Africa Featured South Africa Southern Africa World 

South African judge wants ex-president Zuma jailed

– – A official inquiry into “state capture” in South Africa will be filing papers against ex-President Jacob Zuma for once more defying a court summons, its chairman says. Mr Zuma failed to appear before Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s commission despite the Constitutional Court ruling that he was compelled to do so. Allegations that Mr Zuma presided over a… Read More
Africa China Southern Africa World Zimbabwe 

Zimbabwe receives 200k doses of Covid-19 vaccine from China

– – Zimbabwe has received its first 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm Covid vaccine from China, according to the government. The consignment of the vaccine arrived on Monday morning in a Air Zimbabwe flight and were handed over to the government. The handing over to the government was done by Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe. China donated the 200,000 doses with… Read More
Africa Malawi Southern Africa World 

Malawi’s president sacks Covid taskforce boss amid graft claims

Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has sacked the co-chair of the government’s taskforce overseeing the fight against Covid-19 pandemic. The co-chair of the taskforce, John Phuka is accused of misusing $7.7m (6 billion Malawi Kwacha). A report by the country’s ombudsman in November last year said there was lack of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the country’s Covid-19 preparedness… Read More
Africa Business Southern Africa World 

Covid-19: RwandAir suspends flights to southern Africa

– – Rwanda’s national carrier Rwandair has announced temporarily suspension of flights to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. In a statement posted on Twitter, the airline said the suspension was due to the new Covid-19 variants reported in southern African countries. It said all flights to and from the cities of Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lusaka and Harare have been suspended… Read More
Africa Featured South Africa Southern Africa World 

South Africa suspends Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine

– – South Africa has suspended the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccination. Tests conducted by the country have shown that the vaccine developed by drug-maker AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford offered only limited protection against mild and moderate disease caused by the 501Y.V2 coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa. The SA government had planned to roll the Oxford/AstraZeneca… Read More
Africa Southern Africa World Zimbabwe 

Zimbabwe: 3 female political activists arrested for insulting police

– – Police in Zimbabwe have arrested three female opposition activists. Police said the trio was arrested on Monday after holding a demonstration outside a government building in the capital, Harare. They are also accused of using abusive and obscene language against police officers. In a statement, the Zimbabwean police confirmed the arrest of Joanna Mamombe , Netsai Marova and Cecilia… Read More
Africa Eswatini Southern Africa World 

Covid-19: Hospitals in Eswatini ‘run out of body bags’

– – Hospitals in Eswatini are reportedly running out of body bags due to a surge in COVID-19-deaths. The Times of Swaziland reported that a source at a hospital told the publication “that in the past two weeks, most of the bodies were wrapped in sheet-covers and put into plastic materials upon being confirmed dead.” The source was quoted as… Read More
Africa Southern Africa World Zimbabwe 

Zimbabwe arrests couple for claiming Mnangagwa died of Covid-19

– – Authorities in Zimbabwe have arrested and detained a Zimbabwean couple reported to have sent a message on WhatsApp claiming that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had died from Covid-19. Devine Panashe Maregere (20) and wife Vongai Nomatter Chiminya (20) were arrested and detained as part of a crackdown by the government. The two were arraigned with the court denying them… Read More
Africa South Africa Southern Africa World 

South Africa lifts ban on use of hijab in the military

– – Female military officers in South Africa can now wear their hijabs with their military uniforms. It follows a review of the dress code of the South African military after a rights organisation challenged the policy in court. A Muslim woman, Maj Fatima Isaacs has waged a two year battle against the dress policy after she was charged with disobeying… Read More
Africa Southern Africa World Zambia 

Zambia alarmed by surge in suicide and passion killings among youths

– – The rate at which young people are reportedly committing suicide and crimes of passion/ passion killings in Zambia has become a source of serious concern. In recent months, the country has seen a spate of such deaths with victims being under or slightly over 20 years of age. Overlapping Cases A recent case involved a 17 year old… Read More