Africa requires advanced technology to improve civil aviation

As African civil aviation is said to be five to nine times riskier than the global average, latest technological advances are highly applicable to Africa's challenges around civil aviation safety. (Image source: moogs/Flickr)

Bennie Langenhoven, managing executive at Tellumat ATM, said that African aviation stakeholders should focus on improving global air transportation and air traffic management system by modernising the remote air traffic control (ATC) infrastructure in the continent.

According to him, an advance ATC technology can effectively ensure safety and security at multiple airports using fewer skilled air traffic controllers located at one control room, which will eventually reduce the operating cost over the time.

Langenhoven also noted the significance of energy-efficient LED airfield ground lighting (AGL) and technological advances in the areas of satellite-based navigation and solar power solutions to revamp African civil aviation.

He said, "The best LED solutions offer backward compatibility with traditional halogen lighting implementations, protecting airport investments while embracing the low cost of ownership of LED lighting technology."

"In addition, leading solutions feature intelligent designs, incorporating advances such as software-based manageability and dual-purpose power line communications, which likewise look to the future while embracing cost efficiencies," he added.

According to him, the use of the solar-power AGL solutions will stand African airports in good stead for their smart management of the solar energy feeding into batteries, bringing cutting-edge safety to smaller airports.

He also emphasised that African airports must keep an eye on initiatives like US's NextGen and EU's SESAR, projects to improve air and space transport, and improving remote control towers using cameras and data communication links.

"It has the potential to quickly improve air traffic safety in outlying areas, bringing more destinations into the fold of achieving the required safety standards necessary for airlines," said Langenhoven.

Langenhoven stressed that cutting-edge navigational aid systems including radar, instrument landing systems (ILS), runway lights, precision approach systems, direction finders and weather observation systems are required to meet Africa's needs for new installations to improve air transport.

Source: Africa requires advanced technology to improve civil aviation

South Africa: Minister Tokozile Xasa - 2017 Inaugural National Traditional Leaders Indaba

press release

Address by Minister Tokozile Xasa at the Inaugural National Traditional Leaders Indaba taking place at Birchwood Hotel, Gauteng

Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma,

Your Majesties and Royal Highnesses,

Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders,

Chairpersons and members of the Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders,

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am delighted and honoured to be part of the Inaugural National Traditional Leaders Indaba as it is critical for government and traditional leaders to work together to improve the lives of all South Africans especially those living in rural areas.

The National Development Plan recognises tourism as one of the main drivers of the country's economy and employment. Currently tourism is contributing to the economy by supporting over 1.5 million jobs in total and bringing in about 9% to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

To maintain this growth, our blueprint to achieve further growth of tourism, the National Tourism Sector Strategy, was reviewed last year. The draft strategy is currently out for public comments has as its foundation on inclusive and sustainable tourism growth.

Through implementation of the National Tourism Sector Strategy, we aim to achieve over 200% growth in our direct contribution to the 2015 GDP figure of R118 billion to R302 Billion by 2026. The indirect contribution to GDP will be just under a trillion rands at R941 billion from the 2015 figure of R375 billion. We will also add 300,000 more jobs to bring direct employment to one million from the 2015 figure of 700,000. This will increase the indirect employment to approximately 2,26 million.

These figures can bring real change in our country especially in rural areas. However, to make them reality, we call on every South African to play their part. President Jacob Zuma at the Tourism Indaba two weeks ago launched the "I DO TOURISM" campaign. It aims to remind every South African of the importance of the tourism industry and the role citizens can play as advocates for South Africa and for tourism.

Your Majesties, Your Highnesses, our traditional leaders,

The role of Traditional Leadership is critically important in supporting tourism development on Traditional Land and in particular in rural areas of South Africa. Without the support or buy-in from Traditional Leaders in these areas, tourism development will never succeed.

The role of your leadership in tourism development includes among others assisting with a coordinated approach to integrated land use planning and development; facilitating access to communal land for tourism purposes; the development of authentic cultural and heritage tourism products and the development of rural tourism precincts or nodes.

Traditional Leaders are the custodian of communal land with land ownership being a critical component for economic transformation. This asset provides communities with a strategic advantage for economic development, in particular tourism development.

Community owned land despite having different land uses can be compatible with tourism development. It is imperative that integrated land use planning takes place once Security of Tenure has been resolved in the case of restituted or redistributed land. This should be followed by the training for "new" owners in partnership with communities and Traditional Leaders. Tourism should also be seen as one of the possible land use options that can complement, rather than compete with, more traditional land uses like agriculture and cattle farming.

The transfer of communal land to communities is a cross cutting issue within the three spheres of government. The challenges associated with land which was already transferred are mainly due to the different spheres of government failing to fulfil their responsibilities, causing transferred land to often lie fallow whereas communities could be benefiting from the productive use of this land.

Most of the communal land is adjacent to game farms, both private and public. With proper Public-Private-Partnerships, these depressed areas can be resuscitated and communities can benefit meaningfully from mixed use of the land.

Your Majesties, Your Highnesses, our traditional leaders,

Tourism can provide a source of income in locations with few alternative economic opportunities. Some of the opportunities relate to the value chain in the tourism sector as tourism depends on other goods and services beyond just providing accommodation and transport.

Communities and local entrepreneurs should be encouraged and supported to develop supply chain opportunities among others in food production, such as vegetables; growing of flowers for hotels and lodges; establishing laundry services; developing culturally specific and unique crafts for retail at market places or use as décor at tourism establishments; development of community based tourism experiences which can be linked to a local tourism route; and training as tour guides and wonderful story tellers.

Opportunities also exist to develop rural community tourism destination or hubs which provide visitors with an established gateway to the various unique community experiences. A key tourism trend is providing authentic tourism experience. Many tourists request opportunities where they can become part of the daily routine of a community through homestay visits and interacting with the local culture through engagement with the community and even enjoyment of our traditional food. These are low hanging fruit and does not require any additional infrastructure or skills.

Programme Director,

We recently hosted the Local Government Tourism Conference with more than 700 national delegates under the themed; "Tourism Planning is everybody's Business". It emphasised that local government and traditional leaders are critical partners in driving tourism development. Moreover, tourism can assist municipalities and traditional leaders to attain development needs of communities and the use of local land for tourism purposes can greatly benefit local communities.

The conference also put great emphasis on integrated planning and ensuring long term sustainability for successful tourism development.

The department remains committed to working with local government and Traditional Leadership to ensure the benefits from our tourism growth reach every corner of our country.

Currently, the department has two projects; namely the Local Government Tourism Induction Programme and the Working for Tourism Programme in place which were designed to benefit local governments and their communities.

The first programme aims to provide an integrated approach for capacity building. It creates a platform for stakeholder engagement and information sharing for the public sector, private sector and communities focussing on rural municipalities.

The project prioritises spatial nodes that have a potential to stimulate tourism growth in rural areas. The approach utilised is in the form of workshops and site visits to projects that can be used as case studies for lessons learnt and improvement.

The beneficiaries of this programme are municipal officials in Local Economic Development and Tourism units. SMMEs, local community representatives, traditional as well as Political leadership within the selected communities are also part of the programme.

Our other programme, the Working for Tourism Programme assists with community based tourism development. The department of Tourism is funding and managing the implementation of tourism infrastructure, skills development and destination enhancement projects through the Working for Tourism Programme. The programme is aligned to and funded as part of the Expanded Public Works Programme with the objective to create jobs through the provision of a range of tourism services and infrastructure. Most of the beneficiaries are women and youth.

The opportunities of this programme are directly linked to the areas of work covered by the Programme which include visitor information services, accommodation establishments, caravan sites, retail centres for crafts, heritage tourism products, day visitor precincts, youth tourism learnership programmes, tourism experience and destination enhancement and product or attraction enhancement. Also the development and maintenance of infrastructure include infrastructure such as benches, pathway development, attractions interpretive signage, access roads into attractions and parking and sidewalk infrastructure.

Great work has been done on community projects over the years, but it was not without challenges. The majority of the tourism facilities funded through this programme are in the rural provinces. However there is often a lack of enabling infrastructure in these areas, which severely limits the long term sustainability of the projects.

