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This research paper analyzes the political crisis in Zimbabwe circa 2005, arguing that the ruling ZANU-PF elite is trapped in an 'insecurity dilemma' driven by the fear of international prosecution for human rights abuses. The author explores how this fear, combined with ethno-linguistic factionalism—specifically the dominance of the Zezuru faction—impedes a peaceful transition to democracy and shapes the party's resistance to power-sharing with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

This research paper argues that the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are insufficient for developing Africa because they focus on the symptoms of poverty rather than the underlying causes of economic stagnation. The author contends that the MDGs act as a 'political camouflage' that diverts resources away from growth-oriented investments. To address this, the paper proposes a comprehensive set of 'African Millennium Growth Goals' focused on commercial infrastructure, rural economy investment, technical skills, financial reform, and the removal of bureaucratic and corrupt obstacles to business.

This briefing paper by Friends of the Earth International argues that the US government is implementing a policy to make the contamination of the food supply with experimental genetically modified (GM) crops 'acceptable.' The document details the risks of such contamination, the lack of rigorous regulation for field trials, and the potential for these traits to spread globally through US food exports.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the incidence, magnitude, and control of money laundering in Southern Africa. It analyzes predicate crimes—primarily drug trafficking and corruption—the role of informal remittance systems, and the legislative and institutional challenges facing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region in implementing anti-money laundering frameworks.

This research paper examines the challenges facing internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in Angola following the April 2002 ceasefire that ended 27 years of civil war. It analyzes the gap between the government's legal framework for resettlement and the actual conditions on the ground, highlighting systemic failures in protection, resource allocation, and the prioritization of former combatants over vulnerable civilians.

This report documents a two-day workshop held in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, in October 2003, focused on delivery mechanisms for rural electrification in Eastern and Southern Africa. It explores the intersection of energy supply technologies and organizational management to support rural development, emphasizing that electricity alone is insufficient for poverty reduction and must be integrated with education, social services, and income-generating activities.

The report provides an overview of international intellectual property (IP) developments in the fourth quarter of 2004, focusing on the tension between IP protection and development goals. It details ongoing negotiations within the WTO Council for TRIPS, WIPO, and various bilateral and regional trade agreements, highlighting the efforts of developing countries to maintain flexibilities and prevent 'TRIPS-plus' standards.

This 2004 report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the experiences of South African firms expanding into other African markets. It identifies systemic structural challenges—such as political risk, corruption, and poor infrastructure—while highlighting the growth of South African investment in sectors like banking, telecommunications, retail, and mining. The document provides specific case studies on Uganda, Morocco, Mozambique, and Ghana to illustrate the diverse operating environments across the continent.

The report 'Back to the Blackboard' examines the education crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, arguing that the narrow focus on Universal Primary Education (UPE) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has neglected secondary education and compromised instructional quality. It highlights systemic failures including teacher shortages, poor salaries, corruption, and the devastating impact of HIV/Aids. The document advocates for a comprehensive strategy that integrates secondary schooling, vocational training, and curriculum reform to drive economic growth, drawing lessons from East Asia's successful integration of human capital development and industrial planning.

This report by Friends of the Earth International and the International Rivers Network (IRN) argues that large hydroelectric dams should be excluded from renewable energy initiatives. It contends that large-scale hydro projects fail to support sustainable development, harm ecosystems and people, and undermine energy security, whereas decentralized renewable energy technologies provide a more effective path toward poverty eradication and climate mitigation.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the intersection of anti-personnel landmines and the development of peacekeeping standby forces in Africa. It analyzes the operational challenges posed by landmines in irregular African conflicts, the progress of the Ottawa Convention across the continent, and the specific legislative and policy frameworks adopted by South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to combat mine proliferation.

This report, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in October 2003, examines the critical state of transport, financial, and social infrastructure within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It argues that poor management and political apathy, rather than just physical decay, hinder regional economic competitiveness and integration.

This report by Friends of the Earth International describes the role of small-scale farmers and indigenous communities in Latin America in protecting and restoring biodiversity. It highlights specific local projects in Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Uruguay while critiquing the impact of industrial monocultures, the 'Green Revolution', and neoliberal trade policies on global biodiversity and rural livelihoods.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies explores whether auditors in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region can provide unique insights into money laundering and the extent to which they can assist in combating it. Based on surveys and interviews with professionals from four multinational auditing firms, the paper concludes that while general auditors are poorly positioned to detect money laundering, forensic auditors may offer valuable qualitative data. It further identifies significant gaps in auditors' understanding of anti-money laundering regulations and highlights systemic challenges in the SADC region that hinder the effectiveness of legal measures.

The first issue of the SADC Barometer, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in March 2003, evaluates the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) internal restructuring, regional security integration, and economic convergence. The report highlights significant disparities between South Africa and other member states, the impact of HIV/AIDS on food security, and the challenges of implementing a regional Free Trade Area (FTA) amidst non-tariff barriers and political instability in countries like Zimbabwe.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) details the status of negotiations within the WTO TRIPs Council regarding intellectual property rights, public health, and geographical indications following the 2001 Doha Declaration.

This report by Jenny Clover for the Institute for Security Studies examines the debate over Genetically Modified (GM) foods in Africa, specifically within the context of a food crisis in Southern Africa in 2002. The author argues that while GM technology offers potential productive gains, it cannot solve hunger on its own because food security is a complex issue involving economic, social, and political factors. The document highlights the tension between immediate humanitarian needs for food aid and long-term concerns regarding biodiversity, multinational corporate control of seeds, and trade restrictions, particularly with the European Union.

This research paper analyzes South Africa's foreign policy toward Zimbabwe from 1994 to 2002, arguing that Zimbabwe has been of marginal interest to Pretoria despite deep historical, economic, and security links. The author identifies three phases of policy: an initial lack of specific policy, a period of brinkmanship and frustration (1994–1999), and a subsequent 'twin-track' approach of constructive engagement and containment starting in 2000. The paper highlights the economic devastation in Zimbabwe following the lapse of a 1964 Customs Agreement and the failure of the two nations to establish a cohesive regional security mechanism within SADC.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Southern Africa, focusing on the failures of disarmament and demobilisation in UN peacekeeping operations and the subsequent rise of illicit arms trafficking. It argues that the lack of effective weapons control during conflict resolution processes has fueled regional instability and criminal activity, while proposing a coordinated regional approach involving SADC, SARPCCO, and the OAU to manage stocks and reduce the culture of violence.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the evolution of security architectures in Southern Africa, tracing the transition from the informal Front-Line States (FLS) alliance to the formal structures of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), specifically the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, the Inter-State Defence and Security Committee (ISDSC), and the Southern African Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO).