In honor of Black History Month, the Involvement Newspaper will be featuring African leaders, heroes, and activists in a bid to remember their contributions towards a better Africa.
By Nyokabi Ng’anga (Leshnyokabi@gmail.com)
Thumbnail photo courtesy of africanexponent.com
Louis Rwagasore was born as the eldest son to Mwami Mwambutsa the IV of Bangicirenge, King of Burundi, in the year 1932.
In a brief, he is a heroic and historical figure in Burundi’s march to independence. He is also a well-known champion for the unification of Burundi and a staunch opposer to partisan politics.
On studying administration and agronomy in Brussels, Belgium, he returned to Burundi in the year 1956 and thereafter, begun his journey as one of his country’s leading politicians.
He initiated agricultural cooperatives, which were aimed at making Burundians gain an upper hand in the country’s agronomics and also, led his people in protesting against Belgium’s rule and domination. However, the cooperatives were banned by the Belgium colonial government.
In 1958, he formed the National Unity and Progress Party (UPRONA) to further his mission in nationalizing Burundi, and three years later, UPRONA won 80% of the votes cast in parliamentary elections. This led to Louis being declared the Prime Minister- ushering in a new hope for Burundi and its determination towards independence.
However, weeks later, Louis was assassinated by an identified Greek-gent, while dining in one of Bujumbura’s hotels. Nonetheless, the Greek national was implicated instantly, alongside his other accomplices (who were all Burundians).
Albeit, worth the note, there is a placed belief that Belgian colonial authorities had a role to play in his murder.
His assassination denied him the close opportunity to actualize an independent and unified country, as months later, Burundi got its independence on 1st July 1962.
Photo courtesy of facebook.com
In Burundi, every year, the 13th of October is set apart in commemoration of Louis and his efforts in fighting for an independent country. Also, a towering mausoleum was built in his honor in the country’s capital and other state facilities named after him.
Photo of Prince Louis Rwagasore’s mausoleu. Photo courtesy from tripadvsior.com
Aside from being a leading light and a role model in the field of non-partisan politics, he also engaged with other African leaders, some of whom include: Patrice Lumumba of DRC, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, and Julius Nyerere of Tanzania.
Exemplary of his character, it is believed that he married a Hutu lady, distancing himself from the obvious of his ‘tribal-bridal-pick.’
All these, and much more, assert his intention in unifying Africa through Burundi.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has shut down social media two days before the country heads to the polls.
Museveni has accused Facebook and unnamed outside groups of “arrogance” after it removed Ugandan accounts linked to his re-election campaign. “That social channel you are talking about, if it is going to operate in Uganda, it should be used equitably by everybody who wants to use it,” said President Museveni, during a National address on Tuesday.
He added that he was “sure the government has closed social media” and apologized to Ugandans for what he called an inconvenience.
Earlier, Uganda’s communications regulator has ordered internet services providers to shut down social media and messaging services. Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director, Irene Sewankambo, ordered telecommunications companies to “immediately suspend any access and use” of social media and online messaging platforms. The list of banned social media sites include Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Viber.
This came as Bobi Wine, Museveni’s challenger, said police had raided his home and beat two security guards. Bobi Wine, a popular singer and politician whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, said the raid on his compound happened while he was doing an interview with Kenya’s Hot 96 FM radio station. “I have to end the interview because I can see soldiers beating my security guards,” he said. Patrick Onyango, police spokesman for the capital Kampala, denied Bobi Wine’s home had been raided or that anyone was arrested. “We were just rearranging our security posture in the area near his home, specifically removing some checkpoints,” said Onyango.
Ugandan Opposition figure head, Bobi Wine. Photo courtesy of AFP.
At 38, Bobi Wine who is half the age of Museveni has attracted a large following among young people in the nation who make up 80% of the population. He is consideredto be the frontrunner among 10 candidates challenging the former rebel leader who seized power in 1986. Bobi Wine and other leading opposition candidates said they had launched a concerted effort to protect against vote rigging at polling stations. They are urging protestors to stay within 100 metres of polling stations rather than return home as the electoral commission is demanding. This is likely to lead to confrontations with security forces.
