English debate in Kacyiru lanes conversations
By GEORGE KAGAME
After much deliberation, consultations, capacity building workshops and retreats, the cabinet only recently passed the all important decision that decreed English as the main language of instruction for all school going children.
There is a simple matter that the during the same week that cabinet made their decision known to the whole country, an international conference held in Nyandundu-where else?- was discussing redeveloping a curriculum for countries emerging out of conflicts. Many of the countries participating were mainly former French colonies-save for the UN.
During this week long conference, most of the speakers presented their papers in French which is the medium that English will replace beginning in 2010. Anyhow, the change from Franco to Anglo for the pupils is a welcome decision but it is shrouded in some confusion as one market vendor in Kacyiru recently observed after-all: "is it not the same government that was at loggerheads with students some years back after they had refused to take the mandatory French course before entry into tertiary institutions?" asked the vendor. The students who were only familiar with English were protesting the policy of the mandatory French course.
Now like the biblical Saul who after pursuing Christian converts felt sympathetic to them with the help of the Holy Spirit turned into Paul and joined the Christian crusade, the government saw English light how this came after the students were chased away.
With English speaking countries contributing largely to the economic survival either in terms of aid or trading partners-it was only prudent to change and realign the labour resources and hopefully soon the paper work to those of our development partners for better communication purposes. The decision however was received with mixed reactions in a social club that meets for a proverbial drink in the outskirts of Village Urugwiro, to be specific at the junction leading to Gisozi Genocide memorial and Kigali Liberal University-ULK!.
Peter Mazuru, a regular at the club recorded a conversation between four of his colleagues in the drinking fellowship and below are the excerpts. Member one: English is here; but then again, it has been for a very long while, and don’t be fooled the queen’s language was here long before the previous government. Now we all have to learn the language, if not to get jobs to be able to communicate with the enormous number of tourists and development partners interested in Rwanda today.
Member two: I badly need to learn to English, that way I will able to get a job in the Vision 2020 Inc. But then again, I never had a chance to learn French beyond ‘senkanti’ (fifty) maybe I will easily remember English words like Wayne Rooney.
Member three: You are all wrong, English is just a language like Kinya-rwanda, and if you want a job you must be able to sell something to a prospective employer. What can both of you do? Apart from drinking brew that costs only Senkanti do?
Member four: To answer your question, I can carry 100 bags of cement from point A to point B in one day. But you what you are saying is happens when government takes long to announce already predicted decisions.
Mazuru: By the time Vision 2020 becomes a reality we shall be speaking Chinese!
Thursday, 30 October 2008
PAP representatives unanimous in approval of elections in Swaziland and Angola
PAP representatives unanimous in approval of elections in Swaziland and Angola
GEORGE KAGAME
Johannesburg
African parliamentarians the 10th Pan African Parliament have commended the governments of Angola and Swaziland for setting good examples in the management of presidential and parliamentary elections.
The legislators were debating the reports prepared the Pan African Parliament election observer missions for parliamentary election in Angola that took place on September 25th and Swaziland on 19th the same month.
Presenting the report on the Swaziland elections, Mary Mugyenyi the leader of the PAP election monitoring mission in the Kingdom said the small Southern African country could give a model that can be followed by other African states: “Swaziland was smooth, we witnessed a successful election, free, fair, transparent and credible.”
Mugyenyi however suggested that there should be studies to assess the role of political parties in African governments saying that success of Swaziland was because of the presence of a popular monarch, she added that political parties divide citizens according to regions, tribes and promoters disintegration: “The Swazi people don’t want political parties, the traditional system of government has proved to be a successful mode of government for them more than other modern systems throughout the continent.”
Mugyenyi was supported by Batille Tosiki from Uganda who asked whether Africa was ready for western style democracy: “In Africa political parties further disorganize government affairs as they thwart the voices of their members in the name of the party, this impedes internal debates,” he said.
She however said that the Swazi system needed to find an effective measure to make their political system competitive for women as the current system was unfair to women since many that are in political positions are only appointed.
Parliamentary elections were held in Swaziland for the House of Assembly on 19 September 2008. It was the first election under the new constitution introduced in 2006, and the first time that foreign observers were allowed to monitor an election in the country.
