Facing Pastoralism in Africa

Lest we forget.On 21 August this month, The African Union Commission (AUC) meeting on the Policy Framework for Pastoralism, opened on 21 August in Ethiopia with a focus on validating the institutional arrangements and resource mobilization strategies proposed for the implementation of the AUC Policy Framework on pastoralism.

Officially opening the meeting, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA), Head of Division for Rural Economy, Dr. Janet Edeme, representing the AUC DREA Commissioner, Mrs. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, said pastoralists make crucial but often undervalued contributions to national and regional economies in Africa.

She pointed out that human development and food security indicators for many pastoral areas in Africa were among the lowest in Africa, and it was for that reason that the AU Heads of State and Government in 2011 adopted the Policy Framework for Pastoralism as the Continental Framework for addressing the complex challenges facing pastoral communities in Africa.

“The AUC was tasked to put in place appropriate measures for mobilization of financial resources and partnerships in support of pastoral policy development and implementation,” Mrs. Tumusiime said. “The AUC was also requested to establish the mechanisms for progress tracking and Member States reporting on progress achieved in implementing this framework.”

She noted that the meeting was critical in the AUC’s continued efforts to develop pastoralism in Africa and thanked the stakeholders for their continued support and active participation.

Taking the floor during the official opening, Head of the Centre for Agricultural and Rural Technical Cooperation (CTA), Ms. Isolina Boto, said pastoralism was not seen as an economic driver for most regions and hence more work needed to be done to strengthen the sector.

She commended the AUC for the development of the framework and pledged CTA’s support for its implementation.

United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) representative Ms. Choice Okoro, commended the AUC for developing a comprehensive policy that took into account the views of all stakeholders.

Ms. Okoro stressed that the policy framework was cardinal because food insecurity in Africa could not be addressed without addressing pastoralist challenges as well.

At the end of the two day meeting, the following will be achieved:

Ø  Validation of the policy framework implementation action plan;

Ø  Validation and endorsement of the institutional and Resource Mobilization Strategy Frameworks;

Ø  Clarification of roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders in the pastoralism policy framework implementation process;

Ø  Validation of pastoralist’s stakeholders in the policy framework implementation process.

The meeting is being attended by representatives from national governments/Member States, regional pastoralist groups, continental agricultural programs, NGOs with an interest in pastoralism, pastoral parliamentary groups, representatives from local pastoral youths and women’s groups, universities, international development partners, civil society and pastoral rights’ groups, private sector partners, environmental authorities, pastoral communities representatives and indigenous institutions.

First Africa-China Media Cooperation Forum: AUC Chairperson Dr. Jean Ping acknowledges the important role of media and press freedom in changing the socio-political landscape in Africa.

Beijing, China, 23 August 2012 – The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr. Jean Ping, addressed some African Ministers in charge of information high level media representatives from radio and TV channels at the First Africa-China Media Cooperation Forum holding on 23 August 2012 in Beijing, China, under the theme "exchange, cooperation and development." Dr. Ping underlined the important role of the Media in influencing several socio-political changes in Africa.  He pointed out the struggle for democracy and governance that led to the popular uprisings in the Maghreb region leading to what was later considered as the Arab spring in most parts the continent in 2011.

Addressing the ministers of information in the presence of Mr. Cai Fuchao, Minister of the SARF, State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and Mr. Zhai Jun, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairperson Ping indicated that media independence and freedom of expression are in line with the urge for Africa to focus on the development of the media sector in order to make its voice heard beyond the continental level. "Africa should have the technical and political means to be able to tell its story by informing the world on events happening on the continent”, he underscored.

Dr. Ping highlighted the Pan-African Media Network (PAMNET) and the Pan African Media Portal, which are projects currently being implemented by the African Union Commission in a bid to strengthen and render the media sector in Africa more efficient. He said these projects are platforms to share and exchange experiences through dialogue and open debate on issues related to the Media in Africa. It will also improve the understanding of the media landscape in Africa while facilitating decision-making on media related issues.

Chairperson Ping further indicated that, the AUC has actively supported the launch of the Journalists Network for Peace and Security in Africa dubbed (NetPeace), in a bid to enhance the culture of peace through a credible and independent media (See the complete speech of the AUC Chairperson on the African Union website: www.au.int.

