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Bvekenya became obsessed with tracking down an elusive elephant called Ndlulamithi ("Taller than Trees"), a lifelong quest that ended in 1929 when Barnard had the big bull in his sights but found himself unable to shoot it.
Bvekenya's exploits are described in the book 'The Ivory Trail' by TV Bulpin. Some idea of the country through which he moved is described in this Telegraph article.
Bvekenya's exploits are described in the book 'The Ivory Trail' by TV Bulpin. Some idea of the country through which he moved is described in this Telegraph article.
Each year, Berlin-based Transparency International publishes a Corruption Perception Index. The index defines corruption as the abuse of public office for private gain and measures the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among a country's public officials and politicians. The scores range from ten (very honest) through to 0 (highly corrupt). A score of 5 or less indicates that a country has a corruption problem. 15 of the bottom 30 places are held by African countries, including Sudan, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, all with scores less than 2. Kenya has a score of 2.1.
The scale of the problem is huge. In 2005, Preble and Tupy, looking at the difficulties caused to African farmers by agricultural protectionism in the developed world, estimated that some 80% of aid was 'lost' before it reached its intended target. More recently, President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria has estimated that $140 billion has been stolen by African leaders and their associates, this often happening while the countries ran up a huge foreign debt. Mobutu of Zaire, at $7 billion, and Nigerian leader Sani Abacha at $4 billion were the worst - this in a continent where people's average income is about $1.25, or just under £1, a day. What is so embarassing for countries like the US and the UK is that this stolen money is squirrelled away by the thieves in property or tax havens under their aegis. Other seriously corrupt and rotten politicians include Moi of Kenya, dos Santos of Angola, Taylor of Liberia, and Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Here is one person's view of Africa's twelve worst leaders.
To make matters worse, these corrupt political elites flaunt their money in front of their impoverished subjects - look at Robert Mugabe's palace outside Harare.
Some African countries are well run: Botswana, with a score of 5.8 and a position at 36th on the 2008 Corruption Perception Index, is Africa's best example.
The scale of the problem is huge. In 2005, Preble and Tupy, looking at the difficulties caused to African farmers by agricultural protectionism in the developed world, estimated that some 80% of aid was 'lost' before it reached its intended target. More recently, President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria has estimated that $140 billion has been stolen by African leaders and their associates, this often happening while the countries ran up a huge foreign debt. Mobutu of Zaire, at $7 billion, and Nigerian leader Sani Abacha at $4 billion were the worst - this in a continent where people's average income is about $1.25, or just under £1, a day. What is so embarassing for countries like the US and the UK is that this stolen money is squirrelled away by the thieves in property or tax havens under their aegis. Other seriously corrupt and rotten politicians include Moi of Kenya, dos Santos of Angola, Taylor of Liberia, and Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Here is one person's view of Africa's twelve worst leaders.
To make matters worse, these corrupt political elites flaunt their money in front of their impoverished subjects - look at Robert Mugabe's palace outside Harare.
Some African countries are well run: Botswana, with a score of 5.8 and a position at 36th on the 2008 Corruption Perception Index, is Africa's best example.
4
“Romans 13 says leaders are appointed by God. I am an image of God who appointed me to my current position.”
Robert Mugabe
SEX TRAFFICKING OF AFRICAN WOMEN
Increasing numbers of African women are being trafficked to Western Europe to work as prostitutes, according to Birgit Thoma of the organisation Solwodi (Solidarity with Women in Distress, Germany). Of the 700,000 women that are brought in each year, many come from Ghana, Nigeria. Zimbabwe and South Africa. While most are economic migrants, looking for a way of making money or, in the case of Zimbabweans, of sending money back to relatives, many girls from Africa are lured by bogus marriage deals.
Solwodi is urging action of a Europe-wide front to halt this trafficking.
Increasing numbers of African women are being trafficked to Western Europe to work as prostitutes, according to Birgit Thoma of the organisation Solwodi (Solidarity with Women in Distress, Germany). Of the 700,000 women that are brought in each year, many come from Ghana, Nigeria. Zimbabwe and South Africa. While most are economic migrants, looking for a way of making money or, in the case of Zimbabweans, of sending money back to relatives, many girls from Africa are lured by bogus marriage deals.
Solwodi is urging action of a Europe-wide front to halt this trafficking.
BVEKENYA
Bvekenya, pronounced VeKenya, is a Shangaan word which means "the one who swaggers when he walks". Cecil Barnard, one of last, great 'white hunters', obtained his nickname after suffered severe sunburn between his legs.
Born in 1886 on a small farm in South Africa, his father was of Scots descent and his mother mixed Dutch/Irish. In 1910 he packed his bags and, with his trusty .303, followed the Great North Road. Bvekenya became a notorious elephant poacher who hunted on the borders between Mozambique, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia, in an area known as Crook's Corner.
Bvekenya, pronounced VeKenya, is a Shangaan word which means "the one who swaggers when he walks". Cecil Barnard, one of last, great 'white hunters', obtained his nickname after suffered severe sunburn between his legs.
