[COSATU Press] The unprincipled and unaccountable banks have no moral authority to moralise on the Gupta issue

The unprincipled and unaccountable banks have no moral authority to moralise on the Gupta issue

The Congress of South African Trade Unions has noted with the concern and contempt the decision by some South African banks to hypocritically and recklessly ostracise the Gupta businesses, for narrow political ends. The decision by ABSA, FNB, NEDBANK, SASFIN and KPMG to stop doing business and associating with the Guptas is nothing but political posturing. This decision will not only negatively affect the gluttonous Guptas, but will badly affect the innocent workers, who have no dog in that hunt.

COSATU demands answers from these banks; they need to explain why they decided to took these decisions, when workers are facing such a bleak future. Even the discredited and politically toxic people like the Guptas deserve to only be found guilty after a proper due process has been followed and they have never been convicted in a court of law. The federation has demanded a meeting with the Guptas to discuss the pending job losses in their companies after this decision by the banks.

To prove that they lack any developmental consciousness, they did not think about the implications that their public relations stunt was going to have on the workers. The country is shedding jobs at an alarming rate and some of these banks are actually retrenching workers ,but they saw it necessary to ostracise the Gupta owned companies that employ thousands of innocent workers.

COSATU feels that when worker’s jobs are at stake, it was inane and thoughtless of these organisations to play politics with their livelihoods. OAKBAY, Sahara Holdings and TNA might belong to the unsavoury family like the Guptas, but they employ thousands of innocent workers. Thousands of families and their livelihoods are being sacrificed by unprincipled financial institutions to pursue their own narrow agenda. Workers are a primary stakeholders in any company and to ignore their interests exposes these financial institutions for what they are, unprincipled opportunists.

The federation holds no candle for the exploitative Guptas, who are terrible employers and have proven themselves to have no principles or self restraint. But the federation denounces the self serving and hypocritical stance of these banks and financial institutions. They acted without thinking about the fate of thousands of workers employed by the Guptas, and only treated this as a public relations issue. We challenge them to be transparent and prove that they and their shareholders are not doing business with any politically exposed individuals, corporations of regimes.

COSATU is angry that innocent workers find themselves as part of collateral damage in an unprincipled fight between two sections of corporate looters, who are fighting for a sit at the table. These banks do not represent anyone ,except their shareholders, some of whom are foreign financial institutions with a reputation of doing business with unsavoury characters and regimes around the world.

Banks like ABSA have a lot to answer for and they have no right to be preaching to anyone. These institutions are products of an evil apartheid system that was declared a crime against humanity by the United Nations. They have never explained or apologised for their role in propping up and doing business with that regime. They have no moral authority and no right to pontificate about political exposure, while recklessly putting at risk the livelihoods of so many innocent workers.

These are organisations, which call for the de-regulation of labour markets, and advocate for the de-regulation of financial markets in order that they can maximise their profits. This new disdain for blackmoney and patriotic fervour that has suddenly engulfed them is selective and self serving. They have colluded to fix prices and impose high charges on their customers, making it very difficult for the majority to save. They have ostracised the mostly black working class by denying them access to finance and ultimately stopping their participation in the economy.

When it suits them these banks and their rapacious shareholders never forget to tell the workers that money has no motherland; and that their loyalty is to their shareholders. They are daily taking decisions that do not serve the interest of the country and their sudden patriotic fervour can only fool the uninitiated.

While the insatiable Guptas need to be called out for trying to capture the state in order to continue their corrupt accumulation, this does not give monopoly capital the right to moralise.  The people of South Africa will fix what is wrong with their government and with their country and do not need unaccountable and guiltless banks and financial institutions to interfere in the political affairs of this country.

Issued by COSATU

Sizwe Pamla (National Spokesperson)

Congress of South African Trade Unions

110 Jorissen Cnr Simmonds Street

Braamfontein

2017

P.O.Box 1019

Johannesburg

2000

South Africa

Tel: +27 11 339-4911 Direct 010 219-1339

Mobile: 060 975 6794

E-Mail: sizwe@cosatu.org.za

SACP statement on banking and auditing oligopolies and private monopoly - the accomplices of the Guptas‎

‎

South African Communist Party

Press Alert, 11 April 2016

SACP statement on banking and auditing oligopolies and private monopoly - the accomplices of the Guptas

The SACP has noted decisions taken by a number of financial oligopolies constituting private monopoly in the banking and auditing segments of the fincial sector, among others ABSA, FirstRand and the imperialist auditing monopoly GPMG to severe ties with businesses owned by, or linked to the Gupta family that is entangled in allegations of corporate state capture.

The SACP has been in the forefront of the campaign to achieve transformation of the financial sector. The sector is dominated by handful oligopolies ABSA, FirstRand, Standard Bank, Nedbank and some insignificant new arrivals, all together forming private monopoly and pose a threat of collusive market conduct. 

Acting together with an imperialist monopoly KPMG, the private banking monopoly has shown its dangers and collusive market conduct against one of their private mould, the Gupta oligarchy, with which they have established long standing business relations. What did they see all along in their relationship with the Guptas that they concealed until pressure from the struggle against corporate capture, thus acting as accomplices of the Guptas? They are as guilty, and cannot be left unchallenged. The majority of them benefited from apartheid - which was declared by the United Nations as a crime against humanity. They continue to benefit from financially exploiting our people.

The SACP reiterates the importance of developing public ownership and democratic control, but which which is free from corporate capture and manipulation by private capital capital accumulation interests not only in the banking sector but the financial sector as a whole. The importance of state, co-operative and worker owned banks and other financial establishments trading in financial services cannot be over-emphasised. The dangers demonstrated by private oligopolies and monopoly are clearly pronounced for all to see. 

The SACP stands on the side of the workers, and will fight for their rights and livelihoods - as opposed to the greedy behaviour of their exploiters the Guptas included.

Issued by the SACP

--
__________________________________________
FOR GENERAL ENQUIRIES ON SACP STATEMENTS

CONTACT:

ALEX MOHUBETSWANE MASHILO: NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON, HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS
SKYPE: MASHILOAM
MOBILE: 082 9200 308
OFFICE: 011 339 3621/2
TWITTER: SACP1921
WEBSITE: WWW.SACP.ORG.ZA
FACEBOOK PAGE: SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY
SACP USTREAM TV CHANNEL: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sacp-tv

[SACP] The Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators direct the Rapport newspaper to apologise to Nzimande

South African Communist Party

Press statement, 12 April 2016

The Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators direct the Rapport newspaper to apologise to Nzimande

The South African Communist Party (SACP) welcomes the ruling by the Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators directing the Rapport newspaper to apologise to the Minister of Higher Education and Training (HET), our General Secretary Comrade Blade Nzimande and other persons for creating wrong impressions the newspaper published about them, adversely affecting their reputations. The SACP condemns in the strongest terms possible all fabrications of lies pushed and carried by newspapers such as the Rapport against the Party, its leaders and members in any of their capacities or any South African for that matter.

On 31 March the Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators found that Naspers’ Media24 title the Rapport newspaper created the unfair impression that the HET Minister Dr Blade Nzimande was in some way conflicted and that the newspaper adversely affected his reputation as well as that of the other persons impacted negatively by the story including Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas).

The Rapport newspaper published the lies to create the impression that the Minister (and also the SACP – i.e. in other stories it has published) were reaping money from Setas. The newspaper committed the violation of the Press Code in the story it first published 8 November 2015 under the headline: “Seta-miljoene is na Blade se trust – Verwaarloosde hoenders is ál teken van lewe” (Seta millions went to Blade’s trust – Neglected chickens the only sign of life). The story was also carried by Naspers’ Media24 online news publication News24 under the headline: “Nzimande’s trust reaps R11m in funding from education organization”. The story propagated the lies as captured in the headlines, despite the wealth of correct information it has been supplied and had in its possession. Nzimande dismissed the lies with contempt and condemned in the strongest terms possible the Rapport’s conduct.

In their finding, the Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators state in no uncertain terms, that:

“The problem we [The Press Ombudsman and the Panel of Adjudicators] have with the headline is not the statement that the trust was Nzimande’s [which is a lie] (because he founded it and still was its patron), but rather that it enhanced the impression of a conflict of interest.

“We [The Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators] have little doubt that this has unnecessarily and unfairly done damage to Nzimande’s reputation.

“Section 4.7 of the Press Code is relevant in this regard. It reads:

“The press shall exercise care and consideration in matters involving…reputation. The dignity or reputation of an individual should be overridden only by a legitimate public interest and in the following circumstances:

4.7.1 The facts reported are true or substantially true; or

4.7.2 The article amounts to fair comment based on facts that are adequately referred to and that are true or substantially true; or

4.7.3 The report amounts to a fair and accurate report of court proceedings, Parliamentary proceedings or the proceedings of any quasi-judicial tribunal or forum; or

4.7.4 It was reasonable for the article to be published because it was prepared in accordance with acceptable principles of journalistic conduct and in the public interest.”

“None of these provisions was applicable in this case”, said the Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators about the violation committed by Naspers’ Media24 publications the Rapport newspaper and its accomplice News24. In their findings – “Minister of Higher Education and Training et al vs. Rapport” – the Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators conclude that:

“The headline, together with some elements of the article as discussed above [i.e. in their findings], created the unfair impression that Nzimande was in some way conflicted, adversely affecting his reputation, as well as those of Damcom and the two Setas”. The Press Ombudsman and the Panel of Adjudicators concludes that: “This is in breach of the following sections of the Press Code: 1.1: “The press shall take care to report news…fairly”; and 4.7: “The press shall exercise care and consideration in matters involving…reputation.”

The Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators categorised the breach as serious.

The Rapport newspaper was ordered to apologise to Dr Nzimande and the other whose reputation it violated by its breach of the principles of ethical news reporting prescribed in the Press Code. The Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators directed that the headline of the apology:  “should reflect the content of the text. A heading such as Matter of Fact, or something similar, is not acceptable. If the offending article appeared on Rapport’s website, the apology should appear there as well.”

Napers through its Media24 is engaged in wider political agenda to tarnish the reputation of the SACP and its leaders

The Rapport story was not an accident but part of a wider strategy.

Naspers’ Media24, through several of its titles and online news outlet News24 has been pushing a negatively charged, politically motivated coverage agenda to tarnish the reputation of SACP General Secretary Comrade Blade Nzimande and other senior leaders of the Party. This Media24 news coverage agenda emerged in the aftermath of the SACP initiated campaign to achieve transformation of the media. The campaign seeks to achieve de-monopolisation. It has as its main, but not exclusive, focus on the monopoly or dominance Naspers has established among others through its Media24 oligopoly and pay TV monopoly Multichoice. The other objects of the campaign are to achieve diversity of ownership and perspective, robustly independent accountability and decent work for all media workers.   

The SACP has strongly come out and campaigned against the problematic relationship established between Naspers’ Multichoice and the SABC. The relationship has effectively given Multichoice enormous influence or control over the SABC, our public broadcaster. In what amounts to collusion, the SABC’s rights for example to have the words “twenty four” or numbers “24” in the name of its 24-hour news channel were handed over to Naspers’ Multichoice in a wider package that works well for Multichoice’s capital accumulation interests compared to the SABC. The handing over of the heritage of SABC archives to Multichoice and control by Multichoice over how they must be used as opposed to independent public programming by the SABC are part of the problematic relationship.

It is among others because of the wider manoeuvres of corporate capture in the communications industry including the monopoly interests of Naspers’ Multichoice that the analogue to digital television broadcast migration process has been delayed. In addition, the monopoly is almost completely left untouched instead of using the process to de-monopolise the industry. As a result, new entrants will find it prohibitive to gain access to broadcasting and content protection.

The SACP has been fighting against all of these and other harmful structural and behavioural agendas. The SACP will not be deterred by Naspers’ shenanigans. The Party will continue fighting, and intensifying the struggle to achieve media transformation. This includes taking Naspers’ unethical news reporting head on!!

Issued by the SACP

-- 
__________________________________________
FOR GENERAL ENQUIRIES ON SACP STATEMENTS 
 
CONTACT:
 
ALEX MOHUBETSWANE MASHILO: NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON, HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS
SKYPE: MASHILOAM
MOBILE: 082 9200 308
OFFICE: 011 339 3621/2
TWITTER: SACP1921
WEBSITE: WWW.SACP.ORG.ZA
FACEBOOK PAGE: SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY
SACP USTREAM TV CHANNEL: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sacp-tv

Southern African Times

• Politics

Writting the struggle – Many 

voices, one struggle

16th January 2012

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The actual war is fought out in the mountains and forests – the battlefields – but the 

real effects of every war stay in the mind where those gifted with the talent of telling 

stories tap and package them for consumption.

This was the case with Africa’s liberation struggles just about every other war 

throughout the centuries.

Last year, in this column “Writing the Struggle”, we revisited such wars as put 

down on paper by writers from Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe 

and Namibia.

From Angola came Pepetela in his masterpiece “Mayombe,” a novel which deals 

with tribal relationships within the context of the liberation struggle as waged by the eventually victorious MPLA in that country.

It captures a typical African problem during most struggles where small tribal 

differences threaten to derail the bigger plans for the future.

Poetry by the first President of Angola, Agostinho Neto, speaks volumes of the 

desire haboured in every oppressed African’s heart to one day walk as a free person.

While in “Mayombe” Pepetela writes about the war front, Neto and 

Antonio Jacinto – who was the first Minister of Education and Culture – write 

about the wishes, desires and determination to fight.

Both Neto’s anthology “We Shall Return” and Jacinto’s “Letter from a 

Contractor Worker” capture what it was like, not only in Angola, but the 

whole of Africa.

From Mozambique come Bernardo Honwana (“We Killed Mangy Dog and 

Other Mozambican Stories), Jose Rodrigues (“The White Angel”) and Mia Couto (“Sleepwalking Land”).

Dos Santos captures a moment during in the FRELIMO-led war while Couto 

dwells on the ensuing civil war, with Honwana depicting the effects of war 

on children.

Unlike other wars in the region, the Mozambique struggle was under-reported 

by the mainstream media.

Thus Couto’s “Sleep Walking Land” comes in with a boy and a man fleeing 

the war meet and see the struggle through the diary of a dead man.

There were poets too.

The liberation hero Eduardo Mondlane in his book “The Struggle for Mozambique” 

says poets led the struggle through an inspirational cultural movement.

In particular he mentions José Craveirinha, Carolina Noémia Abranches de Sousa 

Soares and Marcelino  dos Santos, calling them “pioneer poets of rage”.

“They began a purely cultural movement by means of paintings and writings.

“They inspired a younger generation of intellectuals to join the armed struggle 

when it began in 1964,” Mondlane wrote.

He added that “small, educated and therefore politically aware minority of 

urbanites had to perform the difficult task of organising resistance among 

the mass of illiterate African country people, with whom they had little contact”.

Zimbabwe’s war narratives – like those of South Africa – are from two 

perspectives: blacks and whites.

Alexander Kanengoni, an ex-combatant, wrote so beautifully about the 

pain of war; while John Gordon Davis spoke from the Rhodesian angle.

Kanengoni’s “Echoing Silences” explores war’s post-trauma and Davis’ 

“Hold My Hand I’m Dying” sweeps through the early days of township politics; 

Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence and Independence in 1979.

Namibia’s war narratives are three-fold: those by ex-combatants during the 

struggle but in exile; those after the war; and those by South African Defence Forces personnel.

One of those who wrote in exile is Mvula ya Nangolo (“From Exile” in 1976), 

as well two others after independence (“Thoughts from Exile in 1991 and “Watering the Beloved Desert in 2008”).

Antony Feinstein, an apartheid defence forces wrote “Battle Scarred: The Hidden 

Costs of the Border War” where he deals with the Namibian war.

Not to be outdone were a group of Namibian women who tell their stories in a 

collection titled “Tears of Courage”, compiled by librarian Ellen Ndesheetelwa Namhila.

The women are the late Meme Priskila Tuhadeleni, Drothea Nikodemus, Justina 

Amwaalwa, Lahja Iyambo and Aili Iyambo.
This year, the column “Writing the Struggle” will trace war narratives in Botswana, 

Zambia, Mauritius, Lesotho, Tanzania and Uganda.

These countries have one common thing – they never went through bloody 

struggles to attain their independence but they experienced war in their own ways.

Be that as it may be, Africa’s struggle is one: attaining true independence.

Southern African Times

• Politics

Writing the Struggle

12th December 2011

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And it was in this furnace that moulded comrades like Major Willibard“Nakada Shikolo” Tashiya (West Front regional commander, member of SWAPO Military Council), Jackson Mazazi (instructor/commissar for politics and the Vietnam Political Information Officer), “Mbunjana” Munashimwe (camp commander at Vietnam Front), Kalwele Saleus Nehunga (Vietnam physical training instructor), Sakeus “Jocks” Heita (Western Front regional commander for anti-aircraft), David “Kapinya” Mbango (Western Front regional political commissar), and Sekitus “Situation” Shoopola (Western Front regional commander for logistics).

These men are the subject of  Willy Mary Amutenya’s “Brave Unyielding Comrades”.
The account captures the period from 1978 to 1990 and Amutenya (real name Mweshilengelwa Willy Amutenya) unravels the torment he went through when the struggle started and why he had to join the war.
Amutenya attended Anamulenge Primary School from 1966 to 1972 and secondary school from 1973 to 1975. In 1976-1977, he worked for the government as a Telecom switchboard operator at Ondangwa Post Office.
After getting involved with SWAPO, Amutenya was elected vice secretary of the Youth League in the then Ovamboland in 1975.
He decided to cross into Angola in 1978 because of harassment and death threats from the South African Defence Forces and the notorious Koevoet Units.
After four months in exile, the SADF raided Angola attacking SWAPO refugee camps.
Unfortunately, he was one of those captured and brought back to Namibia for incarceration in Mariental.
“By mid-January 1978 I received regular deaths threats from members of Koevoet in Oshakati and Ondangwa while I was in the middle of covert preparations for the armed struggle for liberation.
“I had an ominous feeling that my days were numbered, and decided to leave the country early in March 1978. “Since I had been assisting members of PLAN in Namibia, it was not difficult to get over the borders.
“I was smuggled into Angola and ended up at the Vietnam (Chetequera) transit camp, roughly 40 kilometres from the Angolan-Namibian border.
“Vietnam transit camp became my home from March to May 1978.
“On Thursday, 5 May 1978 the South African Defence Force invaded southern Angola, brutally attacking two SWAPO-led refugee camps, Cassinga and Vietnam.
“I lost my right arm in that violent clash, and was captured as a prisoner of war together with 190 others,” he reveals.
Amutenya and his fellow prisoners were released from Keikanachab Prison in 1984 through a pressure campaign by the Council of Churches in Namibia and other parties involved in the conflict for implementing UN Resolution 435.
This is but one story in this narrative.
While the war itself is of great interest, sometimes life after the war is an even greater story.
Amutenya’s life since the struggle has differed from many of his comrades because he pursued education rather than politics.
In 1985, Amutenya worked for the Anglican Diocese of Namibia as a pre-school teacher at the Anglican Kindergaten in Katutura before moving to the Roman Catholic Church as a social worker, co-ordinating Justice and Peace Commission issues on human rights in 1988.
He then studied for a certificate in Theology through correspondence from Theological Extension College of Southern Africa.
He also obtained a diploma in Production and Supervision from Damelin College in 1994 and thereafter worked for the Ministry of Higher Education as Chief Hostel Patron for International Youth Hostels.
 

Cape Town Delivered Another Successful WTM Africa In 2016

Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

Thousands made their way to Cape Town gets ready for the 2016 version of World Travel Market (WTM) Africa this week.

South Africa needs to watch, listen and learn from yet another opportunity that consists of the best in the tourism industry, in order for the country to develop it's economy.

Last year the Cape Town successfully hosted this premier travel event in Africa with thousands ascending to the 'Mother City' and created new and unforgettable memories.

For this years event though, exhibition leader, Thebe Reed Exhibitions for the third year running, brought Africa’s leading travel and tourism gurus to the southern most tip of Africa, Cape Town.

Cape Town, a multiple international award winning city, is known for its creativity, nature conservation and numerous historical, heritage and cultural pluralism.

Carol Weaving, Managing Director of Thebe Reed Exhibitions notes she had been keen to see as many local travel professionals as possible come through the doors during the 3 days of engaging travel and tourism business activities.  

The WTM Africa 2016, which kicked off on Wednesday and ended on Friday at the Cape Town Convention Centre (CTICC), is an event which organisers have confirmed that "the spotlight is on the continent as international exhibitors, buyers and visitors descend on Cape Town to create valuable partnerships and negotiate successful business deals which will contribute to the impact the industry has on the African economy."

WTM Africa also brings to the table, a diverse array of premium exhibitors, associations and tourism authorities.

"As Africa’s leading B2B exhibition for both inbound and outbound travel and tourism markets, presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to South African, African and International travel professionals. Through its industry networks, global reach and regional focus, WTM Africa creates exclusive business opportunities, providing industry professionals with quality contacts, content and communities," according to organisers.

