News - Afrikan Heroes

Sierra Leone Launches Visa On Arrival

September 10, 2019

As part of efforts by the government and people of Sierra Leone to attract more visitors to the country, boost tourism, and improve their investment climate, the government through the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced a new visa regime for the country. This development makes Sierra Leone the latest African country to latch onto the growing demand for African countries to make ease of movement across the continent a priority. The new Visa regime gives Visa on Arrival (VoA) for all African nationals and other selected citizens from across the world.

Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone

The new regime which takes immediate effect grants visa-free entry for countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) who will benefit from the regional blocs visa-free protocol. Also citizens of other countries that have existing Visa-Free arrangement with Sierra Leone will continue to enjoy visa-free access to the country.

The government of Sierra Leone has been engaging in a series of projects as policy changes aimed at making the country investor friendly and also market its huge tourism potential most of which are quite outstanding , relatively unknown, pristine, making it one of the most beautiful and serene countries in the world. This new Visa regime according to government sources will make visiting Sierra Leone hassle free.

According to the new visa fees, citizens of the African Union member states will enjoy visa-on-arrival but will be required to pay a $25 dollar fee, while citizens of other nations will be required to pay $80 visa fee on arrival. Those covered by this arrangement are United States, United Kingdom, European Union member states and those in BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Others are, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman (the Gulf Cooperation Council nations) as well as citizens of Iran, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Israel, Japan, and South Korea are listed among others.

The Information Minister, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, was quoted as saying: “This is an indication that the new direction is poised to take the country to another level and our latest step in making the country attractive to tourists and foreign investors.”

In Africa, most regional blocs allow easy entry of citizens across their borders. A very effective measure is in East Africa between Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.

Ethiopia in 2018 also announced a visa free and visa on arrival regime for all Africans. Rwanda has a global measure in that regard. Mauritius has, however, topped the African Development Bank’s visa openness index. At the bottom have been Eritrea and Equatorial Guinea.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.

African Green Revolution Forum Raises $500 Million for Africa’s Young ‘Agripreneurs’

The best time to do agriculture in Africa is probably now. African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), has secured $500 million for young ‘Agripreneurs’ across the continent to develop agriculture opportunities on the continent.

Here Is All You Need To Know

AGRF is the first ever forum for African agriculture, pulling together stakeholders across the agricultural landscape to discuss and commit to programs, investments and policies to achieve an inclusive and sustainable agricultural transformation across the continent.
The funding was raised from firms such as Dangote Farms, Press Agriculture, Pearl Dairies Ltd, and Fresh Ltd. In addition, a Unilever-IDH partnership committed $28.6 millions towards investments in small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) working in variety of food-related endeavors.
Some 17 country delegations presented investment opportunities worth in excess of $2 billion.
The proposed investments, coupled with support from various stakeholders, is anticipated to impact more than 15,000 smallholder farmers and create seven million jobs.
Mastercard Foundation announced plans to invest $500 million to launch a new Young Africa Works program. The initiative will provide a major infusion of capital to support the efforts of a new generation of young “agripreneurs” who are investing their talent in farming and other agriculture-oriented ventures.
The forum also set up a “Deal Room” that delivered some $200 million in new investments to support digital infrastructure crucial for powering innovative farmer services, significant actions on climate change adaptation, and the launch of a major food trade coalition.
The Agribusiness Deal Room at the AGRF was made possible with the support of core design partners, including the African Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), AGRA, the African Development Bank (AfDB), CrossBoundary, GAIN, GrowAfrica, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The Deal Room also received advisory support from the World Economic Forum (WEF).

“The potential benefits of the AGRF to the African continent are beyond contention,” said Ghana President H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. “We must galvanize our collective resources and energy to fully exploit the opportunities it presents.”

The Agribusiness Deal Room saw private and public sector stakeholders commit over $200 million to develop and strengthen several value chains in Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda and Eswatini.

