Among the countries analyzed in the report "Dignity and respect in public services in Africa: an invisible factor in the global commitment to leave no one behind" are the Portuguese-speaking Angola and Mozambique – on the list of worst classified –, São Tomé and Príncipe, which presents average results, and Cape Verde, which is on the list of best classified.
"On average, across the 39 countries, a substantial percentage of the adult population report having had contact, in the 12 months prior to the survey, with a public health facility (58 percent), a public school (34 percent) and/or a government agency that provides identification documents such as a birth certificate, driver's license, passport or license (33 percent), Afrobarometer indicated in the study.
Among those who say they have had contact with these public service providers, nearly half say they found it "difficult" or "very difficult" to obtain an ID (49 percent), police assistance (46 percent), or health services (49 percent); more than a third say they have been treated with little or no respect by identification authorities (39 percent) and medical personnel (36 percent); a similar percentage (34 percent) say police officers in their country rarely or never "act professionally and respect the rights of all citizens," it listed.
Another of the conclusions presented is that young people and poor citizens are particularly susceptible to reporting difficulties in obtaining services, as well as receiving disrespectful treatment from service providers.
"Respondents who felt disrespected by public service providers are more likely to distrust and disapprove of their elected leaders, more likely to be dissatisfied with the way democracy is working in their country, and less likely to support a democratic form of government" even because "it is those interviewed with more qualifications who are more likely to feel that public service workers disrespect them, compared to those interviewed with less qualifications", compared.
In relation to the table presented by Afrobarometer with data relating to lack of respect, 46 percent of those interviewed in Angola said they had already felt this feeling in government agencies that provide identity documents, 48 percent in health services, 44 percent when they had to contact the police and 34 percent in schools.
In Mozambique, 45 percent of respondents said they had felt offended in identity services, 46 percent in health services, 37 percent in contact with authorities and 41 percent in the education sector.
Sao Tomeans reported lower numbers: 35 percent in identity services, 30 percent in health services, 48 percent when in contact with the police – the highest percentage of the four Portuguese-speaking people mentioned – and 19 percent in education.
In turn, Cape Verde presented the best results of the four Portuguese-speaking countries: 9 percent in identity services, 17 percent in health services, 26 percent in contact with authorities and 9 percent in schools.
"Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and assessments of democracy, governance and quality of life. Since 1999, nine rounds of surveys have been conducted in 42 countries. The 9th round of research (2021/2023) covers 39 countries", indicated the entity.
