The highly competitive atmosphere that prevailed during the second day of the FIFA World Cup Beach soccer qualifying games was a true a testimony that all the national teams want to take part in the cup finals to be hosted between 16-22 November 2009 in Dubai.
Beach Soccer Worldwide Media Officer Hans van Damme informed this writer that the selection of Dubai as the selection of Dubai as the venue for this year's FIFA World Cup Beach soccer final proves that they were taking the emerging sporting code to all corners across the globe.
The qualifying games have seen the poorly-prepared Mauritius national team suffering another humilliating drubbing when they were beaten 3-10 by the Egyptian national team on their second consecutive loss.
Mozambique, the national team that was annihilated 10-0 by Senegal on their final round robin game last year, atoned that embarrasing defeat by coming from behind a 2-6 deficit to level score before full time against Lybia.
That game proceeded to extra time but failed to get a winner until Mozambique squeezed through with a narrow 1-nil victory on penalty shoot out.
The final game of the day saw Morrocco pitted against Cote DeIvoire, and this very entertaining qualifying game ended with a narrow victory of 7-6 scoreline by the Ivorian Elephants.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
DURBAN'S HOSTING FACILITIES RECEIVES IMPECCABLE ACCOLADES
The city of Durban should take pride of its good weather, its people and their greatest hospitality industry offered to the wider international visitor, and the city's residents were miles apart from all the numerous international destinations our beach soccer national teams have visited to date.
These sentiments were echoed by almost all the national team coaches of the countries presently participating in the five day nine-nations FIFA Beach Soccer qualifying tournament presently taking place on the Durban's beachfront makeshift stadium.
From Senegal's Diop Amadou, Mauratius'Rose Eddy, Lybia's Ali Riyani, Nigeria's Adamu Ejo to Morrocco's Hadaoui Mustaphe, all are singing praises of the eThekwini Municipality's impeccable hosting record.
It suffices to mention that Durban's finest accolades comes a day after the FIFA President Sepp Blatter had given the country (Republic of South Africa) a 7.5 % out of 10 rating over its professional standards exhibited during the two-week Confederations Cup finals by the eight soccer-playing continents that was played in the country's upcountry cities.
Even the FIFA Secretary-General Jerome Valcke noted that despite minor glitches experienced in the transportation industry, South Africa has got good potential to put its whole house in order within the next twelve months and host the most succesful world cup soccer finals ever seen next July..
The Durban beach soccer world cup qualifiers kicked off at 12h30 with last year's (2008) loser''s finalists Nigeria pitted against the first-time entrants, Mauritius, who were massacred 13-0 as the Nigerian squad gave an early indication of being this years overall victors.
The second match of the day saw last year's overall winners, Senegal, who went on to represent the continent in Marseillies, France playing against Lybia, who too, were represented for the first time in beach soccer qualifiers.
This thrilling physical game ended in 7-7 draw, and proceeded into a penalty shoot-out whereby Senegal emerged victorious with a narrow 4-3 win.
And the third and final game of the day saw the host nations team, aptly titled ''Banana Banana'' playing against Morrocco, who were last represented in beach soccer qualifiers in 2006.
Prior to the game had seen His Worship Obed Mlaba, eThekwini Municipality mayor, visiting the South African team's dressing room to give the players some motivational pep talk and blessings to be true ambassadors of the Unicity.
However, the home team continued where they had left in previous tournaments and displayed a dismal performance as they were walloped 4-2 by the Morrocco national team.
During the 2008 FIFA World Cup Beach Soccer Qualifiers edition, the South African national team had lost all iits three round robin games.Senegal had thrashed SA 8-4 in the opening game.
This was followed by a narrow loss of 2-3 to Mozambique, but Banana Banana had won the final game by 4-3 against Egypt.
Despite the SA national beach soccer team dissapointing performance to date, South African Football Association NEC member Obakeng Molatedi, who's also the Chief representative overseeing the tournament, he too also sang praises about the Durban's superb hosting facilities and commended the high number of local residents attending the beach soccer games.
Molatedi made observations about the coastal city's good weather around the season as the prime motivating factor that qualifies the city to get the fourth-year consecutive rights to host the world cup qualifying tournament.
"Surely, these credentials tell a mouthful about Durban being chosen as FIFA Host City for the oncoming 201o FIFA World Cup Soccer finals" noted Obakeng.
Ends
These sentiments were echoed by almost all the national team coaches of the countries presently participating in the five day nine-nations FIFA Beach Soccer qualifying tournament presently taking place on the Durban's beachfront makeshift stadium.
From Senegal's Diop Amadou, Mauratius'Rose Eddy, Lybia's Ali Riyani, Nigeria's Adamu Ejo to Morrocco's Hadaoui Mustaphe, all are singing praises of the eThekwini Municipality's impeccable hosting record.
It suffices to mention that Durban's finest accolades comes a day after the FIFA President Sepp Blatter had given the country (Republic of South Africa) a 7.5 % out of 10 rating over its professional standards exhibited during the two-week Confederations Cup finals by the eight soccer-playing continents that was played in the country's upcountry cities.
