Columnist / Simon allison
Mnangagwa running out of options - and time
ZIMBABWE'S political chaos is a function of its economic crisis – and the economy is only getting worse. To all intents and purposes, Zimbabwe is broke.The government has so little income that i...Published: 25 Jan 2019 at 08:40hrs | | by Simon Allison
Old crocodile fails to change its spots
It's been exactly a year since former President Robert Mugabe resigned, but Zimbabwe is still the house that Bob built — and the new President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) has done little more than paper ov...Published: 22 Nov 2018 at 06:06hrs | | by Simon Allison
Chamisa copies the Kenyan playbook
When Nelson Chamisa this week announced his intention to inaugurate himself as "People's President" of Zimbabwe, he was following in the footsteps of other African opposition leaders — specifically ...Published: 13 Sep 2018 at 18:50hrs | | by Simon Allison I M&G
If Mnangagwa gets away with it, then Kabila can too
WE knew, even before the first vote was cast, that Zimbabwe's election was marred by serious irregularities. These included, but were certainly not limited to: a partisan electoral commission; 250 000...Published: 18 Aug 2018 at 08:10hrs | | by Simon Allison
Pastor Mawarire's difficult second act
I spent most of Thursday wandering in circles around the Harare Magistrates' Court, aptly-named Rotten Row, waiting for police to bring Evan Mawarire to court. He never came.After arresting hi...Published: 05 Feb 2017 at 07:57hrs | | by Simon Allison
Mawarire speaks on why he's returning home
Just prior to returning to Zimbabwe, Pastor Evan Mawarire spoke to SIMON ALLISON about why he's going home, what he is going to do there, and why he doesn't mind bein...Published: 01 Feb 2017 at 16:40hrs | | by Simon Allison
Zimbabwe braces for the worst as bond notes introduced
Zimbabwe's cash-starved economy needs a quick fix, and the government has come up with a solution: bond notes. Due to be introduced on Monday, the new legal tender is supposed to solve the liquidity c...Published: 28 Nov 2016 at 10:12hrs | | by Simon Allison
Can the South African Rand rescue Zimbabwe's economy?
TENDAI Biti sits in his office in a leafy Harare suburb, contemplating another collapse of the Zimbabwean economy.Thanks to a chronic shortage of United States dollars, the country is running ...Published: 24 Nov 2016 at 08:22hrs | 5 | by Simon Allison
Tsvangirai delights in Mugabe's woes
MORGAN Tsvangirai lives in a very nice house.It's a grey, two-storey mansion in the heart of one of Harare's most exclusive suburbs, complete with imposing pillars, sweeping driveway, and a pu...Published: 08 Nov 2016 at 12:07hrs | | by Simon Allison I Daily Maverick
Mugabe's ego bruised, but power very much intact
On Wednesday, a very old man tripped down some stairs, and the world laughed and laughed and laughed.The tumble made headlines everywhere - The Washington Post, The Daily Mail, the New York Ti...Published: 10 Feb 2015 at 17:53hrs | | by Simon Allison I Daily Maverick
Mugabe firmly holds levers of power
With the nomination of First Lady Grace Mugabe to a senior Zanu-PF position, the great succession debate is dominating headlines once again. But is it still too soon to contemplate the future? By all ...Published: 22 Aug 2014 at 17:57hrs | | by Simon Allison - Political analyst
Reports of Mugabe's decline have been greatly exaggerated
The Daily Maverick write that the year 2014 has been a t...Published: 18 Aug 2014 at 08:51hrs | 9 | by Simon Allison
Tsvangirai failed Zimbabwe, now he must go
There was a time, not too long ago, when Morgan Tsvangirai personified everything that was good about Zimbabwe, writes ...Published: 02 May 2014 at 04:38hrs | | by Simon Allison
One way or another, Tsvangirai must go, he looks weaker than ever
Pity Morgan Tsvangirai. The veteran Zimbabwean opposition leader is facing a little opposition of his own, and he's not coping too well. His party looks certain to split yet again, destroying in the p...Published: 28 Apr 2014 at 20:33hrs | | by Simon Allison
Who really rescued the Zim economy? Biti or Chinamasa
In the last decade, good governance and sensible policy-making have been in short supply in Harare. But in 2009, at least one good decision was made: to scrap the failed Zimbabwean dollar in favour of...Published: 18 Sep 2013 at 05:35hrs | | by Simon Allison
After Mugabe: Zanu-PF infighting begins now
With the presidency in the bag and parliament in their pocket, Zanu-PF can relax in the certainty that they will dictate Zimbabwe's foreseeable future. But who will dictate to Zanu-PF? Botox or no Bot...Published: 06 Aug 2013 at 09:10hrs | | by Simon Allison
Mugabe, the hot favourite
It's election season in Zimbabwe, and no one seems ready except Comrade Bob - who, despite his advanced years, is always ready for everything, at least in politics. S...Published: 09 Jul 2013 at 08:02hrs | | by SIMON ALLISON
Load More Stories
