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Ondo gets free N2.1b medical supplies from Atlanta based Medshare
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the module for receiving the container load of 300000 worth of medical supplies and equipment involves the sponsorship of 25000 for shipping logistics1 gov. rotimi akeredolu of ondo state has secured a 6 million about n2.1 billion worth of new medical equipment from medshare a u.s.-based non-profit organisation in atlanta1 nan reports that the non-profit organisation had donated more than 40 million worth of new medical equipment to strengthen nigerias healthcare systems in the last 20 years1 all the 19 northern state governments and the federal capital territory have benefitted from the organisation while beneficiaries in the south include abia anambra bayelsa delta osun oyo lagos enugu and abia1 akeredolu said the partnership with medshare would see the state securing up to 50 containers load of equipment to equip all its hospitals and health centres with new state-of-art medical facilities1 the governor said when his aide secured the deal he felt it was unbelievable especially considering that in nigeria people believed used medical equipment could be shipped to the country1 i went there medshare myself and found out that everything theyre going to ship down is new and a lot of our colleagues have benefitted from this nobody has ever mentioned it1 i mean what i got from nell diallo the vice chairman of medshare is that initially she got the 19 states in the north to come and they all came and bought into it1 babangida former governor aliyu bought into it in niger state1 today bayelsa is doing a lot because it got people to sponsor them bayelsa is doing a lot of shipment1 i now said if this be the case and we never knew and not only that the federal government of nigeria has bought into it1 when we got into their storage facility we saw a lot of packages ready to go to national hospital a lot are going to bayelsa1 and i was saying wow wow so we are missing out of these1 i said to them immediately we are going to order for about 20 container loads to start with akeredolu said1 akeredolu told the correspondent of the news agency of nigeria nan in atlanta that he ordered 20 containers load of new medical equipment from medshare to strengthen the states healthcare1 the governor said the bargain was too good and that the state government would source for funds immediately to pay the 500000 for shipping logistics for all the 20 containers1 akeredolu said we will raise funds to make sure that we are able to pay for it so that we can equip our hospitals with necessary facilities which have been lacking for long1 so my understanding with medshare is for us to start with 20 container loads for now and then we proceed until we get to 50 container loads1 if were able to do that then im sure all the medical equipment needs for all our hospitals in ondo state we will have covered it because everything we need theyre all there1 anyway things that are not there medshare the idea is for us to let them know and they will source it and send to us too. so this is a good idea1 vice-president international development of medshare ms nell diallo described akeredolu as a serious-minded leader who wants to make lasting impact in the lives of his citizens1 i am happy to work with serious leaders like the ondo state governor who makes a difference diallo said1 nan reports that medshare is a medical surplus recovery organisation that collects and distributes surplus medical products to qualified healthcare facilities in medically-underserved communities around the world on an on-going basis1 the organisation was named a four star charity for the 13th consecutive year by charity navigator which designation recognises the top one per cent of u.s. charities based on the criteria of transparency organisational accountability and measurable impact1 currently in its 20th year of operations medshare has collected over 207 million worth of lifesaving medical supplies and equipment that has helped over 19 million patients in over 100 countries and territories1 it uses the world health organisations standard for accepting donations to go to underserved countries1 at any given time it has roughly 25 million worth of materials ready to be shipped1 nigeria has received the largest number and percentage of the containers in the ngos 20 years of operation1 -
Mnangagwa: Chamisa opposition candidate Mugabes stooge
