DIPLOMAT East Africa - Volume 2 by Sven Boermeester

>>Damned By Omo River Dam PG 14 March - April 2010

Volume 002

Door to Region, Window on World

Resurgent Rwanda The Come-back Country

President Paul Kagame

UNITED NATIONS >>: Anna Tibaijuka's agenda PG 23 WORLD CUP >>: Africa's sporting bonanza PG 84 Kenya KSh300

Uganda USh9000

Tanzania TSh7500

Rwanda RWFr3000

Burundi BUFr6000

South Africa R30

Rest of Africa US$4

USA $4

UK £3

Canada $5

Rest of Europe €3.5

Kenyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s No. 1 Premium Zincal Colour Coated Roofing sheets

Imagine life without colour!

RESORT: Arrivals improved in last quarter of 2009

PHOTO COURTESY: KENYA TOURIST BOARD

BRIEFLY

TRAVEL: Ticket sales decline

Africa Wins as World Tourism Slumps

frica bucked the global decline in international tourism arrivals to record a robust growth in the last quarter of 2009. International tourist arrivals fell worldwide by an estimated four per cent in 2009 (compared to 2008), with the figure hitting 880 million, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometer. But Africa, especially sub-Saharan Africa, witnessed dramatic growth in the last quarter to record a five per cent growth in tourist arrivals. Growth returned to international tourism in the last quarter of 2009, contributing to better than expected full-year results. Prospects have also improved for 2010, said UNWTO, with arrivals now forecast to grow between three and four per cent in the year. Asia and the Pacific and the Middle East led the recovery with

growth already turning positive in both regions in the second half of 2009. “The global economic crisis aggravated by the uncertainty around the (H1N1) pandemic turned 2009 into one of the toughest years for the tourism sector”, said UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai. “However, the results of recent months suggest that recovery is under way, and even somewhat earlier and at a stronger pace than initially expected,” Rifai said. UNWTO says tourism earnings follow the trend in arrivals, though they suffer more in difficult times. Based on the trends through the first three quarters, receipts for 2009 are estimated to have decreased by around -6 per cent. “While this is unquestionably a disappointing result for an industry accustomed to continuous growth, it can also be interpreted as a sign of comparative resilience given the extremely difficult economic environment, Rifai said."

BARCELONA

Phone Changes Lives The ever prevalent use of mobile phones in China has changed people’s way of living and working, China’s telecom giant chief said in February. With a mobile phone, people can organize office work, read the news, watch TV programs, check e-mail boxes and take care of their daily lives, General Director and President of China United Network Communications Ltd (China Unicom) Lu Yimin said at the Fifth Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

DAR ES SALAAM

Tanzania Elevated Tanzania has been listed among 15 African nations which are this year expected to jump out of the poverty stricken group to a better category called the " emerging markets". Eight African countries are headed for emerging market status, which include Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, the Londonbased the Economist Intelligence Unit was quoted as saying.

BEIJING

Tibet to Improve

STATS &FACTS In 2009 tourist world arrivals fell by 4 per cent, Africa registered a

5 per cent

growth

Tibet will improve its infrastructure and public services to cater to the tourist boom, said Padma Choling, chairman of the Tibet autonomous regional government. Padma Choling, speaking at a press conference on the sideline of the annual parliament session, said Tibet received 5.61 million tourists last year, compared with 2.2 million in 2008. "We are glad to see more tourists are coming ,which is an impetus for the development of Tibet," he said. — Reports by Xinhua News Agency

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•ECONOMY

Investment•Technology•Prosperity

Business: The law of commerce

Removing Legal Challenges to Integration East African Court of Justice roots for shot in the arm to buttress navigation of the nascent Customs Union and Common Markets, which are the pillars of the EAC integration process By John Ndiema

ive months before the East African Community Market Protocol takes effect, the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) is calling on partner states to ensure that sufficient powers are accorded it. This in the estimation of the court will ensure that critical legal elements that may impede the realisation of the integration process are properly dealt with from the outset. EACJ reckons there is a big danger that legal issues may delay the operationalisation of the common market. However, the legal arm of the Community says it has not been given sufficient jurisdiction. In fact, it says that in some instances the “little” jurisdiction it had has been taken away putting the legal parameters to the unity on the back foot. “EACJ can potentially play its role of ensuring adherence to the

March - April 2010

rule of law but it has been systematically reduced to a toothless dog that cannot bite. The Court of Justice of the European Union which, since its inception, has been playing a crucial role in the European integration process has, from January 2000 to November 2009, determined more than four hundred cases related to Customs Union and Common Markets. This is what a fully fledged community court is capable of achieving and the EACJ has the potential of doing the same. All it needs is support from the EAC policy organs,” John Eudes Ruhangisa, the courts registrar said in Burundi recently. EACJ’s alarm has been raised at a time when the Community has just received a report on the establishment of a monetary union that will pave way to the creation of a harmonised Central Bank as well a single currency. In what could compel partner

states to give teeth to the EACJ, the monetary union research by the European Central Bank consultants said that a proper legal framework need to be created in the region for the establishment of the proposed East African Monetary Union (EAMU) institutions such as the region’s central bank and a monetary institute. At the release of the report, the European Central Bank consultants said that realisation of EAMU requires the establishment of a legal framework which would address, in legally binding terms, both the process leading to the establishment as well as operations of the EAMU. The legal framework is projected to comprise a protocol to be adopted and ratified by the partner states. The protocol would then supplement the treaty and statutes of the new monetary institutions as well as the relevant legal and policy provisions. Experts argue that there could be a big threat if the partner states do

not empower the EACJ, saying that without a proper structure and financing of the body, East Africa’s dream to have its economies unified could be “legally weak”, an issue that can lead to its collapse. Going forward, it would appear fault lines will not be few if the Common Market Protocol does not establish a unifying dispute resolution body. The mechanism currently in place does not give to the EACJ powers that would have naturally gone to it as the legal buck stopper of the community. Jurisdiction to handle Common Market related disputes has mainly been given to the courts of individual countries. Article 54 (2) of the Protocol says: “In accordance with their constitutions, national laws and administrative procedures and with the provisions of this Protocol, Partner States guarantee that any person whose rights and liberties as recognised

TRADE MATTERS:

Bottlenecks at border points

by this Protocol have been infringed upon, shall enjoy the right of recourse, even where this infringement has been committed by persons exercising their official duties; and the competent judicial, administrative or legislative authority or any other competent authority, shall rule on the rights of the person who is making the appeal”. It clear from the foregoing that EACJ is not the port of call for recourse, a fact that is considered a misnomer in view of the very regional nature of the Common Market Protocol and practice. Law experts say that unless a national court seized with a Community law related matter feels a need for interpretation and refers it to the EACJ in accordance with Article 34 of the Treaty, the EACJ shall never entertain a Common Market-related matter. This means the role of the EACJ in the realisation of Common Market will solely depend on its judges and on the discretion of the national courts judges to refer the matters for interpretation by the EACJ. Dr Ruhangisa told the Diplomat East African that the existence of parallel dispute resolution mechanisms within the EAC is a potential liability to the integration process. He holds the view that that this situation may lead to different interpretations of the Community Law in turn creating a vicious circle of endless litigation. In addition, the registrar – in essence the chief administrator of the court - sees the processes of harmonisation of the national laws taking too long and ultimately delaying the whole integration process. 

BRIEFLY MOTORCARS

Business Lessons From Toyota's Woes Just a few months after Toyota surrendered its status as the world's biggest vehicle maker, the Japanese auto giant suffered a credibility crisis that its rivals in China could well repeat if they fail to pay attention to the complaints of motorists. Toyota president Akio Toyoda's deep bow to customers in the world's largest auto market on Monday might not assuage the worries of purchasers of the car bearing his name, but his damage-control move was an example for Chinese auto makers who are drastically expanding production.

TEXTBOOK The "Toyota production system" was held up as the textbook method in the auto industry. However, super efficiency and quality proved to be incompatible. Toyoda admitted sticky accelerator pedals and other flaws that led to massive car recalls were related to the company's speedy expansion in North America. China witnessed a nearly 50percent jump both in vehicle production and sales last year, making its auto industry a target for outside investment. However, complaints about vehicle quality from Chinese auto owners in 2009 increased by 40 percent, almost equal to the rise in output. If Toyota -- a veteran producer with a history of more than 70 years -- made mistakes when it relaxed quality control, Chinese newcomers in the industry have no excuses for failing to pay full attention to monitoring their production lines? — Xinhua News Agency

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•ECONOMY

Investment•Technology•Prosperity

MONETARY UNION: Debating convergence

BRIEFLY OIL

Toyota Invests Two good tidings have come the region’s way from the Toyota Corporation lately. First, the announcement by the Toyota President Junzo Shimizu announced the world’s number one car seller’s intention to establish a regional headquarter in Nairobi. The announcement was made after discussions with a Kenyan delegation led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga on a recent visit to Japan. The new headquarters will be responsible for new projects and investments in East Africa.

FOOD

Danger in Meat Eating processed meat may increase the risk for heart disease and even diabetes, US researchers suggest. "To lower risk of heart attacks and diabetes, people should avoid eating too much processed meats — for example, hot dogs, bacon, sausage or processed deli meats," said Renata Micha, a research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health. "Based on our findings, eating up to one serving per week would be associated with relatively small risk."

geneva

Gender Inequality

Despite signs of progress in gender equality over the past 15 years, there is still a significant gap between women and men in terms of job opportunities and quality of employment, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) said early March. More than a decade after the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing adopted an ambitious global platform for action on gender equality and women's empowerment, gender biases remain deeply embedded in society and the labour market. — Reports from Xinhua News Agency

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Will Single EAC Currency Fly? Monetary union the next major hurdle after rollout of fully fledged Customs Union and signing of common market protocol By John Ndiema

uch are the complexities and intricacies of creating a sustainable economic bloc that thoroughgoing thoughts and analyses can only be eschewed with perilous results. And nowhere is this vastly important than as relates to matters monetary, recall the long drawn journey to the Euro? It is perhaps with the understanding that money matters are all important for the EAC integration process that a research was commissioned to ferret out issues relating to the much talked about EA monetary union. And what better placed a body to undertake the study than the European Central Bank (ECB). The research, carried out by an ECB team of experts, drew information and data from regional central banks and their ministries of finance, planning, EAC Affairs and trade. Also targeted were capital markets, bureaus of statistics and the banking fraternity. Despite its earlier projection that the Community will have a monetary union in place by 2012, the ECB experts say the process may take a little time longer due to

STATS &FACTS The outstanding stock of securities issued by corporates in the euro area grew from 32.2 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the end of 1998 to 74.5 per cent of GDP by June 2005

the changeover from national currencies to a single currency which must be anchored in society and particularly in the financial sector. For currency convergence, EAC partner states are supposed to adopt, ratify and implement legal instruments like the monetary union treaty, inclusive of statutes of new institutions such as the East African Central Bank (EACB). This Bank will principally provide centralized decision-making on monetary and exchange rate policies. Its regional status will ensure that its decisions are guided by the objectives of the single currency area holistically. The study reveals that the EACB may be organised as a single regional central bank to replace all the existing national central banks or as leader and core of a system of central banks. In the second option, the national central banks would act under its guidance as points of access to the central bank facilities of the single currency area. Economists argue that the first option presents many advantages from a functional and presentational point of view but may meet political objections. “The more complex central bank system model may be politically more palatable and would imply less change to present institutional arrangements and consequently lower transitional costs. By not discriminating between the finan-

cial centres in the single currency area, it would also ease the choice of the EAC partner state to host the EACB.” The ECB experts note. In what could bring credibility and price stability in the banking industry, the currency shift powers will be bestowed unto EACB to ensure that it functions independently, free of political interventions. Critical in the establishment of a monetary union is the prohibition on state borrowing from central banks. The prohibition, which should take effect before the start of monetary union, is based on three considerations: firstly, granting public entities recourse to central bank lending might impede the ability of the EACB to conduct a stability-oriented monetary policy. Secondly, there is a risk for central banks - if given the task to finance the public sector - that their independence may be weakened. Lastly, barring such access contributes to fiscal discipline by subjecting government borrowing to market conditions. The creation of a universal currency is projected to have a substantial impact in the re-organization of East African financial markets whose credibility over the past two years has attracted debate with leading foreign investors shying off them. In the European Union, for example, the impact of European Monetary Union on financial deepening was evident when the outstanding stock of securities issued by corporates in the euro area grew from 32.2 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the end of 1998 to 74.5 per cent of GDP by June 2005. Moreover, spreads across government bond yields narrowed. Currency experts say that soon after East Africa convergence of currencies, there will be a divergence in inflation rates due to

