Expatriate Magazine Autumn Issue 2011

R 29.95

ISSN 2218 - 757 X

SA

Professionals

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Foreign

Origin

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C H A R L E S M WA U R A : M y P a m o j a C a p i t a l S t o r y • Morning De Klerk, Afternoon Masekela • Association of Ugandan Professionals in South Africa • Tanzanians Living in Gauteng • Gaetano Kagwa, Mr. Africa from Joburg to Nairobi • Top jobs in the rest of Africa!!

Issue . 2 Marc h to May 2011

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KELELE 001

If you’re thinking of taking your business into Africa, take us with you.

Expanding your business into Africa can be a very smart strategic move. Many of our clients have done the same and achieved successful growth. We believe they approached us because of our financial expertise and know-how combined with our knowledge of and network in Africa. Before you make your next move, speak to Pamoja Capital. Let’s put our expert entrepreneurial team on your team. They can help you navigate your way into Africa, providing necessary and sound advice on all your transactions and funding options.

Our Africa team is ready to embark on your next venture. For further information call Pamoja Capital.

PA M O J A

CA P I TA L Defining Patnership

P a m o j a C a p i t a l ( P t y ) L i m i t e d G r o u n d F l o o r, B l o c k B , P a r e t o B u i l d i n g N a n y u k i O f f i c e P a r k 6 9 N a n y u k i R o a d S u n n i n g h i l l J o h a n n e s b u r g S o u t h A f r i c a . Te l : + 2 7 1 1 2 3 4 7 6 4 1 F a x : + 2 7 1 1 2 3 4 7 6 4 3 E - m a i l : i n f o @ p a m o j a c a p i t a l . c o . z a . K e n y a O f f i c e : P a m o j a C a p i t a l L i m i t e d E x e c u t i v e B u s i n e s s S u i t e s 3 r d F l o o r, K - R E P C e n t r e Wo o d Av e n u e , K i l i m a n i P. O . B o x 5 1 7 1 8 - 0 0 2 0 0 N a i r o b i , K e n y a Te l : + 2 5 4 - 2 0 - 2 3 8 6 8 4 2 / 3 o r + 2 5 4 7 1 1 0 2 9 1 0 0 F a x : + 2 5 4 - 2 0 - 8 0 1 1 4 5 0 2 E - m a i l : i n f o @ p a m o j a c a p i t a l . c o . k e

The

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Contents 6

Editorial

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Expat-tivities

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Charles Mwaura: My Pamoja Capital Story

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Morning De Klerk, Afternoon Masekela

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Zemara, the deďŹ nition of African Cuisine

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Laura Kagame: Guest House owner at age 27

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Gaetano Kagwa : Mr. Africa from Joburg to Nairobi

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Why skilled immigration is an absolute necessity

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Finding happiness as an Expatriate’s Partner

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Ugandans in South Africa

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A.U.P.S.A

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The Secrets of Fascinating Womanhood

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Tanzanian High Commissioner

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Ugandan High Commissioner

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Tanzanians Living in Gauteng

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Musa Otieno : Long serving Santos Star

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The Last Word

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NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Africa, Baana Ba Kintu Bugandan Cultural Society, The Africa Diaspora Forum, Kenya Student Societies of Wits and Tuks and the Zambian Association in South Africa. It was also a privilege to be at the Press Event in Nairobi attended by high profile international personalities.

Channel O had a countdown of the best songs of the year 2010 on New Years Eve. The song “Make the circle bigger” by JR came in at number 12. I thought it should have been ranked much higher given how viral the term became in the lingua of South Africans following the tracks release.

Making the circle bigger has also been the call from the Expatriate community following our ground breaking launch in October. And making the circle bigger we shall.

We thank various organisations for opening their doors to us at the events we have been lucky to attend to distribute the magazine and introduce interested readers to the publication. These include the Kenya and Friends Association in Durban, the W3C (Wananchi wa Western Cape), Burundian Community in South Africa, Tanzanians Living in Gauteng, Upendo Womens Group, The Congo-South Africa Chamber of Commerce, The Association of Ugandan Professionals in South

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In this second issue, the magazine begins to broaden its coverage of Expatriates in South Africa while taking shape on content that will be of interest to our readers.

Expat-tivities hope to give you a visual account of the events in the community. Following through from the inspiring profile of Ambassador Tom Amolo of Kenya, we continue to introduce expats to their envoys with insight from the Tanzanian and Ugandan High Commissioners.

We cannot forget the business and individual profiles that, consistent with our mantra, delivers the stories of those who have done well in life after the South African border. Don’t forget to check out the top jobs in Africa on our back page and pass the information to people who may be interested.

We are appreciative of your continued support of this young dream. A big thanks to our encouraging lot of advertisers, our intelligent band of contributors and most importantly our overwhelming crowd of new subscribers. This magazine is for you and you are in the unique position of determining what it becomes, so please write to us with your comments and literary contributions.

KC Rottok Managing Editor.

Publisher: The Expatriate Forum and Magazine (Pty) Limited Reg. Number: 2010/012428/07 P O Box 4935, Randburg, 2125 Tel: +27 11 7917484 www.expatriate.co.za General Manager: Carol Malonza – carol@expatriate.co.za Managing Editor: KC Rottok – editor@expatriate.co.za Deputy Editor and Content Advisor: Leah Maina – leah@expatriate.co.za Advertising Enquiries sales@expatriate.co.za or 0762043899 For Event Coverage: events@expatriate.co.za Edition Writers: Keith Kundai Hannington Kasirye Yaw Peprah Kiundu Waweru Stella Adi Contributors Allen Mutono Christine Asiko Gideon Ombima Karabo Moleke Art Direction, Design and Layout Mike Obrien mike@obriendesign.co.za Website Massive Dynamics info@massivedynamicske.com All rights reserved. Excerpts may be used as long as this magazine is credited as the source. Longer versions of our content may only be used with the written permission of the Publisher. Neither the publisher nor the editor accept responsibility for any of the information from edition writers or contributors.

Whilst we have taken care in preparing this publication, the publisher/editor does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The editor retains the right to edit all contributions. Advertisers are responsible for their material. © THE EXPATRIATE SA 2011

ExpaT-TivitieS

Expatriate SA Magazine Launch.

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1. Unisa’s Prof. Rok Ajulu (husband to SA Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu) indulges in a copy of The Expatriate SA at The Kenya Charity Golf Day. 2. Sir James Mancham, the Founding President of The Republic of Seychelles receives a copy of The Expatriate SA magazine. 3. The President of The United Press International (UPI) checks out our first issue. 4. Former Deputy President of SA Pumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and the wife of Kenya’s Prime Minister Ida Odinga at The Expatriate SA sponsored Kenya Night. Both ladies received copies of the magazine and commended the editorial team on a job well done. 5. Dr Ngotho, chairman of Kenya and Friends Association in Durban receives the first of 100 copies for the organisation as the secretary Stephen Aondo looks on. 6. The team from the first issue at the Magazine Pre-Launch held at Manor House in Bryanston, Johannesburg. From left Thuita Wangethi, KC Rottok, Joseph Mwangi, Leah Maina and Carol Malonza.

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PIC 1 - 4 AFRICA DIASPORA FORUM INDABA (see www.adf.org.za) PIC 5 - 6 BURUNDI YEAR END DINNER (contact 012 342 4881)

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1. Zulu dancers entertain attendees. 2. Hugh Masekela welcomes Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa to the indaba. 3. Zimbabwean born activist Elinor Sisulu addresses participants. 4. Founding members of Professional Kenyan Forum (Prokey) KC Rottok (with mic) and Andrew Kakai (left) present a cheque donation of R11,300 from the forum & Vitabiotics to ADF Chair Dr. Marc Gbaffou (centre).

5. The Burundian Ambassador to SA Her Excellency Regine Rwamibano (left) and the newly elected chairman of the Burundian Community Arcade Ndikumagenge (centre) speaking to attendees. 6. Traditionally clad mother and daughter who were ushers at the Burundian event.

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PIC 1 - 4 KENYA CHARITY GOLF DAY (see www.upendoinvestments.com) PIC 5 - 6 ZAMBIA ASSOCIATION LUNCHEON (see www.zambians.co.za)

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1. One of the players tees off. 2. Ambassador Tom Amolo (red shirt) presents the winning team with the trophy.3.

Pat Muthui (second from right) CEO - Rand Merchant BANK (Event sponsors) with his daughter and the other members of his four ball team. 4. Mr Peter Lutukai (in spectacles) receives instruction from a team mate.

5. Mr. Edwin Mwitumwa (second right) and other attendees at the luncheon. 6. An attendee of the luncheon takes some time off proceedings to read our magazine.

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Kenya Night Dinner at the Indaba Hotel, 6 November 2010. Visit www.upendoinvestments.com and www.prokey.co.za for more info.

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1. Deputy Minister Ayanda Dlodlo arriving for the event. 2. Former Chair of The Upendo Womens Group, Mrs Mary Mwaka introduces the members of the group to the audience. 3. Former South African High Commissioner H.E. Tony Msimang gives the event the thumbs up as Kenya High Commissioner to SA H.E. Tom Amolo smiles on. 4. The Johannesburg based President of The Coca Cola Africa Foundation, Mr. William Asiko speaking at the event.

5. Mr Juma of Kayamba Africa leads the male guests in a dance. 6. Approximately 500 guests in attendance.

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Association of Ugandan Professionals of South Africa seminar at The JSE, 9 October 2010. Visit www.aupsa.org.za for more info.

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1. Mr. Allen Mutono (centre), chairman of AUPSA and Mr David Iraka (right), the public relations ofďŹ cer of AUPSA and planner at Nedbank who both spoke at the event. 2. JSE Entrance. 3. Attendees take a break from the seminar.