Even the FIFA Secretary-General Jerome Valcke noted that despite minor glitches experienced in the transportation industry, South Africa has got good potential to put its whole house in order within the next twelve months and host the most succesful world cup soccer finals ever seen next July..
The Durban beach soccer world cup qualifiers kicked off at 12h30 with last year's (2008) loser''s finalists Nigeria pitted against the first-time entrants, Mauritius, who were massacred 13-0 as the Nigerian squad gave an early indication of being this years overall victors.
The second match of the day saw last year's overall winners, Senegal, who went on to represent the continent in Marseillies, France playing against Lybia, who too, were represented for the first time in beach soccer qualifiers.
This thrilling physical game ended in 7-7 draw, and proceeded into a penalty shoot-out whereby Senegal emerged victorious with a narrow 4-3 win.
And the third and final game of the day saw the host nations team, aptly titled ''Banana Banana'' playing against Morrocco, who were last represented in beach soccer qualifiers in 2006.
Prior to the game had seen His Worship Obed Mlaba, eThekwini Municipality mayor, visiting the South African team's dressing room to give the players some motivational pep talk and blessings to be true ambassadors of the Unicity.
However, the home team continued where they had left in previous tournaments and displayed a dismal performance as they were walloped 4-2 by the Morrocco national team.
During the 2008 FIFA World Cup Beach Soccer Qualifiers edition, the South African national team had lost all iits three round robin games.Senegal had thrashed SA 8-4 in the opening game.
This was followed by a narrow loss of 2-3 to Mozambique, but Banana Banana had won the final game by 4-3 against Egypt.
Despite the SA national beach soccer team dissapointing performance to date, South African Football Association NEC member Obakeng Molatedi, who's also the Chief representative overseeing the tournament, he too also sang praises about the Durban's superb hosting facilities and commended the high number of local residents attending the beach soccer games.
Molatedi made observations about the coastal city's good weather around the season as the prime motivating factor that qualifies the city to get the fourth-year consecutive rights to host the world cup qualifying tournament.
"Surely, these credentials tell a mouthful about Durban being chosen as FIFA Host City for the oncoming 201o FIFA World Cup Soccer finals" noted Obakeng.
Ends
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
SME ACCESS TO FINANCE: WHAT ARE THE BOTTLENECKS?
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development KLydia Johnson has conceded that the democratic government was facing serious challenges in terms of the kind of support they were giving to people starting their enterprises, in particular, the Black small and emerging enterpreneurs.
She was giving a keynote address to the FABCOS Roadswhow on challenges faced by the SMME's to access funding.
Johnson cited access to finance, lack of markets and the question of skills development as the critical factors that were impending and hindering the realisation of a broader socio-economic sector towards the total transformation of the South African political economy.
"Challenges of access to finance faced daily by our people, be they, informal traders, street vendors or low-scale farmers remain critical in the South African economy.
Unless as government and the private sector start to address the issue of training, mentorship, management development and how we market our products, the small emerging entrepreneur will never graduate from one operational level to the next.
In line with the ANC's 2007 Polokwane Conference resolutions our government, has among others, prioritised agriculture and rural development to empower the masses of our people.
Agriculture is going to be a platform to fight poverty as we build our economy" said Johnson.
She added that low-scale farming and commercial farms, already own by Black businesspeople, will be prioritised by the KZN government and announced that it had established partnership with the Ithala Bank's Business Finance Unit to fasttrack African entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector.
According to Johnson, the provincial department of finance and economic development under the stewardship of MEC Michael Mabuyakhuluhad dedicated/allocated a large chunk of budget to be utilised as seed money by the Black farming community.
"Empowerment, in line with the KZN government ethos, is not about taking away or repossessing the commercial farms from operators that were encountering difficulties in servicing their loans but we've pledged to give them full support in terms of more funding and technical educational programmes towards the better utilisation of the agrarian reforms" concluded Johnson.
However, it was Ithala's Divisional Manager on Business Finance Unit Neli Shezi who assurred participants that SME's access to finance awaits prospective businesspeople.
She said Ithala aims to become a catalyst that empower and capacitate all the Black small and emerging entrepreneurs in the province.
"The challenge though that Ithala was facing are the people who get funding from the bank and fail to service it. We have established a fund dedicated to assist Black farmers to service their loans by giving them a certain percentage as a grant and co-operatives are encouraged to apply as no collateral is required,
For example, when you're given a R100 000,00 loan you can only pay back R80 000,000 as the other R20 000,00 not repayaid and is designed to fasttrack socio-economic opportunities to our customers" said Shezi.
She further called upon Ithala clients to put in own contribution to lower gearing, eventhough, lack of collateral was not an automatic disqualification, and adverse credit record was not regarded as an automatic exclusion because Ithala was a finacier concerned with the developmental impact of their customers.
