Authoritarian leaders have often used natural disasters to tighten their grasp on power. We are seeing the same happen during the coronavirus crisis, in dictatorships and democracies alike
Both authoritarian and democratic governments are responding to the coronavirus crisis by instituting frightening new powers
We need to work together regardless of our political ideologies to build the health system, stabilise the economy and protect the most vulnerable in society
Alassane Ouattara has finally committed to stepping down after his second term, but leaves behind a dangerous legacy for the region
In a letter, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng questions whether Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has acted constitutionally
Striking a balance between individual liberties and the welfare of broader society
How South African citizens, the police and the army, and politicians behave during the 21-day lockdown will have far-reaching implications for our democracy
Recent judgments in Kenya and Malawi are encouraging. But democratic reform is impossible unless presidents and electoral commissions play their part
The scales are still tilted in favour of men, but younger people with tertiary education have less discriminatory attitudes
We should look to the Philippines, where barangays, or neighbourhood governments, help to empower communities
This debt should be deemed a subsidy, an external cost that the government must bear for inadequate service delivery.
The term ‘corruption’ is a convenient scapegoat that leaders deploy to mask their moral failings. Instead, they should re-evaluate their personal ethics
Only by demonstrating that it would perform better in office while building trust within the wider population can the opposition force improvements in the electoral system while also growing the party
Nine countries will go to the polls this year, but most will be held amid violence and suppression
The Constitutional Court also found that less than a third of the results from the more than 5000 polling stations had been certified by the auditors by the time Ansah declared Peter Mutharika winner of the presidential race
Critiques of corruption must explicitly disrupt corporate globalism, imperialism, racism, authoritarianism, militarism, elitism
and sexism
I have been slow but steady in rebuilding South Africa, but it’s time for tough, decisive action
The past eight months were perhaps the most strange and unsettling in the country’s modern history. Reporting on it was tough, but I persevered— and so does Malawi
Although Benjamin Fogel denies the relevance of the South African Communist Party — and gets a few facts wrong — some of his points are correct
In India and the Philippines, strongmen have consolidated immense power through democratic means. How do we explain this?
The new year marks the countdown to reaching the goals set out in the development plan for the country
There is no left-wing representation at any level and to start one needs clear thought
Economic growth is on the up, but so is debt; foreign powers are circling and democracy is retreating, but people power continues
Human psychology and institutional incentives are powerful barriers to truth and reason, but both can be addressed
Raising development assistance for the media could help to advance other development goals
Religious leaders opposed apartheid and now, 25
years into democracy, they must promote justice
‘Born Freeloaders’ seems like a light read but under that is a layered look at post-apartheid privilege
Games were not shown on the Chinese network on Wednesday morning.
Detecting crap is difficult but essential, because it conceals truth, needed for survival and prosperity
The tech giant’s pulling of HKmap.live was blasted as bowing to China
How does one cope with living in South Africa? Positive narratives and acts of charity that don’t tackle institutional problems aren’t enough
Academics say that while a lot of ground has been covered when it comes to higher education, a lot more still needs to be done