Malawi is now hooked to the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). Zain Malawi introduced the new generation communication service to beat other mobile network operators. The company has since gone on a marketing campaign for the product.
Zain Malawi Public Relations Manager Edith Tsirizani said in an interview in Lilongwe, that the company has organized series of mobile fun activities that are targeting the youth who are major consumers of Information Communication Technology (ICT) gadgets in the country.
She said with the latest developments in the mobile phone technology her company had in store several products it wanted to offer on the Malawi market. “Youths are the biggest customers of ICT products so at Zain we have come up with products that target this modern day generation of ICT youths," she said.
She said the GPRS system which is used by GSM Mobile phones has been the most common mobile phone system in the world as of 2004, but Malawi was left out in this international communication development.
“The internet is an information hub and the GPRS which is used for transmitting IP packets is an essential component of the social life of today’s youth who would like to download music from the World Wide Web,” she said.
Speaking in an interview, Linda Magera Jere who has been a Zain customer since the company started operating in Malawi as Celtel said that the GPRS had made her communication needs easier. She said she now can easily interact with her friends on the internet using a mobile phone.
"This service is ideal as I can access the internet anywhere using my mobile phone,” she said. Malawi has two mobile phone service providers - Zain and TNM with the former controlling the market with over 1.2 million lines.
However Zain’s GPRS Core Network is the first centralized part of the GPRS system in Malawi providing support for WCDMA based 3G networks.
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Malawi receives grant of $60.2mn for water supply and economic growth
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Malawi government on Wednesday afternoon signed a loan and grant agreement amounting to 9 billion Malawi Kwacha (US$60.2 million) to finance some components and activities in the National Water Development Programme (NWDP) and the Local Economic Development Project for the next five years.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Lilongwe AfDB representative for Malawi Frank Kufakwandi said the agreements are part of the Bank’s three year support programme to Malawi for a period of 2008 to 2010 which will amount to about US$200 million.
"This further demonstrates the excellent relations that exist between Malawi and the AfDB group and the commitment to support Malawi in its efforts to achieve sustainable development and poverty reduction," he said.
The Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe said the support will assist the socio-economic well being of the population by providing sustainable and potable water and strengthen economic growth of the poor Malawians.
The minister describes the agreement as a milestone in achieving government’s goals of achieving sustainable development by providing sustainable and potable water supply to the population, thereby reducing their dependence on unsafe water.
NWDP will receive US$24.6 million as a loan and a grant of US$417.4 million in addition to Euro 3.5million from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative Trust Fund while US$20 million will go to the Local Economic Development Project.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Lilongwe AfDB representative for Malawi Frank Kufakwandi said the agreements are part of the Bank’s three year support programme to Malawi for a period of 2008 to 2010 which will amount to about US$200 million.
"This further demonstrates the excellent relations that exist between Malawi and the AfDB group and the commitment to support Malawi in its efforts to achieve sustainable development and poverty reduction," he said.
The Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe said the support will assist the socio-economic well being of the population by providing sustainable and potable water and strengthen economic growth of the poor Malawians.
The minister describes the agreement as a milestone in achieving government’s goals of achieving sustainable development by providing sustainable and potable water supply to the population, thereby reducing their dependence on unsafe water.
NWDP will receive US$24.6 million as a loan and a grant of US$417.4 million in addition to Euro 3.5million from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative Trust Fund while US$20 million will go to the Local Economic Development Project.
Keen on Democracy, Despite Mixed Results
Kenya's elections exposed a gap between expectations of democracy and realities.
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 20 (IPS) - Over the last twenty years, the ballot box has replaced military coups as a means of political change across Africa, says Professor Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi, a political scientist from the University of Ghana. However the results of democratic practices are a mixed bag of sand and sim-sim.
"There has been a significant departure from the mode of politics of the past," he says.
The historical view advocated by dictators and their apologists that African people do not care about democratic principles but rather their economic social standing is not true, according to Gyimah-Boadi, who is also head of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development.
Analysing the fourth round of the Afro-Barometer survey, he said that over half of Africans surveyed said they prefer democracy over any other form of government.
The Afro-Barometer is an independent research project that measures the social, political and economic atmosphere on the continent. Surveys are conducted in more than a dozen countries and at regular cycles.
Professor Gyimah-Boadi says the surveys have shown that Africans have a good understanding of what democracy means to them. According to results from the third round conducted in 18 countries during 2005-2006, 73 percent of Africans rejected military rule. People on the continent are also relatively knowledgeable about government policies concerning healthcare and education.
