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Food for the world
Why Africa is selling off its agricultural land to international investors – By Bartholomäus Grill
Asfa Zeleke’s field lies high in the mountains above Lalibela, Ethiopia. It’s a lot of work when, as every year, he sows barley or millet, negotiating his ox-drawn wooden plough through stony soil. The meager harvest barely feeds his family of five.
“If I had money for chemical fertilizer, I could harvest more,” he said. But no bank will give this poor man a loan. He cannot offer the land as collateral because in Ethiopia, all land belongs to the state.
Many millions of African farmers share his troubles and are caught in this poverty trap. Now, many even fear being forced off their tiny allotments by high-powered foreigners bringing modern technology and fertilizers that enable them to produce far more. “The government gives them plenty of land but it does not help us,” Zeleke lamented.
Waiting for a bridge
Africa is hindered by its lack of infrastructure. Zambia and Zimbabwe are only two examples – By Toby Selander
The future of Africa could be much brighter if politicians shouldered their responsibility. Transportation bottlenecks and bureaucracy are stalling development. One of the worst examples is the Zambezi River border crossing.
Hundreds and hundreds of trucks are stalled on the side of the road at the Kazungula crossing of the Zambezi River. In a green Celtic Freight truck, the driver Chulu is biding his time; he spends more time waiting to pass the river every month than transporting the goods to customers.
“It often takes three to four days here – sometimes I have been lucky and only waited for two days but sometimes up to a week – this is really bad,” Chulu said. He has taken his shoes off as he listens to the radio and waits for the clearing agent to do his job. The 22-meter truck is loaded with steel. Chulu is on his way from South Africa to Zambia. He usually makes three to four trips between Durban, South Africa and Lusakaor Ndola in Zambia every month. But some months, the wait at Kazungula can be worse and he can make only two trips. If there were no obstacles on the route, it would take two to three days to drive; now it can take up to 12.
The word and the sword
Does Christianity contribute to the spread of AIDS? – By Renate Cochrane
Among activists in South Africa an interesting new criticism is emerging as they analyze the roots of the country’s AIDS epidemic.
In the past few years, South Africa has received massive funding for country-wide AIDS awareness campaigns. And yet, the efforts seem to have had no impact on sexual relationship patterns. Previously, activists had directed their anger toward the lack of will among the political leadership. Now, though, people are looking at religious institutions for their failure in addressing the issue.
During my years as an AIDS activist, I learned to understand how heartbreakingly difficult it is for African parents to talk about sexual matters with their children. African culture is much more holistic than Western culture. There is no distinct split between thinking, talking and doing. To ask parents to talk about sex with their children is almost tantamount to suggesting sexual abuse. The same is true for teachers and pastors who often have the role of substitute-parents.