A HARPENDEN businessman was among five British tourists who died in a plane crash in Malawi.
Father-of-two Nigel Clout, a sales director for plastics company Formech in Thrales End Lane, Harpenden, was part of a group of about a dozen keen cyclists and squash players.
The 53-year-old was on holiday with two friends, who had been members of Cannons Health Club in St Albans since it was a squash club more than 16 years ago.
His friends Daniel Turnberg, aged 37, of north London - son of Labour peer Lord Turnberg - and David Murrrell from Surrey were also killed, along with Colin Smith, aged 45, and his wife Dawn Rollins, 44, of Norwich.
The group had taken a sightseeing flight in a Cessna 206 six-seater plane over the Nyika national park in the north of the country when the accident happened. The Canadian pilot was also killed.
They are believed to have been staying at a lodge in the park. Fog and low cloud over the 1,800-metre highland region may have caused the crash.
The plane apparently took off for a 30-minute flight on Saturday afternoon but failed to return to Chelinda airfield.
A spokesperson for Cannons Health and Fitness Club in Highfield Park Drive, said: "We were deeply saddened to hear the news that members of Cannons died in a plane crash in Malawi last weekend.
"We understand that those concerned were taking part in an independently-organised cycling tour of Malawi. Staff and members of Cannons extend their thoughts and sympathy to the friends and family of all concerned."
Simon Fennell, a colleague at Formech in Harpenden, said Mr Clout had been headhunted for the firm by its managing director Paul Vugovich, a fellow cycling enthusiast who lives in St Albans.
He paid tribute to Mr Clout as a "driving force at work and a thoroughly decent man".
Nigel, from Hunters Oak in Hemel Hempstead, was a keen sportsman all his life, who often travelled the globe on sporting challenges. His wife Margaret described him as "always full of life - a real action man, who lived life to the full".
A keen cyclist, Nigel had been mountain biking for around 15 years. He had cycled in numerous countries including Guatemala, Greece and Spain. He was always looking for a new challenge and loved to visit interesting places.
A popular man, Nigel had many friends and was always there to lend a hand if needed. His two daughters, Victoria, aged 23, and Jenny, 21, described him simply as "the best Dad", who taught them everything from riding a bike to driving a car.
"He was always full of fun and everyone loved him - even our friends, despite the fact that he would take every opportunity to challenge them to some sort of sporting contest including early-Sunday-morning bike rides," said Jenny.
Victoria added: "He was a big kid who loved life and we have so many happy memories of him. He made us a fantastic sledge which out-performed everyone else's in the snow. Our friends nicknamed him Nigel the Legend and he was. We love him so much and he will be so missed.
Thursday, 21 June 2007
SD can repeat Malawi miracle
AGRICULTURE and co-operatives Minister Mtiti Fakudze has said that Swaziland can repeat the Malawi miracle of maize surpluses if a system of agricultural subsidies can be introduced.
The minister made these remarks at the Manzini region mini-agricultural summit held at Mphophoma, Malkerns, yesterday.
He said that not long ago, Malawi was struggling with food security, but immediately turned their fortunes around with the introduction of subsidies.
He, however, stressed that it could not be left to government to introduce the change, saying a political decision was necessary which could only be taken by the Swazi nation as is the norm in the Tinkhundla system.
“As you know, it is the people who have to take the initiative as this is a political decision, government cannot do this alone,” Fakudze said.
Other factors noted by the minister in his speech were the need for diversification to drought resistant commodities instead of focusing on maize.
He noted that farmers who diversified to sorghum in the drought- stricken regions realised good harvests despite the prevailing dry conditions.
“Some crops like sweet potatoes have as yields as 4-8 times higher than maize. Some of these also require less inputs yet they have higher yields and returns compared to maize,” he said.
A changing of mind sets is necessary in order for the country to realise food security. He said there are three levels the agriculture sector has to operate on; government roles, farmer roles and then the farmer and government roles.
The summit was attended by over 500 farmers.
The minister made these remarks at the Manzini region mini-agricultural summit held at Mphophoma, Malkerns, yesterday.
He said that not long ago, Malawi was struggling with food security, but immediately turned their fortunes around with the introduction of subsidies.
He, however, stressed that it could not be left to government to introduce the change, saying a political decision was necessary which could only be taken by the Swazi nation as is the norm in the Tinkhundla system.
“As you know, it is the people who have to take the initiative as this is a political decision, government cannot do this alone,” Fakudze said.
