By : Lloyd Mahachi A recent report by Mastercard Foundation and McKinsey reveals that young women in Africa can contribute significantly to the continent’s economy, adding $287 billion (a 5% GDP increase) and 23 million jobs by 2030. However, this requires addressing the gender gap in the labor market through education, skills development, and access to financial services. Africa’s collective GDP was $3.1 trillion in 2022, with young women contributing just 11% ($340 billion), a decline from 18% in 2000. The unemployment rate is higher for young women than men, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of education and…
Author: JOSEY AGENCY
By : Lloyd Mahachi Kithure Kindiki, a 52-year-old former law professor and current Interior Minister, is poised to become Kenya’s next deputy president. Parliament has approved his nomination to fill the vacant role left by Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached by senators. Kindiki boasts a strong academic background, holding a master’s degree and a PhD from the University of Pretoria in South Africa. He has authored over 30 publications and has extensive experience in public policy, governance, public administration, law-making, constitutional affairs, and legal advice. Kindiki’s political career began in 2013 as senator for Tharaka-Nithi county, where he served as…
By : Lloyd Mahachi South Africa has requested that Taiwan relocate its de facto embassy from Pretoria, the country’s administrative capital, to Johannesburg, its commercial hub. This move is seen as a significant development, highlighting Beijing’s growing influence among developing nations. The decision underscores China’s increasing sway over South Africa, its largest trading partner globally. Taiwan and South Africa have maintained unofficial diplomatic relations since 1998, when Pretoria severed formal ties with Taiwan in favor of China. China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, and this latest move is likely to increase tensions between Beijing and Taipei. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao…
By : Lloyd Mahachi Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment trial took a dramatic turn yesterday when he failed to appear for cross-examination, leaving the Senate in confusion. His legal team was caught off guard, with lead counsel Paul Muite later revealing that Gachagua had fallen ill with intense chest pains and was under medical care at Karen Hospital. Muite informed the House that he had received the news on short notice and requested time to assess Gachagua’s condition before proceeding with the trial. However, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi reminded Muite that the impeachment motion is time-bound, sparking further confusion. The…
By : Lloyd Mahachi The mpox outbreak in Africa has reached a critical point, with the number of related deaths exceeding 1,000, according to Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This alarming milestone was reached after 50 mpox-related deaths were reported in the past week, bringing the total to 1,100.The outbreak is currently affecting 18 of the continent’s 55 nations, posing a significant challenge to authorities as they struggle to contain the spread. Mpox, a viral disease belonging to the same family as smallpox, presents milder symptoms, including fever, chills, and body aches.…
By : Lloyd Mahachi Tragedy struck in northern Nigeria yesterday when an overturned gasoline tanker truck exploded, killing over 140 people and injuring dozens more. The accident occurred in Majiya town, Jigawa state, after the tanker driver lost control of the vehicle while traveling on a highway. Residents rushed to the scene to scoop up fuel pouring from the tanker, sparking a massive inferno that spread quickly. Eyewitnesses described the chaotic scene, with people running in all directions, screaming for help. “The fire spread so quickly that many couldn’t escape,” said resident Sani Umar. Emergency services arrived several hours after…
By : Lloyd Mahachi Preliminary results from Mozambique’s general election show the ruling party, Frelimo, leading in all 11 provinces, positioning its candidate, Daniel Chapo, to become the country’s next president. However, election observers have raised concerns about the poll’s integrity, citing issues such as disorganized counting, poorly sealed ballot boxes, vote buying, inflated voter rolls, and intimidation in some areas.Frelimo’s dominance over state institutions provides an unfair advantage, allowing it to manipulate laws and policies to its benefit. The party has been accused of rigging elections since Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975. These concerns are not unfounded,…
The US has written to Israel, giving it 30 days to boost humanitarian aid access in Gaza or risk having some US military assistance cut off. The letter, sent on Sunday, amounts to the strongest known written warning from the US to its ally and comes amid a new Israeli offensive in northern Gaza that has reportedly caused a large number of civilian casualties. It says the US has deep concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation, adding that Israel denied or impeded nearly 90% of humanitarian movements between the north and south last month. Israel is reviewing the letter, an…
By : Lloyd Mahachi Years of relentless conflict in eastern Congo have spawned a dire mental health crisis, with millions struggling to survive in squalid displacement camps. The situation is exacerbated by the presence of over 100 armed groups vying for control, leading to escalating violence and widespread human rights abuses. Aid groups report a staggering 200% increase in people seeking psychosocial support in camps around Goma, with over 20,000 receiving care between January and June. The number of people reporting suicidal thoughts has skyrocketed from five to over 120 per month. Psychologists note a significant rise in anxiety, depression,…
By : Lloyd Mahachi Southern Africa is facing its worst hunger crisis in decades due to the devastating impact of the El Niño weather phenomenon. Over 27 million people have been affected, with 21 million children in the region now malnourished as crops have failed. The World Food Program warns that this could become a “full-scale human catastrophe.”Five countries – Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – have declared national disasters due to the drought and resultant hunger. The region’s reliance on small-scale agriculture, which is irrigated by rain, has been severely impacted. Aid agencies had warned of a potential…