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☆ More wealthy travelers are going on luxury safaris — some for more than $2,500 a day
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-04 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Some luxury travel agencies and tour operators say they've seen an uptick in travelers booking luxury safaris. She's not alone — as of late, a growing number of travelers have been itching to go on a luxurious African safari, too. Micato SafarisLuxury tour operator Abercrombie and Kent's African safaris have always been among its best-selling vacations, the company told BI in an email. AdvertisementSome luxury travel agencies are noticing it, tooLuxury travel agency Indagare told BI in an email that safari bookings are "trending upward. AdvertisementWith such prices, some travelers might consider luxury safaris a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Persons: —, Sophie Serrano, Serrano, " Serrano, She's, Abercrombie, buffalos —, Dennis Pinto, Safaris, Micato, Pinto, Richard Waite, Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, — Singita, Singita, Melissa Krueger, Indagare, Scott Dunn, Julie Durso, Jackie Roth, Sophie Serrano Misty Belles, Take Serrano, Isabella John Organizations: Service, Micato's, Scott Dunn Private, Nomad, Kruger Locations: Zanzibar, Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Tanzania's, Botswana, South, Umlani's

Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat in the general election Friday, in a seismic moment of change for the country that ended the ruling party’s 58 years in power since independence from Britain in the 1960s. Masisi’s concession came before final results were announced, with his Botswana Democratic Party trailing in fourth place in the parliamentary elections in what appeared to be a humbling rejection by voters and a landslide victory for the main opposition party. The opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change held an overwhelming lead in the partial results, making its candidate, Duma Boko, the favorite to become president of a southern African country that is one of the world’s biggest producers of mined diamonds. “I concede the election,” Masisi said in an early-morning press conference two days after the vote. Although I wanted a second term, I will respectfully step aside and participate in a smooth transition process.”

Persons: Mokgweetsi Masisi, Duma Boko, Masisi, Boko, “, ” Masisi Organizations: Botswana Democratic Party, Democratic, Duma, BDP Locations: Britain, Masisi’s, African

☆ Botswana’s ruling party loses election, ending 58-year rule
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters —Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat on Friday after preliminary results showed his party had lost its parliamentary majority by a landslide in this week’s election, ending nearly six decades in power. Analysts said that mounting socio-economic grievances, particularly among young people, were the downfall of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has governed the small southern African state since independence from Britain in 1966. “Although I wanted to stay on as your president, I respect the will of the people and I congratulate the president-elect. Neighboring Namibia will hold elections later this month in which the ruling SWAPO party, which has governed since 1990, is also expected to face a stiff challenge. “The outcome of Botswana’s elections should serve as a warning to long-time ruling parties across southern Africa and beyond that without economic progress and employment opportunities, political dominance will falter,” said Zaynab Hoosen, an Africa analyst at Pangea-Risk.

Persons: Reuters —, Mokgweetsi Masisi, Duma Boko, Boko, ” Masisi, ”, Mpho Mogorosi, “, Zaynab Hoosen Organizations: Reuters, Umbrella, Democratic, Duma, Analysts, Botswana Democratic Party, BDP, National Congress, SWAPO Locations: Botswana, Britain, Gaborone, “, ”, Africa, South, Namibia

☆ Zimbabwe to cull 200 elephants to feed people left hungry by drought
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Zimbabwe plans to cull 200 elephants to feed communities facing acute hunger after the worst drought in four decades, wildlife authorities said on Tuesday. “We can confirm that we are planning to cull about 200 elephants across the country. We are working on modalities on how we are going to do it,” Tinashe Farawo, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson, told Reuters. It follows neighboring Namibia’s decision last month to cull 83 elephants and distribute meat to people impacted by the drought. The numbers are just a drop in the ocean because we are talking of 200 (elephants) and we are sitting on plus 84,000, which is big,” he said.

Persons: El, Tinashe, Farawo, “, ” Organizations: Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority, Reuters, Zimbabwe, International Trade Locations: Zimbabwe, Africa, Tinashe Farawo, Hwange, Chiredzi, Zambia, Botswana, Angola, Namibia, ’

☆ ‘Perfect waves and no crowds:’ Angola could be the surfing world’s best-kept secret
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Claudia Elorza | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Their business is dedicated to promoting Angola as a surf destination while supporting local communities and sustainable development in the surf tourism industry. But it’s the prevailing winds, which bring long waves and easy surf, that make it a surfing paradise. It’s known locally as “Praia do Surfistas,” or Surfers’ Beach. The Angola Waves team provides them with cooked meals to keep energy levels up for huge ocean sessions. “I will miss surfing these perfect waves with no crowds!”

Persons: Bizuka Barros, Golan, Barros, Henrique Almeida, ”, Paulo Agusto, “, Gillas Cros, Paulo Rodrigues, It’s, Tchyina Matos, Matos, Cabo Ledo, ” Agusto, Ledo, Sergio Torres, Cecilia Organizations: CNN, Reuters, Praia, Radical Association, Angola, NASA Locations: Hawaii, Portugal, California, Australia, Angola, Portuguese, Israel, Luanda, Cabo Ledo, wilder, Catanas, Tomuba

☆ Malawi's vice president and 9 others are confirmed dead after the wreckage of their plane is located
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine other people died when the small military plane they were traveling in crashed in bad weather in a mountainous region in the north of the country, the president said Tuesday. He said Chilima was "a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction, and a formidable vice president." Former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, the ex-wife of former President Bakili Muluzi, was also on the plane, the president had said. The president described the aircraft as a small, propeller-driven plane operated by the Malawian armed forces. Chilima was serving his second term as vice president.

Persons: Saulos Chilima, Chilima, Lazarus Chakwera, Chakwera, Shanil Dzimbiri, Bakili Muluzi, Peter Mutharika, Mutharika, — Organizations: Malawian, U.S, Embassy, Department of Defense, Chilima's United Transformation Movement, World Bank Locations: Mzuzu, South Korea, Lilongwe, Air, Viphya, Africa, Malawi, U.S, Norway, Israel

Nearly 100 people died and more than a dozen were missing after an overcrowded boat sank off the coast of Mozambique, the local authorities said on Monday. The vessel was carrying about 130 people, well above its capacity, Jaime Neto, the secretary of state of Nampula Province, where the disaster took place on Sunday, said on national television. Mr. Neto said the boat was headed to the Island of Mozambique from the town of Lunga. Since October, the southern African country has recorded about 15,000 cases of cholera, a waterborne disease, and 32 deaths, according to government data. Nampula Province has been one of the most affected areas, but Stéphane Foulon, the head of mission for Doctors Without Borders in Mozambique, said that there had been no recent cases reported in the district from which the boat had departed.

Persons: Jaime Neto, Neto, Stéphane Foulon Locations: Mozambique, Nampula Province, Lunga

☆ Southern Africa’s drought and floods could push tens of millions into hunger
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Sarah Dean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The country’s top priority “is securing food for all Zimbabweans,” the president told journalists at the state house in Harare. Kb Mpofu/ReutersIn Zambia, Malawi and Central Mozambique, extreme drought has damaged more than 2 million hectares of crops, Oxfam said. Zambia declared its drought a disaster on February 29. In Mozambique — a country accounting for only 0.2% of global emissions — 3 million people face hunger, according to Oxfam. The country’s capital, Maputo, experienced devastating floods in March, after Tropical Storm Filipo hit followed a few weeks later by further intense rainfall.

Persons: South Africa CNN —, Emmerson Mnangagwa, El Niño, Zimbabwe —, Filipo, ” Teresa Anderson, Machinda Marongwe, ” Marongwe Organizations: South Africa CNN, Oxfam, Reuters, Democratic, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, United States Agency, International, Systems Network Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Harare, “, Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, Pumula East, Bulawayo, Central Mozambique, ” Southern Africa, Maputo

CNN —Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi has threatened to send 20,000 elephants to Germany amid a dispute over the import of hunting trophies. ”Twenty thousand elephants for Germany, this is not a joke,” Masisi told German tabloid Bild. Lenin Nolly/Sipa USA/AP/FileMasisi told Bild that Germany’s Green party could learn to cohabitate with elephants without hunting them. According to the ministry, Germany is one of the largest importers of hunting trophies in the European Union, and African hunting trophies already require import authorization under current rules. Trophy hunting does not come close to diminishing the elephant population, Masisi told broadcaster Sky News.

