Vol 50 No 13 | SOUTH AFRICA Business beyond borders 26th June 2009 The Zuma government's foreign policy will be more about commerce than high-minded diplomacy The appointment of the inexperienced Maite Nkoana-Mashabane as Foreign Minister in the new African National Congress (ANC) government suggests that President Jacob Zuma will dominate foreign policy, with...
Vol 50 No 13 | SOUTH AFRICA Tshwane's big five 26th June 2009 Foreign affairs analysts broadly agree that five countries will attract more attention from Tshwane (Pretoria) Angola will welcome Jacob Zuma on his first foreign trip as President 'before Christmas'. Zuma is grateful to President José Eduardo dos Santos for the loan of an...
Vol 50 No 13 | MALAWI On top and in charge 26th June 2009 The May elections have given President Mutharika political dominance for the term that is meant to be his last After his victory in the 19 May elections, President Bingu wa Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) dominate Malawi's political scene. Mutharika won 66% of the vote...
Vol 50 No 13 | ZIMBABWE The hard road to a new constitution 26th June 2009 Parliamentarians launched the great constitutional debate on 24 June, amid growing tension in the power-sharing government. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change is struggling to persuade...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 8 | ZIMBABWECHINA Re-enter the dragon 26th June 2009 Bilateral trade is growing as Chinese diplomats explain their role in the negotiations for Zimbabwe's power-sharing government The Beijing-Harare axis is thriving under Zimbabwe's power-sharing government. Despite opposition claims that China would lose influence because of its close relations with President Robert Mugabe and its historical support for...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 8 | ZIMBABWECHINA China's trains, Zimbabwe's tobacco 26th June 2009 Beyond the political controversy about relations with the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front regime, Chinese businesses are set to provide an important source of new investment and jobs for Harare's shaky...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 8 | MOZAMBIQUECHINABRIEFING Billions for all 26th June 2009 The list of countries with multibillion-dollar, Chinese-backed projects is growing longer, with Mozambique the latest country to receive a golden handshake. In late May, China Exim Bank announced US$2.3 billion in...
Vol 50 No 12 | SOUTH AFRICA This time it will be different 12th June 2009 Trades unionists and Communist activists are pushing their leaders to take on government as the recession bites Just days after President Jacob Zuma’s 3 June State of the Nation Address on accountability in government and jobs for the people, the trades unions hit back with...
Vol 50 No 12 | ANGOLA Jobs and votes 12th June 2009 President Dos Santos is certain of victory, whether the postponed elections are held this year or next Although Angola’s presidential election is to be postponed until 2010, the dominant Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola (MPLA) has abandoned its plans for indirect elections, in which...
Vol 50 No 11 | SOUTH AFRICA You've stood, now deliver 29th May 2009 The people who got out the vote for Zuma insist that he keep his side of the bargain The trades union chief, Zwelinzima Vavi, a key supporter of President Jacob Zuma when he was a mere candidate, is warning the government of a season of strikes...