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on the eve of zimbabwes first election since his ouster in a de facto coup the 94-year-old said he hoped his former allies in the military government would be voted out of power2 mugabe whose 37-year rule came to an end when he was forced to resign in november told reporters at his mansion in harare on sunday that president emmerson mnangagwas government was unconstitutional and ruled by the gun2 i hope the choice of voting tomorrow will throw thrust away the military government and bring us back to constitutionality said a frail looking mugabe in a rambling off the cuff speech that lasted almost an hour2 let tomorrow be the voice of the people to say never again shall we experience a period where the army is used to thrust one person into power2 mondays election will see 75-year-old mnangagwa a long-time mugabe ally face 40-year-old nelson chamisa a lawyer and pastor who is vying to become zimbabwes youngest head of state2 zimbabwean president emmerson mnangagwa accused his main rival nelson chamisa on sunday of striking a deal with former leader robert mugabe on the eve of an election and cast doubt on chamisas intentions of rebuilding the country1 mnangagwa who did not provide any evidence of his accusations said in a facebook post that voting for 40-year-old chamisa was tantamount to bringing back mugabe in disguise1 he made the comments after mugabe said he would vote for the opposition in mondays election1 -
Mugabe urges voters to reject Mnangagwa
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on the eve of zimbabwes first election since his ouster in a de facto coup the 94-year-old said he hoped his former allies in the military government would be voted out of power2 mugabe whose 37-year rule came to an end when he was forced to resign in november told reporters at his mansion in harare on sunday that president emmerson mnangagwas government was unconstitutional and ruled by the gun2 i hope the choice of voting tomorrow will throw thrust away the military government and bring us back to constitutionality said a frail looking mugabe in a rambling off the cuff speech that lasted almost an hour2 let tomorrow be the voice of the people to say never again shall we experience a period where the army is used to thrust one person into power2 mondays election will see 75-year-old mnangagwa a long-time mugabe ally face 40-year-old nelson chamisa a lawyer and pastor who is vying to become zimbabwes youngest head of state2 for former zimbabwe leader robert mugabe it was payback time to president emmerson mnangagwa and other coup plotters in zanu-pf who removed him from office last november as he urged voters to reject them in mondays election1 polls which are unreliable give former intelligence chief mnangagwa a slim lead over chamisa1 both candidates are due to address the media later on sunday1 mugabe one of the last big men of african politics still looms large over zimbabwean politics and he may yet influence the first vote without his name on the ballot paper since the country gained independence from britain in 19801 though he became increasingly unpopular with most zimbabweans as mismanagement and corruption sent the economy into decline he retains support in his rural heartland where supporters remain bitter about the manner of his removal1 -
181,000 pupils sit for JSS placement test in Lagos
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sopeyin also said that the conduct of the 2018 test was an improvement on what obtained in 20171 the lagos state universal basic education board subeb said 181000 primary six pupils from private and the public schools across the state sat for the 2018 placement test into junior secondary school 11 sopeyin described the conduct of the test as satisfactory in the centres he monitored which also included immaculate heart comprehensive junior and senior high school maryland lagos1 this is an annual event. what we are witnessing today is the placement for primary six pupils to gain admission into junior secondary schools in lagos1 as you can see the whole place is peaceful we have been to the classrooms and it is conducive for the purpose1 on the whole in all the centres we are expecting 181000 pupils to write this test as against 160 000 in 20171 this is a pointer that parents are now getting interested in enrolling their children in lagos schools1 we have to congratulate and thank lagos state governor mr akinwunmi ambode for his passion for education in the state he said1 sopeyin said that parents enrol their wards in lagos primary and secondary schools due to the upgrade of infrastructure to meet international standards1 about three days ago his excellency magnanimously announced that very soon lagos state will be employing more teachers for its schools1 with all these we can only enjoin parents to take their own part seriously ensure that their children come to school and provide necessary materials for them to enable them have very sound education as prepared for them by the government he said1 dr ganiyu sopeyin executive chairman of subeb disclosed this to journalists after monitoring the exercise at mende junior high school maryland lagos.the test took place in 361 designated centres across the state1 according to him saying there is a lot of improvement with the use of optical mark recognition omr sheet1 if you look at the omr sheet the paper was customised the childrens details were printed on the sheet for easy identification1 that is why you can see there is no rancor or problem unlike in the past when the pupils will be running around because they could not find their names.thank god we have taken care of that1 some parents were even agitating that they forgot their slips at home and we told them not to worry that there are other means to identify the pupils he said1 sopeyin commended the parents for conducting