Political parties remained banned in Swaziland, so all candidates for the 55 seats were independents. Following the election, King Mswati III was to appoint 10 more MPs. The National Assembly would then elect 10 members for the Senate, with the King appointing 20 more
Presenting to the house the report on legislative elections in Angola Idriss Ndele Moussa leader of the PAP election monitoring te3am in Angola said that the country had organized free and fair elections: “the elections in Angola was exemplary to the whole of Africa.”
However he said that Angola government machinery had supported pro government candidates and largely left opposition candidates starved of resources: “there was a disproportionate use of public resources and public resources served were employed to aid pro government candidates.”
Ndele added that to its credit, the media was evenly balanced for all the 14 political parties stranding equally, but added that his team had been delayed by government officials in accreditation processes, “at some offices we were left out because of the offices could not be opened in some cases till midday which affected our work.”
He however commended the electoral commission in Angola for its efficient organization of the polls, “the voting process was very well managed and the UNITA -National Liberatino Front-UNITA the main opposition party to the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), conceded defeat the next day after the results were declared, but he also criticized the composition of the commission saying that the ratio of 7 members of the ruling party to the opposition party’s 3 was not equally representative.
Jose Franca Van Dunem from Angola said that his country had suffered a great deal in a long lasting conflict which began It is the first election in Angola since 1992; prior to the 1992 elections, the country had suffered from a 27 year a civil war. Even the 1992 elections were followed by the second phase of the Angolan Civil War, which continued until 2002, Dunem added that the government since 2002 had been run by a national unity and reconciliation cabinet.
In the open house response to the reports MPs were unanimous in their approval of the elections of both countries. Sam Njuba from Uganda said: “Angola and Swaziland are a good example for Africa coming after the disappointments of Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Dan Nkodo from Cameron cautioned AU members that had not ratified the AU charter on democracy and good governance, “it is only Mauritania that has ratified the document and this embarrassing because Mauritania is currently under a military junta. By tolerating the crisis in Zimbabwe the AU is setting a wrong precedent,” added Nkodo.
GEORGE KAGAME
Johannesburg
African parliamentarians the 10th Pan African Parliament have commended the governments of Angola and Swaziland for setting good examples in the management of presidential and parliamentary elections.
The legislators were debating the reports prepared the Pan African Parliament election observer missions for parliamentary election in Angola that took place on September 25th and Swaziland on 19th the same month.
Presenting the report on the Swaziland elections, Mary Mugyenyi the leader of the PAP election monitoring mission in the Kingdom said the small Southern African country could give a model that can be followed by other African states: “Swaziland was smooth, we witnessed a successful election, free, fair, transparent and credible.”
Mugyenyi however suggested that there should be studies to assess the role of political parties in African governments saying that success of Swaziland was because of the presence of a popular monarch, she added that political parties divide citizens according to regions, tribes and promoters disintegration: “The Swazi people don’t want political parties, the traditional system of government has proved to be a successful mode of government for them more than other modern systems throughout the continent.”
Mugyenyi was supported by Batille Tosiki from Uganda who asked whether Africa was ready for western style democracy: “In Africa political parties further disorganize government affairs as they thwart the voices of their members in the name of the party, this impedes internal debates,” he said.
She however said that the Swazi system needed to find an effective measure to make their political system competitive for women as the current system was unfair to women since many that are in political positions are only appointed.
Parliamentary elections were held in Swaziland for the House of Assembly on 19 September 2008. It was the first election under the new constitution introduced in 2006, and the first time that foreign observers were allowed to monitor an election in the country.
Political parties remained banned in Swaziland, so all candidates for the 55 seats were independents. Following the election, King Mswati III was to appoint 10 more MPs. The National Assembly would then elect 10 members for the Senate, with the King appointing 20 more
Presenting to the house the report on legislative elections in Angola Idriss Ndele Moussa leader of the PAP election monitoring te3am in Angola said that the country had organized free and fair elections: “the elections in Angola was exemplary to the whole of Africa.”
However he said that Angola government machinery had supported pro government candidates and largely left opposition candidates starved of resources: “there was a disproportionate use of public resources and public resources served were employed to aid pro government candidates.”
Ndele added that to its credit, the media was evenly balanced for all the 14 political parties stranding equally, but added that his team had been delayed by government officials in accreditation processes, “at some offices we were left out because of the offices could not be opened in some cases till midday which affected our work.”
