For generations, Tanzania has been a beacon of peace and stability in a region characterised by civil unrest. It has stood out as a wise kid among more restless neighbours. In 1979, for instance, the town of Moshi hosted critical Ugandan talks that led to elections in 1980. In 1993 and then...
Category: Opinion
Here’s the Secret to Opposition Success in African Elections
Opposition parties around the world have had enough of taking defeat in dubious elections lying down. Instead, opposition leaders in low-quality democracies are using a new playbook — launching campaigns to discredit elections. In a previous article (“Discrediting elections: Why the opposition playbook carries risks”, M&G Online February 27), I...
Magufuli: Is He An Enemy Of Journalists?
President Magufuli Many outside of Tanzanian borders have heralded President John Pombe Magufuli as a model African leader. His initiatives immediately after assuming power were admired as a new prudent management style. Inside Tanzania, the case appears different. Magufuli is harrassing journalists and muzzling the press, a clear case of...
Opinion: Museveni & Dr Nyanzi – The Case Of A Kettle & The Black Pot
Museveni So Dr Stella Nyanzi is finally out of prison. That is good news for her, her family, fans and supporters of the Opposition. Prison is a very bad place to be, and no one should be jailed unless there are compelling reasons for their imprisonment. The controversial academic and...
Elite cohesion more important than ethnic ties in Kenyan politics
Observers often describe Kenyan politics as a contest between a small set of ethnic “Big Men” who can easily and effectively mobilise their base with little effort. The Odinga family commands the loyalty of Luos, and the Kenyatta family consistently draws strong support from the Kikuyu community. As a result,...
FW De Klerk denies apartheid was a crime against humanity
FW De Klerk, South Africa’s last apartheid-era president, has learned the hard way that 'whatabout-ism' is no longer acceptable in modern politics. He recently gave an interview to mark his historic 1990 speech when he publicly freed Nelson Mandela and unbanned political organisations. During the interview on the national TV broadcaster he was...
South African expats build UAE nuclear plant, but local businesses still struggle
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued its first operating licence last week for a newly completed nuclear plant that generates 5 600 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The UAE has pledged that the last drop of fossil fuel would be in 2050 which is why they are going nuclear in a big...
The Political Foundation of South Africa’s Property Clause Amendment
The draft constitutional amendment may not be in its final form, but the stakes are too high not to comment on the change to section 25 of South Africa's Constitution proposed by the governing African National Congress. As the draft Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill, 2019 is currently worded, section 25(2)(b) would...
Tanzania must have free and fair elections in October 2020
For generations, Tanzania has stood out from its neighbours as a beacon of stability, peace, and democracy in a region characterised by civil unrest. In 1979, for instance, the town of Moshi hosted critical Ugandan talks that led to elections in 1980. In 1993 and then 2000, Arusha was the site...
ANC leaders echo shameful past on corruption
The African National Congress (ANC) is living up to the shameful stereotype of what is wrong with post-colonial Africa – unethical and corrupt African leaders who exercise power through patronage. The widespread corruption in post-apartheid South Africa is epitomised by what is now referred to as “state capture”. The effects of the entrenched...