Latest news with #southernAfrica
Zawya
2 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
Malaria Surge in Southern Africa
Malaria is on the rise in southern Africa, with several countries – including Botswana, eSwatini, Namibia and Zimbabwe – reporting new outbreaks, underscoring the ongoing challenges in eradicating the disease in Africa. Data from the Surveillance and Disease Intelligence Division of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reveals a dramatic spike in Zimbabwe, where suspected cases have increased in 2025. As of epidemiological week 23, of 2025, Zimbabwe has reported 111,998 cases and 310 deaths (case fatality rate [CFR]: 0.27%) as compared to 29,031 cases with 49 deaths (CFR: 0.17%) in the same period in 2024. 'This surge is no coincidence,' says Dr Memory Mapfumo, an epidemiologist at the Africa CDC. 'Prolonged rains have fuelled mosquito breeding, while activities like gold panning, fishing and artisanal mining are exposing more individuals to risk, especially during peak mosquito activity hours.' A contributing factor is the interconnectedness of the countries, which drives transmission. Across Zimbabwe, 115 out of 1,705 health facilities have been affected, highlighting the widespread impact of the disease on healthcare infrastructure. Since the start of 2025, Mashonaland Central Province has accounted for 32% of all malaria cases, while Manicaland reported 25% of the malaria-related deaths. The situation is worsened by the low use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs), leaving communities exposed and placing further strain on already stretched health systems. This reflects a broader challenge across southern Africa, where shifting climate patterns and expanding high-risk livelihoods are driving a growing malaria threat, necessitating quicker, more targeted and sustained responses. However, malaria is endemic across sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in regions with high temperatures and rainfall, which create ideal breeding grounds for Anopheles mosquitoes, the vector that transmits the malaria parasite. The central part of the continent – both north and south of the equator – experiences the highest malaria incidence. Other factors include the tropical climate, as well as displacement and limited access to preventive measures. Southern Africa, although comparatively less affected, remains vulnerable to the disease due to climatic conditions that favour mosquito breeding, cross-border population movements and localised outbreaks in high-risk areas. The region's malaria burden fluctuates with rainfall patterns, human activities such as mining and agriculture, and gaps in healthcare access, making sustained intervention crucial for reducing transmission. 'As climate change accelerates, we are witnessing shifts in temperature and rainfall that are expanding the range of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, introducing vectors into previously unaffected regions,' said Dr Merawi Aragaw, head of Africa CDC's Surveillance and Disease Intelligence. He emphasised that this is not only a regional issue but a global challenge that calls for coordinated international efforts. 'Sustained vector control measures – including environmental management, strengthening surveillance, drug and diagnostic resistance monitoring, and fostering cross-border collaboration – will be critical in mitigating the growing threat of vector-borne diseases, especially malaria,' said Dr Merawi. The regional surge underscores a broader global trend, with malaria cases worldwide climbing to 263 million in 2023, up from 252 million the previous year, and Africa accounting for 95% of all malaria-related deaths. Despite these alarming figures, there have been significant successes: Cabo Verde was certified malaria-free in 2023, and Egypt is poised to achieve the same in 2024. Yet for many countries in southern Africa, the road to elimination remains steep, with outbreaks threatening to reverse years of progress. Take Botswana, which since epidemiological weeks 1–23 of 2025 has recorded 2,223 cases and 11 deaths, compared to 218 cases and no deaths in the same period in 2024. Okavango has been hit hardest, accounting for 69% of the cases. Since the outbreak began in November 2024, a total of 2,344 cases have been reported, with sporadic outbreaks appearing in non-endemic districts. Flooding caused by heavy rains has contributed significantly to the outbreak by creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding. Furthermore, many local residents remain unaware of the risks, contributing to delayed responses when symptoms first appear. To counter this, Botswana's Ministry of Health has intensified case management and surveillance, launched community engagement campaigns, and distributed ITNs. However, efforts have been hindered by inadequate funding and community resistance to the interventions. Although the Kingdom of eSwatini is in the malaria elimination phase, eSwatini, too, is grappling with an upsurge in malaria cases. The Ministry of Health recently issued a press notice to draw attention to the issue. From July 2024 to March 2025, the kingdom has recorded 187 malaria cases. Children under 15 years account for 15% of the reported cases, which has led to increased school absenteeism. Twenty per cent of cases have been among farmers, especially those involved in illegal farming activities in the mountains. These farmers often work at night, guarding their crops without any protective measures, leaving them exposed to mosquito bites. The majority of cases are concentrated in the Hhohho and Lubombo regions, prompting the Ministry of Health to increase its response efforts, including indoor residual spraying (IRS) and the distribution of ITNs. Despite these interventions, eSwatini's malaria elimination programme faces significant hurdles. There are challenges in achieving complete coverage of IRS and ITN distribution, and many individuals still fail to adopt protective behaviours. Nonetheless, the government remains committed to eliminating malaria and addressing the underlying causes, such as illegal farming and inadequate community awareness. Namibia is another country witnessing a significant rise in malaria cases, with over 89,959 