Africa Daily

On Wednesday 24 August, Angola will head to the polls.The two frontrunners are current president, João Lourenço, from the MPLA, who will be seeking his second term in office and Adalberto Costa Júnior, representing the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).These two groups have had a rivalry that has dominated Angola’s politics since independence in 1975 and battled for power during a civil war that ended in 2002.While it’s been the MPLA in power for nearly half a century, political analysts say that this will be the country’s closest election to date, with Angola’s young population looking for change. So what’s at stake in this year’s election? Alan Kasujja speaks to journalist Israel Campos and Claudio Silva, a political commentator in the capital Luanda.

A recent survey of more than 4,500 young people in Africa, aged 18-24, found more than half of them are thinking about emigrating in the next few years.Many participants said they believed that because of the lack of opportunities, they could only improve their lives by leaving the continent. Others cited security and poor healthcare as reasons for wanting to move abroad. So, on a recent trip to his home country of Uganda, Alan Kasujja sat down with a group of young people at the Uganda Christian University, just outside of the capital Kampala to see if they too felt the same way.

Last week, the Sierra Leone government introduced two new laws that have been hailed by some NGOs as ' the most progressive land reform laws in the world'. These new laws will give communities the power to block mining, farming and industrial projects on their land, restrict the amount of years companies can lease land for and will ban industrial development in ecologically sensitive areas. Currently over 20% of Sierra Leone's land is leased to foreign businesses for mining, large-scale agriculture and other development ventures – leading to protests against some projects in recent years. However, some members of the business community have voiced concern about the new laws, saying that it could put off foreign investors. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

In recent years Uganda has made great progress in treating patients with kidney failure. They can now receive dialysis at several hospitals, which can sustain their health for many years. But for those who need a kidney transplant, they have no option but to travel overseas. Doctors at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala have been working to make transplants possible on Ugandan soil. But with no legal framework for organ donation in place, changing the law is also part of their plans. #AfricaDaily

Kenya’s electoral commission has named William Ruto as the winner of last weeks presidential election. However, four of the seven commissioners have refused to back the result. And Raila Odinga, Mr Ruto’s challenger for the top job, has rejected the result. He says he will challenge the election in the courts. So, what will happen next? And what does it mean for Kenyans?#AfricaDaily

Zama Zamas are young, mostly illegal miners who are taking advantage of the mining industry in South Africa. They have been in the news recently after being linked to a series of violent crimes. On yesterday’s episode, Mpho Lakaje heard about the gang rape of eight women near Johannesburg, which the Zama Zamas have been linked to. He also heard that this is not the first such violence they have been accused of. On today’s episode, Mpho hears from South Africa’s National Police Commisioner to hear what can be done about the situation. And with many Zama Zamas reportedly coming from neighbouring Lesotho, he hears from the communications minister and asks whether they can help South Africa with a solution.#AfricaDaily

The term Zama Zama is a slang word in isiZulu, one of South Africa's official languages and loosely translates to ‘someone who is trying’ or a ‘hustler’. They are young miners, largely illegal, who take advantage of the lucrative mining industry in South Africa. They are back in the news after a gang rape of eight women near Johannesburg. The women had been shooting a music video at an abandoned mine, when they were attacked by a group of men, both locals and police say are the Zama Zamas. So who are these people who are striking fear in many communities in South Africa? Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje has been speaking to Frans Baleni, a former Secretary General of the National Union of Mineworkers with extensive knowledge on the Zama Zamas. He also heard a personal account from a victim and local councillor, Kenny Moeng on how communities are coping.

