October 27, 2011

• South Africa: Mazibuko, Symbol of the Opposition Conundrum

  Lindiwe Mazibuko's election victory to secure parliamentary leadership of the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) poses a fundamental conundrum for the party. Read more »

• Madagascar: Back On Track With the Road Map

  Madagascar's Cabinet resigned last week as step one of a South Africa-brokered process to restore stability to the troubled island, which has been suspended from SADC and the AU... Read more »

October 13, 2011

• Botswana: Khama Prepares to Confront United Opposition

  President Ian Khama is deploying the considerable resources of his party's 45-year incumbency to head off a united opposition victory in 2014 parliamentary elections. Read more »

• Botswana: Solid Prospects for United Opposition

  Major disagreements still exist, but prospects for a combined - and potentially successful - opposition challenge to President Ian Khama and his ruling Botswana Democratic Party... Read more »

• South Africa: Zuma on Track for Second Term

  With the leadership race in the African National Congress (ANC) in full swing despite the official gag, the balance is currently tipped in favour of a second term for President... Read more »

• Swaziland: King Now Seeks No-Strings South African Bailout

  Swaziland's absolute ruler Mswati III was back in South Africa this week to try to persuade Pretoria to proceed with the R2,4-billion (USUS$307-million) loan promised to his... Read more »

• Seychelles: Ruling Party Makes Clean Sweep in Polls

  Seychelles' ruling Parti Lepep has made a clean sweep of the archipelago's 25 directly elected national assembly seats in the 29 September - 1 October 2011 snap election, boycotted... Read more »

• Angola: Ruling Party to Confirm Presidential Successor

  Angola's Manuel Vicente will be confirmed as nominee for leadership of the ruling Movement for the Popular Liberation of Angola (MPLA) next month - effectively guaranteeing his... Read more »

• Lesotho: Ruling Party Sweeps Local Polls in Low Turnout

  Despite the factional standoff that is increasingly polarising its ranks, the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) managed to prevail in this month's local elections,... Read more »

September 29, 2011

• Malawi: Nation Teeters on Brink of Financial Collapse

  Almost unnoticed outside its borders, Malawi is spinning politically out of control and teetering on the brink of financial collapse, as its access even to the IMF's agreed... Read more »

• Zambia: Michael Sata's Balancing Act

  Even before his election President Michael Sata had begun the complex balancing act he will need to secure and maintain his hold on power. Read more »

• Lesotho: Ruling Party Unravels Ahead of Polls

  Lesotho's ruling centre-right Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) has managed to hold together ahead of local government elections on October 1, but its show of unity is unlikely... Read more »

• Swaziland: Govt Paralysed as Volatility Grows

  Though the aftermath of the robust anti-government protests of early September has deepened government paralysis and created a more volatile situation across the country,... Read more »

• Zimbabwe: Regional Overseers Set to Fly Into Harare

  South Africa's mediators in Zimbabwe will finally be able to parachute in a three-member "oversight" team to the country, in a further sign that obstructionist die-hards in the... Read more »

• South Africa: Top Politician's Company in Bid for Media Group

  The commercial and political battle for the control of media group Avusa - second most powerful of South Africa's media houses and publisher of the Sunday Times newspaper -... Read more »

September 15, 2011

• Swaziland: Mswati Stalls South African Loan Deal

  King Mswati III's government has yet to sign the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will activate the first tranche of the R2,4-billion loan by South Africa. Read more »

• Swaziland: Pretoria's Conditions Tie Mbabane's Hands

  The relative restraint shown by the Swazi government during the five days of rolling protests across the country last week demonstrate Mbabane's increasing recognition that... Read more »

• Malawi: Mutharika Hastily Cobbles Together His New Cabinet

  Spurred into action by an unexpected parliamentary by-election defeat, President Bingu wa Mutharika hastily introduced a new Cabinet last week (7 September 2011), three weeks after... Read more »

• South Africa: Ruling Party Youth Leader Nears Expiry Date

  With the expiry date on his place in the ruling African National Congress (ANC) rapidly approaching, Julius Malema is discovering just how accurate his oft-quoted line on there... Read more »

• Zimbabwe: Harare's Elections Clock Ticks On

  Time is running out for Zimbabwe's three inclusive-government parties to squeeze all that needs to be done into the months available before the constitutional guillotine drops in... Read more »

• Zambia: Polls Put Opposition Challenger in State House

  Opinion polls put Zambian opposition Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata in State House in Lusaka with 54% of the vote after the next general elections to be held next... Read more »

September 03, 2011

• Malawi: A Very Reverend Dialogue Begins

  The start of a UN-brokered dialogue last week between President Bingu wa Mutharika and his extra-parliamentary opposition has done little to ease the difficulties facing the... Read more »

September 01, 2011

• Swaziland: Tiffs About Talks About Talks [analysis]

  King Mswati III and his government are showing little inclination to begin talks on the introduction to democracy. But Swaziland's pro-democracy movement and civil society... Read more »

• Swaziland: Mbabane Resists Reform, Seeks Money in Middle East

  As the beleaguered Swazi government braces itself for another round of pro-democracy protests next week, it is increasingly clear that Mbabane is dragging its heels on meeting the... Read more »

• Southern Africa: Pretoria Reviews Its - and SADC's - Defence Needs

  With Southern African leaders forced to respond to the increasing threat of piracy and decreased maritime security in the region's waters, the South African government has... Read more »