The western press, particularly the British press, claims that Africa is a hopeless continent, a basket case. Instead of his usual editorial page, Anver Versi joins the debate, the subject of our cover story. Other contributors include Milan Veseley writing from the United States, Djibril Diallo, Director of Communications, United Nations development Programme (UNDP) and Tom Nevin from South Africa.

• Africa’s unsung successes
  
• Africa at the crossroads
  
• Nothing but opportunity

• View from the City: What will stop the Euro’s slide?
  
• Spotlight: EU holds door ajar for SA
  
• Focus: Pirate king turns enforcer
  
• Mining: Be Beers moves to clean diamonds
  
• Money Matters: The cost of malaria & AIDS
  
• Topic: Stock market review
  
• Issues: Banana wars deadlock continues
  

• Zimbabe: Tourism suffers
  
• DRC: Kabila turns diamonds to dust
  
• Congo Brazzaville: Where has all the money gone?
  
• Ghana: Star loses lustre
  
• Kenya: Flower industry blooming
  
• South Africa: Not all that is sugar is sweet