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AANA Bulletin
Editor - Mitch Odero

Bulletin APTA
Acting Editor - Silvie Alemba

SPECIAL  REPORTS

Phone Operators Challenged To Reach Rural Masses

BLANTYRE (AANA) October 14 - Paulos Chitsa is looking forward to the future 
when he can maintain regular contacts with friends. For the past six 
months, high tariffs for mobile phone use has been hindrance and now, his 
gadget is lying idle.

"The coming in of the new service provider could change things for the 
better but may be consumers have to form a lobby association like in other 
countries to protect us," says Chitsa.

The emergence of a new mobile phone operator on the Malawi cell phone scene 
has given hopes for competitive, reliable and affordable services to the 
consumers. In the recent past, consumers have been yearning for services 
from the new technology. Land lines are most of the time congested thus 
denying faster connections.

Last month, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority MACRA licensed a 
new operator - Malawi Mobile Cellural Network Limited - thus increasing the 
number of service providers to three after Telekom Netwoks Malawi TNM and 
Celtel Malawi, the first companies of the mobile phone era.

The new company which is a joint venture between a local consortium and 
Ubambo Investments of South Africa will have an initial capital injection 
of US $56 million with an ambition to introduce new technology, avoid 
duplicating services and taking up the government's espoused target to 
extend to the rural areas of the country where 80 percent of the 12 million 
population live.

When in 1998 MACRA was established it was in line with the government of 
Malawi's plan to empower both the urban and rural masses through 
telecommunication services.

Celtel and TNM were provided with licences which was followed by 
overwhelming reception of mobile phone technology among many Malawians, 
especially the briefcase-carrying  business community. TNM was leading the 
market with a 63 percent share.

While people were initially enthused with the modern gadgets, consumers 
have lately been complaining of the ever rising tariff rates. It now costs 
an average of US $0.35 per minute for a subscriber to access international 
service.

Users also question the rationale of pegging the rates to the US dollar 
which put them on a receiving end each time the local currency, the Kwacha, 
now trading at K80 to one US dollar, fluctuated.

Many consumers and prospective consumers have always advocated for 
competitiveness, while quality of service was another issue of concern 
often cited. MACRA, in line with the government's communications policy, 
called for another operator.

But Celtel and TNM were not happy saying the Malawi market of 60,000 
subscribers was too small for a third operator. Their reasoning being that 
if they lowered the rates they could not realise profits to sustain them 
considering that the sector was capital intensive.

MACRA, geared to meet the government's ambition, argued that the number of 
cell phone users was fast on the increase while competitiveness, 
accessibility, affordability and quality services could only be achieved if 
another player were allowed into the market.

"The coming in of another operator is market driven. This time Malawi has 
the lowest teledensity of Cell phone users in the Southern African 
Development Community SADC region, so we have to move fast and catch up," 
says Shadreck Ulemu, director for MACRA.

It is hoped that the arrival of the new dealer would improve the mobile 
density to a single digit number. Malawi has currently a low penetration 
rate of cellular mobile services in the region with density standing at 
0.73 percent cell phones per 100 people. High tariffs is  beyond the reach 
of many and is blamed for marginalising most users.

When the third licence was offered, the government challenged the operators 
to reach the rural areas rather than confine themselves to the lesser urban 
population.

The rural masses also needed the services. The regulatory principle 
guarantees people affordable rates, accessibility and accessible services.

The secretary in the Ministry of Information, Anthony Livuza says the new 
operator will enable Malawi to move away from congested networks and 
outdated technology.

The anticipation is for low tariffs and modern technology seems to be high. 
He urged them to extend to the rural masses which were excluded since the 
advent of the cell phone era.

"Unless the services reach the rural area, we still have a long way to go. 
You need to pool your resources as operators to extend and avoid excluding 
the larger section of the population," said Livuza.

He admitted the importance of balancing between providing a conducive 
business environment for operators to make profits and keeping the 
businesses afloat.

Presently, people also expect improvement in the land line sector. Although 
Malawi Telecoms Limited MTL the sole land line provider has managed to 
increase its lines from 35,000 in 1999 to 80,000 lines to date.

There was still much to be done in the areas of improved quality of 
services and quick response to correcting faults. MTL is being privatised 
by the government to improve its capacity and also in line with the 
Privatisation Commission's programme to do away with loss-making 
parastatals, uplift their efficiency.

But the commission has not been able to identify a strategic partner in 
time after it turned down  a U$80 million offer from Econet Wireless saying 
it was too little. MACRA argued that there was no need for the government 
to rush as it was supposed to recommend an efficient investor with 
technological and financial muscle, a view shared by the Privatisation 
Commission.

Reported by Hobbs Gama

African Virtual University Launches Computer Degree

NAIROBI (AANA) October 14 - The African Virtual University AVU has launched 
its first degree programme in computer science.

The four-year programme will be offered simultaneously to students based in 
different countries within sub-Saharan Africa, starting January next year.

It will be delivered using a proven and unique integration of satellite, 
internet, multimedia, print media and classroom technologies that have 
successfully overcome the limitations in infrastructure existing on the 
continent.

The degree will be offered jointly by the Royal Melbourne Institute of 
Technology (RMIT) of Australia, the University of Dar-es-Salaam (UDSM), 
among eight other partner institutions in Africa.

Speaking during the launch here on October 4, AVU's Chief Executive 
Officer, Prof Cheick Modibo Diarra described the degree as "the dawn of a 
new era in higher education in Africa".

He outlined AVU's vision in the next five years, saying it would be an 
independent and reputable institution that will be expected to contribute 
significantly to Africa's capacity building efforts by leveraging the 
powers of various technologies.

He said AVU was a worthwhile project started in a good environment. "This 
AVU I see in my mind's eyes is a good seed. It has been planted on fertile 
grounds here in Kenya and it is cared for by dedicated partners such as the 
World bank, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), AusAid, 
England's Department For International Development (DFID), the United 
States Agency for International Development (USAID), the European Union to 
name only a few," he said.

Also present during the launch was AVU's Director of Education Programmes, 
Prof Peter Materu, who pointed out that AVU would in the next five years 
start a degree programme in business studies.

The other programmes will include a diploma in teacher training to 
specifically focus on upgrading new areas of knowledge, and a diploma 
programme in health sciences to concentrate on upgrading of health workers 
in critical areas such as HIV/AIDS management.

Materu said in recognition of the learner environment in which AVU will be 
operating, a flexible, mixed mode delivery approach has been adopted. A 
careful combination of live video broadcasting, on-line learning material, 
pre-packaged learning material on CD-ROM and DVD as well as live tutorial 
lessons will be used.

He noted that AVU would adopt a learning centre based approach whereby all 
students will be expected to register at a centre and attend specifically 
scheduled synchronous sessions at the centre.

"This is done in order to ensure that every learner receives an effective 
learning experience," he said.	Currently, there are four such midpoints in 
17 countries in Africa.

Vice chancellor of the RMIT, Prof Dr Madeleine Reeve said the institution 
would be collaborating with the AVU and its lead partner institutions to 
build their capacity in areas such as instructional design, quality 
assurance and programme accreditation.

"This project marks the beginning of collaboration involving African and 
Australian expertise in the context of the rapidly developing Information 
Communication Technology (ICT) industries," she pointed out.

Kenya's Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Major 
Rtd  Marsden Madoka, whose role was to officially launch the AVU computer 
studies degree course, said the timing of the programme could not have been 
better, considering the fact that the NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's 
Development) is committed to addressing some of the challenges facing 
Africa, among them, education.