AUPSA year end function at Indzawo Guest House Midrand November 2010. For more information on this event, please visit www.aupsa.org.za 4. The event registration desk. 5. Mr. Oketch, treasurer of AUPSA congratulates the winner of a return trip to Uganda from the draw. 6. East African societies at the event. From left, KC Rottok (Professional Kenyan Forum) Allen Mutono (Chairman, AUPSA) and Dr. Robert Ngude (Chairman, Tanzanians Living in Gauteng – TALGA)

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Launch of the South Africa DRC Trade and Investment Chamber 24 November 2010, KPMG Johannesburg. Visit www.sa-drctic.co.za.

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1. Chairman of the Congolese Chamber of Commerce, Mr Thierry Kankwala acts as translator for DRC Minister for Justice Mr. Luzolo Bambi (middle). Seated to the right of the minister is H.E. Ben Mpoko, the Congolese Ambassador to SA. 2. Attendees pay attention to one of the speakers.

Baana ba Kintu Buganda Cultural Dinner 2010, for more information about this event please contact baanabakintusa@gmail.com 3. A Ugandan dance to entertain attendees of the dinner 4. A lady introduces herself to the audience.

Wits University and Tuks Kenya Students Dinner October 2010. For more information on this event, please contact ksa.wits@gmail.com 5. Kenyan musical sensation Wyre poses for a picture with some of his female fans.

Ugandan students dinner held at Inkwazi Country Club in Pretoria. For more information on this event, please visit www.inkwazicountry.co.za 6.Evening wear at the well-attended dinner.

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Between a rock and hard place? South Africans join the Sandwich Generation Urgent need for educated financial planning and collaborative family savings plans Old Mutual today launched the OMSA Sandwich Generation Indicator, which shows that 23% of South Africa’s working population now falls into the Sandwich Generation, way higher than people in first world economies like the USA/Canada (around 14%), UK (10%) and Japan (6%).

The Sandwich Generation is the generation of people squeezed between their own children and their ageing parents, and supporting both of them.

Some of the causes of the pressures are parents’ increased life expectancy – despite poor health, the fact that many folk are starting families later, or have children who are staying at home longer, or coming back home to live after embarking on their working careers.

At the start of the 20th Century, around one in twenty people in their 60’s had a living parent. Today, that figure is nearly 50%.

In 1990, fewer than one-third of young adults, aged between 18 and 24 years, lived with their parents. Research shows that today 69% of South Africans between the ages of 18-24 live at home. The figure for those aged 25-34 is a staggering 45%.

The Sandwich Generation has the daunting task of balancing the needs of their children and parents, with their own need to work and earn enough money to support themselves now – and after retirement.

It’s small consolation but we are not alone in this. A recent study by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), “Feeling the Squeeze, Asia’s Sandwich Generation,” states that in Asia “More than one-third ... have had to work harder to cover family expenses since becoming ‘sandwiched’, about half have reduced their savings and investments and nearly twothirds are more cautious with their existing investments than they would otherwise be.”

The picture in the USA is similar – even though a smaller proportion of the working population falls into the Sandwich Generation, a majority of those who do claim to have reduced savings or spent savings to cover living expenses, while roughly half have failed to make at least one rent, mortgage, credit card, car loan or student loan installment over the past year.

And there’s a further wrinkle. Some of us belong to the so-called “Club Sandwich Generation”. As the name implies, this is a more complicated situation, with people aged 50+ sandwiched between aging parents, adult children and grandchildren, and younger people in their 30’s and 40’s with aging parents and grandparents, and children.

As the Old Mutual Savings Monitor shows, there has been a small improvement in South Africans’ savings habits, since the financial crisis. But there is still a marked need for people to save more effectively.

Taken as a whole, the research is indicating that the Sandwich Generation is in urgent need of assistance: • At the very least, they should be encouraged to adopt a careful and collaborative approach to financial planning, taking a generational view of the whole family’s needs • Children and parents (of all ages!) need to have a realistic grasp of what the future may bring • Investors must avoid dipping into retirement savings, no matter how pressing the temptation is to do so, and • They must work with competent financial advisers to be able to make objective decisions and informed choices.

Says Lynette Nicholson, Head of Research at Old Mutual, “The key is to establish what your current financial situation is and ascertain what additional financial obligations you may need to be responsible for in the future. With this understanding, it is a priority to formulate a realistic achievable financial plan that will afford you the peace of mind and financial security that we all seek. The best way to do this is to get expert financial advice.”

For more info on getting expert financial advice, contact Karabo Moleke , Manager: Regional Marketing, Personal Financial Advice: Johannesburg Region, Tel: 011 217 1316, Mobile: 082 758 3196, Email: kmoleke@oldmutual.com

CHARLES MWAURA

MY PAMOJA CAPITAL STORY he Expatriate SA magazine set out to interview and profile 35 year old finance guru Charles Mwaura. After listening to him for an hour, we found that we couldn’t narrate his Pamoja Capital journey as well as he could. This is his story.

My voyage into the financial industry began at Kenyatta University (KU) in Nairobi where I pursued a BCom Accounting degree. Having been in boys only boarding schools until then, it was quite exciting to be placed in an institution of 10,000 students where 60% were women.

However, having a born again civil servant for a father and a preacher for a mother, I came from a conservative background and consequently remained grounded even in my university days. I did not consume any alcohol until my family sold the little we had in Kenya and moved to South Africa in 1999.

Our orientation into SA was unfortunately a very difficult one. Home Affairs was typically viewed as a place you dared not venture and as a result I fell prey to a middleman who disappeared with my passport when approached to renew my visitors permit. In a stroke of good fortune, the anti corruption guys heard my case and thankfully gave me the relevant papers that allowed me to work. It was a tough year, with no friends and restricted activity.

I decided to join a gym.

One day on my way there, I stumbled across a board written “SA Institute of Chartered Accountants”.

I walked in to ask for a job and the librarian gave me a list of

registered accountants to apply to. I sent out hundreds of applications and received dozens of rejection letters in response with the exception of one firm called Carlos Perreira who called me in for an interview. With the help of a friend Joe Muriuki, I studied cash flow statements the whole night in preparation. However, when I went for the interview, all Carlos wanted to talk about was his visit to Kenya as hockey captain and then proceeded to offer me a job as an audit trainee earning R3,500 a month.

Getting to work was a nightmare.

I would sit at the front of the taxi and not understand why the other passengers were giving me money.

Eventually I would get kicked out of the vehicle for not understanding what the driver was saying. To compound my misery, UNISA deregistered me from their honours programme insisting that I needed to do second year subjects as they did not recognise my degree. I passed these subjects with nineties which persuaded the dean to view Kenyan graduates in a different light and as a result UNISA changed its policy towards our qualifications.

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studied for my honours degree at FLB College where I habitually sat at the front of the class and paid attention.

At the back of the class were a b u n c h o f

“noise makers” led by one big guy from the Eastern Cape whom I particularly disliked.

One day, having skipped a class to go to a nearby bar to watch the springboks play, I came face to face with the Xhosa noisemaker who introduced himself to me as Thathi Makunga. We became friends and would regularly study together while talking about how we would one day like to run our own business.

We launched Pamoja Consulting as the consulting arm of Carlos Pereira with Thathi and I owning 60% while the audit firm had a 40% share of the business. We landed a big transaction with Kola Karim, a London based Nigerian businessman, which was fairly lucrative and held the promise of more to come. I told Carlos to keep the fees we earned from it in exchange for his shares in Pamoja. Soon after, at the end of 2005, I resigned from the audit firm to run Pamoja full time. Thathi remained a business partner whilst working full time at Deutsche Bank as an investment analyst.

while a patient Thathi supported me from his own salary. It was a difficult time and I would advise all aspiring entrepreneurs to have at least 4 to 6 months salary saved up to focus on business development.

A tender seeking the services of qualified professionals to sit on a panel of financial advisors came up at the City of Johannesburg (COJ) and we submitted a proposal. To our surprise, we received a letter confirming our appointment. The

fixed assets. We became heroes of sorts and were rewarded handsomely.

Eventually Thathi joined the business full time and we had to work even harder on the small projects before being entrusted with big country projects such as the 96 billion rand passenger rail agency project. The largest project we did for the COJ was a 200 million dollar project where the City was rolling out a fibre optic cable to underprivileged areas. The primary strength of the COJ is that it is a progressive city with constant development opportunities which we are in a position to replicate to the 280 odd municipalities that look up to the COJ.

“One of my goals is to build a solid asset by 2015 such that when I launch my presidential campaign, it is Pamoja benefi tted from not for monetary rewards.”

Other than Kola’s business, we acted as the accountants for Priscilla Muthuis’ business interests. I owe her and her husband RMB CEO Pat Muthui a lot for getting us started.

Kola’s business went quiet after a while and for about five months we had little to do. I spent my days sitting at my brother in law Henry Kihara’s Atnet IT Consulting premises

job was to verify their fixed assets and we outdid the previous provider PriceWaterhouse Coopers (PWC) who now began to court us and even tried to sell to us their fixed asset services division Combined Systems which we declined. A year later, Combined Systems tripled its turnover so in retrospect maybe we should have bought it but I believe everything happens for a reason.

We decided that rather than getting excited about the short term financial rewards, we would try and make our name synonymous with delivery. We subcontracted PWC and worked our socks off. For the first time ever, the COJ got a clean audit largely due to the new state of their

has BEE which is why, despite having no experience, we were given a chance to sit at the first panel on the COJ. I am however not a tenderpreneur – commonly defined as someone who is awarded tenders because of political connections but lacks the capacity to deliver.

Our business is 70% public sector and 30% private. We would not be able to play in the private sector, which is very unforgiving, if we were ‘tenderpreneurs’.

Pamoja Consulting was recently rebranded to Pamoja Capital. South Africa is the “capital Capital of Africa” and “Capital” better reflects our service offering. We have began investing in deals that we structure through a Mauritian based entity

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With their daughters - Charles (holding Michaela) and wife Lucy (holding Michelle)

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called Pamoja Capital Partners. In March 2010, we opened Pamoja Capital in Kenya headed by my former KU classmate Jeff Gangla, a consummate professional who previously held the position of Managing Director (MD) of First Africa Capital in Nigeria and has structured some of the biggest African deals such as MTN Nigeria and Anglo Gold Ashanti. Our aim is to be a Pan African Organisation.

Next up is Pamoja Capital Angola and in the coming years we are planning entry into West Africa. We feel that this is our moment on this continent evidenced by the fact that I am presently involved in a large telecoms project commissioned by NEPAD and set to cover 23 countries.

One of my goals is to build a solid asset by 2015 such that when I venture into politics it is not for monetary rewards. I intend to become president of Kenya one day.

People tell me that politics is dirty and not for ‘good’ people. This is only because our country is notorious for recycling leaders. I think however that Kenyans are increasingly becoming more self aware. Current politicians have taught us to play to our weaknesses like our individual tribal background, rather than playing to our strengths like how innovative we are and the respect that we command internationally.

Look at innovations such as M-Pesa which is internationally renowned and has now been adopted in Afghanistan,

South Africa and Tanzania and is set to be rolled out into more markets globally. It is time for generational change which I believe will be driven by the Diaspora as we have had an opportunity to witness and learn from systems that work.

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RAWTALK BY ROTTOK

MORNING MR. DE KLERK, AFTERNOON MR. MASEKELA

Sentiments on change and human relations “We should learn that the process of change never ends.There is no point at which you can say that you have ‘solved’ any problem in a rapidly changing environment.”

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RAWTALK BY ROTTOK

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n the span of a few months I have felt very privileged. It is not often one gets to sit a few inches from world famous icons of leadership and art.

On a morning in November I sat in the front row at a company conference in Cape Town armed with my camera to listen to Nobel Prize winner F.W. De Klerk speak. This is a man who is in a significant way responsible for the new South Africa having liberated Mandela in 1990 and paved the way for free and fair elections in 1994. Ample knowledge to deliver the speech he had titled “The management of change: lessons drawn from the transformation of South Africa”.

“Change today is not what it used to be,” the former President noted, “it is accelerating, it is fundamental and perhaps most importantly, it is unpredictable”

perestroika reforms to the ongoing system whilst insisting that there was nothing wrong with communism.

Thirdly, managing change requires a vision of a better future.

Next, change management requires special communication skills to bring all stakeholders on board.

He went on to say that timing is crucial when it comes to change.

“A leader must watch the tides and currents and must position himself accordingly. I was often criticised

whose outcome would have far reaching consequences such as the referendum he conducted amongst whites to prove that a majority supported the process of change.

“Finally,” he concluded, “we should learn that the process of change never ends. There is no point at which you can say that you have ‘solved’ any problem in a rapidly changing environment. As soon as you have achieved your objectives, you must begin to address the next challenges that change will inevitably throw down. We have achieved most of the objectives we set in 1990 but we dare not rest on our laurels as there are new challenges such as the need to nurture relationships between our different communities that are now beginning to show some signs of strain.”

“A leader must watch the tides and currents and must position himself accordingly.”

De Klerk then proceeded to share eight lessons he had gathered over the years with regards to change.

He said the first step is to accept the need for change.

“Whites and minorities feared change given the communist influence in the ANC and the failure of other African countries to build prosperous societies.”

He views the second challenge as the temptation of pretending to change. He found that very often people “think of brilliant new ways of doing the wrong thing better” and gave the example of his friend Mikhail Gorbachev who launched

before I became President for not racing out ahead of the pack in the pursuit of reform. Had I done so I would have alienated key players and important constituencies. I would not have become leader of my Party in 1989; I would not have been able to do the things that I did when I was President; and I certainly wouldn’t have been invited to speak to you today,” he said to some laughter.

He said that the sixth element was the need for strong leadership that is ready to ride the wave of history when it breaks recalling that his hand was greatly strengthened by events occurring in Eastern Europe at the time. His next tip also revolved around leadership, the need to take calculated risks

This challenge of strain between communities was also the topic for outstanding trumpeter Hugh Masekela a couple of months earlier when I listened to him at an African Diaspora Forum indaba held in Yeoville. Masekela was born in 1939, just three years after F.W. De Klerk.

Other than being a virtual age mate of De Klerk, Masekela can also stake a claim to shaping the history of SA given his participation in activism as an exiled expatriate for close to 30 years, the most memorable product of that stint being co-writing the movie Sarafina.

On that afternoon, the packed hall fell silent when the legend rose to speak. I was slightly disappointed that he wasn’t holding a trumpet ready to blast a tune or two.

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RAWTALK BY ROTTOK

Nevertheless, what he had to say was just as impactful.

“We have a lot of ignorance in our midst,” a blunt beginning, “I believe we have to teach each other a little bit more about where everybody comes from even though they come from artificial borders.”

He paused and wiped his brow then looked up. You could tell he was about to say something that would either be well received or quite unpopular.

“My wife comes from Ghana, so I have two sons who are half Ghanaian

as they generally worked unsanitary jobs. It was Apartheid that made us think like that, they manipulated us to think that we are better than other Africans. And it is a spirit that we have inherited and it is a spirit that we have to lose. If you look at many of our surnames you find that we all came from elsewhere. I have Zimbabwean heritage for example.

Historically the human race has been nomads and nobody is originally from here.”

De Klerk only had forty or so minutes to speak. Masekela, a mere five. Having grown up

“My wife comes from Ghana so I have two sons who are half Ghanaian and half South African.

I am also of Zimbabwean heritage” and half South African. When I first came here, I could hear people saying in whispers “look he’s married a foreigner”. But I didn’t get mad, I used to just go to them and say, I feel sorry for you. I feel sorry for you because after being oppressed for so long in this country you still have a heart of prejudice.”

“Previously in this country,” he continued, “if you came from Durban and needed to do something in Jo’burg you were given a 72 hour permit. This happened in your own country! And those in Jo’burg thought they were better than those who came from other parts

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as a boy following on the news the contributions of these elder statesmen to world history, I was in awe to be in great proximity to them and wished they had longer to teach the younger generation lessons drawn from their long lives well lived. Their views from the times of yesterday are still very relevant to the society of today.

- KC Rottok is Technical Partner at RSM Betty and Dickson (Johannesburg), email editor@expatriate.co.za

ZEMARA THE DEFINITION OF AFRICAN CUISINE

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here are two main one way streets in Pretoria.

Pretorius Street begins in the horizon and makes its way into the city while Schoeman street launches from the city and perishes in the horizon. It is this Schoeman that you need to be on should you wish to turn into the entrance of Zemara restaurant.

I make my way there one famished lunch hour . I am nursing vague memories of when it was located in a more conspicuous part of Arcadia, somewhere on Park Street next to the Spar. The signage then was confined to printed pages in common font glued onto the glass windows.

I had convinced Keith to accompany me to take photographs.

We note that little has changed since the days of old as we almost went past the address we had been given.

The numbers 933 are stuck onto a lone tree above which there are a number of multi-coloured cloths, a rudimentary signal to flag you through the garage door and into

the premises. The potholed driveway adds to the African experience.

We sit with Jackie Picard, the proprietor who has been expecting

us and chat about the restaurant. She is such a gentle lady; reminds me of one of my warm hearted aunts who always made me feel welcome as a child. Jackie has had a fair share of troubles including fleeing her country of birth Democratic Republic of Congo when her restaurant there was burnt down during tribal clashes.

Before coming to South Africa, she spent time in France where she is a citizen taking cooking classes.

“We are still setting up the place,” Jackie explains, “The City Council should soon approve our extension plans and then we will also complete guest rooms at the back for accomodation”

“I love to cook,” she tells us in almost a shy whisper, “It makes me feel so good when I see people enjoying something that I have prepared. I also think that Africa has so many great dishes which we need to show the world that is why we concentrate on African food here.”

I flip the menu open and the familiar font is there welcoming me in French, Swahili, Portuguese and English. These languages cover her core clients who are migrants from various parts of Africa, a good number hailing from the capital’s diplomatic community. She also frequently entertains bus loads of tourists who book a buffet lunch a few days in advance.

If you are looking to be blown away by the ambiance then perhaps Zemara is not the place for you. It is a house converted to an eatery, a few chairs stand beneath umbrellas on the outside not too far from a green lawn with a working fountain. On the inside is a main leather chair facing a flat screen tuned to African music.

Beyond the bar, is a single room where more seating is available.

African art dominates the walls.

The restaurant moved to this premises in 2008 after having spent six years in down town Arcadia. Jackie says the rent in Arcadia became too high.

The starters available are chicken giblets, chicken wings, sour meat and chicken salad. There is also “Chorizo” which she explains is a Portuguese sausage, much fancied by Angolans.

I have always been a skip-to-themain-course kind of girl so I flip to the next page. My mouth begins to water at the variety. I immediately request for the tilapia which Jackie says she

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gets from the rivers of Zambia. This is heaven for a fish lover: avocado with tuna, grilled king prawns, tuna maize, bacalhau grill (assorted fish), smoked fish, sol meniere (flat fish) and king clip.

Zemara way. Perhaps take a bigger bird; ostrich with Madagascan green pepper.

Vegetarians can sample “matoke” a banana based meal from Uganda or try saka saka, cassava leaves cooked with peanut powder. A third option is bi teku teku or lenga lenga which are Congolese names for kales.

I ask about “the Zemara way” which seems to apply to many of the meat options including rabbit meat and tripes ( a n i m a l insides). For once, Jackie is not forthcoming with how she prepares this one.

won the “Everyday Restaurant” category in a recent restaurant guide competition sponsored by Diners Club. The guy doing the dishes did not have much to do once we were done with our lunch. This is good food, period. And it is therefore no surprise that Zemara has featured in several publications including the British Airways inflight magazine and twice in Pretoria News.

“We do various meat options in the Zemara way, which is a secret recipe”

“It’s a secret recipe,” she defends.

We settle down in the main room for our meal which has arrived a mere fifteen minutes from the time we ordered. This tilapia makes me as happy as they were when they found Nemo. It is as tasty as it is aesthetically presented. Our host says it is because it is fresh fish cooked with carefully selected African spices.

