ECONOMY-MAURITIUS: Port Louis Targets Neighbours for Clothing Exports

Mauritius is eyeing other markets in Africa as part of its effort to rebuild export manufacturing of clothing. This includes targeting South Africa, which will be limiting certain Chinese imports in 2007.

SOUTH AFRICA: Table Mountain Trails Open Paths for Unemployed

"There are so many stories to tell, about the mountain, the plants and what they mean to my people. Hiking is a wonderful way to teach tourists more about my culture," says 27-year-old Noluthando Mathe.

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.

SOUTHERN AFRICA: Social Security Not So Much a Luxury as a Necessity

Social protection is emerging as a policy option among governments and donors in Southern Africa, as poverty and unemployment persist despite economic growth in the region.

RIGHTS-DRC: A Glimmer of Hope for Children Working in Katanga’s Mines

Each day, thousands of children risk their lives by working in mines in the Katanga province of south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - something a coalition of organisations is trying to address.

SOUTHERN AFRICA: Fighting Hunger May Not Always Require Food

Several studies in Southern Africa show that the direct transfer of cash to people living on or below the breadline not only prevents hunger, but also further impoverishment.

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-ZAMBIA: The Fiscal Conservative or the Firebrand?

Elimination of double-digit inflation, economic growth in the region of five percent last year, a reduction of foreign debt from some seven billion dollars to 500 million: these are figures guaranteed to earn the president of a developing country another term in office, not so? Maybe yes, Maybe no.

HEALTH-AFRICA: Bringing Traditional Birth Attendants Into the Mainstream

In an ideal world, all of Africa's women would have access to clinics, nurses, obstetricians, medicines: the panoply of staff and equipment needed to make the process of giving birth as safe as possible.

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.

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.

TRANSPORT-SOUTH AFRICA: The Colour of 2010 Is Green

Take to the roads in South Africa, and chances are you'll be confronted with an obstacle course that includes mind-numbing congestion, close shaves with speeding drivers, and the fog of exhaust fumes.

POLITICS-DRC: Disillusion at Post-Election Clashes

An outbreak of hostilities in Kinshasa appeared to be drawing to an end, Wednesday, as United Nations officials and diplomats worked to restore calm to the Congolese capital in the run-up to a second round of presidential elections.

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-DRC: Now For Round Two

Three weeks after their landmark election of Jul. 30, citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo are bracing for another poll: the run-off vote between President Joseph Kabila and former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba, that will decide who is to be the next head of state in this vast Central African nation.

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.

MEDIA-AFRICA: “Threatened From Everywhere”

Concerns about restrictions on press freedom in Africa have surfaced again, this during a two-day conference held in Kenya that attracted over 100 media representatives from across the continent.

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.