Africa news roundup

28 July to 3 August 2024

Ghana

Gender equality bill passed

The Affirmation Action Gender Equity Bill 2024, which has been in and out of the Parliament since 2011, was finally passed unanimously by Parliament earlier this week. Now awaiting enactment to become a law by Presidential assent it is expected to ensure that a critical number of women hold key positions in governance, public life, and decision-making spaces, thereby improving the lives of women in the country. The bill also seeks to encourage efforts towards addressing socio-cultural, political, economic, and educational gender imbalances in the private and public sectors, per Clause 4 of Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution. The bill, which consists of 34 clauses and six schedules, seeks a 50/50 per cent representation and participation of both women and men in governance, public positions of power, and all decision-making processes of the state.

The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Darkoa Newmann moved the motion for the passage, and it was passed unanimously by the House. Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, however, explained that more still needed to be done to ensure true equity between the genders. “Don’t just celebrate and don’t really put in place the vision that we have created for the country. But more importantly, I hope that members will commit themselves to the constitutional reforms. We need to do more to be able to create this free and just society. We are looking to liberate more of our women to be able to support us to develop Mother Ghana”, the speaker said. The bill seeks to promote the progressive increase and active participation of women in public and active life from a minimum of 30 per cent by 2030, under the requirements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Nigeria

Fire guts Lagos plank market

Property worth millions of naira were destroyed by fire in the early hours of August 1 as fire gutted three shops at the Ladipo Baale Roundabout Plank Market, Orile-Iganmu, Lagos. According to Permanent Secretary Dr Femi Oke-Osanyitolu, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, no deaths were recorded in the incident.

According to Oke-Osanyitolu, further investigations revealed that the inferno started in a pile of planks, due to a power surge, before spreading quickly to three other shops within the market. He said, “No casualties, nor injuries were recorded in the incident. A significant quantity of planks and property, equally worth millions of naira, were salvaged by responders during the operation. “Collaborative efforts of the responders were able to quickly bring the fire under control before it could spread to more shops. The agency’s response team and members of the Plank Market Association are conducting public education on preventive measures, to avoid such incidents in the future.

Kenya

Low inflation recorded

According to new data released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the country recorded a 4.3 per cent year-on-year in July from 4.6 per cent a month earlier. The four-year low was helped by a strong shilling and marginal price reductions in key household costs such as electricity and fuel. This has led to a reduction in transport costs which saw a rise of just 4 per cent in July compared to 7.7 per cent the previous month. The prices of many foods decreased by half a per cent between June and July, but the reprieve did not extend to all categories, with some experiencing sharp increases.

While overall inflation remains under control, increases in other household costs like cooking oil and cooking gas means consumers still need to tighten their budgets. Kenyans took to the streets in a wave of deadly protests over tax hikes and the cost of living in June. President William Ruto was forced to scrap a proposed finance bill containing the increases in response to the demonstrations. Ruto, who was sworn in in September 2022, inherited a battered economy grappling with soaring inflation, a high debt burden, unemployment, and post-Covid 19 stagnation. He has been caught between the demands of lenders such as the International Monetary Fund to cut deficits, and a hard-pressed population reeling from rising costs. Kenya targets an inflation rate of between 2.5 per cent and 7.5 per cent in the medium-term.

Liberia

Former finance minister caught up in corruption allegations

An arrest warrant has been issued for Liberia’s former finance minister following allegations that he was involved in a $500m (£389m) corruption scam. Samuel Tweh along with four other senior officials in former President George Weah’s administration have been indicted for allegedly stealing from the government when they were in office. On Monday, the five former officials were indicted for economic sabotage, illegal disbursement and expenditure of public money, criminal conspiracy and other charges. Tweh, who was previously sanctioned by the US for corruption, called the indictment against him and other former officials a “politically motivated witch-hunt”.

