About the Podcast

Africa Connect is a podcast series aimed at exploring African topics around democracy. It runs on the theme: Deepening Democracy through information.

About the Episode

We tackle the Ugandan case with specific focus on the democratic texture the country assumes. Mr Kigongo discusses the country's degenerated democracy and urges African citizens to encourage one another to read more, intensify their participatory efforts in the digital spaces, and take advantage of the creative technologies in their quest for democracy.

#Democracy #Africanvoices #Uganda #DDPAfricaConnect

About the Guest

Robert Kigongo is the Chief Diversity Secretary at Human Nature Projects in Uganda. He has written extensively on democracy and politics in the Mail & Gurdian in South Africa under the Thought Leader's column

Ms Bonolo Makgale is the Manager for the Democracy and Civic Engagement Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria

About the Podcast

Africa Connect is a podcast series aimed at exploring African topics around democracy. It runs on the theme: Deepening Democracy through information.

About the Episode

We tackle the Rwandan case with specific focus on the presidential election outcome. President Paul Kagame boasted a whooping 99% vote. Mr Mpani takes us through the wounded genocidal history, constitutionalism in Africa and ends off with a few advisory points for the future African voter.

#Elections #Africanvoices #Rwanda #DDPAfricaConnect

About the Guest

Nyasha Mpani is the Project Leader for the Data for Governance Alliance project at the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation organization based in Cape Town, South Africa.

About the Podcast

Africa Connect is a podcast series aimed at exploring African topics around democracy. It runs on the theme: Deepening Democracy through information. Democracy is centre to the development agenda of The Africa we want. As an African blueprint, the Agenda 2063 aims to transform Africa into a global powerhouse. Borrowing from the Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, as per its mandate to “prioritise inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance and peace and security amongst other issues aimed at repositioning Africa to becoming a dominant player in the global arena”[1], this podcast series aims to touch on some of these issues and stories and provide understanding to the African citizen.

[1] Extracted from: Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. | African Union (au.int)

About the Episode

We take a dive into Kenyan politics to discuss the recent youth led political demonstrations. Young people continue to be involved in politics. While such political conversations are a common occurrence, they are taking place within larger spaces. Virtual spaces have become the kinds of spaces where policy and traditional power structures are challenged and grappled with. Such trends have not only occurred in Kenya but generally spread throughout the continent. As the youngest continent, Africa has had many youth-led movements. What is common is the social media posting, organizing, sharing, chanting and marching of the youth.

While social media continues to play a huge role in amplifying social, economic and political issues and grievances across the globe, what is significant is its independent role in both democratic and totalitarian governments. With the possibilities of freedoms of speech, social media helps in coordinating protests and gives a voice to unpopular views.

About the guest

Dr. Paul Kariuki holds a Ph.D. in Administration (Public Administration) from the University of

KwaZulu Natal (UKZN). He is the Executive Director of the Democracy Development Program

(DDP), a national think tank based in Durban, South Africa. He is an honorary research senior

lecturer at the School of Management, IT, and Governance, UKZN. He qualified with a Masters

Degree in Development Studies, where he specialized in development economics and public

policy. Furthermore, he has published research articles in peer-reviewed journals and co-edited

fifteen books on various themes.

Joining us on this episode is Prof Isaac Khambule, a professor of Political economy from the University of Johannesburg. He is a politics professors specializing state, Institutions and Development, Development Economics, and Political Economy and State Institutions, with a particular focus on the role of the state in economic development.

Joining on this episode is Xatyiswa Maqhashalala, a PhD candidate and a lecturer at Kansas University in the United States of America. She reflects on the 30 years of democracy in South Africa, particularly looking into the state of affairs, leadership, youth participation and education.

Joining us is Dr Kariuki, DDP Executive Director, introducing DDP's theme for the year and explaining the importance of democracy for the upcoming 2024 Elections.