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Dodgy agents, informal traders wreck Malawi maize stability

Maize

Maize

from MAVHUTO BANDA in Lilongwe, Malawi
LILONGWE, (CAJ News) – MALAWI, although confirming an increase in maize production compared to previous years, is tightening screws on informal maize traders importing maize grain to neighbouring countries, lest shortages set in.

The move comes as almost the entire Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc faces deficits of the staple commodity, a development that has resulted in price increases.

“Government has taken such steps to avoid any previous scenarios whereby Malawi maize flows to neighbouring Mozambique and Zambia through informal cross border trade,” Kondwani Nankhuma, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, said.

The minister said as the SADC region had been heavily affected in terms of maize production, prices had been pushed up as traders attempted to get hold of the grain hoping to exploit the international markets.

Government also denounced some maize buyers, traders and/or middlemen who started procuring maize lower than the minimum farmgate price of MK150 (US$0,21) per kilogramme set by the administration for this year.

“Government condemns such traders for exploiting farmers and foiling government’s motive of incentivising agricultural production of smallholder farmers,” Nankhuma said.

The results of third round Agriculture Production Estimates Survey (APES) indicate that maize production is at 3,391 million tonnes, representing 24,7 percent increase when compared to the 2017/18 final round estimate of 2,69 million tonnes.

Nankhuma said according to the country’s Strategic Grain Reserves (SGR) guidelines, it was recommended that the SGR size should be 217 000 tonnes.

This comprises of 95 000 tonnes buffer stock, 8 000 tonnes emergency stock, 76 000 tonnes safety net stock for non-emergency response and 38 0000 tonnes stabilisation stock.

Nankhuma assured the country had enough maize stocks and was food secure.

However, the food situation is worsening for approximately 40 000 refugees and asylum-seekers following a cut in the amount of food assistance they receive.

The situation has been triggered by the flow of refugees into Malawi following political instability and social unrest mainly in some parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi.

World Food Programme (WFP) was in May forced to reduce by half the food rations it provides to refugees and asylum seekers due to insufficient funding.

Current maize stocks are due to run out in December while supplies of other food commodities will be completely depleted in October without additional funds.

WFP urgently requires $1,7 million to resume full rations.

Benoit Thiry, WFP Malawi representative, appealed for continued backing from donors.

– CAJ News

Patients bring own candles and matches to hospital

Zimbabwe faces acute power shortage

Zimbabwe faces acute power shortage

TARIRO MUSHORE / CHIEDZA MUTYAVAVIRI in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe
CHIREDZI, (CAJ News) – THE effects of load shedding have been heavily felt at Chiredzi General Hospital, southeast of Zimbabwe as patients and women on maternity are required to bring their own candles for light.

Load shedding has become a big blow in the health sector as rudimentary ways of taking care of patients are being revived.

In an exclusive interview with CAJ News Africa, one concerned father to a newly born baby, Munyaradzi Tawanda stated that it is worrying to have an expecting wife when the hospital is unable to provide all the services that are essential to ensure a safe delivery.

He went on to explain his personal experience where his wife was required to have a scan but the district hospital could not perform it because of the unavailability of electricity. Tawanda was left with no option but to go to a private hospital.

“Private hospitals are not affordable for those who are not employed and you can see that it is a very big challenge to the Chiredzi citizens,” he said.

“When my wife was expecting, I was not settled because we did not do the scan as required and I was afraid that she might have complications.”

Many citizens are very worried especially for the lives and health of newly born babies.

Cornwell Mangisi said, “Every child needs light when they are born, but because the hospital cannot provide the light for them, they are being traumatised because the first thing they see is darkness”

He also said he felt concerned for those who do not afford to buy candles because some nurses might not understand their situation, therefore making it difficult for both the nurses and the patients.

“People are being taken back to those old days when people were used to giving birth in a hut or being treated by a traditional healer using firewood as their source of light.

“Surely, load shedding should not have to go this far, very soon we will go back to consulting traditional healers because there is no different with going to the hospital,” said Tawanda Chikocho, a concerned local citizen who had come to visit a relative who was admitted at Chiredzi General Hospital.

All these questions were left unanswered as the superintended of Chiredzi General District Hospital Dr David Tarumbwa could not explain because he said he was too busy to have an interview with CAJ News.

