African Diplomats scorn Blocher`s statement
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African Diplomats scorn Blocher`s statement
CHF 5.– I € 3.50 I £ 2.20 THE VOICE OF AFRICA IN July / August 2007 Vol. 8 No. 2 SWITZERLAND Africa’s Iron Ladies of Berne African Diplomats scorn Blocher’s statement Refugee Day: Wilhelm Tell featured Simphiwe Dana at Afro-Pfingsten Artifacts exhibited at Africa Day Celebration Swiss Investment Forum: Africa and Middle East julyaugustendfassung.indd 33 27.06.2007 17:47:51 Hauptsponsor: KULTURFESTIVAL 11. Afrikanisches Kulturfestival INTEGRATION INTEGRATION www.africa-integration.ch it eichh❯e❯❯ l g n e c Chan n ❯❯ O H N EE Integratio KEIN AFROL ATIN-ZE •DJ BANANA •DJ MORENO LT BR ASIL-ZELT E G A T S R I A N E P O •STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS •GEGE •ELIAS MOREIRA •ANTONIO MARCOS 31. Aug. – 2. Sept. 2007 HELVETIAPLATZ & ZEUGHAUSAREAL ZURICH •AFRO-MARKT •EXOTIC FOOD & DRINKS •KONZERTE +Rap gegen Rassismus: Samurai, C4Style & many more +Black Diaspora Night: Fangafrika, King Kora, Gleam Joel +Wamdé +Workshop Rassismus & Integration +Brasil-Gottesdienst +El Gringo de la Bachata Hauptsponsor: julyaugustendfassung.indd 2 27.06.2007 17:46:32 EDITORIAL The Next Task Of Africa ISSN 1661-44-29 IMPRINT There is a saying among the Fulani of West Africa. You can take my money. Perhaps AFRICA LINK (Registered in Switzerland) A service to Africa and Humanity Published by AFRICA LINK ORG. Postfach 156, CH-8914 Aeugst am Albis Tel. +41 44 776 25 60, Fax +41 44 776 25 63 info@africalink.ch www.africalink.ch you are stronger or cleverer than I. You can take my wife. Perhaps you are more handsome than I am. But for the power to decide how I shall live (political power), I will fight you to the death. Sayings like this lead some to conclude that democracy is an alien concept in Africa. The many hot small wars that exploded all over the continent with the temporary disappearance of the big cold war between the West and the East of the White Man’s Editor-in-chief Mr. Johnson Oduwaiye Tel. +41 79 664 13 54 oduwaiye@africalink.ch divide seemed to bear out this image. The brutality of the Rwandese massacre and Editor Mr. Atsen Ahua Tel. +41 79 243 98 20 atsenahua@yahoo.com you see?” Associate Editor Mr. Mohomodou Houssouba mh@bollag-areal.ch However, the reaction of the Nigerian people, both political office seekers and the vo- Contributing Editor Mr. Gerome Tokpa tokpaj@gmx.net While the superlative condemnations could have made the bile boil over and led the Pictures All by Africa Link, except otherwise stated the protracted civil war in Sierra Leone provided volumes of proof to the “barbaric African” epithet. “They can only resolve issues by hacking one another to death, can’t It is in the face of these prevailing images that we prefer to look at events like the just concluded Nigerian elections; vilified to the nadir of hell and for justifiable cause too. ters, millions of who were cheated out of their franchise has been most instructive. volatile Nigerian citizens into blood-spilling orgies in the streets, the reactions have demonstrated calm and maturity. The aggrieved have gone to court and the tribunals are expected to move with dispatch to resolve pending cases at all levels. So far, the Judiciary seems to be holding its own in the way the cases are being handled. We may PR Officer Mr. Carlson Ngwa Tel. +41 76 548 80 01 see a few Daniels come to judgment yet. Editorial Board Members Mr. Peter Hevi, Dr. Sarah Kamau, Mr. Carlson Ngwa, Mr. Dirk Visser, Ms. Carole Soriceli chosen servant-leadership, a very Christian concept as his watchword for service, won Web Administrator Henri Fogwe Layout/Design Gravenkamp PrePress GmbH, Zürich Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Nigeria’s brand new president, a devout Moslem, who has a multitude of hearts at his inaugural. He decidedly parted ways with his gloating party supremos when he admitted publicly that the elections that brought him to power were less than perfect; in fact deeply flawed. By calling all aggrieved parties to seek redress in the courts, the graceful president seems to have tacitly indicated that if his own election was found faulty, he would be ready to bow out. We are convinced that this servant leader is capable of doing just that. Account No. 0276-813239.40 N UBS Bahnhofplatz 10 CH-8910 Affoltern am Albis The point however is that Africa and Africans are proving that they are capable, more Opinions published do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board can clash fiercely on the campaign trail and embrace after the victor has emerged is All correspondence to AFRICA LINK, Postfach 156 CH-8914 Aeugst am Albis or E-mail to info@africalink.ch shown by some politicians, but we approve of any approach that promotes and supports © by Africa Link Org July / August 2007 julyaugustendfassung.indd 3 than capable of resolving complex issues through peaceful means. That political rivals indeed a good omen. We by no means whatsoever condone or approve of the impunity peaceful dialogue and the rule of law over violence. Entrenching this approach is the next important task of Africa. 3 27.06.2007 17:46:33 CONTENTS AND HIGHLIGHTS Editorial 3 Letters 5 Swiss-Line 6 Bishop suggests closer monitoring of mosques Swiss parliamentary election holds October 21 Integration 8 African Ambassadors in Berne during the Africa Day Celebration. L–r: Mrs. Safiatou Ndiaye Diop (Senegal), Nahid Zikry(Egypt), Dr. Konji Sebati (South Africa) Photo by Silvia Pfenninger Call for solidarity with refugees SOS to Zurich Councillor Maurer Community 10 Benefit-concert for disable youth in Nigeria Ambassador Baah-Duodu on familiarization tour G8 Summit 11 “Commitments will be honoured” Cover 12 South Africa: The most important Swiss partner in Africa Celebration 14 Call for rededication to face Africa’s challenges Politics and Diplomacy 18 A Drama Group at Refugee Day in Basel page 8 Strengthening Africa’s place in the world Summit falls short on aid Health 21 New malaria drugs invented New vaccine could end meningitis misery Biz and Economy 22 Investing and producing in Africa Interview Africa Day Celebrations page 14 Swiss Invest Forum 2007 page 22 24 Senegal’s priority in bilateral relations Celebration 25 Senegal national day celebration Religion 26 Lighthouse church int. 2007 women convention Echoes 27 Entertainment 28 Simphiwe Dana: Behold a star is born! Atongo Zimba riding high with Afro-Funky Jazz Sports 30 Simphiwe Dana 4 julyaugustendfassung.indd 4 page 28 Atongo Zimba page 29 July / August 2007 27.06.2007 17:46:34 LETTERS CHF 5.– I € 3.50 I £ 2.20 Mai / June 2007 Vol. 7 No. 7 YOUR POSITIVE INTERACTION AND NETWORKING MEDIUM Racial discrimination and Xenophobia identified in Switzerland Govt Outlaws Compassion for the Needy Page 16 Dialogue with Basel Police A Most Nigerian Election Respect Investors’ Rights Page 8 Page 14 Page 21 African Peer Review Mechanism: A Farce? Page 24 Of Doudou Diene’s Report Dear Editor, Your Cover story captioned “Govt outlaws compassion for the needy” is shocking because it is the fi rst time I really understood what Doudou Diene’s report on racial discrimination and xenophobia in Switzerland contains. I always believed Switzerland to be more accommodating and generous when considered the assistance given to refugees who want to return to their countries when the situation there is safe. Some of the provisions of the Swiss law such as the Asylum Act, which UNHCR described as the strictest in Europe, is a surprise to me. I hope the government would accept the report, and make necessary amendment. By the way is the unique return assistance the country gives to refugees mentioned in the report? It should be mentioned if it has not been. Cyril Harris-William, Geneva In the next Issue Africa Link interview with Kenya’s Minsiter for Information and Communications Hon. Mutahi Kagwe during the Swiss Investment Forum on Africa and Middle East in June 2007. July / August 2007 julyaugustendfassung.indd 5 I cannot believe this! Dear Editor, It was with utter disbelief that I read the story about the United Nations Special Raporteur’s preliminary note on assessing the racial tolerance situation in Switzerland. Mr. Doudou Diène, the UN Raporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, found deep-rooted cultural resistance within the Swiss society to multiculturalism. The examples mentioned seemed very harsh, as the introduction of the story mentioned: a Swiss citizen could even go to jail or be fi ned up to CHF 500,000 for helping a rejected, helpless asylum seeker. I fi nd it hard to believe that one of the world’s most liberal thinking nations can have such discriminatory laws. As Switzerland has a very direct democracy I cannot help but wonder if the average Swiss citizen is aware of the laws they have voted into place. I am sure the general public would be repulsed to hear about the binary admission system! I am looking forward to the fi nal report, and I hope the Africa Link will keep us informed. Aihende G., Kloten regrettable disaster we cannot afford. Th is is why I agree with your editorial of May/June to urge our able leader President Gaddafi and all our leaders and Africans in general to be mindful of their utterances not to lead to religious provocation. G. Bello, Zurich Gaddafi’s religious provocation Dear Editor, I fi nd President Gaddafi’s remarks stated in your editorial of April/May issue over the crucifi xion of Jesus very offensive. It was not long ago that Muslims around the world reacted violently about the cartoons of Great Prophet Mohammed. I wonder what would have happened if a Christian had uttered such statement about Prophet Mohammed. Luckily the Christians are a very tolerant and forgiving people. What I fi nd even more disturbing is that his comment was not given wide publicity by the media as was given to the cartoon incident. However we ALL should just learn to live together peacefully. Saddened Christian, Lucerne Solidarity Awards Avoid religious Provocation in Africa Dear Editor, We are all a witness to the extent religious confl icts can go. What happened between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland and what is happening in Iraq between the two mainstream Islam adherents, are some of the atrocities that could be seen even within people of the same faith. The Middle East confl icts and the prevalent acts of terrorism around the world are all blamed on religion. Though every right thinking person knows it is not true. They are politically motivated rather than religious. It is my belief that everybody has and should have a right to his or her faith, and protect it if need be. But at the same time one should be mindful of one’s utterances that they do not lead to, and seen as provocation. Africa has suffered much from political intolerance, and self-interest of many of our leaders. To introduce religious crisis into African body politics would be a great and Dear Editor, I was intrigued by your report on the 1st Africa Link Solidarity Awards (March/April 2007). I think it is good and encouraging to give people award for their positive contribution towards the well-being of others, as you stated the awards were created “to encourage the emergence of a more positive perspective on Africa.” It is equally important to see that the awards do not become a “cash and carry” aff air. I fi nd the winners of the categories (Champion of Democracy, African Envoy of Excellence and the Africa Link Supporters) to be individuals who could inspire others, Africans and Europeans, to tow a similar road to uplift Africa and its people. It is very encouraging to see also to Africa Link promoting African interest in such a unique way. May Africa Link’s Solidarity awards go a long way to promote public interest in bettering the lives of Africans. I am looking forward to the 2nd edition of the awards. Nina Robinson, St. Gallen 5 27.06.2007 17:46:38 SWISS–LINE Bishop Suggests Closer Monitoring of Mosques One of the Catholic Church’s leading ex- ligious freedoms as Muslims in Switzerperts on Islam says the Swiss authorities land. Was there any indication during need to keep a closer eye on the country’s your visits to the region that this might mosques. eventually change? Pierre Bürcher, assistant bishop of Fortunately in Switzerland we have freeLausanne, Geneva and Fribourg, tells swiss- dom of religion and worship; in other couninfo it is what goes on inside mosques rather tries the situation is somewhat different. If than the construction of minarets that poses you take some Gulf States, Qatar and the a greater threat to peace. His comments come just weeks after a group of rightwing politicians launched a nationwide campaign to ban the construction of minarets. Bürcher is president of the Swiss Bishops Conference’s working-group on Islam, which was set up in 2001. He says meetings with Muslims both at home and abroad – the body has visited Iran and Syria – have led to improved relations and better understanding between both religious communities. But he warns that the road Asst. Bishop Pierre Bürcher Keystone pic towards a truly peaceful coexistence remains long and rocky. United Arab Emirates, Christians are free to worship and it is often the emirs themselves You say that relations are improving at a who provide land for the construction of a religious level. But aren’t they constantly church. being undermined by global political But in Saudi Arabia there is neither freeevents? dom of religion nor worship, yet there are Inter-religious and inter-cultural dia- many Christians who live and work there. logue is a major challenge at the start of the I hope the day will come when it will be 21st century and in recent decades the Cath- possible for Christians to worship in Saudi olic Church has made a priority of establish- Arabia. We need to continue to put pressure ing contacts with other religions. Pope Ben- on the Muslim authorities and the Saudi edict XVI and his predecessor John Paul II government for this to change. At the same time we now have this initiahave said this dialogue is vital for the future tive in Switzerland against the construction of our society. At a political level, both at home and of minarets, which shows there is a certain abroad in Iran and Syria, we have always amount of extremism here as well. been well received by the various authorities. The difficulties stem from a very small Indeed, this initiative is clearly a reaction extremist fringe, which poses enormous to the spread of Islam and Islamic law in problems but does not represent true Islam. Switzerland. Where does the Catholic Church stand on this issue? It is essential that we respect the laws Christians in some Middle East countries do not enjoy anything like the same re- laid down in Switzerland and we cannot al- 6 julyaugustendfassung.indd 6 low them to be fundamentally undermined by another way of thinking, such as sharia law. It’s true that the minaret is a symbol for Muslims but it is not an essential part of a mosque and we should not get fi xated on it. What goes on inside a mosque is much more important, because it’s there that the Koran is taught and where you can have people stepping out of line. It is in this place of worship that the khutba [Islamic sermon], which is often politicised, and all the antiWestern or even terrorist teaching can take place. Do the authorities really know what is going on and whether it is legal? Th is seems far more important to me than whether you can build a minaret or not. So you’re saying the authorities need to keep a closer eye on what’s going on inside mosques in Switzerland? Yes, because one needs to be aware that in Muslim tradition, politics, culture, society and religion are all intertwined. We are touching here on a fundamental difference between two religious concepts and the slightest tolerance in this domain will be extremely damaging for peace and co-existence. It is because of this that mosques in many Muslim countries are coming under increased surveillance and the khutba is always monitored. It is clear that there is a fear of Islam, not just in Switzerland but also in other Western countries. How can this be overcome? One of the reasons for this fear is that our two religions are different and we still lack a sense of mutual understanding. Secondly, newcomers can often create unease or even fear because they may upset the balance. Therefore we need to learn how to live with each other; otherwise we will run into major problems. But centuries have passed and we have yet to find a solution. What makes you think we can do so now? The most fervent believer, whether Christian, Jew or Muslim, will never attain perfection and we are on a similar path when it comes to inter-cultural and inter-religious relations. The human being has its limits; unfortunately we are not perfect and neither are our societies. swissinfo-interview: Adam Beaumont July / August 2007 27.06.2007 17:46:41 SWISS–LINE Swiss Parliamentary Election Holds October 21 The most important political event in four years will take place on October 21 when the Swiss elect a new federal parliament. How do citizens vote in a country often believed to be as a model democracy? The Swiss parliament is a bicameral legislature composed of a House of Representatives (National Assembly) and a Senate (Council of States). The House is the larger chamber and represents the population, while the Senate represents the cantons. Elections to the House are held every four years on the penultimate Sunday in October. Senators may be elected on a different election cycle, determined by their canton. All cantons except Zug and Appenzell Innerrhoden hold their senate elections on the same day of federal election. Parliament makes federal laws, oversees the federal administration, and elects the seven members of the Federal Council – the Swiss government – as well as the members of the federal judiciary. Unlike in the United States though, there is no equivalent of the impeachment procedure allowing for the removal of members of the executive branch or the judiciary. Each canton votes On October 21 Swiss voters will elect all 200 members of the House and 44 of the 46 members of the Senate. There is no national ballot. Strictly speaking, the federal election consists of 26 cantonal elections held on the same day. Voters are only allowed to vote for candidates in the canton where they are officially registered. Candidates run in one canton only. All Swiss citizens from 18 years old are automatically eligible to vote and to stand for office. There is no registration process for citizens living within the country. As Swiss are obliged by law to officially register in the commune where they live, the commune has the necessary information for sending out voting materials. Swiss citizens living abroad have had the right to vote and to run for national office since 1977. They register either in their last July / August 2007 julyaugustendfassung.indd 7 place of residence or in their commune of origin. Th is year, more than 100,000 Swiss abroad are registered to vote. Several among them are running for national office. Proportionality The principle of proportionality is applied to federal elections. Unlike majority or “winner takes all” systems, proportionality allots mandates in a given district according to the share of votes each party receives. Th is is considered the fairest possible distribution of seats. Claude Janiak, Senate President nzz pic Each canton constitutes a voting district. Candidates do not run individually, but on lists, usually put together by political parties. Some parties run gender-specific lists or lists based on regional criteria. Voters have a variety of choices. They can vote for a list, for individual candidates only, or a combination of the two. But the outcome of the election depends on party strength, measured in votes received. Th is determines how the available seats are divided up. The candidates with the most votes on each list are awarded available seats. “In many foreign proportionality systems, a voter is at best able to give a preference vote for one candidate and a vote for a party,” says Hans Urs Wili, chief of the political rights division in the Federal Chancellery. Wili, who is about to direct his ninth federal election, says that the Swiss system is more sophisticated. “Depending on the size of the canton, a voter can further differentiate his vote, for instance giving four-fi fths of it to one party and the remaining fi fth to another one.” Seat distribution in the House The 200 seats of the House are distributed among the cantons according to the size of the population, with each canton having at least one seat. The general rule is one seat for each 36,000 inhabitants. Accordingly, canton Zurich has 34 representatives, while canton Uri has only one. The distribution of seats changes every ten years, based on census results. Th is year there are no changes because there has not been a new census. A disadvantage of the Swiss system is that proportionality rules lose their relevance in smaller cantons, owing to the small number of seats available. Smaller parties are only able to get elected in larger cantons, where they can enhance their prospects by pooling lists. “Large parties enjoy an advantage as long as the smaller ones aren’t able to make themselves big enough by pooling lists,” says Wili. Elections to the Senate Size does not matter in the Senate, where each canton has the same number of seats, regardless of population. Switzerland’s 20 full cantons have two senators each, while its six half-cantons have one each. With the exception of canton Jura, senators are elected according to the majority rule. Th is means the candidates with the highest number of votes win. Smaller parties have less of a chance of being elected to the Senate than to the House. At this time, only members of the four parties that form the national government are represented in the Senate: 15 Christian Democrats, 14 Free Democrats, nine Social Democrats and eight Swiss People’s Party members. swissinfo, Christian Raaflaub 7 27.06.2007 17:46:42 SWISS-LINE Call for Solidarity with Refugees By Omo Abinuwaiye BASEL: World Refugee Day offers emotional involvement and solidarity with refugees in their plight. Dr. Brigitta Gerber, the president of Basel Upper Council, had expressed while addressing the gathering at Munsterplatz Basel on June 16 to mark Refugee Day, though Refugee Day is celebrated on June 20. She said refugees’ matter “is a complex one” therefore there is a need for support and understanding of refugees. She was of the opinion that asylum seeking was informed by globalisation, political oppression, Dr. Brigitta Gerber ecological reason, the search for better life and human right issue among others. The majority of 40 million refugees worldwide, according to her, were from South, adding that only one per cent received visa to migrate to West because of the nature of immigration laws. In Switzerland, for example, despite immigration laws have been revised seven times since 1981, the situation has not improved. The last revision was in 2006, and its interpretation “is still not clear”, she explained. Expressing that many of the refugees live in camps for years, she appealed to the public not to look at them negatively, rather to show them solidarity. In his speech at the occasion, Dr. Boia Effraime jr., Program Manager Children & Talents, UBS Optimus Foundation, shed more light on the traumatic situation of refugees because of what they had gone Dr. Boia Effraime jr. through. He told the story of a seven years old boy who witnessed the slaughtering of his father during the civil Mrs. Renée Adolphine plaiting hair at the venue Wilhelm Tell aiming at his son, on the extreme left 8 julyaugustendfassung.indd 8 l–r: Jürg Schertenleib, Mrs. Muscheid of Radio X, Thomas Kessler and Claude Janiak war in Mozambique. Th is led him to join children army, but later ended up in a refugee camp for seven years. There was also a panel discussion on the issue. Public awareness of the true and sincere plight of the refugees is being advocated to correct the negative impression about them. In attendance to thrill the audience were some former refugees from Sri Lanka who presented a musical drama based on William Tell story giving it a Sri Lankan touch. It was well appreciated. The occasion was sponsored by Caritas and HEKS and organised by SAH Basel region led by Mr. Jakob Clement and assisted by Mrs. Lilian Keller of Kulturmanagement. July / August 2007 27.06.2007 17:46:43 INTEGRATION Africa Freedom Integration Cultural Festival SOS to Zurich Councillor Maurer ZURICH: The organisers of Africa Freedom integration and cultural festival have called on the Zurich city councillor in charge of police, Mrs. Esther Maurer to intervene in the alleged discriminatory manner in which the city police authority issues permit for street festival. Mr. Louis Mombu, the president of the Africa Freedom association told Africa Link that the association had asked the police authority seven times for more space to hold the annual festival because of the high turnout of visitors. The space allocated at Helvetiaplatz is now too small for the festival. But on every occasion the request was refused, while others, like the organisers of Caliente festival were being given more areas for theirs. Mr. Mombu, who claimed that he started such festival in Zurich city 11 years ago as an integral part of integration, believes there is a deliberate attempt to frustrate him so that he will abandon the festival. He asks, “where is the spirit of integration that the government keeps sermonising?” He sees the police action as an act of discrimination, and an attempt to relegate anything led by blacks to the background. “If I were white, or gave the leadership of the organisation to a white, they would not have refused to give the permit”, he opined. He added that he was not given the permit last year until three weeks before the festival, “just to make it impossible for us to hold it.” He therefore appealed to the councillor, and other well-meaning Swiss people and foreigners to come to the rescue of the festival, and to fight against any form of racial discrimination. Councillor Esther Maurer HEALTH AND PREVENTION AFRICA–BASEL SANTE ET PREVENTION AFRIQUE–BÂLE GESUNDHEIT UND PRÄVENTION AFRIKA–BASEL Place: Aids Hilfe beider Basel, Time: 7:00 PM Clarastrasse 4, 4058 Basel Tel: 061 685 25 00, www.ahbb.ch Lieu: Aide Sida Bâle, Heure: 19:00 Clarastrasse 4, 4058 Bâle Tél: 061 685 25 00, www.ahbb.ch Ort: Aids Hilfe beider Basel, Zeit: 19.00 Uhr Clarastrasse 