Mbaweme Women's Cooperative Society started as an orphanage to support children suffering from AIDS.
But with support from the Commonwealth Secretariat, the co-operative has also taken up bee-keeping and is ready to start producing candles from beeswax, which will help transform it into a self-sustaining profitable business.
This came about after 30 of its members participated in a one-month course in basic bee-keeping sponsored by the Secretariat. This was later followed by a two-week 'training of trainers' course for ten people and later a two-week course on product diversification.
The latter course was held between November and December 2007 and facilitated by 'Bees for Development', a UK-based organisation that provides training and information to groups involved in bee-keeping. The training was delivered as part of the Government of Malawi's women empowerment programme, and funded by the Secretariat's Special Advisory Services Division.
During the two-week course, members of the co-operative were taught how to produce a diverse range of products from honey and beeswax, how to package in an attractive way, and to market products effectively.
Making candles from beeswax
During the training, it emerged that beeswax dipped candles could be produced and marketed separately as a niche product for the co-operative. All candles the group made during their training were sold easily as they were made from a high quality wax.
The women also made new products such as skin balm, polish and propolis tincture, which helps treat mouth ulcers, gum problems and sore throats. As part of their training, they spent time learning how to price each new product they made in relation to the different markets they were targeting.
Their market research established that the demand for attractively presented table honey is higher in Malawi than ever before, with supermarkets and tourist shops often unable to source supplies to match demand. Similarly, demand for high quality beeswax candles is also high, with craft shops and tourist outlets always on the lookout for new suppliers.
Janet Lowore, a consultant with Bees for Development who conducted the training, said that candle-making requires few materials and equipment, and unlike honey, candles do not need to be put in containers. She commented that the co-operative has a bright future in honey products, but challenges remain.
"The women need more support to develop a bigger product range, because the local demand there is not yet fully satisfied," Ms Lowore said, adding that further assistance should be provided to assist the co-operative to formulate a good business plan, to enable them market their products competitively, both locally and regionally.
Dr Nicola Bradbear, an internationally recognised expert in apicultural development, who is also a founder of Bees for Development, described beeswax as one of the most versatile natural products, with more than 100 uses.
"It is a product that can be produced without any costs, because the bees live in their natural habitat, and you don't have to feed them," she said, noting that it is "the type of activity that has great potential to create sustainable livelihoods."
Watipaso Mkandawire, an Adviser in the Secretariat's Enterprise Development Section, said they are working to link the co-operative with local support institutions such as One Village One Product, Malawi Bureau of Standards and Malawi Investment Promotion Agency to ensure sustainability of its production.
"These institutions will help the co-operative to develop a strategic plan, access financing, assist in improving quality of their products and identify good domestic markets," he explained.
The Secretariat's assistance towards the Mbaweme Women's Cooperative Society is one of several projects designed to empower women entrepreneurs. Whereas women comprise the majority of the small and medium enterprise sector in Malawi, many women entrepreneurs are disadvantaged because they lack adequate capital to establish competitive businesses, have low levels of technical skills and there is lack of organised structures and facilities to support them. It was hoped that the support for the co-operative would enable the women to produce their own bee products for processing and also train other women.
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
Premier Wen calls for greater co-op with Malawi
BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika here on Wednesday, and called for setting up formal mechanism to guide and coordinate bilateral trade cooperation.
Wen told Mutharika that to enhance China-Malawi friendly cooperative ties was in the fundamental interests of both sides, adding China was ready to expand substantial cooperation with Malawi.
The premier called on both countries to confer on setting up a guidance and coordination mechanism for trade cooperation. China would encourage its enterprises to increase imports from Malawi in a bid to stimulate bilateral trade and promote its balanced development.
Mutharika said the establishment of diplomatic ties had unveiled a new chapter for bilateral relations. Malawi would stick to the one-China policy and support China's reunification.
Mutharika said his country would maintain high-level exchanges with China, step up mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, technology, culture, medical treatment and social development, and Malawi would participate in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.
Wen said China welcomed Malawi to join the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, and was ready to join with Malawi to inject new vigor to China-Africa friendly cooperation.