Persons: CNN —, Mokgweetsi Masisi, ” Masisi, –, Steffi Lemke, Lenin, Masisi, ”, Murat Ozgur Guvendik, “, ” Botswana’s, Botswana’s, Iris Throm, Mary Rice, Rice, Bild, you’d Organizations: CNN, Green, Getty, Botswana’s Ministry of Environment, Tourism, European Union, Germany’s Federal Agency for Nature, Environmental Investigation Agency, Sky News, Convention, International Trade, Fauna Locations: Germany, Berlin, Botswana, Masisi, Anadolu, Angola, Mozambique

☆ Zimbabwe, After Expelling U.S. Officials, Accuses Them of Promoting ‘Regime Change’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( John Eligon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The government of the southern African nation of Zimbabwe detained, interrogated and deported officials and contractors working for the United States government last month, and this week accused them publicly of promoting “regime change” in their country. The incident is the latest in the Zimbabwean government’s aggressive efforts to thwart both domestic and international challenges to its authority. The incumbent government claimed victory in a chaotic election last year that several independent observer missions said lacked fairness and credibility. But it also points to a deeper tension over the United States’ proclaimed efforts to promote democracy around the globe. Leaders in Zimbabwe have grown closer in recent years to both China and to Russia, and have supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Persons: United States ’ Organizations: United Locations: Zimbabwe, United States, China, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Zimbabwe leader and wife sanctioned by US for alleged corruption and human rights abuse
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa and first lady Auxillia have come under a slate of new US sanctions imposed that also targeted senior government officials accused of corruption and human rights abuses. Incumbent President Mnangagwa, 81, who was the speaker of the Zimbabwean parliament in 2003, was among 76 high-ranking officials hit by the US sanctions at the time. And as long as members of Corporate Zimbabwe are under sanctions, we are under sanctions,” he added. His wife, Auxillia Mnangagwa, was also sanctioned for her alleged complicity in corruption. Mnangagwa, nicknamed “The Crocodile,” succeeded authoritarian leader Mugabe in 2017 after helping to orchestrate the coup that ousted him.

Persons: CNN —, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Auxillia, Constantino Chiwenga, Oppah Muchinguri, Washington “, Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa, Wally Adeyemo, Joe Biden, Nick Mnangagwa, Mnangagwa’s, “, Farai Marapira, ” Marapira, ” Mnangagwa, “ Mnangagwa, Auxillia Mnangagwa, ”, Mugabe Organizations: CNN, Defense, Washington, Treasury, US Treasury Department, Corporate Locations: Zimbabwe, Corporate Zimbabwe

CAIRO (AP) — Namibian President Hage Geingob died Sunday while receiving medical treatment, his office announced. In a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the Namibian presidency said Geingob's medical team at Lady Pohamba Hospital did its best to help him, but Geingob died with his wife, Monica Geingos, and children by his side. Geingob was undergoing treatment for cancer. The 82-year-old had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy on Jan. 8, followed by a biopsy, his office said last month. Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesNamibia is set to hold elections to choose a new leader in November.

Persons: Hage Geingob, Geingob's, Geingob, Monica Geingos, Angolo, Namibia’s, ” Geingob Organizations: —, Lady Pohamba Locations: CAIRO, Namibia

☆ Lion attacks: How to stay safe on safaris in Africa
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

It was July of 2022, and the co-founder of Discover Africa Safaris was out in the bush near the Khwai River in northern Botswana. African lions are fully capable of attacking, killing and even eating humans, and it’s generally estimated about 250 people a year die in lion attacks. WLDavies/E+/Getty ImagesOnly about 23,000 lions remain in sub-Saharan Africa, found mostly in Eastern and Southern Africa, Muruthi said. Before your trip, It's important to study up on safety tips -- such as remaining inside your safari vehicle when lions and other wild animals approach. Secondly, fleeing indicates to the lion you’re frightened and now possible prey, turning what might have initially been a mock charge to test you into a real attack.

