Good Governance Attributes Of Zambia's President, by Richard Odusanya.

By Richard Odusanya 

The lesson of history and recent political events sweeping democratic strongholds around the world reflect a deep loss of faith in government. Citizens perceive their institutions to be captured by elites who are disconnected from the needs of their constituents or complicit in schemes that benefit the powerful at the expense of ordinary citizens. Therefore, it is remarkable to find an African President in the example of Zambia's President.

President Hakainde Hichilema, a Zambian businessman, farmer, and politician who is the seventh and current president of Zambia since 24 August 2021. After having contested five previous elections in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, and 2016, he won the 2021 presidential election with 59.02% of the vote. He is firmly committed to upholding the rule of law and upholding human rights and freedoms, and he has made quick progress in repairing the country's relations and standing with international partners and foreign investors. 

Similar to the recent event in Liberia, in Zambia, the institutions of democracy seem to be [more] responsive to people's will than in many parts of Africa. The fact that the army, the police, the intelligence services, and the electoral commission would allow the will of the people to be superior is a very strong message sent to the African continent.

In a strong message and demonstration of servant-leadership style, President Hichilema, on assumption of office directed the head of the public service to sell all luxury vehicles bought after the formation of the new government. 

The new President, at that time, said he was shocked that some senior government officials, including ministers and permanent secretaries, were applying to buy luxurious vehicles such as Land Cruiser VX when there was an agreement that there would be no buying of luxurious vehicles.

"We agreed that extravagance is not part of us."

"Anyone who has bought a VX in central, local, quasi-government institutions, I would like an instruction that must be followed: to bring out those VXs and sell them into the market, he said when he opened a Presidential Delivery Unit leadership workshop. Instead of buying luxurious vehicles, the money should be plowed into productive areas that would create jobs for the people."

President Hichilema, challenged government officials to improve their performance instead of dwelling on the reckless expenditure of public resources, adding that people elected the current government because they wanted improved service delivery. "People voted for the current government because they wanted to see improved living standards, adding that the trust of the people should be returned with effective and quality service delivery."

According to the President, some ministers and permanent secretaries are perpetually traveling, yet their performance is below par, and they should feel a sense of shame. Furthermore, he encouraged them to improve their output, adding that he was tired of swearing in new people every month due to the inefficiency of some people whom he was forced to fire.

Following from the above, the lessons of Zambia's presidential leadership styles and benefits are numerous. Firstly, it is a clear demonstration of the servant-leadership Presidency and the strong-willed character and personality of President Hichilema. Secondly, it signposts the renewal of the mindset of leadership in the beautiful continent of Africa. Lastly, it will be an encouragement of prudence against the recklessness of our public officeholders in the continent of Africa.

In conclusion, pure leadership character is about building citizens’ trust and winning the confidence of its people. To fully break it down, let me use the current situation in Nigeria as an example of the problems; which is the controversial topics on the failed republic of Nigeria and its fake constitution as eruditely posited by the very respected Learned Silk, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN. The problem of Nigeria is from our Constitution which is supposed to be the ground norm. What we need is a New Constitution drafted based on Equity, Justice, Fairness, and Inclusivity. This will be done to take care of the fears and agitations of different parts of the country to address and re-write all the injustices suffered by citizens of the country. It's time to truthfully act the "We the People" script.

Happy New Year 2024.

Richard Odusanya

odusanyagold@gmail.com

Top remote worker cyber risks and solutions

By Kebalo Phalane, South Africa 

The Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA) outlines safer online meeting and home network measures

Home-based workers are at increased risk of cyber attack, but there are several measures they can take to reduce risk.

This is according to Bryan Baxter, a corporate IT business development manager and IITPSA KZN chapter committee member, who was addressing an IITPSA KZN Chapter webinar last week.

The webinar, focusing on cybersecurity and etiquette for remote work and meetings, outlined a significant shift in cyber risk facing companies and their employees.

“The abrupt move to remote working and cloud has driven many companies to try and do in a matter of months what others took years to achieve,” Baxter said.  This move has strained IT resources and highlighted vulnerabilities in home IT environments, which cyber criminals were taking advantage of.

“Security and communications at home are typically not sufficient for corporate usage,” Baxter warned.

Reducing home worker cyber risk

Corporate data is at risk in home user environments due to common vulnerabilities in home networks, and the fact that many users were unaware that their personal information may already have been compromised, Baxter said.