Mutharika echoed that Malawi was willing to contribute to cementing Africa-China cooperation.
Mutharika arrived on Monday afternoon for a weeklong state visit to China as Hu's guest.
He will also visit Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, and the cities of Shenzhen and Shanghai
BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- China and Malawi agreed to strengthen military cooperation in various fields during the talks between the defense ministers of the two countries here on Wednesday.
"The Chinese armed forces attach great importance to establishing and developing relations with the Malawian armed forces," said Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie.
Liang, who is also state councilor, told his Malawian counterpart Aaron Sangala that the Chinese side is ready to develop exchanges and cooperation with the Malawian side in various fields.
Sangala said the cooperation between Malawi and China is based on south-south cooperation, and Malawi hopes to strengthen military and defense cooperation with China.
Sangala is accompanying Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika who is here for a weeklong state visit to China as guest of Chinese President Hu Jintao.
"The Chinese armed forces attach great importance to establishing and developing relations with the Malawian armed forces," said Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie.
Liang, who is also state councilor, told his Malawian counterpart Aaron Sangala that the Chinese side is ready to develop exchanges and cooperation with the Malawian side in various fields.
Sangala said the cooperation between Malawi and China is based on south-south cooperation, and Malawi hopes to strengthen military and defense cooperation with China.
Sangala is accompanying Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika who is here for a weeklong state visit to China as guest of Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Two new cyprinids described from Malawi
South African scientists Denis Tweddle and Paul Skelton have described two new species of cyprinids from Malawi.
The descriptions of the two new large barbs, ‘Barbus’ seymouri and Labeobarbus nthuwa, are published in the latest issue of Smithiana Bulletin.
Both new species are described from the South Rukuru River, which flows into Lake Malawi.
‘Barbus’ seymouri
This is a moderate-sized (up to 108 mm SL), robust bodied, ‘Barbus’ species with an ossified, serrated last dorsal simple ray, 26-29 lateral line scales, fins tinted pinkish-orange, and a midlateral black stripe that extends through the caudal fin to the fork, but does not extend onto the snout.
Barbus seymouri
'Barbus' seymouri. Picture kindly supplied by Denis Tweddle
It differs from other orange finned, serrated-spined ‘Barbus’ species in the region in the absence of the prominent sheath of enlarged scales at the base of the dorsal fin present in the other species, and in the pattern of pigmentation of the mid-lateral stripe.
According to the authors, “[t]he sites where the species is caught are generally clear, strongly-flowing streams with cover in the form of vegetation and/or rocks.”
This species is named after the late Tony Seymour, in recognition of his many years of service to Malawi not only in Fisheries but also in many other aspects of environmental management and conservation, and in particular for his long-term commitment to supporting Lake Malawi’s fishermen.
The genus name is used with quotation marks because it is thought that the small African barbines traditionally assigned to this genus should not belong to the same group as the true Barbus, which are all European species.
However, no studies have been published which clarifies the true relationships of this group.
Labeobarbus nthuwa
This is a species with parallel-striated scales, a heavily ossified, unserrated, last unbranched dorsal-fin ray, five unbranched dorsal rays in total, and 30–33 lateral line scales.
Labeobarbus nthuwa
Labeobarbus nthuwa. Picture kindly supplied by Denis Tweddle.
It differs from the two Lake Malawi Labeobarbus (L. johnstonii and L. brevicauda) in scale counts and the presence of the bony dorsal spine, from L. marequensis of the Zambezi River and east coastal rivers south to the Phongolo in gill raker counts, caudal peduncle proportions and the presence of the bony dorsal spine, and from L. codringtonii of the Upper Zambezi River in the absence of the high dorsal fin characteristic of that species.
The authors state that “[a]ll sampling sites where the species has been caught were rocky, fast flowing stretches with some deeper pools.” The species is named after the local name of the fish.
In addition to the two new cyprinid species described in this study, the authors also mention other undescribed fish species in the South Rukuru River, which include at least one other ‘Barbus’ species, two species of the amphiliid catfish Zaireichthys.
