President Mwai Kibaki is in Ezulwini, Swaziland to attend the 14th COMESA summit of Heads of State and Government.
The plane carrying President Kibaki and his entourage touched down at Matsapha International airport shortly before 4.00 p.m. local time on Monday and he was warmly received by senior Swazi Government officials led by Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini and the Kenyan High Commissioner to South Africa Tom Amolo who is also accredited to the Kingdom of Swaziland.
The Kenyan delegation to the 14 COMESA summit include Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula and his Trade counterpart Chirau Ali Makwere, and the Kenyan High Commissioner to Zambia who is also the Permanent Representative to COMESA Amb. Dr. Kipyego Cheluget.
The summit whose theme is ‘Harnessing Science and Technology for Development’, officially opens Tuesday and will examine developments on the regional integration agenda, including progress towards full implementation of the Comesa Customs Union.
This year’s COMESA summit will also examine the tripartite cooperation between Comesa-East African Community-Southern African Development Community, and how the region can enhance the use of science and technology for the benefit of its people.
During the Summit, Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe is expected to hand over the chairmanship of COMESA to His Majesty King Mswati III.
COMESA, whose current membership stands at 19 countries with a combined population of over 400 million people, has an annual import bill of US$ 32 billion against an export bill of US$82 billion.
To spur growth, COMESA’s strategy is economic prosperity through regional integration.

CAROL MUTHONDU

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki Monday left the country for a three-day official visit to Swaziland where he will attend the 14th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit of the Heads of State and government, said a statement issued in Nairobi.

The COMESA region is Kenya’s largest export destination.

COMESA institutions based in Nairobi include the COMESA insurance institution- ZEP-RE, the COMESA Monetary Institute and the Regional Reference Laboratory, catering for plant protection. The headquarters of the PTA bank was located in Nairobi until 2009.

Kenya is also expected to hold a high-level conference for mobilization of resources for infrastructure development in the Northern Corridor in October this year.

The 14th COMESA summit will examine, among other things, developments on the regional integration agenda, including progress towards full implementation of the Comesa Customs Union, the tripartite cooperation between Comesa-East African Community-Southern African Development Community, and how the region can enhance the use of science and technology for the benefit of its people.

During the Summit, Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe is scheduled to hand over the Chairmanship of COMESA to His Majesty King Mswati III.

This year’s COMESA Summit theme is ‘Harnessing Science and Technology for Development’.

Joseph Kimani

By Sanda Chongo Kabange
Results of an advanced clinical trial of an antiretroviral-based microbicide candidate have been announced at the on-going International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria.
The CAPRISA 004 trial, which tested the safety and effectiveness of 1% tenofovir gel among nearly 900 women at two sites in South Africa, found that using the gel before and after sex provided moderate protection against sexually transmitted HIV.
Global Campaign for Microbicides director Yasmin Halima remarked, “This is an important day. We now have evidence that a vaginal gel can help prevent HIV. This is good news for women, good news for the field, and a good day for science. Today’s news energizes the field. We hope it urges others to support the expansion of programs for developing topical HIV-prevention products. Globally, millions remain at risk of HIV, and yet to date, there are few options to prevent infection, especially for women.”
Halima added, “While we pause to mark this important milestone, we can’t afford to idle,” she said. “We must keep up the momentum. We won’t rest until there are tools for HIV prevention in women’s hands. With the support of donors, governments, scientists, and communities working together, the HIV-prevention field can accelerate efforts to halt the pandemic, focusing on the world’s most vulnerable people. Today’s news brings us one step closer to that brighter future.”
About five months ago, Zambia fumed after another microbicide gel, PRO2000 failed to prove that it could prevent HIV infections among women.
Over 30 volunteers that took part in the PRO2000 microbicide gel contracted HIV.

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Alex Karie

Alex Karie is a freelance writer and Radio and TV producer based in Nairobi. He is also a qualified TV camera man. He works for different local and international media houses. Apart from writing for Africas Business News, he also writes for AfricaNews.com, which is hosted in  Netherlands. He, too, writes for organizations as an embedded writer on development and humanitarian issues. He holds a Diploma in TV and Radio Production from Kenya’s Premier Media Training institution-Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC). He also runs his production studio in Nairobi, from where he produces radio and TV Documentaries, Features, Commercials and Info-mercials for individuals, corporate bodies and organizations. He also records music. His main interests include music, development, humanitarian matters, business and general news.

Chancy Namadzunda

Chancy was born on 14 February 1986. A fourth born in the family of 9, chancy grew up liking to explore ways which can help transform his country which led him to join journalism. He holds a Diploma in Mass Communication. After corresponding with different local newspapers, Chancy now works for G&A International-a local video production house for documentaries as an Editor and producer. He likes the internet for research, going out, watching TV, travelling to virgin areas, writing fiction, playing football and volleyball.

