Four former heads of state speak about what being president is actually like
Zimbabwe called its coup a military-assisted transition to sidestep sanctions. Mali is doing the same. But failing to call power grabs by their name makes it harder to defend democracy
The Bertelsmann Transformation Index Africa Report 2020, A Changing of the Guards or A Change of Systems?, suggests that we should be cautious about the prospects for rapid political improvements
The pattern is now well established: crisis, intervention, promises by the Zanu-PF regime to behave, and then relapse after a decent interval to the sort of behaviour that prompted the latest crisis in the first place.
Money sent home by migrant workers in South Africa fell about 80% in April after the hard lockdown was instituted
The rumour mill can shape politics — and reveal uncomfortable truths
Emmerson Mnangagwa has accused ‘dark forces’ of destabilising the country
The SADC has been lackadaisical in its response to the insurgency in Mozambique and in so doing, is putting several other southern African countries at risk
Campaigners urge Zimbabweans to unfollow the president on Twitter
The conflation of human rights violations and a pandemic leave the most vulnerable marginalised. Equitable and democratic societies are needed to fight against this
The historical record shows that Malawi’s difficulties under Hastings Banda were evident at the very moment of the country’s founding
Dynamic grassroots movements are especially needed in authoritarian states where institutions are fundamentally broken
What happened to the once universally accepted idea of healthcare for all?
Hopewell Chin’ono recently published a series of Facebook posts that outline alleged connections between President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son and a company that was awarded tender to supply equipment to prevent the spread of Covid-19
In countries such as Uganda, Zimbabwe and Egypt female champions are beaten up, sexually abused, jailed and even “disappeared”
International crimes must be prosecuted and domestic jurisdictions are well placed to do this. Domestic prosecutions based on universal jurisdiction are on the rise
For a country that is guided by ubuntu, South Africa has a record of embarrassing international blunders
Drummers have the power to allow Zimbabweans to commune with their ancestors, and none more so than those with elevated talent on the skins.
The Zimbabwean mbira player and chanteuse died tragically young at 37, before she had fulfilled her vast potential. Her legacy, however, lives on
Professor Thandika Mkandawire, the Malawian economist, passed away in late March. Influential African intellectuals, as well as his many admirers and academics the world over, are still distilling the disappearance of one of the most prolific and creative minds they have ever come across. The disheartening news hit me while under confinement in Cape Town, […]
The collaboration between Thomas Mapfumo and Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith, broke new ground and should have grown cult status
Both authoritarian and democratic governments are responding to the coronavirus crisis by instituting frightening new powers
A snapshot of musical moments (and mishaps) as they intersected with Zimbabwe throughout the decades.
The iconic concert to celebrate independence in Zimbabwe would prove to contain a warning
The Covid-19 outbreak should not be used as an occasion to diminish human rights, but as an opportunity to reaffirm them
Machiri is a designer, artist, DJ and cultural producer. Here he reflects on the memory work that is just one facet of pungwes
This almost forgotten song, written at a time when many African countries had gained their independence, can provide hope during our era of persistent xenophobia
It is difficult for residents of informal settlements to follow guidelines to prevent Covid-19 transmission, such as hand-washing, in the absence of access to water. It is governments’ responsibility to provide these basic services
After years of data processing at the Wits laboratory, one evolutionary scientist has constructed a 3D model of a baby Massospondylus
Thandika Mkandawire, who died in Stockholm, Sweden, on March 27 after a battle with cancer, was a renowned development economist, an institution builder and a pan-Africanist
Kenya’s government has excluded nongovernmental organisations and other groups such as churches from its emergency decision-making. This is a mistake
Incomes are on the line because only 100% South African-owned businesses qualify for assistance