The Centre for Social Concern (CfSC), has worryingly observed that the 2013/14 national budget, just like the preceding 2012/13 national budget, is not people centred. While acknowledging the fact that the current budget has been framed in the context of a stagnating economy that is struggling to emerge from a downturn, CfSC believes that government should have balanced the twofold equally important tasks of stabilising the country’s economy by giving incentives to the private sector (as the engine of growth) and also protecting the vulnerable through adequate social spending to reduce poverty.
While acknowledging the troubling reality that Malawi is now back under the wings of the Bretton Woods Institutions (IMF and World Bank) CfSC believes that in engaging these institutions Malawi government should do so in cognisance of the lessons learnt from the recent past. READ MORE
Month: June 2013 Page 2 of 3
The Centre for Social Concern (CfSC), has worryingly observed that the 2013/14 national budget, just like the preceding 2012/13 national budget, is not people centred. While acknowledging the fact that the current budget has been framed in the context of a stagnating economy that is struggling to emerge from a downturn, CfSC believes that government should have balanced the twofold equally important tasks of stabilising the country’s economy by giving incentives to the private sector (as the engine of growth) and also protecting the vulnerable through adequate social spending to reduce poverty.
While acknowledging the troubling reality that Malawi is now back under the wings of the Bretton Woods Institutions (IMF and World Bank) CfSC believes that in engaging these institutions Malawi government should do so in cognisance of the lessons learnt from the recent past. READ MORE
They called their slave Inboekselings
In those stormy years between 1830s and 1850s the majority of Voortrekkers in the Transvaal were involved in a reprehensible though highly profitable occupation: the kidnapping of African children. It was a practice that sparked waves of terror in African homesteads. READ MORE
Slavery at the Cape
Jan Van Riebeck set foot at the Cape on 6 April 1652. His instructions from the Dutch East India Company were clear: he was forbidden to enslave the indigenous people of the Cape. However, slaves from elsewhere were another matter and in May 1652, only weeks after arriving at Table Bay, he asked for slaves to be sent to help erect the fort and till the land. For the first five years the only slaves at the Cape were stowaways or gifts from the captains of passing ships. In 1658 there were 11 slaves, eight women and three men.(…)
Slavery – the imposition of enforced servitude by a powerful group on another group – inevitably breeds fear in both groups, and resentment in the oppressed. There was also tension among the whites, who constantly feared a mass rebellion and death at the hand of a slave. There was always the fear that slaves who had run away might return to rob and kill, and so large rewards were offered for their recapture. READ MOREThanks to Didier Lemaire, M.Afr for sharing those articles with us.
Cher SAP Blog
Aujourd’hui, les Missionnaires d’Afrique de l’Ouest vous proposent de visiter de nouvelles pages sur leur site www.mafrwestafrica.net :
– Dans la rubrique « Actualités » :« Missionnaires d’Afrique décédés »,, les noms de ceux qui ont servi dans les pays de la province d’Afrique de l’Ouest et qui nous ont quitté depuis le 1er janvier 2013. (lire la suite) – Dans la rubrique « Justice et Paix» :
« La corruption au Burkina Faso», tel est le thème de la dernière lettre de la commission Justice et Paix des religieux et religieuses au Burkina Faso (lire la suite) – Dans la rubrique « Vu au sud, vu du sud » :
« Protéger l’agriculture africaine» : notre confrère Maurice Oudet nous invite à réfléchir sur la nécessité de prendre des mesures efficaces pour protéger cette agriculture encore bien fragile. (lire la suite) – Dans la rubrique « Maisons de formation » :
La Maison Lavigerie à Ouagadougou », quelques extraits de la dernière revue de la Maison Lavigerie, « Le Pélican » : l’éditorial, et l’interview du Père Charlin. (lire la suite)
– Dans la rubrique « Témoignages » : « Philippe Dakono, de Tanzanie », un jeune malien qui vit présentement son année spirituelle en Tanzanie partage son expérience d’immersion auprès des plus pauvres.(lire la suite) .
10000 hits!
Thanks to you all! MAFRSAP Blog has reached 10000 hits. Officially inaugurated on the 1st February 2013, your favorite blog is growing every day. Each day, an average of 50 hits is registered.
