Wanderlust

Tag: south africa

  • DR Congo poll: Blaze hits electoral depot as hectic vote nears

    Smoke rising over electoral complex Symbol copyright AFP Symbol caption The Scale of the damage from the blaze is unclear

    Hearth has gutted an electoral fee construction in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, within the violent run-as much as a presidential vote.

    The reason for the hearth, which broke out overnight, has no longer been showed, and the scale of the damage is uncertain.

    Black smoke may still be noticed over the location, a warehouse development, on Thursday morning.

    The campaign to opt for a successor to President Joseph Kabila on 23 December has been marred by deadly clashes.

    The president’s mandate resulted in 2016, but elections have been again and again not on time.

    BBC Africa Reside: Updates on this and different stories DR Congo – the crime at the back of the chaos DR Congo united states profile

  • ‘Oldest known drawing’ found on tiny rock in South Africa

    The oldest-known drawing, painted in ochre pigment on a small stone Image copyright Reuters Image caption The drawing dates back 73,000 years

    Scientists say they have discovered humanity’s oldest known drawing on a small fragment of rock in South Africa.

    The drawing is about 73,000 years old, and shows cross-hatch lines sketched onto stone with red ochre pigment.

    Scientists discovered the small fragment of the drawing – which some say looks a bit like a hashtag – in Blombos Cave on the southern coast.

    The find is “a prime indicator of modern cognition” in our species, the report says.

    While scientists have found older engravings around the world, research published on Wednesday in the journal Nature says the lines on this stone mark the first abstract drawing.

    Image copyright Reuters Image caption Scientists found the stone fragment in Blombos Cave, 300 kilometres (185 miles) east of Cape Town

    Humanity has used ochre, a clay earth pigment, for at least 285,000 years.

    The drawing was “probably more complex” in its entirety, archaeologist Christopher Henshilwood told Reuters.

    “The abrupt termination of all lines on the fragment edges indicates that the pattern originally extended over a larger surface,” he said.

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    Mr Henshilwood works at Norway’s University of Bergen and South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand and led the research into the drawing.

    He told Reuters that while the team would be “hesitant to call it art”, it almost definitely had “some meaning to the maker”.

    There have been numerous other artefacts found in Blombos Cave, 300 kilometres (185 miles) east of Cape Town, including beads covered in red ochre, engraved ochre fragments, and a paint-making kit dating back around 100,000 years.

    Modern man, known as homo sapiens, is first known to have appeared more than 315,000 years ago in what is now Africa.

  • South Africa violence objectives Soweto’s international-owned stores

    An injured Somali shopkeeper looks on outside his shop in the South African township of Soweto Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption An injured Somali shopkeeper in Soweto. South African is home to many immigrants from the remainder of the continent.

    Three other people had been killed in South Africa all the way through violence on Wednesday focused on overseas-owned businesses in Soweto, police say.

    Looters take items from a foreign-owned shop in Soweto, Johannesburg, on August 29, 2018 Image copyright AFP Image caption Protests broke out after shopkeepers were accused of marketing out-of-date and counterfeit produce, local reports say. it’s idea the violence escalated after a Somali shopkeeper shot dead a youngster who allegedly tried to rob his retailer. The Ethiopian owner of a looted grocery store in Soweto, Johannesburg, stands in his ransacked shop Image copyright AFP Symbol caption International-owned retail outlets have been looted, including this one run by way of an Ethiopian. Some shopkeepers are stated to have fled the area carrying the products they controlled to salvage. A suspected looter emerges from of a looted foreign-owned shop in Soweto to be detained by South African police officers in Johannesburg Image copyright AFP Image caption Police have arrested 27 folks in reference to the looting and violence. This has reminded many in South Africa of the ugly assaults of Would Possibly 2008, reports the BBC’s Pumza Fihlani. At that time 62 folks died, 41 have been foreigners and 21 were South Africans. A suspected looter is detained by South African police officers as he emerges from of a looted foreign-owned shop in Soweto, Johannesburg Symbol copyright AFP Symbol caption Officials are investigating who fired the deadly pictures in the world and say that extra arrests are expected. A South African police officer holds a rifle as he stands in Soweto Image copyright AFP Symbol caption Safety has been stepped up following the protests and violence and shopkeepers were told to temporarily shut their businesses. A South African police officer stands in the door way of a looted foreign-owned shop in Soweto, Image copyright AFP Image caption a few of the shopkeepers worry that there might be additional violence. “there is no executive right here. If there was a government here, they’d regulate these items,” one is quoted as saying. South African police officers control the crowd in front of a looted foreign-owned shop in Soweto, Johannesburg, Symbol copyright AFP Image caption There are lingering fears that similar to in 2008, the violence could unfold to other portions of the country, our correspondent says. Bystanders look on as a South African police officer stands near a looted foreign-owned shop in Soweto, Johannesburg Symbol copyright AFP Image caption The local government stated they have been taking a look into the allegations that the malls were promoting out-of-date and counterfeit items.

