AFRICAN CHAPTER

DANGEROUS VIRUS!!!

2009-03-09T20:56:00.004+03:00

Hi All,

I checked with Norton Anti-Virus, and they are gearing up for this virus! This is the worst virus announced by CNN. I checked Snopes (URL above), and it is for real !!

PLEASE KEEP YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CONTACTS INFORMED! Do not open any message with an attachment entitled 'POSTCARD FROM HALLMARK,' regardless of who sent it to you.

It is a virus which opens A POSTCARD IMAGE, which 'burns' the whole hard disc C of your computer.This virus will be received from someone who has your e-mail address in his/her contact list. This is the reason why you need to send this e-mail to all your contacts.

It is better to receive this message 25 times than toreceive the virus and open it.If you receive a mail called' POSTCARD,' even though sent to you by a friend, do not open it! Shut down your computer immediately.It has been classified by Microsoft as the most destructive virus ever.

This virus was discovered by McAfee, and there is no repair yet for this kind of virus.

This virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of theHard Disc, where the vital informati on is kept.COPY THIS MESSAGE AND SEND IT TO YOUR FRIENDS. REMEMBER: IF YOU SEND IT TOTHEM, YOU WILL BENEFIT ALL OF US.Snopes lists all the names it could come in.

David

International Criminal Court: War crimes & Genocide 2009

2009-03-06T15:36:00.002+03:00

Kenya: Stop EAC complex project in Tanzania

2009-03-03T17:59:00.007+03:00

Kenya: Stop EAC Complex Project

By Zephania Ubwani, Arusha

THE CITIZEN

Kenya wants the construction of the new East Africa Community headquarters in Arusha to be suspended.

Senior officials of the EAC secretariat have confirmed that Kenya has presented its case calling for the construction of the ultra-modern office complex to be put on hold.

Kenya, according to credible sources within the secretariat, was not happy with the pace of negotiations on the EAC Common Market Protocol, and blames Tanzania for the delay in concluding the talks. The sources said the country's request was formally tabled during the ordinary meeting of EAC Council of Ministers held in Arusha on Friday.

The request, which appeared to have taken Tanzanian officials by surprise, was made shortly before President Paul Kagame of Rwanda addressed the East African Legislative Assembly.

Kenyan officials, led by the minister for East Africa Cooperation, Mr Jeffah Kingi, had asked that the planned construction of the EAC ultra-modern headquarters in Arusha be delayed.

"They said the plans should be shelved until Tanzania was seen to be fully committed to regional integration matters, and that failure to demonstrate its commitment would make the country unfit to host the EAC headquarters."

Sources familiar with what transpired during the meeting said Kenya had been accusing Tanzania of dragging its feet on negotiations for the EAC Common Market Protocol.

The proposal to delay the construction of a new EAC office complex was tabled before the EAC Council of Ministers ? the policy organ of the regional bloc ? by Mr Kingi.

Sources said the Tanzanian delegation was caught off guard, but argued that the construction of the headquarters could not be suspended as the EAC Treaty clearly stipulated that Arusha was the seat of the EAC secretariat.

The matter is said to have dominated the meeting with Rwanda reportedly supporting Kenya's position, and Uganda and Burundi appearing to be neutral. Kenyan officials are reported to have said that Tanzania had not demonstrated its "full commitment" to the EAC integration process.

"What we are seeing is the host country of the EAC headquarters going against many protocols agreed upon by all of us ," one Kenyan official was heard lamenting in a monitored exchange with other delegates after the closed-door session.

The official said his delegation had called for the construction of the new EAC complex estimated to cost about 14 million euros (about Sh24 billion) to be delayed. The project is scheduled to commence in September, this year.

The regional organisation currently has its headquarters at the Arusha International Conference Centre, which also served as the headquarters of the former EAC, which collapsed in 1977.

The German government has agreed to provide funds for the construction of the complex, which will save the EAC $450,000 (Sh600 million) in monthly rent paid to the AICC. Officials at the EAC secretariat who were approached for comment indicated that the matter raised by the Kenyan delegation was likely to be forwarded to the EAC Heads of State Summit because of its ?sensitivity."

Tanzanian officials are reported to have maintained that the treaty that established EAC had designated the northern Tanzanian town as the headquarters of the regional bloc.

But Kenyan officials and other delegates supporting them insisted that the treaty could as well be amended to suit the region's interest of the day, as had been the case for other issues in recent years.

Rwanda was cited as one of the countries that welcomed the proposal. There was no immediate information on the reaction of the Tanzanian delegation to the suggestion which, if accepted, could deal a blow to Arusha, which has served as the EAC headquarters since the 1960s. Neither EAC secretary-general Juma Mapachu nor the minister for East African Cooperation, Dr Diodorus Kamala, could be reached yesterday for comment.

Other officials, however, played down the suggestions, saying the matter revolved more around the Common Market negotiations than Arusha as the EAC seat. When he addressed the EALA on Friday afternoon in his capacity as the chairperson of the EAC Heads of State Summit, President Kagame decried the slow pace in establishing a common market in the region, and called for measures to address the stumbling blocks.

"This is the time for bold steps not only in terms of resolving these outstanding matters that are obstructing the Common Market, but also require us to execute critical decisions we have already made," Mr Kagame said.

The eighth round Common Market Protocol negotiations are expected to commence in Bujumbura, Burundi, today. Tentatively the draft protocol should be ready next April after it was delayed from December last year. Seven negotiation sessions have been held.

The last session of the negotiations ended in Kisumu, Kenya, early this year during which Tanzania was put on the spot for its reservations on some clauses envisaged in the Protocol.

Tanzania, the largest country in size and population has opposed clauses that largely dwell on movement of people and labour services, right of residency and access of its land by non-citizens.

Kenya and Rwanda in particular, have been pressing for a change in the Treaty that established the Community so that key decisions can be adopted if supported by a majority of the member countries. Under the current EAC Treaty no major decision on regional integration issues can be made without the consent of all the member states.

Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda make up the regional bloc. Tanzania which has been particularly uncomfortable with the land issues has repeatedly said it was still "studying the situation" and has denied that it was not against the ongoing negotiations or the anticipated benefits from enhanced economic integration within EA.

"We are in the negotiation process. It could be unfair to say that my country is delaying the envisaged Common Market", Mr Uledi Mussa, the head of the country's delegation to the last round of talks in Kisumu, was quoted then as saying.

Kenya's East African Cooperation minister Jeffah Kingi has been vocal that Tanzania was dragging its feet in the integration process and has spearheaded a campaign to have major decisions made without the consent of the neighbouring country.

Tanzanian politicians led by Dr Kamala, on the other hand, have said the country would not be rushed over major decisions that could impact negatively on its own people. The minister has also denied that the country was backtracking on its commitments to the EAC.

More stories and comments...click here

THE ROAD TO SOUTH AFRICA 2010 WC

2009-03-03T17:38:00.002+03:00

For more stories click here click here

Obama's inaugural address, as prepared for delivery and released by the Presidential Inaugural Committee

2009-01-21T21:39:00.005+03:00

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.

Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

Click here to read a full text of President Barack Obama's inaugural address

2009-01-20T17:25:00.002+03:00

By BOB HERBERT

Published: January 16, 2009

If you want to see hell on earth, go to Zimbabwe where the madman Robert Mugabe has brought the country to such a state of ruin that medical care for most of the inhabitants has all but ceased to exist.

Life expectancy in Zimbabwe is now the lowest in the world: 37 years for men and 34 for women. A cholera epidemic is raging. People have become ill with anthrax after eating the decaying flesh of animals that had died from the disease. Power was lost to the morgue in the capital city of Harare, leaving the corpses to rot.

Most of the world is ignoring the agony of Zimbabwe, a once prosperous and medically advanced nation in southern Africa that is suffering from political and economic turmoil and the brutality of Mugabes long and tyrannical reign.

The decline in health services over the past year has been staggering. An international team of doctors that conducted an emergency assessment of the state of medical care last month seemed stunned by the catastrophe they witnessed. The team was sponsored by Physicians for Human Rights. In their report, released this week, the doctors said:

The collapse of Zimbabwes health system in 2008 is unprecedented in scale and scope. Public-sector hospitals have been shuttered since November 2008. The basic infrastructure for the maintenance of public health, particularly water and sanitation services, have abruptly deteriorated in the worsening political and economic climate.

