African Business articles from March 2003

African Business archives from March 2003

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... AGOA TIME TO CONSOLIDATE GAINS Africa's textile industry has been one of the major beneficiaries of AGOA, with the result that institutional investment into the sector has shown significant growth over recent years. I read with...

Now you see them. (Law).(witchdoctor accused of obstructing justice)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The case of the invisiblity-enabling sangoma (witchdoctor) could rewrite South Africa's laws as they pertain to traditional medicine. With the police hot on the trail of two youths for allegedly murdering a fellow drinker in a Northern Province...

Egypt's first MBO. (Food).(CDC Capital Partners is backing local management in purchase of El Rashidi El Mizan)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... CDC Capital Partners is backing local management in the $20m purchase of a sesame food business, El Rashidi El Mizan. It is private equity investor CDC's first deal in the country since opening its Cairo office in the Spring of 2001. El Rashidi...

SADC free trade programme needs a prod. (Trade).(Southern African Development Community)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The transformation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) into a free trade area in by 2012, needs to be speeded by at least four years if it wants to catch the bus. SADC's chief executive, Prega Ramsamy, says "the time frame...

Pay us $1.8BN, Zimbabwe tells DRC. (Debt).(money owed for support of Democratic Republic of Congo's government during civil war)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Zimbabwe says the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) owes it $1.8bn for the support President Robert Mugabe's regime gave it in its four-year civil war, according to the Harare based weekly, Financial Gazette. Zimbabwe poured troops and war...

SA's land reform process on track. (Land).(some 35,294 of 37,838 land rights claims submitted in South Africa have been validated)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... South Africa's accelerated restitution of land rights has validated some 95% of land reform claims submitted since the exercise got under way early in 2001. The commission dealing with the reform programme says in its latest report that 2,544...

Germans must pay for colonial "brutal alliance" in Namibia. (Restitution).(Herero People's Reparation Corporation is suing German government and two German companies)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Proceedings could begin in a Namibian court next month (April) against the German government and two German companies in a $4bn claim for alleged atrocities committed against Namibia's Herero people in the country's colonial era. Court papers...

Terrorist warning slams Zanzibar tourism. (Tourism).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Zanzibar tourism industry is still struggling to recover since the British, American and Australian governments issued a terrorist warning in December last year. The three governments cautioned tourists that an "international terrorist...

Invest to fight AIDS, SADC told. (Farming).(Southern African Development Community)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The United Nations AIDS agency UNAids, says Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries need to invest substantial amounts of money in their agricultural industries to enable them to cope with the growing nutritional needs of the...

AB Guide to African Currencies.(exchange rates of African currencies with dollar, pound, euro)
March 1, 2003... AB Guide to African Currencies COUNTRY CURRENCY [pounds $US EURO sterling]STG ALGERIA (Dinar) 129.94 79.62 86.15 ANGOLA ...

World waiting for SA's cashews. (Agriculture).(South African cashew joint venture should earn about R50 mil/yr over next ten years)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... A scheme started in 1995, aimed at putting South Africa on the cashew nut producing map, is about to start supplying South African and foreign nut markets. A joint venture between the Industrial Development Corporation and the KwaZulu-Natal...

Railways back in business. (Transport).(Nacala railway serving Mozambique and Malawi resumes operations)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Nacala railway is back in business after weeks of intense work to repair the damage caused by heavy rains on a stretch of the line at Mutivasse near Nampula. The line is an important route serving not only Mozambique but also landlocked...

Why health professionals migrate, and how to bring them back. (Health).(six African nations will study migration of skilled health professionals)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Six African countries have joined forces to study the migration of skilled health professionals from Africa. A Commonwealth workshop on the migration of health workers spearheaded the programme aimed at developing strategies for attracting and...

Ghana's gold-mining boost. (Resources).(Newmont Mining will invest $450 mil to develop mines at two deposits in Ghana)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The world's biggest gold producer, Newmont Mining of Denver Colorado, plans to spend $450m in developing mines at two deposits in Ghana. The coastal Akim and Ahafo deposits could produce some 7.7m ounces and have the potential of ranking...

SAA's new airbuses. (Aviation).(additions to South African Airways's fleet)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Two long-range Airbus A340-600 planes have joined South African Airways' (SAA) fleet. They went into service last month on routes from Johannesburg to Frankfurt and Hong Kong. Powered by four Rolls Royce Trent 500 engines, the new A340-600 will...

Careers in Africa 2003. (Events).(event will take place in London in May 2003, bringing together multinationals and African potential recruits)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... In May 2003, London will be host to the Careers in Africa 2003 Summit. The recruiting event brings leading multinational companies established in Africa together with high calibre recruits from the African Diaspora in Europe. African...

Last chance for Cote d'Ivoire. (Editorial).(Cote d'Ivoire faces chaos if newly signed peace agreement fails)(Editorial)
March 1, 2003... As we were going to press, the peace accords signed by President Laurent Gbagbo and Ivorian opposition and rebel groups in Linas Marcoussis, France on January 24, were already being pulled apart. The newly installed 'consensus' Prime Minister,...