Persons: Steve Conradie, Discover Africa Safaris, — “, ‘, ” Conradie, “, ”, ’ Steven Conradie, …, Conradie, Philip Muruthi, He’s, Muruthi, Masai, ’, ” Muruthi, Paul A, Andre Van Kets, Van Kets, Martin Harvey, It’s, you’re, don’t, they'll, Robert Muckley, There’s, Anup Shah, ” Van Kets, I’d, — Organizations: CNN, Discover, Lion Recovery, African Wildlife Foundation, Masai Mara, Reserve, East, ” Lions, International Union for, Nature, Sacramento Zoo, PLOS, Africa Tourists, Bank, Kenya Geographic, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Lions, … Locations: Discover Africa, Botswana, South Africa, Africa, Zimbabwe, Hwange, Kenya, Saharan Africa, Eastern, Southern Africa, Tanzania, East Africa, California, Namibia

☆ Namibia stuns Tunisia to secure first ever AFCON victory
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Namibia produced a historic upset to beat Tunisia 1-0 on Tuesday and record its first ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory. Appearing in its fourth AFCON, Namibia had failed to win any of its previous nine finals matches, losing seven and drawing two. Tunisia, the 2004 AFCON champion, is the No. 2 seed Mali, with anything less than a victory likely plunging its qualification into doubt, while a buoyant Namibia faces South Africa. Wednesday’s Group E matches between Morocco and Tanzania and DR Congo and Zambia are the final two opening round fixtures to take place.

Persons: Deon Hotto, Mo Salah, Fadel Senna Organizations: CNN, Tunisia, Africa, of Nations, Ghana, Mozambique, Getty, Wednesday’s, DR Locations: Namibia, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, Sunday, Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria, Mali, South Africa, AFP, Morocco, Tanzania, DR Congo, Zambia

☆ Best travel destinations to visit in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-01 | by ( Cnn Travel Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +32 min

cdwheatley/iStockphoto/Getty Images Angola: Beyond the capital city of Luanda, pictured, Angola has some jaw-droppingly spectacular scenery and cultural treats. David ChiaFF/Alamy Stock Photo Mérida, Mexico: Yucatán state's capital city showcases a blend of Mayan and colonial heritage. Pavel Tochinsky/The Image Bank RF/Getty Images Morocco: This North African country is home to nine UNESCO sites, including the historic city of Meknes, pictured. Panama City is also the only world capital with a tropical rainforest within its city limits. And a historic city forever entwined with the famed Camino de Santiago.

