Back Issues

Protests against denial of citizenship for Jenerali Ulimwengu

Firoze Manji, Fahamu - learning for change

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/features/6046

Jenerali Ulimwengu, journalist, activist, and an example of committed citizenship, has been rendered stateless by the Tanzanian Government in a move that is clearly motivated as a means of silencing an individual who has been brave enough to expose corruption and scandals of leading individuals in the government.

Jenerali has been a prominent member of Tanzanian civil society, having served in various Governmental positions including being a member of parliament. Since graduating, he has been an active member of the ruling party TANU, and later CCM (Chama cha Mapinduzi) of which he was a member of its National Executive Committee from 1992 to 1997. He was a founder of the first independent Kiswahili independent weekly ‘Rai’, one of the most popular radical magazines in the country. All those who know him speak of his courage in expressing critical, yet constructive, stances against those who sought to oppress the disadvantaged and marginalised – not just of Tanzania, but worldwide.

“There can be little doubt that Jenerali Ulimwengu has been denied citizenship because of his Pan-Africanist, patriotic and progressive politics above factionalism and unsuscrupulous partisanship; because of his unwavering struggle for the rights and dignity of the dispossessed,” says the petition against this outrage. The Tanzanian government has refused to give reasons for the decision to deny him citizenship.

Writing from New York, Mahmood Mamdani writes: “What, I have often wondered since I left Dar-es-Salaam in 1979, made Tanzania so different politically from other countries in the East and Central African region? Whereas ruling circles everywhere in the region seemed keen to identify and expel one or another group as not indigenous, Tanzania resisted.

“A strong reason for this exception, I think, has been the political legacy of Mwalimu Nyerere. Mwalimu heralded a reform of the colonial state – one may say its decolonization -- by transforming its juridical and political basis. Mwalimu faced a colonial legacy of group-based legal and political identity, and thus a state structure that combined a racialized civic law and authority in towns with ethnicized customary laws and native authorities in the countryside.

“The greatness of the Nyerere era was that it transformed this legacy into a non-racial and non-ethnic law and administrative authority. With it, Mwalimu's Tanzania also transformed the nature of citizenship and rights from an attribute of groups considered indigenous to that of individuals with a residence in and a membership of the political community called Tanzania.

“This is why the denial of citizenship to Jenerali Ulimwengu goes beyond the injury being done to one individual, Jenerali, a gifted and dedicated Tanzanian, African and indeed man of the world. Its real significance is that this injury marks a turn for the worse in the political history of the country. This land that pioneered an era of freedom seems ready to fall in line with the worst of tendencies in the region, why this development should be a source of grave concern to all.

“What, I wonder, was the political and moral force of Jenerali's conduct that the powers of the day are willing to sacrifice an entire political legacy to silence it?”

We urge all readers of Pambazuka News to sign the petition (see the link below) and make their voices heard by writing to the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania directly or protest through your own government representatives (
http://www.tanzania.go.tz/index.html).

Violence and gender in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

Sokari Ekine

2002-02-21

http:// www.ndwj.kabissa.org

The discovery of oil in Nigeria’s Niger Delta in 1956 has brought nothing but increased poverty, underdevelopment and violence to the people of the region. Demands for social and environmental justice have been met on the one hand, with brutal repression and the militarisation of the region, by successive governments and on the other, hostility and disdain by the multinationals such as Shell, Chevron and Elf, whose collective operations in the Niger Delta are one of the worst environmental records in the world: Pollution of the air and drinking water; damage to forest areas; oil fires that have left people dead and maimed occur on a regular basis; damage to fish and other sea creatures; oil spillage is also a regular occurrence; dumping of oil into rivers and creeks, and for the past 40 years uninterrupted gas flaring that produces noxious gases and soot close to villages and farms. Some of these flares spew balls of fire up to 300 feet in the sky. The people of the Niger Delta now find themselves “trapped between two evils – the oil companies on the one hand and the tyrannical Nigerian government on the other”. As a result of the above the people have been left pauperised and marginalized.

Women in the Niger Delta, particularly in rural areas are the breadwinners in their households and communities. They are the farmers, fisherwomen and they are responsible for the cooking, cleaning and raising of children and as such it is often women that are most directly affected by destruction of the environment. Nevertheless despite the many hours of daily labour, women have been active at village and community level in the struggle against the multinationals and state aggression. They have paid a high price for their activism. The military and armed police have systematically gone about terrorising whole communities, assaulting and beating indiscriminately. The aim of these attacks is to damage, humiliate or destroy. In addition women are subjected to repressive cultural traditions ranging from the prevention of women in the decision making processes of their communities, to forced female genital mutilation, widowhood rites and domestic violence. Women in the Niger Delta live in fear, fear of walking, fear of trading, fear of sexual abuse, rape, beatings, fear of violence.

Women are very often, however also empowered by the very same events and experiences that seek to destroy them. This may include, becoming politically active, taking on new roles in defence of their property and maintenance of their households. This is also one way in which women can begin to at least attempt to heal the physical and psychological wounds they have suffered.

The women of the Niger Delta have a history of revolt and resistance towards the Multinationals dating back to the mid 1980s when two revolts took place. The first was the Ogharefe women's uprising which took place in the Ethiope LGA in 1984 and the second was the Ekpan women's uprising, in the Okpe LGA in 1986.

More recently there has been the EGI women's revolt which started in September 1998 and the Ijaw women who demonstrated in Port Harcourt in January 1999.

Grassroots women’s organisations have become steadily more politically active since 1999 as the violence in the Niger Delta has become more widespread. Organisations such as FOWA (Federation of Ogoni Women’s Associations) NDWJ, Egi Women’s Council, Agape is a Birthright and Warri Ladies Vanguard, have become active in the daily struggle against environmental and social injustice. Working together with local youth organisations and human and environmental rights groups, these organisations are involved in monitoring oil spills, and other environmental and human rights abuses, documentation of grievances and compensation claims, advocacy, human rights training.

It is the women together with the Youths that are taking the initiative in the Niger Delta struggling against both the multinationals, federal and state governments alliance and the 'old guard who have failed the people and would like to maintain the status quo at the peoples expense.
The discovery of oil in Nigeria’s Niger Delta in 1956 has brought nothing but increased poverty, underdevelopment and violence to the people of the region. Demands for social and environmental justice have been met on the one hand, with brutal repression and the militarisation of the region, by successive governments and on the other, hostility and disdain by the multinationals such as Shell, Chevron and Elf, whose collective operations in the Niger Delta are one of the worst environmental records in the world: Pollution of the air and drinking water; damage to forest areas; oil fires that have left people dead and maimed occur on a regular basis; damage to fish and other sea creatures; oil spillage is also a regular occurrence; dumping of oil into rivers and creeks, and for the past 40 years uninterrupted gas flaring that produces noxious gases and soot close to villages and farms. Some of these flares spew balls of fire up to 300 feet in the sky. The people of the Niger Delta now find themselves “trapped between two evils – the oil companies on the one hand and the tyrannical Nigerian government on the other”. As a result of the above the people have been left pauperised and marginalized.

Women in the Niger Delta, particularly in rural areas are the breadwinners in their households and communities. They are the farmers, fisherwomen and they are responsible for the cooking, cleaning and raising of children and as such it is often women that are most directly affected by destruction of the environment. Nevertheless despite the many hours of daily labour, women have been active at village and community level in the struggle against the multinationals and state aggression. They have paid a high price for their activism. The military and armed police have systematically gone about terrorising whole communities, assaulting and beating indiscriminately. The aim of these attacks is to damage, humiliate or destroy. In addition women are subjected to repressive cultural traditions ranging from the prevention of women in the decision making processes of their communities, to forced female genital mutilation, widowhood rites and domestic violence. Women in the Niger Delta live in fear, fear of walking, fear of trading, fear of sexual abuse, rape, beatings, fear of violence.

The specific types of violence committed against women are: Sexual violence such as rape and prostitution; physical violence such as beatings, maiming and murder; violence against property and violence in the home or by men in the community.

With regard to prostitution and rape, the latter has become a ritual amongst the occupying military and armed police forces as well as security personnel employed by the oil companies. Starting as far back as 1993 at the beginning of the Ogoni campaign, rape has become part of the campaign to destroy and undermine the communities of the Niger Delta. In many cases the rape takes place in the presence of husbands, children, siblings and other members of the community. Women are often dragged from their homes at night, they and their husbands threatened with violence if they do not comply. Women in villages, farms or fishing grounds that are located close to oil facilities are at most risk of sexual abuse, - daily harassment, prostitution and rape - by oil workers both foreign and Nigerian including security guards.

In terms of physical violence, Women are beaten, maimed and abused by the military and police. In every instance the military and police turn peaceful demonstrations and protests into carnage. For women the result is rape, beatings, amputations or worse.

In the case of violence against property, women are subject to having their farms ransacked or their produce stolen. Again these actions are not random but rather systematic acts aimed at destroying property and thereby further undermining Niger Delta communities. Market women have had their stalls and wares destroyed. Often the soldiers, security personnel or oil workers (who know security guards will come to their defence) refuse to pay for their purchases and the women face verbal abuse and possibly physical violence if they protest.

Women are also subjected to mental and emotional abuse. Violence does not actually need to take place, once it has been established as the norm. It is enough to know that violence is a possibility. Women walk in fear as they try to go about their daily work. Fear of being raped, of being beaten or maimed. In addition many husbands, fathers and sons have been killed or maimed leaving women to assume even greater responsibilities. This has meant enduring serious hardship, in finding ways and means to support their families.

This is the abuse and oppression women face in the Niger Delta from the Nigerian government forces and the multinationals. This is in addition to the farmlands, fishing waters and livelihoods destroyed through environmental damage, to say nothing of the impact on the health of women and children, such as skin conditions, bronchial problems, and miscarriages.

Women are very often empowered by the very same events and experiences that seek to destroy them. This may include, becoming politically active, taking on new roles in defence of their property and maintenance of their households. This is also one way in which women can begin to at least attempt to heal the physical and psychological wounds they have suffered.

The women of the Niger Delta have a history of revolt and resistance towards the Multinationals dating back to the mid 1980s when two revolts took place. The first was the Ogharefe women's uprising which took place in the Ethiope LGA in 1984 and the second was the Ekpan women's uprising, in the Okpe LGA in 1986.

More recently there has been the EGI women's revolt which started in September 1998 and the Ijaw women who demonstrated in Port Harcourt in January 1999. The demands of the former were and are similar to the two previous revolts. On 23rd Nov some 7,000 EGI women gathered in the streets and began marching towards ELF's gas plant site. But Elf blocked the road with the help of some 100 mobile police so the most the women could do was to sing and dance as a means of making their message heard.

Since then the women have been accused of trespassing on their own land. Local police and oil personnel have continued to harass them. The present situation is that the women have aligned themselves with the EGI youth council and the struggle continues.

The Port Harcourt demonstration was organised by the Niger Delta Women for Justice (NDWJ) The women took to the streets of Port Harcourt, to demonstrate peacefully against the raping and molesting of women and young girls as well as the beating and killing of young men in Yenagoa, Kaiama and other Ijaw villages.
The soldiers fired shots into the air and then arrested at least 34 of the women. Those arrested were stripped, flogged and verbally abused. Others sustained injuries whilst fleeing from the rampaging soldiers.

Grassroots women’s organisations have become steadily more politically active since 1999 as the violence in the Niger Delta has become more widespread. Organisations such as FOWA (Federation of Ogoni Women’s Associations) NDWJ, Egi Women’s Council, Agape is a Birthright and Warri Ladies Vanguard, have become active in the daily struggle against environmental and social injustice. Working together with local youth organisations and human and environmental rights groups, these organisations are involved in monitoring oil spills, and other environmental and human rights abuses, documentation of grievances and compensation claims, advocacy, human rights training.

It is the women together with the Youths that are taking the initiative in the Niger Delta struggling against both the multinationals, federal and state governments alliance and the 'old guard who have failed the people and would like to maintain the status quo at the peoples expense.

WHERE IS JENERALI ULIMWENGU SUPPOSED TO GO?

To the Moon?

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/features/6036

On 12th February 2002 the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania denied JENERALI ULIMWENGU citizenship. Earlier in February 2001 Ulimwengu was declared by the Government to be stateless. This came as a big shock and surprise to many in the country and outside for Jenerali Ulimwengu has been a prominent member of the civil society and has served the country in various Government positions, including being a member of parliament. Please add your support by emailing or faxing your comments to THE GUARDIAN
fax: 255-22-2129655
guardian@ipp.co.tz
'WHERE IS JENERALI ULIMWENGU
SUPPOSED TO GO - TO THE MOON?'

A PETITION BY CONCERNED PATRIOTIC INTELLECTUALS
_____________

On 12th February 2002 the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania denied JENERALI ULIMWENGU citizenship. Earlier in February 2001 Ulimwengu was declared by the Government to be stateless. This came as a big shock and surprise to many in the country and outside for Jenerali Ulimwengu has been a prominent member of the civil society and has served the country in various Government positions, including being a member of parliament.

JENERALI ULIMWENGU was born on 4th April 1948 in Ngara, Kagera Region of Tanzania. He went to school in Kamachumu, Katoke and Nyakato in Kagera and high school in Tabora from 1955 to 1968 and was a student of the then University of East Africa from 1969 to 1972. As a post-Arusha Declaration student at the premier academic and activist University, Ulimwengu was one of the activist radical students espousing progressive causes of African liberation and human emancipation. After leaving the University, he became an active member of the ruling party, then TANU (Tanganyika Afican National Union) and later CCM ('Chama cha Mapinduzi') as the following brief profile of his post-student service shows.

Daily News, Government Newspaper, from 1972 to 1974;
Mwanza Area Office, 1975;
Pan-African Youth Movement Tanzanian representative in Algiers, from 1974 to 1985;
TANU Youth League, from 1986 to 1987;
Director of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Culture and Sports, from 1987 to 1989.
District Commissioner from 1989 to 1993.
Member of National Executive Committee of the ruling party CCM, from 1992 to 1997; and,
Member of Parliament from 1990 to 1995.

In November 1993, Ulimwengu who is the Chairman of Habari Corporation, together with other committed journalists, established among the first independent weekly in Kiswahili called Rai, which immediately became very popular as the most informative, investigative, analytical and fearless news magazine in the country. In September 1995 and February 1998, their publishing venture launched a Kiswahili daily, Mtanzania and an English daily, the African respectively. Their publishing venture also owned two sports newspapers by this time. In all these, Jenerali Ulimwengu ran personal columns, which were very widely read and appreciated for their singularly patriotic and progressive positions. Ulimwengu did not pull punches in taking critical, but constructive, stances against politicians in the interest of the oppressed, the disadvantaged and the marginalized people of the country, the continent and the world.

Ulimwengu's newspapers have been leading in bringing to light some of the vices in our society including corruption and scandals within the Government. No wonder, in the process of seeking and exposing the truth and serving the best interests of his country and the continent, Ulimwengu's activities have inevitably and unintentionally treaded on powerful toes, earning the wrath of a few politicians who survive on corrupt practices and politics of nepotism.

There can be little doubt that Jenerali Ulimwengu has been denied citizenship because of his Pan-Africanist, patriotic and progressive politics above factionalism and unscrupulous partisanship; because of his unwavering struggle for the rights and dignity of the dispossessed and the marginalized in our society; because of his integrity and principled stand as an intellectual, journalist, publisher, writer and publicist.

It is very embarrassing for Tanzanians, who gave to Africa and the world a leading Pan-Africanist, a great humanist and a statesman of integrity and principles, like Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere, to see one of their own committed and dedicated sons being denied to serve his country on the devious ground of lack of citizenship, in a manner most arbitrary and unreasonable.

Jenerali Ulimwengu has not been given reasons for the denial of citizenship nor has he been furnished with the content of the objections said to have been raised against his application. It is a trite principle of natural justice and fair administration that a person who is denied of his rights - and citizenship is a fundamental human right - is entitled to know the reasons and given an opportunity to defend himself against any allegations made against him. These basic rights are found in all international human rights instruments and the Constitution of Tanzania and it is the cornerstone of Rule of Law. The present Chief Justice of Tanzania, Mr. Barnabas Samatta, observed in one of his judgements that:

In my considered opinion, it is a matter beyond rational controversy that …. fundamental requirement of fair play requires that parties should know at the end of the day why a particular decision has been taken. I think it is intolerable in a democratic society that the law should allow a decision-maker to whom an appeal or reference is made to make his decision without giving reasons why he has reached that decision. [Tanzania Air Services Limited v. Minister of Labour, in 1996 Tanzania Law Reports at page 223].

ALL PEOPLE ARE EQUAL AND AFRICA IS ONE

The TANU/CCM creed says: '"All Men Are Equal and Africa Is One". Mwalimu Nyerere indefatigably put this principle into practice. In the 1970s, he even declared that it is a shame to have refugees from within the continent and gave them citizenship for which the country was honoured with an award from the UNHCR. In 1972 when addressing the Chang'ombe Teachers College, Mwalimu said these unforgettable words in relation to General Idi Amin's expulsion of Ugandan Asians:

What does it mean, to say to a large group of people 'From today - or tomorrow, or next week - you citizens are no longer citizens'? It means that they are people in the world who have no state, nor country; no place where they have a right to live.
Physically what do you do with such people? If you give them thirty days to get out - or any other period - what do you do when it is expired? Where are they supposed to go - to the moon? Suppose we in Tanzania were to decide to get rid of some citizens, what do we do? We herd them to the border with Kenya, and Kenya says, ‘No, they are not our citizens’. Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Zaire, Burundi and Rwanda all say this—what do we do? Do we kill them? That is what Hitler did in Europe in the 1930s and 1940…. Sometimes we in Africa adopt the attitude that we have suffered so long it will be good for other people to suffer and see what it is like. But it is necessary to remember that we are talking about people. The first statement of the TANU Creed says, ‘All men are equal, and Africa is one’. And the very first part is that all human beings are equal.

'Where is Jenerali Ulimwengu supposed to go - to the moon?' Have we forgotten the words of Mwalimu Nyerere so soon?

Let us not be complacent. Today it is Jenerali Ulimwengu, tomorrow it could be his clan, neighbours, political associates, etc. History has a way of avenging itself. Discrimination, whether based on citizenship, race, ethnicity, gender or political views is a ghost that can never be exorcised. As Mwalimu Nyerere was fond of saying, once you have tasted human flesh, you cannot stop.

Once you indulge in discrimination, it can never stop! Let's us tell our politicians to stop getting rid of uncomfortable messages by labelling the messenger by citizenship, race, gender, ethnicity, clan or tribe … On this, Mwalimu Nyerere never compromised.

We owe it to him, to keep, at least, that heritage alive: "All men are equal and Africa is One."

****

ECONOMISTS ALLIED FOR ARMS REDUCTION-SOUTH AFRICA

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/6031

since December South Africa has borrowed more than R25 billion in foreign loans (Command performance required of Manuel, February 15). This financial spin-doctoring is undoubtedly the major factor in the recovery of the rand from R13.88 on December 20, but confirms that the Treasury and SA Reserve Bank have learnt nothing from the forward book and Asian contagion debacle of 1998. In addition to his Budget speech on Wednesday, the Minister's deadline expires on Thursday to file affidavits detailing the basis on which he intends to oppose ECAAR-SA's application to the Cape High Court for cancellation of the arms deal. We contend that the arms deal is strategically, economically and financially irrational, and thus constitutionally unlawful. In addition, the Minister failed to comply with the provisions of the Exchequer Audit Act or Public Finance Management Act that govern the management of his portfolio. Captain (now Admiral) Cubby Howell gushed before the Joint Standing Committee on Defence that "submarines are the ultimate stealth weapon to protect fish." The JSCD was told on another occasion that "submarines make small navies important, and that South Africa needs the capacity to give the Americans a bloody nose." Our government was gullible and naive in swallowing the pretensions of the "toys for boys" lobby. At issue now is whether the Cabinet and Minister of Finance will have the courage to concede that the human security needs of people take priority over fish, and to cancel the arms deal at no cost to South African taxpayers.
Letters To The Editor ECONOMISTS ALLIED FOR ARMS REDUCTION-SOUTH AFRICA
Business Day ECAAR-SA
Johannesburg 3B Alpine Mews, Box 60542, High Cape, Cape Town 8001

February 16, 2002

Dear Sir

THANKS for taking note, Greta Steyn, that since December South Africa has borrowed more than R25 billion in foreign loans (Command performance required of Manuel, February 15). This financial spin-doctoring is undoubtedly the major factor in the recovery of the rand from R13.88 on December 20, but confirms that the Treasury and SA Reserve Bank have learnt nothing from the forward book and Asian contagion debacle of 1998.

In addition to his Budget speech on Wednesday, the Minister's deadline expires on Thursday to file affidavits detailing the basis on which he intends to oppose ECAAR-SA's application to the Cape High Court for cancellation of the arms deal. We contend that the arms deal is strategically, economically and financially irrational, and thus constitutionally unlawful. In addition, the Minister failed to comply with the provisions of the Exchequer Audit Act or Public Finance Management Act that govern the management of his portfolio.

The arms deal was costed at R6.25 per US$1. The Cabinet was warned by numerous sources, including the Department of Finance, that the foreign exchange and other risks were very considerable, and would inevitably limit South Africa's ability to meet the social upliftment commitments of the Bill of Rights. Despite these warnings, the Minister recklessly and unlawfully committed South Africa to foreign loans to fund the arms deal.

Our application includes projections made in March last year of rand/dollar exchange rates of R31.70 per US$1 by 2010, R37.07 by 2011 and R43.45 by 2012. These projections have already proved understated, with some analysts predicting R15 or R16 by the end of this year should the situation in Zimbabwe continue to deteriorate.

Bennie Bunsee (Time running out to make the right changes, February 15) pleads for "the government and all South Africans to realise that we are sitting on a time-bomb." Illustrating this, the housing shortage in the Western Cape is estimated by the Department of Housing at 310 000 units, and is expected to increase to 410 000 units by the year 2006.

Yet all 410 000 units could be constructed for less than the cost of the three submarines, now estimated at over R10 billion thanks to the collapse of the rand. In the process, an estimated 290 000 jobs would be created in the building and building supply industries.

Captain (now Admiral) Cubby Howell gushed before the Joint Standing Committee on Defence that "submarines are the ultimate stealth weapon to protect fish." The JSCD was told on another occasion that "submarines make small navies important, and that South Africa needs the capacity to give the Americans a bloody nose."

Our government was gullible and naive in swallowing the pretensions of the "toys for boys" lobby. At issue now is whether the Cabinet and Minister of Finance will have the courage to concede that the human security needs of people take priority over fish, and to cancel the arms deal at no cost to South African taxpayers.

Yours faithfully


Terry Crawford-Browne

__________________

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2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/6041

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Will Mbeki Apply The Lessons Of the World Economic Forum?

Will He Think BIG Today?

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/6030

A National Coalition of some 60 agencies has sought to persuade Government that the level of poverty and the structural nature of unemployment (few are cycling through unemployment on the way to another job) are now such that another approach to welfare is needed. A report was submitted some months ago. The current welfare system, which ‘targets’ beneficiaries and provides no cover to all those between 8 and 65, only reduces the poverty gap (the missing income) of the 22 million poor by a quarter. The proposal, adding a monthly Basic Income Grant (BIG) of, say, R100 per month, to all citizens including children, will relieve three quarters of that gap, pushing 6 million above poverty when poverty is defined as R400 per month.

Will Mbeki Apply The Lessons Of the World Economic Forum?
Will He Think BIG Today?

Norman Reynolds

Throwing Out the Mantra of A Too Simplistic Globalisation
President Mbeki last week visited New York and the World Economic Forum, paying his respects to the triple temples against terror, for globalisation and to the wealthy club, the home of ‘supply-side’ economics, that serves primarily the interests of international capital and of global corporations. When he was not selling NEPAD, he must have picked up the underlying loss of simplistic confidence that the God of Mammon holds all the answers.

The WEF acknowledged that poverty remains largely unattended and that terror flows from the fact of massive inequality and the denial of life chances to hundreds of millions. Kofi Annan reminded the delegates that until people come first there can be no security and no secure economic pathway. The Chairman of the WEF said much the same in closing the meeting.

The South African Constitution demands the same. Human Dignity is to be the touchstone of all this country does.

Meanwhile, President Bush, down the road in Washington DC, heard nothing. He unveiled a mighty increase in military spending, a few tax cuts for the better off, and paid no attention to the welfare of Americans or of poor nations.

Today Mbeki presents his ‘State of the Nation’ address in Parliament. Will he reveal any lessons learned?

Apart from the still on-going debacle over HIV/AIDS, the nation will want to hear about poor economic growth and still rising high unemployment, about poverty that affects half the population, and about children and the well-being of families and communities. Citizens will hope to hear that they will become the actors, not just this ‘delivery’ government.

It can be put this way. GEAR has reconstructed national housekeeping but a high cost to most families. It is now time to make family housekeeping also healthy.

Mbeki has an option that would represent a breakthrough on many grounds and would elevate him to being a statesman at home and not just abroad.

It centres on the welfare system but incorporates an enormous potential for re-drawing the rights and the role of citizens as financial and investment partners of the state. It adds a clear ‘demand pull’ to our ‘supply’ managed economy in ways that lay the foundation for a Localisation policy to balance the now globally acknowledged weaknesses of simplistic Globalisation.

The programme Mbeki should announce also hits the bulls’ eye on Human Dignity. Its announcement will set citizens dancing in the streets.

The Basic Income Grant
A National Coalition of some 60 agencies has sought to persuade Government that the level of poverty and the structural nature of unemployment (few are cycling through unemployment on the way to another job) are now such that another approach to welfare is needed. A report was submitted some months ago.

The current welfare system, which ‘targets’ beneficiaries and provides no cover to all those between 8 and 65, only reduces the poverty gap (the missing income) of the 22 million poor by a quarter. The proposal, adding a monthly Basic Income Grant (BIG) of, say, R100 per month, to all citizens including children, will relieve three quarters of that gap, pushing 6 million above poverty when poverty is defined as R400 per month.

The BIG will reduce the on-going wastage of millions of lives. It will help families buy the basics, mainly food, keep children in school and introduce the ‘ethic’ of state and citizen partnership (missing in the almost forgotten Masakane programme), a cornerstone of the RDP, so that Councils’ achieve higher service payment levels. And it might, for instance, enable someone to pay for a taxi ride that results in a job – an investment result.

The BIG conflates the expensive overheads of targeted welfare provision amidst general poverty. This saves resources, avoids the social and economic inefficiencies that result from the poor uptake by those who need grants, and removes the regular insult citizens suffer when trying to apply.

The cost to cover our 42 million people at R100p.m. is R46 billion p.a. Tax will recover R24 billion so that the net cost is R22 billion. As BIG generates other savings (such as better health, less violence, less pressure on wage increases), swells fee payments, raises programme efficiencies and spurs local economic activity, the real net effective cost is around R10 billion annually.

Mbeki might announce larger spending on public works, made possible by budget surpluses. This should be tempered. The issue, when so many are poor, is that citizens do not control such programmes. They are not on-going programmes with known local budgets that confer known ‘rights to work’ and to income so that citizens can commit themselves to new internal family, community and citizen / state relationships.

A BIG will resolve the dilemma of the Reserve Bank having to make policy in a vacuum of appropriate state policy. It will allow a move away from a rigid sanctity over inflation targeting towards growth as BIG protects all from price rises. A larger deficit becomes feasible and helps fund the balance on the BIG account, if needed.

The BIG. The Platform To Move From ‘Consumption’ To ‘Investment Grants’
The BIG will change lives. It will help with the goal of Human Dignity. Nonetheless, millions of South Africans seek more than consumption support. They want to become active, actors in their communities and local economies. They want to achieve dignity for themselves. This urge is of great value if it can be unlocked.

The adoption of the BIG would lay the basis for progressive moves by suitably organised citizen groups (community, village, street, Council residents) to move from a ‘consumption’ grant, the BIG, to an ‘investment grant’ in the form of a sophisticated community public works programme driven by the regular issue of Work Rights (that replace the BIG). This opens up far more dynamic (financially, economically and socially) forms of group and community mobilisation around investment in public and private infrastructure. Essentially, it adds an investment loop before people receive wages from work on projects, enlarging local experience, engaging the banks, enhancing local economic multipliers and building in the ‘supply’ (productive) response to this multiplication of local effective demand. That adds another reward to investment and consumption and so secures sustainability.

The Minister of Finance has asked BIG’s proponents to think again, to be more imaginative. The answer is, “BIG is the first step on the way to bigger things!”

“Free At Last”
Such a move by government will represent a freeing of the Mbeki mind set and of government’s hopeless assumption, from the promise to “deliver”, that it can do much on its own.

Mbeki’s apparently increasingly influential Economic Advisor, Wiseman Nkhulu, was party to the prototype and highly successful ‘Work Rights’ programme run in the drought of 1992-94. Termed the ‘Relief and Development’ programme, it was authored by the writer. Since then jealousies between agencies have buried it and its lessons. When appointed a year ago, Nkhulu stated that he hoped to replicate that programme nationally. It was, he said, the height of his professional and emotional career.

Will the President, and citizens, be “Free at Last” from today?


