 | Hello Weekend Digest Reader, Citizen, Officials: Greetings: It not a statement of worth; it is a statement of fact that African Diaspora is an answer where African governments, in some cases, would be metaphorically on their knees clamoring for foreign aid and experts at the cost of compromised sovereignty. According to researchers and Adams Bodomo, a Hong-Kong based Ghanaian academic researching remittances, about 75% of all transfers are informal and, therefore, impossible to track. "If we add all that [informal transfers] in, the diaspora remittances would be bigger by a factor of three or four times", bringing the actual figure anywhere between $120 billion and 160 billion. More is known about remittances to African countries, which are second only to foreign direct investment (FDI), and surpass Official Development Aid (ODA). Further, with Africans living outside the continent saving up to an estimated $53 billion, the potential for Diaspora bonds is enormous (see the latest news in the last article on Nigeria Diaspora bond).
Diaspora bonds are a powerful tool and they can offer to governments favorable conditions to finance development. But governments are advised to gain the trust of the Diaspora. Their potential for development, says the African Development Bank, can be worth doing it. Member States can self-inspire to think anew for Africa's functional independence and let the proclamation of self-reliance and African Common Position count in practice. Some recall that in 2012, during the election for the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Member States of the African Union put on an exceedingly shameful colonial mentality on display, voting largely along the lines of who colonized them (except Nigeria and Kenya) and staying true to servitude to their colonial masters.
There is a fine line between healthy debates that invigorate democratic societies, or aspiring ones, and playing to the gallery of donor-patrons who pay the pipers. So the client African Member States do the discordant dance, stepping on each others' toes and undermining themselves against their better and collective interests. In H.E Jean Ping (Gabon/French) versus H.E Dlamini - Zuma ( South Africa/English), the African citizenry could ask: does the vision not come after mental emancipation from colonial foolishness - and not before?
In this day and age, it is bewildering to understand why African leaders put more premium on Francophonie and Commonwealth to the extent of creating internal weak links within the Union.
In the mental melee, H.E. Dlamini-Zuma declared herself a Zulu and African. Thank you, Ma'am.
On Agenda 2063, within the current Five Ten-Year (2014-2023) Implementation Plan, Aspiration 5: Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics addresses the use of indigenous African languages for administrative purposes.
By the way, President Paul Biya of Cameroon, President Ali Bongo Odhimba of Gabon, and President Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea can very well understand each other in the Fang language. This is also true for President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia in Wolof.
Let's say Ewe speaking presidents are elected in Ghana, Togo and Benin (The Ewes are in all three Member states), would Benin and Togo understand the ideas in Françafrique better and vote against Ghana of Her Majesty, the Queen of England's Commonwealth? Qui est fou de qui? I mean who is a fool to who, using a metaphor in context of who benefits? France and UK because the Africans relate to each other through the lenses of their former colonial masters.
Hear President Kenyatta of Kenya speak in Swahili in Germany on April 7 (video below). President Museveni of Uganda is a crowd raiser in the language. The Mandigoes are in over 10 Member States; same with the Hausas and Fulanis. President Buhari of Nigeria may as well forget English when he crosses over and speaks to the most populous region in Cameroon and speak in Hausa
The above are to indicate that the colonial language and heritage should not be dividing lines in Africa's geo-polity. The African citizenry deserves better on ideas - who is equipped to move the AU Vision forward? Let the better or best candidate win in Kigali 2016.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has already instructed its members accredited to the AU on campaign strategies for its endorsed candidate, Botswana's Foreign Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi. No neo- colonial frame of reference.
The outcome of who leads has relevance to the Diaspora since the AU counts on the Diaspora to implement identified goals - and the resource, goodwill, and partnerships to do so. From empirical, evidence, or lack of hereof, it is largely unknown whether the policy organs and the AU Executive Council, made up of Foreign Affairs Ministers of Member States, read the outcomes of official Diaspora meetings since 2003.
It is a curious matter to find out their baseline knowledge on Diaspora relevance yet absence since, apparently, it has been a herculean task to define what is a Diaspora Civil Society Organization (CSO) and representation. Nobody can coherently explain the reason for more than a decade. How can the paradox be when African governments are evidently making Diaspora policies, engaging constituents, CSOs and their networks?
There is a saying: If Mohammed cannot go to the Mountain, the Mountain can come to Mohammed. It other words, the Diaspora needs to engage the same Foreign Ministries and Ministers engaging the Diaspora at national levels on what they know about the current exclusion of the Diaspora at AU levels - and how the AU intends to actualize Diaspora programs with no Diaspora representation.
The Member States already incorporating and integrating the Diaspora in their national developments, ahead of the class, linking up across the oceans, deserve positive reinforcements. They remind of Home in Africa: leaving physically but staying materially, emotionally, culturally and spiritually in Africa.
In this Weekend digest, explore Kenya and Nigeria Diaspora trajectories with governments - the policy and gravity.
Have a productive and pleasurable weekend.
Evelyn Joe
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| | | Kenya Launched Foreign and Diaspora Policies in 2015 |
Please inform our Kenya (reminders) and Nigeria Diaspora members on the developments. Stakeholders from other Member States may lobby for same policies. | | | In 2014, President Uhuru Meets Kenya Diaspora: Appreciates Remittance and Diaspora Bond! |
| | | Creating an environment where Kenyan Diaspora is integrated. |
| | | APRIL 7, 2016 in Germany. President Kenyatta guarantees Diaspora Votes and thanked the AU for its solidarity. He spoke in Swahili, too! |
On April 7, 2016, President Kenyatta made a state visit to Berlin, Germany and met with more than 1,000 Kenyans. He promised that his government will deliver a free and fair election in 2017. The president said his government will find money to finance registration of all eligible Kenyans living in the country and abroad, and emphasized that Kenyans at home and in the diaspora have equal rights to register as voters and participate in choosing their future leaders.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the three million Diaspora voters who have attained the voting age are estimates. It is urging the diaspora population to register so their real numbers are known.
