The single greatest failure of current punditry is the refusal to recognise that context matters. A one-size-fits-all approach to solving Zimbabwe's complex set of problems simply won't help.
Posters depicting the ANC in happier times.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
Democracy resulted in a sea change in the governing ANC. In the past, only highly committed idealists joined the party. Today's splits and factions are about patronage and clientelism.
Malawian President Peter Mutharika has promised to fight the corruption that has seen donors withdraw their support for his impoverished nation.
Reuters/Eldson Chagara
Malawi appears to have learnt nothing from the biggest state corruption scandal that rocked the country two years ago, leading to donors withdrawing their support. The same conditions still remain.
There is a gaping hole in South Africa between those who are wealthy, and the working poor
Shutterstock
South Africa’s inequality levels are stark. The rich are super rich, the poor very poor. There's a gaping hole in the middle and this is the greatest threat to stability.
Nigerian youth celebrate presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari’s victory. Youth unemployment will continue to threaten the continent’s growth.
Reuters/Goran Tomasevic
How realistic are expectations about Africa’s economic prospects? There are several reasons why we should be both optimistic and cautious about the continent's future economic performance.