Social: Ziwa

DATE Africa > Ziwa > Social: Ziwa ←You are here

Ziwa’s history since gaining independence is fraught with coups, disputed elections, regional and ethnic violence, and general instability. While Ziwa has demonstrated intent to improve its democratic governance, a lack of deep-rooted democratic and civil society institutions make it one of the most vulnerable and unstable countries in the region. Despite a troubled past, Ziwa is making progress in recent years toward greater transparency and good governance practices. Ziwa is making strides toward improving the lives its citizens through better delivery of services that is being seen in improvement of life expectancies, containment of diseases, and literacy.

Social Statistics for Amari, Kujenga, Ziwa, Nyumba

	Amari	Kujenga	Nyumba	Ziwa
Age Distribution (%)
< 15 yr.	42	45%	44%	45%
15-59 yr.	53	50%	52%	49%
> 60 yr.	5	5%	4%	6%
Median Age	19.5	27	18	20
Pop. Growth Rate (% - rank)	1.81%	2.8%	2%	3.2%
Birth Rate (per 1,000 - rank)	25.1	35	39	42.9
Death Rate (per 1,000 - rank)	6.8	7.6	13.1	10.2
Infant Mortality (per 1,000 - rank)	38.3	41.2	96.6	57.6
Life Expectancy	64	62.2	52.4	65
Fertility Rate (child/woman - rank)	3.14	4.77	5.8	5.71
Net Migration Rate (per 1,000/rank)	0.3%	0.2%	-0.5%	-6.5%
Literacy Rate (%)	78% Male 81% Female 74%	76% Male 83% Female 71%	72% Male 82% Female 68%	78% Male 85% Female 72%
Urban Population	25.6%	33%	40.5%	16.8%
Urbanization Rate (%)	4.3%	5%	4%	5.3%

Regional Languages

Amari	Kujenga	Nyumba	Ziwa
Swahili	Swahili	Nyumbaan Arabic	Swahili
English	English	Swahili	English
Arabic	Arabic	English
Hundreds of local and regional dialects and languages complicate communication, especially in rural areas.

Regional Religious Affiliation

	Amari	Kujenga	Nyumba	Ziwa
Christianity	80%	27%	3%	40%
Islam	5%	60%	90%	35%
Traditional and Indigenous	4%	10%	7%	15%
Asian traditions such as Hindu, Sikh, Parsee, and Bahaish	2%	3%	0%	%0
In rural areas, tribal and traditional religious beliefs often overlap and sometimes combine with religious traditions such as Christianity, Islam, and other imported religious practices.

Regional Ethnic Groups

Amari	Kujenga	Nyumba	Ziwa
Kiboko 22%	Wawindaji 12%	Lisimba 5%	Maji 30%
Nyati 15%	Kabila 10%	Machupa 5%	Almasi 25%
Samaki 13%	Almasi 9%	Dakari 4%	Kiboko 5%
Kondoo 12%	Samaki 9%	Adongo 7%	Mafuta 28%
Haki 10%	Milima 8%	Abedi 4%	Other African 7%
Nomadic 4%	Kirafiki 6%	Kijana 5%	Non-African 5%
Other African 21%	Kiarabu 6%	Wangari 9%
Non-African 3%	Upanga 5%	Mpasa 8%
	Kisu 4%	Killima 32%
	Mahindi 4%	Tajammu 21%
	Other African 25%
	Non-African 2%

Major Diseases in the Region

Malaria

Yellow Fever

Dengue

African Trypanosomiasis

Leishmaniasis

Onchocerciasis

Rickettsioses

Chikungunya Fever

Zika Virus

Diarrhea

Cholera

Typhoid

Hepatitis A, B, C, and E

Dracunculiasis

Echinococcosis

Meningococcal Disease

HIV Infection

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Plague

Rabies

Tuberculosis

Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Ebola Virus Rift Valley Fever Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

Population Movement (Migration/IDPs/Refugees)

Ziwa's improving economy has attracted economic refugees from Kujenga. This has resulted in refugee camps in the border regions, stretching Ziwa's limited resources. UNHCR and western resources are supplementing, however, there is growing pressure from citizens of Ziwa to remove the refugees.

Population Distribution

Ziwa is a mix of predominantly an urban society. In the past thirty years, one in four Ziwaans have moved from rural homes to urban areas in search of higher-paying jobs and a better life. At present, 68% live in cities and this percentage increases at a rate of 2.1% per year. Analysts project the current urbanization rates to continue. The concentration of urban dwellers allows the Ziwaan government to easily send messages to the population but it also concentrates more people in one area who could riot if they become disenchanted with the government. This continued migration will allow for better quality of life if jobs remain available and resources are not overloaded. Conversely, this migration could result in increased poverty for those who do not have the necessary job skills and, as a result, are not able to provide for their families.

Demographic Mix

The life expectancy in the country is around 58.5 years, with the life expectancy of males being 56.7 years and 60.5 years for females. Due to the high marriage rate in the country, the age structure is skewed towards the younger generations with 48.47% of the Ziwaan population being in the 0-14 year-old age group. After that, 28.34% of the population of Ziwa is in the 25-64 year age group. Lastly, 21.16% of the total population is dominated by the 15-24 year age group. Just 2.04% of the population is 65 or older.