AFRICA’S LEADING WOMEN SERIES: African women who’ve served/are serving their countries in the capacities of: President, Prime minister and/or Vice President.
Know them, appreciate them and remember them.
#THEAFRICANLEADINGWOMENSERIES
Initiated by Nyokabi Ng’ang’a, for The Involvement Newspaper.
PART 8(Final Part of the Series)
By: Nyokabi Ng’ang’a (Leshnyokabi@gmail.com)
Thumbnail photo created by Nyokabi Ng’ang’a
Mame Madior Boye: Senegal’s 1st female Prime Minister.
Photo courtesy of alchetron.com
Mame Madior Boye was born in 1940 in Saint-Louis, Senegal.
A lawyer by profession, she gained an education on her area of expertise from the Faculty of Legal and Economic Sciences in Dakar and the National Center for Judicial Studies in Paris. This paved her way, to become the first female President of the Association of Senegalese Lawyers from 1975-1990.
Later in the year 1990, she took the position of Director of Engagements at the West Africa Banking Company, serving the organization till the year 2000.
After Abdoulaye Wade was elected President of Senegal in 2000, she was appointed Minister of Justice and a year later, following the dismissal by President Wade, Prime Minister Moustapha Niasse resigned and Mame Madior was then appointed the new Premier by the President. This appointment was the first in the country’s history in female occupancy.
However, in 2002, Mame Madior was dismissed as Premier by President Wade, reportedly due to ‘the lack of enough response’ on the Joola maritime tragedy- often referred to as a sea disaster ‘worse than titanic’- that caused the deaths of thousands.
Luck seemingly on her side, she was appointed African Union’s Special Representative for the promotion of the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, two years later, by Mali’s 4th President and then, Chairperson of the African Union Commission- Alpha Oumar Konaré. However, with changing tides, a judge in France issued an arrest warrant on her, alongside other 8 persons, in 2008, in connection to the Joola disaster. Though this didn’t happen, as the Senegalese government casted off the Judge’s arrest warrant issue and instead, prosecuted the judge in mention.
Dr. Aminata Touré: Senegal’s 2nd female Prime Minister.
Photo courtesy of leaders-afrique.com
Dr. Aminata Touré was born in 1962 in her country, Senegal.
A PhD holder in International Business, Administration and Finance from the University of Burgundy, France; her areas of expertise, as publicly recorded, revolve around: Economics, Administration/Governance and Gender Affairs.
Before being appointed Prime Minister by President Macky Sall in 2013, she worked at the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) and of note, as the Director of Gender and Human Rights World Department at the UN subsidiary, in New York, from 2009-2012. Shortly after, she was appointed Minister of Justice by President Sall, where she served for a year or so. As Minister of Justice, she was credited for her anti-corruption campaigns, which saw the arrest of prominent people in Senegal and made her gain the title: ‘The Iron Lady’.
In 2013, as earlier registered, she was appointed Premier and served her country at large, for nearly a year, before her dismissal authorized by President Sall on July 2014, after she failed to win local elections in Dakar.
Nonetheless, she continued working under President Sall’s administration, as his Special Envoy for Internal and External Affairs and on his election observatory team/mission; which missioned in various African countries, to mention: Kenya, Mauritius, Ivory Coast and Liberia.
Joice Mujuru: Zimbabwe’s 1st female Vice President.
Photo courtesy of alchetron.com
Joice Runaida Mujuru was born in the year 1958, in her country, Zimbabwe.
She is a renowned guerrilla war veteran who fought against Ian Smith’s white Rhodesian minority government, alongside other notable persons of/in Zimbabwe’s history.
