On October 25, Chilean citizens overwhelmingly voted to replace the country’s dictator-era constitution. This is an opportunity to look at the process of drafting basic laws around the world.
Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara attends a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the country’s independence from France on August 7.
SIA KAMBOU/AFP via Getty Images
The fundamental structure of the current constitution, which is cast in classical Westminster conceptions, is unsuited for modern-day constitutionalism.
South Africa’s professional surfers have been allowed back in the water.
Brenton Geach/Gallo Images via Getty Images
By placing less emphasis on public opinion, and questioning public morality as the basis of its decision, the latest High Court decision shows that times have indeed changed.
Former President Jacob Zuma: the Constitutional Court has ruled his appointment of the top prosecutor illegal.
EPA-EFE/Jackie Clausen
An effective, accountable National Prosecutions Authority needs at least two things: structural independence and competent personnel with expertise and integrity.
A member of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters party with a copy of the Constitution.
EPA/Kim Ludbrook
Cyril Ramaphosa is likely to emphasise stability - in government and the ANC. Given his history he is likely to want to stabilise the economy rather than pursue radical interventions.
Protesters at a rally outside parliament in preparation ahead of the proposed impeachment of President Robert Mugabe.
Kim Ludbrook/EPA
A week after the army issued its limp-wristed and ambiguous statement that Mugabe should go, he remains in place, and a new avenue - impeachment - is being pursued to get rid of him.
Zambia has become increasingly ruled by fear under President Edgar Lungu.
EPA/Philippe Wojazer
Zambia has gone from a country where people engaged freely in open political debate to one where most people now look over their shoulders to see who’s listening.
Busisiwe Mkhwebane, the public protector of South Africa.
EPA/Nic Bothma
The public protector’s proposal to change the mandate of South Africa’s Reserve Bank goes well beyond changing individual rules to overturning their very foundation, anchored in the Constitution.
ANC leaders greet party supporters at a recent rally.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
The internal processes of South Africa’s ruling ANC for electing the president is distorted by money, patronage, factionalism and vote-rigging. It negates the democratic legitimacy the party claims.
South African President Jacob Zuma is appealing a High Court ruling that he give reasons for his controversial cabinet reshuffle.
GCIS
President Jacob Zuma’s grounds for appeal are surreal. He invokes the meaning of a rule set by the apartheid context he ferociously fought against, to justify his executive action in a democracy.
President Jacob Zuma at the opening of the National House of Traditional Leaders in Parliament.
GCIS
The clash over South Africa’s Traditional Courts Bill is essentially about custom and constitutionalism. The government is often seen as pandering to traditional leaders’ whims.
A protest against President Joseph Kabila. The poster reads: “Kabila must leave without any conditions”.
Reuters/Francois Lenoir
Attempts to deepen democracy in Africa by limiting presidential terms to two have not entirely quashed a culture of entitlement to rule. Glimpses of it persist, much against citizens’ wishes.
Chief Research Specialist in Democracy and Citizenship at the Human Science Research Council and a Research Fellow Centre for African Studies, University of the Free State
Senior lecturer in the Department of Political and Administrative Studies at the University of Malawi and Research Associate, Centre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town