HARARE - At least 1, 6 million people in Zimbabwe rely on food aid, as the country only has about 92 000 tonnes of maize in stock and will have to import 150 000 tonnes of maize to meet its demand....

LAGOS - Fifty-five people have been killed in the north-east of Nigeria in co-ordinated attacks by the Boko Haram militant group, the Nigerian army says. It said 105 prisoners were freed in the pre-dawn raid in Bama, Borno state. Bama's police...

JOHANNESBURG - Five high-ranking officials in South Africa have been suspended as the government investigates security breaches during a society wedding. The justice minister said three police officers had also been arrested. A wealthy Indian family was allowed to land a...

HARARE - South African thoroughbred A King Is Born, who is trained by Alyson Wright, won the Castle Tankard $50 000 race here yesterday some five lengths ahead of second-placed Ginepri from Argentina. A King Is Born, who was ridden by...

LUSAKA - Guy Scott wastes little time on diplomatic language as he lets loose on Africa’s biggest economy, race, Robert Mugabe and gay rights. One of the most colourful men in African politics happens to be white. Guy Scott is...

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) has defended its filmed visit to Nelson Mandela, saying it was not a "publicity stunt". They were the first pictures of the former South African president since he left hospital on 6...

GABORONE - Botswana President Ian Khama has had stitches in his face after being scratched by a cheetah, officials say. The animal was reportedly being fed in its enclosure at an army barracks when it jumped up and scratched Mr Khama,...

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa’s communications regulator, Icasa, on Wednesday gave permission for satellite television network TopTV to broadcast three “sexually explicit” channels, saying there was no legal basis to reject the application. The decision opens the gates for wider dissemination of...

CAIRO - Egypt's justice minister has resigned, following demands from Islamist supporters of President Mohammed Morsi for the "cleansing" of the judiciary. Ahmed Mekky was seen as a supporter of judicial independence during former President Hosni Mubarak's rule. He threatened to...

TRIPOLI - A car bomb has exploded outside the French embassy in the Libyan capital Tripoli, wounding two French guards and several residents. The blast in Tripoli destroyed the embassy's ground-floor reception area and perimeter wall, as well as damaging neighbouring...

LAGOS - Intense fighting between the military and Islamist militants in northern Nigeria is reported to have killed at least 185 people, however the army has disputed this figure. Rocket-propelled grenades and heavy gunfire bombarded the remote town of Baga near...

JOHANNESBURG - A granddaughter of Nelson Mandela has harshly criticised a longtime associate of the former president in an escalation of a dispute over funds linked to one of the world’s most revered figures. Tukwini Mandela accused lawyer George Bizos of...

HARARE - CAPS United are on the verge of signing Malawian teenage sensation Gerald Phiri Jnr on a two-year deal. The highly-rated Mighty Wanderers winger – who can also play anywhere upfront – arrived in Harare on Friday as a free...

DAKAR - Police in Senegal have arrested the son of former President Abdoulaye Wade on suspicion of corruption. Karim Wade denies accusations that he illegally amassed about $1.4bn (£900m) during his father's rule. Karim Wade was a senior minister during his...

PRETORIA - A dagga bush is growing along the boundaries of the presidential guest house in Pretoria. And officials from a city improvement organisation say it is evidently being allowed to grow because the ground around it has recently been cleared....

CAIRO - The leader of Egypt's Coptic Christians has accused the country's president of "negligence" following deadly clashes outside the main cathedral in Cairo. Pope Tawadros II said Mohammed Morsi had failed to protect the building, where two people died after...

NAIROBI - Uhuru Kenyatta has been sworn in as Kenya's new president, following his victory in March against Raila Odinga. Dignitaries and tens of thousands of people witnessed the inauguration at a stadium in the capital, Nairobi. Mr Odinga did not...

PRETORIA - University of the Free State vice-chancellor Professor Jonathan Jansen this morning dismissed a report quoting him as saying he wished former South African President Nelson Mandela would die. “I truly wish Madiba would live forever. I also wish some...

JOHANNESBURG - The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is preparing to send more than 1,000 soldiers to the Democratic Republic of Congo, as part of a bid to stop the M23 rebel group from gaining more power there, it was...

NAIROBI - Kenya's Supreme Court has upheld Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential election victory, rejecting several petitions challenging the vote. Chief Justice Willy Mutunga announced the decision, which was unanimous, saying the poll was free and fair. The appeal was lodged by Prime...

PRETORIA - South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius, charged with murdering his girlfriend, will be allowed to travel after challenging his bail terms. A judge said the Olympic and Paralympic star would be allowed to leave South Africa to compete as long...

CAIRO - Egypt's top prosecutor has ordered the arrest of five leading political activists following clashes near the Muslim Brotherhood's headquarters. The five are accused of inciting "aggression" against members of the Brotherhood last week. The Muslim Brotherhood dominates parliament and...

JOHANNESBURG - A Limpopo farm said to be owned by fraud-accused Julius Malema has been seized by the Asset Forfeiture Unit, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said yesterday. “On [Monday], the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the NPA was granted a forfeiture...

LUSAKA - Zambia's ex-President Rupiah Banda has appeared before an official panel to answer allegations of corruption during his three year in power. Police barricaded roads leading to the national anti-drugs offices in the capital Lusaka, where Mr Banda was questioned...