Jethro,
This below the basis for a follow up article explaining how Work rights work. Norman







Work and Training Rights
A prototype programme, formed around community budgets, was run in the drought of 1992-94. 940 villages and 1160 farm communities successfully invested R100 million within two years. Prof. Wiseman Nkhulu, now Economic Advisor to President Mbeki, has said that he hopes to replicate that programme nationally. He claimed that his association with it was the emotional and professional high point of his career.

This is how an investment grant programme works. Every adult, every half year, receives a number of “Work Rights”; say 30 days, set by Parliament, each with a face value of, say, R30 per day, doubled again to include material and other costs.

Each group or community assembles these to form budgets with which to fund locally determined projects. These help create new productive bases and small farmer and regional enterprise systems to feed additional ‘supply’ into local economies to match the large additional local ‘effective demand’ being generated.

Members buy and sell their Work Rights in local markets for work. On a given date, those holding Work Rights register to work according to how many Work Rights they hold.

Work Rights add the following to the BIG concept: -
§ They add the prior loop of local investment before the wages paid out by selected local projects provide family income. This increases the local multiplier and heightens the return to such expenditure.
§ The buying and selling of Work Rights means that they flow to poorer communities and to poorer members within communities.
§ Communities assemble the Work Rights they hold to form a local investment budget. This confers the four basic economic rights not in the Constitution upon which people can become economic agents: to know the resources available, to learn the opportunity cost of each investment option, to optimise investment across several options (and cover both capital and running cost), and to maximise returns over time.
§ Communities set the wage rate that, since they employ each other, will be low per unit as they seek to raise the output, a positive national gain.
§ Private investment is encouraged so that productive investment matches public infrastructure provision. Beneficiaries have to take bank loans for set proportions of total cost by type of project. The aim is to achieve a doubling of the public funding and to also bring into play the project management skills of the banking sector.
§ Wages and local service payments provide enlarged local household income.
§ Those who ‘buy in’ Work Rights, holding, say, over 80 per year, receive Training Rights. This creates a demand for training where today only state and donor supply exists, and so opens up the sense of individual control over career development.

Evolving A Social Compact to Raise Efficiencies Further
Once citizens and their communities feel secure that Work Rights are on-going and they can rely on them, they enter into a social compact with the state to: -
§ Accept a greater responsibility for ‘social consumption’, that is for school and clinic fees, and to pay fully for all services. This enables the state to divert incrementally the vast budgets for education, health, water, housing, and public works and the subsidies to ill-performing Councils and to transport to citizens through Work Rights.
§ The state thereby becomes an investor through its citizens, indirectly financing schooling, health, housing and services by way of economic activity and growth. It moves from the limits of budgetary expenditure to the dynamics of finance.
§ The local multiplier in townships and rural areas, where most and all the poor live, is low, about 1.3. They are cash deserts. Within three years the local multiplier could rise to 3.0, a more than doubling of effective demand, and again to 4.5 as new locally rewarded economic activity is stimulated by periodic markets linked to internal regional movement patterns and the like.
§ This will create a large mass market for basic goods and services that secures everyone, gives hope and confidence domestically and internationally, and which will swell the national GDP by from 2% to 4% p.a.

A Work Rights programme will mop up the unemployed and mobilise citizens in family ventures and group and community projects. Crime will drop dramatically. This will save society at least half the R50 billion wasted on private security every year, freeing R25 billion for annual investment in Work Rights. Another R30 billion can be diverted over time under social compacts from within state budgets. Some R15 billion can be provided as loans by the banks progressively from year three, and R10 billion additional private and corporate investment can be attracted.

With high local and national multipliers, after four years an additional ‘people-centered’ annual investment should be some R80 billion, or an additional 8% of GDP. That would make a great social, political and economic difference. Some 35% of the cost should be returned to the state as tax and another 25% go to school and health fees that substitute for the re-direction of state budgets.

A Programme The Country Cannot Afford to Miss
With citizens economically secured, the nation engaged in building its people, local and the national economies swelling productively and sustainably, and all restored to “competence” and dignity , the foreign investor will arrive in droves, and on our terms.

President Mbeki, in his State of the Nation speech on Friday, should announce that Localisation will be added to Globalisation to create a truly national economic policy. The state, seeing every citizen as an asset, should announce a start to BIG. Mbeki should go further. Citizens, becoming financial and investment partners of the state can voluntarily graduate to a Work Rights programme. That way the country can enjoy a largely economic, not just welfare, safety net. It further justifies the first step, the BIG.

partnership for action on human Rights abuse in Zimbabwe

Courage Shumba, Executive Director

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/letters/6032

We write to you seeking your assistance and inviting you to work with our forum founded to avert the humanitarian crisis ensuing in Zimbabwe.I write on behalf of our organisation of activists concerned with attaining democracy,observation of fundamental human rights,peace building ,conflict resoluton and crisis impact mitigation named, International Forum of Friends for Zimbabwe Country Crisis Relief Centre,a humanitarian initiative to find allies around the world to partner with us in fighting for a country governed by humane,democratic,justiciable values and principles.The sad story of Zimbabwe today is one of state sponsored and politically motivated racism and violence in the form of mass beatings,abductions,rape,murders,media repression,loss of basic liberties etc.People in Zimbabwe live in fear.Some schools have closed,lots of people's have lost belongings as homes are set ablaze.The situation of children is most distressing as some are left opharns without anyone to take care of them.Starvation is looming and there is a widespread shortage of all basic commodities.The Unted States recently passed an act called Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act to arrest the growing human rights violation state sanctioned trends in this country and to restore economic order.However the govenment is not responding in any wa to try and restore law /order or economicaly sound principles in managing public funds.We need you to help us stand up to the injustices being pepetrated on innocent civilians and bring to Zimbabwe an era and culture of democratic practice and respect for human rights and thewelfare of fellow contrymen and women.

This situation can be averted with the help of fellow brothes and sisters and concerned humanitarians all over the World.We are requesting you to consider working with us to implement alternatives towards the attainment of social justice and fair treatment of all persons in this country.In working with us as friend of Zimbabweans you will be called upon where your abilities permit to,(1)assist locate persons of like mind who share the vision of this organisation wherevere they maybe and whatever their age or other personal attributes.(2)help campaign and network including suggesting and developing strategic programs within the mission of this organisation.(3)help mobilise material and financial resources needed in the administration and execution of projects.(4) To visit ,attend progress meetings and public seminars whenever possible and to deliver speeches ,share experiences and meet Zimbabwean activists as well as assessing developments.We very much need your support which ever way you can assist. We shall need your views and guidance on many issues.

We hope you will find it a worthwhile cause to assist millions of Zimbabweans whose security,welfare and future lies in the balance.We shall be happy to hear from you.We have submitted below some details about our organisation.

We look forward to hear from you.

African Journals Online (AJOL)

2002-02-21

http://www.inasp.info/ajol/

INASP's African Journals Online assists all those who need access to research and information on Africa. Its long term aim is to provide a comprehensive coverage of all scholarly journals currently published in Africa. It offers free access to the Tables of Contents and abstracts of over 70 journals in all disciplines, together with links to full text and a document delivery service.

SOUTH AFRICA: NATIONAL BUDGET HANDBOOK

2002-02-21

http://www.uwc.ac.za/fairshare

Fair Share remains committed to contributing to effective, accountable and democratic governance responsive to the needs of marginalised people, and invites interested parties to purchase a copy of
the 2002/3 National Budget Book.
Fair Share * National Budget Handbook 2002/3

Fair Share remains committed to contributing to effective, accountable
and democratic governance responsive to the needs of marginalised people.

Once again Fair Share invites interested parties to purchase a copy of
the 2002/3 National Budget Book. As part of this vision, this booklet
will assist one to, at a glance, gain an understanding of the core issues
in social delivery, to ascertain the impact of the government's macro-
economic strategy on poverty alleviation, and to evaluate its ability to
render services. The publication gives a comprehensive breakdown of
division of revenue and expenditure, allocation of resources to key
service sectors.

The 2002/3 National Budget Book is targetted at leadership of
CBO's/NGO's and civil society organisations; key policy makers in
government and trade union leaders.

A limited number of this useful publication will be printed at a cost of
R 50 each (incl postage) and will be available from Monday 25 February
2002.

To order, please call Fikiswa Bokwe at (021) 959-3802 or fax your order
to 021-959-3836. You can also email fairshare@uwc.ac.za and make
your subject heading " 2002/3 National Budget Booklet".


Download the Fair Share press release and summary analysis of the
2002/2003 National Budget from our website www.uwc.ac.za/fairshare
(available after 17:00 on 20 February 2002)

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe International Book Fair

2002-02-21

http://zibf.org

The short list of Africa's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century has been finalised by the project jury. With 505 titles, the list is considered a comprehensive documentation of the most significant literary contributions by Africans made during the 20th Century.

`Middle Passage' An Unsettling Voyage Through Slave Trade

2002-02-21

http://199.97.97.16/contWriter/endnews2/2002/02/11/enter/8273-0046-pat_nytimes.html

Slavery, cinematic or otherwise, is a tricky proposition. Unlike the Holocaust and projects such as the recent ``Band of Brothers,'' there's nothing heroic about American involvement, nothing to latch on to in patriotic terms. Quite the opposite, actually. Revisiting the brutality of bondage often means dealing with the notion that our ancestral bloodlines very likely played a part in this cruel and unusually punishing institution, whether as victimizer or victim. Nothing is more uncomforting and unnerving than that. This explains why ``The Middle Passage,'' airing Saturday night on HBO, would never appear on network television - and not just because its ghastly scene of a tortured African slave with his sliced fingers, blood dripping into the cracks of a rat-infested ship's floor, is too graphic for prime time. It's the subject - and the unfortunate but inescapable fact that viewers will watch most anything ``except'' a show about slavery.

Call for Proposals: 9th International Women's Health Meeting

Toronto, Canada, August 12-16 2002

2002-02-21

http://www.iwhm-rifs.org

The International Women's Health Meetings are based on the recognition of equality as a condition of health and the recognition of the principle of distributive justice for women of the North and the South. The 9th IWHM will allow health activists from around the world to advocate for essential health resources and the rights of women and girls and will focus on the following three themes: sexual and reproductive rights, violence against women (state and family), and environmental health. The Proposal Deadline is March 10, 2002.

Call for Proposals: IDRC Gender Unit Annual Research Competition

Gender, Globalization and Land Tenure

2002-02-21

http://www.idrc.ca/awards/egendinf.html

The International Development Research Centre, Gender Unit is launching a competitive call for proposals for research investigating links between gender, globalization and land tenure in Latin America, Africa and Asia. All principal researchers and co-researchers must be citizens of developing countries. Up to eight grants will be awarded in April 2002 and the deadline for submission of applications is March 29, 2002.

E-mail Discussion: Young Women and HIV/AIDS

18 February, 2002 - 8 March, 2002

2002-02-21

http://www.awid.org

The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) and the United Nations Women's Development Fund (UNIFEM) will be co-hosting a 3-week email discussion on YOUNG WOMEN AND HIV/AIDS. Moderated on AWID's Young Women and Leadership (YWL) list-serve the discussion will explore the following: intersections between youth, gender and HIV/AIDS, emerging challenges and successes in HIV/AIDS for young people, and the best practices in addressing gender and youth issues in AIDS programs. To subscribe to the YWL list serve please email: ywl@awid.org

FEMNET Initiative on Reaching Men

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/wgender/5943

The African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET) held a Men to Men Consultation on Gender Based Violence in Nairobi from 6-9 Dec 2001. It brought together 27 men from Kenya, Malawi, Namibia and South Africa. These men are members of men only groups that have come together in response to the need for men to come out and break the silence and take action against violence on women and children. Some of these groups have also recognised the need to support men to cope with the changing male roles and responsibilities.
We in the African Women's Development and Communications Network
(FEMNET)would like to share with you the report of our Men to Men
Consultation on Gender Based Violence. The Consultation, which was held
in Nairobi from 6-9 Dec 2001, brought together 27 men from Kenya,
Malawi, Namibia and South Africa. These men are members of men only
groups that have come together in response to the need for men to come
out and break the silence and take action against violence on women and
children. Some of these groups have also recognised the need to support
men to cope with the changing male roles and responsibilities.

The Consultation, which was timed to coincide with the Sixteen Days
of Activism Against Violence on Women, resulted in the formation of the
African Network of Men Against Gender Based Violence. FEMNET will
work with the groups in the four countries to implement national level
as well as regional activities; drawing into the Network men groups from
other countries as the programme develops. The Consultation resulted in
some ideas for follow-up activities at the national and regional levels;
and already follow-up action is underway.

A session on Men and Women Dialogue was held during the Consultation,
which pointed to the great value of creating discussion fora for
dialogue between women and men; boys and girls; even as we encourage
gender specific dialogues. As the strategy for reaching men for support
in tackling women's empowerment and gender rights issues gather
momentum, we are conscious that there are some strong reservations about
the approach.

FEMNET has worked in the gender arena for the last twelve years,
training thousands of women and men together in gender and development
programming. Our experience is that we must bring men on board our
struggle. While maintaining a focus on our original goal of equality
between women and men, we must recognise that men still hold power and
authority at all levels; and that we need this same power to change the
political, policy, social, economic and other systems and structures;
and to cause new power relations.

The strategy to work with men should never replace or be pursued at
the expense of our struggle to empower women so that they can enter the
mainstream of power sharing with men. Indeed the two-pronged strategy
of women only and gender-based approaches must be perfected if women are
to enter and remain in the mainstream of power and politics, economy
decision-making and other power systems.

We enclose herewith the report of the Consultation for those that are
interested in the details. [***Moderators's note: If you would like
to receive a copy of this report in Word, please send an e-mail to
<end-violence-mod@edc.org> and write in the subject line: FEMNET
report
***]


Muthoni Wanyeki
Executive Director

African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET)
P. O. Box 54562, Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: +254 2 741301/20
Fax: +254 2 742927
E-mail: femnet@africaonline.co.ke
Website: http://www.africaonline.co.ke/femnet



***End-violence is sponsored by UNIFEM and receives generous support
from ICAP***

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Archives of previous End-violence messages can be found at:
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-------------------------------------------------------
Jennifer Radloff, Convenor - Communications Programme
African Gender Institute, UCT, Private Bag Rondebosch,
7701. South Africa. Tel +27 21 650 4204 Fax 685 2142
Web: http://www.uct.ac.za/org/agi
-------------------------------------------------------



---
WOUGNET-L is hosted on Kabissa - Space for change in Africa
To post, write to: WOUGNET-L@wougnet.org
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Gender and Political Participation Website

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance

2002-02-21

http://www.idea.int/gender/

The Gender and Political Participation site area provides up-to-date information on the status of women's political participation world-wide,and act as a means of encouraging partnerships and networks between organizations dedicated to enhancing the political participation of women. In addition to International Idea's Handbook Women in Parliament: Beyond Numbers, the gender site also offers information on topics such as the issue of quotas, gender desegregated voter turnout statistics and web links on world-wide gender legislation.

GENDER, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WEB RING

2002-02-21

http://GSTGAteway.wigsat.org

GenSciTech is a new web ring hosted at the Gender, Science and Technology
Gateway. It is open to sites which address any topic in gender, science and technology with a sustainable development dimension.

Nairobi: 50 Kinshasa Women Leaders to Discuss Peace

2002-02-21

http://www.learningchannel.org/cgi-bin/babel/showdoc.cgi?root=1470&url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200202150471.html

A group of 50 women leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo are in Nairobi, Kenya for a week long training workshop in preparation for the up-coming inter-Congolese Dialogue. The purpose of the workshop, which will take place from 15-19 February 2002, at Silver Springs Hotel, Nairobi-Kenya, is to build a common platform and agenda for peace among women from various regions of the DRC, from Kinshasa to the rebel-held Bukavu and Goma provinces.

South Africa: Gender Based Violence & Health Research Award

Deadline for submission is 2 April 2002

2002-02-21

http://www.comminit.com/awards2002/sld-4044.html

The South African Gender-Based Violence & Health Initiative (SAGBVHI) will host the Gender Based Violence & Health Research Awards. The awards will be given to researchers from South Africa at the 1st Gender Based Violence & Health Conference, South Africa. The awards are intended to encourage research in specific areas of gender based violence and health.

Sudan: Court overturns Death Sentence by Stoning

Action Requested

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/wgender/5936

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Sudanese Victims of Torture Group (SVTG), a member of the OMCT network that a Sudanese appeals court in Sudan's southern Dafur state has overturned the death sentence by stoning of a young pregnant women named Abok Alfa Akok, who was accused of adultery. An appeal has been submitted against the sentence and action is requested in the form of written submission to the Sudanese authorities on behalf of Abok Alfa Akok.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Case SDN 040102.1 VAW
Follow up of Case SDN 040102
Court overturns Death Sentence by Stoning

The International Secretariat of OMCT has received new information
concerning the woman who was sentenced to death by stoning in Sudan.

New information

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the
Sudanese Victims of Torture Group (SVTG), a member of the OMCT
network that a Sudanese appeals court in Sudan's southern Dafur state
has overturned the death sentence by stoning of a young pregnant
women named Abok Alfa Akok, who was accused of adultery. The case has
been sent back to the lower court for new sentencing.

According to information received, the court of appeal ruled at the
end of last month that the lower court should give the defendant a
"rebuke" sentence, not capital punishment. Abok Alfa Akok, appealed
on 3 January 2002. She is reportedly still in prison in Nyala.

According to the information received, documents from the appeal show
that the Sudanese man accused of adultery with Akok had been
acquitted by the lower court.

The International Secretariat of OMCT remains concerned for the
physical and psychological integrity of Abok Alfa Akok, as the
charges against her have not yet been dismissed.

Brief reminder of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT was informed by the Sudanese
Victims of Torture Group (SVTG) of the sentencing to death by stoning
of a young women named Abok Alfa Akok from Nyala City, Southern
Darfur.

According to the information received, on 8 December 2001, Abok Alfa
Akok, a Christian woman of 18 years of age from the Dinka tribe, was
sentenced to death by stoning by the criminal court in Nyala City,
Southern Darfur, for the crime of adultery.

The sentence was based on Article 146 of the Sudan's 1991Penal Code,
which is based upon the government's interpretation of the Shari'a
(Islamic law), and which states that whoever commits the offence of
adultery shall be punished with:
1. Execution by stoning when the offender is married (muhsan);
2. One hundred lashes when the offender is not married (non-muhsan);
3. Male, non-married offenders may be punished, in addition to
whipping, with expatriation for a year.

According to the information received, the lawyer has stated that
Abok Alfa Akok has not received a fair trial and an appeal has been
submitted against the sentence.

Actions requested

Please write to the Sudanese authorities urging them to:

i. guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Abok Alfa
Akok;

ii. ensure that the Abok Alfa Akok has a fair and prompt trial in
compliance with international standards of fair trial;

iii. take all necessary measures to secure the respect of the rule of
law in Sudan which includes the respect of the prohibition of torture
and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment and amend
the Sudanese legislation as a matter of priority, in order to abolish
the death penalty;

iv. ensure in all circumstances the full respect of human rights and
fundamental freedoms in accordance with national and international
standards.

Addresses:

· His Excellency Ambassador Ibrahim Mirghani Ibrahim, Permanent
Mission of Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva, Case Postal 335,
1211 Geneva 19, fax :
0041 (0) 22 731 26 56, email: mission.sudan@ties.itu.int

· His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir, President
of the Republic of Sudan, People's Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum,
Sudan, Telex: 22385
PEPLC SD or 22411 KAID SD

· Mr Ali Osman Yasin, Minister of Justice and Attorney General,
Ministry of Justice, Khartoum, Sudan. Telex:22459 KHRJA SD or 22461
KHRJA SD (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

· Mr Mustafa Osman Ismail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan

Given the lack of working fax numbers for the government officials
above, please send the appeals by standard mail and also write to the
embassies of Sudan in your respective country.

Geneva, 12 February 2002

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply
Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT)
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
Organización Mundial Contra la Tortura (OMCT)
8 rue du Vieux-Billard
Case postale 21
CH-1211 Geneve 8
Suisse/Switzerland
Tel. : 0041 22 809 49 39
Fax : 0041 22 809 49 29
E-mail : omct@omct.org
http://www.omct.org

UGANDA: Know How Conference

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/wgender/6027

How to obtain funding for women to attend the Know How Conference in Kampala.
Greetings friends, and please pass this on to women's information centers you think may be interested in participating in the Kampala Know How Conference 2002.

We have approached the Dutch Embassies in the following countries for
assistance
with funding participants from these countries to attend the Kampala Know
How
Conference. These Embassies have what is called a 'Women's Funds'. The
embassies are officially permitted to use part of this fund to assist women
to
attend the Know How Conference.

If you are from one of these countries, write a letter of request to the
Ambassador of the Netherlands Embassy. You may include the letters of
invitation
I enclose in this message in your application. If you have any questions,
please
contact me at l.mcdevitt-pugh@iiav.nl
> - Bangladesh
> - Benin
> - Bolivia
> - Burkina Faso
> - Egypte
> - Eritrea
> - Ethiopia
> - Ghana
> - India
> - Indonesia
> - Yemen
> - Macedonia
> - Mali
> - Mozambique
> - Nicaragua
> - Rwanda
> - Sri Lanka
> - Tanzania
> - Uganda
> - Vietnam
> - Zambia
> - South Africa
>
For more information on these embassies: http://www.minbuza.nl

Sincerely,

Lin McDevitt-Pugh
=========================================
Lin McDevitt-Pugh
Program Manager, Department of International Cooperation
International Information Centre and Archives for the Women's Movement
(IIAV)
Obiplein 4, 1094 RD Amsterdam
The Netherlands
tel: +31-20-6651318 fax: +31-20-6655812
e-mail: l.mcdevitt-pugh@iiav.nl
http://www.iiav.nl

Belgian war crimes law rejected

2002-02-21

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1820000/1820170.stm

The world court has ruled that Belgium cannot bring war crimes charges against a foreign government minister who enjoys diplomatic immunity. The decision by the International Court of Justice in The Hague (ICJ) is expected to stymie attempts to bring charges against several world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Benin: Opposition party says country drifting towards dictatorship

2002-02-21

http://www.transparency.org/cgi-bin/dcn-read.pl?citID=20517

The political bureau of the Benin Renaissance party, [former President Nicephore] Soglo wing, has condemned the ordinance issued by the government in power. It also noted, with regret, the gradual drift of the country towards dictatorship, the annihilation of moral and political values, the increase in the embezzlement of public funds, corruption at all levels of government, incessant strikes and general social unrest, and the suppression of all anti-government voices.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Trial for 28 May 2001 coup attempt begins

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21336

The case against those accused of involvement in the failed coup attempt of 28 May 2001 in the Central African Republic began on Friday in the capital, Bangui, before the criminal session of the Court of Appeals, news agencies reported.

DRC: Disappointment on Belgian War-Crimes Law Ruling

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/rights/5956

Human Rights Watch expressed its disappointment at today's decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that a Belgian arrest warrant for the acting Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo violated international law.
Disappointment on Belgian War-Crimes Law Ruling

(New York, February 14, 2002) -- Human Rights Watch expressed its
disappointment at today's decision of the International Court of
Justice (ICJ) that a Belgian arrest warrant for the acting Foreign
Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo violated
international law.

The ICJ ruled that the Belgian warrant failed to respect the Foreign
Minister's "immunity from criminal jurisdiction."

"This is a disappointing decision because it effectively shields some
state officials from prosecution for atrocities," said Reed Brody,
Advocacy Director of Human Rights Watch. "Government ministers who
commit crimes against humanity and war crimes are not likely to be
prosecuted at home, and this ruling means they will enjoy impunity
abroad as well. This decision goes against the international trend
towards accountability for the worst abuses."

According to Human Rights Watch, the Belgian anti-atrocities law is
part of a growing trend towards accountability for the worst
international crimes. Prosecutions based on universal jurisdiction,
such as those now possible under the Belgian law, are an essential
part of the emerging system of international justice. They help to
break down the wall of
immunity with which tyrants and torturers protect themselves in their
own countries, the group said.

In its decision, the International Court of Justice noted that even
sitting government ministers may not "enjoy impunity in respect of
any crimes they might have committed." The decision recognized
"immunity of jurisdiction," however, for a sitting foreign minister
before the national courts of other countries.

Brody added that today's decision "highlights the need for the rapid
establishment of the International Criminal Court, which will be able
to investigate and prosecute those individuals -- including state
leaders-- accused of crimes against humanity, genocide, and war
crimes when
national courts are unwilling or unable to do so, and which expressly
rejects any substantive or jurisdictional immunities."

For more information on the Belgian Universal Jurisdiction law, please see:

Rights Groups Support Belgium's Universal Jurisdiction Law (HRW Press
Release, November 26, 2001) at
http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/11/belgium1126.htm

For more information on the International Criminal Court, please see:

International Criminal Court (Key Human Rights Watch Documents) at
http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/icc/










International Court of Justice - Press Release 2002/4 - Arrest Warrant of 11
April 2000 (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Belgium)

*************
14 February 2002

Arrest Warrant of 11 April 2000
(Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Belgium)

The Court finds that the issue and international circulation by
Belgium of the arrest warrant of 11 April 2000 against Mr. Abdulaye
Yerodia Ndombasi failed to respect the immunity from criminal
jurisdiction and the inviolability which the incumbent Minister for
Foreign Affairs of the Congo enjoyed under international law; and
that Belgium
must cancel the arrest warrant

THE HAGUE, 14 February 2002. Today the International Court of Justice
(ICJ), principal judicial organ of the United Nations, delivered its
Judgment in the case concerning the Arrest Warrant of 11 April 2000
(Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Belgium).

In its Judgment, which is final, without appeal and binding for the
Parties, the Court found, by thirteen votes to three,

"that the issue against Mr. Abdulaye Yerodia Ndombasi of the arrest
warrant of 11 April 2000, and its international circulation,
constituted violations of a legal obligation of the Kingdom of
Belgium towards the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in that they
failed to respect the immunity from criminal jurisdiction and the
inviolability which the incumbent Minister for Foreign Affairs of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo enjoyed under international law"

and, by ten votes to six,

"that the Kingdom of Belgium must, by means of its own choosing,
cancel the arrest warrant of 11 April 2000 and so inform the
authorities to whom that warrant was circulated".

The Court reached these findings after having found, by 15 votes to
1, that it had jurisdiction, that the Application of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo ("the Congo") was not without object (and the
case accordingly not moot) and that the Application was admissible,
thus rejecting the objections which the Kingdom of Belgium
("Belgium") had raised on those questions.

The reasoning of the Court

Jurisdiction and admissibility

The Court first rejects certain objections of Belgium based on the
fact that Mr. Yerodia was no longer the Minister for Foreign Affairs,
or even a member of the Government of the Congo, at the time that the
Court was dealing with the case.

With regard to the Court's jurisdiction, Belgium argues that there no
longer exists a "legal dispute" between the Parties within the
meaning of the declarations filed by them pursuant to Article 36 (2)
of the Statute, and that, therefore, the Court lacks jurisdiction. On
this point, the Court recalls that its jurisdiction must be
determined at the time of the institution of the proceedings, and
that at that time there was clearly "a legal dispute between . . .
[the parties] concerning the international lawfulness of the arrest
warrant of 11 April 2000 and the consequences to be drawn if the
warrant was unlawful". The Court accordingly rejects the first
Belgian objection.

The Court also rejects the second Belgian objection, namely that,
because of the above-mentioned change in Mr. Yerodia's situation, the
case is now without object. The Court finds that this change has not
deprived the Application of its object. It points out that the Congo
argues that the arrest warrant was and remains unlawful, and asks the
Court so to declare, while continuing to seek cancellation of the
warrant; for its part Belgium continues to dispute the Congo's
submissions.

Nor does the Court find, as claimed by Belgium in its third
objection, that the Congo's claims are inadmissible because the facts
underlying the Application have changed in such a way as to produce a
transformation of the dispute before the Court into another dispute.
The Congo's final submissions, the Court observes, arise "directly
out of the question which is the subject-matter of that Application".

Belgium's fourth objection, that, because of the change of Mr.
Yerodia's situation, "the case has assumed the character of an action
of diplomatic protection but one in which the individual being
protected has failed to exhaust local remedies" is also rejected by
the Court. The Court notes that the Congo never invoked the
individual rights of Mr. Yerodia and recalls that, in any event, the
admissibility of the Application must be determined as at the time of
its filing.

The Court finally observes, in response to a subsidiary argument of
Belgium, that, while in accordance with a well-established principle
the Court is "not entitled to decide upon questions not asked of it,
[that] non ultra petita rule nonetheless cannot preclude the Court
>from addressing certain legal points in its reasoning". The Court
observes that in the present case it thus may not rule, in the
operative part of its Judgment, on the question whether the disputed
arrest warrant, issued by the Belgian investigating judge in exercise
of his purported universal jurisdiction, complied in that regard with
the rules and principles of international law governing the
jurisdiction of national courts, because that question was not
contained in the final submissions of the Parties. This does not
mean, however, that the Court may not deal with certain aspects of
that question in the reasoning of its Judgment, should it deem this
necessary or desirable.

