It is probably the first question most people ask when given a thumbnail sketch of the nightmare in Zimbabwe (and, to be honest, in many other places not only in Africa but around the globe): How do people survive? In the case of Zimbabwe, with its inflation in the hundreds of millions (231 million or […]
“Russia is on the brink of a social revolution!” shouted the writer, prompting his critic to reach for a gun. Passions are running high in a society groaning along its socioeconomic faultlines from the financial crisis. Yet, predictably for a country as proudly bookish as Russia, last week's altercation occurred not on Red Square but […]
The Proteas just finished off a historic victory over the Aussies in test cricket Down Under. Beyond the fact that any victory over Australia is worthy of celebration, especially on their home turf where they are fierce, South Africa won by accumulating the second-highest run total for a chasing team in the annals of test […]
With all of the grim economic tidings, both real and perceived, current and forecast, the Western Cape appears to have received some good news. The Cape Town Regional Chamber of Commerce expects the province to see modest economic growth in the coming year even as the rest of the country faces recession.
Here is a quick tour of stories on Zimbabwe making the news, offered with little commentary: SADC has launched an aid program to deal with Zimbabwe's humanitarian crisis. Specific details are scarce, and one wonders if the aid will come with any element of pressure whatsoever. The United States claims that it will not work […]
The Mail & Guardian has published its annual grades for the entire South African cabinet. Here is Part I, and here is Part II. The grades run the gamut from A+ to F- and as someone who has followed the annual grades for years I think it is safe to say that the M&G does […]
It is amazing how one incident, at times, can symbolize so much. Weeks ago, on November 27, in northwest Afghanistan, Taliban forces ambushed a large convoy of Afghan soldiers and policemen, killing 14, wounding 27, kidnapping another 20, and destroying or stealing over 20 vehicles. How could such a successful attack occur against soldiers and […]
At Pambazuka News Rafael Marques de Morais has a pretty savvy commentary on September's elections in Angola. A sample from the introduction: I would like to share with you a perspective on the legislative elections that took place in Angola on 5 and 6 September 2008. These elections are of profound historical significance for both […]
Today's Sunday Washington Post had two articles featuring South Africa. A rather reductionist, simplistic, (and jarringly self righteous) editorial decries South African inaction with regard to Zimbabwe. Yes, we all wish South Africa would do more. But tellingly the editors proffer few concrete solutions and cover ground that has been covered better elsewhere. Meanwhile, at least in part because […]
WASHINGTON, Dec 20: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, both in public statements and private meetings, has urged Pakistan to understand the gravity of the current situation and take immediate steps to stop terrorists from using its soil for attacking others. In a speech at Washington's Council on Foreign Relations, Ms Rice said what Pakistan […]
As the Kyber Pass and other transportation lanes through Pakistan into Afghanistan have become increasingly subjected to Taliban and insurgent attacks, NATO has looked to alternative routes. In just the last week or so there have been at least 3 separate attacks on NATO supplies inside of Pakistan, including one incident where hundreds of NATO […]
Morgan Tsvangirai is threatening to walk out of the negotiations in Zimbabwe if abductions of members of his Movement for Democratic Change continue. In a context within which reason prevails, this would seem a perfectly reasonable stand to take. One assumes, then, that Robert Mugabe will find a way to turn Tsvangirai's stance into an […]
It appears that the ANC is beginning to understand that the Congress of the People is not going away, its leaders and increasingly robust membership is serious, and that COPE will be a factor in the 2009 elections. The ANC believes that COPE might be able to draw about 10% of the popular vote, thus […]
The United Nations, via a statement from Secretary general Ban Ki-Moon, has acknowledged that the peacekeeping mission in Darfur faces “enormous challenges.” This unfortunate, but not unexpected, news allows me the flimsy pretext to remind you of my FPA analysis on Darfur, “‘Never Again,’ Again.”