cases and 146 deaths reported since November 2024 from 37 of 121 districts. Of these cases, 18% (15,954 cases) are imported from neighbouring countries experiencing malaria outbreaks, and 82% are local. The hardest-hit districts in Namibia include Katima Mulilo, Nkurenkuru, Andara, Outapi and Rundu. Malaria continues to have a severe impact on children above five years and pregnant women, who represent 11% and 3% of the reported cases, respectively. Most cases reported were among males (58%). Of major significance is the interconnectedness of southern Africa, which complicates malaria control efforts, especially in border regions. In Botswana, districts bordering Namibia and Zimbabwe are particularly vulnerable to cross-border transmission, with malaria spreading easily between neighbouring countries with ongoing outbreaks. This highlights the importance of regional cooperation and cross-border surveillance in combating the disease. Efforts to enhance case management, improve surveillance and increase the use of ITNs are critical in curbing transmission in these high-risk areas. According to Africa CDC, the increase in malaria cases in the region highlights the pressing need for continued vigilance and investment in malaria control. Governments need to enhance their efforts to improve the use of ITNs, strengthen community engagement, and address the environmental and social factors driving the outbreaks, such as illegal farming and exposure to mosquito breeding grounds. Equally important is the need for a concerted effort to address delays in reporting, ensuring the timely and accurate collection of data to inform public health interventions. Yet, while the fight against malaria remains an uphill battle, the successes in Cabo Verde and Egypt offer hope that with the right strategies, the elimination of malaria in southern Africa is possible. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Citi Sees Botswana Devaluing Currency Again as Diamond Prices Slump
Citigroup Inc. says Botswana is likely to devalue its currency again, as the southern African nation battles a downturn in revenues linked to the sharp collapse in global diamond prices, its main revenue source. The Bank of Botswana, earlier this month announced it will allow the pula to weaken as much as 2.76% against a basket of other currencies this year, more than the initial target of 1.51% in order to boost exports. The pula has already weakened 3.35% against the US dollar year to date, making it the fifth worst-performing currency in Africa, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Telegraph
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
In the minefield of royal relationships, Harry hopes to have hit a turning point
The emotive photographs of Prince Harry walking through a minefield are reminiscent of a different time. For despite the groundswell of public resentment directed towards the King's younger son in recent years, his return to Angola is a reminder of the little boy who lost his mother and the man determined to honour her legacy. The last time Harry made this trip was in September 2019. He and Meghan were then still working members of the Royal family, if only hanging on by a thread. It came amid the couple's successful tour of southern Africa with their baby son, Archie. Harry remained firmly committed to his humanitarian and conservationist causes while his wife was making a name for herself as a champion of female empowerment and women's rights. But things soon fell apart. Within weeks the couple had decided to quit royal duties, prompting an extraordinary tug-of-war with the palace over the terms of their exit deal, the consequences of which still reverberate today. The Duke became known more for his whinging on television and podcasts than his charity work. Bitter and wounded, he was out to settle scores and he executed that mission to devastating effect. Behind the scenes, he continued to hold regular meetings with his remaining charity affiliations but the coronavirus pandemic put paid to any travel or public engagements. His daughter, Princess Lilibet, was born and he stepped back from his work to focus on his young family. Throughout the public focus has been, if not on the public airing of grievances, almost entirely on the Sussexes' five-year Netflix deal, their new Hollywood lives and this apparent shift towards making their fortune – or becoming 'financially independent'. Harry's many legal battles against the tabloid press also dominated the headlines and shaped public perceptions. Once one of the most popular members of the Royal family, his approval ratings plummeted. In March 2018, for example, Ipsos Mori polling recorded his popularity at 65 per cent favourable and 10 per cent unfavourable. By April this year, it was 26 per cent favourable and 47 per cent unfavourable. All but one of the Duke's High Court fights are now over, including a long-running, deeply personal mission to win back his right to automatic state-funded police protection. That fight was unsuccessful, although the issue remains a sticking point and one he still hopes to resolve. The BBC interview that followed his unsuccessful bid to overturn the ruling somehow morphed from a brief chat to a 30-minute stream of consciousness in which he railed against his father and complained of an 'establishment stitch-up', while also admitting he had no idea how long the King had left to live. Despite this, he expressed a clear desire for a rapprochement, saying, 'I would love reconciliation with my family.' The interview did nothing to curry favour at Buckingham Palace, where it was met with raised eyebrows and weary resignation. Even those close to the Duke recognised that it may not have been the smartest move. It was not as if there had been no warning. The hugely damaging allegations made by the Sussexes in their Oprah Winfrey interview of March 2021 have not been forgotten, similarly the revelations and indiscretions peppered throughout their three-part Netflix series, Harry & Meghan Wiser heads may now prevail. The Telegraph understands that television interviews are currently very much ruled out. Despite the furore prompted by those latest missiles fired via the TV cameras, the underlying sentiment was plain to see. Leaked