Keith is a meat lover and asks for goat stew African style with rice. Beef is also available African style but you rarely get goat meat in a restaurant in South Africa so ‘my photographers’ selection did not surprise me.

Chicken? Oh yes, select it either with palm nut or with peanut sauce or the

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“We put a bit of ginger and grill it,” she reveals, “We also use a bit of palm oil which you do not find in European cuisine. As for the goat African style, I like to use Maggi cubes as well as garlic with a lot of tomatoes and onion.”

Keith and I begin to quickly comprehend why the restaurant

Two hundred rand well spent, I convert my photpgrapher back to a driver and we re-enter the rushing Schoeman. I vow that I will be back, perhaps for the buffet she has every Saturday, this time to sample and unravel the mystery that is “the Zemara way”.

- Carol Malonza

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LAURA KAGAME

OWNING A GUEST HOUSE AT AGE 27 26

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rive into Boksburg and a few streets down from the CBD, within spitting distance of East Rand mall, you will discover Beau Desert Guest House. You begin to sense their tag line of ‘home away from home’ right from the entrance. Other than the sign announcing the establishment, the appearance of the place will give you a feeling of meeting up with friends at their residence in the Eastern part of Johannesburg.

When Laura Kagame welcomes you, you would be forgiven for thinking that she is the daughter of the proprietor of the cream coloured guest house. She is in fact the new owner of Beau Desert having acquired the business from a couple who had been running it for just over a year and she’s off to a flying start. It is January, traditionally a quiet period, and the place is fully booked.

A new addition to the business is the 7 seater KIA Carnival parked at the front which she recently acquired for airport transfers and city tours.

When you step into the main house, the first thing you notice is the framed certificate from the South African Grading Council which has given the accommodation a three star rating.

“This is very important,” Laura says, “It gives a client assurance that we have complied with the numerous stringent requirements designed to ensure comfort and security including little things like coffee in all rooms and burglar proofing. This is actually an excellent grading for a guest house, in fact many websites on the internet will not allow you to advertise without it and a number

of corporate clients will not even consider you.”

She walks us through the en suite rooms of the house, each with a flat screen TV and exquisite linen neatly laid with matching brown curtains. “This is why we bought this place. Other than being so close to the airport, the previous owners did

a very good job with the place. The decor is just right and the materials they used are the best in the business.”

The lovely photographs of the big 4 on the wall support Laura’s assertion . The animal theme is maintained all the way through including the carpet in the main living room, the buffalo skull dangling on the backyard fence and the bird feeder at the back. As we walk past the main artwork in

the central corridor, Laura pauses and shows us the smoking area then proceeds to show us the honeymoon suite which blew us away with its majestic four poster bed and Jacuzzi size bath.

We make our way to the living room where Laura is keen to show us her contribution to the interior. She

shows us Rwandese baskets which she explains are hand woven by victims of the genocide and are now world famous having been featured in Oprah’s O magazine.

“My heritage is Rwandese although I was born in Kenya,” she explains, “I was raised in Uganda and I think this is where I get my business oriented nature. Ugandans are quite the entrepreneurs; even a receptionist will have placed some crates on

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consignment at a bar just to make extra money. I will eventually give the guest house either a Swahili or Kinyarwanda name. I would like people to feel like they have walked into a guest house in East Africa when they come here and besides, many of my target clientele are travellers from East Africa.” Laura also expects many in her East African network to have parties at the venue given the sizeable backyard complete with a delightful braai area.

Fortunately for us, our tour included a sit down lunch which was prepared by the guest house chef who doubles up as the manager.

Laura believes that age is nothing but a number but admits that some aspects of running the guest house are challenging such as getting to grips with inventory and having employees. But working in hospitality is nothing new for her having completed a degree in Bsc Tourism.

“Before joining the airline industry, I worked at a Midrand based travel agency for a couple of years.

It was here that I conceived the idea of owning a guest house, as we were always struggling to find rooms for our travellers. There is definitely a

“I was raised in business oriented Uganda.

There, even a receptionist would have beer on consignment at a bar just to make extra money!”

Here the homely feeling takes a back seat and the manager , who previously worked at a Portuguese eatery, serves up a restaurant quality meal. In addition to the manager, Laura employs a house keeper and a resident driver.

We finally cool off with drinks at the sports bar. It is an excellent setting with nice wooden furniture lined with burgundy coloured suede and the biggest screen of the house complete with all DSTV channels.

“When I saw this bar, I instantly decided I was taking the guest house.

The sellers looked at me as if they thought I was an alcoholic,” she quips.

big need in this industry. I also love entertaining and so as soon as I had secured an investor, I started looking around this area for a guest house.

Out of the fifteen guest houses I phoned, only three were interested in selling and of those Beau Desert was by far the best option particularly because many travellers want proximity to shopping centres and restaurants. As the area is quite safe, guests can just walk across the road to the mall.”

The place was so welcoming that we didn’t want to leave.

And at only R500 per person per night, the prospect of staying the night was quite tempting.

- : KC Rottok

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ExpaT-TainerS

GAETANO KAGWA

Mr. Africa From Joburg to Nairobi nside a radio studio, a green light indicates that we are, ‘On Air.’ The lean presenter kicks back the swivel chair as he dances and sings along to Bruce Springsteen’s, Born in the USA; “enjoy the music”, he gaily tells his listeners.

Seconds later, the presenter calls up a Frank who is about to win himself a free lunch. Radio presenting seems to be a laugh a minute but Gaetano K a g w a , presenter of the Breakfast Show at Capital FM Kenya, says that it sometimes gets hectic.

Nevertheless, Gaetano loves radio for the lively discussions and debates that it affords him with his listeners. He has been at it since 2004, starting with Capital FM Uganda - his native country - and also at Vision Voice, before coming to Kenya. Today he is holding fort for Italia on The Fuse, 10am to 2pm. “I co-

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host the Breakfast show with Eve De Souza from 6-10am. The show is high energy talk radio, intertwined with music, live debates and arguments” he pauses, smiling he adds, “which I always win, and good humor.

This calls for prior preparation and research, which sees us in the office until 2pm.”

Gae - as his friends call him - rode into the limelight in 2003 aboard the first Big Brother Africa, a virgin show, in his own words, which showcased g e n u i n e personalities, good debates and fights. Gae was one of the early favorites and a contender for the prize money, what with the steamy relationship with the South African contestant.

Despite not winning the prize money, the show brought him good tidings. “At the end of 2004, I landed a job as a Field Presenter with Studio 53 - a travel magazine program which ran weekly on MNET. Later, I became a host and along the way I picked up valuable skills in production and directorship.”

the program saw him travel all over Africa covering a range of exotic destinations and people. Having landed the Capital FM job November 2009, he has now settled in Kenya.

He is based in Nairobi but forever the traveler, he occasionally steals to the countryside, Nakuru, Mt Kenya and on occasion Mombasa for that weekend getaway.

“Kenya is a great place, warm and friendly. The first days as a presenter were a little difficult, but

“He too has been on the receiving end, more so for his scanty grasp of Kiswahili and woe unto him if a listener engages him in Kiswahili on air.”

Gaetano is no longer hosting the program which, complete with a new name Studio 53 Extra, has changed its focus from being a travel magazine to covering the glitz and glamour of celebrity life. He has no regrets. Studio 53 saw him gain new skills and the title of the ‘man of the world’ would not be farfetched as

slowly people accepted me and being new to the country, I was able to pick on humorous aspects of the Kenyan way of life that are not obvious to an insider.” To this he gives an example of an elevator; “I found it weird that Kenyans coming into the elevator would not wait for the people inside to exit, as a result bumping into each other.” A practice that he turned into a running joke.

He too has been on the receiving end, more so for his scanty grasp of Kiswahili and woe unto him if a listener engages him in Kiswahili on air. He comes out a cropper!

“Kiswahili, hakuna (I don’t know

ExpaT-TainerS

Kiswahili)” he laughs, “my repertoire of words include, habari, mzuri sana, Tusker baridi and slang like niko juu, uko down.” He says unlike the rest of East African countries, Kiswahili is not spoken widely in Uganda. “I tend to think that this is because the Idi Amin soldiers spoke largely in Kiswahili and people associated the language with killings.” And speaking of Uganda, Gae admits to missing his home country terribly ‘the air and, yes, the potholes. “But surely, Nairobi has its fair share of potholes?” I quip.

“They cannot compare, ours are craters while Kenyan potholes are little ditches,” he replies. We laugh uproariously.

However when it comes to the radio industry Gae feels that Kenya takes the cake; “ the radio industry here is sharper and edgier. I like the fact that there is live streaming where the Diaspora gets to listen.

I also like that we are trained to engage with whichever product we are endorsing so that it is relatable to listeners.” That said, he says that his country is picking up business wise and he would ultimately like to retire in Uganda. Towards this end, four years ago he set up a business, Zone 7, with his brothers. Zone 7 is a Bar and Restaurant that seems poised for success evidenced by the fact that they are always booked for conferences. He is considering working full time in this area in future but also has plans of running his own production house for which he is already laying the ground work.

On the rare occasion that he is in Uganda, Gae likes hopping onto his motorbike and revving away. His wife, Enid Keishemeza has however forbidden him to ride the bike in Nairobi which she considers too dangerous given the legendary crazy matatu drivers. Gaetano married Enid in July of last year and is very happy with his married status. “Enid is a good wife, she cooks for me and we have a lot to talk about.” Also a journalist, Enid works in Nairobi and like her husband travels a lot.

They have shelved having children at the moment; “we are enjoying our marriage for now. You know, children mean added responsibilities but definitely, in the future, we will get there.” So which is his favorite destination in Africa? “Seychelles is beautiful, but very expensive.

My favorite place on earth would be Madagascar which is beautiful, quaint, like a postcard.”

It is the rainbow country, South Africa that holds his imagination.