4, 4058 Basel Telefon 061 685 25 00, www.ahbb.ch Contact: Mohomodou Houssouba Mobile: 078 602 58 19 mh@baserelles.ch, www.baserelles.ch Contact: Mohomodou Houssouba Portable: 078 602 58 19 mh@baserelles.ch, www.baserelles.ch Kontakt: Mohomodou Houssouba Natel: 078 602 58 19 mh@baserelles.ch, www.baserelles.ch June 15 15 juin Apéro Presentation of program June 29 Apéro Vorstellung der Veranstaltungen 29 juin Nutrition and Movement – Gsünder Basel July 13 29. Juni Nutrition et Mouvement – Gsünder Basel 13 juillet Last UNAIDS Report Guided Tour of HIV Test Station August 10 10 août August 24 24 août September 7 Stress and violence September 21 Immigration and addiction MUSUB September 28 Evaluation / Closing event Mädchenbeschneidung in afrikanischer Literatur 24. August Mooladé (film d’Ousmane Sembène, 2004) Mooladé (Film von Ousmane Sembène, 2004) 7 septembre 7. September Stress et violence Stress und Gewalt 21 septembre 21. September Migration et dépendance / Multikulturelle Suchtberatungsstelle beider Basel (MUSUB) 28 septembre www.radix.ch Sucht in der Migration MUSUB 28. September Evaluation / Soirée Fonds Support July / August 2007 Letzter UN-AIDS-Bericht Besuch der HIV-Test- und -Beratungsstelle 10. August L’excision dans la litérature africaine Mooladé (a film by Ousmane Sembène, 2004) Ernährung und Bewegung – Gsünder Basel 13. Juli Récent rapport de l’ONUSIDA Visite guidée – Poste de dépistage VIH Excision in African literature julyaugustendfassung.indd 9 15. Juni Apéro Présentation du programme Evaluation / Abschlussfest Projekt Gesundheit und Migration AIDS HILFE B A S E L www.ahbb.ch B E I D E R 9 27.06.2007 17:46:50 COMMUNITY Benefit-concert for Disable Youths in Nigeria ST. GALLEN: On this year’s mothers’ Day a group of musicians and artists from the eastern Swiss Canton of St. Gallen thrilled the audience in the Evangelical Reformed Church in Linsebuehl in the medieval city of St. Gallen. The sacred atmosphere captured the spirit of the event. The wonderful renderings of the Conbrio women choir from Oberbueren, the exhilarating tunes of the music students of the Kantonsschule St. Gallen, the rhythms of the kids from the Oberstufenzentrum’s school choir from Wittenbach made up some of the wonderful menu that the audience had to sample. The pulsating Saxophone sounds of Les Saxoiseaux, the angelic melodies of the Harfen-Trio and the compelling prayers of the musical sisters of the Sister Act of St. Gallen were simply amazing. The event was initiated by Chika Uzor and organized by his friends Mr. and Mrs. A. and C. van de Laak Saleem to raise funds for the Verein Amokwe Nigeria for its vocational school at Amokwe in Enugu State, Nigeria. The school provides young people especially the physically challenged from the South-Eastern region of Nigeria an opportunity to learn a profession to improve their own living conditions. It strictly aims at taking them away from a life of begging in the streets and empowering them for full integration into the society. The Verein Amokwe Nigeria (VAN) is a Swiss association founded in January 2000 A cross section of the congregation at the concert by a group of women and men from Austria and Switzerland in accordance with Art. 60ff of the Swiss Civil Law (ZGB). The seat of the Association is Zollikofen BE. Currently it has about 250 members and sympathizers. Its aim is to support social self-help development projects in Nigeria. In pursuance of its aim the Verein works closely with its local partner the Chibugwu Amokwe Nigeria Foundation (CANF), a Nigerian NGO, founded in December 2001 with its headquarters in Enugu. CANF is responsible for the strategic and operational management of the projects. It is a basic conviction of both organisations that one of the central means to achieving the millennium goals of the UNO is education and empowerment of women and youths towards self-reliance, civil rights and responsibilities to which both organisation are committed. For further information contact: Chika Uzor, Dr. theol., Steigerstrasse 4, 9000 St. Gallen, Tel. +41 71 244 21 35, E-mail: uzorchika@hotmail.com Dr. Uzor giving a vote of thanks Amb. Baah-Duodu commends Basel Missionaries SISSACH: Ambassador Kwabena BaahDuodu of Ghana had paid tribute to the early Basel Missionaries to Ghana for their collaboration with the country’s early farmers such as Tetteh Quarshie, which led to the realisation of a vibrant cocoa industry in Ghana. He said those pioneers would be forever remembered for having initiated those people to people contacts which had paved the way for the current fruitful bilateral ties between Ghana and Switzerland. 10 julyaugustendfassung.indd 10 The Ambassador who was on a familiarization visit of Sissach Community said the relationship between Ghana and Sissach began in the late 1820s when the fi rst group of Basel Missionaries came to the then Gold Coast. Among them was Johannes Haas, from Sissach, who later became the fi rst manager of the Akropong Agricultural Station. H. E. Baah-Duodu who was invited by the Executive Council of Sissach, near Ba- sel, held discussions with the area’s Local Council on ways and means to strengthen relations between Ghana and the community. He was accompanied by some staff of the Embassy in Berne, and members of the ExGhana / Swiss Society, who facilitated the visit. They visited among other places, the community’s market, old people’s home and ecological sites. July / August 2007 27.06.2007 17:46:52 G8 SUMMIT G8: “Commitments will be honoured” However, the G8 and the African partners agreed that Africans would also fulfi l their commitments as regards democracy and good governance. Now the task was to see what had already been achieved in that respect and what still remained to be done. Speaking on behalf of the African Union (AU), the Chairman, Ghanaian President John Kufuor, said that African countries were also prepared to play their part in making the Outreach Process a “true partnership”. Kufuor proposed establishing a body which would be responsible for supporting and regularly reviewing the co-operation. Chairman John Kufuor and Chancellor Merkel HEILIGENDAMM: The discussions with African representatives were “very honest, very open” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after the fi rst working session on the last day of the Summit in Heiligendamm. US$60 billion have been pledged over the coming years to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The Chancellor’s message to African countries, according to German Government press release, stated: “We are aware of our responsibility and we will honour our commitments.” The G8 needed to “fulfi l the promises we made.” US$60 billion to combat infectious diseases Over the coming years the G8 will be making a total of US$60 billion (around €44 billion) available to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Th is is to be used to safeguard universal access to comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, treatment and care, and to develop health systems at local level. Particular attention in the fight against infectious diseases is to be paid to the needs of adolescent girls, women and children. Germany will be providing €4 billion to support efforts to combat these illnesses. A continent on the move In their Final Declaration on Africa, the G8 underlined again their strong interest in a stable, democratic and prosperous Merkel with SA President Mbeki African continent. The governments of the G8 countries stressed their fi rm resolve to implement the commitments made at the 2005 G8 Summit. The historic debt relief is “well on the way”, the document claims. Official development assistance (ODA) for Africa will be increased by $25 billion a year by 2010. A further set of measures is thus to be introduced to promote sustainable development in Africa. The leading industrialised nations have committed to “focus on promoting growth and investments in order to combat poverty and hunger, to foster peace and security, good governance and the strengthening of health systems, and to assist the fight against infectious diseases.” The G8 countries also pledged to support their African partners in meeting the challenges they face when it comes to climate policy. They also want to contribute to strengthening political structures, to promote investments and to development the local economy. The Summit Declaration “Growth and Responsibility in Africa” lists the 63 commitments which cover a wide variety of issues. A group foto with African delegates July / August 2007 julyaugustendfassung.indd 11 11 27.06.2007 17:46:54 COVER African Diplomats Scorn Blocher’s Statement South Africa: The Most Important Swiss Partner in Africa When our Editor-in-chief Johnson Oduwaiye expressed how disappointed the African community felt about the African diplomatic community’s studied silence on Mr. Christoph Blocher’s statement last year about Africans that eff ectively amounted to class defamation of their constituency. Dr. Konji Sebati, the South African Ambassador to Switzerland explained that they did not keep silent, “a lot of us felt that we would not bother to meet with Mr. Blocher himself and rather treated the matter with the contempt it deserved.” She was speaking with Africa Link in an interview that covered a range of issues including SA and Swiss economic relations. Read on: Your Excellency, it is almost two years since you assumed office as the South African Ambassador to Switzerland. What would you say have been the main trends in the direction and scope of South African Swiss bilateral relations since you took over? a. Improvements? b. Challenges? South Africa enjoys a very cordial and collaborative political and economic relationship with Switzerland. I arrived in Switzerland in July 2005 and a few months prior to that, in May 2005, Switzerland singled out South Africa in its foreign policy “as one of its most important partners outside the EU and USA”. Over the past two years we have seen tourism to South Africa grow by huge figures for a country of the size of Switzerland. We have also been very busy and active in promoting business between South Africa and Switzerland. In January 2006 we had a three-city business seminar about investing in South Africa, we were guest country at the Swiss Economic Forum in 2006 and recently took 15 Swiss business men and women to South Africa on a business tour. We have also been very active in promoting arts and culture. Regarding your question about challenges, we have been fortunate enough not 12 julyaugustendfassung.indd 12 to experience too many challenges except when there were some alleged negative statements about Africa and Africans in the media late 2006. We understand that the total population of Swiss people living in Africa as at December 2006 was 18,380, out of which 8,821, zerland in favour of your country; CHF 1,261.7 million to CHF 729.5 million. What are the main items of trade between your country and Switzerland and would you say there is scope for further expansion in this area? The biggest contributor to this favourable and increasing trade between South Africa H. E. Sebati about 48% are in SA. To what would you attribute this high ratio of Swiss presence in SA as compared to other African countries? (Total South Africans in Switzerland is 1,207) A lot of Swiss people have lived in South Africa for years most having gone down to work in the motor industry. A few own homes and vineyards in the Cape Winelands. There are about 150 Swiss companies registered and based in South Africa, and that could be the reason that there are so many Swiss people living in South Africa. The statistics for last year show a healthy balance in trade between SA and Swit- and Switzerland is commodities like platinum, diamonds and gold. The agricultural sector has also been improving with exports of fruit and wines particularly. There is definitely scope for expansion and it is for that reason that my team is so engaged in what we call “Economic Diplomacy”. South African Airways was reported to be planning to stop its direct flights to and from Switzerland. Are the reasons for this re-routing purely commercial or are there other policy issues involved? Considering the high number of Swiss tourists visiting the country, is there no viability for the direct flight? July / August 2007 27.06.2007 17:46:57 COVER Th is recent decision to stop direct fl ights to Switzerland, effective from May 1st, has not been an easy one for us to accept because we honestly believed it was a lucrative route for SAA; however we are informed that due to the Star Alliance partnership and launch between South African Airways, SWISS and Lufthansa, routes had to be split because passengers would all be catered for no matter what European connection or destination they want to make. Th is is indeed very sad for us South Africans living here in Switzerland. We want to support our national airline, but now we have to support SWISS to travel all the way to Munich or Frankfurt to connect to SAA to Johannesburg. sue, we have been able to mobilise ourselves very quickly. Last year, Swiss Minister of Justice, Mr. Christoph Blocher, drew protests from the African community when he was reported to have disparagingly described Africans A few years ago Africa Link reported that SA realised about CHF 1 billion