Also the Chief Operating Officer of Khula Enterprises Finance Ltd Mkhululi Mazibuko noted that they too were prioritising SME development and they were using various channels to unlock funding to leverage SME's footing.
However, Mazibuko cautioned that many lenders still suffer from insufficient understanding of the SME's landscape in South Africa's political economy.
Ends
She was giving a keynote address to the FABCOS Roadswhow on challenges faced by the SMME's to access funding.
Johnson cited access to finance, lack of markets and the question of skills development as the critical factors that were impending and hindering the realisation of a broader socio-economic sector towards the total transformation of the South African political economy.
"Challenges of access to finance faced daily by our people, be they, informal traders, street vendors or low-scale farmers remain critical in the South African economy.
Unless as government and the private sector start to address the issue of training, mentorship, management development and how we market our products, the small emerging entrepreneur will never graduate from one operational level to the next.
In line with the ANC's 2007 Polokwane Conference resolutions our government, has among others, prioritised agriculture and rural development to empower the masses of our people.
Agriculture is going to be a platform to fight poverty as we build our economy" said Johnson.
She added that low-scale farming and commercial farms, already own by Black businesspeople, will be prioritised by the KZN government and announced that it had established partnership with the Ithala Bank's Business Finance Unit to fasttrack African entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector.
According to Johnson, the provincial department of finance and economic development under the stewardship of MEC Michael Mabuyakhuluhad dedicated/allocated a large chunk of budget to be utilised as seed money by the Black farming community.
"Empowerment, in line with the KZN government ethos, is not about taking away or repossessing the commercial farms from operators that were encountering difficulties in servicing their loans but we've pledged to give them full support in terms of more funding and technical educational programmes towards the better utilisation of the agrarian reforms" concluded Johnson.
However, it was Ithala's Divisional Manager on Business Finance Unit Neli Shezi who assurred participants that SME's access to finance awaits prospective businesspeople.
She said Ithala aims to become a catalyst that empower and capacitate all the Black small and emerging entrepreneurs in the province.
"The challenge though that Ithala was facing are the people who get funding from the bank and fail to service it. We have established a fund dedicated to assist Black farmers to service their loans by giving them a certain percentage as a grant and co-operatives are encouraged to apply as no collateral is required,
For example, when you're given a R100 000,00 loan you can only pay back R80 000,000 as the other R20 000,00 not repayaid and is designed to fasttrack socio-economic opportunities to our customers" said Shezi.
She further called upon Ithala clients to put in own contribution to lower gearing, eventhough, lack of collateral was not an automatic disqualification, and adverse credit record was not regarded as an automatic exclusion because Ithala was a finacier concerned with the developmental impact of their customers.
Also the Chief Operating Officer of Khula Enterprises Finance Ltd Mkhululi Mazibuko noted that they too were prioritising SME development and they were using various channels to unlock funding to leverage SME's footing.
However, Mazibuko cautioned that many lenders still suffer from insufficient understanding of the SME's landscape in South Africa's political economy.
Ends
Saturday, June 27, 2009
DO WE FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT INFORMS THE DARFUR CRISIS?
Was the civilised world kept informed 'impartially' about the worst interstate crisis currently taking place in the Darfur region?
Was the conflict serving any interest to the present Western Capitalism or neo-loberal agenda?
Was the Darfur crisis intensified to satisfy or serve the interest of the Western Europe or the interests of the Middle East region?
Was the crisis 'tribalised' to divide the Darfur population, if so, who stand to benefit in the crisis?
Mahmood Mamdani radically alters our understanding of the crisis in Darfur through the well-researched analysis by an African-Arab person from East Africa who was also taking pain over the tragic developments in that region.
Mamdani's recently-launched book 'Saviours and Survivors' (Darfur, Politics and the War on Terror) attempts to explain how the conflict in the Darfur began as a civil war (1987-89) between nomadic and peasant tribes over fertile land in the south that was triggeredby the severe drought that had expanded the Sahara Desert by more than sixty miles in forty years.
Mamdani explains how British colonial officials had artificially "tribalised" Darfur.
He explains how the Britons 'divided' Darfur populations into 'native' tribes and creating homelands for the former at the expense of the latter.
Presently there is warrant of arrest against the Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir issues by the International Criminal Court.
Must we stop complaining about the ICC targeting African leaders as all the ICC does is aimed to implement the values on justice and the respect for law and human rights.
Was the Western world confusing the victims to the perpetrators, if so, according to whose standards do we regard the violations of human rights.
Recently, political correspondent Peter Fabricius cited South Africa's Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel's speech to the African Union whereby there was a call made about the pivotal role of neo-liberalism played in addressing human right issues in the continent.
The pertinent question to be posed to the outside world is to fully understand the factors that militate for or against the continuation of the crisis.
He (Mamdani) unpacks in broader detail how the Darfur 'civil war' intensified in the 1990's when the Sudanese governmemt tried unsucessfully to address the problem by creating 'homelands for tribes' without any consultative arrangement.
As political historians we have to look at how the involvement of opposition parties gave rise in 2002 to two rebel movements.