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In a letter written in French, Justin Sebakunzi is expressing his thankfulness to the AMS Province for the wonderful experience he lived in Quebec City and Ottawa. Those three years were a marvellous gift of life. He is now appointed to Zambia, “the country of nice people”, where he made his novitiate and stage.
Welcome back to SAP dear Justin. We are looking forward to welcome you in August. Take care! READ MORE
Zambia: Bring Black Friday Attackers to Justice – Catholics
By Peter Adamu, 5 June 2013
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has condemned last Friday’s attack on the church during a Black Friday procession to protest the Patriotic Front’s poor governance record and removal of subsidies on maize and fuel calling on government to bring the perpetrators to justice.
In a statement by JCTR’s Faith and Justice programme manager Brian Banda, the Catholics are demanding assurance on the promotion of a society where human dignity, which is the bedrock of human rights and democracy, is respected, promoted and protected in Zambia.
READ MORE
Also:
Attack on a peaceful gathering of several civil society organisations in a church – Lusaka
Peace and goodness!
I received the sad news this morning that one of my brothers, third born called Lazarus, passed away on Friday 7th around 08:30am in Lusaka. Burial is on Monday 10th June, 2013.
Pray for him and the family left behind. Stay blessed.
John C. Mubanga
Indeed, let us pray for John’s brother and for the whole family which is at a loss. The funeral took place at King George in Barastone, Lusaka. John Mubanga is currently in Nairobi. You may send him a word using the post “leave a comment” here below.
FENZA CONFERENCE …. FENZA CONFERENCE
Saturday, 22nd June 2013
Venue: Faith and Encounter Centre (FENZA),
Leopards Hill Road, Bauleni (near Mathia Mulumba Catholic Church or Yatsani Radio)
Time: 14:00 to 17:00 hours
Theme: Challenges of implementing Shariah Law in Modern Times
We have invited experts in Secular Law and Islamic Law (Dr Pamela Towela Nsambo, UNZA; Dr Sheick Twaha O. Chiwala, Imam; Fr. Felix Phiri, Scholar of Islamic Studies) to trigger off the discussion.
Governing the whole of Muslim life, in all places and at all times, is the God given law, the Shariah. In today’s globalized world, Muslims have to co-exist with the awareness that there are other inhabitants of the earth who are governed by laws different from theirs. Its all-encompassing nature and some manifestations of some of its laws – generally perceived by non-Muslims as extreme and incompatible with modernity – have widely generated prejudiced fear and suspicion not only among non-Muslims but also among some liberal Muslims.
In view of helping to understand the key issues preoccupying both sides of the divide, and in line with its goals – empowering Christians in Zambia to face the challenges of contemporary and traditional cultures with openness and to encounter people of different Christian denominations, contemporary religious movements and religions – FENZA will be organizing a Conference / Discussion on the 22nd of June, from 14.00hrs to 17.00hrs.
The theme of the conference will be: Challenges of Implementing Shariah Law in Modern Times.
It will be a threefold presentation: the first presentation by Dr Pamela Towela Nsambo, a full-time lecturer in the school of law at UNZA, will provide the general framework within which laws are generally understood in modern secular societies.
To provide a summary of the Muslim self-understanding of Shariah law will be Dr Sheikh Twaha O. Chiwala, an Islamic scholar of Shariah law, a Mufti and currently Imam of Taqwa and other mosques in Lusaka.
Finally, Fr. Felix J. Phiri, member of the FENZA team and scholar of Islamic studies, will highlight a number of ways in which the implementation of Shariah law is effectively a challenge to modern Society. The three presentations will be followed by the opening of the discussion to the audience, through questions, answers and personal contributions to the debate.
UNANIMA International is a non-governmental organization (NGO) advocating on behalf of women and children (particularly those living in poverty), immigrants and refugees, and the environment. Our work takes place primarily at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where we and other members of civil society aim to educate and influence policymakers at the global level. In solidarity, we work for systemic change to achieve a more just world.
On the ground, our unique membership consists of 18 congregations of Roman Catholic sisters whose 17,500 constituents work in 79 countries. We bring their voices, concerns, and experiences as educators, health care providers, social workers, and development workers to the United Nations.
