Uganda Rural Community Support USA

OAU Secretary General Salim Ahmed Salim Saturday hailed the role African women continue to play in fostering peace and development on the continent.

In a press release on the occasion of Pan African Women’s Day, Salim praised the women for “the achievements and contributions” they have been able to make in all spheres.

Saying he attached importance to this occasion, he saluted the Pan African Women Organisation for the “various initiatives it took with a view to making the women of Africa a symbol of resilience and strength in continental endeavours to promote peace, development and stability.”

He added: “It is, however, paining to note that African women, who constitute 52 percent of the African population, continue to be subjected to suffering, harassment and displacement, and bearing the brunt of conflicts afflicting Africa.”

Salim assured the women that the OAU was “fully-committed both to the eradication of all forms of discrimination against women, and the improvement of the status and conditions of life and work of the women in Africa.”

In this regard, he said, the OAU has taken a number of initiatives aimed at supporting and promoting the participation of women in the various development activities in the continent.

“As part of the celebrations of the Pan African Women’s Day, the women of Africa are expected to engage in strategic alliance-building for effective change, and to become more dynamic in the promotion of understanding, cohesion, harmony and nation-building,” Salim added.

Journalists working for a Nigerian weekly magazine,
The News, whose reports led to the recent forced resignation of the House of
Representatives speaker Ibrahim Salusi Buhari, have petitioned the inspector-
general of police alleging threats to their lives.

Idowu Obasa, general manager of the magazine, said that in one of such calls
Thursday, the caller ordered the editors “to stop what you are doing. If not, we
are going to kill you.”

While indicating that these calls “may be intended just to scare our editors
and staff” Obasa, however, insisted that the magazine “will not relent” in its
efforts to keep its readers informed.

The News two weeks ago published an investigative report indicating that ex-
speaker Buhari had lied about his age and educational qualification.

After initially dismissing the report as false, Buhari later apologised and
resigned from his post. He also pleaded guilty Wednesday to a two-count charge
of perjury and forgery before a chief magistrate’s court which is to announce
sentence Tuesday.

He risks up to seven years in jail for the offence, which has rocked
Nigeria’s new democracy after 15 years of military rule.

Nigerians appeared divided over the issue. While some wanted him to be
punished for cheating to get to an exalted office, others pleads for his pardon,
saying his humiliation was enough.

The committee on the destruction of weapons destroyed the
highest number of rounds of ammunition yesterday. The committee said it
destroyed more than a quarter million rounds yesterday alone. There are about
three million rounds of ammunition to be destroyed.

Yesterday’s figure brings to nearly a million the rounds of ammunition,
destroyed so far. Destruction of the ammunition is taking place in
Tubmanburg, Bomi county, 50 kilometers west of Monrovia. Yesterday’s
destruction was the fourth since it started last Sunday. The coordinator of
the team in charge of destruction hopes they will complete the burning of
ammunition next week. He told STAR radio in Tubmanburg, the burning of light
weapons will followed the completion of the burning of ammunition. Mr.
Chevnoky said the pits for the burning of the light weapons are being dug in
the same area the ammunition are being burnt. The burning site is up in the
mount, five kilometers west of Tubmanburg.

* The Monrovia City Court has released ten ex-combatants, arrested
yesterday. The ten were among a group of about 100 ex-fighters who stormed
the residence of the Executive Director of the Monrovia- based Center for
Democratic Empowerment, Commany Wesseh. The City Solicitor said he could not
proceed with the case without Mr. Wesseh. Mr. Wesseh is currently out of the
country. The former combatants, calling themselves Veterans, went to the home
of Mr. Wesseh early yesterday. Witnesses said the men carried knives, iron
and sticks. They ransacked and looted the house, taking away household and
personal effects. Local Human Rights organizations’ report said Mr. Wesseh’s
wife, children and other relatives were manhandled, before Mrs. Wesseh fled
their home for safety. The former combatants accused Mr. Wesseh of preventing
them from receiving international assistance. They claimed Mr. Wesseh, in a
radio talk show, to have told the UN not to give aid to ex-fighters. Several
human rights groups in Monrovia have condemned the attack on Mr. Wesseh’s
house. The Executive Director of a local child advocacy group, James Torh,
said attacks like the one on the Wesseh’s house undermine moves toward
democracy. More than 200 ex-combatants demonstrated outside the UN Peace
Building office in Monrovia last Wednesday. They accused the International
community of neglecting them and not giving them resettlement benefits.

* Police authorities in Monrovia are conducting an autopsy on the body of
a former police officer. Police Spokesman Singbe Johnson told STAR radio the
autopsy would identify the cause of the officer’s death. Criminal
Investigation Division (CID) officer George Yalley was found dead this week
behind the Budget Bureau on Capitol Hill. His death followed an alleged
scuffle with some unidentified security officers on the night of July 23.
Police Spokesman Johnson said they have requested the Special Security Unit
(SSU) to conduct a muster. He said witnesses of the incident would identify
the SSU officers alleged to have been involved in the scuffle with the late
Yalley. Mr. Johnson also said a civilian identified as Saah Gbolee would
assist the Police with the investigation. But the spokesman of the SSU has
denied the involvement of SSU officers in the alleged scuffle. Colonel Mends-
cole Gbor, further called on the Liberia National Police to stop accusing
SSU/SSS officers. The Police have also requested the Armed Forces of Liberia
(AFL) to conduct a muster. Some unidentified AFL men were accused of being
involved in the scuffle. There’s been no comment from the AFL authorities.

* Meanwhile Colonel Gbor has cautioned human rights activists in Liberia.
He said human rights issues shouldn’t be used as a ploy to castigate
government. He accused human rights groups of sending “malicious and negative
signals” to the international community. Mr. Gbor warned human rights
activists to desist from what he called undermining the government.

* Hearing into theft charges against a group of journalists failed to go
ahead yesterday. Court officers said defense lawyers were not informed about
the assignment of the case. Eleven of the journalists appeared before the
Monrovia City Court for the hearing. They are charged with the theft of over
100 cartoons of confiscated poultry product. State lawyers put the value of
the products to nearly 100,000.00 Liberian dollars. The journalists are to be
prosecuted along with an officer of the Liberia National Police. The case has
been re-assigned for Tuesday, August 3. The journalists are represented by
the Civil Rights Association of Liberian Lawyers.

* The Criminal Court ? C ? has granted a request to keep the 15-man jury
together. The jurors were selected yesterday to try three bank officials and
two others. The officials of the First Commercial and Investment Bank are
charged with theft of property. They are accused of illegally withdrawing
over U.S. $200,000.00 from government’s account with the bank. The request to
keep the jurors together was made by state lawyers. The lawyers said this
would avoid the jurors being tempered with during the trial. The defense
lawyers rejected the request. But the Court said keeping the jurors together
would avoid delay in the trial. The trial is presided over by Judge Timothy
Swope.

* The Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) says it lacks the capacity to clean
the city of garbage. The Director of Sanitation said the corporation lacked
the needed logistics. Mr. Abraham Garneo told Star Radio the corporation’s
trucks and equipment were damaged. He said the MCC was presently not
receiving support from the central government. Mr. Garneo said the
corporation has been using trucks borrowed from the Public Works Ministry to
collect garbage. He said these trucks were now being used to transport arms
and ammunition to Bomi County for destruction. Mr. Garneo said residents were
dumping garbage on the streets because the garbage containers were all
wrecked. He said the MCC would resumed the garbage collection when the trucks
are available. There are huge piles of garbage on most streets and in markets
areas in Monrovia. Environmentalists warned that these would caused an
outbreak of epidemic in Monrovia.

* The Nimba County Superintendent has warned security against violating
the rights of civilians. Mr. Yarlor Saywon said there were persistent
complaints of security harassment and intimidation. Mr. Saywon said these
acts of lawlessness have often caused injuries to people and loss of
properties. He blamed most of these acts on security officers not assigned in
Nimba County. He said improved relations between civilians and security
forces would ensure harmony in the county. The Nimba County Superintendent
spoke at programs marking the Independence day celebrations. The program was
held in Sanniquellie, Nimba County.