With a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Management and Entrepreneurial Studies, all gotten from one of her Country’s Universities, she set out to be, as registered, the youngest cabinet minister in post-colonial government, heading the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Recreation, from 1980-1985. Prior to this, it’s noted, she was a Member of Parliament for Mt. Darwin West Parliamentary Seat.
In 1985, she was appointed Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, where she served for five years, and close afterward, chosen as Minister of Community Development, Co-operatives and Women’s Affairs, where she served for four years.
From 1992 to 1996, she became Governor of Mashonaland Central (a province in Zimbabwe) and later, she was appointed Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications. In this post, she served Zimbabwe for a year and later took the post of Minister for Rural resources and Water Development in 1997-2004.
After the passing of Vice President Simon Muzenda in 2004, the Women’s league of the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) – the country’s leading political party in which the late President Mugabe belonged to-, convened a meeting and pushed forth for the appointment of a woman, Joice Mujuru to this regard, as the new Vice President.
This move, however constrained, was accepted and implemented by the late President Mugabe, causing Joice Mujuru to be the first woman to head such a position in the country’s history. Ten years down the line, however, following plotting suspicions and claims, President Mugabe ousted Ma’am Joice from power. This also resulted to her membership-loss in the ZANU-PF party.
To learn more about Ma’am Joice Mujuru, click here.
Inonge Mutukwa Wina: Zambia’s 1st female Vice President.
Photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
Inonge Mutukwa was born in 1941 in her country, Zambia.
A holder of a B.A degree in History and Sociology from the University of Zambia- as her career’s starter- she has featured in many NGO boards and portfolio committees of her government.
In 2001, Ma’am Inonge Wina contested for the Nalolo Constituency Parliamentary seat under the United Party for National Development (UNDP), which to her credit and to that of her then party, she won. Serving in this post for close to six years, she re-contested under the United Liberal Party- a splinter of the UNDP-, and sadly, lost.
Five years later, in 2011, she contested once more and won, but, under the country’s ruling Patriotic Front (PF) Party ticket. In the same year, purportedly, she was appointed by the late President Michael Sata, as the Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, where she served her country in that post for 3 years, and later in 2014, appointed Minister of Gender and Child Development.
In the year 2015, following the win of President Edgar Lungu, she was appointed the Vice President of the Republic of Zambia, making her the first woman to occupy such a position in her country. However, resignation calls from her post, as of this year, are high following the claims of her old age and COVID-19 contraction.
To learn more about Ma’am Inonge Wina, a Zambian revered human rights activist, click here.
Others who deservingly need a mention for leading their countries, though tentatively, in the aforementioned positions are:
Ivy Matsepe- Casaburri of South Africa, who led her country as acting President twice. One, in 2005, when both the President and Vice President were out of the country, and two, when President Thabo Mbeki resigned and close afterward, Kgalema Motlanthe assumed Presidency. She held these two similar roles for four days and 14 hours, respectively.
Thokozani Khupe of Zimbabwe, who led her country as Deputy Premier in the year 2009 to the year 2013.
Queen Gwamile of the Kingdom of eSwatini, who led her country (Kingdom) as its regent before King Sobhuza the Second, King Mswati the third’s father, become of age and fit to lead the Kingdom as its heir.
Queen Dzeliwe of the Kingdom of eSwatini, who led her country (Kingdom), as well, on behalf of King Mswati the third, who was then young and unfit to occupy the role of King.
If there is anyone who isn’t captured in this series and deservingly needs a mention, feel free to write to us or post their name on the comment box.
AFRICA’S LEADING WOMEN SERIES: African women who’ve served/are serving their countries in the capacities of: President, Prime minister and/or Vice President.
Know them, appreciate them and remember them.
#THEAFRICANLEADINGWOMENSERIES
Initiated by Nyokabi Ng’ang’a, for The Involvement Newspaper.
PART 7
By: Nyokabi Ng’ang’a (Leshnyokabi@gmail.com)
Thumbnail photo created by Nyokabi Ng’ang’a
Maria das Neves: São Tomé and Príncipe’s 1st female Prime Minister.