Persons: you’d, Tengguo Wu, Gabriele Thielmann, Turkey's, Gary Ennis, Matevz, Bill Bachman, Christian Kober, Gonzalo Azumendi, David ChiaFF, Pavel Tochinsky, Terry Kelly, Raul Rodriguez, iStock, Anton Petrus, –, — Karla Cripps Turkey’s, — Barry Neild, Mana Kaasik, — Maureen O’Hare, — Maggie Hiufu Wong, Deb Snelson, Glen Arbor, Marnie Hunter, — Forrest Brown, — Forrest Brown Angola Cristo, Eric Lafforgue, it’s, King, Eric Carr, John’s, Saint John, New Brunswick —, —, Tuul, Bruno Morandi, — Julia Buckley, Groenewald, Alamy, — Lilit Marcus, Alexander the Great, Philip II of Macedon, — JB, Bogdan Lazar, — Tamara Hardingham, Gill, Hercules, Francesca, Lazarus, ”, David Casanova, Megan Sequeira Casanova, “, Kuka y Naranjo, medina, Gordon Sinclair, Yvette Cardozo, — FB, Pierce Ingram, Stefan Tomic, Fujairah, who’ve, Samarkand —, It’s Organizations: CNN, United, CNN Travel, Getty Images, Town, Getty, Northwest, Saint, New Brunswick Tourism, UNESCO, Heritage, Alamy, Parque Nacional Volcán Barú, Galicia, Tercera Orden, Parque, Bank, Wakulla Springs, Texas, United Arab Emirates, AP, Rock, of Culture, Estonian National Museum, — Maggie Hiufu Wong Northwest Michigan, Bear, Farm, Riders, Lubango, — BN Saint John, Canada Tourists, St, Saint John City Market, Historic, Saint John Arts Centre, Carnegie, Carnegie Library, — KC, Korea, Folk, Netflix, South Korea, Adriatic, Nacional Glaciares, Australian Sea Lions, Panama, Spain Santiago de, Spain Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, Islas, Camino, Mexico People, YouTube, US State Department, Morocco, Regis Hotels, Resorts, — FB Texas, Travel Texas, Krause, Gruene, Fujairah, Icefjord, FS, Tuul, ” Locations: United States, Sumba, Indonesia Sumba, Indonesia, Bali, Getty Images Tartu, Estonia, Tartu —, European, Tainan, Taiwan, Northwest Michigan, Traverse City, Lake Michigan, iStockphoto, Western Balkans, Culebra , Puerto Rico, Flamenco, Culebra, cdwheatley, Angola, Luanda, , New Brunswick, Fundy, New Brunswick, New Brunswick Tourism South Korea, Korea Albania, Albania, Chile, mauritius, Western Australia, Greece, Macedonia, American, Panama, Spain, Camino, Santiago, St, John's, Mexico, Parque Hidalgo, Morocco, Meknes, Florida, Spicewood, Anton, Greenland, Denmark, AP Uzbekistan, Bukhara, Indonesian, Sumela, Turkey's, — Barry Neild Tartu, Estonia Tartu, of Culture Tartu, Tartu, “, Baltics, — Maureen O’Hare Tainan, Taiwan Tainan, Taipei, — Maggie Hiufu Wong Northwest, Lake, Traverse, Leland, Glen, perusing, Balkans, Slovenia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, transdinarica.com, —, Puerto Rico, It’s, — Forrest Brown Angola, Lubango, Barra, Cabo Ledo, — BN Saint John , New Brunswick, Canada, Hopewell, Newfoundland, Saint, Canada’s, Korea Andong, South Korea, Sanga, Korea, Seoul, Busan, Andong, Albania Albania, Berat, Montenegro, Vlorë, Gjirokastër, — Julia Buckley Chile, Atacama, Patagonia, Coral Coast, Geraldton, — Lilit Marcus Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece's, Hemis, Athens, Vergina, Veria, Naousa, Greece’s, Thrace, Philippi, Kavala, Panama . Panama City, Gill Galicia, Spain Santiago, Spain Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Galicia’s, Santiago de Compostela, Cabo, Fisterra, Galicia —, Singapore, John’s, Paseo, Montejo, Mérida, Yucatán, getaways, there’s, Marrakech, Rabat, Fes, Resorts Morocco, Wakulla, Ginnie, Fredericksburg, Texas, Marble Falls, Meanderers, New Braunfels, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Wadi, Nuuk, Ilulissat, West, FS Uzbekistan, Samarkand, Uzbekistan, China, India, Khiva, Uzbek, Sentob, Tashkent

☆ Zambia's troubled debt restructuring efforts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Zambia's debt restructuring has been a complex, three-year process, which suffered a serious setback on Monday when bilateral creditors, including China, effectively ordered it secure more debt relief from international funds that hold its sovereign bonds. 2020: The country requests to have its debt payments frozen under the G20-led Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) due to COVID-19. In May, Zambian President Edgar Lungu’s government hires French firm Lazard to advise on restructuring the cash-strapped southern African nation’s $11 billion worth of foreign debts. 2022: Negotiations continue with bondholders for debt relief and restructuring deals. Angry bondholders say the OCC is demanding debt relief from them that is materially higher than either Zambia's government or the International Monetary Fund deem necessary.

Persons: Yuri Gripas, Edgar Lungu’s, Lazard, Lungu’s, Hakainde Hichilema, Marc Jones, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Monetary Fund, REUTERS, Zambian, China, Export, Import Bank of China, OCC, International, Fund, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, China, Zambia

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — These days, Catherine Mangosho locks her 3-year-old grandson in the house for hours on end in an attempt to shield him from a deadly cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe. The virulent bacterial disease is killing the young and the old in the southern African country, with health authorities reporting more than 150 suspected deaths and over 8,000 suspected cases since February. Since the start of the latest outbreak, Zimbabwe's Health Ministry has recorded 8,087 suspected cholera cases and 1,241 laboratory confirmed cases. It said there have been 152 suspected cholera deaths and 51 laboratory confirmed deaths. The World Health Organization has said that cholera cases in Africa are rising exponentially amid a global surge.

