Today Africans across the continent celebrate Mother’s Day. Google used its doodle to pay tribute to mothers. The animated doodle shows the story of a cactus mom through various stages of motherhood. The doodle honours mothers across the world and celebrates the sacrifices mothers make for their children. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in the world, and we thank you for all the sacrifices, and love.
On 18 April 2017, Zimbabwe celebrated Independence Day, marking 37 years of self-rule. Steady social and economic progress in the early years after independence was followed by challenges and setbacks, social and political instability, economic woes and corruption, which slowed down the development agenda. Malvern Mkudu reflects on the difficult road the country has travelled.
Professor Tomohiko Sugishita doesn’t believe in drive-by kindness. Starting from when he was a newly-minted medical doctor taking care of the medical needs of 2 million Malawians at the height of the HIV epidemic in 1995, Professor Sugishita has always believed in sinking deep roots into a community and helping it help itself. He recently sat down for an interview with veteran Kenyan journalist Wycliffe Muga and opened up about what lit his fire for medicine, his long years of medical practice in Africa and why he has come to believe in the “unlearning process”.
Zambia is set to launch its bid to host the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), President Edgar Lungu has revealed. The news comes after the country recently lifted the Under-20 Africa Nations Cup, beating highly fancied Senegal team in Zambia.
In 2011, Proscovia Nalweyiso became the first female Brigadier General in Uganda, a noteworthy achievement, which was celebrated across the continent. Fast-forward to 2017, the country has recorded another remarkable milestone, the promotion of Brig Nalweyiso to the rank of Major General. With the appointment, Nalweyiso becomes the country’s first female Major General, and one of the few women across the continent to hold such a powerful military position. We applaud and congratulate Maj Gen Nalweyiso on the historic achievement.
Last year, 19 year-old Besa Mumba, became Zambia’s youngest commercial pilot, an achievement which was widely celebrated across the continent. Fast-forward six months, Zambia is celebrating yet another remarkable accomplishment, as 24-year-old Second Lieutenant Thokozile Muwamba becomes the country’s first female fighter pilot. We applaud Lt Muwamba’s historic achievement.
Zambian President Edgar Lungu has slashed his salary by half as part of a proposed austerity drive. However, the Presidency has not revealed how the funds saved through the salary cut will be spent. There have been mixed reactions on social media with some users applauding President Lungu, making suggestions on how the funds can be reallocated. However, others have been critical of the pay-cut labelling it a grandstanding gesture.
The amount of wealth flowing out of Africa is ten times the amount the continent receives in foreign assistance. This is the only argument African countries need to make when advocating for debt forgiveness. Through tax dodges like “transfer pricing”, big multinationals pay more taxes in the West than they do in Africa while carting away its resources. How long shall Africa allow this to continue?
Kenya’s Fatuma Zarika has made history by defeating Jamaican defending champion Alicia Ashley to become the first Kenyan female professional boxer to hold a World Boxing Council (WBC) title. Zarika won the WBC super bantamweight title on points. We celebrate Zarika’s remarkable accomplishment.
President Edgar Lungu’s Cabinet will not only show us his programme for the next five years but also whether he intends to unite a country where the voting pattern showed a divide between north and south, writes Charles Mafa.
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