Does the World Health Organisation and the Human Rights Watch have any merits in declaring the strife torn Sudan as a 'genocide' ?
Mamdani disputes this assessment but does describe what is taking place there to have lead to 'brutal insurgency and a horrific counterinsurgency'.
Documented historical records do explain that the civil war in Sudan could be traced to the twenty-year civil war the country had with the neighbouring Chad.
Accordingly, this civil war had created confrontation between Libya's Muammar al-Gaddafi who was supported by the Soviet Union and the United States under the Ronald Reagan administration, coupled with the proxy involvement of France and Israel.
The central question therefore is what informed that powerdul Western lobby to declare Darfur as a 'War on Terror' two years after the 11/9/2001?
Outlining his book personally at the Ike's Books recently, Mamdani said his book focuses on three main issues that were salient in 2003 when he began to research the book.
He said there was a movement in advocacy, in particular, the 'Save the Darfur' campaign taking in the United States.
He also looked at the length of the 'marketing and the sensationaliation' the Darfur crisis was gettng full length coverage in the mass media in the Western world.
However, Mamdanmi noted, his book was concerned about the alternative conflict in Darfur and about how it was framed?
Mandani asks what is to be done , what is the way forward about Darfur?
"We need to focus at how we have been able to tackle crisis of similar of worst character in the region, and why do we treat Darfur differently, and why do we treat Darfur in a separate manner to all the crisis we've seen in Africa? " asks Mamdani.
Mamdani adds that the majority of people who have died in Darfur,say 70%, were never killed by insurgents but died of drought, diarhorea and all other common or preventable diseases.
Mamdani questions the role played by the WHO and accusses it of playing a dubious role in reporting the Darfur Crisis to the wider international media.
"As a matter of fact, the Darfur Crisis is a worst human disaster but I suggest we take all the figures supplied by the international NGO's with a pitch of salt as they frame death figures in order to get more funding" cautioned Mandani
Was the conflict serving any interest to the present Western Capitalism or neo-loberal agenda?
Was the Darfur crisis intensified to satisfy or serve the interest of the Western Europe or the interests of the Middle East region?
Was the crisis 'tribalised' to divide the Darfur population, if so, who stand to benefit in the crisis?
Mahmood Mamdani radically alters our understanding of the crisis in Darfur through the well-researched analysis by an African-Arab person from East Africa who was also taking pain over the tragic developments in that region.
Mamdani's recently-launched book 'Saviours and Survivors' (Darfur, Politics and the War on Terror) attempts to explain how the conflict in the Darfur began as a civil war (1987-89) between nomadic and peasant tribes over fertile land in the south that was triggeredby the severe drought that had expanded the Sahara Desert by more than sixty miles in forty years.
Mamdani explains how British colonial officials had artificially "tribalised" Darfur.
He explains how the Britons 'divided' Darfur populations into 'native' tribes and creating homelands for the former at the expense of the latter.
Presently there is warrant of arrest against the Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir issues by the International Criminal Court.
Must we stop complaining about the ICC targeting African leaders as all the ICC does is aimed to implement the values on justice and the respect for law and human rights.
Was the Western world confusing the victims to the perpetrators, if so, according to whose standards do we regard the violations of human rights.
Recently, political correspondent Peter Fabricius cited South Africa's Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel's speech to the African Union whereby there was a call made about the pivotal role of neo-liberalism played in addressing human right issues in the continent.
The pertinent question to be posed to the outside world is to fully understand the factors that militate for or against the continuation of the crisis.
He (Mamdani) unpacks in broader detail how the Darfur 'civil war' intensified in the 1990's when the Sudanese governmemt tried unsucessfully to address the problem by creating 'homelands for tribes' without any consultative arrangement.
As political historians we have to look at how the involvement of opposition parties gave rise in 2002 to two rebel movements.
Does the World Health Organisation and the Human Rights Watch have any merits in declaring the strife torn Sudan as a 'genocide' ?
Mamdani disputes this assessment but does describe what is taking place there to have lead to 'brutal insurgency and a horrific counterinsurgency'.
Documented historical records do explain that the civil war in Sudan could be traced to the twenty-year civil war the country had with the neighbouring Chad.
Accordingly, this civil war had created confrontation between Libya's Muammar al-Gaddafi who was supported by the Soviet Union and the United States under the Ronald Reagan administration, coupled with the proxy involvement of France and Israel.
The central question therefore is what informed that powerdul Western lobby to declare Darfur as a 'War on Terror' two years after the 11/9/2001?
Outlining his book personally at the Ike's Books recently, Mamdani said his book focuses on three main issues that were salient in 2003 when he began to research the book.
He said there was a movement in advocacy, in particular, the 'Save the Darfur' campaign taking in the United States.
He also looked at the length of the 'marketing and the sensationaliation' the Darfur crisis was gettng full length coverage in the mass media in the Western world.
However, Mamdanmi noted, his book was concerned about the alternative conflict in Darfur and about how it was framed?
Mandani asks what is to be done , what is the way forward about Darfur?
"We need to focus at how we have been able to tackle crisis of similar of worst character in the region, and why do we treat Darfur differently, and why do we treat Darfur in a separate manner to all the crisis we've seen in Africa? " asks Mamdani.
Mamdani adds that the majority of people who have died in Darfur,say 70%, were never killed by insurgents but died of drought, diarhorea and all other common or preventable diseases.
Mamdani questions the role played by the WHO and accusses it of playing a dubious role in reporting the Darfur Crisis to the wider international media.
"As a matter of fact, the Darfur Crisis is a worst human disaster but I suggest we take all the figures supplied by the international NGO's with a pitch of salt as they frame death figures in order to get more funding" cautioned Mandani
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
WHO MUST LEAD AFRICA'S REBIRTH-WHO IS AN AFRICAN?
For over many centuries black scholars and African people have been grappling with the the debate of defining who really qualifies to be called an "African", but to date, no common paradigm seem to be standard or prevail.
During the successive African Renaissance KZN Chapter conferences, commissioners steeped in Pan-Africanism normally devote tremondous amount of their time and energy to broadly define who should be spearheading the enormous challenges the continent was facing as it attempts to re-awaken itself as it integrate to the global political economy.
Two years ago, the eminent Pan-African scholar Ngila Muendane, argued that some African people were confused and were avoiding calling themselves 'African' but were pandering to the liberal anti-nationalism.
Muendane stressed an emphasis that as Africa re-awakens itself from the underdevelopment slumber, African intellectuals have a moral duty to 'develop a common Africanparadigm or common ethos from which to depart'.
The African Renaissance, says Muendane, could be styled to the "British character" , "American Dream" or what the Jewish people define as "Zionism".
"There are non-Africans who want to qualify as Africans, and they are welcome but should abandon identifying themselves with Europeans and must begin to embrace the African value systems.
An African to spearhead the rebirth of Africa is person who has links to this continent and identifies with Africanness because it is eternal and does not depend on shifty and meaningless things,such as skin pigmentation" explained Muendane.
And the Durban-based Cultural and Heritage activist Nhlanhla Mtaka is of the strong view that African people must firdt cement an identical and ethical culture that was underpinned by service excellence, aptly referred as Ubuntu philosophy.
"Being African is not essentially linked to colonisation and oppression but must be seen in the historical, and contemporary social, economic and cultural realities.
And we must unleash these vital factors as a powerful crusade with all our capacities to awaken the sleeping giant-our continent Mother Africa- to become a moral beacon and a powerful global player forever" noted Mtaka.
Mtaka added that it is the culture, history and attachment to these and consciousness of such identity and not skin colour that makes one an African, and he implored people to discuss issues such as identity, culture and heritage as free people who must set their own agenda ina unique miellieu accordint to their own realities.
However, that renowned African writer Ngugi wa Thiong'o has penned a book, titled 'An African Renaissance -Something Torn and New' whereby he alludes to a radical understanding of needs to be grappled by African people towards the realisation of the African Renaissance.
"Over centuries of contact with the West, Africa has suffered the deprivations of slavery, colonialism and globalisation.
An integral part of this tragic encounter has been "Europhonism" "observes wa Thiong'o.
wa Thiong'o alludes to the fact that African people started by replacing native names and language systems with Europeans ones.
Acording to him, this remains the worst tragedy ever to the African development because, he writes, 'language is a communal memory bank'.
"In loosing its native languages, Africa would loose its social meaning,ite very identity" says wa Thiong'o.
wa Thiong'o traces Africa's fragmentation and restoration amidst the global history of colonisation and modernity.
IUn seeking the revitalization of Africa, Ngugi argues, that a renaissance of African languages is a necessary step in the restoration of African wholeness.
He(Ngugi) speaks of the 'decolonisation of modernity'.
"Africans, in the Diaspora and on the continent, were soon to be the recipients of this linguistic logic of conquest,with two results.
NAgugi calls this practise as the Dismembering Practises, and is of the view that without tackling this malady, Africa is faced with serious challenges with its renewa, beacause he states Africans were "Dismembered from the land, from labour, from power, and from memory. The resultis destruction of the base from which people launch themselves into the world".
And the pertinent question remains about how do the African people develop a common paradidm and ethos that takes them into the other levelas they attempt to revitalise themselves.
During the successive African Renaissance KZN Chapter conferences, commissioners steeped in Pan-Africanism normally devote tremondous amount of their time and energy to broadly define who should be spearheading the enormous challenges the continent was facing as it attempts to re-awaken itself as it integrate to the global political economy.
Two years ago, the eminent Pan-African scholar Ngila Muendane, argued that some African people were confused and were avoiding calling themselves 'African' but were pandering to the liberal anti-nationalism.
Muendane stressed an emphasis that as Africa re-awakens itself from the underdevelopment slumber, African intellectuals have a moral duty to 'develop a common Africanparadigm or common ethos from which to depart'.
