Southern-Africa

Cynthia Shange, celebrated as the first Black woman to represent South Africa at Miss World during the apartheid era, has died at 76. Her daughter, Nonhle Thema, confirmed her passing and honored Shange’s enduring compassion and influence. Shange became a household name in the 1970s when she took the Miss World stage for South Africa. Under apartheid, Black women were barred from entering Miss South Africa and instead built their own platforms through parallel pageants. Shange captured one of those crowns, winning Miss…

At least 18 people were killed when a commuter omnibus erupted in flames and exploded on the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Highway, authorities confirmed. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said the deadly incident occurred between Chipangali and the Gwanda tollgate. Officials added that more information will be released as investigations progress. The cause of the blaze and subsequent explosion remains undetermined, and it is still unclear how many passengers were on board. The Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road, a key artery linking…

Opposition politician Julius Malema has been handed a five-year prison term for firing a rifle into the air during a 2018 political rally. The opposition leader was found guilty last year on five counts, including unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a weapon in a public place, linked to the 2018 incident at a stadium in the Eastern Cape province. His lawyer said he would appeal the ruling.

Breaking a long-running diplomatic lull, President Cyril Ramaphosa has named Roelf Meyer as South Africa’s next ambassador to the United States, filling a role that has stood empty since 2025. The move follows the expulsion of former ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, who was declared persona non grata in 2025 after comments he made during a webinar on US politics. Frictions deepened afterward when Trump launched a refugee programme for white South Africans, asserting that they face government-led persecution at home. Meyer, a…

In a powerful gesture ahead of Independence Day, South Africa will return Zimbabwe’s last remaining soapstone bird and ancestral human remains, closing a chapter that began with the artefact’s theft more than a century ago during the colonial period. The items will be handed over in a symbolic ceremony. Carved from soapstone and originating from Great Zimbabwe, the bird stands as a defining national emblem of identity and pride. Minister Gayton McKenzie said the move follows a directive from President Cyril Ramaphosa,…

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah used her State of the Nation Address to unveil an ambitious plan to jump-start growth, anchoring it on targeted investment, energy stability, and a renewed push in agriculture. She outlined headline domestic commitments, notably the introduction of fully subsidised tertiary education for qualifying students, supported by broader access to financial aid. Calling the moment “decisive,” the president pressed Parliament to fast-track the petroleum amendment bill, cautioning against the…

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s move to appoint seven new deputy ministers has drawn swift criticism from political analysts and opposition figures, who argue the decision will meaningfully inflate government spending. They describe the plan as poorly conceived, saying it places fresh strain on the national budget. Each of the seven deputies will earn N$65 000 a month — N$780 000 a year — adding nearly N$1.7 million annually to the wage bill for public office bearers. Critics also questioned whether the appointees can…

The escalating conflict in the Middle East is prompting a significant shift in oil procurement strategies among European and Asian buyers, who are increasingly turning to African oil-producing nations. These countries not only offer lower insurance costs but also promise more consistent delivery timelines compared to the high-risk regions of the Middle East. According to industry analysts, leading African energy players—namely Nigeria, Libya, Angola, Gabon, Mozambique, Namibia, and Tanzania—are being regarded as safer…

As Easter approaches, countries across Africa are ramping up plans for a weekend defined by faith, family, and heavy travel, with leaders using the moment to press safety and security messages nationwide. In Mozambique, immigration authorities expect close to 400,000 people to cross the nation’s borders during the Easter period—about 17,000 more than last year. To cope with the uptick, officials are tightening procedures and staffing to keep checkpoints moving smoothly. In Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has arrived in…

Troops are now on the streets as South Africa turns to its army to bolster overstretched police in a push against violent crime, from illicit mining syndicates to entrenched gang networks. Earlier this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa authorized the deployment of 2,200 soldiers to five of the country’s nine provinces hit hardest by criminal activity. Set to run for a year, the operation aims to stabilize communities battered by lawlessness, though critics argue the military is an imperfect tool for civilian policing.…