Penda Manufacturing PLC will launch its new paper collection system called “Worke” (my gold) last Saturday at 40 locations in Addis Ababa. The new collection system includes bikes with collection carts, and will reward two birr for every kilo of paper provided by anyone in the city.
Penda was established in 2014 by Norwegian Marie and a team of investors with experience from the Scandinavian pulp & paper industry. In a partnership with the Addis Ababa City Administration it has to date created full-time jobs for 90 individuals, in addition to extra income creation for around 4,300 micro-enterprise waste collectors.
The company regularly collects waste paper and cartons from more than 130 factories and offices and has started an educational programme and recycling in collaboration with 182 schools and 220,000 students.
“A shocking fact is that more than 200,000 tons of paper and carton waste is dumped at landfills, burned or simply left as garbage on the streets every year inspired the investment idea,” Marie told Capital.
Ethiopia is a country which imports more than 100 million USD worth of raw materials for the paper industry every year. The current rate of using local recycled raw materials stands at around 5% relative to 15% in Kenya. “Instead of using scarce USD resources to import pulp and paper products, we need to start using the resources we already have in the country,” she said.
Realising a “circular economy” for waste paper in Ethiopia is an opportunity for massive import substitution, significant job creation in collection and manufacturing, cheaper paper and packaging products, as well as significant environmental benefits for the city. However, building such a recycling system at scale is a massive undertaking. It requires large infrastructure investments, strong logistics, and massive awareness building among everyday consumers.”
In addition to continuing its investments in collection infrastructure and manufacturing of quality raw materials for the local paper mills, Penda is just about to launch its own affordable exercise books for school children, with production expected to start this coming January.
People who deliver waste paper to “Worke” can also chose to donate the reward to charity. In collaboration with several local Rotaract Clubs, all donations will be used to provide free exercise books for the needy.
“We want to encourage all residents of Addis Ababa to help us make the city clean, beautiful, and environmentally sustainable. And most importantly, to help the access of affordable exercise books and other paper products in Ethiopia,” said Marie.
Penda will have the capacity to produce more than 10 million notebooks per year at its site in Akaki Kality Sub City.
40 “Worke” waste paper collection points to hit the streets of Addis
New seed plan to allow monopoly, equitable distribution
A new proposal being prepared by Ministry of Agriculture would allow private companies or government enterprises to be the sole producer and distributor of a single type of seed. The seed would be developed by the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute (ARI).
Currently any government or private company can buy seeds from ARI and multiply and sell them to the farmers and this has created unfair competition among the sellers.
Under the new plan one company will have a monopoly over a specific type of seed that they would obtain from ARI and then promote and sell. The seed producers would have to spend their own money advertising the seed. Feleke Gezahagn, Ethiopian Seed Supply Chain Director told Capital that the system will be more fair and will help farmers get the seeds they need on time.
Both public and private seed producers mainly concentrate on a few cereal crops, particularly hybrid maize and bread wheat. Moreover, they supply only a small portion of the total quantity of seed that farmers need. Thus, they do not satisfy the diversified seed demand of farmers so if we allow a specific seed for specific company we can distribute most of the seeds the farmers want,” he said.
In Ethiopia, various actors and stakeholders are involved in seed production activities. All these actors and stakeholders, in one way or another, contribute to production, promotion, supply and marketing of improved seed in the country. Studies show that only a small area of land is covered by improved seed, however… In Improving farmers’ access to seed empowering farmers’ innovation., between 2005/6 and 2009/10, only 3.5% of the land was planted with improved seed out of a total of 12 million hectares of land under major food crops. However, the total amount of improved seed used and the area of farmland covered by improved seed have increased during recent years.
The private sector has made some initial forays into Ethiopia’s seed industry during the past decade, and more specifically into the maize seed business.
The volume of seed production by private producers increased from 4994.1 tons in 2012/13 to 9819.2 tons in 2014/15. More specifically, the contribution of private producers is higher for hybrid maize seed production and distribution.
Seed producer cooperatives play a key role in the Ethiopian seed sector. They produce quality seeds of diversified crops and varieties and directly sell to customers locally and beyond. For example, in 2014 alone, more than 23 different crops and 131 varieties were produced by them
Currently five government and 60 private companies are engaged in seed production and sales.
European Film Festival to begin next week
The annual European Film Festival is going to showcase 20 films selected from European Union countries on November 9-11 at VAMDAS Entertainment Movie Theatre. The award winning movies were selected with their historical or contemporary themes besides their artistic value according to the organizers. Also the criteria of most celebrated actors in their respective countries, unforgettable music and cinematography that can capture the imagination of the audience was also considered.
The festival is expected to bring movies in the categories of documentary, historical stories, comedies and drama. The festival gives special attention for kids and dedicates two Saturdays, 3rd and 10th of November for them.
