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Africa Zimbabwe For Unity Government?
Abdul Ruff - 5/2/2008
Latest indications reveal that Zimbabwe is heading for a unity government. After a long wait in obtaining the final victors in the polls, it seems, some mediators in Zimbabwe are negotiating for a unity government by the national parties, both ruling and opposition. The national elections in Zimbabwe were held on 29 March - a month ago and the final results of parliamentary and presidential polls have still not been published.The continued bitter war for power by major parties in this African state has forced a few statesmen to push for a Unity Government and help usher in a sort of peaceful atmosphere in the country. Nigerian Diaspora and the New Face of Nigeria
Ugo Harris Ukandu - 5/2/2008
It is a common theme these days in almost every major city in America or Europe to notice groups of Nigerians discussing and anticipating the politics, democracy, freedom, business, opportunities and forth coming elections in Nigeria with interest, and how some are planning to either run for election or to influence the out come of the election in Nigeria by campaigning, organizing, fund raising, lobbying or by voting from outside Nigeria. It has gotten to a frenzy state that at any Nigerian gathering or function - in a party, at school, at work and Bars/restaurants - an average Nigerian now i... Zimbabwe towards Unity Government?
Abdul Ruff - 5/2/2008
The national elections in Zimbabwe were held on 29 March - a month ago. The final results of parliamentary and presidential polls have still not been published - more than four weeks after the elections. Latest indications reveal that Zimbabwe is heading for a unity government. After a long wait in obtaining the final victors in the polls, it seems, some mediators in Zimbabwe are negotiating for a unity government by the national parties, both ruling and opposition. The continued bitter war for power by major parties in this African state has forced a few statesmen to push for a Unity Government and help usher in a sort of peaceful atmosphere in the country. Who will probe Nigeria’s National Assembly?
Joel Nwokeoma - 5/2/2008
These, seemingly, are the best of times for members of the two chambers of Nigeria’s National Assembly. It looks no doubt as their time to shine, and they, surely, are reveling in it. A casual review of governance activities in the country as succinctly captured by the media in recent times will show that the sun looks to be shining the brightest in the National Assembly, or so it seems. This, however, is not taking anything away from the phenomenal interventions and activism of the judicial arm of government especially on the strength of the bold and courageous judgments so far declared on the last general elections. The African Writer Is An Orphan
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye - 4/29/2008
In 2002, Chinedu Ogoke, a Nigerian writer and translator resident in Germany published his first novel, Under Fire. His second novel is being awaited. In this interview with UGOCHUKWU EJINKEONYE, Mr. Ogoke speaks on his work and the state of African Literature in relation to the still thorny issue of audience definition A clean bill of health for Yar'Adua
Joel Nwokeoma - 4/18/2008
For the umpteenth, Nigeria was this week gripped with the confusing puzzle over the state of health of President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua. The palpable confusion over the President’s health was widely reported by various national newspapers on Tuesday, April 15, a story that overshadowed, in significance, the 2008 budget that was finally signed by the President, after many months of rofofo fight between the National Assembly and the executive. The most disturbing of the stories was that of The Punch with an alarming banner headline: “Yar’Adua ill, flown Abroad”! The Guardian, on the other hand, wa... Somalia: The TFG Is All Talk & No Substance
Hassan Shirwa - 4/12/2008
Mr Nur Hassan Hussein (Adde), who is nominally Ethiopia's TFG chief, held a press conference in Mogadishu on 12 March 2008, in which he said that his blood soaked TFG was ready to talk peace with its opponents including the Al-Shabaab Organisation who are the real force behind the full swing freedom fighting insurgency against the savage Ethiopian occupation and their Somali collaborator mercenaries. South Africa – A modern day 'Zimbardo Experiment'
Mike Smith - 4/9/2008
In 1971, Dr. Phillip Zimbardo of the Stanford University, conducted his infamous and controversial “Prison Experiment”. Most scholars of Psychology agree that to replicate this experiment today will be impossible, because of human rights. The world will simply not allow this to happen. Power Struggle in Zimbabwe
Abdul Ruff - 4/7/2008
Zimbabwe that went to poll on March 29 to elect a president, a new parliament and local councils has been reeling under a sort of crisis owing to the inordinate delay in announcing all results, especially the fate of Presidential race is kept a top secret by the election commission, giving rise to suspicion and a sense of betrayal by the opposition party and the electorate at large. Local results have been posted outside most polling stations since morning of March 30. However, there was little expectation that the outcome of the presidential contest will be declared at all. Jacob Zuma and the Afrikaners
Johann Wingard - 4/5/2008
I was probably not the only person who was sickened by Mike Smith's article entitled, "On trapping birds and kicking dogs". Smith wants Afrikaners to come out and fight for their own homeland rather than trying to make a living in an African state. He shows all the signs of the classical denialist. He cannot accept the fact that we live in Africa. Will Obasanjo Explode Yar’Adua’s Anti-Graft Balloon?
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye - 4/3/2008
If you are carrying out an employment exercise in your company, and one of the jobseekers showed up with a letter of recommendation duly written and signed by Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, the former Chair of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), would that impress you? Sudan-Chad Truce : Light at the end of the Darfur Tunnel?
Abdul Ruff - 4/3/2008
On the sidelines of the OIC summit in Dakar, Senegal, the presidents of Chad and Sudan Chad's Idriss Deby and Sudan 's Omar al-Bashir, have signed an accord on 13 March aimed at halting five years of hostilities between the two neigboring countries. They agreed to implement past failed peace pacts at a Dakar summit. The deal - known as the Dakar agreement - commits the two nations to implementing past accords that have failed. The accord was struck under Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade's mediation. The signing ceremony was witnessed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade brokered the agreement at his palace in the capital. Vacancy for Leadership in Nigeria
Ugo Harris Ukandu - 4/3/2008
Leadership in Nigeria today has become a word used by our present leadership but their experiences, their atittude, their actions and their words fall short of true leaders. Presently in Nigeria, we have shameless leaders, sadist as leaders, abusers as leaders, child molesters as leaders,economic rapist as leaders, rogues as leaders, perverts as leaders, drunkard as leaders, people who are security risk as leaders, looters as leaders, criminals as leaders, law breakers as leaders, 419ers as leaders, praise singers as leaders, dooms day prophets as leaders,failed academicians as leaders, crimin... Massive win for MDC; Mugabe trying to steal election
Guy White - 4/1/2008
The election victory for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Zimbabwe is massive according to those who report from the ground. Victories in Matabeleland and other regions that are favorable to Morgan Tsvangirai show some precincts leaning for MDC by margins between 10:1 and 30:1. Even in Robert Mugabe-favored areas, Tsvangirai looks to have scored some very impressive wins. Meeting The Needs Of Nigeria’s Re-Emerging Middle Class
Uche Nworah - 3/13/2008
To ensure that we are all on the same page on the subject of middle class, it is important to attempt an explanation of the phrase ‘middle class’ in the Nigerian context. The reason being that the phrase which was popular in Nigeria in the seventies, and probably the early eighties may not mean so much to today’s generation, who go by other social group names and classifications including YUPPIES (an acronym for young, urban and upwardly mobile professionals). Somalia's Leadership: Substance or Rhetoric?
Sadia Ali Aden - 3/5/2008
These are serious times with serious challenges that require serious leadership capable of envisioning free and united Somalia based on peace, justice and equality. Devoid of that, the current bloodshed will only continue and the humanitarian crisis will worsen. At The Mercy Of Nigerian Traders
Uche Nworah - 3/3/2008
Absence of vibrant consumer protection organisations in the country exposes consumers to exploitation by retail outlets. In this interview, Olusegun Adeoye of Tell magazine speaks with Uche Nworah, senior lecturer in marketing communications at the London Metropolitan Business School on the worrying exploitation of consumers by some retail outlets in Nigeria. Kenyan Deal: A compromise between Britain and America
Abid Mustafa - 3/3/2008
On 27/2/2008, Kofi Annan acting under US tutelage announced a power-sharing deal to solve Kenya’s political crisis. The key points of the deal are: Nigeria: The Making of a Failed State
Franklyne Ogbunwezeh - 3/3/2008
Before the Shakespearean Caesar fell, the nightmares of his wife were premonitions. Before he took the fatal steps to the Capitol, the good offices of Artemidorus were deployed by fate as an early warning system. The treachery of Brutus was appropriated by the sharp faculties of the Seer. Caesar was warned. He got sufficient forewarnings. But like every conceited man, Caesar was deaf. His pride deafened him. Caesar felt invincible. He kept his self-deception running on all cylinders. “Caesar was more dangerous than danger”; screamed the arrogant banners of his conceit. He swaggered in pride, l... Nigeria and Foreign investors
Ugo Harris Ukandu - 3/3/2008
I want to understand what Nigerian Government officials, especially the State Goverenors think about economic development, because it seems that our idea of investment/trade and the rest of the world runs counter to each other. Looking at economic development in all parts of the world, governments and people develop economic models by looking inward within their countries before venturing outside to seek input but in Nigeria the opposite is the case. Protest and Recovery in Kenyan Politics
Ronald Elly Wanda - 2/28/2008
Very often it is alleged that Justice is the highest goal of political life, yet for most folks in Africa it is instead injustice that continues to dominate political debate. The political bloodshed that we continue to witness in Kenya following the dishonourable re-election of Mr Mwai Emilio Kibaki on 30th of December 2007 is a contemporary classic case in illustration. The Collapse of South Africa
Jan Lamprecht - 2/13/2008
When the Western world, with the connivance of then-President FW de Klerk and his National Party, finally forced the white government to surrender to the ANC, a massive chain-reaction was set in place: the steadily eroding reputation of South Africa as a once-stable country in a violent Africa. Despite all the problems that came with an apartheid government, South Africa was still relatively calm and peaceful. Now, it has erupted into chaos. How To Beat Global Apartheid
Albert Brenner - 2/12/2008
Imagine a place where the colour of your skin will be the main reason why you would be refused permission to move from A to B. Further imagine a place where those at point B have spent billions in trying to keep you at point A. They've erected spiked walls, thousands of miles of barbed-wire fences and patrol their borders 24/7 just to make absolutely sure that you cannot enter their domain, not even in the dead of the night. That they don't want you there is heart-rendingly evident every time you see another group of your brothers turned away or another shanty town being erected on the borders... Who Cares If Kenya Bleeds To Death?