Merits

The Court then observes that in the present case it is only the
immunity from criminal jurisdiction and the inviolability of an
incumbent Minister for Foreign Affairs which it has to consider.
Having referred to certain treaties which were cited by the Parties
in this regard, and having concluded that they do not define the
immunities of Ministers for Foreign Affairs, the Court finds that it
must decide the questions relating to these immunities on the basis
of customary international law.

The Court states that, in customary international law, the immunities
accorded to Ministers for Foreign Affairs are not granted for their
personal benefit, but to ensure the effective performance of their
functions on behalf of their respective States. In order to determine
the extent of these immunities, the Court must therefore first
consider the nature of the functions exercised by a Minister for
Foreign Affairs. After an examination of the nature of those
functions the Court concludes that they are such that, throughout the
duration of his or her office, a Minister for Foreign Affairs when
abroad enjoys full immunity from criminal jurisdiction and
inviolability. That immunity and inviolability protect the individual
concerned against any act of authority of another State which would
hinder him or her in the performance of his or her duties. In this
respect, no distinction can be drawn between acts performed by a
Minister for Foreign Affairs in an "official" capacity and those
claimed to have been performed in a "private capacity", or, for that
matter, between acts performed before the person concerned assumed
office as Minister for Foreign Affairs and acts committed during the
period of office. Thus, if a Minister for Foreign Affairs is arrested
in another State on a criminal charge, he or she is clearly thereby
prevented from exercising the functions of his or her office.

The Court then turns to Belgium's arguments that Ministers for
Foreign Affairs do not enjoy such immunity when they are suspected of
having committed war crimes or crimes against humanity. It points out
that, after having carefully examined State practice, including
national legislation and those few existing decisions of national
higher courts, such as the House of Lords or the French Court of
Cassation, it has been unable to deduce from this practice that there
exists under customary international law any form of exception to the
rule according immunity from criminal jurisdiction and inviolability
to incumbent Ministers for Foreign Affairs.

The Court further observes that the rules governing the jurisdiction
of national courts must be carefully distinguished from those
governing jurisdictional immunities. The immunities under customary
international law, including those of Ministers for Foreign Affairs,
remain opposable before the courts of a foreign State, even where
those courts exercise an extended criminal jurisdiction on the basis
of various international conventions on the prevention and punishment
of certain serious crimes.

The Court emphasizes, however, that the immunity from jurisdiction
enjoyed by incumbent Ministers for Foreign Affairs does not mean that
they enjoy impunity in respect of any crimes they might have
committed, irrespective of their gravity. Immunity from criminal
jurisdiction and individual criminal responsibility are quite
separate concepts. While jurisdictional immunity is procedural in
nature, criminal responsibility is a question of substantive law.
Jurisdictional immunity may well bar prosecution for a certain period
or for certain offences; it cannot exonerate the person to whom it
applies from all criminal responsibility. The Court then spells out
the circumstances in which the immunities enjoyed under international
law by an incumbent or former Minister for Foreign Affairs do not
represent a bar to criminal prosecution.

After examination of the terms of the arrest warrant of 11 April
2000, the Court states that the issuance, as such, of the disputed
arrest warrant represents an act by the Belgian judicial authorities
intended to enable the arrest on Belgian territory of an incumbent
Minister for Foreign Affairs on charges of war crimes and crimes
against humanity. It finds that, given the nature and purpose of the
warrant, its mere issue constituted a violation of an obligation of
Belgium towards the Congo, in that it failed to respect the immunity
which Mr. Yerodia enjoyed as the Congo's incumbent Minister for
Foreign Affairs and, more particularly, infringed the immunity from
criminal jurisdiction and inviolability then enjoyed by him under
international law. The Court also notes that Belgium admits that the
purpose of the international circulation of the disputed arrest
warrant was "to establish a legal basis for the arrest of Mr.
Yerodia . . . abroad and his subsequent extradition to Belgium". It
finds that, as in the case of the warrant's issue, its international
circulation from June 2000 by the Belgian authorities, given the
nature and purpose of the warrant, constituted a violation of an
obligation of Belgium towards the Congo, in that it failed to respect
the immunity of the incumbent Minister for Foreign Affairs of the
Congo and, more particularly, infringed the immunity from criminal
jurisdiction and the inviolability then enjoyed by him under
international law.

The Court finally considers that its finding that the arrest warrant
was unlawful under international law, and that its issue and
circulation engaged Belgium's international responsibility,
constitute a form of satisfaction which will make good the moral
injury complained of by the Congo. However, the Court also considers
that, in order to re-establish "the situation which would, in all
probability have existed if [the illegal act] had not been
committed", Belgium must, by means of its own choosing, cancel the
warrant in question and so inform the authorities to whom it was
circulated.

Composition of the Court

The Court was composed as follows: President Guillaume; Vice-
President Shi;

Judges Oda, Ranjeva, Herczegh, Fleischhauer, Koroma, Vereshchetin,
Higgins, Parra-Aranguren, Kooijmans, Rezek, Al-Khasawneh,
Buergenthal; Judges ad hoc Bula-Bula, Van den Wyngaert;

Registrar Couvreur.

President Guillaume appends a separate opinion to the Judgment of the
Court; Judge Oda appends a dissenting opinion to the Judgment of the
Court; Judge Ranjeva appends a declaration to the Judgment of the
Court; Judge Koroma appends a separate opinion to the Judgment of the
Court; Judges Higgins, Kooijmans and Buergenthal append a joint
separate opinion to the Judgment of the Court; Judge Rezek appends a
separate opinion to the Judgment of the Court; Judge Al-Khasawneh
appends a dissenting opinion to the Judgment of the Court; Judge ad
hoc Bula-Bula appends a separate opinion to the Judgment of the
Court; Judge ad hoc Van den Wyngaert appends a dissenting opinion to
the Judgment of the Court.

__________

A summary of the Judgment is given in Press Release No. 2002/4bis, to
which a summary of the opinions is annexed. The full text of the
Judgment and of the opinions is available on the Court's website
(http://www.icj-cij.org).

___________

Information Department:
Mr. Arthur Witteveen, First Secretary (Tel.: +31 70 302 23 36)
Mrs. Laurence Blairon, Information Officer (Tel.: +31 70 302 23 37)
E-mail address: information@icj-cij.org




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ERITREA: Government slams European Parliament resolution

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21540

Eritrea has strongly criticised a resolution adopted by the European Parliament which accuses Asmara of human rights violations and says President Isayas Afewerki is ruling the country "with an iron grip".

Rwanda: Church Not to Blame for Genocide, Catholic Priest Says

2002-02-21

http://allafrica.com/stories/200202110237.html

The Church did not play an active role in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, a Catholic priest testifying for genocide suspects Elizaphan and Gerard Ntakirutimana told the International Criminal tribunal for Rwanda.

Rwanda: Official Census Puts Genocide Toll At Over One Million

2002-02-21

http://allafrica.com/stories/200202120361.html

The 1994 genocide left just over a million people dead, according to an official report published by the Rwandan Ministry of Local Government. The report is based on a census carried out in July 2000. However, only 934,218 victims could be clearly identified.

South Africa: SADC an Old Boys Club, Say Activists

2002-02-21

http://library.northernlight.com/FE20020215190000158.html?cb=0&dx=1006&sc=0#doc

Zimbabwean watchdog bodies have accused the Southern African Development Community (SADC) of being an 'old boys club' that gangs together to protect each other's dictatorial rule. Speaking at this week's "using democracy to destroy democracy" meeting in the capital city Harare, political activists said SADC countries, particularly South Africa, had fallen prey to President Robert Mugabe's gimmicks. "Mugabe's regime is hiding behind tailored but defective concepts of colonialism and Pan-Africanism to garner SADC's support to authenticate its rule," said a University of Zimbabwe political commentator, Brain Raftopolous.

Sudan: Suspension & Dismissal of Young Activists

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/rights/5907

The college of Omdurman in Sudan has suspended a number of students for human rights activities.
Cairo: 12/02/02.

Sudan

Suspension & Dismissal of Young Activists

The Sudanese authorities, as usual, still hold their tight grip on the
civil and peaceful activities, and harass all those who conduct them in an
administrative hegemony that is totally unjustified. These activities are
not legally banned in Sudan, and are accepted according to the international
declarations and treaties that the Sudanese Government had previously signed
and ratified.

News reached the Arab Program for Human Rights Activists that the
Sudanese first -year Computer Science student at the college of Omdurman,
Tahani Ibrahim Ahmed, was suspended for 12 months from the College on 2nd
February, 2002 for carrying out human rights activities. Ms. Tahani, as
well, is a member of the Sudanese Victims of Torture Group (SVTG).

Ms. Tahani was suspended on the background of forming a human rights
group together with other students in her university and organizing a
symposium to commemorate the international day for human rights, in which
she spoke about women’s rights and CEDAW (Convention for the Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women).

Before being re-admitted to the College, the Ms. Tahani will have to
sign a pledge to behave in accordance with the Student Discipline and Code
of Conduct Act (2002) which prohibits students from taking part in human
rights and political organizing. If she continues to pursue these
activities, the College has warned that she will be dismissed.

In addition to these violations committed against Ms. Tahani, the
University also suspended the following students: Adam Fadl Allah Adam ( Law
Student), Husam El-Din Abdullah (Medical Student), Allaa El-Din Mustafa
Mohamed Ali (Agriculture Student), Ghosai El-Nour Mohamed Ahmed (Agriculture
Student), and finally Mohamed Al-Hadi Awad Suliman (Economics Student). They
were all suspended last January the 23rd, 2002, on the background of their
last year's peaceful Democratic Front's Symposium.

The Arab Program for Human Rights Activists deeply condemns what has
been happening against the Sudanese Students, being it suspension,
dismissal, detention, or even sending them to the war at the South. These
procedures Violate the legal credibility and frustrate the simplest human
rights, as well as all the international covenants that the Sudanese
Government signed and ratified, especially the "International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights", and the "International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights".

In these regards, the Arab Program for Human Rights Activists calls upon
the Sudanese authorities to reinstate the mentioned students as they are the
educated assets that Sudan's future can count on, and in accordance with the
fundamental rights and freedoms that have been stated in the Universal
Declaration for Human Rights and the two International Covenants.



Respects


Arab Program For Human Rights Activists
25 Ibrahim Ibn El Mahdy St.
7th District, Nasr City
Cairo, Egypt
Tel: 002 02 4041185
Fax: 002 02 4039954
www.aphra.org
rphra@rite.com



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SUDAN: Vatican official suggests human rights campaign

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/rights/5968

A cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church has suggested that the time may be right for the launch of an international campaign of protest against Sudan for violating human rights, according to reports from Zenit news agency, which specialises in reporting Catholic affairs.
SUDAN: Vatican official suggests human rights campaign

NAIROBI, 15 February (IRIN) - A cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church has
suggested that the time may be right for the launch of an international
campaign of protest against Sudan for violating human rights, according to
reports from Zenit news agency, which specialises in reporting Catholic
affairs.

Cardinal Roberto Tucci, president of Vatican Radio's administration
committee, made the call last week when commenting on the case of Abok
Alfa Akok, who had been condemned to death by stoning for allegedly being
pregnant out of wedlock, the agency stated.

Zenit is a Rome-based international news agency whose declared mission is
to provide objective coverage for a worldwide audience of issues emanating
from and concerning the Catholic Church. [see
]http://www.zenit.org/english/]

An appeals court in Southern Darfur State, bordering the Central African
Republic, had recently overturned the sentence of death by stoning against
Akok, and sent the case back to a lower court in the state for fresh
sentencing, Reuters news agency reported on Sunday, 10 February.

The criminal court in Nyala, about 800 km southwest of Khartoum, sentenced
Akok to death by stoning for adultery in early December, according to news
reports.

The original ruling was made in line with Shari'ah [Islamic] law, even
though Akok - a member of Sudan's Dinka tribe, the largest ethnic group in
the south - was Christian, according to Reuters. Akok appealed against the
sentence on 3 January, it added.

The US-based Human Rights Watch expressed its deep concern on 1 February -
including in a letter to Sudanese President Umar Hasan al-Bashir - about
"barbaric punishments" in Sudan, including Akok's sentence to death by
stoning and the use of amputations as a punishment, also in Darfur.
[http://www.hrw.org/africa/sudan.php]

"For years in Sudan there has been authentic persecution by the Muslim
government against the peoples of the south, [with] black skins, of
Christian or animist religion," Zenit quoted Tucci as saying on Vatican
Radio.

"The Shari'ah has been applied to a person who is not Muslim," he said.
"It would be appropriate to start a campaign of protest against what is
happening. Why doesn't the United Nations intervene?"

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Sudan,
Gerhart Baum, said in a report in November 2001 that it was untrue - as
some Christian fundamentalists argued - that there was a war of religious
persecution in Sudan. There was concern over restrictions on freedom of
religion, discrimination and the increasingly Islamic character of
education and public life, but there was no systematic suppression of
Christian churches, he said.

"The United Nations Commission for Human Rights is concerned with the
[Akok] case, but perhaps this action should be supported by an authentic
international campaign that will serve to shed light on the Sudanese
situation," Zenit quoted Tucci as saying.

Among those to indicate support for Tucci's suggestion had been Archbishop
Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
the president of the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and
Madagascar (SECAM), the agency added.

Meanwhile, the UK-based Sudanese Victims of Torture Group (SVTG) this week
alleged that student human rights activists at the College of Technical
Science in Omdurman, outside the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, had been
dismissed or suspended under the government's 2002 Student Discipline and
Code of Conduct Act.

The group said it considered this Act, which prohibits students from
political organising or campaigning for human rights, to be part of a
general "attempt to silence opposition and prevent individuals or groups
from expressing their beliefs and opinions".

It called on the government to reinstate the suspended students, repeal
the student discipline Act and "ensure the protection of fundamental
freedoms of expression and association, as set out in the International
Covenant of Civil and Political Rights."

Baum reported in November 2001 that - with the extension of the State of
Emergency to the end of 2002 - restrictions on nongovernmental
organisations and the media, and a campaign of harassment, intimidation
and persecution of political opponents of the government, political
freedom had been restricted rather than relaxed last year.

What had appeared to be serious efforts to democratise Sudan were
discontinued at the end of 2000 (when President Umar Hasan al-Bashir
declared the State of Emergency after a political struggle with the former
Speaker of parliament, Hasan al-Turabi), with some security laws tightened
and the security police stepping up their activities, Baum said.

Baum deplored the recurrence of human rights violations in Sudan and the
lack of official action to investigate and punish such abuses. He
encouraged the Khartoum government "to take positive steps in the
direction of a real transition to democracy - including, primarily,
repealing the State of Emergency".
[ENDS]


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Zimbabwe: Vote-rigging 'may not stop Mugabe losing election'

2002-02-21

http://www.transparency.org/cgi-bin/dcn-read.pl?citID=20526

President Robert Mugabe could lose Zimbabwe's presidential election next month in spite of his efforts to rig the result, senior US government officials say. Unofficial polls conducted by Zimbabwean organisations and seen by US officials show there would be a good chance Mr Mugabe would get only 25-30 per cent of the vote if the election was fair. The officials said this was despite widespread intimidation of the opposition and political violence over the past 18 months. However, they fear Mr Mugabe has the ability to "win" an additional 20 per cent by further manipulation of the vote and thus extend his 22-year rule.

ZIMBABWE: Too late for free and fair elections

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21349

It's too late for free and fair presidential elections in Zimbabwe, but the deployment of international observers in remote areas could help stop politically motivated violence and torture, the human rights group Amani Trust told IRIN on Monday.

Botswana government rejects assistance for indigenous tribe living in game reserve

2002-02-21

http://enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/02/02152002/ap_46417.asp

Botswana said Thursday it will not accept financial assistance from international organizations working to help hunter-gatherer tribes continue living in a massive game reserve. Over the past few weeks, the government has stepped up efforts to relocate the Basarwa tribes of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, a 52,000-square-kilometer (20,000-square-mile) semidesert region in the middle of the country.

KENYA: Police crackdown on foreigners

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21334

The ongoing police campaign against foreigners illegally present in Kenya continues, with 46 arrests effected in the capital, Nairobi, over the weekend, a spokesman for the police, Peter Kimanthi, told IRIN on Monday.

CORRUPTION IN KENYA: FINDINGS OF AN URBAN BRIBERY SURVEY

2002-02-21

http://www.tikenya.org/

Bribery, private payments to public and/or private officials to influence decision-making, is the most prevalent manifestation of corruption. In Kenya as indeed elsewhere, there is a critical dearth of concrete information on the nature and incidence of corruption in general, and bribery in particular. Consequently, anti-corruption efforts tend to be informed primarily by perceptions and anecdotal evidence.

DEFINING CORRUPTION IN THE AFRICAN CONTEXT

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/corruption/5914

Kenya like many other African countries that adopted political pluralism and economic liberalization after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War, is into the third stage of its ‘transition’ from colonial state to a modern democracy where power is accountable. The first stage of the transition took place in years preceding and immediately following independence where indigenous Africans assumed control of the vital governance institutions in their countries- parliament, the executive, judiciary and civil service. The elites used their newfound political power – that also found bureaucratic and military expression – to accumulate wealth in a variety of ways – many of which would today be described as ‘corruption’ but in the 1960s were seen as correcting some of the historic wrongs of colonialism and were tolerated internationally in the context of the Cold War.
Issue # 3 (February 11)



Transparency International is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to increasing government accountability and curbing international and national corruption. Material from this publication may be reproduced and disseminated free of charge provided TI-Kenya is acknowledged as the source.








News and views from Transparency International - Kenya












DEFINING CORRUPTION IN THE AFRICAN CONTEXT




KENYA LIKE MANY other African countries that adopted political pluralism and economic liberalization after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War, is into the third stage of its ‘transition’ from colonial state to a modern democracy where power is accountable.

The first stage of the transition took place in years preceding and immediately following independence where indigenous Africans assumed control of the vital governance institutions in their countries- parliament, the executive, judiciary and civil service. The elites used their newfound political power – that also found bureaucratic and military expression – to accumulate wealth in a variety of ways – many of which would today be described as ‘corruption’ but in the 1960s were seen as correcting some of the historic wrongs of colonialism and were tolerated internationally in the context of the Cold War. (Corruption, simply defined is the ‘misuse of public power for private gain’).


The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 coincided with a time when economic growth had declined dramatically in most African countries and population growth and urbanization had increased. Centralized often economically inefficient regimes led by leaders disinclined to political pluralism were no longer able to satisfy the economic and political demands of a young population raised on expectations fuelled by the global mass media.


The second major phase of the African transition took place in the early 90s. Leaders in many African countries, heading nearly bankrupt nations with dominant state sectors increasingly unable to provide even the most basic services to citizens, found themselves forced to give in to donor demands for political and economic liberalization. Economically weak states were forced to adopt economic policy prescriptions whose political implications were to undermine the very foundations of the predominantly patronage-based systems of governance that had come to dominate most Sub-Saharan African countries since independence.



Some countries did not survive the broad swathe of the new ‘wind of change’ that exacerbated internal contradictions playing themselves out, sometimes violently. Notable were Somalia (state collapse in 1991) and Sierra Leone (President Jospeh Siadu Momoh deposed in 1992, war soon followed). In other countries, liberalisation’s generalized study attrition undermined the political and economic foundations of the state and ruling elites to the point where some previously entrenched leaders lost democratic elections - Zambia (President Kenneth Kaunda lost to Paul Chiluba in 1991), Malawi (President Kamuzu Banda lost to Bakili Muluzi in 1994) and Benin (President Mathieu Kerekou lost to Nicephore Soglo in 1991).


The 1990s also saw leaders in other African countries lose control over significant sections of their countries to rebel groups, some of which eventually assumed control of what remained of national government. This included Congo Brazzaville (August 1992 Pascal Lissouba won democratic elections, was overthrown by Denis Saasou Nguesso in 1997) and Rwanda (President Juvenal Habyarimanna assassinated in 1994, civil war and genocide followed, Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) took over and continues to battle Hutu rebel movements).



Other African countries further entrenched their systems of patronage while maintaining the outside appearance of genuine fundamental reform. There are those who would argue that Zimbabwe, Kenya, Togo and Cameroon fall in this category.


Across Africa, some net effects of the economic and political liberalization are a dramatic growth in the size of political space available to non-state actors including civil society, multi-party legislatures and media. However, in countries where small ruling cliques, used to wielding power, have clung on to it, there is major denigration of the rule of law, the informalisation of politics, an increase in political violence and attendant impunity in its regard. But most importantly, from where Transparency International-Kenya stands, has been the dramatic increase in corruption types that have serious macro-economic consequences and which have led to rapid criminalisation of the economy.


In countries where governance is dominated not by formal institutions but by informal patronage systems, corruption is the fuel that sustains politics. Therefore in such societies it is both systemic and perverse: senior public officials who retire from civil service without accumulating substantial wealth, for example, are often derided as ‘fools’ in their home villages across Africa. Indeed, in Kenya it is common for individuals publicly mentioned as having been involved in questionable activities involving public resources to be elected to parliament.

This is very much the moral/political/social context vis-à-vis corruption in countries like Kenya. It demands a concerted, creative and highly relevant strategy for dealing with it. A strategy that acknowledges the fact that for many ruling elites across the continent- to seriously fight corruption is to commit political suicide because it is the resources availed by kickbacks, gifts, allocations of public land, public supply and construction contracts, interest free loans from state banks and money laundering that verge on the criminal at worst and economic delinquency at the very least an the part of leaders, that pay for politics in Africa.

Kenya: 'Fat Cats' Could End Graft

2002-02-21

http://library.northernlight.com/FC20020212500000096.html?cb=0&dx=1006&sc=0#%20doc

Peter Eigen, a former World Bank executive director who served as WB's resident director in Kenya, was reportedly moved by the misery of Kenya's underprivileged class to form Transparency International (TI), an anti-corruption watchdog. TI defines corruption as the abuse of public office for private gain. Its annual perceptions index has been indicating that Kenya is one the most corrupt countries in the world. Smiles of the London graft experts as they met with Foreign Affairs Minister Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka in his office, could not conceal the fact. Everywhere the graft team went, they were met with muted concerns about their ability to eradicate the vice threatening to throw Kenya into a fratricidal economic mess.

Namibia: Parliament rejects bill seeking to create anti-graft body

2002-02-21

http://www.transparency.org/cgi-bin/dcn-read.pl?citID=20508

The National Council (NC) has rejected the creation of an anti-graft commission as proposed by the Anti-Corruption Bill unanimously here Tuesday. The NC rejected the bill in its current form on the recommendation of its standing committee on constitutional and legal affairs that proposed that the functions of the envisaged Anti-Corruption Commission could best be performed by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Nigeria: Anti-graft panel arraigns judge over bribery

2002-02-21

http://globalarchive.ft.com/globalarchive/article.html?id=020214002901&query=corruption

Government's campaign against corruption moved some steps higher when a serving judge, Justice Garba Abdullahi, was arraigned before a Kano [northern Nigeria] High Court by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission over alleged bribery.

Nigeria: World Bank Sponsors Survey On Administration of Justice

2002-02-21

http://allafrica.com/stories/200202110594.html

FOR the enhancement of the quality of justice being delivered to the Nigerian society, a World Bank sponsored survey will soon be conducted to determine the problems facing administration of justice and recommend solutions to them.

South Africa: Magistrates accused of swindling tax funds for luxuries

2002-02-21

http://globalarchive.ft.com/globalarchive/article.html?id=020214001318&query=corruption

THE SOUTH AFRICAN government is taking up to 28 magistrates to court in a civil action that accuses them of abusing several million pounds of public funds to install luxuries such as outside lounges and swimming pools at their homes and offices.

Uganda: Poor Pay High Price for Corruption

2002-02-21

http://allafrica.com/stories/200202110370.html

Bank of Uganda (BOU) deputy Governor, Dr. Louis Kasekende, has said the poor pay a very high price for corruption. According to him, only greater transparency and accountability for public funds would reduce poverty.

With the African Union, the leaders are catching up with the people

2002-02-21

http://www.transparency.org/cgi-bin/dcn-read.pl?citID=20470

This year's African Development Forum - the annual conference hosted by the UN's Economic Commission for Africa in the Ethiopian capital,Addis Ababa - is focused on the transition to the African Union. AllAfrica asked John Githongo, executive director of Transparency International in Kenya, and a member of Transparency International's global board, to discuss the pros and cons of African integration.

WTO Director-General Moore speaks out on WTO rules

2002-02-21

http://www.transparency.org/cgi-bin/dcn-read.pl?citID=20520

Mike Moore, director-general of the World Trade Organisation, has urged developing countries to support proposals for WTO rules on competition and investment, telling them it is in their own economic interest. It is unusual for a WTO director-general to take a public position on such politically contentious questions. But Mr Moore says in an article in the Financial Times that an agreement on new WTO rules would benefit developing countries by helping them attract foreign direct investment, attack hardcore cartels, tackle corrupt procurement practices and lower export costs.

Zimbabwe: Govt not keen to fight graft says survey

2002-02-21

http://www.transparency.org/cgi-bin/dcn-read.pl?citID=20537

The public has given a thumbs-down to government's commitment to combating corruption, describing it as half-hearted and questionable, an anti-corruption public opinion survey has revealed. The survey, carried out by Transparency International (Zimbabwe) showed that the majority of people surveyed were not satisfied with the way the government and the public services tackled corruption issues.

CENTRAL & EASTERN AFRICA: Dutch pledge US $100 million for regional aid fund

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21340

The Netherlands has pledged US $100 million to an international trust fund for the Great Lakes region in Africa, the Royal Netherlands Embassy in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, announced on Friday.

ETHIOPIA: Forex reserves hard hit by coffee's downward spiral

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21590

The collapse of coffee prices has severely dented Ethiopia’s precious foreign exchange reserves, the National Bank of Ethiopia said on Tuesday. Although the country has seen a massive rise in the reserves since the end of the war with Eritrea, economically it is still being hard hit.

MALAWI: Malnutrition deepens

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21169

Malnutrition is making it difficult for Malawi's doctors to successfully treat patients, IRIN has learnt. The director of one of Malawi's main hospitals told IRIN that many discharged patients are being re-admitted after suffering a relapse, of whatever illness, because they have no food at home.

South Africa: Activists call for government grant for the poor

2002-02-21

http://www.sabcnews.co.za/economy/labour/0,1009,28446,00.html

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) together with the Coalition for a Basic Income Grant, Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), are pushing for a monthly basic income grant of R100 for all South Africans.