Photo courtesy of alchetron.com
Maria das Neves was born in her country, São Tomé and Príncipe, in the year 1958.
An economist graduate from Cuba, she worked as a civil servant in her country’s Ministry of Finance and later at the World Bank and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
In the year 1999, she was appointed Minister of Economics, where she served her country till the year 2001 and later on, in the same year, as Minister of Finance where it’s believed her service lasted a year. In the year 2002, she then took the role of Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism.
Under President Fradique de Menezes’ rule, which took course in the year 2001, she was elected Prime Minister in the year 2002 with the mandate of heading the government. Following the economic and power struggles within the country, there was a military coup in the year 2003 and with the absence of the President who was not in the country, Ma’am Maria das Neves, alongside other governmental officials, were arrested on the claims that the government was corrupt. Due to this occurrence, as believed, she was hospitalized after suffering a mild heart attack, causing her to resign from her role as Prime Minister.
Her resignation came after Fradique de Menezes was reinstated as President, following an internationally- pushed agreement between him and the coup leaders.
However, as a result of President Fradique’s insistence, she took up the Prime Minister’s role, once more, serving her country till the year 2004, after which, she was dismissed by the former as Premier, on the claims of corruption linkages to her governance.
To learn more of this lady pace-setter, click here.
Maria do Carmo Silveira: São Tomé and Príncipe’s 2nd female Prime Minister.
photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
Maria do Carmo Silveira, was born in the year 1960, in her country São Tomé and Príncipe.
Educated at the University of Ukraine as an economist, she featured twice as the 3rd and 6th governor of São Tomé and Príncipe’s central bank. This, to mention, was in the years: 1999-2005 and 2011-2016.
In the year 2005, she was appointed Prime Minister of her country by President Fradique de Menezes. She served in this capacity; concurrently also as Minister of Finance and Planning, for close to an year, with her term halting in April the 21st in the year 2006, after a parliamentary election saw her party defeated by the opposition.
With no substantial information found on her life before Premiership, click here to have a look at her profile.
Isatou Njie-Saidy: The Gambia’s 1st female Vice President.
Photo courtesy of enacademic.com
Isatou Njie-Saidy was born in Kuntaya, North Bank, Gambia in the year 1952.
She served as her country’s first female Vice President from the year 1997 to the year 2017. This she did alongside her ministerial role in women affairs. It is believed that she is the world’s longest serving Vice President, having served her country for 10 solid years.
A holder of a Master of Science in economics from the University of Swansea, Wales, UK; her zones of expertise as featured in her areas of studies, to mention, in broad are: Industrial management, Economics and Teaching.
In the year 1983, she took up the role of Deputy Executive Secretary of the women’s bureau- the executive decision making body of the National Women’s Council of Gambia. She served in this capacity till the year 1989.
Later, in 1996, under President Yahya Jammeh’s rule, she was appointed Minister of Health, Social Welfare and Women’s affairs and worked in this capacity for a year, before being appointed Vice President, the first female for that matter, of the Gambia.
It’s reported that in 2015, there were established constraints between her and President Jammeh, resulting to her resignation in 2017.
To learn more of this deeply revered woman of the Gambia, click here.
Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang: The Gambia’s 2nd female Vice President.
Photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
Fatoumata Jallow was Gambia’s former Vice President who served under President Adama Barrow, for nearly a year.
Born in 1949 in Brikima, Gambia, she was educated in her country alongside Senegal and France. It’s reported that her early University education saw her get a BA in French from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis in France.
Prior to her selection as the Secretary of State (Minister) for Health and Social Welfare in 1994, she served as an adviser to President Dawda Jawara- Gambia’s first President who was later ousted.
Afterwards, she joined the United Nations where she worked as a gender expert in the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). It’s also featured that she worked as the chairwoman of the Gambia National Women’s council.
