Press Release: Tanzania Kick-Starts African Court Legal Aid Scheme Fund (16.09.2015)

Tanzania President 2015

Arusha, 14 September, 2015:   The President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has pledged $100,000 to support the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights Legal Aid Scheme.

The contribution was announced by President Kikwete when launching the Kiswahili version of the Basic Facts Booklet of the Court at its premises in Arusha, Tanzania, during a visit to bid farewell to the Judges and staff on 10 September, 2015.

Tanzania is the first AU Member State to contribute towards the Scheme.

He said that the contribution was to support the work of the Court which has recorded tremendous achievements in just a decade of its existence.

‘’It has lived up to its mandate and to the satisfaction of the [AU] Member States,’’ he said.

H.E Dr Kikwete is stepping down next month after serving the constitutional two fixed five year terms as the President of his country.

The President of the Court Hon Justice Augustino Ramadhani appreciated Tanzania’s generous contribution, saying that it would go a long way in justice delivery.
Further information can be obtained from the Court’s website at www.african-court.org

What would the DA do if given the Police Ministry tomorrow?: Bokamoso by Mmusi Maimane

Press Release: World Bank Supports Better Statistics in Kenya (10.09.2015)

A new $50 million Statistics Program for Results will help better economic management, generate high quality data and strengthen KNBS capacity

WASHINGTON, September 10, 2015—The World Bank today approved a $50 million Program to support the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) to generate better and more accessible data to inform policy-makers and contribute to strengthening its capacity.

The Kenya Statistics Program-for-Results will support the Government of Kenya to fill data gaps, improve the quality of key official statistical products and processes, enhance dissemination practices and make data more accessible, and contribute to strengthen the capacity and management systems of the KNBS.

“High-quality data are critical to measure progress in growing the economy, reducing poverty and fostering shared prosperity. When statistics are up-to-date and regularly released publically, the data will inform decision making in the public and private sector alike,” said Diarietou Gaye, Country Director for Kenya. “Open data helps not only to measure progress, but also to push it forward. Kenya has made significant progress on the open data front, but more needs to be done to ensure the data are current and regularly updated.”

This successful development financing is about achieving results and institutional strengthening. Everyone—government officials, parliamentarians, civil society, and the private sector—is demanding programs that help deliver sustainable results and build institutions. To address this growing demand, the World Bank developed the Program-for-Results (PforR) financing instrument. Its unique features include using a country’s own institutions and processes, and linking disbursement of funds directly to the achievement of specific program results. This helps build capacity within the country, enhances effectiveness and efficiency and leads to achievement of tangible, sustainable program results.

The Kenya Statistics Program-for-Results funded by the Bank’s International Development Association (IDA)* is innovative and marks a global debut in the use of the PforR instrument to support the development of statistics in a country.

As Africa’s newest lower-middle income country, Kenya needs to generate the high-quality economic statistics required to inform and attract investments and help grow the economy”, said Johan A. Mistiaen, Sr. Economist and the Program’s Team Leader.“Moreover, current estimates of poverty and inequality are based on data that are a decade old. This operation will support a program of economic and household surveys (including the ongoing 2015-16 Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey) to update these statistics and henceforth produce these data on a regular basis.”

The activities supported by the new operation are aligned to the Government’s Vision 2030 and the second Medium Term Plan, which underscore that data and statistics are essential for evidence-based policy making and also for monitoring the development impact. This will create new jobs, reduce extreme poverty and contribute to shared prosperity in line with the Bank’s Country Partnership Strategy for Kenya (2014-18).

The credit is provided under the standard IDA terms that include a maturity of 38 years with a grace period of six years.


About IDA

* The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, and helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 77 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change for 2.8 billion people living on less than $2 a day. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 112 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $18 billion over the last three years, with about 50 percent going to Africa.

Press Release: China donates USD 1.2 Million to support the AU Mission in Somalia (08.09.2015)

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A Cup of tea: The recent Tea-export numbers from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda

TeaMombasa

There been in the recent days fresh export numbers. And they are either positive or staggering in the different countries. I have taken the massive cup of tea and how much of the leaf that are being sold abroad. So we can see the difference between Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Which has stories; the most significant is Burundian Tea Export especially considering the turmoil and issues after the “election and swear-in” on the third-term of Pierre Nkurunziza. But I believe the numbers will speak for themselves. I will take it country by country.

