Enjoy your Christmas and New Year's Eve without any tragedy

Christmas celebration


Christmas is a joyful season and an occasion to visit relatives and friends and exchange gifts. Unfortunately, within a relatively short period between the holidays and New Year's Eve, unexpected tragedies bring sadness to our homes instead of happiness.


One important aspect of human life that everyone has to know to be alert is that while one is planning a good holiday, an unseen calamity that can be prevented awaits you at the corner. Rapists, stalkers, and murderers like the Christmas season. 

Like a cobra, waiting to strike its victim, rapists follow drunk girls as prey. Criminals break into homes to steal, believing the occupants are drunk and heavily asleep.

Apart from these tragedies that could easily occur at home, some of the hazards or calamities are often man-made errors. 

A flickering candle easily catches fire when in contact with curtains, carpet, and other quick-burning objects. A Christmas tree meant for decoration can easily ignite because of the overload of electrical outlets.

All these tragedies can easily be prevented. Ladies going out for fun and coming home late must be in a group. Women in particular must be careful of the men they associate with and watch over what they drink. 

Men with bad intentions toward a woman usually get them by drinking. A substance in a drink to drug a woman can never be detected. The aftermath of some of these drugs is fatal.

When drunk, please don't lose your mind, either at home or outside. Christmas is a season of merriness and not tears. Wishing everyone a happy season and a prosperous new year, with carefulness, safety, and rapt attention.

SAVE CHILDREN BORN INTO THE HANDS OF WRONG PARENTS

Many children are born into the wrong hands.



To discipline or correct a child, violence mustn't be the solution. It is sad to note that despite hundreds and thousands of people worldwide looking for children without success, many children are being manhandled, tortured, and killed by their own parents.


Horrible crimes against children keep appearing in the news daily, without ceasing. The nature of some of these horrific crimes against children is beyond belief. 

Imagine a three-year-old child pushed into a washing machine by his own father, then turned on the machine for several minutes, as a punishment to the child.

What error has the child made to deserve such a punishment, leading to his untimely death? At the nursery school that the child attends, it was reported that he threw a classmate's drawing down the toilet. 

How could a drawing thrown into the toilet cost a child's life, when a child is not as intelligent as an adult?

Irresponsible parents actually do not have the experience of bringing up children. Taking care of children is one of the toughest tasks in the world. 

Every good mother could tell you better. It is very easy and enjoyable to make love, but taking care of a child is not an easy task.  

One thing parents should always remember is, if they want children to learn good habits, they should follow good habits because children copy the worst things their parents do. Physical violence against children must be stopped.

Parents caught abusing, manhandling, torturing, or killing a child should be severely punished. They are equally dangerous, like a rapist stalking her victim to harm her and like a virus disabling a computer.

BLACK GANGS RELATED CRIME AND SOCIETY

Black gangs



In every institution that accommodates people with different backgrounds, including schools and even hospitals, there is likely to be racism. 


I couldn’t believe it in my hospital bed in Rome, Italy, in the early nineties, a nurse refused to give me my daily medication, because of the color of my skin. She completely neglected me and gave the task to someone else to do.

Despite this bitter experience, I wouldn’t like to accept the fact that many racists in police uniforms terrorized Blacks because of racism, and I will do everything to put them behind bars. The law must work. 

If one commits a crime, he must pay for his or her crime, and as a matter of fact, “Black-related crime” has increased abnormally in recent years, landing many behind bars.

Wherever there are lots of Black people, there is always crime. Morons, school dropouts, and frustrated teenagers formed gangs. After smoking marijuana and feeding on cocaine, they take to the streets to terrorize and shoot people, including their fellow Blacks. 

They enjoy sitting by the television to watch and listen to the horrendous crime they have committed. Stiff-necked fools. What a waste of precious time and suffering by the mothers who carried the pregnancies of these monsters.

Growing up in Africa, I witnessed that poverty is the major cause of many problems, such as stealing, crime, teenage pregnancy, and other social crimes. 

Many parents couldn’t educate their children because of the high cost of education. Yet the crime rate, besides South Africa, is not as high in many African countries as in Britain and America, where education is available without tears. 

There are so many Blacks in jail across Britain and America than Whites. Some argue that there are targets to police brutality and racism, but the question is, “Why would one be incarcerated or put behind bars when innocent?” 

Others also say that Blacks are jailed than Whites because of the cheap labor that is needed at the prisons. Whatever the case may be, why can’t people try to live a crime-free life?

If Black gangs would ever sit and take into consideration how gang violence has destroyed and continues destroying societies, also in Britain and America, they could turn a new leaf overnight. How does one expect to get a job to lead a decent life when your CV is full of crime and bloodshed? 

They say the best way to hide something from the Blackman is to write it in a book”. That means Black people don’t read. It is time to prove this statement wrong. Crime doesn’t pay. Education is the key to success.

Health matters : How to enjoy a healthy Life throughout your life Journey

Making the right decisions on health


Have you ever met someone between the ages of 50 to 60 years, without a single wrinkle on his or her face? If you try to find out the reason the person looks so pretty, beautiful, handsome, dynamic, and attractive (without plastic surgery), one can tell you the secret behind that healthy life.


In our past and present society, many think that a successful, healthy life is to enjoy. In what way? Excessive drinking, smoking, going to nightclubs and parties, prostituting, and doing drugs. 

As a matter of fact, people who heavily hang upon such life entertainments are rather inviting sickness and disease to take its toll on their health.


Some sicknesses, life turmoils, and diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, stroke, depression, frustration, and mental disorders, can be prevented, but the lifestyle of people and what they eat turns their lives upside down, with chronic health hazards deteriorating their physical beings.

The question is `why do people choose to bring misery on themselves and their homes, by inflicting wounds on themselves, knowing perfectly well the aftermath consequences? Excessive drinking and smoking can cause heart, kidney, and lung cancer, yet many people can`t avoid the temptation of these destructive elements.


Some people eat too much. They keep on eating unhealthy food until they start experiencing serious health problems. Being fat can keep one restless, not able to walk properly, and the legs may likely get swollen because the weight of the body now hangs on your legs that can`t carry the body`s weight any longer.

For healthy living, free from ailments at a ripe age, people should avoid much alcohol, smoking, and excessive eating. Eating healthy food, such as vegetables and fruits, can keep one younger and stronger than eating fast food outside your home.

GIVE THE CHILDREN LOVE, CARE AND HAPPINESS THIS CHRISTMAS

Lovely children


It`s great to be young. As a child growing up in Africa, I could remember how happy I used to be when my father shared a bottle of Fanta or Coca-Cola with his children. 


Even though we were four in number, we were happy and proud of our father for providing us with a bottle of Fanta.

We didn`t derive our happiness from the Fanta given to us, but the love our father had for us to buy that bottle of Fanta was what made us happy. 

There is nothing a child likes more than love, care, happiness, toys, and a healthy environment, yet many children in both Third World Countries and other Advanced Countries have yet to experience what happiness is about.

Many children sometimes find themselves facing severe, diverse problems more than the adults who brought them into the world.  Children are violently separated from their parents, ending up in foster homes, the orphanage, and other health institutions.

In the United States, the National Runaway Switchboard estimates that about 1.3 million runaway and homeless children are living on the streets, and in Britain, the Children's Society is responsible for such issues, while in Belgium, the Child Focus is also actively dealing with truancy and other problems affecting children.

Many children are suffering worldwide, without any parents to cater to their welfare, yet many people are looking for a child without success. It`s the responsibility of parents to make a child happy. Children are national assets for development. 

They are the leaders of tomorrow; therefore, they must be well-treated. 

CHILDREN OF ISLAM AND THE WESTERN CULTURE

A Muslim community in Britain


Immigration and political asylum requests by people of Islamic background, in the United States of America and Western Europe, have doubled more than expected in recent years.


As they settle, society`s influence and integration change their mind and attitudes against Islam, the religion they belonged to. These young girls begin to realize that `Islam` is a religion of burden, discrimination, and domination against women, forcing women to stay indoors rather than the freedom and happiness they are looking for.

To follow Western life, some ignore the dominant rules of the Islamic religion and even choose to stop wearing the traditional Muslim headscarves. It is then that trouble starts brewing. 

Devout Muslim parents who can`t handle the influence of the Western cultures that the Muslim girls are following become violent overnight, especially the males.

A Muslim girl who refuses to listen to her parents receives death threats from her father. Some girls are brutally murdered by their families. This is totally insane. 

In Belgium, I interviewed a Muslim woman, with two beautiful twin girls, married to a Jamaican, if she isn`t scared of her life of marrying a Christian. `Scared of what? It`s my life, Islam doesn`t tell me what to do, she said.

