By : Lloyd Mahachi Nigeria’s national soccer team, the Super Eagles, faced a harrowing experience on Monday after being stranded overnight at Al Abraq Airport in Libya. The team was slated to play a pivotal Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Libya on Tuesday. However, the players announced a boycott due to alleged “mind games” by Libyan authorities. According to team captain William Troost-Ekong, the plane carrying the team was diverted from its approved landing destination, Benghazi Airport, to Al Abraq Airport, approximately 220 kilometers away. The Libyan government reportedly rescinded the approved landing without providing a reason. This…
Author: JOSEY AGENCY
By : Lloyd Mahachi Mozambique’s recent general elections have been tarnished by widespread ballot stuffing, according to the European Union’s chief election observer, Laura Ballarin. Her team witnessed this blatant electoral fraud in six provinces, with one province standing out as the worst offender. Poll workers were caught red-handed with piles of ballot papers, ready to fill them out for the ruling party, Frelimo, and then fold them together. This is not the first time ballot stuffing has occurred in Mozambique’s elections, but this time it was brazen and out in the open. The EU observers also reported unlikely turnout…
Guinea’s military junta chief General Mamady Doumbouya has banned ministers from travelling abroad without his permission and recalled all those currently out of the country, his office announced.The statement, issued on Thursday, is effective immediately and until the end of the year, the government’s general secretary said.“On the instructions of the president”, read the statement, “it is required of all ministers on mission abroad to finish up and return to national territory”.Several ministers are currently abroad.Government spokesman Ousmane Gaoual Diallo said the decision was made to cut back on public spending. He stated that the measure “reinforces government efficacy while…
By : Lloyd Mahachi Kenyan athlete Ruth Chepngetich etched her name in the history books on Sunday, October 13, 2024, by shattering the women’s marathon world record at the prestigious Chicago Marathon. The 30-year-old champion’s remarkable feat saw her cross the finish line in an astonishing 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 57 seconds, eclipsing Ethiopian Tigst Assefa’s previous record by nearly two minutes.Chepngetich’s achievement marks a significant milestone in the world of athletics, as she becomes the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2 hours and 10 minutes. This impressive feat solidifies her position as one of the…
By : Lloyd Mahachi Zimbabwe has confirmed its first two cases of mpox, a viral infection recently declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization. The cases were reported in Harare and Mberengwa, involving an 11-year-old boy and a 24-year-old man who had recently traveled to South Africa and Tanzania, respectively. According to the Health Ministry, the 11-year-old boy developed symptoms last month after returning from South Africa, while the 24-year-old man fell ill after arriving from Tanzania. Fortunately, both patients are recovering, and contact tracing is underway to prevent further spread. The World Health Organization has…
By : Lloyd Mahachi The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced significant reforms to its lending policies, effective November 1, 2024, aimed at reducing borrowing costs for member countries amidst a challenging global economic environment. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) took a landmark step on October 11, 2024, as its Executive Board agreed on a comprehensive package to substantially reduce borrowing costs for its member countries. This move comes at a critical juncture, as the global economy navigates complex challenges. The reforms, championed by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, will have a profound impact on the organization’s lending framework. At…
By : Lloyd Mahachi Tito Mboweni, South Africa’s esteemed former finance minister and reserve bank governor, has passed away at the age of 65, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable service and dedication. His family confirmed his death on Saturday night, stating that he died peacefully in a Johannesburg hospital surrounded by loved ones, bringing an end to a life marked by outstanding achievements. Mboweni’s illustrious career spanned multiple decades, with numerous landmark appointments that cemented his place in South Africa’s history. Notably, he served as the first black governor of the South African Reserve Bank from 1999 to 2009,…
By : Lloyd Mahachi Zambia’s climate-induced energy crisis has brought the country to its knees. Tindor Sikunyongana’s welding business is on the brink of collapse due to the crippling electricity shortage caused by a severe drought. Forced to rely on costly diesel generators, Sikunyongana lamented, “Only God knows when this crisis will end.” The Kariba dam, Zambia’s primary source of hydroelectric power, lies virtually dry, with only one of its six turbines operational.The drought, exacerbated by climate change, has devastating consequences. Zambia relies heavily on Kariba for over 80% of its national electricity supply, resulting in daily power outages that…
By : Lloyd Mahachi A century-long enigma surrounding the disappearance of British mountaineer Andrew Comyn “Sandy” Irvine on Mount Everest may have finally been resolved. A team of filmmakers and climbers has discovered a severed human foot, believed to belong to Irvine, embedded in the ice on the Central Rongbuk Glacier.Last month, the team stumbled upon an old leather boot protruding from the melting ice, with a sock still intact, bearing the embroidered initials “A.C. Irvine.” This remarkable find has sent shockwaves through the mountaineering community, as Irvine’s disappearance in 1924, along with his climbing partner George Mallory, has remained…
By : Lloyd Mahachi A groundbreaking discovery has shed light on the vast, unexplored wonders of South Africa’s marine ecosystem, where the Benguela and Agulhas currents converge. Three new species have been unearthed, captivating the scientific community and emphasizing the importance of continued marine exploration. These fascinating finds include the “walking sponge” (Suberites ambulodomos), a tiny clam (Brachiomya ducentiunus), and a rare parasitic isopod (Pseudionella pumulaensis).According to Jannes Landschoff of The Conversation Africa, these tiny creatures play a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. They form symbiotic relationships, contribute to nutrient cycling, and shed light on…