Dam! You can’t even roll your eyes without the grumpy old men brigade attacking you.

"We are people of peace; they only know how to fight." :rolleyes:

The World Bank Tuesday June 3, 2008 approved three credits for Ghana totaling US$145 million, in fulfillment of the Bank’s commitment to provide assistance annually through the budget, under the multi-donor budget support (MDBS) framework. The Credits include additional funding valued at more than US$20 million, to support measures designed urgently including some of those outlined by the Government in President Kufuor’s recent address to the nation to help Ghana deal with rising cost of living due to global food and oil price hikes. MDBS is a harmonized partnership framework in which the Government of Ghana and a number of its development partners committed to provide direct funding for the implementation of the Ghana Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy through the annual budget. Since its inception in 2003, a total of US$1.7 billion has been disbursed under the framework, with over US$700 million coming form the World Bank alone, through six Poverty Reduction Support Credits (PRSC 1 to 6). The three credits consist of: (i) Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC 6) - (US$100 million); (ii) Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (NREG) - (US$20 million); (iii) Agriculture Development Policy Operation (AgDPO) – (US$25 million). The PRSC remains the cornerstone of donor support for Ghana’s poverty reduction strategy, while the NREG and AgDPO provide new important support for policy reform on natural resources and environment, as well as the agriculture sector. Policy actions under the PRSC6 focus on the implementation of various reform programs to accelerate private sector-led growth (by facilitating private sector development and increasing agricultural productivity and exports); develop human resources (by consolidating achievements in education, health, and water and sanitation); and promote good governance (by deepening decentralization, strengthening public financial management and enhancing efficiency, transparency and accountability in public investments and service delivery at both central and decentralized levels). The NREG supports governance reforms in the interrelated sectors of forestry and wildlife, mining and environmental protection. They are intended to ensure effective forest law enforcement, improve mining an forestry sectors revenue collection, management, and transparency; address social issues in forest and mining communities; and mainstream environmental protection into growth (safeguards and adaptation to climate change). It also initiates support to the adoption and future implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI++) approach in the existing forestry and mining sectors as well as in the emerging oil sector. The AgDPO supports recent positive achievements in the agricultural sector, including: further diversification of horticulture exports; addressing constraints to productivity of food crops and improving planning and execution of budgets in the sector. Specifically, the program supports the Government’s national agricultural strategy, by promoting key reforms essential for the growth of the sector. In addition, it provides support to help Ghana respond to recent rises in global food prices. According to Ishac Diwan, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, “these operations are focusing on accelerating the kind of growth that benefits the poor, improving environmental sustainability for the benefit of future generations, supporting the delivery of basic services, especially water, to the citizens across the country, and continuing to work towards better and more inclusive governance. The operations also respond to the recent rise in food price by expanding the safety net and providing quick support for agriculture. The collaboration between the Government of Ghana and its development partners over the past years is clearly paying good dividends -- the program we have presented to our Board today is probably a best practice globally in its focus on ownership, civil society participation, and donor coordination. ” Source: The World Bank

China Lays Out NGO Welcome Mat A widely-held view is that NGOs start becoming popular when and where governments or markets are unable to provide for people's needs. If so, this may not so such a good sign as China encourages more NGOs to operate there--as long they don't have political aspirations, that is. No Falun Gong folks should apply. Take a look at this table of civil disturbances in China over the years, then read the story about China encouraging more NGOs to operate in the country. I suspect these two stories are related. Got social problems? Let those NGOs take care of them: China will revise laws and policies to encourage the development of foreign and domestic non-governmental organizations (NG0s), a senior official has been quoted as saying Among the key changes are a simplified registration procedure for all NGOs and better communication with governments, said Sun Weilin, director of the bureau for NGO administration affiliated to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. A foundation will also be set up to recognize and reward NGOs with good performance. "The ministry is drawing up a detailed draft for revising laws and regulations, with the main objective of giving more room for NGOs to grow," Sun told China Business News. He was speaking at a recent ceremony where the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme signed an agreement to support a large-scale initiative aimed at strengthening the rule of law and enhancing civil society participation in China. The program will be implemented by the National People's Congress, the Supreme People's Court and the Ministry of Civil Affairs. "If the registration procedure is simplified for domestic NGOs and foreign NGOs can register as NGOs, it will make it easier for them to operate and raise funds for their programs," Li Jianghua, the deputy representative of the China branch of Handicap International, told China Business News. Experts said the changes will create a better legal framework for foreign NGOs to have a wider presence in China and provide a platform for better coordination with government agencies. "Foreign NGOs operate in China but their presence has no legal basis, which makes it impossible for them to recruit members or raise funds," Jia said. As a result, the China operations of some foreign NGOs, including the World Wild Fund for Nature, have been registered as commercial organizations and thus cannot raise funds or recruit volunteers. They also have to pay taxes. Jia also told China Daily that the unfavorable policy environment has become a major bottleneck for the development of domestic NGOs

