Tanzanian President Lifts Ban On Opposition Political Rallies

By Josiah Okechukwu Seven years after the imposition of ban, the Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Tuesday lifted a ban on opposition rallies imposed in 2016 by her strongman predecessor, in an overture to political rivals seeking the restoration of democratic traditions. Hassan has been under pressure to break with the hardline policies of John Magufuli, who died in 2021 after six years of heavy-handed rule in a country once seen as a democratic beacon in East Africa. Magufuli came to power in 2015 as a no-nonsense man of the people but presided over a sustained crackdown on political freedoms, earning the nickname “Bulldozer” for his refusal to brook any dissent. Early in his tenure, he banned political rallies, saying it was time for work, not politics. But critics said the ban applied only to opposition groups, with the ruling party free to assemble, while rival gatherings were violently broken up by police and their officials thrown in jail. In 2018, police fired live rounds to disperse a rally by the Chadema opposition party, and its leader Freeman Mbowe …

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COVID-19: Majority’ of EU wants tests on passengers from China

By Josiah Okechukwu An “overwhelming majority” of the EU’s 27 member countries want passengers coming from China to be systematically tested for Covid before departure, the European Commission said on Tuesday. The consensus recommendation emerged from a meeting of EU health ministry officials held Tuesday in Brussels. A crisis meeting to be held Wednesday on the issue will decide what coordinated measures will be applied across the bloc. The gatherings were called in the wake of China deciding to lift its “zero Covid” policy, which has sparked massive demand for flights to other parts of the world by Chinese citizens and residents who had been grounded for nearly three years. The European Union fears a sudden influx of passengers from China could bring Covid variants that may be able to evade current vaccines. There are also concerns that China’s data on infections is incomplete, partial and insufficient. “The overwhelming majority of countries are in favour of pre-departure testing,” a commission spokesman said after Tuesday’s meeting. EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said the officials also agreed to recommend stepped-up monitoring of …

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Motorcyclist Crushed To Death In Lagos Tanker Accident

By Chris Udochukwu An unnamed motorcyclist was crushed to death on Tuesday in a tanker accident at the Alaba Express Bus Stop along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos State. The 33,000-litre tanker conveying premium motor spirit outbound Mile 2 accidentally lost control and fell on its side after a collision with a motorcycle. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) in a statement confirmed the death of the motorcyclist. “Unfortunately, the motorcycle rider was crushed to death underneath the tanker and its contents are spilling onto the road rendering the scene extremely hazardous to other motorists and passersby,” said LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu. Also, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue confirmed that “an adult male motorcyclist” was trapped beneath the tanker. Both emergency responders said rescue operation is ongoing to contain the incident from degenerating into a fire blast.

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How Lagos Doctor told minor virginity no longer in vogue, expert narrates in Court

By Chris Udochukwu The trial of the Managing Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, Dr. Femi Olaleye on allegations of defilement & sexual assault of a minor resumed on Tuesday at the Lagos State Sexual Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, with the testimony of a forensic child care expert, Mrs. Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode. Before Justice Rahman Oshodi, Mrs Ajayi-Kayode who is the third prosecution witness, narrated the outcome of her forensic interview session with the sexual assault survivor (name withheld). She disclosed that the defendant told the survivor that “virginity is no longer in vogue” and that as a medical doctor, he usually covers up for girls who have lost their virginity or got pregnant.” At the last sitting of the court in December, the survivor had testified behind closed doors in a proceeding which was barred to members of the public including journalists. At the proceedings today, Mrs Ajayi-Kayode, who is the assistant director of The Cece Yara Foundation and also a lawyer, said her organisation was engaged by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins …

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