Vol 56 No 23 | ZIMBABWE Grace plots for power 20th November 2015 A cabal is backing President Mugabe's wife to replace Mnangagwa as Vice-President at the ruling party's congress next month A dramatic bid, backed by President Robert Mugabe, to evict Emmerson Mnangagwa as one of the country's two vice-presidents, is set to dominate the national congress of the...
Vol 56 No 23 | MOZAMBIQUE Fight, don't talk 20th November 2015 The government has decided to 'disarm' Resistência Nacional Moçambicana, in what is being seen as a victory for hardliners over President Filipe Nyusi's previous, conciliatory approach. Renamo's demands...
Vol 56 No 23 | SOUTH AFRICA Dlamini-Zuma bandwagon speeds up 11th November 2015 The momentum behind the AU chief’s bid to lead the country is increasing as the powerful coalition behind her notches up a key win The campaign within the African National Congress for Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to become the next leader of the party and the country has just received a major boost. Sihle...
Vol 56 No 22 | SOUTH AFRICA Zuma man hangs on at SABC 6th November 2015 A controversial figure fights to hold on to his multi-million rand job at the national broadcaster but is embarrassing the ANC Attempts to get Hlaudi Motsoeneng out have dragged on for almost two years, ever since Public Protector Thulisile Madonsela recommended in February last year that the South African...
Vol 56 No 22 | ANGOLA Isábel's auntie 6th November 2015 International broadcasting companies fret about how to cover Africa as they lose audiences to nimbler, African-owned stations. The alacrity with which top executives from CNN flew to Kenya...
Vol 56 No 21 | ANGOLA Hunger strike stirs dissent 22nd October 2015 As the oil price crash weakens the economy, protests against corruption and repression are gathering strength President José Eduardo dos Santos's government has remained unmoved as the popular rapper and civil rights activist Luaty da Silva Beirão's health deteriorates sharply after almost a... READ FOR FREE
Vol 56 No 21 | SOUTH AFRICA ANC looks in the mirror 22nd October 2015 Losing over a third of its members under Jacob Zuma's presidency, the ANC is getting nervous about next year's local elections It may have ended with a stirring rendition of the liberation struggle song Mhla Sibuyayo (The Day We Return) led by President Jacob Zuma but the governing African...
Vol 56 No 21 | ZAMBIA Wing and a prayer economics 22nd October 2015 Battered by rising debt and deficits as copper mines close, the government searches desperately for alternatives Despite looming elections, a sliding copper price, critical power shortages, the world's worst performing currency and record borrowing costs, Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has described his goal of...
Vol 56 No 21 | MOZAMBIQUE How Dhlakama and the peace talks were ambushed 16th October 2015 Insiders detect the hand of former President Guebuza in a spate of attacks against the Renamo leader Last month's attacks on Afonso Dhlakama and his stand-off with government forces are threatening the latest bid to broker a political and military settlement. People close to the...
Vol 56 No 20 | SOUTH AFRICA Rise of the third termers 8th October 2015 There is a push within the ANC for Zuma to stay on as party President for yet another term Hand signals have always been a favourite at African National Congress gatherings. During the bruising party leadership race in 2007, Thabo Mbeki's opponents used the football hand gesture...