DEVELOPMENT: Report Details Toll Taken by Lack of Water, Sanitation

The 2006 Human Development Report, 'Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the Global Water Crisis', focuses on the ongoing problems that surround provision of potable water and sanitation. The document is being launched Thursday in Cape Town, South Africa, by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

ZIMBABWE: Government Accused of Persistent Human Rights Abuses

"I was arrested a dozen times," notes Tapera Kapuya, a student leader at the University of Zimbabwe between 2001 and 2002, who says he was the target of both police and the Southern African country's intelligence agents.

HEALTH-SOUTH AFRICA: The Prospect of Unity in the Fight Against AIDS

A few minutes before the deputy president of South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, stepped into the conference hall, a participant burst into song. Soon she was joined by her colleagues in welcoming the guest of honour.

POLITICS-AFRICA: The Ultimate Golden Handshake

Various African researchers and civil society groups have given a mixed response to the launch of a five-million-dollar prize for African leaders who relinquish power and promote good governance.

SOUTHERN AFRICA: No Ivory Sales Now Doesn’t Mean None Later

Concern about ivory sales in Southern Africa is persisting among environmental groups - this after the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) granted Japan stockpile buyer status earlier this month.

DEVELOPMENT-SOUTH AFRICA: “The Reality of Poverty Is Everywhere”

Twelve years after the demise of apartheid, poverty remains one of the main challenges facing South Africa - although opinions vary about how widespread it is.

DEVELOPMENT-SOUTH AFRICA: “The Reality of Poverty Is Everywhere”

Twelve years after the demise of apartheid, poverty remains one of the main challenges facing South Africa - although opinions vary about how widespread it is.

ECONOMY: The Curate’s Egg That Is Africa-Asia Trade

Emerging global powers China and India, both thirsty for new markets and energy resources, are increasing efforts to secure a dominant position in Africa.

DEVELOPMENT-SOUTH AFRICA: Walking the Tightrope of Land Reform

South Africa is caught between a rock and a hard place. It must address the growing hunger for land on the part of black people and, at the same time, avoid going the route of Zimbabwe. Land reform in this neighbouring state, meant to address colonial injustice, has ended up undermining the economy.

POLITICS-SOUTH AFRICA: Corruption Charges May Haunt Zuma Yet

A vindication, a temporary reprieve, an affirmation of South Africa's justice system, an indictment of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA): the interpretations of Wednesday's dismissal of corruption charges against former deputy president Jacob Zuma are many, and varied.

DEVELOPMENT-AFRICA: LDC Status Hard to Shake

There were 18 in Africa 35 years ago. There are 34 now - which begs the question: are policies to thin the ranks of the almost three dozen least developed countries (LDCs) on the continent even somewhat effective?

DEVELOPMENT-AFRICA: “NAM Only Needs to Redefine Itself”

With countries in Africa accounting for almost half the membership of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), it could be argued that this continent has a particular interest in the future strategies and effectiveness of the grouping - now holding its fourteenth summit, in Cuba.

HEALTH-SOUTHERN AFRICA: “Extreme” TB Bug Prompts Calls for Rapid Action

For the region in the world worst-affected by AIDS it is, to say the least, an unwelcome development: an outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) in South Africa's south-eastern KwaZulu-Natal province, caused by a strain of the disease that resists almost all forms of treatment.

DEVELOPMENT-SOUTHERN AFRICA: More Women, Please

The annual summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) wrapped up Friday with a call to speed up the process of increasing women's representation at all levels of government in the 14-nation body.

POLITICS: “We Want to Show All Is Not Well in Zimbabwe” – SADC Protestors

As the annual summit of the Southern African Development Community got underway Thursday, Zimbabwean activist Bishop Shumba was on hand in Lesotho's capital - Maseru - to remind regional leaders about the political and economic difficulties in his country.

DEVELOPMENT-SOUTHERN AFRICA: Two Days, And Lots of Problems

A call has been made for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to involve civil society in its decision-making process - in deed, as well as in word. This comes ahead of the annual SADC summit for heads of state and government that gets underway Thursday in Lesotho's capital, Maseru.

DEVELOPMENT-SOUTH AFRICA: Expropriations Loom in Land Reform

If a remark made by South Africa's land affairs minister is to be taken at face value, the country could start expropriating white-owned farms by early next year.

POLITICS-SOUTH AFRICA: It’s “Wait and See” for Zuma’s Corruption Trial

While the first half of 2006 in South Africa was dominated by the proceedings of former deputy president Jacob Zuma's trial on rape charges, the second looks set to be punctuated by his corruption trial. But, only if the court case goes ahead, of course.

DEVELOPMENT-AFRICA: To End Hunger – More Aid, Quicker Aid, Smarter Aid

Global aid agency Oxfam has called for a thorough review of efforts to end hunger in Africa, arguing that emergency assistance is often inadequate and arrives too late - while the underlying causes of hunger are going largely unaddressed.

POLITICS-DRC: Challenging Times for Election Observers

General elections that loom at the end of the month in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) present considerable difficulties to all involved - not least local and foreign observers.

HEALTH-SOUTH AFRICA: Youth Helping Youth

When it comes to fighting the spread of HIV among South Africa's young people, one of the best weapons appears to be the youth itself. Just ask Zamani Cele, one of 348 students who have been trained by the University of KwaZulu-Natal's AIDS programme during the past two years.