Africa - Ubuntu Times

Africa

IGAD Member States Bank On Financing Model For Infrastructural Development

Nairobi, Kenya November 6, 2020 — Officials from the eight-nation Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) converged in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi to assess the development of the regional infrastructure master plan that is due in December 2020. 

The IGAD region has shown to make strides in the development of new regional infrastructure projects such as the Ethiopia-Kenya Power Interconnector and the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

However, leaders argue that underdeveloped infrastructure remains a major constraint in the IGAD region with no regional master plan of priority projects built on the consensus of its member states.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development Regional Infrastructure Master Plan (IRIMP) which began in May 2018 seeks to establish regional infrastructure development for the region to enhance regional physical and economic integration, and in the long run promote trade, movement of goods and persons, and poverty reduction amongst its Member States.

IGAD To Work Closely With Civil Society

Elsadig Abdalla, IGAD Director expressed his delight in the program, affirming commitment to working with the Civil Society and NGOs in the IRIMP project. 

“Previously we have been criticized as being too governmental,” Alsadiq told the conference through a speech he read on behalf of the IGAD Executive Secretary, Dr. Workneh Gebeyahu.

The IRIMP comes in to address this, and solve the problem of inadequate and poor regional infrastructure networks, connectivity, and efficiency.

“In this regional study, we have involved all our stakeholders, especially the NGOs because they are the real owners of our interventions and are the ones who have direct connection with our people at the grassroots in our region,” Elsadiq told Ubuntu Times at an interview.

The development of IRIMP is being financed through the support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) with the overarching objective to create an open, unified, regional economic space for private operators – a single market open to competitive entry and well-integrated into the global economy.

Its components will include a network of efficient infrastructure services; transport, energy, and communications.

Patrick Kanyimbo, the AfDB regional integration coordinator, assured the member states of the bank’s support.

“We are excited to be part of this master plan as we believe it will lead to greater investment floors in the region and we hope it also results in increased trade and economic activities among the member states,” Kanyimbo told the conference.

Banking On Africa’s Youth Bulge

Amb Lemoshira, Director at Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the conference that the African continent consists of an informed and technologically-savvy youth bulge, hence the need to put in place the appropriate infrastructure for them to be able to practice the tech skills acquired.

AfCFTA is a game-changer, we are going to set the pace for our future in three ways. That of our capacity to ease movement, absorb new technologies and optimizing Africa’s youth dividend and potential,” said Amb. Moi Lemoshira.

The master plan constitutes one of the region’s high regional integration priority pillars which we leaders have been looking for since the first revitalization of IGAD in 1996. 

Guided with two current initiatives, which are the African plan and the continental development agenda for 2063, IGAD regional infrastructure master plan has been drawn and tailored to fit with continental scenarios for development.

In 2018, IGAD contracted IPE Global Limited in association with Africon Universal Consulting to undertake a comprehensive 18-month study at a cost of $ 3.6 million.

Africa’s Telecommunication Professionals Hold Virtual Preparatory Meeting Ahead Of World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) 2021 

Nairobi, Kenya October 13 — Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia will host this year’s World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-21), the first of such conferences to be held in the African continent.

In preparation for the global event, the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) in conjunction with the National Communication Authority of South Sudan convened the first preparatory meeting held virtually.

The meeting aimed to bring together duty bearers of the telecommunications sector across Africa to establish leading committees to develop the African common proposals and positions on the WTDC agenda items.

The conference and its preparatory meetings come at a time when the world is increasingly acknowledging the crucial role that ICT plays in times such as the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.

“Digital solutions, economies, and connectivity are key enablers of development and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals,” said Dr. Alsadig Gamaldeen, the Director-General of Telecommunication and Post Regulatory Authority (TPRA) Sudan.

WTDC is a crucial forum for ICT development as it sets the roadmap for achieving telecommunications development across the world.

With the COVID-19 pandemic having shifted the spotlight to connectivity, the forthcoming WTDC will be seen as the foremost conference for driving global ICT development to enable the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

For the first time, the conference will be held in Africa from 8th to 19th November in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“These preparations will consider our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as the African States. We will also sanction special consideration on the pandemic’s outcomes so far and use them to enhance our individual and international collaborations as well as relevant partnerships during the conference,” said ATU Secretary-General Mr. John Omo, who spoke during the opening of the forum.

Through this online preparatory meeting, Africa is expected to among other things, evaluate the implementation of the WTDC-17 outcomes in Africa and consider their contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals action plans.

As a matter of consequence, this should be able to assist in the evaluation of the progress of projects launched under initiatives by regional bodies.

Besides, the professionals say the meeting is crucial in starting the formulation of the African common proposals to the conference that would reflect the new challenges of ICTs in Africa and the mechanisms that would help to accelerate the implementation of the African digital transformation strategy.

