X
04:04Last update on: 12 Aug 2013
The Namibian
Mon 12 Aug 2013
SMS Of The Day * MINISTRY of Gender and Child Welfare, TEARS are rolling down as I write this SMS. The killing of women in Namibia is now like reciting a poem. Are we really getting the protection we deserve while women not being treated as part of this c Food For Thought * SO the Zimbabwe elections were free and peaceful and not free and fair? Bouquets And Brickbats * NURSES at Katutura Hospital must stop wearing those big plastic sandals at work because they are not the official working shoes. We want to see you looking smart and beautiful with your full uniform. SMS Of The Day * THIS nation is in dire need of a massive conference on housing. When we experienced a crisis in the education sector a crisis-control brain-storming conference was organised which resulted in the best deal ever for the Namibian child, nam Food For Thought * BOURGEOISIE has become a daily occupation if not the order of the day of the upper-echelons, President Hifikepunye Pohamba we urge you to revisit this unpatriotic geocentricism among your staff and the well-connected, for everybody to r Bouquets And Brickbats * COMMISSIONER of Prisons, can you please explain the strategies you use to appoint officers to certain positions? It is my observation that you are being fed with wrong information then you just promote individuals without making p SMS Of The Day * I THINK Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda lost his belt because of this promoter and trainer. How can a world champion still be training at the Katutura Youth Complex where there is not enough equipment. I think they must follow the example of Ha Food For Thought * NAMIBIA Dairies are unable to match low prices of imported milk and this ultimately means the consumer will have to pay more for local milk. Look at the prices of the local chicken. All these profits are going in the pockets of a few in Bouquets And Brickbats * I AM pleased to hear that Cabinet has responded positively to the proposal of Namibia Dairies to support the industry. The restrictions which support the industry by reducing competition to ensure the survival of the industry is a SMS Of The Day * CEO’s golden handshakes. Somewhere on our statute books there must be a provision that if a board of directors suspends/dismisses a CEO without due regard to legal provision (substantive/procedural law) such board must carry the costs for Food For Thought * JACKY Asheeke was so right with her last column- why are the fathers of the dead children not being prosecuted? (Reference to the children who died in shack fires last week) Our justice system still protects men over women. In this cont Bouquets And Brickbats * ALEXACTUS Kaure, your column in Friday’s newspaper opened my eyes. One hardly finds impartial case study analysers in Namibia. Let’s not destroy the Polytechnic’s strong foundation (Tjivikua) as yet. At least wait until the transf
POLL
What do you think of the renaming and addition of regions and constituencies?
Results so far:
Older Polls
NEWS - INTERNATIONAL
| 2013-08-08
US charges 2 with lobbying for Mugabe
CHICAGO - Federal prosecutors announced charges on Tuesday against two Chicago men who they accuse of illegally lobbying US lawmakers to lift sanctions against long-time Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and members of his regime in exchange for a promise of US$3.4 million.
Prince Asiel Ben Israel, aged 72, and C Gregory Turner, aged 71, tried to persuade unnamed US state and federal lawmakers, including four from Illinois, to oppose the sanctions against the leaders of the southern African nation, according to the charges unsealed on Tuesday in US District Court in Chicago.
The complaint says the men met with Mugabe, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono and other officials “multiple times” in the US and Africa, and allegedly agreed to lobby US federal and state officials on Zimbabwe’s behalf in exchange for the promised payments, which the defendants apparently weren’t able to collect in full.
No lawmakers have been accused of wrongdoing, although the investigation is ongoing, the US Attorney’s Office in Chicago said in a news release. It’s not illegal for public officials to meet with sanctioned Zimbabweans, but individuals cannot provide lobbying services to those subjected to US sanctions, prosecutors said.
Mugabe’s government has been under sanctions since 2003 for alleged democratic violations.
Ben Israel appeared in a federal courtroom in Chicago on Tuesday, where the terms of his bond were changed to require him to remain in contact with the court’s pre-trial services department. His wife, Hattie Brown, also appeared in court, promising US Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys that she would turn in her husband if he attempts to flee.
The complaint alleges that the defendants violated the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The violation carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a US$1 million fine.
Ben Israel’s attorney, Viviana Ramirez, said on Tuesday that it’s too early to address the merits of the case. Turner, a Chicagoan, is believed to be currently living in Israel. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
According to the complaint, Ben Israel and Turner began talking with Mugabe and other Zimbabwe leaders in early November 2008 regarding the influence they could exert to lift the sanctions originally imposed by President George W Bush.
The defendants allegedly discussed with Mugabe, Gono and others their ties to several public officials who supposedly had close connections to then-President-elect Barack Obama.