Fast-forward to 2016, courtesy of her political routings, she with notable others, formed the coalition 2016- an amalgamation of opposing political parties- that steered the exit of Yahya Jammeh as Gambia’s president. To her credit, she was regarded as the mastermind behind this plan, and for the worth note, she sat as the coalition’s chairperson.
After Yahya Jammeh took to exile in Equatorial Guinea, Adama Barrow who was appointed presidential candidate of the coalition, was instated as President in the year 2017- following his win of the 2016 elections- and on his inauguration, he appointed Ma’am Fatoumata as his Vice-president. However, after being appointed, concerns were raised about her age as an impediment to taking office. Nonetheless, her appointment was confirmed by President Adama Barrow and she served her country in this position of the Vice-President till June 2018. Of other importance, she also served concurrently as the Minister of Women Affairs while overseeing the Vice President’s office.
To learn more of this New African Woman who scooped the 2017 New African Woman of the Year Award by the New African Magazine, click here.
Dr. Isatou Toray: The Gambia’s current and 3rd female Vice President.
Photo courtesy of vanguardafrica.com
Isatou Touray was born in 1955, in her country, The Gambia. She grew up in Banjul, Gambia’s capital, and attended her primary, secondary and start-up tertiary schooling within her country. Later on, after graduating as a teacher of English and Home Economics from The Gambia College, in 1971, she became a teacher and then ventured into the field of community development, afterwards, with a special focus on women and development.
A PhD holder in Development Studies- with a special emphasis on Gender- from the University of Sussex, UK, Ma’am Isatou Toray’s field of studies are wide and heavily routed within her areas of passions. To mention, she holds a degree in Education and English from Usman Dan Fodio University in Sokoto, Nigeria and a Master’s Degree in Development Studies with specialization in women and development, from the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in The Hague, The Netherlands.
Known widely in her country and substantially in Africa, for being a staunch feminist and a gender and human rights activist, she has featured in many organizations and boards; worth recognizing being: the Inter-African Committee (IAC) – a formed Pan-African Network of over twenty eight African countries aimed at Eliminating Harmful Traditional Practices– where she served as the network’s secretary general from the year 2009-2014. To this regard, she also cofounded The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (GAMCOTRAP) and introduced a Diploma in Gender and Development program and founded the Gender Unit of the Management Development Institute, of which all are situated and running in her country.
Just for the good mention, she is recognized and credited as both an international and national advocate for the end of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia, and largely, in Africa.
In the year 2016, infuriated with President Yahya Jammeh’s exceeding twenty years hard-fisted rule, she alongside others, contested for the Presidential seat. She did so as an independent candidate and notably, as the only woman in Gambia’s history. However, she stepped down to back Adama Barrow as President and to support the Coalition 2016. When Adama Barrow became President, she sat in his cabinet as the Trade Minister and later on, as the Health Minister. In 2019, following a major cabinet reshuffle, she was appointed the Vice President of the Gambia by President Adama, succeeding her predecessor, Ousainou Darboe.
To learn more of the life story of this deeply revered African- Gambian lady, click here.
Will your country be the next?
Kindly schedule to read the subsequent article of this series, next week.
By: Brenda Mongare (brendamongare171595@daystar.ac.ke
Thumbnail photo courtesy of: Varcity.co.ke
Kenya has more women than men according to the 2019 census results.
Of the total population of 47,564,296, 24,014,716 are female which translates to 50.5% of the population while 23,548,056 are male and 1,524 are Intersex.
The 2019 census results released by Kenya National Bureau of Statics Director General Zachary Mwangi at State House also indicate that the Country’s population has increased from 37.7 Million in 2009 to 47.6 Million in 2019.
Mwangi said the intercensal growth rate has declined to 2.2% in 2019, from 2.9% in 2009 while the average household size has declined to 3.9 in 2019 from 4.2 in 2009.
Nairobi County has the highest number of people at 4.4 million of which 2,192,452 are male while 2,204,376 are female.
Kiambu County ranks second with 2,417,735 people followed by Nakuru with 2,162,202.