The assets created through the projects were handed over to either a municipality, provincial government department, provincial tourism authority or a beneficiary. However, there is limited technical and management expertise of community based owning agencies and to some extent local municipalities to commercially run the tourism projects and ensure that they are sustainable over time.

Challenges were also experienced with ownership conflicts; governance and community benefit challenges; and lack of start-up capital and operational funding.

Great lessons were also learnt which we will factor into future planning. The majority of community based organisations do not have the capacity to operate and manage the accommodation establishments. So going forward, pre and post construction support, training and mentoring will need to be considered. This will be part of the requirements for funding community owned projects.

Mechanisms for sustainability must also be established prior to the commencement of projects and where applicable, the future strategic or operating partner must be involved from the start.

Furthermore, joint planning with all parties involved and pooling of resources across all spheres of government are another critical success factors. An integrated approach is also required which takes into account economic and technical aspects of the interventions.

Going forward, before any project will be funded, it will have to prove to be technically, commercially and financially viable before funding is granted. Viability will take into account land availability/ownership and use rights; identified access roads; bulk services such as water and electricity; identified beneficiaries; type or nature of facility and the required grading; blending with surrounding environment and surrounding attractions and amenities.

The department through the Working for Tourism Programme has had success stories of partnerships with community projects under traditional leadership. I would like to share two projects with you today which are currently being managed by Transfrontier Park Destinations (TFPD) in collaboration with the Traditional Leaders of the communities of Mamaila Kolobetona and Batlokoa. These two communities entered into a partnership with TPFD in order that their facilities are commercially managed.

The first project is the Nahakwe Mountain Lodge which is owned by the Mamaila Kolobetona Traditional Authority in Limpopo. This Lodge was opened on 26 September 2015 as a showcase of a modern community-owned tourism enterprise, the Department invested R 31.5 million in the development of these facilities. The Nahakwe Lodge offers fresh, modern event facilities and accommodation in Limpopo Province. Situated just 90 minutes north of Polokwane, it is ideally placed for meetings and events that attract delegates from all over the country. The Lodge boasts 4-star accommodation in free-standing chalets with air-conditioning and en-suites. A swimming pool adds to the guests' comfort. Nahakwe Lodge is ideally situated for all travelers who want to explore the Limpopo Province. The Limpopo Tourism Authority helps in promoting the facility as it adds the much needed tourism beds and infrastructure in the province. It is well situated to be linked to a number of travel routes in the area.

Let me share with you another success story, that of the Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge which is owned by the Batlokoa Traditional Council, Qwaqwa in the Free State. The story of this site goes back to the 1950s when Former Batlokoa Chief Wessels Mota built a stone hut for backpackers. In the 1970s, the facility was upgraded and in the mid 1990s the lodge was gradually given over to the current King of the local Batlokoa community, Morena Mota (son of Chief Wessels Mota). The Department of Tourism recently invested just under R 28 million in the total upgrade of Witsieshoek Hotel which included and upgraded sewer treatment plant, demolishing of old buildings, upgrading of 4 medium sized chalets, the construction of a manager's house and service workshop, installation of a central heating system, upgrading of 2 sentinel buildings, the gate house and staff accommodation as well as fixing the electrical wiring inside the buildings.

With their focus on the development of a viable and sustainable tourism industry that balances the needs of the local community with those of nature, Transfrontier Park Destinations now manages Witsieshoek and the surrounding land and tourism activities on behalf of the Batlokoa community. The Batlokoa people still own the lodge and the bulk of its revenue remains within the community; the Batlokoa people are also the majority of employees at the lodge. King Mota and his council are responsible for decisions regarding all proposals for the future of the lodge and its finances. Much of the artwork and woven items in the lodge is also made within the local Batlokoa community and Qwaqwa region.

Both the Nahakwe and Witsieshoek Mountain Lodges demonstrate the success of partnerships between government, traditional leadership and communities built on mutual respect, collective wisdom and a shared vision and goal for successful tourism development that achieves social and economic transformation.

In closing, I would like to call on the traditional leadership in joining the President in condemning the attacks and abuse of women and children that have taken place in our country in recent weeks. These types of crimes do not have a place in our society.

Government, cannot defeat the scourge of gender-based violence alone as it requires a collective response from every South African. We all have a role to play in ensuring that women and children feel safe and protected in our communities. As part of this, we must challenge the existing gender-based stereotypes that contribute to the abuse of women and children.

Finally, I believe that this Indaba will achieve its goals and by doing so create a better life for South Africans, especially the millions of our people in rural South Africa. Let us work together to ensure that tourism benefits your area and every South African.

I thank you.

Department of Tourism

Source: South Africa: Minister Tokozile Xasa - 2017 Inaugural National Traditional Leaders Indaba

Africa: President Zuma Praises Uganda's Natural Beauty

Photo: The Observer

South Africa President Jacob Zuma at the opening of the Tourism Indaba 2017.

By Zurah Nakabugo

South African president Jacob Zuma has spoken glowingly about Uganda's sprawling scenic beauty, and urged President Yoweri Meseveni to return Lake Victoria to its original name to attract more tourists.

"Africa is beautiful. One day, I was visiting Uganda and it is a beautiful country - evergreen [with] huge Lake Victoria - and I don't know why it was called Lake Victoria. I will be negotiating with my brother President Museveni to change it to its original name," Zuma said during last week's official opening of the Tourism Indaba 2017 at the Chief Albert Luthuli international convention centre in Durban, South Africa.

Indaba is Africa's top tourism trade show that brings together more than 7, 000 delegates representing the top tourism products in Africa, as well as the world's leading travel buyers and tourism media.

"If it is for tourist attraction purposes, you can have a big board with its original name and a small printing aside - that this used to be Lake Victoria... I was there admiring the beauty of Uganda," he added.

He said Museveni also told him that Uganda is beautiful because it was the last country God created. He quoted Museveni as having said that God had a lot of material leftovers; "So, he played a lot with it to make this country such a beautiful country, and made this lake."

"Oh, I said, no wonder this country is so beautiful. But this brother of mine [Museveni] continued, and asked me the next question: 'Do you know where God went after finishing making Uganda?' He said he went to stay in Cape Town," Zuma said.

"So, those who believe in God or Allah must know when you come to South Africa, you have a big possibility to see him [God]. He stays in South Africa."

Zuma said Mt Kilimanjaro, which Tanzania and Kenya use as a tourist attraction, is very beautiful and attracts many tourists from across the world.

"It is very beautiful to see; it is on the side of Tanzania, but also in Kenya. When you are in Kenya, you see Mt Kilimanjaro across. What a beautiful continent!" Zuma said.

Lake Victoria in Uganda was originally called Nalubaale, while Tanzanians originally called it Ukerewe. Lake Victoria was named after Queen Victoria by British explorer John Speke in 1858. She was then reigning in England.

With a surface area of 68,800 square kilometres (26,600 sq mi), Lake Victoria is the largest fresh water lake in Africa, and the second largest in the world.

The lake straddles Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. It is also the chief reservoir of River Nile. Stephen Asiimwe, the chief executive officer of the Uganda Tourism Board, said it might be difficult to revert to Lake Victoria's original name because all three countries might suggest a name in their local languages.

"But that was his [Zuma's] opinion," said Asiimwe. "I wouldn't go in that direction."

Asiimwe listed some of the best tourist sights in Uganda, including Murchison Falls national park, which lies in the northern Albertine rift valley, where the sweeping Bunyoro escarpment tumbles into vast, palm-dotted savannah.

"Murchison was first gazetted as a game reserve in 1926. It is Uganda's largest and oldest conservation area, hosting 76 species of mammals and 451 birds," Asiimwe said.

"This stretch of river provides one of Uganda's most remarkable wildlife spectacles. Regular visitors to the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes and buffaloes; while hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are permanent residents."

In his speech, Zuma said the tourism industry continues to thrive globally.

"South Africa experienced a 13 per cent increase in international visitors last year. We are happy with this growth because tourism has a substantial potential of changing people's lives for the better, especially during these depressed economic times globally," he said, adding that in addition to job creation, tourism also provides opportunities for entrepreneurship.

