Vol 37 No 21 | ZAMBIA Chilling Chiluba 18th October 1996 The ruling MMD's refusal to talk to the opposition may push politics out of control From 31 October, President Frederick Chiluba's government is into extra time. A head-on political confrontation looms. Supporters of Chiluba's Movement for Multi-party Democracy maintain that they have the...
Vol 37 No 20 | ZIMBABWE No news, good news 4th October 1996 Zimbabwe's economy is pretty healthy but the party still clings to its culture of secrecy Even when the news is good, the old leadership of the ruling party cannot resist trying to suppress it. Thanks to rain and reforms, the economy is starting...
Vol 37 No 19 | ANGOLA Sorting out Savimbi 20th September 1996 The UN is making progress on the military front but can't find a job for the rebel leader Piece by piece, Angolans and the United Nations are knitting the government and rebel armies together but the critical issue – the future role of Jonas Savimbi –...
Vol 37 No 19 | NAMIBIA No more Nujoma 20th September 1996 The President seems to want five more years, despite what the constitution says President Sam Nujoma seems unhappy about the rule that he must hand over to a successor at the turn of the century. His democratic credentials have not been...
Vol 37 No 18 | SOUTH AFRICA Opening up the ANC 6th September 1996 President Mandela wants to strengthen the party before he hands over to Thabo Mbeki The post-Mandela African National Congress is beginning to take shape, amid jostling between competing factions. President Nelson Mandela wants a 'broad-church' leadership. The party hierarchy lobbies for its...
Vol 37 No 18 | SOUTH AFRICA Gloomy boom 6th September 1996 Speculators talking down the economy have helped create some bargain investments South Africa's mood swings wildly and so do its financial markets. Less than a year ago, equity and bond markets were booming and the rand exchange rate was...
Vol 37 No 17 | MOZAMBIQUE The people's land 23rd August 1996 Frelimo ministers seem keen to sell the land that feeds the people, often to themselves The great southern African land rush is on. President Joaquim Chissano's government is almost half-way towards its target of selling concessions for some 20 million hectares of arable...
Vol 37 No 17 | NAMIBIA Malay straits 23rd August 1996 Namibia is looking eastward and Malaysia is its new friend. In late July, President Sam Nujoma visited Kuala Lumpur, where he announced 'large investments' by Malaysian companies in...
Vol 37 No 16 | SOUTH AFRICA Changing gear slowly 2nd August 1996 The ANC's new capitalist faith is announced in a smart brochure: bankers question the figures while unions question the policies Unveiled in the swish French resort of Cannes, launched in London as part of President Nelson Mandela's quasi-regal tour, the new economic policy of the African National Congress...
Vol 37 No 16 | SOUTH AFRICA White power 2nd August 1996 White Zulus now mastermind Inkatha's tactics but their ultimate aims remain unclear Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi is still the boss. But his management of the Inkatha Freedom Party's closed-door congress in Ulundi on 27-28 July placed him more tightly on the...