He however commended the electoral commission in Angola for its efficient organization of the polls, “the voting process was very well managed and the UNITA -National Liberatino Front-UNITA the main opposition party to the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), conceded defeat the next day after the results were declared, but he also criticized the composition of the commission saying that the ratio of 7 members of the ruling party to the opposition party’s 3 was not equally representative.
Jose Franca Van Dunem from Angola said that his country had suffered a great deal in a long lasting conflict which began It is the first election in Angola since 1992; prior to the 1992 elections, the country had suffered from a 27 year a civil war. Even the 1992 elections were followed by the second phase of the Angolan Civil War, which continued until 2002, Dunem added that the government since 2002 had been run by a national unity and reconciliation cabinet.
In the open house response to the reports MPs were unanimous in their approval of the elections of both countries. Sam Njuba from Uganda said: “Angola and Swaziland are a good example for Africa coming after the disappointments of Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Dan Nkodo from Cameron cautioned AU members that had not ratified the AU charter on democracy and good governance, “it is only Mauritania that has ratified the document and this embarrassing because Mauritania is currently under a military junta. By tolerating the crisis in Zimbabwe the AU is setting a wrong precedent,” added Nkodo.
English debate in Kacyiru lanes conversations
English debate in Kacyiru lanes conversations
By GEORGE KAGAME
After much deliberation, consultations, capacity building workshops and retreats, the cabinet only recently passed the all important decision that decreed English as the main language of instruction for all school going children.
There is a simple matter that the during the same week that cabinet made their decision known to the whole country, an international conference held in Nyandundu-where else?- was discussing redeveloping a curriculum for countries emerging out of conflicts. Many of the countries participating were mainly former French colonies-save for the UN.
During this week long conference, most of the speakers presented their papers in French which is the medium that English will replace beginning in 2010. Anyhow, the change from Franco to Anglo for the pupils is a welcome decision but it is shrouded in some confusion as one market vendor in Kacyiru recently observed after-all: "is it not the same government that was at loggerheads with students some years back after they had refused to take the mandatory French course before entry into tertiary institutions?" asked the vendor. The students who were only familiar with English were protesting the policy of the mandatory French course.
Now like the biblical Saul who after pursuing Christian converts felt sympathetic to them with the help of the Holy Spirit turned into Paul and joined the Christian crusade, the government saw English light how this came after the students were chased away.
With English speaking countries contributing largely to the economic survival either in terms of aid or trading partners-it was only prudent to change and realign the labour resources and hopefully soon the paper work to those of our development partners for better communication purposes. The decision however was received with mixed reactions in a social club that meets for a proverbial drink in the outskirts of Village Urugwiro, to be specific at the junction leading to Gisozi Genocide memorial and Kigali Liberal University-ULK!.
Peter Mazuru, a regular at the club recorded a conversation between four of his colleagues in the drinking fellowship and below are the excerpts. Member one: English is here; but then again, it has been for a very long while, and don’t be fooled the queen’s language was here long before the previous government. Now we all have to learn the language, if not to get jobs to be able to communicate with the enormous number of tourists and development partners interested in Rwanda today.
Member two: I badly need to learn to English, that way I will able to get a job in the Vision 2020 Inc. But then again, I never had a chance to learn French beyond ‘senkanti’ (fifty) maybe I will easily remember English words like Wayne Rooney.
Member three: You are all wrong, English is just a language like Kinya-rwanda, and if you want a job you must be able to sell something to a prospective employer. What can both of you do? Apart from drinking brew that costs only Senkanti do?
Member four: To answer your question, I can carry 100 bags of cement from point A to point B in one day. But you what you are saying is happens when government takes long to announce already predicted decisions.
Mazuru: By the time Vision 2020 becomes a reality we shall be speaking Chinese!
By GEORGE KAGAME
After much deliberation, consultations, capacity building workshops and retreats, the cabinet only recently passed the all important decision that decreed English as the main language of instruction for all school going children.
There is a simple matter that the during the same week that cabinet made their decision known to the whole country, an international conference held in Nyandundu-where else?- was discussing redeveloping a curriculum for countries emerging out of conflicts. Many of the countries participating were mainly former French colonies-save for the UN.
