It has been said time and again that development is not about things. A country cannot be said to experience development simply because it has skyscrapers, bridges and roads. Development is about people, hence the concept of people-centred development. Yet no development can occur without infrastructure such as roads, bridges, railways, power plants, ICT networks…
We checked into what would be our new home for the next nine months the International Institute of Journalism in Berlin, located in Friedrichshagen, a suburb south east of that historic German city. The institute was situated in the middle of a thick and vast pine forest, with the nearest settlement and urban train station…
Few things worry parents more than a child with a high fever and a painful sore throat. One common cause of these symptoms is acute tonsillitis a sudden inflammation of the tonsils, which are two small glands located at the back of the throat. Although tonsillitis is common in children, understanding its causes, symptoms and…
In the down bound lift to the underground train, the 60 plus year old English chap, reminds you of what is slowly vanishing as we stroll towards mid 21st century. Public interaction, humour and casualness. “I just got a new job,” he says in typical London Cockney accent. Operating the buttons he lets the elevator’s…
By now, many of the readers of this column must have noticed that I am fond of returning to the wisdom of our ancestors in order to learn crucial lessons for life. Their wisdom, which comes to us in myriad forms such as stories, proverbs, sayings, riddles and rituals, is as wide as the sea…
Dazzles of zebras wildebeest and a group of old male buffaloes were watching us malevolently and on the grasses I spot a Nairobi Pipit on top of a small stone definitely looking for insects. We passed through a section of forest which contain many rare plants and dense trees of African olive and variety of…
Trespass under Tanzanian law refers to the unlawful entry onto another person’s land without consent or lawful justification. In simple terms, do not “visit” where you have not been invited. Trespass is recognised both as a civil wrong under common law principles and a criminal offence under the Penal Code. “Criminal trespass arises where entry…
We were on a boat slowly sailing on a vast inland Rufiji river relaxing into the tranquillity of the true beautiful surroundings watching for nature, birdlife and wildlife go by. We were maybe 100 km from the Indian Ocean and it was fun and a wonderful way to experience the riverside intimately and watch the…
Modern society treats success in one field as proof of universal wisdom. I once suggested that a billionaire can also be an idiot and was met with strong objections from my social media friends. We see credentials, wealth and fame and mistake them for broad intellectual authority. The truth is simpler than it appears: Success…
I first set foot in Europe some 47 years ago this month — in 1979, to be precise. To make it even more remarkable, it was wintertime, bitterly cold and freezing at that. It is a long story. At the time, I was in the employ of the government-owned newspapers, the Daily News and Sunday…