The African Renaissance, says Muendane, could be styled to the "British character" , "American Dream" or what the Jewish people define as "Zionism".
"There are non-Africans who want to qualify as Africans, and they are welcome but should abandon identifying themselves with Europeans and must begin to embrace the African value systems.
An African to spearhead the rebirth of Africa is person who has links to this continent and identifies with Africanness because it is eternal and does not depend on shifty and meaningless things,such as skin pigmentation" explained Muendane.
And the Durban-based Cultural and Heritage activist Nhlanhla Mtaka is of the strong view that African people must firdt cement an identical and ethical culture that was underpinned by service excellence, aptly referred as Ubuntu philosophy.
"Being African is not essentially linked to colonisation and oppression but must be seen in the historical, and contemporary social, economic and cultural realities.
And we must unleash these vital factors as a powerful crusade with all our capacities to awaken the sleeping giant-our continent Mother Africa- to become a moral beacon and a powerful global player forever" noted Mtaka.
Mtaka added that it is the culture, history and attachment to these and consciousness of such identity and not skin colour that makes one an African, and he implored people to discuss issues such as identity, culture and heritage as free people who must set their own agenda ina unique miellieu accordint to their own realities.
However, that renowned African writer Ngugi wa Thiong'o has penned a book, titled 'An African Renaissance -Something Torn and New' whereby he alludes to a radical understanding of needs to be grappled by African people towards the realisation of the African Renaissance.
"Over centuries of contact with the West, Africa has suffered the deprivations of slavery, colonialism and globalisation.
An integral part of this tragic encounter has been "Europhonism" "observes wa Thiong'o.
wa Thiong'o alludes to the fact that African people started by replacing native names and language systems with Europeans ones.
Acording to him, this remains the worst tragedy ever to the African development because, he writes, 'language is a communal memory bank'.
"In loosing its native languages, Africa would loose its social meaning,ite very identity" says wa Thiong'o.
wa Thiong'o traces Africa's fragmentation and restoration amidst the global history of colonisation and modernity.
IUn seeking the revitalization of Africa, Ngugi argues, that a renaissance of African languages is a necessary step in the restoration of African wholeness.
He(Ngugi) speaks of the 'decolonisation of modernity'.
"Africans, in the Diaspora and on the continent, were soon to be the recipients of this linguistic logic of conquest,with two results.
NAgugi calls this practise as the Dismembering Practises, and is of the view that without tackling this malady, Africa is faced with serious challenges with its renewa, beacause he states Africans were "Dismembered from the land, from labour, from power, and from memory. The resultis destruction of the base from which people launch themselves into the world".
And the pertinent question remains about how do the African people develop a common paradidm and ethos that takes them into the other levelas they attempt to revitalise themselves.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
GRADUATES URGED TO BECOME UNISA AMBASSADORS
More than 200 graduants from the University of South Africa converged at the Durban's beachfront hotel on Saturday morning 'to map a way forward regarding the marketing drive' to their old academic institution.
The social get together (reunion) attended by the Unisa Registrar Professor Louis Mulamo, Assistant Director of Unisa Foundation Patricia Lawrence and the President of the Convocation, Professor Themba Sono, called upon the institution's graduates to internalise the motto and the etho's of their alma mater.
Prof Mulamo cajoled graduates to always talk positively about Unisa and also called upon them to market, promote and become the custodians of the university's legacy since it was established way back in 1878, when Unisa was still known as the University of Cape of Good Hope.
"Since my first election as President of UNISA Convocation in 2004 I have always called upon the past gradiuates to play an activist role in shaping the running of their almar mater.
You must internalise the university motto and embody its principles as you live up the values it represents.
Treat UNISA as ANC membership treat their party. You can never mistaken the ANC members with their own party because they live, breath and conduct themselves as ANC disciplined cadres" observed Sono.
He said UNISA students carry a burden of social responsibility and in whatever they do to the outside world reflects to their alma mater.
Sono took strong exception to the recent negative news coming from the Eastern Cape whereby it was reported that some 45% of young males had allegedly raped helpless and vulnerable women in that region as part of 'a cleansing practise by men who'd recently graduated from the 'initiation school' ' to become adults in line with the Xhosa-speaking people tradition.
"Is the barbaric practise by the young men in the Eastern Cape what you fellow South Africans who are Unisa graduates want to be identified?
Will any among you here regard that as part of making a sustainable positive contribution to mankind, no, no,no, that so-called culture is foreign and unkown from people that want to be associated with Unisa.
You, Unisa graduates, carry a moral duty and a responsibility to safeguard, protect our communities and protect the legacy of the very communities that have made us what we are today" warned Sono
Sono, added, UNISA's motto is 'Pro Gentibus Sapienta' which literally means 'Learning in the Service of Humanity' must be taken to another level by anyone associated with Unisa.
The KwaZulu-Natal Unisa Alumni Breakfast was concluded by the election of the regional Alumni Association, whose primary function will be to organise students to participate in Unisa' activities.
