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(Graphic: John McCann/M&G)
AFRICA

Digital Shadows: Unveiling the crisis of forced labour in the tech age

Digital ‘slavery’ such as that of content moderators, trainers and data labellers, is insidious, hidden and underpaid

  • Letlhokwa Mpedi
  • Tshilidzi Marwala
7 min read
This photograph taken in Yaounde, on February 17, shows the Djangui Money logo on a mobile phone. In many African countries, the tontine is a popular collective savings system which has for years enabled those to whom banks do not lend to finance a project or an emergency. In Cameroon, start-ups have brought it into the digital age in recent years. (Photo by Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO / AFP)
AFRICA

Ancient community banking enters digital age in Cameroon

There are about 30 African countries where tontines are used, and 14 in Asia. In South Africa, it is known as a stokvel

  • Romuald Nkonlak
2 min read
Pay up: M-Pesa has transformed Kenya’s economy. But Telebirr has been bringing Ethiopia’s capital to a halt. Photo: Eric Lafforgue/ArtInAllOfUs/Corbis/Getty Images
ADDIS ABABA

Mobile money: Ethiopia struggles to pay the price of progress

Why must motorists wait hours to refuel if there is plenty of petrol? For the answer, follow the money

  • Samuel Getachew
3 min read