EAC monetary union beckons Even as the Customs Union takes baby steps towards collapsing tariffs on goods in the region and while efforts are directed towards ratification of the common markets protocol, the monetary union is not being left behind. In this first quarter of 2010 alone, a lot of water has passed under the bridge.  Release of a study on the establishment of the East African Central Bank by the European Central Bank in early January in Kampala, Uganda  Technical meeting of experts from central banks from partner states held in January in Bujumbura, Burundi leading to charting a road map of inclusivity  Validation workshop on draft final report held in January in Kampala, Uganda  A Governors' meeting in Kampala, Uganda in January agrees on a strategic framework for fast tracking the establishment of a Monetary Union by 2012  In late February, representatives of EAC’s monetary, fiscal, capital and insurance committees met in Arusha to put final touches to a report for the establishment of the monetary union

BANKING HALL: Single currency on horizon?

the differences in core macroeconomic fundamentals, but this will not take long. However, the long-term credit environment will represent one of the prime benefits from monetary union membership to the region. Ultimately, this is projected to generate rapid growth in lending and local housing booms with the sharp increase in demand contributing to inflationary pressures. There is convincing evidence that EAC monetary union will contribute to greater cross-border trade in finance and goods, delivering efficiency gains from market integration. With a unified currency, international integration with the rest of the world will increase rapidly such that it will be essential not to view the EAC single currency area as a closed unit. Critics, however, say there are costs which will have to be borne by some partner states. Chief among them being the potential for increase in economic volatility since different countries react differently to same shocks. Worse is the fact that some member states are not comfortable with the European Union model which they say is silently being ‘forced’ to fit East Africa. 

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•ECONOMY

Investment•Technology•Prosperity

WORLD BANK: Humble contribution

Soft-spoken Envoy for Africa's Growth Q. In what ways can your experience be helpful to the Bank and to African countries in terms of dealing with similar issues? A. My humble contribution to the WBG and African countries is helping to build trust, confidence and relationships that can facilitate dialogue and collaboration between the WBG and different stakeholders, especially nontraditional ones like Foreign Affairs and civil society. As you know President Zoellick, emphasizes the importance and the power of relationships, of diplomacy, of listening and of creating win-win relationships. We also know that development is not a zero sum game and sustainable development is better achieved when all stakeholders work towards a common goal, - in this case development and eradication of extreme poverty. With the leadership of our Senior Vice President, Marwan Muasher, the department of External Affairs (similar to Ministry of Foreign Affairs) engages various stakeholders in diplomacy and in building effective and productive relationships.

Edith Grace Ssempala

Q. You recently played a key role in securing important support for Capital increase for the WBG and IDA 16 replenishment, what was the message and what feedback did you receive? A. First of all, the WBG has been very responsive and helpful during the food and financial crises. We created a new Global Food

s Grace Edith Ssempala is an old-timer on East Africa’s diplomatic scene. She served for over 21 years as one of Uganda's top diplomats, nine of them as her country’ ambassador to the United States where she almost became synonymous with the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Prior to this, Ms. Ssempala was Ambassador to the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden). Her last diplomatic posting before joining the World Bank, was as the Ugandan Permanent Representative to the African Union and the United Nation's Economic Commission for Africa, as well as Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti. The soft-spoken but persistent and results-oriented former diplomat was interviewed by JOHN MULAA in Washington DC

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Crisis Response Program (GFRP), which has already approved $710 million for 21 African countries. Our Financial Crisis Response Fast-Track Facility has sped up approval processes of $2 billion in IDA grants and no-interest loans. The World Bank has also tripled support for safety net programs such as school feeding, nutrition, conditional cash transfer projects, and cash-for-work. The Bank collaborated with strong UN programs in the field, such as those of the World Food Program (WFP), and with NGOs. Women

and girls are a particular focus of these programmes. The World Bank’s private sector arm, IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP) currently covers 27 countries in Africa, with a total of $789 million in approved trade lines. Over 80 % of the trade finance supports SMEs. The Bank is boosting IBRD lending to Africa, too, with over $4 billion to Botswana, Mauritius, Seychelles, and South Africa in the works, up from $30 million in 2008. Therefore, the message was – The WBG needs capital increase and replenishment of IDA16 in order to sustain our strong response to the impact of the crises in Africa and other countries. Just as Africa took leadership in campaigning for AGOA, Africa should assume leadership in campaigning for capital increase and replenishment of IDA 16. African leaders understood that capital increase and IDA replenishment are in Africa’s interest and they came up with a Summit Decision in support of both the World Bank Group and the African Development bank’s resource mobilisation. Q. In terms of priorities, in what ways can African countries help the Bank achieve its mission in Africa? A. The WBG’s mission is to assist countries develop, create employment for their people, grow and eradicate extreme poverty – so our mission is similar to that of African countries. Priorities are set by countries and our role is to assist the countries achieve results. The best way countries can help is to collaborate more effectively in removing obstacles to development as well as prudent management of their resources. 

•WITH A LIGHT TOUCH Seriously Lighthearted

Libido-in-Chief Would not President Jacob Zuma qualify for the mantle of Africa’s Libido-in-Chief? The man took his fifth wife last October and in January it emerged that he had fathered a child with the daughter of a friend. That brings the tally of his children to 20. Of course there is the very public case of Zuma confessing that he had had unprotected sex and had immediately had a shower as security against AIDS.

Biggest of the Bunch Now this is not fair. Why should a name cost a person a job? Well, one Akbar Zib, a well respected Pakistani diplomat was rejected in Saudi Arabia because, says the Huffington Post, his two names translate to Biggest Penis! Surely it cannot be that bad, can it? Akbar is a common Muslim word which means “the greatest” and Zeb is a relatively unknown Urdu word whose meaning in Arabic is a crude word for male genitals. What a cock-up!

When he took wife Number Five, the world was told that polygamy is part and parcel of South Africa’s culture. Indeed, the word was that there are many in South Africa who have mistresses and concubines but keep it secret. The President had come clean, stepped on the plate for all to see and know. When the news of his love child broke, his party, the African National Congress, saw nothing untoward or shameful in a relationship between two people. That was a reference to a newspaper headline that branded the president the shame of the nation. Clearly taking wife Number Five is not illegal nor is fathering a child with a friend’s daughter. But is the latter not adulterous? The South African leader who advised his president to seek therapy for his addiction to sex may have a point.

Terrorist UK

Act of War

Africa’s first literature Nobel Prize laureate Wole Soyinka says that if Nigeria is placed on the US terror watch list, then there is no reason why the UK should be missing on that list. The way Soyinka sees it if Nigeria is ranked five on a scale of 10 on the list then the UK should be ranked 7 or 8 on the same list and scale. Why? Because, Soyinka says, the UK is a cesspit of Muslim fundamentalists and that the 23-year-old Nigerian accused of attempting to blow up a Detroit-bound American airliner on Christmas Day is a graduate of a British university. One could go further and point out that the terrorists who caused chaos in London when they bombed the transport system were all homegrown and that Jamaican radical cleric recently deported from Kenya was for a long time domiciled in the UK.

Washington enters a deal to supply Taiwan with military hardware. It does this knowing full well that Beijing regards Taiwan a breakaway province and is honourbound to retaliate. Next, Washington warns Beijing to support sanctions against Iran because of the danger a nuclear-armed Iran poses. Sanctions amount to an act of war and Washington, having chosen to escalate the sanctions regime against Tehran, is asking Beijing to join this action against a country that supplies it with most of its oil. Throw in the controversy over-gagging of Google into which both Hillary Clinton and President Obama waded and tied to denial of human rights and the visit of the Dalai Lama to Washington and it begins to look ominous for relations between Beijing and Washington.

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•CULTURE

Reviews•Raves•Revues•Repasts

IDENTITY: The defining factor

Arts and Manners

A people's heritage feeds into their character, their sense of morality, the manner in which they welcome members, marry and how they treat strangers, argues DEA Culture Consulting Editor

nce reduced to a mere …“expression of the same laws which control the tides and the sun, numbers and quantities”, mankind—in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson— becomes no more than “…a pendant to events, only half attached and … awkwardly (so) to the world …”. Now, one can imagine how much more awkward man (and of course woman in the era of gender sensitivity) becomes to other worlds that he/she continually interacts with or gets to interrogate. And such is the dilemma of settling for facelessness in a world where the universal currency of social engagement calls partly for substance, partly character and

partly self-awareness. So, what does culture have to do with a people, country’s or region’s character and identity? A lot! For starters, a people’s heritage naturally feeds into their character, their sense of morality and jurisprudence, to the manner in which they welcome newborns, court, marry and bring up children and also how they treat strangers, marvels or deal with death. In doing so communities inadvertently spell out who they are, thus defining both perceptions and terms of interaction and engagement. Moreover, how certain cultures appreciate beauty, recognize and reward honour, courage, honesty, grace, fortitude, diligence, patriotism is itself a testament of identity, sense of virtue and value

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Persons of pacific temperament, good judgment, genuine disposition and empathy are generally referred to as cultured men and women

system. And how and what people eat, treat the environment, wildlife, their bodies, too is a statement of belonging. Similarly, the way in which the people of a given heritage agree, disagree, engage or disengage with significant others outside their immediate geographical, social and even economic realms reveals loads of their we-ness and views of otherness. shared mores

AT ONE WITH NATURE:

A capella Africa style

So anything devoid of a form of discernible centric and quotable reference to a reservoir of shared mores, lore, beliefs, convictions, observances, sense of proportion and honour—among other ingredients— is more of an ephemeral spell bordering on sorcery, not culture. That is particularly so because the

hollowness portended therein cannot impart character. I guess that’s the reason persons of pacific temperament, good judgment, genuine disposition and empathy are generally referred to as cultured men and women. However, such character does not pop out of thin air. Rather, it is learnt, taught, nurtured and systematically conveyed. It has a bibliography awash with ‘anonymous’ authors and a syllabus created by tens of unknown sages whose wisdom is distilled to the most rarefied state over centuries. That is why those—wherever they may be from—guided by cultural sensibilities glow in the dark. And that is character. If, then, there ever was common ground in matters culture, it is all that weighs in favour of the good, bold and beautiful. It is that disposition that grafts grace where necessary ugliness or evil show up on the path of life. Beauty is, therefore, the middle name of culture, character and identity. Unfortunately—but sadly so—not everyone is given to the discipline by which the finer ways of culture dictate, style and transport are mastered. Those possessed of inner gentleness and self-assuredness, as you would expect, can appease or checkmate any living philistine without breaking a sweat. Not so for the less culturally tempered where the active ingredient in that alchemy is cultural sensibility. Yet one of the best watersheds from where cultural antecedents that drape and bedeck character are to be found is within a people’s culture as expressed from within by way of beliefs and values and by externalities such as genius as expressed in dress, fine art, music, food and nutrition, games and sports. Our desire is to make Diplomat East Africa’s cultural forum the place to both express and soak in new perspectives of eastern Africa’s heritage, build it and institutionalize it so that it may beget a fresh character, scholars and admirers as well as a set of dedicated ambassadors. Savour Carol Gachiengo’s portrait of the African woman of yore (Two African Queens), Yvonne Owour’s profile as a cultural and arts student and enthusiast fully and articulately engaged in the global creative conversation. 