Accoerding to Unis Foundation's Lawrence,the Alumni Association regional chapter will also act as ambassadors that were expected to champion Unisa's legacy by supporting the 'agenda of transformation'presently ongoing work within the university.
The social get together (reunion) attended by the Unisa Registrar Professor Louis Mulamo, Assistant Director of Unisa Foundation Patricia Lawrence and the President of the Convocation, Professor Themba Sono, called upon the institution's graduates to internalise the motto and the etho's of their alma mater.
Prof Mulamo cajoled graduates to always talk positively about Unisa and also called upon them to market, promote and become the custodians of the university's legacy since it was established way back in 1878, when Unisa was still known as the University of Cape of Good Hope.
"Since my first election as President of UNISA Convocation in 2004 I have always called upon the past gradiuates to play an activist role in shaping the running of their almar mater.
You must internalise the university motto and embody its principles as you live up the values it represents.
Treat UNISA as ANC membership treat their party. You can never mistaken the ANC members with their own party because they live, breath and conduct themselves as ANC disciplined cadres" observed Sono.
He said UNISA students carry a burden of social responsibility and in whatever they do to the outside world reflects to their alma mater.
Sono took strong exception to the recent negative news coming from the Eastern Cape whereby it was reported that some 45% of young males had allegedly raped helpless and vulnerable women in that region as part of 'a cleansing practise by men who'd recently graduated from the 'initiation school' ' to become adults in line with the Xhosa-speaking people tradition.
"Is the barbaric practise by the young men in the Eastern Cape what you fellow South Africans who are Unisa graduates want to be identified?
Will any among you here regard that as part of making a sustainable positive contribution to mankind, no, no,no, that so-called culture is foreign and unkown from people that want to be associated with Unisa.
You, Unisa graduates, carry a moral duty and a responsibility to safeguard, protect our communities and protect the legacy of the very communities that have made us what we are today" warned Sono
Sono, added, UNISA's motto is 'Pro Gentibus Sapienta' which literally means 'Learning in the Service of Humanity' must be taken to another level by anyone associated with Unisa.
The KwaZulu-Natal Unisa Alumni Breakfast was concluded by the election of the regional Alumni Association, whose primary function will be to organise students to participate in Unisa' activities.
Accoerding to Unis Foundation's Lawrence,the Alumni Association regional chapter will also act as ambassadors that were expected to champion Unisa's legacy by supporting the 'agenda of transformation'presently ongoing work within the university.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
KZN PREMIER DELIVERS STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS
"This newly-formed government will focus on the elimination of all the root causes of poverty and underdevelopment, and we invite each and every citizen to join us in this framework which is a journey to create an equitable and prosperous country” these sentiments captures the preamble of KwaZulu-Natal Premier,Dr Zweli Lawrence Mkhize, when he delivered the state of the province address on Thursday morning.
Mkhize told the provincial legislature that his government wishes to highlight the issues that were part of the electoral mandate which is to focus the collective deployment of all available resources and mobilize the people towards the attainment of priorities which will have a catalystic effect towards achieving strategic goals.
He assured the people of KZN that running the provincial government was no easy task, and called upon all the roleplayers and stakeholders to play their part in making a meaningful contribution towards the creation of a better life for all in South Africa.
“The ruling ANC government invites all the people of KZN to join us in taking the first steps of a long and ardous journey to create a better future for our country and all future generations.
Let us work together to create that hope for a better future” cajoles Mkhize.
As the newly-elected government, added Mkhize, we have come to terms with the global economic downturn and the full impact and the manifestations it was having to the provincial gross domestic product (GDP).
Mkhize noted that the main focus of his speech was centred on the ANC’s 52nd Polokwane conference resolutions that prioritized education, health facilities, creation of jobs and rural development.
“All government service delivery programmes and interventions in the building of our economy will be premised on the underlying desire to fight and eradicate poverty and all the other afflctions that continue to under-develop our people”.
Poverty remains the major contributor to preventable diseases and creates a vicious cycle of hunger, and also contributes to social instability such as crime and moral decay that compounds the impact of under-development” emphasized Mkhize.
In line with fast-tracking rural development and agrarian reform, Mkhize announced the ‘self-help’ intervention aimed to fight and eradicate poverty
This intervention is aptly called the “One Home One Garden” campaign and will be spearheaded by the state apparatus.
“We will launch the One Garden One Home on Mandela Day (18 July); and is structured to ensure viability and communities will be mobilized into secondary co-operatives at the level of traditional community areas, local or district municipal level to channel the support that government will offer” outlined Mkhize.
Mkhize explained that the emphasis of his government will be on communities doing things for themselves as they aim to outlaw the culture of dependence and entitlement whereby the democratic government was seen to be doing things for the people, and he specifically cited the numerous social support grants that were given to the ‘infirmed and deserving citizens’.
“The new approach will see the state providing capacity-building mechanisms and a new culture will be established whereby the government is doing something with the people, rather that doing things for the people” said Mkhize.
