Somali pirates on board a hijacked ship are reported to have been involved in a shoot-out over what to do with the vessel's cargo of tanks and weapons.
An East African maritime group, which is monitoring the situation, told the BBC that three men were shot but the extent of their injuries was unclear.
Pirates seized the Ukrainian ship last week, demanding a $20m (£11m) ransom.
They dismissed the claim of infighting as "cheap propaganda", in a phone call to the BBC Somali Service.
"There has been no exchange of fire at all. We're in good shape," spokesman Sugule Ali told the BBC.
"This is cheap propaganda being spread by people not aware of our situation."
He added that the pirates were participating in dialogue, without going into detail.
"I am optimistic this can be resolved peacefully," he said.
In a separate development, the state-owned Malaysian shipping firm, MISC Berhad, said two of its ships had been recovered after it paid a ransom to pirates.
A spokesman said paying ransoms was against company policy, but had been necessary to obtain the release of its crew.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
S Africa's ANC 'will not split'
South Africa's Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has dismissed the possibility of a split within the governing party.
He told the BBC there would be continuity despite some government resignations following ex-President Thabo Mbeki's controversial ouster.
Earlier, the head of Gauteng province also resigned over the decision by the African National Congress to force Mr Mbeki to leave office last week.
New leader Kgalema Motlanthe has been trying to ensure a smooth transition.
Mr Mbeki quit after a court ruling suggested he had tried to influence the prosecution on corruption charges of Jacob Zuma, head of the ANC. He denies interfering in the case.
Mr Zuma, who is favourite to become president in elections due next year, has been locked in a power struggle with Mr Mbeki and there have been rumours of the ANC splitting.
Meanwhile, prosecutors say they have filed papers asking for the right to appeal against a ruling that dismissed the corruption charges against Mr Zuma.
'Shock'
Mr Manuel told the BBC's Hardtalk programme that he has had an "unequivocal assurance" from Mr Motlanthe that South Africa's economic strategy and policy would not change.
He told the BBC there would be continuity despite some government resignations following ex-President Thabo Mbeki's controversial ouster.
Earlier, the head of Gauteng province also resigned over the decision by the African National Congress to force Mr Mbeki to leave office last week.
New leader Kgalema Motlanthe has been trying to ensure a smooth transition.
Mr Mbeki quit after a court ruling suggested he had tried to influence the prosecution on corruption charges of Jacob Zuma, head of the ANC. He denies interfering in the case.
Mr Zuma, who is favourite to become president in elections due next year, has been locked in a power struggle with Mr Mbeki and there have been rumours of the ANC splitting.
Meanwhile, prosecutors say they have filed papers asking for the right to appeal against a ruling that dismissed the corruption charges against Mr Zuma.
'Shock'
Mr Manuel told the BBC's Hardtalk programme that he has had an "unequivocal assurance" from Mr Motlanthe that South Africa's economic strategy and policy would not change.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Private sector advocacy gets 13bn/- boost
BUSINESS Environment Strengthening for Tanzania-Advocacy Component (BEST-AC) has disbursed 12.5 million US dollars (over 13bn/-) for advocacy in improving private sector environment in the next five years with effect from July, this year. BEST-AC Team Leader, Mr Joseph Burke told reporters in Dar es Salaam over the weekend that the amount is a follow up to 5.7 million US dollars, that was released during implementation of the first phase of the programme. BEST-AC is managed by a Danish firm COWI A/S and its continued support for advocacy programmes is based on the good performance of its four year first phase which ran from November, 2004 to June 2008. During the first phase, 25 membership based organisations representing interests of businesses in Tanzania were supported and received support for 38 advocacy initiatives. Mr Burke said that Denmark, Sweden, Britain and Holland have allocated the funds through BEST-AC, to enable the private sector to advocate for their best interests. Mr Burke said despite growing co-operation between the government and private sector there were legal, regulatory and policy constraints. It is good, he said, for challenges to be brought to the government’s attention to be resolved for the benefit of the country’s economy. According to Mr Burke, BEST –AC is a programme that provides grants and technical assistance to private sector organisations (PSOs’) to help them engage more effectively in advocacy for better business and investment climate in Tanzania. “BEST-AC projects aim at supporting private entities to professionally advocate for their members' interests and improve business environment, that may enable businesses to flourish, create more jobs, increase peoples’ incomes and help reduce poverty,” he said. BEST-AC, he added, also assists business development service providers (BDSPs) training to enable them offer more support to private sector organizations. He said that the University of Dar es Salaam Entrepreneurship Centre (UDEC) has been working with BEST-AC, both as a training beneficiary and as a trainer of BDSPs and PSOs in various disciplines related to organizational capacity and advocacy techniques. Some of the organizations that have benefited include Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), Zanzibar Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ZNCCIA) and Tanzania Horticulture Association (TAHA). Others are Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA), VIBINDO, Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), Tourism Confederation of Tanzania (TCT) and the CEO Roundtable. Other benefactors are Rulu Arts Promoters, Confederation of Tanzania Industry (CTI), Tanzania Milk Processors Association (TAMPA), Tanzania Women Miners Association (TAWOMA), Association of People with Disability (CHAWATA) and Tanzania Air Operators Association (TAOA).
US destroyer nears Somali pirates
A US Navy destroyer has made visual contact with a Ukrainian ship which was seized by pirates last week and is now moored off the Somali coast.
There is no indication that the USS Howard intends to approach the ship, which is carrying 72 battle tanks destined for Kenya's government.
The pirates' ransom demand for the ship and its 21 crew has fallen from $35m to $20m (£10.9m), their spokesman said.
A man on the ship also told the BBC that one of the crew members had died.
The man, who the pirates said was the captain of the MV Faina, was speaking via a satellite phone handed to him by one of the pirates.
He said the dead sailor was Russian and had died as the result of an illness. The report could not be confirmed by independent sources.
He also said the other crew members were fine and that he could see three ships about a mile away, including one carrying an US flag.
International concern
In an earlier interview with the BBC, a spokesman for the US Navy's 5th Fleet, Lt Nathan Christensen, said the USS Howard was within 8km (5 miles) from the Ukrainian vessel, but refused to say whether an intervention was likely.
There is no indication that the USS Howard intends to approach the ship, which is carrying 72 battle tanks destined for Kenya's government.
The pirates' ransom demand for the ship and its 21 crew has fallen from $35m to $20m (£10.9m), their spokesman said.
A man on the ship also told the BBC that one of the crew members had died.
The man, who the pirates said was the captain of the MV Faina, was speaking via a satellite phone handed to him by one of the pirates.
He said the dead sailor was Russian and had died as the result of an illness. The report could not be confirmed by independent sources.
He also said the other crew members were fine and that he could see three ships about a mile away, including one carrying an US flag.
International concern
In an earlier interview with the BBC, a spokesman for the US Navy's 5th Fleet, Lt Nathan Christensen, said the USS Howard was within 8km (5 miles) from the Ukrainian vessel, but refused to say whether an intervention was likely.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Chinese astronaut takes historic walk in space
BEIJING (Reuters) - Astronaut Zhai Zhigang became the first Chinese man to walk in space on Saturday, clambering out of China's Shenzhou VII spacecraft in a technological feat that Beijing wants the world to marvel at.
"I'm feeling quite well. I greet the Chinese people and the people of the world," Zhai said as he climbed out of the craft, his historic achievement carried live on state television.
Zhai, the 41-year-old son of a snack-seller, unveiled a small Chinese flag, helped by colleague Liu Boming, who also briefly popped his head out of the capsule.
Zhai re-entered the spacecraft safely after a walk of about 15 minutes, marking the high point of China's third manned space flight, which has received blanket media coverage.
He wore a $4.4 million Chinese-made suit weighing 120 kg (265lb). Liu wore a Russian-made suit and acted as a back-up.
Zhai, tethered to the ship, slowly made his way toward a chunk of solid lubricant outside the capsule, took a sample and handed it to Liu, the official Xinhua news agency said, in an experiment aimed at improving the durability of the materials.
"I'm feeling quite well. I greet the Chinese people and the people of the world," Zhai said as he climbed out of the craft, his historic achievement carried live on state television.
Zhai, the 41-year-old son of a snack-seller, unveiled a small Chinese flag, helped by colleague Liu Boming, who also briefly popped his head out of the capsule.
Zhai re-entered the spacecraft safely after a walk of about 15 minutes, marking the high point of China's third manned space flight, which has received blanket media coverage.
He wore a $4.4 million Chinese-made suit weighing 120 kg (265lb). Liu wore a Russian-made suit and acted as a back-up.
Zhai, tethered to the ship, slowly made his way toward a chunk of solid lubricant outside the capsule, took a sample and handed it to Liu, the official Xinhua news agency said, in an experiment aimed at improving the durability of the materials.
Tanzania short of labour inspectors
Inadequacy of labour inspectors has been cited as a major reason behind the incessant worst forms of child labour in the country. Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) office for Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda, Jurgen Schwettmann, told a press conference yesterday that child labour was still a problem in the region and remained the organisation’s priority. “Tanzania has one of the most up to date labour laws in the world but child labour continues to thrive because there are no means of enforcing the law and the fact that labour inspectors are not enough to cover the whole country. Mr Schwettmann said he was, however, commending the country for registering steady progress particularly through the National Time Bound Programme to eliminate the worst forms of child labour in the country by 2010, including child labour in commercial agriculture, domestic service, mining, and commercial sexual exploitation of children. The Deputy Minister for Labour, Employment and Youth Development, Dr Makongoro Mahanga, said lack of labour inspectors was one of the challenges facing the country. Dr Mahanga attributed the situation to unattractive salary packages and working environment but maintained that the creation of the Commission for Mediation and Arbitration (CMA) had motivated labour officers who left for greener pastures elsewhere to come back. “The challenge that lies ahead at the moment is to create favourable salary packages and better working environment to enable us get back all our officers,” he explained. He said that the ministry had put in place strategies for recruiting new employees as well as convincing the government to increase its budget to enable it expand its workforce. Mr Schwettmann said Tanzania’s political will and commitment in combating child labour provided greater chances of eliminating the problem. So far 17,000 children have been reached for withdrawal or prevention. He revealed that the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Youth Development in collaboration with ILo was preparing a National Action Plan to speed up efforts to combat the problem and that a direct monitoring and reporting system had already been established.
Round 1 in debates goes to Obama, poll says
OXFORD, Mississippi (CNN) -- A national poll of people who watched the first presidential debate suggests that Barack Obama came out on top, but there was overwhelming agreement that both Obama and John McCain would be able to handle the job of president if elected.
Most debate watchers agreed both McCain and Obama would be able to handle the job of president if elected.
more photos »
The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey is not a measurement of the views of all Americans, since only people who watched the debate were questioned and the audience included more Democrats than Republicans.
Fifty-one percent of those polled thought Obama did the better job in Friday night's debate, while 38 percent said John McCain did better.
Men were nearly evenly split between the two candidates, with 46 percent giving the win to McCain and 43 percent to Obama. But women voters tended to give Obama higher marks, with 59 percent calling him the night's winner, while just 31 percent said McCain won.
"It can be reasonably concluded, especially after accounting for the slight Democratic bias in the survey, that we witnessed a tie in Mississippi tonight," CNN Senior Political Researcher Alan Silverleib said. "But given the direction of the campaign over the last couple of weeks, a tie translates to a win for Obama."
Most debate watchers agreed both McCain and Obama would be able to handle the job of president if elected.
more photos »
The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey is not a measurement of the views of all Americans, since only people who watched the debate were questioned and the audience included more Democrats than Republicans.
Fifty-one percent of those polled thought Obama did the better job in Friday night's debate, while 38 percent said John McCain did better.
Men were nearly evenly split between the two candidates, with 46 percent giving the win to McCain and 43 percent to Obama. But women voters tended to give Obama higher marks, with 59 percent calling him the night's winner, while just 31 percent said McCain won.
"It can be reasonably concluded, especially after accounting for the slight Democratic bias in the survey, that we witnessed a tie in Mississippi tonight," CNN Senior Political Researcher Alan Silverleib said. "But given the direction of the campaign over the last couple of weeks, a tie translates to a win for Obama."
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Motlanthe sworn in as S African interim president
JOHANNESBURG, Sept 25 (Xinhua) -- Kgalema Motlanthe, deputy leader of the South African ruling African National Congress (ANC)was sworn in Thursday afternoon as the country's interim president.
The South African parliaemtn elected Motlanthe as president earlier in the day. The swearing-in came immediately after the election.
Motlanthe was elected by a majority of the votes of MPs in the National Assembly.
Accepting his election, he said he was humbled and honoured by the faith and confidence placed in him.
"I undertake this responsibility fully cognizant of the duties and responsibilities that are attached to this high office and the expectations the people of this nation rightly have of the head of state," he said.
The swearing-in was attended by a number of Cabinet ministers and VIP guests.