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Numbers from Burundi:

“Burundi’s tea export earnings in the first half of the year were up 61 percent on the same period of 2014” (…)”Burundi’s state-run tea board (OTB) reported first-half earnings of $17.9 million, against $11.1 million in the same period last year, on export volumes that jumped to 6,262,710 kg from 5,229,351 kg” (Nduwimana, 2015).

Tea-Board

Numbers from Kenya:

“Kenya’s tea output fell 22 percent in the first-half of 2015 from a year before, according to data from the industry regulator, after the country was hit by drought at the start of the year” (…)”The data also showed Kenya exported 247.57 million kg of tea, down from 249.8 million kg in the first six months of last year” (Clarke, 2015).

1361404042_RWANDA MOUNTAIN GREEN TEA.WGT.100g(50 tea bags.Price-US$3.1(Rwf.2000)

Numbers from Rwanda:

“Rwanda’s tea export earnings increased by 27 per cent to over $6 million in July, driven by better prices on the international market, the National Agriculture Exports Board (NAEB) monthly report indicates” (…)”Tea prices were up 55 per cent to $3.49 (about Rwf2, 617.5)/kilo in July, up from 2.25 (about Rwf1, 687.5)/kilo during the same period last year, according to the report” (Tumwebaze, 2015). Auctioned of sale of tea at the Mombasa Market: “Kenya, the leading contributor on the Auction, offered 5.6 million kilogrammes and was able to sale 4.5 million, indicating a 24 per cent sale” (Nakaweesi, 2015).

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Numbers from Uganda:

“The data shows value of exported tea fell by 4.6 per cent or Sh5.3 billion ($51 million) in the period to stand at Sh110.4 billion” (Irungu, 2015). More scary numbers of this cup of tea:  “Uganda has about 200,000 hectares suitable for tea production, but only 14 per cent (28,000 hectares) is utilised both by small holder and estate owners” (Nakaweesi, 2015).

Afterthought:

That Burundi has gotten such a leap forward and Kenya going down because of drought. Rwanda is earning more per kilo and Uganda export also slowed down. And this is important for the rural agriculture and export business. The rural famers need security of export and prices. Therefore the worldwide change of prices together with the weak local currencies isn’t making things safe for farmers. That is not their business to keep the inflations at bay. They are making sure we’re drinking a superb cup of tea. Therefore when we see these prices the Governments has an issue to make sure the value of export is stabile for the sake of the farmers. This are not just numbers for crunchers to swallow and by “futures” to secure stock in the trade and a quick buck. They don’t see the hard-work on the ground. The farmers should be paid fair for their work and surplus of their produce. As everybody would be given what they deserve for their harvest, right? Peace.

Reference:

Clarke, David – ‘Kenya’s tea production falls 22 pct due to drought’ (08.09.2015) link: http://af.reuters.com/article/kenyaNews/idAFL5N11E2P020150908

Irungu, Geoffrey – ‘Shilling under pressure as export-import gap rises by Sh115bn’ (06.09.2015) link: http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Export-import-gap-up-by-Sh115bn/-/539552/2860600/-/item/1/-/yhbrw0z/-/index.html

Nakaweesi, Dorothy – ‘Regional tea prices go down’ (03.09.2015) link: http://mobile.monitor.co.ug/Business/Business/Regional-tea-prices-go-down/-/2471014/2856212/-/format/xhtml/-/3qljyl/-/index.html

Nduwimana, Patrick; Drazen Jorgic and Goodman, David – ‘Burundi first-half tea earnings jump by 61 pct’ (08.09.2015) link: http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKCN0R80S120150908

Tumwebaze, Peterson – ‘July tea exports rake in Rwf4.7b, earnings from coffee drop 21%’ (04.09.2015) link: http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2015-09-04/192182/

Press Release: TDA condemns the violent and forceful eviction in Apa, Uganda (08.09.2015)

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Kampala, Tuesday, 8 September, 2015:

The Democratic Alliance (TDA) has learnt with shock and consternation of the deployment of heavily armed police and the military in Apa Parish, Pabbo sub county, Amuru district. The aim of the deployment is to subdue the residents violently in order for the government to demarcate boundaries between the districts of Amuru and Adjumani. They also claim that they want to demarcate the boundary of East Madi Hunting Area.

