Roads do not nations build

Jacob Zuma faces criticism about his infrastructure-heavy state of the union address, with DA opposition and others noting that South Africa's shortfalls relate primarily to skills.

While the Malema issue has piped down, there is definitely a move towards state-led development interventions in government discourse, perhaps marking a shift from decades of neoliberal policy which has left the economic structures of apartheid largely unchanged. But based on fairly anecdotal and informal conversations with employers, the skills issue continues to resurface as the country's main bottleneck to a more diversified, employment-intensive growth path

Slums and the urban drawbridge

As part of our 'Cities in Africa' series, my report on urban land rights (plus my coleagues interview with Governor Fashola of Lagos). Further proof that slums aren't spontaneous happenings, but result from very clear institutionalized exclusion. De Soto accurately noted this, although he has become a bit of a hate figure on the left. His concept of property rights unleashing growth and resuscitating 'dead capital' is somewhat mechanical, but he was a pioneer and pioneers should be allowed some room. Like Marx. He said some silly stuff, about capitalists burying themselves when in fact they have never looked in redder health.

EU Commissioner for Development interview

Here is my interview with Andris Piebalgs, EU Commissioner for Development. I'll be honest, I don't find him that interesting.

Scrap climate treaty-making (but keep the nice biscuits a-coming)

I went to Durban and had a nice time. But I have no idea what was agreed, and neither did anyone else. I watched one group debate whether 'sea grass' should be included in the marine life annex, at which point I began to ponder alternative methods.

As part of our report for the Durban summit, I asked a few dissidents whether we should abandon the whole enterprise of treaty-making since, 20 years in, we've only come up with a few vague 'frameworks', 'road maps' or, even worse 'dialogue'. Here are their responses.

BRIC-Africa drugs trade (the legal stuff)

My grappling with BRIC-Africa pharmaceutical trade, cover story in November 2011 edition. Pharma industry is moving very fast, with old north-south distinctions breaking down, and the distinction between brand and generic producers blurring. African pharma production is low, and Indian firms are starting to push up prices as IP laws tighten from Delhi. Here as in other areas, Brazil stands out as the only emerging economy with a genuine internationalist outlook.

Interview with Alassane Ouattara, President of Cote d'Ivoire

My interview with Alassane Ouattara, President of Cote d'Ivoire. Door-stopped him in September, Washington 2011, in an overflowingly crowded Embassy. Every US Ivoirian had turned up to have lunch with him.

This took place a few months after he had been installed following Cote d'Ivoire's breakdown when Gbagbo decided he didn't want to play any more. Ouattara spoke about the ICC process, his development strategy, and reconciliation (46 percent voted for Gbagbo on UN estimates).

Taxed Enough Already (ok, but mobiles really are)

My article on the mobile phone tax puzzle. While mobiles are a clear success story in developing regions, contributing $71bn in tax revenue between 2000 and 2012 in Africa, its deepening penetration has been driven largely by increasingly competitive product markets in handsets, a process that is levelling out. Millions still can't afford this fantastically versatile technology, and some of those that can are forfeiting basic expenditures to do so. In the coming years, the share of the costs of owning a mobile going to taxation will need to come down. Says me. And some others.