Muhlya Tshombe Lukamba

Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) are increasingly adopted in developing and emerging markets, with many projects now approaching the handback stage, the transfer of assets and service responsibilities from private actors back to governments. Despite the growing prevalence of PPPs, empirical knowledge and systematic guidance on the handback process remain limited, exposing governments to operational, financial, and social risks. This study undertakes a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature and industry reports to identify best practices for managing the handback phase. Drawing on the Contingency Theory of Planning, the paper highlights the importance of strategic flexibility, risk preparedness, and proactive governance to ensure uninterrupted service delivery during transitions. Key findings reveal critical elements for successful handback, including clearly defined contractual clauses, structured monitoring and inspection procedures, financial incentives and securitization, staff management, licensing compliance, and knowledge documentation. The study contributes to theory by extending the application of contingency planning to the PPP lifecycle, offers practical guidance for practitioners managing end-of-life PPP transitions, and informs policy by providing evidence-based recommendations to strengthen institutional capacity and safeguard public assets.

This paper discusses the institutional dynamics that support the coexistence of liberal and authoritarian democracy in Central Africa with special attention to Cameroon, Gabon and the Central African Republic. Political systems in the region are still marked with autocratic traits even after the formalization of democratic institutions like multiparty elections, constitutions and legislatures. The research design is qualitative as it relies on descriptive examination of academic sources, policy reports and institutional reports. It relies on comparative case study approach to examine how formal democratic institutions are frequently subverted by executive powers, poor judicial autonomy, restricted civil right s and political pluralism. Thematic analysis revealed that these regimes are hybrid systems, with democratic process being upheld only to gain legitimacy, and substantive governance being authoritarian. The results also demonstrate that authoritarian resilience is strengthened by structural factors including resources dependency, poor state institutions and the effect of external geopolitics. The paper concludes that democratic consolidation in Central Africa is weak and lop sided with little achievement beyond procedural democracy. It suggests institutional reforms, greater involvement of civil societies and greater regional and international accountability mechanisms to foster real democratic governance and sustainable development in the region.

Background: The abandonment of public infrastructure projects in South Africa’s municipalities is attributed to several factors. These include contractors running out of money and requesting release in the middle of the implementation of public infrastructure projects, community protests, late payments by municipalities and underestimation of project costs by contractors. Aim: To analyse the causes of abandoning the implementation of public infrastructure projects. Method: Through the application of a qualitative research design, the study selected three local municipalities under the Capricorn District in Limpopo province to draw insights. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in which 16 municipal officials were interviewed. This study employed an interpretative research paradigm. Results: The study’s findings reveal factors such as community protests, payment delays to service providers, weather conditions, termination of service providers, difficulties obtaining construction permits during the construction of these projects and political interference over appointments and labourers. Lastly, various political parties engaging in subcontracting, disputes, and interference led to the abandonment of public infrastructure projects. Conclusion: The findings could assist local government practitioners and policymakers to develop effective strategies that can minimise the abandonment of government projects. Contribution: This study contributes to the sphere of local government by outlining the factors that led to the abandonment of public infrastructure projects in three selected local municipalities in Limpopo province.

Both formal education and the acquisition of relevant entrepreneurship skills by young people are essential for the socio-economic and political progress of any country. African youths are deficient in adequate skills with formal education to become self-reliant and generate employment opportunities for others. The study utilised secondary sources of data and employed a qualitative research approach to examine the relationship between entrepreneurial skill acquisition initiatives and the academic curriculum in Nigerian and South African institutions. The data were collected from many sources, including textbooks, academic journals, online resources, and official documents on the subject matter. The data collected were examined using content analysis and suitable descriptive analysis techniques. The study uncovered a fundamental lack of vocational training and entrepreneurial skill development in the academic curricula of Nigerian and South African universities across all disciplines. Instead of taking advantage of numerous opportunities to acquire practical skills and become employers, the youth in these countries tend to wait until after graduation to pursue elusive white-collar jobs. The study concluded that the significance of vocational training and the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills by African youth is of utmost importance in the current era of rapid socio-economic growth. Universities in African countries should follow the trend in Japan, China, and South Korea’s education systems by implementing and mandating vocational training and entrepreneurial skill development at all levels of educational programmes. The study contributes to academic discourse by contextualising entrepreneurial skill development within Africa’s socio-economic landscape, delivering insights for curricular advancement, and presenting pragmatic strategies to mitigate youth unemployment.

