Three Eastern and Southern African countries are to receive more than US$150 million from the World Bank for the third phase of a Regional Communication Infrastructure program.
The bank's executive board of directors has approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit to extend access to affordable communications services in Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi, which never benefited from the first and the second phases of the program. The IDA is a financing arm of the World Bank, responsible for providing long-term, interest free loans to the world's poor countries.
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Kenya, Rwanda, Madagascar and Nigeria have already benefited from the bank's program, which aim to develop the region's telecommunications infrastructure.
The Regional Communication Infrastructure Program will help the region catch up with the rest of the world, said Peter Nicholas, the acting World Bank country manager for Zambia and Zimbabwe. Over the past few years, the African region has seen remarkable telecom infrastructure development, but the World Bank said it is not sufficient to lower the high cost of communication. The Africa region has the highest cost of communication in the world due to a dilapidated telecom infrastructure.
The bank has set aside assets of $424 million to increase broadband connectivity for citizens, governments and businesses in the Eastern and Southern African region. Under the third phase of the Regional Communication Infrastructure Program, the bank will give Tanzania $100 million, Malawi $20 million and Mozambique $31 million.
"The money will help Malawi and Mozambique to move with the rest of the region in developing their information and communication technology infrastructures and improve communication," Nicholas said.
Additionally, the bank wants Malawi and Mozambique to develop their national backbone networks, which will later be connected to the East Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSY) project that is being laid under the Indian Ocean and is being supported by the World Bank.
Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique are members of the EASSY project and the bank believes that connecting to the undersea cable will reduce the cost of international telephony and broadband Internet services.
The first phase of the Regional Communication Infrastructure Program was approved by the bank's board of directors in 2007 and provided assistance to Burundi, Kenya and Madagascar at a cost of $164 million. The second phase, a $24 million grant for Rwanda, was approved in September last year.
The initiative was created by the World Bank in partnership with the African Development Bank to help mobilize funds to invest in ICT infrastructure and applications, advising on policy and regulation of the ICT sector across the African region.
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
Band raise notes to send teens on Malawi mission
A TALENTED grandfather paved the way for teenage twins to go on a life-changing trip to Malawi.
The Houston Folk Club, which Bob Beattie, 81, plays for, provided free musical entertainment at a fundraising ceilidh that raised cash for the 16-year-olds’ charity trip.
He and friend Ian McLaren regularly play music for free at pensioners’ clubs, nursing homes and charity events - and Bob’s granddaughters, Judith and Katie, are in Africa this week with charity Habitat for Humanity thanks to Houston Folk Club’s efforts.
Bob’s daughter-in-law Fiona Beattie told the Gazette: “My two daughters are part of a team going to Malawi to help build houses. They’ve been fundraising for a year and their grandpa along with his band provided the music at their fundraising ceilidh.”
She added that a friend of the twins had already been out to several African countries and told the girls all about her experiences.
Before embarking on their trip, Judith, 16, said: “I’m very excited. When my best friend came back, it sounded amazing. It changed her attitude to a lot of things. To raise money, we’ve had a few ceilidhs and coffee mornings.”
Katie, 16, said: “The thing I’m most looking forward to is meeting the people. I’ve never been before and I’ve always wanted to go. I think the group will get on well - there’s only two people going I haven’t met before.”
Local councillor Carol Puthucheary said: “It’s wonderful that the Houston Folk Club helped out in this way and were so generous with their time and talent. I wish the girls all the best on their trip to Malawi - I’m sure it will be a life-changing experience for them and also for the people they meet.”
Houston Folk Club meets every Thursday at the Carrick Centre, Main Street, Houston from 8pm to 11pm. Most club nights are open stage nights, which means if you want to sing or play you can. Their members come from all over Renfrewshire and play a wide range of music, folk, country and sea-shanties.
The Houston Folk Club, which Bob Beattie, 81, plays for, provided free musical entertainment at a fundraising ceilidh that raised cash for the 16-year-olds’ charity trip.
He and friend Ian McLaren regularly play music for free at pensioners’ clubs, nursing homes and charity events - and Bob’s granddaughters, Judith and Katie, are in Africa this week with charity Habitat for Humanity thanks to Houston Folk Club’s efforts.