Embracing the Potential of Digital Innovations for African Agriculture

The theme of this year’s AGRF was “Grow Digital: Leveraging Digital Transformation to Drive Sustainable Food Systems in Africa.” AGRF 2019 featured a rigorous and informative series of technical assessments, policy analyses, and political discussions that produced a new level of consensus that could dramatically accelerate efforts to use digital innovations to make farming in Africa more productive, profitable, sustainable and inclusive.

The discussions were anchored by the presentation of the Digitalisation of African Agriculture report from the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and Dalberg Advisors. Its key findings include the fact that some 71 percent of users of digital agriculture or D4Ag services across the continent are under 35. The CTA report found more than 90 percent of the market for digital services that support African smallholders remains untapped and could be worth more than $2.26 billion. The study also found nearly 400 different digital agriculture solutions are currently in play, serving 33 million registered farmers across sub-Saharan Africa.

The report estimates the number of registered farmers and the number of digital solutions are growing so rapidly that they are likely to reach the majority of the region’s farmers by 2030.

“Digitalisation can be a game-changer in modernising and transforming Africa’s agriculture, attracting young people to farming and allowing farmers to optimise production while also making them more resilient to climate change”, said Michael Hailu, Director of CTA.

There was much discussion at AGRF 2019 about the need for investments in the basic infrastructure and data systems that will provide the critical foundation for D4Ag services. To that end, there was news at AGRF that the World Bank plans to invest US $50 billion in Transforming Africa’s Digital Economy.

The Bank is committed to ensuring every African, including every African business and government, is digitally enabled by 2030. The investments include support for broadband infrastructure; digital skill development; digital platforms; digital financial services; and digital entrepreneurship. One key goal is to double access to broadband services across the continent by 2021.

The Forum Also Saw A New Alliance on Food Trade

The AGRF 2019 featured the launch of the new Africa Regional Food Trade Coalition. The Coalition was developed by a large and diverse coalition of leaders from the public and private sector. They are building on the foundation established by the new African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and market opportunities evidenced in the region’s $35 billion annual food import bill. The goal is to increase regional food trade via more predictable policies and mechanisms that encourage new agribusiness investments that capitalize on the rich diversity of farming ecologies across the continent.

A Regional Food Trade symposium showcased a number of data innovations that could help advance food trade in the region.

SMEs are Big Business in Africa Ag: The “Hidden Middle” Takes Center Stage

AGRF 2019 featured the launch of a provocative new report that busts a major myth of Africa agriculture: that there is a “missing middle” of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) available to power the region’s food systems. AGRA’s 2019 Africa Agricultural Status Report (AASR) presented new evidence that the “missing middle” is actually a “hidden middle” of SME-powered agri-food supply chains that recently has experienced a “quiet revolution.”

The report found that today, millions of SMEs are sourcing directly from millions more smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 64 percent of the volume of food consumed in the region. The report noted that the rise of SME’s has been largely unrecognized by policymakers, even as it has bridged gaps that previously separated most small-scale farmers from commercial markets.

“SMEs are the biggest investors in building markets for farmers in Africa today, and will likely remain so for the next 10-to-20 years,” said Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA. “They were not missing, just hidden.”

For more information visit African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF)’s website

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based Lawyer with special focus on Business Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Entertainment and Technology Law. He is also an award-winning writer. Working for notable organizations so far has exposed him to some of industry best practices in business, finance strategies, law, dispute resolution, and data analytics both in Nigeria and across the world.

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/Afrikanheroes/

Egypt Is Set To Change Its Tax Procedures To Attract Investors

September 9, 2019

The competition for international investors is on. Three years off IMF-backed reform. A 5.6% growth in GDP in the 2nd Quarter of 2019. A fast-declining pace of on-boarding new investors. Egypt is set to introduce a new legislation on tax that will bring the country back on track.

Here Is The Deal

The new legislation will focus on automating and simplifying customs and tax processes, Egypt’s Finance Minister Mohamed Maait said on Monday,

“Just yesterday, I contracted a company to automate all these unified tax procedures.” He said IBM (IBM.N) and SAP (SAPG.DE) secured the contract but did not disclose its value.

