The 10 Most Powerful Men In Africa 2014

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The late Christian author, Leonard Ravenhill once wrote ”the opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity,” and some of the business moguls and entrepreneurs, emerging political leaders, rising corporate titans from Africa are seizing the opportunity of turning the continent around. The 2014 list of the “10 Most Powerful Men In Africa” follows the inaugural list of The 10 Youngest Power Men In Africa in 2011. Much like the annual The 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa list, the 2014 list of the “10 Most Powerful Men In Africa” distinguishes and celebrates the accomplishments of Africa’s most outstanding male game changers.
Our list is distinctive in that it identifies African men who are innovative, courageous, daring and often disruptive in their fields. The list highlights African entrepreneurs, corporate executives, social entrepreneurs, political and civil leaders who are changing the continent and the world around them, often times without much fanfare. Africa’s emerging power brokers – meet the 10 powerful African men who are carving a name for themselves and simultaneously changing their communities and the continent.
January Makamba, Tanzania, Deputy Minister of Communication, Science & Technology and Member of Parliament
Makamba is one of Tanzania‘s rising stars in government. He is currently the Deputy Minister of Communication, Science and Technology and is rumored to run for President in 2015. Makamba is a Member of Parliament for Bumbuli constituency in the National Assembly of Tanzania. Before running for the Bumbuli parliamentary seat, Makamba was aide to Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete for 5 years. Named Young Global Leader class of 2012 by the World Economic Forum, Makamba comes from a political family; his father, Yusuf Makamba was Secretary General of the ruling CCM party under Julius Nyerere.

January Makamba (photo courtesy of January Makamba)

Chinedu Echeruo, Nigeria, Tech Entrepreneur & Founder of Hopstop.com and Tripology.com

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Echeruo is a Tech entrepreneur and founder of HopStop.com which he reportedly sold to Apple in the “billion” dollar range. HopStop.com is a mobile and online application that provides mass transit directions door-to-door mass transit, taxi, walking, biking and hourly car rental directions in major metropolitan markets throughout the U.S., Canada, U.K, France, Australia, New Zealand and Russia. In 2001, HopStop was named one of the 100 fastest growing companies in the US by Inc. magazine. Chinedu also founded Tripology.com, an interactive travel referral service focused on connecting travelers with travel specialists which was later acquired by USA Today Travel Media Group. Echeruo obtained an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.S from Syracuse University.
Mohammed Dewji, Tanzania, Group Chief Executive Officer of Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited
Dewji is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (MeTL) and at 39 is the youngest member of the Forbes’ Africa’s 50 Richest list with an estimated networth of USD $500 million. The MeTL Group began as a family business, a small trading company which Mohammed  transformed into one of the largest industrial conglomerates in East Africa, with interests ranging from real estate, agriculture, finance, distribution and manufacturing. The company employs more than 24,000 people across Tanzania and according to Dewji, generates annual revenues of USD$1.3 billion. Dewji has been a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly of Tanzania since 2005. Dewji graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in International Business and Finance with a minor in Theology.

Mohammed Dewji (photo courtesy of Mohammed Dewji)

Kola Karim, Nigeria, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Shoreline Energy International
Karim is the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Shoreline Energy International, a Nigerian conglomerate with interests that span oil & gas, power generation, engineering, commodities trading, infrastructure and construction across sub-Saharan Africa. In 2012, Shoreline Energy partnered with U.K-based Heritage Oil in acquiring a stake in OML 30, an oilfield asset in Nigeria for a reported $850 million. An avid polo player, Karim was named Young Global Leader class of 2008 by the World Economic Forum.
Ashish Thakkar, Uganda, Founder and Managing Director of Mara Group, Mara Foundation and Mara Online
Thakkar is the Founder and Managing Director of Mara Group, a diversified conglomerate with approximately USD $100 million in revenues, according to Thakkar. The group operates in operates in 19 of the 46 sub-Saharan African nations, as well as in India and the United Arab Emirates. Headquartered in Dubai, Mara Group participates in sectors ranging from financial services, information and communications technology, renewable energy, real estate and tourism. Thakkar also launched Mara Online, a portfolio of online and mobile platforms that allow users to communicate, interact and collaborate with each other. The serial entrepreneur also serves on the advisory panels to the Presidents of Tanzania and Uganda and runs Mara Foundation, a social enterprise that mentors young African entrepreneurs. He signed up for Virgin Galactic‘s first mission to space.
Mamadou Toure, Cameroon, Founder and Executive Director of Africa 2.0
Toure is the founder and Executive Director of Africa 2.0, an advocacy group of young and emerging leaders from across the continent and the diaspora who have a collective vision for Africa.  The vision of the pan-African organization is finding sustainable solutions to the most pressing economic and social issues Africans face today. As the Managing Director with GE Africa, Toure leads a regional Capital Markets team across Sub-Saharan Africa and is also responsible for developing market and competitors’ analysis across the region. Toure received a distinction as “New Leader for Tomorrow” by the Crans Montana Forum in 2011.
Amadou Mahtar Ba, Senegal, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the African Media Initiative

