KK DISCUSSES REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN KENYA

Dr. Kenneth D. Kaunda

Dr. Kenneth D. Kaunda today (June 30) participated in an intergenerational panel discussion in Nairobi, Kenya at a meeting organised by the International Planned Parenthood Federation – African region.
The theme for the discussion was Young People and Sexual reproductive Health and Rights in Africa.
The Meeting took place at Serena Hotel, Nairobi.  Other participants in this panel discussions were Madam Joyce Hilda Banda, vice President of Malawi and Prime minister of Kenya who was represented by the Minister of Health.

UN IDENTIFIES NEEDS, PRIORITIES AND BOTTLENECKS REQUIRING POLICY ACTIONS IN ZAMBIA

AT the annual session of its Trade and Development Commission, UNCTAD released the study "Strengthening the Creative Industries for development in Zambia", a policy-oriented report issued as one of the main outcomes of the multi-agency pilot project for strengthening the creative industries in five ACP countries through employment and trade expansion.
The project is a component of the ACP-EU Support Programme to Cultural Industries, jointly implemented by ILO, UNCTAD and UNESCO during 2008-2011.
The report prepared by the UNCTAD Creative Economy Programme in cooperation with the government provides a country policy review assessing the current status and the potential of the creative industries in Zambia. UNCTAD identifies needs, priorities and obstacles by proposing a set of concrete actions to assist the government to shape a feasible and sustainable strategy to foster the creative economy for employment, trade and development gains. In 2008, Zambia exported US$ 2.3 million of creative goods to world markets.
UNCTAD developed and implemented a methodology, which provides policy advice for enhancing the institutional and regulatory framework in the country with a view to nurturing creative capacities while promoting trade, investment, technology, entrepreneurship and social inclusion.
Government has been building cultural villages to support the creative economy. In Lusaka, the Kabwata cultural village, houses about 60 people who live and work making wood sculptures, baskets, crafts and souvenirs. In Livingstone the Maramba cultural village is an ambitious project providing a performance space to promote Zambia's cultural products and traditions. The cultural villages attract tourists and help to sustain local demand for creative goods and services.
Visual arts, crafts and design are sectors with potential in Zambia. There are some private art galleries in the country but the creation of an internet art gallery is encouraged to promote the artwork of local artists. Given the vast mineral and metals resources and existence of gemstones in the country, jewellery is a creative sector with prospects for growth, both in domestic and international markets. Opportunities also exist in the area of decoration products and furniture using local metalworking and a mix of contemporary and traditional African interior designs.
Regarding the audiovisuals, there are some interesting initiatives. Muvi TV is an example of local production making up to nearly 65% of TV programming “Zambians making TV program for Zambians“. Another case is Yezi Arts a privately owned media company which experience in video production spans over years; some of its works helped to promote debate around social and cultural issues not only through national broadcaster but also by using alternative means like the ‘bus campaigns’. The media has been contributing to raise public awareness and to disseminate information and culture through radio and television programmes, including about the growing importance of the creative economy to advance socio-economic growth in the country.

ICC KENYA HEARINGS SET FOR THE HAGUE

The parties to the Kenya post election violence cases may not call up witnesses during the confirmation of charges hearings even as the Pre-Trial Chamber shelved holding them in Kenya.

ICC  Pre Trial Chamber 11 Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova.

The parties to the Kenya post election violence cases may not call

up witnesses during the confirmation of charges hearings even as

the Pre-Trial Chamber shelved holding them in Kenya June 29, 2011. FILE

The decision was reached by the International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Chamber Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova on Wednesday.

“The Single Judge, however, wishes to inform the parties and the applicant victims that the Chamber, for its part, being respectful of their wishes as expressed in the respective submissions, will not consider further the option of conducting the confirmation of charges hearing in the Republic of Kenya,” said judge Trendafilova.

“In any event, absent any decision to the contrary (by the president), the confirmation of charges hearing in the present case will take place at the seat of the Court in The Hague.”

The judge told the parties to the Kenyan case that although oral testimony is permitted, the evidentiary debate at the confirmation of charges hearing can be based on witnesses’ written statements.

“The Single Judge expects the parties to rely on live witnesses only as far as their oral testimony at the hearing cannot be properly substituted by documentary evidence or witnesses’ written statements,” said Judge Trendafilova.

The judge has thus ordered the Prosecutor and the Defence teams to indicate by July 12, whether they intend to call live witnesses at the hearing and, if so, to submit information “detailing the subject matter and the scope of the proposed testimony of each witness.”

“The Single Judge wishes to inform the parties that, should they fail to communicate their intention to call witnesses by the deadline hereby established, it will not be possible to finalise the necessary arrangements before the confirmation of charges hearing,” the judge said.

She noted that Article 68(5) of the Rome Statute and rule 81(6) of the court permit that both the Prosecutor and the Defence submit only a summary of evidence with a view to preventing disclosure of information that might put at risk witnesses or members of their families.

She added that not allowing live witnesses would allow the confirmation of charges hearing to be conducted in a “more expeditious manner”.

A the same time, the Pre-Trial Chamber also rejected the government’s request for assistance with evidence held by the court arguing that Kenya submitted a two-page Cooperation Request, which lacked any documentary proof that there is or has been an investigation against the Ocampo Six.

The confirmation of charges hearings are to be held on September 1 for Eldoret North MP William Ruto, radio presenter Joshua Sang and Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey, and on September 21 for Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, head of civil service Francis Muthaura and Postmaster General Hussein Ali.

A confirmation of charges hearing is held to determine if there is sufficient evidence to believe a suspect committed the crimes he is charged with. If the charges are confirmed, the Pre-Trial Chamber commits the person to a Trial Chamber, which conducts the next phase of the proceedings – the trial.

Daily Nation - Kenya 

INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS CHOOSE SOUTH AFRICA, NIGERIA AND KENYA AS TOP 3 FOR INVESTMENT IN 2011

THE International investors have chosen South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya as the best African countries on the continent for investment in 2011.
A survey conducted by Africa Business Panel among 800 business professionals involved with Africa shows that these 3 countries were earmarked as the continent’s favourites when it comes to international investment. Ghana, Angola, Tanzania, Rwanda, Botswana, Uganda and Mozambique are the runners up and complete the top ten countries for investment out of 53 economies on the African continent.
Virtually all African economies show promising year-on-year growth. This is attracting the attention of the international investor community who increasingly see Africa as ‘the last frontier’ for attractive growth opportunities. Research and numerous survey results among the international investor community consistently indicate that investors expect over half of the ten fastest growing economies in the world in 2011 to be African.
The Africa Business Confidence Index has published a month-on-month business confidence index since January 2011. The index results for Africa based on surveys of 800 business professionals from more than 30 countries on the continent consistently show growth. Calculations are based on the purchase managers index methodology used globally. The outcome of the business confidence index for the African continent is consistent with the trust of the international investor community. The manufacturing business confidence
 index for May is 53.8 and for non-manufacturing 57.1 for the same month. Any number over 50 indicated growth.
It is no coincidence that the top-10 countries selected by the international investor community in  2011 are all sub-Saharan. Northern Africa has suffered a set back in confidence from investors owing to the political turmoil which started at the beginning of the year.
Another interesting outcome with regard to the most attractive African economies to invest in is the fact that they are among the largest on the continent and - with the exception of Rwanda – non-Francophone.