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Democracy

Diary of an elections spotter
Opinion
/ 5 November 2020

Diary of an elections spotter

Fear and loathing in Trump’s America, where every bit of news can be worse than no news at all

By Derek Catsam
Time for US to import some democracy
Opinion
/ 4 November 2020

Time for US to import some democracy

The mere fact that one cannot confidently predict who the next president of the United States will be tells you a lot about American society.

By Eusebius McKaiser
As concerns mount over integrity of US elections, so does support for international poll monitors
World
/ 3 November 2020

As concerns mount over integrity of US elections, so does support for international poll monitors

The pandemic will challenge international observation missions, but ensuring fair elections in an essential component of American democracy

By Timothy Rich
How much does it cost to run for office in Uganda?
Africa
/ 3 November 2020

How much does it cost to run for office in Uganda?

The parliamentary candidates who won in the 2016 elections were those who spent the most

By Emmanuel Kitamirike and Peter Kisaakye
South Africa must revisit and refresh its idea of itself
Opinion
/ 29 October 2020

South Africa must revisit and refresh its idea of itself

Covid has propelled citizens into feelings of a new shared identity in which the historical force of ‘whiteness’ is fading into irrelevance

By Njabulo Ndebele
Why anti-corruption campaigns are bad for democracy
Africa
/ 27 October 2020

Why anti-corruption campaigns are bad for democracy

Such campaigns can draw attention to the widespread presence of the very behaviour they are trying to stamp out — and subconsciously encourage people to view it as appropriate

By Nic Cheeseman and Caryn Peiffer
A pan-African stand must be taken against political oppression in Tanzania
Africa
/ 23 October 2020

A pan-African stand must be taken against political oppression in Tanzania

As the country prepares for elections, the president is misusing state machinery to undermine, subjugate and repress citizens and civil society organisations

By Memory Kachambwa
Guinea’s choice will determine its future for generations
Africa
/ 16 October 2020

Guinea’s choice will determine its future for generations

We need the eyes and ears of the international community to be alert to assaults on democracy as we run up to the election on 18 October

By Cellou Diallo
We should not ignore Guinea’s constitutional coup
Africa
/ 14 October 2020

We should not ignore Guinea’s constitutional coup

Citizens have for a year protested against the president seeking a third term in office despite a two-term limit. Many have been killed — and 90 more people died in this week’s crackdown

By Miriam Frost
Why would anyone vote for Trump?
Opinion
/ 12 October 2020

Why would anyone vote for Trump?

COMMENT: For this gay, white soldier there simply isn’t a good enough challenger to knock him off his perch

By Craig D
The African Union’s (un)official statement on the US elections
Africa
/ 1 October 2020

The African Union’s (un)official statement on the US elections

The United States has never been shy to pass judgment on African elections. What does it look like when Africa passes judgment on America’s chaotic vote?

By Babatunde Fagbayibo
Why we must fight to secure places for more women and young people in politics
Africa
/ 30 September 2020

Why we must fight to secure places for more women and young people in politics

Too often, governments talk the talk on gender equality, but fail to walk the walk

By Nic Cheeseman and Winihin Jemide
This is how Lungu is planning to rig Zambia’s 2021 general election
Africa
/ 25 September 2020

This is how Lungu is planning to rig Zambia’s 2021 general election

The president is trying to amend the Constitution and create a new voters’ roll in a bid to stay in power

By Sishuwa Sishuwa
Rights are at risk without principled leadership in the US Supreme Court
Opinion
/ 22 September 2020

Rights are at risk without principled leadership in the US Supreme Court

COMMENT: My sons, I weep because Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who fought gender discrimination, has died and Donald Trump, under whom hardwon victories have been eroded, wants to be elected president again

By Gretchen Wilson-Prangley
Cameroon is a ship without a captain
Africa
/ 21 September 2020

Cameroon is a ship without a captain

Ahead of planned protests, Cameroon’s main opposition leader argues that change is more urgent than ever

By Maurice Kamto
Heritage Month leaves much to be desired
Opinion
/ 10 September 2020

Heritage Month leaves much to be desired

Our economy may have doubled since 1994, but this growth has not trickled down to improve the livelihoods of the majority of South Africans

By Andy Du Plessis
Khaya Sithole: Lessons to be learned from partitions
Opinion
/ 20 August 2020

Khaya Sithole: Lessons to be learned from partitions

South Africa’s economic, racial and social divides invite unrest that will leave us all worse off

By Khaya Sithole
Reforming a broken system: Can Electoral Act amendments revive faith in SA’s democracy?
Opinion
/ 18 August 2020

Reforming a broken system: Can Electoral Act amendments revive faith in SA’s democracy?