At last, a win-win formula for African business: the second African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) Forum, Mauritius January 13-17. (Cover Sotry).(Cover Story)
March 1, 2003... African Business editor, ANVER VERSI attended the second Agoa Forum which was held in Mauritius in January. Although the American trade act is only two and a bit years old, it has achieved spectacular success in some African countries. Some see...

Put all your eggs in the gold basket. (View from the City).(price of gold has made a comeback in the last year)
March 1, 2003... Gold has made a remarkable comeback over the past year, with prices last January soaring to a six-year high of $372.55/oz per troy ounce. Today's unusual geopolitical and economic scenarios provide the perfect support for investing in the...

The 2003 Dakar rally: showcase for spectacular Africa. (Topic).(Dakar motor rally celebrated its 25th anniversary)
March 1, 2003... The legendary Dakar rally is without doubt the world's most spectacular motorsport event, attracting a huge worldwide TV audience. Although the rally has been criticised for being insensitive to some of the poorest people in the world, it...

South Africa's Coega: back to square one; more than five years since it was first mooted, Port Elizabeth's Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) remains stuck at the starting blocks. (Shipping).
March 1, 2003... Progress on the R3.4bn project to develop a deepwater port at Coega is contingent on agreement on a $1.6bn investment package for a world-scale aluminium smelter. It will prove critical for the port development's chances of getting off the...

Nigerian dock workers get new benefits: the Nigerian government has successfully persuaded its maritime industry agencies into providing benefits to dock workers.
March 1, 2003... Around 600 dock workers in Nigeria will enjoy disengagement benefits totalling N88m ($682,000) after an agreement was reached between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the National Maritime Authority (NMA), the Joint Dock Labour Industrial...

Opec's runaway horses: although OPEC has increased output quotas in response to the 'unreasonably' high current oil prices, some members, including the African trio, are likely to ignore ceilings and go their merry way. (Oil and Gas).
March 1, 2003... With the oil price stubbornly remaining above $30 a barrel, Opec decided in January to increase its total quota by 1.5m barrels a day (bid). The Opec 10-member ceiling was therefore increased from 23m b/d to 24.5m b/d with effect from February...

Tunisia's window of opportunity. (Energy).
March 1, 2003... Tunisia's electricity sector is enjoying unprecedented growth and it is expected to increase by 77% by 2006. Export potential to the EU is excellent but the competition, from other Maghreb countries, will be fierce, Tunisia must strike while...

Full flavours find favour: since the time of the Phoenicians, North Africa has produced wines. Barely known to the outside world, winemakers from the region are poised to make a splash on export markets. (North African Wines).
March 1, 2003... The South African wine industry is Africa's leader, its products equal to that of Australia, California and even France. Lesser known are the wine industries of North Africa - but Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and even Egypt are carving out a...

Turning 'frogs' into nightingales! (New Kareoke Gadget).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... A banana-shaped gadget called the Karaoke TV Star is making instant singing sensations of anyone who cares to warble into it. It's a computerised microphone that corrects your voice as you sing into it - no matter how cracked or tunelessly -...

Handle nano-technology with care. (Cutting-edge Technology).
March 1, 2003... Should we be fearful of nano-technology? Only if it is allowed to develop uncontrolled, says an international watchdog organisation dedicated to the conservation and sustainable advancement of cultural and ecological diversity and human rights....

New Thai cooker a super hit. (Appliance).
March 1, 2003... A Thai manufacturing company is being inundated with orders for its new, cheap and easy-to-use charcoal burner that also utilises 20% less charcoal for twice as much heat. The rugged portable burner is sure to be a hit in rural areas the world...

Old saris curb cholera. (Health).(Bangladesh villagers filter water through old sari cloth)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... From Bangladesh comes another idea of the simplest kind and one that has been shown to reduce cholera cases by half. Rural villagers in the Asian nation are constantly at risk of cholera and other gastro-intestinal diseases. For years...

Stethoscope the answer to cellphone radiation. (Research).(Orrin Klitzner invents radiation-free headset)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Could the danger of radiation emitted by cellphones be eliminated using a 200-year-old medical discovery? Mobile phone radiation has been blamed for causing anxiety disorders, loss of memory and brain tumours. Manufacturers believed they'd...

The great ivory debate. (Conservation).(issues surrounding sale of African ivory stockpiles)
March 1, 2003... The decision by Cites to allow three Southern African countries to sell off their ivory stockpiles has aroused a heated debate both in Africa and abroad with critics claiming this will reopen the door for poachers. TOM NEVIN gives both sides of...

Mercedes' fourth estate: The launch of the new E-Class estate will further strengthen Mercedes-Benz's pre-eminent position in this increasingly popular vehicle segment. (Wheels).
March 1, 2003... When the doors swung open to the public at January's International Motor Show in Detroit US, much of the media attention focused on the new super-saloon offerings -- particularly the BMW owned Rolls Royce Phantom -- and Chevrolet's riposte,...