“Digital technologies act as a catalyst that could accelerate progress towards the SDGs and make the African region the digital frontier where the truly transformational power and potential of connectivity will finally be realized,” Ms. Doreen Bogdan Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) told the meeting.

Omo also noted that having a common understanding of the issues that Africa faces and how telecommunications can downplay them is highly crucial for community engagements, economic growth, and international collaborations in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Africa’s Health Care Systems: The Continent’s Time to Rethink on its Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan

JOHANNESBURG/NAIROBI APRIL 4, 2020 — The coronavirus pandemic is currently putting a lot of strain on Africa’s health systems beyond its limits in curbing the exponential spread of the disease. Africa’s continued reliance on imported finished generics and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) is likely to slow efforts in treating victims of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, warns the African Union Development Agency New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD).

Already, coronavirus has put a lot of strain on Africa’s healthcare systems beyond its limits in curbing the exponential spread of the disease.

This is happening in the face of the growing prohibition on the export of many medical technologies and priority medicines, the continent is already experiencing shortages of medical products required by medical staff to efficiently fight the spread of the virus.

“The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD has for a long time been raising awareness about this over-dependency,” says Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, adding that it is deemed necessary to set up initiatives such as the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa and its associated business plan to alleviate the phenomenon.

At continental level, the African Union has established a Coronavirus Fund with commitments already totaling 20 million USD while at national level, most African countries are implementing lockdowns, testing of suspected cases and contact tracing.

As African governments implement lockdowns in efforts to contain the spread, there are growing fears that prolonged lockdowns will have a negative impact on socio-economic activities.

“Our short-term response and support to member states at the AUDA-NEPAD is geared towards slowing down the pandemic, knowing more about how COVID-19 is spreading and lessening the socio-economic impact of the pandemic,” says Mayaki.

On April 13, AUDA-NEPAD will be launching its COVID-19 Response Plan of Action, through a webinar dubbed African Industrial Capacity Towards Critical Pharmaceutical and Medical Supplies.

While ensuring the protection of Africa’s economic foundations, experts say the move is a proactive, efficient and direct response in enhancing continental coverage and improving access to sustainable and resilient health services.

This comprehensive set of responses which if expected to reach their full potential must be fully supported not only by institutional actors but also by the private sector and civil society, within the context of the principles of collective consciousness and shared responsibility.

By launching the COVID-19 Response Plan of Action, AUDA-NEPAD aims to set up, along with other African Union competent institutions, a coordinated and effective plan in addressing this exceptional health crisis.

Zimbabwe bans overseas travel amid Coronavirus fears

HARARE — Amid mounting fears for coronavirus which has killed thousands of people in China and other countries, the Zimbabwean government has with immediate effect banned overseas travel.

According to an announcement made by the Southern African nation’s President Emerson Mnangagwa, citizens here will now not be allowed to travel to countries outside the African continent.

Mr. Mnangagwa made the announcement Wednesday evening while addressing his governing party, Zimbabwe Africa National Patriotic Front (Zanu PF) politburo meeting in the capital, Harare.

He (Mnangagwa) said ‘I have now restricted travel outside Zimbabwe, in particular outside the continent.’

The President also appealed to ordinary citizens to limit travel outside the country in order to lessen exposure to the dreaded virus.

At the moment, Zimbabwe has dealt with only two suspected coronavirus cases after travelers came into the country from countries where there are confirmed cases of the disease.

But, the two suspected coronavirus cases have since tested negative, however with the suspects kept under strict medical surveillance.

Last year in December, coronavirus broke out in Wuhan City in the Hubei Province of China.

Then, the World Health Organisation was informed of pneumonia cases related to unknown causes detected in the Chinese city, which later became known as coronavirus, scientifically called COVID-19.

After the overseas travel ban announcement by President Emerson Mnangagwa, government spokesman, Nick Mangwana tweeted ‘President Mnangagwa has restricted international travel especially outside Africa, while civil servants have been banned from foreign trips as Government takes measures to minimize the risk of exposure to coronavirus.’

Apart from banning overseas travel, the Zimbabwean government recently announced that people visiting the country from areas affected by coronavirus without valid medical certificates showing they are negative will be repatriated at the port of entry.

Over 3,000 people have died due to the coronavirus following the first outbreak recorded in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

In Zimbabwe, more than 6,000 travelers have been screened of the disease at ports of entry like Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Victoria Falls International Airports.

But, reacting to the overseas travel ban news, an ordinary Zimbabwean, Tendaivanhu Madzikanda tweeted ‘you don’t want civil servants to travel yet you allow people from risk countries to come into the country. Really.’

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