Day: July 25, 2023

A school principal died from asphyxiation due to the various fires that have been reported in Nefza (Beja Governorate) since Monday.

The fire caused material and natural damage.

The flames damaged several houses, a forestry centre, citrus groves in Wechtata and hazelnut groves in Zwaraa, in addition to a large area of forests.

The fire in Nefza and Wechtata has spread further on Tuesday, affecting localities as Hraichia, Jwaliya, Taief, Hmaidia and Frahtiya, said a civil protection source.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

A fire broke out on Tuesday morning in the Khanguet El Ouechtata forest at Djebel Zaghdoud in the El Oueslatia delegation in the governorate of Kairouan, near the control centre belonging to the forestry directorate.

Efforts are ongoing to extinguish the flames, which are spreading with the persistence of high temperatures coupled with strong winds.

Fire engines were dispatched to the scene to prevent the flames spreading to homes and forests.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Helicopters of the National Army, Tuesday, resumed their overflights in the Melloula region, Jendouba governorate, with 30 aerial overflights, intervening in particular in inhabited areas so as to contain the spread of the wildfire.

“The C-130 military aircraft equipped with special fluids was used four times on Tuesday to extinguish the fire, contain it and slow down its spread”, the National Defence Ministry said in a statement.

land, sea and air military units were dispatched to the scene to help the inhabitants, particularly in the areas of Melloula and Sejnane, following the fires which ravaged a large part of the forest area, the same source said.

The Navy’s rapid intervention boats are also taking part in the evacuation of citizens by sea.

The Army units continue to rescue citizens using rolling stock and transport them to areas away from the fire.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Residents of the Tabarka delegation (governorate of Jendouba) who had to be evacuated on Monday because of fires have returned to their homes.

Taieb Dridi, first delegate of Jendouba, told TAP that most of the fires have now been brought under control.

Civil protection units are continuing their efforts to put an end to the latest outbreaks of fires in a region that is difficult to access.

According to TAP’s journalist, life has returned to normal in Tabarka and the Melloula border post has been reopened.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

At least 1,500 social housing, including infrastructure and social facilities, will be built in the Ngolome neighbourhood, municipality of Icolo e Bengo, Luanda province.

The construction project of residences, subdivided into three lots, will attract a global amount in local currency “Kwanzas” equivalent to USD 75.7 million, according to the Presidential Order No. 178/23, of 19 July.

The first batch comprises the construction of 500 houses, a primary school, secondary school, kindergarten, nursery and police station and will cost in kwanzas equivalent to USD 18.106 million.

The second batch, which also includes the construction of another 500 social residences, a primary school, a kindergarten, a nursery and a health center, estimated at USD 17.869 million.

In the third and last lot, 500 social houses and the respective internal and external infrastructure will cost the equivalent in kwanzas to USD 40.733 million.

The Presidential Order also authorises a contract for the preparation of studies and projects and coordination of the contract, worth in kwanzas equivalent to USD 2.454 million.

Still the document authorises a contract for the supervision of the work, in an amount in kwanzas equivalent to USD 1.753 million.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The adoption and implementation of Africa’s Blue Economy Continental Strategy indicate that the continent is responding to a global call urging humanity to review and rethink the manner it operates within its natural environment.

The statement was made by Seychelles’ President Wavel Ramkalawan in his address on the occasion of the African Day of Seas and Oceans on Tuesday, July 25.

The African Day of Seas and Oceans is one of the recommendations of the 2050 African’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS), which provides a broad framework for the protection and sustainable exploitation of seas and oceans of Africa.

The occasion is being commemorated through a Blue Economy Awareness Week and Ramkalawan said that this is significant, and indicative of the increased significance that African citizens assign to the sustainable development of their aquatic resources.

“This is understandable in view of the many threats that plague our seas and oceans, most of which emanate from global human actions that instigate climate change, and threaten life on earth as we know it,” he said.

“At the end of the day, no matter how big or small a part we have played in the global environmental decline, we have all heard and felt the warnings of how humankind’s reckless exploits are gradually pulling us into an age of scarcity and deprivation,” added Ramkalawan.

The head of state of Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, said that “in order for us to move forward and try to take control of our own destiny, it is equally significant for us to focus on the opportunities that have risen out of all these threats.”

“Consequently, today we are not only becoming more business-minded in terms of efficiency but also more environmentally cautious and, therefore, more sustainable. Case in point, we are learning how to add value to a single resource, so as to earn more from less,” he added.

Ramkalawan gave the example of Seychelles’ efforts to fish less but to increase the value of one fish by boosting its fish processing industry.

“There is also our effort to explore the development of new sectors such as circular economy and marine biotechnology to diversify our revenue stream, all the while reducing pressure off our traditional economic sectors, the likes of fisheries and tourism,” he highlighted.

Ramkalawan said that one lesson learned from Seychelles’ Blue Economy experience is the need to put the people at the centre of development.

“We need to ensure that whatever we are doing is relatable to the general population and that they are thoroughly engaged. We have to be mindful that community or local buy-in is one of the main decisive factors in the extent that any project or initiative is successfully implemented. This is a message that we need to echo far and wide across the continent!” he said.

