Across Africa in five minutes or less

AFRICA

From Tunisia to South Africa, the pandemic has reopened or exposed existing economic and political challenges. Failures to tackle unemployment, debt, rising poverty and inequalities are leading to social unrest, with no end to the health crisis in sight. As the third wave takes a grip across Africa, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned the gap between rich and poor nations is widening.

NIGERIA

The National Assembly is carrying out its fifth amendment to Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution The National Assembly is currently amending the 1999 constitution. This would be the fifth alteration to the main Nigerian law. Lawmakers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives committees on constitution review had in May and June organised public hearings across the country’s six geopolitical zones, as part of the amendment process. Many agencies, institutions, groups and individuals submitted memoranda and appeared before the panel to make or defend their submissions.

SOUTH SUDAN

Attempts to ignite a popular uprising by civil society groups in South Sudan was off to a rocky start. Calling itself the People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA), the group launched a public campaign dubbed “We have had enough” in Juba on July 31 for political change, claiming that the ruling Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) has failed after 10 years of independence. The civil society is seeking public pressure to oust SPLM regime like their counterpart did in Sudan, bringing an end to Omar al Bashir leadership.

KENYA

Twice in three months, some junior police officers in Murang’a South have written a protest letter to the regional commissioner alleging harassment by the area’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations officer (DCIO). They allege that David Cheruiyott threatens to investigate them if they refuse to help him advance his interests. The letter claims Mr Cheruiyott’s interests are in liquor businesses and political formations. In one instance, Mr Cheruiyott is accused of leaking real estate-related investigations to Maragua MP Mary Wa Maua, insider information that was used during an incident on Tuesday at Kaharate.

TANZANIA

Maize imports from Tanzania jumped more than sixfold to 118,329 bags in May on the back of President Samia Suluhu’s visit to Kenya that saw Dar and Nairobi reach a deal to lift a ban that had been put in place. Kenya’s Agriculture ministry says the volumes jumped from 16,137 bags in April to a monthly record of 118,329 in May after President Samia and her Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta reached a bilateral deal to abolish the restrictions that Nairobi had imposed on Tanzanian maize.

UGANDA

The parliamentary taskforce on Covid-19 response has faulted the National Medical Stores (NMS), and the Health ministry on ignoring the plight of frontline medical workers across the country. The MPs in the report released to Parliament on Tuesday, said the two institutions had failed to supply medics with enough personal protective equipment (PPEs) against Covid-19. In their countrywide fact-finding report, the MPs also said essential medicines for treating Covid-19 patients were in short supplies in many health units, and that patients had been forced to buy them from private facilities.

ZIMBABWE

Ahead of the country’s Heroes Day, President Mnangagwa has honoured outstanding Zimbabweans who have raised the country’s flag high in various fields. In a Government Gazzette, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda announced that outstanding Zimbabweans will be honoured under the new set of awards that were introduced by the Second Republic. Previously, only members of the uniformed forces could be conferred with such national awards and honours but in yet another first, the New Dispensation has extended the honour to civilians.

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