GettyImages Islamic militias in the northern part of Mozambique, the province of Cabo Delgado, have mounted an armed insurgency against the Mozambican government since 2017. The conflict appears to tap into anger about the region’s chronic poverty, unemployment and weak public services under the Frelimo-led government in Maputo. Read more: How big is the Islamist threat in Mozambique? And why are Rwandan troops there? More than 3,000 civilians have been killed, 800,000 people have been displaced and there is widespread food insecurity. The insurgency is also a threat to foreign energy projects in the region. It’s been difficult for the Mozambican military to deal with it. The deployment of Rwandan troops, however, has made a significant impact on the insurgency. The ties between Rwanda and Mozambique are growing. They signed a memorandum of understanding in 2018. It has humanitarian and civilian protection aspects but Rwanda also sees Mozambique as an important economic partner. In today’s episode of Pasha, Phil Clark, a professor of international politics at SOAS University of London, dissects the possible reasons for Rwanda’s involvement in Mozambique. He looks at what impact the peacekeeping has had, what’s in the relationship for Rwanda and how peace and stability in northern Mozambique should be approached in the long term. Photo: “Rwandan soldiers sit on a boat in the port city of Mocimboa da Praia, northern Mozambique, on August 13, 2021.” By Emidio Jozine/AFP found on Getty Images. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Electronic Ambient Loop” by tyops, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.

Pasha - from The Conversation Africa

Pasha 128: Why Rwanda is involved in Mozambique's security

 ShutterstockNasal allergy is a common problem in South Africa. It is estimated that 20% to 30% of adults in South Africa suffer with allergic rhinitis or hay fever. House dust mites and tree pollen are the most common reasons for this. Often, people have to rely on allergy medication to deal with the problem. But new research is under way to see if a plant native to South Africa can help. Rooibos, scientifically known as Aspalathus linearis, is being explored as a treatment for nasal allergies. The studies are testing its impact by having people drink rooibos tea in specific doses and through nasal irrigation using rooibos tea. In today’s episode of Pasha, Jonny Peter, associate professor, unit head and head of the Division of Allergology and Clinical Immunology at Groote Schuur Hospital at the University of Cape Town, discusses his latest research. He also discusses the challenges with understanding whether you have COVID-19 or are suffering from nasal allergies. Photo: “African young woman covered with blanket blowing running nose.” By fizkes found on Shutterstock. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Ambient guitar X1 - Loop mode” by frankum, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.

Pasha 127: Allergies vs rooibos: can this South African plant help sufferers?

shutterstock South Africa has an extremely high unemployment rate. A qualification from a tertiary institution usually means the chances of landing a job are higher. Research shows that within five years of graduating, 84% of the graduates were working. But it’s not a guarantee. Graduates, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, remain jobless. Nevertheless there are certain aspects that make a graduate more employable than others. Our guest in today’s episode of Pasha is Fenella Somerville a post-doctoral research fellow in the SARCHI Chair Higher Education and Human Development research group at the University of the Free State. Her work found that four things counted when a graduate was looking for employment, The reputation of the institution Networks and connections Experience, and Type of work. Today’s episode of our podcast looks at what counts the most when a graduate looks for work. Read more: Four things that count when a South African graduate looks for work Photo: “South Africa High Resolution Job Concept” By xtock found on Shutterstock. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Expressions of the mind (Piano loop)” by ShadyDave, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution Noncommercial License.

Pasha 126: Four factors that make a graduate more employable

GettyImages Nigeria used to be a great force in global athletics but that has changed. The country’s fortunes have plummeted in track and field events. The downward trend continued in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics, where Nigeria won only two medals: bronze in long jump and silver in wrestling. Oladele Oladipo, a professor of sports and exercise physiology at the University of Ibadan, offers insight into what has gone wrong and what Nigeria should do to regain its former competitive position. He also suggests athletics competitions in schools should be revived across the country. Photo: “Nigeria’s Ifeanyi Emmanuel Ojelli (rear) and Imaobong Nse Uko compete in the mixed 4x400m relay heats during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on 30 July 2021. Photo by JEWEL SAMAD/AFP found on Getty Images Rights-managed Music: "Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “African Moon” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal License..

