Governments of Africa

Ghana Democracy Elected president is the head of government One house (unicameral) parliament Country divided into 10 regions Universal suffrage (men and women of all tribes, religions, etc) can vote at 18

Nigeria Federal republic Constitution protects freedoms of expression, religion & equal rights President elected to 4 year term Cabinet must represent ethnic diversity 2 house National Assembly Judicial system with Supreme Court Sharia Courts in some areas

36 states, each with a local government No government provided welfare or healthcare Contributes troops to United Nations peacekeeping forces (Liberia, Sierra Leone) Member of UN, OPEC, African Union, ECOWAS

Government of Sudan (north) President Omar Hassan al- Bashir National Assembly members chosen by the president Sharia courts for personal and family issues

Tanzania United Republic of Tanzania formed in 1964 Union of Tanganyika & Zanzibar President elected to a 5 year term One house National Assembly Divided into 26 regions, each headed by a regional commissioner Revolutionary Party of Tanzania

Kenya 1964-1991: a one party republic 1992: first multi-party presidential elections One house legislature (National Assembly) President serves a 5 year term

How the government works to improve literacy: Current literacy rate is 85% (85% of the people of Kenya are able to read and write) Boys 91%, Girls 79% The view is that boys need an education for jobs and girls only need to prepare for marriage Marriage brings a dowry (money or gifts the groom and his family gives to the bride as a wedding present)

The Kenyan government has made improving education a priority Kenya has a Ministry of Education that is responsible for the educational improvements 85% of Kenyan children attend elementary school But, many kids are not staying in school

Rwanda After the 1994 Civil War, Rwandan Patriotic Front ruled Banned political parties involved in the war Created Transitional National Assembly 2003: new constitution Rights of citizens Prohibits political parties based on ethnic/racial groups

Government (cont’d) Hybrid Regime President elected to a 7 year term 2 chamber parliament Gacaca courts: local courts led by village elders Provides community health centers

Zimbabwe Ruled by whites until 1980 1980 constitution: protects freedoms of all, regardless of race or ethnic group President elected by popular vote Robert Mugabe has ruled since independence as a dictator (authoritarian regime) One-house legislature

South Africa 1984 constitution: president & 3 house legislature (white, Coloured, Asian) 1997 constitution: detailed bill of rights giving equality to all (full democracy) President & 2 house legislature Divided into 9 provinces, each with a local gov’t Constitutional & local chief courts

HIV/AIDS Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest HIV-AIDS infections in the world Many that die of AIDS are young and middle aged adults which leaves millions of orphans Factors which cause the spread of AIDS: Poor health care systems Poverty Lack of government organization Ignorance about the disease The antiretroviral drugs (AVTs) are too expensive for most Africans

HIV/AIDS Zimbabwe has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS infection in the world; government corruption and civil unrest have made it worse In Nigeria, the government did not make HIV-AIDS prevention priority until the late 1990s. Now, they work hard to educate the people and make treatment available Botswana has a high rate of infection but also one of the most effective responses to the disease; the government has provided education and training for those who have HIV-AIDS