Africa News Digest
Chinese Now Building Massive Zimbabwe Irrigation Project
The Chinese quietly arrived in Zimbabwe in May and began work on Zimbabwe's great Nuanetsi irrigation project. In February, the Zimbabwe government contracted with Chinese Water and Electrical International to clear 100,000 hectares of land in Masvingo province, in the southeast, and build on it the infrastructure needed for irrigation farming to grow maize and sorghum. Zimbabweans will farm the land. The Zimbabwe government had declared irrigation to be of strategic national importance.
As the Chinese began work in May, the Zimbabwe government announced an increase in the project's size to 150,000 hectares (that's 375,000 acres, or 586 square milesor half the area of Rhode Island).
A key feature of the plan is to use the irrigation to make possible a third (winter) crop each year. Zimbabwe successfully grew its first-ever winter maize crop in 2002.
When complete, the project is expected to produce an average annual yield of 3 million tons of maize. Zimbabwe's domestic requirement is only 2.1 million tons or less.
Reportedly, the Chinese company is accepting payment in Zimbabwean currency, which would make the project virtually a gift to Zimbabwe and southern Africa.
Chinese Plan Zimbabwe Mining, Iron, and Steel Projects
A Chinese delegation was in Zimbabwe for a five-day visit to explore mining and iron and steel opportunities, the Herald (Harare) reported Aug. 16. The delegation of five members included the chairman of the Chinese Metropolitan Mining Corporation, Yang Chang Heng. The delegation held a meeting with officials of the Zimbabwe Mining and Smelting Company, Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Zisco), ZimAlloys, and others. The Chinese said that China could provide the finance, technology and market to exploit Zimbabwe's resources. They said that feasibility studies had already been done, and that developments should be expected "as soon as possible," starting with the mining of chrome (Zimbabwe already has an annual production of 250,000 tons). The Chinese are interested in investing in Zisco's iron and steel production, and in the coke ovens at the Wankie Colliery.
International Crisis Group: Oust Mugabe Now, Restore IMF
The time for African leaders to get rid of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is now, and quickly, John Prendergast wrote in an Aug. 6 op-ed in Johannesburg's Business Day. Prendergast is the special adviser on Africa to the International Crisis Group (ICG). He was formerly with the U.S. National Security Council and State Department.
Should opposition leader (and British puppet) Morgan Tsvangirai be convicted in his trial for treason, Prendergast wrote, compromise between government and opposition may cease to be possible. Speaking of the ruling party, Prendergast said, "Zanu-PF leaders know they must turn the economy around. Important party figures are speaking of the need to rebuild bridges with the IMF and investors."
"The situation cries out for South Africa's deeper engagement," he wrote. "A serious, internationally supported negotiation is the only route to a solution in Zimbabwe. Informal talks are no substitute for such a formal diplomatic process." Prendergast added, "The time to act is now."
Mugabe invited the Chinese to help with irrigation, mining, and steelmaking as part of his plan to get rid of the IMF for good.
India and South Africa Join for Oil and Gas Projects
India and South Africa will soon sign an agreement to jointly develop projects in South Africa, India, and third countries in petroleum products; hydrocarbon exploration and production; refining and storage; distribution and trading of petroleum products; gas processing facilities; and gas transmission networks for compressed natural gas projects.
India's Petroleum Ministry said, according to the Financial Express (New Delhi) Aug. 17, "Africa is our major destination for equity participation in the oil and gas sector, in countries like Libya, Sudan, Algeria, Angola, Nigeria and many other small republics of Africa that have considerable oil and gas reserves.... India's presence in the African region, alongside the regional superpowers like South Africa, will give India an unique status and would help in getting preference, over other countries, in equity participation in the oil and gas opportunities in the region."
Malaysia Studies Algerian Roadbuilding Request
Malaysia is studying a request by the Algerian government to build an $8-billion road across Algeria. The east-west road, more than 2,000 km (1,240 miles) long, is described as "part of the Algerian government's infrastructure program to develop a sophisticated road system to enhance its economic development," in the New Straits Times of Aug. 18. The deal was worked out during Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamed's visit to Algeria this month.
Mahathir arrived in Algeria, along with his wife and a delegation of 127 people, including four ministers, three state governors, six MPs, and 50 businessmen, on Aug. 10, for a visit focussed on trade and investment opportunities. Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said, "Algeria has shown a lot of interest in Malaysia's success, and is impressed by its achievements." In fact, Algeria had asked Malaysia to undertake a study of its economy and make recommendations for investment opportunities in agriculture, industry, telecommunications, and tourism. Malaysia's Economic Planning Unit has presented its findings to the Algerian government.
Brazil, India, China Plan to Get Tough at WTO Cancun Meet
At the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Cancun, Mexico, which begins Sept. 10, Brazil, India, and China plan to demand that advanced-sector countries take the lead in moving toward free trade, if they expect any further liberalization on the part of the rest of the world. There are, however, risks in playing the game of "You swallow the poison first."
Thirteen other Ibero-American, Asian and African countries have adopted the Brazil-India-China approach, according to Sapa-AP Aug. 20. European Union senior negotiator Peter Carl grumbled that this was not a useful contribution to the negotiations.
South African Case Shows What's Needed Is Protection
At an Aug. 19 South African national consultative conference in advance of the WTO ministerial meeting in Cancun, business warned government against giving in to demands by the advanced sector for further cuts in tariffs on industrial goods, which would reduce South Africa's "protection of the domestic economy." South African tariff cuts in the WTO Uruguay round of talks led to "massive job losses at least in some sectors and industry restructuring," according to Business Day Aug. 20. The spokesman for business at the consultation was from the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (SEIFSA).
