Southern Africa

Malawi’s high court has ordered the former ruling party to return the money it received as gifts from state bodies within the next 30 days. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was ordered to pay back 14m Malawian kwacha ($1,400; £1,117) given to the party by public bodies during a fundraising …

The Brics summit of heads of state will be held in South Africa’s main city Johannesburg in August, Reuters agency reported, citing Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor. Her comments follow speculation that South Africa could ask another country to host the summit as it will be under legal obligation to arrest …

General elections in Zimbabwe will take place on August 23,2023, outgoing president Emmerson Mnangagwa announced. Elected in 2018 following a coup that deposed President Robert Mugabe a year earlier, Emmerson Mnangagwa is currently completing a second term in office. His main rival, 45-year-old lawyer and pastor Nelson Chamisa, had expressed …

The Zimbabwean government summoned the acting US ambassador to the country over election-related social media posts, which it said amounted to activism and meddling in internal affairs. Last week, the US embassy encouraged Zimbabweans to register to vote “and make sure your voice is heard”. In a statement on Tuesday, …

Thirteen people have died in a span of three days and four others are admitted in critical condition after eating suspected toxic food in Namibia, local media reported. All are from a household of 22 people in Kayova village, in north-eastern Kavango region. The deceased, majority children, are said to …

A 40-year-old man has filed for divorce from his wife because of how stunning she looks, in the capital city of Lusaka, Zambia, according to reports. The man has taken the extraordinary step of seeking the dissolution of his marriage, citing that his wife is exceptionally beautiful. This surprising revelation …

South Africa has declared diplomatic immunity for foreign officials attending the Brics summit in August, potentially opening the door for the attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a gazette notice on Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor said the immunity also applies to officials attending the Brics foreign ministers’ …

The Mozambican cabinet has approved a bill proposing pay cuts for ministers, deputy ministers, state secretaries and MPs as the government grapples with a rising wage bill. Finance and Economy Minister Max Tonela on Thursday said the proposal was also seeking to address concerns over provincial assemblies members’ salaries, which …

The leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), South Africa’s third-largest political party, has said he would “supply weapons to Russia” because Moscow is “in a war with imperialism”. In an interview with the BBC in Johannesburg, Julius Malema insisted that “South Africa is an ally of Russia” and that …

Authorities in the Mozambican capital Maputo have announced that all beaches in the city will be closed between 19:00 and 05:00 local time in order to combat crime. Increasing acts of violence including rapes and murder in Maputo especially at night and often on beaches, have prompted the measure. Leonel …