One thing Muslims living elsewhere than their countries of origin have to understand is that society influences people. One can take a horse to the river, but can`t force the animal to drink if not thirsty. 

Thus, if the girls do not want to follow the Islamic doctrine any longer, they should leave them alone. Killing is not a solution.

Instead of killing a Muslim woman in Europe or America, for `bringing dishonor on her family` as they say, they must return to the countries of origin. 

Muslim men must begin to understand that marrying a woman doesn`t make her his property. Women must equally get the same respect they give to their men.

MERYL STREEP SHOULDN`T HAVE PORTRAYED MARGARET THATCHER IN A FILM

Meryl Streep


The film is not only entertainment but also generates a lot of money for the industry, especially when the film is good. Many films are based on true events, and some of the stories are very inspiring. 


Regarding Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister`s film `The Iron Lady` role played by which Meryl Streep, in my point of view, I see nothing special about Margaret Thatcher that her story has to be acted upon as a film.

Margaret Thatcher was one of the biggest racists who supported Apartheid in her era. As prime minister, she opposes immigrants, and even though it was wrong for immigrants to get council houses ahead of `white citizens.' 

Yet she forgets that Jamaican immigrants were those who built the British railway connection with blood, sweat, and tears.

During her rule as Britain`s prime minister, South Africa suffered naked repression of terrorist acts, at the hands' successive Apartheid governments, without emotion, and when the victims and anti-apartheid activists and the ANC tried to fight for justice, she branded them as  `terrorists.' 

It isn`t amazing when David Cameron, the present prime minister, tries to disassociate himself from Margaret Thatcher due to her bad policies during the Apartheid era.

I quote `Mr. Mandela was one of the greatest men alive. The mistakes my party made in the past with respect to relations with ANC and sanctions on South Africa make it more important to listen now, said Mr. David Cameron. 

What makes Margaret Thatcher's governance so special to earn her the name `Iron Lady'? I don't even think South Africa would welcome this film when released.

According to Saturday's edition, December 3, 2011, of ``, Baroness Thatcher will not see a film of her life, because she does not watch films or programs about her. How could she watch when her bad conscience and wrongdoings haunt her while watching programs of herself?

I am really surprised that a great actress like Meryl Streep could accept a role, portraying Margaret Thatcher in a film, knowing very well the crimes this woman committed against humanity during her era in South Africa. 

Film lovers may enjoy this film, but victims of racism, discrimination, and apartheid will put this film in the trash even when distributed free of charge.

EUROPEAN UNION, TOTAL FAILURE OR SUCCESS?

The European Union flag


The European Union was formed to boost the relations between the governments of the European countries and to strengthen trade and commerce. 

The members of unified Europe then came out with one common currency known as the 'Euro.'

The problem the union is currently facing is adequately enough to know that the union has brought disaster and calamity upon the member states and the economy than the effective trade and boost of the economy planned previously before the union was formed.

The current position in Europe is very fragile. Many have lost their jobs, firms and industries have gone bankrupt, industries and factories permanently shut down and prices of commodities twice more expensive than before, making the life of the common man unbearable.

To save the situation, the union is financially helping the worst affected countries within the union but yet progress is still far. The question many Europeans are asking is if the countries should go back to their old currencies. 

But would that solve the problem? The economy is already in very bad shape, that may many years to salvage it.

From every angle, the European Union is a total failure, since the goals on which the union was built couldn`t be achieved.

SCIENCE AND THE BLIND CHILD

A blind child


A blind child is indeed a child that must be educated to have a good life, like any normal child. It is, therefore, important for a teacher to have knowledge of the child's ability and determine their learning processes. 

The reason for teaching science to the blind is to provide the child with concepts of the world of nature.

Specifically, objectives, why the child needs science, is to help him identity his environment and animals, to give him an understanding of the concepts of plant and animal growth, to teach him the meaning and uses of the calendar, the thermometer, and the clock, to bring him to understand the weather and to develop in his early concepts of the solar system.

The blind child becomes more familiar with more science concepts initially through instruction and demonstration by the teacher. The child should be helped to identify his interest in the environment and life in general, as they apply directly to him. 

His lessons should be simple concepts and ideas that he might be easy to understand. For example, when teaching the nature of types of animals and sounds, the teacher should point out the common characteristics among those animals.

