Parliament greenlights Access to Information Act (ATI) implementation

Parliament greenlights Access to Information Act (ATI) implementation

The Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, thanked Parliament for approving the access to communication regulations and enabling the implementation of the Access to Information Act of 2022. The ATI Act mandates the appointment of an independent information commissioner and deputy commissioner. The legislation, signed by late President Hage Geingob, aims to strengthen public access to information from both public and private institutions. MICT spokesperson, Shoki Kandjimi, unpacks […]

August 8, 2024 21

Namibia

Oshana forum discusses anti-corruption strategy

Governor of the Oshana region, Elia Irimari has addressed the Oshana Regional Forum. The Governor pointed out that corruption undermines economic development, erodes trust in public institutions, and hinders social progress. His remarks were made in the context of discussing the implementation of the 2024 National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) completed an evaluation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan 2016-2019. The strategy […]

August 6, 2024 42

South Africa

Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech to parliament listed South Africa’s old problems – but no new solutions

By Vinothan Naidoo, University of Cape Town South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s opening of parliament speech successfully captured the spirit of a diverse and cohesive multi-party government ready to get down to work. But it failed to tell South Africans how the new dispensation will do things differently, and better. In the May 2024 national and provincial elections, Ramaphosa’s African National Congress party received just […]

July 22, 2024 13

Africa

Kenya’s protests are different this time: 3 things that make it harder for government to crush them

By Awino Okech, SOAS, University of London On 25 June 2024, a youth-led protest primarily composed of Gen Zs, as they are popularly referred to, stormed Kenya’s parliament. Legislators voted to pass the Finance Bill 2024 in its third and last reading ahead of presidential assent. This was the second countrywide protest over the proposed taxes in the draft law and excesses in government […]

July 8, 2024 19

Africa

The IMF is failing countries like Kenya: why, and what can be done about it

By Danny Bradlow, University of Pretoria The recent Kenyan protests are a warning that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is failing. The public does not think it is helping its member countries manage their economic and financial problems, which are being exacerbated by a rapidly changing global political economy. To be sure, the IMF is not the only cause of Kenya’s problems with raising […]

July 3, 2024 9

Africa

Kenyan police and protests: researchers on a violent, corrupt security force that’s beyond reform

By Moina Spooner, The Conversation Kenya’s police are being criticised for their violent response to protests over the past week against government proposals to raise US$2.7 billion in additional taxes. Hundreds of thousands of people, across 35 of Kenya’s 37 counties, have poured out onto the streets in opposition to the tax hikes. The police have reacted with force, using live bullets and […]

June 26, 2024 22

Africa

South Africa’s coalition government – making the case for hope

By Brian Levy, Johns Hopkins University In the aftermath of South Africa’s recent election, renewed hope has made an unexpected appearance. In difficult times, even small gains can be valuable. But, on occasion, much more is possible. Small gains can feed on each other; momentum can build; a virtuous spiral can take hold. This may be such a moment. It’s not ordinarily a […]

June 26, 2024 14

South Africa

South African parliament meets as ANC nears coalition deal

By Julie BOURDIN, with Zama LUTHULI in Johannesburg South Africa's newly elected parliament met Friday and was expected to re-elect President Cyril Ramaphosa to form an unprecedented coalition government as his humbled ANC raced to cobble together a deal. Chief Justice Raymond Zondo opened the first sitting of South Africa's seventh parliament since the advent of post-apartheid democracy in 1994, swearing in MPs in batches […]

June 14, 2024 28

Namibia

Namibian youth turn backs on political parties, survey reveals

https://youtu.be/xWLE28d7Arw By Valeria Handobe Owner of Survey Warehouse Christie Keulder says that young Namibians are distancing themselves from political parties, with many stating that they no longer feel close to any party. This follows a survey conducted by Afrobarometer in March this year, which revealed that only 56% of young people voted during the 2019 national election. Afrobarometer is a pan-African non-partisan survey research network […]

June 7, 2024 15