The Government of Liberia has, however, refuted claims by the former Minister of Finance and Development Planning that his writ of arrest is a witch-hunt. The Minister of Information Jerolinmek M. Piah said the reactions from Tweh and others, calling the intervention by the government a witch-hunt and reminding the government about what happened in the twelve years of Ellen Johnson Sir leaf’s administration and focusing on the last six years of Weah’s administration, is attention-grabbing. Piah said the Boakai administration is not witch-hunting anyone. The Weah administration, whose six years in power ended in January, was plagued with allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement. When Boakai took over, he pledged to crack down on corruption.

Sierra Leone

Court finds eleven guilty of treason

A Sierra Leone court has found 11 people guilty of treason and other offences following what authorities call an attempted coup. The leader of the group has been sentenced to almost 200 years in prison, a judiciary spokesman said on Tuesday. The man accused of leading the attack, Amadu Koita Makalo, was sentenced to 182 years in prison on charges of treason, murder and shooting with intent to murder. Makalo is an ex-bodyguard of the former president, Koroma, and has been a vocal critic of the current President Julius Maada Bio on social media. The other 10 were also found guilty of treason and murder and received lengthy prison sentences ranging from 30 to 112 years.

In November 2023, dozens of gunmen broke into the country’s armoury and into a prison where the majority of more than 2,000 inmates were freed. The clashes left 18 security forces dead. Authorities at the time said they arrested around 80 suspects, and a dozen were charged in January, including Koroma who was later granted medical leave. Although officially retired from politics, Koroma remains an influential figure within his political party. Many of those arrested in connection to the attack were former associates of the ex-president.

There have been political tensions in Sierra Leone since Bio’s reelection last year in a vote that the opposition claimed was rigged in his favour. Two months after he was reelected, police said they arrested several people, including senior military officers planning to use protests “to undermine peace”.

South Africa

Leopard attacks on air force base

A leopard was reported to have attacked two men at a South African air force base adjacent to Kruger National Park. According to the air force spokesperson, one man, an air force member in uniform, was attacked while jogging while the other, a civilian working at the base, encountered the leopard during a walk. Both men were hospitalized with scratches but no major injuries. According to the spokesperson Brigadier General Donavan Chetty, one has been discharged, and the other is expected to leave the hospital soon.

The leopard has since been captured and relocated to a sanctuary about 100km (62 miles) from the Hoedspruit air force base, following last week’s incidents. General Chetty noted that while leopard encounters are common for those near the park, they are not usually dangerous. Despite the park being mostly fenced, he explained that leopards can easily bypass fences due to their agility. Around 150 leopards are known to live in the area.

Tanzania

President Hassan swears in new appointees

President Samia Hassan has cautioned government officials on the importance of serving the people and living up to their oaths of office. Speaking after swearing in various leaders, Hassan called on officials to prioritize the interests of citizens and avoid the misuse of power for personal gain and applauded the new appointees for their previous good works. Addressing ministers who have been reassigned to different ministries, Hassan congratulated them on their previous work and encouraged them to continue in the same stead in their new roles.

The ceremony also saw the swearing-in of other key officials, including Deus Sangu as Deputy Minister of State in the President’s Office (Public Service Management and Good Governance); Dennis Londo as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation for East African Affairs; and Cosato Chumi as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation. Other notable appointments included Eliakim Maswi as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs, Mary Makondo as Ruvuma Regional Administrative Secretary and Kiseo Nzowa as Kilimanjaro Regional Administrative Secretary.

Uganda

Human skulls discovered in Mpigi

Seventeen human skulls buried in metal boxes were discovered at a suspected shrine in Kabanga village, near Mpigi in central Uganda on Monday. The discovery was made by children searching for firewood. The children alerted local residents, who informed the police.

Police have begun excavations to ensure no additional remains are buried there and are examining the skulls to determine their age, sex, and burial timeline. The site has since been sealed off as a crime scene. Suspected owner of the shrine Tabula Bbosa Lujja is on the run. Lujja is linked to a separate case involving the murder of a prominent traditional leader, Daniel Bbosa, in February.