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye - 2/10/2008
Two days ago (Monday, February 4, 2008), The Standard, a Nairobi-based national newspaper published on its front page the heart-rending picture of the Kenyan Minister of Special Programmes, Dr. (Mrs.) Naomi Shabaan, carrying a two-day old baby, John Nduati, who was born at one of the very “inhospitable and squalid camps” where hapless Kenyans, brutally displaced by the insane political crises that have engulfed their country for more than a month now, have sought refuge. Thieves in the Nigerian Senate
Franklyne Ogbunwezeh - 2/5/2008
When a corpse comes hurrying to burial with an erect penis, then something is absolutely wrong. Not only that this has all the ingredients of an abominable embarrassment, the corpse is not heading home pretty soon. If he receives an interment, the odours of gossip would ensure his eternal insomnia in the memories of the living. At the dawn of time, long before the birth of taboo, the coffin was already on record as advising the corpse to relax, and make itself comfortable because their journey and alliance is going to be a very long one. Both of them are marching to eternity together. And that... Kenyan and Nigerian Election Disputes - A Contrast
Ugo Harris Ukandu - 1/21/2008
Election matters in every Democratic country in choosing their leaders but countries in Africa no matter how stable the country is are all falling victims to an International conspiracy with collaboration with selfish African leaders to perpetuate the long term aim of Slavery and colonialism to divide and conquer Africans by tribe, creed, ethnicity and we versus them mentality. In any African election is hardly a loser ever. Everybody wins especially when the opponents open their ears and eyes to the so called International election observers and monitors; whom always plays double face gam... Ahmed Dirie: The Somali Nelson Mandela
Ahmed Dirie - 1/13/2008
Despite Ahmed Dirie’s brief public service history, he accomplished what few other man achieved in all civilizations. Ahmed Dirie revived the ever diminish Somali-esteem and pride by standing up against a brutal enemy with unfettered support from the only supper power, United States of America. At first glance, Ahmed Dirie seemed a very fragile and naďve individual as he was not a heavy build/muscular and highly educated man. However, time and again, he has proven to be a leader of high sophistications with integrity and respect for others. In his capacity as a Somali elder (traditional leader... The Way Forward For Nigerian Film Industry
Ugo Harris Ukandu - 1/10/2008
The economic trend in Nigeria and focusing on the high income earner for Nigeria over time, Oil,gas, Cocoa, Coal and palm produce have all been the foreign exchange earner for Nigeria since 1960, and based on the mismanagement that followed these income earning products for the nation, Nigeria is today in prostrate state and terribly sick in terms of managing our enormous resources in raw and finished materials. According to the Director of Filmmakers of Nigeria(FAN) Mrs. Pat Okolo ' Nigeria is losing estimated 50 millions dollars yearly because of international piracy of Nigerian movies and films in the Americas, canada, other African Countries and Europe' etc. Why Ribadu was kicked out of EFCC
Franklyne Ogbunwezeh - 1/10/2008
On the shores of utopia, the prize for excellence is approbation; not reproach. Here, the reward for a job well done is recognition, support, and a higher pedestal upon which to repeat the feat earlier achieved, on a grander scale. It is not the sack. In this clime, the reward for a job well done is never the timid heckles of emasculated cowards; content in spending their insignificant lives in anonymous non-existence, criticizing those who dared challenge existence to yield to their vision. Neither is it the neurotic insecurities and impious envy of visionless power, which sees an affront to ... Nigeria Should Welcome AfricaCom
Ugo Harris Ukandu - 1/8/2008
At this juncture of world advancement, countries and people are coming together more than ever before in the history of human race for positive changes. Globalization has made every village on earth a global village when considering the impact of communication Engaging Somalia Via The Road Least Traveled
Abukar Arman - 1/8/2008
The report card is in, and the end of the year accumulative grade indicates miserable failure. Worsening conditions for the ailing nation of Somalia, costly quagmire for Ethiopia and political wild-goose chase that produced a new hotbed of Anti-Americanism in the Horn for the US. Marking First Anniversary Of Ethiopia's Brutal Occupation in Somalia
Abdulkadir Abdirahman - 1/8/2008
It was this time last year when the Ethiopian invading troops marched into Somalia particularly the Capital, Mogadishu, with its 2.5 million populations in state of peace, but today the population has drastically dwindled to less than one million because of the mass killing, indiscriminate bombardments, prevalent rape and the massive displacements. In that backdrop, Somali Cause, the largest union of Somali organizations in North America, has called to mark on the mourning of the first sad anniversary of Ethiopia 's occupation of Somalia to be held across the U.S. and Canada on December 28th... Paedophilia On The Increase In Nigeria
Uche Nworah - 1/7/2008
Paedophilia is a crime full stop. I don’t buy the argument being peddled in certain quarters that it is a disease; such people also maintain that pedophiles require help. if you ask me, the only help they require is to be shown the way to Kirikiri maximum security prison where they should be locked up for life and the keys to their room thrown into the Lagos lagoon. American Report On Nigerian Elections
Jimmy Osifo - 1/3/2008
After reading some essays posted to the internet on the subject of Maurice Iwu’s recent trip to America to release the report of the 2007 general elections, I decided to also write my own impressions and conclusions based on my personal and first hand observations of how the two events turned out. Labor Negotiations with the ANC
Mike Smith - 12/27/2007
In a recent article (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=nw20071223125941883C707494), the boys from Solidarity, Flip Buys, Dirk Herman, Kallie Kriel and other predominantly-white unions claimed to believe that they can bargain with the ANC. But to bargain successfully or even negotiate, you have to have some kind of leverage. You must have either money, numbers of people or superior weaponry. Why would Jacob Zuma and the ANC even listen to Solidarity?? On trapping birds and kicking dogs
Mike Smith - 12/23/2007
When one traps pheasants, one has to bait them with feed until they are under the trap. Once there, one yanks out the stick and the trap falls over the birds. Then their heads are cut off. Further, they are plucked, roasted and eaten. South Africa: It Was Just Time For Change
Mike Smith - 12/21/2007
On South African television the interviewer asks a black man, "So whom do you want to win the ANC leadership election and why?" The "War on Terror" and the Humanitarian Crisis in Somalia
Sadia Ali Aden - 12/21/2007
Approximately three months ago, Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG), pressured out Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi. Surprisingly, this political re-arrangement of deckchairs generated much noisy headlines. The Africa Command Prospect and the Partition of Somalia
Abukar Arman - 12/15/2007
As the US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, was recently visiting American forces in Djibouti, the Washington Post was reporting how the Pentagon has been spearheading a seemingly dicey initiative to pressure Washington into recognizing the secessionist northwestern region of Somalia known as “Somaliland” as an independent state. South Africa - Civil War or Peaceful Split?
Mike Smith - 12/14/2007
Watching the current power struggle within the ANC, it is clear that the party can no longer exist in its current form after the Polokwane conference or in the run-up to the 2009 elections. A split is inevitable. This will be no peaceful divorce. The split will be messy and we will see similar scenes as that of the early ‘90s; Xhosas against Zulus, Communism against Tribal Nationalism, basically one big orgy of violence and death. Shorn Of Hypocrisy, The Mind Is For Death Penalty
Dianam Dakolo - 12/10/2007
At the United Nations, 15 November, some 87 countries including 27 European Union States were able to secure approval by the vital Third Committee of the General Assembly for a draft proposal seeking to “establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.” By a vote of 99 countries for and 52 against, the Committee, which has responsibility for social, humanitarian affairs and human rights, is obligated to endorse and submit the proposal to the UN General Assembly for consideration and final adoption. Non-binding as the final outcome, a resolution, might be, membe... Big Brother Africa: Debasing Self For A Fee
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye - 12/10/2007
Recently, Big Brother Africa (BBA2) Reality Show ended in South Africa amidst much din, slimy scandals and lingering controversies, and the only coherent statement it was able to make was that in this our very unfortunate and bankrupt age, money has acquired an even greater and awesome powers, and its capacity to compel otherwise rational human beings to gleefully part ways with every bit of their honour and dignity, be disdainful all considerations for decency and self-esteem, and enthusiastically indulge in several nauseating, self-debasing acts, has exceeded what anyone had thought was possible in decent society. The Liberal Women Of South Africa
Mike Smith - 12/7/2007
You all know her. The Liberal White Bitch that, despite her obvious lack of political knowledge, thinks Mandela is a saint and Oprah Winfrey is the best thing since Mother Teresa. Spot her in the supermarket with her designer clothes and oversized sunglasses on her hair; the re-growth from her last attempt at going blond starting to show just above the line of her fake orange tan, but she thinks us men do not notice. The one who gets her queues from magazines like Cosmo, Femina and…heaven forbid Rooi Rose. Yes, Rooi Rose and Sarie as well because there are many of these liberal white Afrikaner... Loud Noises and Low Deeds In Kenyan Politics
Ronald Elly Wanda - 12/6/2007
In political philosophy, it is often argued that no man has enough prestige to tell or make wanainchi (citizens) believe that two plus two equals five or for that matter make them accept any testimony which seems contrary to their experience. It is a matter of weighting the evidential value of the experience. In Kenya, the country’s oldest political party Kenya National African Union (KANU) was predictably ejected from power, having ruled the country uninterruptedly since flag independence from Britain in 1963. Former president Daniel Arap Moi, the self proclaimed “Professor of African politic... A Question of Morality
Ronald Elly Wanda - 12/2/2007
What a dramatic Sunday I’d had. First, in the early hours of dawn a bizarre SMS landed on my GSM reading: “I’m preg.” I’d had a cushy evening during the latter part of the weekend and understandably as you would expect, I didn’t take much notice of the message until much later, when I’d delicately detoxed with a rescuer’s cup of Kenya’s finest KETEPA pride that the communication sunk in. Following a brief and panicky inquiry, it turned out that it was Mary, an Irish girl living in Londonderry (Northern Ireland) who’d mistaken my digits with those of Tunde, her intended Nigerian recipient (presumably her boyfriend) also supposedly living in London. Somalia: Shifting Policy or a Face-saving Gimmick
Abukar Arman - 12/1/2007
By all standards, the situation unfolding in Somalia is horrifically grim, and according to the UN, it is the worst crisis in Africa; worse than the crisis in Darfur that outraged the world’s conscience in an unprecedented way. Nigeria: A Super-Charged Nation
Uche Nworah - 12/1/2007
Do Nigerian men really walk about packing a permanent hard on as the image in one of the energy drink brands suggests or is it the women that are leading them on? What is this new craze for energy drinks in this African nation of over 120 million people? Obasanjo’s Probe: Mr. Ribadu’s Redeeming Job
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye - 11/30/2007
The single most formidable threat to President Umar Musa Yar’Adua’s integrity and acceptance in Nigeria today, aside the revolting, horribly manipulated elections that brought him to power a couple of months ago, is his reluctance or refusal to probe the regime of his predecessor in office, Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, widely believed to be the most corrupt since Nigeria came into being. Africans Should Re-Think Their Commonwealth Membership
Ronald Elly Wanda - 11/27/2007
Since the statute of Westminster that stipulated the formation of the Commonwealth in 1931, the purposes; benefits, representations and agency as well as the so called ‘rewards’ of the union have remained issues of contestations. This year’s Commonwealth’s Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Kampala, East Africa, rekindles this interest. In this edition, Wanda revisits the old debates and concludes that Africa needs to rethink its membership. Is South Africa Attempting To Overthrow Swazi Government?
