Zimbabwe Bans The Beating Of Children

Zimbabwe’s High Court has outlawed corporal punishment for children both at school and in the home.
The ruling comes after a parent complained that her child in grade one, a class for six-year-olds, had deep bruises after a beating by a teacher.

Linah Pfungwa said her daughter had been punished for failing to have her reading book signed by guardians as proof she had done her homework.

The constitutional court will have to confirm the judgement.

The BBC’s Shingai Nyoka in the capital, Harare, says if upheld, it would transform the way parents have disciplined their children for centuries in the southern African country.

Some parents are criticising the ruling, while rights groups says it is long overdue, she says.

Ms Pfungwa, who filed her application with support from the Justice for Children’s Trust, said her child was severely assaulted with a rubber pipe.

“My child suffered major bruises and I took photographs and pictures… She had deep bruises on her back and she could hardly sleep properly,” the state-run Chronicle newspaper quotes her as saying.
“I posted the pictures of my daughter on our WhatsApp group for other parents to observe and it turned out that other children had also been assaulted.”

In her application, Ms Pfungwa said that children should not be subjected to any form of violence and such corporal punishment breached their rights under Zimbabwe’s Constitution.

She argued that other forms of discipline should be used for children.

“If my child misbehaves, I ground her by denying her access to television as well as denying her pocket money or other goodies like sweets and presents,” she said.
“If she does well, I reward her by presents or extra hours of watching television.
“My child is well-behaved and well-brought up simply as a result of the dialogue that I use as a means of discipline.”

Justice David Mangota agreed that corporal punishment for children was unconstitutional and said that parents and teachers should not lay their hands on children even if they misbehave.

Xenophobic Attacks: Niger Delta Militants Threaten To Shutdown MTN, DSTV, Others

A coalition of Niger Delta militants on Wednesday threatened to blow up Multichoice (DSTV), MTN, Shoprite and 16 other major South African investments in Nigeria if the Federal Government failed to close them down within one month.

The militant groups, who were reacting to the ongoing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and their businesses, gave one month ultimatum to South Africans living in Nigeria to relocate.

The threat from the militant groups namely, Niger Delta Watchdogs, Niger Delta Volunteers and Niger Delta Strike Force is contained in a copy of a letter addressed to the Office of the South African High Commission to Nigeria located at 71, Usuma Street, Off Gana Street, Abuja.

Signatories to the letter are General John Duku (Niger Delta Watchdogs), General Ekpo Ekpo (Niger Delta Volunteer) and General Hart Bradford (Niger Delta Strike Force).

In the letter titled ‘Attack and Killings of Nigerians Living in South Africa’, the militants expressed anger that the South African Police were shielding criminals and joining them (criminals) to kill Nigerians.

Apart from MTN, DSTV and Shoprite, some of the South African companies in Nigeria listed for attack by the militants are Eskom Nigeria, South African Breweries (SAB Miller), Umgeni Water, Refresh Product, LTA Construction and Protea Hotels.

Others, according to the letter, are Critical Rescue International, Global Outdoor Semces, PEP Retail Stores, Woolworths Holdings Limited, Truworths International Limited, Clover Industries, Oracle, Power Giant and Airtime.

The militants said, “Arising from the joint meeting of the Niger Delta Watchdogs, Niger Delta Volunteers and Niger Delta Strike Force held today (Wednesday) in Port Harcourt, we condemn the recent attack on Nigerians in South Africa.

“We want to state that the recent attack (on Nigerians in South Africa) will mark the end of this nonsense because we will not fold our arms and allow this to continue. We, therefore, call on the Nigerian Government to immediately close down all the businesses owned by South Africans in Nigeria.

“Failure to close down these companies within one month, we shall mobilise in full force and commence massive attack on the above mentioned South African-owned investments in Nigeria. We shall also make sure that all MTN masts and offices are brought down to naught.

“We shall strike any property and persons from South Africa within our reach; we will bring down Multichoice (DSTV), Shoprite and others. We will not fold our arms and watch you (South Africans) slaughter our people like chickens for no just cause.

“We are fully prepared; our professional fighters are already strategising, South Africans must be crushed in Nigeria; our people must be free from these wicked agents.”

The Tonto Dikeh Foundation Awards Scholarship To 200 Students In Delta State

The good people and school students of Delta state experienced a new dawn as they played a host to The Tonto Dikeh Foundation Team in Warri, Delta state Nigeria, on the 24th February 2017.

The event which was put together by The Tonto Dikeh Foundation [TTDF] in collaboration with Cheeno HR, was done to assist and encourage young students, through their nation wide project tagged: TTDF BACK TO SCHOOL PROJECT.

