Africa Rise And Shine

Hundreds of private providers in South Africa are reportedly standing by with sites they say have everything except the two critical elements only the government can deliver: vaccine doses, and recipients to get them. The country has to vaccinate well over 100-thousand people daily, every week in order to reach its immunity target. Momentum Metropolitan Holdings, has secured accreditation for four mass vaccination centres and expects to start administering vaccines later this week, depending on the delivery of the first vaccine consignments ordered. The financial institution promises to vaccinate 20-thousand people per day once all centres are fully operational. For more on this we spoke to Damian McHugh from Momentum.... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN-Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, concludes her visit to Mozambique, today. The visit stems from the need to strengthen the partnership and cooperation relations between Mozambique and UN-Women. Milton Maluleque reports... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have met privately with the family of George Floyd who was brutally murdered at the hands of police a year ago. The meeting comes as negotiations continue among Congressional lawmakers on police reform legislation that will bear Floyd's name. This as civil rights leaders and activists held a rally in Minneapolis to commemorate the first anniversary of Floyd's death. Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CorMSA) says it wishes Africa political and economic stability so that it is able to reduce the number of displacements which leads to an increased number of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers on the continent. This comes as countries celebrate Africa Day today. The annual commemoration marks the 58th anniversary of the founding of the organisation of African Unity, now African Union, on May 25, 1963. More from Thifuluffheli Sithumule, Director of CoRMSA... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A South African payment aggregator and provider of secure payment solutions, Pay-at, will be expanding into several African countries and providing consumers and businesses alike with a variety of payment methods. With the African Continental Free Trade Agreement set to generate combined consumer and business spending by 2030, the continent requires payment platforms to cater for this growth. This is according to Pay-at Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Hardie. He spoke to Khumbelo Munzhelele and started by giving a brief explanation on how Pay-at works... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On May 25 of each year, Africa Day is commemorated diversely in the continent and the diaspora. On this day in 1963, the first Africa continental inter-governmental organisation was created, following the independence of most countries. The Organisation of African Unity, mother of the current African Union, was born with the adoption of its Charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during a diplomatic conference. This year, under the theme, "Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa we Want", the African Union in partnership with an initiative named "African Tales" will be hosting a virtual event to celebrate this day. Bwalya Mwali of the African Tales, spoke to Khumbelo Munzhelele. She started by elaborating on the significance of this day... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we are commemorating World Thyroid Day, which is an annual awareness day that was established in 2008 during the congress of the European Thyroid Association (ETA). It focuses on increasing awareness of thyroid health and educating about prevention and treatment of thyroid diseases. World Thyroid Day aims at increasing public awareness of thyroid deceases, including the importance of their timely diagnosis. Dr Sindeep Bhana, Head of Endocrinology at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in South Africa says thyroid disease can manifest in different ways... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ghanaian President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, says African countries must be encouraged to develop the capacity to produce their own vaccines. He says the Covid-19 pandemic has shown that there is a need to hasten the process of regional and continent integration. He was speaking at the opening of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the fifth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP). The week-long meeting is taking place at the PAP precincts in Midrand, South Africa, under the theme: " Year of the Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want. Nhlanhla Mahlangu reports… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a first, ministries of education and health from more than 20 African countries have linked up to discuss keeping schools safe and open during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two-day virtual dialogue which concludes today is convened by the United Nations and Global Partnership for Education. For more on this, Khumbelo Munzhelele, spoke to the UN child agency's Lieke van de Wiel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame's statement in connection with crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to dominate discussions in the country. During his stay in Paris, Kagame said there has never been a crime committed in the DRC. Kagame also described Congolese Doctor Denis Mukwege, and Nobel Peace Prize winner, as a tool of strength that can't be seen. He however said Rwanda is ready to help restore