    Photos from AFP and Reuters

  • SS Mendi: Theresa May to go back WW1 shipwreck’s bell to South Africa

    The bell from the SS Mendi Symbol caption This bell from the SS Mendi which sank in the Channel in 1917 killing greater than SIX HUNDRED South Africans

    An International Warfare One relic associated with one in every of the worst maritime screw ups in English waters is to receive to South Africa by Theresa Would Possibly.

    The SS Mendi sank off the Isle of Wight in 1917 killing more than SIX HUNDRED black South Africans en path to the Western Entrance to fortify British troops.

    The vessel used to be rammed by way of a British merchant send in thick pre-daybreak fog.

    The prime minister will hand it to President Cyril Ramaphosa in Cape The Town on Tuesday.

    The ship’s bell was given to BBC reporter Steve Humphrey in 2017 in a plastic bag at Swanage Pier, Dorset, after an nameless telephone call.

    Might to go to Africa for first time as PM ‘Lost’ WW1 Mendi bell passed to museum The sinking of the SS Mendi

    A note within the bag learn: “If I passed it in myself it would no longer visit the rightful position.

    “This must be looked after out sooner than I move away because it may just get lost.”

    Symbol caption A notice was left with the bell, entrusting it to a BBC reporter

    The SS Mendi sank on 21 February 1917 while it was once unintentionally rammed in thick fog via the Royal Mail packet-boat SS Darro.

    A government inquiry said the Darro didn’t decrease lifeboats, leaving 646 males to drown.

    Most of the dead were contributors of the South African Native Labour Corps (SANLC), heading to France to hold out manual labour on the Western Front.

    Symbol copyright Imperial Battle Museums Symbol caption More Than 800 contributors of the South African Local Labour Corps have been on board the Mendi on the time of the crisis

    The Darro’s captain, who was once blamed for the tragedy by the Board of Trade, used to be handed a one-12 months suspension of his master’s certificate.

    The story became an emblem of racial injustice in South Africa, where successive white-led governments discouraged annual Mendi Day commemorations.

    In 1995, the Queen and Nelson Mandela unveiled a memorial to the Mendi sufferers in Soweto.

    Image copyright Southampton City Council Symbol caption The BBC’s Steve Humphrey with the bell at Southampton’s SeaCity Museum

    It’s thought the bell was taken from the shipwreck in the early 1980s.

    Until just lately it had been on display on the Sea Town Museum in Southampton.

    On Tuesday the bell will be introduced to the President of South Africa at a rite in Cape Town.

    The Prime Minister’s deputy legit spokeswoman said: “This was the bell from the SS Mendi which sank in the Channel in 1917, killing more than 600 South Africans.

    “it’s a actually important relic for them and the sort of point of interest in their First World Battle remembrance.”

    Mrs Would Possibly may also visit Nigeria and Kenya as a part of her first shuttle to Africa due to the fact changing into prime minister.

  • May’s undertaking to woo Africa after Brexit

    Theresa May in front of a union flag Symbol copyright AFP Image caption On her shuttle to Africa, Theresa Might is hoping to promote what she describes as a “really World Britain”

    the uk’s historical courting with many African international locations nonetheless counts for something, but, as Prime Minister Theresa May will in finding on her trip to the continent, the uk vies for attention with better economies offering better riches.

    Mrs Might is traveling to South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya this week on her first African consult with as top minister as she seems to be to spice up Britain’s post-Brexit industry.

    Britain’s purpose after leaving the ecu Union in March subsequent yr is to “deepen and strengthen its world partnerships”, Mrs Would Possibly stated in a statement.