During this week long conference, most of the speakers presented their papers in French which is the medium that English will replace beginning in 2010. Anyhow, the change from Franco to Anglo for the pupils is a welcome decision but it is shrouded in some confusion as one market vendor in Kacyiru recently observed after-all: "is it not the same government that was at loggerheads with students some years back after they had refused to take the mandatory French course before entry into tertiary institutions?" asked the vendor. The students who were only familiar with English were protesting the policy of the mandatory French course.
Now like the biblical Saul who after pursuing Christian converts felt sympathetic to them with the help of the Holy Spirit turned into Paul and joined the Christian crusade, the government saw English light how this came after the students were chased away.
With English speaking countries contributing largely to the economic survival either in terms of aid or trading partners-it was only prudent to change and realign the labour resources and hopefully soon the paper work to those of our development partners for better communication purposes. The decision however was received with mixed reactions in a social club that meets for a proverbial drink in the outskirts of Village Urugwiro, to be specific at the junction leading to Gisozi Genocide memorial and Kigali Liberal University-ULK!.
Peter Mazuru, a regular at the club recorded a conversation between four of his colleagues in the drinking fellowship and below are the excerpts. Member one: English is here; but then again, it has been for a very long while, and don’t be fooled the queen’s language was here long before the previous government. Now we all have to learn the language, if not to get jobs to be able to communicate with the enormous number of tourists and development partners interested in Rwanda today.
Member two: I badly need to learn to English, that way I will able to get a job in the Vision 2020 Inc. But then again, I never had a chance to learn French beyond ‘senkanti’ (fifty) maybe I will easily remember English words like Wayne Rooney.
Member three: You are all wrong, English is just a language like Kinya-rwanda, and if you want a job you must be able to sell something to a prospective employer. What can both of you do? Apart from drinking brew that costs only Senkanti do?
Member four: To answer your question, I can carry 100 bags of cement from point A to point B in one day. But you what you are saying is happens when government takes long to announce already predicted decisions.
Mazuru: By the time Vision 2020 becomes a reality we shall be speaking Chinese!
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
PAP President commends women's' efforts in Africa's development agenda
PAP President commends women's' efforts in Africa's development agenda
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Johannesburg
The President of the Pan African Parliament Dr. Gertrude Mongella commended the efforts of women in Africa's liberation struggles from colonialism and their determination to develop the continent from the high levels of poverty on the continent today.
Mongella was earlier today opening the second Women's Platform for Action in Africa conference in Johannesburg quoted the examples of South Africa and Rwanda saying that the women in the two countries had suffered more the brunt of genocide and apartheid respectively and they were active in helping their countries overcome such tragedies.
She said the women in Rwanda had witnessed and suffered from the 1994 Genocide that after it was stopped they are at the forefront of establishing that country among the most well managed societies. Mongela's Khalid Dhahab, the media manager of the Pan African Parliament which is among the organizers of the conference In an email to The New Times wrote that
"After the genocide, Rwanda moved to let go of the past and now the men and women of Rwanda have decided through the power of the vote to send more women to the parliament." Mongella was referring to recent parliamentary elections i Rwanda where more woman than men won parliamentary seats.
She however said that the numbers of women is useless if there are incompetent leaders at the top: "Rwanda is lucky to have President Paul Kagame, he has made the difference in that country because he implements what he pledges to do," she said many other African leaders had committed to promote gender sensitive policies but they failed to honour these commitments. "Because of his good leadership, that country now has a good environment which encourages, respects and opens doors for women to show their qualities in management."
Mongella added that Rwanda was on a good road to development because more women had bee given opportunities to showcase their leadership skills, she cautioned other African leaders that there can never be development on the continent unless women were the centre of policy making stages of public service. Addressing the same session Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge thr deputy speaker of the South African Parliament said that there was need for women in enough numbers of positions of influence to be able to bring about changes that would develop the continent further.
The Women's Platform for Action in Africa was championed by South African female legislators in 2006, they sought to create a forum through which to engage policy makers in parliaments across Africa on gender issues, today the platform is being streamlined to be adopted among the institutions of the Pan African Parliament.
This year's theme: "Women and the quest for Human Security" is discussing measures that can be adopted to ensure that women are protected from fear of freedom and want, "this means that women must be protected from fear and freedom from want emphasized Routledge. The second Women's Platform for Action in Africa is sponsored by the German Technical Cooperation organization-GTZ.
