AFRICA'S HEALTH WORKERS FACE COVID-19 THREAT
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Malawi receives $45.07
THE AFRICAN STORY million for national COVID-19
emergency response
page 4
South Africa gets R5 billion
ISSUE NUMBER 730 VOLUME 2 27 JULY - O2 AUGUST 2020 loan to fight COVID-19
page 9
AFRICA’S HEALTH
WORKERS FACE page 2
COVID-19 THREAT
-Over 10 000 health workers infected
-Continent has more than 750 000 cases and 15 000 deaths
2 Echo Report Echo Newspaper 27 JULY - O2 AUGUST 2020
THE AFRICAN STORY
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Ruele Ramoeng
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Editor
Bright Kholi
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Head of Design
Ame Kolobetso
ame.kolobetso@ymhp.co.bw
Africa’s health workers
Distribution & Circulation
Mogapi Ketletseng
ketletsengm@echo.co.bw
face COVID-19 threat
Echo is published by
YMH Publishing
YMH Publishing,
Unit 3, Kgale Court, Plot 128,
GIFP, Gaborone
Postal address:
P O BOX 840,
Gaborone,
Botswana Health workers across the make up more than 10% of all of the nearly 30 000 facilities over 200 000 more, as well as
Telephone: (267) 3922 655 African continent face a threat infections. surveyed had assessment scores providing guidance documents
E-mail: info@echo.co.bw posed by COVID -19 as more than Inadequate access to personal above 75%. and guidelines on best care
www.echo.co.bw 10 000 workers in 40 countries protective equipment or weak Many health centres were practices and the most up-to-
DISCLAIMER: have been so far been infected infection prevention and control found to lack the infrastructure date treatment regimes.
Echo Newspaper welcomes by the virus. measures raise the risk of health necessary to implement key WHO is also helping to fill
concise letters from readers. This comes as COVID-19 cases worker infection. Surging infection prevention measures, gaps in the supply of personal
Letters must carry the full name in Africa appear to be gathering global demand for protective or to prevent overcrowding. protective equipment. Currently,
and address of the sender. pace: the continent is now equipment as well as global Only 7.8% (2213) had isolation 41 million items of personal
Letters must conform to the
laws of Botswana and to the sitting at more than 750 000 restrictions on travel have capacities and just a third had protective equipment are ready
Press Council of Botswana’s cases with over 15 000 deaths. triggered supply shortages. the capacity to triage patients. to ship from China to cover the
Code Of Ethics. Letters will also Some countries are approaching Health workers can also be needs of 47 African countries.
be edited for length, libel and a critical number of infections exposed to patients who do “One infection among health Shipments for an initial set of 23
language. that can place stress on health not show signs of the disease workers is one too many,” said African countries are planned
systems. and are in the health facilities Dr Moeti. “Doctors, nurses and to start during this weekend.
South Africa is now among for a range of other services. other health professionals are our As a result of concerted efforts
the worst-hit countries in the Risks may also arise when mothers, brothers and sisters. by WHO and partners some
world, the fifth. health personnel are repurposed They are helping to save lives African countries have managed
The World health governing for COVID-19 response without endangered by COVID-19. to reduce health worker
body, WHO has warned of the adequate briefing, or because of We must make sure that they infections considerably. For
threat to health workers in Africa heavy workloads which result have the equipment, skills and example, two months ago over
during a virtual press conference in fatigue, burnout and possibly information they need to keep 16% of COVID-19 infections in
addressed by its Africa Regional not fully applying the standard themselves, their patients and Sierra Leone were among health
Director, Dr Matshidiso Moeti operating procedures. colleagues safe.” workers. The figure has now
last week. In many African countries WHO has been working dropped to 9%. Cote d’Ivoire
“The growth we are seeing infection prevention and control closely with health ministries to has reduced the proportion of
in COVID-19 cases in Africa is measures aimed at preventing reduce health worker infections infections among health workers
placing an ever-greater strain infections in health facilities since the outbreak began. The from 6.1% to 1.4%. Scaling
Read more Echo on health services across the are still not fully implemented. Organization has trained more up infection prevention and
stories on our continent,” Dr Moeti said. When WHO assessed clinics and than 50 000 health workers in control measures can further
Facebook page by “This has very real hospitals across the continent Africa in infection prevention reduce infections among health
consequences for the individuals for these measures, only 16% and control, with plans to train workers.
scanning the QR who work in them, and there
code below with is no more sobering example
your mobile phone of this than the rising number
of health worker infections.”
So far, about 10% of all cases
globally are among health
workers, though there is a
wide range between individual
countries. In Africa, information
on health worker infections is
still limited, but preliminary data
finds that they make up more
than 5% of cases in 14 countries
in sub-Saharan Africa alone, and
in four of these, health workers
Echo Newspaper 27 JULY - O2 AUGUST 2020
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4 Echo Report
Echo Newspaper 27 JULY - O2 AUGUST 2020
Malawi receives
$45.07 million for
national COVID-19
emergency response
Malawi will receive $45.07 April. As of 21 July 2020, Malawi
million to finance the had recorded 3,149 confirmed
government’s response to the cases of COVID-19, with 1,256
health, social and economic recoveries and 71 deaths.
impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic, following a decision
by the Board of Directors of the
African Development Fund
(ADF) held Wednesday.
