Weekly Newsletter 9

Bolivarian Government of Venezuela

Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs Office of The Deputy Minister for Africa

Weekly

Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Kenya Concurrent to Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia

Newsletter

Permanent Mission of Venezuela to the United Nations Environment programme (UNEP)and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme ( UN Habitat).

VOL. 2: ISSUE. 9 14th March 2016

Maduro activated Industrial Engine: Economic project has to be social For his part, the Vice President for the Economic Area, Miguel Pérez Abad, explained that the plan of the Industrial Motor is aimed to the full supplying and production of hard currency for Venezuela. The sectors that are accompanying us are the garment and textiles, and footwear.

From the Simón Bolívar Hall of Miraflores Palace in Caracas, the President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro, headed on Thursday night the activation of the Industrial Engine, involving producers of the private and public sectors.

The President reiterated to the industrial sector that the goal of the entire economic project has to be the human being, the social scope, the state of welfare of the social missions, while recalling that the second line is to create a sustainable productive process that creates new

Inside this Issue!

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Maduro activated Industrial Engine: Economic project has to be social

sources of wealth, to break the rentier model, without affecting the Venezuelan people.

He further stated that there are coming large amounts of products to meet the needs of the country, within the framework of the Bolivarian Economic Agenda that seeks to protect the homes and the working family.

As it may be recalled, the Bolivarian Economic Agenda includes the impulse to 14 engines covering the areas of agro-alimentary, pharmaceutical, industrial, new exports, to generate foreign exchange, communal, social and socialist economy; oil, petrochemical, mining, national and international, construction, forestry, military industrial tourism, telecommunications and information technology as well as public and private banking. www.rnv.gob.ve

“The interests of (business) groups left Miraflores Palace many years ago”, said the National President.

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More health and housing!

Dollars from oil will be invested in the people

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Foreign Minister Rodriguez: Venezuela remains an attractive country for international investment

Pg 4. promoting the unknown Africa: TANZANIA: Dar celebrates women's international day in style

More health and housing!

Dollars from oil will be invested in the people

The President of the Republic, Nicolas Maduro, manifested on Wednesday that the foreign currencies entering the country from oil revenues, will keep being invested in the people and the social area, despite the downfall that has suffered crude oil this year, compared to previous ones.

“In a month of these years with the wind in our favor, were easy entering 3 thousand, 3,500 million for imports and investments, for the first time the oil dollar came to the people turned into housings, life, health; but now for an instance, in January this year entered $ 77 million, and still, biting the bullet, we kept still working, this has not stopped anything, nor is going to stop”, stressed the Head of State from the National Pantheon, where was carried out an activity in rejection of the Executive Order by Barack Obama.

He explained that in February entered the country 7 million less compared to the previous month, ie 70 million, “Right now we recovered oil a bit with the announcements we made with Russia, Saudi Arabia, and managed to stop the plummeting that brought it to almost 20, right now it rose a little bit more and is at 29, but it is still very low, however, we will continue to invest in the economic development of the country with the 14 engines and the people.’’ www.rnv.gob.ve

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Foreign Minister Rodriguez:

Venezuela remains an attractive country for international investment "We can see how the government of President Nicolas Maduro has preserved undoubtedly, the social rights to Venezuelans; he has protected by all means the right to wages and purchasing power that's something I can say with absolute certainty ".

Referring to the alliances for international economic issues the Chancellor noted that last year the head of state sought international funding that was not granted because of a conflagration of powers that seek to rule the world, financial power and media.

Caracas, March 13th, 2016. (MPPRE) .- The Minister of People's Power for Foreign Relations, Delcy Rodriguez in the interview in the program Al Descubierto in the private television station Venevision, said that despite the economic and media war affecting the country, Venezuela remains attractive for international investment.

She stressed that thanks to the new measures taken by President Nicolas Maduro and his entire cabinet; there will be special recognition of all the benefits that can exist in different investment areas in Venezuela, especially in the energy field.

"This week the Vice President for Finance, Miguel Perez Abad, announced a new exchange rate regime where the investments made in Venezuela have mechanisms for repatriation," said Rodriguez.

"There are countries around the world that want to come to Venezuela to invest I know it because I receive communications in the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry from all regions of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, many countries are interested". In this regard I reiterate the importance of the launch of the Arco Mining for the country, "which has positively impacted these numbers we have talked about in these ratings on Venezuela and also in the financial issue," she said.

Media war against the country "Over and above the media wars aimed daily to put Venezuela in a negative light, the reality is reflected in all countries in the world where President Nicolas Maduro and Bolivarian delegations visit. There is an express recognition of the Revolution Bolivarian".

The foreign minister said that Venezuela is playing an important role in the international position, over and above the media wars that are constantly trying to internally hit the country.

"There has been an alliance of international oligarchies of the region who obey the libretto of the United States and the alliance with the media corporations that seek to undermine Venezuela and portray an image that is not," she said.

Bolivarian Economic Measures The Venezuelan diplomat added that like our country, the other oil-exporting countries have had to take drastic economic measures that undoubtedly affect the entire population.

Recognizing the strengths of our country, the Foreign Minister said to be certain that in the future the Bolivarian Economic Agenda will bring hope to the people of Venezuela. "The call made by President Maduro is to break the rentier scheme and he has made a call for productivity."

Threats to the left governments Rodriguez notes that there is a specific imperial meddling process of the United States that comes with the re-conquest of what they have called their backyard. "There is a kind of threat to leftist governments that is undeniable, it was not during the dark decade of neoliberalism that our economies in the region grew, it was under the protection of the policies of leftist revolutionary progressive governments," she said.

"We refuse to be a colony again, our countries, our people are determined to be and exercise their sovereignty, economic independence, and political tendency and have control over their natural resources, which must be at the service of the people�.

Interventionist plan against the country Minister Delcy Rodriguez said that the Venezuelan right in the national parliament, is running an interventionist plan against the nation. "The people are watching how the Venezuelan opposition came to the National Assembly to overthrow President Maduro, not to solve the people's problems. I am sure you have seen the position of the opposition right in the Assembly to violate the social missions and go against the socio-economic rights of the people of Venezuela."

With regard to the Amnesty Law the Chancellor mentioned that from the legal point of view it is an aberration, and referring to the tagline on national reconciliation embodied in the Act, the Minister makes a call to the Venezuelan opposition to go through a process of frankness.

"So that there can be given a reconciliation process, there must first be recognition, how do they seek reconciliation if there is no repentance?�

Finally, she urged the Venezuelan opposition and the imperial powers to respect the rules, both national and international rules. "There is a dangerous trend in the world of imperial factors.

When you violate the right to the homeland of a country and the right to peace you are inferring in the effective enjoyment of human rights in general and are massively violating the social rights". www.mppre.gob.ve

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Promoting the Unknown Africa

TANZANIA:Dar celebrates women's international day in style Lawyers Association (TAWLA) will next month launch a mentorship programme with the aim of encouraging more women to dare to take up leadership positions as well as garner confidence.

Speaking to journalists yesterday as the world marked the International Women's Day, the TAWLA chairperson, Ms Aisha Bade said that the programme will be long term and intends to reach more women.

In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan whose speech was read on her behalf by the Minister of Health, Community Development, Gender Seniors and Children Ummy Mwalimu, pledged her government's commitment to attaining gender parity by 2030.

women with very high interest rates of more than 19 percent, while Posta Bank interest rates are as low as 11 percent.

Addressing Dar es Salaam women who braved heavy rains in the city to mark the International Women's Day yesterday Minister Mwalimu, said: "I cannot keep quiet about this. I The Vice President said this year's need detailed explanation within three days, why Women's Day theme: ' 50/50 by 2030 Lets Put TWB is not friendly to women. more Effort', has come at the right time when Women groups are turning to Posta government is working to attain gender equality.

Bank for loans at very low interests rates, and "There is no true development in any shunning TWB which is supposed to provide country without equal participation of both men financial services to women," she explained. and women in all sphere's including; socially, She explained that the government's politically, economically and cultural. We all need focus is empowering women in all spheres of life to work together with the government to ensure including economically, which is the main this objective is attained," she explained. objective of establishment of the TWB that gets The VP said the government has been money from government. taking various policy and legal measures to She noted that under Dr Magufuli the address gender inequality and ensure women 5th government wants to see targets and objectives access different opportunities in the process of set for any government institutions attained. empowering them.

Minister Mwalimu added that her office will also She promised that under the Chama Cha be publishing lists of municipal directors Mapinduzi (CCM) Manifesto (2015 -2020) her countrywide who will not adhere to government's government will focus on empowering women policy of providing 5% of their budgets to economically through access to low interest loans women's development funds. and entrepreneur education to equip them with She said the list will also be forwarded proper knowledge to run their business. to President Magufuli. PPF Pension Fund, marked The VP noted that the government the day by donating hospital equipment to together with other stakeholders have ensured Mwananyamala hospital's maternity ward worth creation of a Gender Desk in police station in the 2m/-. country that responds to cases of Gender Based The donation is part of an initiative to Violence (GBV). complement the funds maternity benefit scheme Speaking on educating girls, she said that was launched in mid last year, according education is the key to women's development and to PPF Pension Fund’s Zonal Manager for one of the best ways to ensuring gender equality in Kinondoni, Coast and Tanga, Ms Zahra Kayugwa. the country. "We all are responsible with ensuring Speaking after handing over the that we invest in educating girls. equipment at the Kinondoni district’s largest This also helps address issues of child hospital, Ms Kayugwa said the donation came as a marriages and teenage pregnancies. So educating sign to recognize the role of women in the country. a girl will help equip her with knowledge to shun "PPF has the maternity benefit scheme early marriages," she explained. that aims at giving lives to new born babies and we The Minister of Health, Community understand the challenges that are in our Development, Gender Seniors and Children communities, that is why we decided that when Ummy Mwalimu, on her part breathed fire at the commemorating this special day we should give Tanzania Women's Bank (TWB) Managing something to the maternity ward," she said.

Director for giving women loans with high PPF's maternity benefit scheme was interests rates. launched in June last year and as of December last Minister Mwalimu issued three days to year, the fund disbursed 152/- to 152 female receive a report as to why the TWB was giving members. Meanwhile the Tanzania Women

"There has been a mentorship programme among TAWLA members for a while now but we felt that it needs to reach more women and thus the reason for this launch which is scheduled for April that will coincide with National Assembly session," she said. Ms Bade said that this year's theme is 'Planet 50/50 by 2030: step it up for gender equality' and that with the help of the mentorship, they believe the programme will go a long way to bridging the gender equality gap.

She said that since women's day started being marked in 1996 in the country, TAWLA has been playing its part at sensitizing the public that with gender equality comes increased national economy and development and that they will continue to do so. "In the coming years, we intend to continue enabling more women achieve their goals, play our role is trying to go away with legislation that discriminates women like the Marriage Act of 1971 and inheritance laws as well as reduce open discrimination," she explained.

A member of TAWLA Executive Council, Ms Ann Marie Mavenjina said that they have been providing legal aid for many years and experience shows that inheritance, matrimonial and land cases continue to lead.

According to the TAWLA annual report of 2015, there were a total of 4625 people who received legal aid as compared to 2920 in 2013 and that in 2015, there were 1252 matrimonial complaints, 754 inheritance and 998 land as compared to 1144 matrimonial, 560 inheritance and 112 land matters in 2013 respectively.

"This data can to interpreted in two ways, one that such cases are actually on the rise but also that thanks to increased advocacy and sensitization, more women are aware of their rights and they are demanding for them, either way, this is a challenge that needs working on," Ms Mavenjina said.

The TAWLA Executive Director, Ms Tike Mwambipile said that a major challenge that they also face is in domestic gender violence cases where women seek their aid only to later end up being sorted through reconciliation adding that women should first decide the course of action before seeking legal aid.

Ms Bade used the opportunity to call on the government to set aside adequate resources for gender issues, have ownership of these issues and that the government should mainstream the gender agenda and have a budget that is gender responsive. www.dailynews.co.tz

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