South Africa: Budget Preview by the People’s Budget Campaign

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/development/5976

The People’s Budget Campaign, formed by COSATU, the SACC and SANGOCO, expect the 2002/3 budget to express a renewed commitment to social solidarity. Above all, it should initiate decisive measures to alleviate poverty and restructure the economy to create jobs and ensure rapid growth.
----------------------------------------

Press statement issued by the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

To receive future press statements go to
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----------------------------------------

Budget Preview by the People’s Budget Campaign
The People’s Budget Campaign, formed by COSATU, the
SACC and SANGOCO, expect the 2002/3 budget to
express a renewed commitment to social solidarity. Above
all, it should initiate decisive measures to alleviate poverty
and restructure the economy to create jobs and ensure
rapid growth.
· Fiscal strategy
The People’s Budget argues that an effective fiscal policy
must arise out of a robust development strategy that can
overcome the legacy of apartheid. Only transformation of
the economy and society can provide the basis for long-
term growth and employment creation. The development
strategy at the heart of the RDP seeks to integrate
· Social protection programmes, which address poverty
directly by providing basic infrastructure and social
services as well as welfare grants, and
· Measures to restructure the economy in ways that will
give the poor access to jobs and productive assets,
including an industrial strategy geared to employment
creation, skills development, and support for SMMEs
and land reform.
This approach requires a strong state, with sufficient
resources. The budget cuts in the late 1990s worked in the
opposite direction. Treasury itself now admits that provincial
budgets fell by 1,8 per cent a year, on average, in the three
years to 2000. Government’s commitment, in the 2001
Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), to
growing the budget in real terms is welcome, but does not
go far enough. It means we will reach 1996 levels of
government spending per person only around 2005.
Treasury sometimes cites rollovers as a reason not to
increase spending dramatically. But rollovers are heavily
concentrated in a few provinces and departments, while
other departments are underfunded. In 1999/2000, just four
national departments accounted for 80 per cent of rollovers
by national government; in 2000/1, Gauteng alone
accounted for half of provincial underspending on education,
health and welfare.
The People’s Budget has modelled the impact of more rapid
expansion in borrowing and taxation, with the deficit rising to
around 4 per cent of GDP and taxes to between 26 and 27
per cent. If the funds are used productively for social
protection and economic restructuring, the result is
economic growth of close to 5 per cent, and a gradual
decline in deficit and tax ratios.
· Taxes
The People’s Budget welcomes the President’s
commitment to cut taxes on the poor. But only about 20 per
cent of the population earns enough to pay income tax, so
continually focusing on that tax will never reach the poorest
of the poor. Indeed, to the extent that tax cuts limit the
expansion in government services, the majority of our
people will suffer as a result. For this reason, the People’s
Budget calls for higher income tax rates for the high-income
group.
If government wants to cut taxes for the poor, the best
method is to introduce multiple rates for the VAT. Currently,
the VAT takes a higher percentage of income from the poor
than the rich. The People’s Budget calls for reversal of this
situation, with higher VAT on luxuries and an expansion in
zero-rating on basic necessities. That is the system most
countries have adopted worldwide.
· Food security
The last few months have seen an extraordinary increase in
food prices, including a 30 per cent rise in the cost of
maize. We expect this year’s budget to include practical
measures that will address the resulting hunger. Already up
to a quarter of South African children under six are stunted
for lack of food. Failure to take rapid action will lead to even
worse outcomes.
Recent research shows that this year’s rise in maize prices
was based in large part on inaccurate predictions of a
domestic maize shortage, combined with import-parity
pricing in a context of rapid depreciation. In other words, it is
not driven by normal production factors, but rather by poorly
functioning markets.
The People’s Budget has long called for improvements in
the child and old-age grants and the introduction of a Basic
Income Grant as essential for long-term food security for
our people. This should be reflected in the budget by:
· Increases in the child support grant and old-age
pension of at least 10 per cent above inflation. This will
make up for some of the real cuts in the old-age
pension in the 1990s.
· Provision of sufficient funding to reach all eligible
people. We welcome the President’s call to make sure
that all needy children get the child support grant. To
achieve this end, Home Affairs must expedite
applications for identification, and the means test for the
grant must be eliminated. Given the low level of the
grant, it is unlikely that the well off will take the trouble to
apply for it.
· The allocation of funding to set up structures to
administer the Basic Income Grant and, in the MTEF, to
phase the grant in over the next two years.
In addition, we need short-term measures to address the
new food crisis. Important steps include:
· Restoration and a substantial expansion of school
feeding schemes, and their extension to other vulnerable
groups, including the aged, homeless and rural
underemployed.
· A commitment to ensure that the VAT zero rating of
basic foods is passed on to consumers. Thus, brown
bread is zero rated while white bread is not – but in most
shops, there is no difference in price. That means
storeowners are profiteering at the cost of the poor.
· The use of supply-side measures to encourage
increased maize production in South Africa and if
possible in neighbouring countries, in order to reduce
the foreign exchange risk in future.
· Investigation of the maize market, in particular the crop
assessments committee and the futures market.
· Health
Health remains the most underfunded of the major social
services. Yet the sector faces the challenge of the AIDS
epidemic. Meanwhile, some two thirds of health resources
are in the private sector, serving only about a fifth of South
Africans. This situation is slowly recreating inequalities like
those found under apartheid, but now based on income
rather than race.
To remedy this situation, the People’s Budget calls for
· A National Health Insurance system that can integrate
the public and private sectors and ensure adequate
health care for all South Africans. While the new system
would not increase the overall cost of health, it would
require substantial shifts in funding procedures, which
should be reflected in the MTEF.
· A more vigorous campaign to stop the AIDS epidemic,
including more focused and open education and media
campaigns; an extension of testing and counselling
services, as well as community-service schemes for
home-based care; and provision of anti-retrovirals in the
public health sector. We recognise that these
programmes will be costly. But the costs are far
outweighed by the savings in terms of human lives,
substantially reduced numbers of AIDS orphans and the
maintenance of decent, productive lives for HIV positive
people. Moreover, compulsory licensing of local
production should substantially reduce medication costs.
· Education
The MTEF provides for a substantial improvement in
education funding, and we expect that commitment to be
met. In addition, we expect more rigorous measures to
ensure equality between schools, in terms of support staff –
cleaners, security and clerical workers – as well as facilities
and overall expenditure.
In this context, the current fees system maintains the
massive inequalities inherited from apartheid. The budget
should include a commitment to investigate ways to modify
the fees system so that it benefits all learners, and not just
those in rich suburbs.
· Infrastructure and housing
The People’s Budget welcomes the significant increase in
government investment promised by the MTEF, after years
of cuts. But the delivery mechanisms must be reviewed. In
particular:
· The commitment to free basic services is a critical step
toward ensuring real access to infrastructure. But the
definition of basic services must be broadened and the
subsidies enlarged in order to provide adequate social
protection. Moreover, the share of the budget going to
local government, especially in the impoverished former
homeland areas, must be increased to make this
scheme viable.
· Treasury has been in the forefront of pushing for private-
sector provision of basic services, essentially to
compensate for persistent budget cuts since 1996. That
strategy ignores the fact that the private sector won’t
serve the poor, who cannot pay. As a result, the
introduction of private providers won’t make up for
budget shortcomings. Instead, government must ensure
adequate funding. It must also explore more people-
centred forms of delivery, including the public sector
itself, community control boards, co-ops and well-
defined, competent regulatory frameworks.
To support accountability, the People’s Budget calls for the
inclusion in the MTEF of clear targets and deadlines for
universal access for each type of basic infrastructure.
These targets must ensure affordability for poor
households, not just access in technical terms.
· Employment creation
The key to employment creation is restructuring the
economy to expand the relatively labour-intensive sectors,
combined with substantial improvements in education and
training and support for co-ops and SMMEs. From this
standpoint, the proposed wage subsidy – although a
welcome gesture to prioritise the unemployment problem -
is too small and poorly targeted to have a significant impact.
Virtually all studies show that high wages are simply not the
main cause of job losses and slow job creation.
The People’s Budget has called for the use of public works
and community-service programmes to provide some
financial support, training and social integration for the
unemployed while meeting the needs of poor communities.
More fundamentally, a process of sector summits, as
agreed at the Presidential Jobs Summit in 1998, should
encourage economic growth and employment creation. The
DTI must use its supply side measures to support this type
of restructuring, which means also extending them to the
service sectors as well as to production for the domestic
market.
Finally, we need a substantial acceleration of land reform,
including a large increase in funding for land acquisition and
support for new farmers.
The government’s target of redistributing 30 per cent of land
can only be met with an increase in funding for land
acquisition. In addition, funding for capacity
building and extension to support new smallholders must be increased
substantially, in order to establish a viable and dynamic rural economy.
· Military spending
The decision to engage in large-scale military procurement
has placed pressure on the ability to increase services for
the poor. The real security for our country will come from
eliminating poverty in the southern African region.
For this reason, the People’s Budget expects that revised
plans for the financing of the deal will reflect an official
decision to decline the optional purchases associated with
the contracts, and that every effort will be made to ensure
both minimal expenditure and strict adherence to local
production and investment commitments.

Patrick Craven and Moloto Mothapo
Acting COSATU Spokespersons

patrick@cosatu.org.za
082-821-7456
339-4911

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Spotlight on Regina Amadi-Njoku- ILO African Regional Director

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/development/5913

Regina Amadi-Njoku has been director of the ILO African Regional Office for a year and a half, operating closely with ICFTU affiliates and ICFTU regional organisation (AFRO) across the continent to improve the precarious working situation for millions of people. James Lorenz had the opportunity to speak to her for the spotlight interview on the occasion of her attending a meeting with the ICFTU in Brussels.
INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF FREE TRADE UNIONS (ICFTU)

ICFTU OnLine...
030/120202/JL

Spotlight on Regina Amadi-Njoku- ILO African Regional Director

Brussels 12 February, 2002 (ICFTU OnLine): Regina Amadi-Njoku has been
director of the ILO African Regional Office for a year and a half, operating
closely with ICFTU affiliates and ICFTU regional organisation (AFRO) across
the continent to improve the precarious working situation for millions of
people. James Lorenz had the opportunity to speak to her for the spotlight
interview on the occasion of her attending a meeting with the ICFTU in
Brussels.


What are the main priorities for the ILO in Africa?

The main priorities from the ILO mandate in Africa is to combat the evils of
conflict, AIDS/HIV and poverty, and to work to improve governance and
regional integration. None of these issues stand alone, they are deeply
intertwined, so if we are to successfully deal with one issue, it will by
successfully dealing with them all. AIDS is in many cases a poverty- related
disease, conflict is fed by poverty, there are links between all of these
five issues and they must be combated together. Within these issues are a
whole host of other important challenges- such as bridging the digital
divide and coping with migration- these must also be addressed, and
addressed quickly.

Personally, one of my greatest challenges is the fight for equality and
women's rights. I was once told that there are three indicators that you
have to look at when you go to a country that will give you a rough guide to
the state that it is in: cartoons for the political situation, jobs ads for
the economic and finally, the obituaries. When I travel around African
countries now, I notice that there are more and more young women in the
obituaries, and this is a very bad sign, as women are for the most part the
people who bring back the money and support the family. At the ILO, we are
striving to get women involved at higher levels in African society, but it
is a difficult task. Not least for the women themselves, who have both
productive and reproductive roles to play.


How is the ILO equipped to deal with these not inconsiderable challenges?

The ILO is one of the few international institutions which participates in
the meetings of the Organisation of African Unity. We play an important role
in the labour and social affairs at that level. We also have a placement in
the regional groupings such as Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and 12
offices spread across Africa. From this we are able to work closely with the
governments and civil society.


What role can trade unions play in improving the lives of ordinary working
Africans?

In many cases, trade unions and the media are forced to play the role of the
effective opposition in African countries. In this way they are able to
bring the issues of the man in the street to the table of the government,
especially highlighting the need to protect the rights of workers. And this
is critical, because in Africa, when one worker may have to feed and house
up to 20 people with his salary, that worker needs a great deal of support.

Very often, the trade unions already have an important effect, one example
is their role in developing social insurance systems in Cote D'Ivoire, but
the work they carry out is significant across the continent.

The role of the trade unions will also increase with the new drives in
Africa for governance and democratisation, which at present are in an
embryonic stage. The IMF and the World Bank (under the Poverty Reduction
Strategic Papers (PRSP)) are pushing African governments to move in this
direction, and the trade unions will be important partners, especially in
assuring that any developments which ensue pay full attention to the social
dimension that can be ignored by the international financial institutions.
The workers are well placed to address these rights issues as players and
also as social partners, as well as being in partnership with the ILO in
promoting growth with equality and justice.


How can the millions working in the burgeoning informal economy in Africa be
aided?

Given that the majority of the workforce in Africa works in the informal
sector, this is one of the greatest challenges. Among many other things,
these people need organisation, which can in turn provide them with the
power to collectively bargain and to ensure that they have social
protection. The trade unions can play a role in making their work as decent
as is possible, they should be the architects of developments in the
informal economy as they are best placed to have a positive effect.


What role can the ICFTU/AFRO play in Africa?

The ICFTU has an extremely important role to play. With these changes which
I have just been talking about there is a considerable shortage of skills.
There is a need for training in lobbying and advocacy skills so the trade
unions on the ground can get their voices heard on issues such as the PRSP
programmes. Lobbying for greater social dialogue is essential. The ILO is
working with the ICFTU/AFRO at the moment to do just this, but more help is
needed, both financially and technically. Teaching new skills is key to
capacity building.

As I said, the ILO works very closely with AFRO. They run a lot of
programmes in Africa, but it is important for us that they improve the
documentation process, so that the results can be used in negotiations with
the World Bank and the IMF. Since I have been in office, there has been a
strengthening of the relationship between the ILO and AFRO, and I am sure
this will continue.


For the full spotlight interview, please go to:
http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Language=EN&Index=991214760



The ICFTU represents 157 million workers in 225 affiliated organisations in
148 countries and territories. ICFTU is also a member of Global Unions:
http://www.global-unions.org

For more information, please contact the ICFTU Press Department on +32 2 224
0232 or +32 476 62 10 18.

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SWAZILAND: Subsistence farmers rethink priorities

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21341

The farm of Lion Mahlalela, a headman in the Mananga area to the far north of the country, is the last Swazi homestead before a barbed wire fence that announces the "no-man's land" separating the kingdom from South Africa.

TANZANIA: Canada cancels over US $80 million in debt

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21596

The Canadian government has announced the cancellation of all US $83.6 million in debt it is owed by Tanzania. "Tanzania's debt load is unsustainable, and cancelling these debts will enable it to invest more in critical areas such as health care, HIV/AIDS prevention and primary education," Canadian Finance Minister Paul Martin said in a statement on 11 February.

UGANDA: Minister highlights water, sanitation problems

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21163

Half the population of Uganda lacks access to safe water, and only about 30 percent has access to adequate sanitation, according to Minister of State for Water, Lands and the Environment Maria Mutagamba. Uganda has a population of about 22 million.

ZIMBABWE: "Fast track" land reform unsustainable - UNDP

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=20929

Zimbabwe's controversial "fast track" land reform programme is the cause of much of the economic, political and social instability in the country, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a new report released on Wednesday.

AFRICA: LIFE EXPECTANCY REACHING LOWEST LEVELS EVER

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/hivaids/5921

By the year 2005, most Africans will die before they reach their 48th birthday, the fourth general assembly of the African Population Commission (APC) heard this week. Disease, the main killer, has become a risk to the national security of African countries, threatening the very survival of some communities, the conference in Addis Ababa was told. The spread of HIV/AIDS in particular, and wars and poverty, have driven down life expectancy by 15 years in the last two decades.
By the year 2005, most Africans will die before they reach their 48th
birthday, the fourth general assembly of the African Population Commission
(APC) heard this week.
Disease, the main killer, has become a risk to the national security of
African countries, threatening the very survival of some communities, the
conference in Addis Ababa was told. The spread of HIV/AIDS in particular,
and wars and poverty, have driven down life expectancy by 15 years in the
last two decades.
Lawrence Agubuzu, the assistant secretary-general of the Organisation of
African Unity (OAU) said many of the continent's 700 million population were
blighted by poverty, civil war and disease. Speaking at the opening of the
four-day conference, he said women and children were the most vulnerable
group, and their needs must be addressed.
"Today Africa is distinctly characterised by abject socioeconomic conditions
and unprecedented extreme demographic trends with far-reaching
consequences," he stated. "The population factor is at the centre of these
problems," he told delegates.
"The high population growth, coupled with an unstable political, social and
economic climate, and widespread poverty, are factors that jeopardise the
socioeconomic situation of African countries and contribute to the
degradation of the environment."
"The statistics of morbidity and mortality due to HIV/AIDS are very grim on
our continent," he added. "Suffice to say that because of HIV/AIDS, life
expectancy at birth and GDP have decreased significantly in badly affected
countries, and will continue to do so for many years."

SOURCE: IRIN Africa English reports, 11 February 2002

Africa: Taking on HIV/AIDS

2002-02-21

http://www.worldbank.org/developmentnews/stories/html/020802a.htm

AIDS has already claimed the lives of more than 18 million Africans. Despite promising developments in the past year, the situation is growing worse. More than 9,000 Africans are newly infected each day. Responding to this development threat, World Bank President James Wolfensohn recently noted that intensifying the fight against HIV/AIDS is central to the Bank's mission. On Thursday, the World Bank approved an additional $500 million for the second stage of its Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Program for Africa (MAP), bringing the amount of its no-interest HIV/AIDS lending to Africa through this program to $1 billion in the course of the current financial year.

BMJ journals free to the developing world

2002-02-21

http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/324/7334/380

The BMJ Publishing Group has for almost a year provided free access to the electronic version of its 23 specialist journals to anybody in the 50 poorest countries in the world. (The BMJ and the studentBMJ are, of course, free to everybody everywhere.) Now we are extending free access to over 100 of the poorest countries in the world, which between them include most of the world's population. Within a few weeks (once we have solved some technical problems) we will also provide free access to Clinical Evidence, our evidence based compendium of answers to commonly asked clinical questions.

Defeating HIV: Now is the time!

Address by Willy Madisha - President of COSATU

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/hivaids/5948

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has welcomed President Mbeki's comments in relation to HIV made in his state of the Nation address recently. COSATU further made an "appeal to everyone concerned to get out of entrenched positions and public posturing on this grave national crisis and put the needs of the our people first."
----------------------------------------

Press statement issued by the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

To receive future press statements go to
http://gate.cosatu.org.za/mailman/listinfo/press

----------------------------------------


Defeating HIV: Now is the time!

Address by Willy Madisha - President of COSATU - at Sparrow's
Nest Aids Village, Gauteng (14 February 2002)

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has
welcomed President Mbeki's comments in relation to HIV made in
his state of the Nation address recently. COSATU further made an
"appeal to everyone concerned to get out of entrenched positions
and public posturing on this grave national crisis and put the needs
of the our people first."

(Batho Pele is a watchword of our government- and truly we are
trying as a public service to do this). In tackling HIV "we must put
people first" because - the evidence in the hospitals and our
cemeteries confirm that people are dying and that where anti-
retrovirals are applied life is clearly extended, and where they are
denied, as day follows night, so a premature death follows such
denial.

Last year, two separate reports confirmed that large numbers of
people are now dying of AIDS-related illnesses. The first report by
the Medical Research Council (MRC) was contested by the
government, particularly because it drew the conclusion that AIDS
was now the main cause of death amongst adults and would lead
to millions of deaths within the next few years.

The second report produced by Statistics South Africa (SSA), the
government's "official" analysts, repeated that there have been
dramatic changes in
(a) the numbers of people dying, which has increased greatly and
(b) The patterns of death in South Africa - with large numbers of
people now dying...in their 20's and 30's. This report resisted
drawing the conclusion that AIDS was the major factor behind this.
We on the ground know that there can be no other explanation.

What both reports confirm is being felt on the ground and is being
reported anecdotally by doctors, nurses, church leaders,
community activists and trade unionists. This pattern of increasing
sickness and death among young and poor people in SA will
continue for many years to come unless there is a deliberate and
united intervention to prevent it.

When our President talks about a holistic approach, it cannot be
faulted; however, two key points need to be stressed.

First of all, new HIV infections can be prevented by more effective
communication strategies but also by targeting the social
conditions that put people at a greater risk of infection. Here we are
talking about the urban and rural poor who are the systematic
victims of capitalism's ruthless pursuit of profits over all other social
and moral considerations.

We in COSATU believe that targets must be set - to both reduce
the number of infections - currently 1500 per day - as well as
having it as a measuring tool to test effectiveness of our strategies.

The second point is that there is absolutely no doubt, in my mind,
that anti-retroviral medicines lead to a reversal of many of the
consequences of HIV infection and, in most instances,
dramatically improve and prolong lives.

There is ample evidence that anti retroviral therapy is highly effective
in reducing a person's level of infection with HIV. That leads to a
substantial improvement in the immune system and a longer life.
Since the most effective treatment, which combines three of the
anti-retrovirals (so called coctails or combination therapy) was only
introduced in 1996, it is not known for how long treatment can be
used.

A seminal study by Palella and others have shown a decrease of
deaths in the USA by more than 70% since the combination
therapy was used. A study in a Chilean public hospital between
1997 and 2000 demonstrated an equally remarkable success.

Patients getting anti-retrovirals experienced a 60 to 73% fall in Aids
- related deaths, whilst Aids related illnesses dropped 65 to 76%.
Oesophageal candidiasis dropped 84%, TB75%; cryptococcosis
and toxoplasmosis, 66 %, PCP 55%; and bacterial pneumonia,
46%. Overall, hospitalisations were 73% lower for patients getting
anti-retrovirals than for patients who did not.

Brazil has been cited by UNAIDS as a best practice for its
response to HIV - Aids epidemic. The country has about 500 000
people with HIV, substantially less than South Africa. Its
government introduced an anti-retroviral programme in the early
1990's. It now ensures universal access to the therapy, including
mother-to-child prevention programmes. As a result, mortality rates
for people with HIV dropped by 50%.

The above facts is the reason for all our focus on Anti Retroviral's
(ARVs), but it should not be read as excluding or denying the
importance of other interventions. However, the bottom line is that
for ± 200 000 people a year access to these medicines is their only
hope.

The key priorities then for 2002 are:

A) Now is the Time / Sekunjalo! The issue of mother-to-child
transmission (MTCT) needs to be put to bed and put beyond further
controversy, and we - as nation - cannot wait. Despite its
opposition to the court case, in 2001, senior government figures
viz (Zweli Mkhize, KZN Minister of Health, Eddie Mahlanga,
Director of Maternal and Child Health, Ayanda Ntsaluba - Director
General of Health), have repeatedly accepted that Nevirapine works
and that it is safe and that the sole challenges are around
implementation.

Most recently, our President Thabo Mbeki said that provinces with
capacity should be allowed to use this capacity whilst focus should
be on improving capacity of the poorest provinces, particularly the
Northern province. The essential and yet-not-in-place ingredients of
patient counseling have often been raised in the media and public
debate. This must be urgently addressed by us all especially those
in the service unions (health, education etc) and community
organisations.

When President Mbeki quoted the case of the teacher from
Inkonjane Senior Secondary School in Soweto I was doubly
pleased. The teacher, Bathabile Serei, is a member of SADTU and
together with the Sunday Times did really good work in supporting
learners in the KZN area who are less privileged and suffering from
HIV. The other reason for being pleased is that the president
underscored the importance of solidarity and the need to rebuild
community spirit.

Research has it that KZN is at the epicentre of the virus in our
country. The impact of the epidemic on students, teachers and
institutions is extremely severe as University of Natal's researcher
Peter Badcock-Walters argue, that SA is witnessing a decline in
the quality of education which negatively impacts on the potential
and the productivity. His study estimates that:
* 275,000 school-age children in KwaZulu-Natal Province are not
attending school.
* First grade enrolment has dropped 60 percent since 1998.

My union, SADTU has shown that teachers in the province are
dying very young - presumably from AIDS.

With this in mind, I am calling on COSATU leaders - shop-
stewards and activist members - as well as the Labour Movement
at large, together with all civil society organisations, to join in the
spirit of Matsema / Letsema and volunteer their time to become
counselors. A number of NGOs are willing to do this training and I
am going to take up the course myself. I know there are many who
are able and willing to do likewise. Every workplace and community
must have at least one counselor.

B) One giant step towards a holistic health strategy will be to put
into place a National Treatment Plan for tackling HIV. This will deal
in a comprehensive manner on prevention of HIV. We are fully
aware that other illnesses and diseases such as Malaria and TB
are widespread.

But, by preventing HIV we will go a long way towards freeing the
public health system - so that it can deal with other illnesses as
well as providing meaningful treatment to those people who are
already infected. For this to happen means proper and adequate
funding for the public health system, must be forthcoming.

C) For the plan to succeed, the political will as well as the
resources must be put in. We have all along called for HIV to be
declared a national emergency, since it is not one equal health
issue amongst many, but the determinant of many other epidemics
as well as the general ability of health workers and health services
to promote and improve health in South Africa.

Since the COSATU / TAC /MSF "operation" to bring ARVs back
from Brazil and challenge the patent holders, the TAC and
COSATU have again been directly approached by the local
pharmaceutical industry with proposals for local production of these
medicines.

This would create jobs, create investment and the possibility of
sustaining access to these essential medicines. However, the
generic companies cannot produce unless there is political
support and political pressure to issue compulsory licenses for local
production.

Finally, I have spoken above about solidarity and rebuilding
community spirit and organisation but it will require a massive
injection of urgent treatment to ensure that the hope and resilience
of our people is nourished and sustained. This calls for
governments - our public sector - to be centrally involved in rolling
out the treatment since only it has the leverage and capacity to
reach all our people.

When I voted for this government I did so with the express
understanding that as a government - like all governments it has an
obligation to look after the most vulnerable of its people. The case
of people living with HIV has become the litmus test of our
revolution, since it touches on illnesses, and the impact poverty
and other factors has on it. Whilst a rich or relatively well off person
living with HIV may truly live, because they can afford to buy all the
anti retroviral cocktails, poor people, cannot afford these.

Here I am reminded of my good comrade Judge Edwin Cameron,
who has been living with the virus for years, and has been eating
healthily, going to gym and keeps on taking his cocktail. A poor
person, on the other hand, living in an informal settlement without a
job and without access to treatment will surely die.

Our government will surely, and I sincerely believe, rise to this
challenge. Then we as a people -united- civil society, unions and
our government will shoulder to shoulder, do what we did to
Apartheid: relegate it to the dustbin of history.

Our presence here - at the Sparrow Rainbow Village, which we
believe will not only be a place to die, but to resist the virus and
win. COSATU commits itself to working with all people in our
country working to overcome the devastation caused by the virus
and poverty. We shall overcome! Venceremos - Victory is certain!


Patrick Craven and Moloto Mothapo
Acting COSATU Spokespersons

patrick@cosatu.org.za
082-821-7456
339-4911

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

Visit the COSATU web site at http://www.cosatu.org.za/press/latest.html for
copies of our most recent press statements.

Get free e-mail for union members. Visit www.union.org.za and sign up now!
It's free!

COSATU takes steps to ensure that any attachments are free from
viruses. You should, however, carry out your own virus check before
opening any attachment. COSATU accepts no liability for loss or
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***********************************************************

----------------------------------------

Contact 082-821-7456 Patrick Craven or Moloto Mothapo for further comment.

Visit the COSATU web site at http://www.cosatu.org.za/press/latest.html for
copies of our most recent press statements. For the full archive go to:
http://www.cosatu.org.za/press/archive.html

Get free e-mail for union members. Visit http://www.union.org.za and sign
up now! It's free!

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Number One Killer of Children in Africa Too Expensive to Treat Effectively?

Report released by MSF shows this myth is unfounded

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/hivaids/5952

As East African countries are about to change national malaria treatment protocols, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) releases a report in the hope of averting a fatal choice.
Number One Killer of Children in Africa Too Expensive to Treat Effectively?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Report released by MSF shows this myth is unfounded


13 February 2002, Nairobi - As East African countries are about to
change national malaria treatment protocols, Médecins Sans Frontières
(MSF) today releases a report in the hope of averting a fatal choice.

In recent years, increasing parasite resistance has rendered antima-
larial drugs such as chloroquine and Fansidar® virtually useless in
many parts of East Africa. Malaria experts agree that in order to of-
fer patients effective treatment and prevent further spread of resis-
tance, protocols should include drug combinations with the highly po-
tent Chinese drugs known as artemisinin derivatives.

However, because of a lack of resources and donor preference for
cheap solutions, many health ministries are considering changing pro-
tocols to transition strategies, using combinations of drugs that
will be equivalent to giving some patients placebos. This decision is
a matter of life and death in a disease that kills between 1.3 and
1.8 million African children a year.

“Knowing more effective drugs are available and not being able to
give them to my patients has been so difficult,” said Dr. Diane
Cheynier, MSF Burundi. “Treatment exists that can avoid people dying
unnecessarily. With the help of donors, African governments can avoid
the fatal error of going to stop-gap, band-aid solutions.”

In MSF’s report, increased costs of more effective drugs are pin-
pointed as one of the chief barriers to widespread implementation in
the public sector. Current drug combinations cost just US$ 0.25 per
adult dose while more effective combinations with artemisinin deriva-
tives cost approximately US$ 1.30. However, the report shows that for
Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda combined, the additional
costs to implement the more effective combinations would only amount
to US$19 million a year.

When African governments make the political decision to implement ef-
fective long term strategies, they will need the support of donors.

“We believe that the report released today destroys one of the key
myths blocking the introduction of treatment that has been highly
recommended by leading malaria experts,” said Dr. Jean-Marie Kinder-
mans of MSF, author of the report. “The cost of switching to effec-
tive combinations rather than combinations which are often no better
than placebos is affordable if international donors are willing to
help.”

Artemisinin derivatives, which are extracted from a Chinese plant and
have been used in Asia for more than ten years, have attributes that
make them especially effective against malaria and are therefore
viewed as essential elements of effective combinations. They are
fast- acting, highly potent and complementary to other classes of
treatment. When used in combination with a second drug, artemisinin
derivatives appear to slow the development of resistance to the sec-
ond drug. For this reason, experts predict that artemisinin-
containing combinations would continue to be effective in the long
term. To date, no resistance to artemisinin drugs has been reported.

The full report “Changing national malaria treatment protocols in Af-
rica: What is the cost and who will pay?” can be found at
http://www.accessmed-msf.org

You can download it in Adobe PDF format (188 kB) at:
http://www.accessmed-msf.org/upload/ReportsandPublications/12220021722584/JM
Kmalariadoc.pdf

For further information, please contact
Daniel Berman
Tel: +254-733-631-531
Malini Morzaria
Tel: +254-72-513-981
Lucy Kange’the
Tel: +254-2-444-474 or +254-2-440-536

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South Africa opposition ridicules Mbeki over AIDS

2002-02-21

http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2002/02/12/eline/links/20020212elin022.html

Opposition leaders hurled ridicule and defiance at President Thabo Mbeki on Tuesday over his government's continued refusal to expand the use of drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the AIDS virus. Mangosuthu Buthelezi, leader of the mainly Zulu Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), said he had instructed the IFP premier of KwaZulu-Natal province to dispense with testing and counseling if necessary and offer nevirapine to all pregnant women.

South Africa: New Village Will House and Provide Care for People With HIV/AIDS

2002-02-21

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_hiv.cfm#9502

The Sparrow Rainbow Village, a village created to house and care for South Africans living with HIV/AIDS, opened on Thursday in Roodeport, South Africa, the Associated Press reports. The village, which is located near Johannesburg, will eventually house 450 people, including 100 children. Many of the residents will live in "igloo-like structures" in the village, while others will receive care in their own homes. "In the coming years we are going to need a great many more villages like this," Rev. Corine McClintock, founder of Sparrow Ministries, said.