Worth recalling that, the Sino-Africa Media Forum is part of the implementation of the Beijing 2007-2009 Plan of Action adopted on 5 November 2006 that spells out the cooperation ties between Africa and China and their commitment to encourage "their respective media play a determining role in deepening mutual understanding and friendship between both parties. Following the partnership, China has resolved to assist African countries to train the radio and television staff to improve their skills. This will be done through exchange programs where the journalists will benefit from some professional training in China.

The African Court and its Key Partners Agree to Strengthen Partnership in Promoting the Court

Addis Ababa: 24 August 2012. The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights organized, a Regional Sensitization Seminar on the Promotion of the Court for the Eastern and Northern Region of the African Continent, in Addis Ababa, Federal Republic of Ethiopia, from 22 to 24 August 2012. The main objective of the Seminar was to raise awareness about the Court in all its dimensions to a wide spectrum of partners of the human rights system from East and North African States, encourage more ratifications of the Protocol establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and encourage more deposits of the declaration allowing individuals and NGOs direct access to the Court as well as strengthen the partnership with those partners in promoting the Court.

During the three-day seminar the Court and its key partners discussed the ways and means of making the Court more visible throughout the African continent as well as ways of helping the Court effectively achieve its mandate that confers to it a two-fold jurisdiction: the contentious jurisdiction dealing with the interpretation and application of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and any other relevant International Human Rights Instruments ratified by African States, and the advisory jurisdiction under which the Court may proffer opinion on any legal matter relating to human rights at the request of an interested State.

In fact, for more than six years of its operation, the Court has been under-utilized for both of its two jurisdictions because, to date, it has received only 24 petitions relating to contentious matters and three requests for advisory opinion. This situation of under-utilization of the Court stems from two main factors.  The first one is the fact that the Court is relatively new. In other words, the Court is yet to be well-known to African populations and the various entities entitled to bring cases before it. The second factor is that a few States have ratified the Protocol establishing it. As a matter of fact, out of the 54 Member States of the African Union, only 26 have ratified the Protocol; and in particular, out of the 26 States, only 5 have so far authorized individuals and NGOs to institute cases directly before the African Court. 

In an effort to remedy to these challenges that have been hindering its functions, the Court decided since 2010 to undertake a series of promotional activities comprising sensitization seminars like the present one to get both State and non-State players operating in the area of Human Rights to ensure that the States that have not yet to ratified the Protocol do so; and those which have ratified the Protocol authorize individuals and NGOs to institute cases directly before the Court.

The stakeholders and participants to the Seminar in Addis Ababa showed their commitment to help the Court and discussed the role each one would play for the effective promotion of the Court. In this regard, participants adopted important recommendations for each category of stakeholders to help ensure an effective African Court. The media was encouraged to, among other things, consistently popularize the Court among the different stakeholders, using all the means at their disposal; the National Human Rights Institutions  to use the broad powers they are endowed with and their closeness to the authorities to repeatedly sensitize Governments about the Court; Civil society organizations and NGOs to continue to sensitize their members and the public in the different areas in which they operate, and work in a concerted manner with the Court to ensure that it is well known by the people; and Academic institutions to continue, through research, training and teaching, to engage relevant stakeholders.

The Seminar was attended by, amongst others, five Judges of the Court, representatives of AU Organs (Pan African Parliament, African Union Commission, African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare on the Child, the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption, African Union Commission on International Law), the President of the East African Court of Justice, the Registrar of the SADC Tribunal, and representatives of other human rights stakeholders from the two regions, including, Bar Associations, National Human Rights Institutions, the Academia, the Media and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). The countries represented at the Seminar were: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritania, Mauritius, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.

First African Leadership on ICT: First Knowledge Society graduates gather in Addis for African Union award ceremony

WHEN:                      27 - 29 August 2012

Activities to be carried out during this event will include are:

27 August 2012 –    Opening ceremony of workshop on leadership and institutional capacity building in technology in education, science, technology and innovation in Africa.

29 August 2012 at 16.00 - Awards ceremony,

WHERE:                    African Union Headquarters, New AU Conference Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

WHO:                         Organised by the Department of Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission, in collaboration with GESCI and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland

WHY:                         The first of its kind in Africa, the African leadership in ICT course was developed in consultation with African and international experts.  This seven month course combines theory with applied learning, and challenges participants to discover new leadership qualities within themselves and to become transformational leaders.

Strategic objective:           The workshop will enable participants to produce comprehensive policy coherence roadmaps towards knowledge society development in their respective countries and the region.

