wfn.org | AANA BULLETIN No. 41/03 October 20, 2003 Features

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AANA Bulletin			Bulletin APTA
Editor -Elly Wamari		Editor - Silvie Alemba

AANA BULLETIN No. 41/03 October 20, 2003 Features

SPECIAL  REPORT

October 15 was the day set aside to mark the World Rural Women's day, this 
time emphasis being laid on access to information and communication 
channels by the rural woman.  In this special report, our writers, Lekan 
Otufodunrin, Janet Adongo and Crespo Sebunya, review status of rural women 
in their respective regions, in relation to the theme.

Experts Decry Lack Of Rural-Friendly Radio Programmes

LAGOS (AANA) October 20 - As the world marked this year's World Rural 
Women's Day last week, access to communication channels remained a major 
challenge for rural women in Nigeria.

"Their access to information is still very limited," says Princess Olufemi 
Kayode, Executive Director of Media Concern for Women and Children.

"If they have enough access to useful information, there would have been 
much change in their conditions of living," Kayode notes, adding that rural 
women in Nigerian need accurate and appropriate information to improve 
their living standards.

Although some rural women have access to radio, which has wider reach than 
other media, Morenike Ukpong, a development trainer with the Obafemi 
Awolowo University, Ile Ife, believes that most of the programming on the 
radio stations are too urban focused.

"There is not much information on the radio stations, that can empower the 
average rural woman. They need more than the government news and largely 
entertainment content of the stations," says Morenike.

The development expert continues: "The radio stations also have to 
broadcast in various local languages for rural woman to access the 
information they provide."

A consultative meeting with women from a cross-section of Imo State in 
Eastern Nigeria by Alliances for Africa, an international peace, human 
rights and development organisation, revealed that one of the reasons for 
non-representation of women in all the legislative arms of government in 
the state was lack of awareness of their rights, a situation sustained by 
poor access to information.

A media monitoring project conducted by Media Rights Agenda on media 
coverage of the political transition programme in 1999, confirmed the wide 
disparity that exists in exchange of information between the rural and 
urban centres in Nigeria.

The result of the research revealed that there was a near total neglect by 
print media in reporting political events in rural areas, which has a high 
population of women. The comparative percentage of coverage of political 
activities in urban and rural areas was found to be 99.5 and 5 percent 
respectively.

Osaro Odemwingie, co-ordinator of the exercise, says the wide disparity has 
not changed, as affirmed by another media monitoring studies concluded 
earlier this year.

In the opinion of Odeminwingie, the avenues for rural dwellers, especially 
women, to access information like community viewing centres and public 
enlightenment units, have ceased to function due to inadequate funding.

Availability of community radio would have been a channel for redressing 
the information gap between the rural and urban areas in the country, but 
unfortunately, there are currently no such channels.

For commercial reasons, all the existing radio stations are based in urban 
areas. Recently, the Federal Radio Corporation, the country's state radio, 
commenced the setting up of local stations.  But based on their 
programming, they are still deficient in meeting the information needs of 
the rural woman.

Under a World Bank Development Market Place Project - To give People Voice 
- efforts are on to develop guidelines for the establishment of community 
radio stations.

To improve the access of rural women to information and communication 
channels, Odemwingie opines that the media should be more interested in 
reaching the rural populace with relevant programmes.

He also suggests the setting up of information centres in rural areas, and 
training of rural women as information officers to act as agents of 
development information at village gatherings.

Reported by Lekan Otufodunrin

Kenya Is Light-Years Away From Reaching ITU Target

NAIROBI (AANA) October 20 - "In our village, the nearest phone is three 
kilometres away.  And walking the distance does not guarantee that the 
phone is operational.  Most of the time the mouthpiece has been removed."

These are the words of Waithaka Wanjau, who comes from Nyeri District, 
approximately 195 kilometres away from Nairobi. "Having a landline in the 
house is a luxury for the chosen few.  It is a big deal," she adds.

This is a familiar story for people living in Kenya's rural areas. 
Statistics indicate that there are about 10 telephones, 108 radio 
receivers, 26 television sets and 9 newspapers, per 1,000 people. The rural 
woman suffers this inadequacy most.

So, what does the rural woman in Kenya do in order to communicate with the 
outside world? "She has to wait for a fresh visitor with a mobile phone to 
come around," says Waithaka.

She continues: "But that comes with its own share of problems. First, there 
is no full network cover, and one has to go uphill or climb a tree.  So, 
the women have to look for a willing young lad to make the calls for them, 
at a fee. Secondly, there is no electricity, so the cell-phone cannot be 
charged when the battery dies.	Thirdly, the nearest place to buy a scratch 
card is about 4-5 kilometres away."

Muthoni Wanyeki, the executive director of the African Women's Development 
and Communication Network (FEMNET), says Africa as a whole is more or less 
shut out from the so-called information society.

"The problem is compounded by the gender and urban-rural disparities in 
access to information and communication technology," she observes.

Wanyeki adds that the reluctance of the former government to provide an 
enabling environment for the growth of information and communication 
technologies (ICTs) was obvious.

"The position of our new government has yet to be clearly 
demonstrated.  Yes, NARC (National Rainbow Coalition) did make some vague 
campaign promises but real action has not been forthcoming," she states.

While the government tries to establish its ground in this sector, the 
rural woman has to contend with what is remotely available to gain 
information.

Says Waithaka: "It is about a half-hour's walk to the shopping centre from 
my village. ... There, you will find the newspaper at the tea kiosks.  You 
buy something and get access.... If you find someone reading it, you have 
to wait for your turn. Special [supplements] like the Young Nation and 
Lifestyle Magazine cannot be read by just anyone. You have to be good 
friends with the owner. "

According to Wanyeki, "Kenya is light years away from achieving the 
International Telecommunications Union's (ITU) target for universal access 
to ICTs - that a working telephone be available within a reasonable walking 
distance to every, single individual."

Reported by Janet Adongo

Uganda Women Count Blessings Brought By Internet

KAMPALA (AANA) October 20 - Ugandan rural women are counting their 
blessings for turning digital. Modern communication has improved their 
skills, and has enabled quick access to capital for small businesses.

Ann Kayomberera, a businesswoman in Maganjo, 30 minutes drive north of 
Kampala, recounts how internet and a mobile phone is raising her to new 
heights.  "I'm now a major supplier of chicken, eggs and milk in my 
locality," she boasts.

A mixed farmer, Kayomberera has become an ardent bookkeeper, and surfs the 
internet easily.  "I contacted the US-based International Women Tribute 
Center, and my intention was financial help," she recalls, but shrugs off 
her failure to get funding, noting: "I got useful information from their 
web site, which has pushed me forward."

She is a textbook success of the Council for Economic Empowerment of Women 
of Africa (CEEWA), an NGO that helps women to improve their skills through 
the use of internet.

  "Kayomberera gave us information she obtained via internet, which we 
translated into local language and availed to other rural women," says 
Angela Nakafeero, CEEWA co-ordinator in Uganda.

Kayomberera said four out of ten women who benefited from Kayomberera's 
information have improved their production, through the use of mobile phone 
and internet technologies in their activities.

The internet has helped women market their products. Through CEEWA, 15 
women entrepreneurs secured an order of 20,000 tablemats from the National 
Association of Women Organisations in Uganda (NAWOU).

"Mobile phones have helped them to reach out to their customers and do 
market research for their products," says Angela.

Ugandan government wants internet to be an integral part of the rural 
community and is establishing telecentres through a US$ 3 million 
information technology (IT) strategy.

Four have been established, equipped with a telephone, several computers, 
one of which is connected to the internet, and a television set among other 
communication facilities.

Ultimately, the government targets at least a telecentre in each of the 56 
districts in the country, to benefit local authorities, schools, hospitals, 
and agricultural and business associations in rural areas.

Rural inhabitants will not only be consumers of information on the net, but 
will use the facility to propagate their home-grown experiences in 
development.

"Documentation, evaluation and monitoring of women activity all over Uganda 
will be easy so that women do not have to tour districts, but [browse] the 
net," Patricia Litho, an officer at the Uganda National Council for Science 
and Technology.

A major challenge is to avail affordable telecommunication services to 
rural inhabitants.  The cost of internet has been declining. Two years ago, 
it cost UShs 3000 (about US$ 1.5) to browse for an hour. Now it costs half 
that amount. Yet for majority of Ugandans surviving on a dollar a day, it 
is still high.

Reported by Crespo Sebunya

  FEATURES  SECTION

Sudden Slump In Tourism Bites Hard In Arusha

Tourism is Tanzania's foreign exchange earner. Last year, 550,000 tourists 
visited the country, earning it approximately US$ 700 million. But 
prospects are now low, following a slump in the numbers of tourists 
visiting some of the most popular sites. Like the government, local 
communities and businesses relying on tourism are badly hurt by the turn of 
events, highly blamed on terrorism threats.  AANA Correspondent, Lawi Joel, 
reports.

T
he business of selling Maasai traditional ornaments, which Joyce Lembris 
has been doing for four years in Arusha town, towards the north-east of 
Tanzania, has suddenly turned sour. "Americans are not coming," she says.

The 25-year old Lembris knows Osama bin Laden, and blames him for her poor 
business. Whenever she sees a photograph of the bearded Arab, she remembers 
her rosy past some two years ago.

"He has driven Americans away, and now we have no money," says the mother 
of three, referring to Osama, the infamous terrorist leader.

Lembris says the disappearance of Americans has denied her the US$ 8 to 10 
she used to earn in a day. Today, she earns an average of about US$ 4.

Many nationalities love the merchandise Lembris and her fellow trader Agnes 
Mollel sell, but the two women say it is the Americans who are the best 
buyers.

"Americans don't haggle. They just buy," Mollel adds, her legs crossed on 
the pavement. She too, like Lembris, today earns a fraction of her daily 
revenue two years ago.

Arusha earns most of its revenue from tourism, Tanzania's biggest foreign 
exchange earner.  But this year, tourism is unusually in low ebb, and many 
people in the town have lost a reliable means of livelihood.

Justine Hando, Chief Park Warden of Serengeti National Park says the July 
tourism seasonal peak has this year dropped by about 20 percent. Only 8,971 
tourists visited the region compared to last year's 11,105 tourists.

The decline in tourists numbers will harm communities around the parks as 
well. Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), uses Tsh 500 
million  (about US$ 500,000) per year for development activities of 
communities around the parks.

TANAPA's chairman, Job Lusinde, says spending so much money on people's 
development is important for the maintenance of good relationship between 
the local communities and the organisation, a situation that has inspired 
villagers to protect the wildlife against poachers.

Arusha National Park has spent Tsh 76 million (about US$ 76,000) as support 
to projects initiated by local communities, and now provides jobs for 
communities around.

"Currently, we have a total of 800 young villagers employed as guides and 
porters, and as time goes, we anticipate such opportunities will 
double...," observes Warden-in-Charge of the park, Erastus Lufungulo.

But Arusha is still hurting from the crushing blow. Cafi Bamboo has lost 
its wealthy American customers, and business is doddering. "Americans are 
heavy eaters," says an official of the restaurant.

Some stakeholders in the industry blame Tanzania Tourist Board for not 
working hard to sell Tanzania abroad. "If it did, the world would be aware 
of which country Mount Kilimanjaro is in," says the Cafi Bamboo official, 
preferring not to be named.

Barbara Cole, the Business and Marketing Manager of Safari Makers, a travel 
agency, has a different opinion on the decrease of tourists.

"Germans are probably not coming in in big numbers now because of the 
downturn of their economy," says the American lady, who deals mostly in 
camping safaris and mountaineering.

Another noticeable impact of tourism decline in Arusha is the joblessness 
created among young men referred to as "flycatchers".  They earn their 
living by taking tourists on sites within the municipality, or finding 
cheaper tour operators for them.

Moshi Changai and his friend, Philemon Joel, say they used to earn upto 
about US$ 99 a month during high season. Today, they earn only US$ 20 in 
the same period.

Affected by the slump, hotels are diversifying operations. Arusha Hotel 
plans to build more rooms for accommodation of conference delegates, 
according to Veera Babu Reddy, the hotel's administration manager.

Ironically, Arusha Hotel also fears that plans by the government to improve 
roads within the region may have a negative effect on its business.

When the 77-km Makuyuni-Ngorongoro road is completed next year, business at 
the hotel, it is feared, will dry up. Now that the road is bad, tourists 
from Dar es Salaam have to spend nights at the hotel after or before the 
tedious long ride to Ngorongoro, which is situated towards the north.

"With a good road, it takes tourists a comfortable and much shorter time to 
travel either way. Because they will proceed with their journey without 
stopping here for a rest, we won't do business," Reddy argues.

Meanwhile, the government is looking inward to figure out how to cushion 
the tourism downturn. At this year's Farmers Day Anniversary, government 
officials called upon Tanzanians to cultivate the habit of visiting 
national game parks and reserves.

Chief Park Warden of the prospective Kitulo National Reserve, William 
Mwakilema, reassured people that entry charges into the reserves will be 
kept at affordable levels.

Already, Serengeti, Tanzania's most famous game reserve, has waived park 
entry fee for vehicles. It used to charge about US$ 5 to 15 per vehicle per 
day, depending on the weight of the vehicle.

"We are trying to do all possible things to encourage domestic tourists to 
visit our park," observes Eunice Msangi, head of tourism department at 
Serengeti National Park.

But the indigenous Tanzanians appear to have seen enough of the wildlife, 
and efforts to attract them to the wild lands hold little promise.

Compared to foreign visitors' downturn, the decline in the domestic 
tourists is even bigger. The 1993/94 data show that about 112,901 local 
tourists visited various tourists' spots in the country. The figure dropped 
to 84,304 and 79,489 in the 1994/95 and 1997/98 seasons respectively.

Fortunately, ecotourism is increasing in Usambara Mountains, renowned for 
its rich biological diversity. Amani Nature Reserve Conservationist, 
Corodius Sawe, says villagers adjacent to the reserve have collected Tsh 50 
million (US$ 49,300) from ecotourism, from 1998 to date.

Counting The Gains Of  A Well Attended ICASA

The beehive of activity caused in Kenya recently by the 13th Conference on 
AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) is over. It is 
time to take stock of what the conference achieved for the general world, 
and Africa in particular. AANA correspondent, Joseph K'Amolo, undertakes a 
review of the latest ICASA that attracted more participants than anticipated.

W
hen the bi-annual ICASA started in 1986, the concern then was about the 
origin and mode of transmission of the HIV virus.

The meetings then were characterised by clashing opinions concerning the 
origins and transmission modes of the deadly AIDS virus.

That has now rested, and today, focus is on looking for prevention and the 
elusive cure of AIDS.  Accordingly, a lot has been invested in research and 
awareness creation.

The run up to the 13th ICASA, held in Nairobi for one week last month, was 
marked by anxiety among the organisers, especially after American 
delegations rescinded their earlier decision to participate, following a 
negative travel advisory in relation to terrorism fears.

The conference, it was feared, would miss US patronage, hence pledges and 
probably financial commitment to fight the AIDS pandemic.

Then the conference commenced, and to the surprise of the organisers, there 
was a high turn out, peaking 7,200 delegates from 109 countries.

As the conference came to an end, the chairman, Dr Dundu M. Owili, summed 
it as a successful meeting, which gave direction as to what was required.

In agreement with Dr Owili, are Mr Charles Kaduwa, the programme officer 
for Women Fighting AIDS in Kenya (WOFAK), and Monique Wanjala, the 
Administrator for International Community of Women Living with AIDS - East 
Africa Region.

According to Kaduwa, the theme of the ICASA meeting - Access to Care - was 
very appropriate because the conference lived up to this challenge.

The attendance reflected that AIDS has finally reached the top of the 
African agenda. This happened against the backdrop that some African 
leaders are still in a state of denial, as claimed by Nomfundo Dubula from 
South Africa, an activist living with HIV/AIDS.