from European tourists annually. How much does the country realise now and how much of that comes from Switzerland? Swiss tourists to South Africa contribute about 0,6 % and on average each tourist stays about 18 days spending not less than 300 CHF daily, a growth of 3 to 6 % since 2005. At the Women Dialogue Conference held last year, you said your Embassy would make it an annual event. What is the mission of the forum, and what achievements does it look forward to in these annual conferences? The Women’s Dialogue held in August 2006 enthused so many ladies to make this an annual event because it was evident that Swiss women needed a platform like that to discuss and debate issues that are pertinent to women today. Th is year we are still in the planning phase and will soon announce our plans. We will however hold the dialogue in partnership with Swiss women organisations. How do you see the relationships within the African diplomats’ community in Switzerland in terms of cooperation in dealing with issues that collectively affect Africa and Africans in Switzerland? The Africa Group of Ambassadors in Berne works very closely together. We are not a very big group and unfortunately some of our colleagues have to do both bilateral and multilateral work in Geneva, which therefore keeps them out of Berne most times. We do however try and meet as often as we can and when we have an urgent is- July / August 2007 julyaugustendfassung.indd 13 H. E. Sebati as “lazy”. Do you think this comment was justified? If not, why did the African diplomatic community keep such studied silence to what effectively amounted to class defamation of their constituency? What would be your response to the feeling of disappointment with African diplomats that the African community has widely expressed over this incidence? Statements apparently made by Federal Councillor Blocher outraged most of us and we held several meetings to discuss the matter. Naturally we wanted to confi rm if indeed these statements were made and under what context, but it has proved very difficult to verify them. We did however send a letter to Federal President, Mrs. Calmy-Rey as Minister of Foreign Aff airs and our “host” in this country. We expressed our dismay and abhorrence of such overtly discriminatory remarks from a senior Government official. We did not release a press statement since we differed as to how far we could go on these allegations, with no real facts; however it is not entirely correct to say that the Africa Group kept silent on the matter. Besides our own personal resentment at what could have been said, we owed it to our fellow Africans in the Diaspora and our continent to voice our views – which as I say we did, through a letter and an audience with Madame Calmy-Rey. A lot of us felt that we would not bother to meet with Mr. Blocher himself and rather treated the matter with the contempt it deserved. As for a statement of reassurance to our fellow Africans, I concede maybe we should have at least informed people what we had done. SANKOFA’s organised protest against the statement in Berne last year 13 27.06.2007 17:47:00 CELEBRATION Africa Day Celebrated Call for Rededication to Face Africa’s Challenges By Johnson Oduwaiye and Mohomodou Housouba Africa Union Commission President, Prof. Alpha Oumar Konare has called on Africans and their global partners to build partnerships that hinge upon equitable and genuine foundations, whose scale, in terms of both the advantages and disadvantages should not be tipped in favor of either party.” In an address presented on his behalf by Ambassador Khadija R. Masri, AU Permanent Observer to the UN at the fi rst Africa Day celebration to hold in Geneva and the 4th in Berne, President Konare reiterated the vision for the future of Africa expressed in July 2002 at the launching of the African Union. He spoke of the collective goals and challenges of the continent to effectively deal with globalization. Referring to the theme of this year’s celebration which is: Let’s strengthen Africa’s H. E. Baah-Doudu 14 julyaugustendfassung.indd 14 place in the world through strategic, balanced and responsible partnerships, Prof. Konare said it was in line with the vision and sevenfold mission of the AU. The vision, according to him, consists of building an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, spearheaded by Africans and constituting a dynamic force on the international arena. He said that Africa Day “is an opportunity for Africa to pride itself of her achievements, as a specific entity, endowed, more than ever, with the will and determination to realize integration.” Organized by the African Missions and Ambassadors based in the international city, Africa Day celebrates the founding of the Organization of African Unity, OAU on May 25, 1963 with the aim of completing and consolidating the liberation of the continent from outside domination. Having fully achieved its mission with the end of the apartheid regime in South Africa in1994, the OAU transformed itself into a more development-oriented organization with the clear vision to address the challenge of sustainable development facing the continent. President John A. Kufuor, the current Chairman of AU, in his address at the occasions expressed his optimism in the march of Africa, despite the enormous difficulties still facing the continent at different levels. He said the celebration affords Africans the unique opportunity to take stock of their achievements and to rededicate themselves to addressing the challenges that confront the continent. He added that the new organs established by the AU, Africans have worked collectively to accelerate the pace of the continent’s development. The President pointed out that the adoption of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and its African Peer Mr. Ambühl July / August 2007 27.06.2007 17:47:02 CELEBRATION H. E. Guédira H. E. Masri Review Mechanism (APRM) has also enhanced the political and corporate economic governance of the continent. Ghana’s Ambassador to Switzerland Mr. Kwabena Baah-Duodu read the speech on his behalf. In Berne, Ambassador Mohammed Guedira of Morocco, the Dean of African diplomatic corps, addressed the gathering of Africans and friends of Africa who had turned up in large numbers for the occasion. He said he preferred not to dwell on the bad news about the continent, because “the bad news is never missed by the media.” Without ignoring the problems, he argued from a broader outlook on the developments in recent years that Africa had much that was positive and worthy of celebration. He pointed to the African Peer Review Mechanism, which although far from being perfect, has the merit of submitting African leaders to the scrutiny of their colleagues. H E. Guedira also mentioned the sustained growth of African economies — more than 5% in recent years — which can be attributed to the higher prices of raw materials and increased agricultural and fi sheries production, and “a dynamic private sector.” He added that the new entrepreneurial spirit fi nds a parallel in the social area, with the rise of a dynamic civil society, which holds decision-makers to promises and expected outcomes. The Ambassador further said that extreme poverty and diseases like AIDS continue to pull African societies downward. Africans therefore have to demonstrate self-reliance and solidarity through south-south cooperation to improve the situation in education, health care, and agricultural production. He believes International cooperation can help African countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals and expressed his appreciation of Swiss cooperation with Africa, especially through multilateral institutions like the African Development Bank. The Swiss Secretary of State Michael Ambühl who also addressed the gathering restated his country’s vision and commitment to help the AU translate further the aspiration to strengthened unity, democratic rule and increased well-being of the men and women across the continent. He disclosed that the 2007 traditional conference of Swiss ambassadors will take place in Africa, and will be chaired by the Federal Councillor of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey, who is also the President of the Federation. Other programs to mark Africa Day 2007 included a conference in Geneva addressed by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (see page 18) and an African Arts Exhibition that Ambassador M. Juan Somavia, Director General of ILO opened as a part of the celebration. African Art Collector Dr. Martin Sigam provided the pieces for the exhibition. In both Berne and Geneva, the evening continued in a convivial atmosphere of reunions and informal exchanges facilitated by the generous supplies of national foods, drinks and delicacies catered by some African missions, among them Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia. Africa Link, the Voice of Africa in Switzerland, congratulates our able ambassadors on the impressive and successful organisation of Africa Day Celebration in Berne and Geneva this year! July / August 2007 julyaugustendfassung.indd 15 15 27.06.2007 17:47:03 CELEBRATION Photo News Africa Day Celebration in Geneva Moroccan drummers performing at the occasion Mr. J. Somavia, cutting the tape to open the exhibition, right is Dr. M. Sigam A cross section of diplomats listening to an address Bakuba Mask from D. R. of Congo Mother and child from Mali r–l: Zimbabwe’s H. E. Chipaziwa, Mozambique’s H. E. Rodrigues, Nigeria’s H. E. Uhomoibhi and his family l–r: Mrs. B. Tusiime of AU Mission, Rwanda’s H. E. Sebudandi, Ghana’s H. E. Baah-Duodu and Mr. Oduwaiye of Africa Link H. E. Arsene of Uganda and Mrs. Aicha Pouye, director at the International Trade Center Chadian stand displaying some paintings and craft works r: Mrs. M. Loulichki, president of Ambassadors’ spouses, and wife of Moroccan ambassador at Moroccan stand Guests queue for North African cuisine l: Mrs. Eya Nchama, Founder and Secretary of Association Refuge (Burundi and Rwanda) and Mrs. A. Abena Marion 16 julyaugustendfassung.indd 16 July / August 2007 27.06.2007 17:47:04 CELEBRATION Photo News Africa Day Celebration in Berne Front row: A cross section of diplomats listening to Amb. Guédira’s speech r–l: H. E. Houhou of Algeria, H. E. Masri, H. E. Guédira and Swiss Secretary of State Mr. Ambuhl 3rd and 4th from left, Mr. M. Fawzi Blout, Chargé d’Affaires Tunisia Embassy and Mr. A. Jerbi, Director Tunisia Tourism Office, Zurich l–r: Mr. D. Ekeruche, Mr. A. M. Tonye, Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of Nigeria and Cameroon respectively, Mr. H. Alentara, Mrs. S. Haul and Mr. M. Wandeler H. E. Astete of Peru with H. E. Diop of Senegal r–l: Mr. K. Amrein, Mr. A. Ukoh and extreme left Mr. A. Otaru. r–l: Mr. Max Streit and Mrs. Maya Tissafi both of SDC and Mrs. Esther Oester l–r: Dr. K. Dankwa, Dr. F. Hyde-Antwi, Mr. A. Schweizer, Mr. S. Tshivhula and Mr. K. Twumasi-Fofie Mr. Karl Schlumpf flanked, right, by Mrs. E. Correia wife of Angola’s Ambassador and her daughter Evinha r–l: Mr. A. Ukoh, Mrs. C. Schmutz, Mrs. J. Julmy and Mrs. R. Hoeck l–r: Mr. Tshivhula Counsellor SA Embassy, H. E. Baah-Doudu, Bra. Masekela SA jazz legend l: Mr. B. Sedki, Minister Embassy of Algeria and Mr. Roda Molembi of MBM Group l–r: Mr. A. Adjei, Mrs. G. Loebell-Ryan, Mr. C. Ngwa and Mr. A. Issa Nigerian cuisine on display July / August 2007 julyaugustendfassung.indd 17 17 27.06.2007 17:47:08 POLITICS AND DIPLOMACY Strengthening Africa’s Place in the World Keynote Address by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Mp at the Africa Day Forum. Geneva, on May 23, 2007 I am grateful for and honoured by the invitation from you, Madam, the African Union’s Permanent Observer here, to participate in this solemn ceremony commemorating Africa Day this year in this old city of Geneva, for so long the venue for major international transactions affecting the destiny of humanity. The historic convention, that regulates the conduct of war to ensure civilised norms are maintained even in war, bears the name of this city, the Geneva Convention. Again, it was here in the early part of the 20th century that the fi rst great attempt at global governance was made by the establishment of the ill-fated League of Nations, precursor to the more tenacious organisation of the United Nations. It is, thus, a fitting place for Africans to meet to deliberate on the quality of the relationships they need to nurture within and outside the continent to strengthen Africa’s place in the world, which is the theme of this year’s commemoration: “Lets strengthen Africa’s place in the world through strategic, balanced and responsible partnerships”. To that end, I bring you also the warm greetings of the Chair of the African Union, the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor. May 25, has been chosen as Africa Day for the most appropriate of reasons, for that day in 1963, 44 years ago, saw the birth of Africa’s fi rst continental institution, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in ancient Ethiopia’s capital of Addis Ababa. The organisation was put in place in the early years of independence to coordinate the collective energies and efforts of the new African states to wage the struggle for the complete liberation of the continent from