The package comprises a loan
of $24.48 million, and a grant of
$20.59 million as direct budget
support, and complements an
earlier sum of $8.9 million to
six countries in the region,
including Malawi, under the
Bank’s COVID-19 Response
grants to the Southern African
Development Community
(SADC) countries last month.
The budget support
intervention, will help boost
the Malawi National COVID-19
Preparedness and Response Plan
that has been developed with
multi-stakeholders including
government, development
partners and non-government
organizations. The Bank’s
support aims to protect lives;
strengthen public health
systems; protect livelihoods
through enhanced social
protection systems; foster
economic resilience and protect
jobs.
“The Bank’s support to
Malawi’s COVID-19 Response
Plan will help to cushion the
economy from the negative
impact on fiscal and current
account balances, hence
c o n s ol i d a t i n g M a l aw i ’ s
r e c ove r y e f fo r t s d u r i n g
this unprecedented time of
COVID-19 pandemic,” said
Acting Bank Country Manager,
Eyerusalem Fasika.
“The support will contribute
towards laboratory and
diagnostic capacity to test, trace,
isolate and treat COVID-19 cases,
strengthen the COVID-19 case
management systems, train
frontline healthcare workforce,
and restore services disrupted
by COVID-19, particularly for
patients with underlying health
conditions,” she added.
The support to Malawi is part
of the multi-country COVID-19
support package by the Bank
that includes $41.1 million to
Madagascar, $41.1 million to
Mozambique and $10.23 million
to Sao Tome and Principe. The
processing of this multi-country
program was combined into
one group to ensure efficiency
in the preparation of the Bank’s
assistance to Regional Member
Countries.
Malawi declared a State of
Disaster on 20 March 2020 and
launched its National COVID-19
Preparedness Response Plan on 8
Echo Newspaper 27 JULY - O2 AUGUST 2020
Echo Report 5
Andrew Mlangeni 1925-2020: South Africa Andrew Mokete Mlangeni
receives an honorary Doctor
of the City of London, and
received the inaugural George
loses the last of the Rivonia triallists of Literature and Philosophy
degree at Unisa.
Bizos Human Rights Award,
named after the veteran human
When South Africa became rights lawyer who represented
In 1951 he joined the African those the Special Branch of a democracy in 1994, he was the Rivonia triallists.
National Congress Youth League, the apartheid police detained elected as an ANC member of In 2017 he appeared in the
and in 1954 the ANC. He married at Liliesleaf farm, and joined parliament, serving until the documentary film Life is
June Ledwaba in 1950. They had Mandela and others as accused in 1999 election. He later served a Wonderful, along with the then
four children; she passed away the Rivonia trial for sabotage. In second term, from 2009 to 2014. two other living survivors of the
in 2001. 1964 they were sentenced to life He was a member of both the Rivonia trial, Ahmed Kathrada
In 1961 Mandela selected imprisonment, and transferred Portfolio Committee on Defence and Denis Goldberg.
Mlangeni as one of the first six to Robben Island prison. and Military Veterans and the In 2018 Durban University
volunteers to be smuggled out of When the political prisoners Joint Committee on Ethics and of Technology conferred an
South Africa to receive military won the right to study by Members’ Interests. honorary doctorate in Education
Anti-apartheid struggle hero training and join the newly correspondence in 1967, he was Mlangeni was awarded the on him; in the same year,
Andrew Mokete Mlangeni, who founded uMkhonto weSizwe the first to enrol, and obtained Order for Meritorious Service, Rhodes University granted
died this week at the age of 95, (Spear of the Nation), the armed a degree from the University of gold class, in 1999 by President him an honorary doctorate in
was the last surviving of the eight wing of the ANC. He was trained South Africa. After 26 years in Mandela, the first head of state of law. The ANC awarded him its
African National Congress (ANC) in China, and successfully jail, he was one of the Rivonia democratic South Africa. In 2016 highest honour, Isithwalandwe-
activists who were sentenced returned to South Africa. triallists released in October he was granted the Freedom of Seaparankoe, in 1992.
to life imprisonment in the In 1963 Mlangeni was among 1989. Johannesburg and the Freedom
infamous Rivonia trial in the
1960s.
Mlangeni spent 20 of his 26
years in jail on Robben Island
alongside fellow triallist Nelson
Stanford Go-to-Market
Mandela and other luminaries
of the ANC. He symbolised the A Collaboration between De Beers Group and Stanford GSB
generations who had joined
the ANC during the most
dangerous period of resistance
to apartheid. No rewards, but
only vindictive persecution,
including detention and jail,
were all that they could expect.
They joined the movement to
overthrow apartheid and build
the South Africa envisioned in
the Freedom Charter of 1955,
the ANC’s blueprint for a free,
democratic South Africa.
But he was no party
apparatchik. He became a fierce
Go-to-Market Cohort 2 (2019)
critic of the ANC as it matured
into a political party and began to As they say, when the world throws you lemons, make
show all the signs of abandoning yourself lemonade to quench your thirst. With many
its early commitment to establish companies around the globe affected by COVID - 19 the
a just South Africa. He was
innovative ones are amongst those that stand a better
particularly outspoken about
rampant corruption under chance to pull through.
