Southern Africa News

[New Zimbabwe] PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has moved to shield selected state firms placed under the Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF) from being subject to the public procurement regulations.

[New Zimbabwe] United Arab Emirates (UAE) based Global Carbon Investments (GCI) has entered into a US$1.5 billion deal with Zimbabwe's Environment Ministry for climate related ventures that will ensure the country ensures reduction of forest emissions.

[Namibian] The National Assembly on Monday finally passed the private member's bills introduced by Swapo lawmaker Jerry Ekandjo to define the term "spouse" and amend the Marriage Act of 1961 to block the recognition of same-sex marriages in Namibia, and it will now be up to president Hage Geingob to sign or reject them.

[New Era] The Namibian newspaper has denied claims that it has become fertile ground for sexual abuse and exploitation of interns and junior reporters.

[allAfrica] Harare -- South African consumers will have to put up with higher chicken meat and egg prices as the industry confronts its worst highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epidemic to date, according to economists and industry insiders.

[RFI] The people of Eswatini head to the polls Friday for elections - despite the fact that political parties are banned. In the last absolute monarchy of Africa, formerly known as Swaziland, all powers are vested in King Mswati III. Elected members of parliament serve as his advisors.

[Vanguard] Spotify, global online streaming platform has revealed South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Angola as the top five countries consuming podcasts in Africa.

[AIM] Maputo -- Unidentified assailants on Wednesday kidnapped a businessman, who is said to be the owner of a clothing store, in central Maputo, according to a video circulating on social media.

[AIM] Maputo -- The Mozambican Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Carlos Zacarias, has announced that the country expects to produce, as of 2024, about 30,000 tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG - cooking gas) per year.

[allAfrica] Award-winning DJ and producer Nkosinathi Maphumulo, popularly known as Black Coffee, is set to make history on October 7, 2023, when he becomes the first South African act to headline Madison Square Garden in New York City.

[Daily Maverick] Analysts say Wednesday's Ward 13 by-election result in the uMhlathuze Local Municipality shows that KwaZulu-Natal is likely to have a coalition government after next year's general election.

[Daily Maverick] The EFF has called for a 'shutdown' in the Western Cape on Monday, 2 October, over a number of issues, including 'unjust taxi impoundments'. But, unlike the August taxi strike, the 'shutdown' isn't being organised by the industry itself.

[Daily Maverick] This round of interviews will also present a good test of how the JSC's new process deals with potentially contentious candidates.

[GroundUp] Sir Lowry's Pass flood victims face uncertain future

[GroundUp] Masifundise inland fisheries report says sector needs government help

[GroundUp] "This is just a classic case of laziness from the police. There is always a solution."

[allAfrica]

[GroundUp] Some schools are not getting even the minimum funding from the National School Nutrition Programme

[Scrolla] The DA has written to Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane's office asking for a provincial commission of inquiry into state capture.

[Scrolla] Johannesburg Metro Police Department officers were attacked by an angry group of people in Kliptown, Soweto on Wednesday as they tried to cut off illegal electricity connections.

[AI London] Shrinking civic space, crackdown on human rights and attack on peaceful dissent intensifies. Mnangagwa followed Mugabe's steps in misusing laws as instrument of oppression. False hopes for a new Zimbabwe as former regime's legacy of violence, oppression and impunity endures.

[DW] The new pipeline is expected to receive 6.5 million litres of fuel from the Tanzania-Zambia Mafuta pipeline, built 54 years ago. Analysts say the cost of fuel will reduce when the new pipeline becomes operational.

[The Conversation Africa] Around the world, men are more likely to get TB and to die from it than women.

[The Conversation Africa] China has big ambitions in Africa. Between 2000 and 2020, the economic superpower loaned African governments US$159 billion to build railroads, highways, stadiums and bridges.

[allAfrica] Harare -- Tomorrow legislative elections will be held in the Kingdom of Eswatini, the last absolute monarchy in Africa.

[ISS] Common misconceptions may discourage police from using this proven method of optimising policing and enhancing safety.

[Nyasa Times] Malawi Government says it needs K226 billion to feed 4.4 million people facing acute hunger.

[allAfrica]

[Scrolla] Aziz Pahad, one of the country's most prominent freedom fighters during apartheid, has died in Johannesburg aged 82.

[Scrolla] Eskom has strained its coal-fired power facilities, causing four out of its 15 plants to violate government emission standards, according to a Reuters report confirmed by Eskom insiders.