News Headlines Three children from three different families have died after a wall collapsed on them and over 60 homes were destroyed at Hopley Zone 6 settlement following the persistent rains which have fallen over Harare for the past three days. When Star FM visited the area there were three funeral wakes related to collapsing structures and one of the residents in the area, Mr Clifford Makonese told Star FM reporter George Msumba that the disaster was caused by weak bricks. At another homestead Star FM met with Grace Machingura, an unemployed widow who spoke about losing everything when her sub-standard house collapsed. Harare South member of parliament, Cde Shadreck Mashayamombe visited Hopley yesterday and blamed Harare city council for the disaster saying that they had not formalised the settlement allowing for the construction of standard structures. Cde Mashayamombe also appealed for humanitarian aid for Hopley residents whose homes collapsed. === Families who were displaced by the flooding of the Tokwe-Mukosi dam last year celebrated their first Christmas and New Year at their new settlements in Nuanetsi ranch in peace. However one of the resettled villagers told Star FM that they are worried by the influx of local settlers who are pegging 4 hectare plots in the area called village A,B,C and D. === Over twenty five thousand jehovahs witnesses will converge at the national sports stadium today for a special meeting to be attended by all its local member churches . The guest speaker is a senior member of the church, William Tunner. === Telecommunications operator, Powertel, says it is ready to roll out mobile network services in the new year. Powertel’s marketing manager Prosper Mutswiri said previously they only provided internet services. He said they have been granted a telecommunications licence by the posts and telecommunication regulatory authority (POTRAZ) to provide both internet and voice services. === Parents and educationists say the government should make ensure that its directives are carried out by school heads. Parents who spoke to the media said some schools are refusing to comply with the government directive banning entrance tests. Reports say most schools had been inviting hundreds of pupils for the tests yet had few places and would refuse to re-fund the fees if a pupil failed. Last year government banned entrance tests following complaints by the public which said the tests had become a money making scheme for all public schools. === Opposition parties in Zimbabwe have lamented lack of support from state media saying this is affecting their ability to attract active members and win elections . President of the recently-launched African Democratic Party in Zimbabwe, Ms Marcellina Chikasha told Star FM that opposition parties in Zimbabwe are failing to penetrate the electorate because of lack of support from the state media and other state institutions. === In regional and international news A baby trafficking trial involving Niger’s ex-parliamentary speaker has got under way. Hama Amadou, a former ally of the president, fled to France last year and was not in court on Friday for the beginning of the trial. Amadou, his wife and other senior political and business figures are accused of taking illegal custody of around 30 babies, born to Nigerian women. The babies were then allegedly sold to childless couples in Niger. Nassirou Laouali, lawyer for the accused says its nothing but a political plot and there is no evidence; falsifying the identity of a babys mother carries a jail term of 8 years. === Armed militants have shot and killed 17 soldiers and one civilian at a checkpoint in Libya. Army spokeperson Mohammed Hegazi told associated press that the attack occurred early on Friday in the central district of Jufra. Widespread militia violence has plunged Libya into chaos less than four years after a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed President Muammar Gaddafi. === Masked gunmen in northern Libya have kidnapped 13 coptic christian workers from Egypt. Eyewitnesses in the city of Sirte said suspected islamist militants went to a residential compound late last night and asked to see identification papers of the residents. Christians were separated from the muslims before reportedly being handcuffed and kidnapped. The incident in a series of attacks on Egyptian christians in Libya comes just a few days after seven other coptic christians from Egypt were reportedly abducted at a fake checkpoint in Sirte as they tried to leave the city. === The red cross says almost 1,000 migrants have been rescued from a cargo ship found adrift in Greek waters. The blue Sky M, carrying 970 people, had been abandoned and left on autopilot by its crew, believed to be people traffickers. Italian coastguards later brought it under control and safely docked it at the Italian port of Gallipoli. The migrants, believed to be mainly Syrians and Kurds, have been taken to local schools and a gymnasium. === A serial rapist who asked to have his life ended because of his unbearable psychological suffering is to have his wish granted. Belgian media say Frank Van den Bleeken, who has spent 30 years in prison, will be euthanised in prison in Bruges, later this month. The government has not released a statement on the matter, but a justice ministry spokeswoman was quoted as saying: euthanasia will indeed be implemented Van den Bleeken, who has multiple rape convictions, had for years requested the state help him end his life. Euthanasia was legalised in Belgium 12 years ago - the second country to do so after the Netherlands. There were nearly two thousand cases of euthanasia in the country, last year.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 14:40:39 +0000
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