DONT MISS ! DONT MISS!TOMORROW LIVE ON BEN TV SKY 194 [www.bentelevision.com]YVONNE CHAKACHAKA AT 10.00 AM
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY AT 6.00 PM ON BEN TV SKY 194 OR www.bentelevision.com : OLIVER TAMBO :
Dignitaries and senior political representatives from South Africa and
the UK will attended the unveiling ceremony at Albert Road Recreation Ground, N22, and a plaque on a property in Alexandra Park Road , N22, where Mr Tambo lived for many years with his wife Adelaide during his long exile from his homeland from 1960.
The unveiling, along with speeches remembering Mr Tambo, will took place between 12 noon and 2pm on 17 October.
The event has been organised by Haringey Council in partnership with
the South African High Commission, the Friends of Albert Road
Recreation Ground (FARRG), Alexandra Park Secondary School and Rhodes
Avenue Primary School , to celebrate the borough's association with Mr
Tambo, who was President of the ANC from 1967 to 1991.
In 1990 Oliver and Adelaide Tambo received the Freedom of the Borough
in recognition of their contribution to the struggle for freedom in
their homeland and the inspiration they had provided for Haringey
residents.
Press Release
Bexley African and Caribbean Community Association (BACCA) and partners will be hosting an event on the 10th November 2007
to commemorate the abolition of the Trans Atlantic slave trade
and the Bexley borough’s connections with slavery
To be held at Christchurch Hall, Victoria Road, Erith, Kent DA8 3BN
from 10am - 5pm.
Available;
Ø exhibition from the Bexley Heritage Trust
Ø presentation by local historian Cliff Pereira
Ø speakers from Racial Justice International
Come and see African drumming, Drama, folk singing, music and dancing
Come and share the experiences of our past, present and future,
all age groups are welcome.
FREE ADMISSION
Refreshment’s and lunch available
For further information contact BACCA on 07946 497731
or by email - baccaforum@yahoo.co.uk
ABOLITION OF SLAVE TRADE
Partners include: Anglo Asian African Caribbean Friendship & Cultural Association, Bangladeshi Welfare Association, Bexley Assyrian Community Association, Bexley Bangladeshi Women’s Association,
Bexley Council and the Bexley Council for Racial Equality
Funded by the Community Development Foundation
ETHIOPIA
12.10.2007
A Week in the Horn
· President Girma Woldegiorghis’ re-election as President
· President Girma opens the first parliamentary session of the New Millennium
· The need to restore integrity of the Temporary Security Zone
· Prime Minister Meles wants closer co-operation with UNESCO
· An EU Presidency Statement on the Somali Regional State
· A Somaliland delegation in Ethiopia
· President Girma Woldegiorghis was re-elected President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia by a joint session of Parliament. He will now serve for a further six year term. He was originally chosen as President in 2002. President Girma was nominated by the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front. Government Whip, the Honorable Shiferaw Jarso, said President Girma had contributed substantially to the promotion of the country’s image abroad and had played an important role in fostering relations with a number of countries. He had also been active in exercising his responsibilities as Head of State on visits to various regions and states of the country and provided great support for development works. He had carried out his duties with competence and efficiency. Opposition parties nominated Professor Beyene Petros as a candidate for the Presidency on the basis of his sixteen-year long career as an MP. President Girma was elected by 430 votes to 88, with eleven abstentions. The President, after taking the oath of office, emphasized that he would do his best to bring the government and the people closer together during his term of office and to help extricate the country from poverty over the next six years.
· The previous day, President Girma had opened the first Parliamentary session of the New Millennium. Addressing a joint session of the House of People’s Representatives and the House of Federation he outlined government plans for the coming parliamentary term. In his speech he noted the recent economic progress that had been achieved and the legal and institutional foundations that had been laid down for the furtherance of democracy and good governance. He referred to the resolution of the problems encountered in 2005 and the renewed hope, optimism and vigor now available to realize Ethiopia’s Renaissance in the New Millennium. President Girma said the nation had registered an impressively huge growth rate over the last four years, and the aim was to sustain a rate of no less than 10%. New and amended bills would be brought before the House of People’s Representatives to support this aim. These would include legislation on Fertilizer Production, Trade, Plant Seeds, Bio-Safety, Disease Prevention and Control, Meat Hygiene, Animal Quarantine and Transport, Protection of Honey Production, and the Development and Use of Water Resources. The government will also focus attention on the promotion of trade and investment, with a revised investment law, and legislation on National Quality Standards, Trade License Registration, Technical Control Systems and other bills covering mining, energy and petroleum resources. All this should significantly enhance private sector involvement in industry and urban development. In the social sector there will be bills to expand the quality and quantity of education and provide rights for the disabled.
