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News and information from the fast-changing continent.
Africa: Empowering African Small-Scale Farmers, Especially Women, to Adapt to Climate Crisis
[allAfrica] As the world gears up for COP28, one stark reality cannot be ignored: global efforts to combat the climate emergency are falling short, and vulnerable communities in developing nations are bearing the brunt of the consequences. While discussions around mitigation strategies dominate the conversation, millions of small-scale women farmers in Africa are already grappling with the harsh realities of climate change.
Insufficient funding, compounded by limitations within national and global financial
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South Africa: Crisis in South Africa As 60,000 Containers Stuck at Sea
[allAfrica] Numerous vessels are awaiting clearance from the port of Durban, which handles more than 60% of the country's container cargo, according to the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF), IOL reports.
There is a delay caused by equipment problems and severe weather which has left over 60,000 containers at sea waiting to be offloaded at South Africa's main port. This is having a detrimental effect on the already fragile economy of the nation, according to business and political organizations.
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South Africa: Failure of Emergency Protocol Led to Death of 11 Miners After 'Rapid Descent' of Conveyance Cage
[Daily Maverick] The conveyance cage that takes workers down a mine shaft and back to the surface is generally one of the safest places to be underground. That's one reason the Impala Platinum disaster at its Rustenburg operations, the worst in South Africa in more than two decades, is so shocking.
When being hoisted to the surface at the end of a long shift underground, a miner generally breathes a sigh of relief. The dangers that lurk in the depths recede as the "cage" -- which is what it effectively is -- ascends to the
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South Africa: President Ramaphosa Mourns Loss of Life In Impala Platinum Mine Tragedy
[SAnews.gov.za] President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the death of 11 mineworkers at Impala Platinum Mine Shaft 11, in Rustenburg in the North West.
Several other miners were injured on Monday afternoon when they were being hoisted up to surface level when the conveyance they were in, suddenly started descending rapidly.
"The President offers his deep condolences to the families of the deceased mineworkers.
"The President extends his thoughts to the management and staff of Implats and wishes the injured
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Sierra Leone: 20 People Dead In Sierra Leone's Failed Coup Attempt
[allAfrica] A failed coup attempt was the reason behind a series of attacks on military facilities and prisons over the weekend, according to government and police sources in Sierra Leone, Al Jazeera reports.
Following the event, 13 military officers and one citizen were detained, according to Information Minister Chernor Bah. The attempted coup "failed in the early hours of November 26," according to the Inspector General of Police William Fayia Sellu, who said that "a group of people" had attempted to forcibly
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Africa: The Idea That Green Growth Will Save Africa Is Gaslighting 101
[African Arguments] The marketisation of climate action, epitomised by Kenya's President Ruto, allows the super-rich to buy safety while the rest of us are left behind.
At the Africa Climate Summit, convened by President William Ruto, the slogan was "Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World". The Summit's concept note, allegedly written by the giant US-based consulting firm McKinsey and Company, reads like a corporate wet dream. It is market speak 101 dressed as climate action. In a letter
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Rwanda: Unlicenced Seven-Seater Taxis No Longer Allowed in Kigali
[New Times] The government has terminated a directive that allowed owners of seven-seater vehicles to use them to ferry passengers without a transport operator licence after introducing new changes in Kigali's public transport.
The move, which was announced in early October, allowed the owners of unlicenced seven-seater cars to carry passengers at a negotiated fare and without paying taxes.
It was a temporary measure introduced to deal with shortage of buses and long queues at bus stations but the government has now
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South Africa: Constitutional Court Accused of Taking Too Long to Rule On Crucial Election Case
[GroundUp] "I fear a further delay may begin to jeopardise the election process itself" says independent candidate Zackie Achmat
The Constitutional Court heard a case in August that will have vital implications for independent candidates in next year's election. It has still not delivered judgment. Zackie Achmat, who is standing as a candidate in next year's election, has written a letter to the Chief Justice expressing concern about the time the court is taking over the judgment. Mbekezeli Benjamin from Judges
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South Africa: Much-Loved Pastor Bows Out From Cape Town's Central Methodist Church
[GroundUp] "Jesus believed in justice, equality, truth, gentleness and mercy" says Alan Storey
The Central Methodist Church in Cape Town was packed on Sunday when Pastor Alan Storey delivered his last sermon after 15 years in the church. His time at the church was marked by the Yellow Banner campaign in support of human rights. The church also offered shelter in 2019 to refugees who had been camped outside the offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, demanding to be sent to another country to
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Africa's Youth Demand More Climate Action
[DW] Africa is the most vulnerable continent for the effects of climate change, the UN has said. Young Africans are calling for urgent action and for ramping up funding for African-made solutions to tackle the climate crisis.
