Politics

It is 18 months since the Patriotic Front (PF) government of Michael Sata came to power in Zambia. Apart from being under pressure to deliver its mega election promises, the government has now come under criticism for its human rights and governance record. But the government insists it is upholding the rule of law. Reginald Ntomba reports from Lusaka.

As Ghana’s Supreme Court begins to hear the mother of all cases – brought by the opposition presidential candidate, Nana Akufo- Addo (pictured right), seeking to overturn the December 2012 presidential result – evidence is emerging that desperation is making Akufo-Addo’s faction in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) plan extrajudicial tactics to get its way. Osei Boateng reports.

This year is a critical one for Zimbabwe. The Inclusive Government that has ruled the country since February 2009 and provided some semblance of economic and political stability, will come to an end. In its place will be a government formed exclusively by either Zanu PF or MDC-T.

A 16 March referendum on a new constitution received a massive “yes” vote, paving the way for elections in the next few months. In the meantime, evidence recently published shows that the country’s controversial land reform programme has enabled black farmers to reach, in just 12 years, the same level of production white farmers achieved before the reforms. Osei Boateng reports.

Proceeding with the former Ivorian president, Laurent Gbagbo’s trial could undermine the International Criminal Court’s legitimacy in Africa, write Tim Zwart and Alexander Knoops.

Wanjohi Kabukuru analyses some of the mistakes that lost Raila Odinga the presidential race.

Kenya’s new president was born a Catholic, grew up a Catholic, and was helped by the Catholic Church behind the scenes to win the 4 March presidential election, reports Wanjohi Kabukuru.

When Kenya’s historic “Battle of the Sons” ended on 4 March, the son of the nation’s founding president Jomo Kenyatta had trounced the son of the former vice president Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory sent pollsters and Western diplomats in Nairobi scurrying for cover, for none had given him a dog’s chance to win, let alone in the first round. Was it why his opponent, Raila Odinga, chose the legal route to overturn the result via the Supreme Court? Our Kenyan correspondent, Wanhoji Kabukuru, looks at all the dynamics.

South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), has stayed more or less intact for the better part of a 100 years. But can the party meet the challenges of the 21st century? asks Xolela Mangcu.