Southern Africa

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 …

The provincial health department in the South African province of Gauteng on Sunday announced 19 new cases of Cholera in Hammanskraal, including 10 deaths, Reuters agency reported. South Africa reported its first cholera death in February, after the virus arrived in the country from Malawi. It was unclear how many …

South Africa’s main opposition party has asked the anti-corruption watchdog to investigate what it says are inflated contracts for the upkeep of ministers’ lavish homes. This comes after the ANC government revealed that between 2019 and 2022 it had spent nearly $5m (£4m) maintaining dozens of properties occupied by public …

The US ambassador to Pretoria has made a damning accusation against the South African government – and it seems to have caught South African officials off-guard. Ambassador Reuben Brigety says that the US has reliable intelligence that South Africa supplied arms and ammunition to a Russian ship which had docked, …