themselves in orderly manner and trusting in government1 he said security men were deployed to various centres to ensure safety of the pupils1 the chairman said the results of the test would be ready in one week urging proprietors headteachers and other school owners to check for them at the subeb office complex1 a parent mr james okon who spoke to the news agency of nigeria nan commended the state government for the smooth conduct of the test1 okon said his daughter was admitted into the examination hall without officials requesting for anything1 i am happy about the conduct of the test everything was well organised we did not stress ourselves to locate the centre he said1 nan reports that 168843 pupils sat for the test in 2017 in 255 centres while 140000 pupils sat for it in 160 designated centres in 20161 -
Kwara APC prepares for post-Saraki era
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the news agency of nigeria nan reports that before the consultative meetings the minister addressed members and supporters of the party who came to receive him at the playground of muslim community primary school oro1 the kwara chapter of the all progressives congress is already resetting itself for life after the impending exit of senate president bukola saraki and governor abdulfattah ahmed to the peoples democratic party1 the meeting was at the country home of the minister of information and culture alhaji lai mohammed1 mohammed who read out the resolutions said the stakeholders agreed that the fresh congresses to be conducted at all levels would include all kwara apc members and those who are just coming into the party1 the minister said that the stakeholders also resolved that all those who got appointments by deceit hiding under the facade of being party men and women should immediately resign such appointments or be fired1 he said the resignations would enable the genuine members of apc to reap where they had sown1 we also resolved that the recent gale of defections has now put the apc in a position of true majority in the national assembly as those who remain are the ones who are truly committed to the ideals of our great party1 that all members and supporters of our great party restate their unflinching support for president muhammadu buhari and assure him of a harvest of votes from kwara state in the 2019 general elections1 that all members should remain calm because there is no cause for alarm he said1 mohammed said he was in the state with the permission of the partys national executive to hold the consultative meetings with the major stakeholders of apc in kwara1 he expressed appreciation to hundreds of supporters who since the announcement of defections have encouraged us via text messages telephone calls personal visits that there is no cause for alarm in kwara1 the minister stressed that the defection notwithstanding kwara is solidly for apc and president muhammadu buhari1 at the briefing were factional chairman of apc moshood bolarinwa the secretary ganiyu saka and other key members of the party1 stakeholders of the apc who met on sunday in oro have called for the immediate dissolution of the states party executive committee led by alhaji balogun fulani and the conduct of fresh congresses1 the minister told the supporters in their thousands that the defection of the lawmakers in the national assembly had exposed the faces of traitors in the party fold1 today is a special day. god has answered our prayers by exposing our political traitors1 god has removed stones from our rice and sands in our cassava flakes mohammed who addressed the rally in yoruba language said1 he assured that the defection would have no significant negative effect on the party instead it would offer an opportunity for its repositioning1 we are here today to assure that it is a new dispensation in kwara apc politics. we are at home today to assure you that the party will be reorganised and repositioned1 by exposing the enemies and traitors in our fold god has given us the opportunities that we have been looking for to reposition our party 1 these are people who had never given us peace and progress1 today by the grace of god and with your support apc will wax stronger in kwara. what is in the offing is a mega party he said1 mohammed said they were prepared to take the party structure back and give it back to the people1 the party belongs to you all. we therefore reassure you that god is with us and the people of kwara are with us1 since the day they decamped you can see those who have come to our camp are more than those who left he said1 the minister appealed to the members and party supporters to give new entrants a chance1 he assured that the new dispensation would allow level playing ground devoid of candidates imposition and godfather syndrome1 -
Trump threatens U.S. government shut down
