Postscript
It occurs to me that, for those who keep only a loose eye on African politics, elements of that last post lacked background. Admittedly, this isn’t helped by the BBC’s fairly shoddy coverage of matters - tucked away in corners of the site and only skimming the surface.
I found the easiest way to keep up was to flick through the Economist website occasionally. As incredibly irksome as the editorial line can get, they’re the only mainstream British publication I can find that covers African politics in anything like satisfying detail. Their most recent articles on the topic, here and here, are probably enough to follow events.
And let me know how long it takes to spot the irritatingly blatant slant in parts of the pieces. Hint: Compare the “young, intelligent, charming, technocratic,” stereotype they apply to Makoni with the “courgageous yet thick” one they apply to Tsvangirai.
Also note that Tsvangirai was a trade unionist, and note the Economist’s typical (negative) view of trade unions and socialists.
Moving on from what risks becoming an annoyed rant about how so excellently detailed a publication is frequently marred by the editorial thrust, I also found some rather useful blogs on Zimbabwean politics. Unfortunately, they’re on another computer (I’m back to my usual machine, which has been fixed). I’ll link to them later.
And yes, I’m back, and appreciably rested.
Hrm…One is rather left with the impression that the Economist does not consider being technocratic that much of a bad thing…