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The Cell C Sharks and Fidelity ADT Lions claimed important wins against the Currie Cup Premier Division’s frontrunners, while there were further victories for DHL Western Province and the Vodacom Bulls in the matches staged over the weekend, with all four visiting sides victorious. The only major change to the Premier Division log sees DHL …
Zimbabwe has concluded a fourth Structured Dialogue Platform meeting on debt clearance with creditors and development partners.
Government and development partners met Thursday 11 May, to review three draft policy reform matrices prepared by sector working groups on economic, governance and land tenure reforms. They also looked at compensation of former farm owners, and the resolution of Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs).
In welcome remarks, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube assured the participants of the country's “full commitment and ownership to the process,” including the implementation of policy reforms.
In December 2022, the Zimbabwean government established a Structured Dialogue Platform with all creditors and development partners, to institutionalize structured dialogue on economic and governance reforms to underpin the arrears clearance and debt resolution process.
Alexis Ferrand, Economics Advisor to the Government on Arrears Clearance, outlined the Economics Reforms Matrix's long-term and short-to-medium-term strategies, which will enable sustained inclusive economic growth, increased investment opportunities, and job creation.
The Matrix is centered on enhancing service delivery, public sector transparency and accountability, combating corruption and promoting human rights. It also covers electoral reforms, national unity, peace, and reconciliation. It was presented by Virginia Mabiza, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Ncube encouraged stakeholders to continue with "constructive and candid dialogue, which is critical to building mutual trust and confidence, needed for the success of the arrears clearance and debt resolution process."
Zimbabwe's debt clearance process is being championed by African Development Bank President Dr. Akinumwi Adesina and former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano, who has been designated as High-Level Facilitator. Both are expected in the country for a High-Level Debt Resolution Forum on 15 May 2023, led by Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa appointed Adesina as a champion in July 2022. The forum will focus on progress updates on the three policy reform matrices, presentation of the way forward and a tentative roadmap.
Zimbabwe's total consolidated debt stands at $17.5 billion. Debt owed to international creditors stands at $14.04 billion, while domestic debt stands at $3.4 billion. Debt owed to bilateral creditors is estimated at $5.75 billion, while debt to multilateral creditors is estimated at $2.5 billion. The country is in arrears for servicing its debt, with arrears to multilateral development banks, including the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and the European Investment Bank.
The fourth structured dialogue platform meetings come on the heels of previous ones held in December 2022, and in February and March 2023. The dialogue meetings are expected to continue after elections due in August this year.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media Contacts:
Amba Mpoke-Bigg
Communication and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org
Petronella Utete
Zimbabwe Country Office
African Development Bank
p.utete@afdb.org
Tomorrow, 15 May 2023, Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, will address students that are graduating as Peace Officers (PO’s) in Mossel Bay and George. 13 PO’s will graduate in Mossel Bay, while George has 10. This PO-programme forms part of the Western Cape Safety Plan (WCSP), which prioritises the …
Sou African Rugby has advised that reports that Mr Chris Swift was appointed as administrator of the Western Province Rugby Football Union are incorrect. An announcement is expected to be made shortly once the South African Rugby Union Executive Council has considered the recommendation of its Finance Committee. The new incumbent replaces Rian Oberholzer who …
Gary Wolmerans, NSRI Shelly Beach station commander, said: At 07h41, Sunday, 14 May, Municipal lifeguards and NSRI Shelly Beach duty crew were alerted following eye-witness reports of a drowning in progress at Port Shepstone, Oslo Beach. An NSRI Shelly Beach rescue craft jet-rib, at sea at the time, and NSRI rescue swimmers, responded. The SA …
The NSRI Knysna were alerted by a parent of a hiker, at around 15h27, Friday, 12 May, reporting 14 hikers cut off by the rain affected heavy flowing Lottering River, on the Tsiskamma hiking trail, on the North Eastern side of the Bloukrans River. NSRI Oyster Bay and NSRI Storms River duty crews were alerted …
On 5 May 2023, Nigeria passed a resolution advocating for a moratorium on donkey slaughter for the export of skins from Africa.