Mongela has been at the forefront of gender issues and advocacy and she is popularly known as Mama Beijing, since being the secretary general of the international conference in 1995 which largely opened doors for the current trend of women and gender sensitive policies across the globe.
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Johannesburg
The President of the Pan African Parliament Dr. Gertrude Mongella commended the efforts of women in Africa's liberation struggles from colonialism and their determination to develop the continent from the high levels of poverty on the continent today.
Mongella was earlier today opening the second Women's Platform for Action in Africa conference in Johannesburg quoted the examples of South Africa and Rwanda saying that the women in the two countries had suffered more the brunt of genocide and apartheid respectively and they were active in helping their countries overcome such tragedies.
She said the women in Rwanda had witnessed and suffered from the 1994 Genocide that after it was stopped they are at the forefront of establishing that country among the most well managed societies. Mongela's Khalid Dhahab, the media manager of the Pan African Parliament which is among the organizers of the conference In an email to The New Times wrote that
"After the genocide, Rwanda moved to let go of the past and now the men and women of Rwanda have decided through the power of the vote to send more women to the parliament." Mongella was referring to recent parliamentary elections i Rwanda where more woman than men won parliamentary seats.
She however said that the numbers of women is useless if there are incompetent leaders at the top: "Rwanda is lucky to have President Paul Kagame, he has made the difference in that country because he implements what he pledges to do," she said many other African leaders had committed to promote gender sensitive policies but they failed to honour these commitments. "Because of his good leadership, that country now has a good environment which encourages, respects and opens doors for women to show their qualities in management."
Mongella added that Rwanda was on a good road to development because more women had bee given opportunities to showcase their leadership skills, she cautioned other African leaders that there can never be development on the continent unless women were the centre of policy making stages of public service. Addressing the same session Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge thr deputy speaker of the South African Parliament said that there was need for women in enough numbers of positions of influence to be able to bring about changes that would develop the continent further.
The Women's Platform for Action in Africa was championed by South African female legislators in 2006, they sought to create a forum through which to engage policy makers in parliaments across Africa on gender issues, today the platform is being streamlined to be adopted among the institutions of the Pan African Parliament.
This year's theme: "Women and the quest for Human Security" is discussing measures that can be adopted to ensure that women are protected from fear of freedom and want, "this means that women must be protected from fear and freedom from want emphasized Routledge. The second Women's Platform for Action in Africa is sponsored by the German Technical Cooperation organization-GTZ.
Mongela has been at the forefront of gender issues and advocacy and she is popularly known as Mama Beijing, since being the secretary general of the international conference in 1995 which largely opened doors for the current trend of women and gender sensitive policies across the globe.
African unity emphasized at opening of the 10th session of Pan African parliament in Johannesburg
African unity emphasized at opening of the 10th session of Pan African parliament in Johannesburg
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Johannesburg
The Chairman of the African Union and President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete has dismissed the principle of non interference among African countries in their domestic affairs as being old and no longer acceptable.
Kikwete who was addressing the 10th ordinary session of the Pan African Parliament in Johannesburg South Africa said that Africa is on the move and the continent is currently undergoing tremendous changes in the rule of law and democracy, greater economic prosperity and deeper economic integration which meant that all countries on the continent have a collective responsibility to ensure this trend.
Kikwete further said that the organization and management of elections has improved noting that since the PAP was created in 2004, there have been elections in 45 countries on the continent.
Commenting on regional political and economic integration on the continent, Kikwete said that recently an agreement was reached in the Ugandan capital of Kampala for negotiations to merge the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, East Africa Community and the Southern Africa Development Cooperation and form one economic integration block to unite all countries in those blocks. Kikwete said that these were the first steps of creating one united Africa politically and economically.
He further added that in recent decades, Africa has had a 5 percent annual growth rate economically and if this was maintained, the continent has potential to be an economic powerhouse in the future. "the global interest in Africa is an opportunity we cannot afford to loose," Kikwete cautioned the members of PAP.
kIKWETRE said that he continent is benefitting from the emergence of "a new breed of leaders that have introduced appropriate measures to change Africa for the better." Kikwete added that in past decades, Africa was known as a continent of doom but today there has been improvement in changing this image, "there is greater awareness on the evils of corruption, democracy on the continent is becoming institutionalized except for outside cases." He named the outside cases as Darfur, Somalia, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Chad, Mauritania and Central African Republic.