* A senior UN Military Observer in Sierra Leone says they were not aware
of cease-fire violations. Other independent sources have also denied reports
of cease-fire violations. The reactions followed reports of cease-fire
violations by Sierra Leone deputy defense minister. Chief Sam Hingha Norman
accused AFRC and RUF rebels of attacking Kamajors’ positions. He said several
persons were wounded during the attack in several towns and villages. Chief
Norman said the rebels abducted several persons including women and children.
An African diplomat said he was not sure these were real cease-fire
violations. A Catholic official also said the fighting was over control of
rich diamond areas. The official who traveled from Kenema said rebel forces
were engaged in illicit mining. The catholic officials said Tongo Field and
others areas where fighting is going on are rich diamond fields. ECOMOG Chief
Information officer has declined to comment. Lt. Chris Olukulade said ECOMOG
does not have control over the Kamajors.

* NOTE FOR EDITORS: Star Radio is staffed by Liberian journalists and
managed by the Swiss NGO Fondation Hirondelle with financing from the U.S.
Agency for International Development through the International Foundation for
Election Systems. Non-commercial redistribution is allowed, providing that
the source is quoted and no editing other than reformatting is made.

STAR radio, Sekou Toure Avenue, Mamba point, Monrovia, Liberia. Tel:
(+231) 226820 Fax:(+231) 227360; E-mail:star@liberia.net. Fondation
Hirondelle 3, rue Traversiere 1018 Lausanne, Suisse Tel: (+4121) 647 2805
Fax: (+41 21) 647 4469; E-mail: info@hirondelle.org; Visit our World Wide Web
site: www.hirondelle.org

The House of Representatives in mid-July approved the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (H.R. 2489), legislation that if it became law would link new trade preferences for Africa to structural adjustment reforms and IMF style conditionalities.

The ACAS Executive Committee believes the legislation approved by the House is worse than no bill at all and we recommend members urge their Senators to vote against the bill when it comes for a vote in that body.

Supporters of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), including the Clinton administration, most business groups, Africare, the African American Institute, a majority of the Black Caucus and the entire African diplomatic corps in Washington, argue the legislation is a long overdue recognition of U.S. interests in Africa and an important first step in promoting U.S. trade and investment. The conditionalities in the legislation, argue supporters, are modest and in most cases are subject to the presidential discretion.

But opponents such as Representatives Jesse Jackson, Jr., Maxine Waters and 12 other members of the Black caucus as well as the 13 million member AFL-CIO trade union federation, TransAfrica, the Sierra Club, Public Citizen, COSATU and a coalition of African NGOs argue the legislation imposes economic policy prescriptions without providing meaningful development for the poorest continent in the world. (For a full list of opponents see the Public Citizen web site at http://www.citizen.org/pctrade/Africa/opponents.htm). Although the South African government now supports the legislation, Nelson Mandela’s first reaction to the legislation was to call it “unacceptable.” An alternative trade bill proposed by Rep. Jesse Jackson (and cosponsored by 75 other members of Congress), that would expand trade preference, call for debt cancellation and insist on minimal levels of continuing development aid, was not even brought to a vote. Its provisions should be reconsidered by the House and Senate.

What AGOA Does

The legislation approved by the House offers African countries a series of rewards, including expanded duty free access to American markets for certain products, equity and infrastructure funds to support U.S. investment, and establishment of a mechanism to promote and review U.S. trade policy toward Africa. Yet to receive these benefits, African governments must remove restrictions on foreign investment, reduce corporate taxes and privatize state owned companies.

The benefits of these programs are, moreover, minimal. The House bill would in theory allow duty free imports of textiles, primarily from Kenya and Mauritius, if the textile imports do not damage U.S. companies. But a March 1999 Congressional Budget Office study suggested that in reality 90 percent of African textiles would probably be declared “import sensitive” and denied access to U.S. markets. The Senate version of the bill, which has been approved by the Senate Finance Committee but not by the full Senate, allows imports only of textiles made with U.S. cloth and thread.

The legislation also provides authority for the president to provide “duty free” access to U.S. markets for certain African goods under a trade provision known as GSP. Yet according to the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, more than 29 African countries already have GSP trade status and the real effect of this provision is simply to encourage the president to consider allowing “enhanced GSP” status for certain African products if they will not damage U.S. manufacturers. Each decision on each product would have to first be reviewed by both the U.S. Trade Representative and the International Trade Commission.

Supporters argue the real value of the bill is not so much in the specific lifting of trade restrictions, but in the framework it establishes for promoting trade with Africa including the call for a free trade agreement between the U.S. and Africa and the establishment of annual forums at which trade and finance ministers from Africa and the U.S. meet. Efforts to strengthen U.S. ties with Africa are indeed welcome, and the Clinton administration has already established a special trade office for Africa and the first ever meeting of African and U.S. trade and finance ministers was held in Washington in early 1999. But what are the benefits to those who do not attend meetings of government officials and other elites?

The Wrong Framework, the Wrong Symbolism

A closer examination reveals that the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act approved by the House establishes the wrong framework and is a step in the wrong direction. The legislation passed by the House establishes a framework that might at best help a few more economically advanced countries-but will bring few if any benefits to the majority of people in Africa. Indeed at its core are policies now proven to increase poverty and decrease the provision of public goods such as health care and education.

At the core of the Act is another attempt to force African governments to prioritize a series of free market principles, including cuts in government expenditures, privatization of government corporations, new rights for foreign investors to buy African natural resources and state firms without limits, deep cuts in tariffs, and membership in the World Trade Organization. (See the attached excerpts from the bill for a list of the conditions.) Labor advocates did manage to force the sponsors to add a provision raising the issue of labor rights and there is a reference to the importance of respect for “internationally recognized human rights,” but eleven of the twelve items on the checklist used to determine “eligibility” for benefits under the legislation are designed to open markets for U.S. investment and trade.

Such priorities were made starkly clear in the debate on the House floor in mid-July, when the sponsors of this legislation used a parliamentary maneuver to defeat an attempt that would have allowed countries to import generic, lower cost drugs to deal with national emergencies such as the HIV/AIDS crisis. At the moment, the U.S. is vigorously threatening South Africa with trade sanctions in retaliation for the South African government’s efforts to obtain low cost, generic alternatives to drugs necessary for combating AIDS.

These policies are not new. The World Bank and IMF have been imposing these policies on poorer countries in the world for decades, but even the multilateral institutions have acknowledged that these policies have not improved conditions for the poorest segment of the world’s population. In fact, according to a new report by the United Nations Development Program, the poorest countries have actually gotten poorer in the last decade and that same report notes that 29 of the 34 poorest countries in the world are in Africa.

In summary: the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act passed by the House is a step in the wrong direction. This legislation is an attempt to force African countries to prioritize macroeconomic policies that are not appropriate for the level of development in Africa.

An Alternative Vision

Congressman Jesse Jackson, with the assistance of labor, citizen and environment groups, drafted an alternative piece of legislation-the HOPE for Africa Act (H.R. 772)–that sought to focus U.S. Africa policy on debt relief, development assistance and social programs. That legislation, however, was never brought to the floor for a full debate. (For a full comparison of that legislation with the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, see the Public Citizen comparison on the web at: http://www.citizen.org/pctrade/Africa/HOPE/comparison.htm ).

Defeat AGOA in the Senate

The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act must now be approved by the Senate. The ACAS Executive urges members to write to your senators and express your opposition to this legislation (see the acas web page for addresses if necessary), and urge a new, fairer deal for Africa-as proposed in key provisions of the Hope Act.

*Export-Import Bank

July 20, 1999

Contact: Ken Murphy (202) 565-3200 Web: http://www.exim.gov

$200 Million Ex-im Bank Africa Pilot Program Begins August 1, Short-term Credit Will Be Available in 16 Sub-saharan Countries

Washington, DC: The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is implementing a $200 million Africa Pilot Program, designed to make available short-term export credit insurance in 16 countries including 11 countries where routine Ex-Im Bank financing was previously unavailable.

$100 million of the proposed $200 million program will support US export sales to Nigeria, based on current projected demand for financing exports to that country. The remaining $100 million program capacity will be allocated on a first come, first served basis for the other 15 countries. The effective date of the one-year pilot program is scheduled for August 1, 1999.

The sub-Saharan Africa public and/or private sectors of the countries impacted by the new Africa Pilot Program are: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Guinea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sao Tome & Principe, Tanzania and Togo.

Ex-Im Bank Chairman James Harmon stated that “under this pilot program, Ex-Im Bank will be able to help small and medium-sized companies in many African markets purchase the U.S. goods and services needed in order to participate in the global economy.”

The Africa Pilot Program will assist businesses to obtain financing for the purchase of US-made spare parts, raw materials and agricultural commodities. The short-term export credit insurance will generally be made available in the private sector through irrevocable letters of credit from credit-worthy banks in the respective countries. Coverage will be provided primarily under Ex-Im Bank’s short-term “Bank Letter of Credit Policy.” In certain markets, a single buyer policy may be used, so long as the obligor’s obligation represents a reasonable assurance of repayment. Terms will initially be limited to “sight” until there is sufficient repayment experience. In the public sector, Ex-Im Bank will generally finance transactions with sovereign guarantees. Also, Ex-Im Bank will consider letters of credit issued by credit-worthy public sector banks, operating on a commercial basis, with satisfactory payment records.

This program is designed to allow Ex-Im Bank to optimize its ability to support US exports to sub-Saharan Africa while retaining the ability to minimize potential risk. This program also offers correspondent banks, operating in the U.S., especially those currently active in this region, an effective tool for mitigating risk, as well as expanding its confirmation lines.

This year, in a continuing attempt to increase business in sub-Saharan Africa, Ex-Im Bank also initiated an innovative $10 million credit facility for Business Partners Limited (BPL), for the purchase of U.S. goods by its membership. BPL is a South African small-business development company, with an estimated membership of 4,500 small businesses. Under this agreement, BPL will on-lend Ex-Im Bank funds to small businesses. Ex-Im Bank also approved $10 million in export credit insurance for Tanzania Air Services and Zambia Flying Doctor Service. Although Ex-Im Bank financing was technically unavailable in both countries, Ex-Im Bank overcame that hurdle by working with PTA Bank (The Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank), a supranational bank with its headquarters in Kenya, which is the guarantor for this transaction.

Ex-Im Bank is an independent U.S. government agency that assists in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to developing markets all over the world by providing loans, loan guarantees, and export credit insurance. In fiscal year 1998, Ex-Im Bank supported $13 billion of U.S. exports worldwide.

*Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)

July 22, 1999

For further information, contact: Larry Spinelli (202) 336-8690 Jeremy Butler (202) 336-8744 Web: http://www.opic.gov

Opic Launches $350 Million Fund for Investment in Africa: Largest Single Fund in Opic’s History

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) today launched a $350 million equity fund for investment in sub-Saharan Africa — the largest single fund in OPIC’s history. The fund was formally launched at a Capitol Hill ceremony today sponsored by Congressmen Bill Archer (R-TX), Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), Philip M. Crane (R-IL), Sander M. Levin (D- MI), Sonny Callahan (R-AL), Benjamin A. Gilman (R-NY), and Sam Gejdenson (D-CT).

The New Africa Infrastructure Fund responds to the commitment made by Congress and the Clinton Administration to increase private investment in sub-Saharan Africa. It is expected to leverage an additional $2 billion of investment in Africa which will create approximately 6,800 new jobs for Africans and generate almost $50 million in annual revenues for the countries of sub-Sahara Africa. It will also generate an estimated $350 million in American exports while creating U.S. jobs — all at no cost to the U.S. taxpayer. Investments will focus on basic infrastructure needs such as telecommunications, transportation, and power.

“I commend the Congress and the Administration for identifying Africa as one of the biggest growth opportunities for American business in the world,” George Munoz, OPIC President and CEO said. “As this fund — the largest in OPIC’s history — demonstrates, we are strongly committed to increasing U.S. direct investment in Africa.”

“OPIC is also committed to working with the nations of sub-Saharan Africa as partners in growth and to help facilitate the integration of Africa into the global economy,” Munoz continued. “The New Africa Infrastructure Fund is the fourth OPIC equity fund supporting investment in Africa. OPIC has signed new bilateral investment agreements with 14 sub-Saharan African countries since 1997. In addition, OPIC is providing almost $900 million of support in approximately 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.”

OPIC’s Investment Funds program supports the development of many important “frontier” markets, facilitating early access to new consumers and paving the way for further investment by U.S. companies. OPIC leverages private equity capital by lending or guaranteeing long-term debt to the Fund. OPIC must be repaid in full before equity investors receive returns of capital or any profit. All fund investments must be submitted to OPIC for approval and must meet OPIC statutory requirements including protection of U.S. jobs, worker rights and environmental requirements.

