Politics

Clinton in West Africa

Monday, 30 January 2012 13:57

About more than just celebrating democracy

The whirlwind visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier this month to West Africa – t˙ree countries in two days – was somewhat bizarre. Touted as a celebration of democracy it was probably much more about the long-term protection of America’s own interests – it also signified the United States’ resolve to step up its engagement with the resource-rich region hoping in the process to counter growing Chinese influence.

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Local politics

Monday, 30 January 2012 09:27

Zille accused of stigmatising pregnant pupils

The dust has barely settled over South African opposition leader Helen Zille's suggestion that HIV-positive men who have unprotected sex with women should be charged with culpable homicide and a controversial lucky draw-competition to promote HIV/Aids testing, and she has done it again. This time the prize goes to young girls who managed to finish matric without falling pregnant. At the same time her party’s student arm chose the emotional mix of sex and race as the theme for a membership drive.

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Presidential jets

Monday, 23 January 2012 15:21

A political storm in a teacup?

When the South African Air Force recently sent a second plane along as back-up for the official presidential plane, Inkwazi – a Boeing 737-7ED (BBJ) – taking President Jacob Zuma to an important meeting in New York, it elicited much media coverage and strong words of protest from the opposition Democratic Alliance – bemoaning the waste of taxpayers’ money. Is the criticism justified, or just political point-scoring when most other countries have far more elaborate and costly head-of-state transport arrangements.

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Zimbabwe:

Monday, 23 January 2012 14:41

Is this the final curtain-call?

A decision to be taken by President Mugabe in a few days’ time holds serious consequences for a very shaky coalition government in Zimbabwe. Observers are already predicting that it might be the final curtain-call for Zimbabwe’s government of national unity as the terms of office for the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga and Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri expire at the end of January.

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Clinton in West Africa

About more than just celebrating democracy The whirlwind visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier this month to West Africa – t˙ree countries in two days – was somewhat bizarre. Touted as a celebration of democracy it was probably much more about the long-term protection of America’s own interests – it also signified the United States’ resolve to step up its engagement with...

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