Category Archives: Yona Fares Maro

Secret structures, hidden crimes

From: Yona Maro

Tax evasion poses an acute challenge to developing and developed countries. From 2000 to 2010, illicit financial flows deprived developing countries of US$5.86 trillion. Tax evasion is not a victimless crime – for people in the developing world, the consequences of tax evasion can be a matter of life and death.

Companies and other legal structures that are anonymously owned and controlled are a key mechanism of tax evasion. Securing more disclosure about who owns and controls these vehicles would not only help prevent capital flight in future but may also bring trillions of dollars of offshore wealth back into the tax net. If countries could start to recover this untaxed wealth, it could have an enormous impact on people’s lives.

Tax evaders use many of the same techniques to move their assets as criminals involved in corruption, terrorist financing, nuclear proliferation, arms smuggling and many other abuses. Therefore many of the measures taken to tackle these activities, especially around transparency, are the same.

This summary sets out how opaque ownership structures are a key tool for money launderers, and facilitate crime. It also shows how anti-money laundering frameworks provide an opportunity to secure transparency by revealing the identity of beneficial owners – the real people who own and control bank accounts and legal structures such as companies, trusts and foundations.

Link:
http://eurodad.org/files/integration/2013/01/Secret-structures-hidden-crimes_summary_web.pdf

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Chronological History of Tanzania

From: Yona Maro

Chronological History of Tanzania

1st Century B.C. Cushites from Ethiopia settle in Tanganyika.

2nd Century A.D. Agriculturists from Cameroun and Nigeria settle in Tanganyika and Iron Age Civilization develop.

12th Century A.D. Swahili Civilization established in Zanzibar and Coastal Area of Mainland Tanganyika.

15th Century A.D. Organized Kingdoms and Chiefdoms established in various regions of Tanganyika.

1866-1873 European adventure trips to Tanzania including the visit of Dr.David Livingstone.

1880 German Colonization of Tanganyika.

1885 Partition of Africa; German Rule of Tanganyika recognized by European powers.

1885-1905 Wars of Resistance against the Germans.

1890 British Rule in Zanzibar recognized by major powers.

1919 League of Nations decide to place Tanganyika under British Rule.

1946 Tanganyika becomes UN Trust Territory under British Administration.

1961 Independence of Tanganyika.

1962 Tanganyika becomes a Republic.

1963 Zanzibar becomes independent.

1964 Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanzania.

1985 President Nyerere retires from Office; President Ali Hassan Mwinyi takes over.

1992 Multiparty-politics re-established.

1995 President Ali Hassan Mwinyi retires and President Benjamin William Mkapa takes over.

Tanzania is the cradle of mankind, for it was here in the Olduvai Gorge that Dr. Louis Leakey discovered the fossilized remains of Zinjanthropus calculated to be 1.75 million years old, the forerunner of modern man. South of Olduvai Gorge, a trail of hominid foot prints 3,600,000 years ago were discovered at Laoteli only 30 kilometers from Olduvai Gorge.

Tanzania is home of about 126 African tribes, the majority being of Bantu origin who migrated into Tanzania from West and Central Africa. While in Tanzania, they assimilated most of the people of Khoisan and Cushitic origin who had been there since the 3rd and 1st centuries BC respectively. Very few groups of people of these origins (Khoisan and Cushitic) remain in Tanzania today.

Besides peoples of Bantu, Cushitic and Khoisan origin, there are also groups of Nilotic origin the most famous being the Maasai. These are said to have settle in Tanzania in the 1st century AD. On the other hand, the Ngoni tribe, fleeing from “mfecane” (the times of troubles) brought about by the Zulu expansion under their famous King, Shaka, entered southwestern Tanzania in 1840 and defeated the Fipa who moved to northwestern Tanzania.

Arabian merchants visited the Tanzanian Coast 2000 years ago and later settled in Zanzibar around 7th century AD. They established trade routes into the interior and in so doing helped to spread the Arab influenced culture and language of the coast : Swahili culture and language.