Jan Lamprecht - 11/20/2007
Swaziland is a small country which borders on South Africa. It is ruled by a black King. As often happens in Africa, he is far from perfect. And yet, he might in fact be the only remaining monarch on the African continent who truly rules his own tribe. I tend to have a soft spot for the black chiefs because sometimes I think they do better for their own people than this “liberation” bunch, who are just lying scum that use their power to ruin the countries they run. Is Colonization The Source of African Poverty?
Guy White - 11/18/2007
Last week, I wrote an article explaining why the whites people's legacy of slavery should not be the shame of owning slaves, which all nations and races have done, but rather the pride in ending slavery not only in their own societies but around the world. Today, I will tackle another issue - colonization as a source of African economic troubles. Presidential Pardons In South Africa
Mike Smith - 11/17/2007
The issue of Presidential Pardons for politically motivated offenses is currently in the news in South Africa. Every year, just before Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November), the president of the USA pardons a Turkey in a ceremony at the White House. This demonstrates his power of Executive Clemency or Presidential Pardon. The Role of Traditional Rulers in an Emerging Democratic Nigeria
Uche Nworah - 11/15/2007
The core issue, and central theme of our deliberations today is the allocation of constitutional roles to traditional rulers. A question therefore arises on whether these agitations are purely in the national interest (for country), in the interests of the subjects (the citizens) or just in the ‘selfish’ interest of His Highnesses (for Kingdom). Is the South African Constitution Being Sidelined?
Duncan Du Bois - 11/13/2007
Consternation rages at events concerning the firing of the national director of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the controversy surrounding the National Police Commissioner and the decision of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) concerning Judge John Hlophe. Despite clear constitutional guidelines on the ethics expected of all concerned, the agenda of transformation, it would seem, enjoys priority. South Africa: Appetite For Influence Has Not Changed
Duncan Du Bois - 11/9/2007
Freedom of the press and the independence of the judiciary are constitutional provisions the ruling party and its associates claim to support. Yet through the insidious process of political correctness those principles are being eroded. In February 1982 the Steyn Commission of Inquiry into the media expressed the view that ' much diversity had already disappeared from the South African media scene' because of the degree of corporate control over the press. The Commission warned that the information industry was threatened by Leviathan because of the powerful and predatory position of the Argus... Criminal Conditioning in South Africa
Mike Smith - 11/7/2007
The leading expert on the subject of Killology today is Lt-Col. Dave Grossman. Grossmann found that there were many books written on (and research done into) the psychology of man’s creative spirit, namely sex or “Sexology”, but very little research existed about the psychology of man’s darker side, that of killing a fellow human being. Lt-Col Grossmann is the author of several books and a well-respected lecturer and adviser on the subject of “Killology”. In his book “On Killing – The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society”, Lt-Col. Grossman explores this darker side of man ... My Meeting With President Mugabe of Zimbabwe
Robb Ellis - 11/7/2007
Heavy gold tunic, long trousers, long sleeved jacket, green shirts with a blue tie, dress shoes and a regimental leather belt, all crowned with a standard ZRP Police cap – all presented in pristine condition, of course - because none other than Robert Mugabe was gracing us with his presence. I had grown a bok baard - a goatie beard - and now was having to get rid of it again. Mind you, I come from a very hirsute family and knew that it wouldn’t take long to grow another one. (Nowadays, I sport a full beard, and if, for one reason or another, I need to take it off, I know I can grow a full beard in seven days!) Are Whites The Source Of African Poverty?
Jan Lamprecht - 10/12/2007
The Scotsman reported that African economies (and people) are being ravaged by violence: Was Apartheid Really The Most Evil Regime In The World?
Albert Brenner - 10/8/2007
How does one measure evil? Is there such a thing as a universal 'index' according to which deeds of evil can be judged? If we, for example, take the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the final arbiter of what is evil and what is not, how could we then judge Zimbabwe as being more evil than, for example, China and Saudi Arabia – two countries enjoying marvelous ties with the West despite their abysmal human rights records. Is this blatant hypocrisy, or just the obligatory Real Politic of individual nations surviving in a cynical world where might (financial, military, etc) is right? Burma: Hijacker's Flight For Freedom
Richard S. Ehrlich - 10/2/2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A Burmese man who hijacked a Thai International Airways passenger plane, to publicize his country's struggle against its military regime, says other protestors in Burma should not seize aircraft but find "dramatic" and "creative ways" to gain world support. "I do not regret the 'hijacking'. I am proud of what I did -- this peaceful 'hijacking drama' in 1990 -- given the kind of situation at that time," Soe Myint said in an interview. "There was very little international attention on how the peoples of Burma were struggling under the military regime," he said, reflecting... Early CIA Involvement in Darfur Has Gone Unreported
Jay Janson - 10/1/2007
There has been a glaring omission in the U.S. media presentation of the Darfur tragedy. The compassion demonstrated, mostly in words, until recently, has not been accompanied by a recognition of U.S. complicity, or at least involvement, in the war which has led to the enormous suffering and loss of life that has been taking place in Darfur for many years. In 1978 oil was discovered in Southern Sudan. Rebellious war began five years later and was led by John Garang, who had taken military training at infamous Fort Benning, Georgia. "The US government decided, in 1996, to send nearly $20 million... Segun Adeniyi And E-Information Management
Uche Nworah - 9/26/2007
It was in the days of the old Nigerian Guardian newspaper website when it still had the chat room option that internet savvy Nigerians usually congregated to debate topical social, political, economic and cultural issues. The defunct Guardian chat room attracted all sorts of people, including Nigerians and non-Nigerians. People came for different reasons; there were those who came to look for love, some others for business partners and many others simply to vent their anger on the government. There were also some who perpetually had an axe to grind with everybody who did not share their world ... Zimbabwe: Things Will Get Even Worse After Mugabe
Jan Lamprecht - 9/16/2007
Almost everyone says that when President Robert Mugabe dies, all the problems will go away and Zimbabwe will be restored to its former "glory". Indeed, many are waiting for him to step down or die, thinking that this will be the end of Zimbabwe's problems. I think everyone is wrong. I am convinced that horror that awaits Zimbabwe after Mugabe dies. Nigerian leaders and the crisis of public ethics
Joel Nwokeoma - 9/15/2007
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has been grappling with everything but legislative matters in recent weeks. A matter which, sadly enough, is also not representative of the wishes and desires of the average Nigerian, as issues of governance, citizens well being and lawmaking have been thrown to the back seat of activities. Instead, it has been engulfed in a self-inflicted ravaging turmoil over what some called an act of “indefensible indiscretion” on the part of the Speaker, Mrs. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, in the award of contracts for the renovation of her official residence and that of her deputy, Alhaji Babangida Seidu Nguroje. Destruction of Africa since De-colonization
Jan Lamprecht - 9/10/2007
Back in the 1950's there were whites in Africa completely opposed to Black Independence because they said, ultimately the blacks would return to the bush. But let’s look at results now, after generations have passed since de-colonization. Nigeria's Madam Speaker in the eye of the storm
Joel Nwokeoma - 8/31/2007
If media reports in the last few days in Nigeria on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, are anything to go by, it seems then that the woman popularly called Madam Speaker on the floor of the lower federal parliament, has inadvertently hit a rough patch of sorts in her bourgeoning political career. And, it is one bad patch that might lead to her taking a big tumble from her Olympian political heights to the abyss of ignominy and desertion, if care is not taken. Rhodesia: The Country That Used To Be
Mencius Moldbug - 8/17/2007
What is history? History is just a bunch of stuff that happened. Mostly to people now dead. We owe these people nothing. They're dead, after all. Sometimes we have some scraps of paper they scribbled on. Sometimes we don't.
I was reading Tacitus' Annals the other week (not for any good reason; I was just somewhere where there was a copy of Tacitus) and I was rather looking forward to the story of Caligula. (Who Tacitus quite confusingly calls "Caius Caesar" - as if there was some shortage of Romans by this name.) Suddenly, though, there was... Sierra Leone: Elections Bring A Gleam Of Hope
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 8/13/2007
Sierra Leone’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections on August 11th may do little more than legitimize the end of the country’s bloody civil war that ended in 2002. Yet the election stands out in Sierra Leone , partly because of its rarity. For the first time the election will be held without the assistance of international peace keepers. Will inflation trigger the regime change in Zimbabwe?
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 8/12/2007
In 1968, Germany ’s economics minister, Karl Schiller, announced that “inflation is dead, as dead as a rusty nail”. In America , Lester Thurow, a professor of economics, declared in his book that inflation is “an extinct volcano”, dangerous because some foolish central bankers refuses to see that it has vanished. Both of them stated that inflation is dead and buried. But bring them to Zimbabwe and they may perhaps immediately reverse their statements. Will the UN resolution on Darfur make any difference?