Africa contributes only 4% to global carbon emissions, paling in comparison to European and North American countries, as well as China. Yet, the continent is arguably the worst hit by the effects of climate change: sub-Saharan Africa continues to reel from a series of droughts, floods,
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South Africa: Lead Poisoning Part 2 - Scientists Find Toxic Metals in Kitchenware
[spotlight] A small study published in September found that some ceramic plates and bowls bought from South African chain stores are coated in glaze that contains lead, a toxic heavy metal which can damage multiple organs when consumed. The paper comes in the wake of research that finds that due to its harmful effects on the cardiovascular system, lead exposure is linked to the deaths of somewhere between 2.3 and 8.2 million people a year worldwide (these findings are dissected in part one of this Spotlight special
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Zambia: CPHIA23 - Zambia Seeks to Host Cholera Vaccine Production Hub
[Premium Times] The Africa-CDC DG, Mr Kaseya, has said less than 1 per cent of vaccines, 5 per cent of diagnostics and 30 per cent of therapeutics used in Africa are currently manufactured in Africa.
The President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, has appealed to the leadership of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa-CDC), to establish the region's indigenous cholera vaccine production hub in his country.
Mr Hichilema said this at the ongoing 3rd International Conference on Public Health in Africa
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Africa's Call to Action - The Nairobi Declaration and Community-Led Initiatives
[allAfrica] Introduction:
At the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi this fall, African leaders took a monumental step forward in addressing climate change. Their united voice echoed not only the urgency of the crisis but also the continent's determination to join the comity of nations as vital contributors of the solution. The Nairobi Declaration, a call to action, lays out a roadmap for African nations to navigate the unknown waters of climate change.
African leaders have called for urgent measures by
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South Africa: Tackling Several Forms of Violence Together Delivers Results
[ISS] Combining parenting programmes with social grants works better against various types of violence than when used alone.
Levels of interpersonal violence remain pervasive and unyielding in South Africa. While a small number of the more extreme cases make headline news, the quarterly South African Police Service crime statistics provide a stark indicator of the extent of the problem.
In the three months from July to September this year, 881 women, 293 children and 5 771 men were murdered. A further 107 646
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Kenya: Govt Seeks 45-Day Stay On Housing Levy Declaration
[Capital FM] The Government has sought a 45-day stay to regularize the Housing Levy and impugned Finance Act provisions following the verdict by the High Court which has declared the Housing Levy unconstitutional for violating key provisions.
The Office of the Attorney General through its lawyer Mahat Somane argued that the declaration on the statutory instruments affects a "plethora" of regulations which they need to advise the state agencies and government institutions to comply with the judgment.
In relation to
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Nigeria: Supreme Court Okays Indefinite Use of Old, New Banknotes
[Vanguard] The Supreme Court has ruled that both the old and the redesigned Naira banknotes remain valid legal tenders in the country beyond December 31.
The apex court, in a ruling by a seven-man panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro, on Wednesday, said the banknotes should remain in circulation, pending when the Federal Government, after due consultation with relevant stakeholders, takes a decision on the matter.
It made the order after hearing an application that was moved on behalf of the federal government by the
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Kenya: Parliament Bans Suits Loved By President Ruto
[Capital FM] National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has banned the wearing of Kaunda suits by Members of the Parliament in the House.
Wetangula, while addressing the National Assembly on Tuesday, referred to Rule 9 of the Speaker's Rules which outlines the dress code of MPs, declared that the suits also referred to as Mao Zedong coats, were improper attire in accordance with House norms.
He said legislators would no longer be permitted to enter the chamber, lounge, dining room, or commute rooms without appropriate
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South Africa: Sharpeville - New Research On 1960 South African Massacre Shows the Number of Dead and Injured Was Massively Undercounted
[The Conversation Africa] On 21 March 1960 at 1.40 in the afternoon, apartheid South Africa's police opened fire on a peaceful crowd of about 4,000 residents of Sharpeville, who were protesting against carrying identity documents that restricted black people's movement. The police minimised the number of victims by at least one third, and justified the shooting by claiming that the crowd was violent. This shocking story has been thus misrepresented for over 60 years.
Our new research retells the story of Sharpeville, about 70km
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South Africa: Man Dies in Police Custody After 'Struggle' With Table View Cops
[GroundUp] Given Mabusela was pronounced dead on arrival at Du Noon clinic
Given Mabusela, 46, died on 6 November, while in the custody of the Table View police. When the police took him to the Du Noon clinic he was put on a ventilator but declared dead on arrival.
According to a leaked internal police report signed by the station commander, Colonel Junaid Alcock, Mabusela (the report misspells his name as Mbusela) had been taken into custody shortly after midnight by a routine patrol, together with another man who
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Kenya: UN Calls for Deployment of Kenyan-Led Security Team to Haiti as Gang Wars Escalate
[Capital FM] A report, published by the United Nations HumanRights office and the UN political mission in Haiti has called for the urgent deployment of the multinational security support mission authorized by the UN Security Council in October.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said violence has gradually escalated in the Bas-Artibonite region north of the capital, with the U.N. documenting some 22,000 displaced amid murders, looting, kidnappings and widespread sexual violence.
