Driving During Contractions

Many pregnant women if not all will attest that be them false or real, contractions can catch us unaware and can do so any where any time, any how. It could be while you are laughing, crying, singing or paying. When pregnant, I have had bumpy rides while my contraction attacks are on. It is scary though but ... what choice do we have?
If you can share, just tell me what has your experience been?

Baby Shower for my Last born boy-Sydney

I would not like to load this page with pregnancy stories but ... Baby Sidney is taking too long to come out. The wait started at 37 weeks (full term) and intensified at 38 weeks. Shanon and Stacey were born just after 38 weeks and so we thought lil man shall be born around then also. However, it looks like he has chosen to pair with Synclaire who was overdue.
But like his daddy has said, let him come out when God and him are ready.
To be honest pregnancy is the most amazing thing and I do not mind feeling pregnant. All the pains and sleepless nights are worth it at the end. Imagine how quiet our house would have been without our lil bees. Imagine how boring our lives would have been and imagine how rich we would have been. At the moment, the house is busy, our lives are entertaining and we are very wealthy.

We love ypur and are all waiting for you baby Sydney.

Laugh Out Loud. Laugh like a parent.

Synclaire my two years old busy bee makes me laugh out urine now and then.
OK while pregnant for Sydney, we were watching TV with daddy lying on the couch while I was lying on the floor cos I could hardly find a comfortable position. She was in turn moving around between us.
After a short while hubby asked me if I was comfortable. I ignored him, so my lil one asked "daddy what did you say?"
Daddy said to her "ask your mother if she is comfortable"
Lil girl went "Mummy are you com, com, com, mommy what is your name?"
She can now pronounce the word but hey, I could not stop laughing as she startled.

My Life in October 2011

It is hard to believe it myself but yes I shall soon be a mother of four. I cannot tell you how it feels but I look forward to strength from God to overcome the challenges.
In April  2004, I went to get my womb tied because I wanted nothing to do with babies. I had just met this young Master student who so much wanted us to get married and have kids. In fact he seemed to have wanted kids more than marriage. In frustration, I decided to get my womb tied. The delay from my doctor's reluctance; for he thought I was too young and the price delayed me to change my mind just a few months after seeing the doctor. I fell pregnant in July of the same year.

In April 2005, I heard the cry of my own off-spring. How funny. After being pregnant 6 times (2 miscarriages on the 2nd of March at 11 weeks 5 days and on the 22nd of July 2011 at 8 weeks 5 days), I am soon to be a mother of 4 beautiful babies; Shanon 2005, Stacey 2007, Synclaire 2009 and Sydney 2011.

How else can I thank God? Please tell me.

Want to tell your story? Write to me and I shall publish it.

Breast Cancer

Cancer in South Africa is an emerging health problem, with breast cancer being one of the leading cancers in women, following similar worldwide trends. One in 29 women in SA is diagnosed with breast cancer every year. However, timely detection can lead to diagnosis of the cancer in its early stages, aiding treatment and recovery. Breast cancer is a general term for different types of cancer that develop from breast tissue cells. Find out about the different types of breast cancer, the various treatment options available and the latest research that’s being done in this field

Mammals in the womb

A human being stays for 9 months in the womb otherwise known as the human incubator, yet when they are born, the countdown starts afresh. Why? Why do we not just continue from conception? Even premature babies get counted from the day they were born and not their expected due date.
In any way the Almighty God is mighty. He created the human race in such a way that many questions are asked but few answers are given. He keeps us inquisitive forever.
Another interesting fact is that the human being is the only mammal that nurtures their offspring’s for up to and more than a year before they are free to go on their own (I mean walk) and they stay dependent for a long time. Take a look at other birds and animals; the dogs, monkeys, birds, etc. Their lil ones step out and are ready to fend for themselves shortly after they are born.
Any comments?
Send them through!!!!!!

Brief History of Profounder Intelligence

Victorine Mbong Shu, the founder and CEO of Profounder Intelligence Management Services was born in the North West Province of Cameroon in 1977 as a 4th child in a family of 10 children. She went through high school hoping to be a broadcast Journalist. Fortunately for her, she got admission to study Journalism and Mass Communications in 1996 at the prestigious University of Buea under the sponsorship of her brother; Mr. Kum Godlove Bezeng.

After graduating in 1999, Victorine came to face the realities of the world. She picked up a job as a Communications Officer in a traditional medical research company in Yaounde-Cameroon. After working there for 5 months, she left for South Africa on the invitation of her big Brother.

It was in South Africa that Victorine came to realize that her dream of becoming a journalist was just that; a dream. Instead of furthering her studies with the University of Grahamstown as was the plan, she joined her brother to work as a researcher or simply put, a conference producer in his conferencing company called Excellante International.

 THE COLLAPSED 'MISSING' LINK

In 2004, Victorine enrolled with the University of KwaZuluNatal to persue an MBA, specializing in Strategic Communications. In 2005 after a full year of study and as she embarked on her long essay, she got the news that changed her life forever. The MBA programme by the University was not accredited and has been suspended until further notice. Though not particularly good news, it was well received by Victorine for two reasons. The first one is that she was not particularly good at accounting (which was a compulsory module), and the second was that she and her husband were excitedly awaiting the birth of the next person who will still her heart and take centre stage in her life. This was an opportunity to say Good-bye to further quest for knowledge without feeling guilty. After all, her brother’s dream was fulfilled and she is about to fulfill her mother’s dream of ‘finding a man and bearing children’.

THE COINCIDENCE:

Meanwhile Victorine excelled in this position until early 2007 when the tides changed. Haven gone on maternity leave for her second baby, she learnt in the month of February that the company was retrenching and preparing for a close down in March. Her brother, who loved her so much and feared to hurt her, had concealed this from her even though he had in the past months urged her to try and get a job elsewhere. In many indirect ways, her brother had made it clear that the company might not continue to run in the near future. On her part, Victorine did not want to desert her brother who has done so much to see that she is educated and fit for work. As faith had it, in March 2007, Excellante closed down. Maybe he was serious about this but Mr. Kum said to Victorine “you have been such a wonderful producer in the past. Just pick out some furniture here, and start-up your own business. I know you can do it. You are a people’s person and peoples’ people always go far”. Did he really need to persuade her that much? As she pondered on this point, also took his suggestion very lightly, as she continue to give it deeper thoughts as days go by without food on the table.

God “Blessed” Victorine with a job offer in another company; Unicapital Consult starting May 3rd that same year. This job lasted only until May 12 when she was fired via an SMS for non-performance.

As a young mother of two with a full-time Ph.D student for a husband, Victorine again turned to her brother for shelter. He handed over the furniture to her and two very good employees whose loyalty had kept them by him for the past weeks.

Within the first weekend of May, Victorine, Emmanuel and Harry sat to brain storm on a company name. The name Profounder International was rejected by CIPRO in favour of Profounder Intelligence Management Services and voila on May 10th 2007, there was a new baby in the training industry.

Profounder had a Conference inherited from Excellante which was marketed from her two bedrooms flat with limited resources. The start-up furniture and staff was available. A total staff of 7 in numbers who were basically the two employees, Victorine, her husband Emmanuel, their family friend Harry and her sister Judith. God has seen the company through, and today it boosts over 24 full time workers. A management team of 6 compliments this staff with one of them a Ph.D holder.

The need to feed the four children she has and at the same time secretly fulfill her dreams, the passion, trust, support and commitment from Victorine’s husband, the dedication of Profounder’s clients, the loyalty of staff members and especially her managers, and most of all the invisible hand of God has made Profounder Intelligence a company that boosts a stable work environment that only gets better.


PROFOUNDER INTELLIGENCE’S SCOPE OF SERVICES:

Profounder Intelligence’s provides corporate and management training solutions to private and public sectors within South Africa and its’ footprint can be seen throughout the African continent. The company’s services include; Training through conferences, workshops and in-house trainings, Business Support Services through coaching, mentoring, and Soft Services, venue sourcing, transportation, cleaning services, etc.