imperialism and racist rule. With the dismantling of the inhumane system of apartheid in South Africa in 1994, and the emergence of free South Africa, that task was effectively accomplished in 1994. We, who are the heirs of this glorious struggle for freedom, can only on such a 18 julyaugustendfassung.indd 18 day but salute the vision and foresight of the great fi gures who led our independence movements and founded the OAU, and whose names are forever etched in gold in Africa’s memory and roll call of honour, amongst them, Haile Selassie, Mohamed V. Gamal Abdul Nasser, Ahmed Ben Bella, Jomo Kenyatta, Julius Nyerere, Felix Houphouet Boigny, Leopold Sedar Senghor, Hon. Akufo-Addo, and H. E. Masri Ahmed Sekou Toure, Modibo Keita, and above all, if, as a Ghanaian, I may be so permitted to state, Kwame Nkrumah, the icon of Ghana’s independence struggle, who, on the night of our triumph on that historic day of March 6, 1957, made the unforgettable pronouncement that “Ghana’s independence is meaningless unless it is linked with the total liberation of Africa.” The task is done. Africa is today free, sovereign and master of her own fate. We owe that to him and all the others who fought for our dignity as free men and women. It is then symbolic that a Ghanaian Foreign Minister should chair the Executive Council of our Union in the year in which Ghana, and dare I say it, all of Africa, is celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Ghana’s independence from British colonial rule, the event that blazed the trail for the liberation of Africa from imperialism and colonialism. The achievement of sovereignty has now put squarely at the centre of the African agenda the issue of the economic develop- ment of our continent. For centuries, Africa’s huge human and materials resources have been exploited for the benefit of outsiders and foreign interests. It is time to change that paradigm and focus on the need to develop her resources for the benefit, fi rstly, of her own peoples and, secondly, for the benefit of mankind at large. It was in recognition of this compelling reality that, at the instigation of the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, our leaders decided to replace the OAU with the African Union (AU) to spearhead the struggle for the political and economic integration of the continent and to create thereby propitious conditions for the economic development of our mighty continent. The challenge of globalisation, perhaps the greatest challenge of our time, has necessitated for Africa the entry into strategic partnerships with other areas of the globe that share and support our ambitions. So in 2005, at Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, the 1st Asia-Africa Summit was held to signal the determination of the two peoples of Asia and Africa to work together to prosper in the globalised world. Again in 2006, the 1st Africa-China Summit was held in Beijing. It was followed by the 1st Africa-South America Summit in Abuja, capital of the great Federal Republic of Nigeria. Th is year, the long delayed Europe-Africa Summit will fi nally take place in Portugal during the Portuguese Presidency of the EU in the second half of this year. To that end, the AU Chair, President Kufuor, has already met in Lisbon with the Portuguese leadership, President Anibal Cavaco Silva and Prime Minister Jose Socrates, to engage on the date and agenda of the Summit. The principal outcome of the Summit will, hopefully, be to adopt a consensual document outlining a joint strategy which will govern the development of the future partnership between Europe and Africa in the circumstances of the 21st century. It is clear that a new relationship, different from that of the last five hundred years, July / August 2007 27.06.2007 17:47:10 POLITICS AND DIPLOMACY must be forged between our two continents authoritarian rule, with its attendant conse- been consistently in the region of 6 % in the if our partnership is to confront effectively quences of widespread violations of human last four years, with every indication that the challenges of globalisation and the im- rights, is, happily, receding fast into history we can attain systematically the 8 % rates peratives of our day. Africa can no longer to be replaced by an Africa of healthier body of growth which will enable us to reach our continue to be, in short, a mere provider of politics, where democratic values and cul- national goal of becoming a middle income raw materials to Europe, her main trading tures today hold sway. The predictable result nation within the next decade. Investor inand economic partner, or, indeed, to any is the gradual resolution of confl icts, as we terest in Ghana, both domestic and foreign, other continent, if she is to escape the de- have seen in, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea has become very keen, which bodes well for bilitating, dehumanising tentacles of mass Bissau, Burundi, and DRC. Côte d’Ivoire our future. The limited good news from Africa canpoverty. now looks set to join this group. The major challenge confronting this There are, however, still outstanding the not, however, obscure the grim fact that ours generation of Africans is to accomplish the seemingly intractable problems of violence is the one continent the majority of whose structural transformation of the African and instability in Somalia, the murderous countries will not on present projections be economies so that we can compete success- violence directed at a defenceless population able to meet the millennium development fully in the globalised economy and be, like in the Darfur region of Sudan, which has led goals. The case for large, coordinated inothers, beneficiaries of globalisation, not its to the killings of thousands and the tragic ternational assistance to Africa remains in victims. The Summit, by the adoption of the displacement of some two million people, furtherance of our common humanity. We Joint Strategy Document, will signal Eu- and the issues of democratic governance in note, though, that many of the promises rope’s recognition of the exigencies of this Zimbabwe. The AU, our new continental made in this regard are honoured more in new relationship and her decision to accom- organisation, and SADC, the regional or- their breach than in their fulfi lment. The fapany Africa down this new path of equality ganisation of southern Africa, have demon- mous 0.7 % of GNP pledge for official develand mutual benefit. The industrialisation of strated their determination to come to grips opment assistance was not respected; again, the continent is the order of the day, and we with these problems. We remain confident the commitments made at Gleneagles have also not been respected. On our welcome Europe’s participation part, we can only hope that whatin that project whose realisation ever understandings are agreed at will mean that, at long last, the The major challenge confronting this genthe forthcoming G8 Summit in long suffering African masses eration of Africans is to accomplish the strucGermany at Heiligendamm on 8th can be released from poverty and backwardness. June will suffer a better fate than tural transformation of the African economies The economic transformation those of their predecessors. so that we can compete successfully in the glowe envisage for the continent One thing is clear and that is balised economy and be, like others, beneficiwill occur with the improvement that, ultimately, the prosperity of of the quality of our governance, the continent will be a function of aries of globalisation, not its victims. political and economic, and the the hard work, ingenuity, creativacceleration of the process of poity, dynamism and entrepreneurial litical and economic integration of the na- that, difficult as they are, we shall, with the acumen that Africa can summon for herself. tions of our continent. There is little doubt support and cooperation of our friends and No one can or will build Africa for Africans. that the future of the planet will be about partners around the world, fi nd acceptable We have to do it ourselves. the interplay of continents, a fact which is solutions to them which will reinforce the There is in this respect a hopeful develclear to us, and that is why the forthcom- growing peace, stability and democratic opment in the making. I refer to the South ing AU Summit in Accra will be devoted evolution of the continent. Soon, the guns African inspired initiative to raise through essentially to one issue – the Grand Debate will fall largely silent in Africa. the pension funds of several African nations on the Union Government for Africa, that In the same vein, significant progress – South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana et is the defi nition of the steps we need to take has been made in the management of Af- al – seed money of some one billion dollars to strengthen and accelerate the process of rica’s economies. Greater awareness of the to fi nance the realisation of some sensitive integration to achieve the unity of Africa. importance of economic fundamentals has infrastructural projects, which will open The voice of a united Africa will defi nitely led to an improved macroeconomic outlook up the continent for internal trade and exenhance the weight of Africa’s intervention for many African economies. My own coun- changes, the lack of which is one of the most on contemporary, global matters. try of Ghana, for instance, has moved away serious impediments to our rapid developThere has been a remarkable improve- from the disequilibrium of seven years ago ment. So far, $600 million has been raised. ment in the quality of governance in Africa when President Kufuor took office. A rate The prospects for reaching the target look in the last decade. Democratic elections, in of infl ation of some 40 % has been reduced good. Its attainment will be a vital milestone conditions of respect for the principles of to 10 %; prohibitive rates of interest of 50 % in Africa’s search for prosperity and progress, democratic accountability, human rights have now come down to some 17 to 18 %; a progress which will enable her to make her and the rule of law, are now the norm, not and a plummeting currency has given way own distinctive, independent contribution the exception, in Africa. The process of dem- to the longest period in our history of ex- to the growth of world civilisation. ocratic consolidation is currently so strong change rate stability for our currency. Acthat the Africa of yesterday, the Africa of cordingly, Ghana’s GDP growth rates have I thank you for your attention. “ ” July / August 2007 julyaugustendfassung.indd 19 19 27.06.2007 17:47:12 POLITICS AND DIPLOMACY Summit Falls Short on Aid By Julio Godoy The Group of Eight industrialised countries (G8) agreed to allocate 60 billion dollars in new aid to Africa in “the coming years”, to beef up the fi ght against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, and to improve primary education across the continent. But the summit of the heads of government of the G8 (Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and United States) failed to satisfy its own commitment, made at the 2005 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, of doubling aid to Africa by 2010. The group also ended the three day meet at this Baltic seaside resort without a compromise on establishing a binding code of conduct for hedge funds, which, with their highly risky speculative operations, experts say, tend to destabilise international fi nancial markets, undermine growth in the real economy, and have the potential to provoke a major crisis among banks and other private fi nancial institutions. In a joint declaration on Africa released on the last day of the summit, the G8 countries promised to “scale up their efforts to contributing towards the goal of universal access to comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, treatment and care and support by 2010 for all.” The statement says the aim is “developing and strengthening health systems so that health care, especially primary health care, can be provided on a sustainable and equitable basis in order to reduce illness and mortality, with particular attention paid to the needs of those most vulnerable to infection, including adolescent girls, women and children.” In order to do so, the G8 promises to “continue . . . efforts towards these goals to provide at least a projected 60 billion U.S. dollars over the coming years, and invite other donors to contribute as well. These contributions will supplement efforts by African governments.” Half of the money will be allocated by the U.S. government, and the other half by the group’s other seven countries. Germany is to increase its contribution to the fund by four 20 julyaugustendfassung.indd 20 billion euros (5.4 billion dollars) by 2015, Development Aid Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said. Future German contributions will be equivalent to 500 million euros a year, up from 400 million euros this year and 300 million euros in 2006. Additionally to the funding to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, the G8 leaders confi rmed an extra 500 million dollars in 2007, as part of the “Education for All” project for sustainable development in Africa. G8 leaders praised the agreement as “immense progress.” Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair told reporters that the G8 has “recommitted (itself ) to all the commitments . . . made a couple of years ago at Gleneagles. The important thing is we have set out how we are going to do them.” “Both of us (the G8 and the African leaders) know that we have got a long way to go and a lot to do but the truth is there’s been immense progress made and probably one really important indication of that is that Japan has said that for next year’s G8, Africa is going to be right at the centre of the agenda and that’s got to be good news,” he added. But the new aid package falls short of the promise made at the G8’s 2005 summit in Gleneagles to double official direct assistance for Africa by the year 2010. The G8 promised there to increase aid for all developing countries by around 50 billion dollars a year by 2010, which would mean spending at least 25 billion dollars a year in Africa starting in 2005. Minister Wieczorek-Zeul said, “Germany is going to fulfi l its promise; let’s see how the others act.” In addition, the group could not agree on a common process for allocating the aid. The United States insisted on maintaining its bilateral programmes with African states for the bulk of its aid. But Wieczorek-Zeul said that a common process would be developed, “to avoid duplications.” The G8 summit also concluded without an agreement on establishing binding regulations for hedge funds, a particular disappointment for Germany’s Minister of Fi- nance Peter Steinbruck, who had advanced the idea of adopting a “code of conduct” for such speculative investors. The more so, since criticism of hedge funds has become so widely accepted. In an open letter, published just ahead of the G8 summit, a group of Socialist members of the European Parliament, together with a U.S. congressman, had called for more transparency and accountability of hedge funds to international fi nancial markets, a strengthening of workers’ rights and the establishment of an international task force to draw up recommendations for regulatory action on speculative investments. The group of European Parliament members, led by former Danish prime minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Democratic U.S. Congressman Barney Frank, warned of the risks that private equity and hedge funds pose to “the real economy”, such as endangering long-term growth and job creation. At a press conference in Brussels, Rasmussen pointed out that the top 20 private equity fi rms employ around four million workers and that their ownership of companies made them the “biggest employer in the world”. “The problem,” he argued, “is that they do not regard themselves as employers.” He added that these funds were often only motivated by short-term profit maximisation, with “no respect for jobs, workers or long-term investment”. Even hedge fund managers are beginning to admit that the present state of deregulation and lack of taxation upon the funds’ transactions is unacceptable. In an article in the London Financial Times, Nicolas Ferguson, chairman of investment group SVG, revealed that he and his peers paid “less tax than a cleaning lady.” In a joint declaration, the G8 simply said, “the assessment of potential systemic and operational risks associated with these activities has become more complex and challenging. Given the strong growth of the hedge fund industry and the increasing complexity of the instruments they trade, we reaffi rm the need to be vigilant.” Inter Press Service (Johannesburg) July / August 2007 27.06.2007 17:47:12 HEALTH Four New Malaria Drugs Invented After a seven-year search for the best drug that can cure malaria, the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), a non-profit making organisation has fi nally developed four new highly eff ective anti malarial drugs. The NGO with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland is dedicated to reducing the burden of malaria in disease-endemic countries by discovering, developing and delivering new affordable antimalarials through effective public-private partnerships. MMV’s Vice President Public Aff airs Anna Wang told journalists in Kampala recently that the four drugs are in the pipeline and would be ready within the next two years. “Clinical trials started three years ago and we are now in the last stage of developing the new and affordable drugs to ensure universal access. Almost half of people who suffer from malaria don’t have access to drugs because they are expensive,” Ms. Wang said. She said by mid next year, one of the Last year alone, the organisation injected drugs, pediatric coartem, a formulation for children would be ready. Children under about $ 50 million in the development of the five years and women are vulnerable to ma- drugs. Donors mainly fund its activities. The new treatment could be an important devellaria because of their low immunity levels. Ms. Wang said the other three drugs are opment in the fight against malaria, which Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy is escalating mainly due to multi-drug rewith different formulations which include, sistance including the most frequently used Pyramax, DHA-PIQ (Dihydroartemisinin/ and affordable treatments for malaria, such Piperaquine), and LapDap combined with as chloroquine. The available Artemisinin-based Comartesunate (CDA). According to Ms. Wang, a patient is sup- bination therapy (ACTs) are relatively exposed to swallow one tablet for three days pensive, currently costing approximately and afterwards he or she will be relieved of US$ 1.20–3.50 (Shs 8,000) per adult course. the disease. Globally, malaria kills between one and The drugs will be supplied in endemic countries including Uganda. Th is will be two million people annually. According to Unicef, malaria infects done in collaboration with the ministries of health, researchers and other stakeholders 350 to 500 million people each year, kills a child somewhere in the world every 30 both in private and public sectors. MMV’s goal will register at least four seconds, accounts for about one in five of new antimalarials before 2010 and main- all childhood deaths, and is most prevalent tain a sustainable pipeline of antimalarials in Africa. to meet the needs of over 3.2 billion people at risk from this deadly disease. The Monitor (Kampala) New Vaccine Could End Meningitis Misery A new meningitis vaccine has proven effec- agers, and young adults will be saved by im- health arsenal, this vaccine will make a real tive in West African children, trumping munization and that widespread suffering, difference in Africa,” said F. Marc LaForce, any other vaccine currently on the market sickness and socioeconomic disruption can MVP director. “The vaccine will allow elimination of the meningococcal in the region and providing hope that the be avoided,” said Dr. Marepidemics that have affl icted epidemic will eventually be eliminated, a garet Chan, WHO Directorthe continent for more than United Nations-backed partnership has General. 100 years.” Meningitis – one of the announced. The trial was conducted The preliminary results of the success- most dreaded infectious in 12 to 23-month-olds in ful trial of the vaccine – expected initially diseases worldwide – occurs Mali and Gambia, and reto sell for 40 cents a dose – were released when the thin lining that sursults showed that the vaccine by the Meningitis Vaccine Project (MVP), rounds the brain and spinal is safe and produces antibody a UN World Health Organization (WHO) cord becomes infected. Even levels nearly 20 times higher and United States-based nonprofit PATH with antibiotic treatment, at than those obtained with the least 10 per cent of patients partnership. polysaccharide vaccine which The 21 affected sub-Saharan African die and up to 20 per cent are Dr. Margaret Chan is being sold on the market, countries, collectively known as the ‘men- left with permanent probingitis belt’, could witness the slashing of lems including mental retardation, deafness, which means the protection the new vaccine the epidemic’s incidence due to the vaccine, epilepsy and necrosis which could lead to provides can last for several years. The next phase of trials will take place in limb amputation. according to the results. The partnership’s data shows how the vac- Mali, Gambia and at least one other country Last year over 41,500 cases were reported, while between 1 January and 6 May of this cine could block serogroup A meningococ- in the region, and the vaccine will be tested year, an additional almost 48,000 cases have cus, which could lead to the entire popula- in 2 to 29-year-olds, which is the population been reported, raising concerns of a new epi- tion, including those who are not vaccinated, that will be mostly targeted by mass vaccinato be protected as well in a phenomenon tion campaigns. demic wave in the region. “Th is important study brings real hope known as ‘herd immunity.’ “When it becomes part of the public that the lives of thousands of children, teenUN News Service (New York) July / August 2007 julyaugustendfassung.indd 21 21 27.06.2007 17:47:13 BIZ AND ECONOMY Swiss Invest Forum 2007 Investing and Producing in Africa By Johnson Oduwaiye ZURICH: Dr. George Malcotsis has said Africa and Europe have all it takes to work together in order to improve each other’s economy. The Managing Director of Swiss Organisation For Facilitating Investments (SOFI) said this while presenting his welcome address at Swiss Invest Forum 2007 in Zurich on June 19. “Africa and Middle East have outstanding natural resources and workforces. Switzerland/Europe have advanced technologies and excess capital for investment, so why not work together”, he said. The subject of the Forum, “Investing and Producing in Africa and Middle East, adding value to local natural resources”. Th is is very relevant to the current yearnings of Africans who are mapping out new enabling strategies for the development of their continent. One of such strategies relates to the new form of partnership the continent wants to enter into with Europe. One that will recognise her as a producer of goods and not a mere provider of raw materials to Europe her major trading and economic partner. Such partnership is necessary in order to get rid of the poverty that is plaguing the continent, commented an African participant. Dr. Malcotsis said the focus of the conference among others is to provide op- portunities for participants to build new business partnerships, and also to provide information about the new opportunities and incentives for direct investment in the regions and sectors that are not well known to Swiss business community. He expressed some of the benefits that could be derived from direct investment in production of goods in the country where the natural resources are available. The benefits include value added, such as creation of employment opportunities, enhancement of GDP, Dr. Malcotsis transfer of technical know-how, and for the European investors, a higher profit. Sir Malcolm Rifkind, former British Foreign Minister in his keynote address said, the world, especially Europe could not leave Africa alone in its struggle to consolidate her economic and political sectors. “Europe has historic, geopolitical and geographic reasons for giving greater priority to Africa, and for seeking to assist it in the realisation of its aspiration,” he said. He then stated fi ve reasons why Africa matters to Europe, “starting with an ethical and humanitarian reason” which relates to health problem and access to cheap drugs. Another reason is that a stable and growing Africa will provide a market of several hundred million people to which the rest of the world can sell its goods and services, adding that the continent has been described as ‘the last great emerging market’. Ms. Higashi Mr. Seghezzi Sir Rifkind 22 julyaugustendfassung.indd 22 July / August 2007 27.06.2007 17:47:14 BIZ AND ECONOMY Speaking about the injustice of globalisation, Sir Rifkind said the subsidies the West gives to their agricultural sectors make it impossible for Africa to trade and export her agriculture products. He added, in 2002 the amount the developed world spent on subsidising its own agriculture was equivalent to the income of all the people in sub-Saharan Africa together. He pointed out that the problem of failed states as seen in Congo, Somalia, Rwanda and Liberia, and the assumption that there was nothing the rest of the world could do about it was a serious mistake. “Failed states”, he said, “are now seen as a serious threat to the stability, peace and progress of the whole world. If Europe wants to deter migration from Africa it must help create the conditions of stability and prosperity in that continent.” Equally, he asked Europe and the world at large to recognise the challenges facing Africa, and to be part of the solution saying her successes and failures would have a serious impact on the rest of the world. A stable and growing Africa would be an asset to Europe and the world, but an unstable, violent, bankrupt Africa would be a dangerous disaster to all. The 2-day forum, moderated by Mr. Thomas Seghezzi, Marketing Manager Embassy of South Africa Berne, featured over 10 speakers who are experts in various aspects of business, investment and regional