Metro

South African trade unions lead protest as inflation, cost of living bites harder

Published

2 years ago

August 24, 2022

The wave of protest that has hit African countries lately has stretched into South Africa, as workers in the country, on Wednesday, demonstrated against the country’s rising cost of living.

Local reports say around 1,000 workers marched to the Union Buildings, the seat of government in the capital Pretoria, calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government to contain rising prices.

The demonstrators hit the over the record-high fuel prices and increased costs for basic foods.

The General Secretary of South African Federation Trade Unions (SAFTU) Zwelinzima Vavi, while addressing thousands of workers emphasized the cost of living in the country has become a crisis.

“We cannot breath comrades. We cannot breath when today it costs more than 4700 rands ($277) to buy food for a family of just four people. No!”

Earlier in August, the government announced intention to slash the pump price of fuel from Wednesday, 3 August 2022 but it appears that that didn’t count for much as South Africans still cry under the weight of high inflation.

Inflation rate in South Africa jumped to 6.5% in May of 2022, from 5.9% in April and March, exceeding the central bank’s stated target.

In June, inflation hit a 13-year high of 7.4%, and the central bank expects the 2022 figure to run at around 6.5%, above the ceiling of its target band of between 3% and 6%.

South Africa faces a number challenges lately with an increasingly disturbing power situation that has led to consistent power-cut by the state power firm, Eskom.

South Africa’s economy has been in recession before the Covid19 pandemic which had devastating effects on the country’s economy.

Like in South Africa’s case, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has put lots of strain on many African countries as the two European neighbours contribute significantly to the supply of food to the world.

There are have been protests over similar causes in other African countries like Sierra Leone which turned bloody and Guinea lately.

Metro

EU launches initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria

Published

13 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The European Union (EU) has launched an initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria, particularly in the northwestern parts of the country.

Mrs. Tobi Ransomed, who is the consortium lead, disclosed this during the launching of the “Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities for Children and Youth in North West Nigeria Program” (ABEP), held in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State, on Thursday.

While declaring the event open, Ransomed noted that the high rate of out-of-school children in the region required a holistic approach from all relevant stakeholders to ensure these children reached their potential.

Speaking further, she said the ABEP three-year pilot program would be implemented through Save the Children International, PLAN, and Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAG) across twelve local government areas in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States.

“Data from Save the Children International (SCI), has shown that 10% of the world’s out-of-school children are in Nigeria, with over 10 million primary school-age children not in school. Approximately 25% of girls and 10% of boys in the country have been victims of sexual violence,” she stated.

“The program aims to increase access to safe, quality, and inclusive alternative and accelerated education programs for 324,000 young girls and boys, as well as 32,400 persons with disabilities, supporting their transition into formal or non-formal education.

“This project plans to increase access to livelihood opportunities, vocational education, and green job opportunities for 60,000 youths and 6,000 persons with disabilities, with 20,000 beneficiaries in each participating state.

“The overall objective is to contribute to the empowerment of the poorest, underserved, and most marginalized population groups, including women, girls, and youth, by providing access to quality, inclusive, gender-sensitive, and conflict-sensitive education in northwestern Nigeria with a special focus on Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States,” she stated.

Metro

World Bank pledges $3b to support Zambia’s development goals

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The World Bank Group has pledged to avail Zambia with approximately $3 billion to support the country’s development goals under the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2025-2029, with nearly half of the funds already disbursed.

World Bank Country Manager, Achim Fock, who made this known at the CPF launch at the Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka on Wednesday, outlined the global lender’s focus areas, which included enhancing jobs, human capital, and climate resilience.

Fock highlighted that $200 million had been approved to strengthen Zambia’s social protection programs, including the Refugee and Host Community Project.

He also expressed optimism for upcoming approvals, including the Climate and Economic Resilience Financing and the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector.

Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, who also spoke at the event, noted that 2.3 million Zambian households have so far benefited from social protection interventions such as the Cash for Work Programme, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives amid crises like the recent drought.

Musokotwane further reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting lives during times of crises such as the recent drought.

“More than two thirds of the Zambian population was affected by the drought. It was the government’s view that the first priority was to save lives,” Musokotwane stated.