The year 2014 in South Africa marks 100 years since John Dube, Sol Plaatje and three other leaders of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC) presented a petition to King George V of England. They were protesting against the colonial land dispossession of the African people of this country which created massive poverty.

The ANC government believes the good narrative of what it has done since taking office is being maligned to unseat the ANC. Goldmans Sachs has also presented a positive review of South Africa’s performance despite its recognition of deep-seated structural inequalities

Zimbabwe celebrates thirty four years of independence this year. It is also a time to begin the third Chimurenga (struggle) to advance the ongoing land reform in the country

Underlying the current climate crisis that will worsen if not alleviated is the greed for greater profits, markets, fuel, and the rape of the earth’s resources. As this continues the ramifications will be increasing insecurity, competition and conflicts for water and scarce resources

New development projects along the Congo River are bound to restore colonialist structures and looting of resources in the DRC. These will benefit elite companies and countries, but fail to prioritise poverty and access by the poor - serving only as a repressive tool to locals.