Podcasts about zimbabwean president robert mugabe

Content warning for discussion of genocide, torture, mutilation, rape, and slavery Hey, Hi, Hello, this is the History Wizard and welcome back for Day 15 of Have a Day w/ The History Wizard. Thank you to everyone who tuned in for Day 14 last week, and especially thank you to everyone who rated and/or reviewed the podcast. I hope you all learned something last week and I hope the same for this week. This week marks the 6th part of our mini series of currently ongoing genocides and humanitarian crises. Episode 2 was on Palestine, Episode 11 was on Congo, episode 12 was on Sudan, episode 13 was on Xinjiang, episode 14 was on Rakhine State, and today's episode will cover the genocide that is ongoing in Tigray in Ethiopia. Let's see what the Alchemist's Table has in store for us this time. Today's libation is called Memories of Summer. Muddle some mint and strawberries in the bottom of your shaker, add .5 oz of simple syrup, 2 oz of gunpowder gin, stir well for about 30 seconds before double straining over ice and topping with lemonade. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and enjoy. Now it's time for everyone's favorite part, it's time for the historical context. Tigray is both the northernmost regional state in Ethiopia, as well as an ethnicity. Tigray is known as the birthplace of Ethiopian civilization and their motto is “There is no mountain we would not climb.” That's fucking badass. When the Scramble for Africa began at the end of the 19th century CE barely 10% of africa was under EUropean colonial control, and by the time World War 1 broke out more than 90% of the country had been colonized, with only Liberia and Ethiopia remaining free states. While Ethiopia remained under its own sovereign control, this was in large part because they willingly allied themselves with Great Britain. In fact many Ethiopian troops fought on the side of Britain during the Mahdist War in Sudan that we discussed on Day 12. Part of Ethiopia's independence also came from their alliances with Italy. King Menelik II of Ethiopia signed the Treaty of Wuchale with Italy in 1889. This treaty guaranteed Ethiopian sovereignty as long as Italy could control areas north of Ethiopia's currently held territory (in areas that are now the nation of Eritrea) and in return Ethiopia would receive arms and munitions and Menelik would have Italian support as emperor. Menelik would remain emperor from 1889 until his death in 1913. Though, it is worth noting that Etiopia was only able to maintain its sovereignty because of their victory during the Italo-Ethiopian War that ran from January 1895 until October 1896. The beginning of Menelik's rule was marked by severe tragedy though as it coincided with the 1890s African rinderpest epizootic. Which is a very fancy way of saying that disease killed 90% of Ethiopia's cattle and that this, combined with a drought caused by reduced rainfall killed about 1/3rd of the country's population. The virus, known as Rinderpest, is potentially thought to have been introduced into Eritrea in 1887 by Indian cattle brought by the Italians for their campaign against Somalia. Lack of rainfall from as early as 16 November 1888 led to famine in all but southernmost provinces; locusts and caterpillar infestations destroy crops in Akele Guzay, Begemder, Shewa, and around Harar. Conditions worsened with a typhus epidemic, a major smallpox epidemic (1889–90), and cholera outbreaks (1889–92). Making the beginning of Melenik's rule really fucking bad. Near the end of his life Melenik was filled with with concern over issues of succession. He hadn't yet picked an heir and if he died without one his nation would descend into civil war and would become ripe for the picking for European colonial powers. He would eventually settle on one of his grandchildren Lij Iyasu, as his heir. Iyasu would only reign for about 3 years before being deposed on charges of converting to Islam. Ethiopia had been a Christian kingdom since King Ezana of the Aksumite Empire adopted Christianity as the official religion in the 4th century CE. There's no definitive proof that Iyasu converted to Islam at any point in his life, but there was enough “proof” that everyone felt comfortable stipping him of authority and giving it to Haile Selassie. He served as the Regent for Empress Zedwditu from 1916 until her death in 1930, and after her death served as Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 until he was deposed in 1974 by the Derg following the 1973 oil crisis. Derg or Dergue is Amharic (a Semitic language descended from Ge'ez, which is the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. It translates as committee or council. Now, Ethiopia would fall under partial Italian control during the 1930s as part of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War between Fascist Italy and Ethiopia, and while Italy would have some successes during this war, they'd never attain full control over Ethiopia, making Ethiopia the only African nation to not ever fall under colonial control. Some would argue that Liberia would fall under that umbrella as well, but considering that Liberia, as a nation, was artificially created by the US as a place for freed slaves to return to, I don't think it qualifies. Haile Selassie as the emperor of Ethiopia would be one of the founding members of the United Nations. Haile Selassie's rule ended on 12 September 1974, when he was deposed by the Derg, a committee made up of military and police officers. After the execution of 60 former government and military officials, the new Provisional Military Administrative Council abolished the monarchy in March 1975 and established Ethiopia as a Marxist-Leninist state. The abolition of feudalism, increased literacy, nationalization, and sweeping land reform including the resettlement and villagization from the Ethiopian Highlands became priorities. Mengistu Haile Mariam would become the ruler of Ethiopia following the fall of Haile Selassie until in May 1991, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) forces advanced on Addis Ababa from all sides, and Mengistu fled the country with 50 family and Derg members. He was granted asylum in Zimbabwe as an official guest of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Now the period of Derg rule is also known as the Ethiopian Civil War. It lasted from 1974 until 1991. The Derg in its attempt to introduce full-fledged socialist ideals, fulfilled its main slogan of "Land to the Tiller", by redistributing land in Ethiopia that once belonged to landlords to the peasants tilling the land. Although this was made to seem like a fair and just redistribution, the mismanagement, corruption, and general hostility to the Derg's violent and harsh rule coupled with the draining effects of constant warfare, separatist guerrilla movements in Eritrea and Tigray, resulted in a drastic decline in general productivity of food and cash crops. Although Ethiopia is often prone to chronic droughts, no one was prepared for the scale of drought and the 1983–1985 famine that struck the country in the mid-1980s, in which 400,000–590,000 people are estimated to have died.  