Page 51 at the time, Kenya and Tanzania agreed to enact a temporary ban along their border, until they decided how to best manage hunting. “The understanding was that this would be a firm and enduring agreement that elephants would not be hunted on the Tanzanian side,” recalled David Western, former head of Kenya Wildlife Service who took over in 1994. “Hunting would have started much, much sooner otherwise.” In a statement last month, Joseph Ole Lenku, Governor of Kajiado County in Kenya, which is the custodian of Amboseli National Park, called upon his “counterparts on the Tanzanian side to carefully consider the long-term implications of such actions and to join us in preserving our shared natural heritage for future generations.” Over 50 organizations petitioned Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu to order an immediate ban on elephant trophy hunting. The U.S. also just announced it will ban African elephant hunting trophy imports. But in Tanzania, the industry has boomed in recent years, generating millions of dollars annually for the country, and bringing in hunters from across the world, particularly from the U.S. The Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority, Office of the Tanzanian President and Kenya Wildlife Service did not respond to requests for comment. The first and third hunts of the Amboseli elephants were conducted by Kilombero North Safaris. According to public documents, the Tanzanian company bought two concessions in 2022 — awarded for a ten year period — for over $250,000. In an email to OCCRP, Zidane Janbeck and Quintin Whitehead, managers of Kilombero, said they legally conducted the safaris in “strict adherence to Tanzanian law” in a “community wildlife area allocated to the company.” Kilombero also says the hunting ban was only in effect for one season. They disputed that the elephant was Gilgil from photographic evidence. “The 2016 picture of Gilgil displays a normal toe structure and it does not match the one we harvested at all,’ they said. Moss said she identified Gilgil from photographs taken after the elephant was killed but before the carcass was burned. An elephant’s skin, with its unique features, is basically a giant fingerprint, the Amboseli Trust for Elephants claims. Gilgil had been sighted 158 times in the park, according to scientists. Photographs posted on the Kilombero Facebook page show hunters proudly standing with guns next to the animals they killed, including a large dead elephant. “This bull stands as a testament to our area’s quality, conservation efforts, and teamwork,” one post reads. “Without hunting, there will be no conservation.” Trophy hunters often claim they are contributing to conservation efforts as the income from hunting safaris conserves the land and biodiversity, and removes older less fertile animals. “We are strong believers in conservation through sustainable utilization,” Janbeck and Whitehead told OCCRP. “The knock on effect of this influx of cash has been vast improvement in the quality of life of the local communities.” However, conservation activists argue this is not the case, and that elephants like Gilgil were in their prime breeding years. “There are just so many myths, and misinformation about the role these larger male elephants play,” said Moss from the Amboseli Trust. “Our studies show that the bigger older males do all the breeding and well up into their 50s.” Kilombero’s website offers “exclusive tailor made safaris… for the discerning elephant hunter.” Five day safari trips in Tanzania start at over $17,000, but that “does not include any dangerous game,” Janbeck and Whitehead told OCCRP. “Only on a premium license are elephants, lions and leopards available.” Kilombero North Safaris is owned by Akram Aziz, brother of Rostam, Tanzania’s first billionaire, according to Forbes. According to Instagram posts, three Americans were hunting with Kilombero in northern Tanzania last month, around the time of the third elephant killed after Gilgil. Pictures show Rick Warren, a Texan former oil and gas executive, Aaron Neilson, a Colorado man who, according to Forbes, once killed 15 lions in Tanzania, and John Lewton — once sentenced in U.S. federal court for sheep hunting — posing with a variety of dead animals. Neilson and Lewton did not respond to emailed requests for comment. “I don’t know how my name got associated with an Elephant hunt,” Warren told OCCRP in an email. “My last Tanzania Elephant taken was in 2014 in the Selous Game Reserve.” “Hunter dollars protect more wildlife habitat globally in a single year than all the activists put together do in a lifetime,” Warren continued. This is disputed by conservationists. “In Kenya, millions of dollars have gone into studying and protecting these elephants over decades, only for them to walk into Tanzania and be shot,” said Joyce Poole, co-founder and director of Elephant Voices. ”It’s just wrong on so many levels.” Social media posts indicate that another hunted elephant is an imminent possibility. On April 5, Lewton — who was on the last hunt — posted a picture of a large elephant with the caption, “I am back in Tanzania for a few more weeks… This Elephant was not happy with us in the area! We left him with his cow.” — Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. Staff of the Amboseli Trust for Elephants putting a collar on independent male Esau, who regularly traverses between Kenya’s Amboseli National Park and neighboring Tanzania. The collar will help track Esau’s movement and protection. (Photo: Amboseli Trust for Elephants) NewsHawks 1ssue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024 International Investigative Stories
Page 52 NewsHawks Issue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024 The NewsHawks is published on different content platforms by the NewsHawks Digital Media which is owned by Centre for Public Interest Journalism No. 100 Nelson Mandela Avenue Beverly Court, 6th floor Harare, Zimbabwe Trustees/Directors: Beatrice Mtetwa, Raphael Khumalo, Professor Wallace Chuma, Teldah Mawarire, Doug Coltart EDITORIAL STAFF: Managing Editor: Dumisani Muleya Assistant Editor: Brezh Malaba News Editor: Owen Gagare Digital Editor: Bernard Mpofu Reporters: Brenna Matendere, Ruvimbo Muchenje, Enock Muchinjo, Jonathan Mbiriyamveka, Nathan Guma Email: [email protected] SUB EDITORS: Mollen Chamisa, Gumisai Nyoni Business Development Officer: Nyasha Kahondo Cell: +263 71 937 1739 [email protected] Subscriptions & Distribution: +263 71 937 1739 Reaffirming the fundamental importance of freedom of expression and me- dia freedom as the cornerstone of democracy and as a means of upholding human rights and liberties in the constitution; our mission is to hold power in its various forms and manifestations to account by exposing abuse of power and office, betrayals of public trust and corruption to ensure good governance and accountability in the public interest. CARTOON Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe The NewsHawks newspaper subscribes to the Code of Conduct that promotes truthful, accurate, fair and balanced news reporting. If we do not meet these standards, register your complaint with the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe at No.: 34, Colenbrander Rd, Milton Park, Harare. Telephone: 024-2778096 or 024-2778006, 24Hr Complaints Line: 0772 125 659 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] WhatsApp: 0772 125 658, Twitter: @vmcz Website: www.vmcz.co.zw, Facebook: vmcz Zimbabwe Independence empty shell Dumisani Muleya Hawk Eye Editorial & Opinion THERE is a video which has gone viral in recent days and it highlights the tragic extent to which Zimbabwe's governance has deteriorated. In the clip, President Emmerson Mnangagwa makes a scandalous statement which, in a normal country, would surely trigger impeachment proceedings. Mnangagwa, speaking from a podium, brags that he has ordered his "officers" to externalise Zimbabwe's gold for (presumed) safekeeping. He discloses neither the quantity of the gold nor the destination. This is very problematic. For starters, it is patently unlawful. The President has no legal authority to secretly stash Zimbabwe’s gold abroad. How on earth can the country hope to use its vast mineral endowment as the backbone of the new ZiG currency when there is no accountability in the management of precious resources like gold? The deep-seated corruption in the extractive sector explains why the authorities have resisted calls to join the Extractive Transparency Industries Initiative (EITI). They have something to hide. Zimbabwe's mineral governance framework, as currently configured, is designed to facilitate looting. In terms of the constitution, good governance is one of the founding values and principles of the republic. Transparency and accountability are central planks of this governance ethos. The very preamble of the constitution spells out the sacrosanct tenets which every citizen must hold dear. Mnangagwa cannot handle national resources like his family tuckshop. All this is coming soon after Al Jazeera exposed the astonishing criminal network, now known as the "Gold Mafia", which is looting Zimbabwe's precious minerals. Mnangagwa was depicted in the investigative docuseries as the godfather of the Gold Mafia. When he inadvertently confesses to secretly stashing Zimbabwe's gold abroad, citizens have every reason to pay attention. The lack of accountability and transparency in the management of mineral resources in Zimbabwe is a serious problem. For decades, analysts have cracked their heads over a long-standing conundrum: Why is Zimbabwe's economy wallowing in the doldrums despite the country’s vast mineral endowment? Well, the answer is in corruption-induced poverty. The rulers are simply presiding over grand looting. History has shown that when leaders are not accountable to citizens and there is a lack of transparency, this leads to corruption and misuse of resources. Ultimately, socio-economic development and the well-being of the people are undermined. It is crucial for leaders to prioritise transparency and accountability in resource management to ensure that the benefits from these resources are shared equitably and used for the country's development. The lack of transparency and accountability in the management of Zimbabwe's mineral resources can be attributed to a variety of factors, including corruption, lack of oversight, weak legal frameworks, and limited civil society engagement. Owing to the bad governance, the national resources are benefitting only government officials, politically connected individuals and foreign companies. All these actors connive to exploit the lack of transparency and accountability for their own gain. It is important for the government to address these issues by implementing strong governance mechanisms, promoting transparency, and actively involving civil society in the management of mineral resources to ensure that the benefits are shared equitably among all citizens. The Zimbabwean government says it plans to build a US$40 billion mining sector by 2030. The brutal reality, of course, is that this ambitious target will not be attained as long as the rulers continue disregarding transparency and accountability with impunity. ZiG can't survive mineral looting
Business MATTERS NewsHawks CURRENCIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE USD/JPY 109.29 +0.38 +0.35 GBP/USD 1.38 -0.014 -0.997 USD/CAD 1.229 +0.001 +0.07 USD/CHF 0.913 +0.005 +0.53 AUD/USD 0.771 -0.006 -0.76 COMMODITIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE *OIL 63.47 -1.54 -2.37 *GOLD 1,769.5 +1.2 +0.068 *SILVER 25.94 -0.145 -0.56 *PLATINUM 1,201.6 +4 +0.33 MARKETS *COPPER 4.458 -0.029 -0.65 THE African billionaire landscape, as delineated by Forbes, is largely dominated by the top 10 wealthiest individuals, who collectively constitute half of the continent’s 20 billionaires. However, beyond this elite group lies a cadre of notable individuals who have also ascended to billionaire status through their entrepreneurial acumen and business ventures. South African mining magnate Patrice Motsepe is currently the continent’s 11th richest man. Zimbabwean telecoms tycoon Strive Masiyiwa is Africa's 12th richest businessman with a fortune of US$1.8 billion. Masiyiwa is tied with Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji. 1. Aliko Dangote Networth-US$16.1 billion Aliko Dangote, the wealthiest individual in Africa for 13 years, established and currently leads Dangote Cement, the largest cement manufacturer on the continent. Through a holding company, he possesses an 85% stake in the publicly traded Dangote Cement. With a production capacity of 48.6 million metric tonnes annually, Dangote Cement operates in 10 African countries. In March 2022, Dangote’s fertiliser plant in Nigeria commenced operations after years of development. Additionally, construction of the Dangote Refinery has been completed. 2. Johan Rupert Networth US$10.5 billion. Johann Rupert is the man behind, lifestyle brand Compagnie Financiere Richemont, a renowned Swiss luxury goods company recognized for brands like Cartier and Montblanc. Established in 1998, Richemont emerged from a spinoff of assets previously held by Rembrandt Group Limited, founded by his father Anton in the 1940s. Rupert holds a 7% stake in Remgro, a diversified investment firm where he also holds the position of chairman. Additionally, he owns 27% of Reinet, an investment holding company based in Luxembourg. 3. Nicky Oppenheimer net worth US$9.5 billion. Nicky Oppenheimer, the 78-year-old inheritor of the De Beers diamond legacy, made headlines in 2012 by selling his 40% stake in the company to mining conglomerate Anglo American for a staggering US$5.1 billion in cash. As the third generation to helm De Beers, Oppenheimer orchestrated its transition to private ownership in 2001. For an impressive 85 years until 2012, the Oppenheimer family wielded significant influence in the global diamond industry. Beyond diamonds, Oppenheimer ventured into aviation, founding Fireblade Aviation in Johannesburg in 2014, specializing in chartered flights. 4. Nassef Sawiris net worth US$8.6 billion. Nassef Sawiris, an investor and Egypt’s richest man, made headlines in December 2020 when he acquired a notable 5% stake in New York-listed firm Madison Square Garden Sports, which boasts ownership of the NBA Knicks and the NHL Rangers teams. Sawiris leads OCI, a prominent nitrogen fertilizer producer with facilities located in Texas and Iowa, trading on the Euronext Amsterdam exchange. Additionally, Orascom Construction, an engineering and building firm under his purview, is listed on both the Cairo exchange and Nasdaq Dubai. Notably, his portfolio includes a substantial nearly 6% holding in the renowned German sportswear giant Adidas. Sawiris further made waves in the sports world by partnering with Fortress Investment Group’s Wes Edens to acquire the Premier League’s Aston Villa Football Club. 5. Abdul Samad Rabiu net worth US$7 billion. Abdulsamad Rabiu is the chairman of BUA Group, a leading Nigerian conglomerate renowned for its activities in cement production, sugar refining, and real estate, has been making notable strides in the business landscape. In a significant move in early January 2020, Rabiu orchestrated the merger of his privately-owned Obu Cement company with the publicly listed firm Cement Co. of Northern Nigeria, of which he held controlling interest. This led to the creation of BUA Cement Plc, a powerhouse entity now trading on the Nigerian stock exchange, with a substantial 98.2% ownership stake. Furthermore, Rabiu holds a 95% ownership share in BUA Foods, a prominent publicly traded food conglomerate. 