Africa News of Saturday, 17 April 2021
Source: africanews.com
Cape Verde could see it's the first female head of government as the Island nation votes in legislative elections on Sunday
At just 42 years old, Janira Hopffer Almada is hoping to make history as the next prime minister if her socialist party PAICV wins the election.
But the lawyer and former minister say her gender is not the most important factor.
"I think that Cape Verdeans have a very clear notion that, more important than being a woman or a man, is having someone with the will to work to improve the country," Almada says.
"I have always said that this fight is not a fight between men and women, it is a fight for Cape Verde, for love of Cape Verde, to build the land here that we all dream of."
Since 2016 the centre-right MMpD party of Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva has been in charge. Voters this year are taking the effects of the coronavirus pandemic into account.
Coronavirus on the mind
Covid pandemic has hit the economy and tourism sector hard.
Tourists, drawn to Cape Verde's gentle hospitality, year-round warmth and turquoise seas, account for a full quarter of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
After growth of 4.5 per cent in 2018 and 5.7 per cent in 2019, the former Portuguese colony suffered a record slump last year -- a retraction of 14.8 per cent.
Cape Verde's #tourism industry battered by #coronavirus pandemic #travel #CapeVerde #covid19 https://t.co/7r8r2zlGD7
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