News/Politics

The African Union conference at Sharm el-Shekh was a fitting response to the sham Zimbabwean election. In essence, a wishy washy call by African “leaders” for some form of negotiations despite the fact that the parties concerned have effectively ruled it out. While the USA has confirmed that it is headed for full blown sanctions, […]

While we await the African Union’s response to the Zimbabwean election, I thought we’d find out what South Africans believe to be our most embarrassing moment as a nation and a continent. For me, Robert Mugabe thanking President Mbeki for his role in this fiasco is by far and away our most cringeworthy moment. All […]

“Mugabe is not unpopular in Zimbabwe today because his government has been autocratic and brutal. He is not unpopular because the minority (but substantial) Matabele tribe have been persecuted, killed and dispossessed by a governing party whose power base is among the Mashona majority. He is not unpopular because he and his wife are greedy […]

Picture the scene of a woman being severly beaten up by her husband, in the very middle of the amphitheatre at the V&A Waterfront. She cries in terror, revulsion, and despair to all who can hear. She begs for help, and tries to alter her behavior and identity to calm down and please her man.The […]

With His Excellency, (no one finer at murdering his own people), president for life (or you lose yours), father (of what remains of) the nation, Bulawayo baker of the year and winner of the class spelling bee in 1934, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe set to announce the result of the presidential election, I figured we […]

I was chatting to my brother-in-law Nevil the other day about a radio station that he listens to, where they interview many interesting guests including Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille. I was surprised to learn that Zille, instead of launching into diatribes about how awful the president is, conveyed among other things her respect for […]

“You are hereby fired,” the Queen of England must have muttered, when stripping Mugabe of his honorary Knight Grand Cross in the Civil Division of The Most Honourable Order of Bath. “The elections are an outright sham!” squealed George Bush. “We will not recognise the outcome of the elections!” declared Europe as one, showing for […]

Mugabe’s assertion that only God could remove him is cause for celebration. The despot has effectively pointed out his own fallibility and has paved the way for the Zimbabwean people, SADC and Zapiro to finally dethrone him. Now we just need to find God. According to academics, diplomats and Ahmadi, the Palestinian shephard, there are […]

One of the striking features of Thabo Mbeki’s quiet diplomacy is its remarkable similarity to the policy of constructive engagement the United States pursued toward apartheid South Africa under the Reagan administration.

Submitted by Chris McConnachie South Africans are a relatively undemanding lot when it comes to our elected representatives. We can look past their dubious private moralities, tolerate their inconsistent public statements or even gloss over their past criminal records. What we do demand from our representatives, at bare minimum, is a level of respect for […]

Many are of the opinion that religion has no place in politics. This is an understandable position to take considering the abuses that have been committed in the name of religion, whether it be Islam, Judaism or Christianity. We are too aware of how the Bible was used to justify racism right here in South […]