Pasha 125: Nigeria can regain its lost athletics glory. Here's how

 Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, started as a railway depot in 1899 and developed into a colonial administration centre, then into a commercial and regional hub. Informal settlements in the city grew in parallel, arising from colonial policies that excluded local people from permanent residence, and driven by demand for housing. The names of these informal settlements – and the names of places within them – capture their history and act as a voice for their residents. Place names tell us about politics, culture and the challenges of people who live there. In today’s episode of Pasha, The Conversation Weekly’s Gemma Ware chats to Melissa Wanjiru-Mwita, a lecturer at the Technical University of Kenya, about Nairobi’s informal settlements and how they got their names. Read more: The fascinating history of how residents named their informal settlements in Nairobi Photo: “Kosovo, the name of an area in an informal settlement.” By Mélissa Wanjiru. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Back To My Roots” by John Bartmann, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution 4.0 International License.

Pasha 124: How Nairobi's informal settlements got their names

shutterstock The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is to inject $650 billion in Special Drawing Rights into the global economy. Because of the way the quotas for member states work, about 60% of these funds will go to rich countries that do not need them. African countries will receive $33.6 billion. Most of this will go to the five largest economies on the continent – South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco and Egypt. The IMF and many countries recognise that this way of sharing the funds is not ideal and are looking at a way of reallocating them to poorer countries. The Special Drawing Rights present an opportunity for the IMF to regain some of its lost influence in global economic governance. It’s also an opportunity for African countries to change their relationship with the IMF. In today’s episode of Pasha, The Conversation Africa editor Jabulani Sikhakhane sat down with Danny Bradlow, SARCHI Professor of International Development Law and African Economic Relations at the University of Pretoria, to discuss what the Special Drawing Rights are and how they work. They also look into the history of the mechanism and how it can be more responsive to African needs. Read more: How Africa can seize the moment and start resetting its relationship with the IMF Photo: “IMF International Monetary Fund symbol or sign.” By Maxx-Studiofound on Shutterstock Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Ambient guitar X1 - Loop mode” by frankum, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.

Pasha 123: Conversations with the Editor: The IMF's special drawing rights

GettyImages A recent rugby series between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions, a tour that takes place every 12 years, was the subject of controversy. One of the reasons the tour made headlines was that the South African rugby director, Rassie Erasmus, released a video in which he challenged decisions made by the referee that went against his team. (South Africa won the series by 2-1.) The video is quite unusual, as criticism of referees is not common in world rugby. It went viral and caused a stir, dividing opinion globally. Rassie clears the air. Video analysis is important in sports science because it enhances understanding of what happened during a match. For example, it can show what movements, actions or techniques lead to a successful performance or to an injury. It can reduce the bias that’s inherent in human observation and help observers agree on the definitions of certain actions. It is useful in coaching, assisting with referees’ decisions, and creating medical protocols. The idea is to ensure that the game is safe and fair. In today’s episode of Pasha, Sharief Hendricks, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Cape Town, explains how video analysis can benefit rugby and considers whether videos like Erasmus’s are useful. Photo: “Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks’ director of rugby, acting as a water carrier, talks to his captain Siya Kolisi during the second test match between South Africa’s Springboks and the British & Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium on July 31, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa.” By David Rogers/Getty Images found on Getty Images Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “"African Moon” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal License.

Pasha 122: How video analysis benefits rugby

 shutterstockThe dreaded mosquito is an insect with a bad reputation. They bite, keep you up at night and spread deadly diseases like dengue and malaria. There are many calls for their eradication. But they are a diverse group. Only a small fraction of the 3,000 species of mosquitoes feed on humans. An even smaller fraction of those transmit diseases. They are an important part of many ecosystems. Some feed on nectar and pollinate plants; some feed on other mosquitoes. Some form part of the diets of fish and frogs. Controlling mosquitoes should be carefully targeted to minimise damage to ecosystems. In today’s episode of Pasha, we hear about an approach that involves working with mosquitoes against the malaria parasite. Instead of killing mosquitoes, scientists are focusing on how they can block disease transmission. Our guest, Jeremy Herren, a scientist at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, discusses shifts in mosquito populations. One worrying development is the spread of a mosquito species in East Africa that prefers urban environments. Photo: “Close-up of a mosquito sucking blood.” By Darkdiamond67 found on Shutterstock Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Free Music Background Loop 001” by Slaking_97, found on Free Sound licensed under under a Attribution License.

