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AD30: African publics strongly support term limits, resist leaders’ efforts to extend their tenure

At the end of the 20th century, many African countries adopted presidential term limits aspart of a broader set of constitutional rules that accompanied the transition from personal and authoritarian rule to pluralistic modes of governance. While term limits were widely embraced by the larger African public, these rules have in recent years come under increasing attack from incumbent presidents seeking to extend their tenures.

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Zimbabwe is going in the wrong direction; but whilst public approval of MPs and councillors’ performance tumbles, approval of President Mugabe’s leadership remains steady

Despite most Zimbabweans expressing discontent with the overall direction of the country, in terms of its deteriorating economic performance as well as rising corruption, the majority still approve of President Robert Mugabe’s leadership performance. His approval rating has only decreased slightly since it was last measured in 2012.. This persistent positive evaluation of the president stands in stark contrast to the growing opinion that Zimbabwe, as a country, is headed in the wrong direction.

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PP19: Ghana's oil revenue management: Convergence of popular opinion, the law, and practice

Ghana’s efforts to explore and develop the country’s oil potential, spearheaded by the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC), culminated in the 2007 discovery of oil in commercial quantities offshore at Cape Three Points in the Western region. Three years later, production commenced at the Jubilee Field.

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Zambians’ trust in the judiciary still high but begins to decline, legitimacy also suffers

The percentage of Zambian citizens who recognize the legitimacy of the courts of law has declined from 79% in 2012 to 68% in 2014. The most recent Afrobarometer survey found that the percentage of Zambians who do not trust the judiciary  has also declined from 62% in 2012 to 59% in 2014.

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A majority of Africans say national economic conditions are bad

New findings from Afrobarometer, based on surveys conducted in an unprecedented 34 African countries between October 2011 and June 2013, reveal widespread dissatisfaction with current economic conditions despite a decade of strong growth.

Annual GDP growth on the continent averaged 4.8% over the past decade (2002-11)1, prompting The Economist magazine to tag Africa as ‘The Hopeful Continent’, and an abundance of upbeat macroeconomic statistics has made Africa a new darling of portfolio investors.

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AD23: Ghana’s decentralization: Locally centralized decision making ill serves its public

Metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs), along with complementary sub-structures, are the major features of Ghana’s decentralized local government system initiated in the early 1990s. The core functions of MMDAs, as set out in the 1993 Local Government Act (Act 462), include ensuring the overall development of the district by a) preparing district development plans and budgets, b) initiating programs for the development of basic infrastructure, and c) providing municipal works and services in their jurisdictions.

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Zimbabweans pessimistic about economy and direction of the country

More than six in ten (63%) adult Zimbabweans think that the country is heading in the wrong direction, according to the most recent Afrobarometer survey (November 2014). This pessimistic outlook is shared across demographic groups of gender, age, place of residence (POR) and province though the depth of opinion differs. For example, while nearly three quarters of urban dwellers (73%) expressed pessimism, less than six in ten of their rural dwellers (58%) share this view and more males (67%) than females (60%) say the country is going the wrong way.

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Zimbabweans largely ignorant of the 2013 Constitution

More than three quarters of Zimbabweans do not know about the Constitution enacted in May 2013 to replace the 33-year-old Lancaster House Charter. The new supreme law was overwhelmingly and peacefully approved in a referendum in March 2013 in which half of the adult population turned out to vote. Close to one and half years after this historic event, the latest Afro barometer survey in Zimbabwe reveals that more than three quarters of the country’s citizens (78%) either know nothing or very little about their national constitution.

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Tanzanians express dissatisfaction with current living conditions, perceive declining economic conditions

Despite annual economic growth rates averaging of 7%, a majority of Tanzanians say their current living conditions are bad, according to the 2014 Afrobarometer survey.

Negative public perceptions of the country’s economic condition are also significantly higher than a decade ago.

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Zambians disapprove of non-democratic means of governance

A majority of Zambians do not approve of non-democratic means of governance, according to the most recent Afrobarometer survey.

Results from the survey, which was conducted in October 2014, shows that most Zambians disapprove of undemocratic alternatives such as one-party rule and one-man rule.

The data is being released in view of the recent (January 2015) presidential elections that showed regional polarisation in voting patterns which have the potential to slow down the democratic process. It demonstrates that Zambians, in general, have faith in Zambia’s democracy.

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Trust, approval ratings high for Namibia’s president and prime minister following a long trend

Most Namibians trust their president and prime minister and approve of their job performance, the latest Afrobarometer survey indicates.

The survey findings suggest that Prime Minister Hage Geingob, who will be the country’s first non-Oshivambo presidential candidate in the 2014 elections, will continue to enjoy the public’s strong support for SWAPO. Rural respondents gave President Pohamba 14% more trust than did urban respondents. No ethnic reactions nor apathy is evident in the survey results.

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Namibians express strong policy preferences in comparison to the government

Most Namibians favour policy changes from the status quo on several specific policies asked about in the 2014 Afrobarometer Round 6 survey, despite showing strong support for the ruling party. For example, 78% of Namibians interviewed for the Round 6 Afrobarometer
opinion poll favoured the adoption of the Basic Income Grant Programme (BIG) even if it required new taxes such at Value Added Tax (VAT) or income tax. Although the government has rejected BIG, the people favour it nearly 8 out of ten. Similarly, nearly 9 in 10 Namibians

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Constitutional amendment passed without adequate public consultation, Namibians say

Most Namibians (55%) say the controversial Third Constitutional Amendment1 was passed without adequate public consultation, according to a new Afrobarometer survey.

By an overwhelming majority, eight of 10 Namibian survey respondents say that changing the Constitution should be preceded by extensive public consultation and that this did not occur for the recent amendment.

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Malawians support a strong Parliament in spite of disappointment with their representatives

Malawians value Parliament’s legislative and oversight role but are highly critical of the performance of parliamentarians, according to the latest Afrobarometer survey. A majority want parliament to vet the president’s appointment of cabinet ministers and hold the president accountable. Most citizens disapprove of how their Members of Parliament (MPs) have been doing their work and feel that their MPs do not listen to them. A significant proportion of MPs are perceived to be corrupt, and public trust in the National Assembly has waned.

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