EATING out in Kigali is easily a gastronomer’s delight

hat is not to say that things have always been like this, for, indeed, a few years ago, one faced the arduous task of finding the right place in an apt neighborhood. Up until a few years ago, you would need to look around upper Kiyovu to get a semblance of nice eating places and even these were without speciality. And they were notoriously dicey so you had to have loads of cash to eat here. Well, not any more. A casual visitor to Kigali is now assured of a rich menu and they need not necessarily pay through the nose to treat their palates to mouthwatering dishes. The variety is equally rich: Mexican, Chinese and Ethiopian, they have all come to Kigali. Identified by a local, Donna Josh Rubagumya, as he writes in “Inzozi” magazine (the local dialect for Dreams), one restaurant, Africa Bite, takes the gold. Located just a few kilometers from Kigali Airport, the place is easily accessible and is found in a residential neighbourhood so it is quiet and peaceful. The food, wrapped in banana leaves, (oluwombo) is served from clay pots, a bit heavy like the jazz that should have been

appropriately reserved for the evening. Served hot and fresh by the chef who opened pot after pot, the food was Africa Bite’s selling point. The menu for the day started with smoked rice and shredded pieces of carrot and boiled cit pieces of cassava and maize bread. Then chapati followed, served with mashed matoke in groundnut sauce, boiled fresh green peas and all these were escorted by chicken stew and fish. The weight of the plate was testimony enough that the food items were irresistible as guests kept on adding and adding each little bit! But that was not all, for, the restaurant serves the most alluring tree tomato juice (binyomoro) in that part of the world. Not to be outclassed is their spiced Rwanda tea, which helps alleviate symptoms of colds and flu, as one guest observed. Rubagumya confessed that as he sat to enjoy the meal, which he describes as fit for a king, he loked around and noticed that other patrons included professionals from corporate bodies in Kigali, revenue officials, senior military officials and diplomatic corps, all a perfect crowd enjoying a perfect meal in a perfect ambience.  — Patrick Wachira

Condensed from inzozi, the inflight magazine of Rwandair

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•CULTURE

Reviews•Raves•Revues•Repasts

CREATIVE SCENE: Forging ties

Turning Ideas Into Gold She is a participant in continental conversations whose main work is to help think through digital media to foster the integration of a regional creative and cultural economy

HARNESSING HERITAGE: A quest

for innovationand unusual content

March - April 2010

n arts manager/producer, creative project developer, creative industry advisor and a novelist, Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor relies on experience from a broad range of work experience in the global and regional arts and cultural sector to inform her positions and drive her work. Winner of the 2003 Caine Prize for African Writing, she was also ZIFF Festival of the Dhow Countries Executive Director from 2003-2005, when the 10-day event was at its zenith as a regional multi arts showcase. Yvonne is engaged with assorted arts, culture and heritage forums. She is presently preoccupied with creative and knowledge economy conversations. She worked as a UNESCO consultant for an ICT for Indigenous Peoples project sought to use the tools of digital technology to harness the cultural and imagination resources of different

cultural landscapes, which in today’s innovation economy and its quest for fresh ideas and unusual content is pure gold. She is also one of those involved in forging new and cultural, educational and artistic connections between Kenya and South America. GLOBAL ARTS

Yvonne also occasionally teaches creative writing to the interested, has a hand in a couple of urbanbased arts initiatives, is a regional advisor for a global arts and culture funding organisation and, for the last two years, has been working with a regional higher education initiative as part of a team that is conceptualising, developing and designing an academic plan. Her main work is to help think through digital media, the expressive (performance and fine arts) and Business for the arts clusters. Yvonne is an active participant in continental conversations taking

place in different nodes about the integration of regional creative and cultural economy issues into growth strategies. In a wide-ranging interview, Yvonne spoke to Diplomat East Africa Culture Correspondent CAROLINE GACHIENGO. Excerpts: DEA: Why culture and the arts? YVONNE: Curiosity about the human experiment and art engages meaning. The cultural space is an excellent viewing room and immersion environment for the immense discovery of being, and meaning. A realm of knowledge, encounter, education and newness. It covers the gamut of existence, including the arts, where worlds, dreams and possibilities meet and gesture. It in these realms that distinct identity futures can be imagined. It seems we in the region are the only ones who are unconscious to the power of these realms. You want to change the world to your image and likeness, package and sell your culture (think USA and France), you want to innovate, watch how your cultures have interpreted the challenges of life (biochemistry and pharmaceutical industries mining the continent for innovation in medicines which are then resold to us). The blindness to wealth that lies in our diversity of landscape and peoples leads to idiotic deeds as unfolded in Kenya’s ethnicisation of violence or the destruction of Mau Forest and Lake Naivasha. (We are like a people spitting into their best water wells and who then wail loudly about their thirst.) Proactively and truthfully engaged with, culture and the arts unleash their transformative power and offer so many dimensions of seeing and becoming. The universal enjoyment of what is beautiful disarms rage and allows the possibility of reflection on what is good, simply good, about sharing humanity. Presented well, arts and culture draw the whole human being and spirit into an experience. They are

a great vehicle for deep education, and information distribution and sharing. Through these portals can a people communicate who they are, who they intend to be and how. Ignored, we shall continue with our continual whining about strangers’ interpretation of who we are, and what our stories mean and what the story of our futures are going to be. Q: How can culture and the unify Region?

Shared culture and the arts have already created realms of commonality in East Africa. We are trans-boundary peoples anyway. We are a region whose historical power is as a convergence zone of multiple nations, where the world gathers and then evolves new identities and ways of being, a characteristic that is grossly underappreciated (Swahili culture, Lingala in Nairobi, Kiswahili as a lingua franca, the emergence of another way of English, etc). In moving towards East Africanisation, the opportunity is in the innovation economy, which, by its nature spreads out, and draws assorted cultural spaces into its vortex. The fact that wherever public artistic events, especially music, are held, whether in Zanzibar or Kampala or Mombasa, event managers can rely on a reasonable percentage of regional attendees. Kenya’s Rugby 7 exploits are also an East African preoccupation. If co-opted effectively, the arts are the perfect vehicle for the communication of a shared East African story, vision and imagined future — heck, why go to East Africa, in a wiser land, culture and the arts (including the spiritual arts) would be right at the forefront of helping heal the fragmented and traumatized portions of the Kenyan soul.

Q: What prospects are there for the region to sell itself to the rest of the world on account of its arts and culture?

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES:

Ms Owuor with writers from across the globe in Iowa, US

A: The prospects are huge, and I cannot overemphasize this. Probably the most viable, strategically, given the ‘peculiarities’ of our context. Key words — Innovation ecology, cultural diversity, landscape diversity, biodiversity, integrated creative and knowledge economies, digital technology and broadband economy/landscapes. It is not for nothing that you already have delegations of global creative industry practitioners and industrialists visiting the region, seeking people, ideas, and collaborations. The search is on for raw creative materials, to collect stories (for content creation, animation products) or studying regional aesthetics, whether in architecture or Maasai beadwork, or collecting cultural observations on the life and worldview of hyenas. The skills capacity already exists in the region. But the possibility remains that, as long as policymakers are locked into an 18th Century construction of what arts and culture are. Mining the creative, imagination resources and assets of the region are one of the action areas for the new scramble for Africa. Not just selling itself to the rest of the world, but also positioning itself as a node of excellence and variety in the world. If there were enough people conscious about where the new money is located, we would have stopped fluffing around on matters of intellectual property

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Reviews•Raves•Revues•Repasts

A Great Addition to Cinema of Corruption

Film: Crossing Over Genre: Drama Runtime: 1hr 53mins Released: 2009

merican cinema is quietly producing seriously good films on the subjects of police and other affiliated corruption in the United States, for example Training Day (starring Denzel Washington) and Street Kings (with Keanu Reeves of The Matrix trilogy fame). These thrillers are meant to be merely filmed entertainment, but, on a lower frequency, they are carefully, even fearsomely, crafted and modulated pieces of virtually sociological documents and documentaries, capturing the essence of extra-judicial killings, drug dealing and abuse and other assorted criminal “official” behaviour in all its horror. But the straight-to-DVD movies phenomenon of the decade that is now coming to a close, as opposed to theatre releases, are seeing too many would-be instant classics bypass the mass markets and mainstream media reviews to become cult or niche classics that will never

be appreciated by large audiences in their time. The problems of law enforcement corruption and murderousness are widely and shallowly assumed to be specifically Third World afflictions, complete with UN rapporteurs and activist non-governmental organizations and INGOs like Transparency International and Amnesty International being hot on the heels of perpetrators in places as far-flung as Mexico and Kenya. Training Day and Street Kings amply demonstrated that the USA is also afflicted by police sleaze and the rot goes as deep as a bone cancer writ large on the scale of a nation that is the size of a continent. Crossing Over, the latest Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones, The Fugitive and Air Force One) movie comes in this gritty tradition — pure entertainment on the surface, dead serious social commentary on several other, but supremely subtle, levels. However, the policing concerned in Crossing is of the Immigration

March - April 2010

colour and content:

Little Ogeni Egonu plays Alike and Ashley Judd stars as Denise Frankel in Crossing Over.

This is the ultimate illegal immigration issues movie, American style. It will resonate in refugee reception countries like Kenya

variety. This is the ultimate illegal immigration issues movie, American style. It will resonate in refugee reception countries like Kenya and with refugees and those who interact with them everywhere and who know that these issues cross all boundaries, including moral, cultural, racial and ethnic. Released in the US in February this year and now available throughout eastern Africa, it is a Ford movie like none other. As Max Brogan, he is an Immigration law enforcement official whose job it is to arrest illegal aliens. The aliens in this case are Australian, Jewish, Korean, Palestinian and Iranian, all desperately seeking citizenship status. This complex drama addresses cross-border issues, the Green Card process, sweat shop workplace raids, document forgery, naturalisation and the prospect of terrorism. Wading through many of these cross-cutting issues is the grimfaced Brogan, a jaded but far from faded operative

Digestive Diplomacy BOOK: Cuisines of the Axis of Evil and Other Irritating States: A Dinner Party Approach to International Relations AUTHOR: Chris Fair PUBLISHER: The Lyons Press (First Edition), ISBN: 13:9781599212869, published 2008, 314pp PRICE: KSh1,560 By MATT GATHIGIRA

t was President George W. Bush, normally not a very articulate CEO, who coined the phrase “Axis of Evil”, in January 2002, in his first State of the Union address after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on New York and Washington. Bush enjoined North Korea, Iraq and Iran in the Axis, declaring “States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an Axis of Evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world”. Cuisines of the Axis of Evil is a diverting and intelligent book about the recipes of a number of America’s ‘foes’ and ‘friends’. Author Chris Fair, a seasoned foreign policy analyst, divides her book into country sections and offers real, as opposed to metaphorical, recipes that are eminently easy to follow. The book is both about menu planning and foreign policy implementation. The assistant professor at the Centre for Peace and Security Studies at Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, the ultimate diplomacy campus in the ultimate diplomacy capital, Washington

DC, has also served as a United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan political officer and is a senior fellow with the Counter Terrorism Centre at West Point, the US’s foremost elite military college. Her specialization is South Asian political and military affairs. As the managing editor of the prestigious journal India Review, she is also an accomplished journalist. Cuisines of the Axis cookbook recipes range from North Korean spicy cucumber (picture that!) to Iranian chicken in a walnut pomegranate stew and much, much else in-between. Now one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter, and one man’s meat has long been another man’s poison. But, as Fair demonstrates in this book, while you might balk at supping with any number of perceived devils, however long the spoon might be, you can surely enjoy your worst – your most existential-threat – enemies’ cuisine, and you can do the cooking yourself in the privacy of your suitably fortified kitchen. One of the things about international cuisine that Fair brings

Many religions specify not only the animals that can be eaten but the ways in which those animals must be killed as a precondition for eating them

out rather well is the fact that food can both unite and divide almost as sternly as religious belief and devotional ritual: “While most folks recognize the power of food to bring people together, I notice most its power to divide. Many religions enshrine various forms of commensalisms, or rules that govern with whom you can eat and with whom you cannot. In Hinduism, high-caste persons can't eat in the presence of those who are low caste, whose very shadow defiles the former. Many religions specify not only the animals that can be eaten but the ways in which those animals must be killed as a precondition for eating them and the means by which they must be prepared. This can seriously limit the number of people one can eat with. “Cuisines also yield some insights into the social structure of countries in question. Indian food is time-intensive and requires either a platoon of servants or a daughter-in-law. Women can spend hours of their day slicing and dicing up tiny vegetables, slaving over an open gas burner with little or no ventilation

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HEROINES: Footsteps of the great

Two Unsung ‘African’ Queens

The general lethargy that greets the recognition of icons in African history is an old, appalling song, particularly given that the continent has never suffered a deficiency of legends, heroes and heroines since time immemorial, says CAROL GACHIENGO

he general lethargy that greets the recognition of icons in African history is an old, appalling song, particularly given that the continent has never suffered a deficiency of legends, heroes and heroines since time immemorial. We get to hear a lot about the Biblical Eve, Genji, Oedipus, Don Quixote, Chia Pao-yu to Arjuna than Fumo Liyongo of the Wagalla in Kenya, Sundiata of Mali, Shango or Oyo, Shaka the Zulu of South Africa and a host of others. Some societies across the world find it so easy, even organic, to distill fortitude and a sense of identity from historical figures linked to their heritage. This is an area the African chronicler, historiographer and story-teller need to rethink. While at it, it will be wise to start with the womenfolk. Here are profiles of two women icons of ancient Africa.

