Politics

Zambia at 58: Gains, pains as President Hichilema gives hope of better days

Published

2 years ago

October 24, 2022

The president of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, in his speech for the commemoration of the country’s 58th independence has called on Zambians to uphold the values and virtues of its past heroes.

The theme for this year’s independence anniversary is: “Promoting Inclusiveness towards a sustainable Social and Economic Recovery.”

With a population of over 18 million, Zambia is located in Southern Africa, east of Angola. The country until independence in 1964 was known as Northern Rhodesia.

The Southern African country has had a mixed political history from its precolonial era, colonialism, and the era of self-rule which was characterized by one-party rule for 19 years from 8 December 1972 and 1991, military interregnum, and the current multi-party system.

The country currently enjoys some sort of political stability under President Hichilema. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has consistently put Zambia among the top ten most democratic African countries, ranking it 8th in Africa and 99th in the world as of 2018 (167 states).

But there is a struggle on the economic side. Zambia was the first African country to default on its external loan during the COVID-19 era as it struggled with debt that reached 133% of GDP at the end of 2021.

It then opted to bow out of a $42.5 million Eurobond repayment in 2020 and is seeking $8.4 billion of debt relief from 2022 to 2025.

As recently hinted by a senior official of the International Monetary Fund, IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, work is on for a timely debt restructuring for Zambia as the country now seeks a present value of $6.3 billion debt reduction or 49% of the external debt being restructured, a level some bondholders have said would be unacceptable.

There is a lot to cheer for Zambia on its 58th independence. Hopefully, the government’s projection of the country’s economic growth at 4% per year in the medium term and its focus on resolving the country’s debt crisis would hit the target.

Happy Independence Zambia.

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.