Khama the Great(II) shows people driven leadership

President Ian Khama playing snooker with old Naledi resident, a shanty town in Gaborone

Khama the Great(II) has silenced his critics by proving that he really means business about his beloved motherland,gone is the time of Presidents who appear before elections like frogs after the rains to get a ticket to go back to the city and leave the people languishing until next election.This is indeed a dawn of a new era in Africa.Indeed the death and burial of talkshops staged by our dear African leaders is in sight as new crop of African leadership seems to be progressive.I am really touched with this experience where the President goes to almost every village and address the people personally.This inspires the ordinary masses and obviously gives them something to talk about over their traditional opaque beer.Going to them will not make them want to come to the city,but it will improve and indeed boost their self esteem.

Right now elections are still far away but he still dines with both the rich and poor of his country because he is a father for them all.This is great leadership at its best and I urge African leadership to hearken to the call of valuing thier citizens as special,despite their financial status,not to celebrate their suffering under your rulership claiming that you have been President for decades.Its not about the term in Office,but fulfilling your God given mandate to lead us the ordinary masses with ubberima fide.God did not create all of us rich ,just as the hands are not equal,but we can all be happy in our different conditions.
May God bless President Ian Khama,and give him strides to have more wisdom as he leads his people whole heartedly.

To Zimbabwean leadership

We are looking for leaders of the people not gangsters,murderers and thugs.This is a great lesson to you.Other children with responsible fathers(leaders) might not get anything much,but are happy that thier father cares for them.Life is not always about money,but showing that you care for your people.

Zim wants R3bn loan from SA

Sep 08 2010 21:05

Sapa


Harare - Zimbabwe is negotiating R3.25bn in credit from South Africa in an effort to revive the country's economy, the finance minister said Wednesday.


Finance Minister Tendai Biti and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai

"There are two facilities that we are negotiating. One is a line of credit of R500m, one is a revival of an old overdraft facility of R2.75bn," Tendai Biti told business leaders in the capital.

"We are also talking to private capital, the banks," he said.

Mugabe and his longtime rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai formed a unity government in February last year, hoping to end a decade of political and economic crisis.

The unity government has appealed for $10bn for reconstruction, but major Western donors have demanded more political reforms before offering direct budget support.

Zim, Botswana seal $70m deal

Zimbabwe and Botswana at the weekend concluded a $70 million line of credit deal, one of the five facilities pledged by Sadc countries in support of its economic reconstruction, when the country formed a unity government last year.



Finance Minister-Tendai Biti

Finance minister Tendai Biti last week led a delegation of local businesspeople to Botswana to seal the deal.

The Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower took advantage of the occasion to press for speedy finalisation of the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (Bippa)between the two neighbours.

The line of credit will be offered at Libor+5% (0,5% + 5%) and is expected disbursement in the next four weeks after disbursement modalities have been finalised between the two governments.

Libor is an acronym for London Interbank Offered Rate – the interest rate that banks charge each other for loans, usually in Eurodollars.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president Joseph Kanyekanye, who was part of the delegation, yesterday told NewsDay that parties to the deal agreed to have the 500 million pula or US$70 million credit line packaged as a revolving facility.

“This is what the country is looking for. Given the liquidity challenges that we have been facing this should go a long-way in injecting life into the economy,” said Kanyekanye. “It is also critical that government heeds the call of our business partners in Botswana to have a Bippa in place to cement our economic ties.”

The deal comes just under two weeks after the Africa Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Zimbabwean government launched a low-interest rate $100 million joint loan facility with an initial drawdown of $70 million, to revive the country’s economy.

Afreximbank will contribute US$50 million, while the government will chip in with US$20 million to the fund, which will be channelled through banks.

Botswana and Zimbabwe agreed that the $70 million facility would cover the export of goods and services and joint venture deals between the two countries.

They also agreed that 70% of the funds would go towards manufacturing with the rest being committed to other sectors.

Kanyekanye said the work on the Bippa had been going for a long time and there was no reason why it should not be concluded.

President Tsvangirai says transition irreversible

Dr Morgan Tsvangirai,MDC President
Monday 02 August 2010

The MDC President, Dr Morgan Tsvangirai has said the road to a new Zimbabwe was irreversible, and new, free and fair elections next year will see the MDC forming an exclusive government. Addressing thousands of supporters at Old Lwendulo Grounds in Hwange, Matabeleland North province, President Tsvangirai said there was progress in preparations for a fresh, free and fair election that the MDC is confident of winning resoundingly.