This commitment is made in light of the December 2023 Pan-African Donkey Conference and its resolution to have African nations prohibit the donkey skin trade for at least the next fifteen years. AU-IBAR collaborates closely partners institutions such as the Brooke East Africa, and African member nations to guarantee the successful implementation of the resolution.
The commitment of Nigeria to champion the moratorium is a significant step in the direction of protecting these gentle creatures from cruelty and exploitation.
This was encouraging news prior to World Donkey Day, 2023 that fell on 8th May.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, has invited comments on proposed amendments to the regulations that outline the procedure to be followed for the adoption of environmental management instruments.
Continuing the 1st evacuation of Indonesian citizens from Sudan on 23 April 2023, the Indonesian Embassy in Khartoum again carried out the 2nd evacuation by dispatching 328 Indonesian citizens with the same scheme as the previous evacuation.
In the second phase of the evacuation, the departure of Indonesian citizens was prepared from 2 points, namely the Indonesian Embassy in Khartoum Safe House and the Sudanese PPI Secretariat (Masijd As-Sidiqin) on April 25 2023 starting at 09.00 WS to Sawakin, Port Sudan. The evacuated Indonesian citizens consisted of 29 women, 5 toddlers and 294 men.
The second phase of departure used 7 buses with evacuation participants consisting of students, PMI professional workers and domestic workers, and Indonesian citizens' families.
The second phase of the evacuation group arrived at Sawakin – Port Sudan on April 26 2023 at 04.00 in the morning WS. then rested in 3 halfway houses.
Furthermore, all stage 2 Indonesian citizens departed in a relay from Port Sudan by using an Indonesian Air Force military aircraft from Port Sudan Airport to Jeddah and further flights to Indonesia.
Before and during the evacuation, the Indonesian Embassy in Khartoum continued to communicate with the authorities in Sudan to ensure a safe route for the safety of Indonesian citizens.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Khartoum, Sudan.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will this week host Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of the Republic of Singapore for an Official Visit in Cape Town.
On his official visit to Seychelles, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Malta, Honourable Dr. Ian Borg, met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde, to set the tone for Seychelles and Malta to collaborate in key sectors.
During discussions on Friday, May 12, 2023, at Maison Quéau de Quinssy, the two Ministers agreed that, while Malta has been a vital partner to Seychelles for capacity building in the education and maritime security sectors, there are opportunities to diversify and strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Minister Radegonde expressed Seychelles' appreciation to the Government of Malta for the support they have provided over the years, “we are keen to work with Malta to strengthen bilateral, international and regional cooperation in priority areas such as maritime security, education, health, tourism, renewable energy, fisheries and blue economy and exchange of best practices and joint capacity-building initiatives,”
The Minister emphasised that maritime security is significant for the country and “Seychelles is appreciative of the support of EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA and recognises Malta's contributions to the EUNAVFOR operation”. The European Union's proposal to extend the mandate of the EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA to include IUU fishing, drugs, and weapons trafficking is welcomed by Seychelles as it will help in the fight against illicit drug trafficking which is a major concern.
Both parties agreed that it is through capacity-building exercises, sharing of intelligence, and joining of resources that maritime crimes can be addressed so that peace and security are reinforced in the Western Indian Ocean.
Minster Radegonde highlighted that the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding on Health Cooperation and the establishment of a Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation will “provide the basis for in depth collaboration” in areas that are priorities for the country.
“There are many Lawyers and Auditors in Malta who would be interested in offering their expertise to Seychelles, furthermore, Artificial Intelligence block change, and the digital economy is rapidly expanding and we can explore opportunities in this fields” stated Minister Borg.
Other topics raised were the vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States from the effects of climate change, which Malta understands as it is also experiencing the effects of sea level rises. Minister Radegonde thanked Malta for its advocacy on climate change and sought its support for the adoption of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) for Seychelles to access concessionary financing to mitigate against such effects.
Also present at the meeting were the Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship, and Industry, Mrs. Devika Vidot, Minister for Education, Dr. Justin Valentin, Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Vivianne Fock Tave, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Malta to the African Union, H.E. Mr. Ronald Micallef, Acting Principal Secretary for Health, Dr. Susan Fock Tave and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism - Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.
The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has welcomed the decision by the Competition Commission to grant conditional approval of the transaction through which Takatso Aviation Proprietary Limited (“Takatso”) will buy a 51% shareholding in South African Airways SOC Limited (SAA).
Match tickets available as of 13 May; 24 teams competing in four venues across Argentina; Tournament kicks off on 20 May, Final on 11 June.
Football's Future Legends will take centre stage as the FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ kicks off.
Category 1 tickets for the FIFA U-20 World Cup are now on sale.
Click here to access the ticket sales portal (https://apo-opa.info/3I4Fqdx)
Click here to view the match schedule (https://apo-opa.info/41y01hy)
The U-20 World Cup will feature 52 matches taking place across four host cities: La Plata, Mendoza, San Juan, and Santiago del Estero. It will be the first time this tournament will be held in South America since Colombia 2011.
The tournament will open on 20 May with four matches on the opening day in San Juan and Santiago del Estero, including hosts Argentina taking on Uzbekistan in Santiago del Estero Stadium.
Both cities will also play host to the quarter-final round, while La Plata Stadium will host the semi-finals, 3rd place match, and Final.
Official song “Glorious” released
Ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™, FIFA has also launched the Official Song of the tournament. The song, titled "Glorious" (https://apo-opa.info/3M2bArw), was written by Indonesian electronic trio Weird Genius, and performed together with young Indonesian superstars Lyodra, Tiara Andini, and Ziva Magnolya. The song will serve as the anthemic backdrop to the drama, thrills, and excitements of the tournament.
The song is available on streaming services:
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FIFA.
Contact for African media:
AfricanMedia@fifa.org
Eskom has welcomed the arrest of a former short-term contract employee stationed at Tutuka Power Station on allegations for fraud and corruption. This is in relation to colluding with employees and a supplier.
Feather boas are a timeless accessory that exudes glamour and sophistication. In this blog, we explore various types of feather boas, including ostrich, chandelle, marabou, coque, guinea, turkey, and peacock. Discover their unique characteristics, styling tips, and care instructions. Ostrich Feather Boas: Dive into the luxurious world of ostrich feather boas, known for their opulent …
In your current office, do you feel uninspired or cluttered? To entice top employees, wow clients, and improve the perception of your business, it’s time to pack up and redesign your workspace. In order to make your office move less stressful and more seamless, BW Movers, South Africa, is here. Our carefully chosen team of …
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has welcomed the decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint an independent inquiry, which will be chaired by a retired judge to look into allegations that South Africa sold weapons to Russia.
In today’s fast-paced world, space optimization has become essential, especially in urban areas where living spaces are often limited. Whether you’re a parent looking to accommodate multiple children in a single bedroom or a college student seeking to maximise dorm room space, double bunk beds and L-shaped bunk beds are innovative solutions that offer both …
When it comes to adding a touch of sophistication and elegance to your daily life, nothing compares to the luxurious charm of ostrich feather accessories. From keyrings to dusters and quill pens, these exquisite items effortlessly blend style and functionality. In this blog, we will explore three remarkable ostrich feather accessories – the Ostrich Feather …
Grey High can add 2023 to their list of victories over Paarl Boys’ High School after another convincing win in Paarl on Saturday, taking this one by 39-30. It was the monster pack of Grey that overpowered the home side, setting up the groundwork for the win, especially in the first half when the strong …
The Presidency has provided an update on some positions of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s advisers following reports and enquiries from media.
When it comes to accessories that effortlessly blend style and functionality, ostrich leather bags are a true embodiment of luxury. From tote bags to phone bags, backpacks, clutches, and crossbody bags, each piece crafted from ostrich leather exudes sophistication and adds a touch of opulence to any outfit. In this blog, we will explore the …
Designing a comfortable and enchanting space for your little ones is an exciting and rewarding endeavour. Kids’ beds and bedroom furniture play a pivotal role in creating a dreamy haven where imaginations can soar and peaceful slumber is guaranteed. In this blog, we will embark on a delightful journey through the world of kids beds …
As devoted pet owners, we strive to provide the best possible care for our furry companions. Alongside a balanced diet and regular exercise, supplements play an increasingly important role in maintaining the health and well-being of our pets. In this blog, we will explore the world of animal supplements, focusing on three popular categories: dog …
