US Issues New Travel Ban On Brazil

The United States of America has issued a travel ban on people travelling from Brazil after the South American country recorded 330 890 coronavirus cases including 21 048 deaths as of Friday 22 May, overtaking Russia for second place in the world for the highest number of cases, after the US.

The ban affects individuals who have been in Brazil within 14 days immediately preceding their attempt to enter the United States.

Issuing the ban, President Donald Trump said:I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to take action to restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the Federative Republic of Brazil during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States.

Johns Hopkins University asserts that the proclamation is aimed at limiting the spread of coronavirus coming into the United States from Brazil.

Meanwhile, some European countries are reopening their economies despite experts warning against reopening too soon, and recommending some form of confinement measures until a vaccine or treatment is developed.

Governments are however feeling immense pressure to ease lockdowns which have had an adverse impact on economies.

CNN

Nigeria's Economy Grows by 1.87%

Nigeria’s economy grew 1.87% in the first three months of 2020 from a year earlier, the statistics office said on Monday, shrinking from the previous quarter as oil prices and international trade fell due to the coronavirus pandemic

It is the slowest quarterly growth rate in one-and-a-half years, and comes as Nigeria has still not recovered from a 2016 recession that sent more than 13 million people into unemployment.

The slowdown reflects “the earliest effects of the disruption” from the global outbreak, said Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, and comes as the government expects Africa’s largest economy to contract this year as much as 8.9% in a worst case scenario.

Nigeria’s crude production was 2.07 million barrels a day, the statistics office said, the country’s highest level in more than four years.

But a global oil price crash due to reduced demand from the pandemic threatens to offset those gains, with annual growth in the oil sector contracting 1.3% from the previous quarter to 5.06%.

The non-oil sector was also hit: growing by just 1.55%, which was down 0.72% from the last three months of 2019, the statistics office said.

The World Bank expects the coming recession to be “much more pronounced” than in 2016 and potentially Nigeria’s worst financial crisis in four decades.

africanews.com

Novel Innovations in Ogun state Agric sector

Ogun State Government has commenced plans to engage 10,000 farmers who will be supported for mechanised farming. Governor Dapo Abiodun said 10,000 youths would be supported across the zones, to plant cassava, maize and rice, which are crops the state is a leading producer.  According to the Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Kunle Somorin, each farmer will get a parcel of land and be supported with clearing, seedlings, extension and off-taker services to ensure the profitability of their ventures.

The initiative, which has the buy-in advantage, is a partnership arrangement to be funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the state. Currently, the state has partnered China, African Development Bank (AfDB), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the CBN to invest in the sector through the Public-Private Partnership Programme (PPP).

During the three-day visit by AfDB officials to the state, the Governor said his government welcomes investors coming in their large numbers into the state. He said: “Once foreign exchange was removed from food items like rice, maize and cassava, the local demand for the items would be stimulated, thereby, helping to encourage local production. This administration would be focused on producing cassava, rice and maize, in the belief that the focus would help stimulate the local economy as there won’t be foreign exchange. We would be engaging the CBN through its different programmes and also issue Certificate of Ownership to the farmers.”The leader of the AfDB Team, Oladapo Olagoke said the bank was looking at how it could use the agricultural potentials of the state to empower its people, adding that it has come up with a ‘Next Steps’ model, which he said would help to take the discussion to a point of reality.

Olagoke disclosed that the bank was also willing to turn the state into the hub for Agro Industrialisation in the country by using the state as an example to others in terms of creation of jobs for youths and how they could incorporate and develop programs that would empower the private sector to drive the agenda of agricultural transformation in the state.

While hosting the Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, Abiodun, who solicited collaboration to enable seamless export of goods and services produced in the state, said food items are going to be the state’s items of focus, “our produce of focus, our crops of focus, we will be producing cassava, rice and maize, believing that will stimulate local production, since there won’t be forex for them.

“We have engaged the CBN and they have different interventions like the Anchor Borrowers Programme, the Accelerated Agriculture Development Scheme, the Agro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises scheme, among others; we will provide the land for our youths and cooperative, we will give them the certificate of ownership for those lands, as it will give them a sense of ownership.

