Southern Africa

South African laboratory Afrigen Biologics said on Thursday it had used the publicly available sequence of Moderna Inc’s COVID-19 mRNA vaccine to create its own version of the vaccine. According to the Director of the society, Petro Terblanche, the vaccine could be tested in humans before the end of this …

Recycled bottles are being used to build houses for people who lost their homes in flooding in central Mozambique, local media report. The project, funded by Tearfund, will last for three years. The homes will be some of the first ecological houses in that part of the country. Two have …

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has received a second report on corruption during the reign of his predecessor Jacob Zuma. The President should receive a total of three reports. The second part was received behind closed doors unlike the first one which was presented on live TV. The latest volume …

The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) bloc’s Climate Services Centre (CSC) has warned of heavy rainfall that could be triggered by an impending tropical storm, called Batsirai. The CSC said Batsirai is evolving from the south-western Indian Ocean. Countries in the region that are likely to be affected are Malawi, …

South Africa will no longer require people who test positive for Covid and don’t show symptoms to isolate, according to new regulations announced by the government. The country has also reduced to seven from 10 the number of days required to isolate for those showing symptoms. This follows a “substantial” …

At least 16 people were rescued when the bank they were on was surrounded by water, authorities in Mozambique said. The administrator of Chemba district, Paulo Quembo, said that two boats were sent on Monday to the site on the Zambezi River in order to avoid a tragedy. He said …

Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has made a decision in favor of those hit by Storm Ana. In fact, he ordered the reconstruction of roads and destroyed houses. At least 30 people are known to have died and many others are still missing, reports say. Residents of the village of Thabwa …

Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has warned newly appointed ministers against corruption after they were sworn in on Sunday. The Head of the State said he would not shield anyone from prosecution if they got involved in corrupt activities. “Do not accept a gift in exchange for using your office to …

Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has appointed a new cabinet after sacking the previous one on Monday. Curiously, his party’s top officials do not appear in his government. The former cabinet was dissolved on Monday amid a public outcry over corruption, saying he was taking the decision to “confront all forms …

Elephants suspected of killing two people in Metuchira district in the central Mozambican province of Sofala have been killed, local media report. The two pachyderms are reported to have killed the victims at their homes. The National Administration of Conservation Areas (Anac) said it carried out an investigation that identified …