The descriptions of the two new large barbs, ‘Barbus’ seymouri and Labeobarbus nthuwa, are published in the latest issue of Smithiana Bulletin.
Both new species are described from the South Rukuru River, which flows into Lake Malawi.
‘Barbus’ seymouri
This is a moderate-sized (up to 108 mm SL), robust bodied, ‘Barbus’ species with an ossified, serrated last dorsal simple ray, 26-29 lateral line scales, fins tinted pinkish-orange, and a midlateral black stripe that extends through the caudal fin to the fork, but does not extend onto the snout.
Barbus seymouri
'Barbus' seymouri. Picture kindly supplied by Denis Tweddle
It differs from other orange finned, serrated-spined ‘Barbus’ species in the region in the absence of the prominent sheath of enlarged scales at the base of the dorsal fin present in the other species, and in the pattern of pigmentation of the mid-lateral stripe.
According to the authors, “[t]he sites where the species is caught are generally clear, strongly-flowing streams with cover in the form of vegetation and/or rocks.”
This species is named after the late Tony Seymour, in recognition of his many years of service to Malawi not only in Fisheries but also in many other aspects of environmental management and conservation, and in particular for his long-term commitment to supporting Lake Malawi’s fishermen.
The genus name is used with quotation marks because it is thought that the small African barbines traditionally assigned to this genus should not belong to the same group as the true Barbus, which are all European species.
However, no studies have been published which clarifies the true relationships of this group.
Labeobarbus nthuwa
This is a species with parallel-striated scales, a heavily ossified, unserrated, last unbranched dorsal-fin ray, five unbranched dorsal rays in total, and 30–33 lateral line scales.
Labeobarbus nthuwa
Labeobarbus nthuwa. Picture kindly supplied by Denis Tweddle.
It differs from the two Lake Malawi Labeobarbus (L. johnstonii and L. brevicauda) in scale counts and the presence of the bony dorsal spine, from L. marequensis of the Zambezi River and east coastal rivers south to the Phongolo in gill raker counts, caudal peduncle proportions and the presence of the bony dorsal spine, and from L. codringtonii of the Upper Zambezi River in the absence of the high dorsal fin characteristic of that species.
The authors state that “[a]ll sampling sites where the species has been caught were rocky, fast flowing stretches with some deeper pools.” The species is named after the local name of the fish.
In addition to the two new cyprinid species described in this study, the authors also mention other undescribed fish species in the South Rukuru River, which include at least one other ‘Barbus’ species, two species of the amphiliid catfish Zaireichthys.
Namibia: Flames Are in Town
Namibia's underperforming senior football team the "Brave Warriors" as the team is affectionately known amongst its ardent supporters need a comprehensive win over Malawi to silence a growing band of critics.
The Warriors will be going into their international friendly encounter against Malawi at Windhoek's Independence Stadium tonight with a second string team, after the country's foreign legion was excluded from the 26-member squad.
Both countries will be using the match as a yardstick for their preparations ahead of qualifiers for the first edition of the biennial African Championships, to be staged in Ivory Coast next year and the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
Namibian coach Arie Schans said though the objective is always to win matches when the situation presents itself, he is more focused on trying new players in various positions to give them the much needed exposure at international level.
"It's very difficult to select the right combination at this stage because I had very little time to work properly with the current crop of players in the camp, but from what I have seen within the last couple of days so far - it won't be long before the players start gelling."
The Dutch national said keeping the core of footballers who represented Namibia at the 26th edition of the African Cup of Nations finals in Ghana earlier this year would help the younger players to get used to the rough and demanding rigours of international football. "You may recall that most of the goals at international level are a result of quick counter-attacks and our players need to adapt to the quick passing game and attack with ferocious speed, and more importantly they must be very organized and be physically strong in defence."
Quizzed over the continued omission of Ramblers' hard running left winger Jeremiah "Bullfrog" Baisako from the squad, despite the player putting in some sterling showing for his club, Schans was philosophical and pointed out that the technical staff have been closely monitoring the player's progress since he was sent home from Ghana in January.
