1. art and entertainment
2. books and literature

Vol 22. No. 6
Saturday, 21th of March, 2015
Pages 8, Price2.00 NFA
Development programs undertaken by
Eritrean youths attest to their commitment
to honor trust bestowed on them: Members
of Bileqat Women’s Cooperative
Eritrea’s achievements in gender equality
commended at meeting held in New York City
At a meeting jointly organized
by the Eritrean Permanent Mission to the UN and the UN Office
in Asmara, the achievements registered in gender equality were commended.
In a speech he delivered at the
meeting, Mr. Girma Asmerom,
Eritrea’s Permanent Ambassador
to the UN, underscored that the
nation continues to register major achievements in the nationbuilding process on the basis of
active popular participation. Pres-
ent at the meeting were a delegation headed by the Chairperson
of the National Union of Eritrean
Women, Ms, Tekha Tesfamichael,
representatives of national and international organizations, experts,
among others.
The NUEW Chairpeson underlined the achievements scored to
ensure gender equality, as well as
reinforcing all-round national development.
In the same vein, the UN Representative in Eritrea, Ms. Christine
Dam in Sela’e Da’ero constructed at an expenditure
of over 4 million Nakfa
A dam has been constructed in
Sela’e Da’ero Gala-Nefhi subzone, at a total expenditure of 4.5
million Nakfa with a view to meeting demand for both potable water
supply and irrigation farming.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mr. Yemane Abai, Director
General of Land and Agriculture
in the Central region, pointed out
that the Government is working on
priority basis to make available social service facilities in remote areas. He called on the inhabitants to
practice prudent utilization of the
facility.
Likewise, Mr. Habte Gebremariam, Administrator of the sub-zone,
stated that thanks to the implemented development programs
over 90% of the local inhabitants
have become beneficiaries of potable water supply.
Eng. Abraham Daniel, head of
Agricultural Construction branch
in the region, indicated that the dam
would facilitate irrigation farming
on 10 hectares, in addition to meeting water supply for humans and
livestock.
Members of Bileqat Women’s
Cooperative said that development
programs undertaken by Eritrean
youths attest to their commitment to
honor the trust bestowed on them.
They made the remarks during a get
together with EDF members taking
part in development activities in
Adi-Halo in connection with International Women’s Day observance.
Present on the occasion were President Isaias Afwerki, Ministers and
Army Commanders.
In remarks she made on the occasion, Capt. Adhanet Ogbayonas,
Chairperson of the cooperative,
stated that the members would join
hands with all those taking active
participation in the nation-building
process. The event also witnessed
the staging of cultural performances.
Meanwhile, workers of the
NUEW branch in the Central region
entertained psychiatry patients from
the Asmara Saint Mary Hospital.
Umotoni, explained that the National Union of Eritrean Women is
a praiseworthy entity playing major role towards ensuring gender
equality and building a prosperous
nation.
Also at the meeting, other UN
organizations based in Eritrea commended the initiatives taken by the
Government as regards gender
equality and active popular participation in all facets of national life.
Pictorial exhibition highlighting Eritrea’s culture,
natural resources and development pace opens here
A pictorial exhibition involving 85 pictures taken during the period
1870 to 1940 highlighting Eritrea’s
culture, natural resources and development pace, opened on the 18th
of March 2015, at Embasoira Hotel
here in the capital.
In opening remarks jointly organized by the Cultural Affairs of the
PFDJ and Alliance Françoise, Ms.
Cecil Antonietti, Director of Alli-
ance Français, explained that the
19th and 20th Century pictures were
selected from three albums portraying Eritrea’s image during the aforementioned period. It offers a profusion of ethnic and sociological detail
in lively images compiled firsthand
by an Italian Royal Navy Officer.
Mr. Jos?-Marie Bel, French ethnologist, historian, architect and artist who first came to Eritrea in 1975
selected the pictures. He pointed
out that the exhibition highlights
Eritrean culture, tradition and ethnic
diversity, and emphasized the need
for bequeathing them to future generations.
The exhibition would remain
open for two days and is scheduled
to be staged in Agordat, Barentu,
Dekemhare, Keren, Massawa and
Mendefera next month.
2
Eritrea Profile, Saturday 21th of March, 2015
Has Come A Long Way, But
Still Have A Long Way To Go
Solomon Mengsteab
The annual national book fair,
held around this time of the year,
the season where we say good
bye to the winter’s cold and welcome the warm weather of fall
that marks the proximity of the
infamous scorching sun of TsomeArba’a (the 40 days lent), is probably, for all justifiably legitimate
reasons, among the most important national traditions that have
been established and flourished after independence. The fair has now
become a kind of annual national
pilgrim to the lovers of books and
reading. There, they would meet,
buy and sell books, discuss books
and other related issues and update
themselves with the latest available service surrounding reading
and books.
The fair that has been inaugurated in 2002 has come a long way
since. To begin with, at its very beginning, the fair started in a small
scale, coordinated by a few concerned volunteer citizens. Today,
the manner with which the fair
is coordinated and take place has
been institutionalised and is run by
the Eritrean Publishers Association
in coordination with other governmental and non-governmental
foundations. Moreover, at the early days of its commencement the
fair used to be funded, once more,
by the donation of concerned
philanthropic citizens. At present,
however, the fair is funded by the
government with proper annual
budget for its operations.
In a purely financial sense, the
business around the printing the
distribution of books is an industry
on its own; an industry that coalesces both the production of goods
Published Every
Saturday & Wednesday
Managing Director
Azzazi Zeremariam
Acting Editor
Amanuel Mesfun
[email protected]
P.O.Box: 247
Tel: 11-41-14
Fax: 12-77-49
E-mail:
profile@ zena.gov.er
Advertisement: 12-50-13
Layout
azieb habtemariam
(books) and provision of services,
such as libraries, cataloguing and
dissemination of books. It produces revenues and creates job opportunities to a number of people
depending of the size of the sector.
In fact, for centuries, in many of
the developed counties, the printing business has been a major economic activity and is still going
strong, despite the permeation of
technologies that substitute books.
However, this industry doesn’t
have the sturdiest foundation in
the developing counties such as
Eritrea. Taking into consideration
the final outcome of the proliferation of this industry, governments
(especially in developing counties)
in collaborations with concerned
parties, make efforts to promote
it as much as their facility allows
it. The annual national book fair
therefore, is one of the multiple efforts assumed to promote this economic activity here in Eritrea.
Indeed, as mentioned above like
in many other developing countries in the world in general and in
Africa in particular, the business
of printing and disseminating of
books is not among the strongest
economic activities. In Eritrea
also the case is not any different;
the business is just on its formative years. One of the most important goals of the national book
fair therefore is, according to Mr.
Issac Yossief, the coordinator of
the national book fair, to cultivate
and promote the culture of reading
among the population of the nation,
especially among the youth of the
country. And by doing so, once the
culture is becomes well developed
and people are able to finance their
own reading, make the industry be
able to sustain itself and become
a productive not subsidised part of
the nation’s economy.
In addition to the operational
expenses that are required to hold
the fair, there is one major financial input injected by the government to strengthen the fair. When
it’s all said and done, and the issue
is brought down to the basics, the
fair is a place to buy and sell books.
And if people visiting the fair are
going purchase books there, there
ought to be some sort of allure in
terms of price. That is precisely
the reason behind the sizeable
discount on the price of the books
sold at the fair. The discount percentage has been altered on different years and this year it is 30%.
Out of this thirty percent discount
the twenty percent is remunerated
or subsidised by the government
and the rest ten percent is paid by
the sellers.
As it has been mentioned earlier
the final long-term goal of these
annually held book fairs is to develop the industry of printing and
distribution of books as a fully
fledged economic activity. However, at the moment, the main focus
of the fairs is to cultivate and promote the culture of reading nationwide. For this purpose, although
the predominant activities at the
fair are selling books and holding
exhibitions of services provisions
related to books and printing, there
are also three other major activities at the fair.
There are several workshops
held at this book fair. In these
workshops there are discussions,
around the issue of reading, books,
printing, cataloguing and disseminating of books etc., held among
concerned participants. Moreover,
research papers prepared on similar issues are also presented and
discussed and debated upon. Second, at the fair, there are competitions among students of different
levels, ranging from elementary
to high schools. The competitions
held at the book fair include debating, presentation, researching etc.
The third activity that took place
at the book fair is sharing experiences among concerned parties. At
these experience sharing sessions,
several accomplished individuals
working around the production of
books come and share their experiences with participants. For the
most, part however, the individuals that are invited to share their
experience are writers. In these
sessions of sharing experiences,
these individuals would recount
their experiences, professionally
in particular and in life in general,
with the young people and other
participants of the fair.
The significance of the activities at the book fair, the book sale,
the exhibitions, the workshops,
the competitions and the sharing of experiences, is not to be
taken lightly. Although the activities held at the fair seems to have
been different the goals they aim
to achieve in the end is the same,
promoting reading. The sale promotes reading by providing books
to be purchased by significantly
low price than found on the market. The exhibitions promote the
same cause by introducing the participants of the fair with different
services that, of course, revolve
around printing and disseminating books. The workshops, competitions and sharing experiences
cultivate and promote the culture
of reading by raising awareness,
of participants particular and the
population in general, on the rewards of reading.
The national book fair, as mentioned earlier has started in 2002
in Asmara funded and organized
by concerned citizens and the
progress it has made concerning
organization and finance has been
already mentioned above. However, the progress of the annual book
fair hasn’t been limited to getting
institutionalized and securing budget. The fair has accomplished
significantly relevant success in
terms of diversifying its activities
(also discussed above). Moreover,
the fair which used to be held only
in Asmara at first, is now held in
all the six administrative zones.
The book fair started in samara
the capital of Eritrea but also the
capital of the Central Zone, and so
the other five administrative zones
also came in its line and entertain their zone’s book fairs in the
capitals of their respective administrative zones. In the past, it had
been attempted to hold the book
fairs held in the in other major cities rather than the capitals of the
administrative zones, however after observing the limitation of the
number people that had come to
participate, it has been decided, at
least for the time being, to keep on
hosting the fairs in those capitals.
It has already been said that
the national book fair has grown
in size, became more efficient in
its organization, more secured in
terms of budget, and more diversified in terms of activity as well
as location. However, the most
important question here is what it
had accomplished over the years
that have already been counted
to be more than a decade. This is
to mean that, taking the goal that
has been set to be achieved, could
the book fairs be considered as a
successful enterprise? Have the
book fairs been successfully playing their part in the promotion of
the culture of reading? The effect
the book fairs have had created in
the promotion of reading or their
relevance in developing the writing, printing and dissemination of
books hasn’t been researched upon
and, therefore , there is no systematically induced upon answer for
these questions, according to Mr.
Issak. However, the number of
participants, the number of services exhibiting and book selling
shops at the fair and the amount
of money spent to subsidise the
discount on the books has been increasing year after year. And from
this premise it can be concluded
that the book fair is growing into
the population and it wouldn’t
be outlandish to assume that this
would have considerable effect in
promoting reading.
It is obvious that there is a long
way ahead to make reading an
integral part of our culture. And
it also definite that the book fair
alone can never achieve this colossal gaol on its own. However,
the book fair has come a long way
and as Ms. Kidanet Debretion, a
member of Hdri Pubishers who is
involved in the coordination of the
fair, put it “will keep on marching strong and steady” to play its
part in accomplishing this national
mission. Have a nice week at the
fair.
3
Eritrea Profile, Saturday 21th of March, 2015
Technology
Technology has made communication easy and hence has brought us together. However people are becoming very dependent
detaching them from the human world.
Common Cozy Experience
Daniel Semere
Technology has made the world an
exciting place to live in. The oft-repeated
statement that the world has become a
village is first and foremost the result of
technology. As in everything technology
also has both good and bad effect in human
life of the planet general. It all depends on
what we do and how we do with it.
It is true that with technology come many
offshoots of negative things. From global
warming to nuclear war, from invasion
of privacy to erosion of culture, all these
have been enhanced by the technological
advancement. But the good that has been
contributed by technology is far greater
than the bad and potentially dangerous
ones. One of the foremost and visible
contributions of technology has to do with
communication and the way we relate with
others.
In today’s world distance has lost its
meaning. We don’t understand distance the
same way as our grandparents understood
it. Rightly so distance is not something
we see as a problem anymore, thanks to
technology. We are all connected as if we
are next to each other. Our perception of
the human world has transformed. We
are now as informed about the people in
thousands of miles away from us as we are
informed about our neighboring countries.
We felt the pain of the victims of Chernobyl
nuclear disaster, we sympathized with
the suffering of our Syrian brothers, we
rejoiced when apartheid fell, and we shared
the excitement of the world cup. In this
sense we shared the experience of people
in all part of the continent. Technology has
enable us, may be for the first time ever,
to have one collective human experience.
It has therefore has brought us closer than
anything in the history of mankind.
When our grandparents or even parent
waited for month for a piece of a letter
from their loved ones, we can hear their
voice and even see them with a touch of
our fingers almost instantly. When they
had to wait months to meet their member
of their family living in the country, we
can meet people from other continent in
a day or two. All these are possible for us
because we were lucky to live in this era of
technological advancement.
Thanks to technology we can have
instantaneous business transaction in
millions and billions. The market has been
open to the many due to fast transportation
and communication. In many cases we don’t
even have to travel to make transaction. We
can also search for a better deal by checking
as many market prices as possible. We
are also able to get services that were
unreachable before. Thanks to technology
we don’t have to produce something to get
it right in our door steps.
So I say technology has brought as closer
and it is something to be cherished and
enjoyed. Of course to purge technology of
the negative effect we just have to know
what we do and how we do with it. What
do you say?
Surrounded By All Kinds Of
Electronic Jungle And Lost In The Middle
Solomon Mengsteab
The progress that mankind have made,
in different aspects of life especially science and even more particularly technology, in the late 20th and early 21st centuries,
has been astounding. This sophistication in
technology has had indispensible effects on
several aspects of life. Without a doubt, it
has rearranged the dynamics of economics,
politics, culture and social life. Communication is one of the many economic sectors
that have been propitious beneficiaries of
imperative improvements that resulted from
the revolutionary transformation of technology. The comparison is not that hard. I
mean how difficult would it be to compare
postal wagons of the early 20 century and
the Smartphones of modern world? indeed
technology have made communication so
easy that today one can communicate with
a family, friend or business associate in Beijing, Alaska Durban etc. with a mere dials
of a few numbers on the cell phone.
However, whether these modern inventions and innovations of the modern technological era have helped in bringing people
closer or not is a whole different question.
Well, sure people are able to communicate
more easily regardless of distance, provided
they have access to the modern satellite connected communication gadgets. Sure people
today are able to relate messages from one
corner of the world to another in a matter
of seconds. But, does this ability to communicate faster and easier giving people the
sense of closeness in its real sense?
Indeed, people separated in great distance
can have the sense of closeness as they get
one another’s news more often and more
quickly or hear each other’s voices from
thousands of kilometres away. However,
the more dependant people get on these
modern technological gadgets the more, it
seems, they grow apart. Today people have
tens even hundreds of friends on facebook
and twitter but not even one real friend in
real life.
The more they depend in technology and
the more time they spend with it, the farther
people seem to get from social life. Today,
a lot of people spend hours just browsing
through the internet, they spend even more
time sitting around in front of a TV set, yet
a lot more time is spent while playing video
games etc. Through it all, the communication of such people with their fellows, families, friends, etc. gets lesser and lesser. All
the technological equipments that are sup-
posed to let them communicate more and
thus get closer to people, drive them further
apart.
Even when they communicate, such
people make a habit of using these technological equipments, as a principal means.
Whether they intend it or not they tend to
avoid personal face to face communication
with people and engross and surround themselves with all kinds of electronic jungle and
get lost in the middle it.
This kind of the highest magnitude of engrossment and dependence on technological
gadgets is mostly a case in the western and
a few eastern developed countries. The third
world is not yet absorbed under the influence of the epidemic, at least not entirely.
However, the disease is contagious and with
the increasingly growing ease of access to
technology gadgets the proximity is surely
ominous. What do you say?
Dear readers ‘On the Table’ always welcomes your outlooks on any of the issues raised on this column. Please mail us your comments opinions and
views; we will entertain them.
On the Table: http://www.profile.gov.er Daniel Semre - [email protected] Solomon Mengsteab [email protected]
ADS
Eritrea Profile, Saturday 21th of March, 2015
Vacancy Announcement
Bisha Mining Share Company is inviting applicants for the following positions for its
Bisha Site Project.
1.
Heavy Mobile Equipment (HME) Boiler Maker (08)
Duties / Functions