TANZANIA: CALL FOR PROPOSALS

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/hivaids/6024

The African Malaria Vaccine Testing Network (AMVTN) African Malaria Network Trust (AMANET) is inviting applications from African scientists in the employment of African institutions/ Ministries of Health to participate in a one week workshop.


AMVTN/AMANET Joint Workshop on Health Research Ethics and Good Clinical
Practice
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

July 2002

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The African Malaria Vaccine Testing Network (AMVTN) African Malaria
Network Trust (AMANET) is inviting applications from African scien-
tists in the employment of African institutions/Ministries of Health
to participate in the above one week workshop. Applicants must at
least be middle to senior level investigators, key members of ethics
(*or scientific) review committees, study monitors, members of data
safety monitoring boards, sponsors of research involving human sub-
jects, members of regulatory bodies or editors of biomedical jour-
nals.

Workshop Contents:
* History of Ethics in health Research,
* Ethics Codes and Guidelines,
* Principles of GCP,
* Ethics Committees: responsibilities, composition and functions,
* Beneficience/non-eficience in Research,
* Respect of Persons/Autonomy,
* Justice in Research,
* Issues in Study Design,
* Ethical Issues in International Research,
* Qualifications, roles and functions of the sponsor, principal
investigator and study monitor,
* Data Safety Monitoring Board.

Teaching Methods
The workshop will mainly utilize participatory approaches including
lectures, case studies, discussion groups, panels, debates and other
interactive teaching/learning methods.

Venue
To be determined later.

Financing
Selected participants will be financed by the AMVTN/AMANET; the
awards will cover tuition, travel and full board accommodation. Par-
ticipants will meet their visa fees and out of pocket expenses.

Applicants wishing to participate in this Workshop should forward the
following by e-mail to the address below before 31 March 2002:
1. Full name in capital letters, with family name underlined.
2. Date of birth and nationality.
3. Name, full address, telephone number, faxes number, and e-mail ad-
dress where the applicant is employed.
4. Listing of educational qualifications, including date., place and
degree(s) obtained.
5. Describe in not more than 15 lines the nature of your current
post, and nay other posts you may have where you need this work-
shop.
6. Current research interests (not more than 10 lines).
7. A list of your publications, especially those relating to the
workshop and/or clinical/field trials.
8. Names and address of two referees (including their telephone, fax
and e-mail contacts) who you have requested to provide letters of
recommendation to be sent directly to the address below.


ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 31 MARCH 2002 BY E-MAIL AT THE
ADDRESS BELOW:

Professor W. L. Kilama
Managing Trustee, AMANET
C26/27 Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology Building
Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road, Kijitonyama
P. O. Box 33207
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel: +255-22-2700-018
Fax: +255-22-2700-380
mailto:wkilama@africaonline.co.tz

Toxicology of Traditional Remedies

2002-02-21

http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/february/toxic.htm

Clinicians in the developed West have now settled into an environment in which they are able to address the problems in most cases of poisoning in a logical fashion. In the developing world the situation is far from clear. In many countries, including South Africa, the majority of the population resort to traditional remedies in the first instance. The composition of many of these remedies are completely unknown. Traditional remedies or muti may be prescribed on the basis of colour. Some remedies are effective, others are harmless, but a number of others have considerable toxicity, especially when administered to small children.

UGANDA: Funding crisis hits health sector

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21557

Uganda is unlikely to meet health sector development targets made two years ago at the United Nations millennium summit, a new report by an economic research organisation has revealed.

Uganda: women offered prizes to remain virgins

2002-02-21

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_hiv_recent_rep.cfm?dr_cat=1&show=yes&dr_DateTime=13-Feb-02#9441

Buganda, the largest of Uganda's four kingdoms, will offer women who remain virgins until marriage television sets, electrical appliances or money as part of an effort to curb the spread of HIV, the Sunday Telegraph/National Post reports. A woman's husband will be responsible for determining her sexual status on their wedding night and reporting it to a panel of sengas -- female mentors -- to be eligible for the reward. "African tradition" is supposed to prevent young men from falsely trying to win incentives, according to Health Minister Robert Sebunya, who added that he is "convinced that our young people are fair-minded and will enter into the spirit of the program." Ugandan women who remained virgins until marriage were traditionally offered a goat as an incentive to avoid sex.

US: Report on Senate hearings on AIDS

Health Gap Coalition

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/hivaids/5966

Thursday's SFRC Africa Subcom hearing was both moving and disappointing in a number of ways. The CDC and USAID were asked a number of good questions about provision of treatment. CDC mentioned they had received millions of dollars in FY2001 to implement 'pilot' ARV programs, but were still "assessing the capacity" to do so. If that was not shameful enough, when asked about how much it would cost to treat people in poor countries or to scale-up existing programs, both of the government reps scratched their heads. Anne Peterson from USAID said "I don't think anyone has ever costed out" the provision of treatment. After some stuttering, she then muttered "probably billions".
Subject: SFRC hearings on AIDS + Prof. Jeff Sachs testimony


1. Note on Wed & Thursday Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on
international AIDS crisis
2. Text of Professor Jeffery Sach's testimony (also attached)

Thursday's SFRC Africa Subcom hearing was both moving and disappointing in a
number of ways.

The CDC and USAID were asked a number of good questions about provision of
treatment. CDC mentioned they had received millions of dollars in FY2001
to implement 'pilot' ARV programs, but were still "assessing the capacity"
to do so.

If that was not shameful enough, when asked about how much it would cost to
treat people in poor countries or to scale-up existing programs, both of the
government reps scratched their heads. Anne Peterson from USAID said "I
don't think anyone has ever costed out" the provision of treatment. After
some stuttering, she then muttered "probably billions".

This was an embarrassing disclosure, displaying ignorance of years of peer
reviewed data in Science, the Lancet, or from WHO, UNAIDS and World Bank.

Doctors Jim Kim and Jeff Sachs gave tremendously strong testimony, and
many in the room were visibly moved - especially by a full house
condemnation of the immoral and inaccurate specious nonsense we have
previously heard about 'cost effectiveness' of providing treatment.

However, due to the Senators being summoned for votes, the hearing was
interrupted and compressed, and without question periods. Therefore, none
of the panelists were able to raise the 'ask' for $1.2B for the GFATM or
for $2.5B total spending for global AIDS FY 03, nor for an emergency
supplemental request for FY 02 to enable the fund to succeed this year,
rather than hobbling it with underfunding.

Also cut off was an effort to convey a few facts about the situation of
the GFATM in March and April. At this week's hearings, even some of our
strongest champions were not aware or fully informed of the upcoming
calendar of applications, and rigorous technical review, or the first
disbursements occurring in NYC at the end of April.

The Wednesday hearing was notable for consisting of a little too much
backslapping on the adequacy of the US contribution to the GFATM, where
members pretended that the United States does not set the bar under which
other countries determine their own contributions.

Natsios and Thompson's pro-treatment comments were a relief after some
disastrous presentations made last year.

Attached (and pasted below) is the Sachs testimony. The written version
_does_ mention a supplemental request. We believe this will be the only
way to move serious money this year. Given the rapid destabilization the
AIDS crisis is creating in Africa and Asia, there seems to be some
plausible movement towards using the GFATM to leverage money _this_ year. It
is critical to correct the catch-22 situation created by the (appropriate)
pressure to deliver dramatic results hamstrung by underfunding.

Below my contact info is the text of the written submission by Dr. Sachs
(which is also an attached document.)

Online videos of both Senate Foreign Relations committee hearings
on Global AIDS 2/13 and 2/14 are now up on the Kaiser network site. The
latter has testimony by Dr. Jim Kim and Dr. Jeffrey Sachs. Transcripts
should be up soon as well. Click here:

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/hcast_index.cfm

Best,

Paul Davis
pdavis@critpath.org
Health GAP Coalition
ACT UP Philadelphia

+1.215.833.4102 mobile
+1.215.474.6886 tel.
+1.215.474.4793 fax
-------------

Testimony of Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs

<snip>

Not one person in the developing world has yet received donor-supported
antiretroviral therapy!

<snip>


Committee on Foreign Relations of the United States Senate
Subcommittee on African Affairs


"African HIV/AIDS Crisis: Pursuing Both Treatment and Prevention"
February 14, 2002

Testimony of Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs

Chairman, WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health
Director, Center for International Development, Harvard University


Senators,

Thank you for the opportunity to testify today regarding one of the most
urgent problems facing humanity ­ the global AIDS pandemic. The decisions
that the Congress and Administration make regarding the pandemic will
determine the life or death of millions of people in the next few years, and
will affect America¹s security and standing in the world for decades to
come. To date, the United States and other donor countries have
under-financed AIDS control in poor countries. This has allowed the
pandemic to run rampant. Millions of poor people are needlessly dying every
year when their lives could be extended by appropriate medical care at
modest cost and enormous benefit to the United States.

Last month, I visited some of the dying fields of Africa. I stood in Queen
Elizabeth Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi where 70 percent of the medical
admissions are AIDS-related. Hundreds of patients are crowded into the
wards to die, two or three to a bed, with patients also lying on the floor
under the beds. Hospital services are collapsing under the weight of the
epidemic. There are no life-saving drugs given to these people because
neither the dying patients nor the Government of Malawi can afford the
medications.

Yet across the hall, an outpatient service successfully treats the small
fraction of HIV-infected people who can afford one dollar per day. Hundreds
of people are successfully on antiretroviral therapy. The problem in this
hospital is not infrastructure, doctors, testing equipment, adherence by
patients, the ability to tell time ­ it is simply the shortage of $1 per day
per patient that would supply life-saving drugs. Even when one adds in the
testing and counseling costs in addition to the direct costs of drugs, it is
very likely that total spending would remain well under $3 per person per
day.

While the stain of U.S. neglect during the first 20 years of the pandemic
can never be washed away, it is not too late to act, for our direct security
needs as well as our moral purpose as a great nation. The most important
step is for the U.S. Government to get organized to help lead the global
war against AIDS. Currently, the Government lacks: clear organizational
lines of responsibility (with responsibilities divided among several
Departments and agencies without any clear leadership); a long-term strategy
for a scaled-up war against AIDS; and a multi-year budget strategy
commensurate with global needs (and even lacks a single serious study of the
budgetary outlays that will be required). The Administration is moving
reactively, not proactively. It is picking levels of budgetary support
(such as $200 million in FY03 for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,
Tuberculosis, and Malaria) out of the air, not out of a strategy.

In addition to better organization, the United States should increase its
spending on AIDS control by contributing at least $2.5 billion in FY03 to
control of AIDS in poor countries, of which at least $2 billion should go
the Global Fund, for the reasons described below. Our contribution of $2.5
billion to AIDS control should be matched by at least $5 billion from Europe
and Japan, for a total outlay of $7.5 billion for HIV/AIDS control. The
Global Fund should disburse at least $6 billion for AIDS, tuberculosis, and
malaria in FY03.

The Global Fund has $700 million available for disbursements in 2002, of
which the U.S. share is $250 million. The Congress and the Administration
should agree to a supplemental appropriation of at least $750 million for
FY02, to raise the U.S. contribution this year to $1 billion. This in turn
should be matched by at least $2 billion from Europe and Japan, for a total
of $3 billion. Without this supplemental appropriation, the Fund will either
run out of money during the year, or will drastically ration the size of
programs that it approves, to the serious detriment of disease control
efforts.


Scale of Financial Assistance for HIV/AIDS Control in Poor Countries

Table 1 breaks down the financing of AIDS control in recent years, and
estimates the needs for U.S. contributions for AIDS and for total disease
control efforts in poor countries in the coming years.

In the second half of the 1990s, America spent around $10 billion
dollars per year battling the AIDS epidemic at home, but only around $55
million per year in helping Sub-Saharan Africa to battle the epidemic. For
all developing countries, spending on AIDS was around $120 million per year.
It is worth recalling that the U.S. has about 1 million HIV-infected
individuals, while the developing world has 38 million infected individuals.
Treatment costs, I will note below, are of course much lower in the poor
countries, but the combination of prevention and treatment costs will still
require vastly higher donor assistance to meet the needs of the tens of
millions of individuals already infected and the hundreds of millions that
are at risk of infection.

U.S. international assistance to fight AIDS has recently begun to increase,
to around $690 million in FY02 (not including around $188 million in NIH
research funding), with perhaps two-thirds of that aimed at Africa
(depending, for example, on allocations from the new Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, TB, and Malaria). The FY03 budget request again increases the total
international spending on HIV/AIDS to around $895 million (not including
$222 in NIH research funding), with $200 million requested for the Global
Fund. While these recent spending increases are certainly in the right
direction, U.S. assistance is still woefully short of any realistic sum
needed to help the poorest countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa,
fight the AIDS pandemic.

Secretary General Kofi Annan has called for $7 to $10 billion per year for
the control of AIDS in low-income countries, an estimate that has been
supported by several expert studies, published in the world¹s leading
journals, such as Science Magazine (Schwartlander, et. al., 2000) and
elsewhere. Looking out a few years, the worldwide need for donor assistance
to control AIDS will probably be at the high end, perhaps reaching $10-15
billion depending on the course of the epidemic, the evolution of treatment
costs, and ability of the low-income countries to scale up AIDS control
efforts.

In the past two years, I chaired the WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and
Health, which was charged in part with determining donor financing needs to
address the interlocking pandemics of AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and other
killer diseases. Our study, released in December 2001, determined that
Sub-Saharan Africa would need total donor assistance for health of around
$18 billion per year as of 2007, of which more than half would be devoted to
the control of AIDS, with the rest directed at other killer diseases such as
tuberculosis, malaria, vaccine-preventable diseases, respiratory infections,
and diarrheal diseases. Since other regions would also need donor
assistance to fight AIDS, the worldwide need for donor assistance to fight
AIDS could reach $10-15 billion per year by 2007.

Since the U.S. represents around 40 percent of the GNP of the donor world
($10 trillion out of $25 trillion in total donor GNP), the U.S. share of the
total health assistance will need to be at least one quarter of the total,
if not more. This means that U.S. spending on AIDS in Africa will require
at least $2 billion per year, and total U.S. foreign assistance for AIDS
should reach at least $2.5 to $3 billion per year worldwide in FY03.
According to the Report of the Commission, total worldwide donor spending on
all types of health programs should be approximately $27 billion per year by
2007, so that total U.S. health assistance would be in the range of $7 - $8
billion per year, roughly five to six times the current level.

These numbers may seem large, Senators, but the amount of suffering and
global risk posed by the pandemic diseases is far greater. The Commission
findings suggest that if the U.S. invests on the order of $7 ­ 8 billion per
year as part of a global program of around $27 billion per year as of FY07,
around 8 million deaths will be averted each year by the end of the decade.
We can save 25,000 people every day from deaths due to AIDS, malaria,
tuberculosis, and other killers if we put our minds, and a modest part of
our incomes, to it. Note that $7 to 8 billion per year for global health
needs would represent far less than one half of one percent of our national
budget, and less than one penny out of every 10 dollars of our income.

The United States, while the second largest donor in absolute terms
(after Japan), has become the smallest donor in the world when aid is
measured as a share of income! (Chart 1). We are now spending only 0.1
percent of GNP on all forms of official development assistance, compared
with an average of more than 0.3 percent of GNP in Europe. The oft-repeated
excuse that ³aid does not work² is a cruel abnegation of U.S.
responsibility. We must stop talking about ³aid² in generic terms, and
start discussing targeted financial support for specific health
interventions ­ such as prevention and treatment of AIDS, increased coverage
of immunizations, wider dissemination of anti-malaria bednets, and the like.
History demonstrates that such targeted interventions have a high success
rate. From the expanded program on immunization (EPI); to the campaigns
against smallpox, polio, African river blindness, and trauchoma; to the
spread of oral rehydration therapy; directly observed therapy short-course
(DOTS) for tuberculosis, and insecticide-impregnated bednets, foreign
assistance for health has worked well. Unfortunately, the level of aid has
always been tragically meager compared with the level of need.


Donor support for Anti-Retroviral Therapy in Poor Countries

Life-saving antiretroviral combination therapies have been available
since the mid-1990s. Yet given the low levels of donor assistance, the
stunning fact is that not one person in the developing world ­ out of the
more than 60 million who have been infected by the HIV virus since 1981 ­
has received such drugs through official donor support from the U.S. or any
other country or multilateral institution. Let me repeat that, Senators.
Not one person in the developing world has yet received donor-supported
antiretroviral therapy! The U.S. and other leading donors have so far
turned their backs on millions of dying people. This dreadful fact is
supposed to change, finally this year, when the Global Fund and USAID both
begin to support the introduction of antiretroviral therapy. Yet the donor
sums so far committed in 2002 will permit only a very small scaling up of
treatment relative to the enormous needs.

For many years it was casually supposed that antiretroviral treatment was
too expensive for low-income countries. Drug regimens cost $10,000 or more
per year in the United States. But it has come to be understood that the
prices of antiretrovirals in the U.S. are vastly higher than the actual
production costs, which are probably on the order of $300 - $750 dollars per
regimen per year, depending on the precise combination of medicines. The
high margin of the price over marginal production cost reflects the returns
on research and development, a margin that is properly protected by patent
rights. Yet, the lower production costs make it possible to provide the
low-income world with the drugs at the actual marginal cost of production,
close to $1 per day for the least expensive combinations. The leading
pharmaceutical companies, and high-quality generic producers that have
access to the African market (which has little patent coverage for most of
the relevant drugs) have shown their readiness to provide drugs at the much
reduced prices. Still, the impoverished countries in Africa require donor
assistance even to cover the costs of $1 per day for the drugs (and perhaps
another $1 per day on average for the accompanying testing and medical
care).

A high-end estimate is that anti-retroviral treatment will require
around $1,000 per patient per year in low-income settings, including the
costs of drugs, testing, and medical care. This can probably be reduced to
around $500 per patient per year with further reductions in drug prices, and
optimized regimens regarding testing and medical care. Of the 25 million
Africans currently infected with HIV, perhaps 4 to 5 million would qualify
for highly active antiretroviral therapy on clinical grounds. Of these, it
is estimated that perhaps 25,000 ­ 50,000 are currently receiving the
medicines, while the rest are dying. Even those receiving the medicines are
often on sub-optimal regimens, with interruptions of drug availability,
inadequate drug combinations, and poor monitoring.

UNAIDS, WHO, and other expert groups that have looked closely at this
believe that 5 million people in low-income settings, mainly in Africa,
could be on successful antiretroviral therapy within 5 years. Indeed, the
numbers could be even higher is scaling up is given adequate support. That
would suggest a total cost of around $5 billion per year for antiretroviral
treatment by FY07, plus the costs of prevention programs and treatment for
opportunistic infections, thereby arriving at the cost estimate of $9 ­ 12
billion of donor support by FY07.


The Global AIDS Pandemic and U.S. Security

Let me briefly address the highly adverse foreign policy implications of
the AIDS epidemic for the United States, and then discuss the importance of
scaling up treatment, including anti-retroviral therapy, to control the
epidemic.

AIDS is destroying the prospects for African economic development and
democracy

The greatest hope for democracy and economic progress in Africa remain our
friends such as South Africa, Nigeria, Botswana, Ghana, Mozambique, Malawi,
and Tanzania. These nations, among many others in the region, are being
ravaged by AIDS. Foreign investment has been seriously impeded as investors
avoid countries where a significant proportion of the labor force is likely
to be HIV-infected. It is not poor villagers alone who are dying: an entire
educated and professional class is disappearing. The labor force, including
the most highly productive age groups, is being wiped out. Sub-Saharan
Africa now has 25 million HIV-infected individuals, roughly 9 percent of the
adult population between the ages 15 and 44. More than two million Africans
are dying of AIDS each year. In Southern and Eastern Africa, the prevalence
is well above 10 percent, and in hard hit countries, 25 percent or more.
AIDS has become a dire and fundamental impediment to economic progress in
Africa and leaves an even more troubling legacy: tens of millions of
orphaned children.

AIDS is creating a demographic catastrophe, with profound security risks

AIDS has already left behind more than 12 million orphans, and
epidemiological estimates suggest that the number could rise to 40 million
by the end of the decade unless the pandemic is staunched. As America lets
millions of African die for want of $1 per day in medicines, millions more
children are left orphaned. Common sense and repeated studies have shown
that these children are at great risk of hunger, neglect, withdrawal from
schooling, crime and violence.

AIDS is creating a breeding ground for terrorism

Disease is repeatedly found to be one the most powerful predictors of state
collapse and internal violence. The CIA Task Force on State Failure
identifies high infant mortality rates as one of the three most powerful
predictors of subsequent state failure (in addition to lack of democracy and
lack of open economy). Furthermore, AIDS is decimating adult populations
and increasing the percentage of populations which are aged between 15 and
24. Research has determined that such demographic shifts are a major
predictor for the outbreak of conflict.

AIDS is fomenting a social and political backlash against the United States

Throughout Africa and the developing world, people believe that they have
been left to die by America. They are aware that life-saving drugs exist to
save them, but that those drugs are not being made available. Conspiracy
theories abound in Africa that AIDS is a deliberate policy of genocide by
the United States, or an accident of the CIA gone awry. These desperate
flights of fancy aside, our actions to date point to one conclusion:
America judges African lives to be worth less than $1 or $2 per day.

AIDS is threatening China and India and other parts of the world

What has come to Africa will soon be true in the populous centers of Asia,
including India and China, where the epidemic is still in its early stages.
The destabilization that could arise from full-fledged epidemics in those
countries is harrowing. We must not ignore the central truth about
epidemics: they are far less costly to control at an early stage.

AIDS is threatening U.S. public health

AIDS originated in Africa, probably West Africa, sometime around 1930
according to the best current estimates. It went undetected for decades, in
part because of the remarkably poor state of public health surveillance in
Africa, and was only identified as a new disease in 1981 after it had spread
to the United States. In this sense, AIDS is precisely the kind of threat
of cross-border transmission of infectious diseases that public health
officials have warned us about for decades. Our neglect of burgeoning
infections abroad ­ whether from AIDS, or tuberculosis, or other new and
rapidly evolving viral and bacterial conditions ­ poses stark risks to
American public health. The day has already arrived when any one of us
could, during a flight or in a theater, be infected with multi-drug
resistant tuberculosis, the treatment of which involves two years of
chemotherapy. AIDS is also evolving rapidly, and there are reasons to
suspect that some viral subtypes may be more transmissible and virulent than
others. New forms of the disease in Africa or elsewhere, especially if
uncontrolled, will readily jump to the United States with dire consequences.
Thus, we must act decisively not only because it will save lives abroad; it
will save lives here at home as well.


Designing a Control Strategy that Can Meet the Challenge of a Global
Pandemic

AIDS requires a comprehensive strategy, including both prevention and
treatment

The most pernicious myth of donor policy has been that prevention alone,
without treatment, will control the epidemic. This view is brutally
shortsighted and fundamentally flawed. Both prevention and treatment are
necessary. In the Report of the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, we
concluded that total spending on AIDS should fall into three roughly equal
categories: prevention programs; treatment of opportunistic infections; and
antiretroviral therapy.

Anti-retroviral therapy is necessary for two basic reasons. First, we
cannot afford to allow millions of working-age Africans -- mothers and
fathers and core members of the labor force -- to die for lack of $1- 2 per
day in medicines and treatment costs, given the enormous resulting losses in
economic development, the millions of orphans that would be left behind, and
the resulting threats of violence, political destabilization, and social
upheaval. It is just dreadful economic miscalculation to believe that it is
³cost effective² to stand by and allow a generation to die for lack of $500
- $1000 per patient per year for medicines and ancillary care.

Second, treatment is vital for successful prevention. In the United States,
the Centers for Disease Control terms antiretroviral treatment a form of
³secondary prevention.² The availability of treatment encourages people to
get tested for HIV infection, and then to receive counseling if they are
infected. Yet in Africa, where testing is not now followed by treatment,
individuals rarely seek testing and counseling, and it is estimated that
fewer than 5 percent of HIV-infected individuals actually know their status.
Without counseling and testing, one of the key methods of limiting
transmission is lost.

The benefits of treatment for prevention go well beyond encouraging
counseling and testing. Stigma is reduced when the disease is known to be
treatable, and the disease can be addressed in much more direct and sensible
manner. Irrational and often highly destructive social interpretations of
the disease (e.g. that it is a form of witchcraft, or a CIA form of
bioterrorism, or that it can be cured by having sex with a virgin) are
diminished as soon as successful medical interventions are demonstrated.
Politicians stop hiding from the epidemic when they can offer hope to their
populations. Medical staffs, currently unable to save their dying patients
for want of medicines, are re-energized to fight the epidemic.

Treatment is feasible at a greatly enlarged scale

Physicians experienced in Africa know that treatment can be successfully
scaled up dramatically. Many doctors in Africa and other resource-poor
settings are already successfully treating patients, but only the small
proportion who are able to purchase the drugs out of pocket. With concerted
financial support, training to African medical personnel could be expanded
dramatically; testing facilities could be expanded or created; and new
protocols could be elaborated to ensure a reliable flow of drugs and high
patient adherence to drug regimens. WHO and UNAIDS estimate that at least 5
million patients in low-income settings could be on anti-retroviral therapy
by the end of 2006.

The Global Fund is the best single investment for the United States in AIDS
control

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria is an important new
weapon in the fight against AIDS. The Fund was formally launched in January
2002, and will receive the first round of proposals by March 10, 2002.
Initial funding is likely to begin by late April.

The Global Fund has several key strengths.

(1) The Fund will be the key source of multilateral grant financing for AIDS
control in low-income countries, especially since the World Bank is still
hamstrung in making loans rather than grants for AIDS control efforts in
low-income countries;

(2) The Fund effectively pools donor resources, so that countries can create
a comprehensive strategy and apply to one single source of financing, rather
than to twenty or more distinctive and often contradictory assistance
programs supported by individual bilateral donors;

(3) The Fund leverages U.S. funding by encouraging donor support from
Europe, Japan, and other high-income countries. The initial U.S.
contribution of $300 million combined in FY01 and FY02 has now been matched
by at least $1.5 billion from other donors. While the total sums are still
far too low, the leveraging of U.S. aid is clear;

(4) The Fund offers Congress and the international community a transparent
mechanism for monitoring the flow of funding proposals and funding
decisions, thereby helping to ensure that donor funds are disbursed in a
sensible and evidence-based manner. One of the strongest features of the
Global Fund is that proposals will be vetted by an independent expert review
committee;

(5) The Fund is already spurring initiative at the grass roots (including
local non-governmental organizations), as well as increased collaboration
between governments and civil society;

(6) The Fund will enable selectivity in the choice of programs and countries
that will be funded, so that funds can be held back from corrupt governments
and inappropriate programs;

(7) The Fund will enable improved monitoring and auditing of the actual use
of donor funds.

(8) Programs supported by the Fund can and should include financing for
operational and clinical research linked to the provision of health
services. The Fund can be an important vehicle for financing the research
necessary to optimize treatment protocols.


Research Efforts Should Be Intensified

The U.S., through the National Institutes of Health, is already the world¹s
leader in basic research in AIDS. This leadership should be maintained and
enhanced, with increased research contributions from other donors as well.
Recent advances in vaccine research suggest that an effective vaccine may be
available within a decade, if not sooner. There will need to be
considerable coordination across countries in the basic research, product
development, and clinical testing, to speed the process. The International
AIDS Vaccine Initiative, among others, has already made important strides in
this area, and work by IAVI and others should be supported by the U.S.
Government.

In addition to basic research on the immunology and pathophysiology of
AIDS, and applied research on vaccines and therapeutics, the U.S. should
actively support clinical and operational research into treatment protocols,
as well as epidemiological and behavioral research related to the
transmission of the disease on the population level. The Fogarty Institute
at the National Institutions of Health can play a key role in strengthening
the capacity of poor countries to carry out clinical and operational
research, in programs such as the awards for International Clinical,
Operational, and Health Services Research (ICOHRTA). The Centers for
Disease Control can play a key role in helping countries with the
epidemiological and behavioral research, as well as surveillance studies.


Immediate Steps

Budgetary outlays of $2.5 billion FY03

The Congress and Administration should support a U.S. contribution to AIDS
control of at least $2.5 billion in FY03, of which the Global Fund should
receive at least $2 billion, compared with the Administration¹s request of
$200 million. The $500 million minimum of additional funding should support
programs of USAID, NIH, and CDC.

Supplemental budget in FY02

Congress and the Administration should be prepared to make a supplemental
appropriation for the Fund during FY02 of $750 million, raising the FY02
U.S. contribution to $1 billion.

Bi-partisan Congressional Mission to Africa during this Spring

Given the urgency of the global AIDS pandemic, and the role that the
U.S. must play to overcome it, it is critical for Congressional leaders and
staff to understand the crisis on a first-hand basis. Much of what is
reported, especially the alleged obstacles of effective treatment in the
African context, does not reflect on-the-ground reality. Moreover, the
sheer scale of the crisis is difficult to fathom without a first-hand view.

For this reason, I strongly urge that the Congressional leadership
appoint a bi-partisan mission to travel to Africa and to report back to the
Congress this Spring. The claims and counter-claims can then be evaluated
directly, and the shocking enormity of the crisis will better be brought to
the American people through their Representatives in Congress.


