Chapter 6: Development of Transport, Communication, and Trade in Africa

Keywords

transport

communication

trade

ports

airports

routes

waterways

imports

exports

patterns

After studying this chapter, you should be able to;

1. use maps to show the major transport routes.
2. understand the role of the different types of transport in development.
3. use photographs to identify the different types/modes of transport.
4. appreciate the importance of transport in national and regional development.
5. understand the difference between internal transport, inter-African transport and international transport.
6. understand how the main forms of transport used for international journeys are different from those used in inter-African and internal transport.
7. know the characteristics of the main forms of inter-African transport.
8. appreciate the advantages, disadvantages and uses of the main forms of inter- African transport.
9. understand the development of water transport in Africa.
10. understand why inter-African transport is less developed than transport between Africa and the rest of the world.
11. know the main forms of international transport.
12. understand the main forms of trade in Africa: Internal, inter-African and international.
13. understand the trade patterns of the selected countries and the factors influencing them.
14. understand the contributions of trade to the development of the selected countries.
15. use flow charts, statistics and map to show trade patterns.
16. understand the main forms of international communications.
17. understand how the internet has transformed international communication.
18. use statistics flow charts, maps and graphs to analyze trade in African countries.
19. appreciate the importance of promoting inter African transport and communication to promote African unity and trade.

Introduction

Transport and communication facilities are important in modern economy. As engines that is the movement of goods and persons. In this chapter you are going to learn the main forms of transport and communication and trade in Africa, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Transport in Africa

In Senior One, you learnt that transport involves movement of goods and people from place to place. Also you learnt about the different types of transport used in East Africa for example water, road, air, railway, animal and human transport. Similarly, Africa consists of a wide range of transport networks. After doing tasks in activity 30.1 you will be able to know the types of transport used in Africa.

Activity 30.1 Finding out the types of transport used in Africa

In groups, study the photographs in Figure 30.1 showing the different modes of transport and do the tasks that follow

41-2 Figure 30.1: Modes of transport

1 Identify the type of transport shown in each of the photographs A-H in Figure 30.1

2 Describe each type of transport identified in (1).

3 Explain the role of transport types described in (1) in development.

4 Discuss the importance of transport in both national and regional development.

5 Share your work with the rest of the class through discussion.

You have noted that with advanced science and technology, new means of transport have been developed. Transport plays an important part in economic growth and is an indicator of a country’s development. connecting different parts of the world. A planned and organized system of transportt.

1. Copy maps A and B in figure 30.2 showing transport routes in Africa into your notebook 2
2. Copy table 30.1 in your notebook and fill in the type of transport, major transport route, places and countries it links.
3. Suggest reasons for the existence of such a transport pattern in Africa.
4. Identify different transport networks mainly developed within each country’s boarders.
5. Present your work to the rest of the class through discussion.

You have found out that road transport is the most dominant mode of motorized transport in Africa. It accounts for 80 percent of the goods traffic and 90 percent of the passenger traffic on the continent. African countries together have about 2.06 million km of roads in 2001, resulting in a road density of 30.84 km per 100 sq.km. Whereas the average road-to-population ratio for the whole continent is 26 km per 10,000 inhabitants, there is a large subregional variation.

Development of water transport in Africa

Water transport has been used to transport goods, people and animals for a long period as you can see in figure 30.3. This is done where there are big rivers, lakes, seas and oceans. Rivers and lakes are called inland waterways while seas and oceans are called seaways.

Around twenty-nine African countries have navigable bodies of water, though only a small number have been well-developed for transport services. Seaports are important outlets of international trade for both coastal and landlocked countries in Africa. After doing tasks in activity 30.3, you will understand the development of water transport in Africa.

Activity 30.3 Understanding the development of water transport in Africa

In pairs, carry out a textbook or internet research on the development of water transport and do the following tasks.

1 Identify the main forms of water transport in Africa.

2 Explain the factors that lead to the development of water transport in Africa.

3 What are the advantages of developing inland water transport?

4 Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion.

5 Present your work to the teacher for further guidance.

You have learnt that water transport in Africa has played a significant role in every country’s economy. It is better than surface transport for dry and liquid bulk cargo or containerised cargo over long distances. Water transport is the most dominant mode of transport for moving freight from international continents to Africa.

It accounts for over 92 percent of Africa’s external trade. With a total coastline of 30,725 km, Africa has 90 major ports and a number of other ports providing services for fishing and tourism. African ports handle only 6 percent of global traffic. About 6 ports, three in Egypt and others in South Africa, handle about 50 percent of Africa’s container traffic.

Inter-African, International and internal transport

In your community or family, you might have heard of or have seen people travelling from one African country to another for example from Uganda to South Africa. This type of movement is called Inter -African journey and the means of transport used is known Inter-African transport.

You or your family members might have probably moved from one village to another for example from Masaka to Mbale. This type of movement is called an Internal journey and the type of transport you used is known as Internal transport. Similarly, you might have travelled from Africa to another continent for example from Africa to Asia, America or Europe.

This is called an International journey and the type of transport you used is known as international transport. After doing tasks in activity 30.4, you will understand the main forms of inter- African and international transport.

Activity 30.4 Understanding the main forms of inter-African and international transport In groups.

1 Identify the main forms of inter-African and international transport.

2 What are the characteristics of the main forms of inter-African transport?

3 What are the advantages and disadvantages of the main forms of inter-African transport?

4 With reasons, discuss why inter-African transport is less developed than transport between Africa and the rest of the world.