Mahtar Ba is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the African Media Initiative (AMI), a pan-African organization aimed at strengthening the media sector in Africa. Ba is also a co-founder and Chairman of AllAfrica Global Media, Inc – owner and operator of AllAfrica.com, one of the largest distributor of African news and information worldwide. For three years in a row, Mahtar Ba has been selected as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans by the New African Magazine, in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively. He was also listed in the top 500 Africans contributing to the rise of the continent by the Africa24 magazine published in March, 2011.

Simdul Shagaya, Nigeria – Tech Entrepreneur and Founder of Konga.com and DealDey.com 
Shagaya is the founder and CEO of Konga.com, Nigeria’s largest online shopping portal and DealDey spinoff site. Konga.com, Africa’s answer to Amazon.com, is an e-commerce platform that sells goods and services directly to consumers. Shagaya is also the founder & Executive Chairman of DealDey Limited, which offers services and products at discounted prices. In 2013 Shagaya won the All Africa Business Leaders Awards’ Entrepreneur of the Year award. HumanIPO selected Konga.com as one of the African technology startups of 2013. Shagaya is a graduate of George Washington University, Dartmouth College and holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Simdul Shagaya (photo courtesy of Simdul Shagaya)

Ben Magara, Zimbabwe,  Chief Executive Officer and Director of Lonmin
Recently appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and as a Director of Lonmin, the world’s third-largest platinum mining company, Magara is tasked with improving industrial relations and guiding the platinum miner’s turnaround strategy after strikes last year triggered violence which killed 46 people including 34 strikers shot dead by police in a single day at its Marikana mine. With a mining career that spans 26 years, Magara was previously the Chief Executive Officer of Anglo Coal South Africa responsible for Anglo American total coal business in South Africa and revenues of around USD $2 billion. Magara, who speaks seven languages, has a degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Zimbabwe.

Ben Magara, Chief Executive Officer, Lonmin

Komla Dumor, Ghana, Lead Presenter on “Focus On Africa” and BBC World News’ European morning segment
In memoriam. The highly-respected presenter of “Focus on Africa”, BBC’s flagship and first-ever dedicated daily TV news show on BBC World News  died of cardiac arrest on January 18 earlier this year at his home in London. Dumor, who was named one of “100 Most Influential Africans” in 2013 by New African magazine, had “established himself as one of the emerging African faces of global broadcasting.”As a lead presenter for BBC World, Dumor had considerable influence on how the continent is covered.
He leaves behind a powerful and enduring legacy; how the continent is reported. “There’s so much more to tell about Africa than the usual stories about war, famine and disease.”
Follow me on Twitter @FaraiToday

DKT. ISHENGOMA APIGA MARUFUKU KUCHOMA MISITU

Serikali imepiga marufuku tabia ya wananchi kukata na kuchoma moto misitu mkoani Iringa ili kulinda misitu na kukabiliana na mabadiliko ya tabia nchi. 

Marufuku hiyo imetolewa na Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Iringa, Dkt. Christine Ishengoma katika hotuba yake ya uzinduzi wa siku ya upandaji miti katika kijiji cha Mtili, wilaya ya Mufindi.

