Environment

Zimbabwe

Friday, 03 September 2010 12:08

Mugabe's zero-sum game

President Robert Mugabe seems little constrained by the 2008 Global Political Agreement which established the coalition with the Movement for Democratic Change. Governance in Zimbabwe shows that the rule that “you are either with me or against me” continues to be a powerful force in deciding relations between African heads of state and the rest of the world.

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Food security

Friday, 03 September 2010 09:33

Will Africa feed itself?

Africa has a quarter of the world's arable land but produces only a tenth of our food. On the eve of a pan-African conference on food security, Lindiwe Sibanda asks how African farmers can turn things round, and what questions and answers you have when facing the huge challenges of maintaining and increasing Africa's food production?

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Diamonds are a girl's best friend

Thursday, 26 August 2010 13:21

Blood diamonds under the microscope

Diamonds may be regarded as a girl’s best friend; to others, they are a downright nightmare. All across the African continent, these precious stones – the symbol of eternal love and devotion – are being, or have been used, to fuel cross-border armed conflicts and civil war. Liberia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for instance. However, blood or conflict diamonds are also found much closer to home.

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Food security

Friday, 13 August 2010 12:44

Testing times in the immediate future

In that which some experts describe as the worst agricultural conditions in 500 years, Russia and certain surrounding states – the region responsible for 25% of international wheat and other exports – are experiencing a food production disaster that is bound to impact severely on food prices in the immediate future. The world may be heading for a repeat of the 2008 food riots that took place on virtually every continent, when no fewer that 13 countries experienced related unrest, protests, violence and civilian deaths.

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New order

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 08:56

Energy – biggest challenge, greatest opportunity

From our series over the last few weeks on the epoch in which we are living at present, on our way to a new era in human existence, it has become clear that on a few fronts other than energy - combined with climate change and the development of a so-called green economy - challenges and changes are going to be more profound. It is, however, on this energy front that there are probably the most opportunities, particularly for South Africa.

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Zimbabwe

Mugabe's zero-sum game President Robert Mugabe seems little constrained by the 2008 Global Political Agreement which established the coalition with the Movement for Democratic Change. Governance in Zimbabwe shows that the rule that “you are either with me or against me” continues to be a powerful force in deciding relations between African heads of state and the rest of the world.

Final word

Its not always what you think During the public service strike there was one very clever poster displayed on our TV-screens. In fact it was so clever that it was really a pity that the teacher who had her face framed by a hole in the middle of the poster was not in her class teaching. The poster did, however aptly describe how many of us also felt about the strike by then.

Land grab

Africa taken for a ride – again As Mozambique’s capital of Maputo and the city of Matola are experiencing violent riots because of rocketing prices of food and other key consumer goods, a report released in late August by Friends of the Earth Europe (FOEE) warns that Africa is at risk of its agricultural land being...

Charting a course through life

Success? It’s all in the numbers She is the epitome of the essential new breed of South African woman, and a woman who courageously takes things in her stride. Like coming from a rural Swaziland upbringing to earn several degrees and diplomas; being appointed to more professional and business boards than most people would be able to remember; or receiving multiple awards and accolades for her achievements...

Food security

Will Africa feed itself? Africa has a quarter of the world's arable land but produces only a tenth of our food. On the eve of a pan-African conference on food security, Lindiwe Sibanda asks how African farmers can turn things round, and what questions and answers you have when facing the huge challenges of maintaining and increasing Africa's food production?