Other factors noted by the minister in his speech were the need for diversification to drought resistant commodities instead of focusing on maize.
He noted that farmers who diversified to sorghum in the drought- stricken regions realised good harvests despite the prevailing dry conditions.
“Some crops like sweet potatoes have as yields as 4-8 times higher than maize. Some of these also require less inputs yet they have higher yields and returns compared to maize,” he said.
A changing of mind sets is necessary in order for the country to realise food security. He said there are three levels the agriculture sector has to operate on; government roles, farmer roles and then the farmer and government roles.
The summit was attended by over 500 farmers.
Cause uncertain of air crash that killed cyclist Nigel
The family of a Hemel Hempstead man who was killed in a plane crash in Africa have paid tribute to a loving father and husband.
Nigel Clout, 53, of Hunters Oak, died when the light aircraft he was flying in crashed in Malawi last week.
Yesterday (Tuesday), his wife Margaret and two daughters, Jenny, 21, and Victoria, 23, described him as a popular and helpful man who lived life to the full.
Jenny said: "He was always full of fun and everyone loved him – even our friends, despite the fact that he would take every opportunity to challenge them to some sort of sporting adventure including early morning Sunday bike rides."
Victoria added: "Even at work he managed to think about 'play' and made us a fantastic sledge, which out-performed everyone else's in the snow.
"Our friends nicknamed him 'Nigel the Legend', and he was.
"We love him so much and he will be so missed."
Mr Clout, a past pupil of Halsey School, had lived in Hemel Hempstead all his life and was well known in the town.
He was a sales and marketing director for moulding machinery firm Formech in Harpenden.
Head of finance at Formech, Simon Fennell, said: "He was a good colleague and professional.
"He was the driving force behind making sure we got new customers."
Mr Fennell added that Mr Clout had a passion for cycling and had first met the managing director of Formech, Paul Vukovich, through a circle of bike-riding friends.
"It was certainly the love of his life in sport terms," said Mr Fennell.
Mr Clout, who travelled the globe to cycle, had gone to Malawi on a bike-riding tour.
He was killed along with two friends when the small plane
they were flying in crashed on Saturday afternoon (June 16).
It is believed the party were on a sightseeing trip from the capital city of Lilongwe to the north of the country when the accident happened, reportedly in bad weather.
Two other British tourists and a Canadian pilot were also killed in the light aircraft crash.
A police spokesman in Malawi said wreckage of the plane was found by villagers in a valley and that there were no survivors.
The other victims of the plane crash included the son of Labour peer Lord Turnberg, 37-year-old Daniel Turnberg.
A Foreign Office spokesman said on Monday that the British High Commissioner and Vice Consul in Malawi had travelled to the site of the plane crash and were in close contact with the country's authorities.
Malawi's chief aviation officer, Raymond Phesele, said this week that the cause of the crash was being investigated.
Nigel Clout, 53, of Hunters Oak, died when the light aircraft he was flying in crashed in Malawi last week.
Yesterday (Tuesday), his wife Margaret and two daughters, Jenny, 21, and Victoria, 23, described him as a popular and helpful man who lived life to the full.
Jenny said: "He was always full of fun and everyone loved him – even our friends, despite the fact that he would take every opportunity to challenge them to some sort of sporting adventure including early morning Sunday bike rides."
Victoria added: "Even at work he managed to think about 'play' and made us a fantastic sledge, which out-performed everyone else's in the snow.
"Our friends nicknamed him 'Nigel the Legend', and he was.
"We love him so much and he will be so missed."
Mr Clout, a past pupil of Halsey School, had lived in Hemel Hempstead all his life and was well known in the town.
He was a sales and marketing director for moulding machinery firm Formech in Harpenden.
Head of finance at Formech, Simon Fennell, said: "He was a good colleague and professional.
"He was the driving force behind making sure we got new customers."
Mr Fennell added that Mr Clout had a passion for cycling and had first met the managing director of Formech, Paul Vukovich, through a circle of bike-riding friends.
"It was certainly the love of his life in sport terms," said Mr Fennell.
Mr Clout, who travelled the globe to cycle, had gone to Malawi on a bike-riding tour.
He was killed along with two friends when the small plane
they were flying in crashed on Saturday afternoon (June 16).
It is believed the party were on a sightseeing trip from the capital city of Lilongwe to the north of the country when the accident happened, reportedly in bad weather.
Two other British tourists and a Canadian pilot were also killed in the light aircraft crash.
