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African leaders mourn Zambia’s founding president Kenneth Kaunda

African leaders and diplomats on Friday joined Zambia in mourning its founding president and liberation hero Kenneth Kaunda, who died last month aged 97 after a bout of pneumonia. “KK”, as he was affectionately known, ruled over Zambia from 1964, when the southern African nation won its independence from Britain, until losing an election in 1991. He died on June 17 in a military hospital in Lusaka. Kaunda’s casket draped in the green, orange, black and red national flag was driven into the main arena of the Lusaka show ground on a gun carriage by an army jeep. His son, Panji, wept, as did Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. Other mourners waved white handkerchiefs, one of the most prominent idiosyncrasies of Kaunda, who after leaving office became a committed activist against HIV/AIDS. Althou...

Malawi runs out of coronavirus vaccines as second jabs due

Delays in coronavirus vaccine shipments to Malawi have caused health facilities to run out of doses as hundreds are due to receive a second shot, the health minister said Saturday. The southern African country has so far received 300 000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the United Nations, 102 000 from the African Union and 50 000 donated by India. Inoculations started in April and the country was expecting a second UN shipment of 900 000 by the end of May, four weeks before the first vaccinated Malawians would be due a second dose. But Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo said that batch had been delayed by a recent surge in coronavirus cases in India, the world’s main AstraZeneca supplier, which forced the country to temporarily halt major vaccine exports to meet local demand. “The situ...

WHO: 146 million Africans die yearly from tobacco-related diseases

The World Health Organisation has revealed that no fewer than 146 million Africans die annually from tobacco related disease. Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa said this on Thursday during a virtual press conference. Moeti said tobacco was the leading cause of preventable deaths in the world and emphasised that “smoking damages nearly every organ in the body.” The director also said that “globally, exposure to secondhand smoke kills more than 1.2 million people yearly.” She explained that the use of tobacco products other than cigarettes, such as vaporizers, was on the increase in Africa. Moeti said that quitting tobacco was the way to reduce the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, stroke and other diseases, noting that it would also increase one’s life expectancy...

Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan launch new Nile dam talks in DRC

A new round of African Union-mediated talks between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan has begun aimed at resolving a years-long dispute over a massive dam built by Addis Ababa on the Blue Nile, a main tributary of the Nile river. The three-day talks that kicked off on Saturday are taking place in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the current chair of the AU. Foreign and irrigation ministers of the three nations were attending the talks over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), along with AU experts, according to Ethiopia’s Irrigation Minister Seleshi Bekele. A Sudanese diplomat was quoted as saying by The Associated Press news agency that the experts from the three countries and the AU met on Saturday, ahead of ministers who would meet on Sunday and Monday. He s...

Grammy: Young Nigerians redefining global music space – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated Nigerian Afrobeat star, Damini Ogulu popularly known as Burna Boy, and hip hop artist, Ayodeji Balogun musically known as Wizkid, for winning awards at the 63rd 2021 Grammys held in Los Angeles, United States of America. The National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, in a statement issued yesterday, said the awards crowned the efforts of Nigerian superstars such as Fela Anikulakpo Kuti and others, who were the main progenitors of Afrobeat/Afropop that has become the mainstream music all over the world. According to Akpanudoedehe, “As a party, we are immensely proud that the country’s musical stars are leading the pack of young Africans who are redefining the global music ...

AfDB approves $1.3 million grants for women’s access to digital finance

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved two grants of $1.3 million for research aimed to increase African women’s access to a range of digital financial services, including loans and micro-insurance. According to a statement from the AfDB on Monday, the grants for $1 million and $300,000 respectively, will be disbursed through the Africa Digital Financial Inclusion Facility (ADFI). ADFI is a pan-African initiative designed to accelerate digital financial inclusion throughout Africa. It is a blended finance facility of AfDB with two financial technology firms; Pula Advisors Kenya Ltd. and M-KOPA Kenya Ltd. Pula Advisors will use the $1 million for research of social, cultural and economic factors that impact women farmers’ access to micro-insurance in Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia. Mor...

Yul Edochie: Nnamdi Kanu is grossly misunderstood

Nollywood Actor, Yul Edochie, Friday celebrated the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. In a short write-up via his verified Instgram handle, the 39 year old Nigerian actor, said that Kanu was grossly misunderstood. He described Kanu as a hero, noting that Kanu is fighting for the emancipation of Africans. His words: “Today is not his birthday but I choose to celebrate this great man today. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. A Hero who is grossly misunderstood. But all he truly wants is for Africans to wake up and take serious decisions that will bring lasting peace in Africa. Live long great man. May Chukwu Okike Abiama be with you always.” https://www.instagram.com/p/CKnyd4XHg0s/ Meanwhile, the IPOB leader has called upon the South-east governors to ban open grazing in the region...

Uganda election: Will Bobi Wine derail Yoweri Museveni’s sixth term bid?

As millions of Ugandans prepare to pick the country’s president this week, the stakes could not be higher. The run-up to Thursday’s vote has been marred by restrictions on campaigning, arrests of opposition figures and deadly violence. At least 54 people were killed in November as security forces put down protests by opposition supporters. Longtime President Yoweri Museveni, 76, is facing a strong challenge from popular musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine in his bid to secure a sixth, five-year term in office. Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, was just four years old when Museveni, a former rebel leader, came to power in 1986. In 2005, Uganda’s ruling-party-dominated parliament removed presidential term limits. And in 2017, lawmakers scrapped the age limit of 75 fo...

Benue honours Super Falcons star Francisca Ordega

Benue State government has bestowed its honour on her illustrious daughter, Super Falcons star, Francisca Ordega. Ordega was honoured as the Most Outstanding Female Footballer in the state. The award was organised by Benue Coalition for Good governance. Congratulations to me… I am honored for being recognized by my people of Benue state…as the Most Outstanding Female Footballer in Benue State…The award was organized by Benue Coalition for Good governance..proudly Benue/Tiv..thanking you all🙏🏼🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/hjsP6qIhaL — ordega francisca (@OrdegaF) August 24, 2020 Ordega is however overwhelmed with this honour as she stated on her twitter handle: ‘Proudly Benue/Tiv..thanking you all🙏🏼🙏🏼’ Ordega has been forced to postpone he...

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