Having lived in Lesotho in the 1980s during the apartheid, he muses on the long way this country has come. “When I visit Bloemfontein, Ladybrand, I am amazed by the

change I see. SA is not called a rainbow nation for nothing, it has everything,” he enthuses. He knows his way around Cape town, Durban, Pretoria and Jo’ Burg from where they hosted Studio 53. However he never fancies being in SA during the winter, “it’s very cold.” Truly a child of the world, Gae moved to Lesotho at a young age for his high school education at Machabeng High and on to the University of Wisconsin, La-Crosse, USA where he graduated with a degree in political science.

He returned to Uganda in 2000 to pursue a law degree at Makerere University. Its while in third year that he appeared in Big Brother.

He regularly watches BBA and is of the opinion that subsequent shows have placed more emphasis on the house’s lavish style and ambience rather than the personalities. “I still think ours was the best, for we will always be remembered as the first.

And like the UK Big Brother, BBA was threatening to become watered down but this year’s All Stars was different and interesting.” Gaetano especially liked the ‘barn’ concept, where contestants were allowed to stay and some were later voted back to the big brother house.

“Bringing back the stars added to the drama and I feel the winner is luckier for bagging $200,000. During our time, it was $100,000. I also feel Big Brother gives the contestants more alcohol than he gave us… ah, I am only kidding.”

“For a woman to win Big Brother, she needs to be either extremely good or extremely bad...”

Still on the money issue, Gae thinks Zimbabwean Munya was extremely lucky not to

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have won BBA as he received more money when he was reportedly awarded $300,000 by a businessman and President Robert Mugabe. It his hope that in the future, a woman will win. Since its inception only one female, Cherise has won in 2003.

“For a woman to win, she needs to be extremely good or extremely bad.

Kenyan Sheila was meant to win, anyway…” he shrugs.

taken to acting. He appears in MNET’s Changes as a sleek gentleman chasing after an older woman. A few days after this interview, Gae handed in his resignation at Capital FM effective end of 2010.

In 2007, Gaetano was appointed as a United Nations Special Aids Representative where he counseled youths on the dangers of HIV and AIDS. He says that there is talk of making him a Goodwill Ambassador at a future stage. Recently, Gae has

- Kiundu Waweru

“I am leaving to pursue other interests in TV. However, I will not pre-empt on what is in the works,” he concluded.

ExpaT-TalK

SKILLED IMMIGRATION IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY “In 2006, foreigners living in the United states were responsible for more than 30 per cent of biotechnology inventions and founded more than a quarter of American companies including Yahoo and Google.” country. It is unlikely that South Africans will embrace immigration as long as the public perception that the government is not able to effectively control the borders, manage irregular migration from neighbouring countries and get a grip on the refugee system is maintained.

A recent report by the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) titled “SKILLS, GROWTH AND BORDERS: Managing Migration in South Africa’s National Interest” has given some perspective on how immigration in South Africa should be handled. The report proposes that, if structured and managed properly, immigration can be used to assist South Africa in achieving its developmental and economic goals.

The general public’s perception of immigration has been very negative. The foreign professional is subjected to stringent requirements for Work Permit applications and the long hours at the Department of Home Affairs. Although these perceptions have some grounds, they are merely a dark cloud hiding the great potential for socio-economic development that could be unleashed should South Africa embrace immigration in the right manner.

The report makes a case for reducing South Africa’s skills shortages by recruiting large numbers of skilled immigrants with the result that the country’s rate of economic growth is accelerated by the increased numbers of skilled foreigners moving into the

If South Africa is to achieve the ambitious growth targets set

by President Zuma, it will have to participate effectively in the global skills market. It is impossible for the country to grow at a rate of 7 per cent a year for a sustained period without first alleviating the massive skills constraints which are very likely greater than is indicated by the list of 502 000 scarce skills documented in the Department of Labour’s National Scarce Skills List of 2008.

There are three primary issues that the government needs to consider. Firstly, the fact that skilled citizens continue to emigrate from South Africa; secondly, the education system is largely considered to be dysfunctional, and lastly, a failure to realize that skilled people are essential drivers of growth, which in turn creates jobs for unskilled people and improves the prospects for the skilled.

A case for the value of attracting skilled immigrants is best seen in the example of the United States of America It is reported that in 1990, more than a third of engineers and IT professionals living and working in the United States had been born elsewhere. In 2006, foreigners there were responsible for more than 30 per cent of biotechnology inventions, generated a quarter of all global patent applications and founded more than a quarter of American companies including Intel, Yahoo

and Google. They also received 33 per cent of all doctorates awarded in the United States in 2008.

An example of the ineffectiveness of the prevailing system in South Africa is seen in the 2008 statistics when the Department of Labour estimated the skills shortage at half a million, only 36 000 quota permits were made available for skilled foreigners to enter the country without a job offerof these, only 1 133 were taken up.

A new approach to the migration policy is needed. The departments of labour and home affairs need input from the economic, health and other relevant departments. The notion of ‘skills’ should be defined more widely so that it includes anyone with a formal tertiary qualification from a recognized institution, as well as people with proven entrepreneurial skills . The system must go beyond fi lling existing gaps in large companies.

Too many obstacles have been put in the path of skilled foreigners who want to live and work in South Africa, and whom the country needs.

Little effort has been made to recruit the many thousands of skilled people who could accelerate economic growth, create employment, and drive development. With smart leadership, and policies that put South Africa first, the nation could reap enormous benefits by welcoming the brave, the energetic – risk takers – who choose to migrate to this country in search of a better life.

Gideon Ombima is an architect based in Cape Town, email gideon.archi@gmail.com

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Unpacking Boxes – he assignment abroad is the next move!

You are apprehensively excited and sadly elated, leaving home for pastures new, yet frightened at the prospects of being away from home. The extended family cannot come with you; your favourite shops and churches also remain behind! Everything else though, you are determined to pack into your 40 foot container, Happiness included!

Soon you are in your new home with h a l f - u n p a c ke d boxes!

And b r o k e n promises!

When the shipment arrives there is this very important business trip that comes up only for your partner to return too tired to help. Your child reacts to your frustration and school calls you in.

Overwhelmed by depression and unable to access the exotic life you imagined lay beyond the seas; you declare that you are officially UNHAPPY! You sacrificed your financial independence, friends and f a m i l y for your

partner. You have made an effort to settle your family efficiently.

Surely you deserve Happiness?

But your deserved Happiness is not forthcoming not in the way of special treatment nor basic acknowledgement! This in your opinion is suffering. Simply put, you feel entitled to a reward! Yes indeed, you should be happy and will be happy when you unpack.....

• The GRATITUDE box - Truth be told and harsh as it may seem we are entitled to nothing at all! We are not more deserving than our partner. Everything we have as a consequence of this assignment is a gift to be grateful for. Gratitude for the opportunities to tap into the strength and courage within you that will help you overcome the challenges that come your way. Gratitude for the new experiences, gratitude for the freedom from societal norms back at home, gratitude that this opportunity will enable you to cultivate connections with a diverse and dynamic community • The COLLABORATION boxYour EGO tells you that you are in danger of losing your identity by supporting your partner. At some point you begin to believe it; your level of self-esteem drops and to counter these feelings of insecurity you embark on a mission to be noticed! You pass on the suffering, feigning or exaggerating illness; manipulating people through their emotions, especially that of guilt. This behaviour is no different from that of a badly behaved child. When you are in the presence of a child who is routinely disruptive or behaves badly,

ExpaT-TalK

Finding Happiness as an Expatriates Partner there are a few things you can do to improve his or her overall behaviour.

Using similar management strategies we can manage our Egos too. The EGO needs reassurance that it will not be irrelevant and will be loved by you. Before moving, have a word with your Ego and remind it that you have expectations and that you trust that it will contain itself until called upon.

gone! Engage with the moment now.

What this requires of us is to trust that what you are gifted with is a powerful opportunity to impact your life and that of the people around you that you love. The moment, offers everything that you need.

Understand that this moment will never come again. You will never see

• The COMPASSION box – As you work through the challenges of settling down, be kind to yourself, listen to your heart, acknowledge your emotions and forgive yourself for the times when you have taken things for granted; when you have felt entitled; when you have behaved inappropriately - you only know what you know.

Only when you experience the liberation of forgiving yourself can you forgive others, your partner included.

Be compassionate to yourself! Be compassionate to your partner! Be compassionate to the world!

“Being an expatriate is part of your purposeful journey. It could be an arduous journey or it could be a smooth road. You are unique and so is your road.”

• The LETTING GO box – Convinced that you are ‘owed’ happiness, you engage the controlling trait of your personality. Of course it’s quite natural to want to have control of your own life but not to the extent of controlling everyone around you. You become very difficult to live with because you will not compromise. Limiting events so that you are happy, does exactly what it is meant to do – it limits! What we forget though is that the outcome of this process may ensure Happiness but it limits many gifts as well. You are so busy being controlling that you miss all the opportunities that are on offer. What you desperately need to unpack at this stage is the let go of expectation, box. Let go of your checklist of Happiness instead receive the gifts that life is offering and notice how happy they make you.

• The MOMENT box - Nostalgic stories of great days gone by, take up a lot of our energy. The past presented us with lessons that we needed in order to grow and expand; the past is

the same sunrise or sunset again. The moment that you are gifted with to love, laugh and live will never be the same again, in exactly the same way tomorrow -if you are here tomorrow.

Christine Asiko is the principal consultant for Strive Consulting, christine@striveconsulting.com

• The BE YOURSELF box - Being an expatriate is part of your purposeful journey whether you are aware of this or not. It could be an arduous journey or it could be a smooth one.

You are unique and so is your road.

Trust that you and everything about you is good enough. Develop your individual identity because you have so much to offer. Develop appropriate personal boundaries but at the same time compromise for the needs of others to maintain harmony. Listen and follow your intuition. Be true to your purpose, however challenging it may be. Nothing external defines you; it does not add or diminish from who you are. BE YOURSELF and happiness will accompany you.