“In view of the issues we have with cattle and ranching today, we have resolved to have own ranch in the state, we believe that we can have a world class ranch, a world class abattoir that can provide beef services to supermarkets, individuals,” he said. Awolowo promised to use his good office to fast-track the vision of the Governor, especially, in the area of agricultural productivity and human capital development. He said with the private sector background of the Governor, he would be able to transform the state into an industrial giant and a hub that would earn foreign exchange for the country through exporting finished products.

In addition, Abiodun has begun collaboration with relevant financial institutions in the country that are capable of providing credit support to cooperative societies and other micro, small and medium scale enterprises in the state. At this year’s International Day of Cooperatives Celebration with the theme: “ Coops for Decent Work,” the governor said his administration would provide an atmosphere that provides adequate motivation for cooperative societies to excel.

Another area of focus is the plan to exploit the potentials of the dairy market. It was learnt that the management of the Global Diary producers made an investment visit to the Governor recently in Abeokuta.  The Governor, who expressed joy, considering the opportunity the agricultural sector brings to the state, said the sector being one of the biggest pillars of his administration could help boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and also help reduce the rate of employment.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, Irish Diary Milk, Global, Samir Boudjada noted that they chose the state because of its proximity to Lagos State, and that the state was strategically relevant and had passed all tests.“This is the ultimate state for us, the feedback is really positive and we are looking forward to being part of this private partnership and creating jobs in Nigeria. This is the gateway state close to Lagos and you know when you are sighting a factory, you need certain parameters, we need a seaport that we can export out our goods, so, Ogun State is strategically relevant to the business of this nature and we did not make a mistake, Ogun State has passed all the tests,” he said.

The Guardian Newspaper

Burna Boy Throws Shade after Davido tagged Himself and Wizkid ; the greatest of all Time

Popular Nigerian singer Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy is currently a trending topic of discussion on micro blogging platform, Twitter. The singer caught the attention of internet users on the platform after he shared a post on his Snapchat page; just moments after Davido came out to describe himself and colleague Wizkid as the greatest African superstars. Burna Boy in a Snapchat post that has now been deleted said: “You cannot play football, everybody knows you cannot play football and you are an embarrassment to the team but your daddy bought the football team.” 

Although the Ye crooner did not mention any names, music fans were quick to bring the matter to Twitter and call the singer out. One Twitter user said: "Burna Boy needs to accept that some people are better than him. Plenty people sef. Na so life be. And no be fight. Give it 5 years, a few fresh kids might ‘dethrone’ Davido and Wizkid. Life is turn by turn." 

legit.ng

Meet Ogun state Commissioner For Agriculture Dr. S. A Odedina

Born on 21st May, 1966, Dr. Samson Adeola Odedina attended Lisabi Grammar School, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State from 1979-1984; where he proceeded to Federal College of Agriculture, Akure from 1984-1986, Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan from 1987-1989. He holds a M.Sc. in Crop Science from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port-Harcourt and Ph.D. in Crop Production from the Federal University of Technology, Akure.

Dr. Odedina also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Agricultural Education from Wolverhampton Polytechnic (now Wolverhampton University) United Kingdom. While at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, Dr. Odedina studied at the Walsall Campus. His exposure to various teaching methods including how to deliver Agricultural skill sessions at Staffordshire College of Agriculture and Harper Adams College, while on teaching practice at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, has greatly enriched his career, and also enabled him pass the knowledge and skills to this generation of young farmers.

Dr. Odedina obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Vegetable Science and Technology from Beijing Vegetable Research Centre, China in 2000. In 2001, he obtained a Post Ph.D Certificate in Biotechnology from the Brazilian Corporation for Agricultural Research (EMBRAPA).

He had a brief stint as a village extension agent with the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP), in Ajebo village from 1986 to 1987, where he chose to reside in the village rather than a nearby Abeokuta town. While working there, he facilitated the formation of farmers’ cooperative groups with access to loans with huge profit made from a large rice farm. The farmers were also coordinated to participate in a yearly Agricultural show. All these were achieved during his one year work experience on completion of his National Diploma (ND) in General Agriculture.

He joined the services of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, on 27th September, 1990 and rose through the ranks to the position of Chief Lecturer in 2012.

Dr. Odedina is a Certified Master Trainer in Agricultural Value Chains from Bern University of Applied Science, Switzerland (June 2015); and a Consultant to diverse international development projects and institutions which include but not limited to: Cassava Adding Value for Africa Phase I (CAVA I) Project led by the Natural Resource Institute-University of Greenwich UK and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). 

