By Paul Ndiho
August 29, 2011
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa or COMESA, is a free trade area with more than 20 member states. Created in 1994, COMESA replaced the preferential trade area which had existed since 1981. As the organization has grown, it has made significant strides in attaining sustainable development through the promotion of trade and investment into the region.
Since its inception, the COMESA trading bloc has undergone a tremendous transformation and it continues to strive to achieve greater mutual integration among its members. Through various declarations and agreements; such as the Economic Partnership Agreements-- and the establishment of the Free Trade Areas -- that have been entered into by member states, it is becoming increasingly evident that the need for an integrated commercial front is more desirable than ever. Brian Chigawa, a legal advisor for COMESA says that there is cooperation among member states in all fields of economic activity.
“The focus of the organization has been trade, improving intra-regional trade by removing tariffs and also non - tariffs buriers. I can competently say that by now 14 member states of COMESA are trading in a free trade area which was launched in the year 2000. COMESA has also launched a customs union and we are in transitional phase which was three to five years from 2009. When we talk of promoting COMESA trade, it goes also with putting up measures that facilitate trade.”
Chigawa also says there are many trade and investment opportunities available in the region, plus, he notes that the continent is a potential world leader in several specialized trade and investment areas.
“When the free trade area for COMESA was launched in 2000, we had figures of intra-COMESA regional trade at about two three billion dollars, now we are talking about trading 15 billion dollars. So there is a remarkable improvement.”
COMESA members are working around the clock, focusing on promoting and enhancing free labor movement across regional borders.
“If I travel from Zambia to Kenya or if I travel from Zambia to another country, I do not need a VISA before I get into that country. I can get a VISA at the point of entry. And there is another legal instrument which is the protocol of free movement of persons, services and labor which was adopted and we got the first signatures in 2006 it has not entered into force.”
Some political analysts say the economic bloc will create a free trade zone which will help streamline access to markets throughout Africa. Analysts also note that the economic group is capable of overcoming some of the barriers that are faced by individual states. Brian Chigawa says that job creation, especially for the young people is one of COMESA’s top priorities.
It’s a conviction of COMESA member states that if we increase our trade first among ourselves and also with the rest of the world, we’ll be in a position so as to create employment for our populations. How do we achieve that? If you look back, over the years we’ve been as a region exporting raw materials, this is one of the challenges that we have is to transform our raw materials into value added materials and by making our products very competitive. And we believe that to be able to attain that, we need a certain level of industrialization and through trade and investment, we should able to create jobs for our populations.
COMESA's critics say that the region has some of the highest poverty levels of any developing region in the world. And that COMESA has not achieved its ultimate targets, especially in the areas of common currency, faster economic growth, and reduction in both rural and urban poverty and improved standards of living.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
SOUTH SUDAN RETURNEES
By Paul Ndiho
August 26, 2011
Since attaining its independence in July, citizens of South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, are returning home from Khartoum to take part in the rebuilding of their country.
Having fled southern Sudan during decades of war, hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese are returning home to drink in the spirit of their month-old republic.
Since last year, the United Nations says over 300,000 South Sudanese have travelled by barge, train and bus back to their homeland, gathering in a place near the border that they have dubbed "New Khartoum."
"This Khartoum is better than the old one. This is the place where I was born. It is my home. I was only displaced from here to the other Khartoum. Now I have come back to my real Khartoum. This is my home."
Many of the returnees are brimming with patriotism for their new country, but the reality of rebuilding a nation after years of war and neglect is proving to be a challenge.
South Sudan is poorly developed, and Warrup is the fledgling country's least developed state. Some already say they miss the comforts of old Khartoum in the north.
"I prefer the north. It is beautiful. They have buildings and electricity and things,"
Swapping from urban to rural life can be difficult, and Warrup state governor Nyandeng Malek has called for South Sudanese to take land on the periphery of Kuajok, causing its population to double. But her generosity is stretching the limited resources of the state. 64 percent of the population in Warrup state lives below the poverty line, and many are in need of food.
"When they went to Khartoum, they went fleeing the war, the hunger and all that. Now we have our country so we are still asking more of them to come. When they come it is better for them. Being in your country, there is nothing like it.”