And WTM Africa 2015 saw over 500 exhibitors showcase their products and services to 4127 trade professionals over 3 days, with 7600 prescheduled appointments and 2 days of very successful speed networking. 

This prestigious gathering has been blessed before with key tourism authorities exhibited here with then likes Abu Dhabi Tourism, Culture Authority. The Authority conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of such places as Abu Dhabi emirate. They manage the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment.

Tracey Krog, Country Manager, South Africa – Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority who commented that  WTM Africa 2015 was the first time destination Abu Dhabi and its key partners showcased prominently to the South African and African travel industry with exhibitors such as Etihad Airways and Oryx Tourism participating on the TCA Abu Dhabi stand.

Included in last years WTM Africa’s diverse array of exhibitors was Namibia Tourism. Area Manager for the destination, Cristina Cicognani, who has the distinction of showcasing the country along with 20 Namibian Tourism suppliers.

Cicognani noted, “WTM Africa has created a wonderful international platform for our Namibia Tourism Suppliers to showcase their tourist related products. Last year marked the year in which Namibia celebrated its Silver Jubilee, 25 years of successful and fruitful years of a peaceful independence. 

She said, Namibia Tourism Board is always proud to support their businesses in South Africa and to the International Tourist Trade.

A true highlight of WTM Africa 2015’s was the official charity, The Tourism Child Protection Code of Conduct (The Code), which together with leading South African tourism industry stakeholders signalled their game-changing approach to protecting children from the worst forms of exploitation. 

"The Code is an industry-driven, multi-stakeholder initiative with the mission to provide awareness, tools and support to the tourism industry in order to combat the sexual exploitation of children in contexts related to travel and tourism."

Southern African News

• Business

USAID ends Southern Africa 

Trade Hub contract

19th March 2016

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> Mpho Tebele

Gaborone- After more than five years, the current contract for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Southern Africa Trade Hub is coming to a close, an official announced on Monday, March 7.

The USAID Southern Africa Trade Hub works to enhance economic growth and food security in the region through trade.

USAID regional trade adviser Paul Pleva said in a statement that “With deep gratitude, we say farewell to USAID’s Southern Africa Trade Hub. After more than five years, the current contract for the “Hub” is coming to a close.”

He said this is not really an end, but just a transition. “You will soon hear more about USAID’s Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub, a new project to continue the work of the current hub. This new project is still under procurement,” said Pleva.

The hub has reported increases in access to warehouse receipts and new deals for exporting garments.

“We’ve seen financing come together for greater agricultural production and the establishment of new labs for testing standards. We’ve read about new rules for promoting renewable energy and portals for keeping traders informed. Although we say good-bye to this Hub, the results will carry on,” he said.

Pleya said at the heart of the Hub was a dedication to results. “The Trade Hub has reported on increases in access to warehouse receipts and new deals for exporting garments.

“We’ve seen financing come together for greater agricultural production and the establishment of new labs for testing standards.

“We’ve read about new rules for promoting renewable energy and portals for keeping traders informed. Although we say good-bye to this Hub, the results will carry on,” said Pleya.

USAID’s Trade Hub was integral to implement President Barack Obama’s “Feed The Future” (FTF) initiative by enabling Southern African farmers to improve agricultural production and supply nutritious food in the region where some countries often face food deficits.  It was headquartered in Gaborone with a budget of more than $80 million over five years (from 2010 to 2016 March).

With offices in Gaborone, Botswana; Centurion (Pretoria), South Africa; and embedded advisors in offices in Malawi and Namibia, the Trade Hub worked primarily in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zambia.

The Trade Hub provided needs-driven assistance to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), governments, and private sector organizations in eight countries to advance regional trade within Southern Africa while incorporating gender integration, environment compliance, and strategic outreach in all activities.

As a regional program the Trade Hub’s objective was to reduce the time and cost of transporting goods across borders by deploying modern trade facilitation tools such as trade information portals and national single windows in selected countries.

It was also aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the grain, soy and groundnut value chains by reducing post-harvest losses, introducing better seeds and technologies, strengthening regional agricultural institutions                  and supporting trade and investment links.

Its objective was to Increase capacity for regulating and enhancing the clean energy sector to increase investments.

It was also to improve the regional trade, investment and integration enabling environment through regulatory reform and the promotion of harmonized standards.