Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister has been designated to head the African Development Bank, which is seen as a foremost triumph as the continent’s biggest economy uproars for a bigger role in diplomacy and investment in the region. See insights of his appointment in this issue. Moving on to another story, we have an African country who is discovering itself, and is ready to expose to the world a new narrative of its strengths. Zimbabwe is a country with surprising fortune which is on the track of economic recovery. The country is opulent with raw materials, natural resources and investment opportunities. As Africa has risen to prominence as an investment destination over the past few years, the role of transportation and logistics has taken on greater importance. Whether moving resources off the continent or bringing goods and services into its burgeoning economies, Africa’s future growth and development will depend on the quality of its infrastructure and the competence of its transport networks. Get a chance to read the imperative role of Transportation in the Logistics Industry of Africa. Happy Reading.
2. THE TIMES OF AFRICA JULY-AUGUST 20154
www.thetimesofafrica.com
Follow us on
JULY-AUGUST 2015
Advisory Board
tOP STORY
10
BOW TIE AND
MUSTACHE
ZIMBABWE: ON A QUEST
TO DISCOVER ITSELF
SPOTLIGHT COUNTRY - ZIMBABWE
14
»» Agriculture: The Time is Now
»» Mining: Unearthing Opportunities
»» Tourism: Wanna See Big Five?
»» Sports: The Cricket Craze
A MAN KNOWN FOR HIS
Contents
H.E. Mr. Idriss
Raoua OUEDRAOGO
Former Ambassador of
Burkina Faso to India
Dr. Jagdish C. Sobti
Medical Advisor, Heal
‘&’ Bliss Pvt. Ltd.,
New Delhi
Dr. Joseph Agyepong
Executive Chairman, Jospong
Group, Ghana
Mr. P.M. Heblikar
Former Special Secretary,
Govt. of India
Dr. A.S. Yaruingam
Associate Professor,
Department of
African Studies,
University of Delhi
Dr. Steve Omenga Mainda
Chairman, Insurance Regulatory
Authority, Housing Finance
Company of Kenya Limited
33 »» Djibouti: A Bold Ambition
»» Ethiopia: Sharing the Recipe of
Success
»» Ghana: Ghana, What’s Wrong?
»» Senegal: In Senegal Style
»» Tunisia: The Liquid Gold
To The Point
»» Home Sweet Home
»» Dumsor Dumsor
»» United We Stand, Divided
We Fall
»» The Big Banana
feature
26
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina: The
New President of AfDB
3. Follow us on JULY-AUGUST 2015 THE TIMES OF AFRICA 5
JULY-AUGUST 2015
UN 4 AFRICA
WHAT’S ONREGULARS 6 50
8 62
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Business bulletin
»» Customer-Centric Financial
Product Design
GUEST COLUMN
54
overseas offices
AFROTALK
56 »» Targetting African Leaders?
bon voyage
58 »» A Kingdom in the Sky: Lesotho
Sectoral Analysis
40 THE LOGIC BEHIND
LOGISTICS
»» Driving Demand
»» The Developing Markets
»» Putting Africa in Motion
»» Making Trade More Flexible
6 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Sports Special
60 »» Determined to Bring the
Tournament Back
»» Gandhi-Mandela Cricket Series
»» The Resignation of Sepp Blatter
Mr. Mamane Sani
Sanda
Director General,
BASE/DC, Niger
Mr. C.K. Sinha
Former Additional Secretary,
Govt. of India
Mr. Mamadou
Diouldé Sow
Director General,
LAGUINTECH, Guinea
Conakry
Professor Ajay Dubey
Director, Area Studies
Programme on Africa
School of International
Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru
University
Ambassador
V.B. Soni
Former Indian
Ambassador/ H.C to
Fiji, Senegal, Jamaica
and Ukraine
Prof. K. Mathews
Professor of International
Relations & African Studies
Addis Ababa University,
Ethiopia
Disclaimer: All views expressed in this issue are that of the authors. The publisher may not agree with the independent views expressed in
this magazine. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only.