One of the impressive things about the conference was that people 
demonstrated a social responsibility hanging over the international
community.

Even the profit-driven pharmaceutical companies acknowledged that they have 
an obligation to avail AIDS drugs at an affordable price to people who 
seriously need it.

Through the conference, a lot more people became sensitised about the needs 
of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

One of the biggest hurdle tackled by the 13th ICASA was, in Dr Owili's 
view, the crusading calls for eliminating stigma and discrimination related 
to AIDS, which have been a hindrance to efforts aimed at fighting the
disease.

Because of the fact that so many advocacy groups and community-based 
organisations formed a big part of the delegation, the drugs manufacturing 
companies could not ignore or remain insensitive to their pleas.

Another achievement of the conference was that it brought into public 
limelight, the need for consideration of an alternative therapy offered by 
traditional healers.

"The conference offered a unique opportunity for many to learn, especially 
in areas that had not been explored before," noted Kaduwa, adding: "The 
involvement of herbal medicine, which is really African in nature, as an 
alternative therapy, was commendable."

Another positive pointer during the conference was the launching of an AIDS 
association by the First Ladies in Africa, who pledged further commitment 
to lead efforts against stigma and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS.

To some observers, the participation by different stakeholders sharing 
their perspectives of how to contain the pandemic was a milestone 
achievement.  The conference therefore provided a forum for new issues.

But as some give an affirmative picture of the conference, there are 
sceptics who still argue that an event like ICASA was just too little too 
late.

They contend that if serious actions were undertaken right from the time 
news broke out about HIV/AIDS, the situation would not have degenerated to 
the current levels.

The pandemic has kept an upward trend despite the fact that a big number of 
the world's population is conversant with its transmission. The delay has 
thus, been costly, say critics.

Just before the end of the conference on September 26, a group of people 
living with HIV/AIDS complained that there was too much talk and little 
action against the pandemic. "You talk, we die", screamed one of the 
placards they displayed.

Even though, some positive developments have started unfolding as 
demonstrated by recent funding commitments by Europe, Japan and the United 
States of America.

In addition, there is the World Bank's Multi-country HIV/AIDS Programme 
(MAP) for Africa, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and 
Malaria, which are releasing funds for fighting HIV/AIDS. However, UNAIDS 
says these are still far from being sufficient.

According to a June 2003 analysis by UNAIDS, there is need to double the 
effort, as the total funding for the low and middle-income countries is 
only half of what will be required in 2005 to effectively confront the 
pandemic.

The general feeling was that the attendance of many drug-manufacturing 
companies was not just a window-dressing gimmick, but also a sign of 
commitment to avail antiretroviral drugs to the many needy people in 
developing countries at affordable rates.  Nevertheless, this remains to be 
fulfilled.

As the continent seems set to battle HIV/AIDS, it will contend with the 
spread of HIV, which remains relentless, infecting over 30 percent of 
people of ages of 15-49.

UNAIDS estimation is that at least 60 million Africans have been directly 
affected by HIV/AIDS. Approximately 30 million people are living with the 
deadly virus, and more than 15 million have died due to AIDS.

  Centenary Achievement For Humble Divinity School

Barely 30 kilometres north of Kenya's capital, Nairobi, stands St Paul's 
United Theological College, Limuru. The seemingly humble institution, now 
celebrating 100 years of existence, is a major training centre of 
international repute, attracting theological students mainly from the 
entire eastern Africa region. In this write up, AANA Correspondent, Andrew 
Kuria, traces the history that has moulded the college to its present-day 
status.

With the coming of the first missionary in Kenya in 1844, a settlement for 
freed slaves was set up at Frere Town in Kisauni, on the outskirts of 
Mombasa, Kenya's largest coastal city.

It was here that in 1875, the Church Missionary Society (Anglican Church) 
established a divinity school, which formally started operations on July 
28, 1903.

The school, St Paul's Divinity School, was then relocated to Limuru town 
near Nairobi, on January 1, 1930.

It is now celebrating 100 years of existence, under the name St Paul's 
United Theological College, offering training of priests from different 
churches within East Africa.

