Évariste Ndayishimiye’s first speech as president, and the conspicuous absence of Burundi’s main opposition leader, do not bode well for democracy
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
Dynamic grassroots movements are especially needed in authoritarian states where institutions are fundamentally broken
The novel coronavirus has not only claimed Zambian lives, but has also put the country’s democracy at stake
The impacts of these infringements could last well beyond the life of the Covid-19 pandemic
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
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
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
Parliament and parliamentarians need to adjust their working procedures to ensure they are there for citizens during this crisis
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