African Trade Hub

The thought of an ANC led government was music to many ears but a thought too far for others. Many, both within South Africa and beyond our borders forecast bloodshed. Indeed almost every foreign media was present before the 1994 elections to witness the ‘bloodshed’ that was sure to ensue. The peaceful transition following the joyous elections surprised the world – but not South Africans. We knew, by pulling together, we could do it.

So what’s happened that has left our nation, even our ruling party, so divided and with so much hatred alive in this beautiful country? I received an email today, through SAFREA our freelance writers association asking ‘what can we, as journalists, do to help heal our country?’ My answer was quite simple – we can write about it and try and reach as many people as possible. So this is my contribution – hoping to remind people of those halcyon days after 1994 when anything seemed possible. When for the first time in a long time in this country, people were free to go where they liked, talk to and marry who they wanted to, send their children to the school of their choice. Our government tried hard to provide services such as water and electricity where none had previously been available. Plans were made to build thousands of houses and hope was high. But gradually many of these dreams have died along with the hope of many for a better life. Mistrust, jealousy and greed has bitten into the fabric of our nation. We need to look back perhaps, rather than forwards to regain a little of that Madiba magic.

Marion Scher
Media Mentors
www.mediamentors.co.za

Source: www.sanepr.com

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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged ANC, South Africa

I think the stance taken by Germany to stop one of their suppliers from providing paper for the printing of money in the country might be a realistic step for imposing pressure on the Mugabe regime.

Its a harsh thing to say but the reality is that eventually the people will simply no longer accept conditions and fight for a regime change. When the printing presses are running dry and there is no money to pay soldiers and security staff and the “inner sanctum” then you might see Mugabe running for cover…

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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged printing, Zimbabwe

I heard a press report this afternoon that the President of Tansania PRAISED Mugabe for his handling of the elections and praised Mbeki for his diplomacy and mediation in the crisis.

This is ridiculous - at a time when the continent should be standing together against Zimbabwe, we have the dissension in the ranks. Poor form.

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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged Mbeki, Mugabe, South Africa, Tansania, Zimbabwe

UK (SANEPR.com) June 27, 2008 — In the first months of 2008 Kenya’s travel industry was hit by political turmoil, however one specialist African tour operator is now looking to change the fortunes of Kenya with a campaign that spans both the virtual and the real world.

Acacia Adventure Holidays is launching “Crazy About Kenya,” a new Facebook campaign, destined to get people talking about the famed wildlife capital of Africa. The project, however, shows there’s much more to Kenya than the Big Five, as the tour operator is hooking up with the M2 Art Studio in Nairobi, which features among others, Solo 7, his “paint for peace” slogans already catching the attention of International media; T-skweyad, a Hip Hop collective, including Francis X Kamotho, producer at Kenya based BOMA Records; and DJ Wave, a member of the Nairobi based Hip Hop band, Paramedikz.

Artwork and music have been volunteered for the campaign, which hopes to generate a positive vibe for Kenya through online communities and in the real world. Facebook members will be able to spread the word using highly stylized artwork featuring graffiti and more traditional images, all inspired by real life in Africa. Virtual stickers displaying the strap line “Crazy About Kenya,” (accessible from the Acacia Adventure Holidays and Crazy About Kenya Facebook page) will be available to download onto members’ Facebook profiles, allowing them to show their support for the destination. Hip Hop sounds will also bring the page to life, as the latest tracks from the tour operator’s partners are to be posted in the online community.

Moving the project out of the virtual sphere, Acacia Adventure Holidays will be spinning the decks out on tour, with recent albums from some of their Kenyan Hip Hop partners carried on many of their overland itineraries. In June 2008, as the tour operator’s trucks cross the border into Kenya, adventurers will have the chance to hear the latest sounds direct from the streets of Nairobi; and since the musical genre has its roots in Africa it will certainly connect travellers with the destination.

The tour operator is also in talks with T-skweyad in the hope of adding dates for Hip Hop events, held at the British Council in Nairobi, to their scheduled tours. However, until the party plans are finalised adventurers can enjoy the capital’s vibes on the mathrees (local buses), which can often be found pumping out Kenyan and International Hip Hop sounds. As much a visual attraction as they are a music lover’s dream, some even feature 50” LCD screens broadcasting the latest videos and expressive graffiti artwork associated with the popular music genre.

Acacia Adventure Holidays reinstated its Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha itineraries in April after the FCO advisories were lifted, “but the destination still needs our support,” claims Kate Plummer, Sales and Marketing Co-ordinator for the specialist African operator. “While reduced fares from airlines and discounted trips are all helpful, they will never really make up the margin, in terms of the recent losses, so with the help of our Kenyan partners we are creating a positive vibe. Facebook is an ideal mechanism to engage travellers, as the virtual world has no borders, allowing members to hook up with some of the artists and musicians working with us online. Essentially, “Crazy About Kenya” is about giving the Kenyan people a voice – in real time, and on a platform that will last for far longer than a media blitz.”