6. Mike Adenuga net worth US$7 billion. Mike Adenuga is one of Nigeria’s esteemed entrepreneurs with businesses in telecoms and oil production. Notably, his brainchild, Globacom, is part of the country’s largest mobile phone network. He’s enterprise, Conoil Producing, oversees operations across six oil blocks situated in the Niger Delta, contributing significantly to the nation’s energy sector. Globacom spearheaded the development of Glo-1, an expansive 6,100-mile-long submarine Internet cable linking Nigeria to the United Kingdom via Ghana and Portugal, thereby enhancing connectivity and digital infrastructure in the region. Additionally, Adenuga holds an ownership stake of 74% in the publicly traded gasoline firm Conoil, further solidifying his influence in Nigeria’s energy landscape. 7. Nathan Kirsh net worth US$6.8 billion. Nathan “Natie” Kirsh’s wealth is primarily derived from his ownership stake in US-based Jetro Holdings, a company that encompasses popular restaurant supply stores like Jetro Cash and Carry and Restaurant Depot. Holding a commanding 70% share in the business, Kirsh oversees its operations, which revolve around supplying wholesale goods to various establishments, including bodegas, small stores, and restaurants across the United States. Kirsh’s entrepreneurial journey traces back to his roots in Swaziland, where he laid the foundation for his fortune by establishing a corn milling business in 1958. Building on this initial success, he ventured into wholesale food distribution in apartheid-era South Africa. 8. Naguib Sawiris net worth US$3.8 billion. Naguib Sawiris is from Egypt’s most affluent family. Notably, he engineered a lucrative deal by selling Orascom Telecom to Russian telecom giant VimpelCom (now Veon) in a multibillion-dollar transaction back in 2011. Currently serving as the chairman of Orascom TMT Investments, Sawiris oversees the conglomerate’s diverse portfolio, which includes stakes in various ventures such as an asset manager in Egypt and the renowned Italian internet company, Italiaonline. Beyond his telecom businesses, Sawiris has diversified his interests into the hospitality sector. Notably, he spearheaded the development of Silversands, a luxurious resort located on the Caribbean island of Grenada. 9. Mohammed Mansour net worth US$3.2 billion. Mohamed Mansour leads Mansour Group, which traces its roots back to its establishment by his father, Loutfy, in 1952. Mansour’s influence expanded significantly when he introduced General Motors dealerships to Egypt in 1975, subsequently becoming one of GM’s major distributors globally. Additionally, Mansour Group holds exclusive distribution rights for Caterpillar equipment in Egypt and seven other African nations. Beyond his business endeavors, Mansour has played a role in Egyptian politics, serving as the country’s minister of transportation from 2006 to 2009 during the tenure of President Hosni Mubarak. 10. Koos Bekker net worth US$2.7 billion. Koos Bekker is a South African billionaire who led Naspers, a publisher in 2001, acquiring a significant stake in the Chinese Internet giant Tencent Holdings for a reported US$34 million—an investment widely regarded as one of the most lucrative venture decisions in history. By 2019, Naspers restructured its portfolio, allocating assets to two publicly traded entities: entertainment firm MultiChoice Group and Prosus, which houses the valuable Tencent stake. Bekker retired as CEO of Naspers in March 2014, but returned to the company as chairman in April 2015.. 11. Patrice Motsepe — Net worth of $2.6 billion. 12. Strive Masiyiwa — also with a net worth of $1.8 billion. Tied to Masiyiwa is Mohammed Dewji –—with a net worth of $1.8 billion. 13. Femi Otedola — boasting a net worth of $1.7 billion. 14. Othman Benjelloun & family — with a combined net worth of $1.4 billion. 15. Youssef Mansour — with a net worth of $1.3 billion. — STAFF WRITER. Masiyiwa ranks 12th on African billionaires list Telecoms tycoon Strive Masiyiwa
Page 54 Companies & Markets BERNARD MPOFU RESERVE Bank Zimbabwe governor John Mushayavanhu has hinted at a government plan to set up a quasi-currency board as the authorities battle to save the value of the domestic currency and restore confidence and macro-economic stability, The NewsHawks has established. The country is battling rising inflation, a weakening domestic currency, power shortages and high unemployment levels, among other economic problems. Mushayavanhu, the new central bank chief who took over from John Mangudya, recently launched a new currency called Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) which will replace the Zimbabwe dollar/bond notes whose value had been wiped by chronic high inflation. He said ZiG would be backed by the country’s gold and foreign currency reserves. According to the central bank, a structured currency is generally defined as a currency that is pegged to a specific exchange rate or currency basket and backed by a bundle of foreign exchange assets (potentially including gold). This, the RBZ says, means that a central bank can only issue domestic notes and coins when fully backed by a foreign "reserve" currency or foreign exchange assets and that the currency is fully convertible into the reserve currency on demand. “The structured currency, as defined, is different from the currency board system, although it has some features,” the central bank says in a statement. “The structured currency being introduced by the RBZ will be based on a market-determined exchange rate system as opposed to a pure currency board system which is based on a fixed exchange rate system and set by statute. The currency board system and structured currency system are similar in the currency anchored where the reserve money is 100% covered by reserves.” Already the government has a Monetary Policy Committee which technically monitors key issues such as money supply growth and inflation, the board could be another layer of bureaucracy. Last month, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube announced that the government will soon embark on currency reforms to save the domestic currency from collapse. The Zimbabwe dollar has since 2016 gone through several episodes of currency volatilities. “The idea going forward is to make sure that we manage the growth of liquidity which has a high correlation to money supply growth and inflation. The way to do that is to link the exchange rate to some hard asset such as gold,” said Ncube in a Press briefing. “To do that you have to have some sort of currency board type system in place where the growth of the domestic liquidity is constrained by the value of the asset that is backing the currency.” During the 1990s there was renewed interest in the adoption of currency board agreements (CBAs) in countries like Argentina, Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Estonia and Lithuania. In general, the establishment of CBA involves close coordination among the authorities including the highest level of government, the Finance ministry, the central bank, Justice ministry and other agencies. According to a paper done by the International Monetary Fund titled Making a Currency Board Operational, one critical characteristic of a CBA is that fixed exchange rate is established by law. This means it may take time to establish the CBA and will involve bringing lawmakers, the public and the media. The primary objective of CBA, the IMF says, is to maintain the foreign exchange cover of the designated domestic liabilities and to demonstrate frequently that it is doing so. The balance sheet of the central bank — ideally as confirmed by an external audit — must therefore be re-specified so that assets and liabilities of the “currency board” can be separately identified. Under a currency board, the management of the exchange rate and money supply are given to a monetary authority that makes decisions about the valuation of a nation’s currency. While currency board regimes are often praised for their relative stability and rule-based nature, they also have downsides. In fixed exchange-rate systems, currency boards don’t allow the government to set their interest rates. That means economic conditions in a foreign country usually determine interest rates. By pegging the domestic currency to a foreign currency, the currency board imports much of that foreign country's monetary policy. In his book titled Zimbabwe: From Hyperinflation to Growth, which was published in 2008, United States-based Johns Hopkins University’s applied economics Professor Steve Hanke said the hallmark of Zimbabwe’s economic collapse was hyperinflation. “The source of Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation is the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s money machine,” Hanke wrote. “The government spends, and the RBZ finances the spending by printing money. The RBZ has no ability in practice to resist the government’s demands for cash. Accordingly, the RBZ cannot hope to regain credibility anytime soon. To stop hyperinflation, Zimbabwe needs to immediately adopt a different monetary system. “Any one of three options can rapidly slash the inflation rate and restore stability and growth to the Zimbabwean economy. First is ‘dollarisation.’ This option would replace the discredited Zimbabwe dollar with a foreign currency, such as the US dollar or the South African rand. Second is a currency board. Under that system, the Zimbabwe dollar would be credible because it would be fully backed by a foreign reserve currency and would be freely convertible into the reserve currency at a fixed rate on demand. Third is free banking. This option would allow commercial banks to issue their own private notes and other liabilities with minimum government regulation. “Central banking is the only monetary system that has ever created hyperinflation and instability in Zimbabwe. Prior to central banking, Zimbabwe had a rich monetary experience in which a free banking system and a currency board system performed well. It is time for Zimbabwe to adopt one of these proven monetary systems and discard its failed experiment with central banking.” BERNARD MPOFU THE European Investment Bank (EIB) is considering extending another €40 million private sector facility for Zimbabwe’s private sector as the southern African nation remains ineligible to access the regional bloc’s sovereign lending due to a huge debt overhang, The NewsHawks has established. The European Union Delegation in Zimbabwe on Wednesday hosted a high-profile EU Private Sector Dialogue Seminar in Harare, shedding light on key opportunities for trade and investment between Zimbabwe and the EU. The event brought together representatives from EU businesses with a presence in Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe private sector players, key Zimbabwean private sector organisations, banker associations, investment promotion agency (Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency), and trade promotion agency (ZimTrade) for a discussion aimed at unlocking Zimbabwe's economic potential through enhanced EU-Zimbabwe collaboration. “While large-scale sovereign lending is currently on hold because of Zimbabwe’s arrears of US$17.7 billion, the seminar showcased the EU's commitment to supporting private sector investments in Zimbabwe by highlighting a range of financial instruments available through development financial institutions (DFIs) like the European Investment Bank (EIB),” EU Delegation in Zimbabwe ambassador Jobst von Kirchman said. “These instruments offer de-risking guarantees for private sector investments, making Zimbabwean projects more attractive to European investors. “Detailed information was provided on the EIB's successful €40 million Private Sector Facility, including eligible sectors and project qualification criteria, which will be useful as there are plans for other future private sector facilities.” The event also shed light on the EU's ambitious Global Gateway initiative, a plan designed to unlock €150 billion in public and private investments in Africa. This investment plan prioritises sustainable development, focusing on areas critical to Zimbabwe's growth, such as infrastructure, renewable energy, and climate change mitigation. “While Zimbabwe has already benefitted from certain Global Gateway investments such as the Kariba Dam rehabilitation and environmental programmes, other specific programmes are under development,” von Kirchman said. CABS chief executive Mehluli Mpofu told The NewsHawks on the sidelines of the private sector dialogue seminar that players in the horticulture industry expressed more interest in accessing the EIB facility. “The EIB facility was really in high demand and the initial line that we got, which was €15 million, has been fully disbursed,” Mpofu said. “We are obviously looking at more funding coming to Zimbabwe. In terms of where the need is, I would say it cuts across but to the EIB, I would say agriculture, horticulture specifically. Tourism is another area with huge interest. We are also looking at logistics or any business on the export-oriented space.” According to figures availed by the EU, Zimbabwe enjoyed a positive trade balance of US$83.2 million in 2022. The figures show that the regional bloc was Zimbabwe’s fifth-largest trading partner in 2022, falling from fourth position in 2021. RBZ chief moots currency board European bank plans €40m funding facility Reserve Bank Zimbabwe governor John Mushayavanhu NewsHawks Issue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