5 Discuss the difference between internal, inter- African and international transport

6 Present your work with the rest of the class through discussion.

You have noted that transport is of various forms depending on the networking system, that is how the routes are constructed for instance certain transport networks are connected within one country, other routes can be constructed to connect with different African countries and there also transport networks which can connect with the rest of the world.

The role of China in developing Africa’s transport

China has developed Africa through improving its transport networks. Infrastructure helps China to easily trade on the African continent. The Tanzam railway was, for instance, intended to provide transport to African nations that created the need to enter imperialist Apartheid South-Africa. China is presently involved in infrastructure projects in 35 African countries. A concentration of projects is to be found in Angola, Nigeria and the Sudan. After doing tasks in activity 30.5 you will discover the role of China in developing African transport.

Activity 30.5 Discovering the role of China in developing African transport

In groups, debate the role of China in developing Africa’s transport and do the following tasks.

1 Why is China investing in railways in Africa?

2 Suggest the advantages and disadvantages of Chinese investment in railways in Africa.

3 Present your work with the rest of the class through discussion.

You have found out that many Chinese companies have invested a lot of money in African roads and railways maintenance. Construction and infrastructure are the sectors that have made China find a market for its products in Africa. The infrastructure projects like the coastal railway in Nigeria, Addis-Ababa-Djibouti Railway, the mega port and the economic zone at Bagamoyo are all being developed through Chinese partnerships.

Problems that affect transport in Africa

You learnt the problems that affect transport in East Africa. Similarly, transport in Africa is affected by a number of barriers. After doing tasks in activity 30.6, you understand more about the problems that affect transport in Africa.

Figure 30.4: Some of the challenges that affect transport in Africa

1 Identify the problems that affect transport in Africa shown in each photograph in Figure 30.4.

2 What other problems affect transport in Africa?

3 Suggest ways of overcoming the problems which you have identified in 1 and 2 above.

4 Share your findings with other groups for further discussions.

Trade in Africa

In Senior Three, you learnt about trade within East Africa and the rest of Africa. You can remember the types of trade carried out in East Africa. Similarly, Africa is involved in trade. After doing tasks in activity 30.7, you will find out the main forms of internal, inter-African, and international trade in Africa

Activity 30.7 Understanding the Main Forms of internal, inter-African and international trade in Africa

In groups, using the knowledge you gained on trade, Explain the main forms of internal, inter-African and international trade in Africa.

5 Describe the trade patterns of African countries.

6 What are the factors influencing the trade patterns of African countries described in (2)?

7 What are the contributions of trade to the development of African countries?

8 Which type of transport can be used for;

(a) Inter-African trade.

(b) International trade outside Africa.

6 Share your findings with other groups through discussion.

You have learnt that trade is of various forms depending on how it is carried out that is to say, it can be within one country, within African countries and trade with the rest of the world. Africa’s trading partners are China, the European Union and the United States. After doing tasks in activity 30.8, you will analyse trade in Africa using statistics

Activity 30.8 Analysing trade in Africa using statistics

Study the information in tables 30.2 showing Sub-Saharan service exports by country 2015 and 30.3 showing Sub-Saharan service imports by country 2015 do the following tasks.

Table 30.2 Sub-Saharan service exports by country 2015.

Africa can work global trade wars to its advantage by asserting independence and better negotiating the value of its resources

In activity 30.8 you have learnt that the main imported commodities in Africa are machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments and food stuffs.

The main exported commodities are palm oil, gold, diamonds, oil, cocoa, timber and precious metals. Due to long distances between different countries, it is a bit difficult to establish quick and close trade contacts between traders for the case of intra and overseas trade, Buyers and sellers rarely meet one another therefore personal contact is rarely possible.

Communication in Africa

In Senior Two, you learnt about communication where you noted the ways through which messages are passed from one person to another. You can remember these ways. You usually talk to people near you and those that are far from you. How do you do it? After doing tasks in activity 30.9, you will discover more about forms of communication used in Africa.

1 (a) Identify the main forms of communications used in the past and today shown in figure 30.5. Draw a table with 2 columns and classify them.

(b) Identify the main forms of international communications

2 Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using each type of communication that you have identified in 1 and comment on each other’s group work.

3 Swap your work with other groups

4 Present it to the rest of the class through discussion.

You have found out that communication involves the transmission of words and messages from one person to another. There are three main modes of communication; verbal, written and audio-visual communication. Communication has improved tremendously in most of African countries.

New technologies have led to the development of landline and mobile telephones, and radios. Satellite communication has also been introduced. These developments have led to a rapid flow of ideas and information. These have a positive influence in trade and economic development in Africa. Africa recognizes ICT as a key instrument for economic growth. The ICT sector has witnessed tremendous growth in terms of subscriptions, investment and network coverage. After doing tasks in an activity you will be able to understand the importance of Internet and communication between African countries.

Activity 30.10 Understanding the importance of internet and communication between African countries

In groups,

1 Explain how internet and social media have changed communication.

2 Explain the importance of promoting inter-African communication between African countries. 3 Share your findings with other groups through discussion.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter you have learnt;

1. the modes/types of transport such as water, air, road, and railway.
2. the major transport routes such as the northern routes, middle route, inland trade routes and southern routes.
3. the role of different types of transport in development such as promoting trade, employment opportunities, promotion of tourism and stimulation of development.
4. the difference between internal transport, inter-Africa transport and international transport for example internal transport involves the movement of people within boarders, inter-African transport involves the movement of people from one country to another within the African continent.
5. the importance of promoting inter- African transport and communication to promote African unity and trade.