Motlanthe is to make a further statement in the House around 5 p.m. local time (1500GMT).
Motlanthe, 59, was elected as the general secretary of the National Union of Mine workers in 1992.
He was elected as secretary general of the ANC in 1997, and was named to cabinet in July this year.
The South African parliaemtn elected Motlanthe as president earlier in the day. The swearing-in came immediately after the election.
Motlanthe was elected by a majority of the votes of MPs in the National Assembly.
Accepting his election, he said he was humbled and honoured by the faith and confidence placed in him.
"I undertake this responsibility fully cognizant of the duties and responsibilities that are attached to this high office and the expectations the people of this nation rightly have of the head of state," he said.
The swearing-in was attended by a number of Cabinet ministers and VIP guests.
Motlanthe is to make a further statement in the House around 5 p.m. local time (1500GMT).
Motlanthe, 59, was elected as the general secretary of the National Union of Mine workers in 1992.
He was elected as secretary general of the ANC in 1997, and was named to cabinet in July this year.
US TEAM TO HELP RESTORE POWER
A GROUP of technicians from the US multinational General Electric (GE) are expected to arrive in Dar es Salaam today to fix the grounded Songas generators that have led to power rationing in the country, the Minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr William Ngeleja, has said. Mr Ngeleja told the 'Daily News' yesterday in Dar es Salaam that the Songas generators which used to generate180MW were now generating just over a third of it capacity (a mere 74MW). He said that three of the six generators at the Songas plant in Dar es Salaam could not work properly and GE’s technicians have advised the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) to stop them until the damage was examined. “People should understand that what happened is not a total failure of the generators but rather there were technical problems that forced the authorities to switch off the generators,” Mr Ngeleja said. He said that Songas had been working with GE from the initial stages of generator installations and that they were (GE) the ones to consult in case of any technical problems with their generators. Mr Ngeleja said that the ministry was vigilant in ensuring that power rationing was carefully handled to reduce unnecessary inconveniences to consumers, and assured Dar es Salaam residents that the city would not be affected by the exercise. He said that the ministry has decided to schedule the power rationing during night hours to give room to economic activities to take place uninterruptedly. The minister said that Tanesco does not depend on Songas’s 180-megawatt on daily basis but rather the demand differs from time to time. Tanesco started a countrywide power rationing effective Wednesday night following an abrupt breakdown of three generators at the Songas plant in Dar es Salaam. According to Tanesco, despite all efforts to stem the deficit through the use of natural gas and hydroelectric plants, the shortfall would remain, therefore, necessitating a daily 40-megawatt load shedding from 6:00pm to 11:00pm.
President Hu celebrates successful Shenzhou-7 launch
JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao congratulated the country's space scientists and taikonauts on the successful launch of the manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Thursday.
"The successful launch marked the first victory of the Shenzhou-7 mission," Hu told Chinese experts and other work staff at the center after officials declared the spacecraft entered the preset orbit.
"On behalf of the (Communist) Party Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, I'd like to extend warm congratulations to all work staff and army forces participating in the mission," said Hu.
"The Shenzhou-7 mission is the most representative and influential scientific and research practice of our country this year," said Hu. "It's another feat on the Chinese people's journey to ascend the peak of science and technology."
He noted the country's first attempt of extra-vehicular activity entailed greater technical difficulty and urged the staff to continue their efforts.
"I hope you carry on your work unremittingly and focus on the following jobs to achieve a full-scale triumph," said Hu.
The Shenzhou-7 blasted off on a Long March II-F carrier rocket from the launch center in the northwestern Gansu Province at 9:10 p.m..
"The successful launch marked the first victory of the Shenzhou-7 mission," Hu told Chinese experts and other work staff at the center after officials declared the spacecraft entered the preset orbit.
"On behalf of the (Communist) Party Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, I'd like to extend warm congratulations to all work staff and army forces participating in the mission," said Hu.
"The Shenzhou-7 mission is the most representative and influential scientific and research practice of our country this year," said Hu. "It's another feat on the Chinese people's journey to ascend the peak of science and technology."
He noted the country's first attempt of extra-vehicular activity entailed greater technical difficulty and urged the staff to continue their efforts.
"I hope you carry on your work unremittingly and focus on the following jobs to achieve a full-scale triumph," said Hu.
The Shenzhou-7 blasted off on a Long March II-F carrier rocket from the launch center in the northwestern Gansu Province at 9:10 p.m..
OBAMA WONT POSTPONE FRIDAY'S DEBATE
"It is the moment when Americans need to hear the person who, within about 40 days, will be responsible for dealing with this disaster," Obama told reporters at press conference.
MCCAIN BAIL OUT ON A DEBATE!!!
IN WHAT SEEMS TO BE VERY ODD TO EVERYONE, THE REP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE SEN. JOHN MCCAIN IS BAILING OUT FROM THE PLANNED FIRST DEBATE WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY...
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Nigeria activates nuclear accelerator
LAGOS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria inaugurated a nuclear accelerator last weekend at the Obafemi Awolowo University located in its south west Osun State, the Ministry of Science and Technology said in a statement on Tuesday.
The nuclear facility would be used for basic and applied researches in food, agriculture, environmental studies and material science, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the statement as saying.
Grace Ekpiwhre, minister of science and technology, said the facility, commenced after 25 years of preparations, was to help improve the nation's application of nuclear technology, according to the statement.
Ekpiwhre also said that the activation would support the government's resolve to establish a nuclear power plant.
Nigeria and Iran have signed an agreement on nuclear cooperation in Abuja last month. According to the deal, Iran will provide civil nuclear technology to Nigeria.
The Foreign Ministry of Nigeria has acclaimed that the nuclear technology acquired would not be used for military purpose.
Nigeria, the largest oil producing country in Africa, has suffered electricity supply strains over recent years due to poor infrastructure construction and aging facilities.
The nuclear facility would be used for basic and applied researches in food, agriculture, environmental studies and material science, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the statement as saying.
Grace Ekpiwhre, minister of science and technology, said the facility, commenced after 25 years of preparations, was to help improve the nation's application of nuclear technology, according to the statement.
Ekpiwhre also said that the activation would support the government's resolve to establish a nuclear power plant.
Nigeria and Iran have signed an agreement on nuclear cooperation in Abuja last month. According to the deal, Iran will provide civil nuclear technology to Nigeria.
The Foreign Ministry of Nigeria has acclaimed that the nuclear technology acquired would not be used for military purpose.
Nigeria, the largest oil producing country in Africa, has suffered electricity supply strains over recent years due to poor infrastructure construction and aging facilities.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Dar needs 63bn/- for airport expansion
CONSTRUCTION of terminal three and expansion of terminal two at Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam has stalled due to lack of 55 million US dollars (63bn/-) needed for compensation of people living around the area. About 30 million US dollars (34.8bn/-) is for compensation to people living around the airport at Kipawa who are required to vacate to pave way for construction of terminal three. Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) also requires, as a matter of urgency, some 25m US dollars (about 30bn/-) for expansion of the highly congested terminal two, a factor that dents the country’s good image. Strategies to increase the number of tourists to one million by 2010 are bearing fruits but the terminal buildings at points of entry and departure as well as the state of the national flag carrier taint the good image of Tanzania as a tourist destination. Industry watchers claim that Tanzania as a tourist destination was not competitive in the region and if things would not be improved tourists might land at a neighbouring country and come to view the country’s attractions by road. Terminal two at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport was designed for one million passengers a year, but the facility handles 1.5 million people hence the congestion resulting into long queues at checking in and immigration counters. The national flag carrier, Air Tanzania Corporation (ATC), has unreliable schedule due to a number of factors including few aircraft and when any develop a snag spares are not readily available, not even a back-up plane. Officials with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Tanzania Airport Authorities (TAA) and Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) expressed concern over the status of the terminal saying lack of funds to expand it was a major setback. The Director of Transport in the Ministry, Dr Bartholomew Lufunjo, said that the government was scouting for an appropriate strategic investor to undertake expansion programmes at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport. He said that recently the government held discussions with one prospective investor from the Far East who has developed interest on expansion of the airport and ATC. “The truth is that we are seeing the increasing number of tourists coming while the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport is yet to be expanded. The government has no funds. The only way out is to go Private Public Partnership (PPP),” he said. The Director General of TAA, Mr Prosper Tesha, simply said: “The lounges at terminal two have become too small. The number of travellers has increased. Revenue collected by TAA was spent on maintaining other airports including the non-economical viable ones hence not having cash to carry out expansion programme at the terminal whose demand was on the increase, he said. The Executive Secretary of Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), Mr Mustapha Akunaay, says in 2005 some 612,754 tourists brought in 825.5 m US dollars and the following year the number grew to 641,124 and the country earned 862m US dollars from them. Last year some 719,031 tourist came to Tanzania bringing in 1bn US dollars. This year the number is expected to reach 800,000 and the money to be earned is about 1.3bn/-. The Director General of TCAA, Ms Magret Munyagi, said that terminal two and that of Zanzibar were not in conformity with civil aviation standards because they were too small to handle passengers flown there by bigger aircraft. TCAA would have closed the terminals if they were privately owned but since they belong to the government some mercy has been applied because efforts were underway to improve the situation.
NMB workers go on strike today
WORKERS of the National Microfinance Bank (NMB) will go on strike effective today, protesting non-payment of their benefits. “During the strike NMB will do its utmost to ensure crucial services are provided including those through ATM (automated teller machines),” NMB Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ben Christiaanse, said. Mr Christiaanse, however, declared the strike as illegal, pointing out that there is an order of the High Court that outlaws the strike. He also said that the matter was still being discussed by the government and NMB management. The NMB Branch Chairman of the Tanzania Union of Industrial and Commercial Workers (TUICO), Mr Joseph Masana, told the 'Daily News' that the workers would go on strike effective 8:00am today. “We have given the management 48-hour notice after failure to co-operate despite protracted negotiations,” Mr Masana said. NMB, the largest commercial bank, has almost 2,000 workers in its 121 branches across the country. Mr Masana said the government and the NMB management have reneged on an agreement reached at a joint meeting in Dodoma. He said while in Dodoma they met a Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr Jeremiah Sumari and Minister for Labour, Employment and Youth Development, Mr Juma Kapuya. Masana said they were pursuing their demands as per the country's labour laws. He said the employees through TUICO were asking for better working conditions which are being ignored by the management of the bank. Last month the government offered for sale 21 per cent out of its 51 per cent shares in NMB, out of which five per cent of the shares will go to the bank's employees. A consortium led by the Rabobank of the Netherlands owns 49 per cent stake in NMB.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Kikwete’s date with UN General Assembly
PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete is expected to address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, the Presidential Communications Directorate announced yesterday. He will address the Assembly in his capacity as the Chairman of African Union (AU). According to a statement issued by the directorate, the president was yesterday expected to leave for United States, where he would attend and address the UN General Assembly. Apart from addressing the Assembly, President Kikwete is expected to attend other important conferences, including Africa’s Development Requirements. The conference will discuss pledges of rich nations to Africa and how they are fulfilled. The president will also address the opening of Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) meeting for leaders – as well as participate in various forums, including mother and child health and malaria diseases, both forums being key parts of MDGs. On Friday, President Kikwete will fly to Washington where he will deliver a keynote address at the opening session of the Annual Africa-Asian Parliamentarians session in the US Congress. He will also address the US business leaders meeting. Apart from the meetings which he will attend or address, President Kikwete will also meet and hold talks with world leaders within the United States and elsewhere. Among world leaders whom he is scheduled to hold talks with are President of Iran, Mohmoud Ahmedinajad; the Secretary General of European Union Council, Mr Javier Solana and the Chairman and Chief Software Architect of Microsoft, Mr Bill Gates. President Kikwete will also meet Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mr Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Mr Juan Somavia. He will also hold a joint meeting with the UN Secretary General Mr, Ban Ki- Moon and Sudan’s Vice-President Ali Osman on situation in Darfur region, Sudan. During his recent two-day working tour in Sudan, the AU Chairman promised Sudan’s president Omar Bashir that he would hold a joint meeting with the UN Secretary General and Sudan’s representative on Darfur situation during UN General Assembly. The meeting will examine the possibility of speeding up the plan of deploying UN and AU peace keeping troops to Darfur and possibility of postponing the warrant of prosecuting president Bashir, as issued by International Crime Court (ICC).
