Africa - DM Listen

Free trade and cross-border mobility must be enabled for Africa to prosper

The continent is on track to achieve its free trade milestone, but free movement of people remains out of reach. Regional integration is key for Africa’s prosperity. A continental economic community where goods, services and people move freely can help address the continent’s developmental challenges and realise the African Union’s…

12 Dec 2022 6AM 8 min

Free trade and cross-border mobility must be enabled for Africa to prosper

The continent is on track to achieve its free trade milestone, but free movement of people remains out of reach. Regional integration is key for Africa’s prosperity. A continental economic community where goods, services and people move freely can help address the continent’s developmental challenges and realise the African Union’s…

12 Dec 2022 6AM 8 min

After The Bell: The tricky dilemma that is Glencore

Here is a difficult investment question for you: Should you invest in Glencore? It’s hard for all kinds of reasons. First off, the company has made out like bandits because it decided to hold on to its huge coal assets. It did so in contrast to, say, Anglo American which,…

11 Dec 2022 1PM 5 min

Winner: Dr Emmanuel Taban; Runners-up: Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema & Dr John Nkengasong

From the toughest of beginnings in South Sudan to becoming a pioneering pulmonologist in Joburg, what this doctor learnt was how not to be a perpetual victim. Dr Emmanuel Taban is our Africa Person of the Year because he has achieved so much and travelled such a great distance –…

9 Dec 2022 5AM 11 min

African People of the Year – Runners-up : Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Vera Songwe

Choosing the runner-up in our annual African Person of the Year award proved no easy task. But two distinguished women economists perhaps stand out above the rest – Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Vera Songwe. First published in Daily Maverick 168 Weekly newspaper Okonjo-Iweala served two terms as Nigerian finance minister and…

9 Dec 2022 5AM 5 min

DMRE says mining rights application backlog slashed, looks to neighbours for cadastre solution

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has finally updated the progress made in addressing the backlog for mining and prospecting rights and related applications, which stood at more than 5,000 when it was first revealed in February 2021. The backlog now stands at 2,625 and the department seems…

8 Nov 2022 2PM 5 min

African Group of Negotiators head insists Africa climate change priorities need critical focus at COP27

Vulnerable nations including Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, appear to be leading in climate ambition, ahead of their dawdling developed counterparts. Africa is the most vulnerable continent in the face of climate change, according to team leader of the African Group of Negotiators Expert Support (Agnes), Dr…

6 Nov 2022 9AM 10 min

Growing plants on buildings can reduce heat and produce healthy food in African cities

Studies in two African cities showed that green spaces have the potential to reduce heat and, in turn, improve health, especially in vulnerable urban areas such as informal settlements. Persistently high temperatures and related heat stress are a big problem for people living in cities, especially in slums and informal…

1 Nov 2022 3PM 6 min

Success of East African Community peace process hinges on regional coordination on eastern DRC conflict

The bloc’s first-ever troop deployment to a member country will test its capacity to resolve complex conflicts. As clashes escalated between the rebel March 23 Movement (M23) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) armed forces in North Kivu, the African Union (AU) on 30 October called for urgent…

1 Nov 2022 11AM 8 min

Ethiopian belligerents get into the nitty-gritty of peace talks

All agree a ‘cessation of hostilities’ should be the first step to peace. The substantive phase of the peace talks between the Ethiopian federal government and its foes in the Tigray province began in South Africa on Wednesday, with intense discussions about the terms of a possible cessation of hostilities…

26 Oct 2022 4PM 4 min

Sundowns Women juggle confidence and caution ahead of Champions League defence

The second edition of the Caf Women’s Champions League kicks off this Sunday in Morocco. Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns are well aware of the target on their back, but remain ready to fend off all challengers. Having just wrapped up their second Hollywoodbets Super League title on the trot, Tshwane-based…

26 Oct 2022 4PM 4 min

Madagascar indefinitely extends flight embargo on Airlink over SA’s gold bullion intercept

The government of Madagascar has just indefinitely extended a six-month ban on the South African airline Airlink from flying into the country – because Pretoria won’t return 73.5kg of smuggled gold bullion. The prospects for Airlink being able to resume flights to Madagascar – what was among its five most…

17 Oct 2022 4PM 4 min

‘Godfather’ and SA man nabbed in major rhino horn busts in New York, Singapore

Sniffer dogs, secret recording devices and the long arm of international law have helped to ensure the apprehension of at least two men linked to the slaughter of numerous rhinos. The arrests took place thousands of kilometres from the killing fields of southern Africa. Both suspects appeared in court last…

11 Oct 2022 4PM 7 min

Weaponised drones — the latest tech threat to be employed by criminal and extremist groups in Africa

As evidence grows of drones being used by terrorists and other criminals, governments should consider regulating the industry. Drones have for some time been used by regular armed forces on Africa’s battlefields, such as in Ethiopia and Mali. But now they’re increasingly being deployed by terrorists — sparking a global…

11 Oct 2022 8AM 6 min

Here’s why Lesotho’s political establishment has been dumped

Elections have tossed out governments and been a catalyst for coalitions. They have also been a means of expressing people’s disquiet on growing corruption, and an opportunity to extort something from politicians every five years. But until now, all the political games have made little improvement to the lives of…

9 Oct 2022 6PM 10 min

Scenes from Maseru as residents cast their votes

A selection of images after Daily Maverick spent several days in Lesotho covering its elections. The poll went ahead smoothly despite years of political instability. All was peace and calm on voting day in Lesotho on Friday, 7 October and no incidents were reported. People around Maseru are hopeful and…

9 Oct 2022 2PM 2 min

Teen dreams – It’s hard being a young soccer player, says Banyana striker Majiya

Mature beyond her years at 18, the rising star of women’s football says life is a juggling act. Nthabiseng Majiya’s passionate celebration as she netted the winning goal for Banyana Banyana against Botswana during the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) group phase back in July will remain one…

9 Oct 2022 6AM 7 min

Do domesticated cattle help or harm Africa’s conservation areas? SA ecologist wins R2.6m grant to find out

Large herds of hungry domesticated cattle are often seen as a threat to the future of Africa’s shrinking wildlife conservation areas. But, could it be that cattle and pastoral communities are part of the solution? That’s the big question South African-born ecologist Dr Liza (Elizabeth) le Roux hopes to find…

6 Oct 2022 5PM 7 min

Hack to the drawing board – smart tech ups the stakes in Africa’s conservation game

Tech-savvy solutions are shaking up the way the continent responds to environmental challenges. It’s high time we embrace innovative tech solutions that young Africans are developing to promote conservation, says Dr Irene Amoke, executive director of the Kenya Wildlife Trust. Amoke (43) is a presenter at the upcoming Oppenheimer Research…

3 Oct 2022 3PM 6 min

Russia’s war in Ukraine spurs renewed calls for UN Security Council expansion

Russia and China remain opposed to new members, such as South Africa and other BRICS members, seeking permanent membership. Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine has revived the perennial debate about the need to reform the United Nations (UN) Security Council, including permanent representation for Africa. But has the conflict also…

30 Sep 2022 8AM 7 min