Social Volatility

The Ziwa government faces a number of domestic challenges. Ziwa’s dependence on revenue from precious metal mining—and the multinational companies that operate the mines—contributes to the inconsistent enforcement of labor law. This leads to periodic eruptions of protests and strikes that in turn disrupts the flow of revenue to the government. Judges on the National Industrial Court who hear labor dispute cases receive significant political pressure to find in favor of multinational corporations.

A large portion of the Ziwa People’s National Guard’s approximately 3,800 personnel is comprised of former rebel fighters from border regions: the government wanted to ensure employment for these military age young men while taking advantage of their knowledge of the terrain and people. There are, however, regular complaints about lack of discipline and abuse of citizens in those areas.

The Union of Peace for the Ziwa (UPZ) and the Watasi Gang are two organizations causing significant problems inside Ziwa. UPZ forces have been blamed for attacks on tourists and government anti-poaching patrols in the Serengeti and northwestern regions, while the Watasi Gang is an extremely violent militia group operating in Ziwa’s mountainous northeastern region. Watasi Gang members routinely engage in banditry, raids, poaching, kidnapping, and drug trafficking and smuggling. The Watasi have also been blamed for attacks against tourists: threats have driven many of the tour operators to avoid the area altogether.

Poverty, illiteracy, and poor healthcare also remain significant problems in Ziwa. While making incremental progress, these challenges remain debilitating to economic development efforts. Limited investment in these critical social areas cause many to become passive about the government’s capacity to fix critical problems for a large section of the population.

Education Level

The system of education in Ziwa has a structure of 7 years of primary education, 6 years of secondary education (divided into 4 years of lower secondary and 2 years of upper secondary school), and 3 to 5 years of post-secondary education. The government of Ziwa recognizes education as a basic human right and continues to strive to provide free primary education to all children in the country, however, issues with funding, teacher training, rural populations, and inadequate facilities continue to hinder the progress of educational development in Uganda.

Ethnic Diversity

The forty or more distinct societies that constitute the Ziwa nation are usually classified according to linguistic similarities. Most Ziwans speak either Nilo-Saharan or Congo Kordofanian languages. Nilo-Saharan languages, spoken across the north, are further classified as Eastern Nilotic (formerly Nilo Hamitic ), Western Nilotic, Central Sudanic. The many Bantu languages in the south are within the much larger Congo Kordofanian language grouping.       

Religious Diversity

Religious leaders have the most influence locally. In some areas, tensions develop between religious majorities and minorities. A few Muslim and Christian leaders have gained attention on a national stage and exploited these regional tensions through broadcasted sermons and publications. Periodically, an altercation between members of different religions that may have been dealt with locally in the past, have been elevated to national attention through these provocative leaders and their social and other media.

Common Languages

One of the most recent major languages to arrive in Ziwa is English. Introduced under colonial rule. After independence, English became the official language of Ziwa. It is used in government and commerce and as the primary medium of educational instruction. Official publications and most major newspapers, radio and television stations, and other communication media use English. Most Ziwans speak at least one indigenous African language. Swahili and Arabic are also widely spoken

Criminal Activity

The rule of law in Ziwa is often subverted by politicians, business people, and the military. A number of recent cases showed a light on some of this corruption. Two years ago, the JC succeeded in having three judges on the Court of Appeal removed from office after a bribery scandal. However, military extortion and abuse of citizens in the border regions are seldom prosecuted, while multinational corporations are usually not held accountable for labor violations: only the most egregious of safety violations evoking reprimands or fines. Non-government and civil society organizations are increasingly uncovering violations of human rights.

The Union of Peace for the Ziwa (UPZ) and the Watasi Gang are two organizations causing significant problems inside Ziwa. UPZ forces have been blamed for attacks on tourists and government anti-poaching patrols in the Serengeti and northwestern regions, while the Watasi Gang is an extremely violent militia group operating in Ziwa’s mountainous northeastern region. Watasi Gang members routinely engage in banditry, raids, poaching, kidnapping, and drug trafficking and smuggling.  The Watasi have also been blamed for attacks against tourists: threats have driven many of the tour operators to avoid the area altogether.

Ziwa suffered from decades of corruption that stunted economic growth, discouraged international investment, and diverted much needed funds from relieving poverty, increasing access to life-saving health care, and improving infrastructure. Some efforts have been made in recent years to uproot corruption from Ziwan society. The most prominent such effort is the Economic and Financial Crimes Authority (EFCA). The EFCA came about in response to international pressure towards greater cooperation in fighting money laundering and in support of the president’s efforts to rid the government of corruption. The EFCA has seen success in its efforts to catch and prosecute corruption crimes. Five years ago, Yaro Okpara, the crusading head of the EFCA, reported to the Ziwan Senate that a number of governors were under investigation.

As international corruption rankings indicate, Ziwa has a long way to go in order to root out corruption from the government. A history of corruption wove a system of doing business into Ziwa’s social fabric that is not easy to extract. It will take many years of concerted effort to put in place the necessary reforms and framework to root out the endemic corruption.