Other services include;

• Catering and events management

• Stationery, Consumables & Office Supplies

• Cleaning for commercial and residential accommodation

• Conference Facilities

• Transportation and Distribution Services

• First Aid and OHS Act Management & Consultancy


GRATITUDE

To the Lord Almighty for using Mr. Kum to inspire Victorine and for paying her bills when we had no cent.

To Kum Godlove Bezeng (MBA) for his trust and inspiration.

To Emmanuel Anyefru (PhD) for his dedication and selfless efforts.

To Mr. Haddison Fonane for, financial, morale, and physical support.

To all the two unnamed staff members and Judith that hatched this egg called Profounder

To all Profounder’s clients for being there when they were, are and will be needed the most .

To Profounder Intelligence (the staff) for turning a nightmare into life worth living.

To all those who have been very instrumental but are not named here; please note that your effort has not been unnoticed or forgotten.

And finally for those who did not believe in Victorine because their doubts helped her build the community she survives in today.

******************************************************************** Also to you for reading

Parenting toolkit

YOUR PARENTING TOOLKIT

How To Make Peace With Disapointment
- parents who can deal with it = children who can deal with it -

1. Allow Cracks & Focus On The Light The Crack Let's In

A crack in your marriage, career, or personal plans doesn’t mean that your life is broken. According to singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, “There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”  Focus on the light that the crack let's in.2. Throw Away The Lies/Evidence

Albert Einstein failed his college entrance exam. Walt Disney was fired from his first media job. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Get it?

So many times we struggle under the weight of a tag or label that was hung around our necks in the past. Take it from someone who was tagged at school for being a bad influence. I knew I never was and will never be but it was up to me to get rid of the so-called evidence/lies that others hung around my neck.3. Ignore The Critics

Success is one percent natural talent, 99 percent hard work. Take it from a famous writer whose eighth-grade paper was read aloud as an example of how NOT to write. Also, if you don't get criticized it means you are doing nothing.

4. Grow Your Roots

Although the bamboo is the fastest-growing plant on Earth, it looks lazy at first because it has no branches…just lots of deep and wide roots. Once its roots take hold, though, bamboo is capable of surging as fast as 48 inches in 24 hours. So are we … if we grow strong roots. 5. Don’t rush the process

Only in struggling to emerge from a small hole in the cocoon does a butterfly form wings strong enough to fly. Should you try to help a butterfly by tearing open the cocoon, the poor thing won’t sprout wings, or if it does, its friends will make fun of it. So take your time, and emerge slowly and deliberately.

6. Protect yourself

Avoid the highly educated relative who might tell you “all things happen for a reason” or that you somehow attracted this disappointment with the wrong thoughts. Build an imaginary bubble of protection and hide inside.

7. Stay big

Newspaper columnist Ann Landers once wrote, “Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life, and when it comes, hold your head high. Look it squarely in the eye, and say, "I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me." So give yourself permission to be a giant! 8. Write About It

Recent research by Dr. James Pennebaker, chair of the psychology program at the University of Texas, has concluded that writing about painful feelings and emotional events relieves stress and promotes healing on many levels. So start a journal, and put anything—from a single word to pages of thoughts—down on paper.

One of my favourite saying: DON'T JUST THINK IT. INK IT.

9. Start Over

Every disappointment is an opportunity to start over. It’s a blank slate, a clean, white piece of paper. And don’t worry--if this time you still can’t color within the lines, you’ll get another blank sheet, as many new beginnings as you need. And Be Gentle with Yourself

Don’t scream at yourself. Speak to yourself with loving kindness, the same way you would to a friend who was just dealt a big, fat, unfair blow. You deserve kindness from everyone, including yourself. And Dance in the Rain,  “You can’t wait for the storm to be over. You have to learn how to dance in the rain.”

10. Hang on to HOPE
There is one thing that never, ever disappoints. And that’s hope. Hold onto it forever.

I really appreciated this quote the other day. “When you feel you are at the end of the rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.”

sick Children

It is difficult to grow up,I often say to my kids to appeal on their emotions. Imagine talking to a child and they ignore you. Imagine hitting a child yet they carry on provoking you. Imagine beating your child, a relative's or a friend's child for breaking a glass. Imagine depriving your child from something as easy as watching television.
All these thoughts are not worthy unless you loose the presence of a healthy child. It is regretable to see how frail a sick person looks. It is disturbing to see that the spoiler, breaker, etc is now an attention seeker. It is not fun to nurse a sick child. As such I leave with this short prayer.
Lord God I commit all the children of the world in your hands and ask that may you be invisibly present in the lives of all sick children and their caregivers. AMEN.

iPad Marketer is Shanon Fru

It was on the second day of march when teacher Sue of Sacred Heart College Preprimary School approached me to say that my son (Shanon) will be doing a marketing campaign for Apple Computer on the 9th of March in Hyde Park-Johannesburg. I did not take it serious until when I was approached on the 4th with the dress code and his speech. Before I tried to teach him his speech, Shanon could rehearse it all and even do actions in the air.

On the eve of the campaign, I found myself shopping for a new pair of sports shoes for this boy to wear, gave orders for his uniforms to be prepared (the best of all pairs of course) and took him out for a hair cut before going home that afternoon.

Came the morning of the 9th, mum and dad seemed more nervous than Shanon was. We asked him to say his speech over and over again until the litle boy cried out to say he is tired. We left for school that morning with Shanon wearing a normal pair of clothing with his uniform kept for a change. "We will have to be there at 3pm, and this means I shall fetch you at 1pm so we take your sisters home" I told him as we parted. "Okay Mumy, make sure you are here late because I don't want to be late". I smiled off wondering if he knew the real meaning of what he just said.

At exactly 14:45pm, we were at the Nu-Metro Cinema at Hyde Park waiting in Hall 8 as the crew and team set up. There came the Microphone and the boy rehearsing over and over and over again. As every second passed by, I got more tense with daddy sitting as composed as he has always been. As we make the boy gain confidence by the mike and cameras, we realised that Stacey his 4 year-old sister has fallen in-love with the cameras and mikes too.
I think by suggesting that we take her and Baby Synclaire along, daddy was quite sure that Stacey will love the stage as was his aim.

I could never be so pround. Speaker after speaker took the stage until my 5 year-old boy's turn finally came. He did us so proud. More proud we were beacuse again, he was called up to give a video interview after the show.
Howz that?

Up-date on South African Kids' Health

According to Discovery's Vitality programme, in 2007, the Healthy Active Kids SA Report Card showed that South African kids scored a C- for health. In 2010, a new report card was compiled to assess whether there had been a change in the state of kids’ health since then.
The research panel was expanded for the 2010 Report Card

For this report card, the panel was expanded to include important partners from the Health Sciences Research Council, the Medical Research Council, several tertiary academic institutions, and health-related non-governmental organisations, along with the private sector. They examined the best and most recent peer-reviewed evidence concerning healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use in children and adolescents in South Africa. Here’s what was found…

Results from the 2010 Healthy Active Kids SA Report Card

Physical activity:

■There has been a decline in physical activity amongst youth. The 2007 report card showed that 45% of teens surveyed reported doing enough physical activity to be considered health-enhancing, this decreased to 43% in 2010
■Less than a third of youth reported doing any moderate activity, and nearly 42% did little or no physical activity weekly.
Overweight and obesity:

■There has been an increase in the number of overweight and obese children.
■The findings showed that there was an increase from 17% to 20% for being overweight, and 4% to 5% for obesity.
‘Screen time’:

■This has increased by 4%, with nearly 1 in 3 South African adolescents watching more than 3 hours of television daily. (Increased screen time is linked to overweight and obesity.)
Unhealthy eating:

■There has been no improvement in the score for unhealthy eating.
■A recent survey showed that nearly 30% of those interviewed consumed fast food between 2 and 3 times per week
■There is no indication that tuck-shop intake or food choices have changed in kids since 2007.
Smoking:

■Prevalence of smoking amongst adolescents has remained constant since the last report card
■Nearly 30% of teens surveyed reported having ever smoked, with 1 in 5 admitting to being current smokers. This is well above the global prevalence for children and youth.
At this stage, South African children’s overall mark for health remains at C-.