The Opportunity

The United States has missed an enormous opportunity during the past two
decades to establish global leadership in quelling the AIDS epidemic. It¹s
been an opportunity to not only save lives and make a contribution to the
global economy; it¹s been an opportunity to promote enormous good will
towards our nation, to shore up democracy and economic growth, and to lessen
the threats posed by destabilized states.

I come today bearing one message: today is not too late to act. While
millions have died and instability has grown, we can still avert the worst.
Senators, in our lifetimes our children and grandchildren will ask us what
our country did during the worst epidemic to strike humankind. With your
leadership, I hope that we shall be able to offer a response that makes us
all proud to be Americans.
Table 1. Estimated Budgetary Outlays and Needs for AIDS and All Disease
Control
FY95-99 FY2000 FY01 FY02 FY03 Estimated Need FY07
U.S. AIDS Spending Domestically $10 billion $10
billion $10 billion $11 billion $12 billion

U.S. AIDS Spending in Poor Countries $120 million $235 million $449
million $690 million
(not NIH research) $895 million (not NIH research)

U.S. AIDS Spending in Africa $55 million $109 m (USAID) +$25 m (est.
CDC) $145 m (USAID) +$75 m (est. CDC) $460 million (estimate) $597
million (estimate)

Estimated AIDS Needs from All Donors $7-10 billion $9
­12
billion
Estimated AIDS Needs from U.S. $2.5 billion $3.5
billion

U.S. Funding for all Disease Control $1 billion (USAID)
+ 350 m (est. other)
Estimated Needs for U.S. Funding for all Disease Control
$ 3 - 4 billion $7 - 8 billion

U.S. Contribution to Global Fund $200 $100 m $200m
Estimated Need for U.S. Global Fund Contribution $1 billion
$2 billion $3 billion



Paul Davis
pdavis@critpath.org
Health GAP Coalition
ACT UP Philadelphia

+1.215.833.4102 mobile
+1.215.474.6886 tel.
+1.215.474.4793 fax

US: White House Defends Contribution to Global Fund

2002-02-21

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_hiv_recent_rep.cfm?dr_cat=1&show=yes&dr_DateTime=14-Feb-02#9467

The Bush administration yesterday at a hearing on Capitol Hill defended its contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, saying that the United States was the first nation to contribute to the fund and has so far made the largest contribution. But senators and AIDS activists urged the government to provide more resources, AP/Newsday reports.

Woman-focused method to prevent HIV/AIDS could be available by 2007

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/hivaids/5927

A woman-focused method to prevent HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections can be available by 2007, according to a series of reports by the Rockefeller Foundation-funded Initiative on Microbicides. "We have the science and the road map, now we need the political will to fund this effort," said Geeta Rao Gupta, President of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), one of several groups participating in the Initiative.
For more information, contact
Carole Mahoney
mailto:cmahoney@icrw.org
Tel: +1-202-797-0007

Related documents:
Microbicides: Global Facts and Figures
http://www.planetwire.org/wrap/files.fcgi/2289_microbicides.htm

Microbicides: 4-page Fact Sheet:
http://www.planetwire.org/wrap/files.fcgi/2290_microbicides2.htm

Microbicides: Executive Summary:
http://www.planetwire.org/files.fcgi/2291_microbicidesExec.pdf

--
February 12 - A woman-focused method to prevent HIV/AIDS and other
sexually transmitted infections can be available by 2007, according
to a series of reports by the Rockefeller Foundation-funded Initia-
tive on Microbicides. "We have the science and the road map, now we
need the political will to fund this effort," said Geeta Rao Gupta,
President of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW),
one of several groups participating in the Initiative.

Microbicides are substances that can kill, inactivate or block the
HIV virus, and a range of viral and bacterial agents that cause other
sexually transmitted infections. Microbicides would provide a unique
advantage to a woman-she can control their use. A woman can apply
them vaginally or rectally to protect herself and her partner. Cur-
rent techniques to prevent HIV exposure - condom use, monogamy, re-
ducing the number of partners, and treatment of other sexually trans-
mitted diseases - often are not feasible or available for women. Many
women face cultural barriers that prevent them from requiring their
partners to use condoms, as well as cultural and economic barriers to
securing other types of protection and treatment. Meanwhile, nearly
six of every 10 new HIV infections occur in women.

The Initiative brought together experts in scientific research, prod-
uct development, public health, economics and advocacy, to help bring
to market this critical health technology that women worldwide are
demanding as they cope with staggering levels of HIV/AIDS infection.
The results are five fact-based studies that detail: A scientific
plan for accelerating development; ·A pharmaco-economics study of the
potential market size and the expected return on investment; An as-
sessment of the public health impact;·A framework to ensure access to
the products;·A plan of action for microbicide advocacy.

"The development of a safe, effective microbicide would represent the
most significant advance in women's reproductive health since the
Pill. There are only a handful of problems in the world where lack of
money is the true barrier to progress. This is one of them," said
Lori Heise, Director of the Global Campaign for Microbicides, also a
participant. The groups released scientific and public health impact
findings at a briefing on February 12, at the National Press Club in
Washington, DC. According to the findings, immediate development of
microbicides can provide the best response to this reality. Over 100
organizations worldwide have joined forces in a global campaign de-
signed to build support for increased investment in women-controlled
methods of HIV prevention. For the most part, microbicides have been
developed by independent researchers and small bio-tech firms, as the
initial return on investment is not attractive to larger medical de-
vice or pharmaceutical R&D companies.

Eleven microbicide candidate products have shown sufficient promise
to be approved for human testing in clinical trials. (Dozens more
await further laboratory testing) Three are slated to begin Phase 3
clinical trials in 2002. Phase 3 trials involve large scale studies
in the field with volunteers to test for product safety and effec-
tiveness. Depending on trial outcomes and adequate funding it is
likely that one or more of these products could come to market by
2007.

"Microbicide development has made great progress against great odds
and is ready to take a major leap forward," said Polly Harrison, Di-
rector of the Alliance for Microbicide Development. "Now what we need
is the kind of steady, well-directed investment that can make the
most of that opportunity." "Microbicides will offer a better chance
of survival for women, especially poor women in developing countries,
who are disproportionately at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS," said Dr.
George Brown, Associate Director of the Rockefeller Foundation's
Health Equity Program. "Yet the very future of these women-and the
children they may bear-depends on our political will, and our urgent
and wise investment today."

--
Cecilia Snyder - Senior Project Associate - CCMC
mailto:csnyder@ccmc.org
http://www.PLANetWIRE.org

--
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African Child Rights Programme

2002-02-21

http://www.solidarityvoice.org/children.htm

Children have the right to be protected from violence and abuse, to be
healthy and well-educated. Solidarity Voice for Africa Development, seeks to
ensure this through its programme to promote and protect children's rights
in Africa and abroad.

G8 task force starts dicussions on Education for All

2002-02-21

http://www.campaignforeducation.org/_html/news/welcome/frameset.shtml

The G8 Education Task Force has begun e-mail-consultations on the Education
for All initative with development experts, educators, NGOs and concerned
citizens - from all around the world.

Mali: The Chocolate Slaves

2002-02-21

http://www.learningchannel.org/

Many of Malian children are kidnapped and sold into slavery. In all, at least 15,000 children are thought to be over in the neighbouring Ivory Coast, producing cocoa which then goes towards making almost half of the world's chocolate. Campaigners report that children are forced to work 12 hours a day and are sometimes physically and sexually abused.

Nigeria: Farmers network provides schooling facilities

2002-02-21

http://www.rnw.nl/development/html/wofan020123.html

It was set up as an NGO in northern Nigeria in the early 1990's to help
women farmers in rural areas with health issues and agricultural technology.
Today, WOFAN, is doing much more than that. It has helped set up schools in
remote villages and convinced parents to give their children an education.

south africa: Has Government “Dropped The Baby?”

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/education/5937

Vice-President Jacob Zuma has urged that the principle of "any child is my child" be revived in communities. This is the right approach to correct the poverty and poor education of at least half the children of South Africa and to protect them from the alarming incidence of abuse. It echoes the core of Ubuntu, of finding meaning through caring for each other. This injunction must be translated into the means for people to act, to take responsibility, to transform society around them.
Has Government “Dropped The Baby?”

Communities And Parents Are A Better Bet


Norman Reynolds


South Africa: A Dismal Country for Children
Vice-President Jacob Zuma has urged that the principle of "any child is my child" be revived in communities. This is the right approach to correct the poverty and poor education of at least half the children of South Africa and to protect them from the alarming incidence of abuse. It echoes the core of Ubuntu, of finding meaning through caring for each other. This injunction must be translated into the means for people to act, to take responsibility, to transform society around them.

In South Africa the people are to come first. The Preamble to our Constitution records our commitment to the attainment of social justice and the improvement of the quality of life for everyone. The Constitution declares the founding values of our society to be “human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms.”

A Desperate Need for Success as a People
Yet, although armed by the Constitution and enjoined by leaders to advance each other’s “human dignity”, as a people we are very short of success. The state can claim certain, mostly “global” successes, amidst growing controversy, but ordinary people have lost ground. The majority cannot secure the pieces they must control if they are to meet family obligations and build working communities, if they and their loved ones are to live in dignity. The historic legacy of wasted lives, once imposed but still active because of poverty and unemployment, continues to haunt national fulfilment.

What first success would people vote for that they could achieve in short order and that would meet heartfelt and strategic ambitions? How might that success open the way to more successes?

Jobs and houses might rank highest but these are longer-term issues that are beyond the quick realisation of communities. Knowing this, citizens might vote for the care, well-being and intellectual and moral growth of children as the most important goal, the litmus test of society.

If this were achieved, most other goals would follow. For instance, communal participation; acting responsibly; sharing and caring for each other; growing a confident, educated next generation; an end to women and child abuse. With that “human dignity” would flourish and long-term economic growth would be underpinned.

Children are the best starting point for social healing and national renewal.

Government must Enable Citizens and Communities
Section 28(1) of the Constitution creates the right of children to basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services and social services. Section 28 (2) goes further. It states that, “A child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child”. We cannot get away with second best!

Section 28 requires the state to take steps to ensure that children’s rights are observed. Importantly, legislation and the common law impose obligations upon parents to care for their children. Civil and criminal law reinforces these obligations of parents as well as do social welfare programmes.

Last year’s Grootboom Judgement given by the Constitutional Court found that, “a child has the right to parental or family care in the first place, and the right to alternative appropriate care only where that is lacking.” Moreover, it found that, “responsibility for the well-being of children is imposed primarily on the parents or family and only alternatively on the state.” In our culture, accepting Jacob Zuma’s statement, we can read into “family” the wider family of community, of living through others.

The administrative implications of the Constitution are that the state has to “get behind” parents and communities in whatever way enhances the child and ensures that all live with dignity. What measures would make the societal imperative of Jacob Zuma operational?

Early Childhood Development, The Terrible Reality
The sad truth is that, together with growing unemployment and AIDS, far too many children face hunger, abuse, neglect and the stunting of their potential as human beings. 40% of all children “grow up in conditions of neglect and poverty”.

There are roughly a million children in each year between ages 0 and 9, or 10 million children in all. That means that there are 4 million children suffering from neglect or poverty one way or another.

Only 1 million out of 6 million under six, a mere 15%, are in some form of care group or pre-school. Many of these places, however, are poor to awful, repressive and dulling dumping grounds to which parents commit their children for long hours while they go to work.

In contrast, there are many community based pre-schools, catering to about 250,000 or 4% of children under six that are excellent and highly efficient resource wise. Local women run them with no assistance from the state but with training and back up by a number of mostly competent ECD agencies. These are funded primarily by business and foreign donors and by way of small monthly fees paid by what is a significant minority of parents. For poor families the fees are nonetheless significant.

Community-based pre-schooling is one of the few on-going and valued community level activities upon which to build communities themselves.

Some 96% of children are “out of the loop”, that is without access to a ‘proper’ pre-school. This is the big ‘growth opportunity’ that exists, community and parent based state and NGO supported pre-schools.


The Child’s Moral and Intellectual Growth
It is striking that the Constitution excludes the right of children to intellectual and moral growth. It limits itself to their physical well-being. Early Childhood Development (ECD), the formative years from birth to age six, comprises good parenting, good physical and health conditions, safety within the neighbourhood and sound, professionally supported pre-school and other services accessible to all children and all parents. It is the most important and represents the highest return possible to public investment. It is the foundation upon which to renew the whole school system.

Having stressed the all-important early years to secure a child’s overall well-being, Government, in its May 2001 White Paper on Early Childhood Development, proceeds to ignore the high investment returns flowing from attention given to all children aged 0-6.

Instead, it opts for a partial, expensive per unit and therefore highly limited ‘Reception Year’ for some children turning six to be based in Primary Schools. This is a nonsense in terms of pedagogy, investment and community development. It ignores the requirements of the Constitution for ‘dignity’, denies community efforts and undermines that vast and critical ‘volunteer-cum-community movement’ despite the new ANC call for just that, and mocks Zuma’s call for societal responsibility for all children.

The policy assumes state ‘delivery’ of a measure that increases the number of ‘expensive’ unionised teachers. Since official salaries are up to 10 times the income of community-based teachers (R6,700 compared to an average in community of R688), the potential coverage becomes severely limited. Moreover, the removal of the five year olds will knock out many community schools which are marginal financially, destroy the mixed age learning environment where, as is traditional, older children mentor younger, and threaten the favourable 19:1 child:educator ratio.

Primary schools are often sterile and hostile environments for small children. Known and dynamic alternatives are to be denied whilst also wasting resources communities desperately need. By backing community, Government could aim to raise coverage appreciably, improve the low salaries, and build efficiency and effectiveness.

Child Well-Being, the Highest Possible National Investment
This staggering national, citizen, constitutional, policy and investment failure must be corrected. Can we design a programme that does this? That represents a peoples’ first developmental success in the new South Africa? Can we ensure the Constitutional right of parents to succeed? Can we create a popular movement for the full development of the child? Can that help to realise the legal and moral responsibility of parents and of community? Can we put our feet on a ladder that can take us to “human dignity” more certainly than official empire building, ‘delivery’ or globalisation? Can the nation’s right to invest where the returns are highest be asserted?

Official support for children has been translated into a number of programmes held and budgeted for within several state or local government departments. This model creates high levels of administrative overhead and a plethora of rules and procedures. The result is that few resources arrive in the field and ordinary people find it hard to influence outcomes. More pertinent, the model makes it impossible for the community to deal with what is invariably a local set of causes / problems in a holistic and problem solving manner. The result is that parents and community are often sidelined by officials and experts and control no resources themselves when their right should be to know the available resources and how to access them.

It is clear that parents and communities, many living in poverty, have the prime responsibility for children. They have not yet been enabled to take responsibility for realising all the rights that should be accorded to children.

The state needs to alter its position. And the intellectual and moral growth of the child must be incorporated into the Constitutional rights of the child. But, how?

A Child Rights Based Programme
There is a startlingly simple model. A version is being implemented in New Zealand. Citizens successfully challenged excessive defence expenditure and called for that ‘saving’ to go to children. Government acquiesced.

South Africa has wasted years talking about co-ordination between departments. Government itself has not succeeded in this. Now various NGOs and CBOs around the country are piloting “safety net” models which seek to use moral suasion to secure state performance. However, experience suggests that no Department will allow itself to be co-ordinated by another Department or body. The only party which can co-ordinate across fields is the client, that is the community, the sum of the parents who hold the prime responsibility. This is precisely what happens when a rich person or a business buys the services they need – they co-ordinate them because they seek a certain end result and because they pay.

Pilots of “safety nets” may gain partial success for communities, a sort of Phase 1, but until communities are enabled to pay, to know the resources available, to call the tune, there will be no co-ordination and optimisation of resource use.

The resources for children from Health, Welfare, Education, Social Services, and other government budgets should be combined to create a per capita amount for each child to be assembled and managed at community level. Communities, operating within a programme framework with suitable support, set broad goals to guide the use of these known public funds. Communities decide what type of provision for early childhood development is needed and how it is best achieved. In this way, people are enabled to act and to become responsible whilst realising constitutional and local government requirements.
They will contribute considerable volunteer effort, reduce the present high overheads of salaries, rents, transport and telephones, release real resources to the field, and be accountable through now ‘professionalised’ officials who have advisory, training, veto and reporting functions. The state retreats to a “seeing the wood for the tress” support and monitoring role.

As Vice-President Zuma declared, it is proper that the care of children be located squarely within community. That is where the issue lies, where the eyes and ears of family and neighbours exist as the front line to pick up problems, and where parents and others find the support they need. For South Africans, an equal state and community partnership would be a living evocation of “Ubuntu”. For that to happen, the state must “get behind” parents and communities and stop “eating” the resources itself.

This proposal illustrates the ability of citizens and state to create “programme rights”; that is to add the right of children to intellectual and moral growth to the presently limited constitutional dispensation and to enable parents to act with dignity through locally forged community wide pacts. It also shifts the inherited administrative control paradigm to the new legal framework for developmental administration in which, at local government level, social and economic development is to be led by residents.

Finally, it juxtaposes the development of children, a peoples’ issue, against the recent arrogance of the state with regard to the Arms Deal and its tendency to spend on itself.

As the bumper sticker says, “Wouldn’t it be great if we had all the resources we needed to educate our children, and our Defence Minister had to have cake sales to raise money for arms!”

South Africa: Schools a Torture House for Students?

2002-02-21

http://www.learningchannel.org/

Corporal punishment has become a way of life in many schools. In yet another manifestation of this malaise, 13-year-old boy in South Africa was so severely tortured and beaten by his teacher that he may never be able to father a child.

ZAMBIA: Focus on education reforms

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=20550

The alarmingly high dropout figures in Zambia have reinforced calls for an
overhaul of the education sector - and for the reintroduction of free
education in government schools.

Elimination of racism and racial discrimination

Statement by Mary Robinson

2002-02-21

http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/B746BCDB82A7EF2DC1256B5E0039011E?opendocument

As most of you know, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance involved nine days of intensive and frequently difficult negotiation. Even after the Conference, there was a difference of views or perceptions that principally concerned the placement of several paragraphs in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and which delayed the issuance of the report of the Conference. Nevertheless, despite all of the obstacles that had to be overcome, the Conference was ultimately successful in negotiating a Declaration and Programme of Action by consensus. The report of the Conference was issued and is now before you.

A change in climate?

Statement by Worldwatch President

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/environment/5954

We welcome that the Bush Administration is changing its position and taking the climate issue more seriously. Introducing new tax incentives for more efficient and renewable energy technologies is certainly a step in the right direction. I am however concerned about the adequacy of the commitment being made and in particular that the administration plans to increase US emissions by at least an additional 12 percent in the next ten years. This will leave the US producing at least 35 percent more greenhouse gasses in 2010 than would be permitted under the Kyoto protocol.
NEWS FROM THE WORLDWATCH INSTITUTE
A change in climate?

Statement by Worldwatch President, Chris Flavin on the Bush
Administration's alternative to the Kyoto protocol


Thursday, February 14, 2002:

"We welcome that the Bush Administration is changing its position and
taking the climate issue more seriously. Introducing new tax incentives
for more efficient and renewable energy technologies is certainly a step
in the right direction.

"I am however concerned about the adequacy of the commitment being made
and in particular that the administration plans to increase US emissions
by at least an additional 12 percent in the next ten years. This will
leave the US producing at least 35 percent more greenhouse gasses in
2010 than would be permitted under the Kyoto protocol.

"It is particularly disturbing to see the world's leading producer of
greenhouse gasses (producing 25 percent of the emissions with less than
five percent of the world's population) propose to continue increasing
those levels."


End


For more information, contact:

Niki Clark, Communications Coordinator, Tel: 202-452-1992 ext. 517;
Email: nclark@worldwatch.org
Leanne Mitchell, Director of Communications, Tel: 202-452-1992 ext. 527;
Email: lmitchell@worldwatch.org


FIND MORE RELATED INFORMATION ON THE WORLDWATCH WEBSITE:

ENERGY: http://www.worldwatch.org/topics/energy.html
CLIMATE CHANGE: http://www.worldwatch.org/topics/climate.html

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CHIMFUNSHI STORY

2002-02-21

http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/february/chimps.htm

At an age when most people contemplate retirement, David and Sheila Siddle faced an altogether different dilemma: help a badly wounded chimpanzee or let it die.

Indigenous Plants to the Rescue

Environmental remediation in Nigerian oil regions

2002-02-21

http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/february/oil.htm

More than four decades of oil exploration and production activities have left a severely degraded environment in Nigeria's southern, Niger Delta oil region. Spills - the uncontrolled discharge of oil or its by-products including chemicals and wastes, which mainly occurs through equipment failure, operational errors, or wilful damage - have been identified as the main source of environmental damage in the region over time.

Johannesburg 2002: The opportunity and the risk

2002-02-21

http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/february/wssd.htm

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) (August/September 2002) could make an important contribution to healing the divisions of the world and alleviating the poverty that leads to so many of them. However such an outcome is dependent on participants realising that it is both simplistic and counterproductive to try and separate the economic and environmental components of poverty.

Mountain Tourism, and the Conservation of Biological and Cultural Diversity

2002-02-21

http://www.mtnforum.org/apmn/BGMS-B3.htm

Mountains -- homes of the gods, sources of life-giving waters, gigantic monuments of rock and ice - that for centuries posed as impenetrable boundaries, are increasingly falling vulnerable to humans' sporting endurance, to an onslaught of travelers seeking escape from cluttered lives, and to demands on natural resources and cultural institutions that far exceed capacities. Ironically, tourism -- that which brought laudable economic opportunities to here-to-fore isolated and undeveloped mountain regions - is turning mountains into "the world's highest trash dumps," into high altitude Disneylands that misrepresent and exploit mountain cultures with little gain for mountain inhabitants. Infrastructure development (roads, airports, hotels, communications, etc.) is opening mountain regions to mass tourism before proper tourism planning or management can take place.

SOUTH AFRICA:

12 MARCH 2002

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/environment/6014

The City of Johannesburg, Region 7 Office has appointed Nemai Consulting to undertake a investigation into the improvement of the degraded condition of the Jukskei River. They invite you to participate in an Open Day, scheduled at the COUNCIL CHAMBERS at the METROPOLITAN
BUILDING, to showcase all
work done by various organisations, groups and parties in relation to
overall improvement of water resources.

**********
OPEN DAY
**********

The City of Johannesburg, Region 7 Office has appointed Nemai
Consulting to
undertake a investigation into the improvement of the degraded condition
of
the Jukskei River. Since a section of the river runs through Alexandra,
this
project forms part of the Alexandra Renewal Project. The project aims to
provide positive consequences for the Alexandra community, natural
environment and ultimately the city of Johannesburg. Subsequent to the
determination of the current state of the Jukskei River from its source to
its confluence with the Modderfontein Spruit, areas and efficient
techniques
of intercession need to be identified to abate the serious existing
problems. The completed management plan will serve as a framework
with which
to implement other river restoration ventures.

The City of Johannesburg, Region 7 and Nemai Consulting would like to
invite
you to participate in an Open Day, scheduled for 12 MARCH 2002 from
14h00 &#8211;
19h00 at the COUNCIL CHAMBERS at the METROPOLITAN
BUILDING, to showcase all
work done by various organisations, groups and parties in relation to
overall improvement of water resources. This occasion will provide the
opportunity to demonstrate ranges of remediation practices and
initiatives
undertaken to various dignitaries, government officials, members of the
public and the press. We believe that your participation will contribute to
the success of the event. Please note that no area or river will receive
precedence, as the focus will fundamentally be on enhancing social and
environmental issues surrounding rivers.

Please indicate whether your organization would be interested in
exhibiting,
via fax and/or email. The size of your display (i.e. poster, model, video
presentation, etc.) and the facilities required (e.g. power supply) should
be included. There are no fees associated with the exhibition, but
members
are expected to provide all structures associated with the assembly of
their
displays. Due to the overwhelming response, confirmation should reach
Nemai
Consulting before 22 February 2002.

For further inquiries contact Donavan or Nandarani at (011) 482 1730.

South Africa: Coelacanth Programme is Announced

2002-02-21

http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/february/coelap.htm

The South African Government is to commit R10 million to an ambitious, multi-faceted conservation and research programme that involves scientist, submersibles, ships, helicopters and - fish. Coelacanths, the mysterious 'fossil fish' which was first discovered in its living form off the coast of South Africa in 1938, will be at the center of the study.

WSSD civil society mediation

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/environment/5964

About 20 representatives from major civil society groups met at NEDLAC on Thursday 14th February 2002 at an extraordinary meeting convened and chaired by the South African Council of Churches. The meeting was convened to seek a resolution to disagreements and concerns raised around the Civil Society Indaba of the coming WSSD Summit.
Press statement on the WSSD Civil Society mediation

Issued by

Dr Molefe Tsele, South African Council of Churches:
General Secretary
Khulu Mbongo, Nedlac Community Constituency
Bheki Ntshalintshali, COSATU Deputy General Secretary

About 20 representatives from major civil society groups
met at NEDLAC on Thursday 14th February 2002 at an
extraordinary meeting convened and chaired by the South
African Council of Churches. The meeting was convened to
seek a resolution to disagreements and concerns raised
around the Civil Society Indaba of the coming WSSD
Summit. The fully representative meeting lasted more than
five hours.

Matters tabled for mediation and resolution were noted as
the following:

· Questions around constituency representations in
the forum
· Questions around the make up, terms of reference,
powers and functions of the management structure,
and
· Questions around the secretariat and its relations to
forum.

The following were agreed as the way forward:

1. On the issue of constituency representation, a
sector representative Broad Political Forum was
established. The Broad Forum will be representative
of major sectors as provided by United Nations,
taking into account our national dynamics. The
Forum will seek not to exclude any significant sector
with regard to broad mobilization, but in its function
as a policy maker, it will seek primary representation
from core sectors of civil society in our country

Seven major groups identified and agreed upon were:

· Women
· Youth
· Civics
· Communities of Faith
· Labour
· Non-Governmental Organizations
· People with Disability

Each major group will be represented by not more than five
(5) representatives who will constitute the Civil Society
Broad Political Forum and this will be the highest decision
making body of the process. Any other group or sector not
listed above will be accommodated within one of these
seven groups and through a mechanism agreed to by the
major groups.

2. Regarding the matter of management structure, the
groups agreed to set up a Management Committee
of Seven (7) that will be constituted by one (1)
person per major group. The primary responsibility
of the Management Committee will be to interface
with the Secretariat on daily basis, design and
supervise the programme of action, form task
groups to deal with broad content and substance
issues of the Summit, guide the process towards
the Summit, become the custodian of funds raised,
be responsible of the work of the Secretariat.

3. The meeting agreed to delegate to the Management
Committee the responsibility to finalise
administrative machinery and secretariat functions
necessary to drive this process. This may include
looking at engagements with already existing
capacity and their service and exploring technical
and legal implications.

All the Stakeholders have agreed to move forward as
speedily as possible to prepare South African civil society
towards the Summit and very strict timelines have been
adopted for all major groups to submit names of
participants to various structures.

The facilitator of this process, through the SACC will inform
all stakeholders and the broader public about the outcome
of this new process, the status of civil society process and
way forward.

The groups wish to place on record the leadership role
provided by SANGOCO in the resolution of this impasse.

The groups wish to place on record their view that the
impasse is over. All of us in civil society must focus our
energies on working to prepare our specific sectors for
meaningful participation in this historic Summit which we
believe will be another milestone in our struggle to eradicate
poverty and foster sustainable development for the benefit
of our communities.

Enquiries: Dr Tsele 082 458 2037




Patrick Craven and Moloto Mothapo
Acting COSATU Spokespersons

patrick@cosatu.org.za
082-821-7456
339-4911

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

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copies of our most recent press statements.

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Developing a Media Strategy

2002-02-21

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/esrccontent/PublicationsList/4books/medframeset.html

Communicating research findings to potential users outside the academic community - whether in government, in business, in the voluntary sector or in the general public - has become an essential element in most social scientists' working lives. And one of the most effective ways of reaching your target audiences, influencing policy and practice and changing public opinion is to make use of the media. This publication provides some practical guidelines on how to develop a media strategy that will enable your research, your research programme or your research institution to have a greater impact on the national debate.

Kenya: Media advised on regulation

2002-02-21

http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/Today/News/News25.html

The news media were yesterday challenged to establish a self-regulatory institution. Such an institution would offer protection against criticism and accusations from government and other sources, the visiting director of the International Press Institute, Prof Johann Fritz, said.

LIBERIA: Journalists Want Emergency Off, Say Crisis

2002-02-21

http://www.mediachannel.org/news/today/

Liberian journalists on Monday called on President Charles Taylor to lift the state of emergency he imposed on 8 February, saying there was growing suspicion that the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country was being stage-managed.

Nigeria: Stirring a Sleeping Competition With New Broadcast Licences

2002-02-21

http://allafrica.com/stories/200202200723.html

Just when people were beginning to think that it was never going to happen in the life of this administration, the federal government literally poured out broadcast licences, early last week.