Now the government is working on a bill to unify tax procedures, Maait said.

“By the end of October, we will have the chance to issue the first draft to the business community, to civil society,” he added.

Maait however acknowledged that a lot still need to be done.

“I have to be very honest. There is a lot of work we have to do in order to make us more attractive to foreign direct investment,” Maait told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the Euromoney Egypt conference.

Egypt Has Launched A Series of Reforms So Far

Apart from devaluing its currency by half, Egypt has also been introduced a value-added tax and slashed fuel subsidies. One such significant innovation is Egyptians’ ability to now file their taxes electronically.

Changes to income tax would be procedural, and no changes would be made to overall tax policy or tax rates, Maait added.

Automated customs procedures are already in place at Cairo airport, Maait said, and are being developed at Port Said.

Aggressive Efforts At Privatisation

Apart from these tax procedural reforms, Egypt is also planning to sell off its long-delayed stakes in state-owned enterprises, with Maati saying plans to do so would definitely resume in the coming months.

“We strongly believe the private sector will be the main driver for this economy and for creating jobs,” Maait said. “We have to do a lot to give them the confidence, and to make the environment for them easy to do business.”

Euroclear Deal Will Now Allow Holders of Egypt’s Sovereign Debt to Clear Transactions Outside The Country.

Egypt recently signed, in April 2019, an agreement with Euroclear, Europe’s biggest settlement house for securities, to allow holders of its sovereign debt to clear transactions outside the country.

*A clearing house manages the post-trade process of getting to a point where settlement can take place*

“It is on track, but might not be next month,” Maait said on Monday, adding that a legal change was needed to govern the process and he hoped it would be ready at the beginning of 2020.

A clearing house is a financial institution that acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers of financial instrument. They take the opposite position of each side of a trade, acting as the buyer to the seller and the seller to the buyer.

Egypt is now Euroclear’s 47th market by this agreement, said Sudip Chatterjee, head of global capital markets at Euroclear.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based Lawyer with special focus on Business Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Entertainment and Technology Law. He is also an award-winning writer. Working for notable organizations so far has exposed him to some of industry best practices in business, finance strategies, law, dispute resolution, and data analytics both in Nigeria and across the world.

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/Afrikanheroes/

African Development Bank wins prestigious global procurement award

Africa’s premier development finance institution, the African Development Bank (AfDB) yesterday saw its efforts at improving procurement process paid off with the recognition in commendation for exhibiting procurement excellence by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS). The CIPS is the world’s largest professional body for procurement and supply management professionals, with offices all over the world including Africa. This Award came at a very auspicious time and captures efforts being made by the Bank’s management led by Dr. Akinwumi Adesina is building a world class development finance institution.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank.

Moreso, the African Development Bank is the first multilateral development bank in the world to receive this recognition. Commending the efforts of the African Bank, Alan Martin, Head of Procurement Excellence expressed a sincere congratulations to the Bank for achieving the CIPS Procurement Excellence Award at advanced standard silver level, noting that it is clear that the Bank has the right procurement governance mechanisms in place for effective supply assurance and compliance. “We hope the Bank will continue to effect change while adding value from procurement processes”, he added.

The Bank was awarded a silver award at advanced standard level following the CIPS Procurement Excellence Programme for having successfully developed its corporate procurement processes from an operational focus to managerial and strategic, building performance, capability and value. Speaking on the Award, the Vice President Corporate Services and Human Resources at the African Development Bank Mateus Magala, said that winning this globally-recognised award is welcome news and that the staff and management of the Bank are delighted to be commended for demonstrating advanced levels of corporate procurement capability.

This goes to show the level and depth the Bank ensures that special attention is paid to economy and efficiency in its procurement processes, both internally and externally across bank-funded projects. Transparency and open competitive procedures for procurement of goods, works and services are also essential. The Bank has been proactive in enhancing its corporate procurement processes and pinpointing the procurement department’s role as a fundamental activity in its strategic operations. “We have made significant progress in improving corporate procurement performance to catalyse the Bank’s efforts in achieving sustainable development and poverty reduction on the continent,” Magala added.

