11/13 News: Africa

Nigeria: Construction 'To Become World's Fastest Growing'

Construction growth in Nigeria will be the fastest of all markets, according to the latest 10-year forecast from Global Construction Perspectives and Oxford Economics. The new study says China will overtake the U.S. as the world's biggest construction market by 2018, but that the fastest growth will happen in Nigeria. The report, which named Nigeria "global hotspot from here to 2020" says the nation's construction growth is even faster than India's, reflecting increased wealth and urbanisation resulting from the country's oil production. "Its population of approximately 154 million is urbanising at one of the fastest rates in the world, but construction is now only 3.2 percent of GDP," it said.

Namibia: Young 'Born Frees' Have Issues With Politicians

They are called the "born frees", the children of Namibia's independence from the apartheid era (when it was known as South West Africa), and they will vote for the first time this month. Struggle credentials mean zip to them, and they have a serious beef with politicians. Jaimee-Lee Diergaardt has little patience with the grey old men beaming down from billboards all over the city. "The people who want to get elected didn't make an effort to speak to us. We are clearly not their target market," she fumes. "But just because people my age don't watch Talk of the Nation doesn't mean we don't have issues. Look at this neighbourhood, it's like everyone is on drugs." In a country with a young population like Namibia the vote of the born frees will become pivotal in the next 10 years, yet this generation feels disconnected from their leaders. "The elders always kick up a fuss about the struggle," Jaimee-Lee says. "When my granny tells me about people shooting, I understand it must have been scary for her. But it's also time to move on."

Finishing school is a goal of Horstancia Namises (19), who studies by candlelight in her mother's shack. "I am so, so happy to be back in school," the grade 11 student said. She is determined not to fall pregnant like many other girls in her school. "Today I heard of two more girls who got pregnant. They are in grade eight and nine. There have been almost 20 cases like that this year. I can't afford to be making babies now. When I finish my education I already have my brothers and sisters to take care of." For Horstancia's demographic group, independence has meant a declining education system, appalling health care, increasing poverty, indiscriminate violence against women and a much lower life expectancy. She continues, "When this guy, Eric Casher, of the Obama Campaign, came to speak at our school, I realised how important it is to register. My mum and I put our names on the roll together."

Brazil To Invest $300 Million In Mozambique Infrastructure

Brazil has plans to invest $300 million to develop infrastructure in Mozambique, where the Latin American giant is a big investor in coal and biofuels. Brazil has also pledged to invest in the building of a 1,000-kilometer [621-mile] power line, linking hydro-electric, coal- and gas-fired power stations in central and northern Mozambique with the main consuming areas in the south. At present, Mozambique imports most of its power from neighboring South Africa. Brazilian mining giant Vale in March began building a $1.3 billion coal project in northern Mozambique, with plans to export the coal to Brazil, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Another project is the rehabilitation of a dam in southern Mozambique. The Brazilian funds will take the form of loans that Mozambique would have between 12 to 15 years to repay. Bilateral trade between the former Portuguese colonies has surged in the past year, from $28.4 million in 2008 to $102.5 million from January to October this year. That figures is almost entirely made up of Brazilian exports to Mozambique, which Mozambique hopes to balance out when it begins exporting coal next year.