Rwanda Have Your Say

Next week, WHYS will broadcast its first ever programmes from Rwanda.

Madeleine, Claudia, Phil (our engineer) and myself leave on Sunday to present and produce three shows in and around the capital, Kigali.

Here’s a guide to the history of the country, though the events of 1994  will be for many of you, the abiding and most recent impression of Rwanda.

Africa Connected – the internet revolution

It will change Africa forever. Within the next couple of months four high-speed fibre optic cables will link up the east and west coasts of Africa to the rest of the world. It’s going to revolutionise how the continent connects and communicates in many ways – some we can imagine, some we can’t.

Why is Africa Poor ?

BBC correspondent ,Mark Doyle went on the road to ask that question across the continent. He’s come back with three documentaries. Part one – Africa and the world- airs Monday on the BBC World Service Radio. Mark will join us on WHYS do discuss the issue and share some of the things that he has come accross during his visit. Read on and have a look at Mark’s first post from Liberia. Why, do you think, is Africa poor? Also, post any questions you have to Mark here.

On air: Is Islamic extremism Africa’s newest fear?

150 people were killed in Northern Nigeria after two days of violence. Residents in the state of Borno said that Islamic militants burnt a police station, a church and a customs office early yesterday.

The group, which calls itself Taliban, emerged in Nigeria in 2004. It has never been clear if it has proper links to the Taliban in Afghanistan but its leaders profess allegiance to and admiration of Osama bin Laden.

On Air today: Talking to South Africa’s next generation of voters.

South Africa is voting today and the ANC is facing the biggest challenge to its grip on power since the end of apartheid 15 years ago. But there’s little doubt it will win.

South African township reporters

Next week on the World Service, Your Story will be presenting citizen reporters telling the story of the South African elections and the issues that matter to them. Asanda Booi was brought up to believe in the ANC, but has concerns about the leader, and doesn’t know who to vote for. Thamsanqa ‘Lucky’ Gadi Siko says his passion is to help his community, and has started up an organisation to do what he says the politicians aren’t – give hope to the youth. Lenny Mkhize lives in a wooden shack on the Joe Slovo informal settlement. The government built him a house, but it was so badly done he still hasn’t moved in. Read their stories on the Your Story blog.

Talking Points for 4 March

Mourners lay wreaths at the site

The Sri Lankan cricketers have returned home and the hunt is on for the gunmen. A reward has been offered for more information. If urdu and cricket were what really united a country as diverse as Pakistan, what happens now?

 

William Dalrymple paints a grim picture of the year since the elections.

On Air: Zimbabwe – victory or sell out ?

Nearly a year after he won the first round of a presidential election, Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangarai has been sworn in as the country’s Prime Minister by his long-standing enemy, President Robert Mugabe. But is it a victory, or a sell out?

On air: Should the families of victims of conflict receive compensation?

There’s been angry scenes and protests in Belfast in Northern Ireland today. A government-sponsored commission has recommended that the families of all of the 3,700 people who died in the three decades long Troubles, should receive a one-off payment of $17,000 as ‘recognition’ of their loss. The idea has been slammed by many politicians and victims’ relatives. Read one of their stories here.

On air: Is it acceptable to intervene in another country’s affairs?

The international calls for Robert Mugabe to leave power are becoming almost deafening. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is the latest leader to say he must stand down.