Warrior Queen: Amanirenas of Meroe Amanirenas trod on Augustus’ bronzehead every time she entered or left her palace as a reminder of her victory over Rome. The ancient Nubian empire called Kush, with its capital at Meroe, spanned a 500-hundredmile-long stretch of land along the River Nile, covering one-third of present-day Egypt and two-thirds of modern-day Sudan. There, queens known as Candaces ruled from as early as 332 BCE. One of the bravest was Candace Amanirenas, who came to be known as the One-eyed Candace.

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Queen Amanirenas, ruler of the Kush Empire in 28 BCE, was nothing like the typical queenin-a-castle that comes to mind at the mention of the word “queen”, for she reigned not only from her palace but from the battlefield as well. Amanirenas grew up in a culture where women ruled, not only on earth, but in the religious realm as well. While in

nearby Egypt, Ra the sun god was worshipped by most, the Nubians worshipped Isis, queen of all gods, goddesses, and women. Neighbouring Egypt was conquered and fell under Roman rule during the reign of Amanirenas. When Rome began to treat the Nubian Empire as part of Egypt, demanding taxes from Nubian citizens, Amanirenas was livid. She personally led her armies, armed with bows and arrows, in raids against the Romans, defeating three enemy armies in one raid. Though victorious, Amanirenas was not content to merely return to her castle and celebrate. She took the head from a bronze statue of Emperor Augustus Ceasar, brought it back to Nubia as a prize, and had it buried in the doorway of her palace as the ultimate act of disrespect. There, she could tread on Augustus’ head each day on her way out and again on her way into the palace. It was during one of her raids on Egypt that Amanirenas lost one eye. From then on she was referred to as the one-eyed Kandake, and respected and feared all the more. But Amanirenas was not just a great warrior; she was also a tactician and a great negotiator. When Roman forces retaliated and she faced defeat, she negotiated a peace settlement that ensured Rome would not collect taxes from her Empire and included trade agreements between the two empires. As a result, Kush traded gold, ivory, incense, and

iron ore in exchange for metal, glass, ceramic utensils, rings, jewellery, beads, and mirrors from Roman Egypt. The trade flourished for 100 years.

Queen of Sheba: The Mother of an African King “What is it? An enclosure with ten doors; when one is open, nine are shut, and when nine are open, one is shut,” Sheba asked Solomon. Thousands of years ago, a beautiful queen set out to test a brilliant king. But first, she had to travel for six months on camel-back to cover the 1,400 miles across the desert sands of Arabia, along the coast of the Red Sea, and across the Jordan River to Jerusalem. Makeda’s journey was well worthwhile, for at her destination she found not just answers to her riddles, but love in the bargain as well. Makeda, the Queen of Sheba, ruled over an empire so vast it included modernday Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Yemen. She was only 15-years-old when she came to the throne and could have had no idea that she would become one of the most famous rulers in the world, mentioned in the holy books of three major religions — the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Qur’an, as well as in Ethiopian and Nigerian historical writings. Hers is also the greatest romance story of all time. Makeda was wealthy beyond imagination, but she longed for intellectual challenge. When she heard of King Solomon of Israel, and his legendary wisdom, she simply had to meet him. For a king of such repute, Makeda brought gifts fit for a king; gifts of gold, precious stones, furniture and spices conveyed in a caravan of 797 camels, mules, and asses. Solomon’s wisdom was legendary — a gift from God. He was the author of 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 psalms. He was equally known for his great wealth, having no fewer than 40,000 horse stalls and 1,400 chariots. His palace built of cedar and cypress and ornamented with carved ivory, gold, and sandalwood boasted vineyards, gardens, pools and singers with exotic musical instruments. He sat on a grand ivory throne with golden armrests and golden embroidery. He would also soon be known as a romantic

When he beheld the gorgeous Makeda, he immediately put her up in a luxurious apartment in a palace next to his, and provided her with fruits, rose trees, silks, linens, tapestries, and 11 bewitching garments for each day of her visit par excellence. When he beheld the gorgeous Makeda, he immediately put her up in a luxurious apartment in a palace next to his, and provided her with fruits, rose trees, silks, linens, tapestries, and 11 bewitching garments for each day of her visit. Each day he sent her 45 sacks of flour, 10 oxen, 5 bulls, 50 sheep, as well as goats, deer, cows, gazelles, and chickens, wine, honey, fried locusts, rich sweets, and 25 singing men and women. Wealth was no novelty to Makeda. She was more interested in his mind. They had lengthy discussions during which Makeda quizzed Solomon with riddles. His answers were pleasantly impressive.

Solomon was perhaps even more impressed with Makeda, so much so that he proposed marriage. But Sheba had her own empire to think of and her own people depending on her. And so in six months she was on her homeward journey, back to Sheba. The virgin who had come in search of wisdom gave birth to a baby boy when she returned to Sheba. She named her son Ibn al-Hakim, “son of the wise man”. He later changed his name to Menelek and became the first king of the Ethiopian dynasty. Perhaps it was Solomon’s good looks, or maybe it was his romantic overtures that won the virgin queen of Sheba over as a lover. More likely though, it was his astute mind. As to the riddle of the enclosure Solomon answered, “The enclosure is the womb, and the ten doors are the ten orifices of man, namely his eyes, his ears, his nostrils, his mouth, the apertures for discharge of excreta and urine, and the navel. When the child is still in its mother’s womb, the navel is open, but all the other apertures are shut, but when the child issues from the womb the navel is closed and the other orifices are open.”

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Reviews•Raves•Revues•Repasts

RAIMENT: Favourite wraparounds

Say it with the Kanga or Tell it on the Leso! Fashion statement, notice-board and parade of proverbs, the East African coast’s favourite informal wraparound cloth is also a hit deep in the interior and in the EA Diaspora the world over, but why? JACKSON BIKO went on a fact-finding mission and brings you this brilliant piece on the ubiquitous leso or kanga

o have a sketchy idea of a woman’s personality you might need to take a glimpse into her wardrobe (if you are brave, and have the time). In this alcove of style and grace, you might know something about her fascination with high heels. Or why she favours long dresses over short skimpy black numbers. Or why she wears bare-back tops that allow her back to be worshiped and kissed by the sun. Or perhaps her preference for warm over cool colours might offer a direction into her temperament? But there is also a good possibility that this adventurous fashion profiling might yield little more than confusion . . . on your part, that is, not hers. But ask a Swahili man how one can tell how much a woman is loved by her husband and he will ask you to go count the number of lesos she owns. This applied, at least, in the traditional Swahili culture. Yes indeed; men, real Swahili men, professed their undying love by buying lesos, as opposed to, say, climbing a tall tree or killing a predator. But the leso did not only serve as a demonstration of love, its purposes in the culture of the Swahili also played centrally to their many social and culture and practices.

EA’s Answer to Ghana’s kente cloth Like Ghana’s brilliantly colourful, hand-woven kente cloth, whose complex designs are full of folkloric meaning, and is worn for intricate rites of passage, including weddings and naming rituals, the leso is distinctive to a region. The origin of the leso — just like the merits of Obama’s stimulus programme — is conflicting. The original school of thought is that lesos, inspired by the Portuguese traders, originated on the coast of East Africa in the mid 19th Century. Other sources claim that a group of beauties on Zanzibar

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DRESS TO INFORM:

Lesos are a medium for conveying lasting messages

hatched the idea by buying printed handkerchiefs. Then there is also the version that pegs it to Indian traders in Mombasa and Zanzibar. But if you ask traders who sell African clothing in shops in the city centres, most of them will look at you preposterously (like you just asked a monumentally dumb question) and blurt out, “Tanzania, of course!” But Rehema Janzi, who makes modern and fashionable African attire (note the oxymoron reference) doesn’t really care about the origin. “The most important thing is not where it came from but its significance now in the modern setting,” she stresses. “This piece of cloth represents

authentic East African clothing.” Janzi’s market is mostly in Europe, where, she says, the demand is higher because of their “quest for an African expression through clothing”. “The lesos represent an art and culture of the coastal people which has easily been aped in the rest of Africa,” she says. Of course she is aware that her statement is bordering on the reckless, and misinformation, but the look of mischief in her eye dispels any seriousness or credibility in her last allegation. What she seems to want to express is the “East Africanness” of the leso, because there is ample record of leso usage in other African cultures. Beyond our borders, a leso acts like an ambassador of sorts, to the rich East

African coastal culture. Mama Festo (that’s how she is popularly known), a resident of Ottawa, Canada, when asked about the popularity of the leso in her town said, “As an African foreigner it’s very easy to disappear into this western culture, and so wearing a dress made from lesos, is my way of preserving my African heritage, it’s my bridge to home.”

Emissary of Tradition How do people respond to her when she wears this traditional kanga clothing? “People tend to tolerate me more. They also tend to respect me and are largely curious as to where I come from, and what my culture is. It ignites a lot of curiosity and conversations,” she emailed. It’s hard to ignore the subtle socio-political significance that underlies that statement, which perhaps implies the significance of the leso as an emissary of East African tradition abroad. Even more interesting as a tool of communication, the significance of lesos is leviathan. Every leso has, printed on its lower edge, Swahili sayings like Mtoto wa nyoka ni nyoka (a snake’s young is a snake, or like father like son) or Mtoto akililia wembe mpe (a burnt child dreads fire, or once bitten twice shy). And these sayings always run with the initials KHE, which, as it turns out, refer to famous trader in Mombasa called Kaderdina Hajee Essak. Ali Abdi, a dhow owner, can’t stress enough the communicative significance of this. He says: “Women and men alike would express their feelings by either donning or giving lesos, respectively, to their spouses. And so a woman would communicate whether she was ready to marry, have babies, have sex or divorce by just donning a leso with the apt saying on it. The message was always there for one to decipher.” In a world that hinges on social decency, communication is crucial and words that can’t be expressed by word of mouth might as well be best expressed via leso. Miscommunication between men

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>> The Leso Language of Love and women would go the way of the dinosaur because men would simply buy women lesos and go behind their newspapers, having adequately communicated through the leso, while women would wear, around the house, lesos that, for instance, read, in translation, “Let sleeping dogs lie”. The leso, as we know it, largely represents an embodiment of womanhood. The distinctive cloths might symbolise femininity, vulnerability and tenderness but they also stand for strength, stoicism, a feature prominent in womanhood, a feature particularly exemplified by African women. But apart from the leso providing a communicative domestic tool, they are also part of the social

backbone for most communities upcountry. In rural areas where medical facilities are inaccessible mainly due to distance, women are known to give birth on lesos. They also piggy-back their

dreamland:

A combination of elegant furnishings and exquisite interior decor

toddlers with tightly wound lesos as they till the land. Governments push policies and messages concerning public health campaigns through lesos. The leso is prominent at weddings, either as gifts or attire for the occasion. And, in my community, for instance, women tie lesos around their waist during funerals when mourning. It represents a dutifulness in mourning, which I want to imagine flatters the dead. The leso is more than a garment; it’s a fabric onto which a culture is woven. It’s an indirect dialect which men and women alike talk in. But it might be the best language because it’s marked — literally and figuratively — by colour and wit. It is also a great promoter of literacy. Ultimately, for the Swahili, the leso is the language of love

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•DEA HOTELS Lifestyles & Hospitality