Dr. Odedina served as the National Productivity Adviser from 2008 to 2011, in a project that had 20,000 farmers and processors in Ondo and Ogun states helped out of poverty by improving the yield and income to more than a dollar a day. He is currently serving as a Consultant Agronomist to the Cassava Adding Value for Africa Phase II (CAVA II) Project to provide technical backstopping (stem multiplication and demonstration farms) for 200,000 small holder farmers to sell 2million tons of cassava roots to make processed products such as high quality cassava flour, chips for animal feed and cassava starch in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi.

From June to December 2010, he worked with USAID Markets to support 700 farmers in Ondo state and about 1000 farmers in Ekiti state with training and linkage to processors. These farmers are now successful out-growers, currently a driving force in the current cassava value chain activities. 

In July 2012, Dr Odedina worked as Project Advisor to the Ekiti State FADAMA III Project, where 100 farmers were trained on recommended practices on yam storage techniques and Integrated pest management.

In July 2013, he served as Technical Specialist for the DFID UK funded Agriculture and Technology Transfer Programme in East Africa (DFID AgriTT). In September 2013, he worked as Lead Consultant to the Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation funded Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Sustainable Cassava Seed System Project for the Production of innovative manual, training facilitator’s guide and workbook for training of 1000 farmers; while, 50,000 bundles of Pro-Vitamin A Cassava planting materials was delivered to farmers in Edo, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi states and Abuja in April 2015.

Dr Odedina served as a Master Trainer (Agricultural Value Chains) for the Switzerland Government in the Capacity Building in Agricultural Extension Programme (CBAEN Project Phase I) from 2013-2015 and is currently serving as the Project Team Leader in the Capacity Building for Agricultural Education in Nigeria (CBAEN Project Phase II). The CBAEN Project is a Switzerland Government initiative aimed at curbing illegal migration of youths through value chain studies and active involvement in profitable agribusiness through exemplary value chain projects in schools and communities.

In March 2017, Dr. Odedina, leading his College in collaboration with Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin and six other Nigerian Institutions, got an approval from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for a curriculum for Value Chain courses for National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) Programmes in Agricultural Disciplines in Nigeria. The curriculum, an output of the CBAEN Project Phase II, is the first of its kind in the history of tertiary education in Nigeria.

Dr. Odedina is currently serving as a Consultant Agronomist to HarvestPlus/CIAT Biofortification (Vitamin A Cassava and Maize) Project. Over 100 NGOs and 1000 Extension Agents of Agricultural Development Projects in Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, Akwa-Ibom, Benue and Imo states have been trained on agronomic standards for the multiplication of over 2000 hectares of Pro-Vitamin A cassava and 1000 hectares of Vitamin A Maize varieties. As a Biofortification Ambassador, he has led staff and students of Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, on farmers’ free dissemination Programmes and Advocacy for the involvement of youth in profitable agribusiness in Benue, Oyo, Kogi, Ondo, Ogun, Cross-River, Edo, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Lagos, Ekiti, Rivers, Enugu, Nasarawa States and Abuja.

Dr Odedina, with a host of staff from the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, are currently facilitating ongoing Innovations by the German Government supported Green Innovation Centres for Agriculture and Food Sector in Nigeria (GIZ Project), for smallholder farm businesses and up- and downstream agribusinesses in selected rural regions for improved income for 600,000 agricultural smallholders (30% women, 20% youth) in Maize, rice, cassava and Irish potato value chains.

He was a resource person for the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for the accreditation of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) Programmes in Agricultural Technology and Crop Production of Lagos State Polytechnic from 9th to 13th April, 2012; and National Diploma (ND) Programme in Agricultural Technology of Ibadan Polytechnic, Oyo State from 23rd to 27th April, 2012.

He has in the past, successfully linked the College to several private sector players such as Elizade Nigeria Ltd., Honeywell Group, Matna Cassava Foods, Sunshine Cassava Factory, Ondo State, MicMakin Foods, Blopamed Nigeria Ltd, Allied Atlantic, Cress Farm, Lokoja, Matsol Farms, Ogun State, Thai Farms, Ota, Ogun State, etc., who have all responded to Government interest and investment in Agricultural transformation.