Each day, the child must be allowed to listen to the weather forecast on the radio. To make sure that the child is getting the message, the teacher can request him to recall the reported temperature and weather conditions. 

For the teacher to let the child understand the calendar, he must examine the braille calendar every day, which will keep him informed of the daily and past events, and at the same time, become familiar with the day, the month, and the year.

With the guidance of the teacher, the braille clock should be available for instruction. At various intervals in the day's teaching, the child should examine the clock and set the hands according to the right time. 

A circle, a semi-circle, and a quarter circle are used as a strong means of developing a child's knowledge of reading the time. 

FIFA BOSS SEPP BLATTER, ENCOURAGES RACISM IN FOOTBALL WITH IMPUNITY

Racism is everywhere, including sports.


"There is no racism in football, and if ever anyone was racially abused in the field during a match, the victim must accept the racial abuse with a handshake, and the problem is solved."


This is the callous statement made by FIFA Boss Sepp Blatter during his recent interview with CNN. This statement has caused criticism worldwide against Blatter, who seems to be in this world but doesn't know what is going on in the world, regarding racism in soccer. 

No one could believe a man of the caliber of Blatter and overall soccer boss could ever make such a statement.

Racism and discrimination in soccer are strong like a tornado sweeping objects across its path. It is like incurable cancer, eating the flesh of its victims, yet Blatter doesn't know about this. 

Real Zaragoza was fined 600 euros by the Spanish Football Federation, after a section of the fans chanted racial abuse at Barcelona forward player, Samuel E'too. 600 euros fine? 

That is nothing. In regard to such cases and to avoid such things in football matches, fines should be between 10,000 and 20,000 euros. This will convince the world that sports officials and organizations are working hard to eliminate racism in soccer entertainment.

In Italy, an Ivorian defender, with the team Messina, threatened to stop a match in November 2005, after being a victim of football racism. In both Eastern and Western countries, English black players have been continuously victims of racial abuse on soccer fields. 

What is the significance of this racial abuse? Is it because the black players are incredibly good, or just to stir racial hatred or bloodshed?

If the National Football Association, Ethnic Communities, and Anti-Racial Campaigners want to convince the world that they are trying their best or working hard to eliminate racism in football, then "handshake" shouldn't be the solution.  

Any footballer who abuses a black footballer with racial remarks must suffer a heavy fine that will go to the victim as compensation. This will serve as a lesson, and racism in football will be less or eliminated.

TEENAGE LOVE AFFAIR LEADS TO EARLY SEPARATION AND DIVORCE

 Early teenage lovers

Many couples, seen with or without children, had friendships that began at school as teenagers, before they married or settled together. 

In principle, it is always good for people to study and know each other very well before entering into relations or love affairs.

Children's and teenagers' liberty in advanced countries can’t be compared to that of African children and teenagers. 

For example, in Africa, children are severely punished when they do wrong, but in Europe or America, punishing a child could lead to many problems. One may even end up in prison for punishing their son or their own daughter.

The rate of divorce and separation is very high in advanced countries, so I looked back to review why divorce is very low in Africa. 

In Africa, it is a gross disrespect to parents when a sixteen-year-old child comes home to introduce his girlfriend or her boyfriend. However, in advanced countries, it is permitted.

Children as young as thirteen and fourteen indulged in caressing and kissing. This could go on until they go their separate ways or settle. When they finally get married, the love isn't as strong as before; in this case, the marriage doesn't go far. 

Both have seen their nakedness too much when they were teenagers, to the extent that they don't value their precious bodies any longer.

Here, the dignity and the worthiness of the woman have been neglected by the man. It is always the man who causes the breakup because he wants something new. 

A woman or man may find real happiness in life, marriage, living together, or in relationships when they enter into love affairs as adults rather than as teenagers.

That is the reason in Africa, separation and divorce are less common than in advanced countries. 

Europe, America, Japan, Korea, and other advanced countries are far ahead in development, education, and technology, compared to Africa, yet the rate of divorce, separation, and suicide is higher than in Africa.

Smoking is like a fashion among teenagers in advanced countries, but it’s less common in Africa. Teenage pregnancy is booming in Europe and America, while it’s less common in Africa. 

It's time for advanced countries to stop underestimating Africa and learn something from that continent. Africa is called a poor continent, but Europe and America forget that they made the continent poor by depending on its resources.

HEALTH MATTERS: MORE DEATH BY OBESITY THAN HUNGER

Obesity


Do you know that the rate of people dying worldwide, of excessive eating, is higher than the death rate of people killed by hunger because they don’t have much to eat? 


