Africa Rise And Shine

Teachers in eSwatini took to the streets yesterday, in a protest against police brutality in that country. The Swaziland National Association of Teachers led the march to Manzini regional police head offices to deliver a petition. The protest comes after a law student, Thabani Nkomonye, was found dead, his body dumped in bushes in an area called Nhlambeni. This led to a public outcry over allegations that Nkomonye was killed by the police. For more on this, Lulu Gaboo spoke to President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers, Mbongwa Dlamini... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Science will now play a key role in the protection of Rhinos against rampant poaching. A pioneering project, involving radioactive isotopes is underway in the Eastern Cape. The aim of the project is to decrease the value and the demand of Rhino horns in the black market. This will be done by making the horn radioactive, without posing danger to the animal or its surrounds. The origin of a horn can also be pinpointed through its isotope marking. Anda Nqonji filed this report... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COVID patients with severe symptoms who end up in intensive care units in hospitals are at are at risk of contracting an invasive fungal infection. This is according to researchers from the Pathogenic Yeast Research Group at the University of Free State in South Africa. They are concerned that although a serious fungal infection can be deadly, few people know that, especially those with a weakened immune system. Professor Carlien Pohl-Albertyn and her team at the university are studying this neglected field, which annually claims the lives of 1 point 7 million people worldwide. She spoke to Channel Africa' Lulu Gaboo... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democratic Republic of Congo's President, Felix Tshisekedi, has announced his candidacy for a second term in 2023. The Congolese leader made the announcement on Wednesday during his visit to Lubumbashi, the capital of mineral rich Haut Katanga Province. The announcement has elicited mixed reaction in the country. Channel Africa's Jean Noël Ba-Mweze has more from Kinshasa... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kenyan High Court has declared a bill that was approved by Parliament and Senate following a historic handshake, between President Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga, unconstitutional. As James Shimanyula reports, five judges of the court ruled that the bill, known as Building Bridges Initiative, in short BBI, is illegitimate and violates the country's constitution. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have removed one of its most senior members from leadership after she refused to accept misrepresentations of the 2020 election pushed by former President Donald Trump and his supporters. Liz Cheney - the number three Republican in the lower chamber who served as House Republican Conference Chair - faced a no-confidence vote from her caucus after she refused to cow-tow to the former President's claims of fraud in the election he lost to incumbent Democrat Joe Biden. In a blistering speech on the House Floor, Cheney who is the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney repudiated the "big lie" as poisoning the country's democratic system. Sherwin Bryce Pearse has more… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Digital innovation is vital for the advancement of African economies and their health services, but to make this possible certain large stumbling blocks need to be removed. This was the consensus amongst high level global and African health experts who came together for a recent online discussion co-hosted by the Africa Health Alliance (AHA) and USA Healthcare Alliance (USAHA) on promoting healthcare. For more on this, Zikhona Miso spoke to Dr Ernest Darkoh, BroadReach Group Co-Founder… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa's Inspector General of Intelligence, Setlhomamaru Dintwe, has painted a picture of intelligence services ravaged by corruption, nepotism and lack of accountability. Dintwe - whose office is mandated to conduct oversight over civilian state security, crime and defence intelligence, was testifying at the State Capture Commission for a second time on Wednesday. Busi Chimombe reports... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa's Judicial Conduct Committee will meet next month, following a complaint against the two judges who were appointed to preside the Arms Deal Commission, Willie Seriti and Hendrick Musi. The Committee will recommend whether or not arms deal inquiry judges should be investigated. This follows a complaint against the judges, laid by two organisations, Open Secrets and Shadow World Investigations last year. The judges appointed by former President Jacob Zuma presided over the R 150 million arms deal inquiry in 2016 and found no evidence of corruption. In 2019, the High Court in Pretoria set aside the final report of the commission. For more on this, Lulu Gaboo spoke to Constitutional Expert, Professor Pierre de Vos.... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some 500 lorries of food aid from the World Food Programme, WFP have reached Ethiopia's Tigray region. The organisation says another convoy of lorries is also on its way to the troubled region to assist the more than two million affected people. Insecurity in Tigray has made it difficult for aid to reach the region. The international community has also been putting pressure on the Ethiopian authorities to facilitate aid workers' access to those who are most in need. For more on this issue, Lulu Gaboo, spoke to WFP spokesperson Peter Smerdon... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Sudan's President, Salva Kiir, has announced a new parliament including lawmakers from opposing sides of the country's civil war as part of a 2018 peace accord. A new legislative body was a condition of the 2018 accord signed between himself and Vice President, Riek Machar, who has been in oposition during the five-year civil war that left 380 000 people dead and four million displaced. Kiir and Machar formed a coalition government in February 2020. For more on the new parliament, Channel Africa's Khumbelo Munzhelele spoke to Jame David Kolok, Chairperson of the South Sudan Civil Society Forum… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Global Economy is now projected to expand by 5.4% in 2021 reflecting an upward revision of forecasts earlier in the year and after a sharp contraction of 3.6% in 2020 largely due to the coronavirus pandemic. The UN's World Economic Situation and Prospects mid-year report also finds that amid rapid vaccination and continued fiscal and monetary support, the world's largest economies of the United States and China are well set on a path to recovery. This however is contrasted by growth outlooks that remain fragile in many parts of the developing world including sub-Saharan Africa where COVID-19 vaccine rollout remains slow. Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Nigerian Presidency has released an intelligence report that some people are plotting to overthrow the government of President Mohammadu Buhari. This has in turn thrown up a lot of dust as politicians, constitutional Lawyers, analysts and security experts take turns to evaluate the veracity of the claim and the possibility of there being a coup in the making. The coup plot is said to be planned by a group of Nigerians who are also planning to organize a vote of no confidence on the President. Collins Atohengbe reports... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About 2000 people have lost their lives in terrorist attacks in Mozambique's Cabo-Delgado region since 2017. This was announced by the country's Minister of Defense, Jaime Neto, during his visit to Portugal. Mozambique and Portugal have also signed a new military cooperation accord to help the country confront a growing terror threat by beefing up training of special forces. Milton Maluleque reports... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Refugees in the South African coastal city of Cape Town, have until the 15th of this month to either accept reintegration into their host communities or face eviction. This is according to Home Affairs minister, Aaron Motsoaledi. The department as well as other role players briefed Parliament's Home Affairs portfolio committee on the latest developments around foreign nationals protesting in Cape Town. Zalene Merrington reports... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World leaders have appealed for calm after at least 22 people were killed by rocket attacks launched by Israel in response to similar strikes by the Palestinian group Hamas. There has been a fresh build-up in anger between Palestinians and Israelis over plans to evict Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah - that's in east Jerusalem - to make space for Israeli settlements. Violent clashes near al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City between Israeli police and Arab protesters left more than 300 Palestinians injured. To discuss this further, Khumelo Munzhelele spoke to Naeem Jeena, Executive Director of the Afro-Middle East Centre, A think tank based in Johannesburg... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent Covid-19 pandemic has not only reinforced the significant role played by nurses in the health care industry, but also highlight the challenges that they face in their efforts to help save lives. Patient Health, a black-owned start-up in South Africa is today launching a new innovation that will empower and support nurses as they navigate their daily lives. The digital platform, Afrinurse.com is launched in conjunction with World Nurses Day, annually observed on May 12. Jane Rabothata spoke to the founder of the app and filed the following report... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa's ruling African National Congress President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has called on suspended Secretary General of the party, Ace Magashule, to publicly apologise to all party structures, after the former sent him a suspension letter. This is part of the outcomes of the weekend's virtual National Executive meeting. For more on this, Khumbelo Munzhelele spoke to political analyst, Dumisani Tembe... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa's Public sector Unions and Government representatives have met once again to try and break the deadlock in the wage talks. Unions are demanding a seven-percent increase, while government wants to keep wages at current levels. This is the last-ditch attempt to avoid a national strike by public sector workers which could paralyse public services in the country. To discuss this further, Khumbelo Munzhelele spoke to Reuben Maleka from the Public Servants Association, one of the country's largest public sector unions... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health experts in South Africa are trying to make sense of how the new COVID variants already detected in the country will behave. This, amid the country witnessing a rise in daily new infections of the virus. Although it remains to be seen if the upward trend signals the start of the feared third wave, the Gauteng province in particular is said to be already worrying. To help us make sense of the COVID situation in the country lately, Khumbelo Mumzhelele spoke to clinical virologist, Dr Ramokone Maphoto … See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.