As we wrap up the week, here are the top stories from Africa: Heavy rains wreak havoc in Kenya, leaving at least 32 dead. Zimbabwe grants freedom to over 4,000 prisoners, including those on death row.
More than 100 inmates escape from a flooded prison in Nigeria. Nigeria seeks $2.25 billion in loans from the World Bank. Zimbabwean President implements a cabinet reshuffle.
Check out all the top stories below:
ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT RESHUFFLES CABINET
On Wednesday, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa reshuffled his cabinet, eight months after his re-election in August last year.
Winston Chitando has been reassigned to lead the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development by President Mnangagwa, replacing Daniel Garwe.
Former Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Zhemu Soda, now heads the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities. Additionally, Musa Ncube and Headman Moyo were appointed as deputy ministers. Yeukai Simbanegavi was transferred to deputy minister of Energy and Power Development.
AT LEAST 32 DEAD AS HEAVY RAINS HIT KENYA
Heavy rains hit half of Kenya, killing 32 and leaving two missing, affecting over 103,500 people.
On Wednesday, parts of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, experienced road closures and continued flooding in various neighborhoods.
Residents across the capital woke up to flooded homes, impassable roads, and downed trees after heavy rains overnight.
Kenyan senator Edwin Sifuna shared a video showing a whole neighborhood flooded.
“The situation in Nairobi has escalated to extreme levels. The county government for all its efforts is clearly overwhelmed,”said Sifuna.
Kenya’s long rainy season, which began in March, has grown stronger in the past week.
TOP 10 WEALTHIEST COUNTRIES IN AFRICA
The total wealth available in Africa is now $2.5 trillion, and the number of millionaires is expected to increase by 65% in the next decade, as stated in the 2024 Africa Wealth Report.
The report reveals that there are currently 135,200 wealthy individuals in Africa with over one million U.S. dollars in liquid assets, along with 342 ultra-wealthy individuals worth over 100 million U.S. dollars, and 21 billionaires.
South Africa leads in Africa with 37,400 millionaires, 102 centi-millionaires, and five billionaires, followed by Egypt with 15,600 millionaires, 52 centi-millionaires, and 7 billionaires.
Kenya boasts 7,200 millionaires, placing it fourth in the ranking. Morocco follows with 6,800, then Mauritius with 5,100, Algeria with 2,800, Ethiopia with 2,700, Ghana with 2,700, and Namibia with 2,300 millionaires.
Johannesburg stands out as Africa’s richest city, with 12,300 millionaires, 25 centi-millionaires, and two billionaires. Following closely is Cape Town, boasting 7,400 millionaires, 28 centi-millionaires, and one billionaire. Other notable urban wealth hubs include Cairo with 7,200 millionaires, Nairobi with 4,400, and Lagos with 4,200.
https://www.henleyglobal.com/publications/africa-wealth-report-2024
14 KILLED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION ROAD ACCIDENT
On Sunday, a tragic accident occurred in Nigeria’s central state of Kogi, as two buses collided head-on, claiming the lives of at least 14 people, according to traffic police.
Samuel Oyedeji, a commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in the state, reported that thirteen others sustained injuries in the incident, which took place in the Ofu local government area of Kogi.
“A fire engulfed the buses immediately after the head-on collision,” noted Oyedeji, highlighting the severity of the incident where the victims, including the driver, were burned beyond recognition.
He also mentioned that an investigation has been launched into the incident.
ZIMBABWE FREES 4,000 PRISONERS, INCLUDING THOSE SENTENCED TO DEATH
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa granted freedom to over 4,000 prisoners, including those sentenced to death, in an Independence Day amnesty on Thursday—as part of efforts to decongest the country’s crowded jails.
Prisoners at Chikurubi Maximum Prison in Harare gained freedom after Mnangagwa pardoned females, those with chronic ailments, juveniles, and long-serving inmates.
Moses Chihobvu, the head of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services agency, informed reporters, “We had 24,000-plus prisoners inside. So, the 4,000 going out… prisons are still full.”