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Ugandans in SA: New Vision got it wrong “Using terms like “mainstream Ugandan community” (whatever that means), a red-line is maintained in the community, which in my opinion is self destructive.” have been trying to work out how to best respond to Barbara Among’s article (Ugandans sleep on South Africa streets, New Vision 16th October, 2010) available on http://www.newvision. co.ug/D/120/123/735200. It implies that all Ugandans who are lured to South Africa with promises of a good education and job opportunities end up on the streets empty handed.

The reporter criticizes the Ugandan High Commission and yet the current crop of civil servants in office is the best we have had in the 9 years that I have been in this country; passports are processed speedily, it

has a new impressive website and officials often mingle with us at social functions. Attendance of the national functions is at its highest as can be seen by the large numbers that turned up for the 48th Uganda Independence celebrations.

Most importantly, the author of the article attacks a section of Ugandans who ply their trade on the other side of the fence.

As in any part of the world, migrant communities are highly complex groupings. They tend to view each other with suspicion and are simply

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a microcosm of the indigenous community. Issues of class based on education levels are always the basis of social patterns.

This is very true of the Ugandan Community in South Africa. In this case the reporter is the educated with the mighty pen whilst the wrongdoers are the uneducated ‘semi-literate’ who are unworthy to meet the former on the streets.

The author goes on to portray these Ugandans as crooks, criminals and thugs.

However, a good number are smart, innovative, law-abiding and hardworking. They also remit money back to Uganda. Moreover, many of them have managed to make meaning of their lives including setting up schools like Brooklyn City College (8 branches across South Africa), HTC, Academy of Business College to mention but a few. Others run small businesses such as printing kiosks, Internet cafes, restaurants, advertising, handymen, salons etc.

A good number are artists producing good music whilst others are studying to improve their qualifications.

The reporter and her sources however seem determined to ignore all of these positives. By using terms like “mainstream Ugandan community” (whatever that means), a red-line is maintained in the community, which in my opinion is self destructive.

It is noteworthy that strangely, none of the professionals or so-called educated are serious investors here in SA or even at home. Most are employed in large multinational

companies, varsities etc, working for a salary. Others are housewives in suburbs without even a vegetable garden in the backyard. Until the recent tour of the Afrigo band, no section of these educated Ugandans has ventured into the business of entertainment and showbiz. Yet, these demonised ‘semi-literate’ Ugandans have successfully promoted Ugandan artists here in South Africa en masse.

Of the large section of the filthy rich medical doctors, engineers, lecturers; many having been here for over 25 years, I don’t know of any who has set up a business here employing a meaningful number of locals.

They are not even entrepreneurs to start with! Most are locked-up in their private practices busy treating these uneducated Ugandans at an exorbitant rate, too preoccupied with the rat race to help those who might be stuck. They cannot claim to have a monopoly on progress and success!

I therefore regard the article as shoddy and lacking both in substance and merit. South Africa is a democratic country with a fully operational Constitution. If Ugandans here are thugs, I trust the law would take its course. There would be police cases and they would be languishing in jails but that is not the case. The Ugandan community in South Africa is alive, well and solid. We are working hard towards a common good of reducing poverty and misery.

Hannington

Kasirye

reporting

from

both the fringes and mainstream of the Ugandan

community

in

South

Africa.

AUPSA : Ugandans piece of SA “The immigrant community finds solace in one of Mandela’s sunset quotes ‘South Africa belongs to those who live in it’” n the winter of 2009, a group gathered at a resort north of Pretoria to share and confer on matters Ugandan. What started off as a social meet would with the descent of night see members agree that it was time to establish The Association for Ugandan Professionals in South Africa (AUPSA).

It is now regarded as an institution where ambitious and driven Ugandans of like minds meet to pursue excellence, share social ideals and exchange opportunities.

AUPSA aspires to unite Ugandans without any regard to religious, political or ethnic inclinations of the Professional members of the Ugandan community resident in South Africa. The only exclusivity pursued is that membership is open to only those individuals who have a formal qualification or earn a living from a legal trade.

AUPSA members seek to share and network social and economic opportunities among each other for both mutual and individual benefit.

Membership and participation in the association’s activities is voluntary but is guided by the association’s constitution.

The South African nation has undergone tremendous changes and transitions in the past 20 years.

The ramification has redefined the essence of local citizenry to varying extents; hopelessness has bred hope and optimism for some while depression continues to affect several. Foreigners living in South Africa too have been affected to debatable extents.

Most African immigrant communities have associations through which they relate and further their interests. These formations go further on to collaborate on a regional level. For the Ugandan community, associations which have existed before have largely focused on specific political, ethnic or religious collaborations. There was a gap.

The immigrant community often finds solace in one of Mandela’s sunset quotes to the effect that “South African belongs to all who live in it”. In the context of AUPSA, it was found that a common association is an opportunity to their own space in a broader South Africa. The Ugandan community some of whom have citizenship either by acquisition or birth would be recognised as distinctive ethnic group living here and contributing to the development of South Africa.

AUPSA is a platform for members of the Ugandan community to propagate our culture and to defend and lobby for issues which affect us within the frame work of the South African law. Its constitution provides an elective frame work at an annual general meeting for a chairperson and seven committee members.

Members have access to the following benefits; · Access to a comprehensive dedicated electronic mailing list of members of the Ugandan community in South Africa. · Attendance of AUPSA events. · Forum to jointly inform, pursue or debate informative matters of mutual concern.

· Use of the distress fund; a short term financial plug in that members can use to meet urgent needs like rent, fuel, stationery or travel expense. · A business start-up facility which includes seed capital for new businesses, website development, accounting services and business plan development.

While the benefits are limited to registered members of the association, the association’s activities and events are usually open to members of the wider Ugandan community.

The Current committee of AUPSA has set itself a goal of creating and enhancing economic sustenance for AUPSA and the members. We seek to encourage members to make a difference by sharing and exchanging opportunities among ourselves.

Still in its formative years, AUPSA is going through exciting times. The current crop of members consists of some of the most eminent members of the Ugandan community in South Africa. Professionals and entrepreneurs have come together without regard to the emotions and issues that divide us, but rather to focus on a sense of nationhood to claim our own part of South Africa.

More information on AUPSA can be found at www.aupsa.org.za Allen Mutono, Msc is Chairman of AUPSA and a Global Entrepreneur specialising in the design and deployment of electricity management systems. Email: allen@ntlangani.co.za

WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA

37

Ladies Please!

Secrets of fascinating womanhood “Women are asked to take a child-like approach when dealing with their partners, down-play their physical and even intellectual capacity so as to allow the man to step in and exercise his masculinity.” friend, let’s call her Jacky, recommended a ‘good read’ that turned out to be nothing more than a huge disappointment albeit an eye-opener.

‘Secrets of Fascinating Womanhood’ promises to make your man fall helplessly in love with you provided that you follow its secrets . At first glance it looked like an enjoyable read, and of course I was curious. It even had a disclaimer that warns the reader to “use restraint as this book gives you the knowledge to manipulate men. Please strongly resist any temptation to abuse it in any way”. Command the affection of men at my whim? Come on! I was hooked.

his masculinity. (I know, eyebrows raised). I asked a few guys for their opinion and got the general ‘WTH?’ response I was hoping for. Just as women have evolved, men have also not been living in a cave somewhere for the last 50 odd years. Men are also changing in line with the dynamics that are transforming society and as such the ‘modern-man’ has also

After just a few pages, what was probably premature eagerness turned into a barrage of mixed feelings and battles with my post 1950 way of thinking.

Just as you think the book cannot possibly ”go there”, it does and with surprising audacity. It basically states that a woman’s key to happiness in relationships is to pamper and massage her man’s ego while pushing her own identity and beliefs to the curb. ”Never correct him and accept him just as he is, even accept his excessive drinking”, goes a particular bit of advice (no, seriously, it does).

The author also calls on the woman to take a child-like approach when dealing with her partner. To down-play her physical and even intellectual capacity so as to allow her man to step in and exercise

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EXPATRIATE

come to appreciate or at the least understand that this is the way things are and how they will stay.

I would have dismissed the book without a second thought had it not been recommended by a close and independent-thinking friend.

Needless to say, I did not complete the book. The last straw was when the author declared that women should never make a man feel inferior to them, especially in the workplace.

In fact, they should consider not even

going to work in the first place.

It turns out that this book was in fact first published in 1989 (no, not 50 years prior!) and to date claims to be very widely read, and for me this is the part that takes the cake, widely accepted! The internet confirmed this. My question is how is it possible that so many women out there swear by this book and give it glowing recommendations time and time again? Many say it was the cause of their partners turning a complete 180 and treating them like queens to boot, but isn’t it too much of a compromise? More importantly, why are there so many young, ‘modern’ women in this bracket of believers?

Could it be, that deep down, all women simply have a primal need to have a man call the shots? I am determined to find out, though I may first have to finish the book.

Until I muster the will power for that particular feat, it has been said before; women are their own worst enemies.

My advice today is ‘Wake Up!’!

Stop taking us back a century. Oh, and I saved the best titbit for last, the author of this not-so-glorious piece of work is a man! Nuff said ladies.

PLEASE! Stella Adi Odhiambo is an aspiring clinical engineer based in Pretoria. Email sadis196@ yahoo.com

Know Your Envoy

Tanzanian High Commissioner, “It is a man’s world. As a woman, there will always be extra scrutiny. It may not always be direct or intentional, but it will be there” Describe before

your coming

background to S.A.

I have been working with the Tanzanian government since my graduation from the University of Dar es Salaam (Dar) in 1982, primarily within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where I have worked in different departments. After several years there, I was sent to work at the Tanzanian Permanent Mission in New

York before moving to the Tanzanian High Commission in London. I returned to Dar to serve as the Director for Europe and the Americas at the ministry for two and a half years before coming to South Africa.

Please

describe

your

family.

I come from a big African family.

