- Social:
South African novelist and playwright
South African novelist and playwright whose latest novel, Sometimes There Is a Void: Memories of an Outsider was published this year; Professor of Creative Writing and World Literature at Ohio University
PROFILE
Zakes Mda
Guest
FROM Zakes Mda
To the Point
South Africans Mourn the Death, Celebrate the Life of Nelson Mandela Since he died yesterday at the age of 95, much of the world has been mourning Nelson Mandela , South Africa's first black president. Despite 27 years of brutal imprisonment as a suspected "terrorist," he is remembered as the father-figure who liberated a black majority from oppressive white rule and became a champion of racial reconciliation. But, the history is more complicated than that. We hear different opinions about the man and his legacy.
To the Point
Mandela's Fading Vision of Peace for Southern Africa With just a few weeks to go before a presidential run-off election, Zimbabwe 's Robert Mugabe continues to crack down on his opponents and has banned aid groups from getting food to the hungry. And in neighboring South Africa , despite a strong economy, unemployment is rising and so is crime. A recent wave of violence directed at foreigners has shocked the nation. As Nelson Mandela turns ninety, what are the prospects for peace and democracy in the region? Should African and Western leaders put more pressure on Mugabe to hold fair elections? Have post-apartheid policies failed to create a new South Africa?
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To the Point
Janesville and the American Dream Janesville, Wisconsin is the hometown of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. But he couldn’t prevent the closing of the General Motors factory after 100 years. On this Memorial Day rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear what’s happened to what once was a model of American middle-class unity.
To the Point
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.
To the Point
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.