Chihobvu mentioned that the prisons and correctional services would gain space from the release, along with savings on food and medical care expenses.
GOVT THREATENS TO STOP SALARIES OF STRIKING KENYAN DOCTORS
The Kenyan government is considering withholding the salaries and union contributions of striking doctors due to failed negotiations with the doctors’ union.
Susan Nakhumicha, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for health, shed light on the situation, expressing, “We will be asking our counsel to appeal to the court to review the orders that had been issued initially so that we are allowed to take the necessary action to ensure that Kenyans continue to enjoy health care services.”
The doctors initiated a strike on March 15, seeking assurance from the government to honor collective bargaining agreements from 2017, resulting in the halt of medical services in public hospitals nationwide.
Government officials stated that they have resolved all concerns raised by the medical professionals, except for the salary of intern doctors, which union representatives argue is the decisive factor.
MORE THAN 100 INMATES ESCAPE FROM PRISON AFTER HEAVY RAINS
Around 118 inmates escaped from a prison near Nigeria’s capital on Wednesday night due to heavy rains damaging the facility.
The medium-security prison suffered severe damage from heavy rains that lasted several hours, including the destruction of the perimeter wall and surrounding structures, stated spokesperson Adamu Duza on Thursday.
Agents are tracking down the escaped prisoners, with 10 recaptured so far, and are actively pursuing the remaining fugitives.
“We are in hot chase to recapture the rest,” Duza emphasized.
“The public is further enjoined to look out for the fleeing inmates and report any suspicious movement to the nearest security agency,” he said.
NIGERIA WANTS TO BORROW UP TO $2.25 BILLION FROM THE WORLD BANK
Following meetings in Washington, D.C., Nigeria announced its plan to seek a $2.25 billion loan from the World Bank, with expectations for approval in June.
The Nigerian government also plans to introduce diaspora bonds later this year to bring foreign currency into the country, Finance Minister Wale Edun said in the statement.
The statement outlined that the World Bank loans would consist of $1.5 billion for development policy financing and $750 million for program-for-results financing. It also mentioned that the bank would convene in June to decide on the final approval of the package.
Edun mentioned that the bank’s board would convene in June to give approval to the request.
KWARA RECEIVES 330,400 DOSES OF ANTHRAX VACCINE TO TACKLE ZOONOTIC DISEASES
The Kwara State Government has been provided with 330,400 doses of anthrax vaccine from the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project.
Zoonosis is an infectious disease that has jumped from a non-human animal to humans.
The vaccines were delivered by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development in Ilorin, thanked the Federal Government and L-PRES Project for the anthrax vaccine and pledged to enhance awareness campaigns targeting livestock farmers.
FLOODS KILL AT LEAST 155 PEOPLE IN TANZANIA
Majaliwa said in parliament that around 200,000 individuals were impacted, noting significant destruction across Tanzania, including homes, infrastructure, and crops, in recent weeks.
“The heavy El Nino rains, accompanied by strong winds, floods, and landslides in various parts of the country, have caused significant damage,” Majaliwa told parliament in Tanzania’s capital Dodoma.
“These include loss of life, destruction of crops, homes, citizens’ property, and infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and railways,” he added.
“As a result… more than 51,000 households and 200,000 people were affected, with 155 fatalities; approximately 236 individuals were injured, and over 10,000 houses were affected to varying degrees.”
CONGO DECLARES MPOX EPIDEMIC AS CASES SURGE
The Republic of the Congo has declared an epidemic of Mpox after confirming 19 cases spanning five regions, including the capital Brazzaville.
Health Minister Gilbert Mokoki stated on Tuesday that there have been no recorded deaths. He urged the public to take precautions, such as avoiding close contact with suspected cases and handling game meat with bare hands.
The World Health Organization (WHO) renamed the virus Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, due to concerns over stigma and racism. First detected in humans in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970, Mpox symptoms include fever, aches, and skin lesions.
The WHO declared a global health emergency in 2022 due to an outbreak spreading to Europe and North America.
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