Specific Objectives:

·         Provide opportunities for participant sharing of country report KS status and policy recommendations. 

·         Engage participants with leadership, knowledge society and futures thinking tools for building policy coherence roadmaps & action plans.

·         Verify the leadership development model in ICT and the Knowledge Society that has been defined through the ALICT course. 

Participants:            over 160 people are expected to attend the Award ceremony from the African Union Commission; GESCI; candidates and laureates of the courses as well as invited guest.

Outcome:

·         Strengthened career- advancement opportunities through relevant professional development;

·          Acquired 21st Century skills for the development of the Knowledge Society ;

·         Membership to a continent-wide Professional Network of ALICT alumni ;

·         Expected accumulated credits for post-graduate qualifications ;

·         Working knowledge of web 2.0 tools (social media, tagging, blogging, podcasting, social bookmarking, vodcasting etc.) ;

·         Working knowledge of Futures Thinking Tools (Horizon Scanning; Scenario Development; Delphi Method and Trend Impact Analysis);

·          Appreciation for the importance of innovation and creativity in strategy formulation;

·         Improved Communication Skills;

·         Improved project management, policy planning and implementation skills;

·         Mastery of Leadership Toolkit for the Knowledge Society

Background :

The African Leadership on ICT (ALICT) course is conceptualized and designed to build capacity of future leaders in the area of building knowledge societies in Africa.  To deliver this objective, the ALICT course was designed and launched in January 2012 with foundation and core modules covering general themes on the Knowledge Society, Leadership, Futures Thinking, and specific themes on the pillars of the Knowledge Society related to Science, Technology & Innovation, Information & Communication Technology and Education. As part of the course participants have produced assignments and reports on the status and futures perspectives of development towards knowledge societies in national and regional contexts.

During the final workshop, participants will use the country reports as a basis for development of policy coherence roadmaps towards knowledge societies for their countries and for the Africa region. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the use of Leadership, Knowledge Society and Futures Thinking toolkits and frameworks introduced through-out the coursework. They will use these tools to bring together the policy coherence roadmaps for implementing their report policy recommendations.

Hullo Good People

Somehow, I lost control over this blog and my gmail e-mail address some weeks ago. That made it difficult to recover the blog, as any new password from Blogger kept coming to my compromised gmail account.
Good thing is: Zachimalawi is here again, and will make sure to use advanced sign in options.
Sure. I  even wanted to change the mtolankhani@gmail.com e-mail and start using another one. But that aint gonna happen, too.
Fata viam invenient.
Thanks for your support during that strange 'darkness'.

 

SCHEDULE OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS OF THE MALAWI PARLIAMENT JULY – SEPTEMBER, 2012

(All meetings will be held at the Parliament Building)

WEEK	DATES) (2012)	COMMITTEES
1.	16th – 20th July	- Budget and Finance
	16th -18th July	- African, Caribbean and Pacific-European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly (ACP-EU JPA)
2.	23rd – 27th July	- Public Appointments and Declaration of Assets - Commerce, Industry and Tourism
	23rd -25th July	- Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)
3.	30th July – 3rd August	- Legal Affairs - Defense and Security
4.	6th – 10th August	- Social and Community Affairs - Transport and Public Works
5.	13th – 15th August	- Pan African Parliament - SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) - Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
6.	20th – 24th August	- HIV, AIDS and Nutrition - Media and Communications
7.	27th – 31st August	- Education, Science and Human Resources - International Relations
8.	3rd– 7th September	- Public Accounts - Health and Population
9.	10th – 14th September	- Public Accounts - Agriculture and Natural Resources
10.	17th – 21st September	- Women’s Caucus

(Lest We Forget 11 August 2009) PPM, DPP: Together yet too far apart

People’s Progressive Movement (PPM), an alliance partner to President Bingu wa Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), seems set to follow the state president’s footsteps, albeit on different missions.

This came to the fore again this week, when PPM president Mark Katsonga Phiri addressed a campaign meeting at Ndirande’s Chirunga Ground on Monday, a day after Mutharika addressed a similar meeting at Ndirande Community Centre Ground. The two venues are just a kilometer apart.

Katsonga was in the populous township to win votes for PPM’s parliamentary candidate in the by-elections slated for this week, Margaret Saenda, while Mutharika was in town for the sake of Themba Mkandawire.