economy. Among them was Ms. Mariko Higashi, IFC Manager for Middle East and North Africa. In her presentation l–r: M. Lamsfuss, CEO of IMC, Hon. Kagwe with the guidebook and Mrs. L. Mastropasqua of IMC on Regional Economy, she said North African economies have been enjoying unprecedented growth in the past three years. The growths, 3 – 7 per cent, vary from country to country. And that there has been no major economic crisis, and infl ation was at manageable level, creating conducive atmosphere for investment. She, however, said unemployment was serious in the region, and also that access to fi nance and tax rates are top constraints in many of the regional countries. Over 20 countries presented papers on the investment opportunities in their countries, among them from Africa are: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Cameroon, Angola, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Tanzania/Zanzibar. The Kenya’s Minister of Information and Communications, Hon. Mutahi Kagwe who also attended the conference launched Corporate Kenya, a guidebook on Business, Trade and Investment in Kenya published by IMC GmbH of Switzerland. Hon. Kagwe described his country as “key center of stability and progress in Africa.” He said the continent was better than how it was being portrayed by media, adding that the potential in Africa “is huge, and the continent is changing rapidly for better.” He invited investors to take advantage of investment opportunities and incentives in the continent to come and invest there, “especially in Kenya which is African Lion.” Mr. Grabik, SOFI Director, left, presenting a gift to Ghana’s Deputy Minister Kwado Affram Asiedu at the end of the Forum July / August 2007 julyaugustendfassung.indd 23 23 27.06.2007 17:47:17 INTERVIEW Swiss Support in Agriculture and Training Senegal’s Priority in Bilateral Relations By Johnson Oduwaiye Her Excellency Safi atou Ndiaye Diop presented her letter of credence to the Swiss Authority on 19 October 2006 as Senegalese Ambassador to Switzerland. She was Senegal representative at UNESCO office, Paris before the posting. In an interview granted Africa Link she spoke about her country’s expectation in the bilateral relations with Switzerland, and some of the developments President Wade brought to her country. On the highly criticized refugee center agreement with Switzerland in which Swiss government wanted to keep the African asylum seekers in Senegal pending the result of their applications for asylum, she simply said: “The asylum center in question has never been realized in Senegal.” with federal authorities and potential private partners. Before the re-opening of the embassy, how would you describe the bilateral relations between the two countries? The relations between the two countries have always been strong, as they are based on cooperation accords in the areas of exchanges and training. Are there Senegalese asylum seekers in the country? Most of the asylum seekers claiming Senegalese nationality actually come from neighbouring countries. Some years ago Switzerland entered into an agreement with your country to have a refugee camp in Senegal where African asylum seekers would be sent until deci- Excerpt from the interview: Your country re-opened her embassy in Switzerland last year, why was it closed in the first place, and what led to its re-opening? The temporary closure of our embassy in Switzerland had been decided along with that of many other embassies of Senegal across the world. At the time, the main reason was that Senegal was undergoing a program of structural adjustment, which aimed to bring public expenses under control through budgetary savings, among other measures. The re-opening happened naturally once the conditions for it had been fulfi lled. Within this short time of your presence here, could you point to positive developments between the two countries that have taken place, if any? In fact, our country has never been absent from Switzerland to the extent that our ambassador in France continued to represent Senegal. But the re-opening off ers a framework that is more conducive to the reinforcement and development of bilateral relations, which is our main task at the moment. In this regard, we have made contacts 24 julyaugustendfassung.indd 24 H. E. Safiatou Ndiaye Diop What is your country’s priority in its bilateral relations with Switzerland? Our priority is in the areas of development of agriculture, and training. With regard to agriculture, the “Reva Plan” is a governmental project, which aims to settle young people on lands, and is already in its implementation phase. sions were made on their applications. Some alleged that the Swiss Government effectively paid your country handsomely for this controversial agreement affecting your African brothers and sisters. What would you say to the allegation? The asylum center in question has never been realized in Senegal. As at last year there are 260 Swiss residents in Senegal, do you have a rough idea of how many Senegalese are living in Switzerland? The number of Senegalese living in Switzerland is close to 1000. The recent election in Senegal was relatively peaceful and fair according to observers’ reports. How was your country able to achieve this success? Senegal having experienced a great many elections since its independence, its July / August 2007 27.06.2007 17:47:20 CELEBRATION people is quite used to the electoral process. We have to admit that the Senegalese people have always been respectful of ballot results, but it is also worth acknowledging that its leaders have also committed themselves to organizing fair and transparent elections. What is your comment on the allegation that President Wade used the power of incumbency to be re-elected although he had failed to fulfi l the most important promises he had made, like creating job opportunities, and fighting corruption? Th is is a false accusation. President Wade having been elected for the fi rst time while he was in the opposition, one cannot say that his re-election is due to the use of public money whatsoever. Could you tell our readers some of the achievements of the President Wade administration? Although much remains to be done, significant progress is being made in many sectors of the country since President Wade came to power. Today the country devotes 40% of its budget to education with compulsory school attendance between the ages of 6 and 16. In this sector, there is a notable increase (about 250) in the number of middle and high schools. The number of girls attending school has increased from 63% in 2000 to 80.6% in 2005. In the agricultural sector, the Reva Plan (return to the cultivation of land) aims to create a breakthrough in specialized farming and stimulate agribusiness. In this regard the state has put all necessary apparatus into action to ensuring the success of the plan. Eventually, the expected success of this plan would trigger a decline in the importation of various farm produce. Other actions being taken by the government include an allocation of 13 billion CFA (about CHF 32 million) fund for young people to engage in self-employed projects; and 10% budgetary allocation to the health sector. In order to develop the infrastructures, the Autonomous Agency of Public Works has embarked on the construction of 3,000 km of roads out of which 1,500 have already been completed. Also a new international airport and the toll highway are already under construction. July / August 2007 julyaugustendfassung.indd 25 Senegal National Day Celebration All roads led to Intercontinental Hotel, Geneva on May 25 where a reception was held to celebrate Senegal National Day. The reception organised by Senegal’s Permanent Mission to the UNO was well attended by people from all walks of life. In attendance to welcome the guests was the new Senegal’s Ambassador / Permanent Representative to the UNO Mussa Bocar and his wife. Also there to add pep to the occasion were a number of Senegalese women in their native attires of different fabric, colour and cut. They were foods for the eyes. H. E. Safi atou Diop was there too. Below are some shots taken by our cameraman at the occasion. H. E. Mussa Bocar, and his wife welcoming a guest to the reception A shot with colleague diplomat l: H. E. Diop with the couple l–r: Dr. Sigam, H. E. Masri, H. E. Ba of Islamic Conference to the UNO and Mr. Oduwaiye Dr. C. Rodrigues, Mr. B. Silva, Chargé d’Affaires Mission of Cap Verd and his wife A cross section of guests A group of women in Senegalese attire A toast to the occasion by Micheline 25 27.06.2007 17:47:23 RELIGION Lighthouse Church Int. 2007 Women Convention Daughter You Can Make It By Anthony Bello “It's a man’s world", sings James Brown, acknowledging the cultural and worldly belief, which has shaped how women are valued by their counterparts, the men and how they value themselves and see their role in the world. Th is belief has reduced the roles of women to wives, mothers, housekeeper and other stereotyped roles, but at the same time sparked the fight for equality with man. However this is not God’s original purpose for woman. God has made women equal with men, but yet different with the ability to give birth to life. A helper to her worldwide. Th is year the annual ‘Daughter You Can Make It’ (DYCMI) convention was held on Friday, 18th – Sunday 20th May at the Lighthouse Chapel international church premises in Wallisellen, Zurich, whose residence Pastor is Rev. Jimmy Blavo. The theme of this year’s convention was “You see me I see you”. In her message to the mammoth congregation, Lady Pastor Adelaide Heward-Mills, encouraged women to realise that they all have shortcomings, and any shortcoming they see in another person, they also see in A cross section of the congregation husband, but yet with the ability to lead as a woman in ministry and a professional. The world has misinterpreted the God’s purpose and the design of woman, which has led to the devaluation of woman and cause them not to function to their full potential as God intended. Th is is one of the callings of Lady Pastor Adelaide Heward-Mills to minister to women and encourage them to fulfi l God’s purpose for their lives and have a strong personal relationship with God. Th is call has resulted in her being responsible for a variety of tailor-made ministries to women. These include: Women With Direction International; a ministry for women with vision, Called-By-His-Side; a ministry for Pastors’ wives, Women of Great Price; a ministry for Lady Pastors, Women in Ministry; a ministry for women who work full-time for God; hostess and speaker of the ‘Daughter You Can Make It’ Conventions organized annually in L.C.I. churches 26 julyaugustendfassung.indd 26 themselves. Hence, they should not judge others; rather they should accept one another in spite of their shortcomings. She enjoined them to be aware of their role both in the family and in God’s work, adding, “We all have a calling, and we should be ready to recognise it and play the role God called us to play wholeheartedly.” The convention was an eye opener for many Pastor Adelaide Heward-Mills women, who now realise that they have a purpose in God’s plan, and are ready to play their part accordingly. Those, who attended the convention, came from the various branches of Lighthouse Chapel International in Germany, Italy, Zimbabwe and different parts of Switzerland such as St. Gallen, Lausanne, Winterthur, Geneva, Neuchatel, and from different denominations across the country. It was a spiritually awakening convention. Lady Pastor Adelaide Heward-Mills is a mother of four children, the wife of the Presiding Bishop and founder of Lighthouse Chapel international and a lawyer by profession. She reflects on her simultaneous roles of a pastor’s wife, a mother, a woman in ministry and a professional, as being made possible only by the Grace of God. Her ministry emphasis is therefore on a strong personal relationship with God. Africa Link brings comments from some participants at the convention in the next issue. Simon Hansli and Roman Steudler, 4th and 5th from left, with their parents and siblings after undergoing church confirmation ceremony on June 10. July / August 2007 27.06.2007 17:47:38 ECHOES Rwanda $1 Million for Youth President Paul Kagame is to provide seed money worth Rwf 600 million (US$1.09 million) to boost the youth cooperative bank, COOJAD according to director general of youth cooperative bank for self employment and development (COOJAD) Mr. Cyprien Kananura, reported Business Week. “Th is money will help young people access loans without security. It will also help the bank to give out loans and continue its operations as it pursues a loan recovery process,” Mr. Kananura said. The money is meant to promote youth self employment and development in form of a youth fund through COOJAD. East African Business Week (Kampala) Tanzania Govt to Spend $8 Million on Compensation for Road Project Tanzania has allocated Tsh10 billion ($8 million) for the expansion of the Morogoro road under the World Bank-funded Dar Rapid Transit Project (Dart project). The money will be used to compensate land owners affected by the project especially along the Morogoro road, Minister for Regional Administration and Local Government Mizengo Pinda said. Th is is in accordance with the condition