Contador Harrison

East African Community has a market of more than 136 million people and is said to be one of the fastest-growing regional economies in the world offering immense opportunities. Since EAC took effect, it has extended the free flow of goods in the Eastern region of Africa to the free flow of services, skilled labor, investment and capital although some countries have not effectively embraced the idea. So for all purposes, the EAC is similar to the European Union including the monetary union being signed in Kampala today by the head of states of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. But for the five countries to enjoy the benefits of the EAC, its companies and people must be able to compete and be ready. When barriers to goods, services and skilled labor were removed, East African companies have been able to easily enter new markets with Kenyan companies venturing in all five countries markets including South Sudan. Companies have found it easier to operate in the regi...

Tablet devices have become the newest addition to the education system in East African schools. Both private and organizations like churches and Islamic owned schools in the region are embracing technology by allowing bring-your-own-device for learning purposes. The Student’s Bring Your Own Device Policy in countries like Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania has allowed students to connect personally owned mobile devices running on the school’s wi-fi networks and option where parents pays for data bundles although that has so far remained a preserve of the wealthiest. Mobile data enabled tablets are among the list of devices being used by students together with smartphones and phablets. However, there have been complaints about myriad of challenges facing such initiatives such as accessories and repair warranties that were said to be getting in the way of economies of scale. Essentially parents go and buy the devices with their own money and then hand to their sons and daughters in ...

I have always trusted that Africa can break the alienation and empower its young Africans to overcome adversity and I believe the current crop of leaders and population understands how it can be done. Ask anyone in Australia about the aborigine youths’ situation and they will inform you that famed drug gangs of 1980s New York lived a better life than 21 st century aborigines who account for more than 70% incarcerations in Australia. Majority of the haves have failed to look at have not (African youths) circumstances through a different lens. In countries like Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa, the top cream population have turned themselves into experts at quantifying disadvantages and by investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual researches that tells the world how youths in Africa cannot prosper after they factor in cooked up educational and social economic indicators that makes a illiterate buffoon look like a professor. Half-baked researchers from both...

Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook have emerged as the new meeting points for criminals in East Africa a trend that has baffled security agencies in the region. While some might think of crime activities as happening in secret locations, social media platforms are helping make such wars more public than ever before. Study conducted recently revealed that youthful criminal members have been making threats and violent statements on Twitter or Facebook and even worse threatening their victims without any fear although most of them use fake identities. I came across this piece that basically describes how even underage trolls do not like the crime occurring over anything meaningful. “A couple of young girls that need to be raped, plus a resistance, plus sex equals tomb material,” Kabena K****** says bluntly. “This is a f***ing 18-year-old a**hole statement.” More of these criminal acts are happening online and much so the authorities in the region have failed to ...

African Governments need to educate Internet users on how best to protect their digital lives and promote cyber security and safe online practices to create a safer digital experience. Studies have shown in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya social networks, popular websites, mobile app stores and downloads for games and poker accounts for more than 80% of time spent online by young are the most highly risky and prone to cyber crime. In South Africa and Nigeria, theft of identity, spammers, hackers and other cyber crooks are increasingly threatening South Africans and Nigerians digital lives. All Africans need to become part of the solution if the continent is to overcome the rising threat of cybercrime. The continent has suffered losses amounting to more than $3 billion in just three years and it looks like its only getting worse. A total of 78,200 incidents related to online security issues were reported in 2012, a 43% jump from 2011. Multiple studies have indicated ...