Mr. Awono Onana
Charles
Director, Ecole National
Superior Polytechnic,
Yaounde, Cameroon
www.thetimesofafrica.com
For queries
Call at:
+91 81307 96166 | +91 85951 66625
+91 93111 54998 |
Write to us at:
editor@thetimesofafrica.com
ads@thetimesofafrica.com
pr@thetimesofafrica.com
correspondent@thetimesofafrica.com
mediapartnership@thetimesofafrica.com
subscription@thetimesofafrica.com
feedback@thetimesofafrica.com
TRINITY HEIGHTS EXIM PVT LTD.
All rights reserved throughout the world
(THE TIMES OF AFRICA).
Owner/Publisher/Printer:
Mr. Kirit Sobti Published from 2nd floor,
Plot No. 7, 8 & 9, Garg Shopping Mall,
Service Centre, Opp. Sector XI (Extn.), Rohini
Phase-2, Delhi-110085, India. Printed at lipee
scan pvt. ltd., 89 dsidc shed Okhla Phase 1,
New Delhi, Editor: Kanchi Batra
T: 91 11 4751 4751 F: 91 11 4751 4752
Burkina Faso
Sector-05, P.O. Box–1251
Ouagadougou -05, Burkina Faso
E: burkinafaso@thetimesofafrica.com
Cameroon
Carrefour Ekoudou
BP 7155, Yaoundé, Cameroon
E: cameroon@thetimesofafrica.com
Ghana
J.A. Plant Pool, Dzorwulu Traffic Light,
Near Word Miracle Church, Accra, Ghana
E: ghana@thetimesofafrica.com
Kenya
4th Floor, Barclay’s Plaza, Lolita Street,
P.O. Box 28025-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
E: kenya@thetimesofafrica.com
Niger
House No– 420, Tanja Road, Darasalam
near station Korey Bongou, Niamey, Niger
E: niger@thetimesofafrica.com
Senegal
Comico VDN No. 29-31 Appart 2B,
Dakar, Senegal
E: Senegal@thetimesofafrica.com
Printer
India
Lipee Scan Pvt. Ltd.
89 dsidc shed Okhla Phase 1, New Delhi
Editor
Kanchi Batra
Regional Editor (Africa)
R.C. Dhingra
Associate Editor (French)
Divya Malhotra
Contributing Editor (Burkina Faso)
Albert Etsri Apemewoe
Contributing Editor (Ghana)
Adams Mohammed Mahama
Correspondents
Ekta Handa(India), Francis L. Sackitey (Ghana),
Robert Kibet (Kenya), Kizito Sikuka (Zimbabwe),
Aimable Twahirwa (Rwanda), Francois Essomba
(Cameroon), Temi Bamgbose(Nigeria)
Art Director
Krishna Mohan
Graphic Designer
Mohit Sharma
Manager-Corporate Relations
Surender Chauhan
Business Development Manager (Kenya)
Surender Singh
Country Manager (Cameroon)
Ripu Daman Malik
Country Manager (Ghana)
Vijay Kumar
Marketing Executive
Pankaj Batra
Marketing Associates
Barbara Eugenie (Seychelles),
Tribhuwan Pratap Singh, C. Sriram (India)
MIS Executive
Dinesh Sharma
Executive Assistant
Saloni Tayal
»» No
Billionaire
tag for me,
please!!
PORTRAIT
PAINTING
52
In Rendezvous With...
55 »» Mr. Greg Sarrail, Vice President of
Solutions Business Development,
Biometrics, HID Global
4. THE TIMES OF AFRICA JULY-AUGUST 201514
www.thetimesofafrica.com
Follow us on
ZIMBABWE
SPOTLIGHT COUNTRY ZIMBABWE
ZIMBABWEON A QUEST TO DISCOVER ITSELF
C
onsciously or not, we are all on a quest for
answers, trying to learn from the lessons of past.
We grapple with fear and guilt. We cannot turn
the clock back nor can we undo the caused,
but we have the power to set the future and to
safeguard that what happened never happens
again. Zimbabwe is one such country who is
discovering itself, and is ready to expose to the
world a new narrative of its strengths.
Zimbabwe is a country with surprising fortune
which is on the track of economic recovery. The
country is opulent with raw materials, natural
resources and investment opportunities.
