Vox populi, vox Dei is an old Latin proverb which means “The voice of the people is the voice of God.” But don’t tell the Kenyan clergy that. After their campaign to persuade Kenyans to reject a new draft constitution floundered at the ballot box, Church leaders claimed that the Almighty might not have spoken too clearly, citing "malpractices and irregularities" in the referendum process. In a press conference convened after it became plain that the constitution had been approved by an overwhelming majority, the clerics sought to ease the passing by declaring that they had played a prophetic role in warning the nation of dangers posed by contentious issues. Their boss evidently does not agree.
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No news is good news, another saying goes. But apparently not good enough for authorities in Zimbabwe. During an annual safety drill at the Harare International Airport, the country’s Civil Aviation Authority told journalists rushing to the scene following reports of smoke over the runway and ambulances heading towards the airport, that a plane had been involved in an accident. "I can confirm that a 767 plane coming from London has had an accident at Harare airport," said David Chawota, head of the Authority. Later, at a news conference at the airport, he claimed that the information had been given out to make the drill realistic. "Telling the media was part of the exercise. We wanted to see how the media would react." One would assume it obvious that journalists would react by reporting the news.
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“The King is dead. Long live the King!” is a traditional proclamation made following the accession of a new monarch in various countries, such as the United Kingdom. However, it is a phrase that will not be heard when incumbents in six of South Africa's 13 traditional monarchies pass on. The kingdoms have effectively been abolished following a six-year government study which concluded that they were created by the former apartheid administration to divide the people. "We urge all communities to accept the findings in the spirit of correcting the wrongs of the past, and as part of the country's nation-building efforts," said President Jacob Zuma. He probably had in mind the nation-building effect of discounting the annual subsidy that each king receives.
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Absolute power may corrupt absolutely, but little power can be just as dangerous, as the masterminds of the Kampala bombings found out. They had planned to detonate a third bomb using explosives attached to a mobile phone. However, despite repeated calls to the number, the device failed to explode because the phone battery was low. Police were then able to track them down using the phone records. Interestingly, days before the bombings, the suspects had apparently made incessant calls to their landlords in Kenya promising to settle outstanding electricity bills.
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Dogs are said to be man’s best friend. The truth of this adage was once again proven in the US State of Michigan when Jerry Douthett's canine companion saved his life by….chewing off his toe. Kiko, a Jack Russell terrier, apparently sensed an infection in Douthett's right big toe and munched on it while his master was passed out after a day of drinking. A trip to the hospital confirmed the dog’s diagnosis which alerted doctors to Douthett's Type 2 diabetes. The infection had reached the bone and the medics completed Kiko’s procedure by amputating what was left of the toe.
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