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afp25 u.s. president donald trump said sunday that he was prepared to shut down the government if democrats fail to support his demand for more spending on border security including a wall on the mexican border1 he called for an end to the visa lottery system which provides visas for 50000 immigrants a year but which trump maintains is riddled with abuse1 he also urged an end to what he calls the catch and release approach of letting undocumented arrivals remain in the us while their applications are being processed1 calling for a purely merit-based immigration system trump added we need great people coming into our country1 i would be willing to shut down government if the democrats do not give us the votes for border security which includes the wall he tweeted1 he eventually signed the bill averting a shutdown crisis though the bill provided only 1.6 billion for a small stretch of border fencing and will keep the government open only until september 30 the end of the current fiscal year1 securing democrats support moreover is not likely to be easy particularly amid widespread anger over a trump immigration policy that for a time was separating parents from their children including infants at the border1 the administration was forced to backpedal and under federal court order has been scrambling to reunite those separated1 but doubling down trump tweeted sunday that there are consequences when people cross our border illegally and that many people are just using children for their own sinister purposes1 the president had threatened in march to veto a 1.3 trillion spending bill because it lacked funding for heightened security including the 25 billion trust fund he wanted for a border wall1 -
Buhari mourns Ex-Gov. Hashidu Abubakar
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president muhammadu buhari has condoled with the government and people of gombe state over the passing away of a former governor alhaji abubakar hashidu on friday1 president buharis condolence message is contained in a statement by his senior special assistant on media and publicity malam garba shehu in abuja on saturday1 the president joined family members friends professional and political associates of the former governor in mourning while underscoring that the country would sorely miss the wise counsels of the revered politician1 according to the president the wealth of experience and innovative thinking that the deceased brought to the many interventions to buoy the nigerian economy remains commendable and will always be appreciated by posterity1 president buhari prayed that the almighty god would grant the soul of the former governor eternal rest and comfort the family he left behind1 late hashidu the first civilian governor of gombe state from may 1999 to may 2003 elected under the platform of the defunctall peoples party apppassed away on friday at the age of 741 the all peoples party later changed its name to all nigeria peoples party anpp1 hashidu had also served variously asminister of water resources and minister of agriculture and rural development under the regime of defunct president ibrahim babangida1 he left behind one wife eight children and 15 grandchildren1 -
Fake news: Facebook to face tougher rules in UK
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the committee therefore recommended that the british government increase the power of the information commissioners office to regulate social media sites update electoral laws to reflect modern campaign techniques and increase the transparency of political advertising on social media1 two days after its chief executive officer ceo lost over 16 billion a uk parliamentary committee has recommended an increased government oversight of facebook and other social media campaign platforms to protect democracy in the digital age1 an interim report by the house of commons media committee to be released on sunday said democracy is facing a crisis because the combination of data analysis and social media allows campaigns to target voters with messages of hate without their consent1 tech giants like facebook which operate in a largely unregulated environment are complicit because they havent done enough to protect personal information and remove harmful content1 the light of transparency must be allowed to shine on their operations and they must be made responsible and liable for the way in which harmful and misleading content is shared on their sites committee chairman damian collins said in a statement1 the study was due to be published sunday but a copy was leaked on friday by dominic cummings the director of the official campaign group backing britains departure from the european union1 social media companies are under scrutiny worldwide following allegations that political consultant cambridge analytica used data from tens of millions of facebook accounts to profile voters and help u.s. president donald trumps 2016 election campaign1 the committee is also investigating the impact of fake news distributed via social media sites1 collins also ripped facebook for allowing russian agencies to use its platform to spread disinformation and influence elections1 i believe what we have discovered so far is the tip of the iceberg more work needs to be done to expose how fake accounts target people during elections1 the ever-increasing sophistication of these campaigns which will soon be helped by developments in augmented reality technology makes this an urgent necessity he said1 the call was made following