All bark and zero bite

The African Union (AU) and regional blocs such as the Economic Community of West African States consistently wax indignant each time men in fatigues shoot their way to power, threatening all manner... 

Tyranny of the map

Although views to the contrary have occasionally been aired – sometimes underpinned by what seems to be solid empirical research hinting at African involvement in the drawing up of the continent’s... 

Sleepy Statecraft

Remember Alfred Nzo? He was a stalwart of South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, serving as secretary-general of the African National Congress in exile from 1969 to 1991, before becoming a... 

Mzansi’s words go global

When someone asks if “you are coming with” to establish whether you are joining an activity or event, it’s a sure-fire sign they hail from this great Mzansi of ours. Try saying that elsewhere in... 

Namibia’s Cabinet of equals

While Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah – who has been at the helm of the Namibian State for the past fortnight – may not be Southern Africa’s first female President, she stands out as the first to win the... 

The Southern African Power Pool looks ahead to growth as it marks 30 years

Southern Africa, like much of the rest of the continent, has long struggled with inadequate electricity supply. Yet, amid the chronic shortages, some countries find themselves sitting on surpluses... 

Trump’s Lesotho blind spot

US President Donald Trump is no stranger to putting his foot in his mouth. He was at it again earlier this month, describing Lesotho as a country that “nobody has ever heard of” while announcing to... 

The Southern African Power Pool looks ahead to growth as it marks 30 years

Southern Africa, like much of the rest of the continent, has long struggled with inadequate electricity supply. Yet, amid the chronic shortages, some countries find themselves sitting on surpluses... 

Beyond the nameplates

Ever wondered how African countries – and some of the continent’s cities – got their names? The origins of some of these names might just surprise you. While some nations adopted new names after... 

Africa’s corruption reality

Political comebacks in Africa

When Donald Trump was elected for a second term as US President, he became only the second former President in the nation’s history to stage a comeback after an electoral defeat. The first was... 

AUC chair’s tough mandate

In the lead-up to the election of the African Union Commission’s (AUC's) new leadership team on February 15, veteran Kenyan politician Raila Odinga appeared poised to take the chairperson’s job in... 

Final rest for Sam Nujoma

He was the last man standing among Southern African liberation heroes – those who fought for independence and became founding leaders of their nations. Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma, a towering... 

Trump-Ramaphosa duel

Donald Trump will always be Donald Trump, frequently attacking those he disagrees with. President Cyril Ramaphosa found himself in his crosshairs earlier this month – for assenting to the... 

Roots, identity and impact

Prominent Nigerian economist Kasirim Nwuke recently penned a thought-provoking opinion piece on the varying dispositions of three high-profile Nigerian women – each of whom has made a significant... 

Trump’s earth-shattering return

True to form, Donald Trump didn’t waste a minute in unleashing a fresh round of controversy at his January 20 inauguration as the forty-seventh President of the US, marking his return to the While... 

Climate’s broken clock

A Kenyan human rights activity recently shared a memory from his childhood, recalling how he used to think his peasant grandmother was a magician. Every year, she seemed to know exactly when to... 

Dirty gold, hidden profits

Television coverage in the recent past of the drama unfolding at an abandoned mine shaft in Stilfontein, in the North-West province – where police launched an operation in October to force illegal... 

Africa’s cybercrime explosion

Cybercrime has exploded into a menace of epic proportions – and Africa is no safe haven. In fact, the digital underworld on the continent has been so busy that more than 1 000 offenders were caught... 

Despite big hurdles, long journey to electric mobility begins across Africa

Switching to electric mobility is a no-brainer: tailpipe emissions cause poor health or even death and are a significant contributor to climate change. But given Africa’s limited access to... 

Despite big hurdles, long journey to electric mobility begins across Africa

Switching to electric mobility is a no-brainer: tailpipe emissions cause poor health or even death and are a significant contributor to climate change. But given Africa’s limited access to... 

Betrayal of world’s vulnerable

When negotiators from Africa headed to Baku, Azerbaijan, last month for this year’s iteration of the global climate jamboree known as the Congress of the Parties, they – like their counterparts... 

Elites escape healthcare crisis

I'm part of a WhatsApp group for journalists from across Central, East and Southern Africa, where we share serious news and insider titbits and occasionally dive into debates ranging from... 

Trump 2.0 and Africaʼs fate

Among the first to tweet (or should we now say to “X”?) their congratulations to Donald Trump following his victory over Kamala Harris in this month’s US elections were African leaders such as... 

Beyond liberation movements

When the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) was founded in 1980, it was a coalition of postcolonial States bound by the noble dream of economic cooperation. By 1994, the... 

The other Somali republic

Mention of Somalis – as in Somali nationals – conjures up images of the unstable Horn of Africa nation that has known little peace since the flight into exile in Nigeria of erstwhile President... 

Egypt’s triumph over malaria

Imagine this: every single day, the world loses the equivalent of a jumbo jet full of passengers to malaria – a staggering 1 600 lives snuffed out by a relentless disease. That’s 600 000 lives each... 

Africa’s aid famine

Africa has long been the belle of the ball when it comes to overseas development assistance. But now, as donor countries turn inward thanks to economic hiccups from the Covid-19 pandemic and the... 

Fading voices on sanctions?

This year’s iteration of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) has come and gone. What stood out was the noticeable absence of the familiar spiel from African leaders railing about how the “economic... 

Africaʼs media blind spot

As I noted last week, it’s been about nine months since Ethiopia became the first country to ban the importation of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles, decisively shifting gears towards a low-carbon... 

Ethiopia’s electric leap

Ethiopia is not just a historical footnote as one of only three African countries to have dodged colonisation – alongside Sierra Leone and Liberia, which were established to resettle black... 

Jackpot or jinx?

The race for Africa’s critical minerals has sparked a mixed reaction. On one hand, there is excitement that these minerals – key to the transition to a low-carbon future – could herald a new age of... 

Corruption’s exodus effect

It’s often said corruption is a cancer that ravages society, an insidious affliction that’s nearly impossible to eradicate once it takes hold. What’s less frequently discussed, however, is how this... 

Billionaire reshuffle

The latest shake-up of the world’s billionaire hierarchy has seen Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote relinquish his crown as Africa’s richest person, after a 13-year reign. But while Nigeria... 

New impetus needed if South Africa is to begin meeting R&D investment goals

In the drive for economic advancement and global competitiveness, innovation stands as a pivotal force, with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) highlighting that a... 

New impetus needed if South Africa is to begin meeting R&D investment goals

In the drive for economic advancement and global competitiveness, innovation stands as a pivotal force, with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) highlighting that a... 

Mouthfuls of trouble

History is replete with government officials who put their foot in their mouth, often with dire consequences for their countries. A striking recent example involves Ukrainian military intelligence... 

Informal sector a jobs lifeline?

Statistics South Africa released its Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the three months ending in June earlier this month – and the results are decidedly bleak. While employment figures managed a... 

Shared costs, big gains

Ivorian President Alassane Outtarra took some hits last week as I criticised Zimbabwe’s decision to splash $200-million on luxury villas and other infrastructure ahead of the Southern African... 

Bling over basics

Imagine a country rolling out the red carpet for foreign guests while its citizens grapple with severe food shortages. In Zimbabwe, this contradiction is illustrated by the decision to spend...