Saberi Roy - 8/12/2007
Finally, the UN Security Council has authorized 26,000 troops and police to protect civilians in Darfur and the peacekeepers are also allowed to use force to protect the civilians and aid workers. But considering the fact that 200,000 civilians have died in the region in the last four years and 2.5 million people have been displaced, it’s a tough job for the UN. Sudan’s pro-militia government has been resisting UN intervention all these years but finally agreed to deployment of UN forces after insisting on considerable changes to the resolution. What critics consider as a largely ‘watered down... Looting Africa: Book Review
Ronald Elly Wanda - 8/10/2007
My journey from London to Durban (on the south coast of South Africa) that usually takes about 14 hours felt like a short matatu (taxi) ride from Kaloleni to Kawangware in Nairobi. Thanks to Elite Transition, the last book by Patrick Bond that I read during the long-haul flight to the southern fraction of our beautiful continent. The book, appropriately titled, fast forwarded my existing knowledge of contemporary South African politics that came in handy during my active albeit short stay in Durban and later Johannesburg. China in Somalia: Flexing the Bicep in the Zone
David James - 8/2/2007
China has sent shivers across the spines of major global economies after winning an oil exploration deal in the north of the war torn Somalia. But it is not such a surprise to corporate executives who might have foreseen the eminence of Chinese deal makers break in Somalia. The move was guaranteed and the results perfectly stashed in the duffel of Chinese Oil Company. A wake up call to the peace process brokers and the members of the European Union and the African Union. South Africa: What Future Is There For Whites And Other Minorities?
Mike Smith - 7/15/2007
What future is there for whites and other minorities in South Africa? It is not just whites who will disappear under the ANC/Communist rule, but all minorities - Coloureds, Indians and smaller black tribes. Somalia: Ethiopian Occupation, Reconciliation Pipedream, And The Way Forward
Abdulkadir Abdirahman - 7/11/2007
For some everything that could go wrong for Somalia has came to pass, for others, considering how rapidly Mogadishu is turning into Baghdad, the worst, both for Somalia and the region, is yet to come. However, there is no dispute that each day that passes makes it more evident that occupation leads neither to "reconciliation" nor to a "way forward." UN Inaction Would Have Led To Another Genocide In Darfur!
Iqbal Latif - 7/11/2007
The Sudanese government has agreed to the deployment of a joint African Union-UN peacekeeping force to Darfur, a move facilitated by the UN Security Council.Dumisani Kumalo, South African ambassador to the UN, said: "Sudan has accepted the hybrid force without any conditionality … The acceptance was confirmed by President Bashir." Why President Yar’Adua Should Cut Obasanjo Loose Now
Uche Nworah - 7/9/2007
Loyalty is always a good thing as long as you are the person being expected to give it. The mere thought that somebody somewhere is having sleepless nights, turning and shoving and worrying himself sick because he does not know which side of the bed you will wake up from the next morning which may significantly swing your mood and actions is enough to make one feel like the village butcher or fish monger with the lone fish or isi ewu (goat head) on offer. With his butcher’s knife and conning mind, he knows that the operators of the local bukas will dig their hands very deep inside the cash aprons tied around their big bosoms if they want to go home with the day’s remnant or catch. The Monkey-See-Monkey-Do of the Somali Political Saga
Abukar Arman - 7/5/2007
It has been over four decades, 47 years to be exact, since Somalia became an independent nation, and the British and the Italian Somali-lands have united into one democratic nation- the first of its kind in Africa . In due course this budding nation would become Africa ’s most dysfunctional, its first failed state, and its first to be occupied by another African nation. New Proposal to Alleviate Darfur Crisis
Amit Pyakurel - 6/28/2007
It's all the grieving situation with about 200,000 dead and over 2 million people displaced due to, what we perceive, as one of the most glaring humanitarian crisis of today in Darfur. The dread only seems to be elevating and the crisis has ever been sustaining its grip in the region, albeit the international efforts lurking with one or the other humanitarian aides, including the imposition of harsh measures, like economic sanctions by the U.S. and other UN member states, in an attempt to discourage the internecine war taking place between the rebelling groups and the government deployed troops in the region. Ghanans Express Fear Over Oil Discovery
Joseph Coomson - 6/27/2007
Fears have been expressed by some Ghanaians that the discovery of oil in Ghana might be a resource curse rather than a blessing, citing the example of Nigeria and the poor state of Tarkwa and Obuasi after several years of mining gold. Injustice And Ethnic Politics In Nigeria
Uche Nworah - 6/26/2007
The politics of the stomach played in today’s Nigeria has redefined the concept of political correctness. The situation is now such that people with access to power and the media prefer to play safe; many of them who have been classified by certain commentators as rent seekers will rather prefer not to rock the boat. Why would they, and why should they? They wouldn’t want their wells to dry up. Ngugi wa Thiongo on Africa
Ronald Elly Wanda - 6/17/2007
The name “Ngugi wa Thiongo” used to be a disparaging phase that cropped up in President Moi’s speeches during his ruinous domination of Kenya (1978 to 2002). Daniel arap Moi, like many of his contemporaries in Africa was also a dictator- the so called “Big men of Africa”, he terrorised civil society, stamping ‘men of letters’ whom he saw as oppositional (Ngugi suffered this fate, until he fled) and frustrated intellectualism as well as prohibited the “Word”. On the 2nd of June 2007, Ngugi wa Thiongo gave a key note speech that included readings from his latest novel Wizard of the Crow at the B... Nigeria And The World University Rankings
Uche Nworah - 6/13/2007
Dr. Victor Ariole’s recent essay which appeared on June 4, 2007 in the Champion Newspaper faulted the criteria used in the 2007 World University rankings, in which no Nigerian university featured in the top 500. Are Claims Of African Civilization A Lie?
Jan Lamprecht - 5/30/2007
There is no limit to the amount of ignorance out there in the Western world about Africa and what happened here. African-Americans have made it their goal in the last few decades to invent lies about Africa which have absolutely no basis in fact. I have previously written that African Blacks were largely incapable of building and sustaining cities prior to colonization because they were too backward. The only permanent black city I know of is Timbuktu. Possibly there were some in Ethiopia and I would not discount the possibility of some more in West Africa. But all in all, from about the latitude of the southern portion of the West African coastline southwards, there were no cities at all. Orji Uzor Kalu As A Political Gladiator
Uche Nworah - 5/30/2007
As a long time Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK) admirer and critic, I have been accused in the past of being too critical, dwelling so much on his case instead of beaming my searchlight also on Anambra, my home state. I make no apologies for my stance because OUK was the governor of a state where I was born and grew up in. For this reason, though I’m an Anambra man, I see myself more as an Aba/Abia man. Were Whites In Southern Africa Before Blacks?
Jan Lamprecht - 5/28/2007
When I was writing Government by Deception, I met also with a former Colonel who also had a doctorate. He showed me an extensive paper he had written on the subject of Black colonization of southern Africa, complete with maps, and stated that parts of the region were settled by Whites before Blacks. This is not an oddball theory and everything he said is already sitting in the history books. Report: Take Mugabe to Hague
Lawrence Ndlovu - 5/27/2007
HARARE, ZIMBABWE. President Robert Mugabe should be headed for The Hague to answer charges of crimes against humanity following the widely condemned clean up operation in 2005, a report has said. In May 2005, Zimbabwe embarked on a so-called clean up exercise, "Operation Murambatsvina" that led to the demotion of "illegal" structures leaving over 700 000 people homeless. A comprehensive report released Wednesday by the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) urges the United Nations Security Council to refer Zimbabwe’s mass evictions to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Another Hungry Year For Zimbabwe
Lawrence Ndlovu - 5/22/2007
HARARE- Zimbabwe should brace for bread shortage during the course of the year as the country has put only a tenth of the projected hectarage under wheat crop ahead of the 31 May deadline highlighting the chaos in the agricultural sector. Shadreck Mlambo, permanent secretary in the ministry of Agriculture told a portfolio committee on Land and Agriculture that a paltry 8000 hectares had been put under crop against a target of 76 000 as the planting season comes to an end on Thursday next week (31 May). Mugabenomics: Unprecedented Collapse and 3,700% Inflation
Lawrence Ndlovu - 5/19/2007
Zimbabwe's annual inflation continued breaking new ground rising to 3,713.9 percent in April signaling that the country’s economic woes are far from over. Figures released by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) Thursday showed that surged a record 1 513.7 percentage points from 2 200.2 percent in March to 3 713.9 percent, the highest in the world, in a country where the majority lives below $1 a day. Zimbabwe Cancels Bank Licences
Lawrence Ndlovu - 5/18/2007
HARARE- The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) yesterday cancelled a commercial bank's licence to handle foreign currency transactions citing the insitution's failure to adhere to sound risk management practices. RBZ governor Gideon Gono said NMB Bank Limited 'will no longer be permitted to enter into and effect any new foreign currency transactions from 15 May 2007. East African Psyche
Ronald Elly Wanda - 5/17/2007
A soggy Saturday, my kitchen windows all fogged up with vapour, the Congolese genius Franco Luambo-Makiadi singing “Azda, azda, azda… Elly Wanda ni wetu…apewe, apewe, apewe…” while I chop and stir some roasted nyama (goat’s meat) that I’d bought earlier from expensive but expedient Kampala Foods ltd at West Green Road, in North London. Could an African cook’s life get any better? Well yes, the gory British weather could change from raining to a tropical sunshine and give me a deceptive conception (albeit temporal) of being in clement kakamega- west of Kenya or at congenial Mbale- east of Ugand... African Union Probes Zimbabwe Human Rights Abuses
Lawrence Ndlovu - 5/17/2007
HARARE- THE African Union (AU), long accused of being a sitting duck with no powers to whip errant members last week took a bold step by agreeing to send a fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe. The Pan African Parliament, established in 2004 by Article 17 of the Constitutive Act of the AU, met in Johannesburg last week and overwhelmingly voted for a motion to send a mission to investigate allegations of human rights violations. Nigeria: On Igbo Titles
Uche Nworah - 5/16/2007
To the uninitiated, Ndigbo are a show-off race, what with their big titles and ceremonies but such allegations are far from the truth. Ndigbo are proud and traditional people and so are other races, but in the case of Ndigbo not even the ‘civilisation’ brought by the Whiteman as depicted in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart could rob them of their Omenani. Agreed the Whiteman may have desecrated the land and committed alu upon alu in Alaigbo but Ndigbo as a people have always produced several Okonkwos who have ensured that the flames enkindled by their ancestors never burn out. Hate Crimes And The Death of Free Speech
Dymphna - 5/5/2007