    “This week i’m looking forward to discussing how we will do that along Africa to assist deliver necessary investment and jobs as well as proceed to work together to take care of steadiness and security.”

    nevertheless it may well be a troublesome sell.

    Symbol copyright Michael Khateli Symbol caption Chinese Language loans financed Kenya’s new railway linking the capital, Nairobi, to the coast. what is going to Britain have the opportunity to offer?

    the united kingdom is introducing regulation that are supposed to mean that African businesses will get admission to the uk market at the comparable terms as they do now.

    Nevertheless, African countries, many of them former British colonies, will need to redefine their relationship with Britain in the wake of Brexit.

    Brexit: All you want to realize the story in the back of Africa’s loose trade dream

    The continent’s leaders wish to make a decision who to prioritise: an ambitious but pleasant China, the huge European Union bloc, the possible riches of the United States, or the historically-linked Uk.

    In 2015, total industry (imports and exports mixed) between Africa and the united kingdom amounted to $36bn (£28bn), but that figure for the european as an entire was once $305bn. In the same 12 months, industry between China and Africa totalled $188bn, and between the united states and Africa is amounted to $53bn.

    Trade with Africa 2015

    Africa-UNITED KINGDOM – $36bn Africa-US – $53bn Africa-China – $188bn Africa-ECU – $305bn

    Resources: Ecu Commission, McKinsey, UNITED KINGDOM Department for Global Trade

    To sweeten her be offering, the top minister is bringing alongside a delegation of 29 trade leaders to promote “the breadth and depth of British experience in technology, infrastructure, and monetary and professional services and products,” Downing Side Road says.

    First stop: South Africa

    Mrs Would Possibly starts her travel to Africa in her united states of america’s largest buying and selling spouse at the continent, South Africa, the place she’s going to sit down with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

    She Is Going To use a speech in Cape Town on Tuesday to lay out her plans to spouse with Africa using non-public sector trade and funding after the Uk leaves the eu.

    “the united kingdom has lengthy been a very powerful trading spouse for South Africa and definitely within the present economic climate, the place many South African companies are suffering, a lot of entrepreneurs are seeking to the uk to expand their reach,” Rachel Irvine, who runs a public relations and advertising company, informed the BBC.

    She has not too long ago elevated her trade, Irvine Companions, in London and sees important attainable in the top minister’s discuss with. However she says that it’s in the end about which u . s . provides the best deals.

    ‘We welcome both Mrs May and the Chinese Language, and prefer some other creating economic system we will do the business that suits us best.”

    The prime minister’s go back and forth comes every week ahead of the massive Discussion Board on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing. Dozens of African heads of state are expected there and China would possibly be offering new industry and finance deals.

    The summit comes after, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 2nd excursion of Africa whilst he visited Senegal, Rwanda, Mauritius and South Africa.

    Mrs May’s trip seems reasonably low key in comparison.

    Second prevent: Nigeria

    The British high minister may be set to meet Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, just four months when they held talks in London.

    Nigeria is Britain’s second largest buying and selling spouse in Africa, but must the country be so all for the uk?

    Tunji Andrews, an economist primarily based in Nigeria’s business hub Lagos, believes Nigeria must listen more on its relationship with the ecu Union.

    “the variety of demand of the european market makes it relatively extra horny.

    “i think it’s not possible not to have a look at the British market at this element, but I’m Going To additionally say that at the same time as Britain remains a viable trade spouse, it just does not dangle the similar worth to Africa as China and to a lesser volume, the u.s..”

    Nigeria’s top export to the uk is crude oil and its greatest import is refined oil, a structural inefficiency that ends up in regular fuel shortages because the populous West African nation lacks a correctly functioning refinery.

    Third stop: Kenya

    Mrs May concludes her maiden African shuttle in Kenya, becoming the first British top minister to go to the East African us of a in over 30 years.

    the rustic re-exports a few of its products to the eu thru the united kingdom and there are considerations that a hard Brexit might jeopardise that.

    Kenya’s industry cut up among the uk and the remaining of the eu “is almost 50-50 and the country may have to strike a fair take care of both the united kingdom and the european because it is dependent upon each markets to promote its tea, contemporary produce and different agricultural products,” says economist Tony Watima.