Kenya’s presidential election has been dominating the headlines this week. And while we still don’t know there results, there’s still plenty to talk about. The Kenyan constitution gives all citizens living overseas the right to vote in elections. This year their options have been expanded, with embassies in 12 countries opening their doors for people to cast ballots. But that has still meant long and expensive journeys for people wanting to cast a ballot. And although around four million Kenyans live overseas, only around then thousand were registered to vote. So, is Kenya leading the way on diaspora voting? Or does more need to be done? #AfricaDaily

With a population of 15 million, Lagos is the biggest city on the continent. But by the end of the century, it’s predicted to become the most populous city in the world. And it isn’t the only rapidly growing city in Africa. It’s predicted that by the turn of the century, Africa will be home to 13 out of the 20 biggest cities. And many of these will be megacities - urban centres with a population of more than 10 million people. But what will life be like in these places? And can we cope with such rapid urban growth?#AfricaDaily

Two of East Africa’s big countries and economies have voiced ambitious plans to get in on the electric vehicles revolution. Only last week Kenya Power announced it’s investing in a network of charging stations for electric vehicles across the country. In a recent interview with Africa Daily, Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni revealed his country had started to assemble their own electric vehicles to reduce their reliance on imported fuel. But despite these plans, a few challenges remain, for example Africa has some of the world's most unreliable and expensive electricity, and charging infrastructure remains scarce. So how ready is East Africa for the transition from diesel fuelled cars to electric vehicles? And how long might it take to get there – are we talking decades? Victoria Uwonkunda speaks to Peter Mwangangi, BBC business reporter in Nairobi, Edna Odhiambo, a climate change lawyer and Moses Nderitu, the Chief Revenue Officer for BasiGo, a Kenyan e-mobility start-up to find out.

The World Health Organisation is sounding the alarm – obesity is on the rise. Latest figures from the WHO show that more than 1 billion people in the world are obese – meaning they have abnormal or excessive body fat. In Africa, numbers are rising too. One in five adults in Kenya, Libya and South Africa are predicted to be obese by December 2023. Earlier this year Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, called this rise in obesity on the continent a ‘ticking time bomb’. So why is obesity on the rise in Africa and what can be done to fight it. That is what Victoria Uwonkunda is discussing today on Africa Daily. Guests: Sam Mohau (@MohauSam), fitness enthusiast Dr Adelheid Onyango (@Ad_Onyango), Director of the Universal Health Coverage at the WHO

Polygamy is said to be legally recognised in more than 25 African countries. But though the practice is not legalised in the rest of the continent, you still get situations where a man has more than one wife. And so recently when an MP in Ivory Coast suggested a bill to legalise polygamy, it caused a commotion. And the debate continues.He says if polygamy is legalised, women will be better protected. However women’s rights groups argue this is not the case. Today we are asking how is polygamy dividing opinion?Host: Victoria UwonkundaGuests: Ivorian MP, Yacouba Sangare, BBC’s correspondent Lalla Sy and women’s rights activist Hala Al-Karib

After a week back in his home country of Uganda, Alan has spoken to people from all walks of life. He’s met people struggling to get by, doctors trying to make a difference and students trying to decide whether to build a life there or move overseas. In the second part of his interview with President Museveni, Alan focuses on the questions Ugandans are asking about the future. Can the government bring the cost of living under control? What is the role of the opposition? And who does Mr Museveni think might run the country next? #AfricaDaily

Last week Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, visited Uganda’s capital. He met with President Museveni as part of a tour to bolster support among African countries. Uganda is one of many countries on the continent that have refused to condemn the war in Ukraine. But on Thursday, Linda Thomas-Greenfield – the US ambassador to the United Nations – is visiting the country. She is likely to deliver a very different message to Mr Museveni. Amid all the high profile visits, Alan is also in town. He sat down with President Museveni to ask how Uganda is navigating the turbulent relations between two of it’s allies. #AfricaDaily

While 2000 of the world’s languages are African, African languages are barely represented in technology. Part of the reason for this is that many of these African languages are classed as 'low-resource'.This means there is a lack of data existing for these languages - and this is the data needed to teach machines how to speak and understand them.As a result, technology has been unavailable to large swaths of the continent.However, there are signs that things are starting to change.This year, Google Translate announced it would be adding 10 more African languages.Alan Kasujja has been speaking to Dr Ignatius Ezeani, a senior researcher on Natural Language Processing and Nana Ghartey, founder of Ghanaian voice assistance app, Abena, to find out how artificial intelligence can better serve African languages.