Kikwete said the African Union needed strengthening so as to be effective in keeping stability on the continent, "the AU peace and security force needs to be further empowered in early warning mechanisms and the detection of conflicts." He also lamented the poor state of agriculture in Africa and advised that in order for the continent for the continent to be developed, the most effective measure to for African countries to have "unhindered access to the available technology in agriculture and markets, any effort to develop Africa must focus on agriculture," added Kikwete.
He said that these efforts must consider expanding irrigation and the use of fertilizers which are not widespread currently, Kikwete also lamented the poor state of infrastructure in Africa saying that because of its poor state, infrastructure does not provide sufficient linkages to spur development. "12 to 17 percent of the road network on the continent is paved and 12 percent of these are seasonal roads, this is reinforcing poverty on the continent and impedes inter Africa trade."
Opening the session earlier, Dr. Gertrude Mongella the President of PAP said that Africa needs to speak with one voice so as to face the new reality of world politics saying that the Pan African Parliament had established relationships with other continental bodies as the European Parliament and the Latin American parliaments which were represented by their respective presidents in South Africa.
Mongella said that the need for African unity was reinforced by the continent's dependency on richer nations which are currently undergoing financial crisis and this would affect African countries yet they are not part of the issues causing the crisis. The Pan African Parliament was formed in 2004 as a continent wide body to discuss government issues affecting Africa.
It aims to be an institution with full legislative powers whose representatives are elected directly by universal suffrage, it was one of the organs proposed by African leaders as they disbanded the Organization of African in 1999 and is seen as one of the first steps in creating a unified Africa politically and economically, it has 235 members representing all countries in the AU.
Rwanda is represented by 5 members elected from the both the senate and lower chamber of parliament
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Johannesburg
The Chairman of the African Union and President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete has dismissed the principle of non interference among African countries in their domestic affairs as being old and no longer acceptable.
Kikwete who was addressing the 10th ordinary session of the Pan African Parliament in Johannesburg South Africa said that Africa is on the move and the continent is currently undergoing tremendous changes in the rule of law and democracy, greater economic prosperity and deeper economic integration which meant that all countries on the continent have a collective responsibility to ensure this trend.
Kikwete further said that the organization and management of elections has improved noting that since the PAP was created in 2004, there have been elections in 45 countries on the continent.
Commenting on regional political and economic integration on the continent, Kikwete said that recently an agreement was reached in the Ugandan capital of Kampala for negotiations to merge the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, East Africa Community and the Southern Africa Development Cooperation and form one economic integration block to unite all countries in those blocks. Kikwete said that these were the first steps of creating one united Africa politically and economically.
He further added that in recent decades, Africa has had a 5 percent annual growth rate economically and if this was maintained, the continent has potential to be an economic powerhouse in the future. "the global interest in Africa is an opportunity we cannot afford to loose," Kikwete cautioned the members of PAP.
kIKWETRE said that he continent is benefitting from the emergence of "a new breed of leaders that have introduced appropriate measures to change Africa for the better." Kikwete added that in past decades, Africa was known as a continent of doom but today there has been improvement in changing this image, "there is greater awareness on the evils of corruption, democracy on the continent is becoming institutionalized except for outside cases." He named the outside cases as Darfur, Somalia, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Chad, Mauritania and Central African Republic.
Kikwete said the African Union needed strengthening so as to be effective in keeping stability on the continent, "the AU peace and security force needs to be further empowered in early warning mechanisms and the detection of conflicts." He also lamented the poor state of agriculture in Africa and advised that in order for the continent for the continent to be developed, the most effective measure to for African countries to have "unhindered access to the available technology in agriculture and markets, any effort to develop Africa must focus on agriculture," added Kikwete.
He said that these efforts must consider expanding irrigation and the use of fertilizers which are not widespread currently, Kikwete also lamented the poor state of infrastructure in Africa saying that because of its poor state, infrastructure does not provide sufficient linkages to spur development. "12 to 17 percent of the road network on the continent is paved and 12 percent of these are seasonal roads, this is reinforcing poverty on the continent and impedes inter Africa trade."