Companies & Markets Page 55 BERNARD MPOFU ZIMBABWE’S insurance sector regulator says it is finalising the drafting of United States dollar-indexed capital thresholds for short-term insurers as motor and fire insurance dominate the sector. Official figures show that nearly 80% of total transactions done in Zimbabwe are carried out in hard currency due to currency volatility of the domestic unit. The government has since introduced a new currency, Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), which will be backed by gold and foreign currency reserves. According to the Insurance and Pensions Commissions of Zimbabwe (Ipec) fourth-quarter report for the year-ending 31 December 2024, during the period under review, direct short-term underwriters reported absolute foreign currency-denominated insurance revenue amounting to US$174.8 million constituting 74% of the total insurance revenue with the remaining 26% being absolute ZW$ business. Ipec is a statutory body mandated with regulating, supervising, and developing the insurance and pensions industry for the protection of policyholders and pension scheme members in Zimbabwe. “Gazetting of the US$ indexed minimum capital requirements is at an advanced stage. All industry players are expected to assess their current capital positions against the envisaged new requirements to ensure compliance once the regulations are gazetted,” reads the report. “Further, the industry players are encouraged to measure their capital positions against the riskbased solvency regime under the Zimbabwe Integrated Capital and Risk Programme (ZICARP) framework.” As at 31 December 2023, the short-term insurers reported total assets amounting to ZW$1.38 trillion in nominal terms. Motor insurance alone accounted for 34% of the total insurance revenue, Ipec says. “Foreign currency-denominated motor insurance is mainly driven by comprehensive cover as policyholders seek to preserve value,” reads the report. Turning to capitalisation, 19 out of the 20 short-term insurers reported capital positions above the minimum capital requirement (MCR) of ZW$37.5 million. BERNARD MPOFU ZIMBABWE has emerged as one of the eight countries in Africa that have not submitted or verified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) tariff schedule despite having huge potential to benefit from the trade agreement, a senior World Bank official has said. AfCFTA is the largest free trade area since the formation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1995. The free trade area was established to increase intra-African trade which currently ranges between 15-18%, stimulate production through the development of regional value chains, strengthen the capacities of African businesses to access and supply world markets, and strengthen Africa’s economic and commercial diplomacy. Trading under the auspices of the AfCFTA began on 1 January 2021, two years after the continent’s 54 states ratified the trade agreement. The AfCFTA will see the progressive liberalisation of tariffs, with major deadline coming up in 2025. In a paper presented to delegates attending the Confederation of Zimbabwe 2024 Economic & Business Outlook Symposium, Victor Steenbergen, a senior economist at the World Bank local office, said the southern African nation may miss out on opportunities presented by AfCFTA. “Tariff-free trading in goods starting soon, Zimbabwe is lagging behind. Zimbabwe is one of the biggest potential beneficiaries of AfCFTA with +12.4% to GDP growth,” Steenbergen. “46 countries have submitted their tariff schedules. Zimbabwe is lacking behind. Sub-Saharan Africa region is projected to rebound in 2024, though aggregates mask a mix of upgrades and downgrades at the country level.” The multilateral creditor says global and regional headwinds which have triggered high interest rates and elevated debt will result in rising external debt liabilities or fiscal pressure. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s Finance ministry has resumed negotiations with creditors and the international community as Treasury seeks to resolve the country’s nagging debt overhang. With the country remaining in debt distress while borrowing is limited, public debt has continued to increase, driven by external arrears and legacy debt. Official figures show that despite making token payments over the past few years, Zimbabwe’s total debt stock has soared to US$18 billion as of December 2023. Ipec sets insurers capital thresholds Zim hasn't submitted free trade schedule Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) commissioner Grace Muradzikwa Ministry of Finance permanent secretary George Guvamatanga NewsHawks 1ssue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
Page 56 Companies & Markets BERNARD MPOFU MASIMBA Holdings’ external auditors have issued an adverse opinion on the company’s full-year financial results as the country’s currency volatility cycles continue presenting accounting headaches. The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed contracting firm’s headline earnings per share rose to US$3.05 during the period under review from US$2.23 in the prior year on improved revenue and cost cuts. In a statement accompanying the financials, Grant Thornton, Masimba’s auditors, flagged the basis of using an internally generated exchange rate in coming up with the statements. “In our opinion, because of the significance of the matters described in the Basis for Adverse Opinion section of our report, the consolidated financial statements do not present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Masimba Holdings Limited as at 31 December 2023, and its financial performance and cashflows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS),” Grant Thornton says. “The directors affected the change in functional currency on 1 January 2023, for which all items (except share capital and reserves) were translated to USD using internally generated exchange rate. Share capital and other reserves were translated from ZWL to USD using management’s valuation techniques. The resultant exchange differences from this process were recognised in a Foreign Currency Translation Reserve. This constituted a departure from the requirements of IAS21, which requires all items to be translated into a functional currency using the exchange rate at the date of the change.” The company however says due to the limited amount of currency available to the Foreign Exchange Auction Market, directors do not believe that the official exchange rates prevailing during the year were at all times reflective of a spot exchange rate, being the exchange rate for immediate delivery as defined in International Accounting Standard (IAS) 21. “The Board, having evaluated the mix of currencies wherein the Group was trading at 69% USD (2022: 65%), resolved to adopt the USD as its functional and reporting currency effective 1 January 2023. The financial results for the financial year ended 31 December 2023 have been reported in USD,” the company says. Auditors flag Masimba financials NewsHawks Issue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
Companies & Markets Page 57 The Banker Financial reporting implications of Zimbabwe’s new ZiG currency KC ROTTOK CHESAINA ZIMBABWE has introduced a new currency known as the ZiG which is short for Zimbabwean Gold. The difference between this currency and its predecessors is that its value is linked to the gold price. The currency started trading in early April and it remains to be seen whether this new batch of notes will be the solution to the country’s longstanding currency problems. There are multiple companies in South Africa with operations in Zimbabwe and they will have questions as to the impact of the new currency on their financial reporting. There are four fundamental questions that arise: 1. Does ZiG eliminate hyperinflation accounting? International Accounting Standard (IAS) 29 (Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies) applies to the accounting for any entity whose functional currency is the currency of a hyperinflationary economy. A key characteristic of a hyperinflationary economy is one where the current inflation rate over three years is approaching or exceeds 100%. This has been the case for Zimbabwe which has led to entities accounting for financial statements using the principles in IAS 29 to restate prior year figures for comparability with current year amounts. With a new currency having been introduced, it is expected that goods will be priced in ZiG which will necessitate a reassessment of whether prices are increasing at a hyperinflationary rate. If it is concluded that hyperinflation ceases to exist then IAS 29 ceases and the figures at the end of the previous reporting period translated to ZiG would be the basis for current year accounting without further restatement. 2. What is the functional currency of entities in Zimbabwe? Per IAS 21, financial statements should be prepared in accordance with the functional currency of the entity. Functional currency is defined as the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates. It is the currency that mainly influences sales prices for goods and services and influences labour, material and other costs. Entities in Zimbabwe will need to assess whether ZiG has become the new functional currency; if so, the entities will apply translation procedures applicable to the new functional currency prospective from the date of the change. 3. Is the change to ZiG an event after the reporting period? In accordance with IAS 10, entities should assess whether events after the reporting period are adjustable or non-adjustable. Events that lead to adjustment of amounts reported at year end are those that reveal conditions that existed at year end while other events are considered non-adjustable. As ZiG was only adopted in April, entities with financial year ends prior to that would treat this as non-adjustable. Per IAS 10.21, these entities would need to disclose the change in functional currency as well as the estimate of the financial effect of adopting ZiG. 4. What if ZiG lacks exchangeability? A currency is exchangeable if an entity is able to obtain the currency within a time frame that allows for a normal administrative delay through a market or exchange mechanism. In August 2023, the IASB issued an amendment to IAS 21 dealing with this exact issue, the fact that in several instances an entity has currency units that cannot be exchanged for a significant amount of another currency. There has been long-term lack of exchangeability between the US dollar and the Zimbabwean dollar. The amendment to IAS 21 states that an entity should utilise an exchange rate that reflects the rate that an orderly exchange transaction would take place between market participants at the measurement date. In other words, the IFRS 13 fair value principles should be applied if ZiG is found not to be readily exchangeable to other currencies. *About the writer: KC Rottok Chesaina is chief IFRS officer at Financial Minds Consulting. The above is not financial reporting advice, contact us for any IFRS-related consulting and training requireReserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mushayavanhu ments. Email: [email protected]. NewsHawks 1ssue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
Page 58 News Analysis NATHAN GUMA THE launch of the new Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency has raised debate, with analysts urging the authorities to adopt advanced technology in monitoring gold production to reduce mineral leakages and illicit financial flows, while ramping up bullion reserves. On 5 April, new Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mushayavanhu launched the ZiG currency, that is backed by Zimbabwe’s reserves of US dollars and precious metals, particularly gold, to replace the Zimbabwe dollar that had been decimated by relentless inflation. However, concerns have arisen over illicit mineral flows, whose disastrous effects could sabotage efforts to build national forex and gold reserves. Zimbabwe has been losing an about US$100 million in monthly gold leakages, according to government estimates. In its analysis of the Monetary Policy Statement, a social justice watchdog, the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (Zimcodd), said adopting advanced technologies will help curb criminality as information such as the exact source of gold, holder of gold-buying licences, and amount of taxes paid on gold exports can be collected and analysed. “The current rampant illicit gold trading, as reported by Al Jazeera’s Gold Mafia documentary, if not curtailed, will militate against the accumulation of gold reserves, which are crucial in supporting the value of the 'structured currency',” reads the analysis. Zimcodd said the country is likely to face pressures to print more money. For instance, the country has an adverse economic outlook coupled with the El Niño-induced drought that has affected the 2023/24 summer cropping season, creating enormous spending pressure on Treasury to cushion the vulnerable groups and the economy in general. “Just like the norm globally, the Treasury will need help from the RBZ (money printing) to meet the demand of the pending humanitarian and economic crisis. The increase in ZiG money supply will only be permissible if there are enough gold reserves; hence, there is a need for a whole-of-government approach to curb illicit gold trading,” reads the analysis. Civil society has been piling pressure on the government to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) to promote accountability in the mining sector and help stem illicit mineral flows, but the authorities have snubbed the calls. The government’s main argument has been that the EITI is a foreign-driven initiative and that it does not come with clear opportunities for change. Zimcodd’s analysis has also predicted that the expected increase in import bill is likely to render the ZiG worthless. “The ZiG concept will require frequent auditing of physical gold and United States dollar cash reserves backing the currency by reputable and independent audit institutions. "Suppose there are no trusted audits of the quantum of gold reserves in RBZ vaults versus issued structured currency (ZiG). In that case, the tokens risk suffering the same fate as bond coins and notes, which RBZ reportedly introduced under a US$200 million facility provided by Afreximbank. The market started to reject bond coins and notes like $2, $5, and $50 partly because authorities have printed more than they reported backing this surrogate currency, thereby causing increased depreciation pressures," says Zimcodd. “There is also a need to provide strong guardrails against gold leakages from the RBZ vaults, which can be caused by theft and fraud by unscrupulous public officials.” While the RBZ has set minimum savings and time deposit interest rates on ZiG at 9% and 7.5% below the central bank's deposit facility rate of 12.5%, respectively, interest rates on foreign currency account (FCA) deposits have remained unchanged at 1% and 2.5% for savings and time deposits, respectively. “Lucrative interest on deposits ensures that excess money held by the public is kept in the bank rather than being used for speculative purposes. In other words, the higher the deposit interest rate, the greater the opportunity cost of holding non-interest-bearing cash,” reads the analysis. “However, these interest rates on deposits must be above the inflation level. Otherwise, they are unlikely to lure economic agents into banking their excess ZiG funds. This is because when interest rates lag behind the inflation level, the value lost due to increased prices is much higher than the value gained on interest-earning ZiG deposit accounts. “As such, there is no incentive for the public and investors to keep their extra money in such accounts in an inflationary environment. They would rather chase value by investing their free funds in riskier assets like stocks or buying US dollars in the parallel market.” Gold smuggling sabotages ZiG The new Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mushayavanhu NewsHawks Issue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