– CAJ News

Concern over number portability delays

Cell C, MTN, Telkom & Vodacom

Telkom, Vodacom, MTN and Cell C

by MTHULISI SIBANDA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – THE South Africa’s Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) has expressed concern over what it believes is the lack of transparency and ongoing delays in the introduction of full number portability.

Some 13 years after the launch of mobile number portability, ISPA said consumers had received no word from the Independent Communications Authority (ICASA) on why the industry cannot port non-geographic numbers used for toll-free, shared-cost, premium rate and general voice services.

The prefixes are 0800, 0860, 0861, 0862 and 087.

“ISPA members receive daily requests from consumers looking to port non-geographic numbers but are not able to accommodate these requests due to the delay in implementing the regulations. It looks like this delay could continue for years, to the ongoing prejudice of consumers,” said Dominic Cull, ISPA regulatory adviser.

A major reason for the implementation delay is Cell C having approached the courts in April this year for a review of certain aspects of amended Numbering Portability Regulations.

The mobile operator believes some provisions harm their ability to port mobile numbers away from rivals Vodacom and MTN.

ISPA believes Cell C’s decision to attack the entire set of regulations rather than the specific provisions it has issues with, is damaging competition in the country’s telecoms sector and harming consumers.

ICASA has thus far failed to proactively and transparently communicate an effective date for non-geographic number portability or provide reasons for the delay, according to ISPA.

“While the ligation is ongoing, ICASA should consider promulgating a commencement date of those sections that are not directly related to the porting process of mobile numbers,” Cull said.

Since 2006, more than 8 million people have chosen to change their mobile network operator without losing their mobile number.

Over 1 million geographic numbers have been ported.

Cull said the figures indicated consumer demand for porting.

“However there seems to be no urgency from anyone to actually do anything about the current situation where the framework is in place but is not being put into force,” he concluded.

– CAJ News

Concern over sidelining of women in oil and gas sector

Partner of Centurion Law Group, Pan African energy lawyer NJ Ayuk, photo CAJ News Africa

Partner of Centurion Law Group, Pan African energy lawyer NJ Ayuk, photo CAJ News Africa

by AKANI CHAUKE 
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – AN executive has advocated for the inclusion of more women in the oil and gas sector to address the skills shortage and lack of innovation.

Pan African energy lawyer NJ Ayuk, who is managing partner of Centurion Law Group, a pan-African corporate law conglomerate that specializes in energy, extractive industries and the financial sector, noted women represented about 22 percent of the industry’s global workforce in 2017.

Participation dropped to 17 percent at senior and executive-level roles.

Only 1 percent of the chief executive officers in oil and gas were women.

A study released at the 2016 World Economic Forum, “the Future of Jobs,” reported a 32 percent pay gap in the oil and gas industry globally.

Another study by the University of Massachusetts in 2018 found that oil and gas had the highest rate of sexual harassment charges of any industry in the United States.

“No wonder then that there is a skills shortage,” Ayuk stated.

He said oil and gas were competing for the same kinds of people as technology firms and the renewable energy industry.

“Both of these sectors are new, exciting, dynamic, and above all, are associated with progress and progressive values.”

Ayuk is the author of a new book, “Billions at Play: The Future of African Energy,” in which he states that to stand any chance of recruiting and retaining top talent, the oil and gas industry must present itself in a similar way and that process starts with a genuine commitment to gender equality and women empowerment.

He stated the industry could take actions all along the chain, from supporting programs encouraging young women to take part in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

Ayuk said this would increase the visibility of women in senior positions and ensure women received the same chances to be promoted as men.

“Diversity of gender brings different perspectives and life experiences that in turn lead to innovation and new, creative ideas,” he said.

Focusing on Africa specifically, Ayuk said there was even more that the oil and gas industry could do to support women in the local communities their companies were active in.

“The oil and gas industry is missing a golden opportunity to empower women by partnering with and purchasing from female entrepreneurs, who could provide a vast range of services and goods, from logistics to engineering to food services,” he said.

“One of the most glaring examples of the oil and gas gender gap is the industry’s failure to work with local female-owned micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises as supplies, service providers, and partners.”

– CAJ News

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