Opening the session earlier, Dr. Gertrude Mongella the President of PAP said that Africa needs to speak with one voice so as to face the new reality of world politics saying that the Pan African Parliament had established relationships with other continental bodies as the European Parliament and the Latin American parliaments which were represented by their respective presidents in South Africa.
Mongella said that the need for African unity was reinforced by the continent's dependency on richer nations which are currently undergoing financial crisis and this would affect African countries yet they are not part of the issues causing the crisis. The Pan African Parliament was formed in 2004 as a continent wide body to discuss government issues affecting Africa.
It aims to be an institution with full legislative powers whose representatives are elected directly by universal suffrage, it was one of the organs proposed by African leaders as they disbanded the Organization of African in 1999 and is seen as one of the first steps in creating a unified Africa politically and economically, it has 235 members representing all countries in the AU.
Rwanda is represented by 5 members elected from the both the senate and lower chamber of parliament
African governments urged to involve more women in environmental conservation
African governments urged to involve more women in environmental conservation
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Johannesburg
Participants in the ongoing international women's conference taking place in Johannesburg have called upon African government to involve more women in crafting legislation for water an environmental management because they are the major stakeholders of environmental matters on the continent.
In a communique following their discussion on the situation of Food Security and the environment, women activists stated that women are direct users', providers and managers of water in households therefore they should be more involved in public decision making with regard to water resources.
They added that if the women were allowed to participate policy formulation for the improvement of the quality, quantity and access to clean water many young girls and women would be liberated, freeing them to engage in income generating activities, education and public life.
The activists further said that governments across the continent have a duty to promote rights of women in land and property ownership, they stated: "women usually have no rights and/or access to land for varying legal and cultural reasons yet they are the majority of the world's agricultural producers, playing important roles in farming, fisheries and forestry."
pARTICIPANTS further stated that there are significant differences between women and men's opportunities in resource use and management, yet when environmental resources are over-exploited the women are affected disproportionately as they the providers of food, fuel-wood and water for domestic use. They also lamented the legal and social structures in many African countries saying that governance trends in many countries mimic traditional norms whereby property and land rights are biased in favour of men.
Commenting on food security at the opening of the conference Professor Yassine Fall a senior UN economist said: "the high cost of water, fuel and food is ensuring that parents are failing to take their children to school.
She added that the food crisis on the continent which threatening famine in 21 African countries has been a problem for very a long time but the problem was getting acute now because some governments were concentrating their efforts in growing plants that help in the manufacture of bio-fuels. Without mentioning any examples, Yassine said "Now there's competition between government in Africa reserving land for bio fuels and farmers looking for land to grow food crops."
Closing the conference today, Dr. Gertrude Mongella the President of the Pan African Parliament said that women spend alot of time fetching water to ensure the safety of their families and livestock, yet they are also expected to be mothers.
The Women's Platform for Action in Africa was initiated by the South African Parliament in 2006, the theme of this year's conference: "Women and the quest for Human Security" was designed to emphasize the current food shortage crisis that is threatening 21 countries in Africa with famine, it is sponsored by German Technical Cooperation-GTZ.
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Johannesburg
Participants in the ongoing international women's conference taking place in Johannesburg have called upon African government to involve more women in crafting legislation for water an environmental management because they are the major stakeholders of environmental matters on the continent.
In a communique following their discussion on the situation of Food Security and the environment, women activists stated that women are direct users', providers and managers of water in households therefore they should be more involved in public decision making with regard to water resources.
They added that if the women were allowed to participate policy formulation for the improvement of the quality, quantity and access to clean water many young girls and women would be liberated, freeing them to engage in income generating activities, education and public life.
The activists further said that governments across the continent have a duty to promote rights of women in land and property ownership, they stated: "women usually have no rights and/or access to land for varying legal and cultural reasons yet they are the majority of the world's agricultural producers, playing important roles in farming, fisheries and forestry."
pARTICIPANTS further stated that there are significant differences between women and men's opportunities in resource use and management, yet when environmental resources are over-exploited the women are affected disproportionately as they the providers of food, fuel-wood and water for domestic use. They also lamented the legal and social structures in many African countries saying that governance trends in many countries mimic traditional norms whereby property and land rights are biased in favour of men.
Commenting on food security at the opening of the conference Professor Yassine Fall a senior UN economist said: "the high cost of water, fuel and food is ensuring that parents are failing to take their children to school.
