By Elias Mhegera – Researchers have signaled the end of land based conflicts which have become monotonous in some areas of Tanzania leading to heinous and unprecedented killings. This hope was given recently by the Executive Director of the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF), Dr Bohela Lunogelo during the opening of a modern studio facility at the centre dubbed “Maendeleo Studio”. Dr Lunogelo was responding exclusively to this reporter on February 11, when he was asked why the ESRF has not embarked in researching on land conflicts in order to suggest a tangible solution to the Government. “We are quite... Continue Reading
Harare, Zimbabwe; October 21, 2013: The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Office of Food for Peace (FFP) has provided an additional $10 million to the U.N. World Food Program (WFP). This assistance will support humanitarian food needs in Zimbabwe during the October to March hunger season. WFP will use this contribution to purchase cereals, pulses, and oil, as well as to provide direct cash transfers to beneficiaries where food is available in local markets. In anticipation of humanitarian food needs for the 2013-14 hunger season, USAID had previously contributed in-kind food—cereal, pulses, and oil—valued at approximately $15 million. ... Continue Reading
BENI, 17 October 2013 (IRIN) – “Eight months ago no one had heard of Al-Shabab,” said Henri Ladyi, a Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) expert and director of the Conflict Resolution Centre (CRC) in Beni, a town and territory in North Kivu Province in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Ladyi is concerned that rumours about the influence of Somalia-based Islamists in Beni, whether true or not, are unravelling gains made by the CRC in recent years. The UN, Congolese and Ugandan authorities have drawn links between the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan rebel group operating in the Ruwenzori... Continue Reading
As Africans, we need to know that not only must we set our political and economic compass, but also standardize our moral compass. The ‘Gay’ issue is a very important one, and thus, I contribute some input as Nigerians wait for our president to sign the same-sex bill into law. Firstly, there are important items to note on regulations and legislature. It is pertinent we recognize that there is no global union or governing body of thought that has the authority to determine (including via intimidation) what individual states decide on this sensitive religious and cultural issue. On marriage issues,... Continue Reading
On the 17th June 2013, I joined Betty Makoni and Girl Child Network in a special viewing organised by Deloitte. The documentary to be aired later that evening on Channel 5’s extraordinary people, was the heart wrenching story of perseverance and courage. Tare, the young Zimbabwean girl who at 13 had a toothache that did not go away but later became a life threatening tumour. The aggressive tumour took over, closing her air waves and severely disfiguring her face. Unfortunately medical facilities in Zimbabwe were unaffordable and also the unusual nature of the tumor did not help matters. There was... Continue Reading
