THE cash-strapped Cold Storage Company (CSC) has clinched a lucrative deal to export beef to Malawi as markets for Zimbabwean beef open up in the region, The Sunday Mail Business has learnt.
Exports to Malawi are believed to have begun a fortnight ago with the country earmarked to earn millions of dollars in foreign currency.
CSC acting chief executive officer Mr Lazarus Muronza revealed that there has been overwhelming demand from the region and the company has been looking for strategic markets to boost its earnings.
"We are exporting fresh beef to Hong Kong and, in the regional market, we are also exporting to Angola and Mozambique.
"We have just secured another market in Malawi. The export orders from the regional markets are presently overwhelming and we are failing to meet demand as we are seriously undercapitalised.
"To mitigate this problem we have come up with a programme to boost exports by inviting private industry players who will be exporting in partnership with CSC to the regional market," explained Mr Muronza.
The initiative is part of a plan aimed at ensuring the recovery of the industry whose export markets collapsed markedly in the past eight years owing to regular outbreaks of foot- and-mouth disease.
CSC is reeling under massive cashflow constraints that have resulted in the parastatal failing to pay farmers for their cattle.
The parastatal added that the obtaining cash shortages are making it increasingly difficult to transact with communal farmers, who usually demanded cash for their beasts.
It is understood that the commission has since applied for funding from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
Authorities could not be drawn into revealing how much they had applied for.
Said Mr Muronza: "The amount that will suffice for our programme changes everyday due to the hyperinflationary environment we are in; we require sufficient funds to purchase 23 570 cows and 944 bulls."
Capacity utilisation at the company stands at 20 percent.
Fulfilling export quotas as well as the local market is one of the major challenges facing the CSC.
The resumption of beef exports to the EU remains hazy in the short term as it has emerged that the country needs financial assistance for countrywide vaccinations that are a prerequisite for future trade with the bloc.
"It should be noted that fresh beef exports to the EU have not yet resumed due to the foot- and-mouth disease. Again due to our working capital constraints and reduced uptake of canned product in the EU — which has called for minor modifications to our processing plant — we have suspended exports of canned products," explained Mr Muronza.
The regional market is only taking corned beef while its other products like ox tongue can only be sold on the United Kingdom (UK) market.
CSC is currently struggling to sustain operations, especially in the wake of the hyperinflationary environment that continues to bloat operational costs.
The beef producer is, however, in the process of exploring alternative markets in both Africa and the Far East and further diversifying its products.
On the last visit by the Malaysian veterinary officials, a number of issues were raised that needed attention by both CSC and the Department of Veterinary Services.
Experts are confident that the latest steps being taken by the RBZ to boost the beef herd would result in a turnaround of the CSC fortunes in the long term.
The future of the country’s beef industry depends on the rebuilding of the national herd with the company engaging Government last year with the intention of boosting capacity utilisation to satisfy newly established markets.
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Obamamania hits Malawi Press
It is rare for a news event happening thousands of kil ometres away across the Atlantic to make newspaper front pages in Malawi. But no t with the US elections especially as an African/American (Barrack Obama) was a major contender for the White House.
'It's Obama!' screamed the headline in The Nation newspaper during the week, dedicating its entire front page, plus five more pages inside, to the victory of De m ocrat Obama over his Republican challenger John McCain.
The daily carried the stories from international news wires but had its own input from local analysts.
'Bingu pens Obama', The Nation also reported, announcing that President Bingu wa Mutharika did not want to miss out on the action.
It said that Mutharika had to recall the famous phrase -- 'I have a dream' -- by Rev. Martin Luther King Jnr in 1963 which continued "after hurdles of slaverly t hat Africa passed through to develop America, one day black people will take a lead in America.
The Malawi media was not oblivious that its own election was just under eight mo nths away.
The official Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) reported Information and Civic Education Minister Patricia Kaliati as congratulating both Obama and McCain an d urging "Africa to emulate the American example".
Kaliati, as monitored on MBC, said had it been in Africa McCain - instead of congratulating Obama - could have rushed to the courts "to try and quash the clear l andslide victory".
The government spokesman said Obama was magnanimous in his victory by praising M cCain's life-long service to the American people while the loser was statesman-l i ke in lauding the victor's flawless campaign.