According to the United Nations, some 20,000 people are waiting for their land in South Sudan, while another 60,000 people are yet to return from the North which is likely to put further pressure on states in the south like Warrup.
August 26, 2011
Since attaining its independence in July, citizens of South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, are returning home from Khartoum to take part in the rebuilding of their country.
Having fled southern Sudan during decades of war, hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese are returning home to drink in the spirit of their month-old republic.
Since last year, the United Nations says over 300,000 South Sudanese have travelled by barge, train and bus back to their homeland, gathering in a place near the border that they have dubbed "New Khartoum."
"This Khartoum is better than the old one. This is the place where I was born. It is my home. I was only displaced from here to the other Khartoum. Now I have come back to my real Khartoum. This is my home."
Many of the returnees are brimming with patriotism for their new country, but the reality of rebuilding a nation after years of war and neglect is proving to be a challenge.
South Sudan is poorly developed, and Warrup is the fledgling country's least developed state. Some already say they miss the comforts of old Khartoum in the north.
"I prefer the north. It is beautiful. They have buildings and electricity and things,"
Swapping from urban to rural life can be difficult, and Warrup state governor Nyandeng Malek has called for South Sudanese to take land on the periphery of Kuajok, causing its population to double. But her generosity is stretching the limited resources of the state. 64 percent of the population in Warrup state lives below the poverty line, and many are in need of food.
"When they went to Khartoum, they went fleeing the war, the hunger and all that. Now we have our country so we are still asking more of them to come. When they come it is better for them. Being in your country, there is nothing like it.”
According to the United Nations, some 20,000 people are waiting for their land in South Sudan, while another 60,000 people are yet to return from the North which is likely to put further pressure on states in the south like Warrup.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
TOURISTS FLOCK LAGOS LEKKI MARKET
By Paul Ndiho
August 25,2011
Tourists and local residents alike are flocking to a market in the heart of Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and financial capital. The market with its dazzling array of African artwork, beads, colorful cloths and hand crafted jewelry attracts thousands of people each year.
The bustling Lekki market in Nigeria's sprawling city of Lagos has become a must-see destination for tourists and locals, with its wide selection of masks, traditional clothing and hand crafted jewelry and paintings.
Phillip, a Brazilian tourist, says he likes to visit the market.
"At all times, we have some friends that come from Brazil, we usually come here to show the beauty of Africa and all the things,"
But it's not just tourists who visit the market. Lekki market is also a favorite for local residents.
"I like it because; I get to feel the African vibe when I'm here, like I get to see different artworks. It tells me a lot about my culture as an African so I like the work,"
The market, which has over 150 stalls, also sells fruits, vegetables and fresh fish, and attracts traders from the region, like Ghanaian trader, Walter Eto.
Eto, who has been making handbags and other leather goods for more than 20 years, says Lekki market provides a good business opportunity for his products.
"Bring catalogue for me, anyone with catalogue anyone with a design or catalogue, you can bring catalogue for me now or I have a catalogue for myself. I have catalogue for myself, if you come, I'll show you, and you decide, you choose your choice your design, I can make it for you,"
Taofeek Adeshina is an artist and says the market gives him a chance to show and sell his work.
"We have many type of wood you know to do this kind of work you understand. We have like ebony wood, mahogany wood, eh tin wood and some other kind of wood like that so when you want to, you make sure you use quality wood to do this kind of work,"
With more than 200,000 visitors streaming into Lagos this year Lekki market offers a unique aesthetic in Nigeria's most populous state.
August 25,2011
Tourists and local residents alike are flocking to a market in the heart of Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and financial capital. The market with its dazzling array of African artwork, beads, colorful cloths and hand crafted jewelry attracts thousands of people each year.
The bustling Lekki market in Nigeria's sprawling city of Lagos has become a must-see destination for tourists and locals, with its wide selection of masks, traditional clothing and hand crafted jewelry and paintings.
Phillip, a Brazilian tourist, says he likes to visit the market.
"At all times, we have some friends that come from Brazil, we usually come here to show the beauty of Africa and all the things,"
But it's not just tourists who visit the market. Lekki market is also a favorite for local residents.
