Vol 64 No 14 | SOUTH AFRICA ANC leaders wade into new ethics row 6th July 2023 Risks persist of a return to state capture by corrupt businesspeople and politicians, argues the prime mover of the three-year Zondo investigation On 22 June, a year after he released the conclusions of his marathon investigation into corruption, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo lambasted parliament and the executive for failing to...
Vol 64 No 14 | BOTSWANA Both sides claim diamond deal win 6th July 2023 President Mokgweetsi Masisi insists his renegotiation of terms with De Beers is a huge victory while others say it was the world's biggest diamond producer that came out...
Vol 64 No 13 | NAMIBIA Windhoek gets tough on green resources 23rd June 2023 The government wants free stakes in lithium and other mines producing vital inputs for electric vehicles President Hage Geingob and his close ally, mines minister Tom Alweendo, have signalled their seriousness about obtaining the maximum benefit of minerals used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries...
Vol 64 No 13 | NAMIBIA Swapo faces more poll losses 23rd June 2023 Growing anger over government corruption and surging unemployment look set to give opposition parties their best chance yet of loosening the ruling SWAPO Party's grip on the country....
Vol 64 No 13 | SOUTH AFRICARUSSIAUKRAINE Kyiv and Moscow give peace mission short shrift 21st June 2023 After days of awkward and unproductive diplomacy, the economic consequences of the war will worsen for Africa – starting with the collapse of the grain deal The African peace mission to Ukraine and Russia has exposed the chasm between the two countries – with Kyiv insisting on Russian withdrawal from its territory and Moscow...
Vol 64 No 13 | SOUTH AFRICA As economic polycrisis deepens, business lends a hand 21st June 2023 Corporate chiefs are going public on their fears about the economic slide and social chaos After months of intense preparation, the two leading business umbrella groups – Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and Business for South Africa (B4SA) – launched a major initiative...
Vol 64 No 12 | SOUTH AFRICAUNITED STATES Arms in the night 8th June 2023 Accusations of secret arms shipments to Moscow raise questions about Pretoria's non-alignment and its competence on security Long-simmering tensions exploded when United States ambassador Reuben Brigety broke with diplomatic discretion last month and accused South Africa of secretly uploading weapons and ammunition for Russia's war...
Vol 64 No 12 | ESWATINI No compromise on royal power 8th June 2023 The imprisonment of two MPs on terrorism charges is a signal that royal power will not be compromised or reformed, and elections due this year won't change anything,...
Vol 64 No 12 | MALAWI Mutharika manoeuvres for a comeback 5th June 2023 So dire is the record of the incumbent that the opposition believes Peter Mutharika could be elected president again in 2025 The political situation is in such turmoil that the next contest to lead Malawi is already dominating talk in the capital. Ex-President Peter Mutharika is planning a comeback,...
Vol 64 No 11 | ZIMBABWE Mnangagwa's corruption double talk 25th May 2023 Opaque and unbudgeted state spending is rising as officials get closer to Belarus and Russia The latest row over patronage and opaque procurement in the government shows the widening rift between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy General Constantino Chiwenga, and their attempts...