"We have requested medical reports from his club's medical team but are yet to be furnished with the medical findings of the extent of his condition, but as soon as we receive the reports clarifying that the latest diagnoses are satisfactory, then the door will remain open for his selection."
And while Namibia have opted for locally based players, Malawi has picked a formidable side with a mixture of some tested and tried campaigners and a good number of youngsters whom coach Stephen Constantine described as being hungry for success. Amongst the more established names are Rusell Mwafulirwa who plies his trade with title-chasing Professional Soccer League outfit Ajax Cape Town in South Africa, skipper Peter Mponda of Free State Stars, goalkeeper Swadic Sanuki and exciting young midfielder Tabonga Chimodzi - a teammate of Robert Nauseb at Santos.
The 45-year old British national was in charge when a second string Namibian outfit defeated the Flames in an international friendly in Blantyre, Malawi last year and has seen enough.
"Namibia is a very organized outfit and I've observed that they have very few footballers abroad - a situation that augurs extremely well for the well-being of the national team because their domestic league is much stronger than the Malawian Premiership."
Since taking over the reins from Buchard Zisse more than a year ago, Constantine boasts a patchy record of one win and a single draw and six defeats from eight games, but the much-travelled mentor who also had stints with the national teams of India and Nepal is not fazed by those statistics.
"One needs to understand that four of those losses came against nations that were in Ghana, including Namibia, and I must also stress that players need to be developed at a very young age and taught the basics, but the standard of coaching in Malawi at club level is very poor and this has certainly trickled down to the players' poor tactical awareness."
He warned against football authorities who demand instant success without thinking about developing young players, adding this scenario has the potential to kill the game of football on the African continent.
"If you look at the most successful teams in the world today like Manchester United and Arsenal, for example, there has been very minimal chopping and changing in the coaching departments and this is the only way to achieve success because there is just no quick fix in football."
Meanwhile, the Namibian technical staff have omitted seven players from the provisional 26-member squad.
Civics' utility left back Franklin April's days in the national setup appear to be numbered after the long-serving defender was given the boot alongside six other players who failed to make the cut for tonight's encounter against the Flames.
African Stars Dennis Ngueza's dream of donning the national jersey has been extended at least for the time being. Ramblers' midfielder Nelson "Dicky" Akwenye's long awaited return to international football remains on ice while there are no places for the Mighty Gunners pair of Percy Kairabeb and Sageus Narimab in the final squad.
Blue Waters' Mekondjo Tobias and Erastus Mpasi (Rundu Chiefs), the only hopeful from the country's second tier division, were also given the cold shoulder by the selectors.
Eleven Arrows' livewire goal poacher Reinholdt "Sheya" Andimba has withdrawn from the squad because of work commitments.
The Warriors will be going into their international friendly encounter against Malawi at Windhoek's Independence Stadium tonight with a second string team, after the country's foreign legion was excluded from the 26-member squad.
Both countries will be using the match as a yardstick for their preparations ahead of qualifiers for the first edition of the biennial African Championships, to be staged in Ivory Coast next year and the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
Namibian coach Arie Schans said though the objective is always to win matches when the situation presents itself, he is more focused on trying new players in various positions to give them the much needed exposure at international level.
"It's very difficult to select the right combination at this stage because I had very little time to work properly with the current crop of players in the camp, but from what I have seen within the last couple of days so far - it won't be long before the players start gelling."
The Dutch national said keeping the core of footballers who represented Namibia at the 26th edition of the African Cup of Nations finals in Ghana earlier this year would help the younger players to get used to the rough and demanding rigours of international football. "You may recall that most of the goals at international level are a result of quick counter-attacks and our players need to adapt to the quick passing game and attack with ferocious speed, and more importantly they must be very organized and be physically strong in defence."
Quizzed over the continued omission of Ramblers' hard running left winger Jeremiah "Bullfrog" Baisako from the squad, despite the player putting in some sterling showing for his club, Schans was philosophical and pointed out that the technical staff have been closely monitoring the player's progress since he was sent home from Ghana in January.
