News: Africa

East Africa Trade Bloc Approves Common Market Deal

Heads of state from the East African Community (EAC) trade bloc signed a common market protocol today that they hope will boost commerce between their five countries when it comes into effect in July 2010 (hat tip: Africa The Good News). Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi are confident that the deal allowing the free movement of goods, services, people and capital within the bloc will make their region easier to market to overseas investors.

Foreign direct investment inflows to the region leapt to US$1.73 billion in 2008 from $692 million in 2002. The bloc has an estimated population of 126.2 million and a gross domestic product of $60 billion in 2008. Trade among EAC member states has jumped 49 percent since the customs union started being implemented in 2005. The bloc aims to have a monetary union in 2012 and to eventually transform into a political federation.

Liberia: "The New War Is Rape"

Sexual violence consistently comes first or second (after armed robbery) in monthly police crime listings in the capital city of Monrovia. The majority of rape victims are children, according to treatment center statistics. Médecins Sans Frontières in Monrovia reports their youngest survivor at 21 months old. During Liberia's civil war, women and girls were subjected to rape (commonly gang rape) and sexual slavery, many becoming pregnant from rape. Since peace was sealed in 2003, sex crimes - and impunity - have persisted throughout the country.

At the MSF clinic, 80 percent of rape victims are girls under 18; just under half of those are aged 12 and under. In addition to a medical examination, survivors are given protection from sexually transmitted infection, means to block HIV infection and pregnancy if it is within 72 hours of the crime, a medical certificate that can be used in court and several rounds of counselling. Some nonprofits, including Catholic Relief Services, are trying to encourage families to openly discuss sexual violence and sexual health, and to educate children about "good" and "bad" touching.

South Africa: Farmers Responsible For Attacks On Zimbabwean Immigrants?

Farmers in De Doorns (located near Cape Town) have rejected allegations that they are paying Zimbabwean immigrants lower than the minimum wage and are therefore responsible for recent xenophobic attacks. Yesterday the Hex Table Grapes Association - which employs more than 15,000 farmworkers - rebuked Home Affairs Deputy Minister Malusi Gigaba for alleging that farmers' exploitation of the migrants - rather than xenophobia - was the cause of the violent attacks that have seen almost 3,000 Zimbabwean immigrants flee their homes.

Chairman De Villiers Graaff said Mr. Gigaba's claims were "dangerous" and said he was using farmers as "scapegoats". He said farmers in the area paid immigrants the R57 [US$7.50] daily minimum wage stipulated by law. Farmworkers claimed this week that the Zimbabweans were being paid R30 [US$3.95] a day. Women on Farms has said farmworkers had "valid concerns". The group said the foreign nationals were being exploited by their employers, with most working 12-hour days without valid contracts. They claim Zimbabweans are often hired before local farmworkers because many knew less about labor laws.