The Portuguese established temporary settlements in the 16th century, and a relic of a Portuguese Fort, “Geresa” built in 1505 is in Kilwa. In the late 17th century, however, the Portuguese were supplanted by the Omanis who established trade in ivory and slaves. Ivory was in great demand in India, where married women were expected to wear ivory bangles which were buried with them when they died. Ivory trade was also established in the 18th century with Japan where it was required for production of “netsukes” (ivory buttons used to suspend objects from a belt). Slaves were used to carry ivory to the coast but were also required for clove plantations in Zanzibar and in sugar plantations in Mauritius. Other slaves were exported to the Persian Gulf, Europe and Americas.

The scramble for Africa by the European powers at the end of the 19th century led to the occupation of the mainland by Germany despite resistance by leaders such as Abushiri of Pangani, Mkwawa of Iringa, and Kinjeketile of Rufiji. The latter led the famous Maji maji uprising of July 1905. Zanzibar became a British Protectorate. After World War I, Germany was forced to surrender mainland Tanzania to British rule. The mainland (then known as Tanganyika) became independent in 1961 and Zanzibar in 1963. In 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar united to form United Republic of Tanzania.

Contact with China and Japan
From 1000 A.D., a considerable amount of trade went on between China, Persia and Tanzania Coastal Areas. Much exchange took place with India until after 1500 A.D. when Chinese merchant ships reached East African Coast. Chinaware of 700 years ago have been excavated in Kilwa,

Tanzania bearing evidence that the Tanzania Coast was once part of a developed culture that boomed along the Indian Ocean Coast. As stated above, ivory from Tanzania was also exported to Japan around this period.

http://www.tanzaniaconsul.com/history.html

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The road to IATI: are NGO concerns justified?

From: Yona Maro

Some 200 organisations have committed to a common standard and time schedule for publishing aid information under the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI). This is great news for transparency advocates. But in a Center for Global Development blog earlier this month Will McKitterick pointed out that of the 125 international NGOs that published data in the IATI registry, only six are US-based organisations. McKitterick noted: “The US NGO community seems to be dragging its feet. Some see costs as their main impediment. Others are concerned that publishing could put their staff and activities at risk. But there is good reason to consider these apprehensions overblown …”

As Linda Raftree, Plan USA’s project manager in charge of IATI publishing effort, said: “We started wanting to be as transparent as possible … publish everything IATI asked for … but after wider consultation with other teams, we ended up with something a bit more realistic.” Rather than publishing everything all at once or making a quick decision on publishing a limited data set and being done with IATI, we’ve designed a three-phase process that will allow us to improve our internal systems while gradually publishing more and more of our data.

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/oct/23/plan-usa-iati-aid-transparency?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRonvavKcu%2FhmjTEU5z17%2BstXaK2gokz2EFye%2BLIHETpodcMRMFkMa%2BTFAwTG5toziV8R7bNKc1r2NkQXBfn

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Going visible: Women’s rights on the internet

From: Yona Maro

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) create new scenarios, new ways for people to live, and these reflect real-life problems. Women need to assert their rights here with determination and without delay. Women may not have been an active part of policy-making conversations when internet governance started, but the rapid pace of change online means they need to participate now to ensure that the future of the internet is shaped taking into account women’s rights. For people who have little access to other kinds of publics due to the multiple forms of discrimination they face including gender, age, class or sexuality in the internet can be a particularly important space to negotiate and realise their rights.

For women, the internet is a vital public sphere due to barriers of access to media or political representation. Inequalities that women face in terms of economic power, education and access to resources also affect access and participation in shaping the internet, its debates and policy. This explains why the internet has become an increasingly critical public sphere for the claiming of citizenship rights and civil liberties, including women’s rights. For those who have little access to other kinds of “publics” due to the multiple forms of discrimination faced – including based on gender, age, economic status and sexual identity – it can be a particularly important pace for the negotiation and fulfillment of their rights.

http://www.genderit.org/sites/default/upload/going_visible__womens_rights_on_the_internet_-_womens_rights_programme.pdf

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Friend of Africa 2013 Economic Development Conference- Event Report

From: Yona Maro

The Friends of Africa Economic Development Conference held on the 5th of October 2013 at the Ball Room of the Sheraton Hotel And Conference Centre, Toronto.