This Egba-born Agriculturist has participated in International Managerial and Technical Trainings, Workshops and Seminars in Africa, North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Australia, relating to Agricultural Technology transfer beneficial to farmers, students and other categories of youth Agriprenuers.

Until his appointment as Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure in January 2015, he was a Chief Lecturer in the Department of Crop Production and Coordinator of World Bank West Africa Productivity Project (WAAPP) and FAO/FGN/SSC/Regional Multi Service Extension Centre (REMSEC) at the College.

As the first alumnus to be appointed substantive Provost of the College since its inception in 1957, Dr Odedina, championed unprecedented achievements in the College; such include: 200% increase in students' population, approval for four (4) new courses at National Diploma (ND) level and One (1) new course at Higher National Diploma (HND) Level and sustained beautification of the College community. Active involvement of students in profitable Agribusiness, with students keying into wealth creation and job opportunities created by huge demand for agro products and services by large scale industries. Cassava Stems (20,000 bundles/season); Cassava Tubers (30tons/month); Garri (10tons/month); Fufu (5tons/week); Vitamin A Maize (0.5ton/week), are all being sold by value chain students at the College gate.

Dr. Odedina oversaw 100% completion of Thirty (30) Federal Government capital projects from 2015 till 2018 (no abandoned projects); and a facelift of the College with diverse Federal Government and global donor-funded projects such as the International Training Centre and Guest House, Agroshop, Biofortification Restaurant and an Ultra-Modern Arable Crop Processing and Training Centre, Livestock Resource and Enterprise Centre, 1km Internal Access Road, among others.

Dr Odedina improved on the College’s relations with host communities and secondary schools with successful demonstration of viable Cassava, Aquaculture and Poultry Enterprises, leading to over 200% increase in tonnage of tubers, grains and livestock production in adopted villages, 10 new profitable Agricultural value chain job opportunities (cassava, poultry and aquaculture) introduced to adopted villages, which have been adopted and sustained by 10% of each of the farmers’ groups in three (3) communities, cut-edge farm technologies introduced and adopted leading to 40% increase in productivity of participating farmers, 200% increase in total food production, 40% of participating farmers linked with commercial uptakers. In adopted schools, enrolment and distinction grades for Agricultural Science increased by 40%, while Young Farmers Club formed have made money for the schools in viable Cassava, Poultry and Aquaculture ventures.

Dr Odedina is a recipient of over twenty five (25) awards and recognitions.

For his efforts in facilitating the engagement of youths (students and unemployed graduates) in profitable Agribusinesses through Agricultural Value Chain training and development (regular courses and exemplary value chain projects), Dr Odedina, in November 2017, received a letter of commendation from the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development. Likewise in January 2018, Dr. Odedina received another letter of commendation from the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development.

In September 2018, the outstanding achievements of the College (2015-2018), as a model institution in Agricultural Value Chain Training and Development, was showcased in the maiden edition of the FMARD DIGEST- a quarterly publication of the Office of the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development; while in December 2018, the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement lauded the Federal College of Agriculture Akure, for its exemplary and outstanding performance in adherence to public procurement laws.

After four years of service (January 2015-December 2018) into a five-year non-renewable tenure at Federal College of Agriculture Akure, Dr. Samson Adeola Odedina bowed to pressure from his Home State, to take up an Appointment as the Rector of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta (MAPOLY) in July 4, 2018. Within six months, Dr. Odedina made meaningful impacts in the Institution, leading to several accolades and awards, among which included his Induction into the Hall of Fame of the Students Union Government and the renaming of a Bus Shed after him by the students of the Polytechnic. Dr. Odedina has over 60 publications in National and International Media. He is currently the Commissioner for Agriculture for Ogun state.

He is happily married with children.

Cyril and the Gang of Four

By Patrick Smith in Johannesburg Warning parliament that slow economic growth is killing jobs and building up unsustainable debt, President Cyril Ramaphosa finds his reform efforts are being blocked by four ANC stalwarts with their own agenda and political ambitions.

