Vol 55 No 13 | MOZAMBIQUE Aid row escalates 27th June 2014 Britain and Germany cut budget support over a tuna-fishing company and other deals. Ahead of the elections, Frelimo is not giving in The governing Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (Frelimo) is engaged in an increasingly bitter row with foreign donors over loans and public spending. Britain and Germany, which together...
Vol 55 No 13 | MOZAMBIQUE Deal to nobble the MDM falters 27th June 2014 The current aid dispute between foreign governments and the ruling Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (Frelimo) may affect how the 15 October elections are monitored, say critics of...
Vol 55 No 13 | ZAMBIA Sata speculation grows 24th June 2014 Concern is growing for the President’s health and also for the impact on his party should he leave office prematurely President Michael Sata's office announced on 22 June that he had flown to Israel for a 'working holiday', including meetings with President Shimon Peres. Yet Israeli media reported...
Vol 55 No 13 | SOUTH AFRICA Unsteady state of the nation 18th June 2014 Zuma failed to inspire in his nationwide address yesterday. Many unknowns still surround the ANC’s promised 'radical economic transformation' President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation address to parliament was a disappointment to many. He did not expand on the African National Congress's plans to meet its...
Vol 55 No 12 | ZAMBIAINDIA Fury over Vedanta 13th June 2014 A foreign company’s comments sparked public and government anger in a far-reaching debate about mining policy and taxes Calls for higher mining taxes are increasing and new audits are in progress after comments about Zambia by the Vedanta Resources Chairman, Anil Agarwal, caused outrage. On 9...
Vol 55 No 12 | MOZAMBIQUE Oily bumps in the road 13th June 2014 Arguments over the gas project, an offshore spill and an uncertain legal framework show that the way to the oil and gas bonanza is not easy Mozambique’s nascent oil and gas industry has suffered its first significant spill. It highlights one of the difficulties in developing one of the world’s largest gas deposits. This...
Vol 55 No 12 | MOZAMBIQUE Spills – clear as mud 13th June 2014 In May, Anadarko informed the Environment Ministry that 30,000 litres of drilling fluid had accidentally leaked from one of its exploratory wells in the Rovuma Basin, 46 kilometres...
Vol 55 No 12 | MALAWI Mutharika, the sequel 13th June 2014 Many fear that Peter Mutharika will revert to his brother’s divisive policies but he is under pressure to be more conciliatory All eyes have turned to President Arthur Peter Mutharika's plans, policies and appointments now that the turbulent post-election period is over. As the dust settles, few doubt that...
Vol 55 No 12 | ZIMBABWE The lesser weevils 13th June 2014 The accelerating signs of a lame-duck presidency are visible and rivals in the ruling party are pursuing their own agendas With little cohesion and less vision, the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front is stumbling towards its elective congress in December. Despite his 90 years, President Robert Mugabe...
Vol 55 No 12 | ANGOLA Alarm as oil production falls 12th June 2014 Falling output is affecting the economy but it’s unlikely to change the habits of the elite The policy of 'de-dollarising' the economy has gained unexpected momentum as a dip in oil production reduces the availability of the US dollar. The budget and much-needed infrastructure...