NATIONAL NEWS NEW VISION, Thursday, September 5, 2019 3 Business success critical in causing sustainable peace, says Museveni

Philosophy

Business is part of durable peace-building. You cannot maintain a pre-capitalist structure of society and think that you will have peace By Vision Reporter

The success of businesses in Africa is important because it has a direct role in ending polarisation and causing sustainable peace, President has said. The President, who was accompanied by First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Janet Museveni, made the remarks yesterday at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, where he was part of a panel discussion on the theme Towards Peace. President Museveni and other panelists at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town, South Africa yesterday. PPU photo The discussion at the Cape Town International Convention Centre was moderated by Borge Brende, the president of the World Economic Forum. If you are herding goats, you only need one hill, warring party has been overwhelmed. President Museveni, according to a release but if I am producing motorcycles, I need the case for peace from State House, noted that businesses were whole of East Africa. Business will consolidate A case for women capable of transforming Africa from its current peace,” he observed, leaving the audience in The other panelists in the discussion were vertical pre-capitalist setting, which is pre- stitches. Wars premised on identity Sahlework Zewde, Ethiopia’s President, Smail occupied by tribe and other identity issues, to a Chergui, the AU commissioner for peace horizontal system dominated by interests. Just and unjust wars must be condemned because and security, Sipho Pityana, the chairman of “Thriving businesses cause social Asked by the moderator about what Africa could Anglo-Gold Ashanti and Susanna Moorehead, transformation which changes society. When do to avoid conflicts in the future, Museveni said they are ideologically bankrupt the chair of the Development Assistance you have a big middle class dominated by it was first of all critical to understand the causes Committee of the Organisation for Economic employers and employees, issues become of the conflicts. “You find people fighting because they are Development. different. The discussion now becomes about Africa, the President said, had experienced both Muslims or Christians or because of their Zewde in her remarks made a case for salaries and working hours, making them just and unjust wars and making the distinction tribes. This is pseudo-ideology causing false involvement of women in peace-building, horizontal,” the President said. in their discussion was paramount. polarisation,” he said. saying they bear the greatest brunt of conflict. “Business, therefore, is part of durable peace- “Between 1952 and 1994, Africa mainly had The modern person, Museveni said, is “Women should not just be victims, they building. You cannot maintain a pre-capitalist just wars. We were fighting for independence interested in prosperity and this is made possible should be part of the solution. We have seen structure of society and think that you will have and democracy. From the Mau Mau rebellion in by trade, which is rarely facilitated by tribe that that where women are involved at the table of peace,” he added. in 1952 to the fight against minority rule instead many times works as a hindrance. conflict resolution, things move faster. We must Citing the French Revolution and the in southern Africa, these were just wars because “Wars, therefore, premised on identity must continue making this happen,” she said. Renaissance, Museveni said even the West Africans were dealing with situations not solvable be condemned because they are ideologically The World Economic Forum on Africa, which only transformed after it had dealt with the through peaceful means,” the President said. bankrupt. They are criminal wars,” he said. runs until Friday, is being held under the peasantry societies, replacing them with the Museveni said Africa today, however, was The President also observed that the conflicting general theme of Shaping Inclusive Growth middle class. mainly dealing with unjust wars caused by the groups must be challenged about their motives, and Shared Futures in the Fourth Industrial “You must have a middle class; it is more ideological problem of emphasising identity saying that even if peace was to be obtained, it Revolution. President Museveni is among the cosmopolitan than tribes, which are parochial. (tribes, religion) instead of interests. must be “principled” and not just because one African leaders gracing the summit. , business forum to explore trade opportunities

By Taddeo Bwambale John Pombe Magufuli, will cosmetics and live animals. For instance, each Ugandan Tanzania has previously attend the forum and make BETWEEN THE LINES Tanzania, on the other hand, truck entering Tanzania is imposed quotas on Ugandan The first ever Uganda-Tanzania key commitments about the n Several bilateral mostly exports rice and semi- charged $500 (about sh2m), exporters, with fish nets import Business Forum opens today at bilateral trade issues. projects in energy, finished products to Uganda. the highest among all East capped at 10,000, instead of the Julius Nyerere International Uganda and Tanzania have aviation, water transport Both countries are, however, African member states. the 50,000 that Uganda wants Convention Centre in Dar-es- recently stepped up joint and telecommunications looking to expand their profile Uganda’s delegation has to export to Tanzania. Salaam with focus on cross- investments in infrastructure have been initiated in of business. also been negotiating for the The other bone of contention border business opportunities. aimed at boosting regional recent years as the close According to a conference elimination or lowering of the is the $100 (about sh370,000) The two-day forum, which trade and ease transport along neighbours seek to grow advisory, several Ugandan charges imposed on Ugandan permit required when entering opens under the theme: the Central Corridor. trade and investment and Tanzanian companies clearing agents at Dar-es- Tanzania, yet Uganda allows Promoting bilateral trade and The two countries are volumes. and institutions will showcase Salaam port. free entry for all East Africans, investment for growth and finalising plans for a joint their products at the forum Currently, clearing agents including Tanzanians. sustainable development, aims 1,410km oil pipeline project and present their ideas to the are charged $2,900 (about The two countries are at boosting bilateral trade and linking Uganda’s Albertine Uganda’s High Commissioner regional audience. sh10m) to do business at Dar- also keen to boost transport investment ties. Graben to Tanzania’s Tanga to Tanzania, Richard Kabonero, es-Salaam port compared to and trade along the Central The forum was preceded this port on the Indian Ocean. says the business forum will Removal of trade barriers $1,570 (about sh6m) that is Corridor to reduce transport week by the Joint Permanent Several other bilateral explore opportunities for trade, Leaders and experts from charged at Mombasa, Kenya. and communication costs. Commission, a high-level projects in energy, aviation, investment and services. both countries will discuss Uganda is also seeking The Mwanza-Port Bell- meeting through which the top water transport and The value of trade between ways to remove trade tariffs, preferential access to route on Lake Victoria issues regarding the bilateral telecommunications have been the two countries is estimated taxes, import quotas and other Tanzania’s market for fishnets has recently been re-opened relationship are discussed. initiated in recent years as the at around $100m (sh370b), barriers that have complicated manufactured in Uganda, while Uganda has rehabilitated President Yoweri Museveni close neighbours seek to grow with Uganda mainly exporting the business environment in in line with the East African the old metre gauge Kampala- and his Tanzanian counterpart, trade and investment volumes. sugar, steel and steel products, East Africa. Community (EAC) protocols. Port Bell railway.