The Governance Report
Climate Change Act and the role of local government
South Africa’s response to addressing climate change has come full circle with the passing of the Climate Change Act in July 2024. This breakthrough comes at a time when South Africa is warming by...
GNU must reignite the culture of democracy
A growing axis of authoritarianism across the world threatens the democracies that remain, of which there are only a handful (24) that The Economist Intelligence Unit classifies as “full democracies”. In its 2023 index of democratic health — Age of...
Gas plan is a regional opportunity
In the wake of South Africa cementing itself as a coalition nation — through forming a government of national unity — attention is focused on re-elected President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce a new cabinet. The new ministers will pick up from where...
Climate Change Act and the role of local government
South Africa’s response to addressing climate change has come full circle with the passing of the Climate Change Act in July 2024. This breakthrough comes at a time when South Africa is warming by approximately 0.2°C per decade, contributing to climate impacts ranging...
GNU must reignite the culture of democracy
A growing axis of authoritarianism across the world threatens the democracies that remain, of which there are only a handful (24) that The Economist Intelligence Unit classifies as “full democracies”. In its 2023 index of democratic health — Age of...
Gas plan is a regional opportunity
In the wake of South Africa cementing itself as a coalition nation — through forming a government of national unity — attention is focused on re-elected President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce a new cabinet. The new ministers will pick up from where...
Expert Analysis
Quantify news to ensure credibility in a disinformation age
On 26 July 2023, Niger’s Presidential Guard staged a coup that ousted and detained President Mohamed Bazoum and his family. But this was not just a...
Dutch Disease and what to do about it in South Africa
Late last year, a colleague and I published a peer-reviewed journal article trying to identify whether southern Africa was afflicted by “premature...
30 years: Democracy isn’t a once-off achievement
Democracy is an ongoing experiment. The will to defend it is largely influenced by how it is experienced and valued by citizens. Given this, it is...
Enhancing Integrated Development Plans to Improve Governance
Local government in South Africa plays a vital role in the functioning of the state. Often seen as the implementation arm of the South African...
Is the Southern African Development Community (SADC) afflicted by premature deindustrialisation?
This paper, by Dr Ross Harvey and Pranish Desai, quantitatively examines SADC's industrialisation trends, considering factors like South Africa's...
Navigating digital sovereignty in Africa: A review of key challenges and constraints
This paper, by Tyler Venske, explores the African perspective on the evolving global digital landscape, focusing on the concept of "digital...
Max Price’s statues and storms
Professor David Benatar reviews Dr Max Price’s Price, Max. Statues and Storms: Leading Through Change (Tafelberg, 2023). The book recounts Max...
Covid-19
Here you’ll find up-to-date Covid-19 stats provided by the WHO COVID-19 DASHBOARD and in-depth reporting on the governance around Covid-19
Cameroon: Covid-19 worsens pre-existing vulnerabilities for some
Even before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, persons living with disabilities in Cameroon had a peculiar problem – they lacked adequate social support and service delivery.
C-19: Kenya passes the burden – to the individual
After months of coronavirus lockdown, President Uhuru Kenyatta on 7 July announced phased reopening in Kenya, paving the way for the resumption of international flights from 1 August.
Zimbabwe’s ill-equipped health infrastructure
Despite Zimbabwe’s crumbling public health infrastructure, former health minister Obadiah Moyo told journalists in Harare on 2 May, 18 days before the country recorded its first Covid-19 case, that the southern African nation was ready to handle the global pandemic.
MOZAMBIQUE INSURGENCY
Going deep into Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado extremism
To counter violent extremism in places such as Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado properly, it’s necessary to understand the root causes of such conflicts and how mining operations can worsen them Since October 2017, Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique has been the...
Election Tracker
Zimbabwe’s 2023 elections: Who votes and why?
Zimbabwe is preparing for its 23 August 2023 Harmonised Elections. It does so against the backdrop of a complex past, where the struggle for democracy and inclusivity has been marred by political instability, hardships, lack of meaningful electoral reforms, and a...
Zambia’s new day – the hard work begins
To paraphrase OR Tambo’s seminal speech in 1977: Zambians, you might think it is very difficult to wage an election struggle. Wait until you are in...
Zambia election day 2021: Summary
While we wait for the official results to be verified and released, the following will provide a summary of events that took place on election day...
Zambia Elections Tracker 2021: Pre-election developments
Since Zambia’s independence in 1964, the country has experienced several successful changes in leadership, and peaceful transfers of power.
Zambia’s new day – the hard work begins
To paraphrase OR Tambo’s seminal speech in 1977: Zambians, you might think it is very difficult to wage an election struggle. Wait until you are in power. At that stage you will realise that it is actually more difficult to keep the power than to...
Zambia election day 2021: Summary
While we wait for the official results to be verified and released, the following will provide a summary of events that took place on election day in Zambia. Introduction For the 2021 Zambian elections, there were over 7 million...
Zambia Elections Tracker 2021: Pre-election developments
Introduction Since Zambia’s independence in 1964, the country has experienced several successful changes in leadership, and peaceful transfers of power. However, there have been instances of political violence and points of instability. Zambians...
Zimbabwe’s 2023 elections: Who votes and why?
Zimbabwe is preparing for its 23 August 2023 Harmonised Elections. It does so against the backdrop of a complex past, where the struggle for democracy and inclusivity has been marred by political instability, hardships, lack of meaningful electoral reforms, and a...
Zambia’s new day – the hard work begins
To paraphrase OR Tambo’s seminal speech in 1977: Zambians, you might think it is very difficult to wage an election struggle. Wait until you are in power. At that stage you will realise that it is actually more difficult to keep the power than to...
Zambia election day 2021: Summary
While we wait for the official results to be verified and released, the following will provide a summary of events that took place on election day in Zambia. Introduction For the 2021 Zambian elections, there were over 7 million...
Zambia Elections Tracker 2021: Pre-election developments
Introduction Since Zambia’s independence in 1964, the country has experienced several successful changes in leadership, and peaceful transfers of power. However, there have been instances of political violence and points of instability. Zambians...
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