"The AVU initiative contributes directly to one of the core objectives of 
NEPAD by creating the necessary resources to address the development chasm 
in infrastructure, education, health and ICT. This is clearly highlighted 
in NEPAD's Programme of Action (2000) that states the 'revamping of 
education will be given topmost priority'".

AVU was incepted in 1997 with its main focus being tertiary and continuing 
education. Its mission is to bridge the knowledge gap between Africa and 
the rest of the world by dramatically increasing access to global 
educational resources throughout Africa.

This goal was born out of concern over the relatively low enrolments at 
this level in Africa (under 5 percent compared to a world average of over 
16 percent) and the already overstretched government budgets.

On average, it costs over 400 percent per capita income to cover the costs 
of one university student for one year in sub-Saharan Africa.

Previously operating within the walls of the World Bank, AVU is now 
established as an intergovernmental organisation located in and operating 
from Africa.

Reported by Joyce Mulama

  BOOK	REVIEW

A Candid Overview On The Causes Of Conflict In Sudan

Editors: Yusuf Hasan and Richard Gray
Publisher: Paulines Publications Africa. P O Box 49026, Nairobi,Kenya
Printer: Kolbe Press P O Box 468, Limuru, Kenya
Volume: 208 pp
Year of Publication: 2002
Source: Papers presented at an International Conference in Yale, US
Price: KShs 800 (about US $10)
Printed: under Faith in Sudan series

NAIROBI (AANA)October 14 - Based on various papers presented at an 
international conference, held in Yale, US, some years ago, the book under 
review presents some basic background information on   the civil conflict 
that has afflicted the Sudan for many years.

One credible thing is that contributors are men and women of different 
faiths - Christians and Muslims.

The articles include Religion and Conflict in Sudan; Three Religious 
Traditions and Their Encounter with Modernity; The Role of Religion in the 
North-South Conflict with Special Reference to Islam and "They Are Slaves, 
but Yet Go Free": Some Reflections on Sudanese History.

Other papers are based on Human Rights and Islamization of the Sudan Legal 
System; Mixed Civil, Sharia and Customary Jurisdictions and Laws in an 
Ethnic Conflicts Setting: Case of Sudan; The Unholy War: Jihad and the 
Conflict in Sudan and Moving Boundaries: Forms of Resistance and Women's 
Solidarity in Islamist Sudan.

The book also includes papers on Religion and Conflict in the Nuba 
Mountains; Some Reflections on Christian Involvement; Kuku Religious 
Experiences in the Sudan and Exile in Uganda; Spiritual Fragments of an 
Unfinished War.

The other papers are Christian Conversion among the Jieng War; Religion and 
Politics in the Southern Sudan: The Ugandan Dimension and Seeking Peace in 
Sudan: Impediments, Forgiveness and Dialogue.

On religion and conflict in Sudan, which forms the title of the book, Lamin 
Sanneh, Professor of World Christianity, has observed that since 1959, 
civil wars have continued to devastate large areas of Sudan, causing the 
deaths, and uprooting the lives of millions of people and coming near to 
destroy   the viability of state and society.

These wars are commonly characterised as conflicts between a Muslim north 
and a non-Muslim, partially Christian, south, the author has explained.

In such a stereotype, the hostilities in Sudan might appear to fit into a 
scenario which depicts the clash of cultures, particularly those that may 
pit Islam against the West, as the fundamental source of conflicts in the 
new world order, the author has offered some further explanations.

On Three Religions Traditions and Their Encounter With Modernity, Richard 
Gray and Yusuf Fadl Hasan have observed that the spread of Islam, brought 
by Arab pastoralists and Muslim traders, was also a very gradual process.

The unlettered Arab pastoralists who began to infiltrate in small numbers 
from the tenth century AD inflicted the first blow to the Christian fabric. 
Some settled along the Nile valley, inter-married with the indigenous 
population, while others drifted on westward, according to the article.

Because of the matrilineal system of succession, which was prevalent in the 
region, the Arabs acquired positions of authority, the article has further 
explained.