"I like it because; I get to feel the African vibe when I'm here, like I get to see different artworks. It tells me a lot about my culture as an African so I like the work,"
The market, which has over 150 stalls, also sells fruits, vegetables and fresh fish, and attracts traders from the region, like Ghanaian trader, Walter Eto.
Eto, who has been making handbags and other leather goods for more than 20 years, says Lekki market provides a good business opportunity for his products.
"Bring catalogue for me, anyone with catalogue anyone with a design or catalogue, you can bring catalogue for me now or I have a catalogue for myself. I have catalogue for myself, if you come, I'll show you, and you decide, you choose your choice your design, I can make it for you,"
Taofeek Adeshina is an artist and says the market gives him a chance to show and sell his work.
"We have many type of wood you know to do this kind of work you understand. We have like ebony wood, mahogany wood, eh tin wood and some other kind of wood like that so when you want to, you make sure you use quality wood to do this kind of work,"
With more than 200,000 visitors streaming into Lagos this year Lekki market offers a unique aesthetic in Nigeria's most populous state.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Ivory Coast Post War Road Reconstruction Is Under Way
By Paul Ndiho
August 22, 2011
Projects to repair Ivory Coast's roadways will spur a surge in demand for bitumen, boosting returns for a local producer of the road making material. But some Ivorians are concerned that the infrastructure expansion could leave some people without homes and business space as the government makes new roads. Paul Ndiho reports.
Ivory Coast is emerging this year from the civil war that erupted during the election dispute between former president Laurent Gbagbo and current President Alassane Ouattara.
The crisis deterred investment and delayed infrastructure improvements, but President Ouattara has made restoring services his top priority. Projects are underway to upgrade power stations, repair roads, expand the SIR oil refinery and increase oil production. Thomas Camara is director general of Bituman, the sole producer for road in West and Central Africa
“We have received many orders that we are currently delivering for the rehabilitation of the roads. At the moment, we are waiting for the beginning of the construction of the North highway, which will need a lot of bitumen. So we are waiting for that project to start, and other construction projects that were announced."
But tensions are high in the leafy, palm fringed Abidjan suburb of Deux Plateaux, where construction workers are busy demolishing rows of colorfully painted shops that sold flowers or fashion accessories. Jean Noel Aba voted for President Ouattara - but that was before authorities shut down his furniture shop, which employed 27 people.
"I voted for him, I like him a lot. I don't even regret that he chased us, but he promised us reconstruction and if he doesn't, it will make me very angry and I will not vote for him again,"
Bulldozers have leveled the "Rue Princess" in the city's crowded Yopougon district, once crammed with bars and night clubs pumping out loud Zouglou music and serving drinks.
In an address to Ivory Coast ahead of Independence Day last week, Ouattara pledged to destroy illegal settlements that block the city's drainage during seasonal heavy rains. Analysts say scores of Ivorians die every year in flash floods because of illegal construction on flood plains.
But tell that to Adama Kone, a car wash worker whose roadside house in the chic Riviera suburb near the lagoon was flattened by bulldozers.
"It's just so hard in Abidjan these days. We just came from a war, and after the war, people don't have money. Even I, personally, I owe three or four months in rent on my house. Since the war ended, I would like to work again to be able to pay the bills, but when they come and demolish our houses like this, what am I suppose to do?"
Squatters say they were allowed to keep their illegal settlements in the past by making payments to authorities during the Gbagbo administration. Political observers say the demolitions could hurt Mr. Ouattara in parliamentary elections later this year, though his opposition is in disarray and probably pose little political threat.
August 22, 2011
Projects to repair Ivory Coast's roadways will spur a surge in demand for bitumen, boosting returns for a local producer of the road making material. But some Ivorians are concerned that the infrastructure expansion could leave some people without homes and business space as the government makes new roads. Paul Ndiho reports.
Ivory Coast is emerging this year from the civil war that erupted during the election dispute between former president Laurent Gbagbo and current President Alassane Ouattara.
