Southern Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against jumping to conclusions about the efficacy of coronavirus vaccines. This decision comes after a South African study suggested that the AstraZeneca vaccine was less effective against a local variant of the virus. But experts are hopeful that the vaccine will still be …

In order to make it easier for patients to reach doctors online, a group of young professionals in Botswana have come up with an innovative way. This is after coronavirus made one-on-one consultations difficult. Doctors E-Consult is an online doctor-patient consultation room on a mobile or electronic device. Loatile Nkala …

The Zondo commission,a South African commission investigating corruption during the presidency of Jacob Zuma has faulted his decision not to obey summons to appear before it later this month. According to the Zondo commission, Mr Zuma’s decision is “completely unacceptable”. Mr Zuma is scheduled to appear before the commission from …

The United Kingdom has sent an emergency medical team to Eswatini to help the southern African country deal with a surge in coronavirus cases. The kingdom, formerly known as Swaziland, has a population of a million and seen around 500 people die from the virus. “Earlier last year the local …

In January, Mozambique recorded 210 deaths from Covid-19. According to the health ministry, it is its worst month since the pandemic started. The number is more than half of the 367 deaths recorded from the disease. The southern Africa country also confirmed 20,012 new cases in January, about a half …

South Africa, the most affected country by the coronavirus pandemic on the African continent, has received its first batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines. The one million doses will be given to healthcare workers who have been battling the virus in the continent’s worst-hit country but no date has been set …

The British government has announced sanctions against four Zimbabwean security officials, accusing them of human rights abuses, including killing protesters. Owen Ncube, the Minister of State for National Security , as well as the head of the police, the intelligence agency and the former chief of the presidential guard, will …

South African ex-president Jacob Zuma said he will no longer appear before a commission investigating corruption during his presidency, defying last week’s order by the Constitutional Court. The scandal revolves around allegations that the wealthy Gupta family, who are close friends of the former president, used their relationship to unfairly …

According to the authorities, at least 5,500 families in Mozambique’s central Manica province, have been stranded without access to aid after last weekend’s Cyclone Eloise. The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) has been unable to reach them because of flooding. Manica Governor Francisca Tomás says the …

South Africa’s spy agency has been accused of spending hundreds of millions of dollars on illegal undercover operations to protect former President Jacob Zuma from corruption investigations. The allegations, made by whistle-blowers at a corruption inquiry, include attempts to influence judges and newspapers. The allegations are staggering. Two whistle-blowers, and …