Editor's Note
Greetings from the LéO Africa Review!
The world is only beginning to come to terms with the true impact of the global corona virus pandemic. This week the president of Uganda announced a 21-day extension of the country's lockdown; while Rwanda's initial 14-day lockdown extension, due to end on April 19, will likely be extended still.
In Kenya, president Uhuru Kenyatta has ruled out a total lockdown, despite the country's confirmed cases totaling 246 today, the highest in the region. Tanzania, that had initially resisted WHO measures like social distancing to contain the covid19 pandemic, saw its confirmed cases almost double this week with 35 new infections registered on April 15.
In perhaps another pointer to the challenges of a coordinated regional response to covid19, a planned video conference meeting between EAC heads of state this week was called off at the request of South Sudan.
Meanwhile, the economic cost of the covid19 pandemic to the region cannot be overstated. According to a recent McKinsey report, the pandemic could wipe off 3-8% of Africa's GDP growth in 2020. Such predictions can only mean the days ahead are going to be hard.
However, we should not let this crisis go to waste. A new project to be launched by the LéO Africa Institute later this month seeks to bring together some of the regions best brains to shape more forward-looking interventions that go beyond containment of the pandemic, to discussions about a post-covid future and how our communities can best prepare for a fast recovery.
Now that I have your attention, you are hereby also invited to join the effort to shape this new future. Send your ideas to the editor and follow the conversation on all our LAR platforms.
Lastly, we have shared with you some great writing to look back at from our contributors. Blanshe Musinguzi and Jonan Twinamatsiko explore the deplorable levels of pollution in Lake Victoria and what can be done to save the region's biggest resource; Joanne Nvannungi explains why in times like these it is important to heed to the age-old wisdom of "prevention is better than cure" in public health; while Innocent Acan serenades us again with her imagination in Unholy Reception.
Stay well,
Kwezi Tabaro
Editor
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