Zuma said the South African government targets tourism to stimulate inclusive economic growth and job creation, in line with the national development plan, which is his government's blueprint for growth and development aimed at eliminating poverty and reducing inequality by 2030.

Earlier this month, the country hosted heads of state and government and global captains of industry and commerce, at the World Economic Forum on Africa. This, he said, was another wonderful marketing opportunity for Africa.

"This week [last week], we bring Africa and the world together in this home-grown trade show where Africa markets herself to the world. We are truly pleased to have our 21 sister countries exhibiting at this year's Travel Indaba," Zuma said.

"According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, tourism around the world recorded its seventh straight year of sustained growth since the global financial crisis last year."

Zuma added that more than a billion people now travel around the world every year, and world international tourist arrivals grew by four per cent on average.

"Africa enjoyed an eight per cent increase in international tourist arrivals to reach 58 million arrivals. This means that Africa is growing at twice the rate of the global average," he said.

"It is indeed most encouraging that more and more world travellers are discovering our continent. It means they see its value as an exceptional destination for holidays and business events."

Source: Africa: President Zuma Praises Uganda's Natural Beauty

Egypt and Iran top destinations for FDI in MENA

Investment   The latest report released by fDi IntelligenceStaff Writer | Sunday May 28, 2017 | 29 minutes agoHaving attracted some $12.2 billion worth of foreign direct investment, Iran was the second biggest FDI destination in the Middle East and North Africa region in 2016. This is according to the latest report released by fDi Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times Ltd.

READ MORE Iran to lead MENA growth in 2016

The report also shows Iran ranked sixth in the number of projects undertaken by foreign investors in the region in the year under review, as a total of 59 projects were implemented in 2016, indicating a 556% upsurge compared with the year before.

Egypt, with the attraction of about $40 billion of foreign investment over the period (28% of all the FDIs made in the MENA region), was the top FDI destination.

Trailing Iran (9%) were Saudi Arabia with $11.6 billion (8%), the UAE with $9.1 billion (6%), Algeria with $7.4 (5%) billion, South Africa with $7 billion (5%), Ethiopia with $6.8 billion (5%), Morocco with $6.6 billion (5%), Mozambique with $6.3 billion (4%) and Nigeria with $6.2 billion (4%).

The report lists "other" countries in the region as having attracted a total of $29.6 billion, accounting for 21 % of the total FDIs attracted.

The UAE topped the list of countries in the MENA region in terms of the number of projects undertaken by foreign investors, which totaled 245 in 2016.

Following the UAE were South Africa with 105 projects, Morocco with 80 projects and Egypt and Saudi Arabia each with 69 projects.

According to the report, with $1.7 billion, Iran stood at seventh place in terms of the amount of investment made by the country overseas last year.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Morocco with $23.1 billion, $6.1 billion and $5 billion worth of investments made outside their borders ranked first, second and third respectively.

Iran invested in a total of 12 projects abroad in 2016 and ranked 10th in this respect. The UAE ranked first in this category with 177 projects.

The rise in FDI in Iran owes much to the nuclear deal the country signed with world powers in 2015, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which saw the removal of econom ic sanctions against the country the following year. In exchange, Iran agreed to limit the scope of its nuclear activities.

The landmark deal made it possible for Iran to be reconnected with the world economy. ■

What to read nextMore inside POST
Source: Egypt and Iran top destinations for FDI in MENA

Decolonising travelling in Africa

As we conclude our Africa Week celebrations, the biggest question in my mind is when and how will  travel in the continent be decolonised?

The phrase on every speaker's lips at the Africa Travel Indaba two weeks ago was the word "radical transformation."My view is that  travel in Africa is very Eurocentric.

Travel companies seem to be less concerned about the African traveller. Perhaps it's a question of economics. The assumption is that African people don't have money to travel so no one bothers to even reach out to them.

In a conversation I had with the CEO of SA Tourism Sisa Ntshona, he alluded to the fact that in South Africa the bulk of our money comes from the international traveller. Unlike other developing countries which make most of their money from domestic tourism.

I personally have a many friends who travel a lot, but they would rather spend their money overseas than travel locally. So the argument that Africans do not travel  does not hold water because they do but they go to places where they feel welcomed. Some might have the money but they would rather go shopping instead of travel because most people don't feel like that tourism is for them. You only need to look at the red buses and you will see that they are filled with foreigners. I have not seen a campaign the get locals on the red buses.  

Africa's Travel Indaba at Moses Mabhida Stadium last week.

When I walked around at the Indaba last week  and at the World Travel Market last month  I found that  a lot of travel companies looked through me. Some were very impatient with me others just did not bother engaging with me at all.

Some only started paying attention to me when I told them I was a travel editor. Therein lies the problem in the tourism sector. The lack of engagement with the African market by travel companies. They have concluded that  we are not lucrative enough. And I am not only talking about travel companies that are owned by non Africans. I experienced the same thing with the African tourism boards. They were eager to speak to everyone except for the their own people.

More than 90% of the African countries I spoke to,  were selling the bush and animal experience. Those things do not speak to a typical African traveller. Our taste and needs are different from the  European or white local traveller. Our idea of a holiday is not about camping in the bush where there are animals that can potentially eat us. We like lights and glitz and glamourous experiences. I am not interested in going to the Garden Route to do bird watching  and canoeing but I am interested in going there for a boat cruise, the nightlife, the food, the spas and some history and culture. If I go to the beach I am not going surfing and sun tanning, chances are I will be there for a few pictures for instagram and facebook then I would rather be sitting at a restaurant that overlooks the beach sipping an exotic coctail.  

The CEO of SA Tourism, Sisa Ntshona. 

I feel like the current Africa week celebrations are a poignant moment for me to go back to my chat  with the CEO of SA Tourism.

"You actually have to disrupt the system in order to bring about transformation," Ntshona said regarding decolonising the tourism sector.

"As much as tourism is a fun sector it is still a very traditional sector. We just need to change mindsets of decision makers. "

He also agreed with me that currently the main players cannot relate to what the African traveller is looking for. Everyone is following the same format. What I noticed is that even the provincial tourism boards are following the same format.

When I spoke to the guys from Limpopo, they told me their focus is on game animals and golf. Now how many African travellers can leave their houses because they will be playing golf while surrounded by wild animals.  

"Part of what we are trying to do is to bring in new players who can take up the role of re-designing itineraries that will be relevant to the target audience. If they know how the black traveller wants to experience their country. They will then package something that the black traveller can relate to."

"The problem at the moment is that places like Knysna are not marketed at the black traveller. I am being force fed something that I can't relate to. I enjoy Knysna differently. If the industry understood me and what I am looking for, they would then come up with packages that speak to me," he added.

I felt like shouting "Hallelujah" because finally I have found someone who understood my frustrations.

Africa's Travel Indaba at Moses Mabhida Stadium last week.

I remember speaking to a cruising company about tapping into the African market and the lady told me "we are upmarket. We are not like other low class cruising company." I found myself trying to justify that when I talk about the African market I am talking about well travelled and educated people.

Again, a general  assumption that the African traveller is not savvy and well educated enough to appreciate a luxury cruise ship.

We sent out questionnaires to a few celebrities yesterday, asking them about their favourite African destinations. What we got was Mauritius, Zanzibar, Egypt, Morocco and the likes.

I then realised that there is a lot of work that needs to be done when it comes to travelling in the continent. Africans need to take the responsibility of changing their own narrative and become active in exploring their own continent.

Don't even  get me started on the the issue of Africans as old as our mothers who are always dancing for European tourists as if when we go to France we ask the French to dance for us.

Source: Decolonising travelling in Africa

Uber Launches SnapChat Custom Filters in East Africa – share snaps will on the ride

Uber's SnapChat integration feature having debuted in India earlier this week, the ride-sharing firm on Wednesday introduced the new feature rolling out to the app users across East Africa. The feature enhances riders' experience by allowing them to share photos with special filters through an app integration with popular social network, SnapChat.

This SnapChat integration feature will be available to Uber riders in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kampala and Dar-es-Salaam.