Persons: Catherine Mangosho, Cholera, ”, “, Douglas Mombeshora, Nyachuru Organizations: Health, International Federation of Red, Red Crescent Societies, World Health, WHO, Red Cross Federation, Community Water Alliance, AP Locations: HARARE, Zimbabwe, Harare, Africa, Kuwadzana, Glen View, Zimbabwe's, africa

☆ Environmental groups urge funding halt for TotalEnergies' Mozambique project
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Wendell Roelf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TotalEnergies signs are seen at a petrol station in Nice, France, October 10, 2022. The letter, seen by Reuters, comes at a crucial juncture for the French energy company as it prepares to relaunch Africa's largest foreign direct investment project. Activists warn the project may worsen climate change and fuel human rights abuses in the impoverished southern African nation. TotalEnergies said before Friday's letter that arrangements for project finance remain in place despite a 'force majeure' halt in 2021 when Islamist militants threatened the project site. The project delay has led some investors to reassess their previous cost assumptions in light of inflation and global gas market swings.

Persons: Eric Gaillard, Banks, TotalEnergies, Ntshengedzeni Maphula, Reta Jo Lewis, Wendell Roelf, Toby Sterling, Nellie Peyton, Forrest Crellin, Mathieu Rosemain, Yuka Obayashi, Tim Cocks, Olivia Kumwenda, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, ActionAid International, Greenpeace, African Development Bank, Societe Generale, Africa's Export Credit Insurance Corporation, Thomson Locations: Nice, France, Mozambique, Greenpeace France, Netherlands, U.S, Exim, Cape Town, Amsterdam, Johannesburg, Paris, Tokyo

☆ IMF board approves $178 mln loan to Malawi
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Malawian Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Sosten Gwengwe speaks at the State Department in Washington, DC, U.S., September 28, 2022. Kevin Wolf/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBLANTYRE, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund's executive board has approved a loan of about $178 million for Malawi, with an immediate disbursement of about $35 million, the IMF said in a statement on Wednesday. "The decision is a big breather for us and our economy," Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda said in a telephone interview with Reuters. The IMF programme will unlock more financial support from development partners, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said in a televised national address late on Wednesday. The World Bank could give Malawi $60 million for trade finance, a $217 million package linked to fiscal reforms and $250 million for agriculture, Chakwera said.

Persons: Sosten Gwengwe, Kevin Wolf, Banda, Lazarus Chakwera, Chakwera, Frank Phiri, Anait Miridzhanian, David Gregorio, Sandra Maler Organizations: Finance, Economic Affairs, State Department, Rights, Monetary Fund's, Malawian, Simplex, Reuters, IMF, Bank, Thomson Locations: Washington , DC, Rights BLANTYRE, Malawi

☆ Death of Political Activist in Zimbabwe Increases Fears of Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( John Eligon | More About John Eligon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

An activist with Zimbabwe’s main opposition party was found dead on the side of a road in the capital, Harare, the police said on Tuesday. A party spokesman said he had been abducted while campaigning in a local election over the weekend. The death of the activist, Tapfumanei Masaya, is the latest in what opposition and civil society leaders say has been a string of violent episodes fueling a growing political crisis in the southern African nation since national elections were held in August. President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his governing ZANU-PF party maintained power in the August vote, despite doubts raised by regional and international observers about the election’s credibility. Mr. Masaya, 51, a pastor, was campaigning door to door on Saturday to promote a candidate along with other members of the political party Citizens Coalition for Change when multiple S.U.V.s pulled up and attackers jumped out and chased them, said Gift Ostallos Siziba, a spokesman for the party.

Persons: Tapfumanei Masaya, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Masaya, Ostallos Organizations: ZANU, Coalition Locations: Harare

MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Protests in Mozambique over disputed local election results resulted in the deaths of a police officer and a civilian Friday, a corruption watchdog group said. The unrest followed Thursday's official validation of the election results, which gave the ruling Frelimo party victory in 64 out of 65 municipalities. A consortium of election observers had reported widespread ballot stuffing, voter intimidation and falsification of results in favor of Frelimo in the Oct. 11 elections. Demonstrators barricaded streets during the protests, which were concentrated in Mozambique's capital, Maputo, and the northern cities of Nampula and Nacala. In Maputo, main opposition party Renamo led its supporters in a march.