Most of the reportage from the US elections was from the newswires but, with the help of the United States Information Sevice in Malawi, a number of Malawian jo u rnalists were despatched to the US to cover the elections.
The weekly Malawi News editor Steve Nhlane was one of them and in his column, "Saturday with Steven Nhlane", the veteran journalist reported "The election of Ba r ack Obama as the first African/American is a symphony about the sea-change that has swept through the mindset of many Americans over the years largely due the civil rights movement there."
Veteran journalist Edward Chitsulo, who edits The Nation, did not miss out on the Obamamania.
Writing in his widely-read column, Raw Stuff, Chitsulo said "To me, (Obama's) victory means one thing: it is possible to succeed, and that success has no colour".
Writing in the newly-launched weekly, Weekend Express, editor Isaac Masingati observes that Obama had triumphed amidst a negative campaign over his name and his supposed Islamic ties.
He quoted Obama as having dismissed his detractors when he said: "I have lived in Muslim countries, even while I am Christian, so I know how they are thinking a b out issues".
Of course, the Malawi media did not ignore local issues.
Preparation for Malawi's own '09 elections still made headlines, so did the much-touted fertiliser subsidy programme.
But Obama and his feat were the dominant issue.
'It's Obama!' screamed the headline in The Nation newspaper during the week, dedicating its entire front page, plus five more pages inside, to the victory of De m ocrat Obama over his Republican challenger John McCain.
The daily carried the stories from international news wires but had its own input from local analysts.
'Bingu pens Obama', The Nation also reported, announcing that President Bingu wa Mutharika did not want to miss out on the action.
It said that Mutharika had to recall the famous phrase -- 'I have a dream' -- by Rev. Martin Luther King Jnr in 1963 which continued "after hurdles of slaverly t hat Africa passed through to develop America, one day black people will take a lead in America.
The Malawi media was not oblivious that its own election was just under eight mo nths away.
The official Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) reported Information and Civic Education Minister Patricia Kaliati as congratulating both Obama and McCain an d urging "Africa to emulate the American example".
Kaliati, as monitored on MBC, said had it been in Africa McCain - instead of congratulating Obama - could have rushed to the courts "to try and quash the clear l andslide victory".
The government spokesman said Obama was magnanimous in his victory by praising M cCain's life-long service to the American people while the loser was statesman-l i ke in lauding the victor's flawless campaign.
Most of the reportage from the US elections was from the newswires but, with the help of the United States Information Sevice in Malawi, a number of Malawian jo u rnalists were despatched to the US to cover the elections.
The weekly Malawi News editor Steve Nhlane was one of them and in his column, "Saturday with Steven Nhlane", the veteran journalist reported "The election of Ba r ack Obama as the first African/American is a symphony about the sea-change that has swept through the mindset of many Americans over the years largely due the civil rights movement there."
Veteran journalist Edward Chitsulo, who edits The Nation, did not miss out on the Obamamania.
Writing in his widely-read column, Raw Stuff, Chitsulo said "To me, (Obama's) victory means one thing: it is possible to succeed, and that success has no colour".
Writing in the newly-launched weekly, Weekend Express, editor Isaac Masingati observes that Obama had triumphed amidst a negative campaign over his name and his supposed Islamic ties.
He quoted Obama as having dismissed his detractors when he said: "I have lived in Muslim countries, even while I am Christian, so I know how they are thinking a b out issues".
Of course, the Malawi media did not ignore local issues.
Preparation for Malawi's own '09 elections still made headlines, so did the much-touted fertiliser subsidy programme.
But Obama and his feat were the dominant issue.
Birds and wildlife of Malawi
CHAIRMAN Brian Smith welcomed everyone to the SOC Dumfries Branch meeting held on October 15.
Recent bird sightings included more magpies than are normally seen in the area, a snow bunting at New Galloway, redwings, and waxwings around dundrenan, a pectoral sandpiper, little stint, willow tit and a hoopoe at Carsethorn.
A coma butterfly has been seen in the area which is good news.