The feature is part of a continued upgrade of the Uber rider application that begun in November last year which introduced new features such as upfront pricing and estimate time of arrival at one's destination.

In a press statement, General Manager for East Africa, Loic Amado, said, "We are rolling out an integration with SnapChat so you can unlock custom Uber filters while you ride, and Snap with your friends while en route."

To access the new feature, riders need to be existing SnapChat users and on an Uber. While on the ride, Uber riders will see a SnapChat card in their feed. They then need to select the type of filter they want to unlock, take their selfie, and swipe right. Riders can also use Uber filters with other SnapChat lenses for double the fun.

The Uber-specific Snapchat filters allows riders to share the snaps with their contacts in a fun way only during their uber rides.

"Gone are the days of toggling between apps – you now have a fun and social way to share you're in an Uber! This is one of many ways that we are working to ensure that we innovate to give our riders the best experience possible when riding with us," said Amado.

Source: Uber Launches SnapChat Custom Filters in East Africa – share snaps will on the ride

Africa Day commemorates formation of OAU

Africa Day commemorates the formation of the Organisation of African Union, established on the 25th of May in1963.(SABC)

Africa Day will be commemorated across the continent on the 25th May. It's a historic day in which the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was formed in 1963.    

The continental body which is now called the African Union was created to promote unity and solidarity amongst African states.  

The Day is celebrated annually across the continent and beyond. It's a proud moment which is celebrated with song and dance including the display of traditional arts and crafts in bustling African marketplaces.  

South Africa is the only country where it's not a public holiday. But some political parties like the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) are pushing for it to become one.

All 54 African nations celebrate Africa Day. This time the continent will celebrate the 54th anniversary of the OAU. President Jacob Zuma is expected to address the commemoration events in Pretoria on Thursday.  

The PAC says it's sad that despite attempts to unify Africa for half a centu ry, it's still not a permanent member of the UN Security Council. It also lamented the fact that the AU is funded by foreign donors.

"We want to see this day being a public holiday in South Africa. It is where our founding fathers of the African struggle, such as Kwame Nkrumah and the entire Pan Africanist had very great ideas about it. They wanted to see a united Africa, with one government, working for the African people."

Even though the day is not a public holiday, many people will commemorate it across the country.

The PAC says the AU needs to fast track efforts to unite the continent and do away with colonial borders.

OAU 54 YEARS ON

Since the birth of the Organisation of African Unity 54 years ago, leaders have made strides in breaking barriers that hamper economic development, peace and security.  

Whilst there are now few incidents of the staging of military coups as compared to the 70's and 80's, some countries like South Sudan and Somalia are still embroiled in protracted civil wars.

Famine and outbreak of deadly diseases remain major challenges facing several African states.  

Unemployment and poverty continue to drive many young Africans to Europe, Asia and the Americas in search for economic opportunities.  

However, these socio-economic challenges have not dampened the spirits of many Africans, who continue to cherish the Africa Day commemorations.

In South Africa, the theme for Africa Month is "The Year of OR Tambo: Building a Better Africa and a Better World". Government says it will use the day to reaffirm support for the African Union's Agenda 2063 and commit the country to playing its role within the AU to ensure the successful implementation of the vision and plan to build a better Africa.  

However, the president of the Pan Africanist Congress of AZANIA, Narius Moloto, says it's shameful that the South African government has not seen the need to declare May the 25th a public holiday like it's practiced in many African countries.

Whilst, South Africa has been lauded for its contribution to peacekeeping and post-war reconstruction and development efforts in the continent, failure to deal effectively with acts of Xenophobia have blighted the government's efforts to project the country as a safe destination for African migrants.

Source: Africa Day commemorates formation of OAU

One of South Africa's top tourist destinations is almost out of water

"Day Zero" in Cape Town — the day that the water taps slow to a muddy dribble, then a drip and run dry — is around three months away.

The city, one of South Africa's top tourist destinations, nestled on the country's southern coast beneath Table Mountain, faces a severe water crisis as reservoirs sank to an effective 10.5% of their capacity after five years of drought.

The actual level of Cape Town's dams averaged around 20%, but the last 10% of the dams is not usable because of poor quality or because the water can't be accessed, according to city authorities. The level in the biggest reservoir, which provides half the city's water, reached 14.5%, or an effective 4.5%.

On Tuesday, the city authorities demanded that water consumption be immediately cut by 26 million gallons a day. Officials spelled out plans for its toughest water restrictions yet, including bans on all external use of water for washing cars, watering lawns and filling swimming pools and severe restrictions of less than 26 gallons per person a day for essential washing, drinking and cooking only.

The city was declared a disaster area in March as it confronted its worst drought in more than 100 years. The premier of the Western Cape province, Helen Zille, on Monday declared the entire province a disaster zone.

Cape Town's drought is very inconvenient b ut elsewhere in Africa, notably Somalia, prolonged drought is displacing families and killing children, with famine threatening in several African countries, particularly those hit by conflict.

The wealthy, able to buy water, are somewhat cushioned from the crisis, but the provincial government doesn't have enough water in its reservoirs to truck water to residents in parched townships.

The crisis mirrors a countrywide crisis last year when townships ran dry and residents of major cities staged collections of bottled water, which was donated and trucked across South Africa.

The government has announced plans to drill for water at hospitals and schools and to try to tap into groundwater under Table Mountain.

In Cape Town, the crisis is partly caused by climate change, but the city's rapid population growth to nearly 4 million people has contributed to the stress on the water system.

Government officials have warned residents not to flush toilets unless absolutely necessary, to use bathwater and dishwater to flush toilets, limit showers to two minutes or to give themselves sponge baths instead.

Although Cape Town is in the low tourist season at present, hotels have taken steps to reduce water usage, asking guests to use hand sanitizers instead of water, limit use of towels, not to run taps when cleaning teeth or soaping hands and to limit the length of showers.

Some hotels provide place updates on the dam levels in guest rooms to encourage water economy. Hotels are installing water recycling systems and water restrictors on taps to cut water flow.

Mounting warnings in recent months have failed to curb water use. The city released a list of shame recently, outing the top 100 water users, most of them concentrated in affluent areas. They also sent out teams to plug water leaks. The worse offender used 33 times more than the average household.

Cape Town Mayor Patricia De Lille has warned the city would cut off water supplies for extended periods or drastically reduce water pressure if the situation worsened.

Cape Town in one of South Africa's main tourist destinations, but the peak of the tourist season comes later in the year. A dry winter is predicted in coming months. But even if Cape Town gets enough rain to avoid a crunch in the next few months, it will likely face one later in the year, according to analysts.

Critics say the provincial government, which is in the hands of the opposition Democratic Alliance, should have done more to forestall the crisis by acting sooner to upgrade infrastructure and cut water usage.

robyn.dixon@latimes.com

Twitter: @RobynDixon_LAT

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Source: One of South Africa's top tourist destinations is almost out of water

Russia Makes World's Top 50 Destinations for Halal Holidays

MasterCard and CrescentRating, the world's leading authority on Halal travel, ranked 130 countries and compared their suitability for a family holiday based on the level of services and facilities it provides, accommodation options, marketing initiatives, flight connectivity and visitor arrivals.

In the 2017 chart, Russia took 44th place. Among the competitive advantages of halal tourism in Russia, experts named security, a wide network of air routes and the ability to travel with the entire family.

Malaysia toped the ranking as the best Muslim travel destination in the world for the third time in a row. The United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia made the rest of the top 5. According to the index, the largest number of countries that are suitable for Muslim tourists are located in Asia and Africa.

As for the best non-Islamic destinations, the most preferred are Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Hong Kong. In this list, Russia took the 16th position, ahead of China, South Korea, Canada and Belgium.

According to CrescentRating estimates, 121 million Muslim tourists spent 155 billion dollars as they traveled around the world in 2016, making up 10% of the entire tourist market internationally By 2020, the Muslim travel market is forecast to grow to 156 million travelers and $220 billion.

