Zimbabwe Provides a Shoulder to Cry On
Health experts say globally there has been an increase in anxiety and depression as people struggle to cope with COVID-19 and job losses. Some grandmothers in Zimbabwe are offering free therapy sessions to tackle these mental health difficulties during the coronavirus lockdown. This is part of an initiative called the Friendship Bench. SOURCE: AL JAZEERA
Tanzanian Recyclers Adapt to New Normal
A recycling plant in Tanzania’s port city of Dar es Salaam has traded paper for plastic bottles and started making anti-coronavirus face shields that are being snatched up by hospitals and health centres nationwide. Until earlier this year, Zaidi Recyclers had a thriving business in processing waste paper which it exported to customers in China […]
Somali Women Swim against the Tide
Like most women in this business, Fardowsa Ahmed depends on men to catch the fish. Men dominate the fishing sector. It is considered “men’s work” in Somali society. But Ahmed is determined to push her way in. Ahmed was introduced to the industry by a friend, and she soon discovered that switching from selling milk […]
DRC Deals with a Series of Disease Burdens
Four people have died from Ebola in a new outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country’s health ministry confirmed on Monday. The new outbreak presents a fresh challenge to health authorities. In April, the World Health Organisation was just days away from declaring the second-largest Ebola epidemic on record had come to an […]
Taking Science and Traditional Methods to Help African Farmers
An app is combining weather station data with the traditional knowledge of African farmers to predict droughts. To help prepare farmers for the effects of climate change, Kenyan computer scientist Muthoni Masinde has created mobile platform ITIKI. The name stands for Information Technology and Indigenous Knowledge, and the platform sends farmers drought forecasts via an […]
The Story of a Centenarian’s Struggle for Access to Basic Services
Zabalaza Mshengu was 104 years old when he was laid to rest. His name, “Zabalaza”, means ‘stand firm or plant oneself firmly on the ground or refuse to give way’ in isiZulu. He embodied the name completely: relentless in his struggle for basic services for farm occupiers and labour tenants. Unfortunately he died before seeing […]
Kigali Joins other East African Countries to Promote Cleaner Cooking
Rwanda is banning the use of charcoal for cooking in the capital, Kigali, and restricting supplies to the city from rural areas. The ban is aimed at protecting forests by clamping down on the illegal trade in charcoal. In future people will be encouraged to use gas. Rwanda follows Kenya and Uganda in taking action […]
Bringing Back Sudan’s Looted Economy
Sudanese authorities have begun to recover billions of dollars of real estate amassed illegally by deposed dictator Omar al-Bashir’s regime, but other assets will be difficult to seize, experts say. “Initial estimates indicate that the real estate and properties owned by the former regime … range (in value) from $3.5 to $4bn,” said Salah Manaa, […]
Giving Botswana’s Tourism Sector a Boost
Botswana’s president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, says his government will allow farmers to keep small game as a way to encourage locals’ participation in agro-tourism. He added that it is paramount for them to have a stake in the industry. “The agro-tourism guidelines are also being reviewed to facilitate citizens to make a decent living out of […]
How Kenya Should Ease the Lockdown
Kenya’s initial response to COVID-19 was highly praised as effective in suppressing the spread of infections. There is cautious optimism as the country prepares for reopening of schools and economy due to a daily spike in cases and fatalities. Researchers say there are number of preconditions that need to be met before it should start […]