President Tsvangirai addressed the rally after a key meeting with the Matabeleland North provincial council meeting and the national leadership. President Tsvangirai apprised the people who thronged the rally on the progress made by the inclusive government, the Constitution-making process, elections. He also unveiled the MDC new Zimbabwe charter.

President Tsvangirai said the people of Zimbabwe had invested a lot in the MDC in order to bring real change to Zimbabwe. “Anyone who stands in the way of the MDC in delivering real change is undermining the objective of the people of Zimbabwe who invested in the MDC to deliver real change to the country, politically, socially and economically,” President Tsvangirai said. “We remain focused on this objective”.

He said that there were now commissions in place for elections, human rights and media. “We want to give more freedoms to the people rather than contain the freedom of the people. Other people did not want to see change, but they were pushed for change. The process of transition is an irreversible process to a free and fair election, because we can not continue to have this mule powered government as it is not doing much”.

President Tsvangirai also urged the people to participate in the ongoing public hearings on a new Constitution. “This is your opportunity to express your views in order to lay the basis of the leadership you want to see,” President Tsvangirai said. The rally was attended by the party’s National Standing Committee and members of the national executive and Matabeleland North provincial leadership.

On Sunday, President Tsvangirai addressed thousands of MDC supporters at another Real Change rally in Makokoba, Bulawayo where he said the MDC is strengthening the agenda of real change, and says the party was ready for a free and fair election expected to end the tenure of the transitional government. “Given the two years in government it shows that MDC can do better and no other party can deliver real change except the people’s movement and we are going to hold on,” he said.

The PM also hinted that the SADC team should be expected to jet in the country in the next two weeks to review progress in the GPA considering the violations of the GPA and the many outstanding issues of the GPA such as the appointment of Senator Roy Bennett as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and decision making in issues of governance. “The MDC continues to talk against unilateral decisions being made by Mugabe and yet he is just a partner in government. These toxic issues of jingles and decision making compromise and undermine the legitimacy of the GPA,” he said.

The rally was attended by the national Organising Secretary, Hon. Elias Mudzuri, deputy Organising Secretary, Hon. Morgen Komichi, Treasurer-General, Hon. Roy Bennett, the national Spokesperson, Hon. Nelson Chamisa, deputy spokesperson hon. Tabitha Khumalo and the Bulawayo provincial leadership.

South African people and its government have betrayed Africa

To fathom that few weeks ago we were like one African family cheering behind the bafana-bafana team is quite shocking. The South African flag was on almost every car, house ,College, university and, for once, Africa’s hopes were revived. Indeed it is time for Africa. Where has this xenophobia come from then? To make matters worse it’s targeted at the same poor peasants who stood by you in time of need.

The Zimbabweans and other foreign nationals were there helping to make the African World Cup event a success,but I am truly astounded to hear that the foreign African nationals are scampering for safety. The most embarrassing situation is that the xenophobia is being targeted against African brothers and sisters.Where has the spirit of pan-Africanism gone to?


Policemen trying to stop the fire on foreigners who’ve been set alight by local people

Africa has played a pivotal role to ensure that your independence became a reality. When Mandela was released from prison we were all mad with joy. I remember as a young man running with joy upon catching wind of the news that South Africa was free. It was indeed a sigh of relief to us because I had heard the ordeal they went through in the fight against apartheid. Many ordinary citizens from countries like Mozambique, Botswana and Zimbabwe were persecuted by the apartheid regime because of you. However they never threw up the towel for your sake, they persevered for the sake of Africa. Is this how you are going to repay the same ordinary people who suffered for you? Do not mock God, every creature must submit to God and respect other people. As we speak more than hundred African brothers and sisters have died at your hands, cold blooded murder of innocent people. Why South Africa Why.



More than 22 people have been killed, several women have been raped and hundreds of people have been tortured and injured

The South African government though I have always respected President Zuma for his mediation efforts in Zimbabwe has played a willing accomplice in this ruthless, criminal episode. I do not need a rocket scientist to know that such a horrendous activity of murder and butchering of innocent Africans can take place in their back yard and they will not apprehend any culprit. In 2008 African brothers were roasted alive with tires and ,funny enough, no significant arrests were made. Xenophobia has reared its ugly head again, and now the perpetrators are super charged because they got away with it. It is very clear that the leadership of the country is trying hide behind a finger, but God will judge your nation harshly if you do not repent from the terror you have subjected your neighbors to . I think what is left is a SADC and AU resolve to let South Africa to play alone because it does not play well with neighbors. I know the South African government sympathizes with the victims during the day and celebrate at night, but let it be known to you that what goes around comes around and history shall make you to account for your actions

I appeal to human rights organizations to begin legal action against the South African government on behalf of the victims. These victims should be compensated for shock, torture and death and the hands of their citizens. Some children are now street kids and orphans because of this violence, some people have been displaced while others have their future put in limbo after their meager but hard earned acquired property was set ablaze with these heartless African citizens (South Africans).The actions of our South African brothers have created destitutes and some of the children are now orphans resulting in them dying in the streets from poverty and starvation. I urge the human rights activists to stand up and gather all the data about all the people who were massacred so that the record can be clear to the rest of Africa. South Africans have failed to appreciate that they do not leave in an Island.

Its indeed very painful to realize that some foreign nationals who helped in making the world cup a success left the country fleeing for dear life without being paid for their hard work because of fear .Most South African employers took advantage and delayed to pay these foreign nationals so that they would flee leaving their money behind. Worse still some South Africans have looted the property of foreign nationals which took them a lifetime to acquire. How painful is that, being injured by your own brother.



Civil society should come in urgently to help these hapless people who are struggling to put food on their table. If the government wanted to stamp this xenophobia out it would not take time. Sadly, it seems to be silently approving this callous and satanic act. South Africa should stand and unequivocally tell the continent about its position; about whether or not it is is part of us. We are not ready to force them to be part us; we have played our role of emancipating them.

Simbarashe Chirimubwe is the leader of Concerned Africans Association (CAA) and Global Zimbabwe Forum Coordinator for Africa.

Africa needs foreign investment to tackle infrastructure deficit

By: Keith Campbell
6th July 2010


The infrastructure deficit in Africa currently amounts, in monetary terms, to $1,5-trillion, African Development Bank vice-president and Chief Economist Prof Mthuli Ncube told Engineering News Online on Tuesday. And the continent probably can’t afford to finance all the required development from its own resources.

“A lot of money needs to come from abroad in foreign direct investment,” he highlighted.

“There’s a need to develop roads through quasi-market initiatives such as public-private partnerships. Railway development is very important for Africa. In the 1960s and 70s one could travel from the Cape a lot of the way to Cairo by train, but political conflicts did a lot of damage to railways.”


Rail is the cheapest way to move freight from the interior to the coast, but many ports also need development or refurbishment, particularly in West Africa.

“We also need to develop the airline industry. We need to be able to travel across Africa by air, both passengers and cargo,” he added. “It is very difficult to fly between African countries. For example, to fly from South Africa to Tunisia, you have to go via Paris or Dubai.”

Nor is this all. There is also the need to develop the entire power generation sector. Oil infrastructure has to be expanded, and gas infrastructure developed. There is a need for more dams, for water supply and hydropower.

For example, he cited the Inga project in the western part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “If it was developed it would be a wonderful project. It would benefit the whole region. The DRC couldn’t possibly use all that electricity.”

Then there is the issue of affordable housing. “One way for people to move into the middle class is to become home owners,” he pointed out.

There are, of course, areas in Africa with concentrations of high-quality infrastructure, such as Southern Africa, in particular South Africa, and North Africa, especially Egypt and Tunisia. “But all regions of Africa need more infrastructure,” he affirmed.

Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter

Africa must be democratic

By Rebaone Tswiio
NDOLA, Zambia - Democracy and political stability in Africa would create a conducive environment for trade and investment, President Lt Gen. Ian Khama Seretse Khama has said.Officially opening the 46th Zambia International Trade Fair on Saturday, President Khama said time was "long overdue" for Africa to rid herself of political instability and poor governance.
"In this day we can no longer patronise one another and watch and do nothing while our people suffer as a result of poor political leadership and bad management of national resources," emphasised President Khama.
He noted that in a democratic dispensation elected leaders owe a duty to their citizens to uphold principles of good governance, democracy and the rule of law, adding that "anything short of this is unacceptable."
President Khama also noted that Botswana and Zambia have had the difficult task of managing their economies during the global economic crunch while they both need to diversify their economies from dependence on the mineral sector.
"We all recognise that our countries can no longer afford to put our eggs in one basket," said President Khama. He added that sustained growth for both economies will require contributions from small, medium and large enterprises.
The fair was held under the theme "Economic recovery through innovation and competitiveness."
President Khama said the theme underscores the need to increasingly engage in systemic initiatives to improve the quality of the goods and services to make them competitive in the international market.

Guest of honour

President Khama noted that despite the financial crisis, Botswana and Zambia have significantly increased trade between them over the last five years.
President Khama emphasised the need for partnerships in mega projects within the region. "We should do everything in our power to ensure that construction of the Kazungula Bridge is complete as soon as possible."
The anticipated launch of a direct air link between Gaborone and Lusaka, he said, should also facilitate the swift movement of people, goods and services in a cost effective manner. BOPA