Southern Africa

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is due to sign into law a contentious national health bill that aims to provide universal coverage to millions of poor citizens. The National Health Insurance (NHI) bill seeks to give South Africans “of all races, rich or poor and legal long-term residents” access to …

Online retail giant Amazon announced the launch of its online shopping service in South Africa on Tuesday, challenging a number of online retailers. South Africa is usually seen as a good entry point for companies to expand into the continent and Amazon could be doing the same, analysts have said …

At least five people died and dozens more were trapped in South Africa after a multi-storey building under construction collapsed in the city of George, local media reported. Emergency services rushed to the scene to search for survivors. City officials say over 20 people have so far been rescued and …

Zimbabweans will start using fresh banknotes and coins on Tuesday as the country rolls out its third currency in a decade. The currency, of which a digital version was launched earlier this month, is the latest attempt to control soaring inflation in the country. But there are signs the Zimbabwe …

Namibian police are on a hunt for 11 prisoners who broke out of a police cell in the northeastern Zambezi region. The escapees, awaiting trial for serious offenses, managed to cut through the roof of the Katima Mulilo police station and flee. Items believed to have aided the escape, such …

More than 100 people died and several others remain missing, after their boat capsized in the northern coast of Mozambique, President Felipe Nyusi said on Monday. Lourenco Machado, an official from the country’s Maritime Transport Institute (INTRASMAR) said the vessel carrying 130 passengers was an overloaded fishing boat and was …

Rwandan President Paul Kagame met his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa and they reaffirmed their support in finding a “political situation” to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mr Ramaphosa was visiting the East African country to take part in the 30th commemorations of the Rwandan genocide. President …

Five people have died in Malawi’s southern city of Blantyre while two others are receiving treatment for suspected alcohol poisoning. Nine men were rushed to the city’s main referral hospital on Friday night after taking homemade alcohol. A statement from the Director of Health and Social Services for the Blantyre …

On Saturday March 30, around 9:30 a.m. (local time), an 80-year-old American woman was killed by an elephant during a safari in Kafue National Park in Zambia, Sky News indicates. The woman was accompanied by a guide and five other tourists when a male elephant suddenly attacked their vehicle. The …

South Africa’s Speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has resigned after police raided her home during a corruption investigation, local media reported. Ms Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of soliciting bribes in return for awarding contracts during her time as defence minister. She has denied the charges and said her resignation was “in …