Following the report filed by ‘The World Disaster Report,’ it is estimated that more than 1.5 million people worldwide are suffering from overweight problems, medically known as obesity. According to the report, Obesity is generally common in Europe, the United States of America, and the Middle East.

The report further states that even though hunger affects Asia and Africa, many people in those continents don’t die as much from hunger as those who have too much to eat. 

The report defines hunger as not having enough food to eat. Around the world, it is estimated that thousands of people are facing hunger. 

Many people also suffer from hunger because they have no money to buy food. The scarcity of the commodity causes inflation and increases the price of commodities.

For example, in Kenya, the price of maize has increased over the past year by 180 percent. That is a dramatic development if you know that 80% of income in the developing countries goes into only food. 

“More than a third of the food produced in the world ends up not in the mouths of starving people. Half of the annual harvested grain is processed into biofuel or fodder.” The report states.

Food is delicious, but that doesn’t mean that people must eat excessively to destroy themselves. What is the significance of causing much suffering to yourself when you know that too much of everything has a negative consequence? 

One could always avoid going to the gym, to waste money and time by shedding off extra pounds, when you eat the right food.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development to support rural dwellers in Ghana

IFAD logo



The International Fund for Agricultural Development-IFAD said thousands of households in Ghana would benefit from projects aimed at building small-scale businesses and enhancing agricultural activity.

IFAD said in a statement that a US$31.5 million loan, under the 'Rural Enterprise Project', would provide Ghana's rural poor with quality and easily accessible services such as affordable credit and cost-effective technology to improve productivity.

The loan will finance the third phase of the project, which will focus on rural women and youth in all rural areas of Ghana. According to IFAD, "Ghana was the first country to have almost half of the proportion of people in extreme poverty. 

However, despite the overall decline in the rate of poverty in the country, poverty affliction still lies in rural areas, especially in the Northern Region of Ghana.

IFAD also stated that it had invested a total of over US$677 million, since 1980, to help reduce rural poverty in Ghana, benefitting nearly 1.8 million households.

DAVID CAMERON CAN KEEP HIS AID, GHANA SAYS 'NO' TO HOMOSEXUALITY

Is that what Europe and America want Africa to legalize when they are still dealing with the Aids and Ebola crisis?


In a recent interview with the BBC, British Premier David Cameron threatened to cut aid to anti-gay countries and declared that “countries receiving British aid should adhere to proper human rights.”


Can David Cameron define what it means by proper human rights? If a country doesn’t want to embrace a culture that they are familiar with or accept homosexuality on its soil, is that an abuse of human rights? 

Can David Cameron accept when the Ghanaian government tells him to stop the deportation of illegal immigrants because it is an abuse of human rights?

David Cameron has forgotten that he has a big task on his shoulders to deal with the problems of alcoholism, teenage pregnancy, and crime in his country, rather than interfering in the Ghanaian government’s policy on gay issues. 

His request to legitimize homosexuality in Ghana is meaningless. The Ghanaian government can take that.

The West and many advanced countries think that they can tell Africa what to do. If Cameron wants Ghana to legitimize homosexuality, he must first leave his wife and begin to enjoy the 'back' of men, then the whole of Ghana will follow him and take his advice. 

Africa has suffered enough. The continent is still fighting against AIDS, malaria, and other deadly diseases; it is, therefore, clear that there is no room for homosexuality.

Ghanaian and religious leaders should fight against homosexuality in Ghana and let Cameron keep his aid. Ghanaians will not die from famine. Yesterday was slavery and Apartheid. 

They are dead and gone. Today, they are enforcing homosexuality in a country that is totally foreign to such acts. Cameron should begin to respect Ghana and understand the country’s cultural values. 

Above all, homosexuality has nothing to do with human rights; it is a human's choice.

A GENERATION OF DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN

A defiant child

" A wise child accepts a parent's discipline, a mocker refuses to listen to correction."

There are so many verses in the Bible that speak about children. The one stated above at 'Proverbs 13:1' is my favorite. Parents can never be happy when a child fails to listen to them. 

Every adult was once a child, but not every child has reached adulthood. Parents, therefore, have the experience to bring up a child in the most disciplined manner to build a good future for the child.

It's unfortunate that today, our children are those who are trying to tell their parents that they know better than them. The way children are stubbornly behaving these days evidently tells us that we are now in a very wrong generation. 