Doctors and nurses are trying to do what they can under the most harrowing of circumstances: facilities with no water, no functioning toilets and barely any medicine or supplies. The report quoted the director of a mission hospital:

A major problem is the loss of life and fetal wastage we are seeing with obstetric patients. They come so late, the fetuses are already dead. We see women with eclampsia who have been seizing for 12 hours. There is no intensive care unit here, and now there is no intensive care in Harare.

If we had intensive care, we know it would be immediately full of critically ill patients. As it is, they just die.

Mugabes corrupt, violent and profoundly destructive reign has left Zim-babwe in shambles. Its a nation overwhelmed by poverty, the H.I.V./AIDS pandemic and hyperinflation. Once considered the breadbasket of Africa, Zimbabwe is now a country that cannot feed its own people. The unemployment rate is higher than 80 percent. Malnutrition is widespread, as is fear.

A nurse told the Physicians for Human Rights team: We are not supposed to have hunger in Zimbabwe. So even though we do see it, we cannot report it.

Mugabe signed a power-sharing agreement a few months ago with a political opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai, who out-polled Mugabe in an election last March but did not win a majority of the votes. But continuing turmoil, including violent attacks by Mugabes supporters and allegations that Mugabe forces have engaged in torture, have prevented the agreement from taking effect. The widespread skepticism that greeted Mugabes alleged willingness to share power only increased when he ranted, just last month: I will never, never, never surrender ... Zimbabwe is mine.

Meanwhile, health care in Zimbabwe has fallen into the abyss. This emergency is so grave that some entity needs to step in there and take over the health delivery system, said Susannah Sirkin, the deputy director of Physicians for Human Rights.

In November, the primary public referral hospital in Harare, Parirenyatwa Hospital, shut down. Its medical school closed with it. The nightmare that forced the closings was spelled out in the report:

The hospital had no running water since August of 2008. Toilets were overflowing, and patients and staff had nowhere to void soon making the hospital uninhabitable. Parirenyatwa Hospital was closed four months into the cholera epidemic, arguably the worst of all possible times to have shut down public hospital access. Successful cholera care, treatment and control are impossible, however, in a facility without clean water and functioning toilets.

The hospitals surgical wards were closed in September. A doctor described the heartbreaking dilemma of having children in his care who he knew would die without surgery. I have no pain medication, he said, some antibiotics, but no nurses ... If I dont operate, the patient will die. But if I do the surgery, the child will die also.

Whats documented in the Physicians for Human Rights report is evidence of a shocking medical and human rights disaster that warrants a much wider public spotlight, and an intensified effort to mount an international humanitarian intervention. Some organizations are already on the case, including Doctors Without Borders and Unicef. But Zimbabwe is dying, and much more is needed.

Source: http://www.feedblitz.com/t.asp?/256332/10681668/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/17/op..._r=1&th&emc=th

Gado's Cartoon

2009-01-10T20:41:00.000+03:00

2 important resolutions in US Congress

2009-01-09T00:55:00.003+03:00

2 recent resolutions in the US Congress (Did you know that the US still has not ratified the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women??) that affect some of my friends working at the Women's Legal Aid Center of Dar es Salaam and WOFATA/NETWO+:

H Res 22 (Woolsey, D-CA), expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Senate should ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); to Foreign Affairs. H 37, CR 1/6/09.

HJ Res 10 (Jackson Lee, D-TX), denouncing the practices of female genital mutilation, domestic violence, “honor” killings, acid burnings, dowry deaths, and other gender-based persecutions, expressing the sense of Congress that participation, protection, recognition, and equality of women is crucial to achieving a just, moral, and peaceful society; to Foreign Affairs. H 71, CR 1/7/09.

Glad to see these on the agenda.

NEW YEAR GIFT FOR YOU!

2009-01-01T21:40:00.001+03:00

Ruvu River

Above is the Ox-Bow Lake of Ruvu River in Tanzania in horse shoe shape. A heart or love symbol? CLICK HERE for more images and information about this river and places around. Very academic! Get more information about Bagamoyo city, an historic and popular city since the era of slave trade. It is possible also to survey the river and places around through google earth. I'm wishing you a lovely new year 2009. Stay blessed!

Enjoy!

Happy New Year 2009!

2009-01-01T21:35:00.000+03:00

Zimbabwe rejects Carter, Annan, Machel

2008-11-22T22:00:00.000+03:00

Former US President Jimmy Carter, former UN head Kofi Annan, and Graca Machel, wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela

CELEAN JACOBSON, Associated Press Writer

November 22, 2008

Zimbabwe has refused to let Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter and a South African human rights advocate visit the impoverished country for a humanitarian mission, the three said Saturday.

The former U.N. secretary-general, the ex-U.S. president and rights advocate Graca Machel had planned to assess the southern African country's needs. They are members of The Elders, a group formed by former South African President Nelson Mandela to foster peace and tackle world conflicts.

Annan said no official reason had been given for the refusal, but Zimbabwe's state-run Herald newspaper reported that the group had been asked to "come at a later date" to accommodate the crop-planting season. It quoted an unnamed source as saying they were seen as antagonistic toward Zimbabwe's government.

Zimbabweans are suffering from disease and hunger while political crisis over a power-sharing government occupies its politicians. A current cholera outbreak has killed nearly 300 people in Zimbabwe, the United Nations said.

But the three were told Friday night by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is mediating the political crisis, that efforts to secure travel visas for the a two-day trip had failed. "We are very disappointed that the government of Zimbabwe would not permit us to come in, would not cooperate," former U.S. President Carter said at a news conference in Johannesburg.
It was the first time the 2002 Nobel Peace laureate has been denied permission to carry out a mission in any country, he said.

Machel, a rights advocate for women and children who is married to Mandela, said she was denied a visa to visit Zimbabwe in July when she had planned to lead a women's delegation. Government officials in Harare could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday. The Elders had said the trip was entirely separate from regional attempts to get Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and his rivals to implement a power-sharing agreement stalled since September.

Later Saturday, Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai met the group at a hotel in Johannesburg, saying he was disappointed they could not meet under "better circumstances."
Tsvangirai accuses Mugabe — who had been in power since Zimbabwe's 1980 independence from Britain — of trying to hold onto powerful Cabinet posts. The political impasse has left the country without leadership as its economy collapses, with deadly consequences. Lack of cash to maintain water and sewer systems, for example, has led to the cholera outbreak.

"It seems obvious to me that the leaders of the government are immune to reaching out for help for their own people," Carter said. Zimbabweans face daily shortages of food, fuel and other basic goods. In the countryside, failed harvests mean that starving villagers compete with jackals, baboons and goats for roots and wild fruits.

As the country suffers from the world's worst inflation, health care has collapsed. Hospitals unable to afford drugs, equipment or staff salaries have been forced to shut down. There is growing regional concern about Zimbabwe's crisis, as millions have left for neighboring countries in search of jobs and security. "Any crisis that creates millions of refugees is regional, and everyone should be interested in resolving it," Annan said.

Annan and the group of Elders were determined to continue efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe, and planned to meet various leaders and organizations in South Africa. The Elders — including 12 former world leaders and prominent rights activists — have mediated in a number of other international crises, such as Sudan and Kenya. The group was launched last year to celebrate Mandela's 89th birthday.

Hardworking ....

2008-11-18T10:31:00.000+03:00

Tanzania’s Albino Soccer Team and Members of Parliament to advocate against the killings of Albinos

2008-11-13T22:44:00.000+03:00

A recently formed Tanzania’s albino soccer team, Albino Magic Team, and the Members of Parliament Soccer Team, Bunge Team, will continue advocating against the killings of albino in the country. The campaign will take part in the lake regions of Mwanza, Mara, Kagera and Shinyanga in January and February 2009.

The new Taifa Stadium was overcrowded during the first match between MPs and Albinos as it was the day Simba and Yanga teams played

According to Africa News Killing of albinos of all ages is taking roots in the country as 30 of them have lost their lives within the past 12 months, with the highest number of killings taking place in the lake regions of Mwanza, Mara, Kagera and Shinyanga. Isolated cases have also been reported from Mbeya region.

