<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 16pt">Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt"> Becoming More United</span></font></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 16pt"><font face="Times New Roman">By Muyanga Ziba</font></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 16pt">They came all the way from </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Kenya</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">, </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">East Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">, passing through </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Tanzania</span><span style="font-size: 16pt"> to exhibit their products in </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Southern Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt"> in the spirit of Africa Union.</span></font></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 16pt">The Kenyans have now joined their Nigerians and Ghanaians from </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">West Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt"> to do business in </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Southern Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">. They have brought in hand oven shirts with pictures of wild animals, beads, curios, hand woven bags of women as well as slippers, among others.</span></font></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 16pt">“This is the second time to come to </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Lilongwe</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">. We came here for the first time in May. Our trip was a success because we sold all the goods that<span> </span>we came with in a short time, “ said Mutunga Nyazui, the leader of the delegation.</span></font></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 16pt"><font face="Times New Roman">Government is not involved in the trip, nor a non governmental organization .It has been purely organized by individuals who just came together.</font></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 16pt">The group is in the capital of </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Malawi</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">, </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Lilongwe</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">, to exhibit products paving way for the marketeering of goods from East and </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">North Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">.</span></font></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 16pt">Lilongwe</span><span style="font-size: 16pt"> is the hub. You can easily go to </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Lusaka</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">, the capital of </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Zambia</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">. You can also go south to </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Maputo</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">, the capital of </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Mozambique</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">. You can also<span> </span>travel to Johannesburg in South Africa with ease as there are many buses .You can reach Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe in few hours. Some fly to </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Lubumbashi</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">, the second biggest town in Democratic Republic of Congo.</span></font></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 16pt">With the presence of traders from </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">West Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">, the Kenyan group is assured their goods will find market in </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">West Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt"> and </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">North Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">..</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 16pt">“From </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Malawi</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">, we are going to </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Rwanda</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">. There is another big trade exhibition there,” he said.</span></font></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 16pt">Many individuals in </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt"> are moving from country to country to trade in various items.</span></font></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 16pt">“This regional integration is cementing cultural links. Films from </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Ghana</span><span style="font-size: 16pt"> and </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Nigeria</span><span style="font-size: 16pt"> are much liked by many people now in Southern and East </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">,” said Judith Phiri who sells video cassettes.</span></font></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 16pt">He said most people from </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">West Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt"> have settled in Zambia South Africa and </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Malawi</span><span style="font-size: 16pt"> showing that African people are one.</span></font></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 16pt"><font face="Times New Roman">“A cousin to the Minister of Information in Malawi Patricia Kaliati has just married a Nigerian man,” commented one man who was passing by as the reporter was speaking to Judith.</font></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 16pt">He said many have also married women from </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">East Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">.</span></font></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 16pt">He said people now in </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Central Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt"> have started calling chiefs Igwe, after watching films from </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Nigeria</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">.</span></font></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New
Roman"><span style="font-size: 16pt">According to New Partnership for </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">’s Development (NEPAD)<span> </span>,<strong><u>partnership between and among African peoples is one of its objectives.</u></strong></span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 16pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span> </span>It is designed to address the current challenges facing African continent on issues such as escalating poverty levels as well as under development much spear headed by African leaders. Formal as well as informal trade by citizens of various countries is one way of achieving such an aim.</font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 16pt"><font face="Times New Roman">NEPAD also strives to place African countries ,both individually and collectively, on a path to sustainable growth and development.</font></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 16pt"><font face="Times New Roman">The strategic framework of NEPAD’s<span> </span>document arises from a mandate given to the five heads of state from Nigeria, Algeria, South Africa, Egypt and<span> </span>Senegal<span> </span>by the then Organization of Africa Unity now African Union to develop an integrated socio- economic development framework.</font></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 16pt">When recently African leaders met in </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Ghana</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi of </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Libya</span><span style="font-size: 16pt"> and ABdulla Wade of<span> </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Senegal</span><span style="font-size: 16pt"> advocated for African Union which would help </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Africa</span><span style="font-size: 16pt"> to develop economically and speak with one voice. Presidents are still discussing on implementation stages of the </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">Union</span><span style="font-size: 16pt">.</span></font></div>
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