Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main opposition party to Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF, has broken his rceent silence to explain why the increasingly splintered Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) acquiesced to the recent Constitutional changes that Thabo Mbeki helped broker. Speaking in Masvingo at the party's eighth anniversary celebrations, Tsangirai argued that “The objective of talking to […]
The Springboks mashed the USA Eagles 64-15 in each team's final first round matchup at the Rugby World Cup in France. South Africa finished atop Pool A and will face unfamiliar foe Fiji in theis first knockout round fixture next weekend. The Americans played scrappy, defiant rugby, but were simply outclassed by a South African team that looks […]
The normally cantankerous Paul Theroux has a glowing review of Tim Jeal's new biography of Henry Morton Stanley in this week's New York Times Sunday Book Review. Here is the concluding paragraph: There have been many biographies of Stanley, but Jeal's is the most felicitous, the best informed, the most complete and readable and exhaustive, […]
Rwanda has joined much of the international community in a call for the end of the death penalty. It's a pretty compelling argument, all in all: If the Rwandan government can end capital punishment with countless perpetrators of genocide still to be punished, there are not a lot of countries in the world with a […]
There is a new story about political intrigue, firings, scandal, corruption, and crime reverberating through South Africa with the issue of an arrest warrant and suspension of National Police Commissioner (and head of Interpol) Jackie Selebi. This might represent Thabo Mbeki's stiffest political challenge yet, which is in itself saying something. The Mail & Guardian editorializes hopefully on the […]
Well, earlier in the week I predicted it, not because I am especially perspicacious, but because it was so predictable: “Prepare for rhetorical brickbats to come from Zim's wily tyrant.” And brickbats we have gotten. In his Wednesday address before the United Nations, Mugabe had a field day. His material tends not to vary all […]
The UN recently called for a rare summit on Africa and predictably, promises were made, agendas were set, ideas proposed. While it is good to see Africa on the global agenda in such a visible way, many Africans are rightly skeptical: “Africa's agenda will increasingly be defined by the African Union,” said AU chairman Alpha […]
Gordon Brown remains steadfast in his refusal to attend any Europe-Africa summit in which Robert Mugabe is allowed to participate. At least a few African leaders are rallying around Mugabe, who is on his way to New York where he will attend the meeting of the General Assembly. Prepare for rhetorical brickbats to come from […]
The following email is circulating in Zimbabwe and throughout the region. I cannot vouch for its origins, but I received it froma friend who, for reasons that ought to be clear, would prefer to remain anonymous. Even if it ends up being dubious or overwrought, the very fact that it seems viable speaks volumes: PLEASE […]
Yesterday I asserted the following: As long as there is progress, however tentative and cosmetic, an outside world that has been loath even to think about intervening in Zimbabwe is going to continue to stand pat. This is Thabo Mbeki's roll of the dice. If these reforms prove effective, he will deserve a large proportion […]
The proposed Constitutional changes to streamline (or consolidate ZANU-PF power, depending on your perspective) the political process in Zimbabwe have come to pass. Under the provisions of the legislation Zimbabwe will change its electoral boundaries, increase the number of MPs and accelerate by two years parliamentary elections. In a gesture that makes a virtue out […]
The Zimbabwe crisis continues apace. At this point it is not worth the time to determine whether the political crisis or the economic calamity is worse, as the two simply feed from one another. Robert Mugabe plans to live forever and rule Zimbabwe for the duration, but in case he proves to be mortal, he […]
Popular from Press
