Rwandans to Cast Votes in July 2024 Elections, as President Kagame Seeks Fourth Term

Rwandans To Cast Votes In July 2024 Elections, As President Kagame Seeks Fourth Term

The National Electoral Commission of Rwanda has announced that the country’s citizens will head to the polls on July 15, 2024, to elect their next deputies and president. The upcoming elections will see the current head of state, Paul Kagame, vying for a fourth term as president. Kagame, who has been the de facto leader of Rwanda since the end of the 1994 genocide, secured over 90% of the vote in the previous elections held in 2003, 2010, and 2017.

The Electoral Commission revealed that the election will encompass the selection of the President of the Republic and 53 deputies from a list proposed by political organisations or independent candidates. Campaigning for the candidates will be permitted from June 22 to July 12, allowing them to present their visions and engage with the electorate.

In addition to the presidential and deputy elections, electoral colleges and committees will also choose twenty-four women parliamentarians, two youth representatives, and one representative for Rwandans with disabilities on July 16, according to the Electoral Commission.

President Kagame, in September, announced his candidacy for a fourth term, expressing gratitude for the confidence Rwandans have shown in him. He stated, “I am happy with the confidence Rwandans have shown in me. I will always serve them, as long as I can.” Controversial constitutional amendments made in the past enabled Kagame to win a third term and could potentially allow him to govern until 2034. He was re-elected as the head of his party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), at its national congress in April.

While the government touts Rwanda as one of the most stable countries in Africa, some human rights groups accuse President Kagame of governing in an environment of fear that stifles dissent and freedom of expression. The country’s ranking in the Reporters Without Borders 2023 World Press Freedom Index stands at 131st out of 180 countries.

The opposition Green Party’s leader, Frank Habineza, is currently the only other candidate to have announced his candidacy for the 2024 elections.

Rwanda’s political landscape remains significant in the context of the country’s history, with the genocide that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in 1994. President Kagame, who was instrumental in ending the genocide, has faced criticism for alleged human rights abuses and the stifling of political opposition during his tenure.

As the election date approaches, Rwandans will have the opportunity to make their voices heard and shape the future direction of their country through the democratic process.

 

Source: Africa News

South Africa’s Constitutional Court Ruling Establishes Rights of Asylum Seekers and Condemns Visa Renewal Policy

South Africa's Constitutional Court Ruling Establishes Rights Of Asylum Seekers And Condemns Visa Renewal Policy

In a groundbreaking decision, the Constitutional Court has declared that the South African Home Affairs’ policy, which assumes that asylum seekers have “abandoned” their applications if they fail to renew their visas within one month of the visa’s expiry date, violates fundamental principles of refugee law. The court’s ruling emphasises that asylum seekers must be treated as refugees until their claims have reached a final determination.

The case was brought before the Constitutional Court by the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town, a trust dedicated to assisting migrant communities and displaced people. The organisation sought confirmation of the High Court’s order of invalidity, arguing that the relevant sections of the Refugees Act create a system that disregards the merits of an asylum seeker’s claim and instead ties their rights to their ability to comply with visa renewal requirements. This approach, Scalabrini contended, directly contravened the principle of non-refoulement under international law, which prohibits the return of individuals to countries where they would face torture, inhumane treatment, or harm.

Constitutional Court Justice Steven Majiedt noted that the respondents did not oppose the confirmation of the constitutional invalidity of the impugned provisions. They conceded that the problematic provisions needed to be eliminated entirely.

Justice Majiedt further stated, “The impugned provisions violate a number of constitutional rights. They violate the right to dignity by cutting off asylum seekers from essential services required for a dignified life. Moreover, they expose asylum seekers and their children to constant risks of arrest and deportation, which infringe upon the rights to life and personal liberty, all because a visa has not been renewed.”

Consequently, the court confirmed the high court’s declaration of constitutional invalidity, as the impugned subsections violated the principle of non-refoulement, infringed upon the right to dignity, unjustifiably limited the rights of children, and were deemed irrational and arbitrary.

The ruling holds significant implications for the treatment of asylum seekers in South Africa. It establishes that asylum seekers should be afforded the same protections as refugees until their claims have been thoroughly evaluated. The decision underscores the importance of upholding human rights and preventing the unjust treatment of vulnerable individuals.

As part of the ruling, the Minister of Home Affairs has been instructed to bear the costs associated with the case, emphasising the need for accountability and adherence to constitutional principles.

This landmark judgement marks a significant step forward in ensuring the fair and just treatment of asylum seekers within South Africa’s immigration system. It highlights the importance of protecting the rights and dignity of all individuals seeking refuge, regardless of their visa status.

 

Source: SABC News

Severe Drought Threatens Zimbabwe’s Food Security as Maize Harvest Expected to Halve in 2024

Severe Drought Threatens Zimbabwe's Food Security As Maize Harvest Expected To Halve In 2024

In a concerning announcement made on Wednesday, Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube, revealed that the country’s staple maize harvest is predicted to plummet to 1.1 million tons in 2024. This drastic reduction, attributed to an El Nino-induced drought, highlights an impending grain deficit that poses a significant risk to food security in impoverished households.

With an annual requirement of approximately 1.8 million tons of maize for human consumption, Zimbabwe had projected a maize harvest of 2.3 million tons in 2023. However, the United States Agency for International Development’s Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) has cautioned that governments, donors, and humanitarian organisations should brace themselves for elevated food assistance needs in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar throughout 2024 and early 2025, as El Nino disrupts agriculture in these regions.

El Nino, a natural climate phenomenon characterised by unusually warm surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific, leads to global weather pattern alterations. It is expected to severely impact crop yields during the upcoming 2023/24 farming season. Farmers in Zimbabwe, already grappling with frequent droughts alongside a protracted economic crisis, have encountered difficulties in planting the staple grain due to high temperatures and dry conditions associated with El Nino.

According to Zimbabwe’s cabinet, by December 10th, only 95,156 hectares of land had been cultivated with summer crops, primarily grains. This represents a stark decline from the 465,707 hectares planted by the same time last year.

During a World Bank briefing on Zimbabwe’s 2024 economic prospects held in Harare, Minister Ncube projected a 4.9% contraction in the country’s agriculture sector next year due to the El Nino-induced drought. He remarked, “Maize is the most impacted, with estimated output plummeting to 1.1 million metric tonnes.”

Last month, Minister Ncube had already warned that Zimbabwe’s economic growth would decelerate to 3.5% in 2024, aligning with the World Bank’s forecasts, down from 5.5% in 2023. This downward revision is primarily attributable to the adverse effects of the impending drought.

The combination of dwindling maize harvests, a struggling economy, and the potential threat of food insecurity underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to mitigate the impact of the impending crisis. The Zimbabwean government, along with international partners, must mobilise resources and support to ensure the availability of adequate food supplies and safeguard the well-being of vulnerable communities.

 

Source: News24 SA