Hundreds of thousands fled economic misery, conscription and political repression, and went to live in neighboring countries and all over the Western world, creating an Ethiopian diaspora community for the first time in its history. Insurrections against the Derg's rule sprang up with ferocity, particularly in the northern regions of Tigray and Eritrea which sought independence and in some regions in the Ogaden. The Ethiopian Civil War left at least 1.4 million people dead, with 1 million related to famine and the remainder from violence and conflicts, which is one third of population.  In July 1991, the EPRDF convened a National Conference to establish the Transitional Government of Ethiopia composed of an 87-member Council of Representatives and guided by a national charter that functioned as a transitional constitution. In 1994, a new constitution was written that established a parliamentary republic with a bicameral legislature and a judicial system. Mengistu's authoritarian military regime faced organized opposition for all of its fourteen years of rule. Opposition groups including the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP), a rival Marxist–Leninist group, and the Tigray-based Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, a coalition of ethnic democratic forces, led armed resistance to the Derg in a conflict known as the Ethiopian Civil War. The Derg used violence, commonly enacted through military campaigns, to suppress dissidents. In 1976, the Derg instigated the Qey Shibir (Ethiopian Red Terror), a violent political repression campaign targeting the EPRP.  Under Mengistu's leadership, the Derg did not only rely on state personnel to carry out the Qey Shibir; it also armed militias and civilian supporters and granted "genuine revolutionaries and patriots" impunity, further localizing state violence.  The Qey Shibir resulted in 50,000 fatalities.  In addition, many victims of the Qey Shibir were subjected to torture, exile, and sexual assault. The Qey Shibir and the 1983-1985 famine, an event partly created and exacerbated by the government's military policies, increased popular support for the EPRDF, which successfully overthrew Mengistu's regime in 1991. As we entered the 21st century ethnic tensions began to increase between the people of northern Ethiopia, specifically in the Tigray region and the rest of the nation.  Data from the Minorities at Risk (MAR) project were used by Charles E. Riddle to study the degrees of discrimination by the dominant Amharas against the non-dominant ethnic groups in Ethiopia from 1950 to 1992, during the later reign of Emperor Haile Selassie and that of Mengistu Haile Mariam of the Derg. Amharas dominated during the Haile Selassie epoch.  Systematic discrimination against Afars occurred throughout the period. Tigrayans were initially culturally assimilated with the Amharas, speaking Amharic, and suffered little discrimination. Under the Haile Selassie government, the Oromo language was legally banned from education, public speaking and use in administration. During the Haile Selassie regime, the Harari people were persecuted. The imperial forces ordered the confiscation of Harari property and mass arrests of Harari men, as a result an estimated 10,000 Hararis fled their homeland in 1948. The Derg culturally rejected the Tigrayans, who decreased their usage of Amharic, reverting to Tigrinya, and discrimination against the Tigrayans became strong. Eritreans, treated by MAR and Riddle as an ethnic group, and Somalis were strongly discriminated against throughout the period. The Oromos were initially strongly discriminated against, but adopted Amharic as their official language when the Derg came to power, and discrimination against them dropped. Both the Haile Selassie and the Derg governments relocated numerous Amharas into southern Ethiopia where they served in government administration, courts, church and even in school, where Oromo texts were eliminated and replaced by Amharic. In the aftermath of the Ogaden War during the 70s, Hararis, Somalis and Oromo Muslims were targeted by the Derg Government. This leads us to needing to talk about the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front. The Tigray People's Liberation Front, also called the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front, is a left-wing ethnic nationalist, paramilitary group, and the former ruling party of Ethiopia. The TPLF was in charge of Ethiopia from the time the Derg was overthrown in 1991 until 2018. Now it's finally time to get to the beginnings of the Tigray Wart and the Tigray genocide. To do that we need to discuss the 2020 Tigray regional election. As we stated previously, Tigray is a regional state of Ethiopia, and in 2020 Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia postponed the 2020 general election over concerns of COVID 19. Tigray decided to hold their elections anyway, regardless of the proclamation made by Ahmed. Their election was considered illegal by the Ethiopian federal government. The TPLF won 98.2 percent of the vote. After years of increased tensions and hostilities between the TPLF and the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea, fighting began when TPLF forces attacked the Northern Command headquarters of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), alongside a number of other bases in Tigray. The ENDF counterattacked from the south – while Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) began launching attacks from the north – which Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described as a "law enforcement operation". The war officially ended in November 2022. On 2 November 2022, the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan leaders signed a peace accord, with the African Union as a mediator, and agreed on "orderly, smooth and coordinated disarmament". The agreement was made effective the next day on 3 November, marking the two-year anniversary of the war. As part of this process, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appointed TPLF's Getachew Reda as head of the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray, and the Ethiopian parliament removed the TPLF from its terrorism list. But where does the Tigray Genocide come into play? Why are we talking about this civil war in this podcast? Let's get into it. Issued on Tuesday, June 4th  by the United States-based New Lines Institute, aa 120-page draft quotes multiple, widespread and credible independent reports that Ethiopian forces and their allies carried out “acts constituting the crime of genocide” during the conflict, which ran between 2020-22. The authors call for Ethiopia to be brought before the International Court of Justice. In a report issued in September 2023, the United Nations said war crimes and crimes against humanity were still being committed nearly a year after government and Tigrayan regional forces agreed to end the fighting. It says the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), alongside the allied Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) and assorted regional militia “possessed the intent to destroy Tigrayans as an ethnic group”. At least four acts constituting the crime of genocide are noted in the report: killing Tigrayans, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life upon Tigrayans calculated to bring about their destruction, and imposing measures intended to prevent births among Tigrayans. Additionally, the finger is pointed at social media posts made by “certain individuals” that constitute public incitement to genocide. Ethiopia, which has been accused of seeking to prevent international scrutiny, has repeatedly denied that its forces carried out war crimes during the conflict. Eritrea has claimed such accusations against it are defamatory. However, the new report, which took two years to compile and features the contribution of dozens of legal experts, backs up the findings of the UN by stating that there is “reasonable basis to believe” that the countries are responsible for war crimes and/or crimes against humanity. In conclusion, the authors call on the international community to put pressure on Ethiopia via bilateral relations, as well as bringing the country before the ICJ. The war had a devastating impact on the healthcare system of Tigray; of the 853 health facilities in the region, 86% were at least partially damaged; 232 of them were left "completely unusable", and 28 were destroyed entirely. It also led to a higher rate of maternal and infant mortality in the Tigray Region. In a study funded by UNFPA Ethiopia and UNICEF Ethiopia, it was estimated that maternal mortality rates had increased from 186 deaths per 100,000 people pre-war to 840 deaths per 100,000 people post-war. According to Tigrayan health official Tsegay Gidey, 81% of mothers in the Seharti Samre woreda had birth defects, and 32 newborn infants had died between January–June 2023. Although the war largely came to a halt after the peace agreement was signed, Eritrea continues to occupy parts of Tigray as of mid-2023. The EDF has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of people in northern Ethiopia since November 2022; from 17 to 25 November alone, Eritrea was reported to have destroyed 241 houses and killed at least 111 people. by 30 December, it was estimated that Eritrean and Amhara forces killed 3,700 since the signing of the peace deal. The Tigray Health Bureau noted that 852 cases of rape and sexual assault were reported between November and December 2022; according to aid workers and interviews with survivors, most of these were committed by Eritrean forces. As of January 2023, over half of Irob district was occupied by Eritrea. Irob advocacy groups and former residents have described it as a "de-facto annexation" of the area. A religious Irob leader told The Guardian in August 2023 that Eritrea was blocking off international aid to the area, and lamented that "there has been no improvement for us since the peace."  In January 2024, Human Rights Watch reported that authorities and regional forces were still forcibly expelling Tigrayans from their homes in the Western Tigray Zone, which is largely inaccessible to humanitarian agencies. Additionally, nearly 40% of the Tigrayan population is suffering from extreme food shortages, a situation made worse by the World Food Program's suspension of aid deliveries in May 2023. All the available evidence points to a continued genocide against the Tigray people from the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea as they as systematically denied food, water and access to medical care.  The Tigray Genocide is often described as “The War The World Forgot”, and based on the West's general attitude towards Africa this feels right. Especially when I account for the fact that I, a genocide studies scholar didn't even know about the Tigray Genocide until 2024. I account this a failure on my part, but also on the part of the global mainstream media that this never even came across any of the news websites I frequent, nor the social media websites I, more often, get reputable news from. That's it for this week folks. No new reviews, so let's get right into the outro. Have a Day! w/ The History Wizard is brought to you by me, The History Wizard. If you want to see/hear more of me you can find me on Tiktok @thehistorywizard or on Instagram @the_history_wizard. Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe to Have a Day! On your pod catcher of choice. The more you do, the more people will be able to listen and learn along with you. Thank you  for sticking around until the end and, as always, Have a Day, and Free Tigray.          