The New Africa Infrastructure Fund was established using a new open and transparent process for selecting a fund manager. The consortium of Sloan Financial Group (SFG), Taylor-DeJongh (TDJ), and New Africa Advisers (NAA) was selected for its expertise in private equity investment, infrastructure knowledge, capital raising capabilities and sub-Saharan Africa experience.

Sloan Financial Group, Inc. has roots dating back to 1898 when the ancestors of Sloan Financial Group and the New Africa Advisers Chairman, Maceo K. Sloan, founded North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company. Through its subsidiaries, which manage over $5 billion, Sloan Financial Group is the world’s largest black-owned diversified financial services firm.

Headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, and incorporated in 1992, New Africa Advisers is a subsidiary of Sloan Financial Group, Inc. In anticipation of Nelson Mandela’s call for the end of sanctions and his invitation for renewed foreign investment in South Africa, New Africa Advisers was the first U.S. investment firm to be established in post-Apartheid South Africa. With offices throughout Africa, New Africa Advisers is the largest employer of pan-Africa investment professionals and was the first firm to offer pan-Africa institutional investment products. When the New Africa Infrastructure fund is raised, New Africa Advisers and its affiliates will advise assets of over $500 million.

Taylor-DeJongh is one of the world’s leading firms for infrastructure project development and financing. It has advised on, structured, negotiated and financed major capital projects in more than 60 countries, for investments totaling more than $50 billion. The firm is consistently ranked in the world’s top 5 financial firms for advisory on power, petrochemical, telecommunications and water project financing. Taylor-DeJongh’s headquarters is in Washington, DC, with additional offices in London, Istanbul, Cairo, Bahrain and Johannesburg.

OPIC is a self-sustaining federal agency that sells investment services to small, medium and large American businesses expanding into some 140 developing nations and emerging markets around the world. OPIC’s political risk insurance, project finance and investment funds fill a commercial void, create a level playing field for U.S. businesses and support development in emerging economies. Since 1971, OPIC has supported $121 billion worth of investments that will generate $58 billion in U.S. exports and create more than 237,000 American jobs.

For more information about the New Africa Infrastructure Fund, call 919-688-8092.

Distributed by the Africa Policy Information Center (APIC), the educational affiliate of the Washington Office on Africa, 110 Maryland Ave. NE, No. 509, Washington, DC 20002. Phone: 202-546-7961. Fax: 202-546-1545. E-mail: apic@igc.apc.org.

Ghana is coming for the four-nation hockey tournament
which will be held at the City Park Stadium from from August 28 to
September 8. Hardev Singh, the Kenya Hockey Union chairman
confirmed that the Ghana team will arrive on August 27 and depart
on September 6.

Other teams which are coming for the tournament which will be
the final build-up for the seventh All Africa Games to be held in
Johannesburg, South Africa from September 9 are India and Egypt.
The KHU boss also said that there was a possibility of Zimbabwe
travelling to Nairobi for the tournament. He was still awaiting
confirmation from Harare.

This tournament will also be used to mark the KHU Golden
Jubilee. In a related development, Australian based Eric Odingo
and Clement Omany have confirmed they will be in Nairobi for the
tournament.

With the selection for Kenya’s four-nations
tournament just round the corner, Kenya Cricket Association
selectors will be kept busy this weekend with some 12 Nairobi
Province Cricket Association Division One league games on offer.

The news of Kenya captain Aasif Karim’s retirement from
international cricket is still the pavilion talk this week but
Karim will offer himself at Lavington tomorrow when his Nairobi
Jafferys’ side hosts Premier Club in one of the key games. The
statemanly Karim called it a day from the international game on
Wednesday but said he’ll be on and off at Jafferys.

He featured in 30 One Day Internationals for Kenya, 21 of them
as captain, scoring 229 runs with a highest score of 53.

The East and Central African handball club
championships wind up today with crucial matches for defending
champions Kenya Commercial Bank at the National Indoor Stadium
here.

The Kenyans, who hold both the men’s and women’s titles, face
the uncompromising Kampala Amateur Volleyball Club, who, like
their opponents, have not lost a game since the tournament started
last Saturday, Officials of the two sides spoke highly of their
players yesterday.

“As defending champions we don’t expect much opposition from
the Ugandans, although we understand that they are very good,”
said KCB men’s team coach Jackton Omukani. Assuring Kenyans or
returning home with the trophy, Omukani said the players were in
good spirit.

“I’m nursing no injuries and we’re doing pretty fine,” he said.
The Kenyans are banking on their six internationals Paul Bitok,
Godfrey Owese, Henry Gitahi, Patrick Owino, David Lung’aho and
Isaac Bor.

Paul Chella and Bilton Musonda today return to Shinde stadium in the
distinctive green strips, but this time leading the Zambia Army outfit, Green
Buffaloes against their former side Mufulira Wanderers.

In this FAZ Premier Division Week 21 match which has generated a lot of
interest, the two players discarded together with Vincent Mutale early this
season, will be out to prove several things.

That they still love getting the ball into the net and that they are not
rejects as portrayed by Wanderers. And they have indeed proved instrumental in
Buffaloes’ resurrection which has seen the team win four of their last five
matches to rise from the second-from-bottom position to the eleventh.

It has, however, been a different case for Mutale who has failed to make it
even on the substitutes’ bench. His indifferent form has given spawn to 17-year-
old intelligent ball distributor Amon Simomba.

Wanderers’ coach George Lwandamina whose team has failed to win a match in
the last five — losing four and drawing one — will have to devise a workable
formula to neutralise his former charges. He will also do well to remember that
when Wanderers beat Buffaloes 2-1 in week six, it was before Chella trekked to
Lusaka.

With key defender Allan Kamwanga reportedly down with malaria, the onus will
be on defenders Charles Bwale, Tom Katongo and company to stop the marauding
Buffaloes’ strike force which includes the back-to-form Bernard Kombe. WARRIORS
v POWER Kabwe Warriors coach Wesley Mondo, whose stay at Railway ground was
almost cut short by a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Power Dynamos in the BP Top
Eight quarter-finals, will be hoping for revenge this afternoon.

Warriors, on 35 points, are still nursing the 1-0 bruises inflicted on them
by Zanaco in last weekend’s match and this will no doubt spur them to go for an
outright win against Linos Makwaza’s team. But Power, tenth on the log, would be
trying to put behind their string of unimpressive results and choke up a
victory.

It may just happen, especially if the BP Top Eight form can be reproduced.
ROAN v RANGERS These are never easy fixtures in any season as shown by the week
six result, a barren draw from the first meeting between Roan United and Nchanga
Rangers in Luanshya.

Last season Roan beat Rangers home and away. Rangers’ flagging form in recent
matches could buoy Roan although both teams are on 30 points with the defending
champions enjoying a superior goal average.

BLADES v ZAMSURE The best result for Konkola Blades in this match would be an
outright win, a fitting tribute to the late team manager Mwenya Matete who died
last week. That is if Zamsure, who won the opening tie 2-0, can allow them to
disturb their third position on the table.

NKANA v EXPRESS Draw “kings” Railway Express’ trip to Nkana stadium could
turn out be for another draw but the ‘reds’ never compromise especially on
matters bordering on points and the league championship. Express coach Gautier
Kituka is faced with a test and battle for survival after his bosses, unhappy
with the team’s 11 draws, five of them in a row issued an ultimatum.

Nkana lead the table with 41 points, six more than second placed Zamsure and
Kabwe Warriors. NKWAZI v ZANACO At Edwin Imboela in Lusaka, Nkwazi host Zanaco
while Lusaka Tigers will also be at home to Kalulushi Modern Stars at Matero
stadium. At Musa Kasonka, Ndola Wanderers coach Andre Mtine, who the team’s fans
want fired, has a golden opportunity to start afresh what with a seemingly easy
tie against bottom-placed Mufulira Blackpool.

The 1999 Dunlop Zimbabwe Challenge motor rally took-off yesterday
with Zambia’s Muna Singh seeded fifth in the grueling event.

Muna’s elder brother Rammy who is also taking part, was seventh off the
starting ramp in the seedings that gave the two Zambians a fair chance of
success. With champion driver Satwant Singh out of action after a spinal injury
sustained during the Castrol- Spectral international rally last month, Zambia’s
hope of glory lies in Muna and his VW Golf.