The crisis deterred investment and delayed infrastructure improvements, but President Ouattara has made restoring services his top priority. Projects are underway to upgrade power stations, repair roads, expand the SIR oil refinery and increase oil production. Thomas Camara is director general of Bituman, the sole producer for road in West and Central Africa
“We have received many orders that we are currently delivering for the rehabilitation of the roads. At the moment, we are waiting for the beginning of the construction of the North highway, which will need a lot of bitumen. So we are waiting for that project to start, and other construction projects that were announced."
But tensions are high in the leafy, palm fringed Abidjan suburb of Deux Plateaux, where construction workers are busy demolishing rows of colorfully painted shops that sold flowers or fashion accessories. Jean Noel Aba voted for President Ouattara - but that was before authorities shut down his furniture shop, which employed 27 people.
"I voted for him, I like him a lot. I don't even regret that he chased us, but he promised us reconstruction and if he doesn't, it will make me very angry and I will not vote for him again,"
Bulldozers have leveled the "Rue Princess" in the city's crowded Yopougon district, once crammed with bars and night clubs pumping out loud Zouglou music and serving drinks.
In an address to Ivory Coast ahead of Independence Day last week, Ouattara pledged to destroy illegal settlements that block the city's drainage during seasonal heavy rains. Analysts say scores of Ivorians die every year in flash floods because of illegal construction on flood plains.
But tell that to Adama Kone, a car wash worker whose roadside house in the chic Riviera suburb near the lagoon was flattened by bulldozers.
"It's just so hard in Abidjan these days. We just came from a war, and after the war, people don't have money. Even I, personally, I owe three or four months in rent on my house. Since the war ended, I would like to work again to be able to pay the bills, but when they come and demolish our houses like this, what am I suppose to do?"
Squatters say they were allowed to keep their illegal settlements in the past by making payments to authorities during the Gbagbo administration. Political observers say the demolitions could hurt Mr. Ouattara in parliamentary elections later this year, though his opposition is in disarray and probably pose little political threat.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
South Sudan‘s students, Hungry for knowledge
By Paul Ndiho
August 16, 2011
In South Sudan, Juba University remains closed due to the decay of its facilities, following years of war.
Juba University is in the heart of the bustling capital of the world's youngest nation, South Sudan, which celebrated its independence in July. It is hard, however, to see the signs of post-independence jubilation and development here. Juba University was closed last November until further notice, unable to serve the students flocking to its gates.
Many of them still live on or visit the campus, and are urging the government to re-open the university as soon as possible.
"We need our people to study, because through education development can be easy and we could fast develop our country, though it is newly-born nation in Africa and in the world. So education is important, because it is the key to life. Though the university remains closed we are wishing the government and the international community to support us so that we can go on with our studies.”
Juba University was opened over 35 years ago during a peaceful period between the civil wars.
In 1989, however, it was closed for security reasons and relocated to Khartoum in the north.
While in Khartoum, the university grew to accommodate over 10,000 students. The university is in the process of relocating the university to Juba, but there are many logistical problems, according to the school's vice-chancellor, Agrey Abbate: .
"With the relocation process back to Juba, we were now faced with the challenge of having to come into the infrastructure that did not develop during these 20 years of war, it remained as it was when we left in 1989. So that is our major problem: not enough space for lecture halls, not enough laboratories for all this expansion that went on when we were back in Khartoum, and not enough student accommodation."
The university's facilities are in dire need of repair. The classrooms are dusty, stuffy, badly lit and crumbling with age. There is an acute lack of teaching equipment, such as maps, tables and lab equipment.
Accommodations are in a similar state. In one of the residence halls, aptly named 'Titanic,' there is no running water or sewage system. Students who want to wash need to fetch water from outside the campus, a walk that takes half an hour. John Ibrahim is an electrical engineering student:
"We can live anywhere, even under trees. Our reason is that, wherever we stay, we are ready to change that place, so I hope that we need to bear the situation we are in and we need also to be hopeful and work hard to change the situation."
In Juba, where the private sector is less developed than that of Khartoum, life is also much more expensive. Students say that the delay in re-opening the university has already cost them a year of their time, and John Ibrahim says he expects there will be further delays:
"So it will be two years [for] no reason while the country waits for its graduates to participate in the development of the country. Or elsewhere we will acquire foreigners to work in our city that is in our country, because they are qualified. Yet we are not qualified because we are not graduates”.