    Kenya provides more roses to the european Union than any other united states of america and is the world’s third greatest exporter of lower plant life.

    the country sends 17% of its flora sold within the EU to the uk. With 500,000 folks supported by means of the flower industry, in keeping with the Kenya Flower Council, each and every marketplace is critical.

    However with direct flights from Nairobi to Ny beginning in October, the rustic is also seeking to faucet into the bigger US market for its items.

    President Uhuru Kenyatta will meet Mrs Might in Nairobi on Thursday simply three days after discussing business with US President Donald Trump on the White House.

    Symbol copyright AFP Image caption Kenya will likely be prepared to keep its UK market for its roses, but other EUROPEAN nations also are necessary consumers

    Total, there may be a sense that Africa is being wooed from many sides.

    Mrs May’s commute to the continent is part of her challenge to create a “truly Global Britain”. She is going with the hope of offering a new partnership by which each the uk and Africa can receive advantages, however there are individuals who need the continent to power a difficult cut price.

    “Markets are global, why should Africa must pick out only one?” asks South African businesswoman Rachel Irvine.

    “it is therefore decidedly within the pastime of each events to play great with one another.”

  • South Africa Zuma inquiry: Gupta ‘threatened to kill’ over bribe offer

    Mcebisi Jonas Image copyright Reuters Image caption Mcebisi Jonas’s testimony is the most explosive evidence but given to the inquiry

    A South African politician has alleged that a controversial businessman threatened to kill him if he ever disclosed that he have been offered a bribe to transform finance minister.

    Mcebisi Jonas made the revelation at an inquiry into alleged corruption while ex-President Jacob Zuma was once in office.

    it’s investigating if the rich Gupta circle of relatives influenced political selections, including naming ministers.

    Ajay Gupta has denied that he ever meet Mr Jonas or presented him a bribe.

    Accusations of graft dogged Mr Zuma’s presidency ahead of he used to be pressured to step down in February.

    Research: Shock and anger

    By Milton Nkosi, BBC Africa, Johannesburg

    There used to be a collective gasp of outrage on the inquiry when Mcebisi Jonas noted the loss of life threat. His evidence has stunned the nation.

    Allegations of corruption have swirled for plenty of years now, however the recommendation that it may have morphed into a few form of mafia operation leaves many bewildered and dismayed.

    In many ways it’s not only the Guptas and the Zumas below the spotlight right here – each families deny any wrongdoing. it’s the governing African Nationwide Congress (ANC), the celebration in energy because the end of white-minority rule in 1994, that may be coming under scrutiny.

    When it used to be preventing for the liberty of black people, no-you may have foreseen the level of corruption that has affected it. It has left many South Africans embarrassed and angry.

    Mr Jonas also said that Mr Gupta mentioned then-President Zuma was once on the bidding of the rich Indian-born family.

    “He stated: ‘You should keep in mind that we are in control of the whole thing – the Nationwide Prosecuting Authority, the Hawks an elite police unit, the Nationwide Intelligence Company and the antique guy Zuma will do the rest we tell him to do,’” he instructed the commission.

    In December, South Africa’s Prime Courtroom ordered that the inquiry be set up within the wake of the public protector’s document, referred to as State of Seize, which found evidence of conceivable corruption on the most sensible stage of Mr Zuma’s government.

    The Zondo Fee, which began its hearings this week, does not have energy to prosecute however it can compel other folks to offer evidence.

    Any evidence it collects will also be utilized in any long term prosecutions, despite the fact that it could absorb to 2 years to unlock its findings.

    South Africa’s Instances Are Living paper has printed Mr Jonas’s 20-page observation in full, which he read out to judges.

  • South Africa rejects Donald Trump’s tweet on farmer killings

    Donald Trump Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Donald Trump’s tweet adopted a work on Fox Information about South Africa’s planned land reforms

    South Africa has accused US President Donald Trump of looking to sow department after his tweet referring to the “large-scale killing of farmers”.

    He stated he had requested his secretary of state to look into the matter of “seizing land from white farmers”.

    South Africa’s presidential spokeswoman stated Mr Trump was “misinformed”.

    Last month, South Africa mentioned it will cross beforehand with plans to amend the charter, allowing land to be expropriated without repayment.

    Reality Test: Are farmers at the next chance of homicide? Is South Africa ’s land reform an election gimmick? South Africans’ anger over land set to blow up

    The redistribution of land used to be a fundamental idea of the governing African National Congress (ANC) all the way through its struggle against white-minority rule.