Hussaini Umar

Over 15 years experience in Teaching, Community Theater, Media production and Formative Research on Behavior Change Communication.

Ian Jindela

Ian Thanduxolo Jindela, born in Port Elisabeth- Nelson Mandela Bay. He saw the sun in 1979 on the 11th of November. He is a brainchild of African soil. He studied at the former Vista University a Political Science Degree and further studied at the Institute of Journalism in Johannesburg. Ian Jindela obtained a National Qualification certificate from the Market Theatre Lab as script and drama writer. He has worked as the founder of Dance and Theatre Company- New Waves at the age of sixteen. He is an Entertainment and Sport Business writer. A producer, image consultant and dedicated Artist Manager. He writes for the foreign publications including World Press media as an African Reporter. He specializes on international and local reporting, analysis of current events and national news, nonfiction book excerpts, commentary, essays, exposé, general interest, interview/profile, photo feature, travel, and reviews press releases and sport commentary also music critic. He has an eye and love for showbiz industry including Fashion. His interest is simple networking and socializing including collecting unusual material. Ian is a very Rugby fan and Contemporary Dance lover. According to Ian Jindela the world is in your hands.

Jean-Baptiste K. ATTISSO

Director of journal « LE PATRIOTE », Chief editor of the Journal « L’INDEPENDANT EXPRESS »

Wilhelm Lutjeharms

Freelance Motoring Journalist. His articles have been published in Total 911, GQ Cars, Cape Argus newspaper, wheels24.co.za, Manwees, Winelands Living, Dirt & Quad.

Sanday Chongo Kabange

Sanday Chongo Kabange is a journalist in Zambia working with organizations such as Voice of America, Wage Indicator Foundation, Africa Interactive and Wren Media. He has worked on a number of assignments related to economics, investment, development, agriculture, science, environment, climate change, health, sports and HIV/AIDS.
He was awarded the 2009 Best Water and Sanitation Reporting Award from the Media Institute of Southern Africa and Germany Technical Corporation to Zambia, the 2008 Best Electronic Environmental Journalist of the Year award from the Environmental Council of Zambia, the 2008 Most Independent Journalist from Radio Phoenix, the 2007 Best Electronic Science and Technology Journalist of the Year award from the Zambia National Science and Technology Council, 2006 Best Electronic Business and Financial Journalist of the Year and the 2007 2nd Best Electronic Business and Financial Journalist of the Year award from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and the Business Writers Forum.

Kemo Cham

Editor-in-chief for Jollofnews.com, reporter in Gambia and Senegal for Africanews.com

Komi Didier Assogba

Louis BARARMNA

The Eastern Cape in South Africa is known for its automotive production facilities. Among these include the factory that builds Mercedes-Benz models. Apart from being involved in the manufacturing of cars Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) has announced a R6 million contribution towards a programme at 15 selected primary and secondary schools in the Border Kei region of the Eastern Cape. This program’s will aim to improve school performance, the Matric pass rates and generally assist in improving management of schools in the region.

“Improving education in the Eastern Cape is essential as schools face challenges in resources, facilities and infrastructure. Sustainable school development cannot be achieved by a quick fix approach which is why MBSA has committed to this project for three years,” says Rainer Ruess, vice president at MBSA responsible for manufacturing and procurement. “As part of our overall social investment strategy, education remains one of our key focus areas. We strongly believe every South African has the right to receive a quality education.”

Managed by Funda Afrika, the program is known as STEP (School Transformation and Empowerment Project). At the beginning of the project baseline evaluations on pre-identified schools were conducted to establish their performance levels. The school management and senior provincial department officials then determined annual targets for these schools with each school receiving an incentive of up to R15, 000 a year to reach its targets. As part of the project, educators are offered additional literacy training as well as subject specific training in mathematics, science, and English. For Grade 12 learners study skill sessions provide basic skills in more effective learning.

Malume Mremi, Chairman of Funda Afrika, says that the project adopts a holistic approach with an intensive, integrated focus on both the management of schools and the delivery of the national curriculum. “As South African learners and schools continue to underperform despite massive improvements in infrastructure, Funda Afrika has developed an approach that delivers structured, sustainable teaching and learning in line with the Department of Education’s objectives. School principals, governing bodies and management involved in the program receive training in leadership, management, governance and administration.”

STEP not only addresses a need amongst school management, educators and learners, but also targets governing bodies made up of parents who receive skills development training and basic adult education as part of the program.