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Migration and the Constant Search for Self-Improvement in Africa
Get PDFGlobally, narratives about the nexus between migration and development have gained prominence among academics, policymakers, development practitioners, as well as social partners. However, the historical and contextual factors that have shaped the patterns of migration flows within and from the African continent have been poorly conceptualized and theorized. The components of migration that have the propensity to lead to self-improvement and development such as the sending of cash, social, and political remittances; skills and knowledge transfers; and diaspora-origin country engagements, need to be examined as a composite in order to fully appreciate the developmental potential of migration within the African context. Using thematic and content analysis of relevant extant literature, we examine the contextual factors that characterize the nexus between migration and self-improvement/development in Africa. Our analyses are situated within an Africa-centered conceptualization of development and migration. We argue that the development impacts of migration vary across different regions in Africa depending on the contextual factors that shape such migrations. Migration spurs self-improvement and development just as self-improvement and development facilitate migration
Dynamics of Protection in a Shrinking Economy: A Peak into Zimbabwe’s Refugee Regime
Get PDFZimbabwe has consistently experienced an influx of refugees despite its shrinking economy. This places a heavy burden on the state to provide social protection to refugees. There are limited studies that focus on the dynamics of refugee protection in resource-constrained countries like Zimbabwe, often characterized as being only immigrant-sending countries. We use data from 12 in-depth interviews with key informants to explore how the prolonged socio-economic crisis has impacted the state’s ability to provide social protection to refugees in Zimbabwe. The study also explores the relationship between the state and other stakeholders in hosting refugees in Zimbabwe. The findings suggest that socio-economic challenges in a shrinking economy affect the protection outcomes of refugees regardless of the presence of a robust refugee regime in the country.
CATCHING THE SLIPPERY FISH: WILL LIFESTYLE AUDITS NET THE CORRUPT IN UGANDA
Get PDFUganda is one of the African countries that have embraced lifestyle audits as a tool against corruption in the public service. In November 2021, the Inspector General of Government announced that the Inspectorate of Government would subject public officials to lifestyle audits as a means to fight corruption in government. There is evidence that when lifestyle audits are effectively implemented, they can be a viable anti-graft mechanism. Yet, resource limitations as well as other legal and policy constraints may complicate the implementation of lifestyle audits. Moreover, their constitutional legitimacy may be contested due to the intrusion on the privacy rights of individuals who are subjected to such audits. Also, the shifting of the burden of proof to those implicated to explain any disparities in their wealth and sources of income may infer a negation of the presumption of innocence. Furthermore, there have also been suggestions that they may encourage arbitrary deprivations of property. In Uganda, there has been scanty academic discourse on the likely legal and policy challenges that may constrain the effective implementation of lifestyle audits to counter corruption. This paper therefore seeks to discuss some of the legal and policy limitations that may constrain the implementation of lifestyle audits in Uganda and make suggestions on how some of the limitations can be overcome in the circumstances. The paper reviews various laws, policies and jurisprudence regarding lifestyle audits, as well as books and articles on the subject
ENCOURAGING WHISTLEBLOWERS OF CORRUPTION IN SOUTH AFRICA: A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF MONEY REWARDS
Get PDFIn South Africa, as in many other countries, corruption and related criminal activities are deeply rooted and seem to cripple municipalities and the public sector in general. Studies have shown that whistleblowing is an essential tool that contributes to transparency and thus helps to control corruption. Three methods are available to a government to encourage whistleblowers to come forward: Protecting whistleblowers, creating an ethical government culture, and rewarding whistleblowers. It is therefore not surprising that the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture recommended that the South African government consider introducing money rewards for whistleblowers. This recommendation and the harsh reality that many whistleblowers have lost their lives in South Africa justify a more in-depth investigation into money rewards for whistleblowers.Research done by Maslen for Transparency International of foreign jurisdictions shows that money rewards (and the resulting increase in reports) can be a cost-effective and time-saving method to bring perpetrators to justice. On the other hand, some scholars such as Aygare and Aidoo-Buameh warn that money rewards could exacerbate existing dysfunctional organisational cultures by fuelling distrust among colleagues in the work environment. Aside from exploring whether money rewards would be beneficial, the current legal position involving whistleblower rewards must also be considered
The Book Review: Digital Media and Grassroots Anti-Corruption: Contexts, Platforms and Data of Anti-Corruption Technologies Worldwide by Alice Mattoni: Book Review: Digital Media and Grassroots Anti-Corruption: Contexts, Platforms and Data of Anti-Corruption Technologies Worldwide by Alice Mattoni
No full textWhere is the development in SA’s developmental state?
Get PDFThe ruling party defines South Africa as a ‘developmental state’, but with its rising job losses, growth that is lower than most of its African neighbours and rising inequality can that really apply? What’s missing, asks John Matisonn
South Africa after 30 years: Still a nation of two economies
No full textThe ANC is confronted with one tough question: reform or die slowly. ROLAND NGAM delves into the ANC-led attempts at creating a South Africa that works for all and examines why the Freedom Charter’s resolution – “the People Shall Share in the Country’s Wealth” – is still an aspiration three decades into Black majority rule. He posits that that many fundamental aspects of the national question, especially land and the economy, have been postponed for too long.
Thirty years into the democratic dispensation, South Africa is still a country of two nations as former President Thabo Mbeki once famously described it. The dream of economic freedom post-apartheid is deferred indefinitely. The challenge of poverty remains, to borrow the famous words of the eminent African American scholar, William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, “the problem of the color-line”. The rural countryside also looks and feels cast adrift. It is dominated by pervasive apartheid geography with a preponderance of informal settlements. Municipalities are struggling under the yoke of corruption and poor service delivery and because municipalities are struggling, hospitals, public transport, schools and security are struggling. A key priority of the national question, i.e. the long-promised land reform and a demand of the 1955 Congress of the People is yet to be delivered. This is fuelling a sense of betrayal among Blacks and it has become the cudgel that political parties, notably the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and rabble rousers use to beat the ANC with at every opportunity. Some anxious and sometimes mischievous voices have started saying openly that things were better for Blacks in the apartheid era
Introducing the FSNet-Africa model: Strengthening African capacity to tackle Africa’s wicked development challenges
Get PDFThe challenges inherent in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are interconnected and complex (United Nations, 2018). Overcoming these challenges requires adopting solutions that transcend conventional silo approaches and actively promote inclusivity (El-Jardali et al., 2018). However, these approaches are not the norm, and deliberate efforts are needed to disrupt traditional approaches to development. Research activities also need to adapt so that they are underpinned by capacity development, knowledge management, and partnerships of co-production, communication and coordination (Lamptey et al., 2024)
From policy to practice : Women come together to speak as one voice
No full textThe festive event incorporated powerful and poignant culture items from women cultural activists. Poets Diana Ferrus and IFAA board member Bernadette Muthien contributed readings of their own work, and Trudy Rushin and daughter Summer Dawn Geffen opened the proceedings with jazz and song. This event was also a collaboration with the Government Communication and Information Services and Parliament’s Public Education Department who arrived in Parliament’s colourful ‘Democracy Bus’. Some of the key organisations present included the Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Ubuntu Rural Women and Youth, and the South African Women’s Law Association