The Christian kingdom of Nubia virtually ceased to exist when, on 29 May 
1317, an Islamised and Arabanized Nubian prince was installed on the throne 
of Donqola.

This event marked the political end of Christian Nubia, but Christianity 
continued to linger on in some places until the end of the fifteen-century, 
according to the article.

  Observing that the conflict in Sudan threatens to destroy the country, 
the article says it  (conflict) concerns many types of power-military, 
economic, social and ideological.

Yusuf Fadl in his article, On The Role of Religion In The North-South 
Conflict, With Special Reference to Islam, also discusses the North-South 
Sudanese civil war that flared up in August 1955 and continued 
intermittently until now.

He says the conflict has generally been conceived of as a conflict between 
the dominant and more developed Arabanized Muslim North and the less 
developed African South "predominantly traditional in its African beliefs 
with a Christianised modern leadership".

This is an oversimplification of an intricate situation the roots of which 
are deep seated in the historical, cultural, social and economic 
development of the diversified Sudanese society, he further says.

These factors include social grievances, lack of confidence, hatred and 
uneven economic development, according to him.

R.S. O'Fahey in his article "They are Slaves, but Yet Go Free"! Some 
Reflections on Sudanese History has observed that a fundamental obstacle to 
any kind of dialogue over the future of the Sudan is the unwillingness of 
the parties to the conflict to confront their past  in any way.

A certain kind of rhetoric about the past has become etched in stone on 
both sides that in itself  blocks the possibility of any kind of dialogue 
for the future, he says.

He further stresses that "reading   the accounts of various encounters, 
always doomed to failure, between   the National Islamic Front (NIF) regime 
in Khartoum and the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLAM), one has a 
sense of dij` vu going back to the 1960s. All that can be said has been
said".

On Human Rights and Islamisation of the Sudan Legal System, Mohamed Abraham 
Khalil observed that present-day Islamic states are sitting between the 
horns of an embarrassing dilemma.

"As members of an increasingly converging international community, they are 
expected to conform to its basic code of conduct," the writer says.

On the contentious The Holy War: Jihad And The Conflict in Sudan, Abdel 
Salam Sidahmed states that there is a perception that the religious 
dimension of the Sudan conflict has become more pronounced under the 
present regime, owing to the ideological /Islamist orientation of the 
ruling group and its hardcore the National Islamic Front.

This perception has been enhanced and furnished by the continuous official 
projection of the war in Sudan as an act of jihad, according to the article.

At an impressionistic level, one may argue that the Islamist orientation of 
the present government informs its attitude towards the conflict, hence the 
government's projection of its strong religious connotation.

In this regard, notes the writer, two polemical views appear to be 
associated with the theme of jihad in the Sudan conflict.

On Moving Boundaries: Forms of Resistance and Women's Solidarity In 
Islamist Sudan, Azza Anis, has complained that while the Islamist's 
exclusive ideology and the denial of basic freedoms have affected the 
entire population, women have become the subject of particular controls and 
restrictions.

On Religion And Conflict In The Nuba Mountains, Humud Abia Kadouf has 
stated that religion became an issue in the conflict in the Nuba Mountains 
through government propaganda that the war is against Islam.

That was naturally in order to arouse and thus instigate popular religious 
sentiments against guerrillas, he explans.

  In his article on Spiritual Fragments Of An Unfinished War", Sharon 
Elaine Hutchinson says that both the rural Dinka and Nuer communities of 
the Upper Nile, Bahr-el-Ghazal and Jonglei Provinces have suffered most 
intensely during the entire period the people in the southern Sudan have 
been engulfed in the devastating civil war, since 1983.

These two ethnic groups, the two largest in the South, have supplied the 
bulky of the southern military forces seeking to overthrow the 
northern-dominated, national Islamic state in Khartoum, according to the 
author of the article.

Reviewed by Osman Njuguna