Africa Daily

“I think my mum’s passing was a way of bringing me back to serve humanity. Maybe that’s what she’d have wanted to do for herself. Maybe I’m doing my mum’s work.”80 million Africans are now above the age of 60. And with improved healthcare that’s a number that’s set to climb drastically in the coming years.Traditionally, elderly people have been cared for by their families, but now more young people are moving from villages to the city for work, leaving their parents or grandparents on their own. For today’s Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje investigates the issues involved, and speaks to a woman who gave up her high-powered job to become a ‘beggar for the elderly’ because she felt she'd failed to look after her own mother when she became ill and died from cancer.

Last week, President Bazoum, the first democratically elected president to succeed another in Niger, was detained by his own guards. A military junta is now running the country. Niger was one of the few democracies left in the Sahel. From Mali in the west to Sudan in the east, a whole swathe of Africa is now run by the military. President Bazoum was a key ally to western countries, which have denounced the coup. And tensions are rising between countries in the region, who are split over what should happen next. So, what does the coup mean for Niger and the wider region?

“What I’m seeing is another way of Africa rushing with a begging plate, begging saucer.” Last week, President Vladimir Putin held a Russia Africa summit in St. Petersburg. Countries in attendance included Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Uganda, Senegal and Burkina Faso. African leaders had hoped to persuade Moscow to revive the Ukraine grain deal - helping millions of people who might be affected by food insecurity. But Putin refused to entertain the proposal. He said the Black Sea Grain Initiative would be suspended until demands to get Russian food and fertilizer to the world are met. So, where does this leave Africa?

Friends and family are often called on to donate blood to loved ones in a medical emergency or ahead of routine surgery. But across the continent, there is a shortfall in blood needed for life saving transfusions. The World Health Organisation estimates that they are only meeting half the need. Aisha Dafalla and Kennedy Sanya are Kenya’s biggest donors. Between them they have donated more than 170 litres of blood. So, what do they think can be done to get more people involved?

More than 40 people died in wildfires as temperatures soared in the Mediterranean last week. The majority of those casualties were in Algeria, where 34 people lost their lives. In Tunisia more than 300 people were displaced. A team of climate scientists - the World Weather Attribution group - said this month's intense heatwave in the region would be virtually impossible without human-induced climate change. So, what can be done to prevent similar disasters in the future?

“In most cases they are doing much better than men because they have to prove to the world that they are capable. And it’s not supposed to be like that but that’s how it is.” The Women’s World Cup is getting lots of attention in Australia and New Zealand – but did you know that South Africa is currently hosting another World Cup tournament? This weekend the Netball World Cup ‘tipped off’ in Cape Town – but the trouble is even many South Africans aren’t aware of it. That’s led South Africa’s energetic deputy sports minister, Nocawe Mafu, to hit the road to enthuse people about the event. So will this encourage more interest in women’s sport – and more women to get into sport? Or will netball remain – inevitably – overshadowed by football?Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to the minister and to the legendary netball player Mary Waya, who almost single-handedly took Malawi into the top five in the world for netball. And he also learns some South African netball chants and songs along the way.

“All the pursuits of capitalism in Africa have dismally failed” Exactly ten years ago, firebrand South African politician Julius Malema and his allies, established the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). It came after he was expelled from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for “fomenting divisions and bringing the party into disrepute”. At its first national election in 2014, the EFF received over 6% of the vote and went on to get nearly 11%, five years later. It’s popular among young Black South Africans for its pro-poor Marxist-Leninist brand of Socialism. As it turns ten, it will be celebrating this milestone at the iconic 94, 000 seater FNB stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje sits down with the party’s deputy president and co-founder, Floyd Shivambu for a wide ranging discussion.

