“While $134B flows in each year, predominantly in the form of loans, foreign investment and aid; $192B is taken out, mainly in profits made by foreign companies, tax evasion and the costs of adapting to climate change.” – Health Poverty Action.
The presence of some of the world’s fastest growing economies in Africa serves as fodder for the Africa rising narrative. A walk around capital cities of Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Luanda, and others, will put a stamp on the discourse that Africa is rising at a significant rate. The crane-filled skylines, construction of road networks and railway lines, multi-million dollar mansions and business malls erupting across major towns and cities, and growing technologies are just but a few indications of the continent’s ascent to prosperity.
But even as people across the globe engage in discussions about how fast the continent is growing, ironically, the other discourse that goes hand in hand with this narrative is the astounding number of people who are still grappling with deep-rooted poverty in the continent.
One can only wonder why there is still a widening gap between the rich and the poor and why Africa is still struggling with poverty despite the fact that it is home to a major percentage of raw materials that are in hot demand around the globe.
This article was published here
Angola introduces multiple-entry visa
Previously, travellers were only able to apply for a single-entry visa, which was valid for only 30 days. The multiple-entry visa is far more cost-effective for travellers, says HRG Rennies Travel National Executive Client Services Manager, Jose Cruz, as it costs the same – R750 (€41) – as the standard visa.
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South Africa Could Face ‘Food Riots’ As Drought Pushes Prices Higher
Briefing Parliament’s portfolio committee on agriculture, Grain South Africa CEO Jannie de Villiers said South Africans should brace for a tough year ahead as the country was set to import millions of tonnes of grain as a result of low yields brought on by the drought.
“We have done a study of what happened in 2007/2008 in the world where the Arab spring took place and there’s some work being done that says there’s a high correlation when you’ve got high food prices and food riots. There’s a big possibility that it could happen in South Africa,” said De Villiers.
“When we look at what’s going to happen to food prices, we see it’s going to increase substantially and there might be that there’s going to be some public revolt about that.”
The biggest challenge for 2016, according to Grain SA, was to bring enough food into the country.
South Africa’s agriculture department predicts South Africa would have to import 3.8 million tonnes of maize to keep the nation fed.
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New International East African e-Passport To Launch In 2 Weeks
The East African Community (EAC) Heads of State Summit is set to launch the much-anticipated e-passport that will allow citizens from member states to move with ease within and outside the community.
The launch of the new international East African e-passport will fulfill one of the EAC’s mandate which is to integrate members of the region for easier and faster movement of people.
The unveiling of the electronic passport will be done during the 17th Ordinary East African Community (EAC) Heads of State Summit set for February 29, 2016, in Arusha, Tanzania.
At the beginning of the year, EAC Secretary General Richard Sezibera expressed enthusiasm about the launch of the new generation passports. The e-passports will be availed to citizens in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi. The regional electronic passport was set for launching in November 2015 but was postponed.
This article was published here
7 Top Reasons Why Africa Is Still Poor, 2016
The presence of some of the world’s fastest growing economies in Africa serves as fodder for the Africa rising narrative. A walk around capital cities of Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Luanda, and others, will put a stamp on the discourse that Africa is rising at a significant rate. The crane-filled skylines, construction of road networks and railway lines, multi-million dollar mansions and business malls erupting across major towns and cities, and growing technologies are just but a few indications of the continent’s ascent to prosperity.
But even as people across the globe engage in discussions about how fast the continent is growing, ironically, the other discourse that goes hand in hand with this narrative is the astounding number of people who are still grappling with deep-rooted poverty in the continent.
One can only wonder why there is still a widening gap between the rich and the poor and why Africa is still struggling with poverty despite the fact that it is home to a major percentage of raw materials that are in hot demand around the globe.
This article was published here