The President also outlined government proposals to create a stable macro-economic environment, including proposed improvements to the tax system. Amended legislation will cover such areas as the National Bank, insurance, micro-credit, customs, revenue, VAT, excise, postal and turnover taxes. Another set of bills will further good governance: these will include major bills on Corruption and Whistleblowers, the Protection of Witnesses, and Jobs and Physical Security. There will be draft laws on Penal Code procedures, Administrative Affairs, the Press, NGOs and Financial Support for Political Parties. Proclamations are also planned to improve the efficiency of the Federal Police, and to prevent gun running and arms trafficking. President Girma noted that Ethiopia had decisively removed the major threat of extremism in Somalia and reiterated the importance of creating a significant atmosphere to allow the TFG to stand on its own. The government would continue its efforts to bring about a situation in which AMISOM could replace Ethiopian forces as soon as possible. President Girma also noted that the House of Federation will be looking at the formulae for federal government subsidies to the regional states, and for the sharing of revenues between the Federal and State governments. The House of Federation will also be undertaking a series of activities to raise constitutional awareness, including setting up a number of forums on the subject, and hosting the Annual Nationalities Festival.
· President Girma spoke of the government’s concern over Eritrean interference and its efforts to destabilize the region. He said Ethiopia’s desire for a peaceful relationship with Eritrea was unwavering but Eritrea had continuously failed to respond to invitations to round-table discussions. Eritrea had threatened war and had continued a massive program of conscription, forcing the government to present a number of bills to improve the capacity of the defense forces. The current tension underlines the urgent need for the restoration of the integrity of the Temporary Security Zone. Without this no further progress on demarcation is possible. Ethiopia has taken note of, and understands the UN Secretary-General’s concerns as expressed in his Statement on October 11, but it reiterates that the source of the current problem is the Eritrean takeover of the TSZ.
· On Monday, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told the Chairman of the UNESCO Executive Board that Ethiopia would like to see enhanced cooperation with the UN agency in the area of education particularly in vocational and technical training. Conferring with Mr.Zhang Xinsheng, who is China’s Deputy Minister for Education and one of the few high-ranking Chinese officials in international bodies, Prime Minister Meles said assistance from both China and UNESCO would help boost Ethiopia's efforts to expand vocational training. Many graduates of vocational and technical institutes have become self-supporting in recent years engaging in ever increasing numbers of small-scale and micro enterprises. They have generated thousands of jobs. Equally, Ethiopia is committed to providing access to quality education for all citizens. It has made remarkable progress, but serious challenges remain, including the need to speed up the establishment of educational facilities for pastoralist and semi-pastoralist communities. Ethiopia would like to draw lessons from China’s successful attempts to tackle similar difficulties. Prime Minister Meles also urged the Government of China to support Africa's bid to reach agreement with the relevant agencies to raise the role of education, science and technology in changing living standards. Mr. Xinsheng for his part made clear his appreciation of Ethiopia’s efforts and the progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Attention given to the expansion of education would, he said, be crucial in making sustainable the rapid economic growth registered over the past few years. Mr. Xinsheng said China would provide financial assistance for the institution UNESCO is planning to set up in Addis Ababa to augment Africa's efforts to build and improve on its own capacity.
· On Tuesday, the EU Presidency, currently held by Portugal, issued a statement on behalf of the European Union on the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia. The statement said the EU welcomed the recent report on the findings of the UN Humanitarian Assessment Mission which visited the Somali Regional State last month. The report urged Ethiopia to ensure that food supplies reached those in need and that aid agencies were able to operate in the region. The EU’s statement expressed its concern over the report’s conclusions and commended the Ethiopian government for its reaction to the report. It welcomed the government’s willingness to ensure that humanitarian needs of the population would be properly addressed. The EU statement also called upon the government to follow up all the recommendations of the assessment mission, including action to protect civilians in conflict.
· A Somaliland delegation led by Foreign Minister, Abdullahi Duale, left Addis Ababa on October 8, after a five day visit. The delegation which included Finance Minister, Hussein Ali Duale, met with senior Ethiopian officials. Discussions covered issues of mutual interest as well as security and regional affairs. Meanwhile, in Somaliland the government has announced that local government and presidential elections have been postponed. Local elections had been originally scheduled for December this year, and the presidential election for April 2008. The new dates will be July 1 and August 31 respectively. The decision was reached by officials of the National Electoral Commission in consultation with leaders of the three political parties. The decision will allow voter registration to be completed, something that the opposition parties in particular had been calling for.