© Sputnik/ Maksim Bogodvid

Sputnik News

South Africa Today – World News – Russia

Source: Russia Makes World's Top 50 Destinations for Halal Holidays

Food24 on the hunt for South Africa's hot, new ‘Super Chef'

The competition takes place from March to September and challenges chefs-in-training from culinary schools across the country to submit recipes, accompanied by gorgeous photography or video. Each month has its own theme and current/upcoming themes are: Baking (May), Low Carb (June), Chocolate (July) and Modern Braai (August).

Tessa Purdon, Food24 editor says "The aim of NextGen is to combine technology with talent. Food is eaten with the eyes first so we've provided a platform for young chefs-in-training to not only create a recipe with a twist but also to produce content that allows the reader to almost "taste" the finished product. We've provided guidelines, tips and tricks for creative submissions and so far we are receiving outstanding entries.

All the recipes entries will be published to Food24 for readers to use and enjoy. Users can go here to see the Easter entries and here to see the recent baking entries.

"There is considerable talent in this countr y and as the biggest online foodie destination in South Africa with over 33,000 recipes, Food24 is honoured to be showcasing the next generation of award-winning chefs," adds Purdon.

The recipes and visuals or videos will be judged by a panel of some of South Africa's top culinary stars and foodies including James Gaag (La Colombe), Peter Tempelhoff (The Collection), Sam Linsell (Drizzle and Dip food blog), Hope Malau (Drum Magazine's Food editor), Elke van Vledder (Marketing Manager Domestic Appliances Philips South Africa) and Tessa Purdon (Food24's Editor). The judging panel will select their top finalists each month and the overall winner will be announced at a ceremony later in the year.

The entries will be judged on the following criteria: Originality (the recipe needs to be the entrant's own creation), knowledge and understanding of current world food trends, the costing of the recipe, execution and styling/photography skills or video flow.

The com petition is sponsored by Phillips and the top student will walk away with R45,000 worth of Phillips appliances and R15,000 cash prize. Phillips will also be awarding monthly prizes and a R30,000 Phillips hamper to the winning culinary school.

Students can submit their entries here and read about the entry requirements here.

Source: Food24 on the hunt for South Africa's hot, new 'Super Chef'

Asset Management Firms Select DIFC As Destination Of Choice for Property Funds And Real Estate Investment Trusts

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading financial hub in the $7.4 trillion Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), has reinforced its position as the largest fund regime in the region at an event which highlighted how property funds and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are becoming increasingly popular and opening up significant investment opportunities in the real estate sector.  

The event, hosted by DIFC and the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), highlighted how the region is experiencing growth in property funds including REITs, Qualified Investor Funds (QIFs) and Exempt Funds. DIFC clients, have been the first in the region to benefit from enhanced regulation and laws which has enabled them to launch REITs.

The Centre has the potential to be the destination of choice for REITs in the MEASA region. This follows recent successful launches by Emirates NBD REIT, which redomiciled from Jersey to DIFC, and Equitativa Limited, which launched the first Sharia-compliant REIT in the UAE because it is home to almost 200 wealth and asset managers. Activity in this sector has the potential to shape the future of real estate, a critical component of the local, UAE and regional economy.

Additionally, DIFC and Dubai Land Department (DLD) recently signed a ground-breaking Memorandum of Understanding, a strategic move which will simplify the land owner registration process with DLD for DIFC-based companies, partnerships, foundations, REITs and real estate funds. This landmark agreement is expected to encourage greater institutional investment into Dubai's real estate sector.

Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, said: "Having successfully supported our clients to launch property funds and REITs, we are seeing more interest in them. DIFC's proven and trusted legal and regulatory environment supports real estate as an asset class and its growth potential will play an integral role in the delivery of our 2024 strategy."

DIFC is currently working with a number of clients who are interested in issuing REITs, and many more on establishing QIFs and Exempt Funds, which have the potential to be converted to REITs.

Source: Asset Management Firms Select DIFC As Destination Of Choice for Property Funds And Real Estate Investment Trusts

South Africa Deports 90 Nigerians

The South African government on Friday deported 90 Nigerians for committing immigration-related offences.

DSP Joseph Alabi, the spokesman of the Lagos Airport Police Command confirmed the development in Lagos.

Alabi said the deportees, who are all men, landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 3.30pm.

He said they were brought back to Nigeria aboard a South African Airways aircraft with registration number BBB712 from Johannesburg.

"This afternoon, about 3.30pm, 90 Nigerians were deported from South Africa for committing immigration-related offences.

"Some of them were alleged to have been living in the country without valid documents.

"They were received by the appropriate agencies including the police and profiled before being allowed to depart to their respective destinations, " Alabi said.

South Africa had also on February 28 sent 97 Nigerians back home for committing various offences.

They depo rtees were made up of 95 males and two females.

Source: South Africa Deports 90 Nigerians

International recognition for Somaliland will boost prosperity in the Horn of Africa

26 years on, Somaliland's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reiterates the case for independence.

A crowd celebrates the 26th anniversary of Somaliland's reassertion of independence in London.

In recent weeks, East Africa has made headline news for all the wrong reasons. The distressing footage and images of the destruction inflicted by a relentless and ravaging drought has brought the collective plight of our people into sharp focus.

[Droughts in East Africa becoming more frequent, more devastating]

The perilous situation has only served to underline the myriad issues facing the region.

In Somaliland – a small but strategically important country situated below Djibouti and to the north of Somalia and Ethiopia – the drought is devastating our livestock and starving our children. Our youthful population is at threat from radicalisation and mass migration. Our economic development has been stunted by lack of access to international capital. Brought together, these phenomena are impacting our livelihoods and social development, with serious implications for the stability of the Horn.

The situation has revealed our inability to deal with environmental and economic shocks, despite the potential to contribute to regional peace and prosperity due to lack of formal recognition. Although Somaliland was granted independence from Britain in 1960, and decided to leave the union with the Somali Democratic Republic in 1991, our ongoing efforts to secure recognition have to date been frustrated.

But this frustration is tempered by a story of great potential and ambition, which we must turn our attention to as we mark the 26th anniversary of Somaliland's reassertion of independence this week.

The positive side of Somaliland's story is unfamiliar to many around the world.

Somaliland is a peaceful country that is stable and democratic, with a constitution that guarantees all fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression. It has a dynamic and youthful population; 70% of the population is under 30 years old. We have made remarkable progress in all areas of social development, but particularly in education. There are over 30 colleges and universities, public and private, which offer higher education and produce thousands of job-ready graduates every year.

Somaliland also has one of the highest levels of mobile penetration in Africa and excellent internet service. We are one of the leading countries in mobile banking in Africa. Increasingly cashless, Somaliland is a prime example of the impact of digital leapfrogging in developing countries on local communities, supporting culture from Hargeisa's traditional markets to burgeoning start-up hubs. Somaliland has a thriving and innovative entrepreneurial culture, and offers great opportunities for investment.

International investors are taking note. DP World, the international maritime trade and logistics company, recently announced a $442 million project to redevelop and expand the Port of Berbera which is at the crossroad of maritime high ways that connect Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. This investment signals that Somaliland is open for business. A transit and trade agreement in progress with Ethiopia will accelerate the flow of exports and imports through Berbera Port. This will bring much needed maritime competition on the Horn; and as a result, Somaliland will become a gateway to East Africa and the continent beyond.  

International recognition will only accelerate the pace of Somaliland's private sector growth, with positive knock-on effects for the wider region.

Formal acknowledgement of our independence will provide a platform for Somaliland to leapfrog development milestones and solidify our reputation as a stable destination for business in the Horn of Africa. Recognition will also enable us to secure loans at concessional rates and greater development support from intergovernmental organisations.

Just last week in London, the UK government convened diplomats, international development experts and NGOs to focus on the myriad issues facing Somalia, our neighbour to the south, which continues to struggle with security challenges. The international community's efforts to establish diplomatic partnerships and put in place road maps to reform in Somalia are to be welcomed. Our vision of the Horn of Africa is one of peaceful, prosperous, economically integrated independent states.

We want to assure our friends in Addis Ababa, London, Geneva, Brussels, New York and Washington DC, that we remain supportive of inclusive development in the Horn of Africa, and that Somaliland will continue to be a reliable regional partner, committed to securing a more inclusive and prosperous future for our neighbours.

