Southern Africa

A mother and baby were killed by an elephant in the Chipinge district of south-eastern Zimbabwe, local media report. The woman, who had been visiting relatives in rural Chipinge district on New Year’s Day, was on her back home when an elephant charged at them. Zimbabwe Parks Authority spokesman Tinashe …

Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi is in mandatory self- isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 in routine testing, a government spokesperson said on Monday. “The president does not have any symptoms and will continue to receive close medical monitoring by his medical doctors,” John-Thomas Dipowe, acting permanent secretary for Government Communications, …

South African authorities on Tuesday said they had finally contained a suspected arson fire at the parliament building after a second-day flare-up that completely destroyed the lower house National Assembly chamber. A 49-year-old man accused of setting the fire appeared in court to face five charges including arson and possession …

The Mozambican president Filipe Nyusi and his wife have tested positive for covid-19 and are isolating, the president’s office has announced on Monday. A statement from the presidency said Mr Nyusi and his wife had decided to isolate in accordance with health guidelines after testing positive, even though they were …

A South African judicial commission will formally hand over the first part of its report to President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday following its inquiry into corruption during former president Jacob Zuma’s time in power, a Cabinet minister said on Friday. The judicial commission was due to deliver the first part …

A South African court has halted oil giant Shell’s seismic testing for oil and gas along the country’s eastern coastline, pending a final ruling. In his ruling, High Court Judge Gerald Bloem said that Shell’s right to explore the waters near the Wild Coast “was awarded on the basis of …

Leaders all around the world paid tribute to Desmond Tutu, Anglican archbishop and one of the anti-apartheid heroes, who died Sunday at the age of 90. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement that Tutu had helped bring about “a liberated South Africa”. President Biden said he was …

A South African court on Tuesday granted former president Jacob Zuma, leave to appeal a ruling that he return to prison after being released in September on medical parole. The new decision means that the former president will be able to spend Christmas at home. President Zuma, 79, had been …

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has returned to work on Monday, a week after testing positive for COVID-19, his office said. President Ramaphos tested positive for COVID-19 on December 12 and received treatment for mild symptoms. “The President has returned to duty and will chair the final cabinet meeting for …

South African government said it is donating nearly two million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine to other African countries through African Vaccination Acquisition Trust (AVAT), to curb the spread of the virus. According to president Cyril Ramaphosa, the donation is a sign of solidarity to other African countries. “This …