Lamu County has the lowest population with 143,920, followed by Isiolo with 268,002 and Samburu with 310,327.
Mwangi said the enumeration was successfully conducted from 24th/25th to 31st August 2019 and a mop-up exercise carried out on 1st and 2nd of September 2019, to cover those not enumerated during the seven days. KNBS will undertake further analysis to produce 4 basic reports focussing on population by: Administrative units up to sub-location, Age and Sex by county, Political Units, Socio-economic characteristics; and thematic analytical reports.
“I am also grateful to the security personnel who ensured peace prevailed during the census exercise. You lived to your true calling by providing the necessary security, not only to the census officials, but also to all members of the public.” Uhuru Kenyatta.
The President said Kenya was the first Country in Africa to release census results two months after the exercise was conducted.
“I am happy to note that this is the first Census to be conducted under the 2010 Constitution and was by and large fully funded by my Government. This year’s Census was a first of its kind in Kenya, in that for the first time ever, we fully embraced the use of technology in the census processes.”
Wambui Ndaiyo. Founder and lead designer at Sapatu Kenya.
This week I got the opportunity to interview the lovely Prisca Noel Waiganjo also known as Wambui Ndaiyo. Wambui is not only a third year Public relations student at Daystar University but she is also the lead designer and founder of the fashion brand Sapatu Kenya.
Sapatu Kenya was born in 2015, “I took a short course in tailoring and design after high school” says Wambui when talking about how Sapatu Kenya came to be. She adds, “it also helped me cope with depression.
Before joining the tailor and design school, Wambui described how she would take her mother’s clothes are transform them to be more modern, sexy and sophisticated, this is what inspired her to pursue her passion in fashion design.
Wambui went on to describe Sapatu as a clothing brand for the modern African woman that promotes body positivity, sophistication and confidence. From her collections, I could tell that Sapatu Kenya lives up to its purpose.
“The kind of fashion you would find at Sapatu Kenya, is based on diversity. It is a brand that implements its creativity to ensure our clients are satisfied with the products” Wambui when asked about the kind of fashion found at Sapatu. She adds that Sapatu Kenya aims to provide clients with unique and stunning pieces that you will not be able to find in a typical clothing store.
Prisca recounts that her favourite collection was based on shoot that she did with her couple of her friends a year back known as the forest shoot. Her main aim with this collection and shoot was to inspire people to lean on nature when they are feeling overwhelmed with day to day activities.
“Nature is the foundation of everything and fashion itself. Nature allows me to reach into my creative wits and create something that’s uplifting and relatable”.
Speaking about the challenges she has faced with starting and running Sapatu Kenya, she says that “starting any business is not easy”. She wishes she had not rushed too quickly to the creative side without first considering the business side of the brand.
Organization and marketing of her brand proved a challenge to her in the beginning, luckily she had help from her friends and also help from Urban Change Lab that allowed her brand to reach a larger market.
While interviewing Wambui, I found her to be remarkable and hardworking; along with her brand and her studies, she is also the Public relations manager of Urban Change Lab.
She describes Urban Change Lab as a platform that allows local craftsmen to showcase their products abroad. The craftsmen and clients are able to interact in transparency, the clients are able to also send in their ideas and be able to be their own designers with the help of these craftsmen.
Urban Change Lab is a new form of comfort shopping that allows people from different parts of the world to share ideas which are realized by craftsmen in Africa. The platform allows both the craftsmen and client to interact fairly and share ideas.
Wambui believes that this platform might open doors to job opportunities in Africa especially to fellow designers who would like to gain internationally recognition.
She concludes the interview by offering advice to upcoming business owners, that they must be focused and set realistic goals for their businesses. She also urges the ambitious women out there trying to be billionaires before they hit 30, that it is not too early to start their journey into the world of business.
Wambui is an inspiration out there to those studying or working but have always been dreaming to start their own brand that it is never too early to start and whatever challenges come your way, you must work through them and keep pushing forward. I hope her interview serves as inspiration to someone out there.