In 2012 the Uganda Wildlife Authority sent armed Rangers with the backing of police and the army to forcefully evict the residents of Apaa. People were beaten up, their livestock raided, their houses burnt and their crops set on fire. Some young men were shot dead in the operation. Twenty five men were arrested, beaten severely, taken to Adjumani where they were charged with offenses ranging from criminal trespass, being idle and disorderly to threatening violence.

Primary schools were closed down, the pupils and teachers sent away and the school desks were being used as firewood by the army and police. In fact the school became the command post of the army complete with a road block along the road leading to the school.

We are aware that this forceful eviction is being driven by a profit motive. We are also aware that at the instigation of Hon. Moses Ali, the area had been offered by Adjumani district to one Bruce Martin, a foreign investor, to be developed as a private game ranch and hunting area. We feel that since the affected area is not under the exclusive jurisdiction of Adjumani district, it requires cross border collaboration and a joint discussion and a shared decision and consent by the neighboring districts of Amuru and Adjumani.

After the incident where mother of Apa exposed themselves naked be fore the government delegation in protest, government made a commitment that a border meeting would be convened to listen to the concerns of the residents and the leaders.

To our surprise, we were told that three days ago a team comprising the army, police and other government officials were already on the ground and had come in via Adjumani district and were carrying out a survey, boundary opening and were also planting mark stones. This was in total contravention of the spirit of dialogue. Leaders tried to access Apa but roadblocks were set up and they were prevented from speaking to the people.

Three people are now confirmed dead by sources in Apa. Several people suffered grave injuries and are being treated at Amuru health centre. The Member of Parliament Gilbert Olanya was arrested and is believed to be detained in Masindi police station.

We condemn the greed behind this illegal and violent eviction of people trying to settle down after twenty years in concentration camps. We demand that this illegal survey and boundary demarcation he halted immediately.

Only open and transparent dialogue with the affected communities can resolve this matter. Force and violence by the army and police will only escalate an already volatile situation. For centuries the people of Madi and Acholi have coexisted and lived peacefully and there has never been any dispute over the administrative boundaries of the two districts. A case in point is Bibia Parish which is located in Attiak Subcounty, Amuru district and has a considerable population of ethnic Madi people. The administrative boundaries of Amuru and Adjumani are well known. That is why we believe that this current dispute is being orchestrated by greedy people who have selfish interests.

We now propose the following way forward:-

1. Any attempt at a unilateral process of survey and boundary opening at the instance of Adjumani district or the central government should be halted.
2. A high level meeting of government representatives, leaders from the districts of Adjumani and Amuru should be convened by to clarify issues of contention and provide an initial platform for dialogue.
3. A meeting of the communities that reside in the affected area should be convened in order that they become part of the efforts to seek a solution rather than being victimized by decisions and actions imposed from above.
4. Trusted mediators should be sought and asked to get involved in facilitating dialogue by the affected communities. The residents of Apa have for instance proposed that Archbishop John Baptist Odama and retired Bishop Macleod Baker Ochola be asked to mediate in this conflict.

TDA stands in solidarity with the people of Apa. We demand that the media blackout and the isolation of Amuru stops. This brings back memories of Operation North when the entire region was cordoned off as soldiers violated human rights with reckless abandon.

Finally, we know that the NRM regime doesn’t adhere to the rule of law but we wish to state that the matter is before the courts of law and the court has issued an injunction against any further survey and boundary opening.

Government should act impartially and without any undue delay in order that an amicable solution to this problem be found.

Press Release: Nexans delivers submarine fiber optic cables to West-Africa (07.09.2015)

Nexans

Professor Lumumba at PAV Ansah Foundation Forum – “On the Subject of Governance!”

PLO Lumumba interesting as always! Right?

Ask ourselves! We should Ask Ourselves!

Peace.

Press Release: The USAID Trade and Investment Hub, Syngenta and IREN Launch Second Edition of Agribusiness Competion for Youth in East Africa (04.09.2015)

USAID Trade PR

UBOS Press Release: Uganda – Consumer Price Index – August 2015

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