HOSPITALITY: Lap of luxury

A Fusion of Influences A boutique hotel that draws from global influences with subtle influences of African art

ribe, a luxury boutique hotel, opened its doors to guests on September 1, 2008. The 137-room property sets a new standard in Kenyan hospitality and hotel design. Located in Gigiri, Nairobi’s diplomatic district, Tribe is attached to The Village Market, East Africa’s largest shopping and recreation complex. The hotel is less than a kilometre from the United Nations Offices in Nairobi, the US Embassy and Canadian High Commission as well as numerous international NGO’s and foreign missions. “The name Tribe is derived from an ideology of unity, an understanding that we are all members of a single tribe and residents of a global village, hence the hotel’s tag: One Planet One Tribe,” says Hooman Ehsani, the developer. The hotel is HIP and chic, with an emphasis on luxury and design elements – drawing from global inspirations with subtle influences of African art and antiquities. Tribe hosts over 900 original works of fine art and artifacts, which are featured throughout the rooms, restaurant and common areas. The hotel caters to high-end business and leisure travelers, providing an un-precedented level of service and comfort. Tribe’s 220 full-time employees have successfully completed four months of etiquette and operations training in anticipation of the hotel’s opening, emphasizing communication skills

dreamland:

A combination of elegant furnishings and exquisite interior decor

and confidence. “The staff training program is at the centre of Tribe’s commitment to Kenya and the hospitality industry,” says Stephen Maina, the Front Office Manager. Guestrooms offer free wireless internet, large LCD TV’s, open-plan bathrooms with rain showers, Eartherapy amenities, 300 thread-count linens, mood lighting and floor to ceiling mirrors as standard features. The penthouse – Nairobi’s first “celebrity” suite, and the VIP Wing — present accommodations specifically tailored to the needs of the ultra-luxury market; a growing niche previously unsatisfied by hotels in Nairobi. “Tribe’s innovative design has changed Nairobi’s hospitality

landscape, developing the Capital as a destination in its own right with a more complete offering,” said Hamed Ehsani, Managing Director, Greenhills Investments Ltd. Epic, the hotel’s restaurant, serves an eclectic mix of global flavours through the creations of Executive Chef, Neil McCarthy. The restaurant is trendy, sophisticated and unpretentious; pairing the freshest ingredients with visually striking design and professional service Phone +254 720 0000 • Email reservations@tribehotelkenya.com • Bookings through www.kiwicollection.com

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•EDUCATION pursuit of excellence

knowledge: Looking east

Education Malaysia Redefining EA Learning

Borrowing from the knowledge capital of the Asian Tiger By JANE MWANGI

s the wind of change blows across East Africa, the import of education is rising very fast throughout the region. From the traditional and conventional form of education that was offered in the past, the citizenry in the region is increasingly demanding a didactic education that’s responsive to global socio-economic developments.

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Many East Africans are turning to the fabled Asian Tigers for an education that has relevance to the development of needs of a region experiencing pre – take off economic conditions. More and more East Africans are looking east to Malaysia to tap the fast growing knowledge based economy and its attendant education offerings. The South-East Asian nation has its roots firmly planted in East Africa with offices

in all the capital cities in the region with the busiest based on Koinange Street, Nairobi. Mr. Vincent Naidu, the managing director of Education Malaysia in Kenya is the man responsible for bringing Malaysia education to the region in conjunction with colleagues in the region. The impetus behind setting up Education Malaysia Limited in the region emanated from the 1998 bomb blast in Nairobi and in Dar es Salaam, where genuine Kenyan students were being denied visas by European and

quality:

More Kenyans are tapping into the knowledge-based Malaysian economy

North American countries due to certain guidelines. Mr. Naidu proceeded to collaborate with four universities to kick-start the 12 year journey that has witnessed over 3000 East African students taking up study opportunities in Malaysia. The relevance of Malaysian education in the region has led to over 500 students taking this education overture every year. Mr. Naidu is honest in admitting that Education Malaysia was a bit skeptical at first when they begun making inroads into region but the number of students gradually started to rise with time. “Malaysia is a safe place, has the best in technology and the repertoire of degrees is immense and relevant. Degrees

The difference between Kenya and Uganda is that nearly all students from Kenya are privately funded

are internationally recognized.” Malaysia, he says, targets becoming the best education hub in the world. He has a lot of praise for East African students who are reputed for being disciplined, and don’t given to involvement in unruly behavior. After anchoring itself in Kenya, Education Malaysia has made gains by spreading its wings to East to Kampala. The Kampala office, he says, is growing at a fast rate as well and slowly catching up with Kenya in terms of students enrolling in Malaysian universities. “The difference between Kenya and Uganda is that nearly all students from Kenya are privately funded as opposed to their Ugandan counterparts who are either government or corporate sponsored,” he elaborates. Malaysian higher education institutions offer quality education at a competitive cost. Reputable universities from the United Kingdom and Australia have set up branch campuses in Malaysia, while their counterparts from the United States, Canada, France and Germany are offering external as well as franchised degree programmes in collaboration with local institutions. According to StudyMalaysia.com, the cost of living is in the RM800 to RM1, 000 per month range or RM9, 600 to RM12, 000 per year for a student. For international students, it is estimated that completing a three-year degree programme would require about RM60, 000 to RM90, 000 to cover their tuition fees and living expenses. The courses preferred by the students has changed as, four years back IT was the preferred choice but at present students are opting for hospitality, architecture, graphic design, among others. Studying in Malaysia doesn’t require one to have a bank statement as is the case with Britain and America which is quote a relive to parents.

MALAYSIA'S BRIDGEHEAD:

Vincent Naidu

“The student is only required to commit to the first year’s payment of tuition fees and subsequently the rest will be paid on a semester basis,” Mr. Naidu adds. Students need not be skeptical about the effects of culture shock because Malaysia although being at fifty five percent a predominantly Muslim nation, freedom of worship is enshrined in the constitution. It boasts of 92 different dialects, speaking more than 130 different tongues. The weather is similar to that of the Indian Ocean coastal region such as Mombasa, as well as lakeside cities like Kampala, Kisumu, Mwanza and Jinja. The hot and dry or hot and humid weather is amenable to East African students who are not used to the extremely cold climes of North America and Europe. In addition to the climate, the food is cheap, it’s all halal. Mr. Naidu doesn’t mince his words when it comes to rating most East African universities against Malaysian ones saying they need to improve in terms of facilities which he terms obsolete. “Some students have to be re-trained in order to fit into the job market: training a fresh graduate consumes time and money. Kenyan universities need to upgrade especially in keeping up with technology,” he exemplifies

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•HEALTH Mind•Body•Soul

Medical Tourism Phenomenon It’s healthcare without borders as patients with disposable incomes seek treatment in countries other than their own and do so for as many reasons as there are people in the world By DEA Correspondent

s publishers of Best of Kenya, the fabulous large format coffee-table book that positions Kenya as a tourist and investor destination, we can report that several Kenyan medical institutions have positioned themselves to take advantage of the fast growing phenomenon of medical tourism. Medical tourism refers to travel by patients from one country to

ER KENYA:

Doctors operate on a patient at the Nairobi Hospital

March - April 2010

another in search of treatment. This may be caused by the fact the health facilities available in the patient’s country of origin are stretched and one has to wait for long periods before, for example, securing an appointment for an operation. There are many British nationals who cross to other European capitals to seek treatment on account of the fact that they are unable to get treatment when they

need it because they have to wait for long periods to be treated at National Health Serviceoperated hospitals. In the East African region, Nairobi has some of the best medical facilities one can find anywhere in the world and they are ready on a 24hour basis to welcome patients from anywhere. Meanwhile, the Swiss authorities are tackling a different type of medical tourism. In March, the Swiss Parliament will be debating proposals to ban or severely restrict assisted suicide in a bid to combat what has come to be called “suicide tourism”. Suicide tourism is the travel by a patient from his or her country of origin to another with a view to securing assisted suicide or euthanasia. Towards this end, Switzerland’s Justice Minister Eveline WidmerSchlumpf was quoted by the BBC as saying in late in October that “We have no interest, as a country, in being attractive for suicide tourism”. Suicide is frowned upon in most African cultures. Most mainstream religions are opposed to suicide, based on their teachings, philosophy and tenets

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•AT THE WHEEL Motoring

CONTROVERSY: Woes of a global brand

Toyota Recall

on Toyota’s side were the Glover Park Group, a Democratic operation. Added to these top guns of PR was the advocacy firepower of 32 lobbyists and Gulf States Toyota, a dealerships’ political action committee.

In the world’s most humiliating public consumption of humble pie so far in the 21st Century, the Japanese car giant’s CEO and heir kneels before the US Congress. But how total is the Toyota recall, described in most media as ‘worldwide’? By DEA Correspondent

“I

am embarrassed for you, sir” These are the words of a congressman to Toyota CEO and third-generation heir Akio Toyoda when he appeared before the United States Congress and apologized for having to recall 8.5 million defective vehicles worldwide. It was the most stultifying public eating of humble pie in recent memory anywhere. Toyoda offered a fulsome apology but did not grovel, opting instead to point to the fact that the company was founded by his grandfather, that every Toyota car , whether defective or not, bears his surname and that he above all other persons has an interest in the safety of the brand. But US lawmakers were unrelenting in their special pleading for their constituents, no doubt keeping an opportunistic eye on forthcoming mid-term elections. It was a bizarre spectacle — the legislature of a foreign country grilling the chief executive of one of the world’s most successful car manufacturers and marketers medium rare and taking their time doing it with a relish. Congress, the parliament of the land of Motown, as former automobile manufac-

America is one market Toyota cannot afford to lose

Transported

turing centre Detroit was proudly known in its now faraway heyday, had more than one vested interest going. Toyota is the foremost of the brands that drove Motown out of contention and while this was not exactly payback time, the quiet glee in some legislators’ faces, tone and remarks were unmistakable. A congresswoman actually asked Toyoda to look into the matter of paying the hospital and funeral expenses of American victims of defective Toyotas. What’s more, the American is one market that Toyota and Toyoda cannot afford to lose and the Japanese know that the Americans know that they know they know. But Toyoda’s handling of a Congress that was clearly baying for blood and a hostile witness was also consummately diplomatic. He deftly sidestepped every headon collision, made clear-eyed and non-hysterical apologies and offered clarifications going forward. But then Toyoda had more than a little help where it really matters — the Washington lobbyists. Toyota hired the foremost crisismanagement experts in the business, Quinn Gillespie & Associates. QP&A have the distinction of being a bipartisan firm. Also on board

Africa is also a vast market for Toyota, including in secondhand units. The cars have the best resale value in the automobile industry. East Africa is transported by Toyota. But can we expect Toyoda to pass by the East African Legislative Assembly and essay a heartfelt apology laced with Kiswahili words? Failing this, can we hope for a substantive deputy? According to the New York Times, there has not been a single recall in Japan itself of the same models now being so hurriedly removed from Europe and North America, despite many accidents, complaints and petitions. Is the world looking at a selective recall? Has Toyota only recalled defective and dangerous vehicles from developed-world jurisdictions that have the capacity to enforce safety standards, impose towering fines and endanger massive market share? Toyoda had excellent PR and media damage control in the US and the CEO could therefore afford to very publicly eat an excess of humble pie. But if the world’s foremost automotive brand does not attend to its home base or to parts of the world with less rigorous regulatory regimes than the EU and USA, there could be some less-than-diplomatic testing times just ahead

March - April 2010

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•PERSPECTIVES Views On News

ETIQUETTE: Changing realities

Softly, Softly Please; You’re a Diplomat!

In this age of globally-recognised human rights and democratic practice, argue BEN SIHANYA and ODERA OUTA, it is something of an anachronism that some would want to interpret the Vienna protocols as sterile mosaic scrolls

here is a terrible misconception by many lingering apologists of the old world order about conventional diplomatic practices such as the ones implied in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) and Consular Relations of 1963. These apologists think that diplomatic privileges, immunities or other such traditional protocol must remain to be interpreted as sterile, mosaic scrolls and not pragmatically and without reference to contemporary world realities. This, in our view, is misleading! This is the time to state rather categorically, that the most fundamental parameter in the last nearly two decades of global transformation, is the centre stage given to democracy, human rights, constitutional government and the rule of law. Like the shock that greeted Europe when the real implications of the European Community (EC) dawned way back in 1956

(the surrender of a vital piece of sovereignty!), many countries are only beginning to come to terms with the fact that as a diplomat one cannot just drive on the wrong side of traffic and then claim diplomatic immunity; or draw a gun against an innocent civilian in a host country pub and plead immunity.