Students say that the troubles of Juba University are affecting not only the youth of South Sudan, but the future of the new nation as a whole.
August 16, 2011
In South Sudan, Juba University remains closed due to the decay of its facilities, following years of war.
Juba University is in the heart of the bustling capital of the world's youngest nation, South Sudan, which celebrated its independence in July. It is hard, however, to see the signs of post-independence jubilation and development here. Juba University was closed last November until further notice, unable to serve the students flocking to its gates.
Many of them still live on or visit the campus, and are urging the government to re-open the university as soon as possible.
"We need our people to study, because through education development can be easy and we could fast develop our country, though it is newly-born nation in Africa and in the world. So education is important, because it is the key to life. Though the university remains closed we are wishing the government and the international community to support us so that we can go on with our studies.”
Juba University was opened over 35 years ago during a peaceful period between the civil wars.
In 1989, however, it was closed for security reasons and relocated to Khartoum in the north.
While in Khartoum, the university grew to accommodate over 10,000 students. The university is in the process of relocating the university to Juba, but there are many logistical problems, according to the school's vice-chancellor, Agrey Abbate: .
"With the relocation process back to Juba, we were now faced with the challenge of having to come into the infrastructure that did not develop during these 20 years of war, it remained as it was when we left in 1989. So that is our major problem: not enough space for lecture halls, not enough laboratories for all this expansion that went on when we were back in Khartoum, and not enough student accommodation."
The university's facilities are in dire need of repair. The classrooms are dusty, stuffy, badly lit and crumbling with age. There is an acute lack of teaching equipment, such as maps, tables and lab equipment.
Accommodations are in a similar state. In one of the residence halls, aptly named 'Titanic,' there is no running water or sewage system. Students who want to wash need to fetch water from outside the campus, a walk that takes half an hour. John Ibrahim is an electrical engineering student:
"We can live anywhere, even under trees. Our reason is that, wherever we stay, we are ready to change that place, so I hope that we need to bear the situation we are in and we need also to be hopeful and work hard to change the situation."
In Juba, where the private sector is less developed than that of Khartoum, life is also much more expensive. Students say that the delay in re-opening the university has already cost them a year of their time, and John Ibrahim says he expects there will be further delays:
"So it will be two years [for] no reason while the country waits for its graduates to participate in the development of the country. Or elsewhere we will acquire foreigners to work in our city that is in our country, because they are qualified. Yet we are not qualified because we are not graduates”.
Students say that the troubles of Juba University are affecting not only the youth of South Sudan, but the future of the new nation as a whole.
DR -CONGO’S TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN DIRE STATE
By Paul Ndiho
August 16, 2011
With one of the worst transport safety records in the world, residents of Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, say that their infrastructure needs a massive overhaul and the government will be hard pressed to improve it ahead of elections later this year.
Beating the rush hour traffic is next to impossible when you live in Kinshasa.
Commuters and motorists here often find themselves struggling to get to work and back, as there are few efficient and reliable transport services.
Many Congolese use mini buses to get around, the most popular means of transport, but they are notorious for their reckless drivers, and picking up and dropping off passengers at illegal stops.
Passengers wait in line for hours for a bus. Boyafi Lusingu is a conductor:
"You can see people are suffering because of transport. There are not enough buses for a big city like Kinshasa. We need the government's assistance to assist in the transport industry, so that they can give us more buses to avoid difficulties so that there is a bus every two minutes, for all the routes."
Despite its mineral wealth, decades of dictatorship and civil war have meant that most of the DRC's transportation infrastructure is in poor shape.
The central African nation's information minister says the government is trying to change that.
"Transport is one of the major hindrances that our government faces. We went from a small town of 350,000 people in the 1960's to a metropolis city of more that 10 million people."
In 2008, a Chinese state-owned railway firm signed a 9 billion dollar deal, to build thousands of kilometers of road and rail, but there is nothing to show for it in the DRC. Other such deals have been signed over the years, to no avail. Martin Lukusa heads the Inter-Urban transport project in Kinshasa:
"The real problem is that there is no political will. I have always said that if there is political will, things will get done. I’ll gives you a silly example: Boulevard June 30. The road was built based on political will, where one morning, a man woke up and (President Kabila), and he said that he wanted Boulevard June 30 to be built, and it was built. If the same political will can also be applied when it comes to the railway system and the sea transport, I can tell you that it's not necessarily a problem of money.”