BREAKING NEWS:SA's Mbeki says he will step down
South African President Thabo Mbeki will accept a call to resign by the governing African National Congress (ANC), his spokesman has said. "Following the decision of the national executive committee of the African National Congress to recall President Thabo Mbeki, the president has obliged and will step down after all constitutional requirements have been met," the presidency said.The move could collapse the government and prompt early elections.Mbeki has been mired in accusations that he conspired to undermine ANC leader Jacob Zuma.“Our movement has been through a trying period and we are determined to heal the rift that might exist. In light of this and after a long and difficult discussion, the ANC has decided to recall the president of the republic before his term of office expires," ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe told reporters inKempton Park on the East Rand."Our decision has been communicated to him," said Mantashe.Mantashe said that Mbeki's reaction to the news was "normal"."He didn't display shock or any depression. He welcomed the news and agreed that he is going to participate in the parliamentary process. If I said he was excited I would be exaggerating."Presidency spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga said Mbeki had accepted the decision.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Tanzania / Statement by an IMF Staff Mission at the Conclusion of a Visit to Tanzania
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, September 19, 2008/African Press Organization (APO)/ - An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Mr. Roger Nord visited Tanzania September 9-19, 2008 to conduct the fourth review under the Policy Support Instrument (PSI). The mission met with Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Hon. Mustafa Mkulo; Governor of the Bank of Tanzania, Prof. Benno Ndulu; other senior government officials; private sector representatives; and members of civil society.
The mission issued the following statement in Dar es Salaam today:
“Tanzania’s economy continued to perform strongly in 2007/08. Economic growth reached 7¼ percent, fueled by a robust expansion in the manufacturing, construction, and services sectors. Exports grew by 30 percent, contributing to a further increase in international reserves of the Bank of Tanzania; fiscal policy remained prudent, anchored by strong revenue performance; and credit to the private sector continued to expand at a healthy pace.
“However, inflation has risen sharply over the past nine months and has remained persistently above the Bank of Tanzania’s target. Pressures from the international fuel and food price surge have played an important part in this. As global pressures subside, the key challenge for Tanzania is to ensure that domestic inflation also retreats. This is not automatic: it will require active support from both monetary and fiscal policy.
“The outlook for 2008/09 is for continued strong economic growth, drawing on robust export performance and continued dynamism in construction. So far, Tanzania has remained unaffected by the global financial market turmoil. But should tumultuous global financial conditions persist, or should global growth prospects deteriorate significantly, low-income countries may not remain immune. In particular, reduced access to foreign capital and slower export market growth may also dampen economic activity in Tanzania.
“In the short term, this calls for a judicious economic policy mix:
• The Bank of Tanzania will need to continue to pursue an active monetary policy aimed at combating inflation. The mission welcomed the steps taken so far to improve liquidity management. Looking ahead, with the objective of bringing inflation back down to below 7 percent by mid-2009, the Bank of Tanzania will need to use all the instruments at its disposal to rein in excessive growth in monetary aggregates.
• Successful disinflation will also require a continued supportive fiscal policy stance. The 2008/09 budget appropriately maintains a zero net domestic financing target. However, the ambitious revenue target leaves little room for slippage. It will be important to ensure that a shortfall in revenue is matched by expenditure restraint and avoid unwarranted recourse to domestic borrowing, which could prove costly and place further unwelcome strain on monetary policy.
“Longer-term policies should continue to aim at raising economic growth while maintaining the economic stability that has served Tanzania so well over the past decade.
“In particular, further financial sector development is a critical ingredient for long-term economic growth. Tanzania has developed a vibrant banking sector which is providing vital lending to the private sector. The challenge now is to improve access to banking services, and the legal reforms currently underway promise to provide a welcome boost to the residential mortgage market. The nonbank financial sector is also growing rapidly. The mission welcomes the intention to establish a single regulatory agency for the fast-expanding pension funds. It will be important to ensure that the new agency can become effective as soon as possible and for the Bank of Tanzania to exercise its oversight as a guarantor of financial stability.
“Increased public investment, including in critical infrastructure projects, can make an important contribution to long-term economic and social development in Tanzania. And over the past decade, increased fiscal space, stemming in equal parts from raising domestic revenue and securing more assistance from development partners, has allowed Tanzania to scale up public spending from 16 percent to a budgeted 27 percent of GDP, or from US$38 to US$150 per capita. The key priority now is to ensure value for money by further reinforcing public financial management. Long-term fiscal stability hinges on a continued prudent public debt strategy and when considering access to commercial borrowing, all available options need to be carefully weighed so as to minimize the long-term burden on public finances.
“The mission welcomes the action taken by the Tanzanian authorities to address the recommendations of the special audit of the External Payment Arrears (EPA) account at the Bank of Tanzania. This is an ongoing process and the mission looks forward to the continued implementation of the authorities’ action plan. Much has been done to begin to restore the credibility of the Bank of Tanzania. Looking ahead, priorities are to further strengthen the internal controls of the central bank, refocusing it on the core functions of inflation control and financial supervision.
“It is expected that the IMF’s Executive Board will discuss the fourth review of Tanzania’s economic program under the PSI by end-December 2008.”
The mission issued the following statement in Dar es Salaam today:
“Tanzania’s economy continued to perform strongly in 2007/08. Economic growth reached 7¼ percent, fueled by a robust expansion in the manufacturing, construction, and services sectors. Exports grew by 30 percent, contributing to a further increase in international reserves of the Bank of Tanzania; fiscal policy remained prudent, anchored by strong revenue performance; and credit to the private sector continued to expand at a healthy pace.
“However, inflation has risen sharply over the past nine months and has remained persistently above the Bank of Tanzania’s target. Pressures from the international fuel and food price surge have played an important part in this. As global pressures subside, the key challenge for Tanzania is to ensure that domestic inflation also retreats. This is not automatic: it will require active support from both monetary and fiscal policy.
“The outlook for 2008/09 is for continued strong economic growth, drawing on robust export performance and continued dynamism in construction. So far, Tanzania has remained unaffected by the global financial market turmoil. But should tumultuous global financial conditions persist, or should global growth prospects deteriorate significantly, low-income countries may not remain immune. In particular, reduced access to foreign capital and slower export market growth may also dampen economic activity in Tanzania.
“In the short term, this calls for a judicious economic policy mix:
• The Bank of Tanzania will need to continue to pursue an active monetary policy aimed at combating inflation. The mission welcomed the steps taken so far to improve liquidity management. Looking ahead, with the objective of bringing inflation back down to below 7 percent by mid-2009, the Bank of Tanzania will need to use all the instruments at its disposal to rein in excessive growth in monetary aggregates.
• Successful disinflation will also require a continued supportive fiscal policy stance. The 2008/09 budget appropriately maintains a zero net domestic financing target. However, the ambitious revenue target leaves little room for slippage. It will be important to ensure that a shortfall in revenue is matched by expenditure restraint and avoid unwarranted recourse to domestic borrowing, which could prove costly and place further unwelcome strain on monetary policy.
“Longer-term policies should continue to aim at raising economic growth while maintaining the economic stability that has served Tanzania so well over the past decade.
“In particular, further financial sector development is a critical ingredient for long-term economic growth. Tanzania has developed a vibrant banking sector which is providing vital lending to the private sector. The challenge now is to improve access to banking services, and the legal reforms currently underway promise to provide a welcome boost to the residential mortgage market. The nonbank financial sector is also growing rapidly. The mission welcomes the intention to establish a single regulatory agency for the fast-expanding pension funds. It will be important to ensure that the new agency can become effective as soon as possible and for the Bank of Tanzania to exercise its oversight as a guarantor of financial stability.
“Increased public investment, including in critical infrastructure projects, can make an important contribution to long-term economic and social development in Tanzania. And over the past decade, increased fiscal space, stemming in equal parts from raising domestic revenue and securing more assistance from development partners, has allowed Tanzania to scale up public spending from 16 percent to a budgeted 27 percent of GDP, or from US$38 to US$150 per capita. The key priority now is to ensure value for money by further reinforcing public financial management. Long-term fiscal stability hinges on a continued prudent public debt strategy and when considering access to commercial borrowing, all available options need to be carefully weighed so as to minimize the long-term burden on public finances.
“The mission welcomes the action taken by the Tanzanian authorities to address the recommendations of the special audit of the External Payment Arrears (EPA) account at the Bank of Tanzania. This is an ongoing process and the mission looks forward to the continued implementation of the authorities’ action plan. Much has been done to begin to restore the credibility of the Bank of Tanzania. Looking ahead, priorities are to further strengthen the internal controls of the central bank, refocusing it on the core functions of inflation control and financial supervision.
“It is expected that the IMF’s Executive Board will discuss the fourth review of Tanzania’s economic program under the PSI by end-December 2008.”
Ukraine's PM blames president for poor relations with Russia
Ukraine's PM blames president for poor relations with Russia
KIEV, September 17 (RIA Novosti) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko sharply criticized the pro-Western president on Wednesday for damaging the country's relations with Russia.
The premier's scathing comments on her former ally, Viktor Yushchenko, came a day after the ruling coalition officially split amid political infighting and disagreements over Ukraine's stance on the recent Russia-Georgia conflict.
"Viktor Yushchenko is personally responsible for all negative trends in relations between Russia and Ukraine," Tymoshenko told a news conference in Kiev. Her statement effectively ended any hopes that the coalition will reunite.
The ongoing dispute has seen the presidential Our Ukraine party's popularity plummet, while the Tymoshenko bloc and the pro-Russian opposition Party of Regions have gained ground.
However, Tymoshenko spoke against the idea of early parliamentary elections, saying they would be devastating for the country in light of the ongoing global financial crisis.
Parliamentary Speaker Arseny Yatsenyuk announced collapse of the ruling pro-Western coalition on Tuesday, paving the way for possible early parliamentary polls.
Yushchenko and Tymoshenko were allies in the 2004 "Orange Revolution," but have since drifted apart on a host of issues, including over a recent parliamentary vote to slash the president's powers, and the premier's refusal to back the president's condemnation of the Russian military operation in Georgia.
The legislature now has 30 days to form a new coalition or face an early parliamentary election, the third since Yushchenko came to power. The president has already confirmed his determination to dissolve parliament if the current crisis is not resolved by the deadline.
Tymoshenko is widely expected to run against Yushchenko in presidential elections to be held in 2009 or 2010.
The premier's scathing comments on her former ally, Viktor Yushchenko, came a day after the ruling coalition officially split amid political infighting and disagreements over Ukraine's stance on the recent Russia-Georgia conflict.
"Viktor Yushchenko is personally responsible for all negative trends in relations between Russia and Ukraine," Tymoshenko told a news conference in Kiev. Her statement effectively ended any hopes that the coalition will reunite.
The ongoing dispute has seen the presidential Our Ukraine party's popularity plummet, while the Tymoshenko bloc and the pro-Russian opposition Party of Regions have gained ground.
However, Tymoshenko spoke against the idea of early parliamentary elections, saying they would be devastating for the country in light of the ongoing global financial crisis.
Parliamentary Speaker Arseny Yatsenyuk announced collapse of the ruling pro-Western coalition on Tuesday, paving the way for possible early parliamentary polls.
Yushchenko and Tymoshenko were allies in the 2004 "Orange Revolution," but have since drifted apart on a host of issues, including over a recent parliamentary vote to slash the president's powers, and the premier's refusal to back the president's condemnation of the Russian military operation in Georgia.
The legislature now has 30 days to form a new coalition or face an early parliamentary election, the third since Yushchenko came to power. The president has already confirmed his determination to dissolve parliament if the current crisis is not resolved by the deadline.
Tymoshenko is widely expected to run against Yushchenko in presidential elections to be held in 2009 or 2010.
Ten die in shelling duel as military aircraft lands Mogadishu airport
MOGADISHU, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Ten civilians have been killed and more than fifteen others wounded Friday after shells were exchanged between insurgent fighters and African Union peacekeepers at the airport following the arrival of an aircraft carrying supplies for the peacekeepers landed, local media and spokesman for the peacekeepers said.
"A plane carrying supplies for our forces arrived at the airport then several mortar shells were fired against the airport," Barigye Ba-Hoku, spokesman for the African Union mission for Somalia (AMISOM) told Xinhua. "We responded to these attacks since we have the right to self defense."
A number of shells landed in different neighborhoods in the south of the capital where ten people have been separately killed while fifteen others were wounded, local media reported.
Islamist insurgents have this week threatened to target airplanes coming to the Mogadishu airport which they say is being used by what they described as "enemy forces".
No commercial plane has since landed at the airport. The military plane for AMISOM is the first to use the airport since the insurgent issued their warning on a website posting.
Ba-Hoku said that none of their troops were hurt in the attack and that the plane safely landed.
The airport is a base for the Ugandan contingent of the African Union peacekeepers and is used by both civilian and military planes.
The airport is also being used by a number of locally chartered planes that do daily flights to and from neighboring countries and to United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia
"A plane carrying supplies for our forces arrived at the airport then several mortar shells were fired against the airport," Barigye Ba-Hoku, spokesman for the African Union mission for Somalia (AMISOM) told Xinhua. "We responded to these attacks since we have the right to self defense."
A number of shells landed in different neighborhoods in the south of the capital where ten people have been separately killed while fifteen others were wounded, local media reported.