At Caerlaverock a recent count of up to 80 whooper swans, 1,800 barnacle geese, pintail, light bellied brent geese and up to 100 shoveler. Two smaller Canada geese (one taverners and the other a cackling) had been spotted. There is also been sightings of a Crane.
The speaker for the evening was David Catt, who has been a serious birdwatcher for the last 20 years and who had recently had the chance to revisit Malawi where he had lived over 40 years ago.
His presentation showed the area of Malawi and the terrain he covered on his trip, through valleys a high plateau.
He saw all of the Africa’s ‘big five’, lion, cheetah, leopard, elephant, and giraffe.
David also showed images of village life which had changed from his first visit. The houses were traditionally made of mud with a wattle and daub finish but now they are made of mud bricks which are made locally.
The land is planted out twice in the year with crops being grown in the dry season and turned into a paddy field during the wet season.
Each village produce its own arts and crafts which are sold at local markets along the way.
He went out on safari where he saw a lot of antelope including Hartebeast, Kudu and Sable which have now been introduced to the large game park after spending some time in a large enclosure to adjust to their new surroundings.
He saw a Side-Striped Jackal which is rare and only seen in some parts of Malawi.
On a boat safari, he encountered crocodile, hippo and a Monitor Lizard.
David had photographed many different and vibrant species of birds on his trip. They are too numerous to name them all but had included the three different groups of egrets, white-breasted cormorants which nested in palm trees, a hammerkop, five species of heron, spoonbills, sacred ibis, storks, crakes, African jakanas, rollers, hornbills, all the species of kingfishers, swallows, sunbirds, lovebirds, black-winged stilts, bee-eaters, a cardinal woodpecker, vultures and African fish eagles.
It really was a very good power-point presentation by David. Susan Woods thanked David very much for sharing his trip and experiences with everyone; it had obviously been a memorable holiday.
The autumn bird recording season has now started. Anyone who would like to help in this important survey work in Dumfries and Galloway please contact Edmund Fellowes 01387 262094 for details.
If you have any sightings please let him know so he can build up his data.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, November 12 in the Cumberland Street Day Centre, Dumfries, at 7.30pm when the speaker will be Russell Nisbet talking on Some Mediterranean Islands.
Visitors and non-members are always very welcome. There is no admission charge.
Recent bird sightings included more magpies than are normally seen in the area, a snow bunting at New Galloway, redwings, and waxwings around dundrenan, a pectoral sandpiper, little stint, willow tit and a hoopoe at Carsethorn.
A coma butterfly has been seen in the area which is good news.
At Caerlaverock a recent count of up to 80 whooper swans, 1,800 barnacle geese, pintail, light bellied brent geese and up to 100 shoveler. Two smaller Canada geese (one taverners and the other a cackling) had been spotted. There is also been sightings of a Crane.
The speaker for the evening was David Catt, who has been a serious birdwatcher for the last 20 years and who had recently had the chance to revisit Malawi where he had lived over 40 years ago.
His presentation showed the area of Malawi and the terrain he covered on his trip, through valleys a high plateau.
He saw all of the Africa’s ‘big five’, lion, cheetah, leopard, elephant, and giraffe.
David also showed images of village life which had changed from his first visit. The houses were traditionally made of mud with a wattle and daub finish but now they are made of mud bricks which are made locally.
The land is planted out twice in the year with crops being grown in the dry season and turned into a paddy field during the wet season.
Each village produce its own arts and crafts which are sold at local markets along the way.
He went out on safari where he saw a lot of antelope including Hartebeast, Kudu and Sable which have now been introduced to the large game park after spending some time in a large enclosure to adjust to their new surroundings.
He saw a Side-Striped Jackal which is rare and only seen in some parts of Malawi.
On a boat safari, he encountered crocodile, hippo and a Monitor Lizard.
David had photographed many different and vibrant species of birds on his trip. They are too numerous to name them all but had included the three different groups of egrets, white-breasted cormorants which nested in palm trees, a hammerkop, five species of heron, spoonbills, sacred ibis, storks, crakes, African jakanas, rollers, hornbills, all the species of kingfishers, swallows, sunbirds, lovebirds, black-winged stilts, bee-eaters, a cardinal woodpecker, vultures and African fish eagles.
