Southern Africa

Bombing at Opposition Politician’s Home in Zimbabwe Raises Questions About Safety, Impunity Attack and immediate response The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) on Wednesday condemned what it called a “barbaric act of violence” after a bomb exploded at the home of opposition politician Job Sikhala on August 30, an attack that left family members shaken and raised fresh questions about political safety and the rule of law in Zimbabwe. The device detonated while Sikhala was in South Africa—where he had been publicly…

South Africa hold Nigeria to 1-1 draw in Bloemfontein as qualification drama deepens Bloemfontein — Nigeria's Super Eagles left South Africa on a knife edge after a 1-1 draw with Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein on Saturday, a match that keeps both teams' World Cup qualification hopes very much alive but leaves the path forward markedly different for the two nations. The result means South Africa sit six points clear at the top of their group and can all but seal progression if they pick up a single point from the two…

Africa’s quiet emergency: rising suicide rates meet a shrinking safety net When Namibia’s Vice President Netumbo Nandi‑Ndaitwah told Parliament this year that 542 people had died by suicide between 2023 and 2024, she broke a painful public silence. Her warning — that Namibia now has the highest suicide rate in Africa — landed alongside a stark global tally from the World Health Organization: more than 720,000 people die by suicide each year, and suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death for 15- to 29‑year‑olds, most…

South Africa’s top court strips a colonial rule from the registry — and opens a conversation about names, identity and equality In a ruling that reaches beyond bureaucratic formality, South Africa’s Constitutional Court has declared unconstitutional a colonial-era provision that barred husbands from taking their wives’ surnames. The decision — prompted by two couples who challenged the Department of Home Affairs after being denied the right to assume or hyphenate their spouses’ names — requires Parliament to amend the…

South Africa at a Crossroads: Donor Cuts Threaten Hard‑Won Gains Against HIV GAUTENG, South Africa — In a conference hall a short drive from Johannesburg’s busy highways, the blunt arithmetic of global aid collided with the realities faced by clinics and families. Scientists, clinicians, activists and people living with HIV spoke in urgent, sometimes angry tones: the era of steady international support that helped turn a tide against HIV may be ebbing, and the consequences could be catastrophic. Stark projections, stark…

Insurgency in Cabo Degaldo: A Struggle for Survival In the heart of Cabo Degaldo province, Mozambique, a chilling echo of violence reverberated through the quiet of a Sunday night. Insurgents armed with lethal intent knocked on doors, summoning their victims one by one, leaving a trail of fear and despair. Among the fallen were police officers, once protectors now turned targets, underscoring the alarming evolution of this violent insurgency, which has claimed over 6,000 lives since its onset in 2017. The Human Toll of…

Botswana’s Diamond Dilemma: The Social and Economic Fallout of a Resource-Dependent Economy As Botswana grapples with an unprecedented fiscal crisis, the shimmering allure of diamonds—the cornerstone of the nation’s wealth—has turned into a stark reminder of vulnerability. This dilemma illuminates a larger narrative: the challenges faced by resource-dependent economies in an ever-evolving global market. The Glitter Fade: A Market at a Crossroads Once celebrated as Africa's beacon of prosperity, Botswana now finds itself…

Tragedy on the Roads: Namibia Faces Heartbreak After Collision On a quiet afternoon in Namibia, a devastating tragedy unfolded near Mariental, a town located 270 kilometers south of Windhoek. A head-on collision between vehicles belonging to the country's security services has taken the lives of 16 individuals, including 14 officers and two civilians, leaving a nation in mourning. The Aftermath of the Collision As news of the accident spread, the ripple effects were felt far beyond Mariental's immediate borders. President…

Decades Later, South Africa Still Seeks Justice for the Cradock Four A biting winter chill hung over the Cradock cemetery, where the neglected graves of four apartheid activists marked a somber reminder of brutality and injustice. Decades after their untimely deaths, the story of the Cradock Four resonates deeply, interwoven with South Africa's ongoing quest for truth and reconciliation. The Painful Legacy of Apartheid In 1985, Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sicelo Mhlauli, and Sparrow Mkhonto—three teachers and a…

The Evolving Landscape of Trader Trust in South Africa In a rapidly evolving financial environment, trust and transparency have emerged as fundamental pillars driving trader preferences in South Africa. Recent findings from Kantar's Global Brand Health Tracking study reveal critical insights into what today’s traders prioritize when selecting a broker. These insights not only reflect local sentiments but also resonate with larger global trends in the finance sector. Trust: The Cornerstone of Trading Relationships Trust…