Kenya, one of Africa's leading economies, will be electing a new president on 9 August. The main contenders seeking to replace President Uhuru Kenyatta are his deputy William Ruto and his long-time rival, now turned ally Raila Odinga. The election comes at a hard time for many Kenyans who are facing a surge in the cost of living, unemployment and severe climate change challenges, among others. But whoever takes over and becomes Kenya’s fifth president will also work to make sure Kenya remains a key political and economic player in the region and in Africa. On today’s Africa Daily Ferdinand Omondi sits down with BBC colleagues and fellow Kenyans; Beverly Ochieng and Dickens Olewe to discuss candidates vying to becoming Kenya’s new president and look at whether Kenyan election should matter to the rest of the continent. Host: Ferdinand Omondi (@FerdyOmondi) Guests: Beverly Ochieng (@BeverlyOchieng), Dickens Olewe (@DickensOlewe)

Alan is on the road in his home country Uganda. Last week he visited Kampala’s markets – talking to customers concerned at a spike in the cost of food.Many prices have more than doubled in recent weeks – whether it’s for sweet potatoes, a bag of cement or a litre of petrol. It’s meant people choosing to drive less as they struggle to balance their budgets. Now, in a discussion recorded live in front of an audience in Kampala, Alan asks whether there is a solution to the cost of living crisis? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kassuja) Guest: Raymond Mujuni (@qataharraymond)

When Alan arrived in Kampala this week, the first thing he noticed was fewer cars on the road. With petrol prices rising, people are thinking twice about using their cars. And the impact is being felt in the markets too. The cost of staple food has shot up in recent months, with some prices almost doubling. So, in the first of two episodes looking at the cost of living, Alan went down to the market to find out how people are adapting to price hikes. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

Political dynasties are an ongoing debate as Kenya elects a new president on August 9. President Uhuru Kenyatta will leave office after 10 years in power. He comes from a strong political legacy. His father was Kenya’s first president after independence – Jomo Kenyatta. Among those vying to replace him are also familiar names on the Kenyan political scene. The main contenders are Raila Odinga, whose father, Oginga Odinga, was Kenya’s first vice president. The other main man in pursuit of the higher office, William Ruto, has been President Kenyatta’s deputy for 10 years. But on the continent, Kenya isn’t alone or unique in having legacies and dynasties in politics. Today on Africa Daily, Ferdinand Omondi is discussing the influence of powerful political families on African democracies. Presenter: Ferdinand Omondi (@Ferdyomondi) Guests: Sylvanus Wekesa (@sylwekesa) and Nerima Wako (@NerimaW)

Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is in Ethiopia today.It’s the last stop on a tour trying to bolster support amongst African countries.Much of the continent has been badly affected by grain shortages caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine. But Mr Lavrov denies the country’s role in the global food crisis.And Moscow is keen to strengthen ties with this continent where many countries have been reluctant to take sides and condemn the war in Ukraine.On Tuesday Mr Lavrov was in Uganda, where Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja was able to attend his joint press conference with President Museveni.

While he’s on tour in South Africa, Alan noticed that taverns are making the headlines for all the wrong reasons. When he visited one in Soweto, he found a warm, welcoming pub at the centre of the community. But he heard that there aren’t as many people drinking there as usual. It seems they have heard reports of shootings at taverns across the country. Just five minutes up the road, sixteen people were killed by gunmen a few weeks ago – the most deadly mass shooting since democracy in the country. So, are taverns still a safe place to hang out in South Africa? #AfricaDaily

This episode contains frank discussion about underage drinking, as well as subjects like sexual assault and abuse. ********************************************************************************************************************************** “In the neighbourhood I come from, drinking is very popular. Maybe it’s the way people are brought up. They don’t see it as a big problem. But obviously it is from what has happened.” Uma, 17 years. Last month, 21 teenagers died at a tavern in the city of East London. Some were as young as 13. The eldest was 17. The tragedy has ignited a debate about why many young people are consuming alcohol on a regular basis – and what can be done about it.Africa Daily is currently on tour and in Johannesburg – and so for the podcast’s first ever live recording, Alan Kasujja discusses the issue in front of an audience of young people – and asks them for their thoughts. He also hears from a man who grew up, regularly drinking, in a township – ending up in and out of prison between the age of 13 and 26. He now counsels young people about how to make good choices about their lives and alcohol. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Yethembe Uma Chasokela and Thapelo Masokoane (@SurpriseThapz) Sound Engineer: Moses MolapisaneWith special thanks to Protea Glen Secondary School 2, Gabriela Pomeroy (producer) and the Humanities Department at Wits University.

Cycling is popular in Africa. Wherever you travel across the continent, the young and old are commuting on bikes. Countries like Rwanda, Cameroon and Burkina Faso have their own tours. But it seems to be an uphill climb for African riders to make it to the top of the most famous cycling competition; Tour de France. Very few Africans have made it to the Tour and no African has won the competition. Louis Meintjes is the highest African finisher at the Tour de France twice finishing 8th. And he’s one of only two African riders out of over 170 riders who are taking part in this year’s Tour. So what’s stopping Africans from racing to the top at the Tour de France? That’s what Victoria Uwonkunda is discussing with South African Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, who’s aiming for a spot on the final podium at the Tour de France Femmes, the first women’s Tour.

“People can’t go to work, can’t cook. We aren’t even sure if the water that’s brought in by trucks is clean. Enough is enough.” Residents of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa have been dealing with water shortages for months. A long drought and ageing infrastructure are both impacting on supply – with around 30% of water being lost because of leaking pipes. And it’s not the first time South Africa has dealt with a crisis of this nature. A few years ago, residents in the coastal city of Cape Town also faced water shortages. What can President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government do to mitigate against natural disasters like drought, and collapsing infrastructure?Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

Malaria is still one of the biggest killers for children under five in Africa. But in Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous island part of Tanzania, there have been huge efforts by the government and development partners since the early 2000s to eliminate the disease. Their efforts have seemingly paid off and in the last decade, Zanzibar has maintained a malaria prevalence rate below 1%. It is particularly impressive when just across the island on mainland Tanzania, the rate of malaria remains much higher. But it isn’t all optimistic. The World Malaria Report showed that malaria cases in Zanzibar in 2021 were once again on the rise. To find out more, Alan Kasujja has been speaking to one of those who spearheaded Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme, Shija Joseph Shija, to find out how the island has drastically reduced malaria cases. He also spoke to malaria researcher, Dr. Lwidiko Mhamilawa, to learn more about the recent resurgence in cases.

Africa Daily is on the road in Africa… first stop: South Africa. And Alan has arrived just in time for Mandela day – a celebration of the former president’s birth. When Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first democratically elected president in 1994, he was a hero in his own country, and an inspiration across the world. But 28 years after the fall of apartheid, some, particularly those who are younger than 28, are beginning to question Mandela’s legacy. The South Africa of today is struggling with high poverty levels, shortages of clean water and disruption of its electricity supply. Eight million people are jobless, in a country of 60 million. Today, for Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja is Johannesburg and brings together people from across the generations in Mandela’s former home. He hears from some young people who blame his political decisions for some of the country’s current problems…and those who say he’s still their hero. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

After 18 months of recording the podcast in his spare room, Alan Kasujja is on the road with Africa Daily… and his first stop is Johannesburg. Alan wants to hear from people, out and about, and - as luck would have it – he’s arrived just in time for a special day: Nelson Mandela’s birthday, when the legacy of the former President and anti-apartheid hero is celebrated. As South Africa’s new President in 1994, Mandela faced the massive challenge of bringing black and white South Africans together. But not many people know that he started this task with those closest to him: his bodyguards. Alan speaks to a black former freedom fighter and a white former apartheid police officer – who both became his bodyguards and who hated each other at first – but who eventually became close friends. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Jason Tshabalala and Gert Barnard

The National Football League – NFL – touched down in Ghana recently, with their event called “NFL Africa: The Touchdown”.At present, the NFL says there are over 100 players of African descent in the league.But what’s a sport known as America’s game, which only has professional teams in the United States doing on the continent?The American football league was in Accra scouting young African talent.Could the next NFL superstar come from Africa?Alan Kasujja has been speaking with two men who know much about this multi-billion dollar sport. One of the men is a big name in the sport – former player Osi Umenyiora, a two-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants and was part of the team that recently travelled to Accra for the NFL event.He first spoke to the BBC’s Sport reporter Isaac Fanin about the game in general.

Mali and Ivory Coast have been locked in a dispute since the beginning of the week when news broke of the arrest of 49 Ivorian soldiers at the airport in Mali’s capital Bamako. Mali accused the soldiers of being illegally in their country, calling them mercenaries. Ivory coast insisted the soldiers were part of a UN peacekeeping mission, which has been in Mali since 2013. The mandate for the UN mission has been to support Malian authorities in their fight against Islamist militants and insecurity in the country. So today Alan is speaking to Lalla Sy, the BBC’s reporter in Abidjan and finding out what’s going on between Mali and Ivory Coast.

Casamance has seen a long-running conflict between the Senegalese government and rebel groups, which want independence. This unrest in Senegal's coastal region of Casamance has been ongoing since 1982. The last attempt at a peace deal was in 2004 and in 2014 the leader of the rebel movement declared a unilateral ceasefire. But some fighting keeps happening in the area. Casamance is separated from the capital, Dakar, by The Gambia. It is home to numerous ethnic groups, including Christians, while northern areas are dominated by three, largely Muslim communities. Today Alan Kasujja is asking what’s behind the long running conflict in Casamance. He’s been speaking with the BBC’s reporter Thomas Naadi who recently visited Casamance, the border area between Senegal and The Gambia about the conflict, the people affected by it and the future of Casamance.

Over the past few years, people in South Africa have been questioning the role corruption has played in their country's recent fortunes. In June, the Zondo commission - an inquiry named after it's chairperson Chief Justice Raymond Zondo - reported widespread corruption during the presidency of Jacob Zuma. It found that ANC leaders, including former and current government ministers, allegedly participated or encouraged looting at a massive cost to the country. Mr Zuma is standing trial on allegations of corruption which he denies. But the ANC has expressed its appreciation to the commission and said it would engage with its findings and take steps to address them. Chief Justice Zondo also suggested that electoral reform is needed to stop corruption in the future. He wants South Africans to directly elect their president, rather than voting for a political party which picks the head of state. So, could this be part of the answer?#AfricaDaily

Coconuts. Such a versatile product. You can eat them, you can drink its fresh sweet juice. You can even use it on your skin and hair. But as Alan has been finding out they can also be made into coco-peat and they can produce energy. So a very handy crop.And this is why Nigeria, despite growing plenty of them, last month, the country launched a coconut planting initiative in the southwestern town of Badagry in Lagos. It's part of a drive to promote the fruit as a cash crop and help the country become self-sufficient, as today Nigeria still imports 70% of the coconuts it needs from countries like Ghana and the Ivory Coast.Alan Kasujja sits down with BBC Business reporter Ijeoma Ndukwe to find out why Nigeria is nuts about coconuts and how the country can become self-sufficient in coconut production?