The world has truly changed since the original drafts of the Vienna Convention

March - April 2010

UNIFORMED The notorious Lockerbie bombing was in fact dogged with this type of controversy because the alleged attacker of the plane that killed an incredible 270 people was supposedly a diplomat, and therefore, in theory, immune from arrest in the UK! In Kenya the attempt by police some two years ago to lock-up Mr Colin Bruce then World Bank Country Director for speeding, points to quiet but eventful changes even in the conduct of uniformed officers. Illegal orders may soon, no-longer be blindly obeyed, particularly depending on the how the Haguebased International Criminal Court (ICC) handles the rising tornado against impunity wherever it rears its ugly head in situations of conflict

and struggle for political power. In Kenya too, it was the chequered tenure of Mr Smith Hempstone the [in] famous American “Rogue” Ambassador that contributed immensely to the demystification of the narrow conceptions of diplomatic etiquette that so far prevailed. This virtual re-writing of “acceptable diplomatic conduct” has had near equivalents in the manner and style the Kenyan Parliament has also been said to be increasingly asserting its authority against the traditional and more familiar, executive fiat. The ancient belief that a diplomat cannot stand up in a receiving country to proclaim deterrent measures relating to his country against individuals in a receiving country is actually now possible; nay it’s happening! The fact is simple: the world has truly changed since the original drafts of the Vienna Convention and Protocols. Significant developments such as the UN Charter, The UN Declaration of Human Rights, and the twin International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1CCPR) of 1966 as well as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), also of 1966, have made tremendous contributions leading to these changes. In Europe, the ratification of the European Convention of Human Rights of 1950 (ECHR) by all member countries has been eventful. The enforcement of the Human Rights

PHOTOS: PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE (KENYA)

Act of 1998 in the UK since 2003 already revolutionised orthodox legal interpretations. Suspects today can expect greater protection in securing their rights while litigation in both domestic and the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has seen to serious considerations of acquittal on the plain basis that country A or B mishandled the human rights aspects of an accused person. Nevertheless the most important change is that the Vienna Conventions must now be read alongside international instruments and national constitutions and especially, with reference to freedoms of expression.

OFFICIAL Officials in diplomatic missions are as entitled to the freedom as conferred by the national constitution (section 79 in Kenya) and as fortified by Article 27 (1) of the Vienna Convention

ACCREDITED:

President Kibaki welcomes a new diplomat at State House Nairobi

of 1961 which places a duty on the receiving state to protect free communication “for official purposes”. The US ambassador in Kenya, Mr Michael Ranneberger's frequent criticisms of government is in this sense defensible as “official communication” as envisaged under Article 3 (1) (d) of the 1961 Convention. Similarly, diplomatic missions have the power to report on the conditions and developments, including political developments, as can be read in Article 3 (1) (d) of the Convention, “ascertaining by all lawful means conditions and developments in the receiving state, and reporting thereon to the Government of the sending state.” Under Article 2 of the Vienna Convention, “the establishment of diplomatic relations between States, and of permanent diplomatic missions, takes place by mutual consent,” implying

the existence of mutual benefit between nations, and thereby providing a basis for getting involved in crucial internal affairs of a receiving state. Under Article 3 (1) (b) the sending state has the authority to protect its interests and those of its nationals in the receiving state. Interests here include economic, political, social, cultural and scientific interests as outlined under Article 3 (1) (e) which provides for the promotion of friendly relations. That provision underscores the development of economic, cultural and scientific relations. The extent to which these provisions are enforceable can be read to conform to Article 41 (1) which provides for noninterference with internal affairs of the receiving state. Yet, even in this sense, the spirit of Article 41 (1) prohibits interference with internal affairs of a state negatively and against the public interest

March - April 2010

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â&#x20AC;˘PERSPECTIVES Views On News

EQUALITY: Level playing field

Addressing Disability in the Integration Process EAC Secretary General roots for friendly policies and practices, reports AMB JUMA V MWAPACHU

n indicator that the EAC integration process is maturing is evident in the fact that it is now moving into areas of significant importance, notably social justice and inclusiveness in our societies. Admittedly, all our constitutions in the EAC countries encapsulate provisions on the promotion of equal opportunities and social justice. And indeed, the vision of our governments is to promote modern, peaceful and prosperous nations that are also inclusive. However, our challenge has been how best to construct such societies. Since the mid-1980s as our countries became surrogates to the Washington Consensus, with its neo-liberal policies of structural adjustments, the challenge took a stark and complex dimension on how to strike a balance, a delicate one, between pursuing market-driven economic policies and assuring the broad masses of basic but fundamental social, economic and cultural rights. People with disabilities, more than the rest in our societies, became more vulnerable to that economic environment. Through the EAC, we now have a unique opportunity to bring together people with disabilities, institutions dealing with people with disabilities, professionals

ENTERPRISING:

People with disabilities can be productive

March - April 2010

and experts, political leaders, policy makers and members of civil society to discuss, debate and recommend how our governments and the EAC itself can best address the challenges confronting peoples with disabilities. prejudices

The idea of human and social rights for people with disability has evolved over the past five decades. However, since the 1980s, the idea has translated into a global movement fired by the spirit of countering deep-seated prejudices and cultural influences which legitimized the

marginalisation, segregation and isolation of people with disabilities. It is this momentum that gave birth to the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons in 2007. That Convention, which has been ratified by one-fourth of UN member states and by all the EAC partner states except Burundi, confirm that disability is a broad human rights isue as well as a legal issue. In particular, the Convention recognizes that people with disability have the same right to enjoy equal access to goods and services and to contribute Continued on PG 85>>

•GLOBAL STAGE WINDOW ON WORLD

Noble Nobel Nobbles Obama

By Emman Omari hould an incumbent commander-in-chief and one who has inherited two hot wars be considered for, let alone be awarded, a peace Nobel? When he received the Prize at a colourful ceremony last December, President Obama joined only four of his 41 predecessors who have ever been on the Peace laureate roll. The Nobel Committee has never been forgiven by many the world over for omitting to give the Prize to Gandhi, the father of India’s liberation from British rule and of the non-violence principle in protest campaigns. Neither did the Committee so much as look in the direction of British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, despite his “Wind of Change” ethos at the end of the 1950s quickly followed by the granting of independence to many African countries. Just 10 months into his Presidency, there were those all over the world who thought Obama was yet to show signs even of the beginnings of such an achievement. The Nobel Committee clearly thought Obama’s popularity worldwide flowed from a reversal of the “big stick” attitude past US presidents have displayed and that his appeals to Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and other faithful to close ranks has reduced tensions in the world. His catch phrases “Dialogue”, “Yes We Can”, and “the American Example”, and his many references to his humble and complex background and the fact that he rose to the White House, have helped to dramatically change the US image within the international community for the better. The world’s highest and most prestigious award for peace has gone to only three other US Presidents — Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, Woodrow Wilson in 1919, and Jimmy Carter in 2002. Roosevelt was awarded in 1906 for mediating the Portsmouth Treaty that ended the Russo-Japanese war over the ownership of Manchuria and other states in the region. But hostilities between Russia and Japan continued and even the Russian Revolution that erupted years after the signing of the treaty in 1905 was seen as a setback to Roosevelt’s Prize. All the way to World War I in 1914-18 Democrats still sniped at Roosevelt’s Prize. Awarded in 1919 for “establishing the League of Nations”, President Wilson's attracted an even bigger firestorm of criticism. First, though he was credited for helping to found it, the US never became a member of the ill-fated World Union. The absence of the US led to the League’s collapse and failure to prevent World War II.

Secondly, the Nobel Committee was criticized for awarding Wilson even as his “Fourteen Points”, a peace programme he had outlined to the US Congress, that was aimed at creating a new world order had not been realised. The Carter prize in 2001, cited “tireless efforts to find a lasting peace”. This came a generation and four Presidents later (Reagan, Bush Snr, Clinton and Bush Jnr, two of whom were to serve two full terms [Clinton and Bush Jnr]) after Carter had left the White House. It also came long after Carter successfully negotiated the Camp David Agreement between Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. The 1978 agreement, which provided for a phased withdrawal of Israeli occupation in Sinai and a degree of Palestinian autonomy in the West Bank within five years was seen at the time as a breakthrough in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Carter got the Prize at a time when of exceptional tensions in the Middle East and in the wake of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on September 11, 2001 that changed the course of history. Questions that tend to undermine the Committee’s citation and question what it is Carter had done to deserve the coveted prize. Critics of the Carter prize even suggested that he should have got it way back in 1978 when he was still in power for the Camp David pact. Though the skeptics of the Obama prize are yet to accept that the first black US president deserved it thee are those who think that international relations have changed for the better since he strode into the White House. America is not only doing business with China, but talking to Beijing like never before. The Obama-MedvedevPutin friendship has not only given hope to Europe but reversed the “big-brother watching you” syndrome for a better world. In the Middle East, things are happening that point to a modicum of peace. At least Israel wants to talk to Palestine and Obama is urging them on. Until Obama came to power, Britain remained the single most ally of the US in all matters, but today there is an aura of freshness in Europe as all countries seek to deal with Washington. Africa feels more relaxed and happy with Obama. Given his Kenyan roots (his father Barack Obama Sr was from Kenya) Africa has tended to “own him” rather than relate with him. The freshness, sigh of relief and an uneasiness being felt on the globe when people feel togetherness” was driving factor in Oslo Academy’s award. Its decision could be proved right with time

March - April 2010

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•GLOBE STAGE WINDOW ON WORLD

NIGERIA: Bizarre scenario

A Nation’s Tension Headache For about three months Nigerians debated, argued and demonstrated over the absence of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua from the country. Then parliament appointed Goodluck Jonathan acting president and suddenly and secretively Yar’Adua returned. As KWENDO OPANGA and XINHUA NEWS AGENCY report, fresh tensions set in

here is a clear attempt by Abuja to create the impression that all is well in government. However, not since the prolonged death agony of Marshall Josip Broz Tito, founder of Yugoslavia, in 1980, has a head of state, government and commander-in-chief undergone such a gruesomely slow-motion exit from office. Before the massacre by machete of 500 villagers and the firing by acting President Goodluck Jonathan of National Security Adviser Major-General (Rtd) Sarki Mukhtar, Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe was out on a 10day shuttle diplomacy trip to five southern African countries. Jonathan also inaugurated a Presidential Advisory Council and the Central Bank announced it was injecting $3.3 billion dollars into power projects. Heightened tensions had been there throughout the ailing President’s three-month stay in Saudi Arabia, and were ratcheted up by his secretive February 24 return. The massacre of the 500 has taken national tensions through the roof. Everybody wanted him to return; everybody wanted him alive and well, but when he did return it was some 15 days after his VicePresident Goodluck Jonathan had been unanimously appointed acting president to fill the threemonth-long power vacuum.

ailing:

President Yar' Adua has been unable to perform since November '09

March - April 2010

CONFUSION

In some quarters, including the cabinet, this was seen as a move by the president’s close aides to create confusion in the country and limit Jonathan’s sphere of influence and ability to pursue his own agenda and, more importantly, consolidate power. Information Minister Dora Akunyili had this in mind when she broke ranks with cabinet colleagues and demanded that Yar’Adua hands over power to Jonathan. Indeed she went further

and said she would not take orders from them even if they said they quoted Yar’Adua as asking her to comply. There would appear however to be a determined effort by supporters of Jonathan to ensure that he is asserts himself and especially so the chairman of the newly-formed Presidential Advisory Council, retired General Theophilus Danjuma. Danjuma pointedly asked the acting president to seize the moment and move swiftly to take advantage of the goodwill he is

enjoying to address the pressing issues facing the country, among them the forthcoming elections and power needs. Danjuma would appear to have been preaching to a convert. The acting president had told the council on its inauguration in early in March that “although time is short, like a determined athlete, we need no more than a hundred metres to make our mark on the sands of good governance”. The formation of the Presidential Advisory Council was seen by observers as a move by the acting president to disentangle himself from forces loyal to the ailing president if he is to have the leeway to push his agenda. Nigerians are usually vehemently opposed to outside interference in their politics and governance, but Jonathan’s supporters will have been gladdened by the support given the acting president by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in early March. Moon said in his statement which came after the return of Yar’Adua that he was closely following the political developments in Nigeria and encouraged Nigeria’s leadership and institutions to work together in the greater national interest, respecting the rule of law and ensuring adherence to the constitution. Pointedly, Moon sent Yar’Adua best wishes during his convalescence, but in the same breath wished Nigerians, their leaders and institutions to continue to support the efforts of the acting president and the government which he leads to help the country overcome its challenges.

