Africa Daily

In April the UK government announced that they had signed a deal that would see asylum seekers to the UK processed instead in Rwanda, some 6,500km away. This caused outrage, with rights groups and campaigners calling the deal cruel, saying the asylum seekers who come to the UK have already faced gruelling and treacherous journeys and shouldn’t be sent to another country for their papers to be processed. The British government argued that the plan was designed to deter people-trafficking. Rwanda said every single asylum seeker would be welcomed and get full protection under Rwandan law. But days before the first flights were due to take off from the UK, charities supporting the migrants took the British government to the courts. However they were unsuccessful as both the High Court and the Court of Appeal ruled that government's first flight taking asylum seekers to Rwanda can go ahead on June 14 as planned. So with so much happening with this UK-Rwanda asylum deal, Alan Kasujja sets out to understand why this plan is so controversial. Host: Alan Kasujja Guests: Anne Soy – BBC Africa Senior Correspondent and Daniel Kyereko, Lecturer on Migration at the University of York in the UK

WARNING: Some might find the language in this episode upsetting. In February 2020 a video of African children speaking Chinese went viral. In the clip, the children are seen cheering and dancing while repeating words from an unseen male voice in the background. Some of the language used in that viral video are offensive and derogatory. In the short clip, the children, all dressed in similar red costumes with a white dragon on the front pocket, are heard saying in Chinese “I’m a black devil, and my IQ is low”. The video and words the children were made to say sparked outrage around the world. Over the past few years, video sharing platforms have exploded in popularity. And on Chinese social media, it’s become big business. An industry has developed around personalised video greetings, which can cost between $10 and $70. A BBC investigation has found out how African children are exploited in these videos. Alan Kasujja speaks to BBC Africa Eye reporter, Runako Celina, who’s been part of the team investigating this booming industry. Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guest: Runako Celina: @RunakoCelina)

Funerals have begun for some of the forty people killed after armed men burst into a Catholic church in the town of Owo in the South West of Nigeria – shooting anyone who moved, and setting off explosives. The town’s medical facility has been overwhelmed with casualties – many of whom had been shot. The authorities say they suspect the extremist group Islamic State West Africa Province carried out the attack. If confirmed, it would be the first attack by the IS-linked militants in southern Nigeria - signifying an expansion of its violence. But questions are being asked about why armed men could so brazenly attack a church in the very middle of a town, and then apparently just melt away like ‘ghosts’. Africa Daily hears the stories of those who lived through the attack – and asks, if such an horrific attack can take place in an area that’s previously been relatively safe, is there anywhere in Nigeria that’s not impacted by violence and insecurity?

Earlier this week, two brothers - Atul and Rajesh - were arrested in Dubai.For years the businessmen’s close relationship with politicians in South Africa has caused controversy.And they have been accused of allegedly bribing officials to secure lucrative state contracts during the rule of former President Zuma.The Gupta’s have always denied any wrongdoing.But South Africa is now seeking to extradite them to face charges of corruption.So, what does it all mean for South Africa…and the politicians who are reported to have been close to the brothers?#AfricaDaily

With a population of at least 20 million residents and with close to no proper city planning, Lagos is often plagued with intense traffic jams and locals often turn to commercial motorbike taxis, known locally as okada, or its 2-wheeled equivalent, keke, to get around quickly. But now due to what Lagos authorities are calling safety concerns, Nigeria’s largest city has yet again banned the okadas and kekes. This latest move to ban okadas came after the lynching of a man by suspected riders in the upmarket Lekki neighbourhood. The incident took place last month and sparked outrage.While the ban has been welcomed by some who agree with the Lagos authorities that the riders drive dangerously, others say okadas offer faster and often cheaper means of transportation around the city. So in a heavily populated city like this, will Lagos manage without its okadas?Alan Kasujja speaks to the BBC’s Olivia Ndubuisi who lives and works in Lagos about what’s it like living in the city and how this ban will affect locals.