The killings are spurred by superstitious beliefs of making quick money as witchdoctors advise their clients to get organs and body parts from albinos so as to become rich. Crime scenes are very gruesome - legs, hands, lips, fingers and toes are chopped off from the victims. No one has so far been convicted of the crimes although several people have been charged.

Ms Al-Shymaa Kwegyir, MP on Special Seats

Member of Parliament on Special Seats who is also an albino, Al-Shymaa Kwegyir, says those who hunt and kill albinos for whatever reasons are not different from terrorists and must be dealt with accordingly. She calls for the public to unite against these killings and exposes all those who are behind them.

We are against the killings of albinos in Tanzania

In some regions of Eastern Africa certain body parts of albinos are falsely believed to transmit magical powers. This superstition has been promulgated and exploited by witch doctors and others who use such body parts as ingredients in rituals, concoctions and potions with the claim that their magic will bring prosperity to the user

The Deputy Minister for Information, Culture and Sports, Joel Bendera

The Deputy Minister for Information, Culture and Sports, Joel Bendera, have challenged local filmmakers to focus on more timely and important themes rather than basing on love affairs. Since the establishment of the albino team Mr. Bendera who is also a leader of the Bunge Team and a well known Tanzanian soccer stakeholder have been in front line in providing good direction for the team to reach its goals.

“We are very happy to have Mr. Bendera besides and certainly this will lead into the formation of other albino football clubs in the lake zones regions and other parts of Tanzania. We need men and women sport clubs for security, stigma reduction, advocacy and exposure,” revealed Mr. Oscar Haule, the founder and team Director who strives to provide basic care and support of the team including daily transport.

Female albinos dancing infront of the President Kikwete during the peaceful demonstration against the killing of albions last month, October 2008.

Addressing the people during the protestant march against the killings of albinos last month Kikwete said he is very disappointed by killings and he calls for all to be against the killings and any violence against albinos' human rights. He said efforts to deal with the network that was involved in the killings are going on, and urged people to shun secrecy and help the police.

Protest march against killing of albinos in Tanzania

He called for a thorough crackdown on people behind the murders of albinos in the country following a countrywide outcry over the killings amid reports that more than 50 albinos were murdered since March last year.

Hopefully, the next campaign to be based in the lake zone of Tanzaniawill help uprooting the negative attitudes and killings of albinos in the country as the campaign targets people in both rural and urban areas.

Miriam Odemba 1st runner-up at Miss Earth

2008-11-11T15:24:00.000+03:00

Miriam Odemba

two last women standing!!!

whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...

Miriam Odembe with fellow top 4

Miriam's moments at the finals of Miss Earth 2008

Countries and territories that sent delegates and results

Miss Earth 2008: Karla Henry (Philippines)
Miss Earth Air (1st runner-up): Miriam Odemba (Tanzania)
Miss Earth Water (2nd runner-up): Abigail Elizalde (Mexico)
Miss Earth Fire (3rd runner-up): Tatiane Alves (Brazil)
Top 8 Finalists: Mariana Rodríguez (Colombia), Adriana Reverón (Spain), Nasanin Nuri (Switzerland), Daniela Torrealba (Venezuela)
Top 16 Semifinalists: Hana Svobodová (Czech Republic), Seo Seol-hee (Korea), Uko Ezinne (Nigeria), Karolina Filipkowska (Poland), Ruxandra Popa (Romania), Anna Mezentseva (Russia), Piyaporn Deejing (Thailand), Jana Murrell (USA)

Winning Answer

Final Question in Miss Earth 2008: "What would you tell US president-elect Barack Obama about the state of the global environment if ever you were to meet him?"
Answer of Miss Earth 2008: “Environmental knowledge is something that all of us must share, but most importantly we must teach the youth that this is something that we should instill in them so that in the near future they will be the ones to take care of our mother Earth." - Karla Henry, represented Philippines

"That and this then ..."

2008-11-11T15:16:00.000+03:00

OFID Scholarship Award 2009/10

2008-11-07T16:36:00.000+03:00

OFID (The OPEC Fund for International Development) is pleased to announce that qualified undergraduate students are welcome to apply for the OFID Scholarship 2009/10.
The OFID Scholarship will be awarded to support an undergraduate student from any developing country, to pursue higher education in a relevant field of development, in any recognized university/college in the world.

Through its scholarship scheme, OFID aims to help highly motivated, highly driven individuals overcome one of the biggest challenges to their careers the cost of advanced professional or graduate training.

The winner of the OFID Award will receive a scholarship of up to US$100,000 The funds will be spread over amaximum of two years, toward the completion of a Masters degree, or its equivalent, at an accredited educational institution, starting in the autumn of the academic year 2009/10.

I. EligibilityTo be eligible the candidate must meet ALL of the following criteria: -

Must be between the ages of 23-32 at the time of submitting his/herapplication.

Must be a graduating student with a Baccalaureate from a four-year, accredited college/university, or its equivalent.

Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 rating system, or its equivalent.

Must be matriculated at an accredited university for the upcoming academic year starting September 2009, and must maintain full-time status for the duration of the Masters Degree.

Must be a national of a developing country (please see list of eligible countries)

Must select a subject of study that pertains to OFIDs core mission, such as: economics of development (poverty reduction, energy and sustainabledevelopment), environment (desertification), or other related science and technology fields.

PLEASE NOTE:
Please read ALL of the directions below before proceeding with the application process: -Applicants are responsible for gathering and submitting all necessary information.
Applications will be evaluated based on the information provided.
Therefore, all questions should be answered as thoroughly as possible. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Once an application has been submitted, no changes will be allowed on it.OFID will not consider applications received through a third party.Please do not call or email OFID to ask if your application has been received, or to inquire about your status.Please note that only the winner will be notified.

All materials submitted become the property of OFID and will not be returned to the applicant.
Applicants must complete the on-line application form and essay requirement, and must email the required materials to OFIDs email address provided below. All materials including the on-line application, recommendations, and other required information must be received no later than March 31, 2009. Applicants should submit required documents via scholarship@ofid.org

II.Disbursement of the Scholarship FundThe terms and conditions of payment will be determined in coordination with thestudent upon his/her selection in accordance with the following guidelines: -The tuition fees, including any supplementary examination fees, as may be required by the academic institution, will be paid by OFID directly to the academic institution. Health insurance will be paid in accordance with the institutions own standard medical scheme.
A monthly allowance to cover living expenses, books and accommodation, will be transferred to the students own personal bank account on a quarterly basis.

Prior to the start of his/her first year studies, the student will be paid a relocation grant, equal to two-month allowance. OFID will also pay for travel costs from the nearest airport to the students place of residence, to the nearest airport to the chosen place of study. Upon completion of the studies, the student will be paid the cost of one-way air ticket to his/her home country.

III.Required documentsA completed on-line application form.A scanned copy of the last university degree or certificate.A scanned letter of acceptance from your chosen educational institution, confirming your admission, subject of study and duration of the Masters degree program (must not exceed a maximum of two years).A proof of meeting any prerequisites, including language proficiency.A short essay of about 250 words in English giving reasons for applying for OFIDs scholarship, explaining your educational goals, and clearly describing how you will use the experience gained from your Masters degree studies to help in the development of your home country.Two letters of recommendation from professors and/or lecturers at applicant's present university.

IV. Eligible Countries*
In addition to nationals of OFID Member States, nationals of the followingcountries are also eligible: -
Africa : - Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d`lvoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome& Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Asia and the Middle East:Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Korea DR, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Myanmar,Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, YemenLatin America and the Caribbean:Antigua Barbuda , Belize, Barbados, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Grenada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Haiti, , Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Panama, St. Christopher, St. Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Europe :Albania , Bosnia Herzegovina

For more information:
http://www.ofid.org/scholarship/application.aspx

Asante Yahya Poli

Barack Obama: Blessings for the US. Yes we can. Ndiyo Tunaweza.

2008-11-06T22:18:00.000+03:00

Debate on EAC Federation

2008-11-02T19:19:00.000+03:00

By PETER WANYONYI

Posted Thursday,
October 30 2008 at 16:53
Source: Daily Nation

THE EAST AFRICAN community region is a rarity in the contient — five contiguous countries sharing a pre-colonial and colonial history, and presently with a dream to unite their economies and, eventually, as a federated political entity.