It really was a very good power-point presentation by David. Susan Woods thanked David very much for sharing his trip and experiences with everyone; it had obviously been a memorable holiday.
The autumn bird recording season has now started. Anyone who would like to help in this important survey work in Dumfries and Galloway please contact Edmund Fellowes 01387 262094 for details.
If you have any sightings please let him know so he can build up his data.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, November 12 in the Cumberland Street Day Centre, Dumfries, at 7.30pm when the speaker will be Russell Nisbet talking on Some Mediterranean Islands.
Visitors and non-members are always very welcome. There is no admission charge.
Mission to Malawi
As they usually do, the children came malnourished and near death. Twins had arrived one of the nights the mission group from Hilton Head Island's Providence Presbyterian Church was in Malawi. Three parishioners had traveled to the small African country this spring to volunteer at the Ministry of Hope. The ministry is, more or less, a short-term orphanage, a home for the thousands of Malawian children left without parents each year due to AIDS or other disease.
That night, the twins' mother died giving birth on an ox cart. As usual, someone notified the police of an abandoned child; police notified the social services office; social services notified the Ministry of Hope, an established and well-known organization in the country.
Within a few hours the twins arrived with a fever of 92 degrees and the director of the nursery, Mwai Nyirongo, was called in. Immediately, she began kangarooing, a process where the infant is wrapped tightly in a blanket then tucked underneath a caregiver's shirt for warmth.
Islander Jan Hoaglin did the same. A tiny heartbeat next to hers.
"It's life-changing," she said.
The twins now are healthy, if a bit undersized, and living in the Ministry of Hope, said Nyirongo late last month. She and ministry director Rev. Charles Gwengwe came to visit Hilton Head to "share and spread heart," as the African minister put it.
Providence church and the Ministry have been intertwined since last year when a parishioner traveled to Malawi. Now, church women are knitting tiny hats and blankets. Parishioners are sending medications and supplies.
"Jesus says, 'What you do for the least of these brothers, you do for me,'" said Providence associate pastor Carmen Fowler. "If you haven't been to sub-Sahara Africa, you haven't seen the least of these."
The idea for the ministry started in the late '90s when the college-age son of a man who was a minister in rural Malawi started to have children in for tea and words about God. The gathering began to get larger than an informal get-together, and the Ministry was born.
About 12 percent of the Malawi adult population under the age of 49 is living with HIV or AIDS, one of the highest in the world, according to the United Nations. The life expectancy is 43 years of age. About half of the population is under 17 years old.
The AIDS crisis also has led to an abundance of orphans. The Ministry of Hope has served thousands of children since 1999. At any one time the nursery will have about 20 babies.
The faith-based Ministry provides children with food, medical care, spiritual guidance, job skills, and, overall, safety and stability. The Ministry operates six feeding centers throughout the mostly rural country.
The Ministry relies heavily on donations and help from churches such as Providence Presbyterian.
Providence Presbyterian's Jeanne Carryl Wray first went to Malawi in April 2007 after hearing about their work from a missionary friend. She immediately fell in love, she said.
The church, which already performs mission work in other third-world counties, deepened its involvement the next year when Wray returned with Hoaglin and Fowler to provide whatever help they could. Wray and Hoaglin helped in the nursery. Fowler helped with the bookkeeping.
"After losing their parents, these children are hurt emotionally," Gwengwe said. "When someone comes to see them, they are charged. It's the sharing and spreading of hope."
What struck the islanders was the spirit of the Malawians with the Ministry. Here, in a country where AIDS has ravaged their population, they laugh and joke and begin each day with an uplifting prayer.
"Paul once spoke of the secret of being content in all situations," Fowler said. "They know that; we don't."
Nyirongo and Gwengwe came to Hilton Head to learn from similar U.S. counterparts. Nyirongo visited Volunteers in Medicine, the nonprofit clinic aimed at low-income islanders. Gwengwe met with the Charleston Presbytery.
The next time the two groups will meet is next summer, when Providence will return to offer more help.
Gwengwe said he is grateful for the fact that some make the journey just to be in the nursery. Like when Hoaglin helped care for the orphaned twins, they were there, at 10 p.m., to provide a warm body.
"We don't know what would have happened without them," he said. "When they come, they save lives."
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