A decades-long civil war has killed thousands and displaced millions in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi have also been sucked into the conflict. DR Congo accuses Kigali of sponsoring the M23 rebels, which have recently escalated the conflict after a period of calm. Rwanda denies this, but President Kagame recently acknowledged he was preparing for the worst…with many people suggesting he meant a possible armed confrontation. However, on Wednesday leaders of the two countries met in Angola and agreed to de-escalate the situation. So is there hope of bringing the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo under control?

Earlier this year, Ons Jabeur, from Tunisia, became the first Arab woman and African woman to win a WTA 1000 title - a major title in the women’s game. Now at number two in the world, she is the highest ever ranked African player. She’s been in great form and is playing her first ever semi final at a grand slam – and not the least at Wimbledon - widely regarded as the most prestigious tennis tournament. Although the continent has had several tennis players reaching the highest levels of the sport, such as Kevin Anderson and Amanda Coetzer, Africa has often had few stars in the tennis world. Now, there are several promising juniors on the rise. Angella Okutoyi from Kenya recently made history at the Australian Open junior grand slam event, while Isabella Kruger from South Africa is on a winning streak in this year's junior Wimbledon. But requiring funding, facilities and equipment, tennis remains a difficult sport to access for many. Alan Kasujja speaks to sports journalist Reem Abulleil and Secretary General of Tennis Kenya, Wanjiru Mbugua-Karani to find out how how Africa can produce more tennis stars.

For many years people in South Africa have been dealing with rolling blackouts. But in recent days the outages have increased to six hours per day, causing unprecedented disruption. The state-owned power company Eskom has blamed the most recent ‘load shedding’ on striking workers. On Tuesday afternoon they reached an agreement with unions that could ease the supply issues, but warned that things could take time to get back to usual. In the meantime, South Africans must live with the disruption and plan their days around power availability. The BBC’s Mo Allie says that the frustration is having an impact on people’s mental wellbeing. #AfricaDaily

Across the continent, Covid-19 cases rose by 36% on average last week. Those figures might have sounded scary a couple of years ago. But the World Health Organization expects Covid related deaths to drop by 94% this year. Many countries have dropped restrictions related to the pandemic. In Botswana though, a mask mandate remains in place. The US Centre for Disease Control raised concern about the number of cases there in June. So, is Covid-19 still a serious threat for Africa? And when might Botswana be able to drop it’s last restrictions? #AfricaDaily

In June 2022, the US Supreme court overturned “Roe v Wade”, a landmark case which legalised abortion in 1973. It came after a young woman challenged the criminal abortion laws in Texas. Her case was heard on appeal in the US Supreme Court. The court ruled that a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy was protected by the US constitution.But now nearly 50 years later, America’s most senior legal body has overturned that right, which means laws in individual states will now determine whether women have access to abortion. There has been a huge reaction to the decision in the US and around the world, including on the continent. But should US court decision matter to people in Africa? What impact could it have on the debate on abortion on the continent? Host: Alan Kasujja Guests: Rhoda Odhiambo, BBC correspondent Ann Kioko, anti-abortion campaigner at Citizengo Nelly Munyasia, Reproductive Health Network in Kenya Mallah Tabot, International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa

In 2018 Nigeria were crowned champions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the continent’s biggest football competition, for the ninth time. And they have only been to the tournament 11 times. With the 12th edition getting underway in Morocco from July 2, after it was postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic, the defending champions start their quest for a tenth title. Nigeria go into the tournament as firm favourites and the Super Falcons have proven themselves as the queens of women’s football on the continent. On the eve of the first whistle of the tournament, Alan Kasujja kicks off with a burning question - why has Nigeria’s women football team dominated in Africa? Host: Alan Kasujja Guests: Janine Anthony, journalist and Jean Sseninde, former Ugandan women football player

Hope has been a midwife in Cameroon’s anglophone region for 27 years. Recently, she worked with a mother to quadruplets and sadly, only two of the babies survived. Providing care to the mother and babies was made even more difficult by the ongoing security crisis. The region has seen years of violence between separatist militants and government forces. For people living there, it has made every aspect of life more challenging. So, how are people coping in Cameroon’s anglophone region?#AfricaDaily

