Zimbabwe Mandates Compulsory COVID-19 Vaccination for Civil Servants

Zimbabwe's government on Tuesday ordered that all its workers should receive a COVID-19 vaccine and only 10% of civil servants report for duty, with the rest working from home in a bid to curb the spread of the pandemic. The head of the public commission, Jonathan Wutawunashe, said in a circular to government departments that all civil servants - about 250,000 - were considered frontline workers who should get COVID-19 shots.

Former South African President, Jacob Zuma, Surrenders To Police

Ex-President of South Africa Jacob Zuma turned himself to the police to commence a 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court and was on Wednesday admitted to Estcourt Correctional Centre of KwaZulu-Natal his home province. Zuma was sentenced on 29th June for defying an instruction to give evidence at an inquiry into corruption during his tenure in power. He only testified once at the inquiry what was known as "state capture", known as the siphoning off state assets.

ECOWAS Court Restrains FG From Prosecuting Twitter Users

The ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja has restrained the Federal Government from prosecuting Twitter users. The federal government has earlier placed a ban on the use of Twitter, but many Nigerians circumvented the ban through the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Consequently, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, threatened to prosecute those violating the ban. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) also ordered all radio and television stations to deactivate their Twitter accounts.

South Africa Unrest: Troops Deployed To Restore Calm

South African government has deployed soldiers to tackle deadly ongoing unrest triggered by the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma. Businesses were destroyed and looted, buildings set on fire on Monday as Zuma challenged his sentence at a hearing in the top court. At least six people have lost their lives and 200 others arrested since the unrest started last week, after Zuma handed himself in and began his 15-month sentence. Zuma was convicted of contempt of court after failing to attend an inquiry into corruption during his presidency. The 79-year-old, who denies corruption, is optimistic to get the sentence rescinded or reduced at the Constitutional Court hearing. However, legal experts say his chances of success are slim. Supporters of the ex-president on Saturday launched a massive protest over his imprisonment, burning trucks, commercial property, and blocking major roads in KwaZulu-Natal province.

Ethiopian Regional Capital Recaptured By Rebels

The northernmost regional state of Ethiopia, Tigray has seen its capital Mekelle retaking by Rebel fighters, seven months after military action under the order of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed drove them out. Nobel Peace Prize winner, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government sent troops into Tigray last November, saying the move came in response to attacks on federal army camps by the region’s ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

President Buhari In Ghana For ECOWAS Summit

President Muhammadu Buhari travelled to Accra, Ghana on Saturday for the 59th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. The summit is expected to discuss issues currently affecting member states of the regional bloc and would be chaired by Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo.