Category / South Africa

Over a 100 dead in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique floods as Cyclone Idai approaches south-eastern Africa
by Crimson Tazvinzwa

100 dead in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique floods as Cyclone Idai approaches south-eastern Africa, death toll poised to rise

More than 100 dead in Malawi and Mozambique floods as Cyclone Idai approaches south-eastern Africa
More than 100 dead in Malawi and Mozambique floods as Cyclone Idai approaches south-eastern Africa

The storm which brought floodwater and widespread destruction to Mozambique and Malawi has reached Zimbabwe – AIWA! NO!

More than 100 people have been killed and 843,000 affected by torrential rains in Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa, the UN and officials said, as tropical cyclone Idai is expected to hit the continent’s south-eastern countries. 

Cyclone Idai has affected more than 1.5 million people in the three southern African countries, according to the United Nations and government officials.

Cyclone Idai hits Zimbabwe..Civil Protection Unit issues floods warning

  • Several injured, properties damaged as Cyclone Idai hits Mozambique

  • Flash floods swept across Malawi killing at least 56 people

  • The storm which brought floodwater and widespread destruction to Mozambique and Malawi has reached Zimbabwe.

  • The streets of Beira in Mozambique after tropical storm Desmond made landfall on January 22. The country is now bracing itself for tropical cyclone Idai, which is due to make landfall on Thursday. 
    Image: Twitter/TinoMalinga

  • The floods in Mozambique, one of Africa’s poorest countries, have already destroyed 5 756 homes, affecting 15 467 households and 141 325 people.

  • 115 killed as Cyclone Idai threatens to batter southern Africa

At least 66 people in Mozambique, and four in South Africa were killed, after heavy rains caused flash flooding.

In neighbouring Malawi, the death toll rose to 56, an official said on Wednesday, with the country on high alert for cyclone Idai, which is expected to make landfall on Thursday or Friday. 

Almost 83,000 people have been displaced in the country since storms began more than a week ago, causing rivers to break their banks, leaving villages underwater, and knocking out power and water supplies in some areas.

At least 31 people have been killed and dozens are missing in parts of eastern Zimbabwe after the country was hit by tropical cyclone Idai which lashed neighbouring Mozambique and Malawi, the government said. 

Homes, schools, businesses, hospitals and police stations have been destroyed. Roads have been washed away and thousands are stranded by heavy flooding.

Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Information said on Saturday that the deaths were mainly from Chimanimani East, including two students, while at least 40 other people have been injured.

Zimbabwe president Emmerson Mnangagwa sent a comforting message to all those affected

It added that the Zimbabwean national army was leading rescue efforts to airlift students from a damaged school and others trapped by the storm. READ MORE

Mozambique’s Beira takes a direct hit from cyclone Idai

A group of people, who fled their homes, was “marooned” on top of a mountain waiting to be rescued, but strong winds were hampering helicopter flights, the ministry said.

Joshua Sacco, a member of parliament in Chimanimani district, said at least 25 houses were swept away following a mudslide at Ngangu township.

“There were people inside,” he told AFP news agency. “The information we have so far is that over 100 people are missing.”

In a Twitter post, Jacob Mafume, spokesman for Zimbabwe’s main opposition Movement for Democratic Change party, warned that there was a “serious humanitarian crisis” unfolding in eastern Zimbabwe districts.

Serious humanitarian crisis unfolding in chimanimani chipinge most of our structures comms are down.We need state intervention on a massive scale to avoid biblical disaster ,homes bridges being washed away lives in danger @hwendec@daddyhop@kwirirayi@nelsonchamisa@mdczimbabwepic.twitter.com/QSVEe7yiG7— MDC spokesperson (@JMafume) March 16, 2019

In Mozambique, where Idai made landfall on Thursday, at least 19 people died and about 70 were severely injured. The storm hit with wind gusts of about 160 kilometres per hour, causing ocean waves of up to nine metres high.

Luis Fonseca, a journalist at Lusa News Agency, said that the cyclone was expected to dissipate on Saturday in Mozambique, but it would continue to create trouble.READ MORE

Malawi’s struggling flood victims brace for impending cyclone

“The problem now is that the rivers are likely to flood all the areas around, and this will cause even more damage to all these families which have [already] lost their houses.”

“Now they risk losing their harvest and food insecurity is the next big risk in all over this area,” Fonseca explains.

Local officials in Mozambique said that heavy rains earlier in the week, before the cyclone struck, had already claimed another 66 lives, injured scores and displaced 17,000 people.

When the cyclone hit Mozambique, authorities were forced to close the international airport in the port city of Beira after the air traffic control tower, the navigation systems and the runways were damaged by the storm.

An official at the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) of Mozambique told AFP on Friday “there is extreme havoc”.

“Some runway lights were damaged, the navigation system is damaged, the control tower antennas and the control tower itself are all damaged.”

“The runway is full of obstacles and parked aircraft are damaged.”

Heavy downpours in neighbouring Malawi this week have also affected almost a million people and claimed 56 lives there, according to the latest government toll.

South Africa‘s military has sent in aircraft and 10 medical personnel to help in Mozambique and Malawi, it said in a statement on Saturday.

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by Crimson Tazvinzwa

Zimbabwean journalist Violet Gonda: “Nothing has changed”

Emmerson Mnangagwa Dirco Zimbabwe latest. The SA government have labelled the situation in Zimbabwe as "calm". At the same time, President Mnangagwa's office said there could be more crackdowns.
The SA government have labelled the situation in Zimbabwe as “calm”. At the same time, President Mnangagwa’s office said there could be more crackdowns.

JON SNOW, PRESENTER, CHANNEL 4 NEWS|| We speak to Zimbabwean journalist Violet Gonda, whose journalism saw her barred from her home country for many years by former President Robert Mugabe.

Zimbabwean journalist Violet Gonda: “Nothing has changed”

South African response to Zimbabwe

“Protests [in our] neighbouring country have calmed down and life in the streets of Zimbabwe is returning to normal. The South African government is working with the Zimbabwean government to find a short and long term solution to the economic situation,” South African International Relations Minister Lindiwe Sisulu

Mnangagwa returns home

“If the situation is not attended to, the current economic challenges can derail the political and economic progress Zimbabwe has made since the election of the new President.”

by Crimson Tazvinzwa

Former Zimbabwe First Lady Grace Mugabe Under South Africa Police Arrest Warrant

Wife of former Zimbabwe president allegedly attacked model Gabriella Engels in a luxury hotel suite in Johannesburg.

|AIWA! NO!|South Africa issued an arrest warrant for Zimbabwe’s former first lady Grace Mugabe over an alleged assault of a model in Johannesburg last year, a police spokesman said on Wednesday.

After the alleged beating with an electric cable came to light in August 2017, the South African government granted Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity.

That immunity was overturned by a South African court this year after the alleged victim, Gabriella Engels, challenged the decision.

Zimbabwe investigates Grace Mugabe for illegal ivory smuggling

“I can confirm that a warrant for the arrest of Grace Mugabe was issued last Thursday,” South African Police Service spokesman Vishnu Naidoo said, adding police were seeking Interpol’s help to enforce it.

The incident took place at a hotel in the affluent Sandton neighbourhood when Engels was with two of Mugabe’s sons, according to the model. Grace Mugabe arrived and lashed out at her without reason, she said. 

Mugabe later was allowed to return to Zimbabwe without being prosecuted.

‘Strong message’

Representatives of Mugabe have said Engels was the aggressor in the altercation.

The warrant means should the former first lady – sometimes dubbed “Gucci Grace” for her lavish lifestyle – now enter South Africa she will be arrested.

AfriForum, a South African group that represented Engels, said the court ruling allowed police to proceed with an investigation.

“We believe that this sends out a strong message that nobody is above the law, not even if your surname is Mugabe,” said Kallie Kriel, the group’s CEO.

Zimbabwe has an extradition agreement with South Africa allowing the two nations to exchange persons accused of crimes in either jurisdiction.

But Zimababwe’s deputy minister for information, Energy Mutodi, told Reuters news agency that Zimbabwe would not extradite her to South Africa as this would be “harassment”.

“I believe the government of Zimbabwe will not tolerate any harassment or degrading treatment on the former president Mugabe and his immediate family members,” Mutodi said, adding he would still need to consult with President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the final decision.

Decadent spending

Mugabe, 53, was seen as a potential successor to her 94-year-old husband Robert.

