· August, 2008

Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from August, 2008

Zambia: A costly constitutional blunder

  30 August 2008

Cho identifies a costly constitutional blunder in Zambia: “A simple requirement in the constitution to have a presidential running mate would have saved Zambia (and its donor partners) a staggering $70m dollars – that is the estimated administrative cost of the upcoming bye-elections.”

Zimbabwe: Dirty Politics

  30 August 2008

Dirty, dirty politics in Zimbabwe: The MDC has unearthed a plot by the Attorney General’s office and members of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) to secure convictions against MDC MPs in a bid to reverse the MDC majority in Parliament.

Angola: On the illegal occupation of a residential plot by a bank

  30 August 2008

Gil Gonçalves [pt] blows the whistle on the occupation by the Millennium Bank of a residential building in Luanda, Angola. “How does the Millennium Bank and (contractor) Teixeira Duarte SA managed to illegally steal a plot of the land? With so much at ease, it can only be someone usually...

Angola: Going, going, gone!

  29 August 2008

The historic Kinaxixi Market of Luanda, the Angolan answer to Corbusian modernism in architecture, has been knocked down to make way for a modern shopping centre. Is this a sign of the times or an example of the devaluation of heritage in the face of economic power? Clara Onofre reports.

Kenya: The making of an African activist

  29 August 2008

Afromusing posts the video of Kenyan blogger, Ory Okolloh, at TEDGlobal 2007 in Arusha, Tanzania. Ory Okolloh is the founder of Mzalendo and co-founder of Ushahidi.

South Africa: Zuma in Hollywood?

  29 August 2008

Zuma in Hollywood?:”There are more little Zumas popping around. The latest news out of Hollywood are that rock chick Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale named their second son Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale.” Jacob Zuma is the president of the ruling party in South Africa, the African National Congress.

Kenya/Tanzania: Technology in the Maasai world

  29 August 2008

Rebecca writes about the Maasai and technology, noting that the mobile phone has made a significant difference in their community “…probably more than it has in many other communities.”

Madagascar: Barcamp set to foster ICT collaboration.

  29 August 2008

The date for the first Barcamp in Madagascar is set for October, 4th 2008 in Antananarivo. The user-generated unconference will follow in the steps of previous Barcamps organized in sub Saharan Africa (Nairobi, Kampala and Mauritius) . Other Barcamps related to ICT in Africa are also planned in Abidjan and Silicon...

South Africa: The final insult

  29 August 2008

JC writes about the final insult on the South African national rugby team: “The Springboks are expecting gracious favour from Lady Luck, God and the Highveld hoodoo but none of these intangibles will be enough to prevent another historic Australian win.”

Zimbabwe: Zimfest 2008

  29 August 2008

Sokwanele blog announces a festival organized by WeZimbabwe in London: “ZimfestIt’s all about braais, music, sadza, beer etc – and raising money for Zimbabweans in need. Tickets are £20 in advance or £30 at the gate.”

Eritrea: African Reading Challenge 2008

  29 August 2008

As part of African Reading Challenge 2008, Scarlet read a book about Eritrea by Michaela Wrong, “I didn't do it for you: How the West betrayed a small African nation.” She says: “Not that much has been written by Western journalists about Eritrea. Michaela Wrong decided to write all of...

Guinea-Bissau: Travel Pictures

  28 August 2008

Attending requests, Brigida Rocha Brito [pt] publishes some pictures of Forest of Cantanhez, Tombali region in southern Guinea-Bissau, towards Guiné Conacri borders, and promises more soon. “Next there will be new series of pictures from Bissau and a third one from Cachéu, region in the north near the border with...

Angola: Media shut up – again?

  28 August 2008

Eugénio Costa Almeida [pt] is again puzzled by the disappearence of another news portal in Angola, Correio Digital, which displays a “temporarily suspended” error: “What is going on? And this is the second time this happens in a few months. It's an eventual effect of this independent news portal's too...

Kenya: Reproductive Rights Bill Sparks Abortion Debate

  28 August 2008

A bill proposed by Kenyan women's rights groups, which would make it easier to have an abortion, has re-sparked the debate about legalizing abortion. The procedure is currently illegal in Kenya, unless the pregnant woman's life is in danger. Many religious leaders and politicians in the country have spoken out...

Zimbabwe: A new day for parliament?

  28 August 2008

Ethan discusses the latest political events in Zimbabwe, “Once you’ve thrown an election, the preferred next step is to return matters to normalcy, dissipating the anger of those who opposed you by making your leadership appear routine and inevitable. That’s been Robert Mugabe’s plan in Zimbabwe.”

About our Sub-Saharan Africa coverage

Zita Zage
Zita Zage is the Anglophone Africa Editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.

Jean Sovon
Jean Sovon is the Francophone Africa. Editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.

Dércio Tsandzana
Dércio Tsandzana is the Lusophone (Portuguese) editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.