Nigerians are usually vehemently opposed to outside interference

But Yar’Adua’s corner must have been dismayed by the move by the United States, Britain, and Canada and the European Union decision to slap visa bans on the ailing president’s aides. The visa restrictions were aimed at those aides who are thought to be deliberately creating confusion that could endanger Nigeria’s democracy. There has also been internal action which aimed at ensuring that the polity is calm. A statement in early March which hinted at a military intervention and which was attributed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, was swiftly and emphatically denied: “Bankole is a statesman in the issues of handling issues relating to the political impasse in the country and would not join the bandwagon of those fanning embers of disunity, instability and discord to achieve their selfish political agenda.” But even better the military itself denied it was plotting a coup. Fears of a military intervention in politics in Nigeria are grounded in the fact that the country has had more military governments than it has had civilian ones. Significantly, 36 state governors, themselves a crucial pillar of Nigeria’s politics, have thrown their weight behind Jonathan. “The return of President Umaru Yar’Adua to the country is a welcome development, but to the [Governors’] Forum, it has not changed the status-quo of Jonathan as Acting President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces,” they said in their statement. Tellingly, one of the governors told news media that at a meeting with Jonathan the governors noted the fact that Yar’Adua had returned to the country and the need for him to recuperate fully before he could think of assuming duties

BRIEFLY CHAD

Peacekeepers Chadian Ambassador to the United Nations Ahmad Allam-mi said here Wednesday that the UN should withdraw its blue helmets from his country because the peacekeeping mission has failed to meet its objective. "Should we continue to spend vast amounts of money without achieving tangible results?" asked Allammi. "Or, should we think about what can be done to strengthen Chad's capacities so Chad will be able to better shoulder its responsibilities?" UNITED NATIONS

Smallholders Smallholders and rural producers have a vital role to play in overcoming global hunger and poverty, and new and varied partnerships are needed, with particular emphasis on the interests of women, UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday. "With more than 1 billion people now suffering from hunger, the highest number in human history, there is simply no time to lose," Ban said.

BAGHDAD

Elections

Iraq held its second parliamentary election on Sunday amid multiple mortar attacks and bombings, a sign that the country still faces various difficulties to realize peace and progress in reconstruction. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, Iraq has seen humble progress in reconstruction, improvement of basic services while fierce political struggle and unstable security situation remain. — Reports by Xinhua News Agency

March - April 2010

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•GLOBAL STAGE WINDOW ON WORLD

UNITED NATIONS: Sending clear message

Moon Takes Gender Equality War to General Assembly On the occasion of the UN Women’s Day on March 8, Secretary General BAN KI MOON (pictured) called on the General Assembly to create a platform for a stronger voice for women’s empowerment. We reproduce his speech in full

March - April 2010

ender equality and women’s empowerment are fundamental to the global mission of the United Nations to achieve equal rights and dignity for all. This is a matter of basic human rights, as enshrined in our founding Charter and the Universal Declaration. It is part of the Organisation’s very identity. But equality for women and girls is also an economic and social imperative. Until women and girls are liberated from poverty and injustice, all our goals -- peace, security, sustainable development -- stand in jeopardy. Fifteen years ago at the Fourth World Conference on Women, governments pledged to advance equality, development and peace for all women everywhere. The

landmark Beijing Declaration has had a deep and wide-ranging impact. It has guided policy-making and inspired new national laws. It has sent a clear message to women and girls around the world that equality and opportunity are their inalienable rights. EDUCATION

There are many examples of progress, thanks in large part to the resolute efforts of civil society organisations. Most girls now receive an education, particularly at primary level, and more women are now more likely to run businesses or participate in government. A growing number of countries have legislation that supports sexual and reproductive health and promotes gender equality. Nonetheless, much work re-

mains. Maternal mortality remains unacceptably high, too few women have access to family planning, and violence against women remains a cause for global shame. In particular, sexual violence during conflict is endemic. The Security Council last year adopted two strong resolutions on this issue and I have just appointed a special representative to mobilise the international community to address these crimes. My “UNite to End Violence against Women” campaign and the recently launched Network of Men Leaders are striving to expand our global advocacy efforts. One key lesson of the past decade-and-a-half is the importance of addressing broader discrimination and injustice. Gender stereotyping and discrimination remain common in all cultures and com-

munities. Early and forced marriage, so-called ‘honour killing’, sexual abuse and trafficking of young women and girls are disturbingly prevalent and, in some areas, on the rise. Whether looking through the lens of poverty, or in times of disaster, we see that women still bear the greatest burden. MILITARY

Another lesson is that the United Nations must lead by example. Emphasising that women are central to peace and security, we are working to deploy more women military and police officers in our peacekeeping operations. We have more women in senior United Nations posts than at any time in history, and we hope soon to have a dynamic composite entity within the UN system to provide

more coherent programming and a stronger voice for gender equality and women’s empowerment. I urge the General Assembly to create this new entity without delay. The Beijing Declaration remains as relevant today as when it was adopted. The third Millennium Development Goal – to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment – is central to all the rest. When women are denied the opportunity to better themselves and their societies, we all lose. On this International Women’s Day, let us look critically at the achievements of the past 15 years so we can build on what has worked, and correct what has not. Let us work with renewed determination for a future of equal rights, equal opportunities and progress for all

March - April 2010

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•ENVOYS OF SPORT The World Cup

SPORTING: Gearing up

Ke Nako, Africa’s Time Has Come

The South African Ambassador to Kenya, HE Tony Msimanga (pictured), iciated at the Radio Africa-Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KCB) World Cup 2010 Partnership Launch in February. The following are excerpts from his speech ness this beautiful game. Through your cutting edge technology, you will not only give your viewers and listeners an enjoyable FIFA World Cup ... you will also show your commitment to put Africa at a competitive edge in the broadcast industry internationally. What’s key to the South African Government regarding this partnership is the ever growing determination to make the FIFA 2010 World Cup a success. LOGISTIC

ITS OUR TIME:

That's the message from High Commissioner Msimanga to Africa

his vibrant media partnership underscores Africa’s longawaited time on the world’s sporting stage. When I heard of this partnership between a national broadcaster and a privately owned media group, I said to myself, “Ke Nako. It is our time”. Our time as Africans to get together. Because this World Cup belongs to us all. Africa is living this World Cup and South Africa is hosting it. So this is our moment, our continent, our time and our World Cup. We only have three months to go and I can only say, do your best to give your 29 million audience base a chance to truly wit-

March - April 2010

The infrastructure, security and logistics arrangements are in place. Our government’s direct investment in the tournament’s infrastructure between 2006 and 2010 is over R14.4 billion. The overall investment in the country’s infrastructure — from rail freight services and energy production, to communications, airports and other ports of entry, is more than R400 billion. The 64 football matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will be played in nine South African cities — Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Bloemfontein, Rustenburg and Pretoria. Of the ten stadiums, five are to be upgraded, with one of them, Soccer City in Johannesburg, being given a major upgrade. The 10 stadiums will together seat more than 570,000 people during the World Cup. Five stadiums have been built in Cape Town (Greenpoint Stadi-

um), Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Bay Multi-purpose Sports Facility), Durban (Moses Mabhida Stadium), Nelspruit (Mataffin Stadium) and Polokwane (Peter Mokaba Stadium). Five have been upgraded in Rustenburg (Royal Bafokeng Stadium), Bloemfontein (Vodacom Park Stadium), Pretoria (Loftus Versfeld Stadium) and Johannesburg (Soccer City Stadium and Ellis Park Stadium). The SA Government has assured the millions of fans who will be coming to watch the 2010 FIFA World CupTM that they will be safe in South Africa. South Africa’s comprehensive plan for 2010 involves providing blanket security for the event. Safety has already received a funding boost of over R6.8 billion in the 2007/8 financial year for crime prevention. South Africa’s ability to manage the security for such an event has been endorsed by FIFA. In its report released after the inspection visit to South Africa, FIFA said the authorities had the know-how and resources to manage security during 2010. It also noted that South African police had provided an “excellent, comprehensive work schedule” that would “doubtless satisfy every requirement for the event”. Our Continent must host the FIFA World Cup 2010 with flair and efficiency to ensure that a positive image is projected about Africa to those millions of viewers and listeners around the world

>> Policy formulation for disability Continued FROM PG 78 >>

to society and the economy as anybody else. In 1999, the African Union declared the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities and adopted an Action Plan in 2002 on the basis of which many African countries have in varying ways, used to draw their own Action Plans to address the challenges facing people with disabilities. As we enter the 2010s decade we await the report from the African Union Commission on the achievements realised. What is noteworthy is that the AU has extended the Decade of persons with Disabilities to 2019. Disability cannot be wished away in the EAC integration process. For instance, of the 650 million persons with disability worldwide, four-fifths live in developing countries and mostly in rural areas. In the EAC region,

there are estimated to be 12 million people with disabilities and they are the most stigmatised, poorest and least educated of our citizens. They are also vulnerable to gross inhuman acts as in the case of the senseless killings of albinos in Tanzania during 2008 and 2009 driven by beliefs in witchcraft. At the same time, women with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to gender violence. Worse, anecdotal evidence suggests that the risk of HIV infection for people with disabilities is twice as high as that faced by the nondisabled population. Clearly, the challenge for governments is to ensure that people with disabilities are included in our national Aids surveys, research and programming for prevention, treatment and care. More importantly, people with

disabilities should be closely involved in all our development initiatives as we strive for the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals. Last December, during the occasion of designation of the American Singer Stevie Wonder as UN Messenger of Peace, UN Secretary General Bank Ki-moon observed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Without the broader participation of peoples with disability in development initiatives, prospects are dim for reaching the MDGs. If they can overcome the challenges that keep disproportionate numbers of people with disabilities and their families in poverty, the odds improve significantlyâ&#x20AC;?. It is quite clear that if we are to walk the talk, walk what our constitutions and laws that guarantee equal rights and opportunities to people with disabilities, then it is imperative to mainstream disability issues in our development priorities. We cannot adequately address disability issues if they are not aligned and made complementary ď&#x20AC;ź

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•ENVOYS OF SPORT The World Cup

SPORTING LANDMARKS: Breathtaking

The Finest Multipurpose Stadia in Africa Is South Africa pouring billions into solid legacy projects or mothball giants? By ALEX DUVAL SMITH in Cape Town 86

March - April 2010

FTER defying sceptics and seeing through an outstanding six-year marathon of planning and building, South Africa will, from June 11, host the world’s biggest sporting event. Just 20 years after Nelson Mandela’s release, the former pariah state will play host to 64 matches, featuring the biggest football stars on the planet. After the final whistle on July 11, millions of television viewers around the world will

watch the trophy being raised for the first time on the African continent. And then what? Will the event truly have advanced Africa’s cause? Will South Africans benefit from the infrastructure that 13 billion rands (US$1.7 billion) were spent to build? The debate is only just beginning and is polarised. It is impossible to sit in Cape Town’s impressive US$600 million stadium without being awed at the 68,000-seat edifice which was built by 2,500 workers in just un-

der three years. The mayor of the city, Dan Plato, calls it ‘’one of the world’s sporting landmarks’’. Eight World Cup matches will be played here in June and July, including one semi-final. The seaside stadium, which has 37,000 square metres of glass roofing to protect spectators from the elements, is Cape Town’s most expensive building ever. In Durban, the splendid 70,000seater Moses Mabhida Stadium is inspired by the South African flag. Its arch — carrying a cable car —

SPLENDID:

It took 2,500 workers to build this 68,000seat structure in under three years

represents the unity of the nation. Johannesburg’s gourde-like Soccer City, with 95,000 seats, is now Africa’s biggest stadium. NEW

The government, during the bidding process for the World Cup, had stated that it expected to spend R6.7 billion (US$550m) on stadiums and infrastructure. That amount has risen to R13 billion, including R9.8 billion (US$1.3bn) on the six new stadiums and five upgraded ones.