Islamist insurgents have this week threatened to target airplanes coming to the Mogadishu airport which they say is being used by what they described as "enemy forces".
No commercial plane has since landed at the airport. The military plane for AMISOM is the first to use the airport since the insurgent issued their warning on a website posting.
Ba-Hoku said that none of their troops were hurt in the attack and that the plane safely landed.
The airport is a base for the Ugandan contingent of the African Union peacekeepers and is used by both civilian and military planes.
The airport is also being used by a number of locally chartered planes that do daily flights to and from neighboring countries and to United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia
No word yet on Mbeki's fate
The fate of President Thabo Mbeki was still not known by Friday evening as the African National Congress's national executive committee (NEC) was still continuing its deliberations in Kempton Park on the East Read.
The NEC was meeting to discuss whether to remove Mbeki, who is mired in accusations that he conspired to undermine ANC leader Jacob Zuma.Tension had been mounting all day as the NEC delayed a media announcement on the matter, which had been expected by 5.30pm.By 7.30pm, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe briefly addressed the media gathered outside the conference centre and said: "We are not finished. We are in the middle of the debate."When journalists pressed him on any news of the Mbeki matter, he retorted: "You want me to speculate?"ANC spokesperson Jessie Duarte said that an announcement would only be made by Saturday morning.Mantashe also said the NEC was "not discussing Thabo Mbeki. It is discussing the Judge [Chris] Nicholson judgement in its entirety. At the end of that discussion, we will come and brief you."
Atomic trade high on PM's U.S., France tour
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Armed with a permit for global nuclear trade, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh leaves next week for the United States and France hoping to seal atomic energy deals and discuss cooperation in defence and counter-terrorism.
Singh will fly out on Monday for what will be India's first top-level diplomatic engagement since a global nuclear cartel allowed it access to nuclear fuel and technology, overturning a 34-year-long ban for testing nuclear devices.
Singh is also expected to use the visit to review with President George Bush the progress of an India-U.S. nuclear deal awaiting approval by the U.S. Congress, where it faces significant opposition from the non-proliferation lobby.
There has been talk the deal could be ratified by Congress and ready for signing before Singh ends his U.S. visit, but Indian officials and analysts remain cautious in their optimism.
"No one knows for sure when it will be ready," Naresh Chandra, former Indian ambassador to Washington, said of the deal, seen as a cornerstone of India's growing ties with the West.
"It is now a creature of circumstances and subject to the ebb and flow of Congressional opinion."
At present, just three percent of India's total power requirement in generated by nuclear plants, a proportion New Delhi aims to increase to around 25 percent by 2050, taking billions of dollars in investment.
Relations between India and the United States have come a long way from the days of the Cold War when the two countries were typically on opposite sides.
India's economic reform programme, its huge market, a booming information technology industry, its growing military reach and its potential as a counterweight to China have combined to bring New Delhi closer to Washington.
NUCLEAR DOLLARS
Today, the two capitals are talking about India buying U.S. F-16 fighter jets and nuclear reactors, a far cry from the days when Washington imposed sanctions on New Delhi after it conducted nuclear tests in 1998.
Besides the nuclear deal, Singh, an eminent economist, will hold talks on issues ranging from defence to terrorism and the global financial crisis.
He will also address the U.N. General Assembly and could hold bilateral meetings with other heads of state, including a likely meeting with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari.
In France, Singh will meet French President Nicholas Sarkozy and is expected to sign a nuclear pact under which India could obtain, subject to fulfilling international safeguards, nuclear fuel from France for reactors purchased from it.
"The PM's France visit will be about posturing as well, telling the Americans ... look, we have other options if you don't clear the deal," columnist Kuldip Nayar told Reuters.
Singh will fly out on Monday for what will be India's first top-level diplomatic engagement since a global nuclear cartel allowed it access to nuclear fuel and technology, overturning a 34-year-long ban for testing nuclear devices.
Singh is also expected to use the visit to review with President George Bush the progress of an India-U.S. nuclear deal awaiting approval by the U.S. Congress, where it faces significant opposition from the non-proliferation lobby.
There has been talk the deal could be ratified by Congress and ready for signing before Singh ends his U.S. visit, but Indian officials and analysts remain cautious in their optimism.
"No one knows for sure when it will be ready," Naresh Chandra, former Indian ambassador to Washington, said of the deal, seen as a cornerstone of India's growing ties with the West.
"It is now a creature of circumstances and subject to the ebb and flow of Congressional opinion."
At present, just three percent of India's total power requirement in generated by nuclear plants, a proportion New Delhi aims to increase to around 25 percent by 2050, taking billions of dollars in investment.
Relations between India and the United States have come a long way from the days of the Cold War when the two countries were typically on opposite sides.
India's economic reform programme, its huge market, a booming information technology industry, its growing military reach and its potential as a counterweight to China have combined to bring New Delhi closer to Washington.
NUCLEAR DOLLARS
Today, the two capitals are talking about India buying U.S. F-16 fighter jets and nuclear reactors, a far cry from the days when Washington imposed sanctions on New Delhi after it conducted nuclear tests in 1998.
Besides the nuclear deal, Singh, an eminent economist, will hold talks on issues ranging from defence to terrorism and the global financial crisis.
He will also address the U.N. General Assembly and could hold bilateral meetings with other heads of state, including a likely meeting with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari.
In France, Singh will meet French President Nicholas Sarkozy and is expected to sign a nuclear pact under which India could obtain, subject to fulfilling international safeguards, nuclear fuel from France for reactors purchased from it.
"The PM's France visit will be about posturing as well, telling the Americans ... look, we have other options if you don't clear the deal," columnist Kuldip Nayar told Reuters.
Medvedev: Russia to restore friendly ties with Georgia
MOSCOW, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Friday that his country will do everything possible to restore friendly relations with Georgia, Russian news agencies reported.
Russia and Georgia have maintained fraternal relations for centuries, Medvedev said, noting that over 1 million Georgians live in Russia and regard Russia as their homeland.
Russia and Georgia have maintained fraternal relations for centuries, Medvedev said, noting that over 1 million Georgians live in Russia and regard Russia as their homeland.
"We ... will do everything possible to restore regular, friendly relations," he said at a meeting with representatives of public organizations.
Meanwhile, Medvedev accused NATO of provoking the conflict in Georgia last month, and called for new pan-European security arrangements.
"What did NATO ensure? It only provoked the conflict, nothing else," he said.
Despite tensions with the West, Medvedev said Russia would not be pushed behind a new Iron Curtain.
"We are in fact being pushed onto the development track which is not based on sound, normal and civilized cooperation with other countries, but rests on autonomous development behind thick walls and an Iron Curtain," he said.
"This is not our track. There is no use in returning to the past. We have made our choice," said the president.
Russia and Georgia fought a brief war last month following the Caucasus state's offensive to retake its breakaway region of South Ossetia. Moscow subsequently recognized the republic along with breakaway Abkhazia as independent states, which led Georgia to sever diplomatic ties with Russia.
Many Western powers have criticized Russia for its counterattack against Georgia and recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and sided with Tbilisi, which aspires for NATO membership.
Meanwhile, Medvedev accused NATO of provoking the conflict in Georgia last month, and called for new pan-European security arrangements.
"What did NATO ensure? It only provoked the conflict, nothing else," he said.
Despite tensions with the West, Medvedev said Russia would not be pushed behind a new Iron Curtain.
"We are in fact being pushed onto the development track which is not based on sound, normal and civilized cooperation with other countries, but rests on autonomous development behind thick walls and an Iron Curtain," he said.
"This is not our track. There is no use in returning to the past. We have made our choice," said the president.
Russia and Georgia fought a brief war last month following the Caucasus state's offensive to retake its breakaway region of South Ossetia. Moscow subsequently recognized the republic along with breakaway Abkhazia as independent states, which led Georgia to sever diplomatic ties with Russia.
Many Western powers have criticized Russia for its counterattack against Georgia and recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and sided with Tbilisi, which aspires for NATO membership.
US envoy commends media for reporting scams
The United States yesterday praised the media and civil societies for unearthing scandals and making the government accountable. The US Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Mark Green, told representatives from the media and civil societies at Ubungo Plaza in Dar es Salaam that the media was doing a good job.
He said since 2006 through investigative journalism and Public Expenditure Tracking System (PETS) the public was being well informed. He said the trend had made Americans to continue supporting Tanzania's development programmes. He was officially closing a two-year Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) media project under which 310 journalists were trained in investigative journalism. During the last two years the trained journalists published over 650 investigative stories on corruption. According to the Director of PACT TANZANIA, Mr Dan Craun Selka, a total of 88 PETS committees were operating in 65 districts while holding local authorities and leaders accountable to members of the public for their performance. "You might wonder why I find this is so exciting. It is because the accountability and transparency that PETS encourages and fosters, will help build and sustain Tanzania's prosperity as a nation," he said. He also commended the government's commitment in fighting corruption.
Bush: 'We must act now'
Bush, Paulson outline powerful steps targeting troubled mortgage-related assets weighing down the finance industry. Plan could cost hundreds of billions.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- President Bush and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on Friday outlined a series of far-reaching steps - likely to cost hundreds of billions of dollars - aimed at stemming a widening financial crisis that is roiling the financial markets and undermining confidence in the banking system.
"We must act now to protect our nation's economic health from serious risk," Bush said at a White House press conference. "There will be ample opportunity to discuss the origins of this problems. Now is the time to solve it."
"This is no time for partisanship," Bush added. "We need to move urgently needed legislation as quickly as possible without adding controversial provisions that could delay action."
Earlier, Paulson said that federal action would target the mortgage-related "illiquid assets" that are burdening the finance industry.
"The federal government must implement a program to remove these illiquid assets that are weighing down our financial institutions and threatening our economy," said Paulson. "This troubled asset relief program must be properly designed and sufficiently large to have maximum impact."
The new program would cost hundreds of billions of dollars, according to Paulson.
"This has got to be big enough to make a real difference," he said.
The plan will be fleshed out in the coming days in meetings between Paulson, other Bush administration officials and lawmakers.
"I will spend the weekend working with members of Congress of both parties to examine approaches to alleviate the pressure of these bad loans on our system, so credit can flow once again to American consumers and companies," Paulson said.
The mortgage plan is part of an extraordinary effort by the federal government to contain a financial crisis that has rocked Wall Street and has started rippling out to Main Street.
In the past week, two of the nation's most venerable investment banks - Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch (MER, Fortune 500) - have fallen and the Federal Reserve was forced to lend $85 billion to prevent the sudden collapse of insurance giant American International Group (AIG, Fortune 500).
Meanwhile, mainstay financial institutions are scrambling to raise cash or find merger partners as lending has frozen up and investor confidence has sunk.
In addition to the plan aimed at housing, the government on Friday announced a number of steps aimed more directly at investors and the stock markets.
The Treasury Department said it would insure money market mutual funds for finance firms that pay a fee to participate in a temporary program.
Bush said that "recent stresses cause some to question whether" money market deposits are safe. He said the plan will include government insurance for money markets.
"For every dollar invested in an insured fund, you'll be able to take a dollar out," Bush said.
Separately, the Securities and Exchange Commission took what it called "emergency action" and temporarily banned investors from short-selling 799 financial companies.
"What we had, in effect, was a dam that was sprouting lots of cracks and lots of leaks," said Bernard Baumohl, chief global economist for The Economic Outlook Group. "For the last several days, the Federal Reserve and the Treasury were trying to plug each of these holes as they were appearing. What they decided to do today was to put up a whole new dam."
This is the federal government's most far-reaching intervention in the financial markets since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
"They did what they had to do," said Baumohl. "They were facing a Category 5 financial hurricane that really threatened the entire global financial architecture."
The downside to the plan is its enormous cost, said Baumohl, estimating that the federal bail-out of the financial markets could swell the national deficit to $1 trillion annually.
So far, investors welcomed the news on Friday. The Dow soared 400 points at the start of Friday trading, after having surged 410 points on Thursday when speculation of the bailout started to grow. This included meteoric rises for battered finance firms like Morgan Stanley (MS, Fortune 500), Goldman Sachs (GS, Fortune 500) and Washington Mutual (WM, Fortune 500).
"We must act now to protect our nation's economic health from serious risk," Bush said at a White House press conference. "There will be ample opportunity to discuss the origins of this problems. Now is the time to solve it."
"This is no time for partisanship," Bush added. "We need to move urgently needed legislation as quickly as possible without adding controversial provisions that could delay action."
Earlier, Paulson said that federal action would target the mortgage-related "illiquid assets" that are burdening the finance industry.
"The federal government must implement a program to remove these illiquid assets that are weighing down our financial institutions and threatening our economy," said Paulson. "This troubled asset relief program must be properly designed and sufficiently large to have maximum impact."
The new program would cost hundreds of billions of dollars, according to Paulson.
