11 July 2021
South Africa: Zuma supporters showed their anger about the ex-president’s imprisonment by torching 25 lorries, looting shops and blocking roads with burning barricades in Kwa Zulu Natal.
BBC Africa Latest Update 11 July 2021. 6:59
Kenya: In this “Letter from Africa”, Kenyan journalist Joseph Warungu describes Kenyatta, Ruto and Odinga – the country’s top three politicians – as a married couple (Kenyatta-Ruto) respectively love triangle (plus Odinga), following the relationships since their beginning and trying to see where they’ll go in the future. The original deal, that Kenyatta would back Ruto for the coming two presidencies seems to be off. Could a Luo become president? So far, only Kikuyu and Kalenjin have sat on the throne. In the meantime, the country’s economy is in dire straits.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57666911
Ethiopia: Prime minister Abiy's Prosperity Party has won 410 out of 436 seats at the recent parliamentary elections. Due to insecurity and logistical problems, these elections could not be held in a fifth of the country – in these parts (with the exception of Tigray) another round of elections is due on 6th of September and a new government is to be formed in October. Abiy is thus assured of another five years in office. “However, there are concerns about the election's integrity.” While state-affiliated Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said there were “no serious or widespread human rights violations”, it had noted in preliminary reports that there had been “improper” arrests, voter intimidation, harassment of observers and journalists and, in Oromia, several killings just before the elections.
BBC Africa 10 July 2021. 21:11
Nigeria: Emir Alhassan Adamu Kajuru, an 85 year old Muslim leader who oversees religious activities in Kaduna has been kidnapped in an overnight raid along with 12 relatives, five women and a baby of just a few months among them. The emir “had received a tip off about the attack and had asked the Nigerian military to send some soldiers. But they never came.”
BBC Africa Latest Update 11 July 2021. 10:21
10 July 2021
Angola: A single mark on a single ballot paper is how Angolans vote for their president, deputy president and members of parliament all in one go. In fact they vote for parties that have established lists and the person top of the list of the winning party becomes President, the person second on the same list becomes vice-president. This has several disadvantages, first of all that voters cannot split their votes for presidency and parliament. Also, since they vote for party lists and not individuals, there is a problem of personal accountability of members of parliament. According to the article’s author, the electoral system thus needs to be reformed.
https://theconversation.com/angolas-peculiar-electoral-system-needs-reforms-how-it-could-be-done-163528
Men & unpaid care work: The part taken of unpaid care work taken on by men clearly needs to increase. This is underlined by the recent report “State of the World’s Fathers 2021: Structural Solutions to Achieve Equality in Care Work”. The article lists the seven actions that can help increase fathers’ share in care work. One of them is providing “equal, job-protected, fully paid parental leave for all parents”. There is some good news from South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania – but a lot more needs to be done.
https://theconversation.com/unpaid-care-work-still-falls-on-women-seven-steps-that-could-shift-the-balance-163908
Development: Top-down development may be harmful seen from below. The article gives a couple of examples. Roads may fragment communal rangelands and turn these lands into contested resources for private use, harming pastoralists. Wildlife conservation often causes conflict with local communities. People’s voices ought to be heard and to be incorporated into planning and action.
https://theconversation.com/resolving-tensions-between-global-development-goals-and-local-aspirations-162455
Ecology: Knowledge production also needs decolonisation. Look, for example, at how many birds (plants, animals and towns) are named after European surnames: the further you get away from Europe, the more. To decolonise ecology, the article’s three authors suggest five shifts: “decolonising minds; understanding histories; improving access to knowledge; recognising expertise; and working in inclusive teams”.
https://theconversation.com/five-shifts-to-decolonise-ecological-science-or-any-field-of-knowledge-161750