Mikko Ellilä is a Finnish blogger has been summoned by the police for a hearing next week, all because of the content of his blog posts. But the Finns aren’t the only ones having trouble with a chill wind blowing across their free speech rights — we’re about to face a big battle against the enemies of the First Amendment here in the USA, beginning tomorrow. Can’t happen here, you say? It very well may happen tomorrow. Willful Blindness, “Doublethink,” and the Mogadishu Massacre
Abukar Arman - 5/1/2007
The prospect of the ill-advised partnership between Meles Zenawi’s Ethiopia and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) ever solving the Somali problem is dead on arrival. And though their ferocious military campaign has created a horrific carnage that the International Committee for Red Cross called “the worst in 15 years” and the UN described the worst humanitarian crises of the day, the duo continue to garner support from Washington whose initial interest was to hunt down “three global terrorist” desperadoes, but now seem to be comfortably laying in the middle of a dangerous intersection; blindfolded, with a big stick in the hand. Reflections On Nigerian Election
Uche Nworah - 4/27/2007
I did not vote in the last Nigerian elections, I couldn’t have from my home in Europe where we tried to mobilise the Nigerian diaspora for the Pat Utomi for president project. Though the results did not go the way we had hoped, I am still a happy man knowing that we tried our best to effect change in our country. Darfur Crisis: Towards An Ever Greater Tragedy
Amit Pyakurel - 4/24/2007
The situation in Darfur seems to be bleaker day by day, notwithstanding the abundance of media coverage and ostensible international attention. May the cause is easily acknowledgeable: it's due to the inadequate international attention, let alone the international efforts, alongside the Sudanese government's indiscriminate offensive against its civilians rather than looking concretely towards the reason of the crisis, that Darfur is rapidly drowning deeper into the humanitarian catastrophe. Liberia: The Willis Knuckles Saga
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye - 4/16/2007
There are quite a number of lessons to be learnt from the scandal which hit the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Administration in Liberia recently, and which resulted in the resignation of the highly influential Acting Chief of Staff, Minister Willis D. Knuckles jnr. One of the country’s tabloids, The Independent, had published the nude picture of Mr. Knuckles in a revolting threesome sexual act with two women, thus provoking a national outrage and widespread calls for the resignation of Knuckles, whose office was also known as Acting Minister of Presidential Affairs. Association Of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Targets Young Minds
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye - 4/15/2007
Penultimate Saturday (February 10, 2007), I was at the maiden "Secondary School Reading Outreach" organized by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Imo State Chapter, which held at the Logos International Secondary School (LOGISS), Kilometer 24, Owerri-Onitsha Highway, Awo Omamma, Imo State. LOGISS, a high-flying mission school, which has as its motto: "Academic Excellence And Godliness Of The Youth" aims at combining sound academic knowledge with a strong moral foundation to turn out exceptional youths with sufficient intellectual and moral properties to face the challenges of industry... Judiciary Keeps Saving Nigeria From Doom
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye - 4/4/2007
Placidus Aguwa, a New York-based attorney, is the Managing Partner of the law firm, Placid and Emmanuel, P.C., and former president of the Nigerian Lawyers Association (NLA). Since 1991, he has practiced law in state and federal courts in New York and Nigeria. In this interview with UGOCHUKWU EJINKEONYE (March 2007), he speaks on the activities of the NLA, and some of the challenges being faced by Nigeria in its tortuous journey to democratic and economic stability. Colonialism Was Good For Africa
Jan Lamprecht - 3/23/2007
Colonialism was the best thing that ever happened to Africa. Colonialism brought peace to the 300 warring tribes of Africa. Colonialism for Africa meant more development than it had ever known - before or after colonialism. Between Okey Ndibe And The Guardian Newspaper
Uche Nworah - 3/16/2007
I really don’t get it why the guys at the Guardian are belabouring their editorial fallout with Mr Okey Ndibe, who until recently was a member of the editorial team. Sonala Olumhense’s recent essay (How To Spell Outrage) may be the final confirmation that all is not well at Rutam House as it now appears that they are all bent on washing their dirty linens in public. Such bitchy tales of backbiting create pictures of professional immaturity in the minds of some of the followers of the story, but then the Guardian is a serious newspaper, the flagship they call themselves, one is perplexed at t... Emerging Leaders And Citizens As Catalysts
Uche Nworah - 3/15/2007
The upcoming April 2007 general elections will be quite crucial to the future of Nigeria as a fully democratic and progressive country. While Nigerians continue to demand the highest standard of service from those that will be elected at the elections, it is the view of this writer that Nigerians citizens have an active collaborating role to play in the process through full participation in the elections. As a way forward, this author also suggests the introduction of the Nolan Principles of public service into governance in Nigeria as it will complement other ethical codes currently available but which may be grossly unused. Liberia: The Willis Knuckles Saga
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye - 3/12/2007
There are quite a number of lessons to be learnt from the scandal which hit the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Administration in Liberia recently, and which resulted in the resignation of the highly influential Acting Chief of Staff, Minister Willis D. Knuckles jnr. One of the country’s tabloids, The Independent, had published the nude picture of Mr. Knuckles in a revolting threesome sexual act with two women, thus provoking a national outrage and widespread calls for the resignation of Knuckles, whose office was also known as Acting Minister of Presidential Affairs. Association Of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Targets Young Minds
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye - 2/22/2007
Penultimate Saturday (February 10, 2007), I was at the maiden “Secondary School Reading Outreach” organized by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Imo State Chapter, which held at the Logos International Secondary School (LOGISS), Kilometer 24, Owerri-Onitsha Highway, Awo Omamma, Imo State. LOGISS, a high-flying mission school, which has as its motto: “Academic Excellence And Godliness Of The Youth” aims at combining sound academic knowledge with a strong moral foundation to turn out exceptional youths with sufficient intellectual and moral properties to face the challenges of industry... The Long Harmattan Season
Uche Nworah - 2/12/2007
Perhaps the harrowing journey to the west through third countries over a three-month period could be responsible for the desire in author and UK-based lecturer Uche Nworah to want to make a change in his native Nigeria, a country he says he still loves from the depth of his heart despite the dashed hopes of many like him who risked their lives for a better life in the west. Orji Uzor Kalu Cannot Be Serious
Uche Nworah - 2/10/2007
Love him or hate him, but the very ambitious Dr Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK for short), the executive governor of Abia state, does have a way of affecting your sensibilities; he simply wears on you, or rather creeps under your skin with his antics. How Not To Resolve The Niger Delta Crises
Uche Nworah - 2/5/2007
Despite the army of million dollar salary earning crises managers and PR executives in the employment of the oil companies operating in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria, It is still baffling that the oil companies did not see the current crises coming. If they did, it is either they underestimated the power and might of the Ijaws in being able to take their destiny into their own hands, or the shylock executives of Shell, Chevron, Agip, ExxonMobil and the rest of the greedy foreign oil exploration companies operating in the region have also been heeding the counsel of false oracles. Somalia: Opportunity Knocks Once, But Not Twice
Kamal Hana - 2/1/2007
Somalia is a coastal country at the Horn of Africa in East Africa. It is the only one nation in the world that hasn' t had an effective government since 1991, when the dictator Siad Barre was overthrown. This has been a paradox in the 21th century. Sadly but fact. In the past few months the country has been an arena for fierce fightings between Islamic militias and warlords from the Alliance for theRestoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism. The results have been more than tragic: about 300 people have been killed, the capital has been destroyed. Nigeria:Cheating Our Way To Success
Uche Nworah - 1/30/2007
All over Nigeria, the beans are being spilled on the sordid past and present of Nigeria’s politicians and government officials, perhaps opening their can of worms has become a national past time. Since Omoyele Sowore and Jonathan Elendu pioneered the art of crusading against corrupt government officials on the internet, many others have joined what appears now to be the hottest bandwagon since Chris Okotie and Jide Obi released their debut albums in the eighties which opened the floodgates for the likes of Felix Liberty, Yvonne Maha and the likes to enter. Ewu Nwadiana And All That Jazz
Uche Nworah - 1/4/2007
I didn't make it to the village this past Christmas but I kept in touch with my people, whip President Obasanjo any which way you like, but thank his administration for giving Nigerians GSM (pronounced g-i-s-i-m) mobile phones. It was through the small wonder that I was able to keep in touch with my folks particularly my uncle Igwe, Nna Ochie and the patriarch of my mum's family who in the course of our discussions reminded me that I was yet to "kill" the traditional ewu nwadiana for my mum's umunna. He reminded me that since my mother was a member of the revered Umu Ada, that we should endea... The Shame Of Nigerian Opposition Political Parties
Uche Nworah - 12/26/2006
Some of Nigeria's opposition political parties are just jokers. They are simply playing a game of the-more-you-look-the-less-you-see with Nigerians. The whole equation and logic behind their choice of presidential candidates and running mates just doesn't make sense. For me it looks like a grand design or conspiracy if you will, to make life easy for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the coming elections. The candidates they are touting at the moment don't seem to have the potentials of hurting PDP in any way. Nigeria: Requiem For the Political Dead
Uche Nworah - 12/19/2006
In the flick Dead Man Walking, Hollywood actor Sean Penn beautifully brings alive in his character the emotional pangs of a convict awaiting death by execution. Some of Nigeria’s many agbada wearing politicians may soon start exhibiting similar characteristics of dead men walking in the political arena. Fish can not survive out of water for so long and for some of them, a life outside politics with all its trappings may be considered unliveable. Iraqization of Somalia Could Widen the Divide between the West and the Islamic World
Abukar Arman - 12/15/2006
As the international community embarks on a frantic diplomatic quest to extinguish the raging political and sectarian fire in Iraq, fatalist ideologues within the Bush administration, in partnership with certain money-motivated regional political powerbrokers, are busy igniting another one in Somalia. The West And Michael Peel's Africa
Uche Nworah - 12/4/2006
Section One: Still On Western Media Imperialism The developing world, Africa in particular has always argued against the imbalances and injustices in the coverage of their affairs by the western media. Such coverage is not only paternalistic but most times grossly unfair, and serves only to sustain the imperialistic interests of the developed world. Nigeria: What Does Babangida Want?