Zimbabwe’s economy is established on various
sectors - there is a well-developed manufacturing
sector (25% of its GDP) and there are relatively
strong financial services and mining sector, but
agriculture (13% of its GDP) forms the basis of
the economy, even though drought causes great
fluctuations in agriculture.
One of the main divisions of industry is
mining (coal, copper, nickel, cobalt, asbestos,
tin, gold, silver, and iron ore). Wood, cement,
chemicals, fertilizers, clothing, footwear, and
beverages are other important products. Major
agricultural products include maize, cotton,
5. THE TIMES OF AFRICA JULY-AUGUST 201522
www.thetimesofafrica.com
Follow us on
raze, courage, fear, fantasy, win... and
the list goes on and on, of words
that have initiate admission in the
cricket dictionary. Cricket is actually a
bat-and-ball game played between
two teams of 11 players on a field at
the centre of which is a rectangular
22-yard long pitch. Each team takes
it in turn to bat, trying to score runs,
while the other team fields. Each
turn is known as an innings.
Cricket was introduced to
Rhodesia in the 19th century and the
Rhodesian Cricket Union was shaped
in 1898. Rhodesia took part in the
Currie Cup, the South African inter-
province competition in 1904/05
and then again from 1929/30 until
1979/80. In May 1980, the new
post-colonial country of Zimbabwe
severed its cricketing ties with South
Africa and it became an Associate
Member of the then International
Cricket Conference.
The Zimbabwean cricket team is
the team that represents Zimbabwe
in international cricket. It is managed
by Zimbabwe Cricket (formerly
known as the Zimbabwe Cricket
Union or ZCU). Zimbabwe is a full
member of the International Cricket
Council (ICC) with Test and One Day
International status.
The country became a full
member of the ICC on 6 July 1992
C
and played its first Test match
on 18–22 October the same year,
against India at the Harare Sports
Club in Harare. The match was
drawn.
In one-day internationals
Zimbabwe took a long time to find
their confidence and master the
skills of winning, though occasional
triumphs revealed what could be
achieved. This was most prominent
against England, the one country
which had failed to support
Zimbabwe's bid for Test status.
When that country somewhat
belatedly toured Zimbabwe for the
first time, the home side astounded
(or 'murdered', to use a word made
popular by the visiting coach
David Lloyd) the Englishmen 3-0 in
the one-day series. In six one-day
internationals played between the
two countries to date, Zimbabwe
have won five and lost only one.
Recently Zimbabwe Cricket
(ZC) has confirmed that the Indian
team will tour the country to play
three ODIs and two T20s in July.
The Indian team will arrive in the
Zimbabwean capital Harare on
July 7.
India last toured Zimbabwe in
July 2013 and comfortably won the
five-match ODI series 5-0.
Their arrival in July is expected
to set into motion a hectic winter
schedule for the national cricket
side with approaching visits by New
Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies
expected to follow until September.
Campbell said New Zealand would
arrive a week after India's departure
for three ODIs and a lone T20 before
the reciprocal tour by Pakistan after
Zimbabwe's historic visit to the
subcontinent nation recently.
Despite the 2-0 One-Day
International (ODI) series loss to
Pakistan in Lahore, there were some
noteworthy performances from
Zimbabwe’s players that led to a rise
in the Reliance International Cricket
Council ODI Team Rankings.
Elton Chigumbura has risen
one place to 59th in the batsmen’s
rankings, after scoring 117 runs
which was his maiden ODI hundred,
while Sikandar Raza Butt has moved
up 15 places to a career-high 77th
after scoring 136 runs in the series,
which encompassed his second
career century (100 not out) in the
second match of the series, at the
Gaddafi Stadium.
There were also some notable
performances in the Reliance ICC
Player Rankings for ODI Bowlers
with a career-high gain for
Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams, who
is now in 78th position, up seven
THE
CRICKET
CRAZE
sports
SPOTLIGHT COUNTRY ZIMBABWE
6. THE TIMES OF AFRICA JULY-AUGUST 201530
www.thetimesofafrica.com
Follow us on
E
very one of us must have heard the
well-known proverb Unity is strength.
