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Daily podcast – February 14, 2013.

14th February 2013

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February 14, 2013.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane.

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Making headlines:

The National Development Plan is expected to be the main thrust of the 2013 State of the Nation Address.

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The Kenyan elections are expected to spur economic gain but also inflation.

And, National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel urges South Africans to own the country’s development.

 

The National Development Plan is expected to be the main thrust of President Jacob Zuma's state-of-the-nation address on Thursday night. The NDP, which was produced by the National Planning Commission in the presidency, was endorsed by all political parties in the National Assembly last year.

Earlier this week, the presidency said all government programmes and plans for this year would be aligned to the NDP. Some of the key factors in the plan are job creation, infrastructure and education.

The DA has called on Zuma, in his address, to show leadership, and provide clear deadlines for implementation of promises made.

Meanwhile, former presidents Thabo Mbeki and FW de Klerk are among the people invited to attend this year's state-of-the-nation address.

 

Campaign spending in a closely-fought presidential vote in Kenya will give a brief boost to east Africa's largest economy before the gain turns to pain if inflation accelerates as a result and the currency takes a dive.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga leads opinion polls in the presidential polls, the first since the 2007 vote, which was marred by widespread violence. Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta is running a close second in the March 4 race, which has sparked a spending spree by both sides in a tense contest that has attracted other presidential candidates who also have money to burn even if their chances of victory are remote.

Independent analyst Aly Khan Satchu said the campaign spending could range between $400-million to $500-million.  The campaign expenditure would equate to roughly 1.5% of the country's gross domestic product.

 

National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel says South Africans need to take ownership of the country’s development. The remarks follow Manuel’s visit to Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain outside Cape Town as part of popularising the National Development Plan (or NDP) ahead of the State of the Nation Address by President Jacob Zuma on Thursday.

Manuel, who was accompanied by National Planning Commission deputy chairperson and businessperson, Cyril Ramaphosa, said South Africans from all walks of life needed to “take ownership” of the document.

The two visited community gardening projects in Khayelitsha, where they encouraged communities to grown their own food. Manuel said food security formed an important part of the NDP, adding that part of what government needed to do was to encourage cooperatives, which would produce food for both households and the commercial markets.

Manuel emphasised that chief to the development plan was ensuring that government encouraged rapidly growing local economies. He added that the government couldn’t do things on behalf of the people; however, it also couldn’t expect people to do things without support. The plan is largely premised on getting active citizenry, he said.

 

Also making headlines:

 

Analysts say the ANC’s internal structures are flawed.

A report by global business and audit advisory firm Grant Thornton has confirmed that South Africa remains the highest-ranked African emerging economy with Nigeria creeping up in second place.

Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has announced that general elections are expected in July.

And, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry calls for President Jacob Zuma to restore confidence in South Africa through the State of the Nation Address.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.

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