Improving the state of children’s health

Although these trends are concerning, studies like this have given us insight into the actions that need to be taken to improve the state of children’s health. They have also led to an increasing number of programmes that have been implemented to further children’s health promotion in South Africa.

One such programme is the Vitality Schools Programme, which aims to educate learners, teachers, parents and the wider community with regard to leading healthier, more active lifestyles.

It is ideal to set healthy lifestyle habits early on in life, so join the movement these initiatives have begun, and start improving kids’ health at home as well.

More information on the Vitality Schools Programme

For more information on the Vitality Schools Programme please visit www.vitalityschools.co.za

FIVE THINGS YOU PROBABLY NEVER KNEW YOUR MOBILE PHONE COULD DO!!!

Indeed, few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can be one of these few life savers or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it:

1ST: Emergency call!!!

The Emergency Number worldwide for all Mobile Phones is “112”. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial “112” and your mobile will search any existing network in your area to establish the emergency number for you. Interestingly, this number – “112” - can be dialed even if the keypad is locked.

NOTE: This works on all phones worldwide and is free. It is the equivalent of “000”.

2ND: Reserve Phone Battery Power.
When your phone is almost dead activate a hidden reserve cell phone battery power by pressing the 6 keys - *3370# - (good to memorize, remember the asterisk). Your mobile will restart in a special way with this new reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery life. This reserve will get recharged when you charge your mobile next time.

NOTE: This secret is in the fine print in most phone manuals. Most people however skip this information without realizing.

3RD: Anti-robbery support through ATM PIN Number Reversal - Good to Know!!!
If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM machine, you can notify the police by entering your PIN # in reverse. For example, if your pin number is 1234, then you would put in 4321. The ATM system recognizes that your PIN number is backwards from the ATM card you placed in the machine. The machine will still give you the money you requested, but unknown to the robber, the police will be immediately dispatched to the location.
NOTE: All ATM’s carry this emergency sequencer by law.


4TH: Disabling a STOLEN mobile phone to discourage rampant theft!
To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following 5 digits on your phone - *#06# - (Ensure you put an asterisk BEFORE the #06# sequence).
A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. If your phone ever gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody done this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.
NOTE: This secret is also in the fine print of most mobile phone manuals. It was created for the very purpose of trying to prevent phones from being stolen.

5TH: Remote unlocking of your car - have you locked your keys in the car?
Does your car have a remote (keyless) entry? Good reason to own a cell phone:

If you happen to lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are far away (for example at home), call someone who can access the spare keys (e.g. at home) on their mobile phone using your cell phone, and open your car at a distance.
How to proceed: Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. This saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be thousands of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other 'remote' for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

This information was recently broadcast on by Crime Stoppers however it is seldom used because people just don't know about it. It could be helpful to pass this along to family and friends; since this can be the kind of information people wouldn't mind receiving.

Please note that I am not the original author of this. I just thought of sharing great ideas.

Developing reading habits in children

Most parents will agree that reading habit can't be developed over night. You must spend some time and put in hard effort to encourage your kids to read more in a consistent manner.

For beginning readers, you are reminded to select books that match their skill level. Don't expect your kids to love reading immediately. You must help them to find the suitable books. For your information, younger children enjoy books that use word repetition, rhymes and predictable text. Hence, you should look for books with colorful pictures and simple words for them. For instance, if your kids have favorite books, they may enjoy other books written by the same author. You can get different books written by the same author for them.

You are reminded to find out what your children are interested in. Then, you should help them to choose the books that are related to their interests. Once they start showing their preferences, you can encourage them to choose the books on their own.

When the young children have already started reading, you can select a wide variety of books for them. You are advised to choose those books that you can read together with them. At the same time, you can also choose books which your kids can read to you. By doing so, you are able to share some nice stories with your kids and it helps to develop their reading habit.

What if your kids do not like reading at the first place? Don't worry. Never ever force them to read. You can encourage them to write along when they read. You can ask your children to produce artwork or make their own books. You can even ask them to make their own bookmarks. By doing so, they will be able to develop a reading habit slowly.

It is not necessary to read at home. You can ask your kids to read any material wherever they go. When you go shopping, you can ask your kids to read the sign boards or the names of the products. By doing so regularly, I am sure you will be able to start building their background knowledge and vocabulary easily.

In order to achieve great success, you need to apply the above mentioned strategies in a smart manner. At the same time, you need to have great patience in creating good learning environment for the young kids.

CAMEROON NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM 1970

Mbappe Lepe's Photos - CAMEROON NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM 1970 ; Talking of Cameroon as a Soccer Power House...Is Talking Efficacy of the Trail Blazing Squad of the Sorcerers/Pioneers Versus the present money blinded young whatever of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

Cameroon National Team shortly before CAN 1970 (1968)
Squatting from left to right: Tokoto JP (Oryx), Mbappe Lepe (Oryx),
Manga Onguene (Canon), Mbette Isaac (Caïman), Epacka (Caïman)
Standing, from left to right: Mukoko Confiance (Oryx), Atangana Ottou
"Remetter" (Diamant), Bassenguen "Docta" du (Dragon Yaoundé), Owon...a Norbert (Union), Ndoumbè franzt(Caïman), Oyono ’Cogefar’ (Tonnerre)





Yes - they - can!!
“Cameroon is the first nation to have prematurely crashed out from the 2010 World Cup with zero point”. Who can claim to have easily digested such a lamentable adventure of our indomitable Lions? Where is that passion and anxiety to win by wetting the national tricolour jerseys, defeating the opponent in style and giving pride to the entire nation! We are filled with hope that it is still possible to acquire and celebrate the glories of the present, not just that of the past, that of the time of Felix Mbappe Leppe, Theophile Abega, Roger Milla, Ndip Akem Victor, et al. Closely observing this recent World Cup in South Africa like many others, the evenness between the African, American, Asian and European football was flagrant. Yet a certain lack of optimism and self confidence could be noticed in our national team. As a result, the dismay and damning results sent us off the tiny door with humiliation. While in the main time, other determined teams demonstrated an unprecedented combative spirit with no complex.
Sports and football in particular is a formidable unifying factor and, it would therefore be in the interest of the national authorities to guarantee its smooth running. The glories of the Lions are celebrated the same way in Kousseri, Kumbo, Mbalmayo, as in Esu, Edinau and all over. And similarly, the woes of the Lions give the same pain to Cameroonians of all levels, wherever they are across the globe. The psycho-emotional investment in their national team is based on no political affiliation, social status or geographical origins, it is simply the same. It is quite comprehensively acceptable for the ‘Indomitable Lions’ to be beatable, but hardly acceptable to see them pitifully ejected from such a popular competition. From Johannesburg to Rustenburg via Durban, no victory, no draw, only defeats conceded. No! Lions...you deserve better! No! Cameroon...we deserve better!

Our players should be made to understand that, the national team’s jersey should be worn by the deserved, and playing for the nation is no favour to the nation, but a brave assignment for the nation. They should avoid demonstrating their Lion’s claws in the media, but on the football pitch like responsible Lions. The national team’s preparation cannot be done on a short term basis with just a few training sessions. It is a long term Herculean task that requires a resilient familiarisation of players who keep on together in many matches and several training sessions. This should also be handled and accompanied by a stable Manager who is also able to select and work with the best local players nationwide and destroy any clannish idea in the team. Though in a tailspin, the rank and reputation that Cameroon still enjoys in football internationally is left-of-all encouraging, and in order to progress, we must start investing in sports and football facilities nationally. This is crucial and vital because it would be thanks to these infrastructures that our sports men and women will be prepared and be able to compete with their opponents in the upcoming competitions. The world is fast-moving ahead; we can’t afford to stay stagnant when we have the means to advance. From these facts, we must cross the threshold of appointments¬¬ - ceremonies and then infightings for personal interests. Let’s do the real work and build a real sports nation, worthy of the name.