Persons: Renamo, Orlando Mudomane, Mudomane Organizations: —, Police, Riot, Center for Public Integrity, ___ AP Locations: MAPUTO, Mozambique, Maputo, Nampula, Nacala, Mozambican, Quelimane, Matola, Portugal, ___, africa

Zambia will pay about $750 million in the next decade compared to almost $6 billion that was due to official creditors before the debt restructuring. "The next step is to secure a comparable agreement with our private creditors," Zambia's finance minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, said. Zambia is committed to remaining in arrears to its commercial external creditors, the ministry said, until it secures a debt deal with comparable terms to the official creditor agreement. It is unclear how long the signing of the agreements between Zambia and each bilateral creditor is going to take. On Thursday, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Zambia had signed the MoU with official creditors, which was later walked back by Zambia's finance minister and the IMF.

Persons: Situmbeko Musokotwane, Susana Vera, Musokotwane, Kristalina Georgieva, Rachel Savage, Jorgelina, Giles Elgood Organizations: Zambia's, IMF, World Bank, REUTERS, Rights, Paris Club, OCC, Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Morocco, Rights MARRAKECH, Zambia, China, France, Africa, Rosario

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe has recorded 100 suspected deaths from cholera and more than 5,000 possible cases since late last month, prompting the government to impose restrictions to stop the spread of the disease, including limiting numbers at funerals and stopping some social gatherings in affected areas. The health ministry announced the death toll late Wednesday and said 30 of the deaths had been confirmed as from cholera through laboratory tests. Political Cartoons View All 1199 ImagesZimbabwe has often imposed restrictions during its repeated outbreaks of cholera. In southern Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Africa and Mozambique have all had recent cholera outbreaks. More than 4,000 people died in Zimbabwe's worst cholera outbreak in 2008.

Organizations: —, World Health Organization, ___ AP Locations: HARARE, Zimbabwe, — Zimbabwe, Masvingo, Harare, Africa, Malawi, South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi's, ___, africa

☆ Zimbabwe: At least 10 dead in gold mine collapse as rescue efforts continue
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Rescue teams in Zimbabwe are continuing the search for survivors, three days after a disused gold mine in the country’s Chegutu district collapsed, killing at least 10 illegal miners. The mine, which is located in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland West province, sits 62 miles west of the Zimbabwean capital, Harare. Artisanal mining is common in Zimbabwe, which is rich in vast deposits of gold and diamonds. Accidents at illegal mining sites are also common in the southern African country. In 2019, the bodies of about two dozen illegal gold miners were pulled out from a flooded mine in a rural settlement in the Mashonaland West province.

Persons: Marian Chombo, Constantino Chiwenga, Chiwenga, ” Chombo, Chombo, Stringer Organizations: CNN — Rescue, AP Locations: Zimbabwe, Chegutu, Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland West province, Harare, Mashonaland West province

☆ Johan Retief, Namibian rugby star, out of World Cup after being 'bitten by a spider'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( James Frater | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Namibian rugby star Johan Retief has been ruled out of his country’s final World Cup game against Uruguay later Wednesday, after being “bitten by a spider” at the team’s hotel in Aix-les-Bains, eastern France. Johan Retief of Namibia wins the ball in a lineout during the Rugby World Cup match between France and Namibia at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France on September 21, 2023. The team will also be missing its captain, Johan Deysel, who is serving a six-match suspension for a dangerous tackle during last week’s game against France, which Namibia lost 96-0. Namibia has lost all three of its 2023 World Cup pool matches, conceding 219 points in the process. The southern African side is not the only team to have lost a player through a non-match-related injuring during this tournament.

Persons: Johan Retief, Allister Coetzee, Johan Retief’s, ” Coetzee, Phil Walter, Chrysander Botha, Retief, ” Botha, we’ll, ”, Johan Deysel, David Cherry, “, Cherry Organizations: CNN — Namibian, Uruguay, Rugby, Stade Velodrome, Namibian rugby, France, Scotland, ” Scottish Rugby Locations: Aix, les, Bains, France, Namibia, Marseille, Lyon, Uruguay

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