http://www.africafiles.org/ AfricaFiles is a network of volunteers committed to promoting African perspectives and alternative analyses for human rights and economic justice in Africa. en-ca Copyright 2010 AfricaFiles. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:38 EST 20 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24250 Lesotho and Swaziland, two of southern Africa’s poor nations are benefiting from revenue generated through the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) headed by South Africa. SACU revenue is described as development aid in disguise and raises the question as to whether the two countries can indeed survive on their own without aid from South Africa. FJ/CJW ed. Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24250 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24251 Swaziland is one of the poorest nations in the world where 70 percent of its 1.3 million people live on less than a dollar a day while 25 percent of the population rely on food aid. But amidst this grim reality, this article says the royal family - which runs the affairs of the state - spend $67,000/day. In fact, King Mswati's worth is estimated to be $200 million, almost equal to that of the Queen of England. FJ/CJW ed. Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24251 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24253 After 30 years, the Southern Africa Development Community grouping is touted as one which helped bring democracy to Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa on top of helping in socio-economic development of the region. FJ/CJW ed. Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24253 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24246 Many female candidates feel short-changed with the decision by the Malawi Election Commission (MEC) to postpone the November 23 elections to April 20, 2011. This is bad news for them because many have invested their life savings into their campaigns and fear they will not have the funds to continue until the new election date. HSEN/CJW ed. Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24246 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24244 Which way to go in Zimbabwe? If you steal, you are prosecuted. If you try to earn an honest living, the same applies. Goat trading has occurred in Kumbudzi for time immemorial. If the government wants to change the status quo, they have to build a proper market place for the traders. Otherwise, the on-going battles will be costly for everyone, let alone endless. FG/CJW ed. Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24244 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24234 It has been nearly 25 years since Niger identified population control as a priority in its fight against poverty. But convincing people to have fewer children by marrying later and using contraception is not an easy task. Organisations such as UNFPA now understood that without the sanction of men and religion, change is unlikely. JPMA/CJW ed. Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24234 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24236 The People’s Summit brought the voices of the people of Southern Africa Development Community together to share views on their personal prosperity and economic freedoms. M.Makoni/CJW ed. Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24236 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24219 The developing world has long struggled with employment gender equity, with jobless women trailing behind that of males. By 2009, the gap had increased even further to 11.4 points in North Africa. The International Labour Organization warns policies against gender discrimination are being neglected in efforts to encourage global economic recovery. HSEN/CJW Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24219 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24205 The basic trend of exporting raw materials, cash crops, minerals, and petroleum has gotten worse. This is not going change under the prevailing balance of power. Much more forceful resistance than the present African networks of civil society that promote “publish what you pay”, transparency, participation, and human rights is required – and is underway, the author concludes. DN Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24205 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24200 The French Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, BCEAO, is the central Bank of former French colonies of West Africa, except Mauritania and Guinee-Conakry which have their own currency. The CFA Franc is the currency shared by the members countries of the Central Bank of West African States, all of which are former French colonies. Its convertibility to foreign currencies has been guaranteed by France since its creation following an agreement that requires that the BCEAO deposits 50% of its reserves on an account in the French Treasury. The author of the article argues that this currency is nothing but a continuation of the colonial pact established between France and its colonies since colonial times and a exploitation of French-speaking African countries by France. MB Selon un accord de 1946, une œuvre de la BCEAO, le franc cfa est une instrument de domination et de spoliation des anciennes colonies de la France. Ces pays continuent à travers la BCEAO de déposer 50% de leurs réserves d’argent au trésor français pour obtenir une garantie de convertibilité inutile. Ces dépôts sont estimés aujourd’hui à plus de 8000 milliards de francs cfa. Despite having large debts, former colonies of France are required to keep permanently at least half of their central financial reserves in the French Central bank. The French may use these reserves but the ex-colonies may not. JK Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24200