Peter Tatchell is a distinguished human rights campaigner, celebrated for his unwavering dedication to advancing LGBTQI+ rights and his fervent commitment to social justice. With a career marked by courageous activism and principled advocacy, Tatchell has played an instrumental role in shaping the discourse on human rights and equality.Born in Australia, Tatchell's journey as a human rights defender took root in the United Kingdom, where he became a prominent figure in the LGBTQI+ social movements. His impact was first felt in the political arena when he was selected as the Labour Party's parliamentary candidate for Bermondsey in 1981. However, his firm support for extra-Parliamentary action against the Thatcher government led to a denouncement by party leader Michael Foot. This initial setback did not deter him; in fact, it propelled him to stand as the Labour candidate in the 1983 Bermondsey by-election. This move, though valiant, resulted in the loss of the seat to the Liberals, yet it highlighted Tatchell's resilience and determination.The 1990s marked a pivotal era in Tatchell's career, as he co-founded the direct action group OutRage! Through this platform, he spearheaded campaigns for LGBT rights that reverberated across society. One of the most notable campaigns was "Stop Murder Music," which targeted music lyrics inciting violence against the LGBTQI+ community. Tatchell's unyielding advocacy showcased his ability to harness the power of activism to effect tangible change.Tatchell's audacious spirit manifested in his attempts to hold oppressive regimes accountable for their actions. Notably, he made daring citizen's arrest attempts on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in 1999 and again in 2001. These acts of courage underscored his commitment to justice, even in the face of adversity.In 2004, Tatchell extended his advocacy into the realm of politics by joining the Green Party of England and Wales. His political aspirations culminated in his selection as the prospective Parliamentary candidate for Oxford East in 2007. Unfortunately, a bus accident and injuries sustained during protests in 2009 compelled him to step down from the candidacy. Undeterred by personal challenges, Tatchell's passion for human rights endured.Since 2011, Tatchell has steered the course of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, an organization dedicated to advocating for a multitude of human rights causes. He has engaged in intellectual discourse through his participation in over 30 debates at the Oxford Union, tackling diverse topics such as patriotism, Thatcherism, and university safe spaces. Tatchell's eloquence and thought leadership have solidified his reputation as a multidimensional advocate.Peter Tatchell's legacy is one of unrelenting bravery and commitment to the fundamental principles of equality and justice. His journey from a determined candidate to a resolute activist and intellectual is a testament to the indomitable human spirit's capacity to drive positive change in society. Through his life's work, Tatchell continues to inspire and uplift countless individuals, leaving an indelible mark on the global human rights landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Gary Tatchell born 25 January 1952 is a British human rights campaigner, originally from Australia, best known for his work with LGBT social movements.Tatchell was selected as the Labour Party's parliamentary candidate for Bermondsey in 1981. He was then denounced by party leader Michael Foot for ostensibly supporting extra-parliamentary action against the Thatcher government. Labour subsequently allowed him to stand in the Bermondsey by-election in February 1983, in which the party lost the seat to the Liberals. In the 1990s he campaigned for LGBT rights through the direct action group OutRage!, which he co-founded. He has worked on various campaigns, such as Stop Murder Music against music lyrics allegedly inciting violence against LGBT people and writes and broadcasts on various human rights and social justice issues. He attempted a citizen's arrest of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in 1999 and again in 2001.In April 2004, he joined the Green Party of England and Wales and in 2007 was selected as prospective parliamentary candidate in the constituency of Oxford East, but in December 2009 announced he was standing down due to brain damage he says was caused by a bus accident as well as damage inflicted by Mugabe's bodyguards when Tatchell tried to arrest him in 2001, and by neo-Nazis in Moscow while campaigning for gay rights. Since 2011, he has been the Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On January 6, 2021, supporters of President Trump violently stormed the Capitol after attending a rally on the National Mall where Trump furiously defended his belief that the election had been "stolen" from him. Five people died. Many saw it as inevitable, a cumulation of four years of President Trump and his administration testing the invisible boundaries of American democracy. Others called it a failed coup attempt. Regardless, the violence shocked the world, with many global leaders publicly expressing their anger and sadness while maintaining their belief in the strength of American democratic institutions.rnrnBut coups are not uncommon worldwide. According to the Pew Research Center, more than 75 countries (including a few that no longer exist - Czechoslovakia, North and South Yemen, and South Vietnam) have experienced at least one successful coup since World War II. Overall, while military and self-coups are on the decline, they still occur in the modern era: in 2013, Egyptian General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stormed the presidential palace riding his tank, toppling the first democratically civilian-elected President, Mohammed Morsi. In 2017, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was removed as president and party leader of ZANU-PF.rnrnIn the United States, Americans have struggled to define and comprehend what happened. Was it a riot? An uprising? A coup? And, perhaps more importantly, could it happen again? It's unfamiliar territory for a nation committed to a peaceful transfer of power.rnrnJoin us as experts discuss the what it takes to overthrow a democracy, and offer some perspectives on what happened in the United States on January 6.