Uche Nworah - 11/27/2006
Yes, he is a citizen and a man just like me. He has the right just like every Nigerian to contest for any elective position in the land, as long as he has not, and does not run foul of the laws of the land as stipulated in the electoral laws. But were Ibrahim Babangida (Nigeria’s former military president) to be any other citizen, there wouldn’t have been a need for this piece and the several others already written, and which would still be written about Nigeria’s most infamous citizen. Invest 2010 soccer money in a happy, healthy and safer South Africa
Miriam Mannak - 11/18/2006
In four years from now, South Africa will be swamped by millions of soccer fans from all over the world to be a witness to their team's fight for victory in the World Cup Soccer 2010. South Africa is proud to host the Mother of All Soccer Events and to make it a success billions and billions of rands will be spent on this once-off event. Billions that could have been used to address the country's most important challenges, to make the Rainbow Nation a better place for all, instead of for a few. The Somali Political Cliffhanger
Abukar Arman - 11/15/2006
As the third round of the Khartoum peace talks ended in disappointment, the question on the minds of many stakeholders is “How would the Somali political riddle ever be solved peacefully?” How would a country that is allergic to political stalemates and is already fatigued by years of tail-chasing “peace negotiations” survive this round of disappointment? The Rise and Fall of South African Nuclear Weapons
Jan Lamprecht - 11/7/2006
When I visited President PW Botha shortly before his death, I spent some time browsing through an extremely fascinating little book about South Africa's nuclear program by Al Venter, and discussed the White South Africa's nuclear program. The book was in President Botha's study and it was signed by its three authors. One was an army general and two were scientists. The Nigerian State and the Value for Human Life
Franklyne Ogbunwezeh - 11/7/2006
The Sultan of Sokoto is dead! May his soul rest in the abode of peace! That is the way of all flesh. We are all headed to the ultimate dissolution of our mortal beings. On the appointed day; in obedience to the supreme laws of entropy, our bodies will yield their constituting atoms in dissolution, to Mother Nature. No one will ever escape it. This is why life should not be taken too seriously. None of us will ever come out of it alive. Life, in this sense may well be the Shakespearean tale, told by an idiot; full of sound and fury; signifying nothing! At death, life tends to become the ultimat... Somalia: Caught Between Cynicism and the Specter of War
Abukar Arman - 10/30/2006
After ridding off Mogadishu and other areas in southern Somalia what was widely considered as the nation’s deadliest political parricides-- the warlords -- no sustainable peace is yet attained. Internally, ever since the Transitional National Government (TFG) made its ambivalence to negotiate with the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) and participate in the Khartoum peace process known, ICU has taken certain unilateral measures that broadened its sphere of influence- measures that further alienated the paralyzed TFG. In fact, some analysts consider this as a prelude to an immanent clash between these two entities. Will Whites Establish Their Own State In Africa Again?
Jan Lamprecht - 10/30/2006
I was watching the news the other day and man alive and having a darned good chuckle. If you thought you've seen the worst of post-colonial Africa, think again. Colonialism and Apartheid were extremely beneficial for Africa. Those were the best systems Africa ever had because everything that has come afterwards has been a miserable failure. Africans are dying like flies and the others who aren't dying are migrating away to White countries where they then claim to be victims of racism! Rebranding Nigeria’s Cities
Uche Nworah - 10/25/2006
A conceptual gap still exists in the understanding of the principles and practices of place branding amongst Nigeria’s many state and local government officials. Despite the efforts at the centre to promote this novel concept that has been described by branding professionals as one of the fastest growing knowledge sectors in global branding and marketing, it appears that place branding is largely only linked and associated with the various activities embarked upon by the federal government, aimed at improving Nigeria’s image in the international community, and to position her as a good destination for tourism and investment in sub-saharan Africa. Africa Falls Off the IMF Agenda (Again)
Sameer Dossani and Soren Ambrose - 10/3/2006
World leaders and celebrities declared 2005 to be the "year of Africa" with much fanfare. Beginning with the UK's Commission on Africa report, and culminating in some supposed gains for the continent at the summit meeting of the Group of Eight (G8) wealthy countries, who were cajoled at several musical extravaganzas featuring the likes of U2, Madonna and Youssou N'Dour to do more to end global poverty, the year was billed as a "turning point" for Africa. A Blink of an Eye Could Derail the Somali Peace Process
Abukar Arman - 9/24/2006
On their route to untangle one of the most complex political webs in modern history and negotiate a lasting peace, the visionaries among the Somali leadership have no choice but to remain steadfast and persevere despite the inevitable obstacles along the way. Darfur - Why UN Troops are not the Solution!
Sajjad Khan - 9/18/2006
Thomas Jefferson once said ‘The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.’ The sanctity of life however took a huge knock in the twentieth century and we are still feeling the consequences in the new millennium. Mankind lost millions in WW1in European trenches, we lost tens of millions in WW2 including 6 million Jews, 20 million Russians and tens of thousands in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In the Korean peninsula 3-4 million civilians were killed as a result of the conflict, in Vietnam 58,000 US soldiers were killed as well as 2 m... Will South Africa's Coloureds Unite With Whites?
Jan Lamprecht - 9/7/2006
This morning I had a fascinating discussion with a Coloured woman I work with. The Coloured, as they are known in South Africa, are people who are born of black/white marriages - the brown people. Despite what others outside South Africa may think, "race" is a well-defined term in this country. Everyone knows which group they belong to – even now. The Coloured people number almost the same number as whites - about 4 million, which is about 9% or so of the country's population. Interestingly, though they were discriminated against under Apartheid, the Coloureds have always felt they identify mo... Somalia: It Is Time to Put the Nation's Interest Before Any Special Group's
Abukar Arman - 9/7/2006
As has been the case for the past 15 years, here is yet another "good news, bad news" political development that puts this peace-starved nation on that roller coaster of hope and despair once again. On one hand, the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has signed an agreement with the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) to, among other things, build a joint national army and to form a peace committee to determine the scope of that army and the steps of implementation. What lesson can Tanzania learn from Malawi?
Telesphor R. Magobe - 8/30/2006
I have a habit of waking up early in the morning and reading. A few days ago I happened to read about jurisdiction and immunity to prosecution in Tanzania. The morning was too short for me to read more about this enthralling area but I managed to cover topics like presidency, diplomats, judicial officers, minors and parliamentary immunities. Kadhi Courts in Tanzania
Telesphor R. Magobe - 8/28/2006
Arguments that having Kadhi Courts in Tanzania mainland could lead to division rather than unity in the country have prompted mixed sentiments among different believers or members of the public in general. Those who support the idea (mainly Muslims) argue that to be opposed to the idea of the Kadhi Courts is evidently to have an ill-will against the Muslim community. That was what I understood when I heard of their arguments. Another way of looking at Sauper's controversial documentary
Telesphor R. Magobe - 8/24/2006
I leave it to each one of us judge Hubert Sauper's controversial documentary Darwin Nightmare. But it is important that we don't seek to blindly wriggle off the hook when we face a challenge. It is clear that documentary has come under scathing attack in Tanzania only after President Jakaya Kikwete's monthly speech in Mwanza at the end of July this year in which he said the film had tarnished our country's image. Is Nigeria's Rev. King Also A Christian?
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye - 8/22/2006
As I look around each day and see so many people out there claiming to be born-again, children of God, Christians, Gospel ministers, pastors or bishops, as I observe their lifestyles, and the things they propagate and endorse, the inevitable question I am forced to ask is: where then are the sinners and unbelievers? Indeed, if all these people, whose nearly every conduct and preoccupation constitute grave offence to God are all “Christians,” “born-again,” and “men of God,” then I can confidently bet you that non-Christians and unbelievers no longer exist! The clear demarcation between the two ... The Unjust Detention Of Two Nigerian Journalists
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye - 8/21/2006
A recent article in a national newspaper about Mr. Imo Eze, former Chief Press Secretary to Gov Sam Egwu of Ebonyi State, who has been languishing in detention, because, his newspaper "Ebonyi Voice" had published some articles on very astounding corrupt practices allegedly perpetrated by Egwu which the governor felt was injurious to his reputation. Later, I also saw another report about another journalist, Mr. Oluwole Elenyinmi, also being detained in Ebonyi State because of the same offence. It is like Ebonyi State is fast acquiring a reputation for wanton detention and harassment of journalists. South Africa's Whites Should Organize And Fight Back Against The ANC
Jan Lamprecht - 8/10/2006
I was pondering the depressive writings of Cathy Buckle about Zimbabwe. Most of the writings from Zimbabwe are of that nature - and so too are writings about the fate of whites in South Africa. This is what one might call the Female response. The female response to evil is to cry out in pain. It is the response of a victim, of someone who is not in a position to fight back. Now in Zimbabwe, the game is lost. Virtually no whites are left, and the blacks too busy bickering and talking endlessly while refusing to take any action against Robert Mugabe. Blacks are so busy talking, they have time to... Tanzania: Example Of What The Third World Should Not Do
David Storobin, Esq. - 8/9/2006
For many years, Tanzania received more per capita aid from the World Bank than any other country in the world. [1] By 1985 when Julius Nyerere retired, the nation got $6.4 billion of foreign aid. Despite this, Tanzanian economy shrunk an average of 0.3% between 1965 and 1986. [2] Much of the poverty in which this African nation is mired today is the fault of the support of Julius Nyerere by the World Bank and the IMF. The Trials Of Brother Emeka
Uche Nworah - 8/8/2006
Wole Soyinka’s "Trials of Brother Jero" narrates the story of a self-acclaimed man of God - Brother Jeroboam, and his many battles with his demons which in this case were his lust for women and cunning deceit of his congregation regarding his true purposes, and the nature of his apostleship. The narrative gave readers a preview of the mind of some modern day Pentecostal pastors - their fears, ways, triumphs and tribulations long before the Pentecostal movement swept through Nigeria, and we began to see Pentecostal churches on every street in Nigeria and in major cities abroad with large Nigerian and immigrant population. Igbo Worldview In The Global Context
Uche Nworah - 8/4/2006
The phrase Ndigbo usually evokes certain feelings amongst other tribes and races in Nigeria and the world over, these feelings can sometimes be that of love, hate, fear, contempt, compassion and threat. This is to be expected because Ndigbo by virtue of their failed attempt to secede from Nigeria in 1967 have therefore set themselves up for such mixed interpretations of their ultimate objectives and intentions in a Nigeria that has increasingly tended towards suppressing and oppressing minorities. It is therefore for reasons of the later, and the resultant consequences of losing in a war of wh... Poverty, Development and the Burden of Governance in Sub-Saharan Africa
Franklyne Ogbunwezeh - 8/3/2006
A cursory glance through Africa confronts us with the fact that the pervasive poverty ravaging Africa today represents an affront on social justice, insults the ethical sensibilities and traditions of sensitive consciences, and witnesses to the dearth of solidarity and justice in global socio-economic relations. Social justice screams at the naive hypocrisy that greets the issues raised by African poverty. How can justice not be insulted by a global relational equation, where our world spends over $900 billion Dollars annually manufacturing arms and trading weapons of death and destruction, wh... ANC's Economic Policies Are Destroying The Economy
Jan Lamprecht - 7/4/2006
I have been warning for some years now about the damage caused by raising the minimum wage. But today it really hit home to me just how much damage the ANC"s laws do to the very blacks it claims to be helping. The minimum wage is a violation of the Free Market principles first expounded by Professor Adam Smith in 1776. Let us not forget that it is his analysis which resulted in modern economics and which is the cornerstone of modern Western wealth. Today, socialists seek to destroy the very principles which created the First World’s wealth. Should Afrikaners Apologize For White Government's Conduct?
