Vol 46 No 5 | SOUTH AFRICA All about the jobs 4th March 2005 The budget boosts public spending and reduces taxes but cutting unemployment will be the key test Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's budget offered a generous formula for fuelling growth and cutting taxes without letting inflation rip. He called it 'More for all': a balancing act...
Vol 46 No 5 | NAMIBIA Power to the party 4th March 2005 The President-elect must balance his predecessor's weight against his party's mood Hifikepunye Pohamba's mandate seemed clear when the 15-16 November presidential election awarded him 76 per cent of the vote. But it is not that simple. First, the outgoing...
Vol 46 No 4 | SOUTH AFRICA Welcome back to the state 18th February 2005 The Mbeki government tilts towards the ANC's roots after a decade of market economics Jazz bands, street theatre groups and coquettish members of parliament jostled for space at a blisteringly hot opening of parliament in Cape Town on 11 February. Both the...
Vol 46 No 4 | ZIMBABWE Friends fall out 18th February 2005 A former business ally of the Mugabe government accuses it of corruption and hypocrisy The last shreds of credibility of President Robert Mugabe's government are at stake in a war of words between businessman Mutumwa Mawere and Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono....
Vol 46 No 4 | ZIMBABWE Spies and counter-spies 18th February 2005 South African President Thabo Mbeki's position on Zimbabwe has toughened considerably since the arrest of a South African counterintelligence officer in December 2004 (AC Vol 46 No 2)....
Vol 46 No 4 | MALAWI It's my party 18th February 2005 By resigning from the United Democratic Front, which carried him to the presidency last year, President Bingu wa Mutharika has triggered political confusion (AC Vol 46 No 2)....
Vol 46 No 3 | ZAMBIA Wearing green 4th February 2005 The government knows it's not trusted and it cannot afford another constitution Green neckties are popular in Zambia's National Assembly these days. The Speaker had banned the wearing of green ribbons in the House, since members were wearing them to...
Vol 46 No 3 | ANGOLACHINA Chinese firecrackers 4th February 2005 A row over corruption plans linked to China's US$2 billion oil-backed credit line threatens the position of Finance Minister José Pedro de Morais and major diplomatic embarrassment for...
Vol 46 No 2 | EQUATORIAL GUINEASOUTH AFRICA Crabs in a barrel 21st January 2005 Exclusive update on the Equatorian coup plot deals - only available online South African prosecutors are pressing ahead with investigations into the Equatorial Guinea coup saga following their plea bargain deal with Mark Thatcher, which was ratified in Cape Town's...
Vol 46 No 2 | ZIMBABWE Southern spookery 21st January 2005 Centre-stage in the latest spy saga is Philip Chiyangwa, the zealous MP for Chinhoyi, Chairman of Mashonaland West's branch of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, and...