For more than 20 years she’s been co-chair of the world’s largest private foundation, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which works with projects aiming to fight poverty, inequality and infectious diseases. For years the foundation has poured billions of dollars into global health, education for girls among many others. And at a recent gathering in Kigali, The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation committed money to a $4 billion pledge to help eradicate malaria and neglected tropical diseases – NTDs - which haven’t received as much attention in the past. In a wide raging interview, Alan Kasujja speaks with Melinda French Gates to learn more about the causes close to her heart, who she is and what drives her. Host: Alan Kasujja Guest: Melinda French Gates

Police in South Africa are examining how 21 teenagers died at a drinking tavern in the city of East London. The youngest to have died on Saturday night was just 13 years old. The minimum drinking age in South Africa is 18, so they should not have been in the spot. There were no visible injuries on the bodies of the victims, so police have said that a crush is unlikely. There have been reports that the victims may have been poisoned. Whatever happened in the early hours of Sunday morning, people in South Africa are keen to make sure it can not happen again. #AfricaDaily

An investigation by BBC Africa Eye has found young people living with disabilities being trafficked from Tanzania to Nairobi. They found that they are then being forced to beg on the streets to bring in cash for the traffickers. Njeri Mwangi travelled to Tanzania and met parents who were tricked into letting their children move away, with the promise of a better life. And she joined Kenyan police as the information from her investigation led to arrests of alleged traffickers in the capital. She joins Alan Kasujja to talk about how her reporting unfolded. Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Reporting: Njeri Mwangi (@njerikan) #AfricaDaily

This week you may have been hearing about a big meeting in Rwanda, as the heads of the 54 Commonwealth nations gather in Kigali. But for many, the Commonwealth, with its roots in the British Empire, feels like an outdated organisation – despite representing 2.5 billion people. The last member to join it was Rwanda, this year’s host. So what are the main issues arising? For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja talks to two friends and former colleagues about their experiences of the meeting so far.

There’s been a noticeable change in the images of Africa we are now seeing on our screens. These pictures are so different from the ones the media has often shown of the continent. Gone are the children looking desolate and hungry with extended bellies, surrounded by flies, now it’s the images of rich, beautiful and increasingly famous people, living their best lives for the world to see. This is the new opulent and glitzy reality world of African celebrities who are unapologetic about their wealth and riches. It’s a world of reality TV shows where we are given a front seat to the fights and dramas from the private lives of African stars, just as we’ve seen over the years with American reality programmes. Reality shows in Africa aren’t anything new. The Big Brother franchise, one of the first reality TV programmes in the world, has been on-going on the continent for decades. So with shows like The Real Housewives of Lagos, Durban, Cape Town and the recent Netflix hit, Young, Famous and African, showing the opulent lives of rich Africans, is this the golden age of glitzy and glamourous African reality shows? Host: Alan Kasujja Guests: Peace Hyde, Young, Famous and African co-creator and Tosin Ajibade, founder of media house Olori Super Gal

In much of the world, social media platforms are the number one source of information for young people. So it’s disturbing that several reports have been released showing that Kenya’s social media space is being flooded with misinformation, fake reports and distorted truths – all aimed at misleading voters ahead of the general elections this August. The latest includes findings by the Mozilla Foundation which discovered manipulated TikTok videos spreading political lies and ethnic hatred - viewed over four million times before the platform took them down. In the previous 2017 campaign, Cambridge Analytica did the same through Facebook, curating content in favour of the political party which eventually won the election. For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja hears from the fact-checkers and crusaders fighting to keep the online space honest… as well as from a young social media user trying to sort truth from fictionPresenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

