Toh Unplugged

Outgoing president Lazarus Chakwera I can’t think of any groundbreaking projects or wide-ranging reforms that Lazarus Chakwera , the outgoing president of Malawi, implemented during his five years in the corridors of power at State House. The one thing that stands out is from November 2023, when it was reported that Chakwera’s administration had sent over 200 young Malawians to work on Israeli farms. This l abour export deal was pitched as a way to fight unemployment and boost economic recovery. But the initiative quickly came under fire. Opposition leaders and rights groups raised concerns about transparency and safety, especially given the ongoing conflict in Israel. That Chakwera lost to his 85-year-old predecessor-turned-successor, Peter Mutharika , is nothing short of a resounding vote of no confidence in his leadership—or lack thereof. According to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), Mutharika secured 56.8% of the vote, while Chakwera trailed far behind with just 33%. Ch...

    U.S. President Donald Trump U.S. president Donald Trump has made a dramatic return to the global stage with a no-holds-barred address at the United Nations General Assembly, in New York on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. In typical Trump fashion, he drew sharp contrasts between his first term, which he said delivered “peace and prosperity”, and what he slammed as years of “weakness, lawlessness, and radicalism” under Joe Biden. Trump painted a picture of an America bouncing back under his watch , taking aim at everything from the economy and foreign policy to immigration, security, and the role of global bodies like the UN . Here are the key issues he touched on, highlighted with direct quotes: Peace vs. chaos under Biden -  “When I was here as your President , we had peace and prosperity. Under Biden, we got weakness, lawlessness, and radicalism.” Economy & inflation -  “We defeated ruinous inflation, brought down energy costs, grocery costs, mortgage rates...

President Cyril Ramaphosa President Cyril Ramaphosa , who had summoned thousands of African National Congress (ANC) councillors from across the country to FNB Stadium for what was effectively a roll call, stunned his comrades when he instructed them to look to Democratic Alliance (DA)-run municipalities as the benchmark for well-governed local councils. Ramaphosa openly lamented the fact that well-run municipalities are seldom ANC-controlled. Instead, he noted, they are often DA-controlled. “We need to ask ourselves what it is they are doing that is better than what we are doing … And there’s nothing wrong with us saying we want to go and see what Cape Town is doing. We want to go and see what Stellenbosch is doing,” he said. This is not the first time Ramaphosa has brought the ANC into disrepute. A few years ago, he conceded that the ANC was “number one when it comes to corruption”, a statement that also infuriated his comrades. Yet they could do nothing; he is, after all, t...

The Traveller . Wow, what a book! Reading it has rekindled my dream of visiting all 54 countries in Africa. Through this masterpiece, Bro @ThebeIkalafeng has shown me that it’s not just a fantasy: it’s possible, it’s doable. And so, I'm putting it out into the universe! What I've learned from this book is that every African country has its own soul, its own rhythm, its own story. I want to experience it all: the different cultures, the food that tells a people’s history, and the strangers that become friends. I want to sit around fires listening to stories, dance to drums and collect lifetime memories that no money can buy. My vision is to criss-cross Africa in every way possible: by bus, by taxi, by train, by plane, even by boat. To keep this dream alive, I now need to get my hands on the following books: Boipelo Tladinyane Hlubi’s A Safari Back to Self: Backpacking 54 Countries in Africa , and Sihle Khumalo’s Dark Continent, My Black Arse . Bro Tee’s book is a powerful remin...

Nobuhle Nkabane The nonchalant, borderline disrespectful conduct of Higher Education & Training Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane left a sour taste in the mouths of many South Africans. Her refusal to account to the people, during her appearance before parliament's portfolio committee on higher education, was a slap in the face to transparency. Her behaviour echoed the infamous antics of former president Jacob Zuma, who, like Nkabane, regularly dodged accountability with smirks, giggles, and evasive responses. I'm not exaggerating: Watch this short clip of Zuma in parliament if you need a reminder. For those unfamiliar with the drama surrounding Nkabane, here’s a quick refresher: She recently caused an uproar by appointing politically connected individuals to chair Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) boards. The backlash was swift, with parties like the DA and EFF slamming the decision, especially since the appointees included Buyambo Mantashe, son of ANC heavyweight  ...