Imagine your only daughter, whom you want to give the best education, is now pregnant at the age of fourteen because every correction given to her was ignored.

I visited a family in Antwerp. I have been there many times to see them because Sabrina's husband helps to fix my computer any time it breaks down. 

My last visit was a very sad one. I have made up my mind never to go there again due to what I witnessed. Out of her children, one of her daughters, at fourteen, is the only one who is bringing misery, disrespect, and discomfort to her family.

"Imagine my own child calling me a prostitute, throwing things, including a knife, at me. She has been throwing any object her hands could get at me and her father." Said Sabrina in tears. 

"It hurts so much when a child you love turns against you because of correction. At the age of fourteen, she wants to go out. I did allow her once, but she came home very late. 

We were scared of her safety, so we decided not to give her that chance again. This made us a devil in her eyes." Sabrina concluded.

The question is, "What is happening to our children that they simply do not like to listen to corrections? What are they looking for? It is now a fashion to see children smoking and sleeping around with young boys. 

It is like when a child hasn't had sex with a boy, she is a 'Mummy's child'-not brave. So young girls are now having sex indiscriminately with young boys. 

These young boys team up at cinema houses, squares, and amusement places to discuss the sex they had with these girls. This is morally wrong.

Would a mother spoil the child and spare the rod, because the child wouldn't listen? That mustn't be the solution. Whether a child is difficult or not, it is always the responsibility of the parents to put a little common sense into the child's stubborn head. 

Parents mustn't forget that whenever anything bad happens to the child, they will be held responsible. So parents mustn't give up. They can always seek the best counseling for a troublesome child through many organizations.

GREENPEACE calls for halt to the plunder of African Oceans

Greenpeace volunteers


An investigation by Greenpeace for some time now has revealed that the West African local fishing industries are under threat, due to European fishing trawlers fishing in West African waters. Under the theme 'Empty nets, Empty future,' Greenpeace calls for a halt.


The report focuses on how millions of West Africans depend on the fishing industry, but now under threat due to European trawlers that are increasingly overfishing. The activity is gradually taking its toll on the local fishing industry and is also threatening the extinction of many unique species.

The West African Coasts have now become a destination of choice for European and Asian fleets. Since their fishing territory has become overfished by 88% of the commercially used fish stocks in EU waters. 

They have nowhere to go but to head to Africa, where they fail to put any protective measures in place for the diminishing fishing stocks.

The effect of climate change on oceans is another important issue for Greenpeace.' Increased water temperatures and changing weather patterns are among other factors affecting the ocean to sustain life. 

'Empty net, Empty future,' highlights climate change that could spell the end of the export fisheries industry in West Africa. The report says this would destroy local economies, jobs, and food availability.

In order to maintain a free, non-hostile environment and good economies for the local fishing industries, Greenpeace is demanding fewer foreign trawlers and factory ships at sea, sustainable fishing practices, and the establishment of a network of marine reserves to let fish stocks recover and protect the ecosystem. 

They call for the current fisheries agreements to be scrapped and replaced with sustainable ones that would benefit West Africa.

THREE WOMEN IN ZIMBABWE CHARGED FOR RAPE?

Men now fear Zimbabwean women.


Society doesn't accept if a man accuses a woman of rape, but they easily believe a woman if she lies that a man has raped her. 


Police in Zimbabwe arrested and charged to court three women,  who forced men to have sex with them. 

The women were found in possession of thirty-three condoms containing semen. This may help the police in their investigation into a string of sex attacks over the past two years by women targeting men.

In the court were seventeen victims, who had positively identified the women as having sexually assaulted them between 2010 and 2011. 

The women were intercepted in Gweru, about 300 kilometers south of Harare, the capital, when the vehicle they were traveling with involved in an accident.

Most of the raped men said they were offered drinks diluted with an unknown substance to drug them or were forced at gunpoint. 

Many believe that the significance of the sperm collection is for ritual purposes, either to regenerate life or as a catalyst to drive away bad luck.

GAMBIA GOVERNMENT JAILS FOREIGN NATIONALS OVER COCAINE SEIZURE

The police arrest a drug dealer


Drug trafficking is a lucrative business to traffickers that think Africa's security is weak, therefore, it is a good place to transit drugs to Europe. 


