By Tom Mosoba

Norwegian international engineering consultancy firm Norconsult AS, which two weeks ago announced the closure of its operations in Tanzania over corruption, has pledged to honour its remaining contracts in the country.

The company has also retracted an earlier statement announcing the sacking of the managing director of its Tanzania office, Mr Francis Kifukwe, saying he had voluntarily stepped down.

The twists and turns point to intense horse trading since reports on Norconsult?s illegal activities in Tanzania were revealed last month.

The company?s global president, Mr John Nyheim, issued a new statement, reversing the firm?s earlier position.
The new statement posted on the company?s website last Wednesday, is in stark contrast with the first one issued on May 5 through the same medium by Mr Nyheim.

While Mr Nyheim was categorical in the first communication announcing the firm?s withdrawal from Tanzania that Mr Kifukwe?s employment had been terminated, he says in the news statement that Mr Kifukwe has resigned.

?Managing director of Norconsult Tanzania Ltd has taken the responsibility and has resigned with immediate effect.
?Norconsult will fulfill all its contractual obligations in Tanzania. All ongoing and rewarded contracts will be completed according to contract,? the statement adds.

Mr Nyheim said Norconsult had put the Dar es Salaam office directly under its headquarters in Norway.
The new statement also makes no mention of the company?s earlier position that no Norconsult employee was aware of irregular payments in the Dar es Salaam office.

The company?s pledge to honour its contracts follows the threat by the Government, through the Tanzania Roads Agency (Tanroads), to sue the firm for breach of contract.

Tanroads CEO Ephraem Mrema last week told The Citizen Norconsult had not alerted them of their withdrawal and said they would consider legal action to ensure that existing contracts were respected.

It was, however, not immediately clear if the turnaround had anything to do with the threats by Tanroads to sue Norconsult. Calls to their overseas offices bore no fruit as a promise to get back to us was not honoured.

Mr Kifukwe, on his part decline, to comment on the new development or even confirm if indeed he had voluntarily resigned or was forced out of office.

?I would not wish to comment on anything just speak to those who are releasing the information,? Mr Kifukwe said by telephone when reached for comment. Norconsult indicated all the Dar es Salaam operations would be administered from Norway.

Mr Mrema could also not be reached, but sources within Tanroads said the issue of Norconsult contracts was being discussed. ?I can?t therefore confirm or deny if the company will be working (with us),? said an official who asked not to be named.

The Citizen exclusively reported earlier this month that the firm, which has contracts worth billions of shillings, has decided to pull out over corruption.

The firm said it was winding up all its operations in Tanzania after audit reports linked its business to corruption in which audits done over the last one year alone reportedly revealed embezzlement of up to a reported Sh332 million in highly irregular payments.

?We do not accept any kind of misconduct or corruption. As a consequence, we cease our activities in Tanzania,? Mr Nyheim said.

He added: ?Internal and external reviews of the activities of Norconsult?s partly owned subsidiary in Tanzania have revealed activity that is not in accordance with the company?s Code of Ethics and contracts.?

He said the misconduct was revealed through Norconsult?s own internal review followed by an external review by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Mr Nyheim gave examples through which a total of Sh332 million was believed to have been corruptly obtained from its local operations.

?It has been established that in the past several irregular cash payments have been made from Norconsult?s partly owned subsidiary in Tanzania, NTZ, totalling approximately NOK (Norwegian Kronor) 650.000 (Sh156 million),? he said.

He noted that last year, $146 500 (Sh176 million) had been paid out in cash from the project office in Dar es Salaam, with only petty cash receipts as documentation. This particular case apparently involved Norconsult?s participation in the World Bank funded Dar es Salaam Water and Sanitation Project (Dawasa).

The decision to halt its lucrative contracts in Tanzania followed exposure how the Norwegian company had operating locally for a decade without any form of official registration.

That anomaly did not however prevent Norconsult from executing mammoth projects overseen by some high authorities including the government, World Bank and the Norwegian embassy here in Dar es Salaam. It has over the years evolved into one of the major engineering consultancy firms in Tanzania.

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African Press International – api

Publisher: korir, africanpress@getmail.no

<By Leo Odera  Omolo

Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no

<By CHISHALA MUSONDA

THE Football Association in Zambia has awarded newly appointed Chipolopolo coach, Herve Renard, a three-year contract.

The Frenchman and the Zambian FA sealed the contract last Friday after the two parties agreed to personal terms and Renard would engaged a fellow French, Patrice Beamelle, as physical trainer.

FAZ president, Kalusha Bwalya, announced the new deal sealed with Renard at Football House in Lusaka adding that a local assistant coach to the Frenchmen would be named soon.

Renard’s task would be guide Zambia to the 2010 World Cup to be staged in South Africa and Africa Cup earlier the same year scheduled for Angola

Zambia are in Group 11 of the double 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup qualifiers that also comprises Togo and Swaziland.

The Chipolopolo start the campaign for the first ever World Cup to be held on Africa soil with a date against Togo on May 31 in the second round qualifiers.

“We have to have time and patience with the new coach and we want to do well. But the world will not stop and wait for Zambia so we will try and bring Zambian football to a level that is acceptable,” Kalusha said.

“Our moto is ‘eyes on the ball’ and we expect your eyes to be on the ball. The onus is on players and as administrators we will facilitate and deliver to higher heights. We have a lot of potential to make us play the way we want to play…we want to surprise ourselves and to fulfil the dreams of every Zambia by reaching the World Cup and reach the Africa Cup finals and win it.”

Zambia stands at 67 on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World rankings.

Renard, who was o the technical bench of former Ghana coach Claude LeRoy, hopes to build a formidable side to stand challenge.

“I hope we can build a good team and work very hard,” he said.

Renard watched Zambia demolish Botswana 3-0 in the African Nations Championship first round second leg qualifier in Lusaka on Saturday and on Wednesday the French will be at the helm of the Chipolopolo that play Libya in an international friendly in Tripoli.

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African Press International – api

Publisher  Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source: IRIN

Monrovia (Liberia) ? Of 600 rape victims recently interviewed by a Liberian non-governmental organisation, 90 percent of the women were found to be suffering from fistulas – a vaginal tear which results in loss of bladder control and social stigmatisation.

Aid workers say the statistic, provided by the Women of Liberia Peace Network (WOLPNET) from surveys conducted in April 2008, shows the horrifying prevalence of rape and of a phenomenon which Liberian medical officials say they are ill-equipped to respond to. “These women are living with a serious scar and they are not getting access to treatment,” said Una Thompson, head of WOLPNET. According to local health workers two types of fistula cases are prevalent in Liberia.

One is obstetric fistula, which is a vaginal tear resulting from prolonged obstructed labour. A recent health survey showed that over average 994 women die for every 100,000 who give birth, a higher rate than was estimated during Liberia’s civil war. Doctors say the most common cause of death is vaginal haemorrhaging following childbirth. Some health workers and officials say the spike is a result of improved data collecting. However others say fewer births are being attended by trained medical professionals, who diminished in numbers through the end of the 1990-2003 war, partly because of migration. Read an IRIN report on maternal mortality in Liberia

The other common cause of fistula in Liberia is traumatic gynaecologic fistula that is a vaginal injury resulting from violent sexual assault or when objects are forcibly inserted into the vagina. Violent crime and rape especially of children are common in Liberia, and police and justice systems have proven ineffectual at ending impunity for these crimes. Read an IRIN report on crime in post-conflict Liberia Dr. John Mulbah, head of the maternity centre of Liberia’s biggest referral hospital, the John F. Kennedy Hospital in Monrovia, said resources are limited to repair the damage.

“We have only five staff trained to conducted fistula treatment and all of them are based in Monrovia [the capital]“, he told IRIN. “The unit only has 30 beds… our facility is overwhelmed with patients and some have to wait for a long time before being attended to.” The unit was created in February 2007 after the UN sponsored a survey which identified 351 women suffering from fistulas in rural Liberia. The unit is 100 percent funded by international donors, not the government, Mulbah said.

“The drugs and supplies and the only vehicle conducting outreach in rural parts of the country were provided by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). Treatment at the unit is free,” Mulbah said. Liberia’s health minister, Walter Gwenigale, told IRIN that transporting fistula patients from rural areas to Monrovia for the treatment is a major constraint on broading treatment. “Bringing those patients to Monrovia requires funds. We are aware that there are lots of fistula cases upcountry but the national health budget for Liberia is just US$11 million which is totally inadequate to deal with all health problems,” Gwenigale said.

