African Business articles from September 2002

African Business archives from September 2002

Letters.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Kenya/USA REPORT ON US AMBASSADOR INACCURATE The May issue of African Business included an article (Return of the Ugly American) by Milan Vesely which was inaccurate and misleading in reporting on a controversial tender issue in Kenya....

SA's 'national flower' reprieved. (Legislation).(plastics industry in South Africa)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... Strong disagreement between the South African government and the local plastics industry has led to a reprieve for the country's thin plastic shopping bags. Dubbed South Africa's 'national flower' for the millions of brightly coloured bags that...

SA cashes in on textile exports. (Industry).(South Africa)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... South Africa, meanwhile, has increased its textile and clothing exports to nearly R2bn a year, with sales into the US market growing to 60% last year, a jump of 40% over 2000, and a 151% increase compared with 1999. The main stimulus was...

Africa to complain over cotton subsidies. (Agriculture).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Cotton growing countries in central and west Africa have united to meet threats posed by subsidies developed nations pay to their own producers. Noting that subsidies to cotton growers in the United States will total $173bn for the next decade,...

Uganda to strike oil? (Resources).(Heritage Oil)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Hopes of a major oil strike in Uganda have been boosted by promising seismic findings by a Canadian exploration company. Heritage Oil has begun drilling at a potential 'world class strike' site some 270km west of the capital, Kampala. "The...

Moz-Malawi corridor. (Transport).(railroad in Beira, Mozambique)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Six international consortiums are bidding to rebuild a strategic rail link between landlocked Malawi and Mozambique's Indian Ocean port of Beira at a cost of about $350m. The Sena railway line has not operated for about 20 years since it...

Partnerships vital for airlines. (Aviation).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... If aviation in Africa is to succeed and develop along profitable lines, then cross border partnerships are needed among African carriers. According to South Africa's Transport Minister, Dullah Omar, African aviation "is now confronted by the...

Iraq wants SA's Eskom. (Energy).(South Africa's Eskom)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Iraq has asked South Africa's electricity provider, Eskom, for help in rebuilding its power stations. The request came from Iraq's Deputy Prime minister, Tariq Aziz, during a visit to South Africa. "Eskom is an important compay in the energy...

Nigeria's 1 into 8 power fix. (Energy).(electricity management)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... In a decisive step to sell-off its cumber-some and unprofitable electricity monopoly, the Nigerian government is to create 1 new companies in its place. Nasir elRufai, Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, says six electricity...

Tanzanite back at Tiffany. (Gemstones).(Tiffany of New York)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Shoppers at Tiffany of New York, probably the world's most prestigious jewellers, are once again be able to buy tanzanite rings, bracelets and other baubles. The company suspended sales at the beginning of this year on fears that money from the...

Whites still rule. (Labour).(white men in South African companies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Despite nearly 10 years of majority rule, affirmative action and workplace equity legislation, white men continue to dominate top management positions in South African companies. This was the main finding of a major survey conducted by...

AB Guide to African Currencies.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... AB Guide to African Currencies COUNTRY CURRENCY [pounds $US EURO sterling]STG ALGERIA (Dinar) 121.99 80.01 77.80 ANGOLA ...

Sudan's fragile peace. (Editorial).(Machakos Protocol, peace agreement)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
September 1, 2002... News about the Sudan peace agreement - the Machakos Protocol - came like a totally unexpected but very welcome burst of rain on a parched land. People in both North and South Sudan went to dance and sing in the streets. Twenty years of a...

Chiluba in the dock: A new era for African transparency? (Cover Story).(Frederick Chiluba)
September 1, 2002... As former Zambian President, Federick Chiluba, fights for his freedom and political life, the question being asked throughout Africa is whether the time has finally come when corrupt leaders will be made to answer for their crimes. It was...

End of the dollar's mighty reign? (View from the City).(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... The US dollar, until recently the benchmark international currency, is on the slide. This means that international investors are losing faith in the strength of the American economy and are looking for safer havens. The implications for Africa...

Can the African Union deliver? (Topic).
September 1, 2002... Now that the fanfare and ceremony are fading in the South African seaside city of Durban, venue for the inaugural summit of the African Union and death-knell for the OAU, some 800m Africans will be looking to the new continental order for a...

Nigeria: two sides of the coin. (Conference).(economic development analysis)
September 1, 2002... Nigeria is an enigma; it possesses a large and growing oil and gas sector but little other industrial or manufacturing enterprise. Nigeria's problems were brought sharply into focus at the CWC Nigeria Investment Conference in London. It is...

Hot water for Africa... for pennies. (Invention).(new invention)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... It's not so much the building of low cost houses that eats into budgets--it's the conveniences inside such as geysers and other mod-cons. Now a South African entrepreneur, Anton Hendriksz, has invented a simple water heating concept that...

