The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) observes the run-up to the elections on March 29, 2008.

Interview with Zimbabwean journalist Basildon Peta on the prospects for the March 29, 2008 elections in his country, the options for the divided opposition and the stance of Zimbabwe's neighbours, the international community, and the EU.

The ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and its leader President Robert Mugabe have puzzled many by successively ‘winning’ elections in the midst of serious and unprecedented economic and political decline. What are the reasons? What is Mugabe's background?

Matabeleland consists of three western provinces of Zimbabwe, namely Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Bulawayo. This region, stereotyped as marginalised and underdeveloped, and also as a hotbed of political opposition both historically and currently, is once more poised to play a strategic role in the forthcoming elections.

Transparent, sustainable, fair, and just governance of natural resources is a key for peace and sustainable development worldwide. “To Have and Have Not – Resource Governance in the 21st Century” is an international civil society Memorandum.

Whoever wins in Zimbabwe's presidential elections on March 29, 2008 has his work cut out for them. The task is to restore this beautiful country to the “little Switzerland” it used to be before being engulfed in the current political and economic quagmire.

What shall I wish for the CDU, what shall I wish for all of us? A dose of Barack Obama would do our Republic good: It’s time for change! Courage to change, to move out into the open instead of going back in the old trenches!

Russia and the European Union are increasingly bound together – if not by common values, then by virtue of their interdependence. Beyond strong economic ties, both actors have a mutual interest in maintaining international stability and a secure neighbourhood.

On 18 February 2008, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung hosted a dinner discussion with Knesset member Yossi Beilin in Berlin which was attended by politicians, journalists, diplomats, and academics. According to Beilin, the real danger of an Iranian nuclear weapons capability will be the shifting balance of power in the Middle East rather than an Iranian nuclear attack on Israel.

Perspectives is a publication series of the Africa offices of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung. With this series, we intend to let experts from Africa express their views about current political issues in their region. Here you find PDFs of all issues published between 2008 and mid-2012.