A top level meeting will be convened by business and government as soon as possible to consider urgent action on the unacceptably high rate of crime in South Africa. Trade and Industry Minister, Mandisi Mpahlwa, said that after a review of crime trends it was decided that a top-level meeting of the justice and crime prevention would be convened.

Leader of Islamic Courts Flies to Khartoum for Peace Talks

Shariif Sheekh Ahmed, one of the senior leaders of the Islamic courts of Somalia led a delegation to Khartoum to attend the second round of talks between the transitional federal government of Somalia and the Islamic courts on Monday 28 Aug, 2006. 

Zimbabwe Looking East

Zimbabwe is expecting the delivery of six military jets from china within the next two months. Last year the government bought the first six K-8 flight training and light ground attack aircraft for the air force. This is under the ‘Look East policy’. Zimbabwe has in the past acquired three MA-60 short haul passenger planes from China.

ADB to Finance Public Procurement Systems

African Development Bank will finance the review of Public procurement systems for Common Market for East and southern Africa (COMESA) member states. The Kshs 613.2 million project is expected to enhance good governance through provision of modern public procurement systems.

Egypt: Key Importer of Kenyan Tea

Egypt has overtaken Pakistan as the key importer of Kenyan tea according to the Tea board of Kenya. Although the export volume declined compared to last year, the unit price increased from 120 to164 per kilogram.

Obama asks Kenya to Solve its Problems

US Senator Barrack Obama visited Kenya on August 24 to 29, 2006. In his 40 minutes speech at the University of Nairobi, Mr. Obama asked Kenyans to take the nation's destiny in their hands and not to rely on foreign government for solutions. He added, " The hard truth is that nations, by and large, will act in their own self interest and if Kenya does not act, it will fall back."

EAC Workshop on Regional Intergration

Politicians, businessmen and other stakeholder are holding a workshop (Aug 28 to Sept 2) at Silver Springs-Nairobi on the proposed regional intergration for East Africa. "The aim of the workshop is to stimulate widespread interest among stakeholders in the objective, projects and programmes of the EAC and sustain political and popular will for regional intergration," said a government statement.