Travel by Congo's vast water ways also problematic. Boats are in poor condition, are poorly piloted, and may be overcrowded, which results in hundreds of drowning deaths each year.
"The river is full of inexperienced boat drivers and mechanics. That is why there are many accidents, because most of them are not necessarily professional mechanics or boat drivers.”
But most travelers choose to ignore the statistics. Trader Francine Tambu says she depends on water transport.
"No, we are not afraid of this problem. If the boat is in a bad shape, then we will be scared to board. But otherwise, if the boat is in a good shape, then we have no fear boarding it.”
In May this year, China and the World Bank launched a 600 million dollar plan with Congo to revamp nearly 700 kilometers of rail in southern and central provinces, in the heart of Congo's copper mining sector. The Congolese government says it has so far spent more than 500 million dollars on eight transportation projects and is seeking some 400 million dollars more before the end of the year.
August 16, 2011
With one of the worst transport safety records in the world, residents of Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, say that their infrastructure needs a massive overhaul and the government will be hard pressed to improve it ahead of elections later this year.
Beating the rush hour traffic is next to impossible when you live in Kinshasa.
Commuters and motorists here often find themselves struggling to get to work and back, as there are few efficient and reliable transport services.
Many Congolese use mini buses to get around, the most popular means of transport, but they are notorious for their reckless drivers, and picking up and dropping off passengers at illegal stops.
Passengers wait in line for hours for a bus. Boyafi Lusingu is a conductor:
"You can see people are suffering because of transport. There are not enough buses for a big city like Kinshasa. We need the government's assistance to assist in the transport industry, so that they can give us more buses to avoid difficulties so that there is a bus every two minutes, for all the routes."
Despite its mineral wealth, decades of dictatorship and civil war have meant that most of the DRC's transportation infrastructure is in poor shape.
The central African nation's information minister says the government is trying to change that.
"Transport is one of the major hindrances that our government faces. We went from a small town of 350,000 people in the 1960's to a metropolis city of more that 10 million people."
In 2008, a Chinese state-owned railway firm signed a 9 billion dollar deal, to build thousands of kilometers of road and rail, but there is nothing to show for it in the DRC. Other such deals have been signed over the years, to no avail. Martin Lukusa heads the Inter-Urban transport project in Kinshasa:
"The real problem is that there is no political will. I have always said that if there is political will, things will get done. I’ll gives you a silly example: Boulevard June 30. The road was built based on political will, where one morning, a man woke up and (President Kabila), and he said that he wanted Boulevard June 30 to be built, and it was built. If the same political will can also be applied when it comes to the railway system and the sea transport, I can tell you that it's not necessarily a problem of money.”
Travel by Congo's vast water ways also problematic. Boats are in poor condition, are poorly piloted, and may be overcrowded, which results in hundreds of drowning deaths each year.
"The river is full of inexperienced boat drivers and mechanics. That is why there are many accidents, because most of them are not necessarily professional mechanics or boat drivers.”
But most travelers choose to ignore the statistics. Trader Francine Tambu says she depends on water transport.
"No, we are not afraid of this problem. If the boat is in a bad shape, then we will be scared to board. But otherwise, if the boat is in a good shape, then we have no fear boarding it.”
In May this year, China and the World Bank launched a 600 million dollar plan with Congo to revamp nearly 700 kilometers of rail in southern and central provinces, in the heart of Congo's copper mining sector. The Congolese government says it has so far spent more than 500 million dollars on eight transportation projects and is seeking some 400 million dollars more before the end of the year.
Monday, August 8, 2011
CAMEROON RESIDENTS EVICTED TO MAKE WAY FOR $985 MILLION SEA PORT PROJECT
By Paul Ndiho
August 8, 2011
In the south of Cameroon, a huge, ultra-modern seaport will be constructed by the China Harbour Engineering Company, but the project has not been without controversy.