“He was fearless right? Someone who would never say no in the fiercest of moments… Someone who, without even thinking or blinking in the moment, would always try to respond to the crisis which he faced.”Cameroon has only known one President during the last 40 years: Paul Biya. And for 30 of those years, John Fru Ndi was his only credible challenger. The politician from the North-west Anglophone region died in June at the age of 81 – and this coming weekend his funeral will take place at his Bamenda home.It’s a region where a violent conflict has been raging since 2016 as separatist groups fight for their own state – claiming the marginalisation of the anglophone population. More than 6000 people have died during the conflict. But while he spoke up about this marginalisation, John Fru Ndi always opposed the idea of a separate Anglophone state – something which won him enemies as well as friends within the Anglophone community.For today’s Africa Daily podcast, Mpho Lakaje discusses his legacy with his son Cornelius Fru Ndi, and analyst Arrey Ntui, and asks where his death leaves the opposition in Cameroon.

For years now, South Africa has been part a group of countries that come together to combat wildfires across the world. Their firefighters have been in Canada helping to fight wildfires that have engulfed parts of the country since late May. Three teams, in total of about 600 firefighters, have been deployed to Alberta and Quebec to help protect lives and properties. In doing so, the South Africans have also come with their now trademark of song and dance at airports as they leave and land, lifting spirit and moods as Lydia Sono and Trevor Abrahams have been telling Alan Kasujja.

To test or not to test? In Uganda, a series of high profile paternity cases has led to a very animated public discussion about whether men should do DNA tests to find out if all their children are really their own. And if they find they aren't, should that change their relationship with that child, and their responsibility for them?In response, the Ugandan government has warned people to beware home tests and unregulated businesses - saying men would be better to focus on raising their children the best they can.For today's #AfricaDaily, Alan Kasujja gets opinions from a number of residents of Kampala - and speaks to Uganda's director for public health, as well as to a lawyer about the legal rights of all involved. "For many years we've had men bringing children born out of wedlock, say 'this is our other child. We have to take care of this other child born of another woman'. So this DNA testing and the revelation that a woman can actually have an adulterous relationship and have another child and conceive it among the other children is rocking the patriarchal table."

More than 25 million people live with HIV in Africa – and the region continues to be most affected in the world, according to the World Health Organisation. But a recent report by UN AIDS says the spread of HIV can be eradicated globally by 2030. For Africa Daily, @kasujja looks at how this ambitious target can be achieved on the continent.

This week the BBC’s James Copnall has been in Calabria, southern Italy, to report on the rising number of migrants arriving by sea. The number of people arriving has more than doubled compared to this time last year. Sadly, not everyone makes it to European shores. There have been a string of disasters with hundreds of people dying in the Mediterranean this year alone. And politicians in Europe are struggling to come up with a solution. So, why are people still taking the risky journey across the waters?

“They’re some of the best footballers and athletes that I’ve ever played alongside.”The Women’s World Cup kicks off today. Zambia, Morocco, South Africa and Nigeria will represent the continent in Australia and New Zealand. They’ll all be hoping to get to the final in four weeks’ time. While women’s football has developed at a dramatic pace in the last few years, it’s still a way behind the men’s game - with players sometimes struggling for resources… and respect.So what will it take for an African team to lift the Women’s World Cup? For Africa Daily, @mpholakaje discusses the issues involved with the BBC’s sport reporter @isaac_fanin– and hears from Nigeria’s Ashleigh Plumptre (@ashplumptre) and some of the other players taking part.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games are in doubt after the Australian state of Victoria cancelled its plans to host due to budget blowouts. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) struggled to find a host before Victoria volunteered in April 2022. And Durban, which was meant to be hosting the event in 2022, had the games taken off them after the South African government said they were struggling to meet deadlines. But are the Commonwealth Games still relevant to the continent? And what does it mean if the 2026 events are in jeopardy?

South Africa has started preparing to host the BRICS summit next month. This is a gathering of a political and economic bloc compromised of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. China, in particular, is expected to expand its influence. Over 30% of all major building projects in Africa are led by Chinese firms while the West makes up just 12%, according to consultancy company, Deloitte. Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja has been hearing about China’s involvement in both small and large scale business on the continent.

This week the biggest women’s football tournament on the planet kicks off. Teams from 32 countries will be playing in Australia and New Zealand to win the coveted Fifa World Cup. Africa isn’t just going to be represented by the teams competing on the pitch but also by the teams of officials refereeing at the tournament. One of those officials is Rwandan referee Salima Mukansanga. As well as being among the first women referees to work in a men’s world cup in its 92 year history, she was also the first woman to referee at the Africa Cup of Nations football competition or AFCON. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje spoke to her about how she got started and what it takes to get to world’s biggest football tournaments.

Nigeria's state-owned oil company says an oil tanker capable of carrying 800,000 litres of smuggled crude has been intercepted offshore while heading to Cameroon. Nigeria's state-owned oil firm said the oil had been stolen from a well in the south-western state of Ondo. As dramatic as this finding was, it is just a fraction of the oil being stolen in Nigeria. So, what is behind it?

This week the continent welcomed Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi for a three country visit. It’s a rare visit, it’s the first by an Iranian president to Africa in ten years. President Raisi’s trip began in Kenya where he was welcomed by President William Ruto and a military parade. This week President Raisi heads to Uganda and then to Zimbabwe. In recent years, western countries have imposed sanctions to make Iran’s leaders agree to limit its nuclear activities and have severely damaged Iran’s economy. So today Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been looking at Africa’s relationship with Iran and what this renewed interest could mean for the continent.

The Children in Freedom School - which is based in Nakuru, Kenya – takes a slightly different approach to education. It prides itself on being the first “Afrocentric” school on the continent. Basically, they put African culture, identity and enrichment at the heart of everything they do in the classroom. They were recently shortlisted for the World's Best School Prize, putting them among the top 10 schools worldwide in the 'overcoming adversity' category. So, what does an Afrocentric education look like?

Kenya’s President, William Ruto, said recently that he will lift a ban on logging in the country. He said that mature trees in Kenya’s forests can now be cut down and that this will help to boost the timber industry. The ban has been in place since 2018, with the aim of protecting Kenya’s natural forests. So, what impact will change of direction have?

The stated aim of the global charity International Justice Mission is commendable: rescue millions of people from being trafficked into forced labour by the year 2030. But in the Volta Lake region of Ghana, families claimed their children had been taken from them at gun point.. BBC Africa Eye, prompted by tip offs from local sources, decided to investigate and went undercover.

Riots spread from Paris to many French cities after the killing by police of Nahel M, a 17-year-old boy of Algerian origin. The unrest has been described as unprecedented in terms of scale and intensity. While the riots were sparked by the death of Nahel, it has also raised questions about race and poverty in France. So, what can the past two weeks tell us about life in the country?

“I just wish the governments of South Africa and Lesotho would come together and help us to get the bodies” In May, 31 people believed to be illegal miners died in a gas explosion at an abandoned shaft in the Free State province of South Africa. The authorities have been trying to retrieve their remains, but high levels of methane gas is making it difficult to get them. Their relatives, who are from Lesotho, have been waiting in South Africa for two months, hoping to get an update on their loved ones. Illegal mining has been a big problem over the years, with criminals targeting sealed shafts which still have plenty of gold. They extract it before selling it on the black market, a multi-million dollar industry controlled by sophisticated criminal syndicates. Scores of illegal miners have died since the dawn of South Africa’s democracy, either in underground accidents or in territorial battles among themselves. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje Guests: Mohao Mojewa and David van Wyk

Should there be a ban on the importation of the body parts of wild animals, like lion pelts, elephant tusks or zebra hides into Britain?That’s a question currently being considered by British lawmakers. Cases like Cecil the Lion - killed by an American dentist in Zimbabwe - have raised concern about the practice worldwide – and the image of white foreigners killing African wildlife disturbs many people. But the leaders of some African countries argue that trophy hunting can be GOOD for the environment. Botswana’s environment minister Philda Nani Kereng has been leading a delegation of officials from southern Africa to plead with lawmakers not to pass the law, or at least to make some amendments to it.Botswana has a population of 150,000 elephants, the largest anywhere in the world.So what are the arguments surrounding trophy hunting? PRESENTER: Alan @kasujjaGUESTS: Philda Nani Kereng, Botswana’s Environment Minister. Polson Majaga, a member of Botswana’s parliament representing a community heavily reliant on proceeds from trophy hunting. Henry Smith, the British MP sponsoring the bill.

