Africans hold largely negative views about their governments’ performance on key services such as the delivery of water and maintaining sanitary conditions.

This is according to anew report from Afrobarometer.The report entitled What People Want From Government is based on surveys carried out between 2011 and 2013.

The report shows that 56% of people say government has done fairly or very badly in providing clean water and sanitation. Although, on average, Africans are dissatisfied with government provision of water and sanitation, some of Africa’s wealthier nations do better in delivering these services.  In South Africa only 43% of people say government is doing fairly or very badly. However the numbers are as high as 78% in Egypt, 76% in Algeria and 75% in Cameroon.

Furthermore, 64% of Africans say that it is difficult or very difficult to access piped water, electricity and phones.

Performance across the board

Across 16 countries, government performance ratings have declined in four of the five sectors since 2002. Health care delivery is has dropped 3% (from 62% positive down to 59%) education is down 6%, (from 68% to 62%) and water and sanitation is down 8% (from 51% to 43%). Electricity provision has dropped 3% (from 41% to 38%) since 2008.

The only area where Africans believe government performance has improved is in fighting HIV/AIDS. This sector’s rating has risen from 65% to 74%.