Follow all safe work practices.

Obtain parts and materials.

Lays out, positions, and secures parts and assemblies according to specifications, using
straightedge, combination square, calipers, and ruler.

Tack-welds or welds components and assemblies, using electric, gas, arc, or other welding
equipment.

Access area to be welded by climbing ladder if needed.

Operate manual and automated welding units and equipment by depositing

metal from electrode to work piece and joins edges of work piece

Use disc grinder to smooth out, weld, or grind parts prior to welding

Maintain length of arc and speed of movement to form specified depth of fusion and bead.

Weld in flat and vertical planes (all position welding).

Examine weld for bead size and other specifications.

Grind or clean weld joint of work piece.

Fabricate new or replacement parts for equipment, ladders, walkways, covers, etc.

Assemble component parts using hand and small power tools.

Perform any verbal instructions given by supervisors as long as it does not contradict any
safety standards.
Profile: Qualifications and Experience
Formal Education, Certifications
or Equivalents
Working Experience – Nature &
Length
Leadership Experience – Nature &
length of time
Other skills and abilities
2.
neering and Consulting Company
2 to 4 years in trade
2. Post Title:
Senior Accountant
•
None needed but would be an
advantage
Required No.
•
National driver’s license GR.2 or 5
Relevant level of competency as an Auto
Electrician
Certification of competency
Minimum of 5 years as an Auto Electrician
Working Experience – Nature &
Length
5 Years’ experience as an Auto Electrician
Leadership Experience – Nature
& length of time
None required but would be an advantage.
Fluent English language skills, both written and
verbal
Working knowledge and valid Driver license.
GR-02 national driver’s license.
General Information and other requirements:
Place of Work: Bisha.
General Development Engi-
•

Carry out auto electrical repairs by making use of Electronic Technician (Cat ET) and diagnose problems.

Provides auto electrical maintenance information by answering questions and requests for
team members and supervisors

Prepares auto electrical maintenance reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends

Maintains technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing technical
publications; establishing personal networks.

Maintains continuity among work teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs.

Perform any verbal instructions given by supervisors as long as it does not contradict any
safety standards.
Other skills and abilities
Note to Eritrean applicants:
Please send a copy of your application to
Aliens Employment Permit Affairs
P. O. Box 7940 Asmara, Eritrea
Grade 12
Technical trade certificate
Duties / Functions

Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and
regulations.

Ensures operation of machinery and mechanical equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements on production machines, auto electrical systems, following diagrams, sketches,
operations manuals, manufacturer’s instructions, and engineering specifications; troubleshooting malfunctions.

Knowledge of KPI’s on all equipment

Understands and is familiar with auto electrical systems.

Controls downtime by informing production workers of routine preventive maintenance
techniques; monitoring compliance.