Jan Lamprecht - 6/27/2006
In the history books, and the writings of Nelson Mandela, you will find that Nelson Mandela officially started the war against White South Africans on December 16, 1961. MK, the armed wing of the ANC was formed and from that date, operating until 1994. During the 33 years, blacks and whites of this country were at war. And during a war, many things happen. Many of these so-called atrocities were just part of the war. So if one wants to criticize Apartheid as a system, then it is unfair to include in that criticism acts of war. In fact, since Mandela and others claim that Apartheid was their re... A Preliminary Investigation Of Educational Change Management In Nigeria
Uche Nworah - 6/26/2006
After 45 years of achieving colonial independence, it can not be argued that Nigeria has attained her optimum level of development, in relation to her huge potentials and in comparism to other countries that are less endowed with human and material resources. The Nigerian government though seems to have woken up to the reality that the country needs to break away from the vicious cycle of poverty, infrastructural neglect, corruption and other social problems that had dogged her every footsteps, the government has therefore initiated several reform programmes in different sectors of the economy... Somalia: Why the International Contact Group Should Support the Islamic Courts Union
Abukar Arman - 6/23/2006
Between euphoria and frustration, clarity and confusion, moderates must develop a sustainable alternative solution to the lawlessness that paralyzed Somalia for over 15 years, and find a platform to showcase that. Of course the quest to accomplish that would not only require willpower and resilience to paddle against the ferocious waves of suspicion, fear, and hate, but also a real support (of moral and material value). Interview with Frank Nweke, Nigeria's Minister of Information and National Orientation
Uche Nworah - 6/21/2006
The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation Mr Frank Nweke, now in the final lap of his second tour of duty as a cabinet minister takes up arms against the international media over their repeated negative reports about Nigeria, and also discuses his future plans post-2007 amongst other issues in this interview with Uche Nworah. South Africa's Bridge Builder between the State, Ethnic Communities and International Law?
Johann Wingard - 6/19/2006
The Constitution of South Africa is based on the liberal principle of individualism and only the human rights of individuals are recognised explicitly. At a late stage, Article 185 was included to make provision for a commission for the Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic communities. Pat Utomi And The Restoration Group
Uche Nworah - 6/17/2006
The old saying by Aristotle, the Greek philosopher that man is by nature a political animal is true. No matter how hard you try to get away from it, it sucks you back in. Though I crave to do more soft and human interest essays as I try to sharpen my rhetoric and style for a proposed book, it is proving a bit difficult to hold up my promise to myself, not with all the things going on in Nigeria as 2007 approaches. African Science: A World Wonder or a Fake?
Jan Lamprecht - 6/14/2006
Recently, I picked up a copy of South Africa's Prime Minister Thabo Mbeki"s book, “African Renaissance". As a computer industry specialist who designs and builds computer systems, whenever I see black African leaders talking in bold, scientific terms, I usually just laugh, because they have no conception of what those fancy, multi-syllabled words actually mean! I know how easy it is for a manager to "sound” impressive, but deep down, know nothing. Adding a few fancy words to your vocabulary does not mean you actually understand these concepts or that you can even assess their value. I meet man... Afrikaners Will Rise Again
Jan Lamprecht - 6/14/2006
I received an email from Mrs. Botha, the wife of the former South African Prime Minister P.W. Botha, in response to an article a few days ago entitled: "The Pride of Rhodesia". Apparently Mr. Botha enjoyed it so much he spent half the day on the phone reading it to people! Mrs. Botha also wrote about her perceptions that Afrikaners are starting to wake up and I've agreed. Nature Cycle: Organic Farming In Tanzania
Telesphor R. Magobe - 6/8/2006
Environmental degradation in Tanzania is increasing at an alarming pace due to mainly human factors. Destructive human activities such as deforestation, intensive grazing, dumping of toxic wastes, regular application of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides have negative effects on bio-diversity and ecosystems. These phenomena are neither congruent with agricultural productivity nor socio-economic progress. The Great Game in Somalia
Abid Mustafa - 6/7/2006
The recent upsurge in fighting between the various factions in Somalia is a typical example of wars being fought throughout the African continent where the real benefactor is neither the people nor local governments, but major powers. Somalia is another country that has been caught up in a vicious struggle between great powers competing against each other to control the Horn of Africa. The Pride of Rhodesia
Jan Lamprecht - 6/7/2006
Last night, my mother and I listened to instrumental music on a DVD. There were two tunes (not from Africa) that I remember often hearing when I was a child. And whenever I hear those tunes (which are almost never played on South African radio stations), it immediately just takes me back in time to when I was a kid growing up in Rhodesia. My mother remarked, as she has done many times, "Rhodesia will never die". She says the spirit of Rhodesians is just too strong. Defeat and being run out of the country never broke our spirit. We are now spread across the world and yet – thanks to Robert Muga... Organic Farming: The Appropriate Agricultural Model For Tanzania
Telesphor R. Magobe - 6/2/2006
FOR a long time, conventional (or industrial) agriculture has been equated with sustainable agriculture to be implemented in Africa with a view that its optimal yields, competitiveness and efficiency outweigh far its disadvantages. It has been highly regarded by North America and Europe as the only agricultural model to enable the continent to cope with contemporary global trade demands, be self-sufficient in terms of food security and animal husbandry management. Its adoption in Africa also provides a stable market for industrial agricultural inputs that are produced abroad such as farm machinery, synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and fabricated seeds.1 African Debt Relief: In Good Company With Germans
Uche Nworah - 5/28/2006
It may seem a bit out of place to be rejoicing over Berlin’s debt grief, but as an African, that is for good reason. Between Diasporas And The Homeland For Nigerians
Uche Nworah - 5/19/2006
It may seem that in addition to the physical distance, psychological distance also exists between Nigerians in the diaspora and those living in the homeland. Such distances have contributed to the growing differences in opinion, sometimes leading to suspicions of motives and intentions on both sides, especially over debates on Nigeria’s social, political and economic issues. The Rise of the Nigerian Hitler
Franklyne Ogbunwezeh - 5/10/2006
Olusegun Obasanjo has decided to ruin Nigeria. He makes no pretences anymore. He is acting the script. Greed has eminently seduced him. He has prostituted himself to the army of scoundrels clamouring for the sustenance of a status quo, where avarice is king. To that end, shamelessly imposing himself on Nigerians after he has exhausted the mandate he stole in 2003, is a mission targeted with all weapons of cant in his arsenal. The ranks of the cheerleading mastiffs and dogs, campaigning for the enthronement of volte-face as an absolute instrument of governance grows by the day. They are dogs wh... India Beckons Globacom, Nigeria’s First Global Brand
Uche Nworah - 5/7/2006
This must be interesting times for Otunba Michael Adenuga and his scions that run the Michael Adenuga Business Empire. They are gradually painting Nigeria’s business landscape green, the colour of their cash cow brand (Globacom). African Poverty as Failure of Leadership
Franklyne Ogbunwezeh - 5/3/2006
This paper is not an exoneration of Western Imperialism, and neo-colonial sabotage of many African economies, which is one of the great factors that have crippled African development over the decades. But a critique of the timorous leadership that has not only allowed African to be exploited as a chessboard of global geopolitical wolves, but also collaborated in the enterprise of wrecking Africa. Joseph Stiglitz and Jeffrey Sachs remain some of the Washington suckled technocrats, who boldly proclaimed the truth of what people like Chinweizu, Noam Chomsky and others have been hammering on, as r... Nigeria: Still On Odi And The Mad Dog Syndrome
Uche Nworah - 4/23/2006
Nigerians can not argue that they have seen the last of the military, because whether we like it or not they are still firmly entrenched in our sub-conscious. Though they may have since swapped their military uniforms for Agbada, but they are still behind the scenes pulling the strings. Masters Of The Political Game In Nigeria - Part 1
Uche Nworah - 4/18/2006
The accompanying photograph to this article which depicts a much younger Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ) and Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) playing a game of draught, with Danjuma and Abacha in the background acting as umpires makes it difficult not to believe former Police PRO, Superintendent Alozie Ogugbuaja’s widely reported swipe at the Nigerian military back in 1986. He had alleged that the military did nothing at their officers’ mess other than drink beer, eat pepper soup and plan coups. Energy dominates growth debate in South Africa
Johann Wingard - 4/10/2006
Where electricity sector was previously – in the words of Thomas Edison – “a natural monopoly”, it has now become a political game. The oil shocks of the Seventies resulted in governments worldwide reconsidering their energy plans – resulting in scores of nuclear power stations being built at the time. The emphasis on the growth of South Africa’s energy capacity must be seen to underpin the previous policy of separate development to succeed through a healthy economy. An energy-driven economy could ensure relative peace in the labour sector. China’s Alarming Involvement in Sudan
Frederick Stakelbeck, Jr. - 3/26/2006
Sudan’s brutal Islamist President Omar al-Bashir and Chinese President Hu Jintao have become fast friends as of late, forging a Sino-Sudanese alliance that has serious implications for the Sudanese people and the future stability of the African continent. “China has burst on the African scene with a presence that has been frightening to many people who hadn’t realized how wide its reach is,” U.S. Representative Randy Forbes (R-VA), chairman of the new House China Caucus, noted in January. Book Review: "Emigration, Brain Drain and Development: The Case of Sub-Saharan Africa," Arno Tanner, Washington D.C., Migration Policy Institute and Helsinki, East-West Books Helsinki, 2005. 184 pages.