By Solomon Tembang, AfricaNews reporter in Limbe, Cameroon A long standing rivalry between local and Chinese fishermen along the coast of Limbe in Cameroon recently took a dangerous turn when the locals beat some of the Chinese, seriously injuring two. The local fishermen accused the Chinese of using twin trawlers to fish thereby reducing the catch of the locals. The incident occurred recently in Kange Fishing Port, along the Limbe- Tiko creeks. Security sources say six unidentified boats, allegedly owned by local fishermen attacked the Chinese in their twin trawler at sea, subjected them to torture, severely wounded two and carted away about 300 bags of fish, estimated to be five tons in scientific terms The radio communication equipment, mobile phones and other valuables belonging to the Chinese fishermen were also seized. Following the incident, the Divisional Officer for Limbe, Peter Itoe Mbongo, accompanied by security operatives visited Kange Fishing Port to assess the situation. Genesis of crisis The acrimony between Chinese-owned twin trawlers and local artisanal fishermen has been going on for about two years now. The local artisanal fishermen have persistently complained that the fishing methods used by the Chinese are unsustainable and has created fish scarcity for the local population and others who come from the hinterlands to buy. This, the local fishermen complain, is because the Chinese use twin trawlers, catching both mature and premature fish in the ocean. Whereas they are permitted legally to fish only in the high seas, their activities have become unscrupulous as they now come close to the sea-shore. The situation has degenerated to a point where local fishermen can no longer get fish, resulting in acute fish shortage both for the ocean population and those who come from the hinterlands to buy. Livestock Minister’s Ban Ignored In the wake of increasing local opposition and even hostility to the Chinese presence, the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, Aboubakari Sarki in early May issued an order banning twin trawler fishing along the coast of Cameroon. The order further specified the nautical limit within which mechanised fishermen must not exceed. Despite this, there has been a lot of reluctance and volte-face on the part of the local administration to implement the order. Local artisanal fishermen are accusing the administration of conspiring with the companies that own these twin trawlers. The companies are said to be based in Douala and are a joint venture between Cameroonians and Chinese A fisheries technician in Limbe who opted for anonymity confided in Africanews that the fishing methods being used by the Chinese are the most unsustainable and are no longer in use any where in the world.

opps

Wewe stoic ata ayebu hauoni! Malika are you sure alikua sio stoic uleo ongea naye alafu akakuambia sijajua wabongo wana ongea kizungu…kwanza sia hatuna matatezo na luga yetu ya taifa sio lazima kuongea kizungu..Repect luga ya taifa na Mwalimu Nyerer mjomba stoic… Malika lol naag walaan… Sharmake fungua macho mjomba Nairobi haiwezi kupambana na bongo leo tumewacha uku mkedua siku hizi….. p.s Bongo= dar kwa washamba woti wasio jua…..lol

Wewe stoic ata ayebu hauoni! Malika are you sure alikua sio stoic uleo ongea naye alafu akakuambia sijajua wabongo wana ongea kizungu…kwanza sia hatuna matatezo na luga yetu ya taifa sio lazima kuongea kizungu..Repect luga ya taifa na Mwalimu Nyerer mjomba stoic… Malika lol naag walaan… Sharmake fungua macho mjomba Nairobi haiwezi kupambana na bongo leo tumewacha uku mkedua siku hizi….. p.s Bongo= dar kwa washamba woti wasio jua…..lol