Dkt. Christine amesema kuwa juhudi za upandaji miti katika wilaya ya Mufindi ili ziwe endelevu ni lazima kukomesha tabia ya kukata na kuchoma miti. “Ndugu wananchi, ili juhudi hizi ziweze kuwa endelevu, natoa wito kwenu kuwa kuanzia sasa iwe ni mwiko, na aibu kuharibu miti na misitu, kwa kuichoma moto ovyo, kwa kuikata au kuifyeka ovyo, kuiharibu kwa kuishi ndani ya misitu. Kwa kufanya hivyo utakuwa umetenda kosa la jinai na unastahili kupewa adhabu kali kwa mujibu wa sheria za misitu” aliongea kwa ukali Mkuu wa Mkoa. Amesema kuwa iwe tabia na utamaduni wa wananchi wa wilaya ya Mufindi na mkoa wa Iringa kwa ujumla kutunza miti iliyopandwa ili kuepuka janga la kuongezeka kwa mabadiliko ya tabia nchi. Aidha, amewataka wananchi wote kuwa walinzi kwa kuwakamata na kuwaripoti wale wote watakao kiuka taratibu zilizopo za utunzaji wa misitu kwa mujibu wa sheria.

Katika risala ya wilaya ya Mufindi kuhusu siku ya upandaji miti kiwilaya iliyowasilishwa na Afisa Ardhi na Maliasili wilaya ya Mufindi, Jeswald Ubisimbali amesema kuwa Halmashauri ya wilaya ya Mufindi imekuwa ikiwashirkisha wananchi wake katika ulinzi na matumizi endelevu ya rasilimali zilizopo kwa lengo la kutekeleza mkakati wa taifa wa kupunguza umasikini miongoni mwa jamii (MKUKUTA). Aidha, ameeleza kuwa lengo kuu la Halmashauri ni kupanda miti zaidi, kuhifadhi mazngira na maliasili zote zilizopo na kuziendeleza kwa manufaa ya vizazi vya sasa na vizazi vijavyo.

Akiongelea ukuzaji wa pato la Halmashauri, Ubisimbali amesema kuwa Halmashauri imejitita zaidi katika ununuzi wa Ardhi kwa madhumuni ya kupanda miti zaidi ili kukuza pato la Halmashauri na kuhifadhi mazingira kwa ujumla. Katika kuonesha umakini wa suala hilo, amesema kuwa Halmashauri imenunua ekari 1,607 katika kijiji cha Ukani na kufiksha jumla ya ekari 2,771 zinazomilikiwa na Halmashauri ya wilaya ya Mufindi kwa lengo la kupanda miti.

Aidha, katika siku ya uzinduzi wa kampeni ya upandaji miti katika wilaya ya Mufindi, zaid ya miti 1,300 ilipangwa chini ya uongozi wa Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Iringa.

Katika msimu wa mwaka 2012/2013 ilipandwa miti 33,445,960 ya aina mbalimbali sawa na hekta 20,903 katika wilaya ya Mufindi.

Ikumbukwe kuwa wilaya ya Mufindi ina eneo la Misitu la Hekta 203,791 ikiwa ni misitu ya hifadhi Hekta 57,031, misitu ya Miombo Hekta 80,012 na Hekta 66,748 misitu ya kupandwa.

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SERIKALI KUWASAIDIA WACHIMBAJI HARAMU KUPATA AJIRA

Magdalena Nkulu, Shinyanga

Serikali mkoani Shinyanga imelaani na kukemea tabia ya baadhi ya wananchi kuvamia maeneo ya migodi kwa lengo la kuiba mchanga wa madini kwa kuwa ni kinyume cha sheria na hatari kwa maisha ya wananchi hao.

 

Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Shinyanga Mhe. Ally N. Rufunga akishuhudia shimo hilo alipotembelea kuona shughuli za wachimbaji haramu katika mgodi wa Mwadui wilaya ya Kishapu jana, kushoto kwake ni Afisa Tarafa ya Mondo Bi.Maria Makoye na aliyesimama mbele ni Mkuu wa wilaya ya Kishapu Wilson Nkhambaku.

Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Shinyanga Mhe. Ally Nasoro Rufunga ametoa tamko hilo alipotembelea Mgodi wa Almasi Mwadui katika wilaya ya Kishapu jana na kujionea hali ya uchimbaji haramu unavyofanyika katika mgodi huo na pia kuzungumza na wachimbaji hao wanaojulikana kwa jina la Wabeshi, ambapo amewaahidi serikali itawasaidia kutafuta shughuli mbadala na kuwataka waachane na shughuli hiyo mara moja.

Mhe. Rufunga amewaambia wabeshi hao kuwa, serikali itahahakisha wanapata ajira halali kupitia viwanda vilivyopo na vinavyoendelea kujengwa mkoani hapa, kuwakopesha mitaji kwa mfuko wa maendeleo ya vijana wa asilimia 5, pamoja na kufanya taratibu za kuwapatia maeneo madogo ili wachimbe kihalali iwapo wataacha na biashara hiyo.

Amewaambia kuwa, uchimbaji huo ni kuwaibia wawekezaji na kuwakwamisha kulipa mapato kwa serikali, kwani nchi inapata kodi kutoka kwa wawekezaji waliopata leseni halali ya uchimbaji, kodi ambayo inawanufaisha wananchi wenyewe katika shughuli za maendeleo.

Amewaasa kuacha kutumiwa na watu wenye uwezo kuhatarisha maisha yao kwa kigezo cha ugumu wa maisha na kusema serikali ya mkoa inawabaini watu hao na itawashughulikia muda mfupi. 

Kwa upande wao wachimbaji hao wamekiri mbele ya Mkuu wa Mkoa kuwa, ni kweli wanafahamu kazi hiyo si halali na wamemuahidi kuachana nayo kama watasaidiwa shughuli mbadala kwani wanafanya hivyo kujitafutia riziki kutoka na hali ngumu ya maisha na masharti ya mikopo kuwa ni magumu.

Kufuatia hali hiyo, Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Shinyanga amewaagiza wenyeviti wa vijiji vinavyozunguka mgodi wa Mwadui kwanza kutoa elimu kwa wananchi hasa vijana na kuwakataza kufanya uchimbaji haramu, kwani tabia hiyo imeshaota mizizi na kuonekana ni halali katika jamii hiyo, pamoja na kuwasidia vijana hao katika kuibua miradi kutokana na fedha zinazotolewa na mgodiwa Mwadui kila Mwezi. Vilevile, kuwa na uhusiano mzuri na mwekezaji kwa manufaa ya vijiji hivyo.

Aidha, amemtaka Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Kishapu Elisha Nkhamba kusimamia uundwaji wa vikundi vya vijana ili wawezeshwe kufanya shughuli za kuwaiingiziakipato.

Mhe. Rufunga pia ameutaka uongozi wa Mgodi kuimarisha ulinzi katika eneo lao kwa kushirikia na Kamanda wa Polisi wa Mkoa. Amewapongeza na kuwataka kuendelea kuimarisha uhusiano kati ya mgodi na jamii ya Mwadui kwa kuwasaidia katika shughuli mbalimbali za maendeleo na za kuwainua kiuchumi wananchi wanaozunguka mgodi huo.

Nae Meneja Mkuu wa Mgodi wa Mwadui Arlen Loehmer ameishukuru serikali kwa ushirikiano na kusaidiana kujua na kutatua changamoto mbalimbali, na anaamini katika mahusiano haya mazuri kunaimarisha juhudi za uwekezaji.

Magdalena Nkulu,

Afisa Habari

Ofisi ya Mkuu wa Mkoa

Shinyanga

0766-289802

 Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Shinyanga Ally N. Rufunga akizungumza   na wenyeviti wa vijiji vinavyozunguka mgodi wa Mwadui jana alipotembelea mgodini hapo kuona uchimbaji haramu unaofanywa na wananchi wa vijiji hivyo.kushoto kwake ni Meneja mgodi Bw. Arlen Loehmer na kulia ni Mkuu wa wilaya ya Kishapu Wilson Nkhambaku