President Jacob Zuma.
Speaking at the Rhodes An Alumni of the Stanford Go-to-Market (GTM) Program,
University conferment of an Leatile Chilindi who owns Lavidagreen infiltrates the
honorary doctorate, he said : fresh food delivery market during the Covid-19 lockdown
Some of our political leaders in Gaborone.
have become absolutely corrupt
– they are no longer interested In an interview on the pandemic and measures his
in improving the lives of our business put in place to stay afloat, he says “the impact
people. They are busy lining on our operations has been immense. As a fresh produce
their pockets with the money Leatile Chilindi - Owner
distributor, our primary customer is restaurants, which
that is meant to help the poor
people. What a disgrace. account for 90% of our business. We felt the ripple effect
He was born on 6 June 1925 of the impact on restaurants and as a result, like other
on a white-owned farm near entities in the same business, we incurred a serious loss
Bethlehem in the Free State. of income.”
His father died when he was
one year old. The farm owner He reiterated the significance of e-commerce in today’s
then evicted the family, who world adding that with social distancing regulations, it is
went to live in the blacks-only a very useful platform for business, particularly coupled
township of Bethlehem, known
with home deliveries.
as Bohlokong (Place of sorrow)
in Sesotho. Andrew had to drop
COVID-19 Response
out of school to earn money as
a caddy at the nearest golf club. Leatile attributes his new business model of pushing sales
In 1939, he and his mother
digitally to learnings he derived from a webinar
moved to Pimville, in what
is today part of Soweto, the conducted for GTM entre by the Stanford Seed team,
sprawling black residential area aimed at supporting the businesses with response
southwest of Johannesburg. He mechanisms for the current global challenge. During this time, the company has resorted to collecting
returned to school: one of his their own products from their farmers to help alleviate
teachers was Oliver Tambo, an “We used the business model canvas taught in the delivery costs on their behalf.
ANC activist who went on to lead Stanford GTM bootcamp to assess the market and key
the movement in exile, after it strengths we would need to serve our market and the “We are thankful to be able to offer convenience,
was banned in April 1960. results are positive. We are very excited as this new affordability and a good variety of both local and regionally
In 1946 he began work in a approach has not only kept us afloat but has also grown produce to our customers. This is a stepping stone
increased our customer base. towards taking our company to greater heights. We are
factory. First-hand experience
thankful to De Beers Group and Stanford for their continued
of exploitation made him join
support” he concluded.
the Young Communist League.
6 Health Echo Newspaper 27 JULY - O2 AUGUST 2020
This is worrying. The country’s surface cleaning and hand
current public health approach washing) when communicating
relies on society to monitor about preventative measures.
their symptoms in order to There’s also a problem with
know when to isolate or seek reach: messages from the
additional care. government aren’t reaching the
The infectious nature of population. Given that people
COVID-19 means that behaviour are predominantly using news
changes are required to change media, government sources
the trajectory of the disease. For should use these avenues
instance, universal masking more effectively to distribute
‘‘
of at least 80% is required to
flatten the infection curve. The
paucity of COVID-19 symptom
knowledge implies that South
Africans may be unable to self-
screen and self-isolate should
they become infected. The joint But a crucial
failure on these two fronts may
impede the containment of the
determinant of
virus. whether people
The question of where people will change their
got their information was also
revealing. Almost four in five behaviour includes
of those involved in the survey having access to
said they relied on news media
for their trusted source of credible health
COVID-19-related information. information that’s
Only 14% said they relied on
government sources and 11%
trusted and that
on health workers. people can adopt.
The study found that those Inadequate sources
who relied on the government
and health workers had more of information carry
accurate knowledge of symptoms a number of risks.
and were more likely to abide
by high-impact preventative centralised messaging.
strategies. Finally, given the long term
behaviour changes required
Next steps from South Africans, it may
There is a clear responsibility be more effective to create an
placed on South Africans to enabling rather than a punitive
adopt and adhere to high- environment to encourage
impact preventative behaviours, the adoption of high-impact
remain vigilant and make daily preventative strategies. This
sacrifices. This commitment could include the free provision
‘South Africans not wearing
requires serious societal buy-in. of masks, restructuring the
So, how should the government delivery of services to encourage
go about encouraging this, given physical distancing (for example,
masks or keeping their distance’
that current messaging and home delivery of medication and
law enforcement efforts aren’t telehealth) and empowering
getting people to change their community champions,
behaviour sufficiently? organisations and leaders to
In countries like South Africa that behaviour change is not South Africans. For instance, We recommend that positive encourage these behaviours.
face severe resource shortages, happening fast enough in South only 11% of those surveyed behaviour change should be Changing social norms in a
the burden of fighting COVID-19 Africa. Our research found that were able to list tiredness encouraged by using clear, short amount of time is difficult,
falls heavily on citizens to most people – 91% of those as a symptom, and only 6% concise and consistent and a one-size-fits all policy
change their behaviour and surveyed – reported that they could list all three of the most communication. And high- is unlikely to have the desired
follow preventative measures. had changed their behaviour common COVID-19 symptoms impact preventative measures effect. These changes require
These include avoiding mass since the start of the pandemic. – coughing, fever and tiredness. such as mask wearing and messaging that is context specific
gatherings, physical distancing But most of these efforts were And 8% of people surveyed physical distancing should be and which resonates strongly
and wearing masks. on lower-impact strategies, were not able to list any prioritised relative to lower- with its targeted audience.