"We have requested medical reports from his club's medical team but are yet to be furnished with the medical findings of the extent of his condition, but as soon as we receive the reports clarifying that the latest diagnoses are satisfactory, then the door will remain open for his selection."
And while Namibia have opted for locally based players, Malawi has picked a formidable side with a mixture of some tested and tried campaigners and a good number of youngsters whom coach Stephen Constantine described as being hungry for success. Amongst the more established names are Rusell Mwafulirwa who plies his trade with title-chasing Professional Soccer League outfit Ajax Cape Town in South Africa, skipper Peter Mponda of Free State Stars, goalkeeper Swadic Sanuki and exciting young midfielder Tabonga Chimodzi - a teammate of Robert Nauseb at Santos.
The 45-year old British national was in charge when a second string Namibian outfit defeated the Flames in an international friendly in Blantyre, Malawi last year and has seen enough.
"Namibia is a very organized outfit and I've observed that they have very few footballers abroad - a situation that augurs extremely well for the well-being of the national team because their domestic league is much stronger than the Malawian Premiership."
Since taking over the reins from Buchard Zisse more than a year ago, Constantine boasts a patchy record of one win and a single draw and six defeats from eight games, but the much-travelled mentor who also had stints with the national teams of India and Nepal is not fazed by those statistics.
"One needs to understand that four of those losses came against nations that were in Ghana, including Namibia, and I must also stress that players need to be developed at a very young age and taught the basics, but the standard of coaching in Malawi at club level is very poor and this has certainly trickled down to the players' poor tactical awareness."
He warned against football authorities who demand instant success without thinking about developing young players, adding this scenario has the potential to kill the game of football on the African continent.
"If you look at the most successful teams in the world today like Manchester United and Arsenal, for example, there has been very minimal chopping and changing in the coaching departments and this is the only way to achieve success because there is just no quick fix in football."
Meanwhile, the Namibian technical staff have omitted seven players from the provisional 26-member squad.
Civics' utility left back Franklin April's days in the national setup appear to be numbered after the long-serving defender was given the boot alongside six other players who failed to make the cut for tonight's encounter against the Flames.
African Stars Dennis Ngueza's dream of donning the national jersey has been extended at least for the time being. Ramblers' midfielder Nelson "Dicky" Akwenye's long awaited return to international football remains on ice while there are no places for the Mighty Gunners pair of Percy Kairabeb and Sageus Narimab in the final squad.
Blue Waters' Mekondjo Tobias and Erastus Mpasi (Rundu Chiefs), the only hopeful from the country's second tier division, were also given the cold shoulder by the selectors.
Eleven Arrows' livewire goal poacher Reinholdt "Sheya" Andimba has withdrawn from the squad because of work commitments.
Preventing mother-to-child transmission to fight HIV/AIDS in Malawi
Mwanza District Hospital, located near the southern border of Malawi, provides crucial care to many of the country’s most vulnerable families. Among them were two young couples who recently arrived at the hospital days apart with different stories but similar needs.
The couples were anxious to visit with staff in the hospital’s prevention of mothers-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme, which tackles a broad range of issues presented by HIV and AIDS.
After a quick pin prick and a wait of less than an hour, a nurse took one of the couples, Mary and Devison, behind closed doors to give them their results. Both were HIV-positive, and Mary was four months pregnant.
Living with HIV, expecting a child
As part of the initiative to promote HIV testing and counselling for couples, the hospital was eager to provide them with the full range of PMTCT services. In most cases, a lack of spousal and family support is one of the major obstacles facing people with HIV and AIDS. Providing testing for couples is a way to mobilize such support, within the community.
The other couple, Mavis and James, were also living with HIV and expecting a child. Because of the Mwanza hospital’s programme, they had taken all the preventive steps available, and Mavis received medical guidance throughout her pregnancy.
When Mavis finally delivered her daughter, she immediately handed her over to the medical staff so that they could administer to her the antiretroviral drops that have proven effective in preventing HIV infection. This medical intervention is known to cut the risk of mother-to-child transmission in half.