Mutharika has this year attracted a lot public attention, and uproar in equal measure, largely generated through the purchase of Hummers, which now form an integral part of his presidential convoy. Katsonga has not let the Hummers’ phenomenon gather around Mutharika’s personality only, but has purchased his own- an automobile he is employing to good use during campaign, including the one for Blantyre’s City Central constituency now on the table for claim.

PPM surprised Malawians in the run up to the country’s May 19 Presidential and Parliamentary elections when it announced, during the handover ceremony of papers for its presidential candidates to Malawi Electoral Commission officials, it would no longer feature candidates. The party announced, instead, it would support Mutharika’s candidature.

Observers, including Mzuzu University political analysts Noel Mbowela, described it as a marriage of convenience at the time, one that lacked clear terms of reference and guidelines on mutual benefits.

Mutharika then, during a meeting addressed in Katsonga’s Neno constituency, denounced Katsonga, accusing him, among other things, of cheating constituents that the DPP had endorsed him as its parliamentary candidate when the party already had a female candidate in the name of Reen Kachere.

The outburst put Katsonga in a catch-22 situation, as he still maintained the two parties’ relationship remained intact, and that Mutharika’s outbursts were merely part of the heat that was campaign.

Now, some three months after the May 19 elections, the relationship between the two parties remains hazy. Mutharika has done little to clear the air by his apparent disregard of PPM officials at his official meetings and public rallies.

PPM, which previously had over five Members of Parliament in the previous House, now has none, reducing the party to a side show and preparatory ground for the 2014 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Observers see the difference in metres between Ndirande Community Centre Ground (where Mutharika addressed a campaign rally on Sunday) and Chirunga Ground (the abode of Katsonga on Monday) as being representative of the ‘inside’ distance between the two political bedfellows.

Kenwilliams Mhango, one of the observers, said the two parties were now drifting apart, and attributed the development to the lack of clear terms of reference for the parties since their relationship was forged by way of an ad hoc strategy.

This could be seen from Mutharika and Katsonga’s sentiments during their Sunday and Monday meetings, respectively. Mutharika told a mammoth gathering at the Community Centre Ground that they should vote for nobody else but DPP’s Mkandawire. He described the other aspirants as mere opportunists who had nothing to offer. This includes PPM’s Saenda.

Katsonga, on his part, implored constituents to vote for Saenda only, saying the other political parties had failed to meet the aspirations of the people. He especially took at a swipe at the most immediate past Member of Parliament for the constituency, Gift Mwamondwe, and his party, saying they had failed people.

Mwamondwe was a DPP parliamentarian who will now stand as an independent. He accuses the DPP, where he still claims to belong, of ‘doctoring’ results of constituency primaries last year in favour of Mkandawire.

The PPM President also took time to visit Ndirande Market vendors. Katsonga was one of the first politicians to respond to the vendors’ dire call of distress when fire gutted down the market late last year, and donated K3 million.

Addressing the vendors, who gathered in the market premises on Monday, Katsonga asked them to vote for his candidate Saenda, saying the other political parties had little regard for their plight as evidenced by their slow response to the calamity that befell them last year.

Vendors especially accused government of employing ‘abandonment’ tactics after the fire, citing the slow response to their troubles, a development that led to an attempted gutting down of a DPP office in the area.

Katsonga seemed to play this ‘anger’ card very well this week, imploring the vendors not to put the incident fast behind the wheels of the past but show that they, too, could make responsive decision at the ballot box, decisions that reflected the realities of everyday life.

"I would accept no other form of gratitude (to the donation I gave you) other than the gift of Saenda from this constituency. That is the best way to thank me. PPM is the only party that can do wonders for you, and that you can enjoy by voting for Saenda. I leave you with these words, my beloved vendors," said Katsonga.

When asked about the present status of his party’s relationship with DPP, Katsonga maintained it was intact. He said PPM had won the May 19 presidential elections by virtue of Mutharika, their supported candidate, winning the polls.

It was the voice of an ambitious party president looking forward to 2014.

Katsonga and Saenda addressing vendors in Ndirande market.jpg

Katsonga making a point.jpg

Mark Katsonga.jpg

Katsonga and Saenda addressing vendors in Ndirande market.jpg

Seven years for defiling three girls

The Phalombe First Grade Magistrate Court on Friday convicted and sentenced 69-year-old Learnard Mvula to seven years Imprisonment with Hard Labour (IHL) for defiling three girls in a row.