Conserves maintenance resources by using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish
best job results.
Formal Education, Certifications
or Equivalents
Type of contract:
Indefinite period
Salary: As per Company salary scale.
Additional requirement for Nationals:
Having fulfilled his/her National Service obligation and provide evidence of release paper from
the Ministry of Defense.
Present clearance paper from current/last employer.
Testimonial documents to be attached (CV, work experience credentials, a copy of your National
Identity Card etc.).
Only shortlisted applicants would be considered as potential candidates for an interview.
 Application documents will not be returned to sender.
 All applications should be sent through the post office.
Deadline for application: 10 days from the day of publication in the Newspaper.
Address: Please mail your applications to;
Bisha Mining Share Company,
P. O. Box 4276 Asmara, Eritrea
•
•
Heavy Mobile Equipment (HME) Auto Electrician (05)
Profile: Qualifications and Experience
4
Vacancy Announcement
1 (one)
Requirments: B.A. Degree in Accounting with minimum 3
years experience in the specific position. Excellent computer skills and good command of
English and Tigrigna languages is compulsory.
2. Post Title:
Personnel Officer
Required No.
1 (one)
Requirments: B.A. Degree in Business Managment with
minimum 3 years experience or Diploma in Business Managment with minimum 5 years
experience in the specific position. Eexcellent computer skills and good command of English and Tigrigna languages is compulsory.
Salary:
As per company scale.
Additional
Requirments: Applicants must supply completion or exemption papers of National
Service and letter of release from the current or previous work position.
Applicants must submit non-returnable CV & credentials to the following adress within 10
days from the day of announcment.
GEDECC
P.O.Box 5355
Asmara, Eritrea
Tel. 122440
Fax. 122275
Vacancy Announcement
ECEM a Mining Exploration Sh.Co., Invites qualified applicants for the following posts:
Post: 1. Laboratory Technician- Degree in chemistry or other related courses with at
least 10 years of
experience as a laboratory technician. Required- 1
2. Geologist- Masters in Geology with at least 8 years experience in exploration
and mining
areas. Required- 1
3. Geophysicist- Bachelor degree in geophysics with 6 years experience in that field Required- 1
Interested applicants should send their applications along with their supporting documents
within 7 days from the date of this announcement: to ECEM address which is Gejeret, Ala
Street, House No. 73 Asmara, Eritrea tel no. 110033. Only short listed applicants would be
considered for interview.
Note: To Eritrean applicants
Please send a copy of your application to the Ministry of Labour& Human Welfare
P.O.Box 5252
Asmara, Eritrea
ALL APPLICANTS SHOULD BE NATIONAL SERVICE COMPLETED OR
EXEMPTED.
Eritrea Profile, Saturday 21th of March, 2015
ADS
Vacancy Announcement
Bisha Mining Share Company is inviting applicants for the following positions
for its Bisha Site Project.
1.
Dewatering Mechanic (01).
Major Duties and responsibilities:•
Strip, repair or replace worn components, assemble and commission machines.
•
Assess risks involved in executing tasks and carry out work in a safe manner.
•
Perform maintenance to equipment according to the maintenance plan and schedule.
•
Perform repairs upgrades and modifications to existing equipment.
•
Identify and selecting spares required in caring out duties of repair.
•
Completing relevant documentation before and after completion of the work.
•
Do regular inspection and reporting on conditions of equipment and machines.
•
Coordinate with supervisors to gain access to services without causing disruptions.
•
Monitoring all pumping and relates accessories daily to ensure proper functioning.
•
Maintain diesel and electric pumps daily on job sites.
•
Measure and maintain daily records of water level, flow data.
•
Perform on-site repairs on pumps and equipment.
•
Diagnose system failures of mechanic failures on-site
•
Perform preventative maintenance on pumps and equipment on-site
•
Must be able to endure outdoor environment (extreme heat, dust and noise)
•
Maintain valid driver’s license with clean record
•
Assist in welding and repairs to HDPE (plastic) pipes
•
Assist in repairs to bore hole pumps (mechanical), lighting plants (mechanical)
and generators (mechanical)
The position requires the following skills:-
5
Leadership Experience-Nature & length of time
Not required for this position
Other skills and abilities Fluent Tigrigna, basic knowledge of English. Tool recognition and correct
application. The ability to apply the most efficient work procedure to execute the work.
General Information and other requirements:

Place of Work: Bisha.

Type of contract:
Indefinite period

Salary: As per Company salary scale.

Additional requirement for Nationals:

Having fulfilled his/her National Service obligation and provide evidence of release paper
from the Ministry of Defense.

Present clearance paper from current/last employer.

Testimonial documents to be attached (CV, work experience credentials, a copy of your N tional Identity Card etc.).

Only shortlisted applicants would be considered as potential candidates for an interview.

Application documents will not be returned to sender.

All applications should be sent through the post office.

Deadline for application: 10 days from the day of publication in the Newspaper.

Address: Please mail your applications to;
Bisha Mining Share Company,
P. O. Box 4276 Asmara, Eritrea