If you would like to watch the video interview, click here.
The Flag of Morocco Photo Courtesy: alltherooms.com
The Kingdom of Morocco originally had its inhabitants as the Berbers. This later changed when the Arabs invaded Morocco between the 7th– 9th century causing a shift in the culture and religion of the latter. It is acclaimed that Morocco was once a province of the Roman Empire as highlighted by https://www.globalblackhistory.com/2019/02/a-brief-history-of-the-kingdom-of-morocco.html.
In 1906, Morocco was a joint colony of France and Spain. This was later cemented with a treaty known as the Treaty of Fez in 1912. This all came within the leadership of Sultan Moulay Yusuf, an Alaouite Sultan, who succeeded King Ahmed of the Saadi Arab tribe who died during the early 17th Century as written by https://www.lawrenceofmorocco.com/country. Upon Sultan Moulay Yusuf’s death, the French appointed Sidi Muhammad, also known as Muhammad V, to take charge as Sultan in 1927. This however, didn’t favor them, as the newly appointed Sultan consolidated powers and threatened French’s rule and power over Morocco as written by https://www.globalblackhistory.com/2019/02/a-brief-history-of-the-kingdom-of-morocco.html
Muhammad V (Sidi Muhammad) photo courtesy: www.ipost.com
The French responded by exiling Mohamed V in Corsica. This unexpectedly caused a major uproar from the nationalists who started an independent movement due to the reverence they accorded Muhammed V with- as a national hero.
This resulted to the French bringing him back to take up the seat of a King and not a Sultan anymore in 1956 when Morocco gained independence. “Although Morocco gained its independence in 1956, Spain still colonizes two parts of Morocco to this day. The cities of Ceuta and Melilla and a small chain of islands of the coast in the Atlantic Ocean are still under the control of Spain,” https://colonizationofmorocco.weebly.com/independence.html.
In 1961, King Muhammad V died and his Son, Hassan the Second took charge of the newly formed Monarchy until 1999 when he died leaving his position for his son, Mohammed VI.
King Hassan the Second Photo Courtesy: www.youtube.com
This Monarchical seat of Morocco is hereditary though with an adopted constitution of 1992 that stipulates the laws of the land. The Moroccan Constitution highlights three arms of the government namely: Judicial, Legislative and Executive as written by https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/morocco/government.
The Monarch appoints the Prime Minister who is the head of the government. This is done with the assurity that the appointed Prime Minister is from the largest party in Parliament. The Monarch is also regarded as the ‘Commander of the Faithful’ and a secular political leader- an item that is not in practice in Lesotho.
In as much a constitution stipulates what governs the state, the Monarch has a supreme hold of the Monarchy. He is involved in all the nitty-gritties of the Monarch to ensure order and respect for the Kingdom is fully given by its citizenry.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco Photo Courtesy: www.bbc.com Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Othmani Photo Courtesy: www.moroccoworldnews.com
Irrespective of the political tensions and the ‘lack of democracy’ from an international perspective, the Kingdom of Morocco stands out in its own format. From its authentic culture to its beautiful towns and not forgetting their tasty meals served in Tagine clay-pots; this is a Kingdom worth traveling and learning about!
Shukran bezzef! (Thank you in Moroccan-Arabic)
Casabalanca – A city in Morocco Photo Courtesy: www.amazon.com
Tagine Pot/Clay Pot Photo Courtesy: www.factmagazine.com
Katibu wa baraza la mawaziri katika wizara ya mambo ya ndani na uratibu wa serikali ya kitaifa Daktari Fred Matiang’i alitoa taarifa siku ya Jumanne na kuidhinisha sikukuu ya Moi kama sikukuu ya kitaifa.