Second finisher in the Castrol- Spectra Zambia challenge, Charles Muhangi of
Uganda who is currently leading African charts was seeded first with the
barefoot Zimbabwean driver Hannes Crugger second. Crugger won the Castrol-
Spectra Zambia rally early this month only after Muhangi, who was enjoying a
comfortable dust free run in the first stage, wrong slotted, dropping five
minutes in the maze.

Dunlop rally boss Craig Batten said from Harare yesterday that the event
which has attracted 32 drivers and was over 850km had attracted drivers from
Zambia, South Africa, Namibia and Uganda. On the absence of Satwant, the seven
time Africa champion Batten said: “We are just disappointed that he is not here.

He would have made a difference” The top seven seedings 1. Charles Muhangi
(Uganda); 2.

Hannes Crugger (Zimbabwe); 3. James Browell (Zimbabwe); 4.

K. Himmel (Namibia); 5.

Muna (Zambia); 6. G.

Zannin (Zimbabwe) and Rammy (Zambia). Batten said two other Zambia drivers
Mayu Patel and Paul Monge had not arrived in Zimbabwe by Thursday in time for
scrutineering and documentation.

Kenya 1 Rwanda ‘B’ 0 Kenya’s Harambee Stars will meet
Sudan at 6.30 pm tomorrow in the fourth quarter-final game of the
East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup in Kigali, Rwanda.

Stars booked the ticket to face the Sudanese after defeating
hosts Rwanda ‘B’ 1-0 in the final game of the tournament’s
preliminary round at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali yesterday.
After the match, Stars’ Nigerian coach Christian Chukwu said the
foundation of soccer in the East African region has been quite
shaky.

“When I came to East Africa, the main problem I found was the
poor youth foundation as compared to West African soccer. “I have
had to start from scratch and now all my players (Harambee Stars)
are under 23 years of age,” the coach who has been drafted into
the aggressive Kenya Football Federation’s Youth Development
Programme said.

The East Africa Breweries-sponsored tournament’s quarter finals
start today with Burundi playing Uganda at 4.30 p.m. and Tanzania
playing Burundi at 6.30. Tomorrow’s other semi-final at 4.30 p.m.
will see Rwanda ‘A’ playing Ethiopia. Should Kenya advance,
they’ll play the winner of the Burundi v Uganda game in the semi-
finals on Tuesday. Eric Omondi scored the lone goal for Stars
yesterday in the 16th minute, a well taken shot from a free kick
about 25 metres out of the Rwandans’ goal.

The hosts, however, were relieved when they won a toss of the
coin to sneak through to the quarters ahead of Eritrea with whom
they had tied on points and goals. Harambee Stars: Francis Onyiso,
Charles Oduor, Robert Olang, Tiellen Oguta, George Waweru, Eric
Omondi, Mike Mururi, John Muiruri, Charles Kimuyu (Tom Ogweno),
Maurice Sunguti (Geoffrey Okoth), Mark Serengo (Patrick Mugata).
Their scheduled Moi Golden Cup game against Nyali Beach Hotel last
weekend referred to the boardroom, Premier League leaders Mumias
Sugar shift their attention to the league with an explosive home
game against resurgent Eldoret KCC today. The seventh-placed KCC
recovered from a loss to Tusker FC last Saturday to hit Gor Mahia
1-0 the following day in Nairobi and will travel to the Mumias
Complex with their guns blazing.

KCC’s Tom Rero is away with the national team in Kigali’s
Challenge Cup while Mumias’ former KCC forward Mark Serengo,
Patrick Mugata and midfielder Charles Kimuyu are also away. This
hands the onus to the fringe players and judging from last
weekend’s games, Dennis Ochieng’, Sammy Okoth and Francis Xavier
are capable of swinging the game KCC’s way. The rest of the
fixtures, today: Coast Stars v Shabana (Mombasa); Utalii v Telkom;
Eldoret FC v Sony; Re-Union v Chemelil (Afraha); Tomorrow: Re-
union (18) v Nzoia (2) (Nakuru); Brooke Bond (19) v All-Stars (21)
(Kericho); Oserian (11) v Telkom (14) (Naivasha).