Wewe stoic ata ayebu hauoni! Malika are you sure alikua sio stoic uleo ongea naye alafu akakuambia sijajua wabongo wana ongea kizungu…kwanza sia hatuna matatezo na luga yetu ya taifa sio lazima kuongea kizungu..Repect luga ya taifa na Mwalimu Nyerer mjomba stoic… Malika lol naag walaan… Sharmake fungua macho mjomba Nairobi haiwezi kupambana na bongo leo tumewacha uku mkedua siku hizi….. p.s Bongo= dar kwa washamba woti wasio jua…..lol

Men :rolleyes:

Stoic acha nawe sema…malika na mia si watu wa vijijini sia ni wabongo, wewe twanga pepeta sema unacho moyoni. Sharmake...Mamboz. sia wabongo hatujiski wenzako tunaskika wafamu. Sisi hapa wa bongo si watu wakutembia navitambulisho kila siku tuko kimya tuna piga poze tunawatizma nyea, manaki nyea ndo mna penda kwenda kila pahali uku mketangaza sia ni sijui wa kenya hata kabla hamja ulizwa.kibelebele vimewazidi..? p.s malika kila mara nikikwenda kenya narudi dar nacheka, vichekesho kule ubesho bela mana.

Stoic- maskini its ok dear we understand……lol matani Malika lol p.s stoic toa iyo opinion yako basi…

Ibti & Adam: you’re butchering the language. :rolleyes: @Old Man

haad?

Malika- Makelele sana kwajili yeye ni mtu wa kenya sinimekwambia wana makelel mno hawa………sistah-du flani kamwacha stoic kwenye mata ndomana ana mahasira lol P.s LOL @ I didnt know Somali-Tanzanians' can speak good English..Lol.I am sure the look on my face told him,what I was thinking..heh Malika, wakenya wengeni ni mabishororo bela mana, kila mara ukikutana nao utaskia wana sema unajua bongo ni ushambani sia wakenya ndo tumeindelea etc vichekesho.com

cont....please @ Ibti I love hogging the TVremote…unless Italy is playing I predict a riot in my household.

Stoic ndio...haya nawe tuambia kwanini una wachukia masista wa mjeni?

Waves back @ Stoic, mamboz! Stoic jamani acha matusi nawe lol wa bongo hawana matezo hayo.

Malika Mpendwa. Ndio bado nasubiri mwanzako sija pata jawabu. malika Nai little London? Come on…your kidding me right? Yes their plenty of sijuis in Kenya in comparison to Tanzania (excusing the current influx of sponserfever that’s wrecking bongo) but I still don’t understand why Kenyan sijuis walk around with an air of superiority when it’s completely unfounded…so yes Malika nasubiri jebu mwanzako. p.s wapemba wajuana kwavilemba, sijui wakenya wajuana kwa matangazo...wana makelele hao!

