AFRICA 277 - DISCUSSION SECTION 9

Front

When seeking to create a climate friendly to economic growth, Mo Ibrahim stressed that rule of law is the most important factor, especially the independence of the judiciary. Is this statement True or False?

Back

TRUE

Answer explanation

TRUE

Relevant Reading:

Global Africa, chapters 5.1 - Stuart Reid, “Profile: Africa Calling: A Conversation with Mo Ibrahim

When seeking to create a climate friendly to economic growth, Mo Ibrahim, founder of Celtel, stressed that rule of law is the most important factor, especially the independence of the judiciary.

In this chapter, Mo Ibrahim also observed that leaders who have "committed crimes" or have "secret accounts with stolen money" might not leave, and suggested that "Staying in power is a form of insurance policy against the long arm of the law".

Front

The "African Colonial State" left a legacy of robust democratic institutions and fiscally responsible governance, which helped new leaders transition smoothly after independence. Is this statement True or False?

Back

FALSE

Answer explanation

FALSE

Relevant Reading: Crawford Young, “A Half Century of African Independence”

The colonial occupation established a frugal but brutal state embedded within a legacy of autocratic practice. The postcolonial successor states inherited the colonial state’s mentalities and routines, resulting in the grafting of weakly implanted constitutional frames onto the robust trunk of colonial autocracy.

Young (2012) demonstrates this through the 6 phases of postcolonial evolution (see Table 1.1)

Front

Leymah Gbowee, a Ugandan activist, received the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Charles Taylor and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Is this statement True or False?

Back

FALSE

Answer explanation

FALSE

Relevant Reading:
Global Africa, chapter 2.1 - Pamela Scully, Profile: Leymah Gbowee: Speaking Truth to Power

Gbowee received the prize along with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Tawakkol Karman of Yemen. The text identifies Charles Taylor as a Liberian warlord and then-president engaged in peace talks.

She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her contributions as a leader of the Liberian women's movement for peace, which helped redefine peacebuilding to include women's grassroots organizing, personal security, and social healing.

A decisive moment occurred in 2003 during peace talks in Ghana, where Gbowee led a sit-in, effectively barricading the warlords in the hall until they promised to discuss peace in good faith, which accelerated the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Front

The decline in conventional conflicts in Africa is largely attributed to externally driven factors, such as the end of the Cold War and the influence of international organizations. Is this statement True or False? Which reading and evidence would you point to support your answer?

Back

PARTIALLY TRUE/FALSE

Answer explanation

PARTIALLY TRUE/FALSE

Relevant reading:
Global Africa, chapter 2.4 - Stephen Mogaka and Stephen Ndegwa, Power, Conflict, and Justice in Africa: An Uncertain March

The decline is attributed to factors like the end of the Cold War, improvements in conflict-prevention mechanisms and indigenous efforts and processes, emphasizing Africans' own agency in this transformation.

Front

Is it true that Chinese state-owned companies operating in Zambian copper mines were generally less willing to agree to worker concessions than private companies of any nationality, as they focused only on minimizing costs?

Back

FALSE

Answer explanation

FALSE

Relevant Reading:

Global Africa, chapters 2.7 - Jamie Monson, Tang Xiaoyang & Liu Shaonan, Working History: China, Africa and Globalization

A case study found that Chinese state-owned companies were more likely to agree to worker concessions than private companies of any nationality, because they sought to stabilize their labor force for the long term.

Monson et al (2017) show that the outcomes for African workers are shaped by diverse global factors like neoliberal economic frameworks and the profit logic of the company, though specific "Chinese characteristics" continue to set some workplace experiences apart. See examples they provide in text.

Front

Is it true that M-PESA was initially designed and launched to help mobile phone users pay for essential services such as rent and electricity bills?

Back

FALSE

Answer explanation

FALSE

Relevant Reading:

Global Africa, chapters 4.4 - Dillan Mahoney, “Money in Your Hands”: Mpesa and Mobile Money in Kenya

M-PESA is a Kenyan mobile-money transfer system that has revolutionized financial life by allowing new levels of inclusion and flexibility, making Kenya a global model for technological innovation.

M-PESA was originally conceived to allow borrowers to repay microfinance loans more easily, though Kenyans quickly began using it for broader money transfer needs.

Front

Is it true that coltan is highly valued by engineers because it contains tantalum and niobium, minerals whose density is critical for holding a high electrical charge in electronics devices like mobile phones?

Back

TRUE

Answer explanation

TRUE

Relevant Reading:

Global Africa, chapters 4.5 - James H. Smith, What’s in Your Cell Phone?

Tantalum and niobium can be extracted from coltan. Tantalum’s density makes it highly sought after for its capacity to hold a high electrical charge.

DR Congo holds 80 percent of the world's reserves of coltan.* These "black minerals" (coltan, tin, tungsten) are extracted artisanally by approximately two million Congolese workers who have generated a highly organized system of labor, often having turned to mining during the Congolese wars.

Front

The fight for gender justice in Lesotho, especially regarding women's legal capacity, was complicated by the existence of a dual legal system where customary law often superseded common law, resulting in women being legally regarded as minors. Is this statement True or False?

Back

TRUE

Answer explanation

TRUE

Relevant Reading:

Global Africa, chapters 5.2 - Keiso Matashane-Marite, From Lesotho to the UN: The Journey of a Gender Advocate

The country’s dual legal system (customary and common law) necessitated spousal consent for women in many decisions. In this system, women were regarded legally as minors, incapable of entering contractual agreements without male consent.

Keiso Matashane-Marite's activism, particularly through Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA), led to significant legislative victories in Lesotho, including the enactment of the Legal Capacity of Married Persons Bill and the Sexual Offences Act of 2003, which improved protections and increased sentences for offenders. Now working at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), she promotes the Continent-Wide Initiative for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, developing policies and laws to combat harmful traditional practices like female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriage across the continent.

Front

Post-Independence Trends: Political Economy

For African elite like the Angolan Gov'nor, profit was maximized by ensuring the development of farmland, providing homes and jobs to displaced families, and securing free transport for produce to Europe.

Is this statement True or False? Which reading and evidence would you point to support your answer?

Back

TRUE

Answer explanation

TRUE

Relevant Reading:

Carolyn Nordstrom, Global Outlaws

The Gov'nor gained pure profit at no expense because land, workforce, supplies, equipment, and transport were all free. He negotiated deals with international airlines to fly his produce ("tomatoes") to Europe for free.