Zimbabwe Minister of Education David Coltart is unequivocally on a mission. And his mission is particularly unique here in Zim – it is supported on both (if not more) sides of the proverbial aisle. It is common knowledge that education is a pillar of infrastructural stability, allowing a nation and its respective citizenry to develop [...]

After a number of accidents, attacks by militants, and political scandals, is Shell’s honeymoon with Nigeria coming to an end? Some recent events and transactions indicate a shift in the Dutch company’s strategy in the country, opening a window of opportunity for new operators.

To describe the recent discovery of natural gas deposits off the Southern coast of Mozambique as “transformational” might be an understatement.  Until recently, this East African country of about 23 million people had a paltry annual GDP per capita of $1,000 with 70% of the population living below the poverty line.  Now, with the announcement [...]

Though much of the article contains practical, obvious advice for seasoned investors, Jim Jones has an interesting piece in Business Times on the tactics of managing political risk for mining in Africa. The choice of country is clearly defined by geology. But, as Leon pointed out, mutual security depends on legal structures. He said Botswana [...]

According to a recent piece published in the Financial Times, oil production in Angola has struggled to keep up pace, dropping to 1.65 million barrels per day, down from 1.85m b/d in 2010.  Although the African nation makes up only 2% of global oil production, back in 2008 Angola became the largest supplier of crude [...]

It’s become a familiar exercise in many Sub-Saharan resource states – a popular leader comes to power by coup, revolution, and sometimes, by vote, promises sweeping social change and the eradication of poverty by tapping a greater share of the resource wealth, revokes and reissues a variety of licenses and rights, hangs onto power for [...]

Foreign policy used to be a craft practised by diplomats and statesmen. No longer.

Sir Richard Branson recently denied a report in a leaked US embassy cable that he bankrolled a diplomatic effort to sweeten the exit of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, writes Alex Duval Smith in the Independent. A confidential memo released by Wikileaks says that in July 2007, Branson was due to hold a secret meeting with South [...]

Zimbabwe again hinted it might show flexibility in its stance towards foreign mining companies, with a government official saying a law forcing them to surrender 51 percent stakes to local people was “an aspiration“, not a hard target. Reuters reports the rather groundbreaking remarks took place at a mining conference today by Prince Mupazviriho, the [...]

Zimbabwe, threatening to withdraw the mining license of its largest platinum company, Zimplats, may produce less of the metal next year, preventing a global surplus, Standard Bank Plc said. “Lost supply from Zimplats could be the difference between a platinum market remaining in a deficit next year and a possible surplus,” Walter de Wet, head [...]