Its growth to the present status has been gradual and firm. The 
institution's establishment in Kisauni was guided by two major facts: 
First, the local people had started accepting Christianity.

Secondly, it was felt that Kisauni had the security the missionaries needed 
to start mission work and new life for former slaves who had been resettled 
there.

In 1888, Rev E. A. Fitch began a divinity class, which was designed to 
offer the local Christians practical skills and Christian leadership
training.

Whereas some started being trained as teacher-evangelists, others were 
ordained as deacons, and St Paul's had thus began the training of Africans 
for the ordained ministry of the Church.

On July 28, 1903 the Rev H. K. Binns laid the foundation stone of St Paul's 
Divinity School in Frere Town. Worth noting is that the original foundation 
stone is now re-laid at the entrance of today's chapel in Limuru.

The inscriptions on the stone state thus: "This Foundation Stone Of St 
Paul's Divinity School , CMS Was Laid By The Revd. H. K.  Binns.  Frere 
Town, July 28th 1903. Transferred to Limuru Jan 1930."

The school's first principal was Rev J. E. Hamshere, who served until 1926. 
The school was then training only Anglican adherents into pastoral work and 
priesthood.

Earlier, in 1900, Rev A.W. McGreggor had arrived at Fort Smith (now called 
Kabete, near Limuru), and soon after, started Christian work, where the 
Anglican Mother Church now stands.

In 1903, he left for Fort Hall (present day Muranga District, about 180 
kilometres from Nairobi), and in his place came Rev Harry Leakey (later 
Canon Leakey), who settled in Kabete.

Leakey bought some land in Limuru, and offered it to CMS to built a 
divinity school. Thus, in 1930, St Paul's Divinity School moved from Frere 
Town to Limuru.

Although the school still trained Anglicans from Uganda, Kenya, and 
Tanganyika, Canon Leakey expressed hope that it would grow to be a bigger 
institution that would also train members of other Christian denominations, 
not only from Kenya but from other countries within the region.

His dream came true when 25 years later (1955), the school became St Paul's 
United Theological College, Limuru.

On New Year day of that year, a formal agreement was signed between the 
Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches, to establish the joint
college.

Among the first students at the renewed college was Lawi Imathiu, who 
became the presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church in Kenya, and Manasses 
Kuria, who rose to become the second African Archbishop of the Anglican 
Church in Kenya.

Eighteen years later (1973), the Reformed Church of East Africa officially 
joined as the fourth participating partner.

The growth of the institution then saw the acceptance of other 
denominations, such as the African Christian Church and Schools (ACC and 
S), African Brotherhood Church (ABC) and Church of the Holy Spirit, among 
others, into the fold.

The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), in its corporate 
identity, became the fifth participating partner in the ownership of the 
institution.

As the college now celebrates 100 years, it welcomes students from all 
countries in East Africa as well as other parts of the continent.

First and higher degrees in divinity and theology and also first degrees in 
Business Administration are being offered here.

At the beginning of this year, the institution started a distance learning 
Masters degree programme in Pastoral Care and HIV/AIDS.

It is now at advanced stages of planning courses in Christian-Muslim 
relations at Masters level, and a Bachelors degree in Communications.

As part of the celebrations marking the century of its existence, the 
college, between March 8 and 16, organised a commemorative walk symbolising 
the journey taken by the divinity school as it moved from Frere Town to 
Limuru in 1930.

According to the current principal of the college, Rev Prof Godfrey M. 
Nguru , St Paul's hosted conferences and consultations with theologians and 
preachers in June, July and August, "and we are pleased to have hosted the 
second Women in Ministry Conference, sponsored by the World Council of 
Churches".

In the highlights of the celebration between October 10 and 18, the 
institution celebrated the graduation of the first entry of Bachelor of 
Business Administration students.

At the same time, 35 students were awarded Bachelor of Divinity degrees and 
one student received a Master of Theology degree in colourful centenary 
graduation ceremonies.

The principal terms the 100 years achievement as "God's faithfulness over 
the years".