Pre- Conference Meetings
The Conference started with Pre-conference infrastructure development strategy meetings of the Public Sector delegates from Nigeria and the Ontario government on the 4th of October 2013 at The Persian, Westin Prince, Toronto. Leading the Ontario government was MP Micheal Coteau, Minister for Citizenship and Immigration, while his counterpart in the Economic, Investment and Trade Ministry; Mr. Debo Ajayi led the Nigerian delegation.

Economic Development Conference
The Economic development conference opened on the 5th October 2013 with welcome remarks delivered by the Premier of Ontario, represented by PA Monte Kwinter of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. The High Commissioner of Nigeria, Consular General of Ghana- HE, Kodjo Mawutor and Consul General of Uganda- HE Navin Chandaria and President Casa Foundation all brought good will remarks from Africa.

The full day event witnessed a gathering of professionals, business owners and public sector leaders from various parts of Nigeria, Canada and the USA participating at the roundtable sessions on the theme Transforming Africa. Presentations focused on opportunities for business development in Africa and Ontario. All Presentations and Communiqué are available on Casafoundation website-Details below.

Private Sector Speakers:
Navin Chandaria- President of Conros Corporation, USA & Canadaand Director at Element Capital- A Toronto Stock Exchange listed Private Equity Fund with investment Focus on Africa.
C. J Shah- Managing Director of Midland Galvanizing Steel-Africa, Asia. A Steel manufacturing plant started in 1975, which grew to employ10, 000+ staff in Nigeria, Kenya & Hong Kong.
Lucien Bradet- President, Canadian Council on Africa discussed the giant strides made by Canadian businesses in Africa

Olutoyin Oyelade-President of Casa Foundation spoke on the recent investment ventures in Africa and how businesses can leverage these opportunities to expand.

Public Sector Speakers:
PA Monte Kwinter- MP, Minister of Financial Institutions 2007, Chair, Ontario Trade and Development Council discussed policy and growth opportunities in Ontario for business owners.
Debo Ajayi-represented the Governor of Ekiti (who was inadvertently absent due to an air mishap) and presented business development opportunities and Partnership for Professionals in Southern Nigeria.
Jim Karygiannis- Federal MP, Chair of house committee on Nigeria, Coptics Egypt and democratic republic of Congo reported ways to collaborate for growth in Africa.

Business Integration Roundtable featured:
HE Kodjo Mawutor- Consular General of Ghana, who spoke on business integration initiatives by the Economic and Trade departments of African embassies, focusing on Ghana.
HE Navin Chandaria- Consul General of Uganda presented a paper on opportunities for Small business owners in Kenya and Uganda. Umar Nataala- Minister of Economic Development, Nigeria High Commission was also at the discussions.

Friend of Africa (FOA) Awards 2013
Dr.Tanya Pelcher- Herring, renowned Speaker with the US anchored the Friend of Africa awards.The Consular General of Ghana- HE Kodjo Mawutor presented the following shortlisted nominees to participants for induction into the Friend of Africa- Hall of Fame:

1. Ms. Betty Makoni

2. Dr. Mary- Anne Chambers

Dr. Mary- Anne Chambers emerged the Friend of Africa- 2013 and was presented with the Award.

Full Details and Reports of the FOA 2013 Conference do click the following links:

For Conference Materials & Highlights

clickhere

For Nominees into ‘FOA’ Hall of Fame

click here

For A Profile of Casa Foundation

click here

For Conference Pictures

click here

For Conference Videos

click here

For News Reports

click here

Registration is required to access conference documents. Click the ‘register’ link on: www.casafoundation.ca

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