That, at least, is the dream. The reality is a little more discouraging.
Ugandan MPs are considering a Bill that will make it almost impossible for citizens of other East African countries to invest in the Kampala Stock Exchange.

This comes in the wake of concern in the country following the losses suffered by Ugandan investors who put their money into the Nairobi Stock Exchange during the Safaricom IPO.

In Tanzania, nationals of the rest of the EAC are not even allowed to own land. A recent EAC leaders’ summit wrung out of Tanzania a protocol allowing non-citizens to settle “so long as they are engaged in economic activities”.

As the “economic activities” are not defined in the protocol, it is left to local interpretation to decide what does qualify.

And as Kenyan companies have discovered to their considerable cost, such interpretation is generally anti-EAC and usually anti-Kenyan.

UNDERLYING THESE AND VARIOUS other actions that go against the “spirit of the EAC” — if ever there was one — is a rabid fear of Kenyans in both Uganda and Tanzania.

Tanzania — with far more land than Kenya, blessed with hydrocarbons and gold as well as diamonds, without a history of strife or pronounced ethnicity to the extent that Kenya has, and with a larger population than Kenya’s — is much poorer than Kenya.
Various excuses have been advanced to explain this, the most credible of which is the destructive “Ujamaa” system of economic (under) development that Tanzania followed under President Nyerere.

Uganda, on the other hand, is bogged down in ethnic insurrections in the north and a simmering, now-on now-off war with rebels in the Congo.
As a result of the mistrust between the original EAC triumvirate, their borders are bywords for lack of co-operation between the respective border agencies.

On the Kenya-Uganda border, a rag-tag rebel movement materialised in the last two years, murdering civilians and hacking off the ears of those they did not kill.
They used the Ugandan side of Mt Elgon as their hideout. The Ugandan authorities were not in the least bit bothered.

In Tanzania, Kenyans seem to be seen as criminals first and foremost.
Last year, a Kenyan investor who owned a driving school in Nairobi — a woman, no less — was gunned down in Tanzania on suspicion of being “a bank robber”.
She was not even armed, and no trace of arms or the proceeds of robbery were found on her person or in her car.

In fact, one can say that other than for tiny Rwanda — Burundi is too preoccupied with civil war to care one way or the other — Kenya seems to be the unwelcome guest at the EAC table.
This is short-sighted and nonsensical.

Uganda, for one, relies on Kenya for virtually all its imports.
Those not manufactured in Kenya transit through Kenya en route to Kampala — a fact emphasised painfully during the post-election violence when the closure of the Nakuru-Eldoret-Malaba highway resulted in scarcity of commodities, with Uganda’s economy paying a high price as a result.

There was much talk, at the time, of Tanzania and Uganda developing an alternative route from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza, but such talk has cooled down, as the actual cost of such an undertaking dawned on both countries.

Tanzania is similarly myopic in its suspicion of Kenya.
More than 270 Kenyan companies have invested in the country in deals worth a total sum of over $2 billion. The reverse is negligible.

If Tanzanian authorities continue their current policies of frustrating Kenyan businesspeople, and the Kenyans pulled out en masse, the loss of jobs and the flight of foreign exchange would deal a severe blow to Tanzania’s economy.

IN ADDITION, TANZANIA HAS A LOT to gain from allowing non-citizens to purchase or lease land: the World Bank holds that large tracts of land in Tanzania are left idle in the rainy season due to lack of capital, lack of know-how, or both.

It would be better utilised if a system was found to allow EAC citizens to farm it commercially.
With its overtures of economic co-operation being spurned by both countries, Kenya should look to southern Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi — and thence to Congo — for reliable economic partners.

Otherwise, Kenya has already given too many concessions, both economic and political, to continue bending even lower for a regional bloc whose other members are clearly reluctant participants.

It’s time to move on!

DEMOCRAT GADDAFI OR DICTATOR GADDAFI?

2008-10-31T19:59:00.000+03:00

'Hi everyone!!! We are two annointed eternal leaders ....!!'

It has been long from the time we chatted. I must commend Severin for this initiative otherwise this is an interesting subject. Its true we have dictators of all kind in Africa than any other continent on the planet. Even though its very easy to point accusing fingers at the West, we are the ones (Africans) to blame. We have allowed ourselves to be used in so many ways. For those in power they have allowed themselves to be manipulated in broad day light, with full knowledge by the Western friends.Some of these leaders are very educated and they know the effects of their dealings with the West and also on the ordinary citizens. You can never be a dictator for life. The West is very deceitful; they may be your friend tomorrow they are the ones hunting you.

On the other hand we citizens must also take time to reject dictatorial tendencies from our leaders. If our colleagues in Europe did it against Sloboban Milosevic why can’t we do it? They never used guns; they used the cheapest means to unseat a dictator which even the dictator himself did not understand.

I am not very comfortable mentioning Gaddaffi among the waste dictators like Mugabe of Zimbabwe because for a long time even with pressure from the West he has managed to put Libya on the world map.(I stand to be corrected). At least you can not compare the Libyan economy to some of the peace enjoying countries on the continent.

Guys, Zambia is having Presidential elections today (October 30, 2008) and I cast my vote at 06:09AM. We are praying that the cancer from Zimbabwe and Kenya does not spread to this countries but the political atmosphere is really tense. There is almost a revolution because its like the people dont like the ruling MMD despite the good things that the late Mwanawasa did. On the other opportunist from the ruling MMD seem to be aware of the fact that the people dont dont want them and are busy staging all sought of Zambian monkey games to get back to power.
Muyeyi
(Zambia)

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MUAMAR GADDAFI’S ‘QUALIFICATIONS’

1-He is a Dictator equal to Saddam Hussein

2-He gave asylum to Idi Amin who murdered half a million of his people

3-He supports Robert Mugabe who starves and murders his people

4-He has massacred his own people who peacefully oppose him

5-He sanctioned the Lockerbie Bombing

6-He has supported International Terrorism for years

7-He is totally unstable and can not be trusted

8-He has political prisoners who have been locked away for decades

9-His sons act like oil tycoons while his people live in poverty

10-He is a traitor to his people, his faith, his country

Lucinda Lavelle

Secretary of the British Libyan Solidarity Campaign
………………………………………………………………………….

“With all due respect, anyone who thinks or says that Gaddafi has "strong" support in Libya is someone who does not know anything about Libya. I am willing to bet anything in the world that if we can conduct an independent and free survey of Libyans, Gaddafi will be absolutely lucky to get anything above 5% , mainly his own clan and those who benefited from his misrule. I have always been challenging Libyan officials and Gaddafi slaves to simply prove us wrong and allow us to conduct such a survey.”
Hafed Al Ghweli;

Libya Monitor, Sep. 2008

.....................................................................

Some Similarities Between Gaddafi and Mugabe

1. Oppress and corrupt media (not easy to know the evil side);

2. They all misuse power to extend thier time of rulling;

3. They don't deligage power, hence no one else can raise and get recognition as the next possible leader who can do the same or better than them.

4. Both are selfish; they don't believe that anyone else can lead the nation. They do believe that they are annointed for eternal leadership!

5. The kill or jail or torture all who are agaist them.

Note:

Libya's position on the map is not the result of Gaddafi's leadership but the hydrocarbon industries i.e the available natural resource that anyone else could do the same and better if given a chance. According to the World Bank Libya’s hydrocarbon exports account for over 95 percent of total merchandize exports and revenues from the oil and natural gas sectors amount to over half of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

It is not that Gaddafi's doings to his coutry are all bad. No! But with the population of 5.900.754 should we keep on believing that there is no one else to lead Libya except Gaddafi? Remember, poor or no power deligation lead into war! Should we keep quite and wait for the war in Libya? The African Dictators' club should not allowed to grow!! Gaddafi is not a dictator not democrat. Get up Africa! Awake the world... Let's make it before Sunset!

Severin Edward

A CLUB OF AFRICAN DICTATORS

2008-10-28T20:38:00.000+03:00

Today, Africa is producing and keeping number of dictators than its fairs share! Pillars of support to these dictators' regimes are weapon sellers; US, China, France, UK and ...? Yes, that ones as well. These superpowers preach peace, democracy, human rights and likes at the microphones but through papers and telephone talks with these dictators they preach wars and violences. They support curruptions. Yes, for mutual benefit!