South Africa's representative at WTO headquarters, Faizel Ismail, indicated in response that at Cancun, SA would tell developed countries that they should reduce industrial tariffs and open their markets at a faster rate than other countriesthe Brazil-India-China approach. Ismail suggested that SA and other developing countries would resist the inclusion of the "Singapore issues" at Cancun (new restrictions in the areas of investment, competition policy, transparency in government procurement, and trade facilitation).
Rob Davies of the South African Parliament's Trade and Industry Portfolio Committee pointed out that developing countries had liberalized substantially over the past few years, while developed countries had maintained high barriers, particularly against products for which developing countries were competitive. (Or, as reporter Jaspreet Kindra put it, in the South African Mail & Guardian July 16, "The developed world does not implement trade agreements.")
Sudan Peace Talks at a Standstill*
Talks in Kenya between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) were adjourned indefinitely the night of Aug. 18.
In Sudan's capital, Khartoum, John Prendergast of the International Crisis Groupa surrogate for the Anglo-American powerstold the daily Al Sahafa, "The mediators, if a final agreement is not struck by the two parties, will draw up a document by themselves and place it before the two parties saying, 'take it or leave it.'" The Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) "mediators" produced the July 12 Nakuru draft that promotes southern secession. IGAD includes Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, and Somalia. Except for Sudan and Somalia, they all take part in the regional taskforce to prevent terrorism led by the U.S. Central Command, founded July 30.
The stalemate arises because the SPLA/M says further talks must be based on the July 12 Nakuru draft, while the government says they must not be. The renewal of war between North and South is a serious danger.
The Bush Administration has set October as a deadline for progress in the peace talks, before it imposes sanctions on the government of Sudan.
The Foreign Ministers of Egypt and Kenyan blamed the SPLA/M for the deadlock, but Sudan's Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismael went deeper Aug. 20 in blaming Washington.
Ismael said the problem was Washington's inability "to withstand pressure groups formed by the former U.S. Administration on which the [rebel] movement is based." He added that the policies of the Clinton Administration "included economic sanctions and placed Sudan on the terrorism sponsor list." Of course, the Dick Cheney-led faction in the Bush Administration is even more determined than the Clinton Administration was, to put Sudan there and keep it there.
Liberian Peace Accord Signed
A Liberian peace agreement that organizes a two-year interim governmentto precede electionswas signed in Accra, the capital of Ghana, on Aug. 18 by the LURD and MODEL rebel organizations, the government of President Charles Taylor's successor Moses Blah, noncombatant Liberian political parties, and other Liberian organizations. The agreement excludes the three combatant forces from the two leading positionschairman and deputy chairmanin the new administration. Instead, the civilian signatories have named three candidates for each post and the combatant forces are to name the chairman and deputy from these candidates.
The accord assigns Cabinet posts to combatants and political parties. It also assigns a number of seats in Parliament to each.
The signing was witnessed by ECOWAS chairman and Ghanaian President John Kufuor and representatives of the UN, EU, and African Union. "The United States has had an influential delegation at the talks," Associated Press reported Aug. 18.
In Monrovia, LURD fighters retreated beyond the River Po Aug. 17, and ECOWAS peacekeepers are manning a checkpoint at the bridge, preventing them from entering the city unless unarmed. There are now 1,000 ECOWAS peacekeepers, with another 2,250 expected. The peacekeepers began digging trenches Aug. 18 for self-defense if necessary. There are 300 U.S. troops in Monrovia. Ships laden with food and other relief are now docking. The city is still without any central potable water supply or electricity.
Since there has been no disarming, government forces are still able to shoot and loot at night. During the day, peace reigns; the streets are filled with cars, buses and taxis. But there is late word of renewed fighting in the country's second-largest city, Buchanan.
Gyude Bryant Selected Chairman of Liberian Transition
Monrovia businessman Gyude Bryant was chosen Aug. 21 as chairman of the Liberian transitional government that will govern until 2006.
Bryant is chairman of the Liberia Action Party and a prominent Anglican layman. Bryant's company in Monrovia specializes in mining and port machinery. He graduated from Cuttington College, a private institution in rural Liberia, with a bachelor's degree in economics, and first worked at the Mesurado Fishing Company before joining the National Port Authority as assistant field manager. He began his own company in 1977. Along with Ellen Johnson Sirleafa banker and recently a UN officialBryant was a founding member of the Liberia Action Party in 1984; he became chairman in 1992. Unlike many politicians who went into exile, Bryant never left Liberia throughout the years of the war.
Zambia Plans Links with Neighbors in Development Corridor
Zambia plans to build a "development corridor" of roads, bridges, and rails in the area of the Zambezi River to link Zambia with its neighbors, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Angola. Zambian Vice President Nevers Mumba reported this to Parliament Aug. 19, in saying the government would initiate programs to facilitate production and regional integration. The plans involve rehabilitating a road and rail line along the southwest border, construction there of a road bridge into Botswana, and a link with eastern Angola.
These same countries (and South Africa) are to be the beneficiaries of the Kasai-Zambezi-Okavango water diversion plan developed by Namibian President Sam Nujoma. The diverted water will flow in the Zambezi River through Zambia's planned development corridor.
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