"This has got to be big enough to make a real difference," he said.
The plan will be fleshed out in the coming days in meetings between Paulson, other Bush administration officials and lawmakers.
"I will spend the weekend working with members of Congress of both parties to examine approaches to alleviate the pressure of these bad loans on our system, so credit can flow once again to American consumers and companies," Paulson said.
The mortgage plan is part of an extraordinary effort by the federal government to contain a financial crisis that has rocked Wall Street and has started rippling out to Main Street.
In the past week, two of the nation's most venerable investment banks - Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch (MER, Fortune 500) - have fallen and the Federal Reserve was forced to lend $85 billion to prevent the sudden collapse of insurance giant American International Group (AIG, Fortune 500).
Meanwhile, mainstay financial institutions are scrambling to raise cash or find merger partners as lending has frozen up and investor confidence has sunk.
In addition to the plan aimed at housing, the government on Friday announced a number of steps aimed more directly at investors and the stock markets.
The Treasury Department said it would insure money market mutual funds for finance firms that pay a fee to participate in a temporary program.
Bush said that "recent stresses cause some to question whether" money market deposits are safe. He said the plan will include government insurance for money markets.
"For every dollar invested in an insured fund, you'll be able to take a dollar out," Bush said.
Separately, the Securities and Exchange Commission took what it called "emergency action" and temporarily banned investors from short-selling 799 financial companies.
"What we had, in effect, was a dam that was sprouting lots of cracks and lots of leaks," said Bernard Baumohl, chief global economist for The Economic Outlook Group. "For the last several days, the Federal Reserve and the Treasury were trying to plug each of these holes as they were appearing. What they decided to do today was to put up a whole new dam."
This is the federal government's most far-reaching intervention in the financial markets since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
"They did what they had to do," said Baumohl. "They were facing a Category 5 financial hurricane that really threatened the entire global financial architecture."
The downside to the plan is its enormous cost, said Baumohl, estimating that the federal bail-out of the financial markets could swell the national deficit to $1 trillion annually.
So far, investors welcomed the news on Friday. The Dow soared 400 points at the start of Friday trading, after having surged 410 points on Thursday when speculation of the bailout started to grow. This included meteoric rises for battered finance firms like Morgan Stanley (MS, Fortune 500), Goldman Sachs (GS, Fortune 500) and Washington Mutual (WM, Fortune 500).
Iran scoffs at U.S., Israeli military threats
TEHRAN, September 16 (RIA Novosti) - Israel and the United States lack the ability to commit an act of aggression against Iran in an effort to destroy its nuclear installations, the Iranian president's senior military advisor said Tuesday.
"The Zionist regime lacks the diplomatic, economic and social capability to launch a wide-scale war," General Yahya Rahim Safavi said in response to threats by Israel to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.
He said Iran's armed forces, including the Revolutionary Guards, and 11 million members of the Basij, the Guards' voluntary force, "are fully prepared to deal with any attack."
With regard to the United States, Safavi said its 200,000-strong contingent in the region was deployed in such a way that it actually posed "a serious danger" to the U.S. itself
"There is no doubt that the Americans, who are stuck in Afghanistan, Iraq and Georgia, will not open a fourth front," he said, referring to a possible attack on Iran.
Iran launched a three-day series of Air Force and missile-defense exercises throughout the country on Monday.
Tehran has conducted several high-profile war games this year, while promising a powerful retaliation in the event of any act of aggression against the country. The United States and Israel have consistently refused to rule out the possibility of military action against Iran over its refusal to halt its nuclear program.
The country recently took delivery of 29 Russian-made Tor-M1 air defense missile systems under a $700 million contract signed in late 2005. Russia has also trained Iranian Tor-M1 specialists, including radar operators and crew commanders.
In July, Iran successfully launched an upgraded Shahab-3 ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 km (1,240 miles), and several missiles with a range of 350 kilometers (217 miles) as part of the Great Prophet III military exercise in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, drawing a new wave of international criticism.
Iran is currently under three sets of relatively mild UN Security Council sanctions for defying demands to halt uranium enrichment, which it says it needs purely for electricity generation despite Western accusations that the program is geared toward weapon production.
"The Zionist regime lacks the diplomatic, economic and social capability to launch a wide-scale war," General Yahya Rahim Safavi said in response to threats by Israel to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.
He said Iran's armed forces, including the Revolutionary Guards, and 11 million members of the Basij, the Guards' voluntary force, "are fully prepared to deal with any attack."
With regard to the United States, Safavi said its 200,000-strong contingent in the region was deployed in such a way that it actually posed "a serious danger" to the U.S. itself
"There is no doubt that the Americans, who are stuck in Afghanistan, Iraq and Georgia, will not open a fourth front," he said, referring to a possible attack on Iran.
Iran launched a three-day series of Air Force and missile-defense exercises throughout the country on Monday.
Tehran has conducted several high-profile war games this year, while promising a powerful retaliation in the event of any act of aggression against the country. The United States and Israel have consistently refused to rule out the possibility of military action against Iran over its refusal to halt its nuclear program.
The country recently took delivery of 29 Russian-made Tor-M1 air defense missile systems under a $700 million contract signed in late 2005. Russia has also trained Iranian Tor-M1 specialists, including radar operators and crew commanders.
In July, Iran successfully launched an upgraded Shahab-3 ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 km (1,240 miles), and several missiles with a range of 350 kilometers (217 miles) as part of the Great Prophet III military exercise in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, drawing a new wave of international criticism.
Iran is currently under three sets of relatively mild UN Security Council sanctions for defying demands to halt uranium enrichment, which it says it needs purely for electricity generation despite Western accusations that the program is geared toward weapon production.
Sarkozy prepares economy speech
Nicolas Sarkozy is to give a talk next Thursday on the state of the French economy in the light of turmoil on the world markets.
His staff said the president will hold a meeting in Toulon, away from TV cameras, where he will discuss with the public the problems caused by the global credit crunch and his future reforms. Former economic minister and Socialist MP Michel Sapin said he could not understand the government's silence on the problems. "This crisis will have consequences in France," he said. "He must break with his electoral campaign illusions," he added. "For Nicolas Sarkozy this is the end of the illusions and the ideal of 'I'm going to bring back economic growth with my teeth'. But to realise that you can't do anything, that is not in his character," said Mr Sapin. The president has shyed away from commenting on the issue, refusing to answer questions on the crisis during a recent press conference UMP MP Bernard Carayon said Sarkozy needed "a bit of space to judge events".
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Britain gives Tanzania $184 million budget support
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Britain has given Tanzania $184.4 million to support its 2008/09 budget, the east African nation said on Thursday.
Britain's contribution is part of at least $700 million that has been pledged by 14 major donors as direct budget support, which is equivalent to 12 percent of state spending in 2008/09, which runs from July to June.
"This money is already in the government's account in the central bank, as of yesterday," Finance Minister Mustafa Mkulo told reporters in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.
The World Bank, African Development Bank, European Union and 11 nations, mostly in Europe, would provide the remainder of the $700 million in direct budget support, he said.
Tanzania is among Africa's highest per capita aid recipients.
Britain's contribution is part of at least $700 million that has been pledged by 14 major donors as direct budget support, which is equivalent to 12 percent of state spending in 2008/09, which runs from July to June.
"This money is already in the government's account in the central bank, as of yesterday," Finance Minister Mustafa Mkulo told reporters in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.
The World Bank, African Development Bank, European Union and 11 nations, mostly in Europe, would provide the remainder of the $700 million in direct budget support, he said.
Tanzania is among Africa's highest per capita aid recipients.
Pakistan close to boosting atom bomb means
VIENNA (Reuters) - Pakistan is close to completing a second plutonium-producing reactor, is well into building a third and these could increase its ability to make atomic bombs, a U.S. think-tank said on Thursday.
"The wider implication ... (is that) there is a real risk this will exacerbate an India-Pakistan nuclear arms race and increase tensions more broadly between the two," the Institute for Science and International Security said in a report.
The regional arch-rivals have fought three wars, are both outside the global Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and have tested nuclear arms with Western technology imported ostensibly for peaceful atomic energy.
But a 45-nation nuclear export cartel approved a waiver to its rules this month allowing trade with India as part of a civilian nuclear cooperation pact it struck with the United States. The entire undertaking could erode the NPT, critics say.
ISIS, a well-connected Washington-based group, has been a prominent tracker of nuclear proliferation issues focusing on Iran, North Korea and Syria as well as Pakistan and India.
Emailed to Reuters, the ISIS report included commercial satellite images taken two weeks ago and in February and May showing construction of the second and third Khushab complexes.
Pakistan has an operating heavy-water reactor and heavy-water production plant already at Khushab.
A row of cooling towers indicated the second reactor was close to completion and could be ready to operate in a year's time, according to the 10-page report.
"Once completed, these reactors will increase several-fold Pakistan's ability to make weapons-grade plutonium (fuel)."
The report estimated the reactors would run on power of "about 100 megawatts or more", which could enable the two combined to yield plutonium for 8-10 atomic bombs a year.
"When finished, the second and third Khushab reactors will allow a significant increase in the quantity and quality of Pakistan's nuclear weapons."
The report said India could easily match Pakistan's moves given its own ability to churn out plutonium in heavy water reactors and a fast-breeder reactor under construction.
"Rather than witnessing a wasteful and dangerous surge in the production of fissile materials for weapons in South Asia, the United States should make a key priority convincing Pakistan to join negotiations on a universal, verified Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty," the report said.
U.N. negotiations on such a treaty, which would ban production of nuclear weapons fuel, have made no headway for years because of a lack of consensus among nuclear powers.
Pakistan built its first nuclear power station in 1972 with Canadian help. But Western countries, under pressure from Washington, later severed cooperation amid suspicion that Pakistan was covertly developing nuclear weapons.
Pakistan conducted five nuclear tests in 1998 in response to those of India, becoming a nuclear-armed state.
"The wider implication ... (is that) there is a real risk this will exacerbate an India-Pakistan nuclear arms race and increase tensions more broadly between the two," the Institute for Science and International Security said in a report.
The regional arch-rivals have fought three wars, are both outside the global Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and have tested nuclear arms with Western technology imported ostensibly for peaceful atomic energy.
But a 45-nation nuclear export cartel approved a waiver to its rules this month allowing trade with India as part of a civilian nuclear cooperation pact it struck with the United States. The entire undertaking could erode the NPT, critics say.
ISIS, a well-connected Washington-based group, has been a prominent tracker of nuclear proliferation issues focusing on Iran, North Korea and Syria as well as Pakistan and India.
Emailed to Reuters, the ISIS report included commercial satellite images taken two weeks ago and in February and May showing construction of the second and third Khushab complexes.
Pakistan has an operating heavy-water reactor and heavy-water production plant already at Khushab.
A row of cooling towers indicated the second reactor was close to completion and could be ready to operate in a year's time, according to the 10-page report.
"Once completed, these reactors will increase several-fold Pakistan's ability to make weapons-grade plutonium (fuel)."
The report estimated the reactors would run on power of "about 100 megawatts or more", which could enable the two combined to yield plutonium for 8-10 atomic bombs a year.
"When finished, the second and third Khushab reactors will allow a significant increase in the quantity and quality of Pakistan's nuclear weapons."
The report said India could easily match Pakistan's moves given its own ability to churn out plutonium in heavy water reactors and a fast-breeder reactor under construction.
"Rather than witnessing a wasteful and dangerous surge in the production of fissile materials for weapons in South Asia, the United States should make a key priority convincing Pakistan to join negotiations on a universal, verified Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty," the report said.
U.N. negotiations on such a treaty, which would ban production of nuclear weapons fuel, have made no headway for years because of a lack of consensus among nuclear powers.
Pakistan built its first nuclear power station in 1972 with Canadian help. But Western countries, under pressure from Washington, later severed cooperation amid suspicion that Pakistan was covertly developing nuclear weapons.
Pakistan conducted five nuclear tests in 1998 in response to those of India, becoming a nuclear-armed state.
Uganda seeking miniskirt ban
Uganda's ethics and integrity minister says miniskirts should be banned - because women wearing them distract drivers and cause traffic accidents.
Nsaba Buturo told journalists in Kampala that wearing a miniskirt was like walking naked in the streets.
"What's wrong with a miniskirt? You can cause an accident because some of our people are weak mentally," he said.
The BBC's Joshua Mmali in Kampala, the capital, said journalists found the minister's comments extremely funny.
Wearing a miniskirt should be regarded as "indecent", which would be punishable under Ugandan law, Mr Buturo said.
And he railed against the dangers facing those inadvertently distracted by short skirts.
"If you find a naked person you begin to concentrate on the make-up of that person and yet you are driving," he said.
"These days you hardly know who is a mother from a daughter, they are all naked."
Vice list
According to the minister, indecent dressing is just one of many vices facing Ugandan society.
