South Africa’s former defence minister, Mosiuoa Lekota, and other ANC officials are expected to announce the formation of a breakaway party.
President Thabo Mbeki’s failure to secure a Zimbabwean deal at a regional summit has dealt another blow to his credibility as his influence wanes.
Intimidation of Angola’s opposition threatens chances of a fair vote in the September parliamentary election, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says.
Zimbabwe’s ruling party and the opposition are close to a power-sharing deal that would turn Robert Mugabe into a ceremonial president.
South African President Thabo Mbeki’s refusal to take a tougher line on neighbouring Zimbabwe has further damaged his credibility and handed rival Jacob Zuma another opening to improve his image. Regional leaders last year mandated Mbeki to lead mediation between President Robert Mugabe and the opposition.
A charm offensive by Jacob Zuma may not be enough to dispel deep investor anxiety over whether he will be able to take charge of Africa’s biggest economy, even though he has won over some doubters. Since unseating President Thabo Mbeki as leader of the ruling African National Congress in December, Zuma has moved to consolidate his power.
A state lawyer accused African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma in court on Wednesday of trying to delay justice through his attempt to block the use of seized documents at his upcoming corruption trial. The trial, due to start in August, could ruin Zuma’s hopes of succeeding President Thabo Mbeki in 2009.
The South African Communist Party (SACP), a partner in the governing alliance, said on Sunday it would not tolerate threats by mining companies to cut jobs in the country’s politically-charged power crisis. ”If heads must roll we cannot allow it be the workers who take the knock,” it said in a statement after its central committee met over the weekend.
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/ 15 February 2008
Kenya’s ethnic bloodshed has scared away hundreds of thousands of tourists. Nairobi’s seedy nightclubs think they know just how to bring them back. Curvaceous Kenyan women in skimpy outfits slowly, and then rapidly, gyrate to Egyptian tunes during belly-dancing theme night at the Casablanca club.
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/ 11 February 2008
Negotiators for President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga re-started talks on Monday in a mood of national optimism that a political solution to Kenya’s worst crisis since independence may be near. Mediator and former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan has predicted the two sides will agree on a formula this week to overcome their dispute.