But a crucial determinant of such as washing their hands symptoms at all. impact interventions (like (TheConversation.)
whether people will change their and cleaning surfaces.
behaviour includes having access Of those who changed their
to credible health information behaviour, the focus was less
that’s trusted and that people on high-impact strategies like
can adopt. Inadequate sources of wearing masks (53%), avoiding
information carry a number of people by either staying at home
risks. One of the biggest is that or not attending large gatherings
people who don’t have credible or avoiding big groups (58%),
information will be more and physical distancing (25%).
exposed to the virus because In a survey, 7000 South
they are less likely to abide by Africans are telephoned every
these behaviour changes. The month and asked a range of
second risk is that people do questions about their income and
not fully perceive the danger employment, their household
of COVID-19 or its negative welfare, receipt of grants, and
outcomes. about their knowledge and
This is often the case behaviour related to COVID-19.
with preventative health Because the same people are
interventions: they require contacted every month,
i n d iv i d u a l s t o m a ke a n researchers can track how
investment in their health prior their personal and household
to being sick. For example, a circumstances change over time.
person has to wear masks even The first survey showed that
though they are healthy. there is inadequate knowledge
Unfortunately, high-impact of COVID-19 symptoms among
Echo Newspaper 27 JULY - O2 AUGUST 2020 Echo Report 7
West African leaders
seek end to Mali
political crisis
Presidents from five West African were killed by police in early July.
TT
countries arrive in Mali on The M5-RFP rejected mediation
Thursday to try to negotiate measures proposed by a mission
an end to a political crisis that from the West African ECOWAS
has rocked the country and bloc last week, prompting the
raised fears it could undermine presidential mission. (Reuters).
pool of overcall tohave
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T
Reuters on Thursday.
Consultant BIRM)
The leaders of Nigeria, Ivory in writing, email preferred.
he Institute of Development Management Resource Development Strategy and Education
Coast, Senegal, Ghana and Niger
(IDM) and SOS have partnered to
to the lives of the community.
strengthen their programs and services in from organisations
assisting the and in
from IDM highly skilled consultants in early
childhood education and other disciplines to
Sector Strategic Plan.
According to Dr Kgokgwe, the education sector
will meet with Keita and then early childhood development. Based on
mesmerised
provide quality early childhood education and is one of the key sectors where IDM is making
Dicko and other opposition “As an compulsory
A institution that site
the strength and capabilities of SOS, IDM will,
visit with
embraces education,
services. country.
providing of
representatives properProcurin
applicants tothe
sanitatio
choose
a notable contribution in building a skilled
Masego
through SOS pre-schools and village facilities These centers will also offer opportunity for workforce for the country.
said
WhenDr. Kgokwe.
handing
Campus on 21st May 2019 at 09:00Hrs. pool of over th
leaders at a hotel in the capital in Tlokweng, Serowe and Francistown, provide IDM and other students training to become She said: “We established an Early Childhood
Bamako, according to the Sechele
training resources for Early Childhood Education. from IDM’s
early childhood teachers and practitioners an program in 2016 in line with the current needs
mission schedule. and
assisting
The collaboration marks yet another milestone
She
conducive environment for learners to ease theprogrammes further
school Headmaster, mentio
opportunity to experience the real world of work
Talking about IDM students undertaking early
and national priorities. In order to strength and
support this program, particularly in the area
their learning. The disaster IDM, through its Pub
applicants
timealso poses a serious Botswana
The leaders are expected by IDM to remain part of the social fabric childhood studies, Ms Balefetse said of development of practical skills, we found it
to make a statement before education.
The closing
of Botswana in matters pertaining to basic
Country Directo
“We want to ensure that every student
faculty remains relevant
undertaking this course acquires the relevant
compelling to explore collaborative partnerships
with institutions such as SOS who have the
departing early in the evening. health risk to the wellbeing of the community.
opening shall be carried out immediately Kgokgwe after closing, inIDM
extended
practical experience and skills needed to step
th necessary resources and experience in early
The stagnant water and dysfunctional toilets government national p
This relationship, will witness the reopening of into the employment world at the end of their childhood education”.
They are acutely aware of the
increaseInstitute
chances ofofwater-borne
Development diseasesManagement (IDM), PlotLorato
212
SOS early childhood centers /preschools ran in studies. They are also exposed to acquiring The National Director of SOS Children’s Villages
danger a destabilised Mali collaboration with IDM starting with Francistown skills to run their own establishments should they in Botswana, Mr Motshwari Kitso, said the
poses. The landlocked, semi- in early August this year. The preschools are such
choose to open pre-schools after completion of partnership comes at the right time when SOS is
as Malaria, Diarrhoea and Cholera. It is therefore responsible
Bachelor ofcorporate citiz
Public Best
Healt
their studies,” she revealed. rolling out its community re-integration program.
desert state has been used as a the localities in which they exist, says Mildred Pu
launch pad for groups linked
to al Qaeda and Islamic State to
Bafaletse, a coordinator for SOS/IDM early
childhood centers. important to Onalenna prevent
For her part, IDM Botswana Country Director, Dr
these
Seitio-Kgokgwe, diseases
said the by We
Institute’s and relevant. Bachelor
are particularlyof Community
pleased by De
“We welcome this collaboration as timely
attack neighbouring countries In addition to
Early Childhood program is a strategic program
the education of children, geared towards addressing the national driven, but to “Our
aims the students
lives
at advancing theand
ofnational
the lectur
commun
the centers will be set up to offer a learning needs and aspirations of a skilled workforce as agenda of creating Botswana a society that is
including Niger and Burkina
Faso.
opportunity
planning to
for other entities or individuals
establish, or already running early
expressed in various policy documents including
the National Development Plan 11, Human “As an institution that
knowledgeable with relevant quality education.
Masego
We want to be part of that legacy.”
Still, reaching a solution in
such a short space of time will Sechele
not be easy. Public opposition to and conducive environme
assisting
Keita hardened after protesters
their learning. The disaste
applicants
8 Business & Finance Echo Newspaper 27 JULY - O2 AUGUST 2020
interventions such as reducing
lending rates to encourage
spending. This means for those
starting a business with loan
capital and other borrowings,
they stand to benefit from low
interest rates. Loans and other
credit facilities now cost less,
improving the business profit
margins.
Low input costs: due the
slowdown in the economy,
suppliers and manufacturers are
more accommodating in their
agreements with buyers. New
businesses have the bargaining
power to negotiate longer term
payment deals that will remain
once the economy begins to
recover. Landlords looking to fill
vacant properties will be open
to accepting reduced rentals.
Direct vs Indirect taxes: what will African
Equipment in good condition
are accessible as some businesses
sell off inventory.
Low human capital cost:
governments use for economic recovery? opening a business and hiring
employees during an economic
slowdown increases access to
top talent. Many highly skilled
economy has unleashed the face being overtaken by new sector identified should already workers will be on the market
By Emmanuel Allottey potential for entrepreneurs entrants looking to capitalise be lucrative with high growth looking for new jobs. Previously
to start businesses driven by on the opportunity. potential. Large corporations unattainable highly skilled
The COVID-19 pandemic has innovations. Small and Medium sized stated small as SMEs and grew, recruits are now available.
triggered severe economic Innovation in business Enterprises (SMEs) are key highlighting the potential of Opportunities for businesses
contraction in many nations. involves launching new ideas, drivers of most economies in the start-up businesses to succeed. continue in the current volatile
Governments’ interventions products and services. This world. SMEs account for about There are various advantages economic environment created
to slow the health impact of can also be the modification half of global gross domestic to starting a business during by COVID -19. Entrepreneurs
the virus including lockdowns, of existing business models and product (GDP) and employs over these challenging times: with an innovative business
social distancing have hindered adapting to changes to achieve 40% of the workforce in a nation. Low Interest rates: economies solutions stand to benefit as
business growth in different better results. Covid-19 has Comprehensive research of the are operating under low interest they bring new and improved
sectors of the economy. The disrupted customer behaviour marketplace must be performed rate environments due to products and services to market.
slowdown in some areas of the and businesses need to adapt or before starting a business. The government monetary policy
social distancing have hindered interventions such as reducing
business growth in different lending rates to encourage
sectors of the economy. The spending. This means for those
slowdown in some areas of the starting a business with loan
economy has unleashed the capital and other borrowings,
potential for entrepreneurs they stand to benefit from low
to start businesses driven by interest rates. Loans and other
innovations. credit facilities now cost less,
Innovation in business improving the business profit
involves launching new ideas, margins.
products and services. This Low input costs: due the
can also be the modification slowdown in the economy,
of existing business models and suppliers and manufacturers are
adapting to changes to achieve more accommodating in their
better results. Covid-19 has agreements with buyers. New
disrupted customer behaviour businesses have the bargaining
and businesses need to adapt or power to negotiate longer term
face being overtaken by new payment deals that will remain
entrants looking to capitalise once the economy begins to
on the opportunity. recover. Landlords looking to fill
Small and Medium sized vacant properties will be open
Enterprises (SMEs) are key to accepting reduced rentals.
drivers of most economies in the Equipment in good condition
world. SMEs account for about are accessible as some businesses
half of global gross domestic sell off inventory.
product (GDP) and employs over Low human capital cost:
40% of the workforce in a nation. opening a business and hiring
Comprehensive research of the employees during an economic
marketplace must be performed slowdown increases access to
before starting a business. The top talent. Many highly skilled
sector identified should already workers will be on the market
be lucrative with high growth looking for new jobs. Previously
Innovation during COVID-19
potential. Large corporations unattainable highly skilled
stated small as SMEs and grew, recruits are now available.
