Top of the Blogs 2019 #1 - Media Programme Sub-Saharan Africa
Overview: March 9th till 15th, 2019
Misinformation means the Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a bigger battle against the Ebola virus while its neighboring state Zambia struggles with another attempt from government to undermine the independent press. In this week’s “Top of the Blogs” we also take a look at the closure of Burundi’s UN human rights office and the potential of African urban farming.
Democratic Republic of Congo: No, Ebola is not a myth
It is seven months since the tenth Ebola epidemic broke out in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The number of victims is still increasing and there have been more than 500 reported deaths and several hundred registered cases. But that is not the only challenge: the greatest difficulty is the fake news and mistaken beliefs about Ebola.
Zambian Government Closes Independent Media Critical of the Ruling Party
Zambian authorities’ latest attempt to undermine the independent press is directed against Prime Television. The station received a one month suspension of its broadcast license after its reportage on the recent by-election which the ruling party lost. Critics say that the crackdown of the independent press always seems to heighten around election periods.
How good urban farming can combat bad eating
Unhealthy diets risk more health issues across the world than unsafe sex, alcohol, drugs and tobacco use combined. This is according to a new study that reports 820 million people are underfed and many more consume a low-quality diet. In Africa, achieving a healthy diet will require a range of initiatives but the answer could be traditional food and inner-city farms, says the author.
Why the closure of Burundi’s UN human rights office is a major setback
Burundi’s government is forcing the United Nations to shut down its local human rights office after 23 years. The government declared it had made sufficient progress in human rights so the U.N. office in Bujumbura was no longer justified. But U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet says that there were still credible reports of serious human rights violations in Burundi.
Why the world needs an African ecofeminist future
Women across Africa are coming up with alternatives for the orthodox economical models. The author argues that their battle for ecological sustainability on the continent should function as a role model for the rest of the world.