A club of African dictators is now more active than ever been, under the leadership and supervision of Muammar Gadafi, President of Libya (1969 - present); Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda (1986 - present); Mwai Kibaki, President of Kenya; Omar Bongo, President of Gabon (1967 - present); and Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe (1980 - present).

These are club leaders, who have demonstrated dictatorship in different styles in an autocracy; form of government in which the political power is held by a single self-appointed ruler like Kibaki and Mugabe. Stealing elections and thereafter call for fake power sharing negotiations!

Who are members? You know them, and all are men!

Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe), 84-year-old dictator of almost three decades railed against colonial phantoms while stealing an election, ruining the economy and starving people of Zimbababwe. He is now calling for power sharing to continue blinding the world, just like Kibaki did.

Mwai Kibake (Kenya), a new dictatorship style practitioner and head of that department, presently assisting Mugabe to blind Africans. He is the best friend of Yoweri Museveni, embraces Museveni and Gaddafi wholeheartedly!

Omar Bongo (Gabon)... a long-time African dictator with different strategies of coaching othe leaders who want to rule for decades.

A few months ago, Gaddafi (Libya) was in Uganda ostensibly to open a mosque. At that function, Gaddafi asked African leaders to forget democracy and rule for as long as their countries needed them. President Kibaki was also at the function where Gaddafi supported Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe’s decision to stay in power.

In the mid-1980s, as Moi was having his battles with Gaddafi, then US president Ronald Reagan declared the United States would support African nations that want to resist Libyan interventionism, but currently Gaddafi is a good of America and France! Think twice before you start judging ...

Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), another dictator and best friend to Muammar, Kibaki and Mugabe. Through his millitary adventures in the Great Lakes region of Africa has caused more deaths, misery and desolation than anyone in recent African history.

He campaigned for Tutsi ethnic domination in Great Lakes region.

He is very concerned and involved in wars in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.

But very supprising, he has a dream of becoming President of the East African Community Federation!! When? In 2015? 2020? 2030? 2018?

All mentioned above are club leaders.... what about members like Denis Sassou-Nguesso of Congo Brazzavile? How many African dictators do you know?

ALBINO MAGIC TEAM FORMED IN TANZANIA

2008-10-20T09:22:00.000+03:00

Photo by Michuzi: Albino Magi Team with its coach Oscar at right

Following the cold-blooded murders and stigma attached to albinism, albinos in Dar es Salaam have decided to have fun like everybody else, by way of forming a soccer team named Albino Magic Team that comprises more than twenty people with albinism. It’s a unique team in the world! Where else?

Albino Magic Team headquarters are at the Ocean Road Cancer Centre in the city, train everyday from 16:00 hours at a small pitch, a stone throw from the centre. The idea of forming the team was initiated and developed by Mr. Oscar Haule, who is a non-albinism but moved in advocating for albinos’ human rights, including a right to live peacefully and enjoying life like anyone else does.

A team thanking Patric Nyembela (EATV) for giving a football

“We have a myriad of short and long term plans with the purpose of shaking off false beliefs and bad attitudes against people with albinism.” Mr. Oscar told the African Chapter blog yesterday by telephone soon after a peaceful rally organized by the Albino Society of Tanzania.

Addressing the gathering President Kikwete said yesterday that the government recognizes the efforts been implimented and implimented, and that his government will strive to overcome the fear and stigma suffered by people with albinism. He also revealed that the plight of albinos is a critical challenge as the tight veil of secrecy behind the vicious murders had frustrated the efforts to contain a situation that has stained the good image of the country.

Albino Magic Team vs MP’s Team
In October 26, 2008 the Albino Magic Team is expected to defeat the MP’s team popularly know as Bunge Team during the match prepared as a curtain raiser during the epic duels between the two arch rivals, Dar Young Africans and Simba.

“The team is well prepared for the match. This is our first public match to be watched within the country and outside Tanzania, so we are eagerly interested in telling and showing the world that if albinos and other people with disabilities are empowered can do,” said Oscar who is also a team coach.

He calls for people; individuals and organizations, to support the team reach its vision. “We do not have sports equipment and our players are coming far from Ocean Road Cancer Institute. The have to walk a long distance in the Sun to attend daily exercise as we do not have team buses or money for transport”.

For more information about this team please contact

Mr. Oscar Haule, a team Director and Coach by:

telephone +255 716 040550

Email: tayepeo@gmail.com

Transformational Leadership Program: Call for Applications

2008-10-17T17:44:00.000+03:00

The Africa-America Institute (AAI) is pleased to announce a call for applications for the next Transformational Leadership Program (TLP) scholarship deadline. AAI has partnered with The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation (TCCAF) on TLP to enhance professional management skills and leadership in Africa. This multiyear program offers both non-degree professional development and business degree training programs to African managers in Africa-based NGOs working in the fields of health, education, environment and entrepreneurship. Deadline: October 27, 2008.

AAI invites the managers of eligible NGOs in Africa to apply for a TLP scholarship for either: Executive Education Short Courses at the Wharton School of Business or Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at the Goizueta Business School

DEADLINE: OCTOBER 27, 2008

The eligibility criteria for NGO managers are:
Applicants must be current employees of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
Applicants must be residents of an African country.
Applicants must have significant professional work experience (i.e. 5-15 years) working in NGOs.
NGOs must be doing work in the critical areas of health, education, environment or entrepreneurship in Africa.
Applicants must be proficient in English.
Applicants must agree to return to their countries immediately upon completion of their training program.
For MBA program: TOEFL scores or IELTS scores are required for non-native English speakers.
For MBA program: GMAT scores are required for degree programs.
For MBA program: Undergraduate degree is required.

For additional information, you may contact:Tahnia Charles-BelleProgram Officer, AHETEmail: tcharlesbelle@aaionline.org Tel: +1 (212) 949-5666 or CLICK HERE

Somalia: AU Peacekeeper Injured in Mogadishu

2008-10-14T22:51:00.000+03:00

Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)
13 October 2008

Abdinasir Moh-GuledMogadishu

An African Union peacekeeper from Uganda has injured in an attack in the Somali capital, Mogadishu on Monday- the second to be inflicted in as many days.
The peacekeeper was injured in the attack, in which a roadside bomb hidden roadside hit a group of soldiers at KM4 area in Mogadishu, an AU spokesman said.

"One of our soldiers injured when the bomb went as our soldiers were nearby" AMISOM spokesman Brigye Bohoku said. Some 1,800 Ugandan troops form the bulk of the AU forces in Somalia, helping to guard key buildings and the Mogadishu port, where food aid is unloaded.

Al-Shabab is the strongest and best organised group among the insurgents.
Over the weekend, the group threatened to stop planes using Mogadishu's main airport as of Tuesday. The group described the airport, which is used for official and commercial flights, as a tool of Ethiopia's "occupation" of Somalia.

But Mr Bahoku said any such move would hurt Somali civilians, including those who needed medicine or needed to leave because of illness.
Somalia has been wracked by conflict since 1991, when former President Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted.

In December 2006, Ethiopian troops helped topple Islamist forces who had taken control of much of southern Somalia earlier that year.
Relevant Links

The Islamists then launched an insurgency against Somalia's transitional government.

Annversary: The Passing of Nyerere

2008-10-13T21:53:00.000+03:00

Late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere

Thank you Michuzi for this photo

Tanzanians are today marking ninth year anniversary since the passing of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere (1922-1999), the first president of the United Republic of Tanzania (1961-85), father of African Socialism and one of Africa's most renowned statesmen who died on 14 October 1999, of leukemia.

He is always remembered as one of Africa's greatest and most respected sons; brilliant philosopher and outstanding leader who throughout his life he enjoyed respect and popularity that extended far beyond the borders of Tanzania.

*******************

NYERERE'S LAST GREAT INTERVIEW

In his remembrance I would like to share with you one of sweetest interview he made with Ikweba Bunting (for the Internationalist Magazine). The interview covers many things you would love to know ...about Africa: Conflicts and history of Africa; great leaders of Africa like Kwame, Kenyatta, Mandela and others; future of Africa and federation of United State of Africa.

