You are here

Tag: Southern Africa

Africa Southern Africa World Zambia 

Calls to lift ex-Zambian president’s immunity spark debates

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , 0 comment

– – Zambia’s investigative wings have started arresting political leaders in the former ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party, who are believed to have committed crimes, such as misappropriation of funds, attempted murder and others. Among those arrested in November are former Defence Minister, Davis Chama, for attempted murder of a member of the now ruling United Party for National Development (UPND), during a bye-election in 2015. Other include former ministers, Ronald Chitotela and Nickson Chilangwa, who are connected with the violence-related incident recorded on voting day on August 12 this…

Read More
Africa South Africa Southern Africa World 

South Africa protests travel restrictions amid new covid-19 variant

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , 0 comment

– – The South African government has complained that it is being punished instead of being  applauded for discovering new covid-19 variant Omicron. The  country’s foreign ministry made the statement as countries around the world restrict travel from southern African countries as the variant spread. The World Health Organization (WHO) said the  new variant was being considered as “of concern” due to higher re-infection risk. The new variant  first reported to the WHO from South Africa has  been detected in Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel. Several cases have also been…

Read More
Africa Business South Africa Southern Africa World 

AfricArena ends 2021 event circuit in Cape Town with a bang

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , 0 comment

– – AfricArena, which provides open innovation challenges, research and dealflow services to help accelerate the work of founders, investors and corporates, hosted its fifth annual Summit from 16 – 17 November in Cape Town. It was preceded by its Founders’ Bootcamp and VC Unconference Weekends, attended by 60 high level international investors and 40 startups from 15 African countries, as well as the elite of the continent’s ecosystem builders. During the Grand Summit, major announcements took place, including the new partnership between AfricArena, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and…

Read More
Africa South Africa Southern Africa World 

Why South Africa is a very violent country

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , 0 comment

– – Latest statistics in South Africa showed a very worrying trend of a surge in crime rates, with officials describing the country as very violent. According to the police, murder cases had increased by almost 21% this year when compared to the same period last year. When it came to sexual violence, 10,000 people were raped in the three months – amounting to four rapes an hour. That is a 7% rise from last year. Police Minister Bheki Cele who presented the statistics at a media briefing said the…

Read More
Africa South Africa Southern Africa World 

South Africa’s Former President de Klerk dies

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , 0 comment

– – Former President of South Africa and the last white person to lead the country, FW de Klerk has died at the age of 85. Mr de Klerk, who was also a key figure in the nation’s transition to democracy, had been diagnosed with cancer this year. Mr de Klerk was head of state between September 1989 and May 1994. In 1990 he announced he was releasing anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, leading to multi-party polls in 1994. A statement from the former president’s FW de Klerk Foundation read: “Former President…

Read More
Africa Southern Africa World Zambia 

Zambian activists lament surge in Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , , ,

– – Mental health activists in Zambia, have lamented the extent to which young people’s mental health is affected by alcohol and substance abuse. According to research, mental health disorders are a leading cause of health disability in 10-to-24-year-olds in Zambia and a recent report released in Lusaka, reveals that the country has experienced increased numbers of children committing suicide, because of the same. These activists have now launched a Campaign on Mental Health for Children to fight the menace. According to the activists, Alcohol and other substance abuse have…

Read More
Africa Business Southern Africa World Zimbabwe 

AU Commission calls for removal of sanctions on Zimbabwe

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , ,

– – The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. In a statement Mr. Mahamat said he was “concerned by the negative impact of continued sanctions against the Republic of Zimbabwe to the country’s socio-economic development and recovery efforts.” Zimbabweans led by their president, Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2019 embarked on a march to demand an end to foreign sanctions. The government launched that campaign to make unpopular what it considered at the time foreign sanctions that have crippled…

Read More
Africa Eswatini Southern Africa World 

Eswatini shuts down Facebook to quell protests

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , ,

– – The Eswatini government has asked leading telecom operator MTN, to shut down social media giant Facebook. The government wants to curb pro-democracy protests that have been going on for months amid calls for political reforms. Social media platforms have been accused by the government of “irresponsibly” spreading misinformation, which was “contributing to the violent attacks and events around the country”. “As government, we have an obligation to restore peace and order to bring a stop to the violence currently taking place,” a letter from Information Minister Princess Sikhanyiso…

Read More
Africa Business South Africa Southern Africa World 

Municipal Payments Essential for South Africa’s Future Cities

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , ,

– – The urban population in Africa has swelled from 15% of the total population in 1960, to over 40% in 2010 and is set to exceed 60% by 2050. It is anticipated that South Africa will follow suit. In fact, current projections indicate that an additional 19 to 24 million people will be added to the national population over the next three decades, and that the vast majority of this growth will be confined to cities and towns. But what is needed by the country’s municipalities to cope with…

Read More
Africa Southern Africa World Zambia 

Zambia probes allies of former President Edgar Lungu

Elwin Mandowa, , , , ,

– – Zambia’s former ruling Patriotic Front (PF), party’s Secretary General, Davies Mwila and Lusaka businessman, Valden Findlay, are among the first few allies of former President, Edgar Lungu, that have been summoned for questioning by some of the country’s investigative wings, following the new ruling United Party for National Development (UPND)’s landslide victory, in Zambia’s recently held general election. The Anti-Corruption commission and Drug Enforcement Commission, seem to be keeping a close eye on such PF members, lately, for what commentators suspect to be corruption or money laundering. This…

Read More