"I ask: where are my father's bones? My brother's bones?"In April 1972, Hutu rebels in the south of Burundi launched an assault on the Tutsi led government. Their aim was to overthrow the administration of then president Michel Micombero. In the ensuing chaos, at least a thousand people, including government officials, were brutally murdered. But the country’s army quickly contained the insurgency and attempted coup. This was followed by more than three months of revenge killings against the Hutu ethnic population. By the time the carnage came to an end, a reported 200 000 people had lost their lives. This year marks exactly 50 years since the massacre in Burundi, and the nation continues to seek answers. It set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in 2018, to shed light on ethnic tensions since the country’s independence in the early 1960s. The TRC says it has, so far, uncovered more than 4 000 mass graves, with tens of thousands of victims identified. Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Jeanine Ntihirageza and Pierre-Claver Ndayicariye

“Here in our culture when you don’t see the body of someone, for the woman you can’t go back to sleep on the bed. You have to stay on the floor all the time. So this is what the family has gone through. For them that tooth is the body of their father”. Patrice Lumumba is a national hero in his native Democratic Republic of Congo. He became the country’s first prime minister at the age of just 35, after it won independence from Belgian rule in June of 1960. But less than a year later, he was overthrown, jailed and killed by factions reportedly supported by Belgium and the US. Now a tooth, believed to have been stolen as a trophy by a Gendarme when his body was destroyed, is being returned to his family and the DRC. Last week the Belgium monarch, King Philippe, expressed his ‘deepest regret’ for colonial era abuses – but stopped short of formally apologising or offering reparations. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

For several decades, the Maasai community in Loliondo in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro district have been involved in a land dispute with the government. Thousands of Maasai have lived for years on the fertile 1,500 square km piece of land – using its abundant water sources for their livestock. But the authorities no longer want the Maasai living there, as they say land and wildlife is being put at risk because of the rapidly expanding human population. The situation came to a head recently when authorities started marking out the protected land - sparking protests from the Maasai. The police have been accused of using bullets and teargas against the protesters. One police officer has been killed in the clashes. For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja asks if a peaceful resolution can be found to Tanzania’s land disputes?Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

Budget airline Ryanair recently introduced a policy that forced South African travellers to the UK to do a test in the Afrikaans language. This, it said, was aimed at proving the passengers’ nationality, in an effort to weed out those using counterfeit passports. The quiz contained questions such as ‘what is South Africa's international dialling code?’, ‘what is its capital city?’ and ‘who is the current president?’. Anyone who failed this test was refused travel and refunded the cost of their ticket. This policy caused a furore, with many non-Afrikaans speaking South Africans saying they were being discriminated against. The low-cost airline has now abandoned the policy. Afrikaans is a language associated with a long and painful history of racial segregation in South Africa. On June 16, South Africa marks Youth Day and remembers the 1976 Soweto Uprising that saw students take to the streets, in a protest many say changed the socio-political landscape in the country and paved the way that led to the end of the white minority rule. One of the things the students were demonstrating against was the directive from authorities to make Afrikaans, alongside English, compulsory as a medium of instruction in schools. Today Africa Daily is looking into why Afrikaans, as a language, can be seen as divisive to some. Host: Alan Kasujja Guest: Oupa Ngwenya, senior South African journalist and former student activist

Fans say it’s the future of virtual money; experts say it's tamper-proof; billionaires have been made. But cryptocurrency has also led millionaires to lose everything – while Kenya’s ICT minister says last year Kenyans lost more than $120 million to crypto scams. When Bitcoin was first launched in 2009, one bitcoin was worth 0. By mid-April last year, the value of one bitcoin peaked at $60,000 US. But In the last seven months, the highly volatile online currency has lost more than 60% of its value, leaving the value of a coin at less than $25,000. So are African governments right in warning people off? Or should they just regulate the trade better? For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja takes a breath and deep dives into the murky and often confusing world of crypto with the help of Kabenda Belete, a cryptocurrency consultant and trader based in Tanzania.Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guest: Kabenda Belete (@lukaskabenda)