Reframing Issues Page 59 PROFESSOR ARTHUR G. O. MUTAMBARA ARTIFICIAL Intelligence (AI) has not just made a splash but a global tidal wave. Its potential to enhance the lives of people worldwide is staggering. From education and healthcare to agriculture and finance, AI has the power to revolutionise every sector. However, to fully harness the benefits of this technological leap, countries must first address some fundamental issues. The starting point is understanding the context in which AI is being embraced in different sectors across the world. What are the prerequisites for making AI interventions meaningful? What does a nation need to develop and adopt AI systems and innovations? How can organisations prepare themselves for AI? What is the role of the Global South in all this? What enabling conditions does AI require in terms of infrastructure, governance, financial investment, talent, education, research, value systems, mindsets and entrepreneurial skills? What should constitute a national AI ecosystem? These challenges must be addressed before any serious and effective effort to develop and adopt AI can be contemplated. Attending to the basics is essential. Basic infrastructure AI-enabling infrastructure must exist, starting with basic infrastructure such as energy, communication, transportation, finance, water, and housing. More significantly, affordable, reliable and efficacious digital infrastructure must be in place. Digital infrastructure sits on top of basic infrastructure. It is inconceivable to have it without this foundational infrastructure. Each basic infrastructure listed above is critical in supporting sustainable socio-economic development and technological innovation. More significantly, basic infrastructure is essential for economic growth and productivity, enhanced connectivity and mobility, quality of life, public health, environmental sustainability, social inclusion, equity, and job creation. Basic infrastructure is the backbone of modern societies, providing essential services and enabling socio-economic progress. It lays the foundation for the digital economy and, more specifically, AI-driven innovations and applications. Consequently, strategic investments in basic infrastructure are imperative in pursuit of the development and adoption of AI. Countries and organisations must work together to build basic infrastructure, thus enabling their participation in the AI revolution. Digital infrastructure The development and adoption of AI require reliable and efficient connectivity, digital technology, and devices. Digital infrastructure entails the foundational technology components that support modern information and communication technologies (ICT) by facilitating digital communication, data processing, and online services. All these foundational digital infrastructure-related matters must be addressed before any meaningful engagement with AI is envisaged. As already intimated, digital infrastructure encompasses the physical and virtual resources required to collect, store, process, and transmit data and information. It is critical for enabling various digital services, applications, and processes to function efficiently. The essential elements of digital infrastructure can be summarised as networks, data centres, internet backbone, cloud computing platforms, cybersecurity systems, telecommunication, the Internet of Things (IoT), software, and digital applications. Developing and maintaining robust digital infrastructure are crucial preconditions for the AI revolution. Investments, research and development in digital infrastructure are necessary. They bridge the digital divide, thus ensuring equitable access to digital services in general and AI opportunities in particular. Digital infrastructure forms the foundation on which AI systems operate efficaciously. Additionally, advancements in digital infrastructure in the IT, digital, and communication industries are increasingly intertwined with basic infrastructure. Thus, digital infrastructure can be used to drive the development of basic infrastructure. There is synergistic and mutual reinforcement. “Compute” infrastructure Beyond general digital infrastructure, the AI-specific requirements are more exacting. In the context of AI, the term “compute” refers to the computational resources and processing power required to train and run AI models and algorithms. AI computations involve complex mathematical operations, statistical analysis, and optimisation techniques that necessitate significant computational resources. The critical aspects of “compute” include training AI models, processing big data, hardware acceleration, distributed computing, inference and real-time processing, optimisation and hyperparameter tuning, and cost and efficiency considerations. Hence, “compute” infrastructure refers to the components and capabilities within a computing system Developing and adopting AI ...Don’t put the cart before the horse NewsHawks 1ssue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
Page 60 Reframing Issues that are used to perform computations, process data, and execute tasks. These resources are essential for running AI applications, performing complex calculations, and managing digital workloads. Compute resources typically include hardware and software components that deliver AI computational power. Critical elements of compute resources include the Central Processing Unit (CPU), Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), Neural Processing Unit (NPU), Random Access Memory (RAM), Storage (hard disk and solid-state drives), Network Interface, Operating System (OS), Virtualisation and Containerisation Technologies, and Cloud Computing Services. Compute resources infrastructure is fundamental to computing systems’ performance, scalability, and efficiency. Of these compute resources, the GPU has been a game changer. A GPU is a specialised electronic circuit designed to dramatically speed up the rendering of images and graphics for display on computer screens. It is a highly efficient processor capable of performing parallel computations, making it an essential component in AI, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, scientific computing, and cryptocurrency mining. Semiconductor industry The semiconductor industry plays a crucial role in the AI revolution by developing and manufacturing advanced microchips and hardware components that power AI systems. For a nation to play a meaningful role in developing AI systems, it has to develop its semiconductor industry. For countries of the Global South to fully benefit from the AI revolution, they must become producers of AI products, not just users or consumers. African countries must participate in the generation of new AI knowledge and innovations. The starting point is being players in the semiconductor industry. The semiconductor industry contributes to the AI revolution in several fundamental ways. It designs and manufactures specialised hardware components optimised for AI workloads. These include GPUs, NPUs, Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) designed specifically for accelerating AI computations. These chips are essential for training and inference tasks in Deep Learning and other AI algorithms. AI models, especially Deep Learning models (such as Large Language models), require significant computational power to process large datasets and perform complex calculations. The semiconductor industry develops high-performance processors (CPUs, GPUs and NPUs). AI systems require fast and efficient memory and storage solutions to handle large datasets and enable rapid access to data during computations. The semiconductor industry develops advanced memory technologies that are critical for AI workloads. To accelerate AI computations, semiconductor companies develop AI accelerators and co-processors that offload specific tasks from general-purpose processors to specialised hardware. For example, GPUs excel at parallel computations required for neural network training, while TPUs are optimised for fast matrix operations used in Deep Learning. Semiconductor companies like NVIDIA invest in AI chip design and architecture innovations to optimise hardware for specific AI algorithms and applications. This includes developing efficient neural network architectures, implementing hardware-accelerated inference engines, and integrating AI-specific instructions into processor designs. It is instructive to note that NVIDIA has a market cap of US$2.26 trillion and is the third largest company in the world after Microsoft and Apple. In summary, the semiconductor industry is the key driver of the AI revolution. Its continuous innovation in developing advanced microchips, specialised hardware accelerators, memory/storage solutions, and manufacturing processes is instrumental in developing AI technologies. These innovations enable faster, more efficient, and more capable AI systems. Countries in the Global South must develop semiconductor industries. Without these, their accrued benefits from the AI revolution will be minimal. Economic advantages from AI are not only occasioned by adopting AI. No. They also come from developing AI systems and building the physical technologies that enable AI. The fact that one AI semiconductor company (NVIDIA) has a market cap comparable to the collective GDP of the entire African continent speaks volumes. Energy and power requirements AI systems demand a lot of power – they are energy-intensive. In common parlance, energy and power are used interchangeably. However, while the concepts are related, they are distinct in physics and engineering. Energy is the capacity to do work. It is a scalar quantity measured in joules (J) or kilowatt-hours (kWh). Power is the rate at which work is done or the rate at which energy is transferred or converted. It is a measure of how quickly energy is used or generated. Power is measured in watts (W) or megawatts (MW). Without enough power, it is inconceivable that a country can maximally participate in the development and adoption of AI. African countries such as Zimbabwe and South Africa are experiencing electricity shortages (characterised by load shedding) before the extensive adoption of AI systems. This means such economies cannot maximally enjoy the benefits of AI. The energy requirements of the technology and its innovations are quite extensive. Countries like SA and Zimbabwe must urgently address their energy deficit and move to an energy surplus before they can have any meaningful engagement with AI systems. The energy requirements of AI systems can vary significantly based on the complexity of their tasks, the size of the models used, and the hardware infrastructure. However, energy is central. The size of AI models, especially in Deep Learning, has been increasing rapidly. Larger models often require more computational power and energy to train and operate. For example, the GPT-3 model by OpenAI has 175 billion parameters, making it computationally expensive (requiring much energy) to train and use. Training Deep Learning models involves running large amounts of data through complex neural networks, and this is typically the most energy-intensive phase. Due to its high computational demands, this process often requires specialised hardware like GPUs, TPUs and NPUs. The choice of hardware dramatically influences the energy efficiency of AI systems. Specialised chips like TPUs are designed to optimise certain AI workloads, offering higher performance with lower power consumption compared to NewsHawks Issue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
Reframing Issues Page 61 traditional CPUs or GPUs. Research into optimising AI algorithms and hardware for energy efficiency is ongoing. Techniques like model pruning (removing unnecessary parts of a model), quantisation (reducing the precision of calculations), and energy-aware scheduling can help reduce the energy footprint of AI systems without significantly sacrificing performance. Countries in the Global South must radically invest in energy and power infrastructure. Without enough electricity, pontificating about AI strategies and policies constitutes an exercise in futility. Governance and regulatory framework AI development and adoption can only be built based on clean, efficient, transparent and accountable governance. All these African countries riddled with corruption, incompetence, and mismanagement – in the public and private sectors – are not ready for the AI revolution. Good governance is crucial for responsible AI development, deployment, and use. An enabling AI regulatory framework is essential. Specific aspects foundational to AI include establishing ethical guidelines and principles for AI development and deployment, regulatory oversight, transparency and accountability, inclusive public engagement and participation, risk management and resilience. Good AI governance frameworks must support capacity-building initiatives to enhance AI literacy among policymakers, regulators, and society. There is a need for continuous monitoring, evaluation, and updating of governance mechanisms to address emerging challenges, ensure compliance with evolving regulations, and maintain public trust in AI technologies. Indeed, good governance and an enabling regulatory framework are essential for fostering ethical, transparent, and accountable AI ecosystems. By integrating principles of fairness, accountability, transparency, and inclusiveness, policymakers can promote innovation while safeguarding against potential risks and ensuring that AI technologies contribute positively to sustainable socio-economic development. Globally, national AI policies and regulations must be developed and harmonised in regional blocs and continents. AI ecosystem An ecosystem approach is required to drive the development and adoption of AI. An AI ecosystem refers to a complex network of interconnected entities, including organisations, institutions, technologies, and individuals, that collaborate, interact, and influence each other within the field of AI. This ecosystem encompasses various components that collectively contribute to the development, deployment, and utilisation of AI technologies. The main constituents of an AI ecosystem include AI researchers and developers, technology companies and startups, financiers and investors (including venture capital firms), academic institutions, government agencies and regulators, industry partners and collaborators, data providers and data infrastructure. Data is the lifeblood of AI. The ecosystem relies on data providers, aggregators, and infrastructure such as data centres and cloud services to collect, store, manage, and analyse vast amounts of data for AI applications. Further participants in the ecosystem include ethics and policy think tanks, end users and consumers, and global collaborators and partners. All these interconnected and interdependent entities form a dynamic AI ecosystem that evolves. Technological breakthroughs, regulatory developments, market trends, societal demands, and ethical considerations influence the configuration. Effective collaboration and coordination among ecosystem stakeholders are essential for realising AI’s transformative potential while addressing challenges related to fairness, transparency, privacy, and societal impact. Every country must strive to establish a national AI ecosystem. These can then be expanded and integrated into regional and continental AI ecosystems. Talent and expertise AI development and adoption require diverse talent and expertise across various disciplines. Building and deploying AI systems involves a multidisciplinary approach that integrates expertise in computer science, mathematics, data science, engineering, and domain-specific knowledge. Skills required for AI development and adoption include data scientists, Machine Learning engineers, software engineers, data engineers, AI researchers, domain experts (e.g., agriculture, education, healthcare, and finance), ethics and policy experts, prompt engineers, project managers, AI trainers/teachers and AI product managers. There is a need for dynamic and effective collaboration among these multiple disciplines for successful AI development and adoption. Countries and institutions (private and public) must invest in developing AI talent, skills, and expertise in a transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary fashion. They must create environments that encourage innovation and knowledge sharing to leverage the full potential of AI technologies. Organisational preparedness As all organisations prepare to embrace the AI revolution, they must seek to create the AI transformation roadmap – a treasure map to a new AI-driven entity. They must build a talent bench with the requisite expertise and skills. More significantly, organisations must realise that their current way of doing things will not cut it. They must develop and adopt new and innovative operating models that are fit for purpose in the AI context. Furthermore, organisations and countries must nurture decentralised and distributed technology environments that enable teams to innovate across institutions and sectors. As explained earlier, data is the key driver of AI systems. Consequently, there must be efforts to embed data everywhere in institutions. There must be ubiquitous access to and use of this data. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Countries and organisations must drive and unlock AI user adoption and enterprise scaling. Financing and investment Financing and investment are critical in driving AI development and adoption by providing the necessary resources, funding, and support for research, innovation, and commercialisation. The AI industry requires significant investments to advance the technology, build scalable solutions, and integrate AI into various sectors. Specifically, financing and investments are essential for research and development, fostering and promoting innovations, startups and entrepreneurship, AI infrastructure and technology platforms such as cloud computing, AI chips, and data centres. The funding and investment from the private sector will be critical. Universities or governments cannot fund extremely expensive AI innovations, such as large language models. There is also a need to fund industry-specific applications, talent acquisition and skills development, ethical AI and governance, market adoption and commercialisation. Indeed, financing and investment are catalysts for driving AI innovation, accelerating technology development, and fostering widespread adoption across sectors. All countries, industries, and businesses must pursue and promote strategic investments in AI to maximise its transformative impact. Right mindset The right mindset is critical in the development and adoption of AI. First, there must be self-belief and confidence, solution orientation, a can-do mentality, entrepreneurial disposition, possibility thinking, an affinity for technology, multidisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity, and an enduring appetite for continuous learning. A positive and open mindset encourages innovation and creativity in AI development. An experimental mindset leads to the early adoption of AI systems. Embracing new ideas and approaches fosters breakthroughs in algorithms, models, and applications, leading to advancements in AI technology. The right mindset for AI must embrace a problem-solving orientation, where developers and adopters of AI focus on addressing real-world challenges and opportunities. A thoughtful, ethical mindset is essential to ensure responsible AI development and adoption. Being mindful of potential biases, fairness issues, privacy concerns, and societal impacts helps guide ethical decision-making throughout the AI lifecycle. As already asserted, adaptability and continuous learning are critical. AI technologies evolve rapidly, and having a growth mindset encourages individuals and organisations to embrace change, attain new skills, and stay abreast of the latest innovations in AI. Developing and adopting AI often requires collaboration across diverse disciplines and stakeholders. Hence, an interdisciplinary and collaborative attitude within diverse knowledge development and sharing teams will be the most effective way to tackle complex AI challenges. Adopting a user-centric mindset ensures that AI solutions are designed with end users in mind. Prioritising user needs, experiences, and feedback leads to more intuitive, accessible, and user-friendly AI applications. The right mindset encourages calculated risk-taking and resilience in AI development. Innovation involves experimentation, and not being afraid of failure allows for iterative improvements and breakthroughs in AI technology. When all is said and done, cultivating the right mindset among AI developers, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders is essential for unleashing the transformative power of AI. However, mindset cannot be legislated or decreed into existence. It has to be built and developed diligently and judiciously over time. Basic education and literacy Basic education and literacy are crucial in developing and adopting AI systems. Basic education lays the groundwork by equipping individuals with foundational skills in mathematics, statistics, computer science, and critical thinking – all essential for understanding AI concepts and applications. Literacy and competence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects are fundamental to nurturing the next generation of AI researchers, data scientists, engineers, and developers. Basic education provides the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue careers in AI-related fields. Education fosters AI literacy among the general population, enabling individuals to understand AI systems’ capabilities, limitations, and societal implications. AI literacy enables and empowers individuals to make informed decisions about AI adoption and usage. Basic education instils a culture of lifelong learning, which is essential in the rapidly evolving field of AI. Furthermore, education promotes ethical awareness and responsible behaviour in AI development and adoption. Basic education emphasises ethical principles such as fairness, transparency, accountability, and privacy, which are critical for ethical AI governance. Literacy and education foster creativity and innovation, enabling individuals to apply AI technologies to solve complex problems in various domains such as agriculture, mining, healthcare, finance, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. Access to quality education and literacy programmes reduces socio-economic disparities in AI adoption. Equitable educational opportunities ensure that individuals from diverse backgrounds can participate in and benefit from the AI-driven economy. AI is transforming industries and reshaping job roles. Basic education equips individuals with adaptable skills and competencies needed to thrive in AI-enabled workplaces, fostering career readiness and employability. Education empowers citizens to engage in informed discussions and policymaking about AI governance, regulation, and societal impact. AI-literate individuals can advocate for ethical AI practices and contribute to shaping responsible AI policies. Basic education and literacy are essential enablers for AI development and adoption, as they foster foundational skills, promote AI literacy, nurture ethical awareness, and prepare individuals for the future of work. Concluding remarks Countries and organisations must not put the cart before the horse when developing and adopting AI. They must address critical pillars such as basic infrastructure, digital infrastructure, governance and regulatory framework, financing and investment, basic education and literacy, talent and expertise, energy/ power, the semiconductor industry, “compute” resources infrastructure, organisational preparedness, the AI ecosystem, and the right mindset. These related, interdependent, and mutually reinforcing foundational matters must be attended to in a holistic, systemic, and structured manner. There must be an AI national vision, strategy, implementation plan and policy framework, all premised on resolving the above challenges. Furthermore, AI regional, continental and global partnerships must be developed and leveraged. Indeed, AI can drive all economic sectors and improve the quality of life for all of Earth’s inhabitants. However, the journey to the Promised Land must start with the basics. *About the writer: Professor Arthur Guseni Oliver Mutambara is director and full professor of the Institute for the Future of Knowledge at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. He is a former Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. NewsHawks 1ssue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
Page 62 Reframing Issues DR SIPHOSAMI MALUNGA BETWEEN 1983 and 1986, the Zimbabwean government deployed the 5th Brigade of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) to the provinces of Matabeleland and Midlands in an operation known as Gukurahundi. The stated aim of the Brigade’s operation was to combat dissidents — armed groups of men, comprising former Zipra combatants who had deserted the ZNA alleging that they were being discriminated against and attacked within the ZNA. Also, there were allegations that some were even killed. Instead, the 5th Brigade committed heinous atrocities against civilians in the two provinces. Within six weeks of arriving in Matabeleland North, 2 000 civilians had been killed. Thousands more were raped, tortured, enforcedly disappeared and their homesteads and property burnt and destroyed. In four years, an estimated 20 000 people had been killed in an operation covering Matabeleland and Midlands. Despite being presented with documented evidence of atrocities, including through its own Chihambakwe Commission of Inquiry on the disturbances in Matabeleland, the government of Zimbabwe denied that its army had committed atrocities and refused to publish the commission’s findings. A political settlement between Zanu and Zapu in 1987 ended the atrocities. The perpetrators of atrocities were pardoned, and there was no accountability or justice for victims. This article examines the Gukurahundi atrocities and evaluates whether they meet the requirements of crimes against humanity (CAH) under international law. The article has three objectives. First, to provide an overview of crimes against humanity, including their origins and historical evolution and development. Second, to examine the contextual, physical and mental elements of CAH. Finally, to evaluate whether the Gukurahundi atrocities meet the legal requirements for the enumerated acts of crimes against humanity. The prohibition of CAH carries an international obligation to investigate, prosecute and punish the crimes. If the 5th Brigade is found to have committed CAH, the perpetrators are liable to be investigated, prosecuted and punished under international law. Introduction Crimes against humanity (CAH) were first prosecuted as such by the International Military Tribunal (IMT) at Nuremberg. There would be a fifty-year hiatus before they were again prosecuted by the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in the 1990s. Since then, their prosecution has become more commonplace with hybrid tribunals in East Timor, Sierra Leone and Cambodia. Most recently, the ICC has prosecuted CAH. There is yet to be established a normative treaty proscribing CAH. Instead, CAH have gained universal acceptance through customary law prohibition. Building on theoretical, conceptual and normative aspects of core international crimes — war crimes genocide and CAH, this article examines 5th Brigade atrocities to determine whether they constitute CAH. The article analyses the legal requirements — customary law, jurisprudence and scholarly writings — regarding CAH and assesses the Gukurahundi atrocities against these requirements. The first section provides an introduction and an outline of the article. The second section provides an overview of CAH, including their origins and historical evolution and development. The third section unpacks the chapeau or contextual elements of CAH, whilst the fourth evaluates the physical and mental elements. The fifth section examines the enumerated acts of CAH, and the sixth section concludes the article with findings. The prohibition of CAH carries an international obligation to investigate, prosecute and punish the crimes. If the 5th brigade perpetrators are found to have committed CAH, they would be liable to be investigated, prosecuted and punished under international law. Overview of crimes against humanity Essentially ‘the primary challenge in defining crimes against humanity is to identify the precise elements that distinguish these offences from crimes subject exclusively to national laws.’ The contemporary debate on CAH has been dominated by ‘difficult questions about the exact scope and the boundaries of these crimes,’ and by extension, the role and application of international criminal law. Unlike genocide and war crimes, both of which are underpinned by international conventions, no treaty deals exclusively with CAH. Holvoet argues that ‘various definitions of CAH and its contextual and other elements have been developed and used in different national, internationalised and international contexts over the years.’ This has generated an ongoing controversy and debate regarding conceptual, normative and definitional aspects of CAH. This notwithstanding CAH are prohibited by customary international law. The Nuremberg Tribunal played a crucial role in developing the customary law related to CAH. In its judgment, the Nuremberg Tribunal held that ‘crimes against Gukurahundi crimes against humanity in Zimbabwe? An evaluative investigation NewsHawks Issue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