Pasha 121: Why we need mosquitoes

shutterstock The team behind our podcast, Pasha, has started a series called “Why We Need” and this first episode is about why we need botanical gardens. Botanical gardens are dedicated to the collection, cultivation, preservation and display of plants. Around the world, they contain 30%-40% of the known plant species. Not only do they maintain documented collections of plants, these institutions carry out research and contribute to education and conservation. So they’re really valuable resources for people interested in plants. But they also come with a risk. Botanical gardens can host alien species of plants, pests and pathogens. Non-native species can establish themselves in the gardens and spread further to surrounding environments. It is important for people entering botanical gardens to follow the rules so they don’t spread or introduce any potentially invasive species. In today’s episode of Pasha, Trudy Paap and Mesfin Wondafrash Gossa take us through the benefits of botanical gardens – as well as the biosecurity risks. Photo: “Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is acclaimed as one of the great botanical gardens of the world. Located in Cape Town, South Africa, the garden is host to thousands of plant and animal species.” By Quality Master found on Shutterstock Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Expressions of the mind (Piano loop)” by ShadyDave, found on Free Sound licensed under under a Attribution Noncommercial License.

Pasha 120: Botanical gardens: why we need them and how they can also pose a risk

GettyImages It’s safe to say that the 2020 Olympic Games held in Tokyo this year was an unconventional event. The impact the pandemic had on the athletes has been complex and felt differently across countries and individuals. So how did African athletes fare in these difficult conditions? Overall, not too well on the medals chart. There were some impressive performances but the Olympics did not yield many moments for participants from African countries to savour. In today’s episode of Pasha, Kamilla Swart, an associate professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, looks at how well African participants have done at the Games. She also discusses how hosting of the Games needs a fairer geographical spread. Photo: “Tatjana Schoenmaker of Republic of South Africa shows the gold medal after winning, with a new world record, the women 200m Breaststroke final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.” By Giorgio Scala/BSR found on Agency/Getty Images Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “"One Night In Africa” by John Bartmann, found on Free Music Archive licensed under under a Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Pasha 119: Talking about Africa and the Olympics

shutterstock In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic the phrase “herd immunity” was bandied about a lot by heads of state as well as health officials. This ideal end state was described as the moment when the virus had been beaten, and everyone could return to a normal life. But a great deal has changed in the intervening months. Firstly, the virus has mutated in ways that make it spread more quickly, and in ways that make it potentially more resistant. In addition, the unequal distribution of vaccines, combined with slow rollouts in a great many countries as well as vaccine hesitancy, has thrown initial planning off course. So what’s the alternative? We must learn to live with the virus. To do this, reaching high levels of vaccination is crucial. This will minimise the number of people being hospitalised and dying from COVID-19. It does not mean that COVID-19 will be gone but it means clusters of outbreaks will be smaller and less damaging to countries. Health facilities will be able to cope better. In today’s episode of Pasha, Shabir A. Madhi, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Professor of Vaccinology at the University of the Witwatersrand, discusses the problems with herd immunity and how to deal with COVID-19 in the long term. Photo: “Herd Immunity concept” By Guillem Sartorio/AFP By Ahmad Fozi found on Shutterstock Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Expressions of the mind (Piano loop)” by ShadyDave, found on Free Sound licensed under under a Attribution Noncommercial License.

Pasha 118: Herd immunity isn't achievable. We need to learn to live with COVID-19

GettyImages After former president Jacob Zuma was recently arrested for contempt of court, South Africa went into disarray. Widespread looting, vandalism and violence broke out. Two provinces – Gauteng, the country’s economic hub, and KwaZulu-Natal, on the east coast – bore the brunt of this. What was initially premised on Zuma’s arrest transpired into something much more coordinated, controlled and dangerous. Many reasons for the violence have been noted. These include: the frustration of hungry and cold people whose prospects were already constrained by the pandemic; inequality between rich and poor; tensions within the governing party; stereotypical Zulu nationalism; and racial tensions in the country. It cannot be ignored that these incidents speak of insurrection - which means to rise against the power of the state, generally using weaponry. In today’s episode of Pasha, David Everatt, a professor of urban governance at Wits University, discusses the elements that led to the violence and how the government must deal with it. Photo: “A member of SAPS shoots rubber bullets to disperse a crowd looting outside a warehouse storing alcohol in Durban on July 16, 2021.” By Guillem Sartorio/AFP via Getty Images Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “One Night In Africa” by John Bartmann, found on Free Music Archive licensed under under a Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Pasha 117: What drove South Africa's recent violence and looting and what to do about it