More than one thousand people living in Kribi, a fishing town in south Cameroon, are facing eviction as the Cameroonian government moves ahead with the plans to construct a deepwater project in the area, a major development program estimated to cost $985 million dollars.
Cameroon's government had announced a $50 million dollar compensation package for residents of the port, but residents say they are yet to receive any funds and threaten protests if alternative housing is not provided.
"We were born here by the sea. It will really be a problem for us if they take us far away to the forest. The coastal man lives by the sea. If they take us away, then we will not be able to work. But it seems that it's all in the hands of the state.”
Another resident echoes this sentiment.
"We have yet to be resettled and we don't know exactly how people will be resettled. That is the reason why we are making requests so that the government can guide us. If they can provide us with alternative housing, then when we have money, we will be able to buy houses elsewhere. But if we are compensated and have nowhere to live, it's pointless in the long run as we will always live in poverty."
Although there are no clear figures on how many people will be displaced, the government says it's reviewing the compensation process that was suspended due to corruption.
"There were some complaints. People wrote to us telling us that there are some beneficiaries they don't know. Where did they come from? Nobody knows, and this is why the head of state has decided for some inquiries. The policemen came here and we have noticed that… yes there has been some fraud, and this is why there has been a sort of delay in the operation of indemnifying people,"
But many like Ernest Essono, a resident of Mboro village in Kribi say they fear they will never get full compensation.
"That's why some people's accounts were closed. People protested, and some were paid but then the payments were stopped. Like my grandmother, to whom they had started paying money but in less than a month, they stopped paying her."
James Edonge, a chief of a village in the area known as South Grand Batanga, is concerned about this resettlement program.
"The resettlement sites have to be near the sea. And if they ask, why should they have to be resettled near the sea? Simply because our lives are linked to the water."
The Kribi port complex will have four terminals, as well as a wharf for exporting ore, and will allow access to the bigger ships. Alongside the port, work is also underway on a gas power plant, which is expected to become operational sometime in late 2012.
August 8, 2011
In the south of Cameroon, a huge, ultra-modern seaport will be constructed by the China Harbour Engineering Company, but the project has not been without controversy.
More than one thousand people living in Kribi, a fishing town in south Cameroon, are facing eviction as the Cameroonian government moves ahead with the plans to construct a deepwater project in the area, a major development program estimated to cost $985 million dollars.
Cameroon's government had announced a $50 million dollar compensation package for residents of the port, but residents say they are yet to receive any funds and threaten protests if alternative housing is not provided.
"We were born here by the sea. It will really be a problem for us if they take us far away to the forest. The coastal man lives by the sea. If they take us away, then we will not be able to work. But it seems that it's all in the hands of the state.”
Another resident echoes this sentiment.
"We have yet to be resettled and we don't know exactly how people will be resettled. That is the reason why we are making requests so that the government can guide us. If they can provide us with alternative housing, then when we have money, we will be able to buy houses elsewhere. But if we are compensated and have nowhere to live, it's pointless in the long run as we will always live in poverty."
Although there are no clear figures on how many people will be displaced, the government says it's reviewing the compensation process that was suspended due to corruption.
"There were some complaints. People wrote to us telling us that there are some beneficiaries they don't know. Where did they come from? Nobody knows, and this is why the head of state has decided for some inquiries. The policemen came here and we have noticed that… yes there has been some fraud, and this is why there has been a sort of delay in the operation of indemnifying people,"
But many like Ernest Essono, a resident of Mboro village in Kribi say they fear they will never get full compensation.
"That's why some people's accounts were closed. People protested, and some were paid but then the payments were stopped. Like my grandmother, to whom they had started paying money but in less than a month, they stopped paying her."
James Edonge, a chief of a village in the area known as South Grand Batanga, is concerned about this resettlement program.
"The resettlement sites have to be near the sea. And if they ask, why should they have to be resettled near the sea? Simply because our lives are linked to the water."
