There has been a bumper rainy season and all over the nation certain farmers are claiming that they will enjoy a bumper harvest. These are the lucky ones because unfortunately many farmers all over The Gambia are suffering because of a lack of resources, fertiliser and equipment. We have in recent days seen and announcement from the Central Bank of The Gambia that economic growth is forecast to reach 6.5% for the year 2008. We must begin to ensure that this growth benefits all the people of The Gambia and not just the wealthy few at the top. The prediction is premised on a “strong rebound in agricultural output and the continued growth of the construction industry”.  We must assume that the “strong rebound” mentioned is restricted to the larger wealthier farmers because all through the regions the smaller farmers are suffering because of the constraints mentioned above.

Even the simple matter of weeding is made far more difficult by a lack of equipment. If a tractor is used, the depth of sod that is turned over is far greater and as a result it takes a much longer time for the grasses and weeds to grow back through the soil meaning that farmers can spend the intervening time using their energy for other chores. When the humble hoe is used then the sod is not as deep and the weeds and grasses grow back more quickly meaning that many more man-hours are wasted weeding again very soon afterwards.

Coupled with this reality is the issue of seed and fertiliser costs. Many farmers are struggling to meet these costs and their crop is suffering as a result.

We must ensure that we spread the wealth of this nation to benefit all people. We must empower our farmers and ensure that they can get optimum use out of their land for their benefit, that of their families and the benefit of the nation. Economic growth is certainly good news for The Gambia but we must ensure that it is also good new for all our citizens.

"We have pulled out of any peace talks, we have not disarmed so there really is no progress since Henry's arrest," the spokesman for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) who goes by the name of Jomo Gbomo wrote in an e-mail to IRIN on 13 April.

MEND is an alliance of militant groups claiming to fight for an increase in the percentage of wealth that the people of the Niger Delta get from the oil that is being exploited in their region.

Gbomo said that militants would target oil installations even if the oil companies repair pipe lines. “It only takes a few minutes to destroy what took years to build."

Prior to Okah's arrest, leaders of the militants had agreed to a temporary ceasefire. In August 2007 the newly-elected government of Umaru Yar'Adua initiated peace talks in Nigeria’s capital Abuja.

But in September Okah was arrested in Angola and by December the militants called back the people negotiating on their behalf. The negotiators pledged to return by January but the talks remain on hold.

Okah was extradited to Nigeria in February to face charges of arms dealing, oil bunkering and treason. MEND then issued a statement saying that it would not participate in future negotiations until Okah’s release or take part in a proposed Niger Delta Peace Summit that has been repeatedly delayed.

Unifying the enemy

The militants in the MEND alliance had become fragmented in recent year but Okah's arrest may now be unifying them, a professor of political science in Port Harcourt, Elias Courson, told IRIN. "Okah has enemies and friends in the Niger Delta," Courson said. "But [by arresting him] the government is rallying support for him."

One of the more violent and well-organised militias led by Ateke Tom, whom MEND says is not in the alliance, said he too would boycott further talks. "The government cannot arrest people while continuing to make peace talks,” an anonymous representative of Tom said. “[Ateke believes that Okah] should be released in order not to aggravate tensions in the region."

Secret trial

Militants say they are outraged by a court decision to make the trial secret. Local human rights groups disapprove of the proceedings.

"The people of this country should have the benefit of knowing what happened and if indeed he has committed those crimes including treason, how he did that," Isaac Osuoka, director of Social Action in Port Harcourt, told IRIN.

Okah’s defence team will challenge the decision of a closed hearing on 22 April. The government’s prosecutor argues that a public trial would be a threat to security.

Who’s the man?

Okah is thought to be the original spokesperson for MEND that goes by the name of Jomo Gbomo and who has made hundreds of statements to the press over the years, claiming responsibility for the countless attacks and kidnappings in the Delta.

But the accusations against him focus on arms dealing. In October 2007, a former militia leader Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, who was himself arrested for treason, published an open letter detailing his relationship with Okah, recounting numerous weapons purchases starting in 2003. "We… coined him at the time 'Master of Arms' from where many now call him Master," Dokubo-Asari stated in the letter.

Okah is also accused of having arms dealing connections with the Nigerian military. One of the charges that he faces is that he bought arms from the Nigerian Army Ordinance Depot in Kaduna and took them to the Niger Delta.

Army goes free

MEND says that the real reason the government is keeping the trail secret is to protect its own. "There are many top people in the past and present government that will prefer Okah dead because of their complicity in oil bunkering, political assassinations, and other hard facts that we know about and which Okah will have no qualms in speaking out about in an open court of law," said the current MEND spokesman who also uses the name Jomo Gbomo.

On 27 March, Human Rights Watch issued a statement on the issue. "Although the federal government recently charged prominent militant commander and alleged arms dealer Henry Okah with treason, this is not a meaningful gesture against impunity if the government's political allies are not prosecuted for their role in perpetrating similar crimes," the statement read.

James Murehwa, 32, is a foreign currency dealer on the illegal parallel market. He hopes President Robert Mugabe will be re-elected in the 29 March elections.

"I completed high school in 1998 and since then I have been a foreign currency dealer. I did not go for any professional training because I did not have anybody to finance further studies.

"While I do not agree with the policies of the present government, I realise that my trade is thriving in an abnormal economic environment … I own two top of the range vehicles and an apartment, which I have just paid for. Very few people of my age in formal employment have acquired the kind of wealth I have.

"I have also started importing vehicles for local companies which have no foreign currency. I then charge them very high prices in local currency, buy foreign currency from fellow dealers, then import more vehicles.

"I will certainly vote for ZANU-PF and Mugabe and I know many fellow forex dealers who would prefer the status quo to remain. If the situation normalises, then most of us will be stranded because [our lack of educational qualifications] would make it difficult to be absorbed into formal employment.

"I think it will be a while before the situation becomes completely normal. [But] the only difference may be that we will no longer be making the super profits that we have been making. Zimbabweans are survivors. We will come up with an alternative for making money."

Source: IRIN

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Zakat

Zakat is a fundamental pillar of Islam.  It is important to remind wealthy Muslims of the significance of this Pillar, which requires them to give out a portion of their wealth to Allah.

Zakat is an important pillar that is ordained by Allah.  It is a way of purifying one’s wealth and also to secure it.  It is an obligation which has to be performed by all Muslims.

It has been mentioned 82 times in the Quran.  The reason why Zakat is obligatory is given in both the Quran and the hadith.  It is said that it started in the early days of Islam in Mecca.  But during that time the amount of wealth to be given out was not limited.  People just gave out Zakat as they wished.  A large number of scholars agreed that a regulation was made as to how much one should give out for Zakat.

This regulation is called Nisab.  The Quran however clearly states the authority given to the Prophet by Allah, in order to collect Zakat from his people.

Sura Tawba V.103-105 states: of their wealth take alms, that so thou mightest purify and sanctify them, and pray on their behalf, verily their prayers are a source of security for them: and Allah is one who heareth and knoweth.  Know they not that Allah doth accept repentance from this votaries and receives their gifts of charity, and that Allah is verily he, the oft-returning, most merciful? And say: work (righteousness) soon will Allah observe your work and this messenger, and the believers.  Soon will ye be brought back to the knower of what is hidden and what is open.

Then will he show you the truth of all that they did.

Zakat is again mentioned in Sura Nur V.56: So establish regular prayer and give Zakat and obey the messenger.  That ye may receive mercy.

In the hadith the Prophet (SAWs) revealed that those followers of Allah who pray five times, keep the fast in the month of Ramadan, give out Zakat, and avoid any thing Allah pro-hibits, will have the gates of heaven opened for them when they die.

The Prophet also stressed that Zakat should be given out so that one’s wealth can be purified and secured.

Give out alms to get away from sickness is stated in the hadith.  So therefore, it is necessary for us to give out alms make supplications so that we can be saved from evil and santa.

Those entitled to Zakat would definitely be the heedy.  Sura Tanba v.60 states: Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds): for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to truth): for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah: and for the way farer: (Thus it is) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of know ledge and wisdom.

So many scholars are convinced that the need for Zakat is to assist the poor man’s problems.

Consequently, Zakat should not be sent to distant places while those needy and close to you are suffering.  Some even say that the Zakat should not be taken or sent more than 80 kms away from one’s residence, except the needy are not in your area.

In many Muslim countries, you have what are called Zakat houses, and they are places where Zakats are taken to. The officers in charge of these houses would then distribute the gifts to the poor and the needy.

The Gambia being a small country, people tend to know each other.  Consequently, it is very easy for the wealthy, the well to do, to identify the needy and the poor and give them their Zakat.

All Muslims should pay Zakat, taking into consideration that whatever you have is from Allah, and he is capable of taking it from you at anytime and in anyway.

Sura Tauba v.34-35.. And there are those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah:

anounce into them a most grievous chastisementy.  On the day when it will be heated in the fire of hell, and with it will be Branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, this is the (treasure) which ye hoarded for your selves taste ye, then, the (treasures) ye hoarded for yourselves: taste ye, then the (treasures) ye hoarded. 

The Almighty wants Zakat to be  given out when healthy and strong as stated in Sura Munafiqun v.10. And spend something (in charity) out of the substance which we have bestowed on you, before death should come to any of you and he should say, O my Lord!  Why didst thou not give me respite for a little while?  I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good “But to no avail will Allah grant respite when the time appointed (for it) has come and Allah is well acquainted with (all) that ye do.”