Bilateral and multilateral support for full recognition of Somaliland's sovereign independence will allow us to better contribute to building a more inclusive Horn of Africa – bringing greater opportunity and prosperity for all.

Source: International recognition for Somaliland will boost prosperity in the Horn of Africa

Group training in hospitality supports Namibia’s label as a top destination in Africa

Continuous vocational training and upskilling are key components of the success of Gondwana Collection Namibia, the conglomerate of lodges and hotels now consisting of 14 establishments spread across the most popular Namibian destinations.

Regular training courses for the group's employees have been presented from Janurary to April this year at the Gondwana Training Academy, located at one of the group's very first lodges, Kalahari Farmhouse at Stampriet.

The most recent course focused on both young employees and managers, highlighting the company's history, philosopy and the overarching importance of nature for the tourism industry in general.

The Leadership Academy is about self-empowerment, teaching emloyees to take ownership and to become leaders regardless of where they fit into the organisation."We learned how every individual employee has an impact on the success of the company" two of the course participants stated.

The training courses are specifically aimed at Gondwana employees and include training for housekeeping and maintenance personnel, cooks, bartenders and managers. The focus is on excellent customer service, tourism, communication, technical know-how, self-discipline and leadership, motivation, planning, organization and many more aspects with a bearing on tourism and enterprises.

At the beginning of the year, targeted programmes are offered to groups of employees. This is followed up by the training team throughout the rest of the year with the focus on practical work flow.

External specialists support the Gondwana Academy in areas such as housekeeping, bar coaching for fine coffee, tour guide training, hygiene and safety training. These areas are covered in the formal training at the Academy while the implementation is monitored when the employees return to their respective lodges.

Gondwana's overall goal is the marketing of Namibia as a top destination in Africa.

Pictured are the Gondwana employees who attended the Housekeeping course earlier this year.

Source: Group training in hospitality supports Namibia's label as a top destination in Africa

South Africa: North West Tourism On Marketing Opportunities At Tourism Indaba

press release

North West Tourism blazing a trail at Indaba 2017

The North West Tourism Board has once again taken advantage of the opportunity created by government through South African Tourism to market Destination North West at the annual Tourism Indaba 2017.

The provincial Tourism MEC Desbo Mohono who is also attending will focus more on pushing investors to invest in Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies of the North West.

MEC Mohono will further ensure that there is integration and coordination in her department's drive to woo investors as well as putting a smile back to every tourist and product owners through tourism programmes.

The MEC's mission is also boosted by the participation of over fifteen local North West Municipalities that are also aiming high in marketing their destinations at the Indaba, as well as other to product owners from the province.

The Tourism Indaba is an established top travel show which provides opportunities for the tourism industry to partake in the South African leisure tourism show hosted at the Dr Albert Luthuli International Convention Center in Durban.

The 2017 North West Province exhibitors is comprised of a wide range of product owners who are ready and well positioned for the showcase at Africa's biggest and best travel trade show, drawing exhibitors from across the continent. It offers travel buyers an unrivaled platform to do business with the cream of the African leisure tourism industry.

Prime attractions and companies like Sun City through Sun Intentional, Pilanesburg National Park, Madikwe game reserve Lodge and many other major attractions are also using the stage created to amplify and position the North West as a prime and preferred destination for tourists.

The Indaba has organised thousands of meetings that will happen in the period of 3 days spanning from the 16th to the 99th May 2017.

Workshops are organised ranging from branding to tech talks where industry leaders share thoughts and interact with buyers and sellers. The hive of activity and diversity of products on offer cannot help but compel all tourism product owners to strive for excellence in their industry.

The game changer for the province this year, is to ensure service excellence and ensuring that tourists are smiling all the way with great experience. The department together with its entity The North West Tourism Board further wants to assist in positioning tour operators in selling a diversity of attractions and experiences available to discerning tourists.

Opportunities are created for product owners and service providers to meet buyers face to face, gain competitive advantage in the sector and meet other sales representative from other African and international exhibiting companies with the view of doing direct business with them.

North West has embraced the opportunities of Indaba and remains committed and encouraged that the mandate of growing the tourism industry and raising the profile of the province through increased visitor numbers as well as experiences on offer.

The department will continue with its "A Re Yeng Bokone Bophirima" brand property that will propels into reaching out 2020 vision which intends to see the province being in the top 4 most visited province in South Africa.

Issued by: North West Tourism

Source: South Africa: North West Tourism On Marketing Opportunities At Tourism Indaba

Haven for wealthy at tip of Africa: Continent’s rich, Mozambicans included, gravitate to Gauteng, Cape

The Times (File photo) / Table Mountain

South Africa's swanky suburbs are in demand by wealthy Africans, who are following in the footsteps of their British and German counterparts when it comes to luxury real estate.

A report by Sandton wealth intelligence firm New World Wealth and AfrAsia Bank has found that a large number of African dollar millionaires are investing in property in South Africa.

While UK buyers top the list for high-end real estate, followed by Germans, the report shows that a large number of Africans are also buying homes in the R10-million price range in South Africa.

The bulk of them come from Angola, Ghana and Nigeria.

"Residential property normally constitutes between 25% and 30% of the net assets of an average African high net-worth individual.

"Popular properties for them include beachfront villas and homes in residential estates," said Andrew Amoils of New World Wealth.

Sandhurst, Hyde Park and Houghton in Johannesburg, as well as Cape Town's "Big Five" luxury hot spots, namely Fresnaye, Bantry Bay, Llandudno, Clifton and Camps Bay, all hold appeal for rich African buyers.

According to the report, South Africa's private healthcare system, private schools, luxury residential estates, exclusive shopping malls and high-end food stores are possible drawcards.

Jason Shaw, national sales executive for Pam Golding Properties said: "Investors from other African countries continue to show a strong appetite for residential property in South Africa, particularly for homes in Gauteng.

"They are from across the continent with most frequent investors originating from Nigeria, Angola, Ghana, Uganda, Gabon, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Congo and Mozambique.

"Foreign investment in residential property in South Africa continues to be encouraged by the perceived weakness in the rand, which ensures that foreign buyers, and buyers from the African continent in particular are able to achieve excellent value for money in South Africa.

"More traditionally, some high net-worth individuals are purchasing luxury seaside residential properties or other lifestyle properties that not only provide them with a holiday destination or a second or third home, but, given the weak rand, which represent an excellent means of diversifying their wealth portfolios and securing a sound long-term investment," said Shaw.

He said African buyers preferred modern and contemporary homes that afford an exclusive lifestyle.

Shaw said the bulk of these sales were second homes with prices ranging mostly between R5-million and R30-million.

"Dainfern Golf Estate, which has the largest expatriate community in an estate in the southern hemisphere, offers an interesting case study with regard to foreign and African property purchases.

"In 2015 close on a half of the sales in the estate were to foreign buyers and nearly half of these were from the continent."

Source: The Times South Africa © 2017 clubofmozambique.com. All rights reserved.
Source: Haven for wealthy at tip of Africa: Continent's rich, Mozambicans included, gravitate to Gauteng, Cape

Kenya is the 15th most attractive investment destination in Africa

Quantum Global's independent research arm, Quantum Global Research Lab., has released its latest Africa Investment Index 2016. According to the index, Kenya is the 15th most attractive economy for investments flowing into Africa.

"Supported by a stable macroeconomic environment, Kenya presents investors with relatively high exchange rate risk, low levels of liquidity and very low import cover. However, going forward, the government policy of capping domestic interest rates is limiting growth on domestic credit to the private sector. This has the potential of being a drag on future economic growth, in an otherwise dynamic economy," Prof Mthuli Ncube, Head of Quantum Global Research Lab said while commenting on the Kenyan economy.

According to the research by Quantum Global, Kenya's rate of economic growth is on track to exceed the average for sub-Saharan Africa for the eighth year in a row. This growth performance has been driven by strong domestic demand and public infrastructure investment in a context of low oil prices and domestic macroeconomic stability. Domestic consumption has been growing rapidly on the back of a growing middle class, rising incomes and rapid expansion of credit.

