Africa Rise And Shine

Zulu maidens or izintombi braved the cold weather and held a night vigil outside the Johannesburg Mortuary to honour the Zulu queen, Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu. She died last week Thursday. The maids gathered at Calton Center before the proceeding to the mortuary where the queen's body is. Horisani Sithole reports...

Tanzania and Kenya have agreed to eliminate barriers preventing smooth flow of trade and movement of people between the two countries. The agreement was reached in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, during crucial bilateral talks between Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Tanzanian counterpart, Samia Suluhu Hassan. James Shimanyula reports…

The World Economic Forum has prioritised the reskilling and upskilling of a billion people within the next decade. They have invited nations like South Africa to join the movement by reviewing its education, training, and development plans with the intention on reskilling or upskilling the workforce. On the back of the impact of covid-19 on employment in South Africa, it is imperative to take a critical look at the importance of skills development in a tough economic climate, to assist in attaining the goal of upskilling and reskilling. To find out more on this, we speak to Francois Pulzone, Head of Business Development at the Skills Development Corporation

Many of South Africa's political parties believe there was little to celebrate on May Day this year. The day, celebrated the world over, is aimed at commemorating the achievement of workers and highlighting the challenges they continue to face. In South Africa, high unemployment, the social and economic ravages caused by the COVID 19 pandemic and the need for worker unity are just some of the issues reflected on by local parties as Busi Chimombe reports...

South Africa's government says it is working closely with corporates to expand its workers ownership programme. Speaking to the media ahead of international Workers day celebrations, Minister of Trade and Industry Ibrahim Patel commended companies who have enabled employees to own shares in companies. Patel says over the past number of years government has began to prioritise empowerment schemes that provide their workers equity or shares in the company that they work for. Amina Accram reports...

Former South African rugby player, Lindani Myeni, has made his final journey home. His body was transported to his hometown Richards Bay, in Kwazulu Natal Province, after arriving at the O.R Tambo International Airport on Saturday. He will be laid to rest next Saturday. The twenty-nine-year old was shot in a confrontation with police in Honolulu, Hawaii, after they responded to a burglary in progress. Police claim Myeni, who lived nearby, followed a woman to her home and exhibited strange behaviour. They say when they arrived at the home, he charged at the officers. Sashin Naidoo reports...

Displaced people are living in precarious situation in the Mozambican port city of Pemba, capital of the province of Cabo Delgado. The bulk of the displaced are those who fled the terrorist attacks in Palma. Milton Maluleque reports from Maputo…

Cameroon's military says it has killed several Boko Haram militants and seized war equipment in clashes. A statement from the defence ministry indicates that the troops also pushed the Islamists back into north-east Nigeria. Cameroonian officials say some of the terrorists are still hiding along the border and are calling on villagers to report suspects. Moki Kindzeka reports from Yaoundé…

The African World Heritage Youth Forum, which gathers about 30 youth participants from various parts of the African continent, began last week and is being held virtually this year. The forum culminates with the annual Celebration of the African World Heritage Day on May 5 under the banner of the African Union Year for Arts, Culture and Heritage: Building the levers for the Africa we want. To find out more on this, Lulu Gaboo spoke to Dr. Albino Jopela, Head of Programmes at the African World Heritage Fund...

The COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by an enormous concurrent global infodemic. That's the message from the United Nations (UN) Secretary General as the world marks World Press Freedom Day Today. The UN Department of Global Communications hosted a virtual roundtable discussion to shed light on the ruptures happening in the media space with public interest media organisations becoming more threatened than ever just as their role in society is needed more than ever. UN Correspondent, Sherwin Bryce-Pease, reflects on an issue that is not only close to all journalists and media practitioners but also by extension, the people and societies that consume their work...

South Africa's Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has defended the government's decision to source Cuban engineers to help repair the country's ailing water infrastructure. Nzimande was speaking during a visit to the Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre in Midrand, north of Johannesburg. The Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre upskills mine workers in various fields such as boiler-making. Maluti Obuseng filed this report...

As South Africa this week resumes its vaccination campaign following the temporary halting of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine roll-out, Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, maintains that the country will recover lost ground. The rolling out of the Jonhson and Jonhson drug was suspended due to concerns about blood clots raised in the United States. The Department of Health has confirmed an additional 95 vaccination sites. Jane Rabothata reports...

A storm is brewing in Zimbabwe following a landmark ruling by the High Court that if a married woman cheats then her husband is entitled to full lobola refund. This came after years of court proceedings in which a magistrate court also made the same judgement but was appealed against. In the appeals court, Justices' Mwayera and Uchena concurred that the husband is entitled to a full lobola refund causing some buzz on social media on the matter. Channel Africa's John Cassim, reports from Harare...

The South African Municipal Workers Union(SAMWU) members will march on Saturday to mark International Workers' Day. The union, under the "Back to Work Campaign, will be staging a march in a bid to convince City of Cape Town bosses to not fire more than 500 firefighters and also in support of decent work and working conditions in the City. For more on this issue, Lulu Gaboo spoke to Michael Khumalo, SAMWU Regional Secretary for the City of Cape Town Metro Municipality...

Her Majesty Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu of the Zulu Nation of South Africa has passed away. Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi announced the passing of the Regent of the Zulu Nation on Thursday evening. LeeAnne Manas has more...

Fresh tensions have erupted between Sudan and Ethiopia over the controversial Nile dam. Ethiopia is planning to fill its 600 MW dam reservoir on the Nile River for a second time this year. Sudan, which wants joint control of technical operations of the dam with Ethiopia and Egypt, has slammed Addis Ababa for taking unilateral action. But Ethiopia is sticking to its guns. Coletta Wanjohi reports from Addis Ababa...

The judicial commission of inquiry into state capture will continue hearing evidence from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as leader of the ANC.This will be the second of four appearances with another two others scheduled for mid-May. The inquiry has over the past two years heard evidence that has implicated the ANC and some of its members. It is expected that Ramaphosa may need to answer questions on what the ANC did once state capture allegations were presented to the party's leaders. More from Khanyi Magubane, an independent political analyst..

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, GAIN, has launched the Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network, SBN, to support small and medium-sized entrepreneurs involved in Ethiopia's food sector increase the availability and affordability of safe, nutritious food. The SBN is one of four global networks within the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement which supports 61 Countries, including Ethiopia, to develop a multi-stakeholder approach to scale up and invest in nutrition. More from Abenezer Feleke, Project Manager of SBN Ethiopia under GAIN…

Now more than ever, people the world over are talking about vaccinations. While these conversations tend to focus on the Covid-19 vaccine, experts say the critical role of other vaccinations in general healthcare should not be forgotten. Hence the World Health Organisation is using Global Immunisation week which takes place during the last week of every April, to bring back the focus on the importance of routine vaccinations. More from Lizeth Kruger, National Clinic Manager at Dis-Chem retail pharmacy in South Africa…

The humanitarian situation in Ethiopia's northern region is deteriorating. That's the warning from the United Nations (UN). The UN's humanitarian agency says over one-million people are currently in need of urgent assistance in the Tigray Region. The international community, has increased pressure on the government to end the conflict, and called on Eritrea to withdraw its troops from the area. Ethiopia has since allowed humanitarian access into its northern region. However the six-month long combat shows no sign of ending, forcing thousands of people to flee from homes in search of safety. Coletta Wanjohi reports from Addis Ababa...