African press review 27 July 2016
Nigeria's economy slips into recession, a whale shark is spotted in Egypt, Mugabe urges Team Zimbabwe to Olympic success and women in central Kenya are taught how to cook fish. All this and more in today's African press.
Issued on:
An editorial in the Mail and Guardian this morning that asks whether freedom of expression is letting racists off the hook. The paper asks what South Africa should do about racism and what the mediaās role is.
For those who would rather err on the side of freedom of expression, the mooted revision to the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes Bill to include hate speech is problematic.
The free speech advocates argue that the right to offend is necessary for the sustenance of democracy. South Africa must avoid authoritarianism and social control. No one policy can satisfy everyone. Politics cannot exist without expression.
Others argue that unfettered hate speech reproduces inequality and therefore random rants have to be punished. Another view is that race is a social construct and there is only one race, the human race.
The article is written by Glenda Daniels, a senior lecturer in media studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. She ends by coming down on the side of freedom of expression but adds that racists must not be let off the hook.
How to cook fish
The Standard in Kenya has published a story about a campaign to teach women from central Kenya how to cook fish.
Women in Nyeri have reportedly admitted that they cannot cook fish even though it has become a popular delicacy locally. Their admission is the reason that the Department of Fisheries has embarked on an initiative to teach women how to cook in order to help encourage consumption of the delicacy in the Central region.
The campaign, dubbed the SmartFish programme, is a regional fisheries initiative that is funded by the European Union, managed by the Indian Ocean Commission and co-implemented by the Food and Agricultural Organisation in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.
The Standard reports that during a five-day tour of key markets in Nyeri, the team leading the initiative pointed out that cultural practices and lack of information could be the reason fish consumption remains low.
Nigerian economy plunges into recession
An editorial in The Punch says that it is all but official: Nigeria is in recession.
The economy is expected to return a negative GDP growth rate for the second quarter of 2016 to make it two successive quarters of economic contraction.
Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics shows the Consumer Price Index, used to measure inflation, rose by 0.9 per cent to 16.5 per cent in June. This is the highest rise in more than a decade.
The Punch says that all the essential ingredients for a recession are in place, and the country must now chart what is sure to be a tortuous path to recovery. The impacts of an economic recession will be most felt by Nigeriaās middle and lower class citizens.
It's time to stop sitting around and crying, The Punch urges: Nigeria may not have control over the global economy but it has control over enough things to change Nigerians' fortunes for good.
Whale shark sighting in Egypt
In Egypt, the Environment Minister, Khaled Fahmy, has instructed marine life experts in the Red Sea protectorates to monitor and protect the swim path of a whale shark spotted on Monday.
The Egypt Independent reports that the large shark, listed as an endangered species, was sighted from a boat off the coast of the Red Sea resort town.
Ahmed Ghallab, head of the Red Sea protectorates, said that maritime patrols were instructed to keep tabs on the whale shark's course northwards through the Red Sea towards the Suez Gulf. Warnings were issued to fishermen not to harm the shark.
Mugabe urges Team Zimbabwe to bring back medals from Rio Games
And finally, The Herald in Zimbabwe is reporting that President Robert Mugabe has urged Zimbabwean athletes to win some medals at the Rio Games.
Speaking at a send-off ceremony for Team Zimbabwe at State House yesterday, The Herald reports that Mugabe said the whole nation was behind the team and he was confident that they would do well and win some medals.
Since independence, Zimbabwe has won only eight Olympic medals. Seven of those have come from golden girl and swimming icon, Kirsty Coventry, who picked up a gold, silver and a bronze in 2004 in Athens.
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