The CIPS Procurement Excellence Programme is an in-depth benchmarking process measuring an organisation’s procurement function against CIPS world-class standards of excellence and its global framework.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.

Numu Capital Invests In Egypt’s Medical Tourism Startup

Egypt’s startup Doctoorum, a curated marketplace for medical tourism, has raised funding from the Dubai-based Numu Capital to help it grow locally and expand internationally.

Founded by Yemeni entrepreneur Begad Nasser, Doctoorum allows patients from around the world to get affordable and high quality medical treatment in Egypt, handling all other aspects such as transport and accommodation.

The startup graduated from the AUC Venture Lab accelerator earlier this year, at which time it secured an undisclosed investment from Numu Capital. The Dubai-based firm invests in startups to help them increase their traction and secure their next funding round, and prides itself on funding successful applicants within 30 days of the initial pitch.

“Doctoorum is a very promising venture, and Begad has a solid understanding of the industry and has built a top notch team that we believe in. We have been eyeing the medical tourism industry for a while, and we were thrilled when Begad pitched Doctoorum to us,” said Jamal Al-Mutarreb, managing director of Numu Capital.

Doctoorum is currently ramping up its growth, and plans to raise a Series A round in the next few months. With medical tourism on the rise globally, and the market expected to be worth US$180 billion by 2026, the startup is planning to expand its operations beyond Egypt and the MENA to destinations such as Turkey, India, Germany, and Thailand.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based Lawyer with special focus on Business Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Entertainment and Technology Law. He is also an award-winning writer. Working for notable organizations so far has exposed him to some of industry best practices in business, finance strategies, law, dispute resolution, and data analytics both in Nigeria and across the world.

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/Afrikanheroes/

DHL Africa eShop Online Retail App Now In 34 countries

It would now be safe to conclude that DHL is positioning itself to become the largest logistics company in Africa, a network it could leverage to crush all existing logistics startups in Africa and invade all ecommerce businesses available across the continent. In its latest move, DHL has further expanded its Africa DHL Africa eShop business to 13 additional markets, increasing the presence of the global shipping company’s e-commerce platform to 34 African countries.

“For some of these countries no one has really tapped into e-commerce the way we’re tapping into it, with an ability to buy online and also buy online directly from places like Macy’s or Amazon,” MallforAfrica CEO Chris Folayan was quoted as saying, pointing to the novelty of online sales in many of Africa eShop’s new markets

Here Is All You Need To Know

DHL Africa eShop works by using startup MallforAfrica.com’s white label fulfillment service, Link Commerce.
The MallforAfrica’s model allows Africa eShop users to purchase goods directly from the websites of any of the app’s global partners.
This week’s expansion is the second for DHL’s Africa eShop, after adding 9 markets in May.
DHL’s moves run parallel to significant developments this year in the Africa’s online retail scene — namely Jumia’s big capital raise through its IPO.

List of Countries DHL Africa eShop Is Now Available In

DHL Africa eShop’s latest expansion efforts have seen the addition of these countries to the list: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Ethiopia, Guinea, Lesotho, Namibia, Niger, Sudan, Togo, and Zimbabwe.

DHL is leveraging existing startups across Africa to execute its programme. Users of the platform could make payments using local fintech options, such as Nigeria’s Paga and Kenya’s M-Pesa. DHL Africa eShop is also banking on its existing shipping delivery structure on the continent, through its DHL Express courier service.

In Practical Terms, This Is How Disruptive This Could Be

Under DHL’s disruptive order, someone with a mobile phone and bank account in, say, Niger can now use DHL’s app to shop at Macys.com and have anything from designer sneakers to kitchenware shipped to their doorstep in Central-Africa.

The DHL Africa eShop project is also getting aggressive as it is also offering incentives to entice first-time digital consumers.

“We will be launching with a promo, buy any 5 items from over 100 retail partners and get a $20 flat shipping fee. This is DHL’s way of showing they are dominant in shipping and eCommerce in Africa.”