Pan-Africanism’s ideology has long promoted African society’s unity, fostering cohesion among people living in various states across the continent. After gaining independence, African states have evolved from colonial structures into independent entities, resulting in a heightened manifestation of the “Pan-Africanism ideology” and a more profound understanding of statehood. This study examined the impact of the Pan-Africanist movement on present-day statehood in Africa by investigating socio-economic and political variables, its effect on post-colonial African society and its ongoing significance in the pursuit of regional integration. The study analysed several limitations that result from the continent’s historical colonial origins, political structures, and the tension between the autonomous states and the demand for a more cohesive union. A comparative analysis of the African integration agenda was conducted using a case study approach from several African institutions, including the African Union (AU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This analysis highlighted the cultural and social integration efforts of a shared regional identity among separate sovereign states. This study contributes to the ongoing discussion on the integration and growth of African nations by examining how the Pan-Africanism of statehood shapes the complex dynamics of the continent. The need arises for a fresh perspective on an integration that upholds the autonomy of each African state while safeguarding African society’s collective cohesion. Consequently, it asks for enhanced cooperation among policymakers and stakeholders engaged in Africa’s economic success. Keywords: Pan-Africanism, Nationhood, Development, Statehood, Integration, Political System

The study investigates the stock and trends of Public private partnerships (PPPs) in Uganda. Existing studies have made effort to research PPPs in Uganda. However, a holistic synthesis of PPP industry in Uganda has not been undertaken yet, though such information would be crucial for policy and investment decisions. The objective of this paper is to carry out a holistic overview of the PPP industry in Uganda. Data was collected by a review of literature. The main findings indicate that Uganda indicate the Uganda has significantly progressed with PPPs frameworks and stakeholder management though uptake of PPP is low. Key implications for policy and practice are stakeholder mapping beyond the documented stakeholders, extension of tenure that may reduce user fees without cost to government, improve publicness and mainstream shared value lesson in future PPPs. Capacity building should be enhanced to increase awareness and knowledge on the working of all actors.

This article examines the significance of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in emerging economies. The major focus of the paper is the African continent. The article briefly discusses the origin and implementation PPPs in different continents across the globe. A qualitative research paradigm is adopted to analyse public private partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Qualitative research is exploratory and is frequently used to investigate a subject area in which there is limited information. This method of investigation sheds light on the different PPP projects. A case study strategy adopted in this study was used create understanding of the different process emanating from the implementation of PPPs in Africa continent. A comprehensive understanding of PPP implementation in SSA is essential. PPPs should be considered in sectors where there is a need to improve infrastructure and service delivery. Every government should have legislation in place as well as a regulatory framework on PPPs to facilitate local and foreign investors to implement new projects. The absence of a legal and regulatory framework on PPPs hinders close collaboration between the public and private sector in certain countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Anecdotal evidence from interviews with public officials indicates the need for government to focus on a specific project where it (government) perceives a need for a private company to participate. This article argues that the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) project is an excellent model for governments in SSA where there is a deficit infrastructure, required to provide improved service delivery. Most BOT projects require sizeable financial investment. Most governments prefer to use BOT to construct specific infrastructure such as new electricity power plants, toll roads, prisons, dams and water plants. Experience has revealed that BOT agreements tend to reduce market and credit risk for the private sector because in most instances government is the only customer, thus reducing the risk associated with insufficient demand and the inability to pay.