Vol 50 No 9 | SOUTH AFRICA Learning to love Jacob Zuma 1st May 2009 A pragmatic coalition of pro-market politicians and presidential loyalists will dominate the new cabinet There is some truth in Jacob Zuma's insistence that he owes no favours after the African National Congress's sweeping election victory on 22 April. It was the culmination...
Vol 50 No 9 | SOUTH AFRICA On the line to Zuma 1st May 2009 First off of the blocks to congratulate Jacob Zuma on the African National Congress's win in the 22 April elections was British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. This was...
Vol 50 No 9 | ZIMBABWE The fight over the basic law 1st May 2009 None of the parties are as yet prepared to derail the coalition but all are relentlessly probing each other’s weaknesses Tendai Biti did not mince his words. 'The power-sharing accord is a poor document - it's a strange amalgam of extreme nationalism and things we like such as...
Vol 50 No 9 | ZIMBABWE No rally for the MDC 1st May 2009 The Zimbabwe Republic Police, under Commissioner Augustine Chihuri, celebrated Independence Day on 18 April by withdrawing permission for a rally by the Movement for Democratic Change on the...
Vol 50 No 9 | ANGOLACONGO-KINSHASA An offshore imbroglio 1st May 2009 The two countries set up a joint commission to resolve long-standing border rows Grievances have arisen between Angola and Congo-Kinshasa about their borders - offshore and onshore. Kinshasa's Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito and ministers Célestin Mbuyu (Interior), Alexis Thambwe Mwamba ...
Vol 50 No 8 | SOUTH AFRICA Zuma's surprise package 17th April 2009 The coming presidency will face the hard times with some unexpectedly right-wing measures and boosted security services Jacob Zuma's inevitable ascent to the presidency has been achieved at considerable cost. The governing African National Congress has been absorbed for the last year in faction-fighting, dealing...
Vol 50 No 8 | SOUTH AFRICA It's the political economy, stupid! 17th April 2009 The economy contracted in the first quarter of 2009 and South Africa is entering its first recession in 17 years. The South African Reserve Bank has cut its...
Vol 50 No 8 | ZIMBABWE From retreat to turnaround 17th April 2009 Foreign investors but not their governments are beginning to take Harare's new order more seriously Warm words emerged from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's ministerial retreat in Victoria Falls on 3-6 April and are encouraging foreign business to look at profitable turnarounds. Yet Western...
Vol 50 No 8 | ZIMBABWE Good-bye to Zimbabwe's dollar 17th April 2009 'There will be no immediate plans to [re]introduce the money because there is nothing to support and hold its value,' said Economic Planning and Development Minister Elton Mangoma....
Vol 50 No 8 | ZIMBABWE Tendai Biti has a plan 17th April 2009 Finance Minister Tendai Biti has emerged as the key figure in Zimbabwe's economic recovery, walking the uneasy path between securing external finance from sceptical outsiders and dealing with...