 Getty ImagesOne of the elements that contribute to a rise in COVID-19 infections is gatherings. Ramadan (the month when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset) and Eid (the celebration after the month) are times when gatherings appear to have contributed to the deaths of many in the Muslim community. Research has found that Muslims make up around 2% of South Africa’s population, yet account for 5% of the total COVID deaths so far. A similar trend was seen in Indonesia, which is experiencing high waves of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Many of the deaths were around the time of Ramadan and Eid. Gatherings can be superspreader events – in any religion or society. The research also looked at mortality rates in South Africa. It found that people of Indian and Malay descent were more likely than other population groups to succumb to the virus. It is important that people try to avoid gatherings when the next Eid takes place around 21 July. In today’s episode of Pasha, Salim Parker, an honorary research associate at the department of medicine at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, discusses how gatherings can be superspreader events and how to avoid the risk. Photo: “South African Muslims gather to perform Eid al-Fitr prayer within precautions against the novel type of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Quds Mosque in Cape Town, South Africa on May 14, 2021.” Byabiso Mkhabela/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Ambient guitar X1 - Loop mode” by frankum, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.

Pasha 116: Why events like Eid celebrations can be superspreaders

GettyImages Seventeen African leaders – national ministers and heads of state – had lost their lives to COVID-19 by February 2021. The continent is made up of 54 countries, so there’s a high number of leaders, but the number of deaths is out of proportion compared with other continents (where the global total is five). In some cases, the deaths of leaders meant a shift in policy. This was notable in Tanzania and Burundi, which initially had strong COVID-19 denial in their policies. Now there is evidence of strategies being put in place to fight the pandemic. But ministerial deaths do not necessarily bring younger and more gender representative replacements. There are many more politicians with similar profiles waiting to fill gaps. In today’s episode of Pasha, Jean-Benoit Falisse, a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, notes five hypotheses for what has led to more African leaders dying of COVID-19 and what this means for health and political landscapes. Photo: “President John Magufuli’s coffin during a public service in his honour on March 26, 2021 in Chato, Tanzania. Tanzanian officials said the cause of death was heart disease but it is widely suspected to be COVID-19.” By Luke Dray/Getty Images found on Getty Images Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Back To My Roots” by John Bartmann, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution 4.0 International License.

Pasha 115: Five ideas about why so many top African officials have died of COVID-19

shutterstock Disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic provide the world with a learning opportunity. It is important that global events like this are used to invoke change for a better world. The pandemic was coming; there have been near misses in this century alone, like SARS, avian influenza and Ebola. But the world hasn’t learnt from them. Governments and citizens must take up the challenge to make real change for a better future. It’s not only pandemics that are the problem. The world faces huge issues like climate change, poverty, inequality and many others. Governments need to stop looking at the short term and focus rather on long-term solutions. The worry is that people will slip back into the complacency of normality after COVID-19 is dealt with. Going back to the old system of doing things will inevitably lead to more pandemics and problems. For now, dealing with this pandemic requires dramatic action. It can be done and future pandemics need to be stopped. It requires a real renewal and invigoration of the World Health Organisation. In today’s episode of Pasha, Ian Goldin, a professor of globalisation and development, looks at how the world must learn to recover from disasters. The remedy can’t just focus on COVID-19, it has to be mindful of other risks and future crises too. It needs to be thought of as a whole and governments and leaders must look at long-term solutions. It is also crucial to cooperate with each other. Goldin is the author of Rescue: From Global Crisis to a Better World. Photo: “Recovery written on the road” By ESB Professional found on Shutterstock Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Ambient guitar X1 - Loop mode” by frankum, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.

Pasha 114: Lessons from COVID-19 for other global crises

Welcome to Pasha, The Conversation Africa’s brand new podcast. In the spirit of The Conversation, Pasha – which means to inform in Swahili – will be bringing you some of the best and brightest research from academics across the continent. After nearly four years of publishing expert research, we’re thrilled to be bringing our own brand of smart journalism to a new audio format. Each episode will collect stories and commentary on a given theme.

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Pasha - from The Conversation Africa

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