Monkeypox was first detected in Nigeria and the DRC in the 1970s. Since then there’ve been a number of cases in West African countries including Cameroon, the Central Africa Republic and Sierra Leone – but it hasn’t been a problem for much of the rest of the continent – and compared to major killers like malaria, HIV and TB, very few people actually die from it. And yet the World Health Organisation says African countries should be on alert - and prepare their response to it. So why is it a priority now? Is it just because people in western nations have been affected? Or is it really a new global threat? Alan Kasujja looks at the issue for Africa Daily.

“Great plan on paper. Poor implementation. I wish things could get better… I remember when I was growing up my Grandfather used to work for the railways corporation and it was prestigious to work for the railways. He would work across Kenya, go to Tanzania and that’s not possible now.” In 2004, an East African Community Summit announced a plan to invest in and integrate railway lines and services across the region. It followed years of under investment which had led to the near collapse of most railway services by the 1990s – and was meant to see existing infrastructure in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda upgraded and then extended into neighbouring countries. Some of the work has happened – mostly paid for using Chinese loans. But as that source of funding has dried up and concern has increased about the countries’ abilities to pay back the money, other projects have fallen by the wayside. So should we be optimistic or pessimistic when it comes to hopes for railway services across East Africa?For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks to Masanja Kadogosa, Director General of Tanzania Railway Corporation and BBC Business’s Peter Mwangangi.Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@mpholakaje)

There have been a series of suicides in the Kenyan police force in the last year - at the rate of at least one or two each month. And last month, Kenya’s Inspector General of Police announced that nearly 2,000 officers weren’t fit for service – due to issues with their mental health. That's 2,000 officers who carry guns. So how can the police service tackle these issues – for the welfare of its officers, and the safety of the public?Africa Daily speaks to the widow of a police officer who took his own life - as well as a psychologist and human rights worker. Presenter: Ferdinand Omondi (@FerdyOmondi)

Since 2014, Malawi has suffered a wave of assaults against people with albinism. In that time more than 40 people with the condition have been murdered. In many of the cases, these killings are motivated by the baseless belief that the body parts bring wealth and luck. Just this week, twelve people, including a priest, a hospital worker and a police officer, appeared in court for the murder of a man with albinism. So how can people with albinism ever feel safe? Africa Daily speaks to two people living with the condition in Malawi. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

Niger is reported to be building a drone base and taking delivery of Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey. The pilotless aircraft were used to great effect by Ukraine in the weeks after Russia invaded. And Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the drones will “increase the military and security capacity” of Niger. Niger is often listed among the very poorest countries in the world and is dealing with multiple threats from militant groups along its borders with Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. So, how exactly might drones help in the fight? #AfricaDailyHost: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Reporting: Beverly Ochieng (@BeverlyOchieng)

Rebel groups and violent conflicts are far too common in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the heart of this violence are continuing wars that are fuelled by the country’s vast mineral wealth, with various groups taking advantage of the anarchy to plunder copper, cobalt, gold and diamonds. Between 1994 and 2003, millions of people were killed or forced to flee from conflicts that continuously leave death and destruction in its wake. DR Congo has had and still has its fair share of rebel groups, each fighting for one thing or other, but none has been as prominent as M23 – or the March 23 Movement. The group – a Tutsi rebellion - had long accused the Congolese government of marginalising the country's ethnic Tutsi minority and aimed to fight a DR Congo-based Hutu-majority militia group, called FDLR - The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda. And this has led to bad blood between Rwanda and DR Congo, with both countries trading accusations of supporting one rebel group each. M23 was driven out of DR Congo in 2013, but now they are back and have renewed its fighting with the Congolese army. This is a complex issue and so to explain and help make sense of it, Ferdinand Omondi has been speaking with Samba Cyuzuzo, a BBC reporter who covers the region and is today asking – who are the M23 group and what do they want in the eastern DR Congo? Guest: Samba Cyuzuzo, BBC Great Lakes reporter