Across Africa there are moves afoot to toughen laws against the gay community.In May, President Yoweri Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill – giving Uganda some of the harshest anti-LGBTQ laws in the world.But now Ghana’s and Kenya’s parliaments are due to soon start debating even tougher legislation. Just after the Ugandan bill was passed, MPs from a number of countries across the continent attended a networking conference in Entebbe sponsored by the socially conservative US Mormon pressure group ‘Family Watch International’.One of them was the MP behind the Kenyan bill, George Peter Kaluma.The BBC’s Catherine Byaruhanga spoke to him.

“Women are not used to being open to being 100% themselves and doing what they love…. We’re still building an industry”What are the main challenges facing female Hip Hop artists on the continent? Today Africa Daily heads to Senegal to speak to two artists – Aida Sock and Sister LB (Selbe Diouf) – about the challenges they’ve faced and their hopes for the future of the industry. They also talk about their willingness to take risks in speaking truth to power.

For young people lucky enough to go into higher education, long hours of study are put in with the anticipation of a better job and life prospects. But finding work after leaving university isn’t guaranteed. In South Africa, graduate unemployment stands at 32%. Julius Malema, leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters, has suggested a stipend for unemployed graduates. And in Namibia, where more than 20% of graduates are out of work, one university is teaching courses to encourage entrepreneurship. So, could these be part of the solution to graduate unemployment?

The Uganda Wildlife Court began its work in 2017 because of concerns that crimes against wild animals weren’t getting the attention they deserved in the country’s criminal courts. Uganda has historically been known as trading hub for wildlife and its products in east Africa. But is the court achieving what it set out to? Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to it’s Chief Magistrate Gladys Kamasanya to find out more about the court’s work and why safeguarding Uganda’s wild animals is so important to her.

The term black tax is used to describe the financial burden borne by many black people who have achieved a noticeable level of success and find themselves providing support to less secure family members. It’s a dynamic that can play out between people in the same city, or between family living on different continents. It’s a topic that divides opinion. Is it a way to give an opportunity to those still trying to find their feet? Or is it a burden on young people trying to make their way in the world

“The next building block should have been economic freedom. However, it is not his (Mandela’s) fault that it was not done. It is the fault of the generation that followed him” In today’s episode, Alan Kasujja sits down with Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter, Ndileka Mandela. They discuss a variety of issues including things the world probably doesn’t know about the global icon, his political thinking and how he felt about the state of South Africa. They also interrogate claims that Mandela ‘sold out’ by prioritizing racial reconciliation at the expense of economic freedom for the black majority. This conversation forms part of a short series on Africa’s intellectuals like Thomas Sankara, Julius Nyerere and Kenneth Kaunda. Yesterday Alan spoke to Kwame Nkrumah’s daughter, Samia Nkrumah. Check it out if you haven’t had a chance to listen to it.

“The thoughts, the theories, the ideas are there. But how to reach them, we have to come up with our own method and strategy. And I think one of them is that we badly need consensus on what needs to be done. The time now is for consensus building.”In today’s episode, Alan Kasujja sits down with Samia Nkrumah, the daughter of legendary Ghanaian politician, Kwame Nkrumah. They will be discussing the political icon’s leadership style, his philosophy and personal life. They will also be drawing parallels between the struggles faced by Africans today and those who lived through past decades. Nkrumah, who is celebrated for leading Ghana to independence in the late 1950s, is one of a number of intellectual giants Africa produced in recent history. Others include Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Burkina Faso’s Thomas Sankara, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo of Namibia and Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta. Alan will continue the conversation around Africa's visionary leaders with Ndileka Mandela, Nelson Mandela's granddaughter, in tomorrow’s episode.

This weekend eligible voters in Sierra Leone will be casting their ballots up and down the country to decide whether to re-elect President Maada Bio or elect a new president. President Bio’s main challenger is Samura Kamara from the opposition APC party once again. He came a very close second in 2018’s presidential election. It’s an election which comes at a time when Sierra Leone has been dealing with economic challenges which have made life almost unbearable for so many there. The campaign season has also been marred by a rising number of violent incidents and there are fears that tensions could boil over in this election. So, for a look at the ins and outs of the election season, Alan Kasujja spoke to journalist Umaru Fofana in the capital, Freetown.

Nigeria is set to introduce a new student loan scheme, intended to help more young people access higher education. The loans, which will be interest free, will be targeted at the poorest families, who may struggle to pay tuition fees. But some people are questioning if it’s the right policy and how graduates will be able to pay the the loans back, especially if they struggle to find work.

In 2003, Darfur hit the international news – and the world grew used to seeing images of burning villages and people fleeing for their lives. Hundreds of thousands died and millions were displaced. But now the people there are again suffering a horror of an eye-watering scale.With the whole of Sudan at war and the Sudanese Army pulling out of much of the region, armed militias have sprung up and villages have again been razed to the ground. But this time the city of El Geneina has also become a site of destruction, looting and despair.So how is the situation different to 2003? And can anything be done to stop the violence getting worse?For Africa Daily, Alan @Kasujja hears stories from within Darfur – and speaks to those desperate to reach their families and make sure they are safe.

On Saturday morning, Ugandans woke to unsettling news of a militant attack on a boarding school in the west of the country. Authorities say 37 students were killed. Five others, including a security guard who tried to stop the violence, also died. The militant Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) are thought to be responsible for the killing. The group originated in Uganda in the 1990s, but now conduct operations from across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo. So, who exactly are these militants? And what is being done to stop them?#AfricaDaily

On a recent visit to Kenya, Colombian Vice President, Francia Márquez, announced that Swahili will soon be offered as a foreign language option in schools.The scheme will also see teachers from African countries get the chance to teach in Colombia, as well as Colombians teaching Spanish on the continent. It is rare for African languages to be learnt by people overseas.On today’s episode Alan speaks to Colombian Javier Aranzales.For him, learning Swahili as an adult changed the whole trajectory of his life.#AfricaDaily

“People come here as asylum seekers and their intention is not to stay as asylum seekers. They are actually here to run small businesses, and that’s illegal” In recent years, Malawi and South Africa have been facing similar challenges relating to asylum seekers. People are flocking into Malawi to seek refuge, fleeing conflict in the DRC and other troubled parts of the continent. In May, the government of that country arrested nearly a thousand refugees and sent them back to a camp specifically set up to house them. At the same time, South Africa is tightening its immigration rules and regulations in the small business sector. That’s because some asylum seekers have been breaking the country’s laws by setting up businesses without the relevant immigration documents.

“My father used to tell me that in one night when they went out fishing they used to come back with 70 or 80 kilos of fish, but at the moment they’re doing the same but coming back with one kilo or half a kilo.”Mida Creek, on Kenya’s coastline about two hours north of Mombasa, rightly has a reputation for being a birdwatcher’s paradise. Surrounded by mangrove forests, its beaches teem with crabs and other crustaceans – which in turn bring in migratory birds from around the world. Juvenile sea turtles hide in the safety of the roots. Fish used to flood in, tempted by the bounty of food it offered, but in recent years stocks have plummeted because of pollution – and the people living there struggle to feed their families.So a number of local people have set up groups to try to promote ‘ethical tourism’ – encouraging people to stay within the creek, use the boardwalk the community has built, and to turn to locals as tour guides. The Bidii Na Kazi women's group (meaning ‘effort and work’) receives funds to replant the waning mangroves and runs a small kitchen and restaurant. And the community also holds regular trash collections to try to keep the creek pristine. For Africa Daily, Alan @kasujja speaks to two people who grew up there: Hassan, a local tour guide whose father is a fisherman and Eunice who volunteers with the women’s group. But can they stem the tide of pollution?

The wearing of Niqabs and Burkas– garments worn by some Muslim women- has been a hotly debated topic around the world. The niqab is a veil for the face that leaves the area around the eyes clear and a burqa, the most concealing of all Islamic veils, is a one-piece veil that covers the face and body, often leaving just a mesh screen to see through.Niqabs and Burkas have been banned in several countries and the debate around them has centred around religious freedom, women’s rights and even security.Sherifah Yunus Olokodana, runs her food business SMD Natural Cooking in the biggest city in Nigeria, Lagos and wears her niqab with pride. But she says she’s subject to a lot of abuse in the streets and online. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been speaking to her about running her business and how she deals with social media trolls.

Morocco has announced that it will begin teaching Tamazight in primary schools. The language of the Amazigh people, who live in many north African countries, dates back more than 2500 years. Morocco will also recognise Amazigh New Year as a public holiday. The country is home to the largest population of the Amazigh people and has been for hundreds of years. So, why are the government recognising their culture now? #AfricaDaily

“I stand to be corrected but I think I’m the only hearing person who went to a deaf school. Don’t ask me why because even I want to know why. I did my Maths and Biology and Science in sign language”In May of this year, South Africa passed a law which will officially make sign language the 12th official language.This follows intense lobbying by activists over many years.Estimates vary greatly on the number of users: from 700,000 to 2 million.This includes hearing people who communicate with their disabled relatives, friends and colleagues.Experts say, although there are similarities, every country in Africa and the world has its own sign language, with different dialects.So, considering the influence of western cultures and communication mediums, how can native African sign languages be developed, to ensure they don’t perish?Presenter: Alan KasujjaGuests: Andiswa Gebashe and Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst

When fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces in mid April, there were just over 360 children - including many infants - living in the Mygoma orphanage in Khartoum. Like most of the population, they were trapped. In the time since, 67 of the children have died of malnourishment or illness. Those caring for them couldn’t get enough food. Some of their regular carers couldn’t reach them. And hospitals were destroyed or inaccessible. But now, all these weeks later, a coordinated effort by a number of agencies has finally got them out to safety. So what’s the story of the children of the Mygoma orphanage? For #africadaily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Unicef’s child protection expert in Sudan, Osman Abu Fatima, who was in charge of setting up their new home.

* After this episode was recorded, mobile internet was reinstated in Senegal, although access to some social media platforms may still be restricted.Last week, protesters took to the streets in Senegal after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison. The sentence could rule him out of running for president in next year’s elections. At the same time, suggestions that President Macky Sall could run for a third term has also caused anger. There have been more demonstrations amid political tensions in previous weeks. So, what’s behind it all? Alan Kasujja speaks to one of Sonko’s supporters, a government minister who wants President Sall to run again and one of the president’s former closest allies…who is now one of his harshest critics. #AfricaDaily

Some people may find the issues discussed in this episode upsetting. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Official estimates suggest that around 1,500 people took their own lives in Ghana last year… but actual deaths may be much higher – because many people will try to cover up a suicide in the family. And experts say that for every suicide there are likely to be around 20 failed attempts. In April, Ghana’s parliament changed the law so that attempting suicide would no longer be a criminal offence – allowing people to ask for help without risking jail time. But will this have any impact without a change in attitudes to mental health? For Africa Daily, Alan @Kasujja hears from the doctor who set up Ghana’s first toll-free mental health helpline, a mental health nurse and a man who attempted to take his own life.

