AFRICAN BUZZ
The president of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
with its abusive past, those found responsible for these
heinous acts should be held to account,” says Temin.
The attacks come in the wake of protests organised by the
opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) that
were due to take place in the capital, Harare, in August
this year, and later in other parts of the country. Suspected
security agents reportedly abducted, beat, and tortured
activists, civil society leaders, and members of the opposition
in the days leading up to the planned protests. Police
subsequently prohibited the demonstrations, but hundreds
of Zimbabweans congregated in defi ance of the ban in late
August. Police violently dispersed the protesters using whips,
batons, and tear gas. Arrests of civil society leaders and
human rights defenders have continued since then.
PAN AFRICAN:
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CRITICAL
Science, technology and innovation as well as human
resource development are critical in Africa, a continent,
which has the biggest potential on earth, Japanese Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe said at the Science and Technology in
Society (STS) forum held in Yokohama, Japan recently.
The Science and Technology in Society forum (STS forum)
is one of the largest and most infl uential nonprofi t
organisations established in 2004 by Mr. Koji Omi, a
former Japanese Minister of Finance. The Forum aims at
strengthening cooperation between Japan and Africa in
science, technology, and innovation.
In his address, Prime Minister Abe also noted the important
role that science and technology played in the history of
Japan’s modernisation.
In attendance were Yasutoshi Nishimura, Deputy Chief
Cabinet Secretary of Japan, Cyril Ramaphosa, President of
South Africa, Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African
Development Bank Group, Koji Omi, founder and chairman
of the STS forum, and Asako Omi, member of Japan’s House
of Representatives.
“South Africa endorses the focus on science, technology,
and innovation as a priority theme for the 7th Tokyo
International Conference on African Development
(TICAD 7), given its great potential to accelerate African
12
African Mining November 2019
12 November 2019
www. africanmining.co.za