The festival will also screen some Ethiopian films and short films in order to promote interaction between European and Ethiopian filmmakers. There will also be one African film from Burkina Faso to celebrate Addis Ababa as the headquarters of the African Union and the diplomatic capital of Africa on 2 November 2018.
The festivals are expected to be launched on November 1 at 6pm in the VAMDAS Entertainment Movie Theatre with a free of charge entrance.
The France movie of “Le Brio” is expected to be the opening movie.
The Fine Line: African Attire & African Leaders
“…traditional attire express our relationship with out communities, societies and our continent.”
Almost 11 years ago, Nov 17, 2007 to be exact, I met an incredible individual at the African Union (AU) Diaspora Ministerial Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. We were there in different capacities but on the same mission, to review and consolidate the draft Programme of Action in relation to the AU decision to recognize Africans in the Diaspora as the Sixth Region. Agenda items included Peace and Stability; Historic socio-cultural and religious commonalities; Women, Youth and Vulnerable groups and Economic Cooperation amongst others. Thirty-nine member states including Benin, Ghana and Ethiopia were present along with CARICOM representatives. Unlike most Ministerial meetings, Diaspora Communities and Civil Society organizations fully participated, even presenting papers. I was one of such.
I remember being seated next to the then Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Dlamini Nksozana Zuma, who would go on to serve as AU Chairperson 2012-2017. I prepared with laser focus to present on Women and Youth to a room of distinguished African representatives who, sad to say, were almost indistinguishable, as most were in suits. I was dressed in traditional Ethiopia attire at this august event and began by giving a history of African Diaspora engagement, referencing Ethiopia’s track record as evidenced by Ethiopian World Federation who raised funds and awareness to end Italian occupation in the Diaspora. I also spoke of the defeat of foreign forces under the direction of Emperor Menelik II with Empress Taitu by his side, yielding victory at the Battle of Adwoa, a watershed moment in the history of Pan Africanism.
After my presentation, I had the opportunity to meet the Head of Delegation for Ethiopia. While moved by my presentation, the crux of the conversation was also on my attire, habesha libs. I imagine it was strange as most such meetings find men and women in 99.9% Brooks Brothers type suits. Beyond that important exchange on culture and attire, the Minister expressed interest in our advocacy for re-integration and offered to meet with me upon return to Addis Ababa. The Minister’s word was kept and the good Office was open for us to voice our concerns on the status of People of African descent, Rastafari in particular, living peacefully in Ethiopia, most undocumented, including children turned adults born in Shashamane.
I would see the Minister occasionally, who always recalled my name and face amongst the sea of people dealt with daily, much more over a decade. Respect. We even ran into each other a week ago and tried to catch up in a sweet 2-minute exchange, as we were both with other parties. But back to African leaders and cultural attire… What is the message and significance, if any, about cultural attire worn or not worn by Africa’s representatives at meetings in Africa? In a time when Africa is rising and borders are collapsing, allowing for free movement of trade and commerce, is not the movement of art, ideas and culture equally important? Does not our cultural attire have a place, making a statement as to our history, identity and trajectory? Should leaders not have an inclination or at least the conscience to wear the expressions of our artisans and designers, often? Haven’t our artists provided African designs and clothing that speak to our resources, processes, creativity and narratives? Doesn’t our traditional attire express our relationship with out communities, societies and our continent? Most of all shouldn’t our attire give leaders a sense of strength, comfort and connectivity to the people they represent?
Eleven years later in 2018, update on the Diaspora integration: a majority of African countries have offices for Diaspora affairs; Benin and Ghana have issued citizenship to scores; and Ethiopia has granted over 250 ID’s to Rastafari of African descent as Foreign National of Ethiopian Origin. Sadly, I cannot report that African Leaders are wearing cultural attire more often, but can report that the AU encourages traditional wear on Friday. Side Note: In the West corporations offer dress down day to jeans and such on Fridays, this cannot compare to Traditional attire, but I think the intent deserves credit. I therefore leave it to our esteemed leaders to decide when to wear traditional clothing but urge consideration to honor and promote the creativity of African artists and designers while sharing culture, history and identity. Photos speak volumes and what will generations to come think as they reflect on these optics a hundred years from now? Shall our children see so us today and in turn love their culture and clothing tomorrow and not beg for brands that fuel other people’s economy?
This splendor of African attire from kente to kuba cloth and ashoke to saba is unlimited. And just as our weavers prepare these cloths with great care and pride, let us wear them proudly as we promote our country, continent and diverse cultures. By the way, the Minister I keep referring to is none other than our newly appointed President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia H.E. Ambassador Sahle-Work Zewde, who wore cultural attire to her swearing in ceremony.
Dr. Desta Meghoo is a Jamaican born
Creative Consultant, Curator and
cultural promoter based in Ethiopia
since 2005. She also serves as Liaison to
the AU for the Ghana based, Diaspora
African Forum.