Local residents reported that the site was previously used for worship, but there was no prior information about ritual murders. Residents expressed shock at the discovery, noting that while gatherings at the site were common, there was no prior indication of ritualistic activities. The community has been urged to stay calm as the investigation continues. No arrests have been made, yet, and police are working to gather more information and to determine who is responsible. Information Minister Israel Kazibwe Kitooke of Buganga Kingdom condemned the practice of human sacrifice as abhorrent in Ganda culture and called for a thorough investigation.

Zambia

Hichilema meets with elected representatives

President Hakainde Hichilema has met with mayors and town council chairpersons across the nation to deliberate on the way forward in the proper administration of Zambia. Hichilema emphasized that achieving these goals requires embracing the concept of teamwork between central and local government, and within the communities they serve. He highlighted the opportunities presented by the country’s debt restructuring, the rejuvenated mining sector, and the enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which will see a further increase in 2025. He urged the officials to ensure development is delivered to every citizen without bureaucratic delays and discrimination.

Speaking on behalf of the 63 civic leaders, Vincent Lilanda, president of the Local Government Association of Zambia, praised the impact of the CDF and its major role in accelerating development in various parts of the country. “The CDF has changed the way development is delivered to the people”, Lilanda said. This meeting and the directives from Hichilema underscore the government’s commitment to enhancing service delivery, promoting accountability, and ensuring that development reaches all corners of Zambia.

Malawi

Micheal Usi appointed as vice-president

Comedian-turned-politician Micheal Usi has been sworn as Malawi’s vice-president in the capital, Lilongwe. Former vice president, Saulos Chilima, died in a plane crash along with eight other people last month. Usi received a standing ovation when he spoke after his inauguration, saying he accepted the role with a mixture of sadness and gratitude. He promised to honour his predecessor’s memory and thanked President Lazarus Chakwera for believing in him as he took up his position as vice-president in the power-sharing government.

Meanwhile, his appointment has left Malawians divided. Some have questioned whether he is serious enough to take up such a senior role considering his profession as a comedian whiles others however have praised Chakwera for appointing Chilima’s party deputy and honouring the spirit of the alliance between their two parties. Usi still plays in popular TV sitcom Tikuferanji. He has been a staple on national radio and television for more than two decades making him one of the most recognizable local celebrities. Usi has also been a passionate advocate for developing and promoting Malawi’s film industry.

Eswatini

Taiwanese trade mission to collaborate with local businesses

Businesses in Eswatini stand to benefit from a unique merger between Taiwanese suppliers. The merger will facilitate an introduction of a trade mission to the sub-Saharan region through the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA). Scheduled for August 10 to 25, the trade mission will visit Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar and Eswatini. Local businesses will have the opportunity to book a 30-minute meeting for a session with the suppliers.

The initiative aims to foster partnerships between Taiwanese manufacturers and businesses in these African nations. About 11 distinguished Taiwanese companies representing diverse sectors such as automotive parts, hardware, electronics, furniture, textile and more will participate in the mission. Businesses will be expected to showcase their latest technologies and innovative products through one-on-one trade meetings.

Rwanda

China ready to boost military ties

Ambassador Wang Xuekun, China’s envoy to Rwanda, has said his country is ready to work with Rwanda to boost relations between the two nations’ militaries. He noted this on July 31 as the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda hosted a celebration to mark the 97th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

In his remarks, Amb Xuekun praised the bilateral relations which are growing stronger and faster. Captain (Navy) Li Dayi pointed out that China and Rwanda are peace-loving countries that are contributing to international peacekeeping operations and that he will keep promoting the pragmatic cooperation between PLA and RDF.

Delivering his keynote speech, Major General John Baptist Ngiruwonsanga, the Commandant of Rwanda Defence Force General Headquarters, emphasized the shared commitment to the values of liberation and mutual respect for both countries, adding that the gathering was not only to commemorate the remarkable journey of the PLA but also to recognize the profound ideals of liberation that guided its path. “The story of the PLA is a testament to the enduring spirit of courage and resilience in the face of adversity, embodying the core principles of liberation and justice that resonate deeply across the global community,” he said. The two countries have conducted extensive exchanges and cooperation in political, economic, cultural, people-to-people as well as international affairs.