Note to Eritrean applicants:
Please send a copy of your application to
Aliens Employment permit Affairs,
P. O. Box 7940 Asmara, Eritrea
Extension Of Bid Opening Date - Ifb No.
Gf/R10tb & Rd 9ma –Icb/001/2015
Procurement Of Ict Equipment & Tonners
Upon the request of prospective bidders the originally set bid opening date March 26,2015
Formal Education, Certifications or Equivalents
BMSC L3 artisan Certification
Working Experience – Nature& Length
BMSC employee: min of 3 years on training pro- which was advertised on Eritrean Profile Wednesday 25th of February & Haddas Eritrea on 28 of
February,2015, for the above IFB to read BID OPENNING DATE April 28,2015 at 15:00 hours
gram covering L1,L2 and L3
Leadership Experience-Nature & length of time
Not required for this position, but pref- instead of March 26,2015 at 15:00 hours.
Please note that all information in the bidding document remain as it is.
erence to demonstrated leadership experience
Other skills and abilities English language skills, both written and verbal.
Project Management unit of Ministry of Health.
Working Knowledge and a valid driver license.
2.
Boiler maker (02)
Major Duties and responsibilities:•
Follow all safe work practices
•
Obtain parts and materials
•
Lays out, positions, and secures parts and assemblies according to specifications, using
straightedge, combination square and calipers and ruler.
•
Tack¬ welds or welds components and assemblies, using electric, gas, arc or other welding
equipment.
•
Access area to be welded by climbing ladder if needed
•
Operate manual and automated welding unites and equipment by deposting metal from
electrode to work piece and joins edges of work piece.
•
Use disc grinder to smooth out, weld or grind parts prior to welding.
•
Maintain length of arc and speed of movement to form specified depth of fusion and
bead.
•
Weld in flat and vertical planes( all position welding)
•
Examine weld for bead size and other specifications
•
Grind or clean weld joint of work piece
•
Fabricate new or replacement parts for equipment ladders, walkways, covers, etc.
•
Assemble component parts using hand and small power tool.
•
Perform any verbal instructions given by supervisors as long as it does not contradict any
safety standards.
The position requires the following skills
Formal Education, Certifications or Equivalents
Grade 12 technical trade certificate
Working Experience – Nature& Length
2 to 4 years in trade
Leadership Experience-Nature & length of time
None needed but would be an advantage
Other skills and abilities National driver’s license GR.2 or 5
3.
HDPE Welder (02)
Major Duties and responsibilities:•
Provide assistance to engineering and mining and mining issues as a HDPE welder in the
welder in the dewatering and outside sections
•
To carry out maintenance tasks in and aroundbisha Mine
•
Carry out duties as required by supervisor
•
Ensure safe and correct HDPE welding practices at all times following standard operating
procedure
•
Ensure continuous operation and optimum performance of all dewatering and production
equipment by strict adherence to maintenance requirements and standards of workmanship
•
Plan jobs to maximize efficient use of available materials
•
Carry out such duties as may be assigned to him from time to time.
•
Carry out risk assessment before any task or job is commenced
•
Perform housekeeping tasks.
Formal Education, Certifications or Equivalents
Preferable must have 10th grade qualification. Some technical qualification will be further recommendation
Working Experience – Nature& Length
2 years post trade experience of which 1 year must
be in an industrial environment with preference in the materials handling or manufacturing
A Life Of Critical Engagement...
continued from page 8
projects you are planning to undertake?
IS: While still at the University, with two colleagues, Professor Saida Yahya-Othman and
Dr. Ng’wanza Kamata, I embarked on the project to write a definitive biography of Mwalimu
Nyerere supported by the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology. We have now
more or less completed our research – if you
can ever complete a research of this kind – and
have now started the process of writing.
One of the important outcomes of that project
is the establishment of the Nyerere Resource
Centre (NRC). The Centre will have a documentation room where all the material we collected will be stored and made available to researchers. Around the Centre we will organize
activities with a view to providing a platform
‘Bringing
continued from page 6
for strategic thinking, debates and discussions.
We hope to begin activities this year. It is my
hope that NRC will become a hub for reflecting on many burning issues facing the country
and the continent.
I feel that the neo-liberal, NGOism and consultancy culture with their emphasis on policy
– more “action,” little thought – and prescriptive prognosis has taken a toll on our intellectual thinking, the result of which is that we have
abdicated analyzing and understanding the
world. We cannot fight for a better world without understanding the world better. For that, we
need to take a longer view of history. Hopefully, the Centre will contribute towards reviving
the culture of holistic, long-term thinking.
Global Dialogue
The Best...
What is your future plan, both
professionally and culturally and what is
the role of the new website that you have
launched recently?
Mr. Negassi: Our future plan is to work
harder and produce internationally competitive
fashion design products from Eritrea that
reflect Eritrean cultural values and social
dignity while influencing foreigners. The role
of our website will be primarily to introduce
Eritrean cultural values though fashion design
to the outside world and as the web is the
easiest and fastest means of communication,
it will help us promote our collective efforts
as a whole.
At the end, is there any last words you feel
like relaying to our readers and message to
the Eritrean people in general and the youth
in particular?
Mr. Negassi: It is possible that we can
design outstanding fashion designs, yet it has
to preserve our cultural dignity and identity. I
advise our young designers to be creative with
the principles of fashion design for the success
of the beautiful culture we live in.
Ms. Meron: My message goes to women in
particular. We have to be professionally and
academically equipped rather than following
any fashion that appears on the TV screens
and other means of media. I think it is, very
easy and simple to always on a daily basis,
to creat beautiful and meaningful personal
designs. I would say it is possible to create
our own fashion designs on which we could
look better and still within our culture. I rather
recognize that it is not appreciated to be easily
influenced by western styles without critically
evaluating it. We need to be both mentally
and professionally mature when it comes to
fashion design.
Thank you and we hope you a prosperous
future!
6
Eritrea Profile, Saturday 21th of March, 2015
‘Bringing The Best Of The Eritrean Fashion
Teklehaimanot Yemane
Designs Out To The World’ PART II and FINAL
The Fashion Design, the film
and music industry along with the
popular Medias are one of the only
few factors enhancing the fat speed
in which the world’s is evolving. for
so cultural influence has become
globally contagious.
Garments designed and crafted in
every corner are certainly to reach
every other corner of the world.
The availability of new and fresh
garments is on its most remarkable
phases. Styles of dressing practiced
by famous singers and actors
that we watch on the Media are
quickly adapted by youth. As a
result it doesn’t take much time
for fashion design to become an
international industry. Although
most designers are influenced by
such interconnectedness in the
design and types of style they
create, it takes a considerable
effort to compete globally and still
maintain the cultural values of the
society we accordingly live in.
The founders of N and M Fashion
Style, Mr. Negassi Tesfatsion and
Ms. Meron Ghrmai, are few of the