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The Publisher Korir, is the Chief Editor – African Press International – API

Publisher  Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source: guardian.Nigeria

In a move to halt further inflow of Sudanese refugees, Chad’s foreign minister Moussa Faki, has urged the international community to step in and resolve the Darfur conflict.

He said some 250,000 refugees have flooded into the country from the civil war that has been ravaging the neighbouring Sudanese province of Darfur for the past five years, with another 190,000 people driven from their homes. “This is a lot. It’s a human, social and environmental problem. Chad is suffering the consequences of this conflict… We already have enough on our hands trying to ensure the development of our people,” Agence France Presse (AFP) quoted Moussa Faki, also the former Prime Minister of Chad, as saying.

Relations have been tense between the two countries since 2003 when war broke out in Darfur, sending hundreds of thousands of desperate refugees fleeing across the Chadian border. Sudan severed diplomatic ties with Chad on Sunday, accusing N’Djamena of backing a rebel assault on the Sudanese capital at the weekend. Chad closed its border the following day, ramping up tensions between the volatile neighbours.

More than 200 people were killed in that assault and other clashes outside the city over three days, as the rebels headed from the remote west to Omdurman, across the river from Khartoum, in at least 150 vehicles. The dead included 97 soldiers. Faki denied that Chad was involved in these attacks, carried out by the Darfur rebel group Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), and hotly denied financing them. “That’s totally wrong. We don’t support the rebellion, we are not looking to destabilise Sudan. The opposite is true. We condemn and have already firmly condemned the rebel attack.”

Instead of quibbling over the origin of the attacks, Faki urged that the conflict in Darfur be resolved so as to stem the disastrous effects it is having on the surrounding region. “The issue of Darfur has to be resolved. The epicentre is Darfur, the consequences are waves that have spread to neighbouring countries. The sooner the Darfur conflict is resolved, the better it will be for everybody,” said Faki. He urged that a joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission be accelerated. The 26,000-strong force is not yet fully manned because of a row over non-African contingents, with Sudan insisting that African options must be explored fully first.

“It’s high time the international community convinces Sudan to solve the Darfur problem. The hybrid force must be deployed,” said Faki. “Things do not seem to be advancing despite the fact that the consequences have largely gone beyond the borders of the original conflict.”

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The Publisher Korir, is the Chief Editor – African Press International – API

Publisher  Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source: Sudan Tribune (Sudan), by Isaac Vuni

Juba (Sudan) ? Sudan?s First Vice-President and President of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, today opened the Second National Convention of the Sudan People?s Liberation Movement SPLM in Juba.

Kiir said he would adhere to the decisions of the current convention, saying that his main concern is the “consensus and unity of the party”.

The convention will elect the SPLM?s chairman and his deputy, secretary general and members of the political bureau through a free poll. Two SPLM leading members said they would contest against Kiir for the SPLM chairmanship. Kiir said he would be ready to step down if a new leader was chosen. Salva Kiir Mayardit said he was striving to make unity an attractive option and confirmed his full commitment to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and to reducing the obstacles facing it. However he added that the will of southerners will be respected if they decide to secede.

“We in the SPLM are doing our best to offer an attractive unity in order to achieve a new vision for Sudan. We shall respect and protect the will of the people of Southern Sudan. Even if they decide to secede, the SPLM shall continue to pursue its political agenda for a new Sudan and ensure that the two entities will exist in harmony and cooperation.” Kiir added that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was “not an end in itself, but a step in the continuous pursuit of the new Sudan” and noted that there were still obstacles to be dealt with. “We still can create a suitable environment for bringing political views together,” he said.

With regard to the southern Sudan, Kiir said SPLM works to establish appropriate institutions of the southern Sudan government and its ten states, and to achieve southerners? welfare. “The challenge for me is to establish institutions of power throughout Southern Sudan and its states, to guarantee fair representation at all levels of government, as well as reconciliation and absorption of armed groups and organizing the SPLA into a regular army, dedicated to peace and protecting citizens”, he said. “We have to realize the aspirations of our people with their basic needs; they want shelter, health care education clean drinking water and decent means of livelihoods.”