My father was a polygamist with 17 children. We lived in many parts of the country and interacted with people from different backgrounds. You know how it is with African families,

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sometimes you live with an uncle or your cousins come and stay with you. That is one thing I miss by being here because I have a big house that is usually empty whereas in Tanzania I always had a house full of people.

My family is quite small especially when compared to the family I was brought up in; I have two kids, one working and the other is at university.

What has been the highlight of your career?

Hey, I’m not done, I ’m still here you know!

But so far, working at the UN permanent mission in New York 19941998 was the best part of my life. It was an exciting period because that was the time of realignment with apartheid coming to its knees and the cold war having just ended. Also at the time my two children were aged 10 and 5 which was very exciting for me to see them grow and learn how to communicate with me more effectively. I don’t know what will happen in the future but these have so far been the most exciting periods of my career.

Any regrets so far in your career?

I always wanted to study but I was working and had children to take care of. By the time my children were old

enough and I enrolled to study in the UK, I got a promotion. And when you get promoted you don’t say “Hey, I’m going to school”, you take the opportunity immediately. So I think that I could have planned my time better and done more academically because, we all like to have those academic qualifications.

Is it challenging to be a female diplomat?

It is certainly challenging because as you would know this is a man’s world. When you sit with them, it’s almost like you don’t exist because they will be talking about life from a man’s perspective. There is also a tendency for men to wonder whether ‘she’ will be able to deliver.

This is at all levels not only mine. I was once excluded from attending a training session at the Ministry because I was pregnant. I was not even offered the opportunity to decline. The organizers just assumed that because I was pregnant, I was unable to attend. When I found out, I was furious! As a woman you will be subject to extra scrutiny, it is not always direct or intentional but it will be there and in some instances you will be ‘accused’ of doing certain things or responding in a particular way because you are a woman.

What do you perceive as your biggest challenge as envoy to SA? To promote relations that are not only good but also far reaching between Tanzania and SA. It is not only a matter of promoting relations between governments but also promoting relations between

Know Your Envoy

Radhia Msuya people. That’s where the challenge lies. How can I get people to go to Tanzania from here and how do I get people from Tanzania to come here. How do I do that? How do I sustain it? We need this because when there are good relations between people, it becomes easier to develop substantive relations at the government level.

What are your plans for the future?

To be the best representative for my government and promote cooperation between SA and Tanzania and particularly between young people. I believe that if young people do not know where they come from they will not know how

to get where they’re going or how to approach the future. So my aim is to interact with young people and help them understand their heritage.

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about the East African community and would love to see more activities that promote unity. I am also concerned about HIV and Aids. I always tell young people that sex is like food, you cannot tell someone not to eat. But, you don’t just eat anywhere or eat anything.

You need to be careful. It truly pains me to see so many people under 30 infected. It is something that people need to talk more about so that we understand it better and know how

to deal with it.

What do you do in your spare time?

I am not much of a cook largely because my mother was very good when someone is a really good cook, you avoid making mistakes in front of them so I usually ran away from the kitchen! But I do try. I also like to look good so when I have the time I like to exercise. Raising my kids, I developed a liking for children’s story books and to this day I still watch cartoons!

- Carol Malonza

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41

Know Your Envoy

The Many Hats of Ugandan n 1981, government soldiers arrived at the home of Kweronda Ruhemba in a bid to capture him. The good news was that he had been informed of the raid and managed to flee to Jinja. The bad news was that his brother was killed in the debacle. Given the obvious danger, Ruhemba fled to Kenya with his family where he spent five years in Nairobi as a teacher at the Aga Khan Academy before returning to Uganda to head the political school of the National Resistance Movement.

Prior to these events, Ruhemba had studied economics at Makerere University and worked for the planning ministry. He contested the Kajara parliamentary seat while his party leader, current Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni ran for presidency. They both lost.

“The elections were badly flawed which caused Museveni to go into the bush to fight the regime of Milton Obote. Soon after capturing the government in 1986, Museveni appointed me the Deputy Minister for Cooperatives. In 1990, he gave me the responsibility of traversing the globe to convince those Ugandans that had left the country during the troubled times of the 1970’s and 1980’s to come back,” Ruhemba recalls.

We are seated on the brown leather seats in his office off Church Street in Pretoria as he continues to explain that the exercise of wooing people back to the country was unsuccessful prompting him to recommend its abandonment in 1996. He won a parliamentary seat in the elections a year later and was appointed to the cabinet.

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“I served in several ministries including acting as a full minister in the Office of the President responsible for the Economy. In 2001, I lost my parliamentary seat due to election violence and was later appointed to represent Uganda as a permanent representative to the UN in Geneva and Ugandan ambassador to Bern in Switzerland. In 2003, I was made High Commissioner to South Africa” Ruhemba says that while it was good to be a minister influencing country affairs and policy development, he stills finds excitement as a diplomat in spite of this role being ‘the receiving end’ of government policies.

“It is thrilling when visitors flock here for visas to our country or when we encourage investors to go back to Uganda to help build the nation. We also send back useful information about countries like South Africa such as how well they have adopted the prime movers of any economy; infrastructure, energy, telecommunication, air connectivity and human capital development,” Ruhemba says, speaking slowly with the clarity of a man who has spent several years as an instructor.

When asked to describe Ugandans in South Africa, Ruhemba had this to say.

“There are many professionals.

I met a good number of them during my repatriation efforts in the nineties. Recently there has also been an influx of students, for example Port Elizabeth has about 130 Ugandan Students. There are also the casual labourers. Some uncouth

people traffic Ugandans into SA with the promise of easy money here then dump them at the border points.

These ones get deported and end up distributing flyers or pretending to be traditional healers.”

Other than SA, Ruhemba is representative for Uganda in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Lesotho. He says that he understands that it is difficult for Ugandans who have settled in these countries to go back home.

“They have families here to take care of. They also fear that they will not be able to get the same good incomes in Uganda that they are receiving here. Unfortunately, we are going to lose their children who have become South African. But what I advise is that they don’t have to go and work in Uganda. They can still invest there as there are very many good opportunities in East Africa.”

With my hour almost up, I enquire as to Ruhemba the man and his plans for the future.

“Well I have family scattered all over the world, some are in the UK, some are in Australia and some are in Uganda. They have all finished studying so I am just here saving for my retirement,” he laughs, “On Saturdays I play golf, just for the exercise. Three days in the week I exercise at the gym and on one day I take a walk. I am an outdoor person and so I also occasionally go hunting with a friend. I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and don’t eat red meat. I am more of a reader than a writer and enjoy reading publications based on history. A book set in South

Know Your Envoy

Ambassador Kweronda Ruhemba Africa called ‘The Covenant’ was actually a very good read which I recommend to anyone interested in historical novels. As for my plans

for the future, I want to retire on my 500 acre piece of land in Uganda.

Before coming here, I had set up a number of fish ponds as well as

a piggery so I am looking forward to a quiet life as a farmer.”

- Keith Kundai

“It is good to be a minister influencing government policies.

Diplomacy is the receiving end of these policies, but it also has its excitement”

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43

TALGA’S Dr. Robert Ngude, “We want to create a programme which can facilitate interaction with the Tanzanian Government in a way that allows us in the diaspora to contribute to the development of the country.” r. Robert Ngude is a permanent resident of South Africa of Tanzanian origin. He doubles up as a State Pathologist as well as a lecturer at the Wits University School of medicine. Having arrived in South Africa in 1995, he has had the opportunity to work in various parts of the country including Durban, Pretoria and the Free State. He spoke to Expatriate magazine about the Tanzanian association he heads up here in Gauteng.

“The association is called Tanzanians Living in Gauteng, abbreviated as TALGA. It is a nongovernmental organisation whose patron is Her Excellency the Tanzanian High Commissioner to South Africa. I am in fact the acting chairman now that the duly elected chairman of the organisation, Dr. Faustin Ndugulile has moved back to Tanzania. He was actually elected a member of parliament during the recently concluded 2010 General Elections,” Ngude said.

The father of three confesses that it has not been easy to unite Tanzanians in Gauteng as the committee comprises of people who have full time jobs and so it is difficult to find time to coordinate activities.

“But the High Commission has been very supportive. In fact, it is them who keep pushing us when things seem so difficult. So far we have conducted about five meetings during the course of 2010. We were planning to have an AGM at the end of the year but it proved difficult as

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most of our members were travelling during the festive season” From Ngude, we learnt that TALGA is the first organisation of its kind for the thousands of Tanzanians living in the province. He said at present there are no plans to extend the organisation beyond the provincial borders.

“In my opinion, it is better to have one strong organisation that caters to people locally than a very large weak one with tentacles stretching all over the country that is not effective at the ground level.

South Africa is a very big country, a place like Cape Town is like an entirely different country so it would be difficult for me as chairman to effectively cater for the needs of members there,” he explained.

TALGA is fairly new as it is only about a year old. Currently the 12 member committee is in the process of recruiting members through their database of over three hundred individuals. The committee has people representing various interest groups such as women, business people, general workers and students.

“Unlike other associations from other countries, TALGA represents people irrespective of their social or economic standing. As you know, Tanzanians have a very communal outlook towards interaction since our socialist days of ujamaa and so we cannot really profess to be an association for say only professionals.”

Ngude further explained that the organisation has a broad mandate and a set of key objectives.

State Pathologist “The objectives of TALGA are firstly to bring together Tanzanians such that they can network here and have a body that unites them. We are trying to form a supportive structure that can assist members. For example, if someone passes away we need to do the African thing and come together to assist with funeral arrangements.

We also want to create a programme which can facilitate interaction with the Government in a way that allows us in the diaspora to contribute to the development of the country. We could perhaps set up a trust fund that can pull resources to assist during floods or some other crisis in Tanzania. In addition, we could contribute positively to the country.

For instance, someone like me could

go and give free lectures to Tanzanian universities.”

Like any other group of Africans in South Africa, Tanzanians here cut across various spheres and are people from different walks of life. There is perhaps a stronger connection than other countries seeing as Tanzania is a member of the Southern African Development Corporation (SADC) and the country played host to many exiles from South Africa during the apartheid years. But Ngude disputes the notion that Tanzanians have it easy as compared to other African migrants.

