Drought in Tanzania has resulted in coffee earnings dropping from $79 million in the previous season to $72 million in the 2005/06 marketing season. Tanzania was hit by drought from late 2005 to early this year affecting food and cash crop production. 3.7 million people are threatened with food shortage. 

SADC to Become a Customs Union

The 14 member Southern African Development Community (SADC) trade bloc will become a customs union in five years. The official meeting in Lesotho endorsed a programme on the region’s integration which oversees free trade union by 2008, a customs union by 2010, common market by 2015 and the euro as a single currency by 2018.

Congo Headed for Second Round Elections

Election results from 168 out of 169 constituencies in Congo show that that the country’s historic elections were headed for a second round between the President Joseph Kabila and a former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba. President Kabila led with 44.5 percent which is below the 50 percent level needed for a first- round win. Jean-Pierre was second with more than 20 percent. This means that the two will face each other in a runoff vote provisionally scheduled for October 29, 2006.

Somali Prime Minister Names the Cabinet

Somali Prime Minister, Ali Mohamed Ghedi, named a slimmed down 31-member cabinet. Two thirds of the named ministers were part of the 42-strong Cabinet that was dissolved on August 7, 2006 by President Abdulahi Yusuf. No Islamist was appointed.

Zimbabwe Citizens Lose Money

Zimbabwe’s drive to replace its old currency with redenominated bank notes ended in a flurry of confusion with both the poor and the rich losing money in the process. The order by The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) aimed at combating black marketeering and hyperinflation, devalued the Zimbabwe dollar by 60 percent against its US counterpart.

Chad Sets Up a National Oil Company

Chad is setting up a national oil company to sell crude oil. The company will become part of an existing production consortium led by US major Exxon Mobil. Societe deshydrocarbures Du Tchad (SHT) which may be in operation by January will be a commercial but completely state run company.

A Nigerian Company Partners with Real Estate Companies in Kenya

A Nigerian company, Crushed Rock Industries, will invest Sh400 million in the Kenyan property market this year. The company will be exporting its granite to be used in Kenya’s executive property market. The company has partnered with two Kenyan organizations: Associations of Architects in Kenya (AAK) and Mentor Group, a consortium of real estate companies.

Powercom to Launch its Services in Namibia

Powercom, Namibia’s second mobile phone operator, will launch its services by December this year. Powercom is owned by Norway’s Telecom management partners, the Namibian energy utility Nampower and several others. The new services and products will include 3G technology and the HSDPA for extensive high speed data transmissions.

Ibrahim Babangida to Run for Presidency

Former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida says he will run for Nigeria’s presidential elections set for April 2007, thirteen years since he left office. For the first time since independence from Britain in 1960, Nigeria is expected to see one democratic president hand over to another. Babangida will contest under the banner of Nigerian People.

ESKOM Blamed for Power Outages

The National Energy Regulator in South Africa (NERSA) has blamed ESKOM (South Africa electricity utility) for the costly power outages that hit tourist hub Cape town in the recent months. Investigations by NERSA found the state owned company negligent and with inadequate maintenance procedures in the Western Cape provincial power grid.  ESKOM may face penalties of more than 300 million rand for the offence.

Implementation of Lake Victoria Fisheries Project Underway

Implementation of a five year 916 million project funded by the European Union at Lake Victoria is underway. Lake Victoria Fisheries project will increase participation of fishermen in protecting fishing areas against over-fishing and illegal fishing gear. This will be achieved through the formation of beach management units and training of the local community to empower them.

African Green Revolution Yara Prize

Ms Fidelis Wainaina of Mseno International Christian Child Self Help Group-Kenya and Ms Celina Cossa of Mozambique jointly won this year’s African Green Revolution Yara Prize. Ms Wainaina won for her efforts in promoting small-scale farming. The Yara Foundation encourages the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and green revolution. Cossa, a former school teacher, has helped to empower small-scale farmers build sustainable food supply for thousands of people for 25 years.