    South Africa’s land problem

    The Natives Land Act of 1913 limited black other folks from buying or renting land in “white South Africa”, resulting in the pressured removals of black other folks After the top of apartheid in 1994, the ANC govt mentioned it desired to return 30% of this land to its earlier homeowners through 2014 It’s predicted that 10% of commercial farmland has been redistributed.

  • Zuma corruption claims: South Africa state capture inquiry opens

    Jacob Zuma Image copyright AFP Symbol caption Ex-President Jacob Zuma is accused of allowing a rich trade circle of relatives to influence political choices

    A public inquiry in South Africa has started investigating alleged corruption by means of ex-President Jacob Zuma.

    The inquiry is asking into “state capture”, the place the wealthy Gupta family is accused of trying to persuade political selections, together with the naming of ministers.

    Accusations of graft dogged Mr Zuma’s presidency ahead of he was pressured to step down in February.

    The former president and the Gupta circle of relatives deny any wrongdoing.

    Africa Reside: Updates in this and different stories who are the Guptas? How the Guptas’ emblem became toxic

    Establishing the inquiry, fee head Deputy Leader Justice Ray Zondo appealed for South Africans to share what they realize.

    Symbol caption In 2016, lots marched in the capital, Pretoria, calling for Mr Zuma to step down over the graft allegations

    Mr Zuma used to be ordered to set up the commission by way of the high courtroom last December following a file through the public protector, South Africa’s anti-graft body.

    It had discovered proof of conceivable corruption on the top level of his government.

    One of the allegations is that in 2015 then-Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas used to be presented 600m rand ($41m; £32m) by way of businessman Ajay Gupta if he accepted the put up of finance minister.

    Mr Jonas is expected to be among the first witnesses to offer proof.

    The inquiry, referred to as the Zondo Fee, doesn’t have powers to prosecute but the evidence it collects will also be utilized in any future prosecution.

    it will absorb to 2 years to free up its findings.

  • Turkey takes motion in bid to reduce forex trouble

    Turkish lira Symbol copyright Reuters

    Turkey’s important financial institution mentioned it used to be able to take “all important measures” to make sure monetary stability after the cave in of the lira.

    It has vowed to offer banks with “all the liquidity the banks want”.

    The measures come after the Turkish lira hit file lows towards the greenback amid a widening diplomatic spat with the United States.

    Stock markets in Asia fell on Monday as investor worry over Turkey’s currency drawback fixed.

    Turkey pledges motion to calm markets Time to e-book a vacation? Turkey’s lira stoop explained Trump tariff move pushes Turkish lira down

    The slide worsened on Friday, when US President Donald Trump approved the doubling of tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminium – following Turkey’s refusal to unfastened an American pastor who has been in detention in Turkey for nearly two years.

    Image copyright AFP Symbol caption The pastor is only certainly one of a number of issues dividing Mr Trump and Mr Erdogan

    What’s taking place on the markets?

    Ahead Of the new measures had been introduced, Japan’s Nikkei 225 had fallen nearly 2% in overdue trading.

    Professionals have blamed the sharp slide in the lira on fears the country is descending into an economic concern.

    Hong Kong’s Hold Seng index used to be down almost 1.6% in afternoon trade, even as the Shanghai Composite fell 1.7%.

    In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX TWO HUNDRED index had misplaced HALF%, whilst South Korea’s Kospi index was once down 1.8%.

    Investors globally are concerned concerning the damage spreading and have been precipitated to promote riskier belongings – together with Asian stocks and emerging market currencies.

    Analysts stated buyers had been now in search of protected havens in the form of the yen to boot because the US buck.

    What Is the cause of the lira slide?

    Mavens have blamed the drop in the lira on fears that Turkey may be falling into an economic concern.

    The Turkish inventory marketplace has also fallen 17%, at the same time as executive borrowing prices have risen to 18% a year. Meanwhile, inflation has hit 15%.

    Investors are involved that Turkish corporations that borrowed heavily to profit from a development growth may fight to pay off loans in dollars and euros, as the weakened lira manner there is now more to pay back.

    Why are Turkey and the u.s. at odds?

    The dispute centres on Turkey’s refusal to release American pastor Andrew Brunson.