The survey however also found that while African countries have achieved considerable success in terms of holding elections that are viewed as credible, African citizens are unsure about the ability of elections to improve their lives.
According to Gyimah-Boadi, democracy has fallen short of people's expectations.
"We have found in our surveys that those who say they are satisfied with democracy have sharply declined by about thirteen percentage points between 2000 and 2005."
What is clear is that there is a huge gap between expectations and realities.
Gyimah Boadi was speaking at a conference in Johannesburg organised by the South African Institute for International Affairs to allow African academics and lawmakers to assess governance on the continent.
Recent African history has shown that democracy has had varying consequences for different countries. At times it has produced prosperity and at other times factionalism and discord.
Cyprian Nyamwamu, a member of Kenya's National Convention Executive Council (NCEC) presented the case of his country's experience before, during and after the 2007 elections.
Nyamwamu says that ethnic identity and informal power played a big role in the East African country's most recent elections, when the contested outcome led to widespread violence.
In 2006, the African Peer Review Mechanism published a report stating that politics are too often based on ethnic rather than social or economic interests. The primacy of ethnic interests, the report warned, posed a threat to national unity, as "differences of opinion and belief... are used to polarise and mobilise group action".
The APRM report suggested Kenya needed to place ethnicity on the discussion table and consistently involve all groups in mainstream dialogue; reserved seats or proportional representation, the recognition of minority languages, and requirements that key government positions reflect the ethnic diversity of the country were among measures suggested as remedies.
"That report provided an important independent statement on the things we have been saying as the NCEC, political parties and civil societies."
According to Nyamwamu, disregard for these findings paved the way for the outbreak of violence even before the election in December 2007.
"There is now a clash of ethnic and civil constitutions. Every time there is a conflict between the ethnicities and the national constitution, the ethnic agendas tend to carry the day and this is what has led to what we call the entrenchment of impunity," he said.
As an example Nyamwamu says that when politicians have been caught in corruption scandals, ethnic groupings pressure the president to reinstate officials even after court proceedings have found them guilty.
He concluded by saying that the weakening of the democratic movement in Kenya does not bode well for the state's reconstruction. With both leading political parties in the country -- the ruling party of President Mwai Kibaki and the opposition, Orange Democratic Movement -- in a power sharing government, "...there is a conspiracy of silence, which means, so long as you don't report me, I won't report you." Both parties, he alleges, are therefore involved in pillaging the state.
Nyamwamu believes in this situation Kenya needs a powerful national democratic reform movement outside of the state. Civil society has become "a keeper of the faith" for Kenyan democracy.
His view on the role of ethnicity was challenged by delegates at the conference. Some felt it was too simplistic an explanation of Kenya's problem. The role of class and religion was something that needed further analysis and understanding they claimed.
The situation in Kenya is however not the only story to be told about democracy in Africa. Panelists acknowledged success stories such as Botswana, which has never seen a coup and has held regular multi-party elections since independence in 1966. Mozambique is also regarded as a success story on the continent in terms of economic recovery and political reconciliation after a long civil war.
Examples such as these provide ordinary citizens of the continent the hope to meet another tomorrow -- smiling.
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 20 (IPS) - Over the last twenty years, the ballot box has replaced military coups as a means of political change across Africa, says Professor Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi, a political scientist from the University of Ghana. However the results of democratic practices are a mixed bag of sand and sim-sim.
"There has been a significant departure from the mode of politics of the past," he says.
The historical view advocated by dictators and their apologists that African people do not care about democratic principles but rather their economic social standing is not true, according to Gyimah-Boadi, who is also head of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development.
Analysing the fourth round of the Afro-Barometer survey, he said that over half of Africans surveyed said they prefer democracy over any other form of government.
The Afro-Barometer is an independent research project that measures the social, political and economic atmosphere on the continent. Surveys are conducted in more than a dozen countries and at regular cycles.
Professor Gyimah-Boadi says the surveys have shown that Africans have a good understanding of what democracy means to them. According to results from the third round conducted in 18 countries during 2005-2006, 73 percent of Africans rejected military rule. People on the continent are also relatively knowledgeable about government policies concerning healthcare and education.
The survey however also found that while African countries have achieved considerable success in terms of holding elections that are viewed as credible, African citizens are unsure about the ability of elections to improve their lives.
According to Gyimah-Boadi, democracy has fallen short of people's expectations.
