Vol 65 No 10 | NAMIBIA SWAPO's prospects lag behind economy 9th May 2024 Geingob's death and a row over the German genocide make for an awkward transition in this year's polls against a strong opposition The lavish and lengthy obsequies for President Hage Geingob, who died aged 82 on 4 February, turned out to be just an interlude in the drama on whether...
Vol 65 No 10 | MALAWI Veep graft case abandoned 9th May 2024 The corruption case against Malawi's Vice-President Saulos Chilima has been abandoned on the order of President Lazarus Chakwera. Chilima was arrested in November 2022 over allegations that he...
Vol 65 No 10 | MOZAMBIQUE The prize goes to Chapo 9th May 2024 The ruling Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (Frelimo) party has finally chosen its presidential candidate for October's general election. In a process which saw the party's politburo wait...
Vol 65 No 9 | SOUTH AFRICA Zuma challenges the ANC in his base 25th April 2024 With the ex-president as a figurehead, the uMkhonto we Sizwe party threatens the ruling party’s national prospects The complex arithmetic between provincial and national votes means that former President Jacob Zuma's new party could wreck the ruling African National Congress's (ANC) chances of scraping a...
Vol 65 No 9 | MALAWIUNITED STATES Chakwera furious at US visa ban 25th April 2024 The United States government has slapped a visa ban on four former senior Malawi government officials, including the former Head of the Malawi Police Service, George Kainja, over...
Vol 65 No 9 | ZIMBABWEUNITED STATES Washington targets Mnangagwa for rights abuses and corruption but sends mixed messages 23rd April 2024 More focused US sanctions against ZANU-PF leaders will still deter investors – along with the regime's bad policies On the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington on 19 April, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said he had asked United States Treasury officials to...
Vol 65 No 9 | ZIMBABWE Shaky new ZiG money undermines IMF talks 12th April 2024 Mounting doubts on the credibility of the latest currency relaunch and politicisation of economic policy The chances of Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and new Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mushayavanhu making progress in talks for a staff-monitored IMF programme in Washington...
Vol 65 No 8 | SOUTH AFRICA Coalition talks divide ANC leaders 11th April 2024 South African and African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa has proposed to the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) that it consider going into opposition if it fails to secure a majority in the elections in May, instead of forming coalitions, political sources told Africa Confidential. South African and African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa has proposed to the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) that it consider going into opposition if it fails...
Vol 65 No 7 | ZAMBIA A debt deal redux 28th March 2024 Zambia has finally reached an agreement to restructure its US$3 billion of Eurobonds after more than three years in default, the government announced on 25 March. The three...
Vol 65 No 6 | SOUTH AFRICA Parties prepare for the costliest election 14th March 2024 Businesses and wealthy individuals are stepping up political donations and their influence on policy Ahead of the most competitive election ever in South Africa on 29 May, local and foreign political donors are trying to influence the outcome within – and sometimes...