Hii ni baada ya uamuzi wa mahakama. Mnamo mwaka wa 2010, sikukuu ya Moi iliondolewa katika orodha ya sikukuu za kimataifa wakati katiba mpya ilizinduliwa rasmi. Mwezi wa Novemba mwaka wa 2017, jaji wa mahakama kuu alipinga uamuzi huo kwa kusema kuwa ni jambo ambalo linakiuka sheria. Mojawapo ya sababu ilikuwa kuwa sikukuu ya Moi haikuwa ya kuadhimisha wananchi au ufanisi wa nchi, bali mtu mmoja.
“Kulingana na sheria kuhusu Sikukuu (Sura ya 110, Sheria za Kenya) na uamuzi wa mahakama katika Kesi ya Kikatiba Nambari 292 ya 2017, ninatangaza kuwa Oktoba 10, 2019, itakuwa sikukuu ya kitaifa,” Waziri Fred Matiang’i akasema.
Hata hivyo, Wakenya wengi walikuwa na njia anuwai za kusherehekea siku hiyo. Wengine waliendeleza biashara zao kama kawaida, wengine wakisafiri kukutana na jamaa na familia zao na wengine wakapumzika kutoka kazini.
Liliofanya sikukuu hii iwe ya kipekee ni kuwa wakenya wengi walitumia muda huu kuwatembelea na kuwapa msaada watoto katika nyumba za mayatima, wajane, wazee waliotengwa na familia zao, walemavu na wengineo kama ishara ya upendo.
Hali kadhalika, wakenya wengine walikuwa na msimamo tofauti kuhusu maadhinisho ya sikukuu hiyo huku wakifananisha kipindi cha uongozi wa Mheshimiwa Moi kama dikteta.
Oktoba 12 mwaka wa 2019 ni siku ambayo daima itakuwa kumbukumbu kwani mwanariadha Eliud Kipchoge amevunja rekodi aliyokuwa amejiwekea ya kukimbia kwa kilomita arubaini na mbili kwa muda wa saa moja na dakika hamsini na tisa.
Isitoshe jina lake limeandikwa katika kitabu cha rekodi cha dunia cha Guiness. Eliud aliyekuwa amejibidisha na kuamini kuwa ataweka historia duniani, aliwafanya wakenya wengi kujumuika kumtizama akivunja rekodi hii iliyofahamika kama INEOS 159.
Rais Kenyatta aliwaongoza wakenya katika kumhimiza Kipchoge kulenga lengo lake huku naibu wake mheshimiwa Ruto na bibiye wakisafiri Vienna kumpa mkono anapokimbia.
Kusudio kuu lake Kipchoge lilikuwa kuonyesha kuwa hakuna pingamizi lolote iwapo mtu anataka kuwa wa kwanza katika lolote. Isitoshe, alisisitiza kuwa hashindani na wengine bali anashindana na muda na kuweka historia katika dunia.
Shindano hili liliokuwa likitizamwa moja kwa moja katika mitandao, limewafunza watu kuwa; shindano letu si dhidi ya marafiki, maadui ama wenzetu bali dhidi ya muda. Pili, mbio yetu yapaswa kuwa dhidi ya lengo tulizojiwekea na mwishowe mbio yetu ni katika tunayonuia kulenga.
Eliud Kipchoge vilevile amesema kuwa alikuwa mwenye tumbo joto baada ya kupokea simu kadha wa kadha kutoka viongozi wakuu katika serikali ya Kenya ikiwemo rais Kenyatta. Hata hivyo, bado alishikilia msimamo wake dhidi ya kuweka rekodi ya wanariadha duniani.
Akizungumza baada ya shindano hilo, Kipchoge amesema kuwa imemchukua mwanadamu miaka sitini na tano kuweka historia katika mbio za dunia kwa hivyo yeye amejazwa na furaha ghaya kuweza kuifufua historia hii. Mwenyekiti wa INEOS bwana Jim Ratcliffe alisema kuwa hakuamini vile Kipchoge alikimbia mtawalia mbio ya kwanza kwa muda wa chini ya saa moja.
