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Zimbabwe, Zambia set to increase power generation as Kariba Dam rehabilitation ends

Zimbabwe, Zambia set to increase power generation as Kariba Dam rehabilitation ends

Rehabilitation of the Kariba Dam wall, to boost power generation by the Zambian and Zimbabwean power utilities, is expected to be completed by the end of this month, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has said in a statement…reports Asian Lite News

During the fourth quarter of 2021, ZRA requested Zambia’s power utility Zesco Limited and the Zimbabwe Power Company to reduce power generation levels to six hours on a few selected dates, in a bid to facilitate cofferdam construction works under the plunge pool reshaping sub-project of the Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project, Xinhua news agencies reported.

Regarding the load shedding of the Zimbabwe power company due to the rehabilitation, the statement said after the work is finished “the utilities were expected to implement measures that would mitigate the resulting reduction in power generation levels at Kariba.”

The specific works under the pool reshaping sub-project have since advanced and are due to be completed by January 25, ZRA said.

ALSO READ: Domestic tourism booms in Zimbabwe despite curbs

Looking forward, ZRA said the remaining rehabilitation works would not result in the two utilities reducing generation levels at their respective Kariba power stations.

“The KDRP is scheduled to be completed by 2024 and is aimed at assuring the long-term safety and reliability of Kariba Dam,” ZRA said.

The refurbishment project, which commenced in 2017, comprises the reshaping of the plunge pool and the refurbishment of the spillway gates.

The $294 million rehabilitation project is funded by the European Union, the World Bank, African Development Bank, the government of Sweden and ZRA on behalf of the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, through a combination of grants and loans.

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UK govt announces $10 million support to tackle drought in Somalia

British Ambassador to Somalia, Kate Foster, said, “The situation is extremely worrying, with millions of people in desperate need of lifesaving food and clean water…reports Asian Lite News

The UK’s Minister for Africa, Vicky Ford MP has announced a $10 million package of UK support for Somalis affected by extreme drought, during a visit to Kenya as part of a three-country East Africa visit.

The funding will provide vital assistance such as cash to buy urgent food supplies and water to help vulnerable families across Somalia that are desperately suffering from relentless drought. The support is part of the £17 million package of UK support to countries in East Africa affected by extreme drought and flooding.

The drought severity in Somalia continues to worsen, with over 90% of the country experiencing drought conditions. There are close to 5 million Somalis who are hungry, and a further 3.5 million in need of urgent humanitarian assistance this year due to successive poor rains and failed harvests. A further 2.6 million people have fled their homes due to conflict.

The funding is expected to support almost 500,000 people in Somalia to access clean water and afford food supplies. This kind of early preventative action is crucial, as was learned from the 2016/17 drought in Somalia when early action and funding led by the UK helped to narrowly avoid a famine.

Climate change is driving extreme weather events across the region, worsening pre-existing drought, while poor governance and ongoing conflicts in Somalia are displacing vulnerable communities and destroying livelihoods.

On a visit to East Africa, UK Minister for Africa, Vicky Ford MP, said, “For countries in East Africa, climate change is not a future problem – it is driving a humanitarian emergency right now. Catastrophic droughts and floods, paired with ongoing conflicts and poor governance in Somalia, South Sudan and Ethiopia, are creating a perfect storm in East Africa which risks pushing hundreds of thousands of people into famine. The UK’s commitment to supporting our partners in East Africa is unwavering and we know that early action now can prevent mass loss of life. This funding package will provide vital assistance to almost a million people across the region, helping those affected to access clean water and healthy food.”

Meanwhile, British Ambassador to Somalia, Kate Foster, said, “The situation is extremely worrying, with millions of people in desperate need of lifesaving food and clean water. The UK is moving quickly to provide support with an additional $10 million of funding, as experience has shown that early, preventative action is vital to avoiding mass loss of life.”

So far, the UK has provided £32 million in humanitarian funding this year, reaching over 1 million people with a combination of emergency and longer-term assistance.

The UK prioritised supporting communities affected by extreme weather events such as droughts as host of COP26 in Glasgow. As part of the historic agreement reached at the summit, wealthy nations committed to double the overall climate finance available for adaptation programmes.

The UK is a long-standing supporter of Africa’s adaptation to climate change, with around half of the UK’s £2.7 billion adaptation budget between 2016 and 2020 spent in Africa.

ALSO READ-Humanitarian Response Plan launched to help Somalian people

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Africa News News World

African Union ready to support political consensus

African Union ready to support political consensus

The African Union (AU) has expressed readiness to support consensus among all political parties in Sudan to achieve a political transition in the country…reports Asian Lite News

The AU’s position was conveyed to Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan by AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (AU-PAPS), Bankole Adeoye on Saturday during a meeting in Sudan’s capital Khartoum, the Council said in a statement.

The envoy stressed the AU’s readiness to support Sudan in the political transition, and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the government, people and all stakeholders of Sudan toward amicable political solution to the current stalemate, Xinhua news agency reported.

ALSO READ: South African Parliament fire suspect under mental observation

Reiterating the AU’s full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan, he urged concerned parties to avoid any form of violence, and focus on stability, peace and prosperity of Sudan.

He called for “strong efforts by all stakeholders” to seek a solution to the ongoing political crisis in the country.

Sudan has been suffering a political crisis after Al-Burhan, also the General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, declared a state of emergency on October 25, 2021, and dissolved the Sovereign Council and the government.

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Africa News News World

High ranking Sudan police killed in fresh protests

UN calls South Sudan to protect aid workers

A high-ranking Sudanese police officer was killed during fresh protests in capital Khartoum demanding a civilian rule in the country…rpeorts Asian Lite News


“Acting Interior Minister and the Police’s Director General eulogise the death of Brigadier General Ali Barima Hammad, who died while performing his duty to protect the demonstrators near Stack Medical Laboratory,” the press office of the Sudanese police said in a statement.

The police did not reveal the circumstances which led to the death of the senior police officer, but the new casualty might mark an escalation of confrontations between protesters and security forces.


Sudanese protesters took to the streets again on Thursday in the capital Khartoum and other cities in new and increasingly regular demonstrations to demand civilian rule.

Protesters gathered in central Khartoum and tried to reach the presidential palace, witnesses told Xinhua.

Crowds of demonstrators in Omdurman also headed towards Al-Arbaeen Street, a vital street leading to a bridge linking Omdurman and Khartoum, they added.

ALSO READ: One killed, 30 injured in Sudan’s street protests
Khartoum State’s Police issued a statement earlier on Thursday announcing partial closure to some bridges linking the major cities of Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri.

Military units have been deployed at the entrances of most of the bridges and on the internal roads to the presidential palace and the army’s general command headquarters.

Sudan has been suffering a political crisis after the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a coup on October 25, 2021 and dissolved the Sovereign Council and the government.

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Africa News News World

South African Parliament fire suspect under mental observation

South African Parliament fire suspect under mental observation

The man who is suspected of setting fire to the South African Parliament, which gutted buildings in the legislative capital Cape Town, has started a 30-day mental observation at a psychiatric hospital…reports Asian Lite News

In a statement, the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa (NPA) said 49-year-old Zandile Christmas Mafe appeared at Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, and was ordered to be admitted for observation, reports Xinhua news agency.

In Mafe’s second appearing at court earlier this week, it was revealed that he was diagnosed of paranoid schizophrenia after being sent for mental observation by the state on January 3 and the NPA argued for his referral to a psychiatric hospital.

Mafe currently faces charges of terrorism, housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, two counts of arson and possession of an explosive device.

The suspect was arrested on January 2, when the fire broke out, with suspected stealing property after he gained entry to the parliamentary precinct without authorization, according to the police.

The fire lasted more than 70 hours, severely damaging the building of the National Assembly (NA), the lower house, and completely burned down the NA chamber.

ALSO READ: South Africa lower house to continue sitting in Parliament precinct

It also caused extensive damage to the century-old Old Assembly building that houses the National Council of Provinces, the upper house.

The southern African country has three capitals.

Besides Cape Town, the two others are the administrative capital Pretoria that hosts the national government and the presidency, and the judicial capital Bloemfontein that hosts the Supreme Court of Appeal.

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Africa News India News News

12 African nationals with expired visas apprehended in Delhi

The crackdown against African nationals residing illegally in the national capital continued with the Delhi Police apprehending 12 more foreigners with expired visas in the past three days…reports Asian Lite News

According to the official, a police team of the Dwarka district apprehended the African nationals during four separate operations. They have been identified as Peace Ugbedeojo Kadiri, Caroline Oganna Eyioko, Mercy Silver Kamah, Onyeka Chika Amurie, Emmanuel Okeke, Stephen Mansiki Nnorom, Samuel Chigozie Okechukwu, Chinonye Franklin Chidiob, Uchechukwu Edwin Okeke, Paul Emera Ekeleme, Johnson Nnoruka and Emmanuel Nwokemodo.

“After verification of their credentials, it was found that they were overstaying in India without a valid visa,” the official said. They were produced before the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) along with their original passports. The FRRO has ordered their deportation.

The Dwarka district police had recently launched ‘Operation Varchasva’ to make Dwarka area crime-free. Since the launch of the operation, several gangsters, snatchers, and robbers have been arrested within a small period of time.

The police are also keeping a tab on foreign nationals living here illegally. Pertinently, some African nationals living in and around the national capital are involved in the illicit drug trade and are being regularly caught by the police.

ALSO READ: UN reports increase in terrorist attacks in Central African Republic

A Delhi Police official said that the number of African nationals looking for money-earning opportunities is increasing in the national capital. The Uttam Nagar Police Station area has a mixed population of approximately 3.75 lakh. A lot of African nationals, looking are residing here with fake or expired visas, he added.

“There are also cases under the NDPS Act registered against them for supplying drugs to locals and people from other areas. Additionally, a few cases of cyber fraud have also surfaced in which these Africans are allegedly involved,” the official said.

The 12 African nationals have been sent to the detention centre at Lampur Border.

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Africa News COVID-19 News

Africa’s 4th Covid wave flattening

Deaths in the fourth wave on the African continent are lower than in the previous waves…reports Asian Lite News

After a six-week surge, Africa’s fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic driven primarily by the Omicron variant, is flattening, marking the shortest-lived surge to date in the continent where cumulative cases have now exceeded 10 million, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

Weekly cases having plateaued in the week ending on January 9, Xinhua news agency quoted a statement issued by the WHO’s regional office for Africa as saying on Thursday.

It said that Southern Africa, which saw a huge increase in infections during the pandemic wave, recorded a 14 per cent decline in infections over the past week, with South Africa, where Omicron was first reported, recording a 9 per cent fall in weekly infections.

North and West Africa, however, are witnessing a rise in cases, with North Africa reporting a 121 per cent increase this past week compared with the previous one, warned the WHO.

Across the continent, though, deaths rose by 64 per cent in the seven days ending on January 9 compared with the week before mainly due to infections among people at high-risk.

Nonetheless, deaths in the fourth wave on the African continent are lower than in the previous waves.

ALSO READ: Africa Covid cases near 10 Million

So far 30 African countries have detected the Omicron variant, while the Delta variant has been reported in 42 nations.

“Early indications suggest that Africa’s fourth wave has been steep and brief but no less destabilising. The crucial pandemic countermeasure badly needed in Africa still stands, and that is rapidly and significantly increasing Covid-19 vaccinations. The next wave might not be so forgiving,” said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s regional director for Africa.

While the continent appears to be weathering the latest pandemic wave, vaccinations still remain low.

Just around 10 per cent of Africa’s population has been fully vaccinated, noted WHO.

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Africa News News World

UN reports increase in terrorist attacks in Central African Republic

UN reports increase in terrorist attacks in Central African Republic

UN peacekeepers have reported a significant increase in terrorist attacks in the Central African Republic (CAR)…reports Asian Lite News

“Our colleagues at the peacekeeping mission there said they have noted a significant increase in the number of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), especially in the northwest of the country,” Xinhua news agency quoted Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as saying.

Among the IEDs found since the beginning of the year, “three out of five devices exploded on vehicles belonging to our peacekeepers or to the country’s army”, Dujarric added.

He said the mission, known as MINUSCA, believes the armed Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation group active in the area is deliberately targeting UN peacekeepers and CAR armed forces with the devices.

On the humanitarian side, the UN deputy special representative and humanitarian coordinator for the CAR, Denise Brown, visited Ouaka prefecture in the country’s midsection a few days ago and expressed her concerns about the situation, notably in the town of Boyo, the spokesman said.

ALSO READ: South Africa’s Parliament fire flares up again

“She said that following the arrival of armed combatants in the town, there are allegations of killings, houses burned down and agricultural supplies stolen,” Dujarric said, adding that MINUSCA deployed peacekeepers there to protect the population.

There were no reports of casualties.

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Africa News News World

Tunisia imposes 2-week curfew

Tunisia imposes 2-week curfew

From Thursday onwards, the Tunisian government will implement a new two-week curfew across the country to curb the spread of the latest wave of the Covid-19 pandemic…reports Asian Lite News

“The curfew will be in effect from Thursday for a period of two weeks renewable, depending on the epidemiological situation in the country,” Xinhua news agency quoted a government statement as saying.

“The nationwide curfew will be carried out from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.,” it added.

In addition, the government has decided to ban all public gatherings indoors and outdoors.

All cultural and sport events would be cancelled or postponed until further notice.

Wearing a mask is still compulsory in all places in addition to the continued application of preventive and hygiene measures, namely physical distancing, ventilation and hand washing.

ALSO READ: Over 5mn Tunisians fully vaccinated against Covid-19

The government has also recommended the vaccine passport, the national vaccination campaign particularly the inoculation of the Covid-19 booster dose, as well as the postponement of any travel to countries experiencing a severe situation.

Meanwhile, Tunisia reported 4,865 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, raising the tally of infections in the North African country to 749,832.

The death toll from the virus rose by 11 to 25,707, while the total number of recoveries reached 700,004.

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Africa News News

UN released $1.9 billion Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan for 2022

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Tuesday released a $1.9 billion Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan for 2022…reports Asian Lite News

More than $800 million will go to life-saving activities for some of the 10.9 million vulnerable people targeted out of the 14.3 million people across Sudan in need of humanitarian assistance, it said. It is estimated that half of the highly vulnerable area in the western Darfur, with others in need living in the capital of Khartoum and South Kordofan, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Sudan is experiencing increasing humanitarian needs largely driven by the economic recession that started in 2018, acute food insecurity, conflict, large-scale displacement, natural hazards, such as floods, as well as reduced social service delivery and capacity to respond to disease outbreaks, including Covid-19,” OCHA said.

ALSO READ: Arab League welcomes UN to assist political transition in Sudan

The plan covering many relief sectors includes essential health services, prevention and treatment of water-borne and vector-borne diseases and access to education, livelihoods, and water and sanitation.

The increasing magnitude of severity and the levels of deprivation faced by vulnerable people requires urgent early and flexible humanitarian funding, it added.

Last year, aid workers said they reached over 8.1 million people with assistance in Sudan.