with their families. Criminal gangs known locally as "bandits" in the northwest and central regions of Nigeria have scaled up attacks in recent years — kidnapping, raping and pillaging. The gangs are largely driven by financial motives and have no known ideological leanings. Open / Comment

2021-02-23 11:40:04 A boyfriend of a pregnant 28- year old woman in South Africa, has been charged with her murder, according to local media reports.
Ntuthuko Ntokozo Shoba, who is the father of Tshegofatso Pule’s deceased child, appeared for the first time in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court Monday, dressed in a sleek black suit and was seen in shackles at the ankles.
According to News24, the family of the slain 28-year old said they knew of her relationship with the accused, but were clueless that Shoba, 32, was engaged to someone else.
‘’We knew that they were dating. She never reported any forms of violence against her, she never reported any form of intimidation from the guy, but I couldn’t tell you what type of relationship they had, Pule’s uncle Tumisang Katake said, adding that ‘’it was an intimate relationship between the two of them’’.
The 32-year is accused of planning the murder of Pule and paying the killer, sparking protests against violence against women in the Southern African nation.
Shoba was arrested at his Florida home on West Rand Thursday evening. Since then he had been charged with Pule’s murder.
Last week, one Muzikayise Malephane, 31, pleaded guilty to killing Pule. During his plea argument, Malephane told the court that Shoba was the brain behind Pule’s murder because ‘’ he did not want his wife to find out about the unborn baby’’.
According to Malephane’s plea, he accepted to execute the killing after an offer of 70,000 South African Rand ($4,800). Initially, he said he rejected an offer of 7,000 Rand ($480).
In June last year, Pule had gone to see Shoba in his Florida home. According to the family, Pule had told them Shoba was her boyfriend and that he had asked her to come over so they could go and buy clothes for the baby.
They reportedly had an argument and Shoba later called a taxi for her. The car that arrived to pick Pule up was driven by Malephane, his plea said.
On June 5, Pule’s body was found hanging from a tree in Roodeport’s Durban Deep, also on the West Rand. She was 8 months pregnant at the time.
Shoba was arrested last week and jailed for 20 years. His hearing for a bail request has been postponed to March 01, 2021. Open / Comment

2021-02-23 11:40:04 Open / Comment

2021-02-23 11:40:04 S. Africa: Boyfriend of 28-year old pregnant woman charged for her murder
https://codeaddis.com/s-africa-boyfriend-of-28-year-old-pregnant-woman-charged-for-her-murder


A boyfriend of a pregnant 28- year old woman in South Africa, has been charged with her murder, according to local media reports. Ntuthuko Ntokozo Shoba, who is the father of Tshegofatso Pule’s deceased child, appeared for the first time in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court Monday, dressed in a sleek black suit and was seen in shackles at the ankles. According to News24, the family of the slain 28-year old said they knew of her relationship with the accused, but were clueless that Shoba, 32, was engaged to someone else. ‘’We knew that they were dating. She never reported any forms of violence against her, she never reported any form of intimidation from the guy, but I couldn’t tell you what type of relationship they had, Pule’s uncle Tumisang Katake said, adding that ‘’it was an intimate relationship between the two of them’’. The 32-year is accused of planning the murder of Pule and paying the killer, sparking protests against violence against women in the Southern African nation. Shoba was arrested at his Florida home on West Rand Thursday evening. Since then he had been charged with Pule’s murder. Last week, one Muzikayise Malephane, 31, pleaded guilty to killing Pule. During his plea argument, Malephane told the court that Shoba was the brain behind Pule’s murder because ‘’ he did not want his wife to find out about the unborn baby’’. According to Malephane’s plea, he accepted to execute the killing after an offer of 70,000 South African Rand ($4,800). Initially, he said he rejected an offer of 7,000 Rand ($480). In June last year, Pule had gone to see Shoba in his Florida home. According to the family, Pule had told them Shoba was her boyfriend and that he had asked her to come over so they could go and buy clothes for the baby. They reportedly had an argument and Shoba later called a taxi for her. The car that arrived to pick Pule up was driven by Malephane, his plea said. On June 5, Pule’s body was found hanging from a tree in Roodeport’s Durban Deep, also on the West Rand. She was 8 months pregnant at the time. Shoba was arrested last week and jailed for 20 years. His hearing for a bail request has been postponed to March 01, 2021. Open / Comment