The good, bad and ugly of 2021
THIS year starts on a bedrock of a myriad of challenges for southern Africa, which include the COVID-19 pandemic which saw thousands losing lives, loss of livelihoods for millions whose jobs and enterprises were affected by lockdown measures in the absence of emergency relief funds and the wanton human rights violations of citizens and vulnerable groups under the guise of lockdown enforcement.
The violent and brutal clampdown on human rights defenders and citizens through arrests, killings and the inception of prohibitive legislations on the operation of civil society organisations (CSOs) such as the PVO Amendment Bill in Zimbabwe has been a signal on the increase on authoritarianism in eSwatini and Zimbabwe in 2021.
The scourge of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa has been on a consistent rise and forms part of the major crises the region is facing and this reverses gains made on women empowerment and the realisation of women's rights.
Corruption engineered by cartels and government functionaries, diminished regulatory oversight on State-owned enterprises across the region has also seen countries losing billions of dollars that could have supported the provision of basic service delivery in the wake of devastating impacts of COVID 19. We hope that institutions that fight corruption are empowered and that whistleblowers are protected.
Climate change also remains one of the biggest threats to the region, the region has not managed to effectively deal with the causes such as the continued reliability of energy on fossil fuels ahead of green energy and attendant effects of the same such as power outages with countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa going through massive power reduction programs which gravely impacted on the provision of service delivery for citizens.
The Citizens in Action Southern Africa (CIASA), however, notes the positives that emanated from 2021 across the region. It commends Zambia for holding a peaceful election and seamless transition and South Africa for holding credible local government elections.
Further CIASA applauds Tanzania on having its first female leader; this shows the improvement in women participation in politics and decision-making within the region.
CIASA reaffirms its commitment to defend, protect and empower various communities across the region, especially those from marginalised groups. May 2022 be a year of inclusive growth and enjoyment of rights for all in southern Africa.