many fashion designers in Eritrea,
who are passionately working
to bring the best of the Eritrean
fashion designs out to the world.
On last the previously published
first part of this article we have had
a general introduction of fashion on
its international features. Today we
will conduct an interview with these
two people hopping to know more
about their aspirations and some
information about the Eritrean
fashion’s actuality.
Would you please, briefly
introduce yourself with the readers
of Rivers of Consciousness.
Mr. Negassi: I was born in 1979 in
Asmara and I grew up here. I joined
Selam Elementary and Junior School
and I completed my high school in
Issac Teweldemedhin Secondary
School. And I acquired advanced
diploma in Fine Arts, from Asmara
School of Arts. After I completing
my national service I worked as a
senior designer in Manitese, an
Italian NGO from 2003 to 2006.
Starting from 2007, I attended a
three years correspondence training
from
Glasgow
International
Correspondence College, UK,
and graduated in Drawing and
Design Engineering with honors.
Also I have worked as a trainer of
hand craft while working with the
Manitese NGO and the National
Union of Eritrean Women (NUEW),
and I actually have traveled
across five regions in Eritrea as a
professional trainer, during which I
had a pleasant time of training 400
women of different ages females
in hand craft. At last in 2012 with
the overall collective academic and
professional experiences I gained,
I founded and started a school of
fashion drawing and design training
(named by Negassi Fashion), within
Golden Gate Training Center, in
Asmara.
Ms. Meron: I was born in 1987
in Asmara and grew up here. I
attended my studies in Felege
Hiwet Elementary school, Natsnet
Junior School and completed
my high school year in Red Sea
Comprehensive School. I went to
Warsai Yikealo Secondary in 2003
and joined the Eritrean Institute
of Technology in 2004. I attended
a two years course in Capuccini
School of Hand Crafts, Asmara and
at the same time joined the Negassi
School of Fashion Design. After a
one year of training I graduated in
2013 with the first batch of Negassi
Fashion Design students.
How would you put in your own
words the history of Fashion design
education in Eritrea, especially at
a professional perspective?
Mr. Negassi: According to a
research I conducted in 2009,
concerning the fashion design
industry in Eritrea, I discovered
that the industry has been running
only
through
traditionally
acquired experiences at grassroots
level without the application
of professional and scientific
methodologies. This inspired me
to found a school in fashion design.
With the mission to integrate the rich
Eritrean traditional life style with the
modern principles of fashion design.
This school of fashion design was
the first of its kind in our country.
To develop the Eritrean Fashion
style to its fullest by transforming
the industry towards the modern
style, the educational center, among
other courses has started to provide
fashion Drawing and design courses
on January 1st, 2012. The fashion
courses include: Basic Drawing,
Drawing techniques, Fashion
Design Illustration, Developing
Design Specification, Principles of
Design, Measurement Study, Color
Theory and Combination, Color
Harmony, Color and Seasons,
Fabrics and Textiles, Method of
Research Sociology Marketing,
Creative Development, Fashion
Accessories and Decoration, Pattern
Drafting, Cutting and Sewing,
and Product Evaluation. With
these courses and related activities
the school has managed to blend
scientific principles of design with
the traditional style. As a result of
our professional effort, our school
was visited by famous fashion
designers, designer Tim Liben from
Germany and designer Stephany
Ana from France, where we
organized a cooperative workshop
in 2014. Since 2012, the center has
trained over 250 students in fashion
design. And most of the popular
fashion designers in Eritrea today
like Alemtsehai Lebasi, Yorsalem
Zeray, and Robel Gebar graduated
from Negassi School of Fashion.
And today the fashion level in
our country is quite of a colourful
pattern, and happily enough not
only in the city of Asmara but
also in other cities like Keren and
Massawa. It is a pleasant sight to
have.
Style’. What is this all about and
what does it make it different from
the School of Fashion Design?
Ms. Meron: This business is
mainly focused in creating unique
Eritrean fashion products and
brings the best of the works, out
to the world. Our main effort
is to familiarize the traditional
Eritrean style by applying scientific
principles of fashion design and
make it globally competitive. We
believe fashion design has the power
to influence the culture of a society.
So it requires an indispensable
effort to keep one’s culture and
still be globally competitive. Our
mission here in this new business is
to modernize our traditional style of
dressing and market it.
Mr. Negassi: To add a little to what
Meron has said, ‘Negassi Fashion’
is a school of fashion design, that
I have founded formerly with the
mission of elevating the knowledge
of young designers with modern
and scientific principles of fashion
design whereas ‘N and M Fashion
Style’ is a joint business founded by
both of us in 2015 with the mission to
produce quality and internationally
competitive fashion design products
and related accessories. Our new
business has a number of related
units including Designing, Cutting
and Sewing, Handloom weaving,
hand stitching, Quality control, and
a modern showroom. Also we have
launched a new website (http://
www.eritreanfashion.com)
to
promote our business and outreach
the rest of the world with brand
Eritrean fashion style.
It is good that you work as a
cooperative team. How do you
manage things? What is the
responsibility of each of you?
Ms. Meron: I work here as a
designer, tailor and head of financial
administration. And Negassi
works as a senior designer, quality
controller and general manager.
continued on page 5
Recently you have opened a new
business in the fashion industry
named as ‘N and M Fashion
Rivers of Consciousness Social: http://www.facebook.com/riversofconsciousness | Contact Address: [email protected] SMS Message to: +2917261231
Eritrea Profile, Saturday 21th of March, 2015
Eritrea is a country that fascinates
many with its centuries old traditions, rich heritage and oral history.
Just when you think you know it
well enough, you find that there is
much more to discover.
According to Historians “The
Peripheral of the Red Sea” 70 AD
and “The Christian Topographic”
525 AD. The Adulis Empire was a
vibrant trading center with a highly
centralized polity that had a sizeable
population actively engaged in commerce and entrepreneurship.
The Adulis Empire extended its
trade as far as India and Eastern
Rome. Eastern Roman Empire was
founded by Emperor Constantinus
(306 AD-337 AD) who built the
magnificent St. Sophia Church in
Constantinople in today’s Istanbul. Constantinople became center
of Christianity and the capital of
Eastern Roman Empire. The “Nine
Saints” who originated in the Eastern Roman Empire spread Christianity into the Eritrean country-side
and established their monasteries.
One of Eritrea’s notable treasures
are churches and monastaries that
date back to the 5th Century. In
present day Eritrea one finds the
treasure of some of the most ancient
people that inhabited Africa situated
by the shore of Asia and Africa.
Architecturally, the Dabra Libanos monastery at Kesad Daro in the
Southern region can be compared
to much newer monasteries, and
yet it precedes them by centuries.
The Monastery near Hagaz in the
Anseba region the Tsaeda Emba
will amaze you with the mastery of
their builders, artist, woodcarvers
and writers of the manuscripts; as
well as the splendid combination of
natural environment and location of
the Monastery.
Monasteries are some of Eritrea’s
biggest historical treasures. Some of
them date back to the Adulait time,
while others were built on the site
of destroyed pergola. Some are impressive with their unique architecture, others with their valuable icons