Do you know? Nyerere was a cofounder of Chama Cha Mapinduzi, the rulling political party of Tanzania, with membership card No.1 but he is the one who advocates for multipartism in the country. Who can do this in this world? Can you dare to welcome competitors into your business? For your information 80% of Tanzanianians refused maltipart system, but ...

Click Here AND Enjoy the interview!

Tunakukumbuka Mwalimu

Severin Edward

2008 Nobel Peace Prize Winner ...

2008-10-11T19:14:00.000+03:00

Martti Ahtisaari

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has selected the former president of Finland Martti Ahtisaari for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. Martti Ahtisaari has been honored with the coveted award for his tireless contribution towards global peace and harmony.

For more than three decades, he has been operating as mediator in conflicts around the world. The 71-year old former Finnish president has been selected out of 197 nominees. After getting the award, Ahtisaari said that it will help him to raise funds for further peacemaking.

"For the past 20 years, he has figured prominently in endeavours to resolve several serious and long-lasting conflicts," his prize citation said.

The veteran has showed the world how mediators can sort out the problem of international conflicts. The prize money of $1.4 million will be handed over to Ahtisaari in a function at Oslo on December 10, 2008 which is also the death anniversary of Sir Alfred Nobel. The Nobel Peace prize is the most prestigious award of the world. Last year it was won by former vice president Al Gore and the U.N. climate change department for their work on the environment.

He was born on June 23, 1937, in Finland's Karelia province, which his family was forced to flee at the end of World War II after it was annexed by the Soviet Union.
An academic career led him to the teaching profession — he taught in Pakistan at the beginning of the 1960s — before he entered the diplomatic service.

He was appointed ambassador to Tanzania in 1973, at the age of 36.

GREAT AND PAYING COMPETITION!!!!!

2008-10-09T23:37:00.002+03:00

Women for Peace (1)

Thousands of Serbian Students against Millosevic

Hundreads of Tanzanian Students for Changes

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Women for Peace (2)

Riots over Food Prices

School Children as part of Army
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QUIZ

Look at all pictures carefully and

(a) Categorize the picture into two groups

(b) From the two groups, tell what the message is conveyed and if possible

provide subgroups

(c) From the two groups from (a) above which is more forceful?

(d) What does 'nonviolence conflicts' sounds to you?

AWARD

The winner(s) will be announced and will be connected to the Nonviolence Conflict Strategsts group, plus the possibility of linked to courses on Nonviolence Conflict Movements.

Send your answers by November 30, 2008 AND DON'T FORGET TO PROVIDE YOUR FULL CONTACT INFORMATION if competing.

For more informaton please contact the African Chapter by the

email displayed at the header. Your answers can be directly posted here or provided as a comment or mailed to the African Chapter with permission or restriction of publishing them. You can also answer and state if you are in the competition or not.

Try it! You never know... By the way, trial is not a failure!

Good lucky!

Severin

Cameroon On Top Of Africa

2008-10-09T21:07:00.000+03:00

The national team rankings for September have come out, with Cameroon on top of Africa...

Cameroon has jumped one spot to lie in 14th place in the FIFA world rankings, first place amongst African nations. Ghana second after dropping down a spot place from the last rankings.Meanwhile, African champions Egyptare third behind the duo.

The surprise was South Africa, who are 70th in the world. Bafana Bafana is going to host the 2010 World Cup and, as hosts, their ranking is nothing short of embarassing.The most impressive leap was made by Gabon, who jumped 12 places to 62nd worldwide.

African Ranking Top 10:

1) Cameroon (15 worldwide)

2) Ghana (20)

3) Egypt (21)

4) Cote d’Ivoire (23)

5) Nigeria (27)

6) Morocco (37)

7) Guinea (41)

8) Tunisia (44)

9) Senegal (45)

10) Mali (47)

African Governments’ Assessments Out Today

2008-10-06T13:44:00.000+03:00

Joachim Chisano, former President of Mozambique won a 2007 Mo Ibrahim Prize

The 2008 Ibrahim Index of African Governance, which ranks sub-Saharan African nations according to governance performance, will be released in Addis Ababa today (6/10/2008).

The Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership is awarded annually to a former African executive Head of State or Government who has demonstrated excellence in African leadership. Unprecedented in its scale and scope, the Mo Ibrahim Prize consists of US$ 5 million over 10 years and US$ 200,000 annually for life thereafter. A further US$ 200,000 per year for good causes espoused by the winner may be granted by the Foundation during the first ten years.

Thabo Mbeki, former President of South Africa

The winner of the 2008 Mo Ibrahim Prize will be selected by a Prize Committee comprised of Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General; Martti Ahtisaari, former UN Special Representative for Namibia and former President of Finland; Aïcha Bah Diallo, former Minister of Education in Guinea and Special Adviser to the Director-General of UNESCO. Others are Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (and board member of the Foundation); Salim Ahmed Salim, former Prime Minister of Tanzania and former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity (and board member of the Foundation)

The Ibrahim Index assesses countries against 57 criteria. It was created in recognition of the need for a comprehensive and quantifiable method of measuring governance performance in sub-Saharan Africa, and has been designed as a tool for civil society and citizens to hold governments to account, to stimulate debate on governance, and to provide a diagnostic framework to assess governance in the region.

Former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, who resigned under pressure from his ruling African National Congress (ANC) may be considered for his stewardship of the South African Economy and mediation in neighbouring Zimbabwe.
“Good governance is the single most important factor in eradicating poverty and promoting development.”Kofi Annan, Former United Nations Secretary-General

Make it before Sunset

Lesbians?

2008-10-05T00:29:00.000+03:00

Photo: Lions at Selous Game Reserve

This photo was recently taken at Selous Game Reserve, one of the largest fauna reserves of the world, located in the south of Tanzania. It was named after Englishman Sir Frederick Selous, a famous big game hunter and early conservationist, who died in in this territory in 1917 while fighting against the Germans in World War I.

A Problem Shared is a Problem Halved!

2008-10-05T00:02:00.000+03:00

SA court rejects Zuma graft case

2008-09-12T21:28:00.000+03:00

Mr Zuma has mass grass-roots support in the ruling ANC

A South African court has ruled that a corruption case against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma cannot go ahead.

BBCFriday, 12 September 2008

He was facing charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering relating to a multi-billion dollar 1999 arms deal.

A judge in Pietermaritzburg said there was reason to believe the decision to charge him was politically motivated.

His words were drowned out by cheers of supporters outside the court. The decision means Mr Zuma is likely to become president in polls next year.

More details PLEASE CLICK HERE

Policy?

2008-09-10T23:34:00.000+03:00

GBV or ?

2008-09-10T23:01:00.000+03:00

Award-winning cartoonist, Zapiro, is in the firing line over a controversial cartoon that appeared in this week's Sunday Times. The drawing shows African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma unbuckling his belt in front of a woman who is being held down by leaders of the ANC, the South African Communist Party (SACP), the ANC Youth League and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).

The woman in the cartoon represents the justice system, so identified by a banner across her body -- implying that Zuma, together with the ANC and its alliance partners, is "raping" the judicial system.Zuma is currently facing corruption charges, though he has challenged the decision to charge him. Some of his supporters in the tripartite alliance insist the charges are part of a political plot to smear Zuma's name.

For more details please click here

Mugabe aides hold secret talks to gain immunity

2008-09-10T22:31:00.000+03:00

Zimbabwe: Mugabe aides hold secret talks to gain immunity Army and police chiefs demand protection from prosecution before backing change in Zimbabwe

Tracy McVeigh, chief reporter The Observer, Sunday September 7 2008

The South African President, Thabo Mbeki, greets government officials next to Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe at Harare International airport in August.

Photograph: Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters

Some of President Robert Mugabe's senior aides have had secret negotiations with South African mediators in an effort to secure amnesties from any future prosecution in return for supporting regime change in Zimbabwe.

Army, police and secret service chiefs have repeatedly pledged loyalty to Mugabe in public and insisted that they would never 'salute' or support a government led by opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, the head of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who secured most votes in the presidential election that took place in March this year. But government sources in both Zimbabwe and South Africa have told The Observer that a senior army general and a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) chief visited Pretoria last weekend to seek assurances from South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki that they would not be prosecuted in the event of Tsvangirai taking over.