"For a long time we have been working with estimates, which has made it difficult to implement specific projects. You do not have to register with the embassies, you can also do it online," Foreign Affairs CS Amina Mohammed said.
Kenyans living in the Diaspora
Commissioner General Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), John Njiraini, addressing members of the press during a media briefing on tax amnesty campaign on rental income. PHOTO.FIDELIS KABUNYI
In Kenya, rental income is taxable under Section 3(2) (a) (iii) of the Income Tax Act while rent on non-residential buildings (Commercial) is also taxable under Section 5 and 6 of the Value Added Tax.
Are you a Kenyan Diaspora individual, a landlord, and worried about the rental income tax introduced by KRA? You can be worry free.
With the Rental Amnesty, Kenyan Diaspora individuals who earn income from renting out their property and who voluntarily disclose undeclared rental income for the year 2014 and 2015, and submit returns shall be given 100% amnesty for interest and penalties upon full payment of the principal tax due. They shall also be granted 100% amnesty for any principal tax, interest, and penalties that may have fallen due for the year 2013 and prior. So no back taxes whatsoever. But you need to act fast. The deadline for the amnesty expires June 30, 2016. Once you are tax compliant you will be issued a Tax Compliance Certificate that ensures that you will not be subjected to further compliance checks for the years 2013 and prior, 2014 and 2015, where expenditure records cannot be supported or are unavailable, landlords will enjoy a deduction of 40% of the gross rental income as expenditure. Last but not least, in case you are unable to pay the tax in lump sum, you will be allowed to pay in installments through 2016. STEP BY STEP GUIDE Click |
| | Nigerian National Assembly Building
Nigerian Presidency (Aso Rock) and with the Nigerian National Assembly set to partner to address Nigerian Diaspora Integration in National Development.
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Left to Right: The Senior Special Assistant to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, presenting a brochure to the Chairman, Senate committee on Diaspora, Senator Rose Oko while Senator Umar Kurfi a member of the committee looks on during a meeting at the National Assembly. Hon. Erewa was a former representative of the Nigerian House of Assembly. She was the Chairman of the House Committee on Media & Publicity. She was also the former Chair of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs.
The Nigerian Presidency is set to partner the National Assembly (NASS) on a new policy to address the needs and integration of Nigerians in the Diaspora in Nigerian development. Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa disclosed the information when she led a delegation to visit the Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora, Senator Rose Oko in Abuja on March 15, 2016. She acknowledged the potentials of Nigerians in the diaspora and indicated that their contributions could not be effectively harnessed without a Diaspora policy and a Commission to carter for Nigerians in the Diaspora. "There is no better time to have Nigerians in Diaspora, collaborating to get the best for Nigeria than now. The issue of Diaspora voting is also important, but that would depend on the National Assembly, if they decide to amend the Constitution to make this possible," she added.
She restated that the economic survival of Nigeria could depend a lot on the Nigerians in the Diaspora, noting that if they were able to remit $21 billion in 2014, they can be able to do more. She said there are "26 countries have formed ministries for the Diaspora, we should not let other countries beat us to it, because ours is part of the largest population."
Nigeria Doubling Up on the Bond to Lure the Diaspora
What is Diaspora Bond? Bonds are a debt security instrument with a maturity of more than one year, which is traded on the financial markets. Diaspora bonds are issued by the country to its own diaspora to tap into their assets in the destination country, as an alternative to borrowing from the international capital market, multilateral finance institutions or bilaterally from governments. The practice goes back to 1930s China and Japan and was later followed by Israel and India in the 1950s.
Diaspora Bonds are an inexpensive way for governments to raise funds. The term "Patriotic discount" was coined to account for the trend where governments have been able to successfully sell bonds to nationals based on patriotism and goodwill. Diaspora communities tend to remain attached to the countries of origin. They can provide much needed long-term deposits that can be a stable source of currency, which can be used for development projects On Tuesday April 19, 2016, the Nigerian House of Representatives unanimously approved President Muhammadu Buhari's request for the increase of the Diaspora Bond from $100 million Euro Bond to $300 million Euro Bond, which will be raised from the international market. The approved bond is captured under the 2016-2018 Federal Government External Borrowing Plan approved by the National Assembly. In its report, the ad hoc committee of the House chaired by Babangida Ibrahim declared that the Diaspora bond was a major means of diversifying the sources of government funding and taking advantage of the large Diaspora population of Nigerians. The report added that the Diaspora bond reduces the interest cost of government's borrowing, as it is an inexpensive way to raise funds for developmental projects adding that proceeds of the issuance would be used to finance capital projects in priority sectors of the economy such as roads, railways, power projects among others.
Nigeria made its debut into the international capital market in January 2011 by the issuance of $500 million Euro bond and subsequently floated another $1 billion Euro bond in July 2013. Ethiopia was the first Member State of the AU to issue the Diaspora Bond. Several Member States are considering issuing Diaspora Bonds several countries are considering and it is a case of effective marketing.
Diaspora bonds are typically used to finance large-scale infrastructure development projects in the private sector and are generally used by a country to implement its development strategy. The proceeds of diaspora bonds could be earmarked to projects with appeal to the diaspora, such as infrastructure projects, housing and social amenities. According to World Bank Bank research, Africa could potentially raise $17 billion annually by using future flows of exports or remittances as collateral.
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