Baxter said key risks among remote workforces included vulnerable endpoints, data leakage, password compromises, the use of shadow IT, a lack of corporate VPNs and insecure meeting solutions.

“A lot ayered defence approach is needed to protect users, data, networks, devices and technology,” he said. “IT professionals need to make users’ lives easier and they must make it easy for end users to stay secure, or we will see the emergence of shadow IT and greater risk.”

He recommended a number of ways to mitigate risk in home user environments: “Enhance user awareness training, implement stronger two-factor authentication and keep personal and work systems separate. Corporates should ensure that they have classified their data and that sensitive data is adequately protected from employees working at home. Regularly backing up both work and private data is essential. Use a VPN to access important systems, and secure home routers and wireless devices. Updated endpoint protection such as anti-virus and host based firewalls are important. These are now moving to more advanced threat protection such as ERD or endpoint detection and response. This is important because standard AV does not pick up shell scripting compromises.  Home systems must be patched and kept up to date, and ideally home users should create separate admin and user accounts on their home computers.”

He also emphasized the need to change the default admin password on the home router; enable WAP2 encryption; and use a strong password for the home wireless network.

Selecting safer virtual meeting solutions

With a webinar participant poll revealing that 38% of participants most often use Microsoft Teams, 42% use Zoom, and 9% use Google Meet for video conferencing, Baxter noted that selecting the right solutions for enterprise use was crucial for security and data protection.

He highlighted cases in which meetings had been compromised and videos of meetings posted online. “If you’re going to have a board meeting or talk about your financial results, you need to think about the solution you’re using,” he said.

“Enterprises need to look first at the vendor – asking what is their support like, and can you trust them. Then consider the solution – asking how good is the product, how is it rated and how secure is it?” Considerations should include whether the solution was fit for purpose, its cost and the ease of integration and mobility options.

Factors that should be considered include whether the video conferencing solution offers full end to end encryption, where data is be stored and whether this data would remain private, if meetings could be password protected, the level of host control to mute, block and drop attendees, the visibility of attendees, and if information could be protected from unauthorised modification, access and disclosure.

Etiquette for online meetings

Baxter recommended several basic measures to improve security and effectiveness of online meetings: “Test the technology before the meeting; have a plan and agenda; appoint a moderator; only invite participants who need to be there; and lock the conference and put passwords on entry. Inform participants if you are recording the meeting and introduce everyone at the beginning. Participants should have a clean, work appropriate background for the video call;  be aware of their audio and video settings; they should look into the camera and not at themselves while speaking; and they should  eliminate distractions and focus on the agenda: be present, mute your mic when not speaking and don’t do other work during the meeting,” he said.  

The IITPSA KZN chapter webinar was one of a series of new webinars IITPSA is rolling out to enhance communication and knowledge sharing among members. The Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA) CEO Tony Parry noted that the Institute is also increasing the frequency of its new Tabling Tech webinars, designed to give in-depth insights into emerging technologies.

For more information visit www.iitpsa.org.za or https://www.iitpsa.org.za/upcoming-events/

At last, Madagascar announces FIRST DEATH of Covid-19 despite cure claim

By News Proof 

Amidst controversial cure claims of Covid-19, Madagascar on Sunday announced the first death of a patient suffering from the novel coronavirus, nearly two months after it was first detected in the country, an AFP report published on France24 English suggests. 

According to the report, the victim is a 57-year-old hospital worker. He died on Saturday and had underlying diabetes and high blood pressure before he was infected, an official from the anti-coronavirus task team said.

"It is with great sadness that we have to share with all our compatriots, that there is an individual, aged 57, who died from Covid-19," professor Hanta Vololontiana said on public television.

He was a car park attendant at a hospital in the eastern city of Toamasina.

The Indian Ocean island which has reported 304 cases has hit the headlines over a home-grown herbal concoction that President Andry Rajoelina claims can cure people infected with the virus.

Nigerian and several African countries have ordered or expressed interest in the purported remedy, which is known as Covid-Organics.

The tonic drink is derived from artemisia, a plant with proven efficacy in malaria treatment and other indigenous herbs.

But the World Health Organization has warned against "adopting a product that has not been taken through tests to see its efficacy".

Covid-19: No nonsense Burundi Expels WHO, declares agency, allies Persona non grata

Emerging several reports suggest that Burundi has ordered the expulsion of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) expert team backing the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, just days before the country’s elections.