"Theft and embezzlement of public funds, sub-standard service delivery, greed, infidelity, prostitution, homosexuality [and] sectarianism..." he said.
Earlier this year, Kampala's Makerere University decided to impose a dress code for women at the institution, our reporter says.
The miniskirt and tight trousers ban has yet to be implemented, but our correspondent sought the opinions of women on campus about the minister's opinions.
"If one wants to wear a miniskirt, it's ok. If another wants to put on a long skirt, then that's ok," one woman said.
But others had more sympathy with Mr Buturo.
"I think skimpy things are not good. We are keeping the dignity of Africa as ladies and we have to cover ourselves up," one woman, called Sharon, told the BBC.
Nsaba Buturo told journalists in Kampala that wearing a miniskirt was like walking naked in the streets.
"What's wrong with a miniskirt? You can cause an accident because some of our people are weak mentally," he said.
The BBC's Joshua Mmali in Kampala, the capital, said journalists found the minister's comments extremely funny.
Wearing a miniskirt should be regarded as "indecent", which would be punishable under Ugandan law, Mr Buturo said.
And he railed against the dangers facing those inadvertently distracted by short skirts.
"If you find a naked person you begin to concentrate on the make-up of that person and yet you are driving," he said.
"These days you hardly know who is a mother from a daughter, they are all naked."
Vice list
According to the minister, indecent dressing is just one of many vices facing Ugandan society.
"Theft and embezzlement of public funds, sub-standard service delivery, greed, infidelity, prostitution, homosexuality [and] sectarianism..." he said.
Earlier this year, Kampala's Makerere University decided to impose a dress code for women at the institution, our reporter says.
The miniskirt and tight trousers ban has yet to be implemented, but our correspondent sought the opinions of women on campus about the minister's opinions.
"If one wants to wear a miniskirt, it's ok. If another wants to put on a long skirt, then that's ok," one woman said.
But others had more sympathy with Mr Buturo.
"I think skimpy things are not good. We are keeping the dignity of Africa as ladies and we have to cover ourselves up," one woman, called Sharon, told the BBC.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
SEKAB TO INVEST $300 MILLION IN ETHANOL PLANT IN TANZANIA
Sekab to Invest $300 Million in Ethanol Plant in Tanzania
By Sarah McGregor
Sept. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Svensk Etanolkemi AB, a Swedish biofuels company, plans to spend $300 million building a plant to convert sugarcane into ethanol in Tanzania, local managing director Anders Bergfors said.
The company, known as Sekab is waiting for government permission to plant up to 20,000 hectares (49,420 acres) of sugar cane near Bagamoyo, 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Dar es Salaam, Bergfors told reporters today on the sidelines of a conference in Tanzania's commercial capital of Dar es Salaam.
The proposed plant will produce 100,000 cubic meters of ethanol annually, and could begin operating between 2010 and 2012, he said.
Global demand for ethanol is rising as countries, including the U.S., try to reduce their dependence on oil whilst curbing emissions. The price of biofuels has also tracked stronger oil prices during the last year because fuel wholesalers use more ethanol when gasoline prices rise.
Sekab has also applied to develop 200,000 hectares of land in Tanzania's east-central Rufiji district, and another 100,000 hectare plot in neighboring Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado province, Bergfors said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Sarah McGregor in Dar es Salaam via Johannesburg at 1999 or pmrichardson@bloomberg.net.
By Sarah McGregor
Sept. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Svensk Etanolkemi AB, a Swedish biofuels company, plans to spend $300 million building a plant to convert sugarcane into ethanol in Tanzania, local managing director Anders Bergfors said.
The company, known as Sekab is waiting for government permission to plant up to 20,000 hectares (49,420 acres) of sugar cane near Bagamoyo, 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Dar es Salaam, Bergfors told reporters today on the sidelines of a conference in Tanzania's commercial capital of Dar es Salaam.
The proposed plant will produce 100,000 cubic meters of ethanol annually, and could begin operating between 2010 and 2012, he said.
Global demand for ethanol is rising as countries, including the U.S., try to reduce their dependence on oil whilst curbing emissions. The price of biofuels has also tracked stronger oil prices during the last year because fuel wholesalers use more ethanol when gasoline prices rise.
Sekab has also applied to develop 200,000 hectares of land in Tanzania's east-central Rufiji district, and another 100,000 hectare plot in neighboring Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado province, Bergfors said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Sarah McGregor in Dar es Salaam via Johannesburg at 1999 or pmrichardson@bloomberg.net.
CUF calls for power-sharing deal to...
Barely a day after Zimbabwe`s political parties opened a new chapter by agreeing to form a government of national unity, Tanzania`s major opposition party, the Civic United Front says the only way to solve Zanzibar`s political dispute is power sharing.
CUF Secretary General Seif Sharif Hamad proposes that if the president comes from the ruling party, then his deputy, who is the Chief Minister should come from the opposition side, following the system adopted in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Speaking to this paper in Zanzibar yesterday, following Zimbabwe`s power sharing deal, he said CUF has no problem with sharing power because that is the only way to foster national unity. ``This political divide needs power sharing as the only way to bring to an end the long standing political conflict in this island,`` said Hamad. Zanzibar\'s political problems started after the 1995 first multi-party general elections when the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) won by 50.2 per cent while CUF got 49.8 per cent. Two accords reached between the two rival parties have not succeeded to resolve the conflict. Seif urged political leaders particularly those from the ruling party, CCM to learn from the Zimbabwe deal by putting national interests above all else in order to end the dispute. ``Nothing is impossible on solving this issue. The problem is with our colleagues, CCM, who do not have the will to end this political divide,`` he said. Seif said basically negotiating committee which was led by Kingunge Ngombale Mwiru and Hamad Rashid had finished its duty and that what remained was implementation of the agreed issues . ``I join hands with all those congratulating the African Union chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete, but I would like to remind him not to forget that in his own country there is a problem of the same nature,`` said Seif. He however ruled out CUF going back to the negotiating table using the Kingunge and Hamad Rashid system because it has shown weaknesses.
Lack of facilities drive teachers from villages
Most teachers are reluctant to teach in remote areas due to lack of facilities, housing in particular, the Head Master of Idris Abdul Wakil Primary School in Kinondoni District, Mr Juvenary Muta, said yesterday. Mr Muta told journalists that as a result, hundreds of children were deprived of their right to education. Muta told journalists there that though problem had eased, it was still pertinent. “Though there are some improvements, the problem is still there. Our school at the moment is at least better off but we still need 12 teachers’ houses. In the past, teachers posted here used to report and spend a day or two…then they vanished,” he said. Mr Muta said the school had one house for teachers and two others were still under construction, but the work had stopped for a while due to lack of funds. A member of the school committee, Mr Rashid Musa said at present most of the teachers had to rent houses which were, however, very expensive. Meanwhile, the Tanzania Tourist Board Managing Director, Mr Peter Mwenguo, donated exercise books, crayons, pens and pencils and handed over a cheque of 1.8m/- donated by two American women. Mr Mwenguo who is the school’s patron, said he was very much encouraged by the progress made by the school. He said in 2003 when he became patron, it had three teachers and none of its pupils who sat for Standard Seven exams was selected to join secondary school for the past 10 years. But last year alone, 39 students out of 54 passed their exams.
World cashew stakeholders meet in Dar today
The plight of small cashew nut growers will be top on the agenda when stakeholders from various countries that produce the crop meet in Dar es Salaam from today. The President of Africa Cashew Alliance (ACA) Executive Committee, Mr Carlos Costa, said yesterday that the three-day meeting would be attended by more than 100 delegates including cashewnut growers, buyers and processors. “The delegates are from five countries and we will have people coming from India, Brazil, United States of America and Europe. We also expect a delegation from Vietnam”, he said. Mr Costa said the meeting was important, as it would provide an opportunity for cashewnut stakeholders from around the world, to have in-depth discussion on matters concerning the sub-sector. He further said that ACA which will also hold its Annual General Meeting, was established to assist cashew- nut farmers in Africa and that it was not a financial institution or a team of experts, but rather a facilitator. Mr Costs said what they are trying to do is build a network that would include all stakeholders from governments to private sectors so that all can benefit from the crop. “We are here to look into the problems that face cashew- nut growers in rural areas, who earn very little compared to the prices of processed cashewnuts”, he said. Tanzania and other Eastern African countries produce 150 tons of cashewnuts annually most of which are shipped to India or Vietnam, where they are processed and exported to Europe and America. According to ACA statistics, other areas that produce most of the world’s cashewnuts are West Africa, India, Brazil, Vietnam and other Asian countries.
16 killed in assault attempt on U.S. embassy in Yemen
SANAA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- An attack attempt against the U.S. embassy in Yemen on Wednesday morning left 16 killed, Yemen's official SABA news agency reported.
The attack resulted in the killing of six terrorists, four civilians including a civil security guard and an Indian woman who was passing by the area at the time of the attack, and six soldiers in charge of guarding the compound while injuring three others, according to the report.
Quoting security sources in charge of guarding the U.S. embassy compound in Sanaa, SABA said that the terrorists had planned two suicide attacks with two bombed cars targeting the building, which had been foiled.
The attack resulted in the killing of six terrorists, four civilians including a civil security guard and an Indian woman who was passing by the area at the time of the attack, and six soldiers in charge of guarding the compound while injuring three others, according to the report.
Quoting security sources in charge of guarding the U.S. embassy compound in Sanaa, SABA said that the terrorists had planned two suicide attacks with two bombed cars targeting the building, which had been foiled.
U.S. gov't defends its takeover of AIG
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Wednesday defended its takeover of troubled insurance giant American International Group, saying the action protected the economy from further harm.
"You have a government that is willing to lead, act where appropriate, and govern to make sure that we limit broader financial harm to the economy," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
Invoking extraordinary powers granted after the 1929 stock market crash, the U.S. government seized control of the nation's largest insurance company by providing an 85 billion dollar emergency loan on Tuesday.
Treasury and Federal Reserve chiefs and other government economic advisors had determined "some of these companies were so big that to allow them to fail would have caused even greater harm and damage to the economy," said Perino.
"We remain concerned about other companies and that's why the secretary of the Treasury continues to work with the team to see if we can stem any other losses," she said.
She did not rule out future bailouts of troubled financial institutions.
About the economy, Perino said that "we have a very mixed picture right now."
But according to top economic officials, the economy has the strength to "deal with these shocks," she said.
"You have a government that is willing to lead, act where appropriate, and govern to make sure that we limit broader financial harm to the economy," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
Invoking extraordinary powers granted after the 1929 stock market crash, the U.S. government seized control of the nation's largest insurance company by providing an 85 billion dollar emergency loan on Tuesday.
Treasury and Federal Reserve chiefs and other government economic advisors had determined "some of these companies were so big that to allow them to fail would have caused even greater harm and damage to the economy," said Perino.
"We remain concerned about other companies and that's why the secretary of the Treasury continues to work with the team to see if we can stem any other losses," she said.
She did not rule out future bailouts of troubled financial institutions.
About the economy, Perino said that "we have a very mixed picture right now."
But according to top economic officials, the economy has the strength to "deal with these shocks," she said.
International conference set to open in Kenya on climate change
NAIROBI, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- An international conference is due to open in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on Thursday to discuss the impact of the climate change on Africa, organizers announced here Tuesday.
A statement from the Africa Commission said the conference will bring together experts on climate change, representatives from the private sector, academia, government and the civil society, as well as youth organizations.
"Climate change is likely to have a major impact on economic growth, employment creation and poverty reduction in Africa," the statement said.
"Climate change may also provide new opportunities in the form of access to new sources of investment and finance, new market niches for agricultural products and renewable energy; perhaps forging new global partnerships for sustainable development."
The conference initiated by the Danish government will be opened by Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga under the theme: "Employment & Economic Growth – The Challenge of Climate Change" and will bring to father 18 members of the Africa Commission.
The Africa Commission was launched in April 2008. The aim of the Commission is to present new ideas and strategies to strengthen international development cooperation with Africa.
A statement from the Africa Commission said the conference will bring together experts on climate change, representatives from the private sector, academia, government and the civil society, as well as youth organizations.
"Climate change is likely to have a major impact on economic growth, employment creation and poverty reduction in Africa," the statement said.
"Climate change may also provide new opportunities in the form of access to new sources of investment and finance, new market niches for agricultural products and renewable energy; perhaps forging new global partnerships for sustainable development."
The conference initiated by the Danish government will be opened by Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga under the theme: "Employment & Economic Growth – The Challenge of Climate Change" and will bring to father 18 members of the Africa Commission.
The Africa Commission was launched in April 2008. The aim of the Commission is to present new ideas and strategies to strengthen international development cooperation with Africa.
Landslide for Angola ruling party
Angola's ruling MPLA party has won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections earlier this months, official figures have confirmed.
The main opposition and ex-rebels, Unita, took just over 10% of the vote, losing more than 50 of its seats.