Türk, has warned
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Africa: What Africa Needs to End Uphill Battle Against Infectious Diseases, NTDs, and AMR
[allAfrica] As the world moves towards a growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases and mental health concerns, Africa faces a dual challenge of addressing these emerging health threats while combating the persistent burden of infectious diseases, particularly neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
Despite promising strategies outlined in the NTD roadmap, gaps in diagnostics, treatments, and antimicrobial resistance pose significant obstacles to achieving disease control and elimination goals. Africa must harness
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Nigeria: Tinubu Presents Nigeria's 2024 Budget to National Assembly
[Premium Times] The N20.50 trillion budget approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday is the president's first full-year budget since he assumed office in May.
President Bola Tinubu will today present the 2024 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly.
It is the president's first full-year budget since he assumed office in May.
President Tinubu, in a letter, on Monday notified the lawmakers of his plan to present the document to them today.
He had, on the last day of October, transmitted the 2023
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Kenya: President Ruto Says Govt to Comply With Court Ruling on Housing Levy
[Capital FM] President William Ruto now says the government will comply with the High Court ruling on the Housing Levy.
Speaking during the 5th Congress of the International Trade Union Confederation-Africa in Nairobi, the head of state stated that the government will align the relevant statutes with the Supreme Law.
“I know the court has said we should go and readjust the law to make it aligned appropriately. That we are going to do so that the 120,000 people can become 200,000 and 500,000 in the next five years
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South Africa: Witnesses to Deadly Johannesburg Fire Might Be Deported - South African News Briefs - November 29, 2023
[allAfrica]
Inquiry into Johannesburg Fire 'Unaware That Some Witnesses Might be Deported'
The commission of inquiry looking into the deadly Marshalltown fire says it is not aware that some prospective witnesses stand to be deported, EyeWitness News reports. In August, a fire ripped through a five-storey building in the inner city of Johannesburg, killing over 70 people and displacing hundreds more. At least 32 undocumented migrants who stayed in the building are detained at the Lindela Repatriation Centre,
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Malawi: Dodma Urges Public to Pay Closer Attention to Daily Weather Forecast
[Nyasa Times] Since the onset of the rainy season to date from November 24, six districts -- Dowa, Kasungu, Mchinji, Mwanza, Nkhata Bay and Nkhotakota -- have been affected with disasters mainly from stormy rains, flash floods, strong winds, hailstorms, heavy rains and lightning.
This is contained in the status report prepared by the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), saying it also received preliminary reports on recent disasters from Balaka, Chiradzulu, Nkhotakota, Mangochi, Ntcheu and Thyolo, whose
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Niger: Law Against Transporting Migrants Repealed in Niger
[allAfrica] The military administration of Niger repealed anti-migration legislation that helped in lowering the number of West Africans travelling to Europe, but was despised by residents of the desert whose businesses depended on the traffic, BBC reports.
The 2015 law was abolished on November 25, and proclaimed on Monday evening on state television by the Niger administration, which took over in a coup in July. The new decree also states that convictions rendered under the 2015 law "shall be erased".
The law, which
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Kenya: Court Grants 45-Day Stay for Execution of Judgement Invalidating Housing Levy
[Capital FM] The High Court has issued a temporary order stopping the execution of a decision declaring section 84 of the housing levy under the Finance Act 2023 unconstitutional.
The three judges, David Majanjq, Christine Meoli and Lawrence Mugambi said in a short ruling that pending the determination of an application for an appeal against their judgement, there should be a stay of execution until January 10, 2024.
The decision to issues a stay order arose from an application by the attorney general through lawyers
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Namibia: Illegal Fishing Headache Continues ... N$1.5 Billion Revenue Lost Annually
[New Era] Fisheries minister Derek Klazen has expressed deep concern over the magnitude of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing on the country's coastal line.
The minister said the plundering of Namibia's resources continues unabated, with neighbouring countries also implicated in these illicit activities both inland and at sea. Addressing the fishing industry, Klazen highlighted the persistent challenges posed by both coastal and inland illegal activities, asserting that they remain a significant
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Sudan: Sexual Violence Against Women in Wartime - A Never-Ending Tragedy
[Dabanga] Whilst the world marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Saturday, Radio Dabanga continues to receive horrific testimonies of violence against Sudanese women and girls amidst Sudan's war, now in its eighth month.
For the international occasion, several Sudanese organisations and others in the region issued statements condemning gender-based violence against Sudanese women as the war continues in the country.
A Sudanese refugee told Radio Dabanga harrowing testimonies
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South Africa: Antibiotic Slashes Risk of Drug-Resistant TB in Kids, Finds Major SA Study
[spotlight] For decades the standard way to prevent people who were exposed to tuberculosis (TB) from falling ill with the disease was to offer them a medicine called isoniazid, taken daily for six or more months. That changed in the last decade with the development of new preventive therapy regimens that are taken for four, three, or even just one month.
One complexity, however, is that both isoniazid and the new regimens are much better at preventing normal drug-sensitive TB than they are at preventing
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