lol waves to Malika & jacl

Lesotho's royal house - a world apart Prince Seeiso: »The chief is a bucket of shit!« © afrol News afrol News - In comes Prince Seeiso Seeiso, second in line to the throne in Lesotho. He just had his first born son and was terribly beaten by his villagers. "I'm terribly sorry I'm late for the interview," he says, coming directly from hospital. "And I have to apologise again, as I will have to leave immediately to go home and pick up some things for my wife." We agree to meet the next day. The little Basotho prince that just has been born may end up King of Lesotho one day if Prince Seeiso's elder brother, 39-years-old King Letsie III, not produces a son and heir. The King's two-year-old daughter can by tradition not inherit the throne. But although 37-years-old Prince Seeiso and his 4.2 kg newborn son are next in line to the Basotho throne, there is nothing pompous about the prince. In fact, he comes without any security guards, driving his car on his own and is licking his wounds after having been beaten heavily by fellow villagers. Beneath the Western outfit, it's all tradition. Prince Seeiso was beaten with sticks according to tradition - it is a message of having become father to a son. "Some took advantage and were beating very hard," he says. "I have noted who they are and will have them flogged," he adds, roaming with a laughter that assures the latter part is only a joke. Also the lack of security is explained by tradition. "So you expected a line of bodyguards, did you," he laughs again. "A chief is a chief because of his people," he explains. According to traditional leadership, a chief like himself "has to be in the same camp as his people," visible and accessible, and he cannot be blocked away from people through security guards. To illustrate, Prince Seeiso quotes a Basotho saying: "The chief is a bucket of shit!" Observing the astonished face of the interviewer, who thinks he's understood things wrongly, the Prince laughs again. He sees the need to explain. You go to chief and empty all your shit on him. The chief has to take it. As any other toilet, the "bucket of shit" will not protest, and it will be ready the next time you need it. Very exemplary. In the otherwise hygienic conditions of the stylish terrace of Lancer's Inn, in the middle of Lesotho's capital, Maseru, we finally get our coffees served. If not before, we finally understand it wasn't at all necessary to invite the Prince to such an ambitious place. One of those livelier, more or less legal beer shanties - sharing scarce square metres with vendors of herbs, tomatoes, cellphones and other necessaries- just some blocks off the main street, Kingsway, would probably have done. But we are well seated at Lancer's Inn, and we sure won't complain on the prices. Prince Seeiso continues the conversation by emphasising that access to the traditional leader is a very serious matter for Lesotho's royal house. The jokes about his lack of security guards turn into matters of profound political impact when elaborated on. - I can go anywhere and talk to the people, he explains, this including the shanties just outside this resort. "The King however can't do that. He has to go through the Prime Minister and cabinet to get an approval on whether this is appropriate." And this is not only for security reasons, one learns. Prince Seeiso leaves no doubt we now are touching a key conflict line in Basotho politics. "We are still going through the teething phase of democracy, and we still don't know who should do what," he explains. Therefore, the King's security guards rather are a symbol of government controlling the King than the King's security needs. - There is a competition between the cabinet and the King, and it should not have to be like that, he complains. Prince Seeiso explains how the King even is barred from representing Lesotho at most occasions abroad due to jealousy. "If a promotion tour of the King would be successful, some evil Prince Seeiso enjoys the shadow in an unofficial "throne" © afrol News / Lawrence Keketso tongues would say that this could not have been achieved by the Prime Minister, thus calling him useless." Asked whether King Letsie in fact can be considered "a prisoner" of the Basotho government, Prince Seeiso says he would not use that word. Playing it down, he says the problem is that "the royal house and politicians are not confident with each other," but that with present Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, personal relations are "thawing". On the other hand, it is understandable that the elected leaders of Lesotho are sceptical towards the role of monarchy in this small mountainous country of two million inhabitants, surrounded by South Africa. Basotho kings have played vital roles in this unique country. Thanks to Lesotho's founding father, King Moshoeshoe, the kingdom can look back on almost 200 years of being a nation. Unlike most African countries, the nationbuilding process was achieved a long time ago as the southern Basotho people and other rallied the kings for protection from Boer and Zulu aggressions from the surrounding lowlands. Moshoeshoe and his successors maintained independence from white-ruled South Africa through military power and diplomatic wisdom, forming a protectorate under direct protection from London. Until independence in 1965, the King - or the paramount chief as he was called during British rule - was pretty much the uniting symbol of Lesotho. With the 1966 constitution, that made the paramount chief a king, power was given to elected politicians and Lesotho was made a constitutional monarchy. According to Prince Seeiso, however, the people was cheated. "They tricked the people by saying the paramount chief would become King, like the Queen of England, which was over-glorified. They didn't say he would be cut off from the people." After independence came also political turbulence, with military rule in the 1970s and 80s. In the mid-1980s, the military even installed King Moshoeshoe III, King Letsie's father, as the head of the executive in a popular move. Popularity did not last long, however, and calls for democracy led to another coup in 1990, deposing the King. Since then, the Basotho royal house has kept out of policy, the Prince