Vol 50 No 24 | ZIMBABWE Didymus Mutasa dithers 4th December 2009 Joice Mujuru's victory in ZANU-PF's leadership election could encourage more pragmatism as pressure mounts for Mugabe's exit In the hierarchy of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, the Politburo Secretary for Administration ranks fifth, running the Secretariat that sets dates and agendas for the political...
Vol 3 (AAC) No 1 | ZIMBABWECHINA China Sonangol targets Harare’s gold and oil 26th November 2009 The China International Fund and China Sonangol are being used to bail out troubled regimes when international pressure on them is at its highest. First, there was the...
Vol 50 No 23 | SOUTH AFRICA In favour and out of cash 20th November 2009 The ANC government’s left-wing supporters in Cosatu and the SACP want more of their comrades in the cabinet and more social spending The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the SA Communist Party (SACP) have gained strength since they helped President Jacob Zuma into power in April. Their...
Vol 50 No 23 | NAMIBIA The race for second place 20th November 2009 No change is expected for the governing party but the opposition may look different after this month's polls President Hifikepunye Pohamba's governing South West Africa People's Organisation will almost certainly win again, and comfortably, at the elections on 27-28 November. The main opposition parties claim they...
Vol 50 No 23 | MALAWI The rise and rise of ethnic politics 20th November 2009 The predominance of Lhomwe people in the government hierarchy raises doubts about Mutharika's nationalism The star attraction of the Lhomwe cultural festival last month was President Bingu wa Mutharika: his presence reflects his growing use of his own ethnic identity to mobilise...
Vol 50 No 23 | SOUTH AFRICA Jackie Selebi on trial 20th November 2009 Nothing is going according to plan with the prosecution for corruption of former police chief and former Interpol director Jackie Selebi (AC Vol 50 No 16). As he...
Vol 50 No 22 | ANGOLACONGO-KINSHASA Throwing out the neighbours 6th November 2009 A spree of mutual expulsions disguises long-standing economic disputes The two big neighbours have been busily expelling each others' nationals and the resulting tension hides their disagreements about oil, diamonds and the hoped-for electric power from a...
Vol 50 No 22 | MOZAMBIQUE A dominant party – not a one-party state 6th November 2009 Accusations of bias and irregularities tarnish the success of Frelimo in national elections and may prompt cuts in investment and aid The decisive re-election of President Armando Guebuza on 27 October delivered all that the governing Frente de Libertação de Moçambique wanted: victory with over 75% of the vote...
Vol 50 No 22 | MOZAMBIQUE Brand new MDM will challenge Frelimo 6th November 2009 Established just six months before the elections, the Movimento Democrático de Moçambique has come further than any other third party in Mozambique's history and will be well placed...
Vol 50 No 22 | ZIMBABWE 'Too many enemies' 6th November 2009 When arms disappeared from Pomona Barracks, north of Harare, last month, the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front barons again blamed the Movement for Democratic Change but military intelligence...