According to online technology magazine Techcrunch, the launch and expansion of DHL’s MallforAfrica supported platform is creating a competitive scenario with e-commerce unicorn Jumia.

Jumia is Africa’s most visible e-tailer and operates consumer retail and online service verticals in 14 African countries. Headquartered in Lagos, the company raised more than $200 million in an NYSE IPO this April.

DHL launched the Africa eShop product the day before Jumia went public and made its first country expansion only weeks after.

DHL and partner MallforAfrica plan to bring Africa eShop to all 54 African countries in coming years.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based Lawyer with special focus on Business Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Entertainment and Technology Law. He is also an award-winning writer. Working for notable organizations so far has exposed him to some of industry best practices in business, finance strategies, law, dispute resolution, and data analytics both in Nigeria and across the world.

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/Afrikanheroes/

Three Years After Launch, World’s First Gaming Robotics Company Owned By A Nigerian Shuts Down

September 8, 2019

This would be a major test for African entrepreneurs going into the business of consumer robotics. Barely 3 years in operations, Reach Robotics, the Bristol, United Kingdom-based consumer robotics company co-founded by the Nigeria-born Silas Adekunle has shut down, even with over $7.8 million in funding received by the company.

“Unfortunately, for Reach Robotics, in its current form at least, today marks the end of that journey, ’’ Adekunle announced on his Linkedin page

Here Is All You Need To Know

Called MekaMon, Reach Robotics describes its product as a “battlebot” that uses augmented reality technology to allow gamers and robotics enthusiasts alike to play around with the device in both the real and virtual world.
You can control the MekaMon with a smartphone or tablet (they’re compatible with both iOS and Android-supported devices), making the four-legged robots walk around or do flips right in front of you. Connecting the MekaMon to a smart device via bluetooth and opening a free-to-download MekaMon app also unlocks a world of virtual gameplay where your robot can do virtual battle in your actual living room.

“The best way to think of a MekaMon [is] as an entertainment platform,” Adekunle told CNBC Make It. “You’ve got this robot that’s got four legs — really agile, lots of personality, lots of character. You control it from your smartphone or tablet. The more you play with it, the better it gets. You can compete with other people.”

After selling out its initial run of MekaMons, Reach Robotics landed a major investment round in July 2017, raising $7.5 million from a group led by Korea Investment Partners and iGlobe Partners. (Reach Robotics’ total fundraising now tops $10 million, Adekunle was onve quoted as saying.)
In November 2017, Reach caught the attention of Apple and the tech company signed an exclusive deal to sell the robots online and in brick-and-mortar Apple stores across the US and UK. For Adekunle, it was an amazing feeling to have Apple take an interest in his product and it gave the MekaMon a stamp of approval from one of the biggest companies in the world.
While Reach’s distribution deal with Apple was initially exclusive — meaning that MekaMons were only sold either by Apple or on Reach’s own website — now, the robots are also sold by Amazon as well as by the Harrods department store in London and, soon, the MekaMon will be sold by the US toy store FAO Schwarz, Adekunle said.

“These are some of the strongest brands in the world, so that gives our customers confidence that the products that they’re buying are also high quality,” he said late last year.

End of The Road

The latest announcement is coming rather surprisingly.

In a post called “Reach Robotics — End of the Road,” Adekunle mentioned the “consumer robotics sector is an inherently challenging space — especially for a start-up.”

One of the Co-founders John Rees confirmed that “the decision has been made to close the business and appoint administrators, effective as of 02/09/2019,” according to a report by therobotreport.com

Below is Adekunle’s LinkedIn post reprinted in its entirety:

“I am immensely proud of what we have achieved. Since founding Reach Robotics at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, we made huge strides in our technology both in terms of our hardware and app development. We took MekaMon from prototype to market, introduce the world to the first gaming robot with seamless AR integration, launched in dozens of territories and developed a unique education offering that will live on through many initiatives.

“This simply could not have happened without the highly skilled and creative people that have been part of the Reach Robotics journey. I speak for myself and my fellow co-founders Chris Beck and John Rees when I say it has been a privilege and we have no doubt that they will continue to innovate and enrich the sector. Personally, I am grateful for the experience, lessons learnt, the connections and the opportunity to inspire young people from under-represented backgrounds in STEM and entrepreneurship.

“I am thankful to everyone who has been a part of this journey, from my co-founders Chris and John, who have been there through thick and thin, to members of the management team who were supportive in the most difficult of times, Jonathan Quinn, Kathryn Green, Philip Green just to name a few.

“Thank you to all of our investors, advisers, mentors, family and friends over the years. Special thanks to UWE, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Pervasive Media Studio, SetSquared and so many others who have supported our growth. Reach Robotics began with the vision of creating advanced and accessible robotics to entertain, inspire and educate. I hope to carry that vision forward into the future.

“Following some travel and much needed rest, the journey will continue in the Non consumer Robotics sector and the STEAM Education sector.”

Ran Out of Cash or Unprofitable?

The Times, a British newspaper, reported in July 2019 Reach Robotics was cash-strapped. The report said, “Reach Robotics is under pressure from a creditor and is looking for investment or a sale to stave off collapse. Reach filed notice of its intention to appoint an administrator last week, giving it 10 working days to settle its debts. It has been laying off some of its 30 staff.”

Adekunle however fired back, however, telling BusinessCloud, “sometimes you file to give yourself just enough time to settle creditors so you’re not forced into liquidation where the assets then become at risk.” The report added that Reach Robotics was in “due diligence discussions for acquisition as it repositions itself from a consumer-facing robotics firm to one with education at its core.”

Reach Robotics launched a division in May 2019 aimed at the STEM education sector called ReachEdu. It is unclear if ReachEdu will continue as a business unit.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based Lawyer with special focus on Business Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Entertainment and Technology Law. He is also an award-winning writer. Working for notable organizations so far has exposed him to some of industry best practices in business, finance strategies, law, dispute resolution, and data analytics both in Nigeria and across the world.

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/Afrikanheroes/

African Hero Celebrating Thebe Magugu

Thebe Magugu came to international limelight when he became the first African to win the LVMH prize worth €300,000. The Fashion Talent Prize which came with a cash reward of €300,000 includes a year of “technical and financial support” from the luxury giant. Thebe dusted 1,700 applicants from 100 countries who applied for the LVMH prize to win the coveted Prize. Until now, many outside South Africa have not heard about Thebe Magugu’s exploits but he has had a deep impact on South Africa’s fashion industry because he has shown extensively that he has a drive to create original couture. Prior to winning the LVMH award in Paris, France, Magugu had won an award for curation and fashion content at the International Fashion Showcase, supported by the British Fashion Council.

Born and raised in Kimberley, South Africa, Thebe said that he was inspired by the women who played important roles in his life. And he has contributed his views on modern fashion and the South African youth culture. His work has been described by fashion critics as being unified by themes of juxtaposition. Thebe who studied Fashion & Apparel Design at Lisof Fashion School in Johannesburg says that he is interested in exploring the disparity between masculinity and femininity, tradition and experiment, overlarge and abridged and other differences in the design of his garments.

His newest collections which debuted at the South Africa Fashion Week was dubbed “Geology SS17” took place four months ago, and was inspired by a rejection of the anxieties that are coupled with urban life and a return to the open fields of remote South African landscapes instead. Critics have described his works as deep and expressional in that it tends to capture the South African society. He was quoted as saying that it is an awareness of the socio-political climate of South Africa that moved him to imagine a contemporary woman who chooses to escape its pressures for a simpler life in the wild. She breaks away from the buzz of city living to recenter and reinvigorate herself.

Expressing his desire to positively project his country’s creative abilities to the world, he noted that it is important that he use his work to show the world that from South Africa you can get the entire cycle of production. He pointed out that there are challenges that should not be denied especially in terms of infrastructure and system but the promise is there. “There’s so much talent in the country” he quipped.

