Zimbabwe polls: How I saw it

On July 30, a day to Zimbabwe’s presidential elections, President Robert Mugabe gave a press conference at State House, Harare, in what could have been his last had he lost the election the following day. But rather than present a pensive 89-year-old man, Mugabe instead cracked up the journalists, especially when he responded to a question about how he planned to spend his time if he lost the election.

By Charles Mwanguhya Mpagi, Daily Monitor, Uganda

Zimbabwe: No reforms for upcoming elections

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says that there have been no reforms to guarantee that upcoming July 31 polls in Zimbabwe will be free and fair. “There are no reforms in the media, and other reforms to ensure free and fair elections have not been achieved,” said Tsvangirai on Sunday as he launched his campaign against President Robert Mugabe.

07 Jul 2013,  AFP/ M&G online

Madagascar: Rajoelina refuses to withdraw candidacy

Madagascar leader Andry Rajoelina has ignored a request by Southern Africa’s regional bloc SADC not to run in upcoming elections, saying that it is up to the people whether he should stand for president.

ANTANANARIVO, AFP, 13 May 2013

As Kenya votes, journalists must take precautions

Election-related violence is a worry for journalists in many countries, but perhaps nowhere more so than Kenya, where presidential polls will be held March 4. In the aftermath of the nation’s last presidential elections in 2007, over one thousand people were killed in ethnic and political violence, live news broadcasts were banned, and the press faced a torrent of threats, leading to widespread self-censorship.

Kenya: The cauldron of violence is hotting up again

Many Kenyans hoped the country could overcome past election violence as it heads to the polls in six months. That hope has been lost as politicians once again exploit ethnic differences and bleed their constituents in their pursuit of power.

Call for conference papers: War on Terror in East Africa

The political, social and economic environment in East Africa presents specific challenges for investigative journalists. With increasing security issues in the region, it is becoming more difficult for credible and professional media to provide a much-needed voice against corruption, injustice, and bad governance.