Mbeki is mediating in the power-sharing talks between Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party and the MDC, negotiations which appeared to be hanging by a thread last week with the MDC threatening to pull out and accusing Zanu-PF of a lack of commitment to dialogue. MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said his party's patience was being stretched to the limit after Mugabe told journalists in Zambia on Wednesday at the funeral of President Levy Mwanawasa that he would form a new government of national unity if Tsvangirai did not sign the document already agreed to during the talks.

'We feel frozen at the moment and if the MDC does not want to see the country move, then we will be left with no choice than to form a new government without them,' said Mugabe. Yesterday, however, the MDC backed away from its threat, insisting that it was still fully committed to dialogue.

Robert Mugabe relies heavily on Zimbabwe's defence force chiefs, most of whom have been supporters of the ageing dictator since the 1970s war of independence and were heavily involved in conducting the murderous campaign of violence against MDC supporters and activists that erupted after the March election results were announced.

Mbeki's spokesman, Mukoni Ratshitanga, said he knew nothing of any secret meetings and insisted power-sharing talks were continuing. 'You know quite well that we will never ever announce the contents of the talks through the press before making a feedback to the Zimbabwean community, Southern African Development Community and the African Union,' Ratshitanga told The Observer

Sources close to the talks said the Zimbabwe defence forces' Lieutenant-General Constantine Chiwenga, police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri, and CIO director-general Happyton Bonyongwe were at a private meeting in Pretoria. Behind the scenes, Zanu-PF'S politburo, including Mugabe, is said to be distancing itself from the violence that killed more than 120 people between the first round of voting and June's one-man presidential run-off poll, laying the blame on the army and the CIO.

It is widely expected that, if there are any future trials for crimes against humanity, Mugabe will escape prosecution due to old age. Tsvangirai, who will tomorrow address the largest MDC rally to be held in Zimbabwe since the outbreak of violence to mark the ninth anniversary of his party, said in the course of an interview with The Observer earlier this year that he had no thirst for vengeance against the 'old man'.

But Mugabe's powerful backers would need strong guarantees that an amnesty from prosecution, and even a possible future refuge outside Zimbawe, would be available to them if they are to distance themselves from the country's leader.

AU backs Sudan`s Bashir over court

2008-09-10T22:08:00.000+03:00

Jakaya Kikwete (l) and Omar al-Bashir (r)

The chairman of the African Union, Jakaya Kikwete, affirmed support for deferring any war crimes indictment against Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir during a visit to Khartoum yesterday. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has asked judges to issue an arrest warrant for Bashir for war crimes committed in Sudan`s western Darfur region.

``Justice has to be done, justice must be seen to be done, what the AU is simply saying is that what is critical, what is the priority, is peace. That is priority number one now,`` Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said, standing beside Bashir.

``We should do the first thing first. On this basis, the AU supports deferral of the indictment,`` said Kikwete, who currently chairs the regional bloc. Bashir rejects accusations of war crimes and genocide. Both the African Union and Arab League want any indictment put on hold, saying it could obstruct efforts to bring peace to Darfur, where international experts say at least 200,000 people have died as a result of conflict since 2003.

Darfur rebels took up arms against the Khartoum government complaining of neglect and discrimination against the region`s non-Arab people.

Source: Guardian

RIP Mwanawasa

2008-09-04T22:01:00.000+03:00

Coffin carrying Mwanawasa's body

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa was buried yesterday amid accolades from fellow African leaders, but his widow said he died a sad, unappreciated man.

Mwanawasa's widow, Maureen, addressing the body in a flag-covered coffin, said: "Typical of you, you died on duty. You died a sad man as no one seemed to appreciate your sacrifices. Had you been with us today, I am sure these accolades could have made you happy."

Mr Mwanawasa was buried yesterday at Lusaka’s Embassy Park during a touching ceremony that was witnessed by 14 Africa heads of state and government, among them Tanzanian President and AU chairman Jakaya Kikwete, South African President, Mr Thabo Mbeki, President Bingu WaMutharika of Malawi, President Joseph Kabila of the DRC, Marc Ravalomanana of Madagascar, Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, Seretse Khama Ian Khama of Botswana, Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, to mention but a few.

President Mugabe consoling Mwanawasa's widow, Maureen

"He was a visionary leader who worked tirelessly to promote human rights and democracy in Africa. "He always spoke his mind," a Tanzanian President Kikwete told the packed funeral service at a Baptist church in Lusaka. South African President Thabo Mbeki, who took over from Mwanawasa as chairman of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), praised Mwasawasa's achievements in a speech to the 5,000 mourners. "He was a true African who believed in an African solution to various challenges the continent is facing," Mbeki said.

Mugabe and his rival opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday put aside their differences to attend Mwanawasa's funeral. It was also attended by envoys from the United States and Britain. Upon arrival in Lusaka, Mugabe on Tuesday paid tribute to the late Zambian president - who once referred to Zimbabwe's economy as a "sinking Titanic" - calling him a frank and courageous leader.

President Mugabe said his quarrels with Mr. Mwanawasa were brotherly and were never personal.‘‘The fact that we were so close does not mean we did not quarrel. When we differ politically it does not mean that we differ personally. It does not mean we become enemies, brothers quarrel, I had many quarrels with my late brother but it did not mean we stopped being brothers. It did not mean we became enemies.’’

A Month of Mercy, رمضان

2008-09-01T21:48:00.001+03:00

May Allah shower his blessings on you and your family during the holy month of Mercy, Ramadhan, and beyond

May He accept our prayers and good deeds and forgive all our wrongdoings

**I Wish You all a Successful Fasting**
****Ameen****

India floods: 20 die as rescue boat capsizes

2008-09-01T15:15:00.000+03:00

Villagers wade through floods in Bihar, India. Photograph: AP/Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Official death toll in Bihar state climbs to 75 but aid agencies claim thousands are missing Staff and agencies guardian.co.uk, Saturday August 30 2008 10:58 BST

At least 20 people have died after an overcrowded rescue boat capsized in flood-ravaged parts of northern India. Officials said the situation was worsening because of heavy rains and a greater discharge of water from neighboring Nepal.

The rescue boat capsized last night in Madhepura district, 95 miles north-east of Patna, the capital of impoverished Bihar state. "The boat was overcrowded because people panicked to be rescued and clambered on board," said police superintendent O N Bhaskar.

Eight people swam to safety and 32 were rescued by army troops, he said. An army rescue worker was among those killed. The death toll from this year's monsoon season across India has climbed past 800. Some 1.2 million people have been marooned and about 2 million more affected in Bihar, where the Kosi river has burst its banks and submerged all roads leading to the region.

Rising waters have swept away and drowned at least 75 people in Bihar since the start of the monsoon season in June, said Prataya Amrit, secretary of the state's disaster management department. Aid agencies claim the Indian government is playing down the scale of the disaster and not taking into account thousands of people who they say are missing after the Bihar floods. India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, has described the situation as a national calamity. Authorities have rescued nearly 140,000 people and put most of them in state-run relief camps, Amrit said.

The situation was getting worse because of heavy rains in the region and the breach in the embankment in the Kosi river that is swelling on the Nepalese side. "We can't assess the extent of the damage. It is colossal," Amrit said. "But we will only be able to tell the extent after the water recedes."

The Indian government has made available more than $200m (£110m) to combat monsoon flooding. Almost 1,500 soldiers have boosted rescue efforts in Bihar state with air force helicopters dropping food to hundreds of thousand of people stranded by the rampaging river. India's monsoon season, which lasts from June to September, brings rain vital for the country's farmers but often also causes massive destruction.

Despite rescue operations, officials in Bihar have warned that the real danger is still ahead. When the swollen Kosi river burst its banks in Nepal just north of the Indian border, it changed course, flowing through a fresh channel 75 miles to the east that has no protective embankments.

The river traditionally swells to a flood peak in October. In 2007, monsoon floods killed more than 2,200 people across south Asia and left 31 million homeless, short of food or with other problems. The UN called last year's floods the worst in living memory.

BIG BROTHER AFRICA III

2008-08-25T12:33:00.000+03:00

Richard, a BBA II winner

Twelve new housemates have began an incredible 91 day adventure as M-Net’s blockbuster hit reality TV series BIG BROTHER AFRICA returns to DStv screens continent-wide yesterday Sunday August 24 at 19:00 CAT!

