Vol 46 No 12 | SOUTH AFRICA Corruption and conviction 10th June 2005 A 15-year gaol sentence for the Deputy President's advisor tests the government's accountability and its unity Text message jokes were flashing across South Africa this week. 'Jacob Zuma and Schabir Shaik are together in a car. Who's driving?' Answer: 'The Police!' This debunking of...
Vol 46 No 12 | MADAGASCAR Marc and the miners 10th June 2005 Washington and the multinationals give Ravalomanana's team a boost Multinational mining giant Rio Tinto is about to approve a US$500 million dollar investment in the Fort Dauphin region of south-eastern Madagascar. The resulting employment and economic growth...
Vol 46 No 12 | MOZAMBIQUE Born again Stalinism 10th June 2005 President Guebuza combines liberal economics with hard-line politics Treading the boards at the World Economic Forum in Cape Town last week, President Armando Guebuza, impressed the delegates as a witty and thoroughly modern business-minded reformer. Odd...
Vol 46 No 12 | ZIMBABWE One law for the poor 10th June 2005 The government that smashes unlawful small businesses is saved by unlawful currency deals The government's willingness to use arbitrary force against poor Zimbabweans just after claiming a landslide election victory on 31 March suggests it thinks the country is much closer...
Vol 46 No 12 | BOTSWANA Factions and fractions 10th June 2005 A bitter race looms for the Secretary Generalship of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) at its national congress on 21-23 July in Serowe. A compromise offered by...
Vol 46 No 10 | ZIMBABWE The dam bursts 13th May 2005 Bankruptcy and looming starvation force the government to reverse its land policy Economic logic is biting back faster even than the government's opponents predicted. Zimbabwe is fast running out of fuel and maize-meal. Before the elections (AC Vol 46 Nos...
Vol 46 No 10 | ZIMBABWE What is the MDC for? 13th May 2005 After the opposition Movement for Democratic Change's third election defeat, some blame the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front for skilful rigging and also clandestine South African support....
Vol 46 No 10 | ZIMBABWE Moyo makes mischief 13th May 2005 No stranger to self-parody, the government's sacked spin-doctor Jonathan Moyo told Africa Confidential: 'I am a voice for resolution'. He enjoys making mischief, in the ruling Zimbabwe African...
Vol 46 No 9 | ESWATINI Democracy's a luxury 29th April 2005 The economy is failing and running out of food as King Mswati buys a $500,000 limousine Swaziland has become synonymous with royal extravagance, in an absolute monarchy whose sovereigns have long resisted local and international pressure for democracy. The ruling class is deaf to...
Vol 46 No 9 | MALAWI Hunger and hullaballoo 29th April 2005 Parliament's tumultuous, short April session was the first since President Bingu wa Mutharika bailed out of the United Democratic Front and the first since he launched the Democratic...