and skillfully made murals and still
others with their location in the most
spectacular landscape of the country. There are numerous rock-hewn
monasteries most of them not functional, but yet very interesting site to
visit. Ancient Saint Libanos Mata’a
believed to be Apostle of Eritrea in
Eritrean Hidden Treasures
7
the 5th to early 6th century AD lived
in the pagan area north of Marabmelash in today’s Eritrea. The other
famous Saint lived in Dabra Libanos
in the 13 Century. Saint Takla Haymanot as the legend states prayed 24
hours for twenty-two years standing
on one foot.
The hidden treasures of Eritrea
start from Southern region stretching all the way to Central, Northern
Red Sea, Anseba and Gash Barka
region and are monastic. The monasteries were built in unreachable
and isolated area, such as mountain
tops, cliff ledges, wilderness, isolation and separation from the secular
world.
The Dabra Sina monastery in the
Anseba Region is located near Adi
Takalezan on mount Salaba. Dabra
Sina was founded by monk Yohanni
who migrated from Egypt with his
followers in the 6th century AD. The
monastery has a rock hewn church,
several chapels, and buildings. The
old customary church has two symmetrical doors. There is a rock that
is venerated where the holy family
escaped from the hands of Herod’s
soldiers during their flight from
Egypt.
Leaving Dabra Sina headed towards Keren the capital of Anseba
region one will find the old Shinduwa monastery near a village called
Jegertab on a hill that dominates the
Asmara-Keren road.
The Tsaeda Emba monastery is
located south west of Keren and is
2500m above sea level imposing a
magnificent protrusion that towers
over the upper and lower plains of
Barka. Its scenery is breathtaking.
Abune Seyfe Michael set up the
monestary in the 17th century. Tsada Emba is known for its collection
of several illuminated manuscripts,
embroidered robes and artifacts.
In the Southern Region there
are several hidden monasteries
with high value tourist centers.
The Dabra Libanos monastery, located 30 km south of Asmara and
north of Kesad Dara is believed to
be the oldest monastery in Eritrea.
According to oral history Abba Libanos found this monastery in late
5th century. Situated in the middle of
a wide hilly area close to waterfalls
with caves; visitors find the secret
entrance to the monasteryfascinating . Dabra Libanos is among the
most remarkable monasteries with
its ossuary and relics of monks.
The Qedus Yohannes Metmaqu
monastery is located South-West of
Dekemhare near Maie-Idaga on a
golden brownish cliff named Tedrer.
According to local folklore, Saint
Yohannes (John) travelled in the
region between 537-545AD and he
had a dream; to build a church near
the Spring Valley and to dig a cave
at the top of Tedrer where he was
later buried.
Enda Abba Endreys monastery is
situated West of Debarwa city near
Addi Falasit. It is said that God had
ordered Abba Endreyas to settle on
top of the mountain that appeared
like Mount Golgotha in Jerusalem
overlooking the river that resembled
the Jordan River. The monastery is
reached from the South by a steep
path through a huge natural cave
with spring water. The cave consists
in a deep part of the tomb of the
Saint. From there a steep path leads
to the living quarters of the monks.
The Maryam Tsion monestry located in Adi Quala founded in the
17th century is known for its paint-
ed by Abba Amlak, a saint, said to
be sent by God to save souls from
the Purgatory. Paintings in “Chapel
of Ascension” show Abba Amlak
riding his horse pulling out souls,
hiding them under his coat and ascending to paradise.
Enda Abu Yonas Laelay is a monastery found near Kudo Falasi on
top of a hill with an old abandoned
church with the traditional Eritrean
architectural parts Narthex, Choir
and Holy of Holies.
The Dabra Bizen Monestary
founded in 1390 by Abba Philippos
is known to most Diaspora Eritreans.
The monestary is located in the
Northern Red Sea region towering
above the city of Nefasit and rules
the roads to Massawa, Asmara and
Dekemhare cities;. Bizen is a place
of convention for saints, righteous,
humble and generous based on the
principle of “prayer and work”.
At the end of Antiquity, Christianity had reached wide in Eritrea.
Countless ruins of churches and
monasteries are evidence of this.
Eritrea offers experiences full of
ecstasy, emotion, tranquility and
harmony a legacy that reveals itself
in hundreds of historical monuments, and an abundance of natural
ings related to the Holy Bible. The
most interesting painting is that of
Arius excommunicated by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, Semon, and
Abba Abib crossing the Red Sea on
a skin.
The Besu’a Amlak Godeyti monastery near Dekemhare on a hill
dominating the Maie Ushate river, a
tributary of Gergera dam was found-
beauty. The ancient monasteries that
hold liturgical objects, clay tiles,
paintings, and mosaics based on
Christian themes are testimony to a
Rich Heritage which evokes the life
and worship practices of great civilization.
Berhane Woldu
8
Eritrea Profile, Saturday 21th of March, 2015
Many a time important events in the global arena are not presented in their entirety in mainstream media as there is lack of context in most of the information
they cover. In response, this column sets out to question this trend by presenting diverse perspectives from as many sources as possible with the underlying aim of
bringing to fore context that is culturally, historically, politically and economically relevant to any given topic.
A Life Of Critical Engagement: An Interview With Issa Shivji
Issa Shivji is one of the great
public intellectuals of postcolonial Africa. He was a law student
(1967-1970) at the University of
Dar es Salaam, growing up amidst
distinguished leftist scholars such
as sociologists Giovanni Arrighi,
Immanuel Wallerstein and John
Saul. These scholars came from
all over the world, attracted to the
formative intellectual ferment at
the university. Even as a precocious
student, Shivji began to challenge
the socialist policies of the Ujamaa
regime of Julius Nyerere, the first
President of Tanzania. During this
early period he wrote such celebrated and widely-debated works as
The Silent Class Struggle that drew
attention to the social forces that
were politically (un)represented
in the new postcolonies of Africa.
After receiving degrees from the
London School of Economics and
the University of Dar es Salaam, he
took up a post in the Faculty of Law
which he never left until retiring in
2006. During that time he became a
public figure devoted to land reform
and constitutional law. He survived
political turbulence despite his outspoken commentaries on the turn to
neoliberalism in the 1980s as well
as the corporatization of the university. In 2008 he was awarded the
Julius Nyerere Chair in Pan-African Studies with the express purpose of restoring the university as
a center of public debate. Professor
Shivji has inspired many younger
academics, such as the political science lecturer, Sabatho Nyamsenda,
who conducted this interview. He
was also an active participant in the
ISA’s World Congress in Durban,
South Africa (2006).
may sound a bit naïve, but the truth
is that it was a collective decision of
comrades as to who would be most
effective where. Comrades thought,
and I agreed, that I should remain at
the University to do progressive intellectual and ideological work.
The University did provide relative space for progressive ideas to
flourish, a terrain where progressive
intellectual camaraderie could be
created and sustained. At the time,
the overall nationalist commitment
combined with the deeper intellectual understanding of the imperialist system helped to cultivate radical young scholars, many of whom
ended up as teachers in secondary
schools thus further fertilizing progressive thought and practice.
I have never regretted spending
the whole of my working life at the
Hill.
essentially reformist reforms. Then a
minority tendency saw the struggle
for democracy as a school for independent class actions; they called
for revolutionary reforms. To give