The road to prevention
The groundbreaking PMTCT programme, supported by UNICEF, helps health workers administer services related to AIDS education and awareness, infant and young child feeding, antiretroviral treatment and social support.
“More and more people are tested because the policies and guidelines for health workers are now in place” says UNICEF Representative Aida Girma. “Testing is the key to both prevention and treatment. Since men take a critical role in deciding about the treatments, it is important to involve them.”
In a population of only 12 million, Malawi has almost 1 million people living with HIV/AIDS, more than 90,000 of whom are children. These alarming numbers underscore the necessity of providing women like Mary and Mavis affordable early diagnoses and treatments to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
Every year, an estimated 30,000 newborns in Malawi are infected with HIV by mother-to-child transmission, and UNICEF aims to markedly reduce that number. Given the magnitude of the problem, UNICEF allocates 30 per cent of its Malawi budget to fight HIV/AIDS; the hope is that PMTCT services will pave the way for a decline in paediatric infection rates.
‘HIV is everybody’s business’
Today, there are more than 152 PMTCT sites located throughout Malawi. Led by the Ministry of Health with support from development partners, the PMTCT Acceleration Plan intends to reach all maternal and child health facilities in order to ensure that every pregnant woman knows her HIV status and receives the proper care.
“There is a strong political will to fight HIV/AIDS in Malawi” said UNICEF Representative in Malawi Aida Girma. “There is still a lot of work to be done. UNICEF has to think universally, making sure that all children in all districts are addressed, and linking what is on the ground with the policy level. UNICEF has been actively campaigning to make sure children are given attention. We want to make sure HIV is everybody’s business.”
UNICEF hopes that by supporting HIV/AIDS services such as PMTCT, couples like Mary and Devison, Mavis and James will have access to the education and medicine that they so undeniably deserve and so desperately need.
Continent Can Meet And Shoot Past MDGs
Can Africa fulfill the Millennium Development Goals by 2015? There is a generalised doubt that the MDGs, may not be met on schedule in a majority of African states. Official reports and anecdotal evidence suggest that at the current pace even by 2050 the goals may still remain unmet by these states.
The situation is not helped by the fact that most of the reports available are usually aggregated, hence the negative conclusion that Africa's progress is at best very slow and patchy. Like all generalisations and aggregated statistics they hide the specific, more positive picture of steady progress on a number of the goals in quite a few countries across Africa.
It also panders to the fashionable Afro-pessimism that caricatures events in Africa promoting embedded attitudes of 'hopeless Africa', 'helpless people and continent' that needs the help and handout of everybody else except its own peoples and leaders.
It is rather late in the day to be asking if Africa can meet the MDGs or not. Still more pointless are the criticisms of the goals as being too minimal. We are half way through and those questions are unhelpful especially among campaigners who are committed to holding their governments to account for these commitments.
A more proactive way is to ask what can be done to fill the obvious gaps that still exist which may prevent countries from meeting the goals. If you can halve poverty nobody will stop you from eradicating it.
Almost in all African countries there has been remarkable progress in education in terms of enrolment in schools. There is universal access to education across the countries that have allowed millions of girls and boys who would not have seen the inside of classrooms to do so.
Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and others are good example of the rapid enrolment in schools. On Child mortality Malawi is only second to Costa Rica in the dramatic drop in child deaths (over 30%) in the past three years. The same Malawi that used to rank as 'poorest country in the world'.
A country that was recipient of food aid a few years ago has now become food donor to some of its poorer neighbours including Zimbabwe. On controlling the spread of HIV/Aids Uganda used to be a lone star but a few other countries have become even more aggressive in fighting the scourge.
Huge numbers of African children today have better chances of survival than 10 years ago. More and more are likely to live beyond their 5th birthdays and have hope of going to primary school and even better chances of going for higher education as countries upscale their investments in education and move beyond universal primary education to secondary education.
However there are issues around quality, retention in schools, rate of dropout between boys and girls etc. But quantitative changes are important steps as countries deal with quality issues. We cannot say that more children should not go to school until all schools are of the same quality. Both go hand in hand.
The external environment is also changing as international partners are held to more scrutiny and challenged to walk the walk as fast as they do the talk.