In their quest to try and find ways to control what they are calling an “overpopulation” of its elephants, Zimbabwe recently held a summit, in the hopes to garner support to lift the ban on the ivory trade. Zimbabwe says it’s sitting on an ivory stockpile of more than 130,000 tonnes which could net them more than half a billion dollars and which in turn could help develop the country with building of schools, hospitals and roads. They also believe the funds could help sustain conservation work. Zimbabwe also maintains the elephants are a threat to local communities whom they come into conflict with in search for space and resources. The elephants are also blamed for crop destructions and killing people, with at least 35 reported fatalities so far this year. But countries like Kenya, which is firmly against the lifting of the ban believes that by doing so it could revitalise ivory sales and lead to the resurgence of illegal markets. Trade in ivory was banned in 1989 by the Convention for the International Trade of Endangered Species – Cites - in efforts to protect elephants. So on today’s Africa Daily, Ferdinand Omondi is asking why is Zimbabwe trying to get rid of some of its elephants? Guest: Tinashe Farawo, Zimbabwe national parks spokesperson

Over the last month or so, two successive floods have hammered South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal province. More than 400 people have lost their lives, and roads, bridges and schools are amongst the infrastructure damaged in what has been described as the biggest natural disaster of post-apartheid South Africa.But why has the region been so badly impacted by this flooding? Is this the ‘new-normal’ because of climate change? And what can be done to protect people from future catastrophes?Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje puts these questions to the KwaZulu Natal premier Sihle Zikalala and climate scientist Dr. Justin Pringle – as well as meeting a lifeguard, Mthokozisi Cele, who sprang into action to save lives the morning the floods gushed through his local area. “A lot of people were screaming inside their houses, cars were all over, sinking in the rivers. And I could see that if I don’t help them, they will die.”Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@mpholakaje)

In April, the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal experienced a period of heavy rainfall. It caused flooding that killed more than 400 people. Many are still unaccounted for and tens of thousands were made homeless. In recent days, the rains have returned putting more people in danger and without homes. But why has the flooding been so devastating? Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje has travelled to the province to find out.Host: Mpho Lakaje @mpholakaje#AfricaDaily

“I lost a schoolgirl. Eleven-year-old. My first-born daughter. She was just killed in cold blood – simply because of her ethnicity.” Marsabit in Kenya is a frontier district which borders Ethiopia. Because it’s arid, water is scarce – and over the years the two main communities living there have clashed over resources and politics. But now the violence has reached a new level: with children and city dwellers killed. There’s concern that weapons and disputes are being imported from across the border with Ethiopia. So the government has introduced a month long curfew – and a police operation, backed by the army - to search for and confiscate the illegal arms. It says it’s concerned the weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists.In response to allegations that they’ve used excessive force during the crackdown, the Kenyan Police Service has asked for the community’s patience, while the interior minister stressed that the operation would be ‘painful but necessary’. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to the BBC’s Emmanuel Igunza during his visit to the area.Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

Despite it being a regular bodily function, menstruation isn’t often talked about. But it’s something that is causing huge problems for many women on the continent. It’s estimated that one in ten girls miss school while they’re on their period And the cost of sanitary products can make them too expensive for many. At the end of this week, World Menstural Hygiene Day is encouraging us all to think of it as just a normal fact of life. Campaigners are calling for an end to the stigma and taboo So, do we need to talk more about menstruation? #AfricaDailyHost: Ferdinand Omondi - @FerdyOmondi Guests: Candice Chirwa - @Candice_Chirwa Emmi Erondanga - @MissKochKenya

Doormen hassling you, endless questioning and a ban on visitors.These are the challenges faced daily by single women renting in Egypt.And this is after they've managed to clinch a deal with an amenable landlord. Many refuse to let to single women, arguing it could damage their building’s reputation or ruffle its other residents’ moral feathers. And boyfriends? Out of the question.So, why is it so hard for single women to rent in Egypt?Two 24-year-old women, Menna and Fatma, talk to Alan about their bumpy rental journey. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

