Southern Africa

South Africa’s top court on Friday dismissed a bid by former president Jacob Zuma to overturn his 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court after he ignored instructions to participate in a corruption inquiry. Former president Zuma, recuperating in hospital after surgery for an undisclosed illness, asked the court in …

The South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the public to nominate the next justice chief as Mogoeng Mogoeng tenure ends next month. President Ramaphosa said this decision aims to “further deepen public confidence in the independence and integrity of the judiciary”. In a statement, the president’s cabinet said …

Zimbabwean authorities have ruled that all civil workers who have not been vaccinated against covid-19 be expelled from work with immediate effect. According to the Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, the government had given its workers “ample time” to get Covid-19 vaccines. It’s not clear how many civil servants are affected …

According to data from the Mozambican Ministry of Health, coronavirus cases have dropped considerably during these first two weeks of September. In the first 13 days of the month, there were 2,943 new cases of Covid-19 and 107 hospital admissions, a big drop from the 15,385 cases and 542 admissions …

In a televised address, the South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the easing of some restrictions that have been in place to curb the spread of coronavirus. Cyril Ramaphosa said due to a decline in infections an overnight curfew would be shortened, alcohol restrictions would be eased and larger …

A magistrate in Zimbabwe has said that the body of former President Robert Mugabe can be exhumed after a traditional leader said that his burial had violated cultural practices, BBC News reports. Robert Mugabe who died in 2019, was buried in a courtyard of his family homestead. But after a …

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has sacked the country’s foreign affairs minister Beatrice Khamisa Wani Noah. Her dismissal was announced in a presidential decree read on the national broadcaster SSBC on Thursday night. No reasons were given for her removal from office. She has been replaced with Mayiik Ayii Deng, …

Mozambican police seized about $ 16,000 in counterfeit banknotes which investigators say were fabricated by a regional union specializing in printing counterfeit currency. Police said they had arrested two Angolans, and arrest warrants for other suspects would be issued. “Mozambican, Angolan and South African nationals were suspected to be part …

The South African Football Association says it will offer free tickets to vaccinated football fans attending next month’s World Cup qualifier between the national team, Bafana Bafana, and Ethiopia. The association said those who got vaccinated would be prioritised at matches and other entertainment events. The South African government has …

The banking services which had been discontinued due to insecurity in the region and a lack of electricity supply, have been restored in the northern Mozambican town of Mueda in the restive Cabo Delgado province. Local media say civil servants living in the area used to travel to Montepuez, 220km …