given by the World Bank. Mr. Pinda said the fi rst phase of the project will kick off this year, with the remaining five phases expected to be completed in the next six years. The fi rst phase will cost Tsh 80 billion ($64 million) and will link Kilwa, Morogoro, Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Sam Nujoma roads. East African (Nairobi) Mauritania Journalist Released On Bail, Three Others Interrogated Abdel Fettah Ould Abeidna, managing editor of “Al-Aqsa”, a daily Arabic-language newspaper, was granted bail on 28 May 2007 by a Nouakchott court after spending four days in prison for allegedly defaming a businessman, Mohamed Ould Bouammatou, reported the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA). July / August 2007 julyaugustendfassung.indd 27 Bouammatou brought defamation charges against the journalist following a 16 May article in “Al-Aqsa” that linked him to a recent drug scandal. Abeidna was arrested and subsequently detained on 24 May under a court order. Meanwhile, three other newspaper journalists have been interrogated by the police in Nouakchott in a defamation case fi led by Ch’bih Ould Cheikh Malainnie, chairman of the opposition Popular Front political party. The newspapers had also linked the party’s chairman to the scandal. Media Foundation for West Africa (Accra) Niger Airborne Survey of Uranium Permits Commences North Atlantic Resources Ltd. has commenced an airborne survey of its three uranium exploration permits in the Republic of Niger. The projects are comprised of a 1,000 square kilometer block of mineral rights in the Assaouas area and a 2,000 square kilometer block of mineral rights in the Abelajouad area, 80 kilometers northwest of the Assaouas block, for a total of approximately 3,000 square kilometers of mineral rights. Niger is the world’s 4th largest uranium producer with annual production of approximately 3,500 tonnes of U3O8. Business in Africa (Johannesburg) Eritrea Potable Water Supply Project in Godeiti Inaugurated A potable water supply projects built at a cost of 1 million Nakfa has been inaugurated in Godeiti, Dekemhare sub-zone of the Southern region. The project sponsored by development partners includes a water tanker with a capacity of holding 40,000 liters and four distribution centers. Shabait.com Chad Government Lifts Prior Censorship for Privately-Owned Print Media On 30 May 2007, Reporters Without Borders was told by the Chadian government that the country’s newspapers could again be published without having to obtain prior approval for each issue from a censorship committee that was set up under a state of emergency in November 2006. “Th is is a great relief,” the press freedom organisation said. “The Chadian government has fi nally realised that all censorship did was to humiliate and undermine the press, which was unfairly blamed for many problems.” The censorship was proclaimed on 13 November 2006 after a series of deadly clashes between Arab and non-Arab communities in the east of the country. Reporters sans Frontières (Paris) Botswana Nigerian Movies Take Country By Storm The Nigerian movie industry or Nollywood as it is commonly known, is taking Botswana by storm. Nollywood is regarded as the third largest movie industry in the world after Hollywood (United States) and Bollywood (India). The Nigerian fi lms, which are packaged in DVDs, have found a good market in Botswana. Despite the poorly produced quality of the movies mostly sold by Chinese traders sell like hot cake. Although it is clear that the DVDs are pirated, people still go for them. The fi lms portray Nigerian social life, about juju, love life and, of course, the Naira (the Nigerian currency). The other side of Nigerian life or rather culture that is portrayed in fi lms is bribery. The police officers easily accept any fee to release suspects. Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone) Mozambique Govt considers legalising abortion to stem maternal death Mozambique government is considering legalising abortion because of a high rate of maternal deaths due to illegal, unsafe abortions. The country may eventually become one of the few Africa countries where abortion is available on demand. The push for the new legislation, officially introduced earlier this year, has come from the Mozambican ministry of health, arguing that unsafe abortion is the third leading cause of death among pregnant women in the country. Mozambique has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world. Botched abortions accounted for an estimated 11 percent of maternal fatalities. IRIN 27 27.06.2007 17:47:41 ENTERTAINMENT Simphiwe Dana: Behold a Star is Born! By Mola Ajisafe One could hardly believe it that Simphiwe Dana, an IT professional, started her professional music career just three years ago. She is now the toast of the music industry and music lovers of her native South Africa where she is regarded as heir apparent to the crown of Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba. She has won SA Music Award, equivalent of Grammy Award, two times consecutively. Last year, the South African Embassy invited her to perform during the country’s Freedom Day anniversary concert in Berne. There and then, many saw in her a rising music star. My effort to have a chat with her after the concert could not materialise because of a long queue of people wanting to meet and speak with her. She came back to Switzerland this year, courtesy of Afro-Pfingsten festival in Winterthur which created an opportunity for me not only to watch her show but also to have a brief interview with her. When I got to the venue of interview, there were already eight reporters waiting their turn. She said of her music, “they classified it in South Africa as African-Soul Jazz but for me it is simply soul music rendered from an African perspective.” Speaking of Soul reminded me of James Brown, the Godfather of Soul and the way he danced on the stage. His gyration combined with fantastic footwork was highly entertaining and admired by his fans. He danced with vigour like someone possessed. She, unlike him, moves her body delicately and majestically in harmony with the rhythm of the music. She is sometimes so engulfed in the music that she hardly opens her eyes while dancing or singing. Her sweet Simphiwe, extreme right with her group performing and captivating voice penetrates right into one’s soul and transforms one into another planet. Simphiwe, the daughter of a priest and a devout Christian mother described herself as a “humanist”; one who cares about people and what affects them. Commenting on the effect of apartheid on her life, she said, “it made people lose their self-esteem, myself included. It affected my identity, what I was and was not.” However she feels no animosity towards the perpetrators of apartheid in spite of some of them not being apologetic. “I do not hate them because hatred will destroy me.” She added that she was grateful to some of them who saw the error of their actions and have tried to make amends by “helping us back on our feet.” After her concert in Winterthur, which was a sellout, she left for London for another concert, and she is expected back in Switzerland in July to perform at Locarno fi lm festival. “Apartheid made people lose their self-esteem, myself included. It affected my identity, what I was and was not.” 28 julyaugustendfassung.indd 28 Simphiwe admiring a copy of Africa Link July / August 2007 27.06.2007 17:47:41 ENTERTAINMENT Atongo Zimba Riding High with Afro-Funky Jazz Atongo Zimba a Ghanaian singer based in London took Afro-Pfi ngsten festival by storm with his Afro-funky Jazz sound. Hundreds trooped into the concert hall of the festival in Winterthur to watch him playing sounds that remind one of Afrobeat a la Fela Anikulapo-Kuti though with an additional local instruments to give it originality. Atongo is not new to Switzerland. He was here in 1996 from Ghana to perform at the festival, the same that brought him this year. He has since relocated to London, with his band based in Holland where his manager lives. He fondly remembered his visit in 1996 when he had to extend his 15 days j30 Atongo in action stay to 32 because of more demands for him to perform in different places across the country. Though history did not repeat itself this time around he was impressed by the turnout at his concert which shows his music is being appreciated. The band chorus girls at Winterthur show Atongo in action July / August 2007 julyaugustendfassung.indd 29 29 27.06.2007 17:47:45 SPORTS Uganda Fufa, MTN Sign Shs 900m Deal MTN and the Federation of Uganda Football Association (Fufa) sealed a 3-year deal in which the telecommunication company was recognised as the official sponsor of the National team, Cranes. The deal worths Shs 900m, was signed recently by MTN’s Chief Commercial Officer Erik Van Veen and Fufa President Lawrence Mulindwa on behalf of their respective entities. Van Veen said, “We have had discussions with Fufa for the last six months and because of its transparency and its long term vision for the sport, we have reached this conclusion.” “Th is is a beautiful marriage,” Fufa head of legal department Fred Muwema said of the deal that also includes qualification bonuses for the MTN Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana 2008 ($ 75,000) and World Cup 2010 in South Africa ($ 150,000). “I hope this is a marriage for life not only three years,” Fufa president Lawrence Mulindwa commented. “We shall be transparent and promise to account for all funds.” The Monitor (Kampala) Arusha ADFA Gets New Leaders Arusha District Football Association has elected new office bearers. The new leaders are: Hussein Lembrit (chairman), Vice chairman Dunia Dionis, Robert Munisi secretary general, assistant secretary general – Seif Nassoro, and Sarubare J. Lendisa treasury. Executive committee members are: Elisha Sironga, Abdul Razak Kondo and David Nyambele. The representative to the regional committee is Omar Walii Ally. The newly elected officers will be in office for a period of three years, they promised to identify talents among the youth and develop them. Arusha Times (Arusha) Zimbabwe FIFA to Continue Assisting ZIFA World soccer governing body FIFA have renewed their interest in assisting ZIFA to complete work at their envisaged centre of 30 julyaugustendfassung.indd 30 excellence – the ZIFA Village – which is still to become fully functional six years after it was set up. Successive ZIFA executives have somehow failed to ensure the completion of the Village in Mt Hampden, which is expected to house a national academy as well as help cut costs for the association by accommodating the various national teams whenever they go into camp. morning after being crowned World Cricket League champions. It was double joy when the cricketers who had been following the game via sms learnt that the football stars – Cranes – had gotten the better of their highly rated Nigerian counterparts with a 2-1 triumph. Team manager William Kibuuka-Musoke, also Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) chairman, said that it was a great result for the team and a reward for “total sacrifice.” Uganda and runners up Argentina join hosts Namibia, Oman, Denmark and UAE in Windhoek in the Division II in November later this year and have a chance of playing in the 2011 World Cup. The Monitor (Kampala) Egypt Fattah, the Finest Referee in Africa Josef Blatter, FIFA President Rushwaya, speaking from Zurich, said the ZIFA delegation had seized the opportunity of the 57th FIFA Congress in Zurich to also table their bid for continued support from the international body to help them complete work at the village. ZIFA have been using part of the US$ 250,000 annual grant they get from FIFA through the world body’s fi nancial assistance programme to renovate the village as well as build the capacities for junior football, the women’s game, referees, coaches and sports medicine. The Herald (Harare) Uganda Team crowned World Cricket League champions From two different time zones, the cricket team and Cranes gave several sports loving Ugandans across the globe a sense of belonging when they achieved the unlikely in contrasting circumstances. In Australia, the cricketers ignited fi re and burned down Darwin in typical Ugandan party style till the wee hours of the The Egyptian referee who handled the critical Nations Cup qualifier between Uganda and Nigeria last month is the fi nest Africa has to offer. “He’s the best official without a doubt. FIFA ranks him highly so is CAF. His credentials are truly impeccable,” FIFA referee, Roberto Bukenya commented. Bukenya’s comments are in harmony with those of Egypt-based Ugandan striker Geoffrey Massa who described Essam Abdul-Fattah as “the best in Africa” pre-match. The Egyptian Air Force pilot passed the ‘courage test’ the match posed by not only awarding two quick penalties against Nigeria’s star-studded outfit but also booking African football icon, Kanu Nwankwo when he dared question the fi rst spot-kick. Abdul-Fattah was the only Arab referee, and one of two Africans, in the 2006 World Cup. However, Fifa commended the Egyptian for his temperament and good-decision-making after reviewing the tapes and concluding that Nakamura had been shoved instead. 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