The back to school project was conceived with the idea of assisting the less privileged kids and to help in the realization of the United Nations sustainable development goals in the area of education and mass literacy in Nigeria.

The event which pulled all the thick and mighty in the educational sector in Delta State and recorded massive turn out of people with the attendance of the Honourable commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education of Delta State Hon. [Dr.] Chiedu Ebie, and other distinguished members of his cabinet, Principals of Public and Private Schools, Teachers, Students from 11 Local Government Areas in Delta State, the schools includes: Sedco Secondary School, College of Commerce Warri, Alegbo Secondary School, Opete Secondary School, Essi College, Warri, Sunset Group of School, Ogbe Secondary School, Ugborikoko Secondary School, and many more were all in attendance and of course some other prominent personalities.

The Education Commissioner welcomed and applauded Tonto Dikeh and her team, for their great love and big heart to help in encouraging the kids and custodians of Delta State in the area of their education.

The President of the organization, Tonto Dikeh gave glory to God and thank the good people of Delta State for giving them the privilege to serve them. She also thanked all partners especially Access Bank, that partnered with them to help in opening Savings Account for 200 kids who won Scholarship by The Tonto Dikeh Foundation and other valuable incentives given to all the students.

According to the National coordinator of the Tonto Dikeh foundation, Mr. Bunmi Fagbuyiro unveiled the plans of the foundation, by pledging the renovation of some schools, free white board donation, School Uniforms for students and books. And he concluded that TTDF will continue in other parts of the country in the coming months, and the next on their list is Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Photos: Aww! This Mother And Son Are So Adorable

His name is Lloyd Barker, and he shared these beautiful photos with his mother who can pass for his girlfriend or wife.

He wrote;

“The photo on the left was taken in 1998 and the photo on the right: 2012. I was 6 and 20 years old, respectively. The concept that always comes to mind is the idea that my mother has been the one to lift me yesterday, properly preparing me to be able to lift her today. “Lifting” is figurative for inspire, encourage, motivate, and support. “

Man Awarded N530,000 By Court Against MTN For Unauthorized Callertunez Deduction

The Federal High Court in Ibadan on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 has awarded N530,000 to one Oluwole Aluko for unauthorised deduction from his lines by MTN Nigeria.
Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel who passed the judgement, held that MTN had found itself guilty by not challenging the suit.

In his Judgement, he stated:

“The plaintiff has the right to allow or reject the use of a caller tune. MTN cannot force the use of any caller tune on him or anybody because it is unlawful.

Though the plaintiff sought N10 million as damages, but I hold that any damage suffered must be commensurate with the claim.

I, hereby, award a cost of N500,000 for the damages suffered and another N30,000 as cost incurred during the court process.”

The complainant, who is also stand in as counsel for himself in the case, had in 2016 filed a N10 million suit against the same telecom giant.

He claimed that MTN Nigeria had unlawfully made series of deductions from three of his MTN lines for caller tunes which he did not subscribe to.

However, in another twist, Mr Fatiullah Tiamiyu who the defence counsel has claimed that MTN is not aware of any court process.

He said: “That is the reason the company has not been represented in any previous sitting.”

Photos & Video: Nicki Minaj’s Gigantic Butt Implants Exploded (Must See)

Finally Police Arrest Killers Of American Soldier In Imo State

The Police in Imo State have nabbed the suspected killers of Oscar Okebata, an American veteran soldier who was robbed and murdered in Atta in the Ikeduru Local Government Area of the state on January 12, 2017.

This was even as a police Sergeant, Iseke Koradam, was arrested at a hospital in Oke – Uvuru in the Aboh Mbaise LGA of the state in an alleged attempt to steal a newly born baby.

At a press briefing In Owerri, the state capital capital on Wednesday, the state Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, said that Osondu Chukwu, Uchechukwu Stanley, Onyekachi Kelvin Nwoke and Uchendu Promise were apprehended with concrete evidence that showed that they murdered the veteran soldier, who was in the state for the Christmas and new year celebrations .

The CP said that the suspects allegedly sold Okebata’s Samsung Note 5 handset at N125,000 which led to their arrest by the operatives of the command.

Lakanu said, “The suspects were arrested in connection with the robbery and murder of one Oscar Okebata, of Achi Mbieri in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, an American veteran soldier who returned home for the yuletide period last year”.

“The victim’s Samsung Note 5 handset was sold at N125,000, leading to the arrest of the suspected masterminds of the crime.”

The CP equally disclosed that the Police Sergeant and his gang, who allegedly planned to steal the newborn baby, had confessed to the crime and would be charged to the court very soon.