Southern Africa

Zambia’s ruling party, the party of outgoing President Edgar Lungu has conceded its defeat and congratulated opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema for his victory in the presidential election. “The Patriotic Front Party would like to congratulate the president elect, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, on his deserved victory,” the party announced on its …

Prison officials in South Africa said jailed former President Jacob Zuma has undergone surgery and remains in hospital. The 79-year-old is due to have other procedures in the coming days, Singabakho Nxumalo, the correctional services department spokesperson, has said. There has been no word on the nature of the operations …

In the early hours of Monday, the Election Commission of Zambia declared opposition candidate Hakainde Hichilema the winner in the August 12 presidential election. Mr Hichilema, 59, defeated incumbent President Edgar Lungu, 64. In a TV show broadcast on the YouTube video-sharing platform, the commission chairman announced the final results …

Zambia’s main opposition presidential candidate has denounced the cut-off of the internet during Thursday’s tightly contested elections and called on for its restoration. “We call on Zicta [the communications authority] to immediately unblock the internet so citizens can follow the electoral process and continue with their lives unhindered,” Hakainde Hichilema …

Health authorities in South Africa are calling for more men to come out in greater numbers and get vaccinated against Covid-19 as their numbers trails that of women. About 60% of vaccines have been administered to women, health officials noted on Friday during a media briefing on government’s efforts in …

Mobile phone social media and messaging apps are not working in Zambia as the country continues to vote in a general election, internet monitoring service Netblocks says. ⚠️ Confirmed: WhatsApp messaging app restricted in #Zambia on election day; real-time network data show loss of service on multiple internet providers as …

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is due to appear on Wednesday morning before the country’s long-running corruption inquiry. It was set up to investigate allegations that his predecessor Jacob Zuma during his term in office allowed the wealthy Gupta family to plunder state resources and to influence policy and cabinet …

About 90,000 people have been affected by flash flooding in South Sudan’s eastern Jonglei state, the UN humanitarian affairs agency (Ocha) says. The UN said local authorities had reported over 70,000 affected people in Ayod and Canal counties and many were experiencing this for the second time since May. It …

A new boss is taking over the running of Mozambique’s Ndlavela Women’s Penitentiary, where it was found that inmates there had been forced into prostitution. Herminia Nhamuze was sworn in as the new director, replacing Albertina Dimande. She had been removed in June during investigations into the allegations first exposed …

Jacob Zuma, the South African former President has been admitted to a hospital outside prison for medical observation. The announcement has been done by the prison’s authorities. His foundation said it was an “annual medical routine check-up” and there was “no need to be alarmed”. As a former head of …