“None of the politicians are close to decision making today”.When Guinea’s army toppled the sitting – and unpopular – president Alpha Conde in September last year, people celebrated in the streets. Even opposition politicians expressed a cautious welcome – and supported a transition to civilian rule of over a year or more. But now, eight months on, the army has said it needs 36 months before it hands over power. It’s also banned all political protest and clamped down on opponents.So what can the opposition do? A group of 58 political parties have formed a coalition with one aim – speeding up the return to democracy. Africa Daily speaks to Thierno Yaya Diallo of the party Guinea Modern – part of the coalition.Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Thierno Yaya Diallo and Alhassan Silla

They say necessity is the mother of invention… and that seems to be the case for one entrepreneur in Zambia. The country’s reliance on imported foreign fuel has led to years of price hikes and shortages at the petrol pumps – which lead in turn to panic buying. But Mulenga Mulenga kept his head and switched on his brain – using the crises as inspiration for finding a new source of fuel. It’s currently small-scale with his company producing hundreds of litres of petrol a day from waste plastic – but his plan now is to scale that up to two million litres a day. So is this a viable solution to Zambia’s reliance on foreign fuel? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

Hundreds of US troops could soon be returning to Somalia after President Biden approved their deployment. It's nearly 18 months since American forces left, which was the decision of former President Trump. In that time, the militant group al-Shabab is said to have gained strength and attacks against government and peace keeping forces have increased. It has been a busy few days in Somalia, with a new president - Hassan Sheikh Mohamud - elected on Sunday. So, what do these latest developments mean for Somalia and the fight against al-Shabab?#AfricaDaily

“Is she qualified? Absolutely. Is she a good leader? Absolutely.” In the run up to Kenya’s presidential election in August, the two main candidates - Raila Odinga and William Ruto – have been making a lot of noise about making sure that ‘women are at the decision-making table’. So as deadline day approached today, most people expected them both to choose a woman as their running mate. This would have meant Kenya’s first ever female vice-president. But after a weekend of intense negotiations William Ruto plumped for a man – a strong and wealthy campaigner with a big war chest. So all eyes were on Raila Odinga as he announced his running mate…. veteran politician Martha Karua. So what impact will she have on Raila Odinga’s presidential bid? And does it matter that she’s a woman? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Wanjiru Nguhi (@Iam_Wanjiru) and Ferdinand Omondi (@FerdyOmondi)

Preparations are underway in South Africa for the coronation of Misuzulu Zulu as the new king of the AmaZulu tribe. There was high drama when his succession was announced last year on television – after one of the royal family members stood up and questioned the recognition of the new king. Chaos ensued.But now – as he prepares to ascend the throne, Africa Daily looks at the part monarchies play across the continent – and whether they’re a force for good.“The Republic of South Africa as we know it was never founded by African people. It was founded by Caucasians – people of European origin. They found us here as established kingdoms.”(Zolani Mkiva, Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa).Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

If all goes to plan, Somalis will wake up to a newly elected president on Monday morning. But they won’t have had the chance to vote for them. Their leader will be chosen by members of parliament gathered at secure location in Mogadishu airport. And those MPs were chosen by clan elders and local parliaments – not by popular vote. It means that the election process is being watched just a closely as the result. So, how exactly does it all work?#AfricaDaily

On Sunday, members of parliament in Somalia will gather in a hangar at an airport outside the capital Mogadishu. They’re meeting to decide who will be the next president. The MPs themselves were only sworn in last month, after elections were postponed for more than a year. But even with a vote about to take place, most Somalis won’t get to cast a ballot. The electoral system in Somalia is unique, with clan elders appointing MPs, who then select the president. In the first of two episodes look at the elections, Alan Kasujja asks what the delays have meant for people in Somalia. #AfricaDaily

Maryben Omollo is the CEO Greenseal Limited, a cleaning and pest control startup in Kenya. But it’s a business with a difference… only employing and supporting single parents. Maryben faced harassment and struggled to find work after she got pregnant and the father left her. She faced depression and even attempted suicide. But her mental health has improved and she’s now set up her business and is helping others in a similar situation. She’s now been named one of Africa’s top 40 under 40 entrepreneurs, an award she dedicates to single mothers and people with mental health disorders: “For me this is a dedication to everyone out there who feels they can’t make it.” #AfricaDaily Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja)