Magistrate Felix Mandala heard that the three girls met their fate when they went to draw water at a tap located at Mvula’s house on 21 November last year. When the accused saw the girls aged between 10 and 11 years, he invited them into his house, and gave them pawpaws to eat.

“As the girls were eating, he started calling one girl at a time into his bedroom, where he undressed and subsequently defiled each of the girls. He later gave them K20 each and asked them not to disclose this to anyone,” said Phalombe Police spokesperson, Sergeant Augustus Nkhwazi on Friday.

Nkhwazi said, however, that, due to the pain the victims were experiencing, they narrated the ordeal to their parents who, in turn, reported the incident to Chiringa Police Unit.

Passing the sentence, Mandala chastened Mvula for his “shameful” conduct “considering your age”. He also bemoaned increased cases of defilement in the district and sentenced the accused to seven years, six months IHL.

Mvula hails from Nagoli Village in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Nkhulambe in the district.

In a related development, Mandala also convicted and sentenced 45-year-old Onasi Bisani to six years IHL for defiling his 11-year-old niece.

The court heard that Bisani, who comes from Zadwaza Village, T/A Jenala in Phalombe, defiled the girl when she paid him a visit on 29 November 2011.

“The victim went to see her grandfather (Bisani) at around 7 o’clock in the evening. The accused sent the girl on an errand and, as she was on her way, he followed her, grabbed her and forced the young girl into having sex with him,” Nkhwazi said.

The girl reported the incident to her mother who, in turn, alerted officers at Chitekesa Police Unit.

A medical report from Phalombe Health Centre confirmed that the girl was defilement.

Passing sentence, Mandala said Bisani deserved stiffer punishment and sentenced him to six years IHL.

100 Days Have Been Such a Long Time

100 days of searching for Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika have yielded no result.

His abode was the New State House in Lilongwe

But guards say he has not been traced there

Some went to the forsaken Sanjika Palace in Blantyre

Home of the First Ngwazi:

Not a shaddow,

Not a voice,

Not a cough.

Lingering doubts have taken hold of the land thereof

Though in hope, the people wax strong there.

From the U.S. to Joyce Banda with Admiration

July 13, 2012

President Joyce Banda

Embassy of the Republic of Malawi

2408 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Washington D.C. 20008

Dear Madam President Banda:

Though we were back in our congressional districts during your first visit as President of Malawi to the United States and Washington, DC, we heard so many good reports from the various meetings and events you attended. We applaud the progress you have made in a very short period of time, and we congratulate you on your many achievements as you and your countrymen mark your first 100 days in office.

We note with great admiration the long list of accomplishments in that short time period:

• Your getting Malawi’s financial situation improved to the point that the International Monetary Fund (IMF), previously spurned by your predecessor, has now given a positive assessment on the direction you are taking the country.

• Your work with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which has now lifted the suspension on investment in Malawi and approved more than $300 million, largely directed at rehabilitating the power sector.

• Your convincing USAID to pledge more support for Malawi, particularly in the form of public-private sector partnerships with a focus on food security and agriculture.

• Your outreach to the private sector and, especially impressive to us, the many meetings you had while in the US with American companies in the power and agriculture sectors.

• Your firm commitment to democracy, reflected in your strong support for eliminating previous Malawi government restrictions on important rights and freedoms.

• Your strong stance against Omar al-Bashir, the President of Sudan, to the point of stating that he would not be welcome in Malawi if the African Union Summit were held there.

• Your particular focus on women, especially young women, and your pledge to focus on providing opportunities for them in the public and private sectors.

We realize it is still very early in your term and understand the immense challenges and obstacles in your path. But on this 100-day commemoration, we congratulate you on a wonderful first chapter and look forward to working closely with you and your government in the days ahead.

Sincerely,

Steve Cohen

Tammy Baldwin

Karen Bass

André Carson

Yvette Clarke

Emanuel Cleaver

Joe Courtney

Danny Davis

Rosa DeLauro

Donna Edwards

Keith Ellison

Anna Eshoo

Chaka Fattah

Marcia Fudge

John Garamendi

Colleen Hanabusa

Maurice Hinchey

Rush Holt

Eddie Bernice Johnson

Rick Larsen

Barbara Lee

Ed Markey

Jim McDermott

Gwen Moore

James Moran

Christopher Murphy

Chellie Pingree

Charles Rangel

Bobby Rush

David Scott

Betty Sutton

Bennie Thompson

Edolphus Towns

Chris Van Hollen

Melvin Watt

Peter Welch

Lynn Woolsey

John Yarmuth

1962 Facts About Uganda

In 1962, Uganda had 479 registered doctors, 73 licenced doctors, 38 dentists, 1,156 midwives, 1,354 nurses and 72 pharmacists for its seven million people. There was a doctor for every 12,711 people.
On December 31, 2011, Uganda had 2,800 doctors for her 33 million people, placing the doctor-patient ratio at 1:27,687- SOURCE: New Vision, Uganda.