    Mr Brunson has been detained for nearly two years, accused of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Employees Birthday Celebration and the Gulenist motion, which Turkey blames for a failed coup in 2016.

    The Turkish president is indignant that the us has not taken extra motion against the Gulenist movement and what he stated was a failure “to unequivocally condemn” the 2016 coup attempt. the us has refused to extradite Fethullah Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania.

    Symbol copyright Getty Images Image caption Pastor Andrew Brunson used to be moved to accommodate arrest final month because of health issues

    US toughen for Kurdish rebellion teams preventing Islamic State opponents in northern Syria. is every other prime problem, given Turkey’s combat against a Kurdish insurgency in its own u . s . a ..

    Mr Erdogan has also been getting towards Russia – developing an ungainly triangle, for the reason that Turkey is a Nato member, Russia is Nato’s number one risk and the agency is obliged to protect any member that is attacked.

    Nato uses the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey to combat against IS and there has been some family power on Mr Erdogan to close it.

    What are Turkish officers doing approximately it?

    The Turkish Central Financial Institution announced on Monday that banks could be given all the liquidity they needed.

    Discount charges for collaterals against Turkish lira transactions may even be provided.

    But the financial institution didn’t build up interest rates which might help contain inflation whilst aiding the lira.

    It is not clear if this comes after Mr Erdogan’s force – the president is famously averse to interest rate rises.

    He has brushed aside the fall of the currency as “a storm in a tea cup” and advised Turks to promote dollars and purchase lira to help spice up the foreign money.

    Why is there so much worry this may unfold?

    Investors are worried that Turkish firms could fight to repay loans in bucks and euros – a debt pile that handiest grows as the lira falls.

    Over a 3rd of Turkish banks’ lending is in foreign currency, in step with Reuters.

    Worries that the falls in price may spread were just lately underlined by way of a document in the Monetary Times saying that the european Vital Financial Institution is worried in regards to the exposure of eurozone banks to Turkey. particularly, the file flags that Spain’s BBVA, Italy’s UniCredit and France’s BNP Paribas, all of that have significant operations in Turkey, are particularly exposed.

    Eight years in the past, issues approximately contagion through the eurozone debt predicament noticed investors push up the borrowing prices of highly indebted eurozone nations, exacerbating their debt problems.

  • Grace Mugabe’s immunity annulled through South African court

    President Robert Mugabe kisses his wife and first lady Grace Mugabe during during the country's 37th Independence Day celebrations at the National Sports Stadium in Harare April 2017 Symbol copyright Getty Images Symbol caption Robert Mugabe used to be ousted after being accused of making plans at hand energy to his spouse, Grace

    A South African court has annulled a government decision to provide Zimbabwe’s former First Lady Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity in an assault case.

    the decision was once “inconsistent with the constitution”, the courtroom dominated.

    Mrs Mugabe was accused of assaulting a young type, Gabriella Engels, in a lodge in South Africa’s primary city, Johannesburg, in 2017.

    South Africa allowed Mrs Mugabe, 53, to go back house after she applied for diplomatic immunity.

    Mrs Mugabe stated at the time that she had acted in self-defence after the “intoxicated and unhinged” model attacked her in a resort room the place her two sons lived.

    More on publish-Mugabe Zimbabwe

    Can publish-Mugabe vote heal divisions? Hustling for cash to outlive Is it easier to poke a laugh after Mugabe? The Story behind the headscarf

    In papers filed within the Top Court, Ms Engels mentioned Ms Nkoana-Mashabane had “misconstrued her powers”.

    Heads of state who killed or injured folks in South Africa didn’t qualify for immunity underneath the Foreign States Immunities Act and there was therefore no method that their spouses certified for it, Ms Engels stated.

    Ms Nkoana-Mashabane stated she had agreed to Zimbabwe’s request to present Mrs Mugabe immunity after taking into consideration “felony considerations” and the desire to keep up “inter-governmental members of the family”.

    Mrs Mugabe, nicknamed “Gucci Grace” as a result of her lavish lifestyle, is a arguable determine in Zimbabwe, where she was accused of usurping the powers of her growing older husband and of plotting to change into the following president.

    It led to the army intervening to oust Mr Mugabe, and commencing the way for his sacked, deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, to take office.

    (more…)