The recent African Nations Cup did significantly boost the Angola’s economy from Luanda to Cabinda and elsewhere nationwide. Different construction worksites were put up as employees were hired, buildings, as different infrastructures appeared from the grounds. Similarly, the socio-economic fruits of the recently organised World Cup were harvested from the chic suburbs of Durban, Cape-town, same as in the poor Townships of Soweto to the business quarters of Johannesburg etc. Tomorrow will be the turn of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to host the African Cup of Nations, 2012 Olympics are for London, and then Brazil is to host both the World Cup and the Olympics in 2014 and in 2016 respectively. Cameroon too should enter the race and bid to host one of these sponsored tournaments. This will help and build both the formal and the informal sectors’ economy nationally. The population will also enjoy the high demand of manpower, which will construct different infrastructures nationwide.

As a Cameroonian also haunted by our humiliating performance in South Africa, I think the moment of bitterness and frustration is over. Now is time to move forward with proposals in order to find solutions and carry out sports nicely and safely. We’ve got to critically revolutionise this unifying factor of fame [sports] which strengthens and brings people together from all angles of the nation, irrespective of their differences.
Long Live the roaring Lions...Long Live the winning Cameroon.
Original article written by Benjamin Bin Meh

African Leaders who have manipulated the constitution over the years to stay in Power.

FabAfriq dug into the annals of history to uncover constitutional changes made by African Leaders to 'eternalize' themselves power and we noticed that in Algeria, A constitutional amendment was passed by the Parliament in 2008, abolishing the two-term limit for rulers, allowing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to be re-elected. Bouteflika has had three five-year mandates, starting with his election in 1999. The next elections are due in 2014.

Meanwhile When President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso reached the end of his first two seven-year terms in office in 2005, the constitutional council ruled that a 2000 amendment to the constitution limiting the president to two five-year terms did not apply to him since it took effect while he was president. This cleared the way for his candidacy in the 2005 election, which he won. Compaoré, who took power in a coup in 1987, was elected in 1991 and has been re-elected twice. In the presidential elections of November 2010, the incumbent won by a landslide


The National Assembly in Cameroon voted in 2008 to change the 1996 constitution to remove the limit of two presidential terms, allowing President Paul Biya to run for re-election in 2011. Biya assumed the presidency upon the resignation of his predecessor in 1982 and was subsequently elected (as the sole candidate) in 1984 and 1988. He was re-elected again in 1992 in the country’s first multiparty presidential election, then re-elected in 1997 and 2004. He is scheduled to run again for the 2011 presidential election.

In 2005, a referendum in Chad approved a change to the constitution removing a two-term limit, which allowed President Idriss Deby to run for a third term in 2006.Elected in 1996 after a new constitution, Deby was re-elected in 2001 and 2006. Next presidential elections are set for 2011.

In 2003, the constitution of Gabon was changed to allow President Omar Bongo approaching his fourth decade in power – to run for an unlimited number of terms. The change also increased term length from five to seven years. Omar Bongo took power in 1967 and was then elected in 1973, 1979 and 1986. A multiparty system was introduced in 1991, under which he was re-elected in 1993, 1998 and 2005. Bongo died in 2009 after 42 years in power, the world's longest-serving ruler.

The constitution of Namibia was also amended in 1999 to specifically allow President Sam Nujoma a third term. He did not run in 2004. Since the amendment applied only to Nujoma, later presidents have been limited to two five-year terms. Nujoma's successor, President Hifikepunye Pohamba, was elected in 2004.

The Niger 1999 constitution limited the president to two five-year terms and made amending that provision illegal. President Tandja Mamadou called a referendum on a new constitution on August 4. The new rules allow him to stay in power till 2012 and to run for office after that for an unlimited number of terms. After the Parliament and the Constitutional Court opposed the referendum, Tandja dissolved both and began ruling by decree. President Tandja Mamadou was elected to power in 1999 and reelected in 2004. In 2009 he was re elected again as President of that country.

President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria "Third Term Agenda" to have the constitution changed to allow him another run for the presidency was blocked by the Parliament in 2006. Presidents are still limited to two four-year terms. President Umaru Yar'Adua was elected in 2007. The next elections are expected to take place in 2011 with the incumbent being Goodluck Jonathan who took over as president when Umaru died in 2009.

In Togo Term limits were scrapped in 2002 to allow Gnassingbe Eyadama a third term. Gnassingbe Eyadama took power in 1967 and was elected in 1972, 1979 and 1986. He won the first multiparty presidential elections in 1993 and was re-elected in 1998 and 2003. After the death of President Gnassingbe Eyadama in February 2005, the army put his son Faure Gnassingbe into office. After an outcry, Faure Gnassingbe resigned and called an election, which he won.

In Tunisia After Zine El Abidine Ben Ali assumed the presidency in 1987, Tunisia's constitution was amended in 1988 to allow presidents no more than two terms. After Ali's first two terms in office, a new amendment in 1998 allowed a third term. Finally, in 2002, term limits were abolished altogether and the age limit raised to 75 (Ben Ali will be 73 in September). Ben Ali assumed the presidency in 1987, was elected in 1989 and re-elected in 1994 as the only candidate. Alternative candidates were allowed for the first time in 1999, but Ben Ali won with 99.66% of the vote in 1999 and with 94.48% of the vote in 2004 he was ousted by the people in January 2011.

The Parliament in Uganda removed the two-term limit from the 1995 constitution in 2005 as President Yoweri Museveni was reaching the end of his second term. The changes also introduced a multiparty system. Yoweri Museveni took power in 1986 and held elections, which he won, in 1996. He was re-elected in 2001 and 2006. Next elections are in 2011.

Frederick Chiluba of Zambia was elected in 1991 and re-elected in 1996. He wanted to run for a third term in 2001 but failed to win support for his bid to change the rules. The president is currently limited to two five-year terms. Chiluba’s successor, Levy Mwanawasa died in office in 2008. He was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah Banda, who was then elected to the post in October of the same year. Next elections are to take place in 2011. Read more on our website www.fabafriq.com


From FabAfriq Magazine By VibeAfriq editor Mwalimu P. Bela.. follow us... www.fabAfriq.com

Have a nice day reading.

Mandela is Invincible also

Like a clock, it clicked on South African, Africans and everyone around the globe that "From dust we are made and to dust we shall return". This happened so fast and in such a manner that not even Nelson Mandela has pre-empt.
When I woke up last week to the news that Papa Mandela was sick, and has been admitted in hospital, the first thing that came to my mind was "... I now see the reason for so much rains this year. Is the weather telling us that a great man is falling" The hype around it all did not ease my feelings. I kept saying to myself in fear of letting anyone know. What will became of South Africa tomorrow? Tomorrow I thought because Mandela was in my opinion dying.
I thank God for giving this man many more days to go by. He shall die one day but please God not today and not in this life time. Many of us share this thought. Either aloud or in secret. But I ask; Would you rather die in his place?
Let me know if you would.

FOREIGN ownership and control of Banks or FOREIGN banks in SA?

SAPA Reuters news as far back as 6th September 2010, stated that the worry of most South Africans is that three of their top four banks have a substantial foreign owner. As it stands, Standard Bank is 20 percent owned by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, while the majority of Absa is owned by Britain's Barclays. Now there is an approved HSBC's $8 billion bid to buy 70 percent of Nedbank. This leaves only the FirstRand under total domestic control. Who knows, as you read this article, there might be a deal on the way for FirstRand too.
However, most industry insiders view HSBC as a stronger foreign owner for Nedbank than Old Mutual, which has its roots in South Africa but is now based in London. Currently, Old Mutual said it would apply for permission to the Central Bank to take out 1.5 million pounds ($2.32 million) of the proceeds to pay down debt (capital flight). The rest of the, money it says, would remain in South Africa. Some analysts claim that the deal would be positive for the rand while others disagree. Addressing businesspeople on September 2nd in Soweto, the Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus is quoted on www.busrep.co.za as saying “ownership in South African banks was a difficult question and needed careful consideration, because in South Africa, it's more complex. We have ownership that's mixed. Mixed ownership of banks does have risks. "It does create a situation of complexity and that needs careful consideration in my view,".
As a developing country, economists may argue that such investment gives a positive image to the country and even to the rand. What most of them and ever the Bank’s shareholders in particular do not consider is the fact that foreign ownership leads to more foreign workers and this subsequently leads to more capital flight from the country.
When we look at the ownership and control of South Africa banks, it is important to be conscious of the fact that development has a price. That that price could lead to complete foreign control of many sectors and industries as is the case in many developed countries. Only when we are ready to that price could there be full development.

Sources

http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-51304220100906 http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5631744
Hyperlink Picture
http://www.foreignexchangeservice.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/south_africa_rand.jpg

Back to school 2011

Going to school for the first time or starting a new class/grade has never been a glorious trip for both parents and pupils, even students. It was a sight to hold on to at Sacred Heart College Johannesburg yesterday when I dropped off my three children. The Sacred Heart College has just recorded a 1000% metric result with all students who passed being eligible for University entry and with one of the highest Mathematics percentage in pass rate.

In my house, it started with waking up at 6am after a long and lazy holiday period. My five year old boy was excited to be going to prparatory but for the first time it seems; he remembered that he has to make new friends in the new class.
For my 3 years old girl, it was more excited because two days before, she got a phone call from her boyfriend Elia 4 and the day before, she had gone to get her hair done. "Mumy" she said; "I cannot wait to see Elia and to show him my hair". "Also Mary-Jane and Tsekofatso".
To my litle 1 year old girl, the story was little to tell but much more anticipated. She is starting her first day in creche.

It was one of those rare days in my life. There were no cries in the house but lots of excitement and anticipation. Less rush from my side and suprisingly the kids all knew what is expected of them.
We left home at about 7:30an. At the back seat of my car, the two rehearsed what to tell their friends about the holiday. Only then did it strke me that it had been a very busy and expensive break. I thought of how much energy parents save when they have their kids in school.

In School, it was not easy to get a parking. But we got one anyway. As we walked our way through the corridors and passages were extremely busy and noisy. Children were busy hugging each other, just like the parents were. Safe right now to say from what I observed that the parents were more emmotional than the pupils themselves. In classrooms, they could not let go. Some successfully hide their tears while most of them just let it flow with their emotions. Kids cried and could not stop crying.
What a day.
To me, it was a proud day. My separation with all my kids was smooth. I am Blessed, I thought. At the same time, it is evident that each one of my children felt more secured by the presence of the other.

Wednesday the 12th of January 2011 was one of my longest days. While in the office I waited and waited for my phone to ring. By 1pm, there was no call from the school. So I decided to call and find out how my little girl is doing. "She is settling in very well" said the Adminitrator. "She cried for about 10mins just after you left but got back to play with the others". It is possible that the office phone did not stop ringing on that morning.

Whatever the situation was, we enjoyed our first day in school that ended just before 4pm.

Well done South African children and have a happy and knowledge filled 2011. We are Blessed.

VM Ntambo.
JHB

Shooting suspect's nihilism rose with isolation

TUCSON, Ariz. – At an event roughly three years ago, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords took a question from Jared Loughner, the man accused of trying to assassinate her and killing six other people. According to two of his high school friends the question was essentially this: "What is government if words have no meaning?"
Loughner was angry about her response — she read the question and had nothing to say.
"He did not like government officials, how they spoke. Like they were just trying to cover up some conspiracy," one friend told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Both friends spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they wanted to avoid the publicity surrounding the case. To them, the question was classic Jared: confrontational, nonlinear and obsessed with how words create reality.
The friends' comments paint a picture bolstered by other former classmates and Loughner's own Internet postings: That of a social outcast with nihilistic, almost indecipherable beliefs steeped in mistrust and paranoia.
"If you call me a terrorist then the argument to call me a terrorist is Ad hominem," the 22-year-old wrote Dec. 15, part of a wide-ranging screed that was posted in video form and ended with this: "What's government if words don't have meaning?"
On Sunday, Loughner was charged with the shootings a day earlier at a political event outside a Tucson supermarket. Aside from the six killed, 14 people were wounded. Doctors were optimistic about Giffords' chances for survival.
Loughner had at least one other contact with Giffords. Investigators said they carried out a search warrant at Loughner's home and seized a letter addressed to him from Giffords' congressional stationery in which she thanked him for attending a "Congress on your Corner" event at a mall in Tucson in 2007 — the same kind of event where officials say Loughner opened fire Saturday.
Other evidence seized from his home included an envelope from a safe with messages such as "I planned ahead," "My assassination" and the name "Giffords" next to what appears to be Loughner's signature.
His high school friends said they fell out of touch with Loughner and last spoke to him around March, when one of them was going to set up some bottles in the desert for target practice and Loughner suggested he might come along. It was unusual — Loughner hadn't expressed an interest in guns before — and his increasingly confrontational behavior was pushing them apart. He would send nonsensical text messages, but also break off contact for weeks on end.
"We just started getting sketched out about him," the friend said. It was the first time he'd felt that way.
Around the same time, Loughner's behavior also began to worry officials at Pima Community College, where Loughner began attending classes in 2005, the school said in a release.
Between February and September, Loughner "had five contacts with PCC police for classroom and library disruptions," the statement said. He was suspended in September 2010 after college police discovered a YouTube video in which Loughner claimed the college was illegal according to the U.S. Constitution. He withdrew voluntarily the following month, and was told he could return only if he met certain conditions, including getting a mental health professional to agree that his presence on campus did not present a danger, the school said.
To his friends, it had been a gradual alienation.
The Loughner they met when he was a freshman at Mountain View High School may have been socially awkward, but he was generally happy and fun to be around. The crew smoked marijuana everyday, and when they weren't going to concerts or watching movies they talked about the meaning of life and dabbled in conspiracy theories.
Mistrust of government was his defining conviction, the friends said. He believed the government was behind 9/11, and worried that governments were maneuvering to create a unified monetary system ("a New World Order currency" one friend said) so that social elites and bureaucrats could control the rest of the world.
On his YouTube page, he listed among his favorite books "Animal Farm" and "Brave New World" — two novels about how authorities control the masses. Other books he listed in the wide-ranging list included "Mein Kampf," "The Communist Manifesto," "Peter Pan" and Aesop's Fables.
Over time, Loughner became increasingly engrossed in his own thoughts — what one of the friends described as a "nihilistic rut."
Loughner, an ardent atheist, began to characterize people as sheep whose free will was being sapped by the monotony of modern life.
"He didn't want people to wake up and do the same thing every day. He wanted more chaos, he wanted less regularity," one friend said.
The friend added that Loughner believed government was trying to get people to accept their meaningless lives so that they would stop dreaming — literally.
He told anyone who would listen that the world we see does not exist, that words have no meaning — and that the only way to derive meaning was during sleep.
Loughner began obsessing about a practice called lucid dreaming, in which people try to actively control their dreams. He kept a detailed journal about what he saw while asleep, and tried to get the friends involved.
Several people who knew Loughner at community college said he did not seem especially political, but was socially awkward. He laughed at the wrong things, made inappropriate comments. Most students sat away from him in class.
"He made a lot of the people really uncomfortable, especially the girls in the class," said Steven Cates, who attended an advanced poetry writing class with Loughner at Pima Community College last spring. Though he struck up a superficial friendship with Loughner, he said a group of other students went to the teacher to complain about Loughner at one point.
Another poetry student, Don Coorough, said Loughner read a "kind of a bland" poem about going to the gym in wild "poetry slam" style — "grabbing his crotch and jumping around the room."
When other students read their poems, meanwhile, Coorough said Loughner "would laugh at things that you wouldn't laugh at." After one woman read a poem about abortion, "he was turning all shades of red and laughing," and said, "Wow, she's just like a terrorist, she killed a baby," Coorough said.
"He appeared to be to me an emotional cripple or an emotional child," Coorough said. "He lacked compassion, he lacked understanding and he lacked an ability to connect."
Cates said Loughner "didn't have the social intelligence, but he definitely had the academic intelligence."
"He was very into the knowledge aspect of school. He was really into his philosophy classes and he was really into logic and English. And he would get frustrated by the dumbed-down words people used in class," Cates said.
Loughner expressed his interest in grammar and logic on the Internet as he made bizarre claims — such as that the Mars rover and the space shuttle missions were faked.
He frequently used "if-then" constructions in making nonsensical arguments. For instance: "If the living space is able to maintain the crews life at a temperature of -454F then the human body is alive in the NASA Space Shuttle. The human body isn't alive in the NASA Space Shuttle. Thus, the living space isn't able to maintain the crews life at a temperature of -454F."
Loughner also said in one video that government is "implying mind control and brainwash on the people by controlling grammar." He said described America's laws as "treasonous," said the "every human who's mentally capable is always able to be treasurer of their new currency," and that "if the property owners and government officials are no longer in ownership of their land and laws from a revolution then the revolutionary's from the revolution are in control of the land and laws."
Loughner described himself as a U.S. military recruit in the video, but the Army released a statement indicating Loughner was not accepted.
"He attempted to enlist in the Army but was rejected for service. In accordance with the Privacy Act, we will not discuss why he was rejected," it said.
Loughner tried to enlist because it was one way of getting out of the "T-Loc" life — kicking around as a Tucson local — one of the friends said.
In October 2007, Loughner was cited in Pima County for possession of drug paraphernalia, which was dismissed after he completed a diversion program, according to online records.
A year later he was charged with an unknown "local charge" in Marana near Tucson. That charge was also dismissed following the completion of a diversion program in March 2009, the Daily Star reported.
"He has kind of a troubled past, I can tell you that," Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said.
As Reported in http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110110/ap_on_re_us/us_congresswoman_shot_gunman_11

16 Days of Activism against violence on women and children

In South Africa, we are celebrating 16 days of activism against violence on women and children. Each time this campaign is launched, it kept me thinking;
How many women truly suffer violence of any type from their male partners, friends and relatives?
How many men deliberately inflict pains on their female partners and relatives?
In cultures like many across Africa, it is the man's place to treat his woman like a subordinate. The women therefore refuse to acknowledge that certain practices; for instance giving your male partner every cent you earn is a form of abuse.
I thought of highlighting it here that violence is not only physical. It could be both psychological and emotional. Cheating on a partner inflicts emotional pains while asking a women to always stoop to serve you is a form of torture. Do you imagine how emotionally drained a faithful wife can be to fine out that her man does not give her the respect of chastity? Imagine yourself being treated on a daily bases as a second-class citizen? How do you feel? She feels that pain too.
I am in no way insinuating that the man and the woman are equal. Neither am I supporting the fact that a child is the man's property. Yes God made us all with different materials. I diverse atmosphere that accommodate others would suit a man, a woman and a child. I free world can only be made possible by you and I. I please to all my readers to stand up against violence on Women, children and even men.
Thank you for reading.

When I Grew-up

When I grew up, I wanted to be a Television Journalist. I wanted to have a degree, get married to a wealthy man live in a house as big as those now visible in Nigerian movies and have 4 children; 3 boys and 1 girl. I wanted to drive a very big car and bring my mother over to stay with me and relax from the terrible life she has had, cook for my husband and I while we go to work, and hire a driver to drive her around.

Today (2010) I have grown soooooo much. I went to school and studied to be a Journalist and got a degree. I found a man who loves me and we got married 5 years after my degree. Today I mother 3 children a boy and two girls. I am a happy woman, wife, sister, who owns and runs her own business. I live in a big house and drive an affordable car. My mother died just after I got married but after seing my first child.

Even though my mum is not there to share my dream, I hope she is able to watch me with a smile. Today I am more Blessed than I wished to be when I grew up. With the network and chain of network I call my family, realising that life is not about moneym I am over 10 folds more Blessed than I thought of being. Because as a woman, I have now known what makes you happy.
Happiness is not about what you have but about who you have. Happiness is not about what you will have but about who will be there for you.
So Is My Life Close to A Dream Fulfilled?
Why do we need to depend on others to be happy?

Dead donor rips heart out of community

It is better to share this story by By Maryna van Wyk with you all.

Sandra Kajuba from Platfontein is the mother of the 17-year-old Evelina who died after she was assaulted by a family member. Picture: Maryna van Wyk

A young San woman, whose heart was transplanted into a 12-year-old Free State boy after she was bludgeoned to death, cannot be buried because her impoverished family can’t afford a coffin.

While Avelina Kajuba’s battered body lies in the Kimberley mortuary, doctors involved in Christiaan Stassen’s heart transplant believe he will recover fully and be able lead a normal life.

Kajuba was declared brain dead on Tuesday morning after being found several hours earlier next to the Platfontein clinic, allegedly beaten to death by her common-law husband, Gerschon Stefanus.

Christiaan received her heart on Wednesday afternoon in a race against time during two concurrent procedures, one in Cape Town and the other in Kimberley to harvest the unharmed organs.

Christiaan, after waking up from hours of anaesthesia in the intensive care unit of the Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town, thanked God for his new heart.

His father, Chris, a Bloemfontein state attorney, said Christiaan was in good spirits and would remain in Cape Town for three months with his mother, Liezel.

But in stark contrast, the community of Platfontein, a semi-arid area just outside Kimberley, live a forgotten existence, in a life mired in poverty, crime and alcohol abuse.

Late on Wednesday, when Christiaan’s heart transplant was almost complete, Sandra Kajuba, mother of Avelina, drank away her sorrows.

Violence had just savaged her family for a second time. Avelina, her eldest daughter was raped and murdered several years ago.

Speaking through an interpreter, Kajuba said she was devastated, but glad her daughter could give life to another person. However, after long hours of discussion yesterday around the fire in the close-knit family structures of the community, the reality of organ donation sunk in.

“I now have to bury my child without a heart. How can somebody live with my daughter’s heart and she is dead?” Kajuba asked.


Members of the Kajuba family said it was the first time organ donation had ever been mentioned within the Platfontein community.

Now, it’s something they cannot fully comprehend.

Avelina’s father, Kajuba Mukugo, joined the family near the fire, but minutes later walked away in anger after overhearing the discussion about his daughter.

He divorced Sandra many years ago, but they still live two houses from each other.

“He is very upset about the transplant and grieved about Avelina’s heart,” family members said.

With the help of two female interpreters, an angry Sandra said her daughter’s heart donation had not been fully explained to her. “They did not ask us to take out her heart and give it away. I did not even have the time to give my thumb print. My daughter’s husband should now be released from jail to dig her grave. We will not dig the grave. After he has done this job, the police can take him back to jail,” she said.

The Kajuba’s said they wanted to meet Christiaan’s family. “The families should talk. It is only fair that we should be compensated for our loss.”

A few kilometres away from Sandra’s house, the house of Stefanus was deserted. He had appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on charges of murder.

His relative said she did not know what happened on Monday night when Avelina was severely beaten, allegedly by Stefanus, in Sandra’s home.

Sandra, she said, had tried desperately to stop her daughter’s attacker, who was believed to be under the influence of alcohol. Neighbours did not intervene.

Several community members said Stefanus abused his young wife regularly. Her kidney has been donated to recipient from Kimberley and her liver to a child with irreversible liver failure. The other kidney and her corneas will be used at a later stage.

taken from IOL Daily Newsletter [www.iol.co.za]

10-year-old gives birth in Spain

MADRID - Spain's press reacted with alarm Wednesday to news that a 10-year-old girl had given birth.

Newspapers expressed shock at the delighted reaction of the mother of the girl, who reportedly moved from Romania to the small southern Spanish town of Lebrija three weeks earlier.

Photographed smiling outside their modest apartment block, the baby's grandmother, identified only as Olimpia, was quoted telling reporters that she and her only daughter were "very happy" after the birth.

The father of the 2.9-kilo (6.4-pound) baby was 13 years old and had remained in Romania, she said, describing him as her daughter's former boyfriend.

The young mother "is very well, very well, like the daughter who is very well and very pretty," Olimpia was quoted as saying.

The 10-year-old, discharged after three days at a hospital in nearby Jerez where she gave birth, "is very happy with her daughter. This is a great joy. It is not a drama," she reportedly said.

Olimpia could not understand the fuss because "this is the age we get married in Romania," said the Andalucia daily Diario de Jerez, which broke the story.

National daily El Pais said the number of births to girls aged under 15 in Spain had climbed to 178 births in 2008 from 80 in 1997.

It also cited 2008 national statistics showing 386 abortions performed on 14-year-old girls. In the same year, there was also one abortion for a 10-year-old girl and one for a nine-year-old girl.

According to the paper, experts disagreed on the physiological risks from giving birth so early.

If the mother had not yet completed her development or was malnourished, she could face serious risks, and her own development could even be interrupted, gynaecologist Manuel Alonso was quoted as saying.

Another expert, Javier Martinez Salmean, head of gynaecology at the Severo Ochoa Hospital in Leganes, central Spain, said everything depended on the girl's development.

"If she has completed her development and the minor has been cared for there is no reason that there should be a complication," he said.

Giving birth at such a young age presented serious psychological and social risks, El Pais said. "The body of a minor may be ready for a baby but a girl is not ready to be a mother," child psychologist Carolina Fernandez said.

The daily El Publico quoted legal sources as saying Spain could not take action if the baby was conceived in Romania, outside of Spanish jurisdiction. If the father was only 13, he would not in any case have criminal responsibility for sexual relations with a minor, it said.

Local authorities are considering whether social services should take responsibility of the girl and her baby, or whether they can remain with their family.

Original Article from: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/year+gives+birth+Spain/3771244/story.html#ixzz14INVkQmV

Zuma overhauls the Cabinet

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma announced a major cabinet reshuffle on Sunday, removing ten ministers including those responsible for communications and labour.

Zuma removed Barbara Hogan as minister of public enterprises and Siphiwe Nyanda as communications minister.

Hogan will be replaced by Malusi Gigaba, who is currently deputy minister of home affairs, Zuma told reporters in Cape Town today. Nyanda will be replaced by Roy Padayachee, he said.

Zuma told a press conference that the reshuffle was aimed at strengthening government ministries and to help improve the provision of basic services and improve the lives of the poor.

"We have taken a long and hard look at some departments with a view to strengthen some ministries and noted some of them needed additional deputy ministers to assist them in their duties," Zuma said when announcing the reshuffle in the presidential guest house in Pretoria.

Media had been speculating for weeks about a Cabinet shuffle.

Zuma also added deputies in several ministries, including police.

"We had to change the way government works in order to improve service delivery. Our mission was guided by improving the quality of the lives of South Africans," he said.

•Nyanda was replaced by Padayachie. His deputy would be Obed Bapele.
•Public Works Minister Geoff Doidge was replaced by Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde.
•Women, Children and People with Disabilities Minister Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya was replaced by Lulu Xingwana.
•Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana was replaced by Mildred Oliphant.
•Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica was replaced by Edna Molewa.
•Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi gets a deputy minister, Ayanda Dlodlo.
•Hogan was replaced by Malusi Gigaba. His deputy is Benedict Martin.
•Sports and Recreation Minister Makhenkesi Stofile was replaced by Fikile Mbalula.
•Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana was replaced by Paul Mashatile.
•Social Development Minister Edna Molewa was replaced by Bathabile Dlamini.

Oct 31 2010 19:21

by Reuters & Sapa. Original story from http://www.fin24.com/Economy/Zuma-overhauls-the-Cabinet-20101031

Diasporic voices of opposition: Virtual pursuits for identity and secession on AMBASOS; a Yahoo group discussion forum by Southern Cameroonians.

This essay argues that with the advent of computers and the convenience of computer mediated communications, it is easy for communities and nations to be created and sustained in cyberspace. After the Banjul verdict of May 2009, communications on AMBASOS and member’s quest for the Anglophone identity was fueled by the fact that most of them claimed to have fled marginalization and/or prosecution from Cameroon to seek refuge overseas. After analyzing email communications of members, this essay argues that even though not all Anglophone Cameroonians agree on a unique identity and the call for secession, most members of AMBASOS prefer to live separately from the Cameroon state. Because it is not so easy to cut off from their roots, members of this Yahoo discussion group have created and are recreating and holding on to certain practices, that remind them of home and give them hope of settling in their own nation in future.

Do Greetings matter?

I am thinking aloud here as a parent. You know when I go around the streets of Johannesburg and especially when I watch teenagers on Television, I tell myself that kids these days have no respect and no sense of culture. I Actually sat down to reflect and then concluded that it could be because parents are too busy to instill these cultures in them. Is it not true they say that we have to lead by example?

On the streets, on queues in shops and banks, in the lifts and even in churches, I have hardly been greeted by someone I do not know. When I greet, responses are not that warm. Honestly I do not approve of the fake smile people give me when our eyes meet. I have decided to frown at that instead, and to give such a person a funny look. I was actually surprised the other day when I greeted 2 ladies in a lift and none of them responded. I repeated my greeting in a more firm manner and after responding one lady said "Oh we do not greet each other here in Wits. People are just busy thinking about work and studies" I ignored her in anger because my response would not have been as pleasant as she expected given by the smile she wore.

If adults do not greet each other and lack the courtesy to respond to greetings, how then do I expect my 5year-old to greet anyone out of their house? It is really a 'rotten' society but I beg you all as parents and adults, we must remember that the duty is ours for the type of leaders we expect to have in future.

You go Matriculants of 2010

Yesterday, Matric students around the country were quoted as saying the first day of matric exams went well.

following the last student's strike that called for a 25% upfront mark even before the start of the exams, fears had been that there could be some disruptions. News24 quoted the MEC of Education in kwazulunatal's spokesperson; Muntu Lukhozi as saying “There have been no reports, we assume everything is going well,”

Some previleged Grade 12 pupils were writing Information Technology theory and Computer Application theory. Previlege because not all schools in the country offer these courses since they can either not afford or maintain computers.

Due to mounting fears of disruption, Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mdunge said police were keeping an eye on matters. Even though “So far everything is going well. Nothing has happened.” I also add that "Nothing shall happen in God's name"

I take this opportunity to wish all the matriculants a brilliant writing period and of course a golden future.

Mama Vicky.

How Loving can one be?

What do you do when anger seem to overpower love or when you unconciously place the love for material over that for human being? We could all be guilty after reading this story:

it begins that while a man was polishing his new car, his 4 yr old son picked up a stone and scratched lines on the side of the car. In anger, the man took the child's hand and hit it many times; not realizing he was using a wrench.

At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures.
When the child saw his father.....with painful eyes he asked, 'Dad when will my fingers grow back?' The man was so hurt and speechless; he went back to his car and kicked it a lot of times.

Devastated by his own actions...sitting in front of that car he looked at the scratches; the child had written 'LOVE YOU DAD'. The next day that man committed suicide.

Anger and Love have no limits; choose the latter to have a beautiful,
lovely life... Things are to be used and people are to be loved, But the
problem in today's world is that, People are used and things are loved...

During the day, be careful to keep this thought in mind: Things are to be
used, but People are to be loved ... Be yourself... This is the only day we HAVE. Have a nice day. Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. I'm glad a friend forwarded
this to me as a reminder.
If you don't pass this on to anybody, nothing bad will happen; if you do,
you will have ministered to someone.

Have YOU become a user ' and do not recognize love? Have YOU missed the
opportunity to apologize for your thoughtlessness. Stay FAITHFUL and Be
GRATEFUL.

This might be sad, but it is so true in the world that we live in today! If this

Racism

When will a monkey get accepted by the human beings who run the earth and reign the economy? It was so disheartening last weekend for me to find out what happened to a Cameroonian born football Player in Spain. I though for a creature of that nature (I dare not call him a human being for the sake of my racist white readers) who brings so much joy to football fans, he would be seen as just a football player.

Eto'o Fils has made them celebrate, he has brought them joy, make them money, yet all they do is call him a MONKEY? Well educted people, where does all this take us? Does it really pay a person to degrade another so much? Were we not all born 9 months after swimming in our mothers wombs? conceived of sperms from our fathers? Are we not all created by the Devine being we worship? If Eto'o came from the forest and all the racist white people in Spain were born in hospitals, then I say to them Keep up your racist attitude for you are well too superior a human being than any BLACK Person.

How Do African Governments Function?

With the ages of our leaders, there seem to be no intellignet ones left to rule the people. The below story illustrates my point.

Once upon a time, when President elect Obasanjo of Nigeria was still in office, he got an invitation from the Queen to come for a visit to England. After all the banquets and carriage rides and what not, Baba finally got the quiet moment he had craved all day in order to have a one on one chat with her majesty. After the usual small talk, Baba quickly popped the question. He asked her what the secret to her success was. You know Nigerians, we think everything is a secret…the President's health status is a secret, his whereabouts is a secret, reports of the various panels of enquiry set up by govt to investigate the causes of different crises around the country are kept secret, we even have secret registries in every government agency in d country. Maybe we are a secretive people, we love secrets.

Anyway, back to our story. So Baba asked for the SECRET to the Queens's success and she told him that she relies on her people a lot and therefore she makes certain that only the intelligent get to positions of authority.

She decided to show him exactly what she meant and so she phoned Tony Blair. "Now listen carefully, Mr. Obasanjo. I'm going to ask Mr. Blair a question to determine his intelligence."

Queen: "Hello Mr. Blair, I have a question for you: your mother has a child, and your father has a child. This child is not your brother and is not your sister. Who is he?"

Tony Blair replied instantly, "It's ME Your Majesty!"

Queen: "Correct! Thank you and goodbye"

"You see Mr. Obasanjo?" said the Queen.

"Yes", he replied "and thanks a lot, I'll definitely be using that!"

Once back in Nigeria, he decided that he had doubts about Mantu's level of intelligence and he decided to test him. He arranged a meeting with him and asked him:

"Mantu, I have a question for you; your mother and father have a child. The child is not your brother and is not your sister, who is he?."

Mantu thinks...... and thinks………and thinks, and finally says, "Em, Mr. President, you must give me more time to think about it."

And Mr. Obasanjo gave him 2 weeks to come up with an answer. That afternoon, Mantu called a meeting of all his aides, advisers and assistants to discuss the question, but NOBODY knew the answer. So he decided to take it to the floor of the Senate. After a heated debate the Senate President thought it wise to clear out the gallery and go into a closed session as he believed the revelations that might result could be damaging to the family and reputation of the distinguished Senator Mantu.

After about two hours of deliberations, the house decided to set up an ad hoc committee to look into the matter and report back to it in ten days. The committee was given the following terms of reference:

1. To come up with a complete family tree of the entire Mantu clan
2. To pay a courtesy call to the traditional ruler of Mantu's village and the State Governor
3. To interview all living relatives of Senator Mantu
4. To determine if Sen. Mantu's dad had any extramarital affairs
5. To determine the DNA composition of Sen. Mantu (in Germany of course or Saudi)

On completion of its assignment, the committee was to submit its report to the Senate which would then pass it on to the Senate committee on special duties. This committee would then review the report of the ad hoc committee and come up with a draft "white paper" (whatever that means). This draft "white paper" would then be brought back to the Senate and on approval would be passed on to the President through Senator Mantu.

The Ad-hoc committee then submitted its budget which, of course, was kept SECRET, but included funds for;

a) The immediate purchase of Land Cruiser jeeps for each of the 12 members of the committee. The jeeps would be used to travel to Mantu's village because, as you know, Nigerian roads are bad and Mantu's village is remote.
b) Air tickets (first class of course) and hotel accommodation in Jos for committee members and their numerous aides. They'd stay at the Hill-station hotel and drive to Mantu's village in the morning.
c) Air tickets (again first class) to Germany and back, and hotel accommodation (five star) for everybody.
d) Estacodes and hazard allowances
e) Logistics
f) Miscellaneous

Even though the budget was kept secret, you can easily come up with the figure by taking the actual estimate of the above list and multiply by ten. You'll only run into problems when you get to the final two items (logistics & miscellaneous) , as these are usually added to cover for all the people that need to be "settled" in order to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Therefore the figures have the tendency of varying widely and so it can't really be predicted.

Anyway, the money was released and the committee started its assignment in earnest. They finished within the time frame that was stipulated in their terms of reference and they prepared a voluminous report which was to be presented at the senate at plenary. But on the d-day when the chairman of the committee was about to make the presentation, a distinguished senator from the Southern part of the country raised a "point of order". He argued that the committee was illegal because its composition was lopsided in favor of a certain region in the country. He pointed out that of the 12 members; seven were from the North and only five from the South. Not to be outdone, another senator, this time from the North, raised a "point of order" on the "point of order" that was raised by the senator from the South. He argued that since the committee's assignment was primarily to investigate the lineage of Senator Mantu (who was from the North), they needed
senators who knew the terrain, who understood the culture of the people and their language.

More points of order followed and after a while the Senate President decided to put a stop to it by subjecting it to a voice vote.

And thus he announced, "All those in favor of the committee being considered legal and thus go ahead to present its report say "AYE"". And the house responded accordingly.

And then he asked again, "All those not in favor of the committee being considered legal and thus should not go ahead to present its report say "NAY"". And the house responded accordingly.

Unfortunately for Mantu, the "NAYs had it" and thus the report was never presented. Now Mantu had a really big problem, because the President was waiting for an answer and he had run out of time. So in one last effort, he decided to phone his very good friend Jerry Rawlings who had always sounded intelligent to Mantu and thus might have the answer to this really difficult question.
"Jerry, your mother and father have a child. The child is not your brother and is not your sister, who is he?."

Jerry answered immediately. "Hey, Mantu, It's me of course, you dumb Nigerian!"
Mantu couldn't believe his luck and so he rushed to Aso Rock Villa, his motorcade of five cars moving at top speed with sirens blaring. Ordinary Nigerians going about their normal businesses scampered out of the way. When they finally arrived their destination, Mantu literarily ran all the way to the President's office.

"Mr. President, Mr. President", he called out, breathing heavily. "I know who he is."
Obasanjo: "Good, so tell me"
Mantu: "It's Jerry Rawlings Sir! In fact, when he revealed the SECRET to me, I started to see the resemblance between us"

Obasanjo: "Jerry Rawlings ko, Jerry Gana ni. You are such a stupid senator. Olodo rakpata! I'll make sure you don't return to office after this term. Stupid man, the correct answer is TONY BLAIR!"

And that's how Mantu never returned to the Senate even though he supported the President's third term agenda.

This is how Africa is governed and the people of Africa seem to be lobing this.