secret meeting A little more than two months later, two of the Duke's most senior – and newly appointed – aides sat down for drinks with the King's communications director. The meeting was leaked, much to the frustration of all three protagonists, but the fact it had happened at all was revelatory. It was fortuitous then, that the next sighting of Harry was in Angola. The trip marks a return to a country that holds deep personal significance. It was a reminder of the man determined to follow in his mother's footsteps and campaign for change (just hours after landing in Luanda, he secured a three-year pledge for support from the Angolan government). The photographs of the Duke walking through a cleared path in Cuito Cuanavale, Africa's largest minefield, wearing protective equipment, drew inevitable comparisons with his late mother. That was the whole point. Harry met local families and children for whom the dangers of landmines still loom large 28 years after Diana, Princess of Wales, famously visited the country. 'Children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school,' he said. 'Here in Angola, over three decades later, the remnants of war still threaten lives every day.' The Duke travelled to the African country with the Halo Trust, the same charity with which his mother worked. Crucially, he made the trip without Meghan. Having made a virtue of being entwined at the hip throughout the first few years of their US adventure, the Sussexes concluded some time ago that they must focus on their own individual professional endeavours. For Harry, that has always been charity work. And continuing his mother's legacy is among the most important. The images of him surrounded by children and laughing with them harks back to the old days, when he was best known for his natural ability to engage and win hearts. Harry returns to the UK for a packed week of charity engagements in September. He will attend the annual WellChild Awards where he will again salute the 'little legends' living with serious illnesses, and attend meetings and events with a host of other organisations. His focus beyond then will remain on his charity work. While Meghan pursues commercial success selling jam and wine, he will plough on with the causes he cares about, perhaps taking on new ones too. The Birmingham 2027 Invictus Games may be some time away but will represent a significant moment for the Duke, requiring careful planning and diplomacy if he is to stand shoulder to shoulder with his father. There is a long, long way to go. But if he can keep his head down, this week's events could signal a turning point for Harry, professionally and personally.
Washington Post
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
What to know about the African kingdom of Eswatini where the US sent 5 deportees
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — The United States has deported five immigrants from Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen and Laos to Eswatini , a small country in southern Africa where the king still holds absolute power. Eswatini says it is holding the men in correctional facilities until they can be sent to their home countries, after it became the latest nation to accept third-country deportees from the U.S.
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Kristi Noem restarts third-country deportations for five 'depraved monsters' as ICE kicks into high gear
President Donald Trump 's Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has continued deportations of illegal immigrants to third-party countries. Five migrants with criminal records were flown to Eswatini this week even though none of them originated from the small country in southern Africa, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin announced. The Supreme Court last month ruled that the Trump administration could continue its deportation of migrants to nations that were not their countries of origin. Following that ruling, the eight men from Asia and Latin America at the center of the case were deported earlier this month to South Sudan. Migrants who landed in Eswatini on Tuesday are originally from Cuba, Jamaica, Laos, Vietnam and Yemen. It's not clear when the administration struck a deal with the African country to accept migrants. '[A] safe third country deportation flight to Eswatini in Southern Africa has landed— This flight took individuals so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back,' McLaughlin wrote on X on Tuesday night. 'These depraved monsters have been terrorizing American communities but thanks to Trump and Noem they are off of American soil.' She listed the migrants' crimes, which included child rape, murder, robbery, assault, aggravated battery of a police officer and grand theft auto. A July 9 memo on the operations claims that third country deportation flights could take place within six hours of migrants being notified. Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Rodd Lyons said in that memo that there would typically be a 24-hour period between when migrants are informed and when they are deported. Asked if the men who were given prison sentences for their crimes remain in the custody of law enforcement in Africa, McLaughlin told NBC News: 'That's up to Eswatini.' The country of Eswatini is landlocked between South Africa and Mozambique. Its land area is smaller than the state of New Jersey and has a population of 1.2 million, according to a 2023 estimate. Eswatini is Africa's last remaining absolute monarchy. Jamaican citizen (left) convicted of murder and robbery was among those deported on Tuesday's flight, along with Laos citizen (right) convicted of second-degree murder and burglary It's not immediately clear whether more migrants will be departed to Eswatini and what terms the U.S. reached in its agreement to send convicted criminals and illegal immigrants there. The administration has a goal of deporting 1 million immigrants every year. By June more than 100,000 illegal immigrants were sent out of the country. Off track of Trump reaching the goal by the end of the first year of his second term, deportation flights have been increasing in recent months after setbacks earlier in the administration. ICE conducted 190 deportation flights in May alone.