She added that the food crisis on the continent which threatening famine in 21 African countries has been a problem for very a long time but the problem was getting acute now because some governments were concentrating their efforts in growing plants that help in the manufacture of bio-fuels. Without mentioning any examples, Yassine said "Now there's competition between government in Africa reserving land for bio fuels and farmers looking for land to grow food crops."
Closing the conference today, Dr. Gertrude Mongella the President of the Pan African Parliament said that women spend alot of time fetching water to ensure the safety of their families and livestock, yet they are also expected to be mothers.
The Women's Platform for Action in Africa was initiated by the South African Parliament in 2006, the theme of this year's conference: "Women and the quest for Human Security" was designed to emphasize the current food shortage crisis that is threatening 21 countries in Africa with famine, it is sponsored by German Technical Cooperation-GTZ.
Africa's intellectual vacuum a major development problem: expert
Africa's intellectual vacuum a major development problem: expert
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Johannesburg
Professor Yassine Fall a UNIFEM senior economic advisor on the UN Millennium project has expressed frustration at the shortage of intellectuals in Africa saying that the intellectuals"-if they don't defect"-play a leading role in developing ideology, policies and theory to get Africa out of poverty.
Yassine was speaking during the The Women's Platform for Action in Africa taking place this week in Johannesburg South Africa. Referring to the continually increasing cost of food affecting 21 countries in Africa including the South Africa an Egypt Yassine said: "the high cost of water, fuel and food is ensuring that parents are failing to take their children to school."
She said the limited influence of intellectuals in policy decisions on the continent had ensured that even foreseeable problems y research-like food shortage-had cause Africa to suffer for long.
She said that the food crisis on the continent has been a threat for very long time but the problem was getting acute now because some governments were concentrating their efforts in growing plants that help in the manufacture of bio-fuels.
Without mentioning any examples, Yassine said "Now there's competition between government in Africa reserving land for bio fuels and farmers looking for land to grow food crops." Speaking at the same conference, Ms. P.m. Hollander a South African member of parliament said that the current financial crisis in western capitals had got the attention of policy makers in those capitals away from the high costs of food and ensured that issues of developing countries are now largely out of international affairs.
The Women's Platform for Action in Africa is part of the ceremonies preceding the Pan African Parliamentary session beginning on 27 October in its chambers located in Johannesburg. The PAP is the legislative organ of the African Union.
The conference was initiated by the South African Parliament in 2006, this year's theme is: "Women and the quest for Human Security" was designed to emphasize the current food shortage crisis that is threatening 21 countries in Africa with famine. It is sponsored by German Technical Cooperation-GTZ.
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Johannesburg
Professor Yassine Fall a UNIFEM senior economic advisor on the UN Millennium project has expressed frustration at the shortage of intellectuals in Africa saying that the intellectuals"-if they don't defect"-play a leading role in developing ideology, policies and theory to get Africa out of poverty.
Yassine was speaking during the The Women's Platform for Action in Africa taking place this week in Johannesburg South Africa. Referring to the continually increasing cost of food affecting 21 countries in Africa including the South Africa an Egypt Yassine said: "the high cost of water, fuel and food is ensuring that parents are failing to take their children to school."
She said the limited influence of intellectuals in policy decisions on the continent had ensured that even foreseeable problems y research-like food shortage-had cause Africa to suffer for long.
She said that the food crisis on the continent has been a threat for very long time but the problem was getting acute now because some governments were concentrating their efforts in growing plants that help in the manufacture of bio-fuels.
Without mentioning any examples, Yassine said "Now there's competition between government in Africa reserving land for bio fuels and farmers looking for land to grow food crops." Speaking at the same conference, Ms. P.m. Hollander a South African member of parliament said that the current financial crisis in western capitals had got the attention of policy makers in those capitals away from the high costs of food and ensured that issues of developing countries are now largely out of international affairs.
The Women's Platform for Action in Africa is part of the ceremonies preceding the Pan African Parliamentary session beginning on 27 October in its chambers located in Johannesburg. The PAP is the legislative organ of the African Union.
The conference was initiated by the South African Parliament in 2006, this year's theme is: "Women and the quest for Human Security" was designed to emphasize the current food shortage crisis that is threatening 21 countries in Africa with famine. It is sponsored by German Technical Cooperation-GTZ.
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