highlighting the potential of Opportunities for businesses
- Starting a business
start-up businesses to succeed. continue in the current volatile
There are various advantages economic environment created
to starting a business during by COVID -19. Entrepreneurs
these challenging times: with an innovative business
Low Interest rates: economies solutions stand to benefit as
The COVID-19 pandemic Governments’ interventions are operating under low interest they bring new and improved
By Emmanuel Allottey has triggered severe economic to slow the health impact of rate environments due to products and services to market.
contraction in many nations. the virus including lockdowns, government monetary policy
Echo Newspaper 27 JULY - O2 AUGUST 2020 9 Echo Report South Africa gets R5 billion loan to fight COVID-19 The Board of Directors of the While the private health sector and HIV/AIDS. South Africa’s African Development Bank has is better equipped, it remains scaling up of mass testing has approved a loan of approximately unaffordable to the majority of also put pressure on capacity at R5 billion ($288 million) to the South Africans. public sector laboratories, and government of South Africa, as concerns have been raised about the country battles one of the The COVID-19 outbreak is the rising numbers of infections largest COVID-19 caseloads in also likely to adversely affect the among health workers. the world. gains made in controlling other South Africa confirmed its first infectious diseases such as TB case of COVID-19 on 5 March 2020 and is currently the most affected in Africa, and among the top five in the world in terms of confirmed cases (381,798 as at 22 July, with 5,368 deaths). The loan falls under the Bank’s $10 billion COVID-19 Response Facility and will finance South Africa’s COVID-19 Response Support Program and represents the Bank’s first ever budget support to the country. The operation is designed as a Crisis Response Budget Support Operation prepared following a request from the government of South Africa. The purpose of the program is to: (i) protect lives and promote access to essential equipment to prevent infection, such as protective personal equipment, sanitizers and gloves (ii) protect livelihoods by preserving jobs, incomes, food security and access to essential public services (iii) protect firms by supporting enterprises in the formal and informal economy to withstand the impacts of COVID-19 and prepare for economic recovery. South Africa’s ability to respond to the pandemic has implications for neighbouring countries as well as the continent as a whole, given its position as Africa’s second-largest economy after Nigeria. Even before the pandemic, South Africa was experiencing an economic slump. In 2019, the country registered GDP growth of 0.2% – the lowest in a decade – and according to Bank estimates it could drop to the worst in 90 years in 2020. Projections show a GDP contraction of 6.3% and 7.5% under baseline and worst-case scenarios, respectively. These growth forecasts have placed budgetary constraints on the government’s ability to deal with the health crisis. In order to ensure a complementary intervention, the African Development Bank operation was designed in collaboration with other partners, including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the New Development Bank. South Africa is ranked as the most prepared African country to deal with a pandemic, according to a Global Health Security (GHS) Index. Yet significant challenges remain in the public health sector, including underfunding and human resource shortages.
10 Echo Report Echo Newspaper 27 JULY - O2 AUGUST 2020
visible in the anti-corruption
journalism field.
Most private media houses
don’t have investigative desks.
As a result, media reports
tend to rely on allegations
and counter-allegations. One
participant said media houses
should “go underground and
find out the information”. This is
important “because sometimes,
people allegedly involved in
the corruption feed you with
what they want you to know.”
There are challenges in
pursuing investigative
journalism in Ghana. The
first is that journalists can be
harassed, or worse. In 2019
a prominent investigative
journalist, Ahmed Hussein-
Suale Divela, was murdered
just before he was due to give
evidence in a major football scam
involving influential Ghanaians.
His murder has not yet been
solved.
Journalists also mentioned
political interference and
nonavailability of funding
as barriers to investigative
journalism in the country.
Another weakness is that
media outlets don’t consistently
follow up on cases where political
corruption has been exposed.
As one participant commented:
Some sections of the media in
There have been many
instances in which we bring
Ghana aid corruption
critical issues to bear and discuss
them for a week or two and
leave them.
Sustained monitoring helps
keep the pressure on politicians
and law enforcement agencies
Corruption is a significant investigative journalism, and political candidates and parties as a partisan issue rather than to ensure a logical conclusion.
obstacle to development, limited follow-up reporting. tend to engage in partisan as a national problem.
democratic consolidation, These activities all contribute reporting. One participant said: My findings show that sections Next steps
and environmental security, to weakening anti-corruption Journalists defend the political of the Ghanaian media have Journalists are expected not
particularly in the developing struggles in Ghana. party they are affiliated with become propaganda tools in to allow money and political
world. It involves a misuse of Media corruption usually corruptive practices or attack the hands of unscrupulous affiliation to influence their
power in serving private ends at occurs when the press solicits opposition or people who raised politicians and political parties to work. They should see their
the public expense. Corruption – or accepts – cash or kind from issues about corruption. advance their political agendas. work as a calling. To uphold
occurs in both the public and those who want them to do their Reporting that comes from As one participant commented: their journalistic independence,
private sectors. bidding. The research shows these corrupt relationships is Politicians understand how they should decline offers,
There are different forms of that the Ghanaian private media partisan and tends to mask or to capture the media and including payments and cars,
corruption. Political corruption have become a “rented press” distort the truth about political use propaganda to destroy from influential people they
is a classic example. It is often or “cash for coverage”. corruption cases. [otherwise credible] stories. investigate.
committed by politicians and Participants talked about the One example is the coverage Previous studies have shown Civil society and state
top government officials acting practice of “brown envelope of financial sector reforms by that propaganda peddling institutions should support
alone or collaborating with journalism”. This mostly media outlets. The pro-National weakens anti-corruption efforts. media houses and journalists
other actors to advance private involved money being handed Democratic Congress Herald that demonstrably play a critical,
agendas. over as a bribe to influence a framed the reforms as a witch- Weak journalism active watchdog role in society.