Born in 1886 on a small farm in South Africa, his father was of Scots descent and his mother mixed Dutch/Irish. In 1910 he packed his bags and, with his trusty .303, followed the Great North Road. Bvekenya became a notorious elephant poacher who hunted on the borders between Mozambique, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia, in an area known as Crook's Corner.
Corruption in Africa
COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION
Derek Weaver is an old colonial civil servant washed up on the shores of modern USuzwe.
After the European powers acquired their African empires they set out to govern them as cheaply as possible. Administrators like Derek Weaver were expected to maintain law and order, raise taxes, and provide an infrastructure of roads, railways and veterinary and other services. Education was largely left to missionaries, of whom there were some 16,000 south of the Sahara by 1910.
The number of European officials sent out to Africa was small. Britain deployed only 1,200 to rule 43 million people in its tropical African lands, a ratio of one to about 36,000. The DC (District Commissioner) or DO (District Officer) was the basic unit, having almost absolute power and acting as police chief, civil administrator, judge and tax collector, as well as being responsible for roads and other infrastructure maintenance. Often living in remote and wild places, often inexperienced and lacking support, these men did a remarkable job. An account of a DO's life is here.
Derek Weaver is an old colonial civil servant washed up on the shores of modern USuzwe.
After the European powers acquired their African empires they set out to govern them as cheaply as possible. Administrators like Derek Weaver were expected to maintain law and order, raise taxes, and provide an infrastructure of roads, railways and veterinary and other services. Education was largely left to missionaries, of whom there were some 16,000 south of the Sahara by 1910.
The number of European officials sent out to Africa was small. Britain deployed only 1,200 to rule 43 million people in its tropical African lands, a ratio of one to about 36,000. The DC (District Commissioner) or DO (District Officer) was the basic unit, having almost absolute power and acting as police chief, civil administrator, judge and tax collector, as well as being responsible for roads and other infrastructure maintenance. Often living in remote and wild places, often inexperienced and lacking support, these men did a remarkable job. An account of a DO's life is here.
STEALING from CHARITIES
In late 2008, Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe was accused by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria of misusing funds of about $7.3 million deposited by the charity in Zimbabwe's Reserve Bank.
In late 2008, Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe was accused by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria of misusing funds of about $7.3 million deposited by the charity in Zimbabwe's Reserve Bank.
CHINA in AFRICA
China is steadily building its ties with Africa. In most cases, they are based on China's need for raw materials. China has spent billions of dollars securing oil drilling rights in Nigeria, Sudan and Angola, and has mineral exploration or extraction deals with Chad, Gabon, Mauritania, Kenya, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Ethiopia. The Chinese also have become investors in the booming copper industry in Zambia and Congo, and have been major buyers of timber in Gabon, Cameroon, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea and Liberia.
While the need for raw materials is the normal reasons given for Chinese interest in Africa, the Daily Mail suggested that China may see Africa as somewhere to which its huge population could migrate. Some 750,000 Chinese, it believed, had already settled on the continent.
China is steadily building its ties with Africa. In most cases, they are based on China's need for raw materials. China has spent billions of dollars securing oil drilling rights in Nigeria, Sudan and Angola, and has mineral exploration or extraction deals with Chad, Gabon, Mauritania, Kenya, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Ethiopia. The Chinese also have become investors in the booming copper industry in Zambia and Congo, and have been major buyers of timber in Gabon, Cameroon, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea and Liberia.
While the need for raw materials is the normal reasons given for Chinese interest in Africa, the Daily Mail suggested that China may see Africa as somewhere to which its huge population could migrate. Some 750,000 Chinese, it believed, had already settled on the continent.
Geldof and Band Aid
In 1984 Bob Geldof and Midge Ure released the single 'Do They Know its Christmas' to raise money for famine aid to Ethiopia. Recorded by a 'supegroup' including Paul McCartney, Bono, Sting, Bowie, Boy George and about 40 others, the song raised millions. Other concerts followed, leading up to 'Live 8' in 2005.
More recently, Geldof has been involved with Tony Blair in the Commission for Africa, whose recommendations formed the basis for the Africa package agreed at Gleneagles in 2005. With Gleneagles largely ignored, Geldoff is now pressing for fairer trade agreements with Africa.
In 1984 Bob Geldof and Midge Ure released the single 'Do They Know its Christmas' to raise money for famine aid to Ethiopia. Recorded by a 'supegroup' including Paul McCartney, Bono, Sting, Bowie, Boy George and about 40 others, the song raised millions. Other concerts followed, leading up to 'Live 8' in 2005.
More recently, Geldof has been involved with Tony Blair in the Commission for Africa, whose recommendations formed the basis for the Africa package agreed at Gleneagles in 2005. With Gleneagles largely ignored, Geldoff is now pressing for fairer trade agreements with Africa.
PHOTOS courtesy of - Elephant Arno & Louise; Robert Mugabe: Pan_African News Wire; Bono & Geldof U2005.com (CC).