According to the Guardian, the foreign ministry, in a letter to WHO Africa headquarters and seen by AFP on Wednesday, said the UN agency’s representative in Burundi and his three colleagues “are declared persona non grata and as such, must leave the territory of Burundi” by Friday.

The directive, dated 12 May, expels the WHO’s top official in Burundi, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo; the country’s coronavirus coordinator, Dr Jean Pierre Mulunda Nkata; communicable diseases head, Dr Ruhana Mirindi Bisimwa, and a laboratory expert in the testing for Covid-19, Prof Daniel Tarzy.

“Late yesterday afternoon I was made aware through a note verbale about this decision of the government of Burundi which has asked our WHO representative and three other persons, one of whom is a consultant … to leave the country immediately,” the WHO Africa director, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said on Thursday.

“We are in communication with the government of Burundi to clarify and understand the reasoning behind this decision they have taken. We are in the meantime then working to organise the departure of our staff.”

The letter does not provide a reason for the decision. Diplomatic and administrative sources said the foreign ministry aborted a similar attempt to expel the same four officials a month ago.

“They are expelled and the health minister has totally excluded WHO, accusing it of unacceptable interference in its management of the coronavirus,” a Burundian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Covid-19 Herbal Cure : African Union defies WHO's warning, contacs Madagascar for CovidOrganic

By Dansu Peter 

In defiance to the warning of the World's Health Organization, WHO, the African Union has opened discussions with Madagascar aimed at exploring the safety and efficiency of a herbal remedy purported to cure COVID-19.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning against people using untested remedies for coronavirus.

It's no longer news that  Madagascar had launched Covid-Organics, a herbal cure vaccine to fight the COVID-19 pandemic

after conducting internal tests on the herbal remedy. 

The product has been championed by President Andry Rajoelina, who has held talks with various other African leaders in Africa to take up the remedy to aid their fight against the disease.

Countries that have expressed a willingness to acquire the drug include Comoros, the Republic of Congo and Guinea Bissau.

Now, the African Union says it will look into CovidOrganics after Rajoelina presented the medicine to other leaders from Africa in a teleconference Meeting on April 29.

“Once furnished with the details, the Union, through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), will review the scientific data gathered so far on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 Organics. This review will be based on global technical and ethical norms to garner the necessary scientific evidence regarding the performance of the tonic,” the African Union said.

WHO has issued a warning against people using untested remedies for coronavirus.

Africans deserve access to medicines that have gone through proper trials even if they are derived from traditional treatments, it said.

Its statement comes as Madagascar's president is promoting a herbal tonic for treating Covid-19 patients.

The African Union (AU) said it wanted to see the scientific data on the "safety and efficacy" of the product.

The tonic, known as Covid-Organics, was tested on fewer than 20 people over three weeks, a presidential aide told the BBC - which is not in line with WHO guidelines on clinical trials.

This can be a lengthy process in which a potential drug is tested in four phases, scaling up from a trial on a small number of patients to using it on a population countrywide.

Despite these reservations, several African countries, including Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea and Liberia, have already ordered Covid-Organics, which is produced from the artemisia plant - the source of an ingredient used in a malaria treatment - and other Malagasy plants.

Last week, Madagascar's President, Andry Rajoelina, spoke to an online meeting of African leaders about the tonic.

Following that meeting the AU asked to see more details about Covid-Organics which could be reviewed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Watch Video, Photos Of Married Woman, Lover Stuck In Bed While Doing It

A married Kenyan woman who is said have been cheating on her husband with a particular man, got stuck in bed while making love.

The event happened after her husband reportedly visited a witch doctor and collected some concoction to arrest the development.

According to K24TV, the adulterous couple from Kisii region of Kenya were nabbed at an apartment, where they were committing the act.

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While they were having sex, they got stuck and couldn’t stand up or move away from each other, prompting them to start shouting for help.

In the video shared on YouTube, community members gathered and carried them with the mattress.

They were put on the back of a pick-up truck and taken around town and they could be heard crying in pains. 

Watch Video Below:

ECOWAS Perfects Plan To UNLEASH Nigerian Troops On Gambia's Jammeh, Force Him Out Of Office

Premium Times - The Nigerian Army has raised an army battalion that would be deployed in troubled Gambia to forcefully remove President Yahya Jammeh from power if he fails to step down on January 19, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today.