The Angolan electoral commission said turnout was high, with MPLA gaining nearly 82% of the vote and 191 seats.
It was the country's first polls since 1992, when Unita refused to accept defeat and resumed a long civil war.
The Angolan electoral commission said turnout was high, with MPLA gaining nearly 82% of the vote and 191 seats.
It was the country's first polls since 1992, when Unita refused to accept defeat and resumed a long civil war.
The BBC's Louise Redvers in the capital, Luanda, says there were fears that this poll could cause more civil unrest.
However, Unita has already accepted defeat and with the exception of a few isolated incidents, the month-long campaigning passed peacefully and there have been no reports of a backlash, our reporter says.
EU observers said the vote was an "advance for democracy" but refused to say it was free and fair.
The electoral commission and constitutional court rejected a Unita call for a rerun of the vote in Luanda, where voting was chaotic because more than 300 polling stations did not open or lacked materials.
"The court has rejected our claim but what we wanted to do and what we have done is put on record the issues we had and that is part of the democratic process of an election," Unita spokesman Jardo Muekalia said.
The MPLA has ruled Angola since the country gained independence from Portugal in 1975 but it fought a civil war against Unita until 2002.
However, Unita has already accepted defeat and with the exception of a few isolated incidents, the month-long campaigning passed peacefully and there have been no reports of a backlash, our reporter says.
EU observers said the vote was an "advance for democracy" but refused to say it was free and fair.
The electoral commission and constitutional court rejected a Unita call for a rerun of the vote in Luanda, where voting was chaotic because more than 300 polling stations did not open or lacked materials.
"The court has rejected our claim but what we wanted to do and what we have done is put on record the issues we had and that is part of the democratic process of an election," Unita spokesman Jardo Muekalia said.
The MPLA has ruled Angola since the country gained independence from Portugal in 1975 but it fought a civil war against Unita until 2002.
Tsvangirai moves to assure Mugabe
Zimbabwe's Prime Minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai has said President Robert Mugabe has nothing to fear from the historic deal signed on Monday.
In his first interview as PM, Mr Tsvangirai told the BBC that Mr Mugabe had a "paranoid obsession" that there was an attempt to overthrow him.
Mr Tsvangirai said this was not the case and that confidence was vital if Zimbabwe was to be rebuilt.
Monday's power-sharing deal ended a decade of rivalry between the two men.
The division of cabinet posts have not yet been finalised but the deal proposes a 50-50 division of power, with Mr Mugabe remaining head of state and head of the cabinet.
Israel's Kadima picks new leader
Voting is under way as Israel's ruling Kadima party chooses a successor to its leader, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
The front-runners to succeed him are Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz.
Mr Olmert, who denies corruption claims, has said he will step down as PM after his successor is chosen.
But he may stay on as caretaker prime minister until a new coalition government is formed, which could take weeks or even months.
Ms Livni's supporters hope she will breathe new life into a political establishment mired in sleaze and dominated by ageing, male, former military figures, says the BBC's Heather Sharp in Jerusalem.
But the former Mossad spy is widely criticised for her lack of political experience.
Mr Mofaz, a former army chief of staff who has talked tough on Iran, is seen as further to the right on security, but some say there is little difference between him and the opposition Likud party, our correspondent adds.
Mr Olmert, who denies corruption claims, has said he will step down as PM after his successor is chosen.
But he may stay on as caretaker prime minister until a new coalition government is formed, which could take weeks or even months.
Ms Livni's supporters hope she will breathe new life into a political establishment mired in sleaze and dominated by ageing, male, former military figures, says the BBC's Heather Sharp in Jerusalem.
But the former Mossad spy is widely criticised for her lack of political experience.
Mr Mofaz, a former army chief of staff who has talked tough on Iran, is seen as further to the right on security, but some say there is little difference between him and the opposition Likud party, our correspondent adds.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
BEIJING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday held talks with Niger's Prime Minister Seyni Oumarou, who is here for the closing
BEIJING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday held talks with Niger's Prime Minister Seyni Oumarou, who is here for the closing ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics scheduled for Wednesday.
Hu thanked the Nigerien government and people for the support to the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, as well as the sympathy and solicitude they delivered to the Chinese after the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan Province.
Hu thanked the Nigerien government and people for the support to the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, as well as the sympathy and solicitude they delivered to the Chinese after the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan Province.
Hu said the friendly cooperation between China and Niger has been developing smoothly.
"The two countries have developed mutual trust in political field, candid cooperation in economic and trade fields, and close coordination in international affairs," he said.
Hu expressed appreciation of Niger's adherence to the one-China policy, as well as its support to the reunification cause of China.
Both China and Niger are developing countries, each being the other's important partner in realizing mutual benefits and development, Hu said.
The two countries shall work together to make plans for the political, economic and trade cooperation in the near future, he said.
The Chinese president also called for more experience-sharing in economic development and social stability, and more consultation in international affairs.
Oumarou noted that China has been helping Niger for a long time through assistance to the construction of water supply projects, providing food aid and writing off the debts Niger owed to China.
Oumarou said he hopes China will continue to support Niger's efforts to eliminate poverty and looks forward to more cooperation with China in infrastructure construction and energy exploration.
Oumarou congratulated Beijing on the successful Olympics and Paralympic Games.
"The two countries have developed mutual trust in political field, candid cooperation in economic and trade fields, and close coordination in international affairs," he said.
Hu expressed appreciation of Niger's adherence to the one-China policy, as well as its support to the reunification cause of China.
Both China and Niger are developing countries, each being the other's important partner in realizing mutual benefits and development, Hu said.
The two countries shall work together to make plans for the political, economic and trade cooperation in the near future, he said.
The Chinese president also called for more experience-sharing in economic development and social stability, and more consultation in international affairs.
Oumarou noted that China has been helping Niger for a long time through assistance to the construction of water supply projects, providing food aid and writing off the debts Niger owed to China.
Oumarou said he hopes China will continue to support Niger's efforts to eliminate poverty and looks forward to more cooperation with China in infrastructure construction and energy exploration.
Oumarou congratulated Beijing on the successful Olympics and Paralympic Games.
Chinese, Japanese personages discuss bilateral relations at Beijing-Tokyo Forum
TOKYO, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Fourth Beijing-Tokyo Forum began its plenary meeting Tuesday in Tokyo. Personages and prominent figures from various circles of the two nations had in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and were of the same opinion that promoting two-way exchanges and mutual trust will be conducive to the advancement of bilateral ties.
At the start of the plenary meeting, Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cui Tiankai, on behalf of their respective governments, advocated joint efforts Tuesday to push forward the Japan-China relations and conveyed good wishes for their further advance.
Komura said that the Japanese government attaches great importance to its ties with China and it is his conviction that this general trend will not be reversed.
The two nations have made joint efforts to push forward bilateral ties as well as address regional and international issues in recent years, said Komura, adding that under the guiding principle of the Japan-China strategic and mutually beneficial relations, the two nations have witnessed advances and improvements in their ties.
Cui, for his part, said that national interests of the two countries entail both friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation.
And the stable, sound and long-term development of China-Japan relations serves as an important factor in maintaining both nations' prosperity and stability in the volatile international environments.
In his keynote speech at the meeting, Wang Chen, director of the State Council Information Office of China, hailed the China-Japan cooperation as a fine example for countries with different social systems.
He said that there are important bases and favorable environments for the long-term development of bilateral friendly relations.
For China-Japan friendship, geographical proximity is the natural link, political mutual trust serves as an important basis, mutually beneficial cooperation the economic basis and long-term people-to-people exchanges the important bridge, said Wang.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of China's reform and opening-up, he said, adding that China has made world-acknowledged outstanding achievements in its development in the past 30 years.
Wang said that China's development, characterized by its peace, openness, cooperation and harmony, offers a brighter prospect for the development of both nations.
The current world is undergoing profound changes, he said. And China is willing to work with Japan to actively participate in international cooperation in various areas, jointly promote world peace and achieve common development of the human race.
The two sides need to deepen mutual understanding in a bid to continuously promote the sound development of bilateral ties, said Wang, expressing his belief that with goodwill as well as cooperative attitude aimed at win-win results and sincerity for frank exchanges of views, the friendly relations between the two nations are sure to be continuously cemented.
Representatives from political circles as well as friendship bodies, including Zhao Qizheng, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Chen Haosu, head of the Chinese People's Association of Friendship with Foreign Countries, Li Zhaoxing, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), Yusuhisa Shiozaki, Japan's former chief cabinet secretary, Koichi Kato, chairman of Japan-China Friendship Association, also participated in the discussion of the general situation of China-Japan relations.
Later in the day, the forum had panel dialogues in terms of their respective subjects on such issues as politics, region, media, economy, security, environment and food. Having had frank and in-depth exchanges of views on the relevant issues, representatives of both sides were of the same mind on some issues though remained divided on some others. Most of the participants, however, agreed that the face-to-face exchange of views should be promoted as it helps deepen mutual understanding of the two nations.
The Fourth Beijing-Tokyo Forum opened with a dinner party late Monday. In their speeches at the party, Hiroya Masuda, Japanese Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, and Wang Chen lauded the role the forum has played in the development of bilateral ties and wished it a success.
Present at the three-day forum are more than 100 personages from various circles of both countries.
The annual forum, co-sponsored by China Daily and the non-profit Japanese organization Genron NPO, is held alternately in Beijing and Tokyo. The first Tokyo-Beijing Forum took place in Beijing in August 2005.
At the start of the plenary meeting, Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cui Tiankai, on behalf of their respective governments, advocated joint efforts Tuesday to push forward the Japan-China relations and conveyed good wishes for their further advance.
Komura said that the Japanese government attaches great importance to its ties with China and it is his conviction that this general trend will not be reversed.
The two nations have made joint efforts to push forward bilateral ties as well as address regional and international issues in recent years, said Komura, adding that under the guiding principle of the Japan-China strategic and mutually beneficial relations, the two nations have witnessed advances and improvements in their ties.
Cui, for his part, said that national interests of the two countries entail both friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation.
And the stable, sound and long-term development of China-Japan relations serves as an important factor in maintaining both nations' prosperity and stability in the volatile international environments.
In his keynote speech at the meeting, Wang Chen, director of the State Council Information Office of China, hailed the China-Japan cooperation as a fine example for countries with different social systems.
He said that there are important bases and favorable environments for the long-term development of bilateral friendly relations.
For China-Japan friendship, geographical proximity is the natural link, political mutual trust serves as an important basis, mutually beneficial cooperation the economic basis and long-term people-to-people exchanges the important bridge, said Wang.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of China's reform and opening-up, he said, adding that China has made world-acknowledged outstanding achievements in its development in the past 30 years.
Wang said that China's development, characterized by its peace, openness, cooperation and harmony, offers a brighter prospect for the development of both nations.
The current world is undergoing profound changes, he said. And China is willing to work with Japan to actively participate in international cooperation in various areas, jointly promote world peace and achieve common development of the human race.
The two sides need to deepen mutual understanding in a bid to continuously promote the sound development of bilateral ties, said Wang, expressing his belief that with goodwill as well as cooperative attitude aimed at win-win results and sincerity for frank exchanges of views, the friendly relations between the two nations are sure to be continuously cemented.
Representatives from political circles as well as friendship bodies, including Zhao Qizheng, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Chen Haosu, head of the Chinese People's Association of Friendship with Foreign Countries, Li Zhaoxing, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), Yusuhisa Shiozaki, Japan's former chief cabinet secretary, Koichi Kato, chairman of Japan-China Friendship Association, also participated in the discussion of the general situation of China-Japan relations.
Later in the day, the forum had panel dialogues in terms of their respective subjects on such issues as politics, region, media, economy, security, environment and food. Having had frank and in-depth exchanges of views on the relevant issues, representatives of both sides were of the same mind on some issues though remained divided on some others. Most of the participants, however, agreed that the face-to-face exchange of views should be promoted as it helps deepen mutual understanding of the two nations.
The Fourth Beijing-Tokyo Forum opened with a dinner party late Monday. In their speeches at the party, Hiroya Masuda, Japanese Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, and Wang Chen lauded the role the forum has played in the development of bilateral ties and wished it a success.
Present at the three-day forum are more than 100 personages from various circles of both countries.
The annual forum, co-sponsored by China Daily and the non-profit Japanese organization Genron NPO, is held alternately in Beijing and Tokyo. The first Tokyo-Beijing Forum took place in Beijing in August 2005.