Bob’s daughter-in-law Fiona Beattie told the Gazette: “My two daughters are part of a team going to Malawi to help build houses. They’ve been fundraising for a year and their grandpa along with his band provided the music at their fundraising ceilidh.”
She added that a friend of the twins had already been out to several African countries and told the girls all about her experiences.
Before embarking on their trip, Judith, 16, said: “I’m very excited. When my best friend came back, it sounded amazing. It changed her attitude to a lot of things. To raise money, we’ve had a few ceilidhs and coffee mornings.”
Katie, 16, said: “The thing I’m most looking forward to is meeting the people. I’ve never been before and I’ve always wanted to go. I think the group will get on well - there’s only two people going I haven’t met before.”
Local councillor Carol Puthucheary said: “It’s wonderful that the Houston Folk Club helped out in this way and were so generous with their time and talent. I wish the girls all the best on their trip to Malawi - I’m sure it will be a life-changing experience for them and also for the people they meet.”
Houston Folk Club meets every Thursday at the Carrick Centre, Main Street, Houston from 8pm to 11pm. Most club nights are open stage nights, which means if you want to sing or play you can. Their members come from all over Renfrewshire and play a wide range of music, folk, country and sea-shanties.
Malawi's trade deficit widens by 31 pct in 2008
Malawi's trade deficit widened by 31 percent in 2008 on higher food and fertiliser costs, the Treasury said in an economic report on Wednesday.
The shortfall grew despite a 23 percent increase in exports last year to $1.03 billion from $835.7 million in 2007.
'Owing to high prices of fuels and fertilizers on the international market, the overall current account registered an increase in trade deficit of 31 percent from $492.9 million in 2007 to $642.9 million in 2008,' the Treasury said.
Malawi's trade account has been in deficit since the mid 1990s.
Economic mainstay tobacco made up 64 percent of last year's total export value, while sugar replaced tea as the second biggest export.
The report said imports from the European Union fell 5 percent in 2008 but imports from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) increased sharply.
The shortfall grew despite a 23 percent increase in exports last year to $1.03 billion from $835.7 million in 2007.
'Owing to high prices of fuels and fertilizers on the international market, the overall current account registered an increase in trade deficit of 31 percent from $492.9 million in 2007 to $642.9 million in 2008,' the Treasury said.
Malawi's trade account has been in deficit since the mid 1990s.
Economic mainstay tobacco made up 64 percent of last year's total export value, while sugar replaced tea as the second biggest export.
The report said imports from the European Union fell 5 percent in 2008 but imports from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) increased sharply.
Malawi's central bank governor resigns
Malawi Central Bank Governor Victor Mbewe resigned late on Tuesday, bank spokesman Samuel Malitoni said, ending weeks of speculation that the Bank head was on his way out.
'It is just mutual between employee and his employers,' Malitoni told Reuters in an email late on Tuesday. The email did not mention any possible names to replace Mbewe.
Mbewe, a former head of Standard Bank in Malawi, joined the central bank as governor in 2005. He had a good reputation in the market and his banker background helped him earn respect.
The resignation follows weeks of speculation that the government had asked Mbewe to resign amid shortages of foreign currency.
Mbewe is credited for helping to bring the southern African nation's inflation back to single digits.
He worked closely with the International Monetary Fund which led to the cancellation of Malawi's debt. He has also been key in negotiating further aid for Malawi with the
IMF and the World Bank.
'It is just mutual between employee and his employers,' Malitoni told Reuters in an email late on Tuesday. The email did not mention any possible names to replace Mbewe.
Mbewe, a former head of Standard Bank in Malawi, joined the central bank as governor in 2005. He had a good reputation in the market and his banker background helped him earn respect.
The resignation follows weeks of speculation that the government had asked Mbewe to resign amid shortages of foreign currency.
Mbewe is credited for helping to bring the southern African nation's inflation back to single digits.
He worked closely with the International Monetary Fund which led to the cancellation of Malawi's debt. He has also been key in negotiating further aid for Malawi with the
IMF and the World Bank.
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