Fuel cell--vision becomes reality. (Wheels Technology).
March 1, 2003... When it comes to the future of the automobile, Mercedes-Benz has always been the leader. That proud heritage continues with the company's new developments in fuel cell technology for environmentally friendly transport systems. Over the...

Worldaware Business Awards 2002. (Events).
March 1, 2003... Worldaware is a UK charity that aims to promote the widest understanding of global development issues. Sponsored by companies and trade bodies, the Worldware Business Awards are now in their 14th year. The 2002 Worldaware Business Awards...

Bamako: the stuff of legends. (Tourism).
March 1, 2003... Bamako, Mali's capital, is steeped in legend that goes back to the dawn of mankind. It is also one of Africa's great music capitals, producing such international stars as Salif Keita and Oumu Sangare. Aman Te Water takes you on a trip to one of...

Scandals bedevil US corporate leadership: scandals last year in the US have raised serious questions about corporate governance, ethics and the US's leadership of the global economy. Dr Sonko diagnoses the severe case of 'bankruptosis'. (At Large).
March 1, 2003... A total of 186 Major US companies went bankrupt last year, the largest annual number in US history. Their combined assets were a mammoth $368bn - equivalent to about 62% of the GDP of all of Africa in 2000. The titans that sank include...

Mood of optimism remains high: while tragedy and ill health have dogged Mwai Kibaki's new administration, hopes are still high that the Kenya's new government can turn election promises into reality. (Countryfile: Kenya).
March 1, 2003... Just weeks into a new era for Kenya, the new National Rainbow Coalition government was dogged by a series of misfortunes including the death of Labour minister Ahmad Mohamed Khalif in a plane crash. While Kenya's new leader President Mwai...

Obasanjo, Buhari lead Presidential race. (Countryfile: Nigeria).
March 1, 2003... Nigeria's Presidential elections take place on April 19. Will the incumbent, Olusegun Obasanjo hold on to power for another term or will a military face from the past, Gen. Buhari upset the apple-cart? Neil Ford takes a close look at the...

The economy moves forward. (Countryfile: Ethiopia).
March 1, 2003... With investments in selective sectors, such as infrastructure and water, Ethiopia has strong potential for growth. However, the biggest stumbling block to its rapid development remains the negative impact of war. With growth being posted...

Locked in, locked out. (Countryfile: Mali/Burkina Faso).
March 1, 2003... The on-going conflict in Cote d'Ivoire has also severely crippled the economies of neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso which, lacking coastlines, cannot export or import. Neil Ford looks at the implications of being landlocked in Africa's...

The Global Circulation of African Fashion. (Books).(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... By LESLIE W. RABINE [pounds sterling]14.99 Berg/Oxford International Publishers ISBN 1-85973-598-3 Beginning with a central premise - that transnational movements of people, culture, objects, images and identities have played a...

Sahara the Life of a Great Desert. (Books).(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... BY MARC DE VILLIERS & SHEILA HIRTLE [pounds sterling]16.99 HarperCollins ISBN 9-720007-148202 This book is a wide-ranging geographic tour of the remarkable history, peoples, climate, creatures, sights and sounds of the largest and...

Talk of the Devil Encounters with Seven Dictators. (Books).(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... By RICCARDO ORIZIO [pounds sterling]15.99 Secker & Warburg ISBN 0-436-20999-3 Italian journalist Riccardo Orizio admits to a long held obsession, a fascination with the fate of contemporary dictators. One day, using two press...

Kaunda's Gaoler. (Books).(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... BY DAVID G. COE & E. CYRIL GREENALL [pounds sterling]24.50 The Radcliffe Press ISBN 1-86064-862-2 In 1943, Cyril Greenall was a I lieutenant in the British army's Bomb Disposal Squad when he received a letter from the War Office...

Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century African History. (Books).(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... EDITED BY PAUL TIYAMBE ZELEZA & DICKSON EYOH [pounds sterling]95 Routledge-Taylor & Francis Books ISBN 0-415-23479-4 Featuring over 250 entries, the Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century African History explores the way in which the...

Encyclopedia of African Literature. (Books).(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... EDITED BY SIMON GIKANDI [pounds sterling]95 Routledge-Taylor & Francis Books ISBN 0-415-23019-5 Simon Gikandi explains that one of the key challenges facing him in editing this encyclopaedia was the range of criteria to be used in...

The Root causes of Sudan's Civil Wars. (Books).(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... BY DOUGLAS H. JOHNSON [pounds sterling]12.95 James Currey ISBN 0-85255-392-7 This book attempts to provide a broad explanation of the origins of the Sudan's multiple and recurring civil wars, and why these wars have not ended,...

A blast from the past once were giants. (Music).
March 1, 2003... GIANTS OF EAST AFRICA ORCHESTRA SUPER MAZEMBE EARTHWORKS CAT: STEW 45 Even if African popular music now has a firm foothold in the West, the music of East Africa has a relatively low profile. As Trevor Herman writes in the liner...