Invisible condom an asset to Africa's women. (Health).
September 1, 2002... A gel formula condom that provides women with an invisible barrier against viral infection has been hailed as 'the best preventative measure against HIV yet'. Unveiled at the July Barcelona Aids conference, the 'can't see condom, developed...

Mbeki signs e-bill into law. (Law).(electronic signature law)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... A new South African law is enabling people to legalise documents by remote, electronic signature. President Mbeki stamped his approval of the Act by signing the Electronic Communication and Transactions (ECT) Bill into law in Pretoria......

Car washers make waves. (Enterprise).(two men create car wash idea)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Washing cars for pocket money is one thing, making a decent living out of it is something else entirely. But that's exactly what two enterprising young men have done in Cape Town, South Africa. The first problems Theos Vilakazi and Abdul...

Race on for green bio-fuel. (Energy).(jatropha curcas seeds for bio-diesel)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... South Africa and the world's deliverance from the clutches of fossil-based fuel oils could arrive quite soon through the seeds of an innocuous pea-green plant that goes by the name of jatropha curcas. Not only will the plant revolutionise the...

Nigeria playing fast and loose with OPEC? (Oil and Gas).(crude oil production forecasts)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Nigeria has set out determinedly to quash rumours that it might pull out of OPEC but its production expansion plans would suggest the contrary. Is Nigeria running with the hare and hunting with the hounds? Rumours that Nigeria was planning...

The fox and the hen house. (Dateline USA).(Euro and American dollar)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2002... Our US-based columnist looks at how the slide of the dollar, especially vis-a-vis the euro, is being viewed stateside. Here the major contributory factors include the recent accountancy scandals, a 'clueless Presidency' and an ever increasing...

Nigeria power to be privatised. (Industry). (Nigerian Electric Power Authority).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... The Nigerian government has finally given the green light for the privatisation of the electricity sector. But as with other privatisation ventures in Nigeria, there can be many a slip between cup and lip. NEIL FORD attended a recent conference...

Pooling power in East Africa. (Energy).
September 1, 2002... The development of the East African Community (EAC) has given a shot in the arm to efforts to improve transmission links in the region and the political and economic jealousies of yesteryear are being replaced by healthy competition. In...

Cape Town--the world's most beautiful city? (City Guide).
September 1, 2002... Nestled beneath the majestic Table Mountain, soaring 1,000 metres above it, South Africa's oldest city, Cape Town is also perhaps the world's most beautiful city. STEPHEN WILLIAMS takes you on rapid tour. With the worst of the winter...

Weak rand buys cheap beauty. (Health).(cosmetics surgery in South Africa, includes related article)
September 1, 2002... Thanks to a weakening rand, prime South African property, antiques and holidays are being snapped up by the mighty dollar, pound, mark and franc. Add one more to the list: plastic surgery at a snip! Nose jobs, boob enhancements, tummy-tucks...

Mais oui, Maybach! (Wheels).(new division of DaimlerChrysler)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Maybach, the legendary German car marque of the 1920s and 19305, has made a return as a division of DaimlerChrysler; Volvo launches gas cars in Europe, and a round-up of this month's auto news. At the beginning of the last century; Wilhelm...

Volvo first in bi-fuel system. (cars).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... This year, Volvo launched their range of BiFuel cars based on: the S40, V40, S60, V70 and S80 range. While other manufacturers, and indeed Volvo, have marketed gas-powered vehicles in recent years, Volvo is the first manufacturer to actually...

Toyota. (Autos in Brief). (to launch Landcruiser sport-utility vehicle).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2002... The new model of Africa's best-selling SUV, Toyota's Landcruiser, is set to make its debut appearance at this month's Paris Motor Show. Toyota insiders claim that the new model will share the Lexus GX470 ladder-frame construction chassis and be...

Porsche. (Autos in Brief). (to manufacture Cayenne sport-utility vehicle).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Porsche's decision to build its first 4X4 SUV, the Cayenne, has provoked a storm of controversy amongst purist Porsche devotees. The new car is running slightly late, its launch now being planned for December rather than this month as...

Land Rover. (Autos in Brief). (launches Discovery 2003 automobile).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2002... Land Rover has launched their 3rd series Discover, dubbed the Discovery 2003. There are 700 major and detail changes from the 2nd series model - a tranche of electronic dynamic controls and a revised face a lathe new Range Rover the most...

Honda and Toyota. (Autos in Brief). (to launch fuel-cell cars).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Honda and Toyota are battling to bring the world's first fuel-cell car to the market. Honda say the 220 mile range hydrogen-powered zero-emission FCX will be made available in Japan and California by the end of the year, the same date as set by...

Audi. (Autos in Brief). (to launch S4 Quattro coupe).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2002... Audi is to introduce a new 340bhp 4.0ltr V8 4X4 coupe. Joining the successful A4 range, the S4 Quattro will have its debut next year. Early indications are a price range of around $50,000.