peace in eastern DRC. Jean Noël Ba-Mweze reports from Kinshasa See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President of Zambia's United Party for National Development (UPND), Hakainde Hichilema, has successfully filed his nomination papers for the upcoming Presidential election. The UPND leader has settled for his Vice President as running mate and he joins a number of other candidates that have nominated females as their running mates for the 2021 elections. Hilda Akekelwa reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pregnant women and girls in Zimbabwe face barriers accessing public health facilities and risk life changing child-birth related injuries, including obstetric fistula. This is according to a new report released by the rights group Amnesty International. The report, "I never thought I could get healed from this", lays bare the physical and psychological trauma that women and girls who experience obstetric fistula in the country go through. For more on these findings, Khumbelo Munzhelele spoke Amnesty International's campaigner for Southern Africa, Vongai Chikwanda... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than a year into COVID-19 and amidst most dire mental health crisis, South African non-governmental organisation, Community Keepers and more than one thousand other organisations have teamed up to mark the first ever 'Mental Health Action Day' on Thursday. Over the past two decades, rates of suicide, anxiety and depression have risen, particularly among young adults. For more on this, Khumbelo Munzhelele spoke to Gerrit Laning, CEO of Community Keepers...... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Countries around the world are marking the sixth United Nation Global road safety week. In 2021, the week aims to gather political and community support to reduce speed in urban areas and to build momentum towards the launch of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021 to 2030. It is reported that every year 1.35 million deaths are the result of road traffic injuries. More from the World Health Organisation's Dr Binta Sako.... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kenya's Attorney-General as well as legal promoters and supporters of the Building Bridges Initiative Bill, have filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal, to dislodge the High Court's ruling that threw out the plan to change the country's constitution. Five High Court judges ruled last week that the bill was irregular, illegal and unconstitutional. Channel Africa's James Shimanyula reports from Nairobi.. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many sexual reproductive health and rights services were considered "non-essential" during the pandemic which had consequences for women and girls. A virtual summit convened by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) brought together delegates from around the world to explore strategies for improving equity for women, children during pandemic response and recovery. The two-day meeting, which concluded on Tuesday, included global policy makers, business leaders and health care providers among others. To reflect on its outcomes, Lulu Gaboo spoke to PMNCH Executive Director of Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Helga Fogstad… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The High Court in Zimbabwe's capital Harare has ruled that the retired Chief Justice, Luke Malaba, cannot have his expired term of office renewed in line with the new Constitutional Amendment number two. It took the whole government legal arm to amend the constitution in order to facilitate the extension of Chief Justice's term after he recently attained 70 years of age, prompting a combined High Court challenge by several groups. In their ruling the court said the Constitutional amendment does not give the sitting judges an advantage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amnesty International says survivors of an attack by the armed group known locally as 'Al-Shabaab' in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado have told their researchers that white contractors were prioritized for evacuation ahead of Black locals, in disturbing testimony that points to blatant racism. An estimated 220 civilians sought refuge in the Amarula Palma Hotel in Palma, during an attack that started on March 14. To discuss this further, Lulu Gaboo spoke to Amnesty International's Southern Africa Researcher, David Matsinhe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa's mass vaccination programme is due to kick off on Monday with the phase two targeting people above 60 years of age. It remains yet to be seen how efficiently the vaccines will be distributed and administered to the general public. Nevertheless, the country's biggest pharmaceutical companies, Dischem and Clicks will be working closely with government to roll out the vaccines. Dischem says it has so far secured 32 dedicated vaccination sites situated nationwide at key locations. More from Dis-Chem's national clinic manager, Lizeth Kruger.. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malawi's Parliament has now confirmed Martha Chizuma as the new Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, after a meeting on Monday. She was rejected last week amid divisions within the Parliaments' Public Appointments Committee. Malawi's President, Lazarus Chakwera, during his 2021 State-of-the-Nation Address, expressed unhappiness at the move and called for an audit. For more on this, Lulu Gaboo spoke to our correspondent in Blantyre, George Mhango... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.