international law are committed by men, not abstract entities and only by punishing individuals who commit such crimes can the provisions of international law be enforced.’16 Individual criminal responsibility for CAH was reaffirmed in the Nuremberg Principles and by the General Assembly in Resolution 95(I) (1946). After Nuremberg, the concept of individual criminal responsibility was reaffirmed by the ad hoc international tribunals for the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, hybrid tribunals in East Timor, Sierra Leone, Cambodia. The International Criminal Court (ICC) also reaffirms individual criminal responsibility for CAH. CAH are considered ‘crimes against humaneness’ that offend certain general principles of law and become the international community’s concern. They have repercussions beyond international frontiers and exceed any limits tolerated by modern civilisation in magnitude or savagery. In the case of Akayesu, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) set out the difference between genocide and CAH. Essentially, what differentiates them is that for an act to constitute genocide, there must be an intent on the perpetrator’s part to target a person on one of the prohibited grounds in the Genocide Convention. Such intent is not required to establish or prove CAH. They are also prohibited by the Rome Statute. The following section will examine the chapeau elements of CAH using the Rome Statute, the ICC Elements of Crimes, the jurisprudence of the ICC and ad hoc criminal tribunals on CAH as well as decisions from domestic courts on the same. The section will also evaluate whether Gukurahundi atrocities meet the requirements of the elements of CAH. Chapeau elements of crimes against humanity The chapeau element of CAH is that any one or more of the enumerated acts under Article 7 of the ICC Element of Crimes must have been committed as ‘part of a widespread and systematic attack directed against the civilian population with knowledge of the attack.’ According to Article 7(2)(a) of the Rome Statute, CAH must be committed in furtherance of a state or organisational policy to commit an attack. To prove that an accused person committed CAH, both the conditions of applicability for CAH — that an enumerated act was committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack, committed in furtherance of a state or organisational policy — as well as the specific elements of each offence must be established. Under customary international law and the statutes and jurisprudence of the ad hoc international tribunals and ICC, CAH require that an ‘underlying crime’ be committed in the context of what is known as the ‘chapeau element.’ The accused’s (or perpetrator’s) acts must make up ‘part of ’ that attack (the nexus requirement) and they must know that their acts constitute part of the attack (the requirement) mens rea. The mens rea element does not require ‘proof that the perpetrator had knowledge of all characteristics of the attack or the precise details of the plan or policy of the State or organisation’ but the mens rea element is ‘satisfied if the perpetrator intended to further such an attack.’ The jurisprudence from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) seems to take the view that the mental element is satisfied if the perpetrator not only knows the context but intends his conduct to form part of a widespread or systematic attack on a civilian population. The ICTR Trial Chamber in Kayishema complemented this view holding that the perpetrator must ‘understand the overall context of his act.’ What constitutes an ‘attack’? An ‘attack’ is defined as ‘a course of conduct involving the multiple commission of acts against any civilian population, pursuant to or in furtherance of a state or organisational policy to commit such an attack.’ An attack is considered an event or occurrence in which enumerated acts (crimes such as murder, torture, rape, enforced disappearance) may be committed. It has also been described as ‘a course of conduct involving the commission of acts of violence.’ In the context of CAH, ‘the attack is not limited to armed force but encompasses any mistreatment of the civilian population.’ In Kayishema, the ICTR Trial Chamber held that ‘the attack is the event of which enumerated crimes must form part. Indeed, within a single attack, there may exist a combination of the enumerated crimes, for example, murder, rape and deportation.’ The attack must be carried out as part of an official policy, not for purely personal motives. There is no requirement that the attack must comprise a violent act in all instances. Acts of commission and omission may constitute an attack based on the reasoning of the ICTR, which found former Prime Minister Kambanda guilty of CAH for omitting to fulfil his duty to protect the children and population of Rwanda from the massacres which took place after he had been personally asked to do so. However, it remains unsettled whether a single act is sufficient to constitute an attack in the context of CAH. In Akayesu, the ICTR Trial Chamber held that a single act could constitute an attack, whereas in Tadić, the ICTY Trial Chamber found that an attack could not be constituted by ‘one particular act’ but a course of conduct. This was supported by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) Trial Chamber in Prosecutor v Sesay Kallon and Gbao which defined an attack as a ‘course of conduct.’ Similarly, in Kunarac, the ICTY Trial Chamber held that an attack ‘will not consist of one particular act but of a course of conduct.’ Furthermore, the Rome Statute defines an attack as a course of conduct. The ILC has adopted the view that an attack can be the ‘singular effect of an inhumane act of extraordinary magnitude.’ This view has also been supported by the Extraordinary African Chambers in Habré. International Criminal Law (ICL) scholars argue that it is possible under customary international law that a single inhumane act of extraordinary magnitude could amount to CAH. It seems an ‘extraordinary magnitude’ entails multiple victims. The jurisprudence of the ICC is equally divided, for instance, the Pre-Trial Chamber in the Kenya Authorisation Decision seemed to endorse the view of the International Law Commission (ILC), whereas the ICC Trial Chamber in Prosecutor v Bemba Gombo defined an attack as a course of conduct which required ‘more than a few,’ ‘several’ or ‘many’ acts. The issue is moot with regard to the 5th Brigade which committed multiple enumerated acts elaborated further below, as part of attacks against civilians. Although scholars such as Sluiter argue that what is an ‘attack’ is not sufficiently defined, it seems the prevailing view is that an attack is any course of conduct that involves the commission of acts of violence. It is apparent that the conduct of the 5th Brigade involved the commission of acts of violence such as murder, torture, rape and inhumane treatment, among others. For instance, Breaking the Silence documents instances of murder in different villages and the campaign of the 5th Brigade in Matabeleland and Midlands54 which is estimated to have killed around 20 000 people. In addition to this, the aforementioned report also documents instances of torture conducted by the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), among other state security agencies, at Bhalagwe and Esigodini. Furthermore, rape is reported to have been prevalent during the Gukurahundi campaign as women and girls were raped by the 5th Brigade soldiers, and even boys were subjected to sexual violence. Also, the treatment of civilians at camps such as Bhalagwe, Stops and Sun Yet Sen indicates the extent of the inhumane treatment meted out by the 5th Brigade and some state security agencies. All these examples show the course of conduct of the 5th Brigade which involved the commission of multiple acts of violence and therefore constitutes an attack in the context of CAH. In addition to the acts of commission enumerated above, the failure to take action to protect civilians, investigate crimes and punish offenders by senior political and military leaders, including Prime Minister Robert Mugabe, who were notified of atrocities and provided with evidence meets the requirement of commission by omission set out in Kambanda in which the former Prime Minister of Rwanda was found guilty of CAH for his failure to prevent the commission of atrocities. To be continued… *About the writer: Dr Siphosami Malunga is a Zimbabwean international human rights lawyer. NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 63 1ssue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
Page 64 Reframing Issues JOSHUA MATANZIMA WATER levels at Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe have dropped dramatically because of the latest El Niño drought. The country’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has declared a national disaster. Historian and social scientist Joshua Matanzima grew up at Lake Kariba and has spent the past 10 years researching socioeconomic life there. He discusses the impact of the latest drought on the people of the area. Where is Kariba Dam and what purposes does it serve? The 280 kilometre long, man-made Lake Kariba is part of the Kariba Dam, which was built between 1955 and 1959 in the Zambezi River basin between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The dam provides hydroelectric power to the Kariba north power station on the Zambian side and Kariba south power station on the Zimbabwean side. These provide most of the electricity for the two nations. The remote Kariba Dam, about five hours’ drive from Zimbabwe’s capital city, Harare, and a three-hour drive from Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, also supports fisheries, conservation, tourism and recreation. Over 100 000 people live in Kariba town and the Nyaminyami and Binga rural districts. It is also a religious site and locals believe it shelters their ancestors and Nyaminyami, the river god. Water levels have been falling. What are the causes? Since the early 2010s, the El Niño weather pattern has induced droughts and heatwaves in the Zambezi region, causing a drop in the water levels at Lake Kariba. EL Niño is an unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that brings hotter temperatures and much lower rainfall to southern Africa for five months at a time. By 8 April 2024, the Zambezi River Authority, which owns and manages Lake Kariba, announced that water in the lake had dropped to just 13.52% of its capacity. Water levels in the lake fluctuate according to the rainfall – this time last year, the lake was 21.94% full, but levels dropped as low as 12% in 2015. What are the four biggest effects on local communities? Low water levels in Lake Kariba have had a huge impact on the people in the area. The key areas of concern are: • Survival. Many people survive directly off the lake, by catching and selling fish. • The drought reduces fish spawning areas, which means that fishers who live near Lake Kariba catch very few fish during times of drought. My research has found that during times of drought in Kariba, crocodiles take fish from the fishers’ nets and destroy the nets. In retaliation, fishers attack crocodiles with spears and logs, exposing themselves to crocodile attacks. • Human-wildlife conflict. The area is already a hotspot for human-wildlife conflict. A drop in the water levels results in increased competition over water resources between people and wild animals, resulting in human-wildlife conflict. Animals that normally drink water from far-away river estuaries start approaching the parts of the lake populated by humans. Clashes between elephants, buffalo, baboons, lions and humans increase as they have to share reduced waterscapes. • Poaching. There’s also an increase in poaching as impala, kudu, waterbuck and duiker move closer to human settlements to seek water and people seek more sources of food and income due to the economic downturn caused by the drought. • Tourism. Numbers drop off. Game drives along the lake to the estuaries, which have unique flora and fauna and allow tourists a closer view of wild animals and birds, come to a standstill during times of drought. Tourist fishing in the estuaries dries up. The opening of the floodgates at the dam walls, which were a drawcard for tourism, stops as the water levels are too low for this. • Long walks to collect water. Water level reductions burden women and children from surrounding fishing camps and villages who fetch water for home use from the lake. In my research, residents of the area say that water levels have dropped so much that fishing camps are now up to 2km further away from the lake than they were before the drought. Women and children from fishing camps have even been injured and killed by wild animals as they fetch water in the lake. • Trade is disrupted. Cross border traders based in Kariba who do business between Zimbabwe and Zambia are also affected. Kariba traders often cross the border to sell fish in Zambia, but with low catches this is no longer possible. Also, most traders depended on income from fishing to purchase goods from Zambia for resale in Zimbabwe. What can the government do to help? Proactive measures are required to minimise harm to lives and livelihoods. Over the long term, droughts could become more severe and the Kariba Dam could stop producing as much power. The Lake Kariba region is a very hot and windy region that can support both onshore and offshore wind turbines and solar parks. The government must plan for this, so that local communities can have sustainable electricity with renewable energy projects that support alternative livelihoods. The national parks authorities in both Zimbabwe and Zambia also need to put in robust measures for decreasing the number of human-wildlife conflicts. This can be done by identifying areas of high animal activity at the lake and directing humans away from this. Communities are also unaware of the relationship between a drop in water levels and human-wildlife conflict, and more awareness should be created about this. The water governing authorities in the Zambezi area should also draw on local knowledge and practices in times of drought. For example, the authorities could promote the rainmaking ceremonies by local traditional groups of the Tonga, Shangwe and Korekore. These groups have lived in the area for centuries and believe that water drops are a result of angry ancestral and water spirits, including Nyaminyami, the river god. The governing authorities may want to fund more of such ceremonies as local communities lack funds to enact the ceremonies — The Conversation. *About the writer: Dr Joshua Matanzima is a researcher at the University of Queensland in Australia. Lake Kariba's water drops to disastrous levels NewsHawks Issue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
Africa News Page 65 THOMAS MANDRUP The Southern African Development Community (Sadc) military mission in Mozambique (Samim), which was deployed on 15 July 2021 to fight the Islamic insurgents terrorising the northern Cabo Delgado province since 2017, is scheduled to end by June 2024. Mozambican security forces will then take full responsibility for security. We asked military science and defence expert Thomas Mandrup, who has published a paper on the situation after a recent ground visit, to evaluate the mission. Why did the military mission in Mozambique intervene? The jihadist insurgency by the group now calling itself Al Sunnah had been spreading rapidly in the Cabo Delgado province from late 2019. Sadc member states had been putting pressure on the Mozambican government to allow a regional military intervention to prevent the insurgency from spreading in the region. Their fear was that Islamic State (Isis), to which the extremists are affiliated, would get a bridgehead from which they could expand their operations. More than 850 000 civilians had been forced to flee their homes after violent attacks by the extremists. The insurgency caused the suspension of a US$60 billion investment in a liquefied natural gas project led by multinational energy giants TotalEnergies, ENI and Exxon. The hope had been that the development would drive local, national and regional economic growth. The Sadc decided to deploy a combined force of 2 210 troops. The mission is dominated by a South African contingent of 1 495 soldiers. Other troops come from Botswana, Tanzania, Lesotho, Namibia and Angola. The thinking was that they would eliminate the Al-Sunnah presence in its area of operation. How successful was the mission? What were the challenges? The Sadc military mission had several main strategic objectives: • neutralising the extremists • assisting the Mozambique Defence Armed Forces in planning and undertaking operations • training and advising the Mozambique forces. The Sadc member states also planned to supplement the military efforts with humanitarian aid and even development projects to sustain the progress made by the mission. An internal assessment report was presented at the July 2023 meeting of the then Sadc leadership troika (Zambia, Namibia and South Africa). It concluded that the Sadc mission had achieved its objective of reducing the insurgents’ capacity and assisting the Mozambican military. In addition, 570 000 internally displaced people had returned to their homes by August 2023, as the security situation had improved. However, since the second half of 2023, the number of attacks has increased, leading to a rise in the number of displaced people. Samim has found it difficult to fulfil its mandate of training the Mozambican force because they couldn’t identify their training needs. The development and humanitarian efforts have been limited at best. The assessment