insert_link Business / Economics South Africa’s national student financial aid scheme has helped millions but is in trouble: here’s why South Africa’s minister of higher education and training, Blade Nzimande. Darren Stewart/Gallo Images via Getty Images By Thandi Lewin, University of Johannesburg The board of South Africa’s National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has been dissolved by the country’s higher education and training minister, Blade Nzimande, and the organisation placed under administration. Nzimande made the decision because of “(the problem of) non-payment of (students’) allowances”. Thandi Lewin is […] todayMay 6, 2024 10
insert_link Business / Economics Will Solomon Islands’ new leader stay close to China? By Priestley Habru, University of Adelaide and Claudina Habru, University of Adelaide Former foreign minister Jeremiah Manele has been elected the next prime minister of Solomon Islands, defeating the opposition leader, Matthew Wale, in a vote in parliament. The result is a mixed bag for former prime minister Manasseh Sogavare’s Ownership, Unity and Responsibility (OUR) Party. The party won just 15 of 50 seats in last month’s […] todayMay 3, 2024 9
insert_link 2 Opinion Pieces Reflection on local content policies: A catalyst for Namibia’s economic development and growth Opinion piece By Josef Kefas Sheehama On April 16–18, 2024, in Lüderitz, the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) and Antila Consultancy organized a local content oil and gas conference with the theme, "Empowering Namibia's Energy Ambitions by Connecting Industry and Indigenous Talent." According to Article 100 of Namibia's Constitution that, " Land, water, and natural resources below and above the surface of the land […] todayApril 24, 2024 7 2
insert_link Africa Chad’s election outcome already seems set: 4 things Mahamat Déby has done to stay in power By Helga Dickow, University of Freiburg Chad’s presidential election campaigns officially kicked off on Sunday 14 April 2024 in the capital city, N'Djamena. Transitional president Mahamat Idriss Déby held a large meeting on the Place de la Nation directly in front of the presidential palace. In attendance were members of the government, the military and various political parties, identifiable, in the blistering heat, by their different […] todayApril 24, 2024 7
insert_link Business / Economics South Africa’s security forces once brutally entrenched apartheid. It’s been a rocky road to reform By Sandy Africa, University of Pretoria One of the important tasks that faced South Africa’s democratic government after 1994 was to reform the apartheid-era security apparatus. The African National Congress (ANC), which was voted into power, had a laudable vision in the 1990s for reforming the police, military and intelligence services. Determined that South Africans would never again be subject to the brutality of the security forces, […] todayApril 22, 2024 5
insert_link Namibia Consultative meeting on public finance’s draft Bill underway at Otjiwarongo A one-day consultative meeting on the Public Finance Management’s Draft Bill, which is aimed at repealing the Finance State Act of 1991, officially commenced Thursday morning at Otjiwarongo. The meeting is being attended by chief executive officers from the local authority councils of Otjozondjupa and Kunene regions, as well as the directors in finance division and departments at the two regional councils. Some traditional authority leaders from the […] todayApril 18, 2024 16
insert_link Africa Togo’s opposition denounces proposed new constitution The opposition in Togo has denounced a proposed new constitution as a power grab, intended to extend the reign of President Faure Gnassingbé. According to the BBC, the reforms would see the West African country move from a presidential to a parliamentary system. But the opposition says they are a ruse to keep Mr Gnassingbé - already in his fourth term - in power. todayApril 17, 2024 2
insert_link Africa Political analyst weigh in on the rise of young Presidents in Africa Senegal’s new President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has pledged to govern with humility and transparency and vowed to "fight corruption at every level", rebuild institutions, and tackle the cost-of-living crisis. Faye, who is 44, is one of Africa's youngest Presidents. Political Analyst Rakkel Andreas says the continent is seeing a rise in young people taking over from the stalwarts of African democracy. todayApril 10, 2024 14
insert_link Africa South Africa’s conservation model: why expanding the use of biodiversity to generate money is a good idea By Hayley Clements, Stellenbosch University; Alta De Vos, Stellenbosch University, and Matthew Child, University of Pretoria South Africa’s government is calling for public comments on an updated version of its existing biodiversity economy plan. The National Biodiversity Economy Strategy aims to conserve biodiversity while also contributing to job creation and economic growth. It proposes to do this by promoting sustainable use of the country’s natural resources. The strategy […] todayApril 8, 2024 10
Paying it forward: Kenyan coastal doctor Bashrahil Mohammed Mafudh has made it his life’s work to care for the most vulnerable in his community, at no cost.