confirms. Even in the troubled year of 1998, when political chaos resulted in a destructive invasion led by South African forces, King Letsie remained silent. A popular demand for the King to mediate in the crisis was not met. Letsie referred to the constitution, saying he was not in a position to help. - Some found it difficult to understand that in a state of crisis, the King cannot mediate, Prince Seeiso says, apparently agreeing to the argument. "He is the Head of State. But other leaders of other states came in to mediate instead of him." Prince Seeiso indicates he would have acted in another way if he were King in such a situation. - The constitution should be looked at, Prince Seeiso says. "We should not have a Head of State who is unable to interact with his people when there is a crisis. In fact, it seems there is no reason for having a Head of State at all." It again comes down to the lack of confidence between traditional and political leadership. The Basotho King however is trusted with some representative roles in the country, even though "his functions are very limited," the Prince says. In some apolitical, crosscutting themes, like AIDS, orphans, poverty and children's rights, the King's voice is likely to be heard. "Implementing Prince Seeiso: »We are still going through the teething phase of democracy.« © afrol News policies on these issues will however become a more political issue," Prince Seeiso tries to explain the role of a constitutional monarch. The Prince cannot emphasise enough on the difference between the Basotho royal house and their European counterparts. "It is a world apart," he says. Even contacts are minimal. Representatives from the British monarchy turned up in Lesotho at some important occasions, but not all. The latest invitation to go to a European royal occasion was the wedding of Spain's Princess Christina three years ago. Tight personal ties only exist with the nearby authoritarian royal house of Swaziland. The difference from European monarchies and the popular rooting of Lesotho's royal house is also underlined by how the country's press treats the royals. Even the yellow press has mercy on the Basotho royals, which occasionally can be found having a delightful Maluti locally brewed beer in any type of local pub. "Even the sensationalist press would not write any scandalising article about His Majesty, and even I have many times escaped," the Prince says, laughing again. - As a people, we don't really want to bury into other people's personal affairs, Prince Seeiso explains; "we just gossip a lot about it." Also editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper 'Mopheme', assisting in the interview, agrees "the level of privacy is quite high in Lesotho." Mr Lawrence, who doesn't hide he is a republican, was to mention the birth of a possible new King with only one paragraph in 'Mopheme'. Mr Lawrence and his cool attitude towards the royal house is however not representative for the Basotho. For most fellow countrymen, the news of the birth of a new prince is indeed of interest, given the male line of succession in chieftaincy and monarchy and given the historic continuity from the glorious days of Moshoeshoe that is marked with the birth. The little prince one day will become chief or even king. For ordinary people, it is quite natural that the title of King one day will have to be passed over to Prince Seeiso and later his son if King Letsie is not blessed with a son on his own. But modern times are also omnipresent in the small mountain kingdom. Thus, institutions such as monarchy and chieftaincy are under discussion, as are the inheritance laws disfavouring women. This is something the well-educated Prince is not indifferent to. "Some of us feel that the law of succession needs to be looked at [when it comes to gender]. I am personally in favour of equal opportunities for all," he says, knowing perfectly well he is undermining his current right to the throne by the argument. Given the limited freedom and powers of the King, the office may not seem too interesting to Prince Seeiso, although he does not comment on that. He however leaves it clear that he would have struggled for a more popular role of the monarch. "The people want to see the King on his horseback, they don't want to see him as somebody mystified or glorified out there," he concludes on the role a Basotho king should have. Prince Seeiso has to leave us. Instead of a horseback, he climbs into his modern four-wheel car, heading to his residence in the suburbs, some 30 kilometres outside Maseru. It is not yet sunset. Like any new father, he tells us before leaving; he is scared about the new power balance between the bedroom and the living room. Better to get off home before the madam arrives from hospital, bringing the new king of the house. By afrol News editor Rainer Chr. Hennig

Bono wants United States of Africa June 03, 2008 POP star and activist Bono has called for the creation of a United States of Africa, saying that a pan-continental identity would serve as a catalyst for resolving its conflicts. The U2 frontman, who was in Japan to take part in a major development conference last week, said that a United States of Africa "would be the dream'' in the long term. "I think a kind of broader African identity is going to be very important to deal with tribal tensions," Bono told today's Asahi Shimbun, where he served as a guest-editor for a special Africa edition. The Irish rock star said that developing a broader identity may seem largely "poetic", but has been proven successful. "Irish people used to always have a little giggle when they would see Americans saluting their flags in schools, and then the whole standing there, singing the flag thing," Bono said. "But as you get to know a little bit more about things, you start to think, ah, there's so many different tribal groups in the United States, that to create a national identity of that size, they had to really work at this kind of patriotism," he said. The African Union was created in 2002 with inspiration from the European Union, but critics say the body has lacked the funds and political will to take effective action on the continent's flashpoints.

Hello Malika....And wlc to my little corner Id1ot alert

maybe

Lol