Mercedes Sayagues Swaziland’s claims on land south of Maputo bolstered supporters of Mozambique’s decision last year to reintroduce compulsory military service. Mozambique, one of the world’s five poorest countries, will recruit 6 000 young men and women every year to strengthen its army. The military service Bill was pushed through Parliament by the ruling party […]

Battle lines are drawn over the Employment Equity Bill, write Marion Edmunds and Mungo Soggot All sides of the political spectrum dug in this week for what threatens to be the biggest parliamentary battle between now and the next elections: the government’s drive to take on white economic privilege. The Employment Equity Bill, due to […]

Robert Kirby: Loose Cannon Question 3: a) What event was this British woman talking about in 1997 when she said: “A kind of floral fascism was at work … in a country ruled by grief police?” b) Around the same time a BBC camera chose to zoom in on a greeting card reading “God created […]

Government’s hands-off approach has ensured an economic success story, writes Tim Trulock For 27 years, the former president of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, nationalised not only the large flagship companies, but also many small, nickel-and-dime operations. The government became the major shareholder in Zambia and then proceeded to run it into the ground, destroying not only […]

At 27, Paul Thomas Anderson is winning plaudits with Boogie Nights, about the early days of blue movies. Jonathan Romney meets the man who has made Burt Reynolds hip again Hollywood in the late nineties is more than ever committed to child’s play, to effects- laden nursery diversions designed to make grown-up money. No wonder […]

Mandela claims crime is waning, but criminal syndicates could be gaining strength, writes David Beresford South Africa appears to be teetering on the brink of the nightmare of crime which is reality for Russia and Colombia, in the wake of the recent heists and the controversy surrounding this country’s so-called “public enemy no 1”, Collin […]

FRIDAY, 12.00NOON: SOUTH Africa’s Wayne Ferreira continued his revival at the Dubai Open on Thursday with a tense and hard-fought second-round victory over powerful New Zealander Brett Steven. World No 50 Steven got the match off to a cracking start, conceding only three points on serve and breaking Ferreira twice in the first set. But […]

Andrew Higgins As banks wobble and crash across Asia, a sparkling, futuristic structure is rising on the Avenue of Eternal Peace in Beijing. It is a grandiose declaration of confidence by China’s biggest commercial bank. But the edifice stands on unsteady foundations. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC)is, by any reckoning, a wreck. […]

trade David Sharrock in Tangier Ask any teenage northern Moroccan male what his future will be and he will tell you he has three options: to escape across the sea to Europe; become a contraband dealer; or get into the hashish trade and end up either rich or in prison. Mohamed, who has tried all […]