Dozens die as Burkina Faso militants raid convoy

At least 47 people, including 30 civilians, have been killed in northern Burkina Faso, in a clash between Islamist militants and government forces. At least 19 more people were wounded after the suspected jihadists raided a military convoy escorting civilians on Wednesday, the ministry of communication announced. It said 14 soldiers and three volunteers from…

South Africa wants to introduce a vaccine passport – but there’s a catch

The Department of Tourism says that it wants to introduce a vaccine passport for South Africa. Still, several international and legislative hurdles need to be addressed. Briefing parliament on Tuesday (17 august), Tourism director-general Nkhumeleni Victor Tharage said that the key issue is a lack of standardisation around vaccine passports worldwide. “Even in some jurisdictions that…

Cyril Ramaphosa congratulates Hakainde Hichilema, salutes Zambians for ’successful’ polls amid Covid-19

Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the government and people of South Africa, sent “warm congratulations” to President-elect Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia after the longtime opposition walloped the incumbent Edgar Lungu in the copper-endowed country’s hotly contested presidential election. “President Ramaphosa says the success of the recent presidential election provides the basis…

South African summit: Malawi’s president pushes for equal vaccine access

Malawian President and new Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Lazarus Chakwera says that inequality in access to Covid-19 vaccines”no longer acceptable.” According to him, the vaccine “belongs to all nations, irrespective of who found it.” Southern Africa’s regional bloc praised Zambia on Tuesday for overseeing a peaceful transition of power after a veteran…