Is There Hope For Democracy in Southern Africa?
One of the measures of democracy is the number of elections, and as many as 24 are expected to be held across the continent this year alone. But elections aren't a sign that all is well. In Southern Africa, former liberation movements have become dominant political parties, fond of reminding people of their struggle with imperialist oppressors, but show little awareness of their nations still struggling with the hardships of unequal societies.
From South African President Jacob Zuma and his alleged mafia-like network, Angola's Jose Eduardo dos Santos in power since 1979, Zambia's main opposition leader Hichilema Hakainde on trial for high treason, another potentially fragile coalition government in Lesotho, DR Congo leader Joseph Kabila's extended stay in power to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe running for another term in 2018 - this exposes the fragile political climate in the region. allafrica's Jerry Chifamba connects the dots.
(File photo).
InFocus
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The Daily Maverick's Scorpio investigative unit has reportedly uncovered that Duduzane Zuma, President Jacob Zuma's son, was given residency in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates ... Read more »
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Opposition candidate Machesetsa Mofomobe believes that: "It's an election that, if Lesotho is not saved from the grip of the current regime, it's all over with, Lesotho". Read more »
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A senior war veteran, retired brigadier general Agrippa Mutambara, who is now the interim leader of the opposition Zimbabwe People First party, has reportedly said the oppression ... Read more »
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The number of employed people has dropped significantly, resulting in the unemployment rate shooting up by 6%, according to a Namibia Labour Force Survey report. Read more »
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A Zambian court will rule on whether it will proceed with a case of treason against the leader of the opposition, Haikande Hichilema, who has been detained for over a month for ... Read more »
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The Swaziland Solidarity Network has threatened to stage a go-slow protest at entry points to the country, demanding King Mswati III to repeal a 44-year-old ban on political ... Read more »
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While some may agree with Mildred Ngesa of The Nation that the continent is "too busy nursing a broken heart to even think about it", others see it as a day to celebrate our ... Read more »