July 2017

Opposition political parties’ coalition in Zimbabwe: Challenges and possibilities

This paper discusses the prevalent view among ordinary Zimbabweans that only a grand coalition among select opposition political parties could potentially unseat the ruling party, Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) from power in the upcoming 2018 general elections. The paper argues that the prospects for such a grand coalition are only possible if select parties coalesce around the major...

Author(s): Mungwari Teddy and Ephraim Vhutuza

July 2017

Berbera basing politics: Understanding actors, interests, and animosities

The presence of forward forces in foreign soil is not a modern notion, but is thought-provoking when a small state projects its military might in multiple locations of a similar strategic importance. The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) base lease in Berbera is a case in point which attracted a reproach from the public, and politicians. The joint parliament sitting to approve the draft agreement further complicated the...

Author(s): Najah M. Adam

July 2017

The political economy of recession in Nigeria’s fourth republic

In recent times, an exceptionally large and virulent recession engulfed the Nigerian State that had for the previous two and half decades experienced sustained growth at unprecedented levels. The causes as well as sense of threat and uncertainty induced by the crisis have been differently interpreted, particularly from the macro-economic, leadership and strategic standpoints. This paper offers a political economy...

Author(s): Monday E. Dickson and Gerald E. Ezirim