As the sun set against the majestic Table Mountain, South Africa’s political and business elite congregated in Cape Town for the opening of parliament on 13 February. The economy is stuttering, in the longest downturn since 1945. It was President Cyril Ramaphosa’s chance to reset the compass for a government that has increasingly looked like it was losing its way. His speech at parliament’s opening was more confessional than a call to action: “We cannot continue along this path. Nor can we afford to stand still.” Ramaphosa has been struggling to boost investor confidence as the electricity utility Eskom starts a new season of power cuts, the government bails out more ailing state firms and politicians in the governing African National Congress (ANC) fight over jobs. Youth disaffection is mounting, driven by joblessness and inequality. Only 20% of new voters bothered to register on the electoral roll before last year’s elections, reported Afrobarometer. Disenchanted by the state of the country, most had little faith that politicians would be able to fix it. Moeletsi Mbeki, deputy chairman of the South African Institute of International Affairs, says the country should learn from the Arab Spring revolt that swept North Africa in 2011: “Those kind of red flags are starting to appear. I don’t think we are faced with a crisis yet on the scale of Tunisia […] but we have the dynamics, the potential to move that way.” Two years ago, Ramaphosa had taken the reins after senior ANC officials pushed Jacob Zuma from power. They called for a new national coalition – beyond partisan interests – to fix the economy after more than a decade of corrosive patronage politics and to take the country forward. Counter-reformation An initial wave of support for Ramaphosa has ebbed as the economy has slowed. Attempts to hold corrupt officials to account are also being derailed. Some of that can be put down to the ‘Fightback group’, a loose alliance of ANC politicians who back Zuma and oppose Ramaphosa’s plans for house cleaning. For now, this group has four of the top six positions in the ANC hierarchy. They control almost half of its national executive committee, a majority of its members of parliament and most of its important committees. They can block new laws and reforms. They have the ability to countermand Ramaphosa’s appointment to the boards of the all-important state-owned enterprises – once the driving force of South Africa’s economy and now the cause of its debilitating indebtedness. “It’s time for Ramaphosa to pick up the pace and take bold actions,” says Oyama Mabandla, executive chairman of African Phoenix Investments. “Timidity on reforms will embolden the Fightback.” Mabandla concedes that Ramaphosa has inherited a nightmare economy but he wants a more muscular approach: “He should use the bully pulpit, lay down a common set of goals […], argue that most people got no benefit from populism.” Across the parliamentary benches, Ramaphosa is hemmed in by his own party, according to William Gumede, a professor at Wits University. “In government, the ANC has seen new power groups grow up based on provinces, cities and local interest groups rather than the old organisational factions,” says Gumede. That complicates any attempt to push through reforms. “The ANC is now divided into two almost separate and contesting parties – the ANC of Ramaphosa and that of former president Zuma,” says Gumede. He continues: “Deputy president David Mabuza has been positioning himself as a third interest group – it might sway a decision if there is a stalemate.” It was Mabuza’s backing that ensured Ramaphosa won the leadership elections in 2017, by a slim margin. Somehow the two men have to work together. Seen as the leader of the ‘Gang of Four’ challenging Ramaphosa (see profiles above), Mabuza has a chequered past as premier of Mpumalanga Province. He has made common cause with Ace Magashule, former premier of the Free State and now ANC secretary general. That gives Magashule powers over the branches and elections in the provinces – control of the party machinery. Premier league Working alongside Magashule at the ANC’s Luthuli House headquarters in Johannesburg is Paul Mashatile, the party’s treasurer general and a former premier of Gauteng, the country’s biggest province. These three former provincial bosses typify the new politics in South Africa, particularly within the ANC. With strong networks in their provinces, they have jumped onto the national stage to expand their support. But it is difficult to pin them down on policies or ideas, beyond a populist opposition to cuts in the public sector. Human settlements minister Lindiwe Sisulu is the fourth and most improbable member of the Gang. Having made a failed bid for the ANC presidency in 2017, she was passed over by Ramaphosa for the deputy presidency. From the fabled Sisulu clan, Lindiwe is a lifelong ANC loyalist and has held several top ministerial jobs, but she lacked the block support of a province that Mabuza could bring to bear on the leadership election. The reality is, according to Gumede, that none of the Gang of Four could run a leadership challenge by themselves. “They will work together to push for specific policies – such as nationalisation of the Reserve Bank, or expropriation of land without compensation, or National Health Insurance – pushing Ramaphosa into a corner.” Leadership