Still, there is a growing sense of urgency given the acute absence of health-care infrastructure on the continent and the prospect of 20 national elections scheduled in Africa during 2020.
With many countries banning public gatherings and restricting people’s freedom of movement, can these votes go ahead as planned?
“In Africa,” continues Kadima, “the only way of campaigning that people know is to bring the crowd around the candidate to pass the message.
But if a country cancels elections established by the constitution, it could lead to violence, suggests Kadima, “because when the legitimacy of the rulers has run out, then they can’t stand there and tell people what to do.
Upcoming elections within the next 12 months include Tanzania (Oct.), Cote d’Ivoire (Oct.), Egypt (Nov), Ghana (Dec) Chad (Dec), Central African Republic, (Dec), Niger (Dec), Guinea, Somalia, Liberia and Gabon.