The battalion, christened ECOMOG NIBATT 1, was drawn from the Army’s 19th Battalion based in Okitipupa, Ondo State, military insiders have told PREMIUM TIMES.

Personnel were also drawn from other formations and units across the country due to shortage of men at 19 Battalion which has a significant chunk of its troops deployed for internal security task force, Operation Delta Safe.

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This newspaper learnt that the Army Headquarters has instructed the nominated officers and men, put at over 800, to immediately report at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, for a crashed course on counter terrorism and counter insurgency.

Our sources said Army Headquarters has also instructed the Army directorates of policy and plans; finance; and logistics to ready funds, arms, ammunition and other logistics for the operation.

The Armoured Corps is also working hard to ready armoured vehicles needed for the task, officials said.

There were suggestions by some of our sources that the Nigerian Air Force and the Navy might deploy men and equipment for the operation as well.

Top military officers said the Nigerian Battalion would be deployed in The Gambia anytime after January 19 if President Jammeh makes real his threat not to step down after the expiration of his tenure.

“This is an emergency operation, but we are ready,” one officer said. “The Nigerian Army is a strong, professional fighting force battle ready at anytime. We are so well structured that we can deploy at the touch of a button.

“We did it in Liberian, Sierra Leone and elsewhere. And Jammeh should know that we are not a joking force. Once we get the all clear from ECOWAS, the AU and the UN to move in, we can pick him up.”

The regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), had on December 23 put standby military forces on alert.

The ECOWAS Commission President, Marcel de Souza, said Senegal, The Gambia’s only territorial neighbour, would lead any military operation in the country.

Other West African countries will be mandated to provide troops as well, Mr. De Souza reportedly said.

Mr. Jammeh lost the December 1 2016 Gambia presidential election to opposition candidate, Adama Barrow.

He initially accepted defeat and congratulated Mr. Barrow but changed his mind and decided to challenge the outcome of the election.

He also vowed not to hand over to the winner as expected on January 19.

On Thursday, Mr. Jammeh said he would not step down before a Supreme Court decision on the disputed election, the BBC reported.

The President, the report said, insisted his cabinet and the National Assembly would remain in place until the Supreme Court rules on his party’s petition.

There is currently shortage of judges in the country to sit on the matter.

The case can only be heard in May if Nigeria agrees to supply judges to the Supreme Court.

West African leaders, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, the chief mediator, are travelling to Gambia on Friday to persuade Mr. Jammeh to accept an “honourable exit plan”.

I'm Sorry - Soyinka Apologizes For Criticizing Buhari

Professor Wole Soyinka has apologized for criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari, over his congratulatory message to Gambian President-elect, Adama Barrow.

Buhari had congratulated Barrow, for his victory over incumbent Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh, at the poll.

The Nobel Laureate thought Jammeh had won and went ahead to criticize Buhari for his message.

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He had said at the time: “President Buhari is congratulating the president-elect of Gambia, that lunatic who makes his citizens undergo hallucinogenic tests to prove that they are not witches on his farm.

“Please help me beg President Buhari, I don’t say he shouldn’t congratulate Trump because there is no way one can avoid Trump but you can avoid petty little dictators like Jammeh of Gambia who is the opposite of everything one would expect of the true African leader for his or he citizens. Please President Buhari, restrict yourself to those you absolutely have to congratulate.”

Soyinka has now realized his mistakes and promptly tendered an apology.

“Just before setting off for my media chat at Freedom Park, I was handed a Sunday newspaper with a comment on the recently concluded Gambian Presidential elections. I totally misheard the comment and thought that ex-President Jammeh had again succeeded in manipulating the votes to remain on the continent’s ‘sit-tight’ roll of dishonour,” he said.

“It turned out that I had obtained the wrong picture. The torturer and notorious administrator of hallucinogenic broths to citizens had been dethroned. I therefore take back my criticism of Nigeria’s message of congratulations.

“Let the entire West African sub-region and indeed the entire continent rejoice in the overthrow of the monatrocity who had sworn to rule for a billion years, a throw-back autocrat with delusions of eternal power who casually tossed opposition in dungeons and threw the keys away. It is now time to make Yahweh answer for his twenty-two years of boastful misrule and crimes against humanity.

“Once again, my apologies for the miscommunication. I rejoice with the long-suffering citizens of Gambia, encourage the rehabilitation of that land strip, and recovery of its existence in full liberty, freed of fear, and restored to dignity as part of the sentient species.”