After European nations imposed sanctions on Russia, many are looking to Africa for an alternative energy supply. But while this could be an opportunity for some countries, it also highlights global inequalities when it comes to access to electricity. Alan hears from an energy expert who says funding is needed for developing renewable technologies – and from a legal expert who’s helped countries negotiate energy deals with foreign countries. “Did you know Africa’s total installed energy capacity is less than Germany’s and yet Germany has a population of about 83 million people and Africa now has about 1.3 billion?” Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja) Guests: Jakke Cilliers of ISS Africa and legal expert, Stephen Karangizi.

"You know the African way of raising kids and raising men - we are taught you should keep it all to yourself, don't open up." Male suicide rates far outnumber female rates in Africa – that’s according to the WHO. Some health experts put this down to the stigma that surrounds men's mental health, which discourages men from speaking up and seeking help before their problems get too difficult to manage. But several men across East Africa are now trying to change this - and open up a conversation around mental health. They include Michael Baruti, who has started a podcast called ‘Men Men Men’ - a platform where men can share their struggles and challenges - and Eddy Kimani, a television personality in Kenya who has spoken publicly about his own battle with depression. They spoke to Alan about the importance of conversation and how to address the stigma. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

In recent weeks, Botswana’s former president, Ian Khama, has visited Zambia, Eswatini and Zimbabwe – having meetings with presidents and kings. Since November 2021, he’s been living in exile in South Africa – after being charged with crimes including the unlawful possession of firearms and receiving stolen property. He says the case is politically motivated.So is he working to build up support as he fights the case? And can Botswana’s current president, President Mokgweetsi Masisi, persuade South Africa to extradite Khama for trial?Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Ian Khama and Mokaloba Mokaloba, University of Botswana.

In what appears to be its most significant attack on an African Union base in Somalia in years, Al-Shabab claims to have killed 173 Burundian soldier in a camp 160km north of Mogadishu. But there’s confusion over how many people died. A high ranking Burundian officer has been cited in the press as saying 30 lost their lives, while an official statement from the government said just ten were killed. What is clear is that it will trouble the AU at a time when Somalis were meant to be concentrating on preparing for elections. Today in Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Ibrahim Aydid from BBC Monitoring who tries to clear up the confusion - and tells us more about Al-Shabab and why this attack has come now Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

“The judge tells you: ‘are you really going to put your brother into prison for a monkey?’.”Around two weeks ago a Congolese man was arrested by the Ugandan authorities.They allege that he was caught with 122 endangered African Grey Parrots. He’s currently awaiting trial. His arrest follows an investigation involving a number of agencies.Africa Daily meets some of the conservationists involved – as well as others monitoring the activities of smugglers online. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja)

Each day, Africa Daily brings you fresh stories thanks to journalists from across the continent. Their ability to get to the bottom of what’s going on depends on whether they can work freely and safely. But this isn’t always guaranteed. To mark World Press Freedom Day, Alan is talking to two colleagues in countries where press freedom appears to be moving in different directions. Many journalists in Tanzania feel that reporting has become less difficult since President Samia Suluhu Hassan came to power last year. But in Ethiopia, covering the news has become even harder since conflict spread in 2020. So, what does World Press Freedom Day mean in these two countries?#AfricaDaily

This weekend Mwai Kibaki - Kenya’s third president after independence - was buried amid great pomp and ceremony. He’s fondly remembered by many for his policy of introducing free primary education for all children. It rapidly led to 1.3 million more children entering schools. But nearly 20 years on, many parents say they have to pay hidden fees – and that the scheme actually lowered standards. Alan Kasujja speaks to parents and an education analyst to get their thoughts. “You can find classes of 100 pupils with one teacher…. It’s not free. Maybe we can say it’s subsidised but it’s not free.” Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Amos Kaburu (@kaburukitui) and parents Njeri Maina and Celestine Odiwuor.