Pure politics: Incoming Electoral Act changes could revolutionise our political landscape. Or not

By Luke Feltham
‘Killing the chicken to scare the monkey’: what Jimmy Lai’s arrest means for Hong Kong’s independent media
World
/ 12 August 2020

‘Killing the chicken to scare the monkey’: what Jimmy Lai’s arrest means for Hong Kong’s independent media

Although self-censorship has long been a concern, Hong Kong has traditionally enjoyed a vibrant free press

By Brendan Clift
Effective and professional government communication is essential to democracy
Opinion
/ 11 August 2020

Effective and professional government communication is essential to democracy

Spelling and factual mistakes cause irreparable damage to department credibility

By Fidel Hadebe
The language of Afrikaans is not the problem
Opinion
/ 2 August 2020

The language of Afrikaans is not the problem

English is a valuable resource, but we cannot continue to promote it at the expense of the indigenous languages — including Afrikaans

By Conrad Steenkamp
Eusebius McKaiser: A school’s Christian ethos doesn’t justify prejudice
Opinion
/ 28 July 2020

Eusebius McKaiser: A school’s Christian ethos doesn’t justify prejudice

Christian Life Private School barred a pupil because he wore a bracelet with cultural significance, but the decision — even in the private sphere — is constitutionally wrong

By Eusebius McKaiser
Is WhatsApp shaping democracy in Africa?
Africa
/ 21 July 2020

Is WhatsApp shaping democracy in Africa?

A study shows that the social messaging platform is both emancipatory and destructive, particularly during election campaigns

By Nic Cheeseman, Jonathan Fisher, Idayat Hassan and Jamie Hitchen
Danger: Burundi’s new president
Africa
/ 2 July 2020

Danger: Burundi’s new president

Évariste Ndayishimiye’s first speech as president, and the conspicuous absence of Burundi’s main opposition leader, do not bode well for democracy

By Thierry Uwamahoro
Chakwera has his work cut out restoring democratic rule that delivers for Malawians
Africa
/ 30 June 2020

Chakwera has his work cut out restoring democratic rule that delivers for Malawians

The new president leads a party which was at the forefront of the country’s fight for independence from Britain and went on to rule during the 27-year dictatorship of Hastings Banda

By Adem K Abebe
Rule of law must first be strengthened by people power
Africa
/ 23 June 2020

Rule of law must first be strengthened by people power

Dynamic grassroots movements are especially needed in authoritarian states where institutions are fundamentally broken

By Doug Coltart
In Zambia, Covid-19 has claimed democracy, not human life
Africa
/ 15 June 2020

In Zambia, Covid-19 has claimed democracy, not human life

The novel coronavirus has not only claimed Zambian lives, but has also put the country’s democracy at stake

By Sishuwa Sishuwa
Censorship, surveillance could be the biggest rights challenges post Covid-19
Coronavirus
/ 11 June 2020

Censorship, surveillance could be the biggest rights challenges post Covid-19

The impacts of these infringements could last well beyond the life of the Covid-19 pandemic

By Mandeep Tiwana and Marianna Belalba Barreto
Profit vs pandemic: British American Tobacco’s Covid-19 stunt
Coronavirus
/ 19 May 2020

Profit vs pandemic: British American Tobacco’s Covid-19 stunt

The tyranny of the markets is evident, with the cigarette company exemplifying this through its bid to weaken the government’s measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus

By Mukovhe Morris Masutha
We’ll believe in the ballot box again. Maybe
Opinion
/ 7 May 2020

We’ll believe in the ballot box again. Maybe

The number of adults who didn’t vote in the 2019 elections reflects citizens’ disenchantment with their representatives. Perhaps Covid-19 presents government with the chance to change this

By Mikhail Moosa
The democratic process of voting was wearing thin before lockdown
Article
/ 4 May 2020

The democratic process of voting was wearing thin before lockdown

The number of adults who didn’t vote in the 2019 elections reflects citizens’ disenchantment with their representatives. Perhaps Covid-19 presents government with the chance to change this

By Mikhail Moosa
Can democracy be distance friendly?
Article
/ 22 April 2020

Can democracy be distance friendly?

Parliament and parliamentarians need to adjust their working procedures to ensure they are there for citizens during this crisis

By Paul Kariuki
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