Rwanda: Witness Receives Thousands of Dollars As a Prosecution Informant

2002-02-21

http://allafrica.com/stories/200202200432.html

A witness testifying in the so-called "Media Trial" today admitted to judges at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR that he received thousands of dollars when he served as an informant for the prosecution. The witness -- identified only as " X" -- has been granted special protection measures and is testifying via tele-conference from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) at The Hague, Netherlands.

Zimbabwe employing selective accreditation of foreign journalists to cover elections

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/media/6033

The Zimbabwe chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe) has established that the Zimbabwe government is selectively accrediting international journalists to cover the March Presidential elections, despite undertakings made to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, the Southern African Development Community and in the Abuja Accord.
The Zimbabwe chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe) has established that the Zimbabwe government is selectively accrediting international journalists to cover the March Presidential elections, despite undertakings made to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, the Southern African Development Community and in the Abuja Accord.

Hard hit by the deportations and refusals for accreditation are British journalists. MISA-Zimbabwe has established that not a single journalist from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has been accredited. The Zimbabwe government has however given ITN Africa Correspondent, Tim Ewart, the go ahead to continue coverage up to the ballot on March 9, 2002. Rageh Omaar of the BBC was expelled from Zimbabwe on July 25, 2001, after being accused of "bias" reporting.

David Blair of "The Daily Telegraph: was denied accreditation and deported on the weekend of February 16-17, 2002. MISA-Zimbabwe understands that a number of journalists, mostly from the European countries that were not invited to observe the elections, have also been denied accreditation.

The American Associated Press has been denied permission to bring in foreign reporters. The Cable News Network (CNN) has, however, been allowed to bring in two reporters but the two will not be allowed before February 25. The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has been allowed to cover the elections whilst a number of South African based newspapers were denied accreditation.

MISA-Zimbabwe has not been able to establish a complete list of the names of South African journalists and media organisation that have been denied accreditation. A spokesperson for the South African High Commission said that they are not aware of any South African journalist who has been denied accreditation.

MISA-Zimbabwe understands that many media organisations have been told that only Zimbabwean reporters will be accredited. Twenty local journalists have so far been accredited to cover the elections at a fee of ZW$1 000 (about US$18.7) per journalist. It is widely believed that the limitations and restrictions that are being put on journalists who are to cover the elections will impact negatively on the flow of information of what would transpire during the elections.

Ends


--------------------------

Information distributed by: Zoe Titus MISA Researcher Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia Tel. +264 61 232975, Fax. 248016 e-mail: research@misa.org.na web: http://www.misa.org

MEDIA INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA PROMOTING MEDIA DIVERSITY, PLURALISM, SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND INDEPENDENCE

Zimbabwe: Broadcasting Commercialisation Bill gazetted

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/media/5947

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC)Commercialisation Bill, which was passed by parliament, has been gazetted into law, "The Herald" reported on February 4.
**We apologise for any cross-posting**

To: IFEX Auto List (other news of interest)
From: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA),
research@misa.org.na.misanet.com

Zimbabwe Alert
February 10, 2002
Broadcasting Commercialisation Bill gazetted

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) Commercialisation Bill, which
was
passed by parliament, has been gazetted into law, "The Herald" reported on
February 4.

The new law seeks to split the ZBC into two commercialised companies. The
two
companies would specialise in broadcasting and signal transmission business
respectively. The two will be wholly owned and controlled by the
government. It
is envisaged that the commercialization would turn around the fortunes of
the
financial crippled national broadcasting station. The signal carrier company
is
granted a monopoly under this law and also under the April 2001,
Broadcasting
Services Act. This move has been criticised as unlawful and meant to stifle
competition in the broadcasting arena.

Although the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe has called for applications
for
broadcasting licences, this call has been limited to satellite, road
casting,
rail casting and data casting broadcasting. Potential and aspiring free to
air
broadcasting licence holders, who would be in direct competition with the
ZBC,
have not been asked apply for licences.

End


--------------------------

Information distributed by:
Zoe Titus
MISA Researcher
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek, Namibia
Tel. +264 61 232975, Fax. 248016
e-mail: research@misa.org.na
web: http://www.misa.org

MEDIA INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
PROMOTING MEDIA DIVERSITY, PLURALISM, SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND INDEPENDENCE

--------------------------

Zimbabwe: I have not been fired, declares Basildon Peta

2002-02-21

http://www.sabcnews.co.za/africa/southern_africa/0,1009,28397,00.html

Basildon Peta, the secretary general of the Zimbabwean Union of Journalists, has denied allegations that he was fired by the Zimbabwean newspaper, the Financial Gazette. He says the number of threats he had been receiving in the state-controlled media had become unacceptable. Peta emphatically denied reports from Zimbabwe that he was fired by his local employer.

ZIMBABWE: Media standards falling says watchdog

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=20928

Journalism standards appear to be the latest victim of Zimbabwe's hotly contested presidential election, according to an independent media watchdog.

Angola: Humanitarian Situation "Shocking"

2002-02-21

http://allafrica.com/stories/200202140374.html

Calling on the international community to "remember Angola", UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Kenzo Oshima told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that the country's protracted conflict had led to levels of suffering that were "truly shocking".

BURUNDI: Belligerents in Pretoria for cease-fire talks

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21347

Representatives from Burundi's government and those of the rebel Conseil national pour la défense de la democratie-Forces pour la défense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD) are in the South African capital, Pretoria, to start discussions aimed at bringing a cease-fire to Burundi's civil war that has been raging for eight years.

DR Congo: Scores Killed in New Ethnic Fighting

Prompt UN Action Urged in Ugandan-Occupied Areas

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/conflict/5906

Uganda should be held responsible for grave human rights violations taking place in territories it occupies in northeastern Congo, Human Rights Watch has said. A resurgence of ethnic fighting there has claimed scores of lives over the last few weeks and displaced at least fifteen thousand people. The dispute, rooted in conflict over land, flared in an area that is contested by three Congolese rebel factions and effectively governed by none of them.
DR Congo: Scores Killed in New Ethnic Fighting [HRW PRESS
RELEASE]


For Immediate Release



DR Congo: Scores Killed in New Ethnic Fighting
Prompt UN Action Urged in Ugandan-Occupied Areas

(New York, February 13, 2002) -- Uganda should be held responsible for
grave human rights violations taking place in territories it occupies in
northeastern Congo, Human Rights Watch said today. A resurgence of
ethnic fighting there has claimed scores of lives over the last few
weeks and displaced at least fifteen thousand people. The dispute,
rooted in conflict over land, flared in an area that is contested by
three Congolese rebel factions and effectively governed by none of them.

The United Nations Security Council will be discussing the Secretary
General’s report on the deteriorating security environment in the D.R.
Congo in the coming week. Human Rights Watch urges the Security Council
to address the government of Uganda as an important agent of unrest in
the eastern part in the country, and to hold it liable for the grave
rights violations and massive human suffering taking place in
territories under its occupation.

The United Nations peacekeeping force in Congo (MONUC) should also exert
maximum pressure on local contenders to cease fighting and should send
additional military, humanitarian, and human rights monitors to the
area.

Uganda has occupied the area militarily since 1998 and has supported all
three rival groups with arms, training, and political backing. Under the
terms of the 1999 Lusaka Peace Accords, Uganda has withdrawn some troops
from the Congo but maintained or redeployed others in the area.

“Uganda wants to keep enough control to continue getting rich from the
Congo, but doesn’t want to take responsibility for protecting
civilians,” said Alison Des Forges, senior advisor for the Great Lakes
region at Human Rights Watch. Ituri district is rich in timber, gold and
diamonds, among other resources.

On February 4, four suspected supporters of the Lendu were killed in
Bunia, capital of Ituri district, in the latest of a series of ethnic
clashes that cost more than a hundred lives and displaced at least
fifteen thousand persons in recent weeks.

With ethnic clashes increasing, Uganda pulled troops back to Bunia from
elsewhere in Ituri instead of using them to contain the violence.
Ugandan authorities were prepared to defend the town and to prevent the
conflict from spilling over into Uganda itself. According to local
sources, the Ugandan army in mid January deployed hundreds of soldiers
in the border towns of Aru, Mahagi, and at Ariwara.

On February 1, Ugandan Defense Minister Amama Mbabazi remarked that the
situation in Bunia was explosive and called on the UN to send troops to
take control of the area.

“Uganda can’t foist responsibility on the UN for restoring order from
the chaos it has fostered,” said Des Forges. “As the occupying power,
under international law it must protect civilians and stop these
killings.”

For further information and analysis, the background paper “Attacks on
Civilians in Ugandan Occupied Areas in Northeastern Congo” is available
at http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/africa/bunia0213bkg.htm



For more information, please contact:
In New York, Suliman Baldo: +1-212-216-1297
In London, Juliane Kippenberg: +44-20-7239-0298
In Washington, Janet Fleischman: +1-202-612-4325
--
Africa Division
Human Rights Watch
New York Office
http://hrw.org/africa/index.php

DRC: Special report on tensions in the northeast

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21623

An attack by Lendu militiamen last Friday morning on the Hema village of Kparnganza, north of Bunia town in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which, according to news organisations, left 200 people dead, constitutes yet another urgent warning that the security situation is deteriorating in the area and could get worse if something is not done to abate it.

ERITREA-ETHIOPIA: Religious leaders hold "historic" talks in Addis Ababa

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21164

The head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church said on Friday that the bloody war with Eritrea which cost thousands of lives could easily have been avoided.

Regulate diamond trade, says Amnesty International

2002-02-21

http://www.africaonline.com/site/Articles/1,3,45630.jsp

Amnesty International says new regulations are needed to prevent diamonds from funding civil wars in Africa.

SOMALIA: Over 40 killed in renewed fighting in Bardhere

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21512

At least 40 people were killed and another 50 wounded in renewed fighting in Bardhere, about 400 km west of Mogadishu, local sources told IRIN on Tuesday.

Sudan: U.S. decries air strike on humanitarian workers

2002-02-21

http://www.nandotimes.com/politics/story/250284p-2357776c.html

A Sudanese government air raid on a World Food Program depot, which killed two children, was denounced by the State Department on Tuesday as an outrageous tragedy.

SUDAN: Revival of Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21346

Libya’s Minister for African Unity, Ali Abd al-Salam Turayki, said on Sunday that his country wants to revive the joint Egyptian-Libyan initiative to end the Sudanese conflict.
He told reporters that he had discussed "reactivating the Egyptian-Libyan initiative to achieve unity in Sudan" with Egyptian President Husni Mubarak, AFP reported.

Tanzania: Humanitarian work highlighted in peace-keeping exercise

2002-02-21

http://www.icrc.org/icrceng.nsf/c1256212004ce24e4125621200524882/d0626ab767c4b3bcc1256b600037b6b5?OpenDocument

Representatives of the ICRC and the Tanzania Red Cross Society are taking part in the "Tanzanite" military peace-support exercise organized by France and Tanzania in coastal areas near Dar es Salaam and Tanga. "Tanzanite" brings together armed forces from 16 African countries and military observers from across the world. Involving more than 2,000 troops, the exercise aims to improve coordination between various African armies and to enhance the ability of governments to cope with political and humanitarian crises.

UGANDA: Gov't forces accused of involvement in arms trade

2002-02-21

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=21339

The Ugandan government has defended itself against criticisms by Amnesty International to the effect that the Ugandan police and army are linked to a flourishing illegal arms trade in the country.

Côte d’Ivoire: CI'S ECONOMIC DOWNTURN SLOWS CONNECTIVITY GROWTH

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/internet/6013

Cote D'Ivoire used to be one of the economic success stories of West Africa but with a military coup and economic slowdown its star has dimmed. Now a civilian government is back in the saddle and things may change. THis report from News Update focuse on the ICT sector in the country.
In the ICT sector, the incumbent telco Cote D'Ivoire Telecom (owned by France Telecom, naturellement) casts a long shadow over the speed of market growth. In January it raised its prices without any advance warning. Its monopoly ends in 2004 but this seems a long way off if immediate needs are going to be met. How does a country with 40,000 computer owners have only 13,000 dial-up subscribers? Russell Southwood went to find out.

In the beginning USAID's Leland Initiative signed an agreement with the then-state-owned Cote D'Ivoire Telecom that it would provide a 256K connection for ISPs and it would not compete with these ISPs. However when the company was privatised, the new owners France Telecom said that they were not bound by this agreement and launched their own ISP Aviso shortly thereafter.

Aviso has had plentiful advantages in being the child of a powerful parent. By its own estimate it has 61% of the total market of 13,000 dial-up subscribers. It has five POPs outside of Abidjan: Bouake (2), San Pedro (2) and Daloa (1). In his presentation to a recent conference (see below), Pascal Fouin, General Manager of Cote D'Ivoire Multimedia noted as one his market negatives that CI does not have a "culture de l'informatique et l'internet", a strong contrast with somewhere like Accra.

In January, Cote D'Ivoire Telecom has separated out its internet operation. In future, there will be Aviso to deal with individual dial-up customers and Cote D'Ivoire Multimedia to service the ISPs and to develop the internet market. There is widespread scepticism about how these separated operations will work in practice. There was much laughter and wry smiles when he announced that Cote D'Ivoire Multimedia wanted to be "a partner and not a competitor with other service providers...there are not enough 'actors' in the market to grow it" Nonethless discussion is taking place about peering arrangements with several ISPs. Fouin also believes that the market might grown to 18,000 over three years.

There are effectively only three other competitors of any scale:

Aviso 8,000
Globe Access 3,000
Africa Online 2,500
Afnet 2,000

The observant reader will notice that this figure does not add up to the 13,000 total estimate provided by Aviso. There is is no clear way of telling who's exaggerating. One factor is that ISPs tend to include a proportion of lapsed or unpaid accounts that enlarge their dial-up base.

There are in fact 14 ISPs licensed but most observers these other ISPs are largely licensed for other purposes, including illegal VOIP calls. VOIP was widely available and not specifically covered in the regulatory framework. However about a year ago the regulator ruled it illegal and a number of
equipment seizures by the police followed.

* FOUR MAIN PLAYERS ALL LOOK FORWARD TO 30-40% OVERALL GROWTH

Of the main ISP players, Globe Access is described below in an Africa's Digerati interview with its General Manager, Coura Fall Diakhate.

Africa Online has weathered a number of storms including recently closing down its web design operation to focus its efforts on connectivity and the slow phasing out of its current e-Touch model. The latter has gone from 150 outlets down to 50 because they were not profitable in their current form.
However it remains bullish and its Director of Sales and Marketing Claire Bemba believes it will be possible to grow to 4,000 subscribers by the end of next year. She believes that Africa Online's strength against other ISPs is its servive level, with a hotline and technicians to help sort out customer problems.

It is also waiting for UUNet to "set up shop" as part of its joint venture agreement to take over its 60 network clients. If all goes well, it will return to its original plan of looking at setting up in Senegal, which was delayed by the recent political problems in CI.

However, the seemingly smallest ISP - Afnet - may be the one to watch. It has a number of plans that we will be covering in subsequent issues. Its General Manager, Lebanese-American Mohamad Khatoun did his training in the USA has built up his company from a small consultancy practice to its current role as one of CI's main ISP players. He believes that the opening up of the SAT3 fibre cable will contribute to falling connectivity prices. Afnet also has a partnership Malian ISP MTelecom-Mali which started up through some of its corporate clients wanting to interconnect into Mali. Its projections for the end of this year are somewhere between 3-4,000 subscribers.

Based on everyone's growth predictions, the market is due to grow by between 30-40%.

* THE YEAR OF CYBERCAFES?

There are a considerable number of very small cybercafes that grown out of "telecentres prives". Many of these operate in the grey margins of the economy in poorer districts with very small numbers of machines.

Current prices vary between 1500-3000 CFAs an hour and the difference is in location, numbers of machines and levels of comfort. The main chain operation -Lebanese-owned - has outlets in mini-malls. Prices are high compared with other parts of La Francophonie where the price per hour can go as low as 500 CFAs. As elsewhere in Africa, there are not many outside the capital Abidjan. Despite these unpromising circumstances, there is a widespread feeling summed up by one local observer:"This will be the year of the cyber-cafes in CI."

The main users as elsewhere tend to be: students and/or young people, people tring to run very small-scale businesses and those communicating with their families abroad.

There are not a lot of web designers. Most of the ISPs offer web design and there are a considerable number of "one-person" operators. The corporate has tended to be reluctant to drive the market until it is more developed. This has created the classic "chicken-and-egg" problem that will probably only begin to unlock in late 2002/2003 if the economy turns up.

One interesting web design operation is Fabienne Stouvel's 123Soleil. A former marketing person, she has developed sites for a number of clients including: Citibank West Africa, Woodin (clothes), Africshop and Ceda. The latter is a book publisher who will shortly use its site to sell academic books to libraries and universities in the North. However all the other sites are currently information based. Fabienne Stouvel says"Medium-sized companies have been at the cutting edge of these developments. The large corporates have - by and large - not started constructing sites because of the state of the economy."

There are currently not a large number of Ivorian sites and without them it is likely that growth will be initially driven by further use of e-mail. The most notable site, Abidjan.net is run by Ivorians living in San Francisco. There is a very small e-commerce operation (more in a later issue) but it has experienced considerable transport and supply problems.

In regulatory terms, there are confusingly two bodies with an interest: the Agence de Telecoms CI and the Conseille de Telecommunications. The former is the main regulatory body and the latter arbitrates between the regulator and operators or between operators themselves. In many cases the Conseille (which has political representation) has overturned the decisions of the regulator. In order to stem the confusion, there is now a proposal to merge the two bodies.

Whatever happens, the Agence de Telecoms CI is preparing for the its big competition D-Day in 2004 when it will throw open the doors to competition to the incumbent, Cote D'Ivoire Telecom when its 7 year monopoly on basic services ends. The new rules for this competitive framework will be published in 2003 so it will be clearer what competition means in Cote D'Ivoire at that point.

For more in the current issue visit Balancing-Act's web site.

Freenet: peer-to-peer that is secure and - FREE!

internet liberty, anonymity and data security

2002-02-21

http://freenetproject.org/cgi-bin/twiki/view/Main/WebHome

"Freenet is free software designed to ensure true freedom of communication over the Internet. It allows anybody to publish and read information with complete anonymity. Nobody controls Freenet, not even its creators, meaning that the system is not vulnerable to manipulation or shutdown." Well worth exploring for anybody working with secure data or in a sensitive political environment.

OPEN SOURCE vs PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

press rlease from bridges.org

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/internet/6015

Two recent announcements in South Africa raise sharp issues that characterize the raging debate between open source and Microsoft operating systems -- a debate that will ultimately affect developing countries around the world.


Last Friday President Thabo Mbeki announced in his state-of-the nation speech to Parliament that Microsoft will provide free software for all of South Africa's 32,000 government schools. Previously, the South African Government's National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) declared its strong support for open source software, saying that it "has the potential to empower people in ways that proprietary software (such as Microsoft's) simply does not allow".

For a nation that is counting on information and communications technology (ICT) to help address monumental social and economic problems, Microsoft's generous offer can make a real difference. However, many argue that open source software is more appropriate for the technology realities in developing countries. The Government -- and public -- should be aware of the implications of adopting the proprietary operating system in schools, and plan wisely to gain the benefits without suffering the consequences.

The Microsoft donation is an example of a big international company that is taking concrete action to tackle the digital divide by giving the kinds of things that it is easy for it to give. This gesture by Microsoft sets a standard that other companies should strive to meet. The initiative will help schools teach pupils about computers and computing. And the more skills built among the nation's youth -- and especially technology skills -- the better for South Africa as a whole. The hope is that Microsoft's move will be a catalyst to draw similar support from other companies, such as offers of hardware, networking equipment and training courses. The solution to the problems of the digital divide will be founded on effective cooperation among the private sector, government and civil society.

Yet, while the Microsoft action is worthy of praise, it should be approached with wide open eyes. Offering free software to schools is not only good corporate citizenship, it is good for business: if MS software dominates South African schools, it will be good for Microsoft's bottom line and may limit the adoption of other kinds of software in this market. Embracing the Microsoft donation is a smart short-term move in a country where free access to up-to-date software like MS Office and Encarta will be a boon for many schools that would otherwise need to pay for software licenses. However, open source proponents point out that the real issue for schools is not software licenses, but the challenges and cost of deployment and maintenance of sustainable ICT infrastructure. Microsoft products have rapid product cycles and quick obsolescence, along with expensive long-term maintenance and support implications. Open source software offers a more affordable and stable option, along with "thin-client" solutions that can be run on recycled computers. The latest Microsoft offerings use far more computer resources than the open source alternatives, requiring relatively high-end systems with fast processors, lots of memory and hard disk space. Indeed, following the Microsoft announcement, the South African Minister of Education stated that only 10,000 schools are currently equipped to benefit from Microsoft's offer.


This is not the first time that Microsoft has put forward the idea of providing technology support for schools. Late last year, the company offered to provide about US$1 billion worth of software, hardware, training and support to more than 16,000 of the poorest US schools as part of a proposed antitrust settlement. In January, the judge in that case ruled against the proposal because he was not convinced that it represented a fair conclusion, so the donation never happened. Critics of the deal, including Apple Computers and Linux software maker Red Hat, argued that the donation would have only served to solidify Microsoft's monopoly in the desktop operating system market by extending it to the education sector. Many also noted the concern that students coming from a Microsoft environment will drive a need for Microsoft systems when they graduate and join the labor market -- forcing businesses and government to adopt Microsoft products.

The South African Government should take what it can get for free (especially end-user tools) and prepare and implement a sound plan for optimizing the availability of MS software in its schools. However, it would be a mistake to assume that because South Africa will get MS software that this will automatically lead to improvements in educational outcomes; the Government needs to make certain that teachers and students are properly trained and able to benefit from the introduction of technology in schools. Microsoft should do its part in this regard by helping schools with technical support and software updates. Evan Summers, of the South African Linux School Computer Lab Project, calls for "all organizations and companies, regardless of the platform they recommend, to participate in a constructive discussion and work together to achieve the real goal: to deploy computer labs to every school in the country, and exploit that infrastructure to further education."

But the real dilemma for the South African Government is that the short-term answer -- take the MS software donation and put it to good use -- poses problems in the long-term. In the long-term, South Africa needs to foster its own software development and capabilities. The Government should not be complacent in attempting to foster or facilitate a competitive domestic software development environment. The position of NACI illustrates many of the points that developing country governments need to consider as they drive the adoption of information technology in their nations. NACI describes the trade-off between the proprietary and open approaches to software as a choice between relying on foreign skills and developing local skills. If South Africa chooses the proprietary route, in the long-term the cost in many cases will be higher, and much of the expenditure goes out of the country. NACI advises that South Africa should be developing local open source skills and paving the way to becoming a world class software development nation.

The South African Government should focus on open source in its own development activities, its purchases, and fostering a local software market, while at the same time taking advantage of the free proprietary software for its schools. There is no reason why Microsoft and open source software cannot and will not coexist, in South Africa and elsewhere. But governments and the public may be well-advised to take a broad perspective on the issues and leave their options "Open".

TECHNOLOGY FOR THE RURAL MILLIONS... IF ONLY IT CAN GET TO THEM

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/internet/6022

This is a story of the ingenuity of the common man and woman. From across the fields and villages of the India, and scientific labs, a whole range of technologies have emerged to make rural life a little less difficult. But can this vital information reach out to those who actually need it?
NIRD, the Hyderabad-based National Institute of Rural Development, has recently released a 'Directory of Rural Technologies'.

It offers dozens of useful solutions -- from technologies for the blacksmith, to brick-making ideas, ferro cement roofing channels, pollution control systems for lime kilns, indigo dye extraction methods, bio-fertilisers and vermicomposting, crop improvement schemes, energy-harnessing ideas, farm machinery and many others.

There are ideas aplenty. It's part of NIRD's task, and the institute has the job of training, research, action research and consultancy for rural development. If such information reaches the right quarters -- and with communication roadblocks of all sorts, this is a big 'if' -- then the NIRD could come closer to its goal of "improving the economic and social well-being of people in rural areas on a sustainable basis".

This directory's editors say it was a "herculean task" to collect data on available technologies in a "limited period of time". Its pages contain information relevant to artisans (a technology package for blacksmiths), for those in building and construction (brick-skeletons, flooring tiles from waste gypsum, improved storage systems for onions), ceramic products, chemicals, compost and fertiliser, crop improvement, mushroom cultivation, energy, food products, machinery, pesticides, tissue culture and even what is called knowledge technology.

For rural artisans, there's a 'technology package' for blacksmiths. It seeks to help a rural artisan to produce standard raw material of the desired carbon level, and to standards. To do so, he has to follow apt forging and heat treatment schedules. This technology has flow out of the work of the National Metallurgical Laboratory in Jamshedpur, the Science and Society Division of the Department of Science and Technology in New Delhi, and the Centre for Technology and Development, from that city.
For those into building and construction, there are construction techniques in brick masonry. No special equipment is required, and the technology is being done free of cost. This is suitable for building single-storey low-cost buildings in rural areas.

There are other solutions too. Black soils have an inherent 'expansive nature", which leads to poor quality building bricks. But such clay can be processed to yield good quality common bricks. Nodules are wet-seived from the clay mass, and fine-grained siliceous material is added in optimum proportions, to tackle the situation. This technology comes from the Central Building Research Institute, at Roorkee in Uttar Pradesh.

For an investment of Rs 200,000, it is possible to set up a unit to make 1200 compressed-earth blocks a day. Likewise, there is also technology available for a 'concrete block maker'. This costs a million rupees for someone wanting to go into production of these block-makers, while the cost of each block-maker would be around Rs 75,000. It uses a stationary block-maker, working on the pressure vibration technique for the consolidation of concrete.

Ferro cement roofing channels, flooring tiles made from waste gypsum, grouted reinforced brick masonry, gravitational settling-chamber for pollution control in fixed chimney brick kilns, improved ventilated storage structure for onions, and construction techniques for 'instant shelters' in case of natural disasters are some other solutions. For instance, instant shelters can be put up in 5-20 minutes, and are constructed of triangular frames of pipes, joined with special joints for a component that can be folded as one triangular bundle.

Low-cost latrines from India have been commercialised, and are being adopted by the United Nations Development Programme. To contact the Roorkee institute, check out its website or email the [url=mailto:vkm@cscbri.ren.nic.in]Central Building Research Institute[/url].

Micro-concrete roofing tiles come in a variety of designs for farm and country houses, bungalows, verandas and pavillions. These are durable, low-cost and cooler than asbestos-cement sheets in a tropical country like India.

Rural technologies worked on in India also offer solutions for ceramic products -- low-cost stoneware and glazed terracotta products, for instance.

Chemical solutions range from carboxy methyl starch (used as domestic laundry starch, thickener in textile printing pasters, etc), cold-water soluble starch, low-cost disposable diapers and sanitary napkins (from waste industrial fibres and flexible polythelene sheets), eco-friendly handmade paper, faster indigo dye extraction, processes to clean silver articles, affordable shaving creams, and the like.

Compost and fertiliser techniques are another strong point. Bio-fertiliser, and vermicomposting techniques are available from the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture in Hyderabad and the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bangalore, respectively. On vermicomposting, technology is also available at the AMM Murugapa Chettiar Research Centre in Chennai.

Crop improvement and variety-development ideas also come from this directory. Better yellow Gaillardia flowers, profuse-bearing drum-sticks, sapota hybrids from the Dharwad-based University of Agricultural Sciences (in North Karnataka) are also other options available. High-yielding tamarind, improved tomato varieties, curry leaf, and improved sweet potato are likewise available.

Mushroom cultivation, solar-energy dries for agro-products (like drying chillies, grapes, tobacco), solar inverters for water pumps, solar water heaters, are also described. So are a range of food products suitable for our rural areas. One solution is offered to de-fatten ground-nuts and soya beans, without using any solvent or chemicals and while also not losing their original shape. This is suited for the snack food industry, offers high protein and least risk of cholesterol. Curry leave extract, fish maws (obtained from air bladders of marine fish, for the clarification of wines), and oil-fat reduction techniques in deep fried food like potato chips are also available.

Using heat-pipe based solar energy driers, agri products can be dried in less time, under constant temperatures of 650 deg. C, and minus the bird menace or the possibility of hazardous contaminations. Rural areas lacking reliable electric supply can use solar inverters for water pumps.

Fish wafers are another possible snack, according to to the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology at Kochi-Kerala. Fish, tapioca starch, corn starch and salt go into this product.

Researchers in Andhra Pradesh have claimed a "unique process" for reducing the oil and fat in deep fat-fried foods, by using a hydrocolloid as a barrier. Spirulina is a nutritional supplement for humans, and a process has been worked on to process and culture Spirulina algae. This comes from the Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre in Chennai.

Punjab-based Institute of Engineering & Technology (Ropar) comes up with the idea of transferring knowledge-technology to rural employable youth. Using lectures and demos through audio-visual techniques, it suggests that farmers could access global agri-based products to improve the quality of their own farm products.

Other rural-oriented science offers equipment to extract the 'whole stone' from the aonla fruit, a carcass utilisation plant, chilli-seed extractor machine, and even a coconut husking tool that could be very useful to the coconut growing regions of India.