Like many people across the continent, Ghanaians have seen the cost of living rising in recent months. And from Sunday they will have to budget for a new tax on some transactions. An ‘e-levy’ of 1.5% will be applied to mobile money payments, bank transfers and remittances over 100 cedis ($13). The government says the tax will raise nearly a billion dollars this year alone. And that the funds will be used to build roads, fund education and support young entrepreneurs. But some people are worried that the tax will hit those on low incomes the hardest and force many people to return to using cash. #AfricaDaily

In mid-April two family members in Mbandaka in the north-western Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo died from the virus within days of each other. This was the country’s 14th outbreak since the very first one back in the 70s when it was discovered. So much has changed and improved in the fight against this virus since the worst outbreaks in West Africa between 2013 and 2016, which left tens of thousands of people dead in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. It’s believed that on average the virus kills about 50 percent of those infected, but it can be contained and treated, if caught early. There’s now a vaccine against it and a new rollout is underway in Mbandaka to mitigate the latest outbreak. But despite all this progress Ebola still resurges. Today Alan Kasujja is asking why Ebola keeps re-occurring in the DRC? Guests:Rhoda Odhiambo, BBC Health Correspondent Dr. Mory Keïta, WHO Incident Manager of Ebola response in the DRC

On April 27, 1994, South Africans went to the polls to elect a new president. Among them were millions of Black citizens who had never voted because of the apartheid system that prevented them from having a say in their country’s political space. That election would see Nelson Mandela, the anti- apartheid fighter, become South Africa’s first democratically elected and the country’s first Black president.The fight against apartheid was long and bloody. Many political activists disappeared while in exile and in police custody in South Africa and they’ve never been found.Today Mpho Lakaje, who was 14 years old when his country saw the fall of the apartheid system, is speaking to Bafana Nkuta, whose brother has been missing since the 1970s. He also speaks to Madeleine Fullard, who sits on the Missing Persons Task Team, a government initiative whose mission is to finding out what happened to those people who disappeared.

“We are the country which has refused to take the many turning points that have been offered to us either through very painful points in our past or through opportunities.” Most of Kenya’s elections over the last 20 years have involved some level of violence and protests. The worst was in 2007 when at least 1,000 people were killed and more than half a million displaced. So it’s not surprising that many in Kenya are looking ahead to the upcoming elections in August with a sense of nervousness. Journalist John Allan Namu tells us that it doesn’t help that some politicians are using ‘unsanitary’ language on social media, that the independent election body is underfunded and untrusted by many Kenyans, and that the recent process for nominating candidates was chaotic and controversial. So what hope is there for a peaceful election in Kenya? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guest: John Allan Namu (@johnallannamu)

Many countries in Africa have ended restrictions and lockdown measures put in place during the height of the pandemic. In South Africa, which had the highest number of Covid-19 cases on the continent, this is a welcoming move for many industries; especially the hospitality sector. According to figures, nearly 400, 000 people in the restaurant industry lost their jobs at the height of the pandemic. And the unemployment rate is said to be at a staggering 35.3%. So with all that the country has faced and with so many people losing their livelihoods, today Alan, who’s recently returned from South Africa, speaks to two businessowners about how their businesses were affected in the last two years and asks if South Africa’s economy can recover and get back to its feet. Sakhumzi Maqubela is a restaurant owner in Soweto and Thato Mothopeng runs an event management company.

Several nations in Africa have decided to relax their lockdown mandates. In Namibia, you are no longer required to wear a mask in public and visitors don’t have to provide negative PCR tests. In South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa officially ended the lockdown, two years after it was imposed – and started a transition process away from mandatory facemasks in public. But it’s clear Covid-19 is still very much with us. Total cases currently stand at 8.6 million, with over 170 thousand deaths across the continent.So is this the right time to lift Covid measures? Alan Kasujja speaks to Namibia’s Health and Social Services minister Dr. Kalumbi Shangula and Dr. Mary Stephens of the World Health Organisation.Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja).