Public investment and fiscal transfers to countries have ensured that the growth has been geographically broad-based. Low oil prices and a surge in remittances have allowed a contraction in the current account deficit recently, although the gap between imports and exports is still wide and presents a risk, especially if oil prices rise. Economic growth has been reasonably well diversified, especially in services sectors, although manufacturing has underperformed. Low inflation and currency stability over the past two years have been conducive for investment.

The research also highlights that Kenya faces a number of external and internal risks that could dampen the economy in 2017 including global financial volatility (especially following the election of Donald Trump in the United States), and a risk of capital flight from frontier economies. Oil prices are expected to lift modestly next year, but the impact on the balance of payments could be offset by the recovery in tourism and FDI. The major internal risks relate to possible political instability in the run-up to the 2017 elections, associated delays in fiscal consolidation, and the recent capping of interest rates, which could restrict access to credit and impair bank performance. It is worthy to note that in 2015, Kenya attracted a net FDI of $1.5bn and its economy is doing favourably however economic headwinds can dampen investor sentiment.

"Overall, the outlook for Kenya's economy over the coming years looks bright. Both the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are forecasting growth rates of around 6 percent for the next 3-4 years. Growth will continue to be supported by robust domestic consumption, public infrastructure investments in transport, energy and information and communications technology (ICT), and remittances from abroad, " Mthuli concluded.

According to the Index, the top five African investment destinations attracted an overall FDI of $13.6 billion. Morocco was ranked second on the index based on its increasing solid economic growth, strategic geographic positioning, increased foreign direct investment, import cover ratio, and an overall favourable business environment. Egypt was ranked third due to an increased foreign direct investment and real interest rates, and a growing urban population. The fourth country on the list, South Africa, scored well on the growth factor of GDP, ease of doing business in the country and significant population. Zambia was the fifth country on the list due to its significant domestic investment and access money supply.

How the Index was Constructed

The Africa Investment Index (AII) is constructed from macroeconomic and financial indicators and the World Bank Group's Ease of Doing Business Indicators (DBI). The DBI ranks countries in terms of a regulatory environment conducive to business operation. The AII focuses on six pillars or factors from a wider range of investment indicators, which include the share of domestic investment in the gross domestic product (GDP), the share of Africa's total Foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflow, GDP growth rate forecast, population augmented GDP growth factor, real interest rate, the difference of broad money growth to the GDP growth rates, inflation differential, credit rating, import cover, the share of the country's external debt in its Gross National Income (GNI), current account ratio, ease of doing business and the country's population size. The AII indicators are based on secondary data collected from World Bank Development Indicators,the International Monetary Fund (I MF) World Economic Outlook, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Data Centre and own estimates.

The AII is a combination of individual indicator's rank into a single numerical ranking. It averages the country's macroeconomic and financial indicators rankings on the six different factors. Each indicator, and hence factors, receives an equal weight. Their rank score is then averaged to produce the total average score, which is consequently ranked from 1 to 54. The lower the value of the ranking, the better the implied business investment climate.

To produce an index score that captures medium-term changing aspects, individual country's ranking is scaled relative to a benchmark or reference value (i.e., the past three-year rolling average ranking). In addition to the intended measurement, this approach enables us to avoid periods of structural changes (which may compromise the index) that may be present in a longer time span, whether we consider a change from a reference average value or a historical reference period.

Click here to access the full Africa Investment Index 2016

Comments
Source: Kenya is the 15th most attractive investment destination in Africa

Kenya 15th most attractive investment destination in Africa: Quantum Global

According to the research by Quantum Global, Kenya's rate of economic growth is on track to exceed the average for sub-Saharan Africa for the eighth year in a row. This growth performance has been driven by strong domestic demand and public infrastructure investment in a context of low oil prices and domestic macroeconomic stability. Domestic consumption has been growing rapidly on the back of a growing middle class, rising incomes and rapid expansion of credit.

Commenting on the Kenyan economy, Prof Mthuli Ncube, Head of Quantum Global Research Lab stated, "Supported by a stable macroeconomic environment, Kenya presents investors with relatively high exchange rate risk, low levels of liquidity and very low import cover. However, going forward, the government policy of capping domestic interest rates is limiting growth on domestic credit to the private sector. This has the potential of being a drag on future economic growth, in an otherwise dynamic economy."

Public investment and fiscal transfers to counties has ensured that the growth has been geographically broad-based. Low oil prices and a surge in remittances have allowed a contraction in the current account deficit recently, although the gap between imports and exports is still wide and presents a risk, especially if oil prices rise. Economic growth has been reasonably well diversified, especially in services sectors, although manufacturing has underperformed. Low inflation and currency stability over the past two years have been conducive for investment.

The research also highlights that Kenya faces a number of external and internal risks that could dampen the economy in 2017 including global financial volatility (especially following the election of Donald Trump in the United States), and a risk of capital flight from frontier economies. Oil prices are expected to lift modestly next year, but the impact on the balance of payments could be offset by recovery in tourism and FDI. The major internal risks relate to possible political instability in the run-up to the 2017 elections, associated delays in fiscal consolidation, and the recent capping of interest rates, which could restrict access to credit and impair bank performance.

Mthuli concluded, "Overall, the outlook for Kenya's economy over the coming years looks bright. Both the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are forecasting growth rates of around six per cent for the next three to four years. Growth will continue to be supported by robust domestic consumption, public infrastructure investments in transport, energy and information and communications technology (ICT), and remittances from abroad."

According to the report, the top five African investment destinations attracted an overall FDI of $13.6 billion. Botswana was ranked the most attractive economy for investments flowing into the African continent followed by Morocco, Egypt, South Africa and Zambia.

Source: Kenya 15th most attractive investment destination in Africa: Quantum Global

How This Lawyer Created an Online Beauty Destination for All Women of Color

Brands like Maréna Beauté are featured on Marjani's website (Image: Marjani Beauty Co.)

Remember the name Marjani Beauty because it just might be the black and brown girl's answer to Sephora.com. This e-commerce beauty destination, dedicated to the beauty and skincare needs of women of color, was created over a span of six months by Kimberly Smith, a Washington D.C.-based attorney who was tired of seeing big-name makeup brands treat black and brown skin as an afterthought.

"This came out of frustration. I was doing my normal beauty run looking for products and couldn't find exactly what I needed, I couldn't find products for my skin tone," she told Black Enterprise in a phone interview. "I thought it would be cool if women of color had a go-to beauty site where they can find all their products."

Marjani, which means "coral" in Swahili, aims to be that platform. Launched in February, the digital cosmetics and skin care retailer carries a selection of quality products for women of color made by people of color. The brands are curated from all parts of the world, from Morocco to the Caribbean, the U.S., and even Sweden.

Kimberly Smith, Founder and CEO of Marjani Beauty Co. (Image: Marjani Beauty Co.)

Smith's avid love of beauty and travel also compelled her to create the site. Whether traversing through countries in Africa, Asia, or South America, she noticed that all women of color face the same challenges.

"Colorism and how fair and dark you are comes into play anywhere. When you're trying to find a foundation for instance, the darker you are the more difficult it is to find the right shade," she said. "This is the No. 1 issue when it comes to makeup."

Though she noted that some brands are extending the brown shades they offer, she stressed that a space like Marjani is still needed; where all of the brands are made by people that look like and understand the unique challenges of their potential customers.

"How cool is it to patronize a brand that from the jump, had you in mind as part of what they were formulating when they were creating that product?" Smith said, noting that when women of color visit Marjani, they can feel confident that every product was created with their specific beauty needs front and center.

To determine which brands will make it to the site, Smith and her team sample products to make sure it reflects a particular brand's promise.

"The fun part is that I am a consumer, what I would want to see and what I'm interested in, a lot of women like me would want these things too," she said. "We want people to have that boutique experience. When you go to the site, we want to give a taste of luxury made for you."

Smith wants Marjani Beauty Co. to be known as a leading global beauty platform, accessible to all black and brown consumers regardless of age, hair texture, skin tone, nationality and geographic location. She also envisions it as a global ecosystem that empowers women and encourages them to realize it's beyond makeup and more about how they feel about themselves.

