‘Rich’ Africa has some of the poorest on earth’

From ALEX NJOVU and CHRISTINE CHISHA in Windhoek
SOUTHERN Africa Resources Watch director Claude Kabemba has observed that Africa has some of the poorest people in the world despite the continent being blessed with some of the best minerals on earth.
And Dr Kabemba said African governments should concentrate on creating secondary industries to create jobs for young people.
Dr Kabemba said it is sad that the outside world has continued to benefit from the natural resources found in Africa.
“Africa has abundant natural resources, 98 percent of world reserves of platinum are found in Africa, 95 percent of manganese and 52 percent of diamond are also found in Africa and yet our people are not benefiting from the natural resources.
“The continent itself is among the poorest regions in the world despite having some of the best minerals and natural resources in the world,” he said.
Dr Kabemba was speaking here yesterday when he addressed 26 journalists from the Southern African Development Community who are attending the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa at Polytechnic of Namibia.
He said corruption is also to blame for the continued extraction of minerals by the outside world.
Dr Kabemba said African governments usually sign dubious contracts with some multinational companies over the minerals found on the continent.
“Internal fighting and corruption among our leaders remain some of the reasons why people at grassroot level do not benefit from the minerals in Africa. The agreements which our leaders sign with multinational companies are corrupt and there are dubious activities involved,” he said.
Dr Kabemba said there is need for Africa to wake up and start benefiting from its resources.
He said it is unfortunate that African leaders do not consult people at grassroots level when they sign agreements with the multinational companies.
He commended Zambia’s founding President Kenneth Kaunda for the role he played in ensuring that Africa starts controlling its mineral resources.
Dr Kabemba said it is worrying that some people in Africa do not have access to clean water.
“About 95 percent of Africans do not have access to safe drinking water and electricity, yet we are sitting on abundant minerals and our people are poor. We need to effectively invest in data and knowledge so that we can know how much minerals we have,” he said.
“We need to ensure that there is value addition to our minerals and create industries which will offer jobs to our people instead of waiting for the mines to do that.
“Agriculture is one sector which is competitive and has the potential of addressing various problems facing the people. This is why the media have the role to play in all this and expose corruption in the mines so that people can benefit from the mines,” he said.
He also said the coming of Chinese investment in Africa has helped to boost development of the continent by putting up infrastructure in various sectors of the economy.
“China might have its own agenda and interest in Africa but we are able to see the massive infrastructure it has put up in Africa. Africa has benefited a lot from its relations with China,” Dr Kabemba said.

Zwangendaba monument to be built in Nakonde

From ALEX NJOVU in Kitwe
TWO companies in the tourism sector in Northern Province plan to build a monument of Ngoni leader Zwangendaba at his burial site in Nakonde district to promote tourism in the region.
The two companies are Northern Tourism & Tours and Kasama Zoo Village.
Project chairman Andrew Njovu said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that the construction of the monument will help promote tourism in the northern circuit.
“The project will not only raise Zambia’s profile but also elevate Nakonde district in Muchinga Province to one of Zambia’s best tourism destinations. Many South Africans will want to come and visit the burial site of this great son of Africa,” Mr Njovu said.
He said Zwangendaba’s burial site has only been talked about in history books but that nothing has been done to promote it as a tourism and historical site.
“The burial site is 30kms from Nakonde central business district,” Mr Njovu said.
He said once completed, the project will give an opportunity to researchers and students of history to visit the burial site.
Mr Njovu said it is sad that very little tourism promotion has been done in the northern circuit.
“The problem is that while history has given due recognition to names such as Dr David Livingstone, Vow Lettow Vorbeck and many others by putting up monuments at their burial sites, Zwangendaba’s burial site still remains a sorry site. Zwangendaba is a big name in African history. This war warrior of rare qualities has only been talked about in history books,” Mr Njovu said.
He said the management of the Northern Tourism & Tours and Kasama Zoo Village is fully aware that the project can only be successful with the participation of relevant institutions and stakeholders.
Mr Njovu said the two companies and other key partners will make financial contributions to the project and also source external funding for the project.
He is confident that the project will benefit the communities of Nakonde through employment creation.
Mr Njovu said construction of the monument will include the upgrading of the road to the burial site, construction of a tourists’ shelter and adopting a nearby community school.
“Zwangendaba is a great name in African history and his burial site deserves the construction of a monument befitting such a great son of Africa. There is abundant evidence that Dr David Livingstone’s memorial site in Serenje is now a major tourist attraction. In the same vein, we want to elevate the Zwangendaba burial site to a level where it will be one of our tourism products in Zambia,” Mr Njovu said.
History has it that between the 17th and 18th century, Shaka Zulu differed with Zwangendaba over the administration and running of his Kingdom.
A group led by Zwangendaba tried to challenge him but was overpowered and fled into present-day Zambia. One of the big tribes Zwangendaba and his warriors fought with are the Bembas of Northern Province under Paramount Chief Chitimukulu.
Zwangendaba died of spear wounds.
Mr Njovu said the project is likely to be completed within 10 months and is expected to be commissioned before the 2013 United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly in Livingstone.

‘Namibia has respect for Zambian coaches’

From ALEX NJOVU and CHRISTINE CHISHA in Windhoek
NAMIBIA national soccer team striker Muna Katuposa says the football fraternity in that country has respect for Zambian coaches because of their vast knowledge and determination to succeed.
Katuposa, who has scored 16 goals for the Brave Warriors, said in an interview yesterday that Ben Bamfuchile was the best foreign coach to have drilled the Namibia national soccer team.
Bamfuchile guided Namibia to the 2008 Ghana Africa Cup of Nations finals.
He died in December 2007, a few days before the start of the tournament.
“What is important is that my ‘father’ Ben Bamfuchile left a huge mark on Namibian football. He was a great man, he was a father figure. I still call him dad because he gave me and my twin brother our debut when we were just 18 years. I remember scoring the goal in Ethiopia which took Namibia to the Africa Cup in Ghana. I went in as a substitute,” Katuposa recalled.
Katuposa, who is a teacher by profession, said many Namibian players and the football family at large are happy with the good name that Zambian coaches have built for themselves over the years.
“I would not mind to be drilled by a Zambian coach again. Zambian coaches know how to identify talent, they are patient and they know how to bring out the best in players.
“We talk a lot about the good times we had with Bamfuchile. The last time we had a Zambian coach, our team qualified to the finals of the Cup of Nations. This is why we have a lot of respect for Zambian coaches and football in general,” he said.
And Katuposa’s twin brother Tara, who is an electrician, said Zambia has continued to play a key role in the development of soccer in the region.