Opinion

20.07.2007 Many initiatives have been undertaken, mostly by civil society organisations, towards the bridging of the digital divide between the north and the south. The pressing concerns have been on the ability of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to improve the standards of living of the poor in societies.

20.07.2007 Recently, United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) launched this years human development report for Zambia in Lusaka. The occasion, which was graced by the presence of the country's vice president, Nevers Mumba was rather sobering. There was just nothing to celebrate. Zambia finds itself in the unenviable 164th position in the world on social and economic performance.

20.07.2007 "We are the first generation that can look extreme poverty in the eye, and say this and mean it – we have the cash, we have the drugs, we have the science. Do we have the will to make poverty history?" Words of Bono in September 2004.

20.07.2007 Jacob Zuma (former south African President) was aquitted on rape charges and the compliant known as Khwezi is on her way to a life of exile. The response in the African blogosphere is varied and ranges from those who are outraged at the verdict believing Zuma to be guilty of rape. Then there are those who believe justice was served but question the morality of Zuma’s action in committing adultry (he claims that consensual sex took place) the stupidity and ignorance of his having unprotected sex with an HIV+ woman.

20.07.2007 This year, on Africa Malaria Day,Roy Innis, national
chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality, writes an informative and provocative commentary on the dreaded but useful eradicator of malaria-DDT.

Every year, over 400 million African mothers, fathers and children are stricken by acute malaria. That's as many victims as there are people in the United States and Mexico combined.

Fevers, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, delirium and
unconsciousness leave them unable to work, cultivate
fields, attend school or care for their families,for weeks on end. Many are permanently brain damaged. Nearly 1 million die.

No wonder sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most
impoverished regions on Earth.

Every year, Africa Malaria Day (April 25) is marked by promises to bring malaria under control. But every year calls for action turn out to be mere bombast, as healthcare agencies refuse to go beyond bed nets and "capacity building," radical greens continue to obstruct proven strategies, and disease and death rates climb.

20.06.2007 As anticipation over the establishment of the African Human Rights Court grows, so does concern over the time it is taking to actually become operational and the impact it will have on the lives of millions of African women who may not even be aware of how the Court could affect them.

12.04.2005 In the aftermath of the controversial Zimbabwean elections held on 31 March 2005, questions abound about what constitutes a free and fair election. The South African government delegation said the election was free but not necessarily fair. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) took a similar view with media and other observers saying the election was neither free nor fair. The African Union has reserved judgment pending further investigation into allegations raised by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) of problems with voters’ rolls and more wide-scale vote rigging. It is worth reflecting not only on what constitutes a free and fair election but on what constitutes democracy more broadly.

21.02.2005 If only this was a tale of thrills and great adventure in the land formerly know as the Gold Coast. Re-living the pleasures of the gold explorers of centuries past, or the horrors of Africans in the prime of their lives dragged in slavery.

03.11.2004 Zimbabwe's beleaguered ruling party has introduced a Bill banning foreign funding of, and imposing extraordinary state controls over, non-governmental organisations involved in human rights and governance activities.

15.06.2004