Describing some of the topical issues that influence his works, he said “we are in a state of socio-political flux. Among all the beauty in this country, there are some very stressful and damaging events coming into light almost every day,” adding that he started to imagine a woman taking to the great outdoors, to escape the burdens and noise of urban living. She takes time to recover by hiking, fishing, camping and, by pure virtue of those three acts, thinking, breathing and regrouping.

While Magugu’s designs are not entirely derivative of outdoor camping gear, they bear signs of it reimagined in a stylish way. His show features details such as mountain climbing rope repurposed as a fastened collar, perforated fabrics for breathability, a deconstruction of cargo pants with many pockets and vibrant Koi fish patterns as a nod to fishing. The collection reflects the rich colours of the Gauteng province with warm shades of red, brown and orange foremost. He said his work often reflects his country’s many dualities, both very beautiful and violent. Like many challenges facing the continent, Magugu is facing distribution problems. The LVMH prize started in 2014, with its first three winners being designers who were based in London. LVMH is a French multinational luxury goods conglomerate.

Speaking on his country, he said that he loves South Africa so much and that his overarching mission is to create a global fashion brand that can hang anywhere in the world but based in South Africa, thus putting paid to concerns that he might follow the footsteps of some other celebrated fashion icons from the continent who after making big names, left the continent to Europe and North America to ply their trade. He however complained that government should do something concerning the challenges entrepreneurs face in the continent such as excess red tape and flaws across various systems, “as if everything is working hard at discouraging entrepreneurship in creative industries. I start to see more and more why we are losing our talents to Europe at such an alarming rate”, he said. It is like I want to be here to join my fellow peers in developing our industry – but at what cost? I posed this question to my personal Instagram and a concerning amount of people we all know in love in South African culture also said they are gearing up to leave. What can be done about this, he asked?

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.

Commonwealth Sees Sports as Vehicle for Growth and Development

The Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has highlighted the importance and strength of sports in nation building and international development by “changing perceptions and altering attitudes”. She made this known today at the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda, saying that the “wide appeal and reach” of sport can be used to “accelerate progress” in areas such as gender equality and political inclusivity. In her words, with the spirit of goodwill and through the respect and understanding which are signature characteristics of the Commonwealth Sport Movement, mutual encouragement flourishes across boundaries of regional and national affiliation or other allegiances of culture or identity.

Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth secretary general.

She added that she is strongly committed personally in her determination to mobilise additional resources to ensure more communities throughout the Commonwealth can benefit from the positive contribution the most popular of our Commonwealth sports can make. The Secretary-General’s speech came as the General Assembly and Strategic Forum demonstrate the Commonwealth sports movement’s vision and commitment to creating peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities through sport. This vision is in line with the Commonwealth Secretariat’s strategic objective to enhance sports contribution to sustainable development, health, and building peaceful and just societies.

Also the event saw a refresh of Transformation 2022, the Commonwealth Games Federation Strategic Plan. This plan sets out the strategic priorities for CGF through to 2022. The refresh has an enhanced focus on releasing the collective impact of sport in the Commonwealth on creating peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities.

Speaking on the development, the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Louise Martin, said that “all of us across the Commonwealth and the Commonwealth Sports Movement must work hard to shift the dial on human rights and mega sporting events”. Adding that “put simply, we are 100 per cent committed to upholding the ideals and principles that underpin our respect and protection of human rights in all that we do. It starts with our vision – to create peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities through sport”. She described it as a mantra that guides the joined-up vision of Commonwealth sport. “Indeed, it is a vision that underpins the Commonwealth itself – a voluntary association of 71 nations and territories. Among our membership are some of the world’s largest and smallest countries, from India, with over 1.2 billion people to Nauru with a population of 10,000”. The combined population of 2.4 billion represents a third of the world’s total population. More than 60 per cent of Commonwealth citizens are young people aged under 30.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games was singled out by delegates as an example of how sport can contribute towards the Commonwealth’s values and principles. The Games in Birmingham, UK, will feature more women’s medals events than men’s and will see the largest para-sport programme in Games history

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.