one example: The reformists would
demand immediate institution of the
multi-party system while revolutionaries would demand, first, a separation of the party and the state, and
second, a protracted national debate
taking stock of the post-independence period and chart out and build
a new national consensus.
In the transition from the nationalist to the neo-liberal period, the Hill
was still a hotbed of debates and ideological struggles. These fizzled out
during the third phase government
as neo-liberalism consolidated itself
in the country and vocationalization
and corporatization of the University
gained momentum.
low. But does that mean that a progressive person should not celebrate
Nyerere’s progressive legacy and
draw lessons from its contradictory
character? My friend, a Marxist is
not a purist; s/he is political!
SN: What do you mean by the
“contradictory character” of Nyerere’s legacy?
IS: I can do no better than give an
anecdote about Mwalimu himself.
A few months after he had thrown
out students from the Hill for demonstrating against the state in 1978,
he visited the campus. One student
was courageous enough to ask him
something to the effect: “Mwalimu,
you talk about democracy but when
we demonstrated in the interest of
democracy you sent the FFU [Field
Force Unit] to beat us up!”
Mwalimu stared at him, and then
replied: “What did you expect? I am
head of state; I preside over the institution which wields the monopoly of
violence. If you cause chaos in the
streets, of course I’d send in the FFU.
But does that mean you shouldn’t
fight for democracy? Democracy is
never given on a silver platter!” [not
his exact words]
And we all clapped. Mwalimu
could have his cake and eat it!
and, in critical times, even those
spaces are suppressed. It is a struggle
to claim and reclaim on a continuous
basis those progressive spaces. And
like all struggles, these intellectual
struggles also require imagination as
to their forms and methods.
This is all that Kigoda attempted
to do; nothing more. Perhaps it managed to cause some intellectual fervor; perhaps it managed to gain some
credibility with young intellectuals
and the people; perhaps it managed
to excavate progressive archives of
the Hill. Even that had limits, and
those limits began to show towards
the end of my term.
One can only do so much within
the given circumstances. I think it
was E.H. Carr, following Plekhanov
and before him Marx, who said that
while individuals make history, they
do not choose the circumstances in
which they do so.
SN: In your Accumulation in an
SN: In 2008, you were appointed
African Periphery you divide the
the first incumbent of the Mwalimu
SN: Nyerere once warned the
post-colonial experience of African
Nyerere Professorial Chair in Panoppressed against using money as
countries, and Tanzania in parAfrican Studies, known as Kigoda
their weapon. Yet, funding seems to
ticular, into three phases: the nain Kiswahili. Soon after you were
have become central to intellectual
tionalist phase (1960s and 1970s),
installed, you were quoted saying
projects nowadays. No work is done
the critical phase (1980s) and the
it was “an honor” for you “to keep
without money. Even the most proneoliberal phase (1990s to the presNyerere’s legacy alive.” Which leggressive organizations have found
ent). How did these changes affect
acy were you referring to, given the
it inevitable to kneel before the capMlimani?
fact that the Nyerere you describe
italist agencies in search of money.
IS: Universities exist in a social
in your writings is vehemently opHow did Kigoda run its activities?
environment and they are obviously
posed to Marxism and struggles
SN: The Iranian revolutionIS: Yes, money, and donor money
affected by changes in that environfrom below?
ary intellectual Ali Shariati once
at that, has become the motor drivment. The decade of the eighties was
IS: Nyerere was a radical nationdubbed universities “invincible
ing intellectual projects. Kigoda
an extremely critical period for our
alist. He was a progressive Pan-Affortified fortresses,” whose main
undoubtedly faced the problem of
country as, indeed, it was for the rest
ricanist and broadly anti-imperialist.
task is to produce intellectual slaves
funding, but it established certain
of Africa. Universities were starved
To be sure, his anti-imperialism was
for the corporate world. Did the
principles right at the outset. First,
of resources while at the same time
not grounded in radical political
Kigoda, the Pan-African Studies
all administrative expenses, includbeing exposed to an incessant ideoeconomy, as was Nkrumah’s. Yet, his
Program, manage to open the gates
ing the salaries of the Chair and
logical and intellectual onslaught of
pro-people stance was consistent; his
of the Mlimani “fortress,” and link
his assistant, would come from the
neo-liberal prescriptions. Many of
anti-imperialist position supportable
its intellectuals with the masses? If
regular University budget. Second,
our colleagues left for universities in
and his nationalism progressive.
yes, how?
Kigoda would avoid taking money
Southern Africa – Lesotho, BotswaIn comparison to the neo-liberal
IS: It would be foolish for me to
from foreign donors. Third, whatSN: Your association with the
na, Swaziland and later South Africa
political class that succeeded him,
claim that Kigoda managed to open
ever funding is given by domestic
University of Dar es Salaam (also
and Namibia.
and mindful of the havoc that this
the gates of the university “fortress.”
public institutions or friendly Afriknown as Mlimani, or the Hill)
But some stuck it out, including
class has created in our society, woe
In Althusserian terms, universities
can intellectual organizations should
started in 1967 as a law student,
many young radical scholars who
unto any progressive, even a Marxare part of the ideological state apbe without strings attached. And, fiand after graduating you joined
had imbibed progressive ideas during
ist, who wouldn’t want to recall
paratus. The dominant intellectuals
nally, the agenda and the activities of
the law faculty at the same univerthe first two decades of revolutionary
Nyerere’s legacy and deploy it as an
there are undoubtedly producers and
Kigoda would be set strictly by the
sity – a position that you held for 36
nationalist fervor. They continued to
ideological resource in the struggle
conveyors of dominant knowledge,
Kigoda collective.
years. Why did you decide to remain
do some very good work. For exagainst the current rapacious phase
which forms the basis of dominant
It was not easy but by keeping our
at the University while most of your
ample, they led the intellectual side
of capitalism.
ideologies.
budget modest, relying heavily on
progressive colleagues joined other
of the “great” constitutional debate
Nyerere was not a Marxist and he
But by the very nature of the provoluntary work and spending with a
institutions?
in 1983-4 articulating anti-authordidn’t disguise himself as one. Marx
cess of production of knowledge,
lot of prudence, we managed.
IS: True, many of my comrades
itarian and anti-statist positions. Of
himself when confronted with vulthere is bound to be a clash of ideas.
joined other institutions including
course, there were different tendengar Marxism exclaimed: “I am not a
This allows some space for outlooks
SN: Now that you have retired
the National Service Office, the Parcies, those seeing liberal democracy,
Marxist!”
other than dominant ones. Nonethefrom the university, what are the
ty and even the army. In hindsight, it
human rights, multi-party as the ultiAs a head of state, it is true he
less, such spaces should not be taken
continued on page 5
mate goal and therefore demanding
came out against struggles from befor granted. They have their limits
Dear readers, should you have any opinion on the column ‘Context’ and suggestions of articles you think should be printed here please do not hesitate to contact
us. We shall welcome, value and entertain them.
Context: http://www.profile.gov.er Daniel Semre - [email protected] Solomon Mengsteab [email protected]