struggle ahead? Another ANC-watcher compared the Gang of Four’s tactics to a real-estate magnate who wants to get tenants out of a building on a valuable piece of land: “He will smash all the windows, turn off the light and water, make life unbearable until all the occupants quit – it’s a waiting game and one that Ramaphosa’s opponents think they can win.” According to Mmusi Maimane, the former leader of the Democratic Alliance, there is a serious risk that Ramaphosa’s opponents could exploit the bad economic conditions to push him out. “I think the ANC is heading for another leadership struggle, and I would watch Lindiwe Sisulu as a candidate who could come through.” At the beginning of the year, Ramaphosa came under heavy attack from the Gang of Four, with Mabuza calling for the sacking of state enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan for failing to reform the sector. It was a sharp reminder that Mabuza felt little loyalty to Ramaphosa, whose leadership was the target of the demand. At a midnight mass in Cape Town, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba called for South Africa to make 2020 “the year of the orange jumpsuit” – meaning that the authorities should speed up the prosecution (and jailing) of those officials colluding with the ‘state capture’ project, which destroyed state companies at an estimated cost of more than R1trn ($66.7bn). “People are impatient, and that is understandable,” Bridgette Radebe, a mining magnate and Ramaphosa’s sister-in-law, tells The Africa Report, “but the conclusions must come from a judge working through the process.” Ramaphosa also has to bring the ANC back together, she adds, but dismissed challenges to him with a smile: “The President’s position is like an actor or a singer […] some people will like him and if they don’t like him, let’s hope it will make him try harder to win them over.” People should look more closely at parliament, adds Radebe, and its failure to hold government and business to account. “For example, the mining charter is very clear on parliament’s responsibilities on […] beneficiation and tax complicity and illicit flows […] but the MPs don’t act. They don’t question the mining companies about compliance.” For Martin Kingston, deputy chair of Business Unity South Africa, it is the pace of tough economic reforms that are critical: “We’re worried about the passage of time. We’re in a dynamic set of circumstances where we’re eroding goodwill as a country. Our brand is being damaged by what people see. Our ability to attract investment is being undermined.” Because of this, argues Kingston, the road to recovery will stretch out much longer “to get to the levels of 4-5% growth, which is what we need. […] That’s not going to happen in the next five years. There are too many constraints that have to be addressed.” Mabandla argues that Ramaphosa’s strategy of focusing on fixing institutions, rather than fighting fires within the ANC, may work, but only in the short-term. “Much will depend on some quick wins […] like successful prosecutions which will restore people’s confidence. Cyril was born under a lucky star, so he might just pull it off.” Tax attack In early February, chief prosecutor Shamila Batohi announced that criminal charges against Ivan Pillay’s group of top investigators at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) – an affair that became known as the ‘rogue unit’ – had been dropped. The team was known for its daring raids on smuggling and tax-evasion schemes run by politically connected businesspeople, including Zuma’s son Duduzane. One of Pillay’s colleagues tells The Africa Report it was a hard-fought victory, and that SARS was regaining its effectiveness. The prosecution authority, which has to outsource many of its most politically sensitive investigations, is in a far more parlous state. “The question is not whether Ramaphosa can fix this,” says the investigator, “ it’s whether we, in terms of civil society and mass action, can fix things as we did when we fought apartheid. [...] It’s that kind of struggle now.” Does he think they will win? He chuckles and quotes Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci: “The old is dying and the new cannot be born. So the bigger risk is not victory by the corrupt but a kind of social stagnation that they block the positive changes we try to make and life gets worse even if they can’t return to power.”

Uganda reports 24 new cases of COVID-19

A total of 24 cross-border cargo truck drivers on Saturday tested positive for COVID-19 in Uganda, taking the total number of infections to 227 in the country, the Health Ministry said.

Out of 2,044 samples collected from cross-border truck drivers, the 24 new cases comprise 14 Kenyans, six Tanzanians and four Ugandans, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

“All 554 community samples have tested negative for COVID-19,’’ it added.

Uganda, earlier on Saturday, issued new stringent measures on cross-border cargo truck drivers, saying that only those, who test negative for COVID-19, will be allowed to enter the country.

“As earlier communicated, action to address rising cases among truck drivers has been taken,’’ Health Minister, Ruth Aceng, tweeted.

NAN

Out of the 227 COVID-19 cases, at least 63 have recovered and no one has died from the disease, according to the ministry. (Xinhua/NAN)