Rural Africa Weekly Report: Democracy Victory In Rural Eastern Cape and Other Reports

Every week, Rural Reporters collates a  report on development in rural Africa and its environs. The reports include are some of our top picks of recent must-read research, interviews, reports, blogs and in-depth articles to help you keep on top of global crises. Here are some of the updates you may have missed from the previous week.

 Victory For Democracy In Rural Eastern Cape

Being able to vote for our leaders is what it means to live in a democracy. Yet the Eastern Cape government tried to block a rural community from electing their leader. This week, the community won an important court victory.

More Women Workers Can Boost Growth: IMF Chief

Empowering women boosts economic growth and can reduce poverty. Getting more women into secure and well-paid jobs raises overall per capita income, Ms Largarde said. “Greater gender equality not only raises absolute income, it also helps to reduce income inequality.”

Three key policy areas for women’s economic empowerment, the IMF chief talked about, include those in education, the workplace and the family.

Rural Communities Suffer Without Toilets Despite Millions Unspent

The DA will closely monitor all grants to ensure the Rural Household Infrastructure Grant (RHIG) scenario does not take place ever again and that anyone responsible for abusing the public purse by circumventing legislation is held accountable. The DoHS cannot continue rewarding officials who think their only task is to spend money without any checks and balances.

In Rural Africa, Climate Work Brings Political Power to Women

Samake is one of 10,000 rural Malians, half of them women, trained by the government to help the agriculture sector adapt to tougher climate conditions and avoid crop losses.

In return for sending data to Bamako via mobile phone, participants like Samake receive weather forecasts and periodic advice to share with other local farmers.

Zanzibar Celebrates Safe Rural Water With the African Development Bank

The President of Zanzibar, on his tour of the island archipelago, has praised the Isles Ministry for the improvements to the lives of the islanders, made possible by the African Development Bank’s Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) program.

Zanzibar President Ali Mohamed Shein was speaking at the inauguration of the Water and Environment Conservation Project in Taifa village, Wete District, on North Pemba Island on August 25. Thanks to the Bank-funding project, 76 per cent of Zanzibar islanders, the vast majority of whom live in rural areas, now have access to safe water.