A police spokesman in Malawi said wreckage of the plane was found by villagers in a valley and that there were no survivors.
The other victims of the plane crash included the son of Labour peer Lord Turnberg, 37-year-old Daniel Turnberg.
A Foreign Office spokesman said on Monday that the British High Commissioner and Vice Consul in Malawi had travelled to the site of the plane crash and were in close contact with the country's authorities.
Malawi's chief aviation officer, Raymond Phesele, said this week that the cause of the crash was being investigated.
UNDP sign micro-financing project
The Malawi government and the United Nations have signed a 4 million U.S. dollars micro- financing project to service poor and low-income population groups.
The website of The Nation newspaper of Malawi Wednesday quoted a statement from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as saying Tuesday that in Malawi, only 3 percent of the population has access to saving services while a marginal 1 percent access credit.
Insurance services are virtually absent while the percentage of poor families with access to any financial services in rural areas is even lower, said the statement.
The UNDP and the United Nations Capital Development Fund are each contributing 2 million dollars to a 6 million dollars basket- fund which will run from 2007 to 2011.
UNDP resident representative Michael Keating said the UN strongly advocates for micro-financing as one of the best tools in alleviating poverty and contributing to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
"The rural population accounts for over 80 percent of the population. People need access to credit to improve their standards of living, open businesses and to participate in and benefit from economic growth of this nation. Women in particular, will be targeted by the initiative," he said.
The website of The Nation newspaper of Malawi Wednesday quoted a statement from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as saying Tuesday that in Malawi, only 3 percent of the population has access to saving services while a marginal 1 percent access credit.
Insurance services are virtually absent while the percentage of poor families with access to any financial services in rural areas is even lower, said the statement.
The UNDP and the United Nations Capital Development Fund are each contributing 2 million dollars to a 6 million dollars basket- fund which will run from 2007 to 2011.
UNDP resident representative Michael Keating said the UN strongly advocates for micro-financing as one of the best tools in alleviating poverty and contributing to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
"The rural population accounts for over 80 percent of the population. People need access to credit to improve their standards of living, open businesses and to participate in and benefit from economic growth of this nation. Women in particular, will be targeted by the initiative," he said.
AfDB Group's Field Office Opens for Business
The African Development Bank Group's Malawi Field Office (MWFO) is open for business following the presentation of letters of accreditation by the Resident Representative, Mr. Frank Kufakwandi, to the country's foreign affairs minister, Hon Joyce Banda, on Tuesday in Lilongwe.
Mr. Kufakwandi informed the minister about the Bank's appreciation of the country's macroeconomic stability, its growth rate of 8% in 2006, and its improved performance in the agriculture sector which recorded a bumper harvest during the 2006 season.
He emphasized the Bank's commitment to continue working with other donors in support of Malawi's Growth and Development Strategy in the domains of sustainable economic growth, social protection, social development, infrastructure, and good governance. He emphasized the need to work towards making Malawi competitive both in the SADC regional and global markets.
Hon. Banda, for her part, expressed the government's appreciation of the Bank's decision to open the Malawi office as a means of deepening dialogue with the government. Mr. Kufakwandi had earlier paid a courtesy call on the finance minister, Hon. Goodall Gondwe.
The field offices are part of the Bank Group's decentralization strategy aimed at strengthening its operations in regional member countries.
The first batch of offices were opened in 2000 in Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon and Nigeria; followed buy Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Tunisia, which was superseded by the relocation of the Bank in 2003. The third batch (2004-2005) comprise Algeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, and Rwanda; while fourth batch was completed in 2006 in Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Zambia..
The offices are expected to strengthen in-country activity and knowledge, conduct policy and strategy dialogue with countries, participate in donor consultations, and constitute a focal point for key project implementation.
The operations of the Bank Group in Malawi commenced in 1969. To date, the cumulative commitments of the Group in the country stand at US$1.266 billion in 140 operations.
Mr. Kufakwandi informed the minister about the Bank's appreciation of the country's macroeconomic stability, its growth rate of 8% in 2006, and its improved performance in the agriculture sector which recorded a bumper harvest during the 2006 season.
He emphasized the Bank's commitment to continue working with other donors in support of Malawi's Growth and Development Strategy in the domains of sustainable economic growth, social protection, social development, infrastructure, and good governance. He emphasized the need to work towards making Malawi competitive both in the SADC regional and global markets.