report also concluded that the mission had suffered because it was never given the capabilities outlined in the initial Sadc pre-mission report of April 2021. Firstly, the force was smaller than initially recommended. It never went beyond 2 200, a far cry from the mandated 2 900. The mission lacked numbers and capabilities in terms of air, naval and ground assets. Lack of funding was key to the mission’s limited size and capabilities. Secondly, coordination and joint operations with the Rwandan forces, which had been deployed in July 2021, the Sadc force and the Mozambican security forces have been problematic. For example, they had different communication equipment and the soldiers spoke different languages. Thirdly, intelligence gathering capabilities were weak. Insufficient information before operations commenced increased the danger to troops and civilians. Fourth, intelligence and operational information was frequently leaked to the extremists. What lessons can be learnt from the operation? An outside intervening force must have the full backing of the host nation. And it must understand the area and situation it’s being deployed into. The Mozambican government and military have not always worked with the mission. Seemingly hidden agendas, or different priorities, have hampered the mission. The Mozambican government’s delayed and timid response to the growth of the insurgency from its beginning raises a number of questions: • why was its response so slow and insufficient? • why did it oppose regional involvement for so long? • why has the Sadc mission at times found it difficult to strike at the core of the insurgents? The difficult political situation in the capital, Maputo, notably factional battles inside the governing Frelimo and the fallout over the huge 2013-2014 Tuna bonds corruption scandal, hampered the mission. During my recent fieldwork several interviewees even suggested that a faction of Frelimo had at times supported the insurgents. In addition, strong personal, political and economic interests affected operational realities. Frelimo has strong ties to the region going back to the war of independence against Portugal, and later the civil war between Renamo and Frelimo. The cleavages from the civil war have never been really solved and are still visible. It was clear that the Mozambican government didn’t have a clear plan to address the many causes of conflict. For example, it did not understand why the insurgency had attracted support from large sections of the local population. Many people living in Cabo Delgado view the Mozambican state as removed from their everyday realities. Some even see the government as illegitimate and the cause of their suffering. An effective stabilisation effort needs various interventions – military, socioeconomic and political – to resolve the difficult conditions people are living under. The Sadc mission was starved of the capabilities and numbers needed to be an effective fighting force. The local population considered it less effective than, for instance, the Rwandan force, which was also better equipped and trained. What needs to happen Insurgency activities are once again on the rise in Cabo Delgado. The risk is that the extremists will once again take a stronger foothold there since the issues that led to the conflict in the first place remain unresolved. The Sadc mission shows how difficult and costly it is to launch and run a large scale military operation, especially if the host government is not taking full ownership and supporting the operation. The Sadc operation can only create “space” for the political solutions to be found. In addition, the Mozambican government and its security force have shown only limited signs of improved capacity. It is uncertain that they are ready to take over the full responsibility for security after June 2024, when the Sadc soldiers leave. — The Conversation. *About the interviewee: Thomas Mandrup is associate professor, Security Institute for Governance and Leadership In Africa (SIGLA), Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Jihadism in Mozambique: Southern African forces are leaving with mixed results South African soldiers await instructions to jump. NewsHawks 1ssue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
Page 66 Refreshing Issues PEARL S. KYEI CHILDREN develop an enormous amount during their early years – socially, physically, emotionally and cognitively. What happens between the ages of 0 and 8 years can predict important long-term outcomes: for example, how a child will fare at school; what their health will be like and their future earning potential. Children in sub-Saharan Africa have the highest risk globally of experiencing delays in their development. There are several reasons for this, among them a lack of stimulation. Too many parents and caregivers are not reading to, playing with or encouraging their young children to learn, or providing learning aids such as books and toys. This may explain why the region has the lowest proportion of children who are developmentally on track when it comes to literacy and numeracy. I am a demographer with an interest in how and when children in sub-Saharan Africa develop literacy. Recently, I set out with a colleague to assess how children in eight West African and Central African countries were faring in this regard. The countries were the Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone and Togo. Our findings are cause for concern. Only about one in every 10 children (11.9%) in our sample were developmentally on track in literacy and numeracy. We also looked at whether the children had spent any cognitively stimulating time in the previous three days with their parents or caregivers. Our focus here was on three activities that stimulate brain development: reading books or looking at picture books; telling stories; or naming, counting or drawing things. Less than half of the children in the sample had done so. For all three activities, children who were developmentally on track were more likely than other children to have interacted with a caregiver. Our findings are an important reminder of just how much children benefit from regular, cognitively stimulating interactions with their caregivers. This is true even and perhaps especially in low-income settings such as West and Central Africa. And it does not require a lot of money: households that cannot afford toys and books can still invest time in stimulating activities. The data The children in our study were three and four years old (some were just about to turn five). The sample was 35 752 children across the eight countries. The data was collected between 2017 and 2021 by the Multiple International Cluster Surveys (MICS). This global programme collects nationally representative data on maternal and child health using household surveys. It collects a range of information on children including development, nutrition and caregiving practices. The MICS Early Childhood Development Index classifies children of this age as being developmentally on track in literacy-numeracy if they can do at least two out of the following: • identify or name at least 10 letters of the alphabet • read at least four simple, popular words in any language • know the name and recognise the symbol of all numbers from 1 to 10. Early childhood literacy influences later reading comprehension and academic achievement. That makes it especially important to study in a sub-region where an estimated 89% cannot read and understand a simple text by the time they are 10 years old. Children in our study who were engaged in reading books, telling stories, naming, counting or drawing by a household member 15 years and older were far more likely than their peers to be developmentally on track in literacy and numeracy. The major takeaway from our study is that cognitively stimulating activities with caregivers matter. What should be done These findings echo a large global body of evidence that highlights how important early cognitive stimulation is for children. Caregivers must be taught how important it is to regularly engage young children in these activities. They need information and guidance. This is particularly important for caregivers without formal education. They should be encouraged to engage the child in activities that do not require literacy and numeracy skills, such as telling stories, naming and drawing. They can also be guided on how older, school-going siblings or other relatives can be drawn into activities like reading and counting. — The Conversation. *About the writer: Pearl S. Kyei is a lecturer at the University of Ghana. African children lag behind in literacy, numeracy skills NewsHawks Issue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
Africa News Page 67 WALTER DORN AS the world marks the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi ethnic group in Rwanda, it is important to understand what the international community could have done to prevent it. In one hundred days an estimated 600 000 to 800 000 Rwandans were killed. The Tutsi were targeted primarily due to long-standing ethnic tensions between the Tutsi minority and the majority Hutu population. Tutsi sympathisers and moderate Hutus were also targeted. As the mass killings were happening, the international community stood by in a stupor, even though the nations of the world had a legal and moral obligation to intervene in cases of genocide. The United Nations also had a responsibility to maintain international peace and security. To its credit, the United Nations had already put in place a peacekeeping mission, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (Unamir). It was established in 1993 to support the Arusha accords, which aimed at ending the civil war in Rwanda. Could Unamir have prevented the genocide? Being a student of peacekeeping history, I sought to learn from the UN experience. I wrote a detailed paper on whether the genocide could have been predicted and prevented. In my view this was possible but would have required three main things: detailed intelligence, preventive measures and political will. These components can still be applied to genocide prediction and prevention, and to protection of civilians, in other war-torn countries – whether it be Gaza, Haiti, Sudan, Yemen, or Ukraine – though the methods to achieve these three components will be different in each case. Detailed intelligence In Rwanda, intelligence-gathering could have provided clear and sufficient clues about the genocide months in advance. Information from many sources, including informants, journalists and human rights investigators, showed illicit arms flows, training and preparations by the Interahamwe (a Hutu extremist militia group), insider plotting for “the apocalypse”, the names and reputations of the plotters, and a long-standing pattern of ethnically based human rights violations. Unfortunately, the UN mission felt deaf and blind in the field as it did not have the analytical capacity to synthesise these important pieces of evidence. It was also prevented by UN headquarters from taking measures to secure more information and taking steps for prevention. Preventive action Since early warning of the Rwandan genocide was clearly possible for the UN, could it have actually prevented the genocide? Had the UN taken deterrent actions early on, it might have been able to stop the genocide at the outset. Later, a large deployment of troops would have been needed to bring a halt to the many senseless killings. UN preventive actions should have dealt with people (both plotters and resisters), the genocide structures (networks) and the tools (weapons) of the genocide. In response to illicit weapons flowing into Kigali, the peacekeeping force should have firmly applied the embargo. Since a network of Rwandan officials was being trained to carry out genocide, a few selected individuals in the chain of command should have been influenced, isolated and turned by their foreign trainers and UN contacts. International officials should have exposed the international aid diversion, which was suspected in Interahamwe training. Additional pressure could have been applied to reduce the level of threatening propaganda and to shut down extremist radio stations. After the start of the genocide on 6 April, the UN should have taken these steps. But high-ranking officials of both the UN and its member states, particularly the United States, failed even to recognise and publicly declare the genocide, even as tens of thousands were being slaughtered. Early recognition of the unfolding genocide would have focused more international attention, increasing pressure by NGOs and an outraged public to stop the killings immediately, and caused the Security Council to strengthen Unamir at an early stage. Instead, the systematic killing of Tutsis was inaccurately portrayed as another example of “ethnic violence”. Unamir commander Roméo Dallaire, myself and others have argued that a small, intervening force with a robust mandate could have intervened to prevent genocide, particularly in the early days. The UN secretary-general at the time, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, affirmed his belief in November 1994 that as few as 400 troops could have “saved the situation”. These remarks suggest that the killers were so lightly armed and poorly trained that even the most skeletal of intervening forces could have overwhelmed them. Quick, decisive action by the UN might have isolated the genocide to the Kigali sector before it spread into the countryside. What was provided much later was a unilateral French force, under Operation Turquoise. Turquoise was not the right kind of intervening force – it didn’t have the mandate to actively stop the genocide. And it deployed too late. Finally, the Security Council could have authorised a strong UN mission to establish safe havens in strategic locations in Kigali and the Rwandan countryside. In fact, the UN did protect some locations in Kigali – at the Milles Collines Hotel, the King Faisal Hospital, and the city’s main stadium. Some 15 000 refugees (mostly Tutsis) were saved at the hospital, thanks to the efforts of the Bangladeshi and later Ghanaian soldiers who guarded it. Political will So, the UN should have developed a better information system and taken preventive measures. What prevented it from doing so? The simple answer is a lack of political will. The main reason for this broad lack of resolve was that the dominant member of the UN – the United States – was viewing UN peacekeeping cautiously and with fear of over-involvement. The lack of US commitment was largely the result of a disastrous mission in Somalia the previous year. Without US leadership and support, other states were hesitant to commit themselves politically or militarily. Instead Unamir was cut to just 10% of its personnel. Still, these peacekeepers managed to save 20 000 to 30 000 lives, showing what dedicated action from a small force can achieve. Moving forward What, then, is necessary for political will to be developed to prevent future atrocities like Rwanda? Primarily it is a matter of fostering a sense of enlightened self-interest among all nations, linking human welfare around the globe with one’s own. It means recognising that when crimes against one section of humanity are committed, no matter where, it is a crime against all of humanity. If this isn’t enough, then the fear of inaction should also be a motivating force. Another motivating force can be international law. Under the Genocide Convention, nations are obliged to prevent this horrendous crime against humanity. The lesson of Rwanda is clear: we must build international political will, as well as an enhanced UN capability, for prevention. Traditionally UN peacekeeping missions were primarily mandated to monitor ceasefires and separate conflicting parties, but since 1999 they’ve been tasked with protection of civilians caught in conflict zones. But the means to achieve that goal are still lacking. The UN has greatly developed its ability for gathering and analysing information in its peacekeeping missions, but it still needs rapid reaction forces. The world community owes it to the hundreds of thousands of innocent human beings who were slaughtered during the Rwandan genocide to try to predict and prevent future genocides and mass atrocities. — The Conversation. *About the writer: Walter Dorn is professor of defence studies at the Royal Military College of Canada. How genocide against the Tutsi could have been prevented NewsHawks 1ssue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
Page 68 Africa News NewsHawks Issue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
Jordan Moozy gives fans foretaste of new songs JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA BOTSWANA-BASED Zimbabwean musician Jordan Moozy delighted his fans when he dished out several songs from his upcoming album at his homecoming show held at Organikks Ndizvo last weekend. Moozy aka Gen Z, who is known for his eclectic blend of musical genres, mesmerised the crowd from start to finish, making sure fans sample his new songs and also going back in time with a selection of his old tracks. Off his upcoming album, Moozy worked with renowned Zimbabwean producers, the likes of Spirit Fingerz, Simba Tagz and Reverb7, giving fans a mixed bag of songs. While on stage, Moozy showcased his unique vocal talent and musical prowess capturing the imagination of his audience. The track list featured an array of Moozy’s hits, including songs from his critically acclaimed EP De’Grace, which resonated well with fans across borders. The audience was also treated to a vibrant mix of R&B, pop, alte, highlife, and hip-hop, highlighting Moozy’s diverse influences and his ability to blend them into a seamless and immersive experience. The multi-dimensional singer, songwriter and producer was born in Botswana to Zimbabwean parents. His upbringing and travels have taken him across southern Africa, and these influences have shaped his musical sound and worldview. His music is a layered, multilingual blend of genres that is seeping with influences that span across borders and decades. His eclectic sound is reflected in his sense of style and creative direction. Critics say Moozy represents a new sound and generation finding novel and creative ways to explore self-expression that is impossible to ignore. Moozy has already secured awards for Best R&B and Best Collaboration at the Yaron FM Awards in 2021. He was also nominated for Best Newcomer and Best R&B at the same awards. His performance in Harare was at the popular urban culture Shoko Festival where he had fans eating out of his palms. At present, Moozy is rocking Botswana and South Africa and he has set his sights on his motherland, Zimbabwe. With his performance at Organikks Ndizvo, he has not only solidified his reputation in the country, but also set the stage for his rise in southern Africa. STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model Life&Style Page 69 Issue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024 Jordan Moozy
Page 70 People & Places The revolutionary power of jazz — A night of magic with Abdullah Ibrahim SOUTH Africa’s renowned jazz pianist and composer, Abdullah Ibrahim, recently returned home to embark on his world tour, “The Water from an Ancient Well”. Throughout his career, Ibrahim’s music has served as a powerful combination of politics, jazz, social activism and cultural expression for the majority of South Africans and their Struggle for liberation during the apartheid era. On Sunday, 14 April 2024, the octogenarian took the stage at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria to deliver a grand performance as part of a tour that encapsulated not only his dedication to his craft, but also to his country’s journey towards democracy. This was more than a performance, it was a homecoming for a man whose life and art had been exiled, but whose spirit remained deeply rooted in the soil of his homeland. In Setswana we say “gaabo motho go thebe phatswa”, loosely translated as “home is where the heart is”. It was a spiritual experience for him and his audience, a moment of profound reflection. During his electrifying performance, the audience anticipated every note from his piano. Notes which carried the weight of history. From the opening chords of John Coltrane and Duke Ellington’s A Sentimental Mood to his famous song Manenberg, we were transported back in time to an era defined by struggle and resilience. First recorded in 1974, Manenberg was named for the eponymous coloured township in Cape Town – a township with a painful history of being created because of forced removals and land dispossession by the apartheid government, but a home to people of enduring spirit. His evocative melodies remind us that the political and the personal are inextricably intertwined. His music is revolutionary, echoing the words of Miles Davis: “Jazz is the big brother of revolution, it follows it around.” Nearly 90 years old and barely able to walk or stand, Abdullah was a master of the piano, and every note of his performance seemed to carry the echoes of South Africa’s Struggle for liberation and a testament to the enduring power of art. Democracy without the pulsating lifeblood of art is a hollow shell. Without the indomitable spirit of human rights and democratisation embodied by artists like Abdullah Ibrahim, on what anchor is democracy moored? I was particularly struck by the complexity and beauty of his compositions as he deftly moved between different keys and melodies. It was as if his fingers were creating a symphony of hope, bridging the past and the present, the personal and the political. I sat there with my eyes closed, using the power of my imagination. Living in a polarised and fragmented society, his melody dared me to dream and evoked feelings of hope and limitless possibilities – the possibility of a South Africa that contradicts our current reality. As Ibrahim performed, his music reminded me of the work of Winnie Mandela, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Robert Sobukwe, Lilian Ngoyi and Steve Biko, to name but a few, and their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to justice. In his music, I heard echoes of their voices, felt the weight of their struggles, and glimpsed the vision of the South Africa they fought so hard to create. The music transported me to a place of profound reflection, a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who came before us and a call to continue their work in pursuit of a more just and equitable democratic society. While his music is deeply rooted in the struggles against apartheid, it continues to resonate with our 30 years of democracy. This is evident in his deft transitions between keys, the rhythms of his piano and the melodies that emerge which serve as metaphors for the fluid, dynamic and ever-changing nature of democracy itself. His musical command reminds us of the power of art as a transformative tool that transcends class and race. Before living in today’s democratic society, artists like Ibrahim could only dream in their youth of performing to a non-segregated audience. Seeing people of all races, ages and social identities at his concert is a reminder that dreams of a better and equitable society can come true in our lifetime, as they have for Abdullah, who now returns home to a South Africa that looks very much like the vision of freedom that anti-apartheid activists of the time fought for. As the last notes of the concert faded into the night, he sang with his frail voice. The sound of his voice evoked deep emotions. I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to witness such a momentous occasion. Abdullah Ibrahim is not just a pianist or a composer, he is the grandfather of jazz, as I fondly call him, a freedom fighter, an epitome of resilience and a testament to the enduring power of art. As we celebrate 30 years of democracy in South Africa, let us also celebrate the life and legacy of Abdullah Ibrahim, a true pioneer. In our relentless efforts to find innovative ways to build our democracy, may we remember that this moment is not static, it’s a work in progress, and that jazz offers us the gift of harnessing the power of imagination. This intricate dance between democracy and art is nothing less than a symbiotic relationship, each deeply dependent on the other, each nourishing the other. A working democracy is more than a political system. It is an harmonious symphony of diversity, a champion of equality and a steadfast keeper of individual freedoms. — Daily Maverick. Abdullah Ibrahim’s evocative melodies remind us that the political and the personal are inextricably intertwined. His music is revolutionary, echoing the words of Miles Davis: ‘Jazz is the big brother of revolution, it follows it around.’ The late Abdullah Ibrahim NewsHawks Issue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
I KNOW I wasn’t so kind to Norman Mapeza in the last instalment on this page, over the interim Warriors coach’s performance in a four-nation invitational tournament in Malawi last month. Well, I still believe I was right in my assessment, to make those remarks. But in that I do not subtract the reality that, like others before him, there are factors behind Mapeza’s recent disappointment, as well as his poor record on the previous occasions that the former Zimbabwe captain has been at the helm of the Warriors. To a man, we know the negative dynamics behind every previous Zimbabwe coach’s failures. At what point, though, do we stop making excuses for these guys each time they flop? It’s a genuine question whose answer I’m not able to expertly provide. But one Mistry Chipere, contributing to a new WhatsApp platform on Zimbabwean football, raised something that may shed light on an even bigger problem, especially when it comes to our local coaches. You may not know much about Mistry, but this is a fellow who has been one of the minds, behind the scenes, in successfully persuading what we now call the British Brigade to answer Zimbabwe national team call-ups. He made a bold statement, during a heated debate, that local coaches’ downfall is lack of confidence in themselves and desperation, quick as a flash to accept the national team job under undesirable conditions. For example, when accepting to take the team to Malawi last month, did Mapeza even try to address the shortcomings pointed out by Baltemar Brito after the Portuguese coached the Warriors in two World Cup qualifiers last November, administrative faults such as skipper Marvelous Nakamba bringing his own recovery equipment from the United Kingdom, and tactical interference from Zifa officials? Or Mapeza was just happy to get the gig, not willing to ruffle any feathers, just because he is a Zimbabwean who shouldn’t be demanding standards like the expatriates do when you give them the important task of coaching your country’s football team. It is not patriotism to agree to take the job, under these shoddy conditions which foreigners would reject, it’s shooting yourself in the foot – roared Chipere. In fact, it’s a disservice to yourself and your country, taking a whole football-mad nation for granted. Because, he argued, you’re setting up yourself and the fans for failure by not asking for the right tools for the task at hand as expected of a national coach. There are so many things that we overlook in Zimbabwe to deny ourselves of that little bit of edge over others. It’s one of the very reasons we expect Khama Billiat – straight from the top professionalism of the South African PSL to little Yadah FC in Zimbabwe – to produce the same magic as the Khamaldinho of old in his pomp. No fulltime physios, no competent medics, no strengths and conditioning coaches – you name them. Worlds apart from the comforts of Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs just across the border. When somebody comes from abroad to coach here, they request to bring along these professionals and they get their wish granted. Even an interpreter, for Christ’s sake! But if it’s Norman Mapeza, much as I will maintain my reservations about him, he gets just a couple of token assistants, handpicked for him. He’ll be lucky to even get paid for his trouble. I wasn’t however totally surprised that there were those who found fault in what Mistry Chipere said, some of them simply for the sake of just opposing. For mediocrity has filtered down to a large constituency of this country’s football landscape. But the coaches, who are supposed to know better, also accept it. To their own peril. Sport Page 71 If you settle for mediocrity, you ultimately produce mediocrity Zimbabwe players celebrate with their fans after beating Zambia in the four-nation tournament in Malawi in March. The Warriors however produced an insipid performance to lose 3-1 to Kenya in the final in which coach Norman Mapeza was red-carded and criticised for his tactical shortcomings. Enock Muchinjo HawkZone NewsHawks 1ssue 173, 19 - 26 April 2024
NEWS $60 Covid tariff for visitors & tourists CULTURE Community radio regulations under review @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com Thursday 1 October 2020 WHAT’S INSIDE ALSO INSIDE Finance Ministy wipes out $3.2 Billion depositors funds Zim's latest land cStory on Page 3 Story on Page 8 Chamisa reacout to Khupe Unofficial president calls for emergeFriday 19 - 26 April 2024 This Zifa NC has really dug itself into a hole ALSO INSIDE Sports Real Madrid beat Barcelona ... 11 points clear in La Liga Real Madrid attacking midfielder Jude Bellingham has been on fire this season. JUDE Bellingham scored a late winner as Real Madrid beat Barcelona to move 11 points clear at the top of La Liga after an enthralling El Clasico. Bellingham smashed into the roof of the net as the clock ticked into stoppage time as Real twice came from behind at the Bernabeu. The 103m euros (£88.5m) that Real handed over to Borussia Dortmund to sign Bellingham in the summer is looking like more of a bargain with each week that passes and he certainly does not look out of place with Zinedine Zidane's iconic number five on his back. With 17 goals in La Liga this term, Bellingham is the second highest scorer in the division - just one behind Girona's Artem Dovbyk - and he continues to dazzle as Real look to end the season with a La Liga and Champions League double. 'It's a disgrace' - Xavi Barcelona coach Xavi was furious after VAR officials could not prove that Yamal's effort had crossed the line. "It's a disgrace," said Xavi, complaining that the goalline technology used in other top flights including the Premier League is not available in La Liga. "If we want to be the best league in the world we have to advance in this sense, you have to put in the technology." Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen agreed with his coach. "It's shameful for football, I don't have the words," said the Germany international. "There's so much money in this world and there's no money for what's most important." —BBC.