The Kribi port complex will have four terminals, as well as a wharf for exporting ore, and will allow access to the bigger ships. Alongside the port, work is also underway on a gas power plant, which is expected to become operational sometime in late 2012.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Botswana - Africa's success Story
By Paul Ndiho
August 4, 2011
Botswana filmmaker Billy Kokorwe was recently here in the United States to promote his new movie, “The African Democrat.” The film chronicles the political life of Botswana's second president, Sir Ketumile Masire. The film is part of the moviemaker's personal campaign to improve the way others see the accomplishments of his country and Africa. Paul Ndiho has more:
Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have made Botswana what U.S. officials say is one of the most dynamic economies in Africa, dominated by diamond mining, and with a growing tourism sector.
"The African Democrat" film follows the life of President Ketumile Masire, a former school teacher who founded Botswana's Democratic Party.
Filmmaker Billy Kokorwe says he wants the Western media to show Africa in a better light, and for their audiences to understand Africa differently.
“The main objective is not really for Africa to be seen as a continent that comes with begging bowl. We want Africa to be seen in a positive light for the western peoples to actually understand Africa. For the Western countries to not just give aid to Africa, but to sometimes deal more with development of Africa.”
Kokorwe takes issue with editors of Western media, asking them not to tar the whole continent with the same broad brush.
“I am concerned about negative images really. You can tell a story without showing babies who are skinny and are suffering. You can still tell that story without showing images that are demeaning. Because I feel that the images really are demeaning, because if you are going to tell a story about anything that is going to happen in America for example you are not going to show the worst images. You can still tell that story in a positive way.”
The filmmaker says that when he thinks about the African continent, he is reminded that Africa is -not- all gloom and doom:
“What comes to mind is a film that I just made about our second President Ketumile Masire, who took Botswana from being one of the 25 poorest countries in the world to being a middle income country. What comes to mind is the story of South Africa and how Africa is progressing. What comes to mind is how Africa as a whole is beginning to unite through the AU.”
Kokorwe says that Africans themselves are leading the growth in investment across the continent, and says they are optimistic about their prospects, though he says Africa still needs the help of other nations.
Kokorwe says he is talking with independent film festival directors, distributors and producers to see how best to market his movie, "The African Democrat." Its part of what he calls his “Positive Africa Image Campaign," one that he would like to take to Europe and Asia and following his stop in the United States.
August 4, 2011
Botswana filmmaker Billy Kokorwe was recently here in the United States to promote his new movie, “The African Democrat.” The film chronicles the political life of Botswana's second president, Sir Ketumile Masire. The film is part of the moviemaker's personal campaign to improve the way others see the accomplishments of his country and Africa. Paul Ndiho has more:
Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have made Botswana what U.S. officials say is one of the most dynamic economies in Africa, dominated by diamond mining, and with a growing tourism sector.
"The African Democrat" film follows the life of President Ketumile Masire, a former school teacher who founded Botswana's Democratic Party.
Filmmaker Billy Kokorwe says he wants the Western media to show Africa in a better light, and for their audiences to understand Africa differently.
“The main objective is not really for Africa to be seen as a continent that comes with begging bowl. We want Africa to be seen in a positive light for the western peoples to actually understand Africa. For the Western countries to not just give aid to Africa, but to sometimes deal more with development of Africa.”
Kokorwe takes issue with editors of Western media, asking them not to tar the whole continent with the same broad brush.
“I am concerned about negative images really. You can tell a story without showing babies who are skinny and are suffering. You can still tell that story without showing images that are demeaning. Because I feel that the images really are demeaning, because if you are going to tell a story about anything that is going to happen in America for example you are not going to show the worst images. You can still tell that story in a positive way.”
The filmmaker says that when he thinks about the African continent, he is reminded that Africa is -not- all gloom and doom:
“What comes to mind is a film that I just made about our second President Ketumile Masire, who took Botswana from being one of the 25 poorest countries in the world to being a middle income country. What comes to mind is the story of South Africa and how Africa is progressing. What comes to mind is how Africa as a whole is beginning to unite through the AU.”
Kokorwe says that Africans themselves are leading the growth in investment across the continent, and says they are optimistic about their prospects, though he says Africa still needs the help of other nations.
Kokorwe says he is talking with independent film festival directors, distributors and producers to see how best to market his movie, "The African Democrat." Its part of what he calls his “Positive Africa Image Campaign," one that he would like to take to Europe and Asia and following his stop in the United States.
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