Human Rights

Ziwa's government ranks in the middle of human rights rankings. Reports over the past few years detail a significant improvement in violation of human rights reports. Recently reported human rights violations include:

• Poor prison conditions
• Arbitrary arrest and detention
• Official corruption
• Lack of government transparency
• Child labor, including forced child labor
• Restriction of workers' rights, such as freedom of association, organizing, and collective bargaining

Centers of Social Power

Tribes overlaid on map

Clans are central to social and cultural harmony as they tend to settle land and family disputes before they ever get to the legal system. The clan is seen as a dispute-solving unit, a custodian of cultural values. Even during colonial times, disputes on land were first handled by clan leaders and if they failed to solve them, they would forward them to the government.

Another enduring function of clans is to support a grieving family in the event of death. When a person dies it is an obligation of the clan to donate food and raise money to buy a coffin and other burial expenses. While this is a cultural duty for all neighbors and friends anywhere in Ziwaa, the obligation is much more serious for clan members.

Many clans derive their names from their place of origin, and members tend to be concentrated in particular areas. With urbanization, more and more people are leaving their home villages for towns and other areas in search of work or more land. Still, members of a particular clan tend to have common surnames and when they meet, the feeling is one of meeting a close relative. So important are clan ties within a particular tribe, that children cannot marry someone from the same clan because this person is considered your brother or sister. Never mind that you may have to walk several generations back to find great, great grandfathers who were distant cousins.

Tribal System

Tribes overlaid on population density map

• Sheikhs can (but may not always be) influential and powerful.
• A Sheikh can have family members (and therefore influence) spread over large geographic areas, and may not have any real power or influence in his immediate area.
• Tribal organization is as follows:
  • Ÿ  Tribal Confederation
  • Ÿ  Tribe
  • Ÿ  Sub-tribe
  • Ÿ  Clan
  • Ÿ  Branch
  • Ÿ  Family

Honor and Shame

• Honor in Ziwaan culture defines an individual’s reputation and worth.
• A family’s male head of household is responsible for protecting the family’s honor.
• When someone’s honor is compromised, Ziwaans seek revenge for themselves, their family, or their group.

Basic Cultural Norms and Values

Meeting & Greeting	Men do not shake hands with a woman unless the woman offers her hand first. Make a slight bow or nod of the head when shaking hands. People of the same gender may kiss on the cheek.
Visiting/ Hospitality	Stand when an older or important person enters or leaves a room. Shaking a child’s hand shows respect for the parents. Due to the lack of other entertainment, family visitation is the most common form of recreation. Honored guests are placed at the head of the table/room and are served first. It is acceptable to decline the honor and pass it on to someone else.
Manners	Use Mr. or Mrs. until well acquainted with the person. If someone displays interest in your meal, offer them a portion of it. It is alright to decline the offer of the food from their plate.
Customs and Practices Cultural Dos & Don’ts	Men and women dress conservatively, with men wearing Western-style clothing.
Gifts	Be careful about praising a person’s possession as he will likely offer it to you. Bring a small gift when invited to a household. It will not be opened in front of you. People who return from trips are expected to bring gifts for family and friends.
Taboos	Do not over-praise a child as the parents will think you are putting the “evil eye” on them. Do not stare at others. This is considered rude and is offensive if done to a female by a male.
Personal Space	Much less than that of the US. Ziwaans will stand very close when speaking to a person.
Displays of Affection	No public displays of affection even between married people.
Marriage Rituals	Marriages are typically arranged by parents and tribal leaders. A marriage ceremony is a village celebration. The bride's family is responsible for providing the wedding feast.
Work Week/ Work Hours	Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week with Saturday and Sunday weekend.
Concept Of Time	More relaxed than the West. Ziwaans want to establish trust before working with a foreigner or stranger.
Dispute Resolution	Often hold grudges and seek revenge.
Birth Rituals	Maternal grandmother usually takes care of the mother and child for 10 days. Mothers are expected to breast-feed their babies because of a fear that if they do not, the child will become “remorseless.” Children from any marriage belong to the father in the event of a divorce.
Death Rituals	Deaths are attended by the whole village. A feast, supplied by the tribe follows the burial.

Summary

Ziwa is a nation caught, both geographically and ideologically, between the western leaning Amari and the authoritarian leaning Kujenga. It is the most politically vulnerable of the regional countries as it struggles to build civil society institutions without deep democratic roots or traditions. Corruption, endemic in the authoritarian regimes, is still rooted in the memory and behavior of government officials at all levels. The precious metal-rich Ziwa faces the corruption endemic in a country where large sums of money are concentrated in the hands of a few people. Ensuring transparency and equitable distribution of national funds will require extraordinary leadership and a focus on transparent systems.

Overcoming poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, poor healthcare, and other social problems is a formidable challenge for Ziwa’s developing government. Pressure from civil society groups, journalists, social media, and other organizations is slowly bringing about greater transparency. Increasingly, the citizens of Ziwa are demanding better services and accountability from its leaders which is having a slow and incremental positive effect on Ziwa’s progress toward better governance.