After being booed in KwaZulu-Natal in 2006 following political tensions with his then fired deputy, Jacob Zuma, the province is warming up to former president, Thabo Mbeki. In less than six months, he has been invited twice by the ANC in the province. Last year, he was invited to address the memorial lecture of the late Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. This past weekend, he addressed the ANC Political School.

Peter Tatchell was still a teenager, living in Australia, when he started on what has been a long and headline-grabbing career of political protest. He was only fifteen when he began campaigning against the death penalty, and in support of aboriginal rights. At the age of seventeen, he realised he was gay, and the struggle for gay rights became his increasing focus: he was a leading activist in the Gay Liberation Front in the 1970s, and, more recently, a campaigner for same-sex marriage. He gained international celebrity for his attempted citizen's arrest of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in 1999 and again in 2001, on charges of torture and human rights abuses. Beaten by Mugabe’s bodyguards, he suffered permanent eye and brain damage. He has also been beaten up by Neo-Nazis in Moscow, and held in prisons across the world. He says, ruefully: “I’m the master of the motorcade ambush”. One of his tactics has been literally to run into the road and throw himself in front of official limousines; he did it not just to Mugabe, but also to Tony Blair – protesting against the war in Iraq – and John Major. In a rare personal interview, Peter Tatchell talks about the early experiences which fired him into trying to change the world. He grew up at a time when homosexuality was still illegal in Australia - his mother believed it was against her Christian principles. And yet despite this Peter loves, and forgives her. The music list is a mix of stirring protest and softer romantic pieces which help Peter escape from daily pressures. Choices include Prokofiev’s “Battle on the Ice” from the film score to Eistenstein’s Alexander Nevsky; Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”; Prince; and the jazz drummer Billy Cobham. A Loftus production for BBC Radio 3 Produced by Elizabeth Burke

During his appointment as U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Tom McDonald had over two dozen meetings with former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Ambassador McDonald joins American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Philip Hughes to discuss the life of Robert Mugabe, what Zimbabwe was like under his rule, and the differences and similarities between Mugabe and the country's new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

In this episode of Straight Talk Africa, host Shaka Ssali, discusses the life and legacy of former longtime Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe who died last week at age 95. He is joined by Blessing Zulu, VOA Reporter, Dr. Frenk Guni, U.S. ZANU-PF representative and Brunette Beatrice Kumalo, a Zimbabwean Lecturer and Media Consultant. In the second part of the show, Shaka, is joined by Ambassador Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, the new President-Elect of the United Nations General Assembly, who is from Nigeria. Ambassador Muhammad-Bande discusses his priorities for the future as he prepares to head the 74th session of the UNGA. 

In this episode of Straight Talk Africa, host Shaka Ssali, discusses the life and legacy of former longtime Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe who died last week at age 95. He is joined by Blessing Zulu, VOA Reporter, Dr. Frenk Guni, U.S. ZANU-PF representative and Brunette Beatrice Kumalo, a Zimbabwean Lecturer and Media Consultant. In the second part of the show, Shaka, is joined by Ambassador Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, the new President-Elect of the United Nations General Assembly, who is from Nigeria. Ambassador Muhammad-Bande discusses his priorities for the future as he prepares to head the 74th session of the UNGA. 

In this episode of Straight Talk Africa, host Shaka Ssali, discusses the life and legacy of former longtime Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe who died last week at age 95. He is joined by Blessing Zulu, VOA Reporter, Dr. Frenk Guni, U.S. ZANU-PF representative and Brunette Beatrice Kumalo, a Zimbabwean Lecturer and Media Consultant. In the second part of the show, Shaka, is joined by Ambassador Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, the new President-Elect of the United Nations General Assembly, who is from Nigeria. Ambassador Muhammad-Bande discusses his priorities for the future as he prepares to head the 74th session of the UNGA.

Channel Africa — TOP STORIES ON AFRICA RISE AND SHINE THIS HOUR *** Tributes continue to pour in for former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe..... *** South Africa's Finance Minister hails delegates at the World Economic Forum on Africa..... *** In Economics: 12 thousand jobs are on the line in Lesotho textile industry... *** And In Sports: Rafael Nadal beats Daniil Medvedev in US Open final..

This month’s Q+A is an unmissable, in-depth interview with legendary LGBT+ rights activist Peter Tatchell. One of the first out gay men to stand for election in Britain, Tatchell has been campaigning for human rights vociferously and courageously for nearly half a century.  Peter began his gay activism by joining the Gay Liberation Front in England in 1969, and was one of the organisers of the first Pride march in London in 1972. In the 1990s he co-founded the gay rights direct action group, Outrage!, which was involved in the infamous ‘outing’ campaigns of the mid-90s. He attempted a citizen's arrest of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in 1999 and again in 2001.  He’s campaigned on many different fronts, and often put himself in danger. In June he was detained in Russia after staging a one-man protest against Russia’s treatment of LGBT people, and most recently he’s been campaigning for compensation for gay men who were pardoned after being convicted under Britain’s laws against homosexuality. From human rights in Syria to Gaza, Iran to Russia, and across the globe, there is little that escapes Peter Tatchell’s attention, and action.  Here chats to Q+A’s Brian Finnegan about his life and times, and overcoming fear to put himself in harm’s way for other people’s human rights.

Activist Peter Tatchell talks to Krishnan Guru-Murthy about his life's work as a human rights activist, why he so passionately fights for LGBTQ rights and the moment he arrested former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.   Rate, review and subscribe to the Ways to Change the World podcast for more in-depth interviews every week.    You can also watch each episode on our YouTube channel.   Recorded: 3 May 2018.   Producer: Sarah Gough. Production support: Martin Collett. Artwork: Daire Collins.

First, the Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was placed under house arrest in what we were told was not a coup, then sacked by his own Zanu-PF party, but refused to step down, only to step down a day later. We'll be getting you up to speed on the twists and turns of the Zimbabwean Coup d'etat, as well as asking how history will judge the ousted President. The UK Chancellor delivered the autumn budget on Wednesday, and despite Philip hammond's best attempts to lighten the mood, there's not really much to laugh about given the projections of Britain's economic growth. Thursday was ‘Thanksgiving' in the United States, the annual celebration of the country's colonial beginnings - and of course food, family, football, and a presidential “turkey pardon”… But huge swathes of the US population don't see the day as a celebration, rather a “national day of mourning”. In all the news about the UK budget, you'd be forgiven for missing the vote earlier this week on ditching EU human rights post Brexit… A move which critics of Theresa May's government say is nothing short of a sop to hard brexiters, riled up at the prospect of a potential 80 billion divorce bill. The former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladić, nicknamed the ‘butcher of Bosnia', was this week sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. His name is synonymous with insanity and violence - cult leader Charles Manson died this week at 83… We look back at the infamous killings carried out by the “Manson family”, and the strange fascination Charles Manson has inspired in popular culture over the years. The former leader of Scottish Labour Kezia Dugdale, has sparked a bonfire of controversy in the corridors of Holyrood this past week, with the announcement that she'll be a contestant on ITV's ‘I'm a Celebrity Get me out of here'. We try to understand what all the fuss is about All that and more on this week's programme.

The speaker of parliament in Zimbabwe has officially announced that former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be sworn in on Friday. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe stepped down from his position yesterday, following mounting pressure from the people of his country and political parties. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our reporter In Harare, Mbali Sibanyoni and human rights lawyer, Nqobizitha Mlilo

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his axed Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa will soon be in talks about the current political impasse. The nation's Defense Force - yesterday (Monday) revealed that the pair had already been in contact with each other. According to military leader, General Constantino Chiwenga - Mnangagwa is expected to arrive back in Harare soon. We speak to SABC reporter, Noma Bolani.

TOP STORIES ON AFRICA RISE AND SHINE THIS HOUR... *** Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe faces impeachment.... *** Kenyan court ruling clears the way for swearing in of Uhuru Kenyatta... *** In Economics: Zambia and DRC agree to remove trade barriers... *** And In Sports: South African women's cricket team head to England for summer tour....

-Paxton wins IdolsSA2017 -There's growing speculation that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe read the wrong speech _ Christina Aguilera trends after underwheming Whitney Houston tribute at American music Awards.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe surprised everyone by not resigning, Jeffrey Tambor is leaving “Transparent” amid sexual harassment allegations, an actor has accused a “Girls” writer of sexual assault, and you can shop Black Friday sales pretty much for months now.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP STORIES ON AFRICA RISE AND SHINE THIS HOUR... *** Deputy President of South Africa's ruling ANC, Cyril Ramaphosa says he is being targeted within the party for taking a stance against corruption .... *** What's next for Kenya after the country's Supreme Court officially nullified the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta? ..... *** Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has put to rest claims of food poisoning on his deputy Emerson Mnangagwa....

TOP STORIES ON AFRICA RISE AND SHINE THIS HOUR... *** Kenyan police kill gunman at Deputy President Ruto's home.... *** Concerns over political killings in South Africa.... *** Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe speaks on succession *** In Economics: Fraud threatens survival of South African medical schemes... *** And In Sports: England set a towering target for South Africa to win third test.....

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has dismissed suggestions that Zimbabwe was a failed or fragile state. He says his country is the highest developed country in Africa, after South Africa. He was speaking this morning (thursday 4 May) in Durban at a panel discussion on the issue of fragile states at the World Economic Forum on Africa. The discussion also unpacked ways in which African states can work together to achieve stable economic growth. Nonjabulo Mntungwa reports

President Jacob Zuma says the 2017 World Economic Forum on Africa should come up with strategies of how to reduce the gap between the rich and poor. He was speaking to journalists on the side-lines of the three-day meeting underway at the Durban International Conference Centre. The meeting is attended by several African leaders including Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and dozens of business leaders. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana- Mashabane......

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A defiant Zimbabwean President and AU Chair, Robert Mugabe has denounced what he called the illegal sanctions imposed on his country by the European Union and the United States. The 91-year old president was addressing the UN General Debate in New York. He re-iterated Africa's common position on the reform of the Security Council and rejected attempts to prescribe new rights that are contrary to the values and traditions of certain countries. Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports

President Jacob Zuma has arrived in the Botswana capital, Gaborone, ahead of the SADC leaders summit which will start this morning. Botswana President Ian Khama is set to become the next regional economic bloc leader when Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe vacates the position tomorrow. Regional economic integration and energy security including peace and security will be the main issues that the two-day summit will discuss. Tsepo Ikaneng reports from Gaborone, Botswana

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In Zimbabwe today, authorities again banned opposition rallies and detained the leader of the opposition party. With the election just three weeks away, how is unrest in Zimbabwe affecting the region? Meanwhile in South Africa, violence against foreigners is part of a rising crime rate that has made the country the most dangerous place in the world to live, outside of a war zone. Also, a weak job market wobbles an already anemic economy, and the life and times – and death – of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and how they resonate in today's political landscape. Sara Terry guest hosts. A protester carries a portrait of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe as thousands of people march to protest the attacks on the immigrant community in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo: John Moore/Getty Images