However, the opposition parties in the legislature dismissed Mkhize’s address as hollow and they also argued that he ‘must be seen to walk the talk’.
Democratic Alliance Caucus leader John Steenhuizen criticised the state of the province address and said it failed to tackle pertinent issues such as crime, the eradication of corruption, incompetence and maladministration by senior public servants.
“The Democratic Alliance would have expected the ruling party to put in place effective strategies and policies to regulate the best practice by public service administration and adopt a zero tolerance against the unlawful procurement tendencies whereby major government tenders were given to the ANC-connected individuals and their cronies that were incompetent” remarked Steenhuizen.
And the provincial chairperson of the Inkatha Fredoom Party Muntomuhle Khawula felt Mkhize’s commitment to clean government was good and his party will monitor the Anc-led governance closely.
“The Premier’s ommitment to fight crime and corruption sounds good but the IFP expects him to ‘walk the talk'.
Charity begins at home, and it is for this reason that as the IFP we’re calling for forensic investigations and audit about the state funds that were misappropriated by a high-ranking official (Head of Department) and was reported in various newspapers prior to the 22 April 2009 elections, yet the said official remain in government employ as if nothing happened.
To be seen to be committed to fighting crime and corruption, Premier Mkhie must do the right thing and suspend the Speaker of the House Peggy Nelisa Nkonyeni who presently facing serious criminal charges of corruption in the Pietermarizburg Regional Court” said Khawula.
Ends
Mkhize told the provincial legislature that his government wishes to highlight the issues that were part of the electoral mandate which is to focus the collective deployment of all available resources and mobilize the people towards the attainment of priorities which will have a catalystic effect towards achieving strategic goals.
He assured the people of KZN that running the provincial government was no easy task, and called upon all the roleplayers and stakeholders to play their part in making a meaningful contribution towards the creation of a better life for all in South Africa.
“The ruling ANC government invites all the people of KZN to join us in taking the first steps of a long and ardous journey to create a better future for our country and all future generations.
Let us work together to create that hope for a better future” cajoles Mkhize.
As the newly-elected government, added Mkhize, we have come to terms with the global economic downturn and the full impact and the manifestations it was having to the provincial gross domestic product (GDP).
Mkhize noted that the main focus of his speech was centred on the ANC’s 52nd Polokwane conference resolutions that prioritized education, health facilities, creation of jobs and rural development.
“All government service delivery programmes and interventions in the building of our economy will be premised on the underlying desire to fight and eradicate poverty and all the other afflctions that continue to under-develop our people”.
Poverty remains the major contributor to preventable diseases and creates a vicious cycle of hunger, and also contributes to social instability such as crime and moral decay that compounds the impact of under-development” emphasized Mkhize.
In line with fast-tracking rural development and agrarian reform, Mkhize announced the ‘self-help’ intervention aimed to fight and eradicate poverty
This intervention is aptly called the “One Home One Garden” campaign and will be spearheaded by the state apparatus.
“We will launch the One Garden One Home on Mandela Day (18 July); and is structured to ensure viability and communities will be mobilized into secondary co-operatives at the level of traditional community areas, local or district municipal level to channel the support that government will offer” outlined Mkhize.
Mkhize explained that the emphasis of his government will be on communities doing things for themselves as they aim to outlaw the culture of dependence and entitlement whereby the democratic government was seen to be doing things for the people, and he specifically cited the numerous social support grants that were given to the ‘infirmed and deserving citizens’.
“The new approach will see the state providing capacity-building mechanisms and a new culture will be established whereby the government is doing something with the people, rather that doing things for the people” said Mkhize.
However, the opposition parties in the legislature dismissed Mkhize’s address as hollow and they also argued that he ‘must be seen to walk the talk’.
Democratic Alliance Caucus leader John Steenhuizen criticised the state of the province address and said it failed to tackle pertinent issues such as crime, the eradication of corruption, incompetence and maladministration by senior public servants.
“The Democratic Alliance would have expected the ruling party to put in place effective strategies and policies to regulate the best practice by public service administration and adopt a zero tolerance against the unlawful procurement tendencies whereby major government tenders were given to the ANC-connected individuals and their cronies that were incompetent” remarked Steenhuizen.
And the provincial chairperson of the Inkatha Fredoom Party Muntomuhle Khawula felt Mkhize’s commitment to clean government was good and his party will monitor the Anc-led governance closely.
“The Premier’s ommitment to fight crime and corruption sounds good but the IFP expects him to ‘walk the talk'.
Charity begins at home, and it is for this reason that as the IFP we’re calling for forensic investigations and audit about the state funds that were misappropriated by a high-ranking official (Head of Department) and was reported in various newspapers prior to the 22 April 2009 elections, yet the said official remain in government employ as if nothing happened.
To be seen to be committed to fighting crime and corruption, Premier Mkhie must do the right thing and suspend the Speaker of the House Peggy Nelisa Nkonyeni who presently facing serious criminal charges of corruption in the Pietermarizburg Regional Court” said Khawula.
Ends
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