"We have found in our surveys that those who say they are satisfied with democracy have sharply declined by about thirteen percentage points between 2000 and 2005."
What is clear is that there is a huge gap between expectations and realities.
Gyimah Boadi was speaking at a conference in Johannesburg organised by the South African Institute for International Affairs to allow African academics and lawmakers to assess governance on the continent.
Recent African history has shown that democracy has had varying consequences for different countries. At times it has produced prosperity and at other times factionalism and discord.
Cyprian Nyamwamu, a member of Kenya's National Convention Executive Council (NCEC) presented the case of his country's experience before, during and after the 2007 elections.
Nyamwamu says that ethnic identity and informal power played a big role in the East African country's most recent elections, when the contested outcome led to widespread violence.
In 2006, the African Peer Review Mechanism published a report stating that politics are too often based on ethnic rather than social or economic interests. The primacy of ethnic interests, the report warned, posed a threat to national unity, as "differences of opinion and belief... are used to polarise and mobilise group action".
The APRM report suggested Kenya needed to place ethnicity on the discussion table and consistently involve all groups in mainstream dialogue; reserved seats or proportional representation, the recognition of minority languages, and requirements that key government positions reflect the ethnic diversity of the country were among measures suggested as remedies.
"That report provided an important independent statement on the things we have been saying as the NCEC, political parties and civil societies."
According to Nyamwamu, disregard for these findings paved the way for the outbreak of violence even before the election in December 2007.
"There is now a clash of ethnic and civil constitutions. Every time there is a conflict between the ethnicities and the national constitution, the ethnic agendas tend to carry the day and this is what has led to what we call the entrenchment of impunity," he said.
As an example Nyamwamu says that when politicians have been caught in corruption scandals, ethnic groupings pressure the president to reinstate officials even after court proceedings have found them guilty.
He concluded by saying that the weakening of the democratic movement in Kenya does not bode well for the state's reconstruction. With both leading political parties in the country -- the ruling party of President Mwai Kibaki and the opposition, Orange Democratic Movement -- in a power sharing government, "...there is a conspiracy of silence, which means, so long as you don't report me, I won't report you." Both parties, he alleges, are therefore involved in pillaging the state.
Nyamwamu believes in this situation Kenya needs a powerful national democratic reform movement outside of the state. Civil society has become "a keeper of the faith" for Kenyan democracy.
His view on the role of ethnicity was challenged by delegates at the conference. Some felt it was too simplistic an explanation of Kenya's problem. The role of class and religion was something that needed further analysis and understanding they claimed.
The situation in Kenya is however not the only story to be told about democracy in Africa. Panelists acknowledged success stories such as Botswana, which has never seen a coup and has held regular multi-party elections since independence in 1966. Mozambique is also regarded as a success story on the continent in terms of economic recovery and political reconciliation after a long civil war.
Examples such as these provide ordinary citizens of the continent the hope to meet another tomorrow -- smiling.
Paladin Energy Ltd: Kayelekera Uranium Project, Malawi
Mineral Resource & Ore Reserve Estimate Significantly Improved - Mineral Resource increased by 27% or 9.4Mlb U3O8 - Ore Reserve increased by 17% to 29.3Mlb U3O8 - Mine life increased by 20% - Resource still open to west and north west - Highly encouraging exploration results in surrounds
PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, Nov 20, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Paladin Energy Ltd ("Paladin" or "the Company") (CA:PDN: news, chart, profile) (ASX: PDN) is pleased to advise that infill and extension drilling of the Kayelekera Deposit has returned very encouraging results. This work has produced a threefold benefit. Firstly the results have added significantly to the previously stated Mineral Resource estimates for Kayelekera; secondly, this allows most of these resources to be classified into the Measured and Indicated Resource categories with a small percentage retained as Inferred Resources; and thirdly, this permits the calculation of a new Ore Reserve which will extend the life of the operation.
The drilling programme, which was carried out during 2008, consisted of 132 RC drill holes for a total of 9,955m. An updated NI43-101 report is in preparation and will be submitted to the Canadian authorities by late December 2008.
Mineral Resource Upgrade
The Mineral Resource estimations are based on the use of a combination of analytical assays (XRF) and downhole gamma logging results, following the application of standard practice radiometric calibration methods for U3O8. Approximately 50% of the mineralised holes were assayed for U3O8 using analytical methods (XRF) for check purposes and to establish disequilibrium parameters for subsequent application to un-assayed, radiometrically logged drill hole intervals.
PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, Nov 20, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Paladin Energy Ltd ("Paladin" or "the Company") (CA:PDN: news, chart, profile) (ASX: PDN) is pleased to advise that infill and extension drilling of the Kayelekera Deposit has returned very encouraging results. This work has produced a threefold benefit. Firstly the results have added significantly to the previously stated Mineral Resource estimates for Kayelekera; secondly, this allows most of these resources to be classified into the Measured and Indicated Resource categories with a small percentage retained as Inferred Resources; and thirdly, this permits the calculation of a new Ore Reserve which will extend the life of the operation.
The drilling programme, which was carried out during 2008, consisted of 132 RC drill holes for a total of 9,955m. An updated NI43-101 report is in preparation and will be submitted to the Canadian authorities by late December 2008.
Mineral Resource Upgrade
The Mineral Resource estimations are based on the use of a combination of analytical assays (XRF) and downhole gamma logging results, following the application of standard practice radiometric calibration methods for U3O8. Approximately 50% of the mineralised holes were assayed for U3O8 using analytical methods (XRF) for check purposes and to establish disequilibrium parameters for subsequent application to un-assayed, radiometrically logged drill hole intervals.
IFC to Help Malawi's First Merchant Bank Increase Lending to Smaller Businesses
Lilongwe, Malawi, November 19, 2008-IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, announced today that it will join forces with Malawi's First Merchant Bank to raise the country's share of global trade, increase lending to small and medium enterprises, and help develop the agribusiness sector. IFC will provide $10 million in guarantees against FMB's underlying trade transactions, covering payment risk and helping increase Malawi's share of the global trade finance market. IFC will also provide advisory services to help FMB expand its range of loan products, raise its credit risk management practices, and increase its reach to smaller businesses, particularly those involved in agribusiness.
Lilongwe, Malawi, November 19, 2008—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, announced today that it will join forces with Malawi’s First Merchant Bank to raise the country’s share of global trade, increase lending to small and medium enterprises, and help develop the agribusiness sector.
IFC will provide $10 million in guarantees against FMB’s underlying trade transactions, covering payment risk and helping increase Malawi’s share of the global trade finance market. IFC will also provide advisory services to help FMB expand its range of loan products, raise its credit risk management practices, and increase its reach to smaller businesses, particularly those involved in agribusiness.
“FMB constantly strives to offer an innovative range of products and services for our clients,” said Seetharama Srinivasan, FMB’s Deputy Managing Director. “Our collaboration with IFC will enable us to better support micro, small, and medium enterprises, which comprise a significant portion of Malawi’s economy and often face difficulty accessing credit.”
IFC’s guarantees will be provided under a program that promotes trade by guaranteeing bank risk in emerging markets, allowing recipients to enhance their trade finance coverage and to expand transactions within an extensive network of countries and banks. The advisory services are provided under a separate IFC program that boosts lending to smaller businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa by investing in and providing advice to local banks.
“IFC puts a high priority on supporting smaller businesses and helping alleviate the burden of high food prices,” said Jean Philippe Prosper, IFC Director for Eastern and Southern Africa. “Working with First Merchant Bank will enable IFC to better support the contributions of small businesses and agribusiness to Malawi’s economy.”
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $16.2 billion in fiscal 2008, a 34 percent increase over the previous year. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
Lilongwe, Malawi, November 19, 2008—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, announced today that it will join forces with Malawi’s First Merchant Bank to raise the country’s share of global trade, increase lending to small and medium enterprises, and help develop the agribusiness sector.
IFC will provide $10 million in guarantees against FMB’s underlying trade transactions, covering payment risk and helping increase Malawi’s share of the global trade finance market. IFC will also provide advisory services to help FMB expand its range of loan products, raise its credit risk management practices, and increase its reach to smaller businesses, particularly those involved in agribusiness.
“FMB constantly strives to offer an innovative range of products and services for our clients,” said Seetharama Srinivasan, FMB’s Deputy Managing Director. “Our collaboration with IFC will enable us to better support micro, small, and medium enterprises, which comprise a significant portion of Malawi’s economy and often face difficulty accessing credit.”
IFC’s guarantees will be provided under a program that promotes trade by guaranteeing bank risk in emerging markets, allowing recipients to enhance their trade finance coverage and to expand transactions within an extensive network of countries and banks. The advisory services are provided under a separate IFC program that boosts lending to smaller businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa by investing in and providing advice to local banks.
