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In a decisive move to reshape the apparel market, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has enacted a formal ban on importing second-hand clothing, tightening entry rules for these goods with permits now issued only under stringent conditions. The step comes amid ongoing concerns about the country’s fragile clothing value chain and the pressure it faces from cheaper, imported stock. Marketers have questioned the timing, warning that while the policy is billed as a lifeline for local manufacturers, it should be calibrated to…

France has revoked South Africa’s invitation to the forthcoming G7 summit, removing Pretoria from the guest list for the high-profile gathering. Paris rejected early claims that Washington had pushed for the exclusion, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa likewise dismissed suggestions of U.S. pressure. South Africa, not a G7 member, had been slated to attend as an observer. French officials said they were pursuing a “streamlined G7” and have invited Kenya instead, citing its role in helping France prepare a major…

At least 15 Zimbabweans have been killed in the Russia-Ukraine war after being deceived into joining foreign militaries, a development officials say exposes a trafficking pipeline preying on job seekers. Information Minister Soda Zhemu said employment agencies tied to criminal syndicates are enticing Zimbabweans with promises of lucrative pay before steering them into foreign armed forces. Recruiters have leveraged social media and bogus job listings to hook applicants, he added, with victims later stripped of their…

South Africa’s top cop, Fannie Masemola, has been summoned to court over a police health-services tender now at the center of a criminal investigation, thrusting the country’s law-enforcement leadership into fresh scrutiny. Masemola is due to appear on April 21 in relation to his alleged role in the awarding of a $21 million contract. The tender, issued in 2024 to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s firm, Medicare24 Tshwane District, was intended to deliver health services to members of the police. Amid corruption…

After 18 years away, Eritrea is finally stepping back onto Africa’s biggest football stage, set to “host” Eswatini in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier that will be played on neutral ground in Morocco. The preliminary round first leg is scheduled for the 20,000-seat Stade d'Honneur, shifted from East to North Africa because Eritrea does not have a stadium that meets international standards. The Red Sea Camels have not featured in the AFCON since a 2008 qualifier ended in a draw in Eswatini, the country formerly known…

Chad has started moving refugees away from its volatile frontier with Sudan after a deadly cross-border raid that killed 17 people, including mourners at a funeral, escalating tensions and prompting vows of retaliation from President Mahamat Idriss Déby. In a formal announcement, the government said it had reinforced security along the border and signaled it may pursue operations inside Sudan if necessary. Local officials added that investigators have yet to determine which group carried out the attack. The eastern border…

Namibia has shut the door on Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, denying its bid to secure a local licence. The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) turned down the application on the grounds that the company failed to meet the country’s local ownership requirements. Under Namibian law, at least 51% of any telecommunications provider must be held by citizens or locally owned entities. While Starlink’s network now spans roughly 25 African nations, it has hit similar regulatory roadblocks…

In a bid to accelerate the fight against tuberculosis, the World Health Organization is urging countries to expand access to new, low-cost diagnostic tools that deliver rapid, point-of-care results. The push centers on innovations such as portable tests that return findings in under an hour and tongue swab sampling to enable earlier detection—approaches designed to widen coverage, cut expenses, and reach people at highest risk. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said these advances have the potential to…

Hospitals across Zimbabwe were thrown into turmoil as nurses walked off the job, leaving wards understaffed and patients without care, in a push for higher wages and allowances. At Parirenyatwa hospital, operations slowed to a near standstill, with student nurses drafted into critical units to keep services running. The walkout erupted just days after a similar action at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital. Nurses said their frustrations have intensified following recent fuel price hikes that have sent transport costs soaring.…

As climate shocks stack up, Malawi’s economy is buckling under their weight. An aggregation of official post-disaster assessments points to a steady drumbeat of losses over eight years: $335 million from the 2015 floods, $365.9 million during the 2016 drought, $220.2 million after Cyclone Idai in 2019, and $506.7 million in the wake of Cyclone Freddy in 2023. Analysts say the heavier toll comes after the storms pass, in the grind of reconstruction and recovery. Across the same period, needs have climbed past $2.04 billion,…