With USD 100 000 up for grabs once again, live 24/7 coverage and a brand new house ready to open its doors, season 3 is set to mirror the runaway success of the first two seasons.

The the show went live on air to over 40 African countries, with M-Kabelo “KB” Ngakane returning as series presenter in a role he reprises from last season.

The much-loved Channel O VJ and radio DJ, whose recently released single How Low Can You Go has seen him make the leap from TV personality to performer, will continue to be the primary link between the housemates and series fans.

In addition, M-Net has offered fans of the show a sneak peek at the all new Big Brother house, which underwent a total transformation in preparation for day one.

Comprising two bedrooms, one bathroom, a large lounge, an open plan dining area, a kitchen, diary room and a garden, complete with a striking new pool, it’s in the décor that the house marks it’s most dramatic differences.

Colorful, bold and with a style that can only be described as an eclectic mix of energetic, youthful and fairytale, the BIG BROTHER AFRICA house is a character all on its own!Living up to the new series tagline of Wild, Wicked and Wacky, the house includes unique features such as a “clock-themed bathroom” that are destined to capture fan attention and keep housemates entertained. In a house built for the express purposes of isolating housemates from the outside world, in a space where dates and times are excluded, it’s definitely worth tuning in to see what the housemates reactions will be to a bathroom jam-packed with clocks that don’t tell time!

In addition, the new house is equipped with 24 cameras and 52 microphones to provide audiences with a birds-eye view of the show all day, every day on DStv channel 198.

The Brother Africa team has innovated once more the popular ‘Shower Hour’ will now move from its morning slot to a late-night slot, giving housemates a new twist to life in the BB house!

Also gearing up for the launch is the M-Net website, which last year saw record-breaking traffic as fans of the show voted for evictions, downloaded videos, posted forum messaging and caught up with the latest breaking Big Brother news. The official website of the show is www.mnetafrica.com/bigbrother and it’s here that audiences will once more be able to interact with the series.

Given the popularity of Big Brother, several other official ‘fansites’ have also sprung up and fans who want to visit these can access them through the official Big Brother Africa website at www.mnetafrica.com/bigbrother

In addition to the Big Brother Africa website, fans can also interact with the series by SMS’ing the Big Brother Africa strapline, which is available on screen on DStv channel 198.

For details of SMS numbers to use in each country, for detailed information on the Big Brother Africa housemates and for breaking news from the house, DStv audiences need only press the OK button on their DStv remote to access the series.

This ‘OK’ function, plus the Big Brother Africa website went live at 21:00 CAT on Sunday August 24. Plus every Tuesday to Friday, fans who’ve missed any of the Big Brother Africa action can tune in to M-Net for daily edited highlights shows, along with a Monday night nomination show.

For more information and biographies of BBA III housemates please click here

Mwanawasa's death has dealt a double blow to Southern Africa

2008-08-24T20:37:00.000+03:00

Late Presidnet Mwanawasa

President Levy Mwanawasa's death has dealt a double blow to Southern Africa, not only generating fears of possible political instability in Zambia but also concern about the impact on the process of finding a solution in Zimbabwe, according to analysts.
Under the current constitution, which is under review, Zambians will have to head for fresh polls within 90 days.

Mwanawasa, as chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), was one of the first regional leaders, together with the past and current presidents of Botswana, to openly criticise Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's policies.
Mwanawasa, 59, died in a French hospital on August 19, nearly two months after he was admitted as a result of a stroke, said Rupiah Banda, the Zambian vice-president.
Describing Mwanawasa as a "good friend and comrade", Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said he had "left us at this most trying time".

The late Zambian president had been "a champion of the democratisation of the SADC region in particular, and the African continent in general; as such, his passing on is a sad day for the Zimbabwean people", said Tsvangirai.

Mwanawasa once likened Zimbabwe to a "sinking Titanic". During the violent clashes before Zimbabwe's general election in early 2008, he described what was happening in the country as "embarrassing to the region and the continent". His last statement as chairman of the SADC, read on his behalf on August 16, was another strongly worded criticism of the Zimbabwean regime.
Lee Habasonda, the executive director of the Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (Saccord), said: "The region has truly lost one of the most influential figures [contributing] to resolving the Zimbabwe situation. It now leaves Botswana alone."
Botswana has said it regards Mugabe as an illegitimate leader because he lost the legitimate election on March 29 and won the run-off on June 27 as the sole candidate after Tsvangirai withdrew because his supporters were being attacked.

Ian Khama, who assumed the Botswana presidency on April 1, chose to boycott the last SADC summit in Johannesburg on June 16 and 17 because Mugabe had been invited. The SADC is trying to negotiate a power-sharing deal between Mugabe and Tsvangirai.
Meanwhile, in Zambia, analysts said Mwanawasa's death could stir political bickering in his ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), and the man to gain would be Michael Sata, the opposition leader.

"There will be a lot of infighting for the presidency as the MMD has no party vice-president, who should have been an automatic replacement for Mwanawasa. They may have to go to the [national] convention, but time is not allowing them. I think we shall soon see the formation of a breakaway party from MMD before the elections," said an analyst.

Mwanawasa became Zambia's president in 2001 and won a hotly contested 2006 ballot for his second and final five-year term, which would have ended in 2011. His period in office was characterised by an anti-corruption drive that saw his predecessor, Frederick Chiluba, and a number of high-ranking officials in the former government in and out of court on corruption charges.
The anti-corruption drive endeared Mwanawasa to Western donors and led to the 2005 cancellation of the country's external debt of US$7,2 billion

Source: Sunday Independent; http://www.sundayindependent.co.za/ August 24, 2008

Nonviolent Conflict Team Chamber

2008-08-21T21:40:00.000+03:00

Nonviolent Conflict Strategists

I am glad to announce the so I feel to call "AFRICAN CHAPTER" and/or "A NONVIOLENT CONFLICT TEAM CHAMBER." I hope this blog http://www.africanchapter.blogspot.com/ will be a very useful tool of uniting us in one way or another... but also a room to share our different ideas and news. It is where we can not only talk about non conflict issues, but also interact one another. We can make this blog as a chamber of knowledge; a room for non violent practitioners; and a tool of communication.

Some of us have never or didn't get the mails we share due to mispell of the email addresses, and the current mailing list contain names of uninterested persons as some have have already declared. Continuing with this system will lead into decreasing the number of our team member as well as causing disconforts to all who their emails have entered into the mailing list unintentionally. We are capable of resisting all these by improving our ways of communication.

Should you have any challenge you face and want to share it with others p'se ...welcome. Post and/or comment any idea, news, information etc. Just email your post to sevedo11@gmail.com. This email address is specific for issues regarding this blog, particularly your comments and posts. The later's with photos will be very much sound music, hey! Let's know what you are doing; share with us about your pasts that we can learn from them; and your plans as well.

Let's learn more about our continent and the world at large through this blog. It wont go without saying I was amazed to see how our non-conflict workshop facilitators from outside Africa know our continent more than we many do! To you, our facilitators and Frank on behalf of all organizers, thanks!

My current plan now is to improve this blog and have an umbrella (registered international organization) to which we can move with on implementing our strategies. I have a thought/plan of establishing African Nonviolent Movement Initiatives [just the name I'm proposing] to meaningfully shape African Democracy. We can! Just confidence and commitment! I hope you will be either one of the signatories/incorporators/implimenters. Take this as a concept in this beginning. The present idea is to have a well arranged organogram that can be easy to work under decentralization in the future. The headquarters can be in Tanzania, for example, but other offices may be established in your country provided that is allowed, and there is resources (especially human resource). We will be having our own website and office hence move ahead!

Is my sincere hope that we can also use this blog effectively and meaningfully. Again, my knowledge in IT is limited. (I'm fundraising and spare time for the IT course before the end of this year, to help us move smoothly. I may also assist you in your affiliate IT matters accordingly when fit. Lol!) There are so many things to do for our people. We are thier voices! There are so many things we can share one another.... and inspire!

Please not forget to drop some lines in this blog or directly to me on how you would like this blog be. As well, your posts and comments are very important.

Welcome,

Severin Edward