February 09, 2012

• Lesotho: Ruling Party Splits Ahead of Election

  Months of immobilising factionalism in the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) finally split the party this week. Read more »

• South Africa: Ruling Party to Debate Sweeping Changes to Mining Industry

  The 600-page State Intervention in the Minerals Sector (Sims) report submitted to African National Congress (ANC) leaders in Johannesburg on Friday (3 February 2012) is not about... Read more »

• South Africa: Report Gives Options for Mining to Help End Poverty [analysis]

  Nationalisation of South Africa's mining sector has not been in prospect for more than a decade, despite a massive push by the youth league of the ruling African National Congress... Read more »

January 26, 2012

• Swaziland: Customs Revenues Help to Prop Up King

  The R7 billion (US$879 million) Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) payout to Swaziland for the 2012-13 financial year could keep King Mswati III's tottering government afloat... Read more »

• South Africa: Ruling Party Youth Leader Faces Police Probe

  Julius Malema-watchers focused on the African National Congress National Disciplinary Committee of Appeals (NDCA) this week as it concluded its hearings on the suspension of the... Read more »

• South Africa: Unions Set to Re-Elect Leader [analysis]

  Consensus is coalescing in the 2-million member Cosatu trade union federation over re-election of incumbent general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi in September. Read more »

• Madagascar: Rajoelina Hangs Tough

  The government of Andry Rajoelina in Madagascar is colluding with France to prevent the return of ousted president Marc Ravalomanana to the island, undermining the SADC Road Map... Read more »

• Africa: Opening China's Gateway to Africa

  China has announced to its massive business community that the gateway to Africa is open, and South African Airways (SAA) has the keys. Read more »

• Angola: Opposition Unita Party Faces Collapse

  Angola's main opposition party Unita is staggering towards collapse, and with key figures jumping ship, could be wiped out in September's national assembly election. Read more »

January 12, 2012

• South Africa: Filling Out the 2012 Agenda

  Two key gatherings this month will chart South Africa's political agenda for 2012 - and beyond. Read more »

• South Africa: Zuma Appears Set for Second Term [analysis]

  A year ahead of the African National Congress (ANC) centenary-year elective conference, President Jacob Zuma has effectively cleared his path to a second party presidential term -... Read more »

• South Africa: One Hundred Years of Fortitude [column]

  If there was any doubt that the African National Congress's 100th anniversary was the headline event of the decade in Southern Africa, the festivities that took place in the... Read more »

• Swaziland: Opposition Squabbles as Govt Collapses

  Rather than hastening the apparently inevitable, slow-motion collapse of the Mswati administration, Swaziland's government-in-waiting under the People's United Democratic Movement... Read more »

• Swaziland: Rumblings in Military Augur Badly for King

  Swaziland's military is showing signs of irritation at King Mswati III's increasingly desperate cost-cutting to avoid democratic transformation. Read more »

December 08, 2011

• South Africa: Ruling Party Youth Leader Gets Desperate

  With his appeal against his suspension only days away, African National Congress (ANC) youth leader Julius Malema is increasing the possibility of permanent expulsion. Read more »

• Swaziland: Mswati's Moves Unlikely to Stop Implosion

  For traditionalists, King Mswati III's troubled year, the rapid collapse of Swaziland's economy and the surge in pro-democracy protests has little to do with South Africa's... Read more »

• Zimbabwe: Budget a Recipe for Political Failure

  The massive bias of departmental budgetary allocations towards ministries controlled by ministers from President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF continues in Zimbabwe's 2012 budget, passed... Read more »

November 24, 2011

• Zimbabwe: South Africa Plans Pressure To Ensure 'Inclusive Government'

  With Zimbabwe's Global Political Agreement (GPA) programme months behind schedule and effectively stalled, Pretoria is preparing to begin imposing real pressure on the three... Read more »

• South Africa: Youth Leader's Days in Ruling Party Numbered [analysis]

  African National Congress Youth League leader Julius Malema's remaining time in the ruling party is to be counted in days. Read more »

• South Africa: Malema's League Base Crumbling [analysis]

  Julius Malema's previously slavishly loyal powerbase in the ANC Youth League is evaporating as ambitious young politicians manoeuvre furiously for position ahead of his departure. Read more »

November 10, 2011

• Zimbabwe: Army Takes Delivery of Chinese Small Arms Ahead of Election

  The Zimbabwe Defence Force (ZDF) has taken delivery, via an African intermediary, of the first of several consignments of Chinese small arms and equipment. Read more »

• Zimbabwe: Would-Be Mugabe Successors Jockey for Power

  The implications of President Robert Mugabe's failing health will dominate Zanu-PF's 11th annual non-elective conference in Zimbabwe's second biggest city, Bulawayo (6-10 December... Read more »

October 27, 2011

• South Africa: IBSA - a Tale of Missed Opportunities

  The 5th India-Brazil-South Africa (Ibsa) summit, concluded with a 60-point declaration in Pretoria last week, was a missed opportunity. Read more »

• South Africa: Youth Relish 'Digital Citizenship'

  Home-grown social media platform, MXit is the pastime of choice for 30% of South Africa's youth. Read more »

• Congo-Kinshasa: Opposition Divisions Open the Door for Kabila

  A month ahead of general elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) opposition parties remain too divided to pose a serious challenge to incumbent President Joseph... Read more »