Debt relief has not been universal and a majority of African states have not become beneficiaries but the minority (Uganda, Mozambique, Ghana, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia, etc) that have got it are generally transforming the gains into meaningful dividends on a number of MDGs.
Those not qualified like Nigeria but renegotiated discounts on the national debt have increased the country's financial credibility but also it now has a virtual fund of more than one billion dollars that is devoted to MDGs.
So the question is not whether we can meet the goals or not but why this country is doing well on X number of goals and country Y is not performing.
By concentrating on "we can't meet it", we are letting political leaders off the hook of accountability for commitments they made voluntarily to their own citizens.
Seven years may not be long but it is certainly long enough for all the countries to change their policy direction and resource allocation that prioritize the needs of the poor and accelerate fulfillment of the MDGs.
African citizens have a duty to remind their leaders about these commitments and be vigilant in demanding that they are met and even go beyond them where possible. If the goals are not met it will not just be because of government insensitivity but also citizen complacency or indifference.
The situation is not helped by the fact that most of the reports available are usually aggregated, hence the negative conclusion that Africa's progress is at best very slow and patchy. Like all generalisations and aggregated statistics they hide the specific, more positive picture of steady progress on a number of the goals in quite a few countries across Africa.
It also panders to the fashionable Afro-pessimism that caricatures events in Africa promoting embedded attitudes of 'hopeless Africa', 'helpless people and continent' that needs the help and handout of everybody else except its own peoples and leaders.
It is rather late in the day to be asking if Africa can meet the MDGs or not. Still more pointless are the criticisms of the goals as being too minimal. We are half way through and those questions are unhelpful especially among campaigners who are committed to holding their governments to account for these commitments.
A more proactive way is to ask what can be done to fill the obvious gaps that still exist which may prevent countries from meeting the goals. If you can halve poverty nobody will stop you from eradicating it.
Almost in all African countries there has been remarkable progress in education in terms of enrolment in schools. There is universal access to education across the countries that have allowed millions of girls and boys who would not have seen the inside of classrooms to do so.
Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and others are good example of the rapid enrolment in schools. On Child mortality Malawi is only second to Costa Rica in the dramatic drop in child deaths (over 30%) in the past three years. The same Malawi that used to rank as 'poorest country in the world'.
A country that was recipient of food aid a few years ago has now become food donor to some of its poorer neighbours including Zimbabwe. On controlling the spread of HIV/Aids Uganda used to be a lone star but a few other countries have become even more aggressive in fighting the scourge.
Huge numbers of African children today have better chances of survival than 10 years ago. More and more are likely to live beyond their 5th birthdays and have hope of going to primary school and even better chances of going for higher education as countries upscale their investments in education and move beyond universal primary education to secondary education.
However there are issues around quality, retention in schools, rate of dropout between boys and girls etc. But quantitative changes are important steps as countries deal with quality issues. We cannot say that more children should not go to school until all schools are of the same quality. Both go hand in hand.
The external environment is also changing as international partners are held to more scrutiny and challenged to walk the walk as fast as they do the talk.
Debt relief has not been universal and a majority of African states have not become beneficiaries but the minority (Uganda, Mozambique, Ghana, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia, etc) that have got it are generally transforming the gains into meaningful dividends on a number of MDGs.
Those not qualified like Nigeria but renegotiated discounts on the national debt have increased the country's financial credibility but also it now has a virtual fund of more than one billion dollars that is devoted to MDGs.
So the question is not whether we can meet the goals or not but why this country is doing well on X number of goals and country Y is not performing.
By concentrating on "we can't meet it", we are letting political leaders off the hook of accountability for commitments they made voluntarily to their own citizens.
Seven years may not be long but it is certainly long enough for all the countries to change their policy direction and resource allocation that prioritize the needs of the poor and accelerate fulfillment of the MDGs.
African citizens have a duty to remind their leaders about these commitments and be vigilant in demanding that they are met and even go beyond them where possible. If the goals are not met it will not just be because of government insensitivity but also citizen complacency or indifference.
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