VISIT TO MALAWI BY BRITISH MINISTER, MR HENRY BELLINGHAM MP

UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mr Henry Bellingham MP will visit Malawi from 15-17 July 2012. During the visit, Mr Bellingham will hold high level meetings with Her Excellency President Joyce Banda and senior figures from the private sector.

In a brief statement ahead of the visit, Mr Bellingham said:

"I am very much looking forward to my first visit to Malawi and to meeting Her Excellency President Joyce Banda on her one hundredth day in office. There is a long and deep friendship between the people of Britain and Malawi. We are committed to maintaining excellent relations with Malawi to serve the long term interests of both our countries".

Fast Facts

1. Mr Bellingham becomes the second UK Government Minister to visit Malawi since President Banda assumed office. The Secretary of State for International Development Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell visited Malawi in May 2012.
2. In June, the UK announced the appointment of Mr Michael Nevin as new British High Commissioner to Malawi. Mr Nevin takes up his appointment in September 2012.
3. The UK, through the Department for International Development (DFID) provides about £80 million support to Malawi each year to help implement the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS).
4. DFID has already disbursed £23 million since April this year to help fiscal stability and provide essential support to health, education and agriculture.

Fighting Animal Trypanosomiasis

AUC and FAO sign agreement to work together

Addis Ababa, 11 July 2012 - The African Union Commission and the Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations today signed a memorandum of understanding to work together in the fight against tsetse and the animal trypanosomiasis.

Speaking at the ceremony H.E Rhoda Tumusiime -Commissioner for Rural Economy And Agriculture, African Union Commission - noted the importance of all stakeholders working together to create sustainable tsetse and trypanosomiasis free areas in the countries affected. She also noted the economic importance this disease has in Africa. “Almost a third of the food in the continent can be attributed to the livestock sector. The fact that this disease affects livestock, then you can only imagine its impact on the food chain,” she said. Currently, USD 4.5 million is spent on trypanosomiasis yearly.

In this agreement the AU and FAO have agreed to work together in mobilizing and coordinating activities aimed at increasing the control of animal African trypanosomiasis. This agreement is an important step forward in consolidating the gains made in thePan African Tsetse and trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC). The main goal of the PATTEC campaign is to eliminate tsetse flies from the continent and, with them, to eliminate most animal trypanosomes that bring the disease.

Dr. Castro Camarada - FAO Representative to the Africa Union –stressed that the memorandum of understanding was a great step forward in the implementation of PATTEC initiative. “This agreement strengthens our collaboration and paves the way for our increased cooperation while providing a solid basis for joint actions,” he said. FAO, he added, had over 50 years experience in animal trypanosomiasis and tsetse control and therefore brought with it a wealth of knowledge in this partnership.

Animal trypanosomiasis is a parasitic disease that causes serious economic losses in livestock from anemia, loss of condition and emaciation. Many untreated cases are fatal. Trypanosomiasis threatens human and livestock health and agricultural production, and, thereby, rural development and poverty alleviation in sub-Saharan Africa.

Bank Rate Adjustment: Reserve Bank of Malawi

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met on 9 July 2012 to review recent economic developments and the stance of monetary policy.

The MPC observed that inflationary pressures are unlikely to abate soon as money and bank credit are growing at excessive rates. While the foreign exchange situation continues to improve, the MPC noted that uncertainties remain in the months ahead. In addition to these macroeconomic factors, the Committee took note of the increasing interbank market rates and the excessive recourse to the Reserve Bank of Malawi lending window.

In view of the above developments, the Committee resolved to adjust the Bank rate from 16 percent to 21.0 percent with immediate effect. Recognizing that at this level the Bank Rate is still negative in real terms given inflationary
expectations, the MPC undertook to review the situation at its next meeting.

Charles S R Chuka
CHAIRMAN, MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE
10 July 2012