“In spite of the historic relationship with the country, it has

not been easier for Tanzanians to get into the country. It is only now that they have waived visas for Tanzanians. Well you could also talk about us not paying international fees to study here but I think that boils down to agreements between governments more than anything else,” he affirmed.

Ngude said that TALGA has plans to launch various initiatives in the course of 2011. They are in the process of building a website for the organisation. Meanwhile, interested parties can get in touch with the association through their email address watanzaniagp@gmail.com.

- KC Rottok

WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA

45

ExpaT-TeamstarS

Musa Otieno, Long serving Santos Star

Musa with his wife

Musa & members of W3C.

Musaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kids

Musa playing in the US

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ExpaT-TeamstarS

“I previously tried to make myself happy by pursuing money and going to all kinds of parties but at the end of the day I was still very empty.”

1) What is your history in football before moving to South Africa (SA) and how did you end up playing for Santos?

I have loved football ever since I was a young boy and decided to pursue it professionally. I played for AFC Leopards and Tusker FC in Kenya.

Then in 1997, with the help of some friends I made the move to SA and was very fortunate to get an opportunity at Santos where I have been on and off until today.

2) What do you consider to be your biggest achievements as a footballer?

Well, I was very happy to receive an award from the chairman of the Premier Soccer League for having played in the league for 13 years. It was a very touching moment because I felt that they recognised my dedication to the sport and playing in South Africa. I was also very proud to captain Kenya in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2004. Although Kenya did not do particularly well, I was happy to be a part of the team that played in that tournament because as you know we have not made it to the competition regularly. So that was a privilege.

3) You have spent many years in Santos. How would you summarise your experience there?

Santos Football Club has been the main home of my soccer career. I have been here so long I am now considered a senior player and mentor in the team. I am now 37 and was captain of the club for a number of years. I

have made over 370 appearances for the club and scored over 30 goals which may not seem like much but as a defender, the chance to score goals doesn’t come by very often. I also helped the team win a number of cups including winning the PSL in the 2001/2002 season as well as the Bob Save Super Bowl in 2003.

love my wife Joan and my two kids; Michelle who is 13 and Desailly who is 11. Having been introduced to Christ by a friend Mike Aiford about seven years ago, I am now a born again Christian. I previously tried to make myself happy by pursuing money and going to all kinds of parties but at the end of the day I was still very empty. The day I put my trust in Jesus to forgive my sins I received great joy and purpose which I have until today.

Now that you are approaching retirement, what are your plans?

4) You spent some time as a soccer player in the USA, tell us about your experiences there.

Yes this was in 2008. I got a loan deal to play in League 2 in the USA. What struck me most was the difference in culture from what I was used to here in South Africa or in my homeland Kenya. I was very excited to have been given this opportunity because it was always my dream to play some football in the West. My first appearance for the team was as a substitute in one of the games and I went on to make seven appearances for the Cleveland side and scored four goals. By the grace of God, we won the league and I returned to Santos at the end of the season.

5) What are you passionate about?

I still have plans to be involved with Santos, as I said, this club means a lot to me. Other than that I have also established the Musa Otieno Foundation which I intend to use to assist young boys and girls with training not only in football but also in other matters intended to nurture them. For me, this is very important because I would like to give something back to the community as well as the sport, both of which have been the pivot of my life so far. I am also presently the interim vice-chairperson for a new organisation we are launching here in Cape Town called W3C - Wananchi Wa Western Cape - which aims to bring together Kenyans in the area and make us more unified. Other than that, I have launched Tembea.biz which is an entity that organises tours and travels particularly for the many East Africans who come to holiday in the Western Cape Area.

- Keith Kundai

I am a committed family man and

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47

The Last Word

2011 ...so it begins “Many look at me saying shoo what fatty with no girlfriend. Still, I love my life...” wenty one one! So it begins another year for target setting if you that way inclined or just for living if that’s your thing too. I can’t sit here and tell you one way is more right than the other.

Whatever we faced in 2010, the fact that we are reading this means that we had the strength from wherever to persevere and see it through! May the year ahead be absolutely everything you make it.

No matter how hard we try to make sure we prevent it, $hi! will definitely happen, our reaction to it determines how our day, week, month or year turns out.

Over December, I did a lot of reflection. I actually love my life.

Many look and think shoo what a looser! Or what a fatty, or shoo bra is losing his hair, shoo bra is 35 and no girlfriend, chartered accountant and no job, what’s wrong with him? In spite of that I wake up every day and thank my maker for it is my life and I live it how it pleases me. Few have that ability.

There is no universal answer to the meaning of life question. Perhaps we are all here to define a meaning for our own lives as guided by our maker. I am happiest with people; listening, learning, watching rugby, doing my little bit here and there and earning money somewhere so it can enable me…not define me : ).

Another thing that I have realised is that we need God in our lives. Most of us, if not all of us, were raised with some sort of religious/

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a

loser,

a

spiritual grounding and we all turned out ok, we learnt the difference between wrong and right, good and bad and most importantly how to relate and treat others. I don’t have all the answers, and yes many of the worlds evils have been in the name of religion and MAN’s interpretation; holocaust, apartheid, suicide bombings etc. But the essence of God as we are taught when we are younger, is about less self and more of others. We are all tending more to self and less the world and others… it is fast forward to self destruction!

Look at the continent, wait even this country, not just the people in power, but all of us. It’s all about me, taking rotten chickens, and treating them and repackaging them to be resold, who cares who gets sick as long as I don’t have a loss.

Last thing is - start with me. We are so quick to point out the flaws of others thinking we are perfect, newsflash we are all soo flawed, I am not saying dwell on it and let it consume you, but just bear it in mind. I for one am so messed up in a good many ways! But I know this man, everyday is a challenge to rectify, will I get it right, ehh not so much but acknowledging helps me a c c e p t flaws in others.

35

year

old

unemployed

I don’t know what it is, but I am so positive about the year that it 20 1 1, and come the 31st Dec 2011, and I realize that this positivity is misplaced, well then if I lived to that day, then there is always 2012 to make right the wrongs of 2011. I know putting it out there has clearly jinxed it, but what will be will be, wont it?!

Yaw Peprah is a self employed entrepreneur pursuing interests in business advisory, consultancy and commodity brokering. www. mondaymail.blogspot.com - Yaw Peprah

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! an established network in the regional and international investment

community, which will assist in fund raising activities;

! identifying opportunities for investment; ! implementation of a regulatory and operational structure for the fund;

! mobility and willingness to travel extensively;

! negotiating contracts and legal agreements; and

! a minimum of 10 years experience in investment banking, with a

! upholding corporate governance, compliance and Code of Ethics

standards.

minimum of five years Private Equity experience; ! extensive deal origination and execution experience; ! a clear understanding of the tax and legal frameworks within the region; ! extremely financially literate; and ! relevant professional qualification: CA, LLB or Engineering background.

Interested individuals should email their Curriculum Vitae to Phillippa quoting reference number PEK 2011 email you@antonapps.com | office telephone 0861 788 7880 | office mobile 073 788 7880 | International direct +27 11 788 7880

As a professional services firm antonapps is strongly committed to “international best practice” in recruitment – we will respond to you

Opportunities in Africa Zambia

Kenya

Mozambique

Uganda

Tanzania

Finance Manager: Agriculture US$130k – US$140k Managing a team, implementing financial procedures, cross country reporting and involvement in strategic operations.

Ref: AT001

Financial Controller: Motor US$70k – US$90k 2IC to Financial Director, you will assist him in managing the team on a day to day basis to meet deadlines.

Ref: PM002

Financial Manager: Manufacturing US$70k – US$80k Portuguese speaking individual to manage a small team and oversee the full finance function.

Ref: CF001

Finance Manager: Telecoms US$100k – US$120k Full responsibility for the management of finance and compliance functions.

Ref: PM004

Chief Financial Officer: Telecoms US$120k – US$150k Controlling the finance function and ultimately support the CEO during the businesses start up phase.

Ref: AT004

Finance Manager: Mining US$130k – US$145k Managing a team reporting into the MD and a dotted line to SA. You will have previous management skills, budgeting, annual reporting and reconciliation skills.

Ref: AT002

Financial Director: Mining US$140k – US$150k Working for a global company reporting into the MD, you will be managing a small team, implementing processes, reviewing reporting and annual budgets.

Ref: PM001

Financial Director: Property US$neg Portuguese speaking individual to run the financial function of a fast developing internationally owned property development fund.

Ref: AT003

Nigeria

Congo

Botswana

Financial Controller: FMCG US$125k – US$135k Responsible for the analysis of costs and efficiencies with a special focus on supply chain management and operations.

Ref: BB002

Finance Operations Manager: Banking US$140k – US$155k Must have experience in leading both finance and operational teams and reporting to the board.

Ref: JB002

Finance Manager: FMCG US$120k – US$135k FMCG experience preferred for this very entrepreneurial business. Full financial and some strategic responsibility.

Ref: BB001

Finance Manager: Hospitality US$130k – US$145k French speaking, you will have financial budgeting, recon, and reporting experience and be able to work well in a team.

Ref: AT005

Finance Contoller: FMCG US$125k – US$135k Responsible for optimisation of the finance function, SOX compliance and governance for local branch and international concern.

Ref: CF002

Finance Analyst: Banking US$90k – US$120k Responsible for assisting the Associate Director of Operations and Finance with preparing and interpreting reports.

Ref: BB003

Financial Director: Manufacturing US$12k – US$15k This is a divisional role overseeing the entire financial function of a subsidiary of a large international business.

Ref: PM003

Financial Controller: Mining US$120k – US$160k Responsible for finance and management of SOX compliance and governance matters for the local operation.

Ref: JB001

Send your CV to you@antonapps.com quoting the relevant reference 0861 788 788 www.antonapps.com 073 788 7880