scathing report on fake news data misuse and interference by russia in the 2016 u.s. presidential election and other similar cases1 prime minister theresa may has pledged to address the issue in a so-called white paper to be released in the fall1 she signaled her unease last year accusing russia of meddling in elections and planting fake news to sow discord in the west1 the committee began its work in january 2017 interviewing 61 witnesses during 20 hearings that took on an investigatory tone not normally found in such forums in the house of commons1 the report criticised facebook chief mark zuckerberg for failing to appear before the panel and said his stand-ins were unwilling or unable to give full answers to the committees questions1 one of the committees recommendations is that the era of light-touch regulation for social media must come to an end1 social media companies can no longer avoid oversight by describing themselves as platforms because they use technology to filter and shape the information users see nor are they publishers since that model traditionally commissions and pays for content1 we recommend that a new category of tech company is formulated which tightens tech companies liabilities and which is not necessarily either a platform or a publisher1 we anticipate that the government will put forward these proposals in its white paper later this year the report said1 the committee also said that the information commissioners office needs more money so it can hire technical experts to be the sheriff in the wild west of the internet1 the funds would come from a levy on the tech companies much in the same way as the banks pay for the upkeep of the financial conduct authority1 our democracy is at risk and now is the time to act to protect our shared values and the integrity of our democratic institutions the committee said1 -
Why Nigeria cant sever ties with S/Africa over killings Ex-envoy
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by isaac aregbesola5 also government can also look at our ways when there are issues to be dealt with and we also are ready to give government the alternative way of doing things he said1 dr lawal a former nigeria deputy principal representative in algeria said this in an interview news agency of nigeria nan in abuja1 nan reports that killing of nigerians in south africa had been on the increase in recent times1 a report hadstated that no fewer than 117 nigerians were extra-judicially killed in south africa between 2013 and 2018 for one flimsy reason or the other1 according to lawal we cannot because of xenophobic attacks break diplomatic relations with south africa because the issue is not between government and government1 we will continue to work with south africa to make sure that offenders are apprehended and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others he said1 the former director in the ministry of foreign affairs said that the issue of killings in south africa was not between government and government but among the people on the streets1 however south african government also has the responsibility to protect our people and also to advise them on where to go and not to go1 we have to be able to find a ground to ensure that the attack doesnt happen by establishing rules of engagement he said1 the former director said that the present administration had been doing a lot to strengthen the nigerian foreign policy1 he saidthe association was ready to assist the government in ensuring that the government achieves its goal on foreign policy and strengthen ties with other countries1 the president of association of foreign relations professionals of nigeria afrpn amb. gani lawal has said that nigerian cannot severe diplomatic ties with south africa over xenophobic attacks1 he said that theformation of afrpn was to fill a vacuum in the country in terms of providing credible advice to the government on foreign relations1 he added that the association would be formally inaugurated on tuesday july 31 by vice president yemi osinbajo and emir of kano muhammadu sanusi ii1 lawal said the event would also feature inaugural lecture titled the new international system a diplomats nightmare to be delivered by prof. bolaji akinyemi former foreign affairs minister1 he said the associations peer-review journal would be launched by business moguls alhaji aliko dangote alhaji abdulsamad ishyaku rabiu femi otedola and mr tunde folawiyo1 lawal said the association was founded to serve as a think-tank to the federal government and other stakeholders on foreign relations matters1 the afrpn was established as a legal body to engage in scholarly research coupled with our experience to positively impact on the foreign policy process and practice of our country through an interactive process drawing both from the diplomats and the academia he said1 he said when inaugurated the association would be able to advise the government on foreign policy1 according to him most of the pieces of advice that people often give are based on guess work and that is why we are coming on board to offer help to the government based on experience and research1 so we feel that those who have experience in foreign relations can assist in filling necessary vacuums1 those of us who have gone all over the world should be able to put our heads together to advise the government on foreign issues1 according to him what we do is to work behind the scene by doing research using our experience to advise the government1 -
