Vol 40 No 14 | ZIMBABWE A hard act to follow 9th July 1999 The post-Nkomo era promises a major shake-up in Matabeleland and beyond For a few days, the death of Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo united Zimbabweans. He was 82, a towering figure since the 1950s, when he returned from college in...
Vol 40 No 12 | ZIMBABWE Where's the door? 11th June 1999 Beleaguered President Mugabe is fighting pressure for him to retire President Robert Mugabe may not after all be heading for a speedy retirement, although he was 75 in February and has held power since April 1980. Speculation...
Vol 40 No 10 | CONGO-KINSHASAZIMBABWE Big Wheels 14th May 1999 The news that creditor banks met to discuss the future of well connected Zimbabwean entrepreneur Billy Rautenbach's Hyundai Motor Distributors in Botswana raises questions about his continuing operations...
Vol 40 No 6 | ZIMBABWE Morgan's third way 19th March 1999 Trades unionists are backing a new party to challenge ZANU-PF at next year's elections The party is so new that it has not yet got a name, but its base is in the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and its leader is...
Vol 39 No 24 | ZIMBABWE Fighting rebels at home and abroad 4th December 1998 After shopping for arms in Cairo and Christmas presents in London, President Mugabe faces a harsh homecoming Created in 1980 from two of Africa’s most effective guerrilla forces, Zimbabwe’s national army is struggling in Congo-Kinshasa. Zimbabwean troops have tried five times to retake the strategic south-eastern...
Vol 39 No 24 | ZIMBABWE First the provinces, then the presidency 4th December 1998 Factionalism is alive and well in ZANU-PF ahead of its national conference in Gweru on 9-12 December. The internecine disputes played out in the provincial party elections...
Vol 39 No 21 | ZIMBABWE War winnings 23rd October 1998 Officials at Congo-Kinshasa’s state mining company Gécamines confirm that control of the Central Group of copper and cobalt mines around Likasi, (with associated facilities, including the super-profitable Shituru...
Vol 39 No 19 | ZIMBABWE In the badlands 25th September 1998 The government may have to choose between land reform or fighting in the Congo Donors were pleased, Zimbabwe’s voters may not be. Yet President Robert Mugabe is unlikely to be asking for their votes again. His government abandoned its hard line on...
Vol 39 No 16 | ZIMBABWE Questions of succession 7th August 1998 Replacing veteran Vice-President Joshua Nkomo has opened new political divisions Zimbabwe has two vice-presidents, Joshua Nkomo and Simon Muzenda, but people may have forgotten that Nkomo still exists. He does not appear in public; President Robert Mugabe continues...
Vol 39 No 15 | ZIMBABWE IMF insiders 24th July 1998 Business people cannot understand what the International Monetary Fund is up to. It keeps on lending to the Zimbabwe government which, on the published figures, is heading for...