This makes the project a unique departure from most forms of responsible tourism as people can choose to connect and share interests with the Kenyan artists and Hip Hop producers on an individual rather than tour operator led basis – an approach that might even ask people to question whether ethical travel starts on the holiday or in virtual communities.

Plummer continues: “What happened in Kenya in the first few months of 2008 was unthinkable, but the people are resilient and thinking of the future. It’s time to focus on the positive side (and vibe) of this exciting destination and push our campaign to show that Kenya is alive and kicking!”

Telephone Acacia Adventure Holidays on 020 7706 4700, email info@acacia-africa.com or visit www.acacia-africa.com. ATOL No.6499 and ABTA No.W4093 PROTECTED. All prices are subject to availability.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crazy-About-Kenya/25535308960

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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged Kenya, Tourism

Accompanied by guys from The Red Cross, Rescue South Africa and the head of CSI from Investec we started off at Wadeville Camp near Germiston where around 300 tents have been pitched.

As I sit down to write this I have very mixed emotions. If I write about what a great job the guys from Gauteng Disaster Management and Rescue South Africa who organised the camps have done, I’ll have criticism that ‘we don’t want to make them too comfortable or they’ll never go’. On the other hand if I talk about the thinnest of tents where one Zimbabwean man told me ‘It’s just as cold inside as out at night’, people will say how unfairly these people are being treated.

We started off at Wadeville Camp near Germiston,this camp houses mainly Malawians, Mozambicans and Zimbabweans with a few South Africans whose native tongue unfortunately for them is Shangaan… The first thing you become aware of is the high level of security from the manning of the entry gate to the barbed wire surrounding the camp to keep out those who’d seek to cause more unrest and the guards on horseback riding around the camp to make sure nothing untoward happens within the wire.

The inhabitants of this camp go about their daily chores on the outside accepting their latest fate. When asked if they want to go home only the Malawians seem interested – the Zimbabweans are waiting for after the run-off elections, but don’t hold out much hope of change in their homeland. The Mozambicans say they will starve if they return and this way whatever South African rands they earn goes a long way to support their families back home.

From here we moved on to the camp opposite Rand Airport – a bigger camp, again mostly occupied with our closer neighbours. As we arrived people were patiently queuing – something that’s a regular occurrence in their lives – for identification badges with their photos. This is vital in the camps to keep track of the residents and ensure food and supplies go to the right people. Again security was everywhere and all conceivable problems are being addressed, especially fire – which looking at the tents is a real hazard. After all in this freezing weather fires are essential.

The organisers have thought of this and barrels cut in two with supplies of wood are being provided – obviously to be used outside the tents. Food is a big issue and the organisers are very aware that if they don’t provide enough food fights are likely to break out. So currently caterers are supplying two meals a day with the Red Cross giving food parcels in between to sustain these people.

The next camp we were warned was not so peaceful as this one – this was Rifle Range Road, occupied largely by people from the DRC, Burundi and Tanzania – hostile to their other Southern African brothers. Tempers regularly flare and fights have break out.

Tents are fiercely protected and their names and home countries written in front. Here the atmosphere is tense with security on constant alert. On one side of the camp is an industrial area dense with factories and on the other side houses. As we arrive an Indian mother and son arrive with bags of clothing and food, closely followed by an Afrikaans lady with a black dustbin bag full of clothes. “We’ve got used to them being here now,” she tells me. “Our church has decided to help in any way we can,” she says as she watches carefully to see where her precious booty is put.

This is a common occurrence in the camps – people from all walks of life arriving to see what assistance they can give. As usual it takes a tragedy such as this to bring peoples together as one South Africa. Finally we arrive at the smallest, yet the most publicised camp, named DBSA because of its proximity to the Development Bank in Midrand.

This was the first camp to be erected and because of its proximity to some expensive housing, naturally the residents weren’t initially too happy with the situation. But things have calmed down and with just 350 people here from mostly Zimbabwe and Mozambique it’s a peaceful atmosphere. Here someone donated a large tent that houses some gas burners for cooking and again a desk registering the residents. Just one elderly man is unhappy. He’s been in South Africa for 20 years and his life has been quiet but now he’s sick and after all that’s happened to him in the last few years he wants to go home. One thing is the same in all the camps.

The children with smiling faces, playing with other children’s discarded toys, bits of old wood and equipment around the camp unaware of what fate holds in store for them, but perhaps in their eyes we see hope for a better future.

Contact Information:
Marion Scher
Media Mentors
www.mediamentors.co.za

Source: www.pressportal.co.za

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