Seychelles’ President said that is why the island nation and the African Union Commission are advocating for increased Blue Economy sensitisation and improved communication strategies.

“Seychelles has piloted an initiative to integrate ocean science in the national school curriculum. This is something that we would encourage other African countries to emulate in the future,” he shared.

Ramkalawan also highlighted “the need to foster more collaboration and partnerships across African nations – for there is strength in numbers. Hence, we have to work together to find our true north and to illuminate the pathway to a desirable future for all of Africa’s children.”

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Angola continues to improve protection of domestic workers, mainly in the legislative and legal fields, although the challenges facing the class are still many.

In the last seven years, there has been an increase in the number of workers registered at the National Social Security Institute (INSS), a reality that encourages the country’s authorities, although it is still far below the desired average.

Available data indicate that the country currently has around 7,000 domestic workers registered with the INSS, compared to 26,000 in the self-employed regime, figures that reflect a growing and encouraging trend.

According to the executive administrator for social security at INSS, Samuel Mulaza, the number is still considered unsatisfactory, as the sector covers a lot of labour, throughout the territory.

According to the official, there are still workers who do not want to see their salaries get deducted for social security, which is a challenge, so more and better awareness needs to be done.

“In fact, we have heard many reports from employers reporting workers who do not want to see their wages deducted for social security”, he said, adding that this has been a major challenge.

To counter this reality, Mulaza said, awareness campaigns need to be increased along with associations and domestic workers all over the country.

Legislative developments

However, it is not only in the field of the INSS registration that the country registers absolute gains, but also the increase in legislation to better defend the class.

One of these regulations is the Presidential Decree that approved the new Legal Domestic Work and Social Protection of Domestic Service Workers, in force since December 7, 2016.

The Decree regulates all legal-labour relations of domestic work, defining, in a clearer and more elucidating way, the profile of this service provider.

The decree defines a domestic labour contract as one whereby a person undertakes, for remuneration, to provide others, on a regular basis, under the direction and authority of the latter, with activities aimed at satisfying specific needs of a household or equivalent of a household or similar.

This work can take the form of preparing and cooking meals, washing and treating clothes, cleaning and tidying the house, supervising and assisting the elderly, children and the sick, carrying out gardening services, providing family transport, as well as coordinating and supervising the tasks mentioned.

The domestic work contract may be concluded on a part-time or full-time basis, provided that it includes accommodation and meals, and must be registered with the services of the National Social Security Institute.

Ana Júnior, owner of the company “SOS housemaid and nannies”, Ana Júnior said that although the company is taking the first steps, it already has all the necessary information to gather the necessary documents to register its employees at the INSS.

“We are working so that, at the end of 2023 at least all SOS Housemaid and Nannies company workers are registered and have their social security discounts, because it is a benefit for both the company and them, especially in the case of retirement,” she said.

Ana Júnior spoke of the need for all workers to be enrolled in social security to be protected by law with the benefits they are entitled to.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Seychelles’ finance authorities will undertake further discussions with the Cabinet of Ministers on the environment levy for tourism accommodation expected to start August 1, amid concerns of tourism establishments on the proposed collection method.

Top finance officials met with representatives of tourism accommodation owners and yacht operators on Monday to discuss the imminent environment levy.

The payment of the levy approved by the Cabinet in its meeting on July 5 has a three-tiered approach. Small hotels will pay R25 ($2), medium hotels, R75 ($6) and large hotels and yachts R100 ($8).

The proposed collection method was that when an establishment makes it invoice like they collect value-added tax (VAT) currently, there will be a line on the invoice for the environment tax based on per person per night.

Revenue collected through the levy was earmarked to finance climate mitigation projects.

In the meeting on Monday at the Seychelles Trading Company (STC) conference room, representatives from the tourism industry spoke about their reservations on how the levy would be collected.

“We don’t mind paying the levy as this will help our environment, but we do not want to be collecting it on behalf of the government,” said Robert Payet, who owns tourism establishments on Praslin.

This is not the first time government officials meet the tourism industry representatives to discuss the subject. A first consultative meeting was held in January and tourism representatives said they sent the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) to speak on their behalf.

Other concerns raised were the fact that the establishment owners would have to pay the additional three percent incurred from banks following credit card payments from their clients.

It was also suggested that Travizory – also known as the Seychelles Electronic Border System (SEBS) -becomes the body that collects the levy on behalf of the government, a step Payet said that the government is reluctant to take.

Every foreign traveller to Seychelles has to apply for travel authorisation online via SEBS before entering the country.

“We spoke to Travizory about the possibility of allowing visitors to pay for the levy through its website and they informed us that it would take three minutes to make the necessary changes for this to happen,” said the chairperson of SHTA, Sybille Cardon.

Since the levy is yet to be published in the Official Gazette and has not been presented to the National Assembly, the secretary of state for finance, Patrick Payet, informed those present that they would hold further talks with the Cabinet of Ministers.

He also explained that by Wednesday, the representatives will be informed as to whether the authorities will continue with the formal steps of making the levy into law.

Source: Seychelles News Agency