The Voice (vox populi)

     This article is adapted to:  The Economist issue week’s cover | Jan 18th 2025 Edition        From the rise of nationalist movements in Europe to the assertive foreign policies of major powers like China and Russia; often referred to as  'revisionist states', competition and self-interest increasingly define the international landscape. The liberal belief that unity is possible in the global arena through cooperation, tolerance, and institutions promoting peace and governance, seems to be failing to hold the center. Recent developments strongly indicate that 'Realism' remains the best predictor of future policy positions politically and otherwise. 'Realism' as a paradigm in politics and international relations provides a quite plausible yet simple lens on alliances, wars, hindrances and cooperation, imperialism including other various political phenomena. It does so by simply acknowledging the fact that social interactions like polit...

     For years, African scholars and policymakers have labeled traditional foreign aid as “dead aid”, critiquing its dependency and inducing structures, and advocating for equitable trade, investment, and self-reliant development. Yet when the newly sworn-in U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 90-day freeze on nearly all foreign aid including programs under the U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID ), the global humanitarian sector erupted in panic. Clinics shuttered overnight, HIV patients were turned away, and NGOs scrambled to survive. This frenzy raises a critical question: Are we mourning the end of aid itself or the reckless abruptness of its termination? The answer lies in confronting the unresolved tensions between Africa’s long-standing critique of aid and the harsh realities of its sudden withdrawal.      African voices like Dambisa Moyo have long argued that aid perpetuates dependency, stifles local innovation, and entrenches for...

     Modern democracies are drowning in rules. From environmental protections to labor laws, governments keep layering regulations to address societal challenges—a relentless process scholars call “policy accumulation.” The result? Overburdened public administrations struggling to implement policies effectively. Imagine a city council so bogged down by zoning codes that approving a new playground takes years. Or an environmental agency so swamped by reporting requirements it can’t prioritize fighting pollution. This isn’t dystopian fiction—it’s today’s reality.      To tackle this, many OECD countries have adopted Regulatory Offsetting Schemes (ROSs). The idea sounds simple: for every new rule introduced, an old one must go. Think of it as bureaucratic spring cleaning. Germany’s “one-in, one-out” law, and France’s stricter “one-in, two-out” mandate are prime examples. But here’s the catch: while ROSs promise to declutter the regulatory landscape, their long...

Since the attainment of independence and self-governance by many and various African nations, contemporary politics have been dictated by personal ambitions and the pursuit of power rather than purely ideological fundamentals  The question is how come unity and progressive cooperation became so difficult in the entire African continent. Some nations like Zimbabwe and Mozambique, amongst others, torn apart by conflicts and other crises, have hardly had any attention nor been resolved. I am convinced that this challenge is directly related to the nature of African nations' governance and their diverse forms and patterns of democracy across the continent, which often create obstructive performance and fragmented governance in regional and international relations.  The thrust for unity and progressive cooperation across Africa is characterized by fragmented systems of governance on the continent and the varying forms of democracy practiced by its countries. The historical ev...

I  vividly remember in June 2022, William Ruto unveiled and presented all hailed Kenya kwanza manifesto to Kenya and the rest of the world; ahead of the then awaited 9 august 2022 #kenyadecides2022. President Ruto’s manifesto echoed strong and radical economic transformation. Anchored on seven pillars aimed at transforming Kenya’s economy using his believed bottom-up model. The manifesto intended to address challenges such as unemployment, dependence on low-productive agriculture, rising energy and food prices, and poverty. The document proposed bold and radical economic reforms and empowerment for citizens at the bottom of the pyramid. With his seven pillars, extracted from his manifesto ( economic transformation; agriculture and food security; affordable healthcare; education and skills development; manufacturing and industrialization; infrastructure development; and youth and women empowerment ) and his five-point plan: ( job creation; affordable loans; investm...

On 28 April 2023, The RBZ Governor Dr John P Mangudya announced the Move towards Gold-Backed Cryptocurrency. This move is intended to address the severe economic challenges Zimbabwe has faced, such as hyperinflation and currency instability, restore confidence in its financial system and revive its economy. However, I argue that this move is not without risks and challenges and requires careful consideration of Zimbabwe's historical context and domestic capabilities. By examining past experiences and capacity limitations, I believe we can gain valuable insights into this ambitious move's potential implications and outcomes. The op-ed is structured as follows: Section 2 provides a brief overview of the concept and features of gold-backed cryptocurrency; Section 3 reviews the historical background and economic situation of Zimbabwe; Section 4 discusses the main benefits and drawbacks of adopting gold-backed cryptocurrency in Zimbabwe; Section 5 offers some policy recommendations ...