In democratic societies, free story. hunt and cover-up for political Undercover journalism is Security agencies also ought
and independent private media One common practice is corruption committed by the the media’s major weapon in to protect media houses and
can investigate and expose soli (solidarity). This refers to New Patriotic Party affiliates. the fight against corruption. journalists threatened by thugs
political corruption. They money given by individuals Both sides of the reporting In Ghana’s Fourth Republic, because of their anti-corruption
can also pressurise relevant or organisations whose events framed the anti-corruption fight only a few people have been work. (TheConversation.)
authorities to address the reporters travel to cover.
problem. Media personnel are divided
on whether soli constitutes
But this is not always the case. corruption. One editor
The argument is that contrary commented:
to the popular view that Studies done elsewhere
media freedom, pluralism indicate that brown envelopes
and competition can help and “soli” practices compromise
tackle corruption, democratic critical anti-corruption
freedoms are not adequate reporting and embolden
safeguards for private media those involved in political
to fight political corruption. corruption. For example, in
Despite Ghana’s prevailing Ethiopia, Lodamo and Skjerdal
democratic freedoms, my showed that freebies and brown
study indicates that Ghanaian envelopes undermine anti-
private media actively contribute corruption efforts.
to political corruption. This
happens through biased Partisan reporting
reporting, propaganda peddling, Media houses and journalists
indulgence in corruption, weak that maintain strong ties toEcho Newspaper 27 JULY - O2 AUGUST 2020 Echo Report 11
Africa’s distributed
renewable energy sector still
Dominated by foreign players
The distributed renewable energy sector, facilitating for distributed renewable
energy sector in Africa has coordination, research and energy, with an emphasis
grown rapidly since 2013, but planning between international on community-owned and
it has so far failed to include public finance institutions, cooperative models.
locally-owned companies local banks, and distributed
and initiatives. Finance has renewable energy providers, (Bizcomunity.)
overwhelmingly only been and increasing support
accessible for multinational
companies that are based in
Europe or North America or led AGI L I T Y
by entrepreneurs from these At t h e S t a n f o r d S e e d
regions, meaning profits are leadership lab in South Africa,
largely not remaining in Africa. the keyword was Agility,
“As governments and public which stuck with Dichaba
finance institutions around forever. At leadership labs,
the world prepare historic Seed business leaders present
stimulus packages in response to their business challenge and
Covid-19, we have an important receive feedback and support
opportunity to grow distributed on how to tackle it.
renewable energy in Africa. But
we need this funding to help
start locally owned renewable
energy initiatives instead of just
flowing to a handful of overseas
companies,” said Thuli Makama,
DITEC & DIAGNOFIRM join forces
senior advisor at Oil Change
International.
“Mini-grid and off-grid
renewable energy is more cost
effective and resilient than both
grid-based renewable energy
and off-grid fossil fuels. Growing
a locally owned distributed
renewable energy economy
is more important than ever.
The pandemic has laid bare the
need to build energy systems year January and proceeded to his
that are resilient to future leadership lab in South Africa in
crises, including the global February; told a very impactful story
market shocks and natural about his transformation.
disasters we can expect to see
Mohammed Chand and
intensify as climate impacts Dichaba speaks about how his business Thatayaone Dichaba
escalate,” said Bronwen Tucker, was crashing in 2019, after losing 1.4
research analyst at Oil Change million Pula despite buying equipment, for Dichaba, he met his fellow cohort
International. as they had no capital remaining to member – Mohammed where he shared
The organisation’s report assemble the equipment. This is when his leadership challenge. The Leadership
Distributed Funds for Distributed he realized that he needed help and Lab introduced him to the concept of
Renewable Energy includes data decided to apply for the Seed program, being agile, which is when he thought up
showing international public of which he also couldn’t comfortably an idea to build infrared thermometers
finance for projects in Africa afford, but given Stanford’s ability in response to the Covid 19 pandemic.
has overall been dramatically to provide scholarships for accepted Upon convincing Mohammed that he
misaligned with energy access applicants, he managed to negotiate could build the infrared from scratch,
and climate change priorities. the admission payment. Following his the partnership between the two was
Only about 1-2% of international Dichaba, founder of Dichaba Consumer laboratory in Botswana; are part of admission, he went through the first formed after Mohammed offered to
public finance for energy has Electronics and Ditec mobile, which the Stanford Seed Southern Africa part of the program before the pandemic invest capital to get the assembly started.