Salva also underscored that southern Sudan government lacked adequate competent and trained personnel in key civil service positions. It lacks necessary laws, regulations and systems for good governance and prudent public financial management. The SPLM at the climax of its most difficult period, held its first National convention on 2nd April 1994 in Chukudum, Eastern Equatoria state. This second convention comes 14 years after the first convention as SPLM transformed itself into a mass vibrant national political party with five millions registered members just within three years ago, now holding the second national convention in Juba the capital of southern Sudan under the theme No to war, yes to new Sudan.

He said SPLM has taken a longer time to call for the second convention because of then war situation that does not permit holding larger meetings, besides there was also necessity to have an inclusive national convention together with SPLM supporters from with government controlled areas. That SPLM was and is still calling for creation of a New Sudan base on justice and equality to all Sudanese from Nimule to Halfa and from Geneina to Kassala. The SPLM chief explained that the 1983 manifesto was revised in order to pave way to the then changing realities within and outsides Sudan and that it will continue to be revised whenever necessary.

Since the first convention, SPLM has put up party structures with defined roles and functions. It was through such structures that SPLM setup a guideline for peaceful negotiations with the then government of the day in Khartoum under the auspices of regional and international mediators which ended in signing the comprehensive peace agreement on 9th January 2005. Kiir further explained that during the First National Convention more than 700 civil societies representatives deliberated together with armed comrades and resolved to separate the military from civilian administration, hence created the Civil Authority of the New Sudan (CAN) which later organized another meeting with more than 800 SPLA combatants and adopted plans to transform the SPLA into an organic army that is capable of protecting the whole Sudan today.

Kiir noted that late Dr. John Garang who led the people?s liberation struggle for 21 years only had 21 days to enjoy the fruits of that struggle after his inaugurations was very hearting to his comrade in the struggle.

The SPLM Chairman who is also the First Vice-President of the Republic and President of the Government of Southern Sudan paid tribute to founding members of the SPLM/A whom he descried as heroes and heroines have made their ultimate sacrifices so that we can enjoy the fruits of southern Sudanese liberation struggle and notable among them were; Kerobino Kwanyin Bol, William Nyuon Bany, Arok Thon Arok, John Kulang Puot, Nyachigak Nyashiluk, Francis Ngor Nyang, Akuot Atem de Mayen, Samuel Gai Tut, Galerio Modi Hurinyang, Martin Manieyl Ayuel, Yusif Kuwa Meki, Ager Gum,Regina Morise, Fr. Saturnino Ohure Ilangi, Dr. John Garang de Mabior, Dr. Justine Yac Arop and Dominic Dim Deng among others.

Addressing the opening session of the SPLM Second National Convention, the Vice-President of the Republic, Vice-President of the National Congress Party Ali Osmanman Taha confirmed full commitment to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. He pointed out that all Sudanese people looked forward to a strong, united Sudan. “The feelings of the sons of Sudan in the south, the east, the west, the centre and the north are feelings of unity. They are looking forward to a strong, united Sudan which represents them all, where they can all find a decent life, a country which they can all contribute to build and raise to the status it deserves among nations. These are the principles we can rely on.” Taha said.

Meanwhile the representative of European Union remarks that democracy requires respect and observance of the rule of law as fundamental bases. He congratulated SPLM quick initiative to transform itself from a movement to a democratic political party in the Sudan for the purpose of achieving political power from the central government in Khartoum. He said the European Union condemned the recent JEM attack on Khartoum, However, he says Darfur issue needs to be addressed in order to end the suffering of innocent people. Adding that the previous peace deal that was been signed in Abuja still stand. The EU representative say implementation of the CPA remains essential part for cementing peace in the whole Sudan and reminded the delegated that EU will remain a reliable partner in realizing peace in the Sudan.