Prof. Ronald Skeldon - 2/28/2006
This short and accessible book deals with one of the most important issues in research into international migration today: the movement of skilled people from the developing to the developed world or, more popularly, the "brain drain". The first half of the book deals with global patterns and general ideas about the movement of skilled labour. The second half of the book is taken up with a discussion of selected cases in sub-Saharan Africa followed by a chapter in which the author, a Finn, considers how Finnish development aid could be better deployed to alleviate or even prevent the brain dra... "The Banker" Magazine Honors Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor
Uche Nworah - 2/1/2006
The Banker, a financial magazine and member of the Financial Times Group rolled out the drums on Thursday the 19th of January 2006 to honour Africa’s finest and Nigeria’s most courageous Central Bank Governor till date. The occasion was the annual Global Central Banker of the Year award, and what better venue than the Ball room of the prestigious Dorchester Hotel in West London. Is Nigeria The Heart Of Africa?
Uche Nworah - 1/22/2006
Maybe it is the nomenclature syndrome (the uncanny temptation and tendency by public officials to re-name or re-brand policies or programmes anytime a new team gets appointed or nominated) that has caught up with officials of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, else why has the Nigeria Image Project metamorphosed into the Heart of Africa Project? Does Nigeria lie in the heart of Africa? Offshore Outsourcing Trend Might Be Heading For Africa
Angelique van Engelen - 1/3/2006
Big Western companies are all into outsourcing very specific aspects of their activities abroad and Africa might become a new area of emerging interest. The business logic of the deals is obvious. Western companies that have trouble keeping their heads above water due to high overhead costs are making savings and improving their profitability buying into a trend that is by now well established and virtually as low risk as any business outsourcing practice elsewhere. Social Change in Nigeria: The Top - Down Change Management Approach
Uche Nworah - 12/31/2005
Africa is once again on the agenda of the global community, there appear to be shared concerns and views amongst the developed countries and the developing (African) countries, that critical initiatives are needed to tackle some of the problems which have continued to plague the continent and retard her progress, these issues have been identified by several commentators to include unemployment, poor infrastructural development, corruption, indiscipline, poverty, and mass migration. The later has led to what is now known as the brain drain syndrome. Must Baroness Lynda Chalker Insult Us Too?
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye - 12/25/2005
Before now, the only thing I could vaguely recollect about Baroness Lynda Chalker was that the last time I saw her, and that was during the reign of late General Sani Abacha or so, somehow, I had thought she was slightly overweight and needed some help. I am not too sure now if I also thought she could use the services of a dietician or a visit to the gym then, but what I remember vividly was that at that time, the ebullient Baroness took extreme delight in throwing her weight about all over Africa as Britain’s Minister for Overseas Development. Trade, Not Aid for Africa
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 12/19/2005
During the Cold War much of Africa became a battleground for the Superpowers, and there has been a tendency to see the continent as little more than a consumer of endless charity. But the new Africa demands a new attitude from the rich world, as it begins to see itself not as aid-addicted but as a system of emerging markets, capable by their own efforts of profiting from the free flow of trade in the global economy. What is little noticed by the rest of the world is that much of Africa is in the midst of an economic revolution. Though poor by global standards, there is a good chance for Africa to forge its own future. Neo-liberalism and the Economic and Political Future of Africa
Nji Renatus Che - 12/19/2005
The core of Neo-Liberalism, which is ploy by western capitalist to have continuous grip on the African economic scene, is championed by International Financial Institutions (IFLs)-The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Western creditor nations hold that the crises caused by Neo-Liberalism can only be understood within the context of the issue of state versus markets. In a nutshell, neo-liberals argue that, the fundamental factor responsible for the economic crisis in Africa is the excessive state regulation of the economies of African countries, which among other things dist... Selective Justice Consolidates Corruption in Nigeria
Franklyne Ogbunwezeh - 12/13/2005
In 13th century Venice of Shakespeare’s imagination, a famous phrase escaped the lips of a notorious man. This phrase went out to the entire world, attending discussion circles and debating salons. It irrigated many ideological universes. We owe this Shakespearean creature an indebtedness we can never retire. In fact, with due apologies to Winston Churchill, I crave to say that never in the field of literary thought, was so much, owed by so many to so single a phrase. The Vicious Cycle of AIDS, Poverty, and Neoliberalism
Bernardo Useche and Amalia Cabezas - 12/3/2005
World maps illustrating areas of high poverty largely overlap those of high HIV/AIDS prevalence. It's no coincidence that both poverty and the HIV-AIDS pandemic have run rampant in these last two decades of neoliberalism, since the root causes of both can be found in the economic model. Malawi: Political crisis in the midst of starvation
Raphael Mwenenguwe - 12/1/2005
Malawi has been under a multiparty system of government for the past 11 years now. For 30 years since Independence from Britian, the country was ruled with an iron fist under the “mighty” Malawi Congress Party (MCP) led by the late Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Banda, who lost in 1994 general elections to United Democratic Front (UDF) president Bakili Muluzi, never allowed any opposition in his way and many of those who opposed him either fled the country or died in the hands of the police and the notorious Malawi Young Pioneers, a military wing of the MCP. A Mother Like Nigeria's Stella Obasanjo
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye - 11/28/2005
“Death is … the absence of presence… the endless time of never coming back … a gap you can’t see, and when the wind blows through it, it makes no sound.”
- Tom Stoppard Czech-born, English playwright. “Something startles where I thought I was safest”
- Walt Whitman (quoted in George Lamming’s novel, In Castle Of My Skin) Liberia's future looks hazy
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 11/15/2005
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has claimed victory in Liberia's first presidential elections since the end of 14 years of civil war two years ago and if confirmed, she will be Africa's first elected female president. Bill Clinton And Nigeria’s National Pride
Uche Nworah - 11/14/2005
I have nothing against William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States of America and the Damansani Ushaffa (title for someone who has distinguished himself intellectually and contributed to the welfare of his people, given to him during his visit to Ushaffa village in Nigeria), if anything; i admire his zest, ageless youth, intelligence and rhetorical abilities. My perception of him while he was at the White House though, was that of a showman who had lost his way and eventually found himself at the White House, a lady killer and charmer. It must have been during the short ... T-Mobile And Nigerian Customers
Uche Nworah - 10/12/2005
Should T-Mobile, the leading telecommunications firm continue to ignore the desires of over 2 million current and potential customers, and neglect a long established customer base and relationship? Africa Still Plagued by Suffering
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 10/11/2005
The term "poverty" is ambiguous and it conveys different meanings under different conditions on different occasions. However, it is clear that the rapid growth of poverty in parts of Africa is a gigantic hurdle in the way of development. Nigerian Police: A Dysfunctional Affront to Human Rights
Franklyne Ogbunwezeh - 10/7/2005
Predicates! A living body can never entertain the fatal inconveniences of a rogue cell, spiralling uncontrollably out of the orbital path of its genetic trajectory, or a cancerous mutant dangerously metastasizing, and spewing forth its toxic payloads of infections, in silence and quiet. Not only that the radar screens of survival beeps it’s Mayday, or recommends instant reaction, the whole body is alerted because the risk of extinction is staring it squarely in the face. Nigeria: The Heart of Africa
Uche Nworah - 10/4/2005
This country has birthed us though hope it may not have given us all. As we look around and count each passing day, we sometimes feel that things should indeed be better, that it should be well with us. We can’t but ask why we have to be the way we are, and live the way we do in the midst of abundance, why 45 years after we stopped paying obeisance to the Queen and her people, we are not yet any where near our promised land. A Plan To Overthrow Mugabe
Jan Lamprecht - 9/26/2005
Currently, Zimbabwe’s leading opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has hit a brick wall. President Robert Mugabe fobs them off and is not interested in negotiating with them. For a long time now, Mugabe has had the upper hand. The MDC has no bargaining chips with which to negotiate. Mugabe probably thinks the MDC is not finished and, in any event, have no teeth. Uganda: Museveni And The Phenomology of History
Ronald Elly Wanda - 9/23/2005
In a referendum on July 28, 2005, the Ugandan electorate were asked to choose whether the state adopts a multiparty political system or continues with the existing mono (movement) arrangement. The result, as expected by the government was an overwhelming support for a multi-party system. According to the Electoral Commission chairman Dr. Badru Kiggundu, 92.5% balloted yes, while only 7.5% objected to altering the system. Understandably, the opposition camp fittingly cited that the outcome was partly due to the fact that a large number of the 8.5 million electors stayed away from the 17,000 pol... Where Is South Africa Headed?
Jan Lamprecht - 9/21/2005
South African Vice President was in the UK where, among other places, she and a high-powered team have been doing presentations to foreign investors. The ANC now says they want 4.5% economic growth by 2010 - at which time we will be hosting the world cup soccer and then we will kick right up to 6% GDP growth. According to the news reports here many foreign investors are re-looking at investing in South Africa. But apparently some investors are asking hard questions. One of these tough questions is: What impact is AIDS going to have on our economy? This is a very valid and far-reaching question... Tanzania’s Public Order Institutions Accused Of Violating Human Rights
Telesphor R. Magobe - 9/19/2005
There was a time when Tanzania had a repute of protecting and promoting human rights and thus being an example of human rights advocacy. The repute made the country known and respected internationally as one of the most peaceful nations in the world. Unfortunately, this eminence is waning due to increasing incidents of human rights violations in the country. Hurricane Katrina And Nigeria’s Image
Uche Nworah - 9/14/2005
Nigeria is currently in the process of re-branding her image, the Nigerian government has given the Federal Ministry of Information the task of doing that, and have also empowered the ministry with an initial sum of N600 million ($4 million) to execute the project. ANC Three Big Lies For The Future
Jan Lamprecht - 9/12/2005
Currently, South Africans are being inundated with two main streams of propaganda, aimed at frying our little minds, and I thought I'd bring them to everyone's attention because I believe that one of them especially, is not only going to be with | 