Hon. Banda, for her part, expressed the government's appreciation of the Bank's decision to open the Malawi office as a means of deepening dialogue with the government. Mr. Kufakwandi had earlier paid a courtesy call on the finance minister, Hon. Goodall Gondwe.
The field offices are part of the Bank Group's decentralization strategy aimed at strengthening its operations in regional member countries.
The first batch of offices were opened in 2000 in Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon and Nigeria; followed buy Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Tunisia, which was superseded by the relocation of the Bank in 2003. The third batch (2004-2005) comprise Algeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, and Rwanda; while fourth batch was completed in 2006 in Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Zambia..
The offices are expected to strengthen in-country activity and knowledge, conduct policy and strategy dialogue with countries, participate in donor consultations, and constitute a focal point for key project implementation.
The operations of the Bank Group in Malawi commenced in 1969. To date, the cumulative commitments of the Group in the country stand at US$1.266 billion in 140 operations.
Rwanda: Govt to Import Chicks From Malawi
In a bid to close the gap of chicken scarcity on the market, the Rwandan government intends to import fast growing chicks from Malawi.
The government has also cleared private investors to start importing poultry and its products from Malawi.
If they are shipped, then this will be the first consignment of chicks into the country after government slammed a ban on importing chicken and its products in 2005. The ban was to protect the local poultry and the people of Rwanda from the deadly avian flu which kills both people and birds.
Stenbock Oleg, one of the prominent poultry dealers in the country, said at least 2,000 chicks are to be imported weekly.
Thoegene Rutagwenda, Rwanda Animal Resource Development Authority Chairman said Malawi is among the few countries in Africa that have been declared bird flu free threat.
However, he added that the demand for chicks in Malawi is very high, and asked Rwandans be patient. "It would take time to supply the country, the competition is so high, but we have been listed," Rutagwenda said.
Govt hatchery
Prior to the outbreak of the avian scourge, the government had developed the country's single hatchery at Rubirizi sector, in Kigali city. This hatchery could provide about 10,000 chicks per day.
But it had to stop production because the parent stock used be imported from Europe, a continent hit by avian flu.
Prices soar
The scarcity of local chicks is also being felt. A local chicken that used to cost Frw1,200 before the ban now costs up to Frw4000. Meaning the cost has outweighed the nutritional value of chicken, yet those who can afford are not having value for money.
At one of the restaurants in town, clients were heard complaining that the chicken is hard, "it is tough," they said. Perhaps the restaurants could only provide local chicken to its clients.
Bird flu threat
The fights against the possible outbreak of bird flu in the country had included the community.
In some agriculture ministry laboratories dead birds that had eaten poisoned mice caused panic among the community thinking Rwanda had been hit by the scourge. However laboratory tests found out that the birds had been poisoned. However track for any possible cases still continues.
The government has also cleared private investors to start importing poultry and its products from Malawi.
If they are shipped, then this will be the first consignment of chicks into the country after government slammed a ban on importing chicken and its products in 2005. The ban was to protect the local poultry and the people of Rwanda from the deadly avian flu which kills both people and birds.
Stenbock Oleg, one of the prominent poultry dealers in the country, said at least 2,000 chicks are to be imported weekly.
Thoegene Rutagwenda, Rwanda Animal Resource Development Authority Chairman said Malawi is among the few countries in Africa that have been declared bird flu free threat.
However, he added that the demand for chicks in Malawi is very high, and asked Rwandans be patient. "It would take time to supply the country, the competition is so high, but we have been listed," Rutagwenda said.
Govt hatchery
Prior to the outbreak of the avian scourge, the government had developed the country's single hatchery at Rubirizi sector, in Kigali city. This hatchery could provide about 10,000 chicks per day.
But it had to stop production because the parent stock used be imported from Europe, a continent hit by avian flu.
Prices soar
The scarcity of local chicks is also being felt. A local chicken that used to cost Frw1,200 before the ban now costs up to Frw4000. Meaning the cost has outweighed the nutritional value of chicken, yet those who can afford are not having value for money.
At one of the restaurants in town, clients were heard complaining that the chicken is hard, "it is tough," they said. Perhaps the restaurants could only provide local chicken to its clients.
Bird flu threat
The fights against the possible outbreak of bird flu in the country had included the community.
In some agriculture ministry laboratories dead birds that had eaten poisoned mice caused panic among the community thinking Rwanda had been hit by the scourge. However laboratory tests found out that the birds had been poisoned. However track for any possible cases still continues.
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