Street hawkers are a common sight, plying their trade on streets across Africa. From fruit and vegetables to gadgets and clothes – they sell it all. But in Tanzania, ‘Machingas’ - petty traders - have been evicted from their stalls and told they need to go to official markets. They were given one month’s notice. President Samia Suluhu Hassan says the street traders pay no tax, block up congested roads and take customers from formal shop owners who DO pay tax. But the Machingas say the move has left them struggling to feed their families. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja) Guest: Economist Walter Nguma. Street traders Godfrey Massima and Khamisi Mohammed

He’s got millions of fans and sold millions of records. Since 2009, Tanzanian musician Diamond Platnmuz has entertained legion of fans. First in his native Tanzania, then soon enough his popularity spilled across the rest of East Africa before he took on the rest of Africa and the world. His catchy tunes, often sang in Swahili, have captured fans beyond those who speak or understand the language. From his humble beginnings in Tandale, a low-income neighbourhood in Dar es Salaam, to Netflix where he’s one of the stars of the hit reality show – Young, African and Famous, there doesn’t seem to be an end to Diamond’s reach or talent. Africa Daily’s Victoria Uwonkunda sits down with him to find out what drives Diamond Platnumz. Guest: Diamond Platnumz (@Diamond Platnumz)

Warning: Please be advised that this episode contains open and frank discussions about topic listeners might find distressing. Across Africa’s newsrooms, sexual harassment appears to be rife. That’s according to research by Women in News - a media development programme. Half of all the women surveyed said they’d been harassed at work - and only a third had reported it. So, despite all the progress with the #metoo movement, why is sexual harassment still so widespread? And what’s being done to stop it?Hosted by Alan Kasujja Guests: Mary (not her real name) and Molly Chimhanda, senior manager at Women in News.#AfricaDaily

“You cannot rely on the rain to do farming. Either it’s recurring drought or if rainfall comes, it floods. The seasons have become unpredictable.” Last week on Africa Daily we heard about the drought in East Africa and the flooding in South Africa – both bringing misery to millions. Basic food supply becomes difficult. So today Mpho Lakaje speaks to Abdi Hashi, a farmer and entrepreneur in Somaliland who has set himself a task: to help the breakaway state – which currently imports 80% of its food – to become more self-sufficient. Six years ago he bought up a parcel of arid and unused land that some had deemed unfarmable. Now he has eight greenhouses and eight acres of thriving farmland – and trains other small farmers to become more productive and resilient, and less reliant on the rain. And with the drought worsening, he tells us how his farm has become a stopping point for nomads from as far afield as Somalia and Ethiopia who are looking for water for their cattle. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@mpholakaje) Guest: Abdi Hashi (@HorngardensB)

Hundreds have died in KwaZulu Natal, in what South African officials are calling ‘one of the worst weather storms in the history of the country’. In one utterly heartbreaking instance, one family is said to have lost ten members in the floods. Days of torrential rain have washed away homes, roads and bridges, prompting the government to declare a state of disaster. Mudslides have trapped people under buildings. Electricity and water have been restored to some areas and authorities say that almost 41,000 people are affected around the city of Durban. Rescue workers continue to go from house to house, desperately trying to find people who went missing. With the weather service warning of more floods expected in coming days, today, Mpho Lakaje, in Johannesburg, is asking how South Africa will cope. He’s joined by Nokuthula Nyandeni, one of those affected and Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman, from a non-governmental organization helping out – Gift of the Givers.

We are looking at the state of comedy in Africa as South Sudan, a country ravaged by war and which since 2013 continues to deal with an ongoing conflict, stages its first comedy festival.Tired of seeing the constant one-sided images and news stories of a war torn country with millions of people who have been displaced, and hundreds of thousands of people said to have been killed in the conflict, one man set out to try and change this world view of South Sudan. Akau Jambo, a comedian based in Juba, wanted to show the world another side – a side that shows that South Sudan too, despite everything else, can laugh and have a good time. So Akua brought almost a dozen of comedians from across the continent to his home country and put on a show over a weekend in the beginning of April. With a diverse cast of comedians from Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and South Africa in attendance, Mpho Lakaje speaks to Timothy Nyanzi, one the comedians who performed in Juba, about the festival but also the state of comedy in Africa. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@MphoLakaje) Guests: Akau Jambo (@AkauJambo) and Timothy Nyanzi (@timothyjnyanzi)

“We’re raised in a culture where these kind of things are hush hush. You don’t speak out about them. Ever since I shared my story a lot of other women I know started talking about theirs… This is exactly why I’m feeling better and I’m not feeling like it’s the end of the world.” It’s a shocking statistic: about 80% of black women will suffer from fibroids at some point in their lives. Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus. They can cause a number of painful symptoms, including back pain and heavy bleeding and can make it difficult to get pregnant. This can bring stigma and misunderstanding – with women blamed for having caused them in some way. Africa Daily finds out about the risk factors involved, what options are open to women – and hears from a Nigerian woman who’s dealing with the condition. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@mpholakaje) Guests: Stephanie Odili (stephanieodile.com) Dr Elizabeth Byakwaga (@ByakwagaE)

Somalia hasn’t seen enough rain for three consecutive seasons, and this has led to what experts are calling the worst drought in a decade. They are also warning the worst is yet to come.Hunger has been rife, as many Somalis have seen failed crops and thousands of their livestock, which many depend on for a living, dead.Hundreds of thousands people have been displaced, and the most vulnerable in society are bearing the brunt of this crisis – more than one million children are said to be suffering from severe malnutrition.Experts are warning that up to 325,000 children are at the risk of dying if nothing is done.On today’s episode Mpho Lakaje is speaking to the BBC’s reporter Mercy Juma who recently returned from Somalia’s worst hit areas. Mpho also has been speaking with Peter Ekayu, the deputy head of OCHA, (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) in Somalia about the effects the drought is having on Somalia’s most vulnerable people.Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@MphoLakaje) Guests: Mercy Juma (@MercyJuma_) and Peter Ekayu

Eswatini is a small country of just over a million people which is facing big problems. Last year dozens of people died after a crackdown on pro-democracy protests– and in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic led to the economy shrinking. According to World Bank estimates, nearly 40% of its population lives on less than two dollars a day. Now the government is planning the launch of a national airline – its second such venture after its previous airline folded. So will this help boost trade and tourism – or just saddle the country with more debt?Mpho Lakaje explores the issue for this week’s #AfricaDaily.Presenter: Mpho Lakaje @mpholakajeGuests: Xavier Masule, commercial director at Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation. Sanele Sibiya, University of Eswatini.

Africa has relatively low rates of diabetes. But cases are rising faster than any other continent. The condition causes the levels of glucose in the body to become too high. Untreated it can damage the nerves, eyes, heart and even lead to death. So, why is it a growing problem across Africa? And what can be done to prevent further cases?The episode contains frank discussion about sexual health issues.This episode was first broadcast on 10 December 2021Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Osarenkhoe Ethel Chima-Nwogwugwu (@osaethel) Professor Kaushik Ramaiya#AfricaDaily

Nigerians are well used to power-cuts – they’ve lived through hundreds, many nationwide – over the last decade. Businesses and individuals who need a reliable power source turn to private generators… and the costs for running them have gone up. The World Bank says that unreliable power costs the Nigerian economy an estimated $28 billion.So when last month the national grid collapsed twice in just two days – it led to widespread anger – and a rare apology from the President. So what’s behind this long running weakness in Nigeria’s energy supply? #AfricaDaily Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@mpholakaje) Guest: Dr Vincent Emodi

In recent months, many people around the world have seen their cost of living increase. Basics such as food, fuel and electricity are costing more than they used to in many countries. Recent research has tried to pinpoint the most expensive cities on the continent, by looking at the cost of these goods. The data suggests that life in cities like Dakar, Addis Ababa and Abidjan is nearly as expensive as some cities in Europe. But people are often earning much less in these African cities. So, at a time when many people are having to tighten their belts, what’s life like in Africa’s most expensive cities?Host: Victoria Uwonkunda (@msuwonkunda)#AfricaDaily