The representative of Eritrean people for democracy, Mr Yamani Gabriel expressed their solidarity with the people of southern Sudan, particularly the SPLM and that Eritrean are still firm friends and would like to ensure that provision of the CPA are fully implemented by the two partners to the deal. He added that reconstruction and building southern Sudan and finding sustainable and durable peace to the people of Darfur is a most if the region is to enjoy smooth flow of businesses and stability. The opening session of the SPLM Second National Convention was attended by delegates from all the Sudanese political parties and representatives, and delegations of regional and neighbouring countries political parties

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Publisher  Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source: The Namibian (Namibia), by Tonderai Katswara

These views were expressed by some industries The Namibian spoke to following yesterday’s fuel price hike, which represents an increase of around 56 per cent since the middle of last year. Farmers, fishermen and miners all lamented the increase, which according to them will derail all intended new investments and could also lead to bankruptcy in some extreme instances. For many farmers it could be the final nail in the coffin, as they are just coming out of a taxing drought.

Fishing, agriculture and mining – the mainstays of the Namibian economy – are Namibia’s major export revenue earners and employers. These sectors use heavy-duty equipment which consumes thousands of litres of fuel per month. Petrol currently costs more than N$9 per litre while diesel costs over N$10 per litre. Major players in the fishing industry, Etale Fishing Company and Tunacor Fisheries, on Wednesday said the increase of the diesel price had put severe pressure on their operations, as input costs would spiral up.

“More than 40 per cent of our costs goes to fuel. This is a big expense, and we are currently looking at ways how we can improve our fuel consumption,” said Etale’s Managing Director, Silvanus Kathindi.
He said the company was avoiding retrenchments, but that the rising diesel price was a ‘big concern’ to the industry. Etale’s fishing vessels use around 50 000 to 70 000 litres of fuel per trip, which normally averages nine days at sea. The company currently undertakes three trips a month.

A senior manager at Tunacor, who preferred anonymity, echoed Kathindi’s words, saying the increasing fuel costs were putting pressure on profit margins. “We are currently looking at purchasing newer vessels which use fuel more efficiently. However, this needs huge investment.” He added that the way out of these current problems was to focus on adding value to exports and maximising the income generated.
The fishermen’s union said it could now prove impossible to negotiate higher wages with fishing companies, as they would use the fuel costs as a reason not to increase salaries.

In a further blow, NamPower on Tuesday informed mining companies of a 42 per cent electricity tariff increase from July 1. Roessing Uranium – one of the country’s major mining outfits – said the mine’s fuel bill and the impending power crisis would affect operating costs. “Currently the mine uses about 1,6 million litres of diesel per month. With the increase in the price of diesel, it will add another N$14 million to our diesel expenses for the remainder of the year,” said Roessing’s acting General Manager for Corporate Services, Noel Mouton.

Chamber of Mines General Manager Veston Malango said the diesel price hike would hugely affect mines’ profitability and have a negative effect on the mining industry. He warned fledgling mining companies to evaluate the current economic circumstances. “For the new mines planning to come on board… they will have to critically look at how much workforce they need and also their [expected] production levels before starting operations,” said Malango.

Both the Namibia National Farmers’ Union (NNFU) and Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) said communal and commercial farmers alike were taking a knock as a result of costly fuel. NNFU acting Executive Director Oloff Munjanu said some of their members would be forced to scale down operations, which in turn would hurt production and result in a decline in GDP. NAU Executive Manager Sakkie Coetzee said: “Fuel is a huge part of our production costs – between 20 and 30 per cent.

So our profit margins are under pressure. Production this year will definitely be affected negatively by all these increases.” Coetzee said ways must be found to help especially newly resettled farmers to absorb these increases. Last year’s drought and this year’s floods had brought livestock and crop farmers to the brink of bankruptcy, he said. “This could be the final nail in the coffin for some farmers, as they are already under tremendous pressure,” said Coetzee.

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The Publisher Korir, is the Chief Editor – African Press International – API

Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source.kbc.ke

Raila wanted her as mayor for Nairobi. She was not elected or nominated councillor. Therefore she got no Mayoral seat. Now the chance for Raila to have her on board may be around the corner.

We will not be surprised if elected that she will get Assistant minister position created for her and posted to the Prime Minister’s office.

We are yet to see wonders in this accommodative Coalition government that seeks to please politicians by positioning them even without duties but enabling them to earn big salaries.

ODM nominations set for 23 May

Written By:Doreen Apollos

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African Press International – api