Goaaaaaal! Senegal's World Cup performance has been an inspiration for the whole of Africa. Can our teams now take the next step and go all the way to the final? (Sport).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... First came the eye-opening win against France, 1-0, then the game against Sweden, 2-1, and finally the games against Denmark (1-1) and Uruguay (3-3). Senegal's lions were on a roll into the World Cup quarter-finals. Never had this been...

Caine Prize 2002: top award goes to Kenya's Wainaina. (Events).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... The award for this year's $15,000 Caine Prize for an African short story has been won by Kenyan Binyavanga Wainaina for 'Discovering Home'. STEPHEN WILLIAMS attended the announcement ceremony at Oxford's Bodleian Library. The Caine Prize...

Holding it together. (Countryfile: Nigeria).
September 1, 2002... President Olusegun Obasanjo's greatest tests will be how to keep the disparate parts of the nation together and to prevent a repeat of the bloody Biafran bid for secession in the 1960s. Analysis by Neil Ford. Despite the return to...

South African investors cry foul. (Countryfile: Kenya).
September 1, 2002... South Africa has unleashed a trade war with Kenya over investment barriers against its nationals. South Africa believes that deliberate efforts are being made to frustrate potential investors in Kenya. Whereas Kenyan authorities are upbeat...

Patrol boats to monitor Lake Victoria. (Countryfile: Uganda).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Uganda is to acquire patrol boats to protect its Lake Victoria territorial waters, aimed at checking the intrusion of unlicensed fishermen. The Ugandan department of fisheries says that incursions continue daily despite promises from Kenya...

Rushing backwards. (Countryfile: Zimbabwe).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Despite the defiant stance taken by the Zimbabwe government, Finance Minister Simba Makoni has admitted that the. country's economic situation is dire. Witness Chitepo asks just how bad it can get. Zimbabwe's manufacturing base, already...

Thumbs up from investors. (Countryfile: Tanzania).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... The World Bank and a number of major international players attended the recent Round Table Conference in Dar es Salaam to boost foreign investment in this East African country. At the conference President Mkapa received the backing of the...

Africa's most modern airport. (Countryfile: Ethiopia).(Bole, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Despite delays in construction, international flights to Addis Ababa will soon switch to the spanking new Bole terminal, Africa's most modern airport. When the new terminal is finally commissioned, Addis Ababa's Bole airport will be...

'Smash and grab' empowerment deal? (Countryfile: South Africa).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... A discussion paper on increased black empowerment in SA's white-dominated mining sector has unleashed a storm of controversy. The cost in lost investment of fast-tracking black economic empowerment (BEE) in the mining industry is forcing...

The Challenges of Economic and Institutional Reform in Africa. (Book Reviews).
September 1, 2002... BY GEORGE SAITOTI [pounds sterling]49.95 Ashgate ISBN 0-7546-1988-5 For most of the last two decades, George Saitoti has been a key figure in the Kenyan government. Currently he serves as Vice-President, but his experience...

A Taste of Zanzibar. (Book Reviews).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... BY ZARINA JAFFERJI [pounds sterling]12.99 The Gallery Publications ISBN 9987-667-02-3 Ask any visitor to the islands of Zanzibar and the Swahili coast what their abiding memories might be and close to the top of the list, along with...

Timbuktu: The Caine Prize for American Writing 2001. (Book Reviews).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... R100/[pounds sterling]TBC Jacana Fiction (SA) ISBN 1-919931-06-6 This book contains 10 short stories, two each from the five short-listed authors of last year' Caine Prize for African Writing (see page 26). As Dan Jacobsen, chair of the...

AIDS in the Twenty-First Century Disease and Globalisation. (Book Reviews).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... BY TONY BARNETT AND ALAN WHITESIDE [pounds sterling]18 Palgrave MacMillan This book should be read by every businessman, not only in Africa,throughout the world because it uncovers in new and more meaningful ways the terrifying global,...

Borana Folk Tales: A Contextual Study. (Book Reviews).
September 1, 2002... BY SAHLU KIDANE [pounds sterling]12.95 Haan Assoc 1874209146 Explores the prose narratives of the Borana branch of the Oromo in Ethiopia. The Borana possess an immensely powerful, prolific, and systematic oral tradition, and this...

Nigeria: The Stolen Billions. (Book Reviews).
September 1, 2002... BY AGWUNCHA ARTHUR NWANKWO [pounds sterling]11.95 Fourth Dimension Publishing (Nigeria) ISBN 978156511X New edition, originally published in 1999. Historian, prodemocracy activist and prolific author confronts the systematic looting of...

Sasol gas project begins. (Oil and Gas).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Work has begun on the Sasol Natural Gas Project to tap Mozambique's gas reserves and pipe them to South Africa's industrial heartland. Developed over the past three years, the contract that gave the final go-ahead to the scheme was signed in...

Delta women win demands. (Oil and Gas).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... The protest by unarmed Itsekiri women at the Escravos oil terminal in the Niger Delta has finally been brought to an end. An agreement was reached between ChevronTexaco, which runs the terminal, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation...