As we conclude the week, here are some notable headlines from Africa. 480 individuals were arrested for attempting illegal entry without documentation in South Africa.
Zimbabwe raised its age of sexual consent from 16 to 18, earning praise from UNICEF. Coachella 2024 promises exciting performances by TYLA, TEMS, and SPINALL. Tragically, over 40 people are missing after a boat sank in Tunisia.
Tanzania banned a Kenyan firm for purchasing unripe avocados, and Shell is set to sell its Nigerian onshore subsidiary. Lastly, a Zimbabwean man was jailed for trying to smuggle a stolen Toyota Fortuner via Limpopo.
Check out all the top stories below:
480 INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED TRYING TO ENTER SA ILLEGALLY WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION
The Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner, Dr. Mike Masiapato, has shared recent figures detailing the actions undertaken by the authority.
Between January 1 and 7, authorities intercepted 480 individuals attempting to enter the country illegally at Beit Bridge.
In a video shared by The Border Management Authority (BMA) on Twitter, Masiapato said, “As the Border Management Authority, the implementation of the returning leg of the execution of our festive plan is going according to the manner in which we have planned. We continue to administer to people coming back into South Africa.”
He added:
“In terms of the Beit Bridge border post, as we started on January 1, 2024, we started with around 10 000 individuals that we were processing into South Africa, and that number kept on escalating towards the end of the week. We were sitting with around 20 000 individuals that we have facilitated.
“In the past 24 hours, we have been able to process around 25 000 individuals into South Africa. All in all, the number of people that we facilitated from January 1, 2024, to January 7 is sitting at 119 000 but … above the number of people we facilitated, we have been able to intercept around 480 individuals attempting to enter the country illegally.
“These are the individuals who had been intercepted for entering the port of entry without the requisite documentation, but some of those we intercepted along the borderline, where the border guards are deployed together with the members of the South African National Defence Force. In addition to this, we can indicate that all our processes are going according to plan.”
The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has raised concerns over illegal movements between South Africa and Zimbabwe through the Malala Drift River in Limpopo, where hundreds of Zimbabwean nationals reportedly cross every morning to work on farms in South Africa.
UNICEF COMMENDS ZIMBABWE FOR RAISING AGE OF SEXUAL CONSENT FROM 16 TO 18 YEARS
UNICEF has praised the Zimbabwean government for increasing the age of sexual consent from 16 to 18 years.
In a statement on Monday, the UN agency highlighted that this commendable move would help reduce the prevalence of child sexual abuse cases.
“UNICEF commends Zimbabwe for having passed legislation raising the age of consent for sexual relations to 18 years, thereby criminalizing sexual relations of adults with children.
“This will contribute to a reduction of sexual abuse of children, which continues to be a concern in Zimbabwe,” Yves Willemot, UNICEF Zimbabwe head of communication, said.
“Available data suggest that in Zimbabwe, over a third of girls experience sexual violence before the age of 18 years. For most of these girls, the perpetrators are intimate partners.
“Sexual violence on children has a significant impact on girls and boys who experience it. The effect is both physical as well as psychological.
“It can impact education, create mental disorders, and jeopardize a healthy sexual life at a later age.”
It was also highlighted that sexual violence can lead to early pregnancy, putting girls at risk when they are not mentally and physically ready to give birth or care for a baby.
TYLA, TEMS, AND SPINALL TO PERFORM AT COACHELLA 2024
As African artists continue to shine, South Africa’s songstress Tyla, Afrobeats sensation Tems, and Nigerian DJ Spinall will be performing at the 2024 edition of the Coachella Valley and Arts Festival.
Taking place on April 12-14 and April 19-21, 2024, at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, the festival will feature headliners Lana Del Rey, Tyler The Creator, and Doja Cat.
The lineup includes performances from Peso Pluma, J Balvin, Lil Uzi Vert, Skepta, Jon Baptiste, Ice Spice, Lil Yachty, DJ Snake, and many other artists.
ZIMBABWEAN MAN JAILED FOR ATTEMPT TO SMUGGLE STOLEN TOYOTA FORTUNER VIA LIMPOPO
In a contrasting turn of events, Cosmos Ndou, a 36-year-old man from Zimbabwe, has been found guilty and handed an effective eight-year imprisonment for possessing a stolen motor vehicle and violating South Africa’s Immigration Act.
Ndou received his sentence on Friday at the Mokopane Regional Court in Limpopo. This followed his attempt last year to smuggle a stolen Toyota Fortuner into neighboring Zimbabwe through the Beitbridge port of entry.
Aged 36, Cosmos Ndou has been handed an effective eight-year imprisonment for possessing a stolen motor vehicle and violating South Africa’s Immigration Act.
“The conviction and subsequent sentencing comes after the court heard that on September 18, the accused was found in possession of a stolen motor vehicle, a bronze Toyota Forturner that was reported stolen at Brooklyn policing area, in Gauteng province,” Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said.
Ndou was discovered with the car in Limpopo just two days after it had been stolen in Pretoria East.
MORE THAN 40 MISSING AFTER BOAT SINKS IN TUNISIA
In Tunisia, at least 40 illegal migrants are reported missing after their boat sank off the southeastern coast, as stated by the Tunisian National Guard on Tuesday.
A group of 40 people set out from the Sfax coast late on the night of January 10, attempting to cross the Mediterranean with the goal of entering Italy illegally, as stated in the release.
It was mentioned that families of some individuals within the group reported losing contact with them to local authorities, though the statement did not provide details regarding the dates of these reports or the specific shipwreck incident.
Efforts to find the missing illegal migrants are still ongoing.
TANZANIA BANS KENYAN FIRM FOR BUYING UNRIPE AVOCADOS
Tanzania has prohibited a Kenyan firm from acquiring avocados, as the Ministry of Agriculture accused it of engaging in illegal practices.
Kandia Fresh Company faced a ban from operating in Njombe, south-eastern Tanzania, following accusations of purchasing premature fruits.
According to Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe, the company supposedly purchased unripe avocados and discarded them at the dumpsite in Njombe Town Council.
“If that company exists in the country, blacklist it immediately, cancel their permit,” said Mr Bashe.
Later, he ordered the arrest of the company’s employee, David Sifuna Barasa, who allegedly bought avocados from middlemen without a permit, claiming the fruits were initially harvested in good condition but poorly handled.
SHELL AGREES TO SELL ITS NIGERIAN ONSHORE SUBSIDIARY AND EXIT NIGERIA
Shell, the British energy giant, is about to end almost a century of onshore oil and gas activities in Nigeria by announcing the sale of its subsidiary to a consortium, primarily made up of local companies, for up to $2.4 billion.
The company disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
This significant move marks the conclusion of the British oil giant’s primary operations in Nigeria, several years after its establishment in 1979.
The company clarified that finalizing the transaction depends on approvals from the Federal Government of Nigeria, holding a 55% stake, and meeting other specified conditions.
However, Shell will remain a major investor in Nigeria’s energy sector through its Deepwater and Integrated Gas businesses.
“This agreement marks an important milestone for Shell in Nigeria, aligning with our previously announced intent to exit onshore oil production in the Niger Delta, simplifying our portfolio and focusing future disciplined investment in Nigeria on our Deepwater and Integrated Gas positions” said Zoë Yujnovich, Shell’s Integrated Gas and Upstream Director.
“It is a significant moment for SPDC, whose people have built it into a high-quality business over many years. Now, after decades as a pioneer in Nigeria’s energy sector, SPDC will move to its next chapter under the ownership of an experienced, ambitious Nigerian-led consortium.
“Shell sees a bright future in Nigeria with a positive investment outlook for its energy sector. We will continue to support the country’s growing energy needs and export ambitions in areas aligned with our strategy.”
ATIKU, OBI, KWANKWASO HAVE AGREED TO FORM MERGER PARTY
Nigeria’s Atiku Abubakar from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with Peter Obi from the Labour Party (LP) and Rabiu Kwankwaso from the Nigeria People’s Party (NPP), has reportedly agreed to form a new political party, as stated by political economist Professor Pat Utomi, according to Vanguard reports.
Vanguard reports that Professor Pat Utomi confirmed the collaboration of Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Peter Obi, and Okey Nwosu with a simple “Yes.”
When asked about the name chosen for the coalition, Utomi responded, “We’re not talking about names yet. Besides, these politicians I mentioned, I’m talking about leaders of social movements, the labour movement, and so on.”
“I have even been part of creating a new tribe, Nigerians who are committed to certain values, who say I will not give a bribe; I will not take a bribe. And you can then create a set of values that can lead to progress in the country.
“The way we are today, a few people in the world are willing to engage with Nigeria. They think there’s a collapse of culture and values in Nigeria. You can’t trust Nigerians. All kinds of things are here. It’s a clean start.
“It’s a really clean start. You have to start from the premise that Nigeria has not had a political party since 1999.
“Let’s be very honest with ourselves, what we have managed is to create platforms that enable machine politics from which to grab power, usually for state capture.
“If you want to test that, check how much the quality of life of a Nigerian has improved since 1999.
“It’s frightening but the truth of the matter is that in 1999, a political class managed to build a certain coalition of accommodation to keep the military out and share the spoils of power.
“Somehow, they did not manage to create an alignment with the Nigerian people to improve the quality of their lives. This is why you can see Nigeria deteriorating, becoming the poverty capital of the world, becoming the centre of widespread violence.”
MOHBAD MANAGEMENT SHARES UPDATE ON THE LATE RAPPER’S AUTOPSY
In a recent Instagram statement, Mohbad’s management shared posthumous updates on the Nigerian music artist.
The message highlighted the ongoing investigation by authorities, with autopsy results expected in the coming months. Dismissing false reports, they clarified the non-existence of a will or thumb-printed document and emphasized that if such documents existed, they would have been registered.
The statement also revealed that all accounts owned by Mohbad were placed on a Post No Debit order in September 2023, to be handed over to the family upon resolution of internal disputes.
Despite challenges, Mohbad’s management expressed gratitude for continued support, urging everyone to avoid sharing misleading information. Emphasizing the importance of seeking the truth, the statement assured transparency as the investigation unfolds, providing a foundation for justice and closure in Imole’s memory.
TANZANIA LIFTS BAN ON KENYA AIRWAYS FLIGHTS
Tanzania has declared that the previously planned ban on passenger flights from Kenya Airways (KQ) to Dar es Salaam has been lifted.
On Monday, Tanzania revealed that it would prohibit KQ flights to the commercial capital starting from Monday, January 22, in response to Kenya’s restrictions on Air Tanzania cargo flights.
In a Tuesday announcement, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) stated: “This is to inform the public that the aeronautical authorities of the Republic of Kenya have granted the Fifth Freedom Traffic Right to Air Tanzania Company Limited for all-cargo service as per the request of the United Republic of Tanzania, with effect from January 16, 2024.
“Following this development, the aeronautical authorities of the United Republic of Tanzania hereby withdraw its decision of January 15, 2024 and therefore approval for Kenya Airways to operate Third and Fourth Freedom Traffic Rights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, is hereby restored with immediate effect.”
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