UN envoy hails Dar on democracy
UNITED Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator, Ambassador Oscar Fernandez Taranco, has commended the fourth-phase government for its endeavour in promoting democracy and good governance in the country. “The UN appreciates effort undertaken by the fourth phase government led by President Jakaya Kikwete in promoting transparency, accountability and responsiveness within state machinery,” said ambassador Taranco. The UN Ambassador was speaking yesterday in Dar es Salaam at Mnazi Mmoja grounds during celebrations to commemorate the International Day of Democracy. Mr Taranco who was the guest of honour explicitly reaffirmed the UN’s commitment in supporting various local institutions to sustain and strengthen democracy. “Promoting democracy requires unwavering commitment on the side of the government and other key stakeholders, such as civil society organisations and political parties. “It should also be noted that democracy goes beyond holding regular elections, but also requires all key partners to address issues pertaining to justice, transparency, human liberty and dignity and responsible media,” he said. The Vice-chairman of the ruling CCM, Pius Msekwa, reiterated a need for the government and other key players to adhere to principl es of democracy, such as holding regular elections, existence of multi-party politics, participation of the grassroots in development matters, free and independent media. “However we should do it in such a way that it will not jeopardise national peace, harmony and tranquillity that we have been enjoying for decades,” said the CCM Vice Chairman. Mr Msekwa who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD), insisted that the practice of democracy in the country should be geared to promote welfare of the people, equity and participation of the grassroots in governance related matters, just to mention a few. He also called for concerted effort to create public awareness on issues related to democracy, as a sine-quanon for effective participation of the people, particularly grassroots, in an on-going democratic process in the country and world at large.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sun takes Ki-moon to work.
The head of the United Nations had a zero-emissions commute to work on Friday morning, by taking a solar-powered cab to the U.N. headquarters in New York.
Ban Ki-moon pulled up outside the U.N. headquarters in the unusual looking two-seater. Louis Palmer, the Solartaxi's inventor, was in the driving seat.The Solartaxi, built in Switzerland, is on a promotional tour around the world to raise awareness of climate change.The UN Secretary-General said the ride was "fantastic", adding that the Solartaxi sends a good message to those looking for creative and practical solutions to energy issues
Ban Ki-moon pulled up outside the U.N. headquarters in the unusual looking two-seater. Louis Palmer, the Solartaxi's inventor, was in the driving seat.The Solartaxi, built in Switzerland, is on a promotional tour around the world to raise awareness of climate change.The UN Secretary-General said the ride was "fantastic", adding that the Solartaxi sends a good message to those looking for creative and practical solutions to energy issues
Punishing Russia with sanctions senseless - Medvedev
Russia doesn't want to be isolated or to take part in a new arms race, but it's also not afraid of any sanctions that Western countries may impose following the war in South Ossetia. President Dmitry Medvedev made the statement during a meeting with Russian businessmen at the Kremlin.
"We do not need isolation or an arms race - this is a dead-end, the road to nowhere. We will not let ourselves be worn out like the Soviet Union. However, of course we will take all the necessary measures to strengthen our defence capacity," Medvedev said. He added that “if anyone tries to enforce sanctions, we realise that losses will bear a symmetrical nature." Some fifty senior government officials and leaders from the business community attended the meeting in Moscow. Discussing Russia’s further economic development, the President said the situation in the world has changed after the recent hostilities in South Ossetia and this couldn’t help but influence business in a range of ways. ”The Tbilisi regime unleashed a real war against the Ossetian people. Only thanks to the actions taken by Russia, was the war stopped. But before that, it managed to hurt Russians, Ossetians, Georgians - everyone. Thousands of people were killed or left homeless,” Medvedev said. He added: “Russia not only could, but was obliged, to stop that bloodshed and defend its citizens and peacekeepers. As the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, I could not have issued any other order.”Medvedev has also called on large Russian businesses to create a fund that would help South Ossetia get back on its feet after Georgian aggression in August. However, the main focus of the meeting was not Russia’s foreign policy, but the economic development of the country. “Founding an international financial centre in Moscow has become a more pressing issue,” he said.The President said that another strategic priority is bolstering small business. ”This concerns changes in the law and the way work is organised. Domestic modernisation remains our key focus. In light of the recent hostilities in Georgia we need to prepare a plan to additionally help our small businesses and all those working in the key sectors of Russia's economy,” he said.
Education sector needs rapid resuscitation
Last week a friend of mine asked me the equivalent of a popular television jingle:” ---ah student, oh students! Who can tell me what global-warming is?” To which the student fails to reply in English forcing the teacher to allow her to respond in Kiswahili. My friend wanted to know why it was almost impossible today to find sufficient English language sub editors aged between 25 and 45 in Tanzanian newsrooms. He lamented that currently the recruitment of subs was the signing up of tired people aged 50 onwards, which he called a dying workforce. This is a disturbing question because it connotes the gravity of the educational crisis we are currently facing. To doubting Thomas’s, however, educational standards have never foundered, if anything they have tremendously improved over the years. Unfortunately, that is not all the truth to this matter. In fact, the mentioned newsroom crisis is only a tip of a wider education crisis we are facing. I told my friend that we suffer from a generation gap in the education sector. But I realise that my readers would like to see the link between the falling mastery of the English language, as it were, and nose-diving educational standards. Fortunately, HakiElimu in the TV jingle above have said it all; there is an unmistakable mess in our education sector, which is why most big shots send their children to English medium schools, leaving public schools to the majority poor. But as Mwalimu Julius Nyerere once quipped, we should understand Her Majesty’s language, because English is the Kiswahili of the world, full stop.I say full stop because we cannot chew the bone that proved impossible to the hyena’s deadly molars. If cultural powers like Spain, Portugal and even France, not to mention other world powers are using it as a crucial language, who are we to do otherwise? Besides, this centuries-old language is production-oriented as opposed to other consumer-centred languages like our very own Kiswahili. Above all, the English language is custodian of rich educational insights and innovations in terms of science, technology and other academic exploits without which nations could live thousands of years behind. However, all this is beside today’s main agenda. My sole brief is to try to account for the above-mentioned generation gap, to suggest ways to minimize it and possibly to bury it all together. There is little doubt that we sustained many of our present educational injuries after the 1974 Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme, which emphasized the increased quantity of students at the chagrin of falling levels of quality. To achieve the political ambitions of the time, thousands of failed primary pupils were hastily recruited to teach their colleagues to pass the same examination that they had failed. Slowly but surely, wide cracks began showing in the sector but which went unnoticed and as such, un-repaired. It is surprising that authorities did not note the plummeting standards and fix them in time. Initially, mediocrity crept into the primary school level, whose output became increasingly sub standard, with most leavers failing to communicate in proper English and even in grammatically correct Kiswahili. Of course, this was an outright sign of falling educational standards. After saturating the lower levels, the poison went to the secondary schools where even more harm was done. With sloppy knowledge of the principal medium of communication, among students and amongst their teachers, the situation could not get worse.I would say that it took close to four long decades to undo our system, from the bottom to the apex. That, I told my friend, explains why newsrooms like other sectors in this country find it difficult to recruit enough proficient English language communicators. However, I was quick to point out that there has been a respite lately through the establishment of private English medium schools since the late 80’s. But it remains to be seen how far such a tiny drop in the sea could change the worsening situation.Yes, the situation is worsening because the newly introduced mass public schools throughout the country will only aggravate an already tense situation, for lack of qualified teachers, books, laboratories, libraries and the rest. The way forward, therefore, is first to admit our folly and quickly move forward methodically, placing more emphasis on the European language. I have argued repeatedly that a focused five-year programme could do the trick, by raising enough teachers and materials from places like Kenya, Uganda, the US, UK, India and so on. Certainly, the government can handle this at bilateral, multilateral or some other way around. That is the most optimal way forward to resuscitate our sickly educational system.
Zimbabwe power-sharing deal receives worldwide welcome
HARARE, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwe ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change on Monday formally signed a long-awaited power-sharing agreement, ending the political deadlock which had been there since the March 29 presidential election.
The deal also paved the way for setting up of a new cabinet, which Zimbabwe had not had since the June 27 presidential run-off election.
The deal, which was hammered out Thursday after marathon talks, has been hailed worldwide.
The United Nations spoke highly of the deal soon after the two parties reached on Thursday
A statement issued from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's press office said "He hopes that this agreement will pave the way for a durable peace and recovery in the country and contribute to rapid improvement in the welfare and human rights of the people of Zimbabwe, who have suffered for long."
"He congratulates the parties for reaching agreement and commends the mediator, (South African) President Thabo Mbeki, for his tireless efforts to help them reach it," the statement said.
The African Union (AU) has also welcomed Zimbabwe's power-sharing deal between the two rival parties as a "turning point" for the nation
In a statement on Friday, AU said "The chairperson commends the Zimbabwean parties for arriving at this agreement which marks a turning point in the efforts aimed at promoting reconciliation, stability and fostering conditions conducive for the recovery of their country."
The African regional organization highly praised South African President Thabo Mbeki for his "skilful diplomacy and tireless efforts" as a mediator, who is mandate with the Southern African Development Community.
AU called on the world to fully support the hard-won deal.
"The chairperson urges the international community as a whole to do its utmost to support the implementation of this agreement and provide the requisite assistance to that end," the statement added.
Also on Friday, the European Commission hailed the power-sharing agreement between the main political parties in Zimbabwe.
"The European Commission welcomes this significant step forward," a spokesman for the European Union executive told a daily briefing.
"We will have to wait to learn much more about this on Monday. At this stage, we are cautiously optimistic," spokesman John Clancy said.
The spokesman also said that the foreign ministers from the EU member states would discuss economic aid and the future of sanctions on Zimbabwe on Monday.
For its part, the United States responded cautiously on Friday.
"We've seen the press reports about the deal, and we've started to try to get some details about the deal," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
"I'm going to withhold any more definitive comment until we have a full understanding of it," he said.
Lauding the deal, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, whose country witness a similar deal to end the post-election crisis, said on Friday that he hoped the agreement will lead to a durable peace and an improvement in the people's living standards and human rights.
"Today the people of Zimbabwe breathe a little bit easier. The news of the power-sharing agreement that has just been concluded ends a long spell of fear, suffering and uncertainty that befell that great nation..." the prime minister said.
"We thank particularly President Mbeki of South Africa for the role he played in brokering the negotiations. Africa provided immense goodwill and its growing expertise in ensuring a mutually-acceptable deal," he said.
"Our continent and the world are looking forward to an expeditious implementation of the peace agreement so that Zimbabweans can achieve their great dreams of democracy, peace and justice," the prime minister added.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
The deal also paved the way for setting up of a new cabinet, which Zimbabwe had not had since the June 27 presidential run-off election.
The deal, which was hammered out Thursday after marathon talks, has been hailed worldwide.
The United Nations spoke highly of the deal soon after the two parties reached on Thursday
A statement issued from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's press office said "He hopes that this agreement will pave the way for a durable peace and recovery in the country and contribute to rapid improvement in the welfare and human rights of the people of Zimbabwe, who have suffered for long."
"He congratulates the parties for reaching agreement and commends the mediator, (South African) President Thabo Mbeki, for his tireless efforts to help them reach it," the statement said.
The African Union (AU) has also welcomed Zimbabwe's power-sharing deal between the two rival parties as a "turning point" for the nation
In a statement on Friday, AU said "The chairperson commends the Zimbabwean parties for arriving at this agreement which marks a turning point in the efforts aimed at promoting reconciliation, stability and fostering conditions conducive for the recovery of their country."
The African regional organization highly praised South African President Thabo Mbeki for his "skilful diplomacy and tireless efforts" as a mediator, who is mandate with the Southern African Development Community.
AU called on the world to fully support the hard-won deal.
"The chairperson urges the international community as a whole to do its utmost to support the implementation of this agreement and provide the requisite assistance to that end," the statement added.
Also on Friday, the European Commission hailed the power-sharing agreement between the main political parties in Zimbabwe.
"The European Commission welcomes this significant step forward," a spokesman for the European Union executive told a daily briefing.
"We will have to wait to learn much more about this on Monday. At this stage, we are cautiously optimistic," spokesman John Clancy said.
The spokesman also said that the foreign ministers from the EU member states would discuss economic aid and the future of sanctions on Zimbabwe on Monday.
For its part, the United States responded cautiously on Friday.
"We've seen the press reports about the deal, and we've started to try to get some details about the deal," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
"I'm going to withhold any more definitive comment until we have a full understanding of it," he said.
Lauding the deal, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, whose country witness a similar deal to end the post-election crisis, said on Friday that he hoped the agreement will lead to a durable peace and an improvement in the people's living standards and human rights.
"Today the people of Zimbabwe breathe a little bit easier. The news of the power-sharing agreement that has just been concluded ends a long spell of fear, suffering and uncertainty that befell that great nation..." the prime minister said.
"We thank particularly President Mbeki of South Africa for the role he played in brokering the negotiations. Africa provided immense goodwill and its growing expertise in ensuring a mutually-acceptable deal," he said.
"Our continent and the world are looking forward to an expeditious implementation of the peace agreement so that Zimbabweans can achieve their great dreams of democracy, peace and justice," the prime minister added.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
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