For Rs 45 per person per year, the excess iron can be removed from potable (drinking) water containing ferrous salts. It is done by oxidation. Mango harvesters (costing Rs 80 per unit), technology for making quality fishing-hooks, palmyrah fibre separator machines, fruit-fly traps, pedal operated coconut de-huskers, pedal pumps to lift water from streams, sapota harvesters, tea-leaf plucking machines, tomato and lime seed extractors, a household water filtration assembly, rural portable water analysis kits... these and other solutions are offered.

Call it appropriate technology, intermediate technology, low-level technology, low-cost technology...or just rural technology. But the information called in its covers could be useful to millions to whom it could make a difference.

Fifty years after programmes of planned development began, hundreds of millions of Indians till live in poverty. Many villages lack road connectivity, access to drinking water, sanitation and other basic amenities, as India's rural development secretary Arun Bhatnagar points out. India's varied diversity, diverse climates and socio-cultural settings have their own solution requirements.

Say editors Mathew C Kunnumkal and Bharat R Sant: "Very rare all the available rural technologies are systematically compiled at one place." They point out that way back in 1980-92, the Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (CAPART) brought out a seven-volume directory of rural technologies. These still remain "valuable reference material".

[Source: TAD Consortium February 2002 Information Update No. 3]

The Global Information Technology Report

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/internet/6028

Forthcoming publication: The Global Information Technology Report 2001-2002: Readiness for the Networked World. The "GITR" is a joint publication of the Center for International Development at Harvard University and the World Economic Forum. It was produced in partnership with infoDev, a multi-donor programme of the World Bank.


75 national ICT profiles, and extensive data related to ICTs globally. The Report also develops a Networked Readiness Index that ranks 75 countries on their ability to leverage ICT networks. The Report is meant to expand our analytic understanding of the Networked World through both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Themes such as rural ICT development, telecommunications reform, ICTs and education, business practice and trade policy and patterns are examined in depth.

Tentative price of the print report is US$65 from Oxford University Press. PDF selections including the Executive Summary, sample data and chapter summaries are available online.

Zimbabwe Tops List of African Internet Users

2002-02-21

http://allafrica.com/stories/200202070038.html

Zimbabwe is one of 11 African countries with substantial Internet usage, although limited telecommunications infrastructure hampers the penetration of information technology in the country, according to a report by the United Nations [source: allafrica via The Big Change].

Adili

2002-02-21

http://www.tikenya.org/

Adili is a fortnightly newsletter produced by Transparency International Kenya’s Public Awareness Programme.

African Malaria Vaccine Testing Newsletter

2002-02-21

http://www.afronets.org/docs-related.php

This issue of the Newsletter contains a call to the AMVTN/AMANET Joint Workshop on Health Research Ethics and Good Clinical Practice July 2002. Please bring it to the attention of your colleagues, students and whoever you feel would benefit from participation. The AMVTN will award full scholarships, including travel costs for those selected. The AMVTN Newsletter as an Adobe PDF file (281 kB) on the AFRO-NETS server for downloading.

Know Your World

2002-02-21

http://owa.benton.org/archives/oneworldus.html

OneWorld U.S. now offers a Daily Headlines e-mail service. We save you time by culling through hundreds of nonprofit and specialized news agency articles every weekday to find the most topical and engaging articles on environment, development, human rights, U.S. foreign policy, and globalization.

PEOPLE & THE PLANET ON-LINE

2002-02-21

http://www.peopleandplanet.net/

Peopleandplanet.net is an exciting gateway and educational resource exploring the connecting issues of population, environment and sustainable development in an open, independent, and balanced way. The site has been organised into 14 key topics, each introduced with an authoritative Overview, together with Feature Articles, Facts and Figures, News, Links, Glossary and Book and Film reviews. A new key topic on People, Poverty and Trade will be on-line in April.

South Africa: NEPAD receives CAD 500m boost, but...

2002-02-21

http://allafrica.com/stories/200202170047.html

After a meeting with Thabo Mbeki, G8 officials insited that NEPAD was about changing the relationship between the developed world and Africa, and not primarily about money.

Applications are still open for conservation projects

2002-02-21

http://www.cepf.net/he/whatsnew.htm

Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, a joint initiave between Macarthur Foundation, World Bank, Conservation International and Global Environment Fund is accepting proposals for conservation projects.

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria:

Instructions for NGOs Released

2002-02-21

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_hiv.cfm#9502

The International Council of AIDS Service Organizations yesterday released an update for non-governmental organizations regarding progress with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and how to apply for grants. The report, titled "The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: Update and Next Steps," gives background information on the fund, as well as an outline of the fund's framework and structure. The report also provides NGOs with information on where to find eligibility rules, application forms and other key documents. The report then outlines the procedure for the funding application process, including necessary forms, deadlines and contact information. The deadline for the first round of applications is March 10, and the GFATM board will announce grant recipients during its next meeting on April 23-24.

South Africa : Conservation receives a major boost

2002-02-21

http://www.panda.org.za/article.php?id=72

Cape Action for People and Environtment (CAPE) has receives $6-million from Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund.

South Africa: Ford Foundation's R2,2m for accountability fund

2002-02-21

http://www.dispatch.co.za/2002/02/15/easterncape/CGIVE.HTM

Ford Foundation has donated R2,2-million to Public Servive Accountability Monitoring which focusses on public acountability in the Eastern Cape.

South African:School still waiting for R1m pledge

2002-02-21

http://www.dispatch.co.za/2002/02/14/easterncape/IFOR.HTM

A school in Eastern Cape is still operating with open-air classes two years after a promise by Panasonic which never materialised.

Southern Africa gets R 99 million to boost international trade capacity

2002-02-21

http://www.news24.co.za/News24/Africa/Southern_Africa/0,1113,2-11-40_1145755,00.html

United States's trade represantative Robert Zoellick anounced the grants in a meeting with ministers and diplomats from SADC region. The package will be divided for regional integration intiaves and linking it with AGOA and customs reform and trade facilitation.

AFRICA PULSE ICT CAPACITY SURVEY

2002-02-21

http://www.sn.apc.org/ap/

Organisations in Africa are invited to participate in the Africa Pulse/SANGONeT regional ICT capacity survey. Those that participate will all benefit from the results. The survey form is online.

MAURITIUS: Reproductive Health

2002-02-21

http://ncb.intnet.mu/mih/index.htm

The Mauritius Institute of Health is pleased to announce its Training of Trainers courses for Reproductive Health with emphasis on Family Planning.
2002 Training of Trainers Courses for Reproductive Health
---------------------------------------------------------
2002 Training of Trainers Course for Reproductive Health with emphasis on
Family Planning

52nd Course (Anglophone): 3 June -12 July
53rd Course (Francophone): 23 September - 1 November

Introduction

The Mauritius Institute of Health is pleased to announce its Training of
Trainers courses for Reproductive Health with emphasis on Family Planning.
The present programme, adapted to better meet the WHO Regional Training
activities in Family Health initiated in 1982, and those of the UNFPA
Regional Project RAF/96/P01.

The Mauritius Institute of Health, with the collaboration/support of the
UNFPA, WHO and Government of Mauritius pursues its efforts/task in
contributing to the upholding of the status of reproductive health in the
Sub-Saharan region and beyond.

To date more than 1200 professionals including faculty members, directors of
training programmes, tutors, health professionals comprising
Obstetricians/Gynaecologists, Paediatricians, Physicians, Midwives, Nurses
in highly responsible positions have participated in this programme.

The multi-disciplinary nature of this course enhances the quality of
experiences shared/exchanged and promotes a better understanding of
individual contribution to teamwork.

Apart from the Training of Trainers for Reproductive Health courses, the MIH
also offers back-up support for the organisation of in-country training
programmes in specific aspects of reproductive health, and hosts study tours
with objectives
relating to reproductive health.

Aims of the programme

This regional programme aims at improving the reproductive health in
sub-Saharan Africa by training trainers for reproductive
health with special emphasis on family planning. The programme continues
activities that began in 1982 and that have been modified over the years in
order to reflect changing priorities in the region. Emphasis will henceforth
be placed on
1. educational methodology as compared to clinical aspects,
2. a reflection in the curriculum oh the philosophy and objectives of the
1994 International Conference on Population and Development,
3. careful selection of participants in collaboration with country offices
of WHO , UNFPA and other sponsoring agencies
4. follow-up of participants so as to ensure that participation in the
courses is followed by appropriate training activities at the country level.

With the anticipated multiplier effect in the training of health workers by
former participants, it is expected that human resources for the provision
of reproductive health services in the region will be greatly increased at
the country level.

The programme targets those countries where there is a greater need for the
training of personnel in reproductive health. This phase of the programme is
devoted mainly to the training of a critical mass of trainers for
reproductive health in each country so as to maximise the efficiency of
inputs through a cascade effect subsequently at the country level.

Profile of participants

Course participants must have a training role in reproductive health, the
required profile being:
1. tutors in professional schools such as medical, nursing and midwifery,
2. members of in-service training teams, and
3. central, regional and district supervisors who have major training
responsibilities as part of their supervisory activities. A mix of medical
practitioners, nurses and midwives is appropriate in view of the
interdisciplinary nature of primary health care and the exchange of
experiences.

Site of programme

Programme activities strengthen the well-established collaboration between
the Government of Mauritius, the Mauritius Institute of Health, the World
Health Organization and the United Nations Population Fund and is based at
its current premises at the Mauritius Institute of Health, Powder Mill,
Pamplemousses.

Contents of courses

Each six-week course consists of two modules:
1. family planning for reproductive health and
2. educational methodology.

These two modules complement each other: topics on family planning are used
as examples to illustrate relevant items in the module on educational
methodology and appropriate learning strategies and media are promoted in
the module on family planning for reproductive health.

Family planning for reproductive health

Lasting two weeks, the module on family planning for reproductive health
consists of an update of specific family planning methods as well as the
reproductive health concept. The curriculum ensures that prominence is given
to relevant topics as identified at the International Conference on
Population and Development held in Cairo, in 1994.

Educational methodology

Lasting four weeks, this module is given increased emphasis in view of its
primordial role in the course: this programme aims at training trainers for
reproductive health as compared to training in clinical aspects of family
planning.

Participants have the opportunity of carrying out a micro-teaching session
on a subject of their own choice. The session is recorded on a video tape
which is played back so as to provide feedback to participants.

Country training course

With the support of the facilitators, participants work in country groups to
develop a training course which they are expected to implement upon their
return to their own countries. It is essential that participants be fully
aware of the priority training needs in reproductive health for their
countries, and prepare, in collaboration with their supervisors/funding
agencies, a list of relevant topics before leaving for
Mauritius.Participants might find it useful to bring with them relevant
documents for the preparation of those training courses.

Nomination of participants

Countries are strongly encouraged to train a critical mass of trainers for
reproductive health by proposing groups of participants for courses. The
presence in a country of several former participants encourage mutual
support for carrying out subsequent training activities as compared to
single individuals who would not be otherwise motivated to act alone. It
would be desirable for participants to attend in groups of three or four
from each country.

We would like to receive, confidentially if needed, your evaluation of
candidates and any other comments that would help in our selection of
participants. About 24 participants will be selected to attend each course.

Expenses of participants

Tuition fees for each participants is USD 2,500.

Sponsoring agencies will be also responsible for the travel arrangements of
participants and the living allowance for the time spent in Mauritius. Those
agencies will be expected to provide participants with the airline ticket as
well as an advance in foreign currency for the days spent in transit for
both legs of the journey.

The living expenses allowance for each participant is calculated according
to UN stipend rate as follows:

Max. Travel rate: 45% of the UN daily subsistence allowance (1st Month)
Max. Resident rate: 30% (subsequent months)

Entry visa

Details of arrival and passport (nationality, passport number, dates of
issue and expiry) should be sent to us as soon as possible so that necessary
arrangements could be made for participants to be met at the airport and
also for their entry visa. The MIH will obtain a collective visa for all
participants. Participants from non-Commonwealth countries may have to leave
their passports at the immigration desk at the airport. Those passports will
be collected and returned to them within a few days.

Follow-up of participants

Within six weeks of the end of the course, each participant will submit a
report to the funding agency. About six months after the course, a follow-up
questionnaire will be sent to all participants. The questionnaire will
include items such as learning, performance and impact indicators.

Success of this programme can only be achieved by an adequate follow-up of
former participants to promote further activities. Funding of those
follow-up activities will be met from the national funds of reproductive
health projects of WHO and UNFPA. Former participants have a major role to
play as national facilitators in the holding of subsequent workshops.

Close working relationships with WHO and UNFPA country offices as well as
the three country support teams will promote the maintenance of contacts
with former participants and encourage them to use their experience for
follow-up activities.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you need further information. We
look forward to receiving application from suitable individuals.

Dr J.C.Mohith
Executive Director
Mauritius Institute of Health
Pamplemousses, Mauritius
Tel:+230-243-4268/3772/3698
Fax:+230-243-4014

mailto:indumih@intnet.mu
mailto:mihealth@intnet.mu

To download an application form, visit our website
http://ncb.intnet.mu/mih/index.htm

SOUTH AFRICA: Engaging Civil Society in the Commonwealth Countries

FRIDAY 22 FEBRUARY, 08H45 - lunchtime

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/courses/6043

The Civil Society Advisory Committee of the Commonwealth Foundation is meeting in Johannesburg this week. Interested parties are invited to the above seminar.
INVITATION TO ALL INTERESTED NGOs/CBOs

JOIN US AT THE PARKTONIAN HOTEL
FRIDAY 22 FEBRUARY, 08H45 - lunchtime

SEMINAR : Engaging Civil Society in the Commonwealth Countries

The Civil Society Advisory Committee of the Commonwealth Foundation
is meeting in Johannesburg this week. One of the important functions of
this forum is to draw on the experiences of civil society around the
world, and in particular in the Commonwealth Countries, on processes
to engage with civil society on an ongoing basis. You will have an
opportunity to contribute to this debate and raise any questions. The
Chairperson of the Committee, Mrs Graca Machel, will also be present,
along with a wide representation of people from Commonwealth civil
society

A light lunch will be served after the proceedings, and it is hoped that
guests will use the opportunity for informal discussion and networking.

For further information, please call Laureen at SANGOCO on 011 403 7746. For catering purposes, it would be appreciated if you could RSVP to Neli at SANGOCO, on 011 403 7746 or to laureen@sangoco.org.za

We apologise for the lateness of the invitation, and do hope to see you there!

SOUTH AFRICA: FINDING THE MONEY

12 & 13 MARCH

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/courses/6023

The first course in this series on how to source & access corporate, government & foreign funding, will focus on three major donor markets of vital importance to both small and large NPOs who wish to compete more effectively
in todays funding arena & expand and diversify their donor support base.
SOUTH AFRICA - Cape Town

FINDING THE MONEY: How to Source & Access Corporate, Government & Foreign
Funding

DATES: 12 & 13 MARCH, 2002 - VENUE: Pinelands, Cape Town

THE FIRST COURSE in this series will focus on three major donor markets of
vital
importance to both small and large NPOs who wish to compete more effectively
in
todays funding arena & expand and diversify their donor support base.
SEASONED FUNDRAISING EXPERTS will provide participants with the tools,
tactics, skills & resources needed to conduct prospect research, identify
the "right
match" for your projects and programmes, unlock the money & build long-term
relationships with funders.
ADDING VALUE will be two guest speakers who will offer fresh perspectives on
key
aspects of resource development.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: This course will suit those who are familiar with basic
fundraising
concepts and principles & have some fundraising experience.
PRESENTERS: Leon Isaacson & Jetty Botes

* Courses Coming Up ...
* The Art of Writing Funding Proposals (18 & 19 April)
* Masterclass Series I: Funding Trends & Opportunities (15 & 16 May)

Further Details: Non-Profit Resource Training / Joyce Gampel (021) 685
7726
email: joyceg@telkomsa.net

SOUTH AFRICA: Information Literacy Training

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/courses/6018

SANGONeT, in association with LINK Centre at the University of the Witwatersrand, is offering a certificate course designed to promote computer literacy.
SANGONeT TRAINING COURSE
Information Literacy Training.

SANGONeT, in association with LINK Centre at the University of
the Witwatersrand, is offering a certificate course designed to
promote computer literacy.

This 5-day course is aimed at empowering people with computer
skills and an understanding of the Information Society.

Topics to be covered during the course include the following:

- Windows 98
- MS Word
- MS Excel
- PowerPoint
- E-mail and Internet

Participants will receive a certificate of attendance from the
University of the Witwatersrand on completion of the course.

This course will be presented from 25 Feb - 1 Mar and 4-8 March 2002
at SANGONeT's training venue in Johannesburg.

Course fees : R600 + R50 non-refundable registration fee.

Please contact Matsela (011) 838 6943 or email matsela@sn.apc.org
for more information.

SOUTH AFRICA: MASTERS CERTIFICATE IN SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/courses/6017

The Departments of Sociology and Anthropology and Development Studies at RAU University are proud to offer, once again, a Masters Certificate in Social Impact Assessment.
MASTERS CERTIFICATE IN SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

The Departments of Sociology and Anthropology and Development Studies are
proud to offer, once again, a Masters Certificate in Social Impact Assessment.
The certificate is aimed at students and practitioners in the field of
social impact assessment who want to broaden and strengthen their
practical and theoretical knowledge of social impact assessment.

The course will follow two modules presented by staff of the above two
departments, as well as leading experts in the field. The modules
entail an in depth study of the process of social impact assessment
(module 1) followed by module two concerning participation and
institutional development in the field of social impact assessment.

The first module commences on the 26th of February and ends on the 1st of
March, while the second takes place from the 9th of April until the 12th
of April. The examinations take place on the 6th of April for Module 1
and the 18th of May for Module 2. Students have until the 25th of
February to register for these courses. The cost of this certificate
course amounts to R 1650.00.

Interested students can contact Dr. Ria Smit at the Department of Sociology
at 489 2319 or rsm@lw.rau.ac.za, or Mr. Naudé Malan at the Department of
Anthropology and Development Studies at 4892878 or cpnm@lw.rau.ac.za

Ms Janet Liebenberg
Office Administrator
Department of Anthropology and Development Studies
Tel: 011- 4892859
Fax: 011-4893329
Email jli@lw.rau.ac.za

ZIMBABWE: Fifth Congress of the Federation of African Immunological Societies

April 28 - May 1, 2003

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/courses/6021

The Fifth Congress of the Federation of African Immunological Socie-
ties (FAIS) with be hosted by the Zimbabwe Immunological Society at the Zimbabwean holiday resort of Victoria Falls.
Fifth Congress of the Federation of African Immunological Societies
-------------------------------------------------------------------

April 28 - May 1, 2003
The Elephant Hills Hotel, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

First Announcement

The Fifth Congress of the Federation of African Immunological Socie-
ties (FAIS) with be hosted by the Zimbabwe Immunological Society at
the Zimbabwean holiday resort of Victoria Falls, one of the natural
wonders of the world and a United Nations Heritage site.

The FAIS, a grouping of national societies of immunology in Africa is
affiliated to the International Union of Immunological Societies
(IUIS) and has sister federations in Asia/Oceania (FIMSA), Europe
(EFIS), Latin America (ALAI) and North America. One of the main ob-
jectives of FAIS is to promote the science and practice of immunology
in Africa. The inaugural congress was held in Harare in 1992. Subse-
quent congresses were held in Nairobi, Kenya (1994), Cape Town, South
Africa (1997) and Younde, Cameroon (2000).

Theme
The theme of the fifth congress encompasses current challenges to im-
munologists working in Africa. The major challenges include HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis, malaria and other regionally relevant tropical infec-
tions. Regional and international experts will address the research
and clinical aspects of these conditions. The interface of allergic
conditions and immunity will feature prominently.

Satellite workshops covering a variety of topics will be arranged be-
fore and after the meeting.

Abstract Submission Dates

Early Bird: December 15, 2002,
Late Submissions: February 15, 2003
Abstract Book will be available at the registration desk.

Language
All proceedings will be conducted in English.

Travel
Victoria Falls International Airport can be reached via the regional
airline hubs of Harare (Zimbabwe) and Johannesburg (South Africa).
There are direct flights from Harare, Johannesburg and London.

Accommodation
Delegates will be accommodated in a variety of hotels ranging from
the five-star Elephant Hills Hotel and the Victoria Falls Hotel to
the three-star A'Zambezi River Lodge and guesthouses.

Contact Persons

Convernor
Elopy Sibanda, M.D
President, Federation of African Immunological Societies (FAIS)
Department of Immunology
University of Zimbabwe Medical School
P.O Box A178, Avondale
Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: +263-4-791-631
mailto:esibanda@africaonline.co.zw

Secretary
Patricia Ndhlovu, PhD
Secretary General, Zimbabwe Immunology Society
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences
University of Zimbabwe Medical School
P.O Box A178, Avondale
Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: +263-4-791-631
mailto:pndhlovutelco.co.zw
or
mailto:dmlt@healthnet.zw

Bookings:
Congress Package, Pre and Post Congress Tours
Kristina Korsgaard Nicholson
Albatros Travel, GT Bain Centre
P.O Box A147, Avondale
Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: +263-4-303-372/54
Fax: +263-4-303-336
mailto:tours@albatros.co.zw
http://www.albatros-travel.com

Victoria Falls Branch: +263-11-219-823

Albatros Travel & Safari in conjunction with FAIS will organise your
accommodation and conference activities, as well as pre- and post-
conference tour, spouse activities during the conference and any
other excursions in Victoria Falls, Hwange, Botswana or Zambia.

Please fill in and FAX or e-mail the attached slip

Name: ............................................

Email: ...........................................

Fax: .............................................

I would like to attend the Fifth Congress of the FAIS
I hope to present a paper, my topic is likely to be:

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

SOUTH AFRICA: DIRECTOR

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/jobs/6016

The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project works towards the achievement of full social and legal equality for LGBT people based on sustainable
economic justice and development as a basis for equality and freedom for all.
LESBIAN AND GAY EQUALITY PROJECT
VACANCY FOR DIRECTOR

The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project works towards the achievement
of full social and legal equality for LGBT people based on sustainable
economic justice and development as a basis for equality and freedom
for all.

The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project is entering a critical phase of
consolidating gains made under the National Coalition for Gay and
Lesbian Equality and building a strong organisation which is
instrumental in ensuring the exercise of full human and social rights by
all LGBT people

REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE :-

a.. proven leadership and strategic qualities - strong planners with
excellent skills and experience in NGOs, human resources,
programme implementation, strategic and financial management;

b.. knowledge and record of human rights and lesbian and gay activism;

c.. capacity to thrive in a young, dynamic and growing organisation;

d.. excellent network both within and outside the NGO and funding
sectors; and

e.. an excellent lobbying, advocacy and networking profile and
experience

f.. other skills required - good listening, facilitating, persuading,
negotiating, building consensus, problem solving, troubleshooting,
reflecting and adapting skills, computer literacy, ability to work under
pressure and time management.

THE ROLE OF THE DIRECTOR INCLUDES:-
a.. contributing to the strategic vision and implementation of policies
and programmes
b.. co-ordinating and directing lobbying, advocacy, networking and
public relations work
c.. internal management of staff and smooth functioning of personnel
systems
d.. internal management of administrative and financial systems
e.. developing, maintaining and monitoring strategies to meet the
Lesbian and Gay Equality Project funding needs
f.. developing, maintaining and monitoring human resource,
administrative and financial policies, procedures and annual budgets
g.. ensuring that annual business plans and funding contracts are
implemented and adhered to
h.. draft reports to the Board, funders and other stakeholders

Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups as defined
in the Employment Equity Act and lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender
applicants. The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project offers a salary
package in line with qualifications and experience.

Send your CV and motivation letter with three referees (include postal or
email addresses and telephone and fax numbers of referees) by 20
February 2002 to :-

Nolene Morris, Chairperson

P.O Box 27722, Yeoville, 2143

Or fax to (011) 648-6692 or email- ncm@union.org.za

Interviews will be conducted between 02 - 03 March 2002. The preferred
date of commencement for this post is 17 March 2002 but this is
negotiable. If you have not been contacted within 30 days after the
closing date, please accept that your application has not been successful.

South Africa: Part time Counsellor

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/jobs/6040

Triangle Project, a progressive NGO based in Cape Town servicing the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) community, is looking for a part time counsellor.
Triangle Project, a progressive NGO based in Cape Town servicing the
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) community,
is looking for:

1. A Public Education and Training Manager, to
- Develop and distribute educational resources and training to
all programmes
- Implement the health education programmes and manage a core
group of trainers
- Co-ordinate all media and marketing

The ideal candidate will have a training and development background, and
be able to market and expand the training base of the organisation.

Further, s/he will be comfortable with staff management and general
media interface.

2. A Part time Counsellor who
- Is a qualified Psychologist or Social Worker, with LGBT
counselling and support group experience
- Will manage a limited case load, including intakes and
referrals
- Can facilitate counselling courses
- Can co-ordinate and supervise a group of lay counsellors

Deadline for applications for both posts is the 8th of March 2002.
Please forward your CV including 3 contactable references,
and covering letter of motivation, to:

D. Betteridge, via email or mail
Email: director@triangle.org.za

P.O. Box 43282, Woodstock, 7915

SOUTH AFRICA: Public Education and Training Manager

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/jobs/6039

Triangle Project, a progressive NGO based in Cape Town servicing the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT)community,
is looking for a Public Education and Training Manager.
Triangle Project, a progressive NGO based in Cape Town servicing the
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) community,
is looking for:

1. A Public Education and Training Manager, to
- Develop and distribute educational resources and training to
all programmes
- Implement the health education programmes and manage a core
group of trainers
- Co-ordinate all media and marketing

The ideal candidate will have a training and development background, and
be able to market and expand the training base of the organisation.

Further, s/he will be comfortable with staff management and general
media interface.

2. A Part time Counsellor who
- Is a qualified Psychologist or Social Worker, with LGBT
counselling and support group experience
- Will manage a limited case load, including intakes and
referrals
- Can facilitate counselling courses
- Can co-ordinate and supervise a group of lay counsellors

Deadline for applications for both posts is the 8th of March 2002.
Please forward your CV including 3 contactable references,
and covering letter of motivation, to:

D. Betteridge, via email or mail
Email: director@triangle.org.za

P.O. Box 43282, Woodstock, 7915

UK: ORGANISATIONAL MANAGER

2002-02-21

http://www.afford-uk.org

Conciliation Resources is seeking an experienced organisation manager for its London office.
Conciliation Resources is seeking an experienced ORGANISATIONAL MANAGER for its London office (please see details below).

Please forward to friends and colleagues likely to be interested in applying.

As part of our "Breaking in - careers in the development sector" program, AFFORD helps to publicise opportunities that arise in the mainstream development sector in order to encourage more applications from suitable
candidates among the African diaspora.

AFFORD's email discussion group, "Africans Without Borders", focuses on the practical ways in which the African diaspora -- individuals and organisations -- can contribute to Africa's development. If you would like to join the discussion group, please send an email to
africans_without_borders@afford.dircon.co.uk expressing your interest.

Please let us know if you would prefer not to receive such postings in the future.

AFFORD (African Foundation for Development)
54 Camberwell Road, London SE5 0EN, UK

Tel: +44 (0)20-7703 0653
+44 (0)7710-329 389
Fax: +44 (0)20-7701 2552
Email: info@afford.dircon.co.uk
WWW: http://www.afford-uk.org

"Expanding and enhancing the contribution that Africans in the diaspora make to Africa's development"

UK: Personal Assistant

2002-02-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/jobs/6019

Akina Mama wa Afrika, an international development organisation for African women, is recruiting a Personal Assistant to Director/ International Programmes Officer.
AKINA MAMA WA AFRIKA

An international development organisation for African women


VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Akina Mama WA Afrika (AMwA) is an international non-governmental development organisation for African women. It is based in the UK, with a regional office in Kampala, Uganda. AMwA was founded in 1985 by a group of African from different parts of Africa resident in the United Kingdom. AMwA provides development services for African women and serves as a resource and research forum on issues affecting African women. AMwA aims to build African women&#8217;s capacities at a personal and organisational level, through leadership development programs, networking, information and advocacy.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMwA is seeking an African woman who is a motivated self-starter to fill the following post:



Personal Assistant to Director/International Programmes Officer

Circa £18,000 &#8211; 20,000(inclusive of London weighting)

Initially for two years

The post holder will provide secretarial and administrative support to the Director, as well as coordinate activities for the preparation of AMwA&#8217;s international programmes. This includes liasing with a broad range of AmwA partners in Africa, and major conference organizing.

The post holder will have excellent administrative, organizing, written and communication skills. She will have advance knowledge of current issues and debates on gender and development in Africa. In addition, she will have the ability to develop her work with the minimum supervision. Knowledge of French is an added advantage.

The closing date for the application is: Wednesday, 20th February 2002.

These posts entail provision of personal services for African women. They are therefore advertised under Section 5(2)(d) of the Race Relations Act (1976) and Sex Discrimination Act (1975).

Please send your application form to: The Director AMwA, 334-336 Goswell Road, London EC1V 7LQ. Tel: 020 7713 5166. Fax: 020 7713 1959. You can also email thoko@akinamama.org to get copies of the application forms and job descriptions.

Fahamu