Grace Mugabe is widely loathed in Zimbabwe for her expensive tastes and her political ambitions.

Her sons with Robert Mugabe – who was deposed by a military coup last November – are also known for their decadent spending and hedonistic lifestyles.

There was no immediate comment from Grace Mugabe. She has denied assaulting Engels, saying an “intoxicated and unhinged” Engels attacked her with a knife after the model had gone to see the Mugabes’ sons.

Who is in charge of Zimbabwe?

Who is in charge of Zimbabwe?
https://www.history.com/news/remembering-nelson-mandela
by Crimson Tazvinzwa

OPRAH WINFREY: “Women are going to save South Africa”

“Women are going to save South Africa” – Oprah praised for powerful speech in Soweto
Twitter Nelson Mandela

|CRIMSON TAZVINZWA, AIWA! NO!|Celebrated TV personality and humanitarian Oprah Winfrey was applauded for the powerful words she shared at the Is’thunzi Sabafazi (Dignity of Women) talk at the UJ Soweto Campus on Thursday

South Africa will celebrate 100 years since the birth of Nelson Mandela in 2018, with special holiday packages, new openings, projects and events.

South Africa will celebrate 100 years since the birth of Nelson Mandela in 2018, with special holiday packages, new openings, projects and events.

He was born Rolihlahla Mandela on July 18, 1918, into a royal family of the Xhosa-speaking Thembu tribe in the South African village of Mvezo

HISTORY

Oprah was invited by Madiba’s widow and fellow humanitarian Graça Machel to be part of the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 celebrations.

Oprah opened her speech by telling the audience that this was her 36th visit to SA and reminisced fondly about how she got to have 29 meals with Madiba.

Oprah said that, even though Madiba could have been filled with so much bitterness over the apartheid government, he chose to be grateful for the lessons he learned.

he Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, marking a century since South African president and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela was born, takes place Sunday, December 2, in his home country with Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Ed Sheeran headlining in the name of ending extreme poverty.
by Crimson Tazvinzwa

MANDELA 100: JAY-Z AND BEYONCÉ Headline Global Citizen Festival In Cape Town, South Africa

Preacher Andres Bonsu, Bono and Beyoncé Knowles on stage at the '46664 - Give One Minute of Your Life to AIDS' concert at Greenpoint Stadium on November 29, 2003, in Cape Town, South Africa. Beyoncé will headline the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100.

Preacher Andres Bonsu, Bono and Beyoncé Knowles on stage at the ‘46664 – Give One Minute of Your Life to AIDS’ concert at Greenpoint Stadium on November 29, 2003, in Cape Town, South Africa. Beyoncé will headline the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100.

|CRIMSON TAZVINZWA, AIWA! NO!|The Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, marking a century since South African president and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela was born, takes place Sunday, December 2, in his home country with Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Ed Sheeran headlining in the name of ending extreme poverty.

Other performers in the festival at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg include Pharrell Williams, Chris Martin, Usher, Wizkid, Cassper Nyovest, D’Banj, Eddie Vedder, Femi Kuti, Kacey Musgraves, Sho Madjozi and Tiwa Savage.

The festival, free for fans who take anti-poverty actions, begins at 2 p.m. local time, which is 7 a.m. EST. It will be livestreamed on YouTube below:

Preacher Andres Bonsu, Bono and Beyoncé Knowles on stage at the ‘46664 – Give One Minute of Your Life to AIDS’ concert at Greenpoint Stadium on November 29, 2003, in Cape Town, South Africa. Beyoncé will headline the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100.

Ahead of the event, Beyoncé penned a letter to Mandela, who was born on July 18, 1918, and died in 2013.

“I first met you in 2004 at the 46664 AIDS Benefit Concert in Cape Town, and the impact you have had on my life resonates with me today and every day,” the American singer wrote in the letter she posted on her website. “Your kindness and gratitude for every experience, and your ability to forgive are lessons I have learned and will pass on to my three children. My entire family holds you in high regard.”

Beyoncé continued: “It is an honor for me to travel to South Africa this week in celebration of you and your efforts to right so many wrongs. You were a strategic warrior, a bold activist, and charismatic and well-loved leader. Your vision for dignity, for human rights, for peace and a South Africa free of racism and apartheid, allows us all to turn dreams into reality.”