Buhari commiserates with Aliyu Gusau over wifes death
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president muhammadu buhari has commiserated with former minister of defence retired gen. aliyu gusau on the death of his wife hajiya binta2 in a condolence message by the presidents senior special assistant on media and publicity malam garba shehu in abuja on saturday buhari said the death of hajiya binta came to him as a great shock2 my heart goes out to gen. gusau at this emotionally trying moment2 death is inevitable and we are powerless against the will of god. no tears can wipe away our grief the best tribute to the dead is to pray for them2 the president prayed allah to comfort the retired army general and members of his family and grant them the fortitude to bear this great loss2 may the soul of hajiya binta rest in peace may allah reward her good deeds with al- jannah amen he said2 the president said a wife occupies an important place in a mans life a bond so strong that we treat them like our own flesh and blood1 -
Buhari to grieving Gen. Gusau: We are powerless against the will of God
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president muhammadu buhari has commiserated with former minister of defence retired gen. aliyu gusau on the death of his wife hajiya binta2 in a condolence message by the presidents senior special assistant on media and publicity malam garba shehu in abuja on saturday buhari said the death of hajiya binta came to him as a great shock2 my heart goes out to gen. gusau at this emotionally trying moment2 death is inevitable and we are powerless against the will of god. no tears can wipe away our grief the best tribute to the dead is to pray for them2 the president prayed allah to comfort the retired army general and members of his family and grant them the fortitude to bear this great loss2 may the soul of hajiya binta rest in peace may allah reward her good deeds with al- jannah amen he said2 the president said a wife occupies an important place in a mans life a bond so strong that we treat our wives like our own flesh and blood1 -
30 women give birth in Sokoto IDPs camp
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thirty pregnant women have given birth at the internally displaced persons idps camp in gandi village where victims of july 9 bandits attack in raba local government area lga of sokoto state are taking refuge1 alhaji ibrahim dingyadi the director general of the state emergency management agency sema disclosed this on saturday when the sultan of sokoto alhaji saad abubakar iii visited the idps to condole with them over the sad incident1 at present 4996 displaced persons from nine villages affected by the incident are taking refuge in the camp dingyadi said1 he listed the villages to include tabanni gidan-kare kursa warwasa rumbun-tsamiya tudun-kwasa dutsu illilu and yankusar-kilawa1 dingyadi commended sultan for assisting the victims with 200 bags of grains adding that the state government had been feeding them in addition to taking care of their welfare1 according to him world health organisation who united nations children fund unicef the state rural water and sanitation agency the federation of muslim women and some politicians have provided relieve materials to the idps at the camp1 also speaking the secretary of raba lga alhaji aminu gawo said some victims have expressed readiness to return to their villages while others have requested to be settled somewhere else1 gawo said many people were apprehensive on the happenings noting that the minister of interior retired gen. abdulrahman danbazau visited and deployed security personnel which assisted in calming the situation1 he however appealed to the monarch to facilitate the use of nigerian air force planes on the bandits due to the difficulty the ground troops encounter in accessing the area1 responding abubakar said he visited to condole with the victims and interact with them over the incident which occurred when he was abroad1 -
Isoko traditional rulers visit Buhari
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president muhammadu buhari on friday received some traditional rulers from isoko communities in delta state who pleaded with government to extend amnesty programme to their area1 at a meeting with the president they said the programme should be extended to the peaceful youths in isoko and also to consider giving political appointments to the people1 they also asked the president to reward the isoko community for being peaceful and protecting the nations oil and gas assets for over 15 years1 the president-general of the isoko development union and spokesman for the traditional rulers iduh amadhe called on president buhari to look into the spread of development projects in niger delta1 with eight oil fields of flow stations in isoko land we appeal to his excellency to direct nnpc to establish a gas plant and a modular refinery in isoko land1 it will be beneficial to the nation it will create employment and generate revenue he said1 amadhe claimed that isoko community had been left out in federal government appointments1 the area he said had also been ignored in the establishment of federal educational institutions skill development centres and infrastructure1 the leader of the delegation is the odiologbo of oleh kingdom and chairman isoko traditional council hrm anthony william ovrawah omogha 11 others are the odiologbo of owhe hrm inna 1 hrm ovie of uzere isaac udogri 1ovie of aviara hrm emaviweovie of okpe hrm agbabe ovie of enhwe hrm efekodha and others1 -
Vote rigging claims 48 hours to Zimbabwe elections
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afp25 allegations of voter fraud are mounting in zimbabwe less than 48 hours to the first polls since former leader robert mugabe was ousted last year1 zimbabwes military generals shocked the world in november when they seized control and ushered mnangagwa to power ending mugabes 37-year reign in a few short days1 mnangagwa 75 who promises a fresh start for the country is the front-runner with the advantage of covert military support a loyal state media and a ruling party that controls government resources1 but chamisa 40 who has performed strongly on the campaign trail hopes to tap into a young population that could vote for change as zanu-pf has ruled since the countrys independence from british colonial rule in 19801 elections under mugabe were marred by fraud and violence and this years campaign has been dominated by accusations that the vote will be rigged1 the mdc has raised allegations of a flawed electoral roll ballot paper malpractice voter intimidation bias in the zimbabwe electoral commission zec and free food handed out by the ruling party1 but campaigning has been relatively unrestricted and peaceful compared with previous elections and some analysts point to pressure for the vote to be judged credible to draw a line under the isolation of the mugabe era1 the international community is looking for an election that will provide sufficient excuse to re-engage with zimbabwe said showers mawowa an analyst at the southern african liaison office rights advocacy group1 there are a lot of political and economic interests at play that are converging around the prioritisation of stability1 mawowa said the risk of violence or military intervention could be highest after polling day1 there is reason to be anxious about whether or not the military will accept an opposition victory particularly because they recently executed a de facto coup he said1 post-election violence might be a possibility with the opposition making it clear that they are not going to accept an outcome that they would have not won1 polling accuracy in zimbabwe is uncertain but a recent afrobarometer survey of 2400 people put mnangagwa on 40 percent and chamisa on 37 percent with 20 percent undecided1 mnangagwa who is accused of involvement in election violence and fraud under mugabe has vowed to hold a fair vote and invited in international observers including the previously-banned european union team1 president emmerson mnangagwa mugabes former ally in the ruling zanu-pf party faces opposition leader nelson chamisa of the mdc movement for democratic change party in a landmark vote for the southern african nation1 zimbabwe shall never be the same again. we preach peace we preach unity and we preach tolerance1 chamisa has launched blistering attacks on mnangagwa and accused the much-criticised zimbabwe electoral commission zec of trying to fix the election1 but he vowed not to boycott the vote saying his party would still win1 we have a zec that has chosen to throw away the whistle as a referee and joined another team he said on wednesday. winners dont boycott. victory is inevitable1 the next government must tackle mass unemployment and an economy shattered by the mugabe-backed seizure of white-owned farms the collapse of agriculture hyperinflation and an investment exodus1 previously solid health and education services are in ruins and millions have fled abroad to seek work1 life expectancy has only just recovered to its 1985 level of 61 years1 we need to see jobs said rest maphosa one resident of the capital harare. i will be patient even if it takes me eight hours standing in the queue because what i want is to vote1 with 5.6 million registered voters the results of the presidential parliamentary and local elections are due by august 41 a run-off vote is scheduled for september 8 if no presidential candidate wins at least 50 percent plus one in the first round1 in 2008 then opposition leader morgan tsvangirai pulled out of the run-off after attacks orchestrated by the state claimed the lives of at least 200 of his supporters1 mugabe now a frail 94 was finally ousted as he tried to position his wife grace 53 to be his successor1 in his only press interviews since his fall he admitted only that some errors were done under his rule adding that he now thought his country was topsy turvy1 this is the new zimbabwe we want. we shall continue to grow and grow he said opening a chrome processing plant this week1