This is her first run in retail but she's fortunate to have the help of loved ones on her journey. Her mother runs the operations part of the business.

"Growing up, she was a mentor; she operated her own small business," Smith said.

The site has already received a lot of praise via personal emails as well as social media, where Marjani has a following of almost 5,000 on Instagram.

"This shows you that it's beyond superficial. There are many women who are wanting something more," she said. "We aim not just to be a retailer, but a community."

Marjani currently offers 20 brands from around the world. These products reflect Smith's natural love of collecting various beauty finds when she travels across the globe, from ayurvedic oils straight out of India to cocoa butter from Costa Rica. Her aim is to introduce American women to brands they don't usually have access to.

AfroDeity AfroDeity's Caribbean Hair Mask (Image: Marjani Beauty Co.)

Since this mother-daughter owned brand hit the site, it's been a hot seller and is one of Smith's favorites. The U.K-based Caribbean hair and skin care line is known for their luxury Joliette collection. The ocean-inspired Joliette Caribbean Coconut Hair Treatment Mask is made with sea kelp and prickly pear seed oil. The Joliette Caribbean Radiance Facial Wash offers a two-in-one blend of a cream cleanser and a foaming face wash. It's perfect for uneven skin and made with natural fruit extracts like coconut.

Urban Skin Rx Urban Skin Rx's Purifying Pumpkin Pore Mask (Image: Marjani Beauty Co.)

This skincare brand was designed for women of color and their specific skin care issues, particularly the issues that are faced by women who have more melanin. The Even Tone Cleansing Bar offers a blend of kojic and azelaic acids to help fight inflammation and promote even skin pigmentation. It can be used as a mask or daily exfoliator and the brand's promise is that with regular use, skin tone appears more even. The Purifying Pumpkin Pore Mask combines minerals, enzymes, and vitamins to reduce pore size while cleansing and hydrating.

AJ Crimson AJ Crimson's Chasing Saturday matte lipstick (Image: Marjani Beauty Co.)

One of the most trusted names in the beauty industry, Crimson is usually the first choice for celebrities like Missy Elliot, Regina King, and Angela Bassett. Marjani carries a range of foundations, highlighters, and a finishing powder from this Los Angeles brand. Don't forget to add his #NoFilter and Chasing Saturday lipstick colors to the cart.

Maréna Beauté Maréna Beauté's Blush Tarou (Image: Marjani Beauty Co.)

This Swedish brand formulates products exclusively for darker-complexioned consumers. The highly-pigmented blushes are sure to be a show-stopper whether at the office or on a night out. The Blush Tarou comes in six hues, from high-powered Cambi Berry to the warm, Sweet Brown. The brand was founded by makeup artist, Diarry Maréna who is originally from Senegal.

True Moringa True Moringa's Black Soap Moringa (Image: Marjani Beauty Co.)

Named after the Moringa tree in Ghana, which contains numerous health benefits, this brand is 100% vegan. Moringa is rich in zeatin, known for stimulating cell division, growth, and delaying aging of cells. The Magic Black Soap is True Moringa's modern take on the traditional African black soap. It is handcrafted in small batches using raw shea, moringa, neem, and essential oils. Their Ultra-Light Whipped Body Butter is made of a blend of wild-crafted shea and moringa.

As Mother's Day is quickly approaching, check out Marjanibeauty.com for some quality last-minute, confidence-boosting gifts.

Source: How This Lawyer Created an Online Beauty Destination for All Women of Color

The Competition Is On To Find The World’s Best Camping Destination

The Competition Is On To Find The World's Best Camping Destination

There's nothing quite like spending the night under the stars in nature, just experiencing the world as it has been experienced by people for millennia before a pesky thing called civilization came along. But the choice of camping location can have a massive impact. Camping in your local grocery store parking lot might get you under the stars, but it won't do much to inspire you or make you feel more connected to the world.

The competition is on to find the world's best camping destinations. Here are some of the contenders.

Boya Lake In Canada

Canada has long been a land of wilderness. Anybody who has flown over it is not only enchanted by its size but also by the fact that so much of it remains completely untouched by human hands. Most of the land north of the latitude of Toronto is completely wild – a smattering of lakes, mountains, pine forests, and tundra.

In amongst all that beauty is the Boya Lake Provincial Park. The lake itself is relatively northerly, but it's famous because of its tropical coloring. Thanks to the purity of the water that feeds it, the lake is an azure blue and incredibly clear. During the summer camping here is epic, mainly because of the fact that the lake is warm enough to take a dip. All around are professionally constructed hiking trails which will take you out into the wilderness and then return you back to the main camping hubs. It goes without saying that nights here are free from light pollution, so if you're somebody who loves stargazing, this is the perfect spot for you.

The Moroccan Sahara In Morocco

Morocco is one of those countries which isn't easily lumped in with the rest of Africa. Thanks to its Arab links, it's got a very different feel from the other cultures in the west of Africa. For campers who venture out into the country's interior, things get really special. A trip into the Moroccan Sahara is about as wild as you can get as any place in the world. Usually, trips are organized around camel treks to remote outposts in the desert. Camping unassisted in the desert is dangerous, and so when you arrive at the campsite, the tents will already be set up.

Morocco is a great place to camp if you want to try things like sand boarding on dunes and stargazing.

The Lake District, UK

The Lake District is one of the most magical places in the world, thanks to the area's unique landscape. The region served as the backdrop to the writings of some of the most influential people in all of literature, including William Wordsworth as well as J.R.R. Tolkien.

The national park itself is dotted with campsites where you can pay a small fee and pitch your tent. Most of the cost in going is in buying all the gear you'll need, but with a Cabela's coupons, you should be able to get money off most stuff. The mountains in the Lakes have a certain feel that is different to those in the Alps or the Rockies. Though they get icy at the top in the winter, snow doesn't remain all year around. What's more, the mountains are truly ancient, formed hundreds of millions of years ago. Some are falling down literally, including those around Lake Thirlmere where you'll find the Lion Crags.

The Lake District is also a good destination for campers who like the idea of camping but don't want to leave all their creature comforts behind. Not only is glamping a popular activity in the Lakes, but so too are eco-pods – little wooden sheds with heating and running water. These are great if you want to stay dry in a notoriously damp part of the world.

Lake Myvatn In The Heart Of Iceland

You probably don't want to go camping in Iceland in the middle of winter. But during the summer months, the small Atlantic island comes alive as the weather improves. In the middle of the country is Lake Myvatn, a small inland lake surrounded by tundra and lonely mountains. But it's not the landscape that is the most appealing feature of Lake Myvatn: it's the fact that you might catch a glimpse of the northern lights. If you get your timing right, the aurora borealis are visible from Iceland and provide the perfect backdrop for an epic camping trip.

Sardinia, The Italian Island

People in Sardinia are famed for their good health and longevity. The island is home to many times the number of centenarians as mainland Italy, thanks to the diet of greens and beans. When it comes to camping, Sardinia is an obvious choice. The whole island is littered with campsites, trails and, of course, beaches – some of the most beautiful in the world. On top of all that, Sardinia itself is an autonomous region which is governed independently from mainland Italy. The result of that is a very different culture mix which includes Africans, among other peoples.

Ladakh In India

If you've ever wanted to travel to the mighty Himalayas as part of a camping trip, then a visit to Ladakh is probably your best option. Ladakh is a region located between Pakistan and Tibet and sits up on the high plateau formed by the Himalayas themselves. The area is popular with pilgrims to the Buddhist monasteries in the area and is best explored from a tent. Because it's beyond the mountains, the weather is usually very dry. Plus, being so high up means that it's miles away from civilization. This is the place to try your hand at canoeing, rafting and hiking.

The Garden Route National Park In South Africa

The Garden Route National Park lives up to its name. It stretches along the most stunning part of the coast of South Africa along miles of pristine beaches. This is a great place for any campers who just want to relax, unwind and enjoy nature at her most beautiful.

Source: The Competition Is On To Find The World's Best Camping Destination