UNANIMA in Ghana
1 June 2013. You sponsored a very successful two-day international youth gathering in Tamale, Ghana in late April. Six UNANIMA communities attended (13 sisters) from: the Carmelites of Vedruna, Holy Child Sisters, Religious Sisters of Charity, Sisters of Providence, Religious of Jesus and Mary, and Ursulines, as well as sisters of other communities and lay people who are working against trafficking in the area. There were about 76 people represented, from Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, the DR Congo, Cameroon, Gabon and the USA. Some of the sisters travelled three days by bus to get there. … READ MORE
Franciscans International is a non-governmental organisation that voices concerns at the United Nations, with and on behalf of the most vulnerable, about justice, poverty and the planet.
My World is a global survey for citizens led by the United Nations and partners. It aims to capture people’s voices, priorities and views, so that global leaders can be informed as they begin the process of defining the new development agenda for the world.
Through creative online and offline methods, MY World asks individuals which six of sixteen possible issues they think would make the most difference to their lives. The sixteen issues have been built up from the priorities expressed by poor people in existing research and polling exercises and they cover the existing Millennium Development Goals, plus issues of sustainability, security, governance and transparency.
Talitha Kum successfully conducted a Counter Trafficking Training Course for Religious Women of East Africa on April 6 – 12, 2011 at the Center of Spirituality of the Little Sisters of St. Joseph in Karen Nairobi, Kenya. 35 Sisters from 30 religious congregations attended the Training Course. They come from Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan and Zambia. (cfr. Attached list of participants) The Course was ably facilitated by the UISG-IOM team, this time consisting of Sr. Estrella Castalone, FMA and Dr. Stefano Volpicelli of IOM. Sr. Agnes Wamuyu, Executive Secretary of AOSK (Association of Sisterhood of Kenya) coordinated the Course while Sr. Jane Joan Kimathi acted as the local facilitator. The presence of the Papal Nuncio, who presided at the Opening Eucharist assured the participants of the Church’s blessings. READ MORE
Comité d’action contre la traite humaine interne et internationale CATHII
CATHII promeut un monde sans prostitution en s’opposant à la marchandisation du sexe et en luttant contre la législation de la prostitution qui fait augmenter la traite. CATHII dénonce toute forme d’exploitation humaine telle que le travail forcé et l’exploitation sexuelle. En plus de réclamation pour les victimes et travail de conscientisation, CATHII coordonne des actions collectives pour les Congrégations religieuses et leurs alliés et développe des alliances avec des organisations qui ont la même visée.
CATHII INFO – JOURNAL
– Coalition québécoise contre la traite des personnes – Francophonie contre la violence envers les femmes – Tourisme sexuel – Campagne pour l’abolition de la prostitution
Pour nous joindre : info@cathii.org et www.cathii.org
Blog: http://nouvellescathii.blogspot.ca/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CATHII.info
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cathii_info
Dear brothers and sisters,
It is with great sorrow that I announce to you the tragic death of our brother Martin Balemans which occurred this afternoon.
Martin went swimming late morning as he usually does. At about 12:30 he was passing through Tamale town with his driver. He asked his driver to stop in town so that he buys something. They packed at normal packing place and Martin wanted to cross the road. He took care to pass at the pedestrian grossing. All the cars stopped to give way, but a young man who was riding a motorbike did not stop and accidentally hit Martin who fell, hitting his head on the asphalt.
He was immediately transported to the Tamale teaching hospital. This happened at about 12:40. I was informed at around 13:00, and I rushed to the Hospital. The diocesan bursar arrived there before me and anointed Martin. When I got there, Martin was not conscious, and there were over 10 Doctors and many Nurses around him doing all they could to save him. Unfortunately, at about 14:00 Martin was declared died. There were a good number of priests present when he died.
We shall be meeting tomorrow and the days to come to plan for the funeral. We shall keep you informed as regards to the funeral arrangements. Let us keep our dear Martin in our prayers.
Our sincere condolences go to his family and friends. We shall all miss him a lot.
Yours in sorrow,
Dominic Apee
Provincial of Ghana/Nigeria