Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
Some Chinese miners have been taken to court over coal mining in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) in its lawsuit, stated that mining within the National Park poses an acute risk of irreversible ecological degradation.
Zimbabwe Zhongxin Mining Group Tongmao Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd was listed as the first respondent, Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, Minister of Mines and Mining Development, and the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) are listed as second, third, and fourth respondents respectively.
Zimbabwe Zhongxin Mining Group Tongmao Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd was listed as the first respondent, Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, Minister of Mines and Mining Development, and the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) are listed as second, third, and fourth respondents respectively.
The lawsuit came after the Zimbabwean government granted coal mining concessions to several Chinese companies in the Hwange National Park. The decision to grant coal mining concessions to Chinese companies has been met with criticism and comes at a time when Zimparks reported the unexplained deaths of 22 elephants near Hwange National Park. Reacting to the criticism that has trailed the mining concessions to Chinese Companies, Zimbabwe's Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality tweeted;
We take note of the ongoing discussions around the Hwange National Park and we assure the Nation that Government will pronounce itself in the next few days.