The complaint states that Ben Israel and Turner engaged in public relations, political consulting and lobbying efforts and had a 26 November 2008, “Consulting Agreement” that called for an initial payment of US$90 000 and three subsequent equal instalments of US$1,105 million.
The defendants allegedly arranged for Ben Israel to travel to South Africa with two Illinois lawmakers - referred to as “Illinois State Senator A” and “Illinois State Representative A” in the complaint - in early December 2008.
Travel records show the two lawmakers travelled to Israel, but did not return as scheduled and extended their overseas stay, the complaint states.
Three days after the lawmakers’ return in mid-December, a scheduler for President-elect Obama’s transition team sent an email to another transition team member stating that State Representative A “wants a phone call from [transition team officials] regarding a meeting he had last week in Zimbabwe”.
“I am not sure who to pass this on to but it’s the second time they have called.”
The transition team forwarded the email to the FBI based on its concerns that the state representative may have violated sanctions by travelling to Zimbabwe, according to the complaint.
Obama has decided each year of his presidency to keep the Zimbabwe sanctions in place, most recently in March.
Mugabe, aged 89, has been president of Zimbabwe for 33 years. He was re-elected by a wide margin last week, although his political opponents say voting wasn’t free or fair and was marred by widespread irregularities.
- Nampa-AP
Prince Asiel Ben Israel, aged 72, and C Gregory Turner, aged 71, tried to persuade unnamed US state and federal lawmakers, including four from Illinois, to oppose the sanctions against the leaders of the southern African nation, according to the charges unsealed on Tuesday in US District Court in Chicago.
The complaint says the men met with Mugabe, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono and other officials “multiple times” in the US and Africa, and allegedly agreed to lobby US federal and state officials on Zimbabwe’s behalf in exchange for the promised payments, which the defendants apparently weren’t able to collect in full.
No lawmakers have been accused of wrongdoing, although the investigation is ongoing, the US Attorney’s Office in Chicago said in a news release. It’s not illegal for public officials to meet with sanctioned Zimbabweans, but individuals cannot provide lobbying services to those subjected to US sanctions, prosecutors said.
Mugabe’s government has been under sanctions since 2003 for alleged democratic violations.
Ben Israel appeared in a federal courtroom in Chicago on Tuesday, where the terms of his bond were changed to require him to remain in contact with the court’s pre-trial services department. His wife, Hattie Brown, also appeared in court, promising US Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys that she would turn in her husband if he attempts to flee.
The complaint alleges that the defendants violated the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The violation carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a US$1 million fine.
Ben Israel’s attorney, Viviana Ramirez, said on Tuesday that it’s too early to address the merits of the case. Turner, a Chicagoan, is believed to be currently living in Israel. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
According to the complaint, Ben Israel and Turner began talking with Mugabe and other Zimbabwe leaders in early November 2008 regarding the influence they could exert to lift the sanctions originally imposed by President George W Bush.
The defendants allegedly discussed with Mugabe, Gono and others their ties to several public officials who supposedly had close connections to then-President-elect Barack Obama.
The complaint states that Ben Israel and Turner engaged in public relations, political consulting and lobbying efforts and had a 26 November 2008, “Consulting Agreement” that called for an initial payment of US$90 000 and three subsequent equal instalments of US$1,105 million.
The defendants allegedly arranged for Ben Israel to travel to South Africa with two Illinois lawmakers - referred to as “Illinois State Senator A” and “Illinois State Representative A” in the complaint - in early December 2008.
Travel records show the two lawmakers travelled to Israel, but did not return as scheduled and extended their overseas stay, the complaint states.
Three days after the lawmakers’ return in mid-December, a scheduler for President-elect Obama’s transition team sent an email to another transition team member stating that State Representative A “wants a phone call from [transition team officials] regarding a meeting he had last week in Zimbabwe”.
“I am not sure who to pass this on to but it’s the second time they have called.”
The transition team forwarded the email to the FBI based on its concerns that the state representative may have violated sanctions by travelling to Zimbabwe, according to the complaint.
Obama has decided each year of his presidency to keep the Zimbabwe sanctions in place, most recently in March.
Mugabe, aged 89, has been president of Zimbabwe for 33 years. He was re-elected by a wide margin last week, although his political opponents say voting wasn’t free or fair and was marred by widespread irregularities.
- Nampa-AP
Comment on this article
www.weatherphotos.co.za
Windhoek
7°
24°
0mm
Walvis Bay
8°
22°
0mm
Oshakati
8°
31°
0mm
Keetmanshoop
1°
17°
0mm
Grootfontein
2°
27°
0mm
Gobabis
5°
24°
0mm
(August 12)
View more ...