March - April 2010

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•ENVOYS OF SPORT The World Cup

But is this justifiable? The sceptics point out that South Africa is the country in the world with the widest wealth gap. Half the population earns an average of US$200 a month. Official unemployment — despite 70,000 jobs created by infrastructure schemes linked to the World Cup — sits stubbornly at 30 per cent of the workforce. HIV remains a huge challenge, with a quarter of pregnant mothers still testing positive and anti-retroviral drugs still reaching less than 50 per cent of the infected population. What is more, the economy in 2009 went into recession. FEVER

Sowetan columnist Andile Mngxitama was initially accused of being unpatriotic when he raised doubts about the value of the event to South Africa. But even as World Cup fever mounts, he remains unashamedly critical: “The government has enslaved itself to an event that will turn South Africa into a playground for European tourists. When the event is over, we will still be poor.’’ He believes the stadiums are white elephants. Critics like him cite corruption allegations and tender irregularities in connection with the World Cup that have now prompted South Africa’s Competition Commission to launch an investigation into the building trade. One of the most shocking examples of excess is to be found at the US$100 million Mbombela Stadium, built on the site of a school serving an impoverished community in Nelspruit, near the Kruger Park. During construction of the 46,000-seater, the schoolchildren were accommodated in containers with no plumbing. Parents complained of their daughters being raped by construction workers. The school still has not been replaced. Around the stadi-

March - April 2010

designed to THRILL:

Combining aesthetics and a futuristic design, South Africa's stadia are a visual treat. But what happens to them after the World Cup?

March - April 2010

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•ENVOYS •WORLD OFCUP SPORT Hoot•Toot•Shoot The World Cup

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

A view of Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg

um, local residents live in simple dwellings and shacks, without water or electricity. In January 2009, a local politician, Jimmy Mohlala, was brutally murdered after attempting to blow the whistle on tender irregularities linked to the stadium, which will be used for just four matches. The Cape Town stadium has attracted criticism for being located in middle-class Green Point— a long journey from the city’s football-loving townships. The project also ran over budget to the tune of US$190 million. But Cape Town’s Director of Communications Pieter Cronje denies the stadium will be a white elephant. “It is true that there will be 11 hungry stadiums in South Africa after 2010. But this is a world class multi-purpose stadium in a city that is very attractive to international stars. It is a chicken-andegg situation. Now that we have the stadium we believe the stars will come.” MOTHBALL

It is reasonable to be equally optimistic for the Durban stadium and for Johannesburg’s Soccer City and the revamped Ellis Park. All are multi-purpose sports facilities serving large communities. But it is not unreasonable to foresee that Mbombela Stadium,

March - April 2010

White Elephants: Off the beaten path

he Cape Town stadium has attracted criticism for being located in middleclass Green Point – a long journey from the city’s football-loving townships. The project also ran over budget to the tune of US$190m. But Cape Town’s director of communications Pieter Cronje denies the stadium will be a white elephant. ‘’It is true that there will be 11 hungry stadiums in South Africa after 2010. But this is a world class multi-purpose stadium in a city that is very attractive to international stars. It is a chicken-and-egg situation. Now that we have the stadium we believe the stars will come.’’ along with the World Cup facilities in Polokwane, Rustenburg and Port Elizabeth will be mothballed after the tournament, for all but a few evangelical church services and political rallies. Defenders of the World Cup point to the creation of bus networks in major cities as a solid legacy project. They are not wrong but these much-needed services did not require a football tournament to be brought into existence. Proponents of the event cite the special R1.3 billion (US$170 million) in health spending as a legacy, but critics counter that — apart from Port Elizabeth’s new accident and trauma unit — the money is being spent largely on vehicles and portable first aid equipment destined for use on foreign foot-

ball fans before they are transported to private clinics. Local Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan, who has dedicated 12 years of his life to bringing the World Cup kick-off to South Africa, despairs of the critics. “This World Cup is not for South Africa. It is for the whole of Africa. The fact that we are going to prove to the world that we as Africans can organise such an event is going to change the continent’s image forever.’’ Desmond Tutu, the former archbishop of Cape Town, also sees the broader picture: “With all the negative things that are taking place in Africa, this is a superb moment for us. If we are going to have white elephant stadiums at the end of it, it is worth it”

13.0bn

SA WORLD CUP 2010: BY THE NUMBERS

Rands (US$1.7bn)

13 billion Rands (US$1.7bn) has officially been spent by the government on infrastructure.

9.8

Rands (US$1.7bn)

has officially been spent by the government on infrastructure. This includes 9.8 billion rands ($1.3bn) on building 6 new stadiums and upgrading 5 others. Costs also include government contributions to upgrading airports, roads and bus transport systems.

BRIEFLY TAX

Airline Probed South Africa's competition commission is looking into possible airline price collusion around the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa's deputy transport minister Jeremy Cronin said on Thursday. Cronin was speaking in South Africa's parliament where he warned against excessive profiteering during the tournament. "What we are told, for the moment, by the airlines, is that there will be seasonal adjustments. This will obviously be a peak period for them, and they do not envisage going beyond seasonal adjustments," he said. "However, we're not simply reassured by that and the competition commission is already looking into any possibilities and signs of collusion. SOCCER

1.5bn

Rands (US$200m) The figure does not include money spent by local authorities, such as 1.5bn Rands (US$200m) on a new airport terminal in Cape Town.

1.3bn

Rands (US$170m) The government is also spending 1.3bn Rands (US$170m) on beefing up security (inner-city cameras, riot training for police, new vehicles)

6.5m Rands (US$860,000) Durban City Council spent 6.5m rands (US$860,000) on developing a World Cup web site.

700m Rands

700m Rands (US$93m) for enhanced health (US$93m) services. The health figures includes 258m (US$34m) Rands on a new accident and trauma unit at Livingstone Hospital, Port Elizabeth, and – elsewhere in the country – new ambulances, rescue vehicles and equipment such as defibrillators.

Cup Officials Confident South Africa's FIFA 2010 World Cup local organising committee (LOC) on Wednesday rejected reports that lower than expected airline ticket sales spell gloom for the tournament which kicks off in Johannesburg on June 11. LOC chief communications officer Rich Mkhondo said they still expect up to 450,000 foreign tourists during the World Cup. Mkhondo said the number of airline tickets sold is not a true indication of how many foreign visitors will be coming.

TORNAMENT

South Africa's World Cup Final Stadium Handed Over Africa's largest football stadium Soccer City, which will host the opening game and the finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, was officially handed over to the City of Johannesburg in March. Johannesburg Mayor Amos Masondo was on hand to receive the honours from Roger Jardine, chief executive for the builders, Aveng Group. The stadium resembles a calabash, a traditional African domestic utensil used for storage.

— Reports from Xinhua News Agency

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•ENVOYS OF SPORT The World Cup

EXPENSIVE GAMBLE: Will it pay off?

Averting a World-Class Financial Fiasco The highest prize money, the richest cup—but fears of empty stadia haunt organisers By ALEX DUVALL SMITH in Cape town

outh Africa is engaged in a race against time to avoid the spectre of empty stadiums in June and July, amid low ticket sales for the richest World Cup in history. Fifa has already made a record US$2.6 billion from the sale of sponsorship and television rights allowing it to announce the highest prize money in the history of the event. But for the hosts, low international take-up of premium tickets and lacklustre interest in the cut-price 140 rand (US$20) seats made available to local fans looks likely to herald a financial fiasco. BAFANA BAFANA

None of Bafana Bafana’s matches — including the host country’s opening match against Mexico in Johannesburg on June 11 — are in the top 10 matches sold. Only six of the tournament’s 64 matches are oversubscribed. In a rearguard action, the local organising committee in January announced that it was, from April, scrapping Fifa’s complex ticket

sales system for local fans, which limited them to applying for tickets using credit cards by Internet or at branches of FNB Bank. The move was welcomed by Patrick Craven, spokesman for the country’s powerful Confederation of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), though he

March - April 2010

feared it may have come too late. “In many in rural areas people live nowhere near an FNB branch and many fans have no Internet access or are not familiar with it as a way to get tickets. There must be direct sales over the counter in every locality and this must be brought forward. April could be too late. Virtually all the tickets could have been sold to foreigners by then and fans will have lost their chance.”’ But sales internationally are slow, too. After ticket sales to international fans, through their football associations, failed to sell out, Fifa extended the process by three months until April 7. But that move is unlikely to be sufficient and Fifa in January increased its allocation of cheap tickets for South Africans to two million. South Africa’s poor image for crime is cited by some as a reason. Others blame the recession, which has hit many Europeans hard. There are also claims that in-

TANTALIsING POSSIBILITIES:

Left, a giant mascot that is the emblem of the games and, above, fans during the International Friendly match between South Africa and Zimbabwe at Moses Mabhida Stadium in January. SA won.

ternational airlines many months ago priced South Africa out of the market as a destination by blocking their cheapest economy fares. Claims of cartel tactics by international airlines are hard to verify but the South African Competition Commission has instigated an enquiry against local airlines, suspected of price-fixing domestic flights in June and July. Hotel and guesthouse prices for the period — normally the low, winter season — have also been hiked. Cape Town guesthouse manager Joy Daniels said: “We are charging high-season rates but some of our competitors have set shocking rates, six or seven times higher than the norm for the period. “We made a deliberate decision not to be greedy. We believe

Claims of cartel tactics by international airlines are hard to verify but the South African Competition Commission has instigated an enquiry

the World Cup is an investment for the future in that it will allow people to discover Cape Town as a winter destination,” said Daniels of Antrim Villa, a £180-anight guesthouse within walking distance of Green Point Stadium where one of the semi-finals will be played. Fifa remains tight-lipped about the true extent of its disappointment but CEO Jerome Valcke said previous concerns about the lack of accommodation in South Africa were now a “non-issue”. From 2004, when it won the right to host the World Cup, until last year, the country regularly claimed it expected 450,000 foreign visitors. But the figure is no longer used by the local organising committee. When Valcke in December revealed his lack of concern for accommodation, he also announced a new emphasis on Fifa ‘’fan fests’’. These open-air events — allowing supporters to follow the 64-match tournament at home

March - April 2010

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•NEXT ISSUE Coming Up

DEA Special Reports Series

eginning May 2010, Diplomatic East Africa introduces Special Reports (SR) which will be in-depth and comprehensive journalistic portraits of the most significant thematic topics in the eastern Africa region and beyond. Launching the SR series are three areas traversing country, culture and economy — namely Rwanda’s rise, Fifa World Cup fever and EA business competitiveness.

Rising Rwanda

Under the stewardship of President Paul Kagame, Rwanda has amazingly overcome the trauma and stereotypes relating to the 1994 Genocide like the proverbial phoenix. The country is a living example of how pragmatic leadership can engender progress. The SR will delve into the whys and hows of Rwanda’s superlative achievements, while at the same time bringing you easy reading on the Land of One Thousand Hills.

Fifa World Cup Fever

When the beautiful game comes to Africa, it is time for a whole continent to celebrate and eastern Africa cannot be left behind. Neither will DEA. In this SR, we bring you a ball of stories on the eastern Africa fans gearing up for trips down South; travel arrangements; team profiles; the matches and South Africa.

EA Business Competitiveness

The EAC slogan, ‘One People, One Destiny’, is complemented by a commitment to being true to the ethos of people-centered and private sector-led integration. In partnership with the East African Business Council, DEA will bring you thoroughgoing analyses from extensive interviews with private sector players, both the corporate and association or organizational levels in the region.

Grain Bulk and Handling Limited (GBHL)

The Mombasa-based dedicated port facility used by grain importers not only within Kenya, but also Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and Southern Sudan. This happens to be the one Kenyan corporation which has been investigated most frequently by parliamentary committees, and has also been visited regularly by officials from various ministries with every change of government. And yet in all this time, nothing has been found to suggest any impropriety on the part of GBHL. So, who owns GBHL? What is its history? Why has it given rise to so much controversy? And is it an unfair monopoly; or is it rather standing in the way of the monopoly which would be created if a second grain handling facility were set up at the port of Mombasa, by grain milling interests within Kenya? This report, which will consist of interviews of port management experts; GBHL top management and shareholders, etc, will try to answer all these questions and more, in a single riveting pullout in our next issue. DEA Special Reports — Ground-breaking, In-depth, Comprehensive and Forward-looking

March - April 2010