gone to energy access for specializes in designing and assembling cohort for 2020. exploded and couldn’t proceed after
distributed renewable energy mobile phones and electronics, along During an interview with Thatayaone boarders closed, as the program requires NOW Infrared Botswana has been
since 2014, and fossil fuels with Mohammed Chand, Medical Dichaba, who attended the Stanford a lot of travel. His investors pulled away formed; an entity where infrared
received more than 3.5 times Director of Diagnofirm, a medical Seed Immersion week in Ghana this and his customers also reduced. Luckily Thermometers are being assembled in
the support than all kinds of Botswana by Batswana. They trained
renewable energy did from 2016 a large team of Batswana to assist
to 2018. with production and are now making
In addition to echoing long over 1000 thermometers a day which
standing calls for international has now caught the Government’s
public finance institutions attention, as it is now a requirement
like multilateral development for all buildings to check temperatures
banks and development finance for everyone entering.
institutions to stop funding
fossils and invest in renewables De Beers Group in collaboration
for energy access, the briefing with the Stanford Graduate school
outlines three new areas of of business, continues to nurture and
recommendations for how develop entrepreneurs through the
these institutions can support Seed Transformation program, which
the growth of locally owned seems to be paying off during the
distributed renewable energy current Pandemic.
initiatives:
These are the supporting of the
entry of local finance institutions
into the distributed renewable12 Echo Report Echo Newspaper 27 JULY - O2 AUGUST 2020
health, processing operations,
storage and distribution. Meeting
regional and international
standards for food safety and
quality is a vital goal. Africa
currently contributes 2.8% of
the global meat market, which
translates to 14 million tons.
The continent produces just
over 10% of the world’s milk.
There are a number of barriers
to increasing this production
and gaining greater market
share. They include limited
availability of quality animal
feed, access to affordable energy
needed in producing and
processing livestock, and limited
infrastructure, particularly in
the last mile.
With meat and milk being
perishable goods, innovation in
the cold chain and sustainable
energy supplies will help
strengthen the sector.
For example, an East African
initiative which centralised milk
quality testing and storage in
chillers prior to sale increased
yields sixfold within five years.
The volume of milk supplied
to the 30km catchment area
rose to three million litres a
month. This increased income
per smallholder household by
more than 160% in Uganda,
120% in Kenya, and almost
65% in Rwanda.
How smart investments in technology
The success of such projects
in turn drives demand for
continued innovation, such
can beef up Africa’s economy
as solar-powered cold chains
or interventions that protect
other resources like water and
grasslands.
There is no shortage of value chain. That is increasing invested in testing systems to food sovereignty across animal- Finally, countries also need to
technological innovations productivity and quality from detect aflatoxin in animal feeds. sourced foods and greater access prioritise policies that support
designed to boost animal the breeding of the animal The goal is to prevent milk and to international markets. new technologies across the
agriculture in Africa. These throughout the production meat contamination. Others The report makes 11 livestock sector.
range from GPS tracking process to the end product. This have developed refrigeration recommendations for Africa’s To t r a n s fo r m i t s m i l k
systems which identify and trace includes safe storage, handling units that are powered with livestock sector. These range production sector, Uganda
pastoralists’ herds to livestock and sale. biogas from manure. Both are from technological innovations privatised the state-owned
vaccine SMS services that alert My native Uganda offers some among the innovations that and supportive policies to processing company Dairy
farmers to disease outbreaks. useful lessons from its use of improve the quality of the final addressing trade barriers and Corporation as well as creating
But to unlock the economic smart investments in technology product. challenges specific to each a Dairy Development Authority.
potential of the sector as and farmer organisation. These As highlighted by a new report commodity. The Dairy Industry Act of 1998
demand for meat and milk have made it the only East from the Malabo Montpellier Priority areas empowered the authority to
swells threefold towards African country that is self- Panel on which I sit, the same African nations must be enforce milk hygiene standards
2050, countries must invest sufficient in milk. can be achieved elsewhere. It strategic in prioritising the and quality controls. As a result,
in the critical areas that will In recent years, some private can also benefit other livestock infrastructure that will make traders were licensed to meet
improve quality across the whole sector players in Uganda have commodities, to give Africa the most difference to quality public health and milk quality
and productivity. The first standards. This encouraged
priority is to increase consumer the modernisation of the
awareness around food safety, sector through the expansion
nutrition and sustainability to of pasteurisation plants and
kickstart demand for better processing infrastructure as
quality products. well as processing of high value
Partly as a response to European products.
consumer expectations around Certainly, the gains have
quality and safety, for example, trickled down to the farmers
Morocco developed a new in better farm gate prices.
system for animal identification Conclusion
and traceability in 2015. As the Malabo Montpellier
Livestock can be identified Panel points out, many of the
using electronic tags that tools needed to tap into the
communicate with the potential of Africa’s livestock
national database via mobile sector exist already. But with
phone networks. This increases limited resources, they must be
transparency and traceability. It deployed smartly to improve
also promotes Moroccan animal the entire value chain.
products on international Scaling up innovation at
markets such as the European critical points will unlock new
Union. opportunities and help ensure
The second priority is then animal agriculture keeps pace
to direct technology towards with a rising demand from a
opportunities to open up market growing population.
access.
To unlock trade means (TheConversation).
investing in improved animalYou can also read