The Gambian government, over cocaine seizure in a fishing village last year, has sentenced eight foreign nationals to fifty years imprisonment each. The eight foreign nationals are four Venezuelans, two Dutch, a Nigerian and a Mexican.

"The Gambian has determined to curb drug trafficking," Said Judge Lamin Tabally, in his judgment. The Gambian government has made it clear to drug traffickers that the Gambia, is a place that will not welcome such indulgence.

One of the accused, a Venezuelan, died in detention at Banjul, the capital of natural courses, said the prison chief medical officer. The eight foreign nationals were arrested last year, in a fishing village near Banjul, after 2.1 tons of cocaine was found hidden in a warehouse belonging to a fishing company.

Following the constant use of the Gambian coast for drug trafficking, last year, Attorney General, Edward Anthony Gomez, said the government would introduce harsher laws to curb illegal drug trade, including a death penalty for anyone convicted of possessing more than 250g of cocaine or heroin.

BELGIUM GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE NEW SECURITY PASSPORT

The new Belgian passport


As of the effect of next year (2012), Belgium will introduce a new passport that features the fingerprint of the holder. The change is necessary in order to comply with the European legislation dating as far back as 2004.


Mr. Michael Malherbe, the spokesman to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, clarifies Belgium's decision, following the 9th September attacks. To enhance security, airports will be equipped with electronic devices allowing passengers to identify themselves automatically.

In another development, it has emerged that most of the issued Belgian passports in the system are faulty because of the loose plastic sheet covering a page. The Foreign Ministry plans to change passports for holders without a cost.

IS ANTWERP, GRADUALLY BECOMING A CITY OF FEAR?

The leader of the Vlaams Belang, Philip Dewinter, is distraught over the way Antwerp is gradually changing significantly from a peaceful city into a dangerous city for the inhabitants. 

In the new version of the “Antwerp's Nieuws,” the Vlaams Belang nieuws magazine, Mr. Dewinter openly spoke against the Mayor of Antwerp, Patrick Janssens, and other parties. He disclosed that a report carried out by the Federal Police in Antwerp states that crime has increased significantly by 26.8 percent within 10 years. (2000-2010)

According to the news magazine, "during the tenure of Mayor of Antwerp, Patrick Janssens, and SP.a, N-VA, CDV, VLD -the majority took the recorded crime in Antwerp into consideration as it escalates to tackle the problem, but nothing was done. After the 2006 elections, Mr. Janssens promised to reduce crime by saying "priority of priorities" would be, yet nothing was achieved. 

Unfortunately, today, there is little progress in fighting against crime in Antwerp. On the contrary, the viability of our city is becoming more and more dangerous. According to police figures, much of the crime is committed by foreigners. "Multiculturalism is rapidly increasing and is responsible for many criminal activities." He said.

According to the magazine, it's difficult for the council to link immigration and crime in the city. Mr. Dewinter gave an example of an incident that took place at Handelstraat, in Antwerp-North, when retailers rightly took the law into their own hands, namely the drug dealers and illegal immigrants in the district, by fighting. 

According to Mr. Dewinter, although 90% of drug dealers in the city of Antwerp are illegal immigrants, Patrick Janssens refused to combat their illegal activities. The actions of the retailers of Handelstraat are not only an act of legitimate self-defense but an indictment of life because of the loose safety policies of Mr. Janssens and Co.

I agree with Mr. Dewinter on some of the issues, but not all. In every advanced country, criminal activities are always blamed on foreigners, but most of the nationals are hardened criminals too. For example, in Italy, there exists the Mafia, Ndrangheta, and the Camorra. These underworld criminal groups have ruined the country beyond remedy, but they always blame foreigners for criminal activities in the country.

However, I agree with him on the flexible action on criminals in the city of Antwerp. I have been asking myself time and time again if the Antwerp police are afraid of Moroccans. Amongst foreigners of African origin, if ten criminals are caught, nine would be Moroccan and the other would be a Nigerian or Ghanaian. 

Yet when a Moroccan and a Ghanaian are soliciting for a job, the Moroccan would be accepted. Is it because of their colour, or are people simply afraid of their aggressiveness?

It is never too late. If the mayor of Antwerp wants the inhabitants of the city to enjoy a peaceful, crime-free environment, then he must be tough on criminals. Seriously, something must be done. 

Antwerp is full of criminals because the police are weak. Crime can never be eliminated from any society, but it can be controlled and reduced. Moroccans must fear the police, but not the contrary.