How Chinese Traditional Medicine May Lead to Extinction of Donkeys in Africa

Donkeys have joined the list of animals that have become endangered no thanks to Chinese Traditional Medicine, and this has led to many countries in Africa adopting various means aimed at curbing the illegal and unbridled trading in Donkeys across the continent . Until recently, focus has been on animals such as tigers, rhinos and elephants all on the endangered species list due to their uses in different sorts of Chinese traditional medicines, but now, the industry’s demand for the humble donkey is drawing international scrutiny According to experts who have been tracking developments in this illegal trade, more than four-million donkey hides are boiled to make the 5,000 tonnes of ejiao, a gooey substance billed as ‘blood-enriching’ which is sold in China each year. With rising protectionism and calls for stringent measures to curb the Donkey poaching, Chinese farmers have resorted to breeding the animal locally to curb Africa imports.

A donkey

Donkey slaughter has surged across Africa as demand for ejiao has jumped tenfold to about 6,000 tons a year in China whose donkey population has plummeted to 4.5-million from 11-million in 1990 started sourcing for supplies elsewhere and Africa was the natural source. Once a luxury for the elite, ejiao — that comes as a tablet to dissolve in water or in anti-ageing cream — is now widely used by China’s wealthy middle class and diaspora. Prices have surged to more than $780/kg from about $30/kg in 2000, according to sources from the Chinese government.

China’s donkey population started dwindling as farmers who once relied on them as beast of burden either moved to more mechanized farming or left farming all together and migrated to the cities. This led to a drastic drop in their population while demand surged. To bridge that gap, Chinese companies dealing in donkey hides refocused on Africa where the donkey population is still on the rise in the last decade leading to what conservationists describe as unsustainable and indiscriminate trading on donkeys. This led to an outcry from many Africans putting pressures on governments to respond in curbing the donkey trading. This forced the company at the centre of the global trade in donkey skins to start work on ending reliance on imports within three years by boosting domestic breeding in China.

However, this development led to soaring prices for the hides creating an opening for criminals to start stealing donkeys in countries across East Africa, leading to governments in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Botswana to take measures aimed at stemming this tide. Reports say that of all the countries affected by this ugly development, Kenya is the most hit. Reports add that in the last three years, Kenya has become the epicentre of a fast-growing industry in Africa to supply donkey skins to China which are boiled to produce a gelatin called ejiao used in traditional medicine believed to stop ageing and boost libido. This led to the opening of four licensed donkey abattoirs since in the country where over a thousand donkeys are slaughtered and skinned daily. The Star Brilliant Donkey Export Abattoir first donkey abattoir to be opened in Kenya backed by Chinese investors opened in Naivasha opened in 2016, and within months its suppliers started buying hordes of donkeys across the area, leading to shortages and driving up prices. Then donkeys began to disappear as criminal gangs moved in.

However, this rising demand from China has led to a black market with gangs hired by skin-smuggling networks to steal donkeys, inciting anger in communities who depend on the animals for livelihoods, farming, or transport. More than 300,000 donkeys — 15% of Kenya’s donkey population — have been slaughtered for skin and meat export in less than three years, according to a June survey by the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation. And more than 4,000 donkeys were reported stolen more than the same period from April 2016 to December 2018 alone, government sources say.

According to local reports, most Kenyan families have been reporting of losing hundred of donkeys to thieves who steal and slaughter thousands of donkeys which are sold in the black markets by criminal networks supplying skins for Chinese buyers. To curb this, many communities have formed armed vigilantes who protect the donkeys and stave off the thieves. The report warned that donkeys were being slaughtered at a rate five times higher than their population was growing which could wipe out Kenya’s donkey population by as early as 2023.

This development has led activists to call on government to ban the trade in donkey skins and close down slaughterhouses, in line with similar action in more than a dozen other African nations, from Nigeria and Senegal to Burkina Faso and Mali. If nothing is done urgently, Africa’s donkey population might get to the level of extinction.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.