“The level of crime in our province is completely unacceptable. It can’t even be compared to the warzone in Ukraine. We have to stop this. If we don’t, it will swallow all of us. We can’t have so many people being murdered” Violent crime has long been a problem in South Africa. Statistics released by the police recently show that over 6 200 people were murdered in the country in just three months. In an attempt to push back against lawlessness, the government of Gauteng, a province seriously affected by crime, established a unit known as the Crime Prevention Wardens. These are young men and women who’ve been trained to support the police who are overstretched. But security experts are questioning this move saying the government of South Africa should rather focus on strengthening the mainstream police force. Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Panyaza Lesufi, Paul Mente and Gareth Newham

A week ago, Bola Tinubu was sworn in as President of Nigeria.Amid his inauguration ceremony he announced that the country's 'fuel subsidy is gone'. His statement caught people’s attention and many people headed to gas stations to stock up on fuel. People waited for hours in queues, often finding filling stations closed or charging much higher prices.The decades-long subsidy has kept down the price of petroleum products, hence the rush to the pumps.So, are people right to be concerned about the implications of the announcement? What might the upsides be? And how can it be that Nigeria is so oil rich, and yet has problems producing its own fuel?#AfricaDaily

“I just have love for my people… I put myself in their shoes and I’m like, 'let me reach those people'. I feel their pain.” This week Africa Daily has been looking at what it means to be a nurse in Africa. We’ve heard from those who want to leave to find work – but have been banned from working abroad by their governments. We’ve also heard from those who’ve left the continent with high hopes – only for some to fall prey to unscrupulous agencies who take a cut of their wages. But today we’re looking at what life is like for those still working in Africa – concentrating on the story of Agnes Nambozo, the nurse captured on video clambering up a rickety wooden ladder attached to the side of a mountain in order to conduct health and vaccination programmes for villagers who couldn’t otherwise access them. The video led Uganda’s health minister to label her “nurse of the year”. But many questioned why the minister wasn't rewarding nurses like Agnes - and making their working conditions safer. Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja Guests: Agnes Nambozo and Justus Cherop Kiplangat, President of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union.

In March this year, the W-H-O identified 55 countries as facing the “most pressing health workforce challenges”. Basically, nations where there are less than 49 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10,000 people – the global average. Forty-one of them are in Africa. In response, some of the main destinations for emigrating heath workers – like the UK’s National Health Service – said they had stopped active recruitments from those countries. But that hasn’t quite reined in the exodus from the so-called Red List countries. Many are being approached by recruiters to work abroad in care homes. For some, it’s a path that has exposed them to abuse. Africa Daily hears from concerned players in the sector. Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujjaGuests: Justine Carter, Director of UK Charity, Unseen; Kojo Sosu, former carehome manager; Perpetual Ofori, President of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association.

“If people die in hospitals because there are no nurses and doctors and somebody who has been so irresponsible for not training their own nationals, but wanting poor countries to train for them, it’s a crime that must be taken seriously” Zimbabwe’s Vice President Constantino Chiwenga wants to make it a criminal offense for recruitment agencies to poach health workers from Zimbabwe. He says his country should not be subjected to training doctors and nurses for the benefit of other nations. However, his proposed legislation has been met with anger and frustration, with health professionals describing it as “unconstitutional”. Since 2021, about 4 000 nurses have left Zimbabwe and are scattered around the world. This is the first of three podcasts looking at challenges facing health workers across Africa and how governments are responding to the brain drain. Guests: Douglas Chikobvu and Dr. Norman Matara Presenter: @mpholakaje

The price of sugar is on the rise in Kenya and it’s really hitting people’s pockets.It’s partly due to a shortage of sugarcane in the country.In April, it was reported that some sugar mills were closing their operations, due to the lack of the raw material. Amid a dispute with millers, some farmers are moving away from sugar to other crops.So, what’s behind it all? And why are Kenyan’s paying more for their sugar? #AfricaDaily