Vol 62 No 1 | ZAMBIA Election-mania takes hold 7th January 2021 All the government’s energies are focused on winning the 12 August poll as it tries to ignore an economy in freefall Aware that it looked odd that it did not have a plan to restore the nation’s economic fortunes, the government quickly rushed out its Economic Recovery Programme on 17 Decemb...
Vol 62 No 1 | ANGOLA J-Lo suffers party backlash 7th January 2021 The credibility of President's break with the country's kleptocratic and undemocratic recent past is fading fast President João Lourenço promised an end to the corruption that characterised the rule of his predecessor, José Eduardo dos Santos, to the impunity of the ruling Movimento Popular ...
Vol 62 No 1 | MOZAMBIQUE Nyusi running out of road 7th January 2021 The region is furious with Nyusi for failing to counter the northern insurgency as his position in both state and party weakens The chief concern of President Filipe Nyusi in the year ahead is the same that will take up most of the rest of his final term of office – influencing the choice of the ruling Fren...
Vol 61 No 25 | SOUTH AFRICA Ace shuffles the deck again 17th December 2020 The balance in the ANC’s factional war has turned decisively in the President’s favour, leaving the Secretary-General few options President Cyril Ramaphosa has scored in the ongoing battle against the faction bent on unseating him with this week's decision by the African National Congress's Integrity Commissi...
Vol 61 No 25 | ZIMBABWE The state’s parallel economy 17th December 2020 The finance minister forecasts a turnaround but the central bank’s illicit borrowing could trigger another monetary meltdown Despite the pandemic and global recession, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube is predicting a strong economic bounce-back next year – but he is silent about a phenomenal borrowing spree...
Vol 61 No 25 | ZAMBIA Two days that changed nothing 17th December 2020 Zambia's chances of a bailout from the International Monetary Fund following its default on its Eurobond coupon payments are looking bleak, in spite of conciliatory words from a hi...
Vol 61 No 24 | NAMIBIA SWAPO swept away 3rd December 2020 The electorate dealt a stunning blow to the ruling SWAPO Party in the 25 November municipal elections, costing it its majority in four of the country's 14 regions. Disaffection amo...
Vol 61 No 24 | ZAMBIA Creditors fume as the beat goes on 21st November 2020 After the default, the bondholders and Chinese creditors are jostling for priority but secrecy and local politics are blocking a credible solution National politics and geopolitics are set to scupper any attempts to resolve the crisis over Zambia's more than US$12 billion foreign debt. There is little sign that President Edga...
Vol 61 No 23 | SOUTH AFRICA Ace arrest boosts Cyril 19th November 2020 The pro-Zuma ANC leader is standing his ground in the face of corruption charges, but his position weakens as pressure mounts The 10 November arrest of the second most powerful politician in the ruling African National Congress on charges of corruption, following more than 100 graft-related arrests in rec...
Vol 61 No 23 | BOTSWANANAMIBIA Shooting and fishing 19th November 2020 Relations between neighbours Botswana and Namibia have hit a new low following the shooting dead of four Namibians by the Botswana army along the Chobe river frontier on 5 November...
