Congratulations On 50 Years of Independence

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BuaNews (Tshwane) Nthambeleni Gabara 28 April 2011 Pretoria — The City of Tshwane will become the largest metropolitan municipality in the country after the 18 May local government elections when it incorporates the Metsweding District Municipality. This was confirmed by the city's Executive Mayor, Kgosientso Ramokgopa when presenting his first budget speech and the Medium-Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF) for the 2011/12,2012/13 and 2013/14 financial years on Thursday. "When Metsweding with its local municipalities, Nokeng tsa Taemane and Kungwini become part of the city, the new City of Tshwane will become the largest metropolitan municipality in South Africa, comprising of an area of 6 368km2 and a population of just over 2.5 million." He said this formed part of the proposed amendments of borders by the Gauteng Provincial Government, which will lead to the disestablishment of the Metsweding District Municipality

German Information Centre (Pretoria)

28 April 2011

press release

On April 27, 2011, the West African Republic of Sierra Leone celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence.

Parliamentary State Secretary in the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Gudrun Kopp stated,”Allow me to congratulate you! We share in the joy of Sierra Leone on its 50 years of independence.”

She further highlighted that “since the end of the decade-long civil war in 2002, great successes were achieved in stabilizing the political and economic landscapes.

As a result Sierra Leone has steadily improved its placement on the United Nations Human Development Index since 2004 by moving up twelve places from from last place.” Market scene in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Germany presently supports the Government of Sierra Leone in creating employment and income opportunities for young adults. As a result German development cooperation directly contributes to the creation of future prospects for young people.

Special emphasis is placed on the creation of small and micro-enterprises, skills development for young people, financing of infrastructure projects such as service roads, markets and warehouses. In order to speed up investments the Ministry is also involved in establishing an efficient lending system that will grant micro and small enterprises access to credit.

German-Sierra Leonean development cooperation has seen many successes. Local economic development was revived by encouraging “value chains”. This involves, for example in cocoa production, that workers can obtain qualifications, as well as consultation on the cultivation, processing, storage and distribution of cocoa.

Through this initiative 10 000 cocoa farmers have already increased their annual income by 30 percent to approximately 650 Euro per year. In addition, 8 400 people, who were either displaced as a result of the civil war or had to work in diamond mines, could be reintegrated in their home villages and were able to find suitable employment.

Germany is one of Sierra Leone’s most important development partners. Germany’s financial support currently amounts to 12.5 million Euro per year.

Since Sierra Leone’s independence the German Government has made available a total amount of 279 million Euro in bilateral development assistance.

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Congratulations On 50 Years of Independence