“IFC puts a high priority on supporting smaller businesses and helping alleviate the burden of high food prices,” said Jean Philippe Prosper, IFC Director for Eastern and Southern Africa. “Working with First Merchant Bank will enable IFC to better support the contributions of small businesses and agribusiness to Malawi’s economy.”
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $16.2 billion in fiscal 2008, a 34 percent increase over the previous year. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
The Bank Group and Malawi Government Sign Loan and Grant Agreements Amounting to U.S.$ 60.2 Million
The Bank Group and the Malawi Government on Wednesday, November 18, 2008, in Lilongwe signed loan and grant agreements totalling US$ 60.2 million equivalent to UA 43.31 million to finance some components and activities in the National Water Development Programme and the Local Economic Development Project during the next five years.
The Minister of Finance, Goodall Gondwe, who signed the agreements on behalf of the Malawi government, thanked the Bank Group for the continued assistance to Malawi in the implementation of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) and in efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals. The Minister was delighted that through the Bank's assistance, Malawi is poised to be among few African countries that will achieve the MDGs on water and sanitation.
In his remarks, the Resident Representative, Malawi Field Office, Simona Frank Kufakwandi, who signed the agreements on behalf of the Bank Group, said that the signing of the loan and grant agreements was a further demonstration of the excellent relations that exist between the Government of Malawi and the Bank Group and the commitment of the Bank Group to support Malawi in its efforts to achieve sustainable development and reduce poverty.
Speaking at the same function, the Minister of Irrigation and Water Development, Sidik Mia, thanked the Bank Group for the continued support it renders to the water and sanitation sector. He said that the current Bank's financial assistance is the largest ever AfDB support to the Malawi Water and Sanitation sector and is a reflection of the increased trust and confidence by the Bank Group of the Government's ability to successfully implement the National Water Development Programme for the benefit of the people.
The National Water Development Programme (NWDP) will receive US$ 24.6 million as a loan and a grant of US$ 17.4 million from the African Development Fund in addition to Euro 3.5 million from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative Trust fund to support three components of the National Water Development Programme namely: i) Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, ii) Water Resources Management, and iii) Capacity Building and Programme Management. The objectives of the NWDP components financed by the Bank are to ensure the sustainable provision of adequate water and sanitation services to the people of Malawi.The Local Economic Development Project, will receive US $20 million to assist rural communities over a five year period to increase household incomes through the promotion of business activities at the community level; support business skills training and facilitate the District Assemblies' provision of business advisory services. The two operations for which agreements were signed are part of the Bank's three year support programme to Malawi for the period 2008 - 2010 which will amount to about US$ 200 million
The Minister of Finance, Goodall Gondwe, who signed the agreements on behalf of the Malawi government, thanked the Bank Group for the continued assistance to Malawi in the implementation of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) and in efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals. The Minister was delighted that through the Bank's assistance, Malawi is poised to be among few African countries that will achieve the MDGs on water and sanitation.
In his remarks, the Resident Representative, Malawi Field Office, Simona Frank Kufakwandi, who signed the agreements on behalf of the Bank Group, said that the signing of the loan and grant agreements was a further demonstration of the excellent relations that exist between the Government of Malawi and the Bank Group and the commitment of the Bank Group to support Malawi in its efforts to achieve sustainable development and reduce poverty.
Speaking at the same function, the Minister of Irrigation and Water Development, Sidik Mia, thanked the Bank Group for the continued support it renders to the water and sanitation sector. He said that the current Bank's financial assistance is the largest ever AfDB support to the Malawi Water and Sanitation sector and is a reflection of the increased trust and confidence by the Bank Group of the Government's ability to successfully implement the National Water Development Programme for the benefit of the people.
The National Water Development Programme (NWDP) will receive US$ 24.6 million as a loan and a grant of US$ 17.4 million from the African Development Fund in addition to Euro 3.5 million from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative Trust fund to support three components of the National Water Development Programme namely: i) Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, ii) Water Resources Management, and iii) Capacity Building and Programme Management. The objectives of the NWDP components financed by the Bank are to ensure the sustainable provision of adequate water and sanitation services to the people of Malawi.The Local Economic Development Project, will receive US $20 million to assist rural communities over a five year period to increase household incomes through the promotion of business activities at the community level; support business skills training and facilitate the District Assemblies' provision of business advisory services. The two operations for which agreements were signed are part of the Bank's three year support programme to Malawi for the period 2008 - 2010 which will amount to about US$ 200 million
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