Presidents of Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia are this Saturday expected to officiate at an annual traditional homage-paying ceremony in rural eastern Zambia.
As part of regional integration, Malawi’s President Bingu Wa Mutharika, Mozambique’s Armando Guebuza and host Rupiah Banda will officiate at Kulamba traditional ceremony of a large ethnic group, the Chewa people, who are settled across the three countries.
Lucas Phiri, the invitation and publicity secretary of Kulamba traditional ceremony organising committee, confirmed that Banda, Wa Mutharika and Guebuza would attend the ceremony which is held in Katete District at the headquarters of the Chewa people, situated about 490 kilometres south of the Zambian capital, Lusaka.
Wa Mutharika and Guebuza together with the late Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa graced the same ceremony in 2007 but this will be the first time they come to the ceremony since Banda ascended to the Presidency.
Kulamba traditional ceremony is meant for Chewa people to pay homage, explain their achievement and problems to their paramount chief, Kalonga Gawa Undi, who is the overseer of his people in the three countries.
Kulamba traditional ceremony displays various Chewa dances, particularly the Nyau dance performed by male youths clad in a mask, feathers on the head, animal skins and sacks on their private parts.
Nyau dance, which is performed as a symbolic process for a young male’s turning into adulthood, is shrouded in secrecy. Nyau dancers emerge from the nearby bush with their attire smeared with mud to disguise themselves.
Zambia shares borders with Mozambique on her south east and Malawi on the eastern side.
Since the beginning of this year, Banda has been inviting various heads of state to join him officiate at traditional ceremonies, to consolidate his political grip.
In February this year, South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) leader, now head of state, Jacob Zuma graced the Nc’wala traditional ceremony of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province, who trace their roots to KwaZulu Natal in South Africa – Zuma’s home province. Banda is Ngoni on his maternal side and Chewa on paternal side.
In July, Banda invited Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who came to officiate at Lwiindi Gonde traditional ceremony of the Tonga people of southern Zambia.
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Paladin may develop Australia uranium projects
PERTH (miningweekly.com) - Australia-based Paladin Energy, which owns mines in Namibia and Malawi, is looking to acquire additional uranium projects, and may start developing its Australian projects by 2012, MD John Borshoff said on Thursday.
The company currently produces uranium from the Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia and the Kayelekera mine in Malawi, and owns five Australian projects.
Borshoff told delegates at the Africa Downunder conference in Perth, that the company would look at developing its projects in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory by 2012, assuming that policies governing uranium exploration changed. It would also first complete the ramp-up of its flagship Langer Heinrich mine.
At the Mount Isa project, in Queensland, work on the feasibility study would start in late 2010, while the first joint ore reserve committee compliant resource at the Angela and Pamela uranium deposit, in the Northern Territory, would be produced by early 2010.
Borshoff said that the Langer Heinrich mine is producing around 2,7-million pounds of uranium oxide a year, but Paladin is commissioning a stage-two expansion that would increase output to 3,7-million pounds a year.
The stage-three development, which would increase output to 5,2-million pounds a year, would start in the latter part of this year. The project design has already been initiated, and the company was awaiting environmental approval.
The stage three expansion would be completed by late 2010, and would require a capital expenditure of around $71-million.
The 3,3-million pounds a year Kayelekera mine will reach its nameplate capacity by the beginning of 2010.
The mine development was currently 5% over its budget, with a capital expenditure of about $215-million.
The company currently produces uranium from the Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia and the Kayelekera mine in Malawi, and owns five Australian projects.
Borshoff told delegates at the Africa Downunder conference in Perth, that the company would look at developing its projects in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory by 2012, assuming that policies governing uranium exploration changed. It would also first complete the ramp-up of its flagship Langer Heinrich mine.
At the Mount Isa project, in Queensland, work on the feasibility study would start in late 2010, while the first joint ore reserve committee compliant resource at the Angela and Pamela uranium deposit, in the Northern Territory, would be produced by early 2010.
Borshoff said that the Langer Heinrich mine is producing around 2,7-million pounds of uranium oxide a year, but Paladin is commissioning a stage-two expansion that would increase output to 3,7-million pounds a year.
The stage-three development, which would increase output to 5,2-million pounds a year, would start in the latter part of this year. The project design has already been initiated, and the company was awaiting environmental approval.
The stage three expansion would be completed by late 2010, and would require a capital expenditure of around $71-million.
The 3,3-million pounds a year Kayelekera mine will reach its nameplate capacity by the beginning of 2010.
The mine development was currently 5% over its budget, with a capital expenditure of about $215-million.
IMF lends Malawi $80 million to boost reserves
The International Monetary Fund has loaned Malawi $80 million, which would be used to help build up its low foreign reserves, IMF and government officials said on Wednesday.
IMF Malawi representative Maitaland MacFarlan said the funds were part of the $250 billion allocation meant to ensure liquidity in the global economic system by assisting member countries.
"There are both long term and short-term strategies involved in addressing forex shortages and building up reforms in support of improvement in quality and volume of export products available," he said.
Central bank general manager Wilson Banda told reporters the money would help to improve the country's worrying foreign reserves position.
Reserve Bank of Malawi monetary policy committee minutes show foreign reserves had fallen to $109.9 million, less than a month of import cover, by mid-July from $133.3 million in June.
The deterioration was blamed on higher demand from importers and low earnings from tobacco exports -- the country's main foreign exchange earner.
The global downturn has hit tobacco demand, leading to lower prices. The central bank has forecast Malawi will earn about $393 million from tobacco this year, 17 percent lower than last year.
MacFarlan said the Malawi government should put in place short term measures to help boost reserves, including raising import tariffs.
IMF Malawi representative Maitaland MacFarlan said the funds were part of the $250 billion allocation meant to ensure liquidity in the global economic system by assisting member countries.
"There are both long term and short-term strategies involved in addressing forex shortages and building up reforms in support of improvement in quality and volume of export products available," he said.
Central bank general manager Wilson Banda told reporters the money would help to improve the country's worrying foreign reserves position.
Reserve Bank of Malawi monetary policy committee minutes show foreign reserves had fallen to $109.9 million, less than a month of import cover, by mid-July from $133.3 million in June.
The deterioration was blamed on higher demand from importers and low earnings from tobacco exports -- the country's main foreign exchange earner.
The global downturn has hit tobacco demand, leading to lower prices. The central bank has forecast Malawi will earn about $393 million from tobacco this year, 17 percent lower than last year.
MacFarlan said the Malawi government should put in place short term measures to help boost reserves, including raising import tariffs.
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