If you take a stick, it could break easily.
But when you take a bundle of sticks,
it will be harder to break. This is the
unique power of unity. It is also said,
united we stand, divided we fall. Now
the point of concern revolves around
African countries, as the time has come
for Africa to show its strength to the
entire world.
The establishment of a single free
trade area, spanning across 26 nations
known as the Tripartite Free Trade Area
has been finally signed. It is important
to note that the creation of this
trade block is a positive step towards
improved investment flow and the
facilitation and flow of goods in the
region. It has without doubt, become
a means for enhancing economic
inter-linkages and enabling business
environment to unlock regional
potentials, scale up productive
capacities and competitiveness,
stimulating beneficiations and value
chains, enhancing technological
setups. The TFTA would definitely
address the issue of overlapping
membership that has resulted in a
number of challenges for the region’s
business and trading community.
Businesses will face less bureaucracy,
red tape and administration costs,
when trading within the area would
see improved operational efficiencies
of border crossings and seaports hence
growth in economy and expanded
inter-regional trade.
Interestingly, the main objective
of the establishment of the Free Trade
Area is seemingly to strengthen and
deepen economic integration of the
southern and eastern Africa region. It
will allow the enhancement of trade
facilitation and improve the flow
of goods in the region by reducing
bureaucratic complexity, lowering
transit times and the cost of trading.
Africa is home to one of the
UNITED
WE STAND,
DIVIDED WE
FALL
Repositioning Africa as an
Economic Giant
FEATURE
THE TIMES OF AFRICA JULY-AUGUST 201530
www.thetimesofafrica.com
7. THE TIMES OF AFRICA JULY-AUGUST 201540
www.thetimesofafrica.com
Follow us on
As Africa has risen to
prominence as an investment
destination over the past
few years, the role of
transportation and logistics
has taken on greater
importance. Whether moving
resources off the continent or
bringing goods and services
into its burgeoning economies,
Africa’s future growth and
development will depend on
the quality of its infrastructure
and the competence of its
transport networks.
Underlining the Need of Effective
Transportation
LOGISTICS
SECTORAL ANALYSIS
THE LOGIC BEHIND
THE TIMES OF AFRICA JULY-AUGUST 201540
www.thetimesofafrica.com
Follow us on
8. THE TIMES OF AFRICA JULY-AUGUST 201558
www.thetimesofafrica.com
Follow us on
Sehlabathebe National
Park
It is the national park which is epitome
for hiking, bird-watching and also
comprehends uncommon rock
formations and mountainous flora. The
park is in south eastern park of Lesotho
which can be worth viewing by vehicles.
It is the first designated National Park
in Lesotho. The park has a unique
constructions in the area, enormous rock
extensions, small lakes, rock sculpture,
rock curvatures and unique ecosystem
of plants, birds and animals. Dams and
rivers are a fisherman’s paradise which
clearly elucidates the park’s presence.
VOYAGEBON
L
esotho, a place of heavenly
exquisiteness, shrill territory,
fascinating local culture
traditions and is certainly a place
for daring explorers. As its land lies
at heights of more than 1500m
above sea-level, the country is a
land of elevations and limits. It has
splendid mountain panoramas
and adventure activities like skiing,
pony tracking, hiking and abseiling
for the fearless tourist. Lesotho
is for those who are thirsty for a
comforting and energizing break
comprising of bird watching,
boating, fishing amongst others.
Lesotho, surrounded by
the Republic of South Africa
gives it a distinctive character,
is a self-ruled, independent
and liberated country. The
Kingdom of Lesotho is among
the provinces in Africa. The
land area of the country is
approximately 30, 555 km2.
Frequently mentioned as
the Switzerland of Africa, it is
blessed with a striking, often
a snow-capped range of
mountains, the Maluti.
The country has recently
declared that it is to go into
Tourist Attractions
LESOTHO
A KINGDOM IN THE SKY
THE TIMES OF AFRICA JULY-AUGUST 201558
www.thetimesofafrica.com
Follow us on
To Get Complete Edition Just
CLICK HERE