Africa (except North Africa)

BLANTYRE (Malawi), May 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — About 400 people have escaped from a coronavirus quarantine centre in Malawi’s second-largest city, Blantyre, after complaining about its poor state.

Local media has reported that the escapees were quarantined on arrival from South Africa and were yet to be tested for Coronavirus.

They had complained that the stadium, which was turned into a quarantine centre, lacked water, toilets and food.

The government has not commented on the escape.

PRETORIA, May 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South African Airways (SAA) has said it does not have money to pay its employees their May salaries.

About 5,000 employees have been on unpaid leave since the beginning of May.

The only money employees can expect to receive this month is from the unemployment insurance fund, the aviation organiser at the Solidarity trade union, Derek Mans, said.

The team rescuing the struggling airline originally wanted to dismiss the 5,000 staff.

That was stopped by the labour court but they have now been allowed to appeal that ruling.

PRETORIA, May 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared May 31 as the National Day of Prayer to strengthen national unity in fighting COVID-19.

“On this day, wherever we may be, I call upon you to turn your thoughts to all who have been affected by this pandemic,” the president said in a televised address, adding that the National Day of Prayer is dedicated to the remembrance of those who are working to keep South African safe, and those who are suffering and grieving.

KAMPALA, May 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni says, the government has injected 1 trillion shillings (about US$270 million) into the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) to boost industrialization.

Museveni, according to a State House statement issued here, said the US$270 million is part of the US$491.5 million that Uganda borrowed from the International Monetary Fund early this month to address the “urgent balance of payments and fiscal needs” arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABUJA, May 26 (NNN-ENA) – Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, said, peace, along with security, unity, and harmony, is a prerequisite for sustainable development in Africa.

In a message to African leaders, to mark “Africa Day 2020” launched by the African Union Commission, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Buhari said, Africa gave the world new hope, by choosing the theme “Silencing the Guns in the Context of the COVID-19” for this year’s celebration.

HARARE, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Zimbabwean President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, expressed Zimbabwe’s gratitude to the visiting team of Chinese medical experts, for sharing their experience and knowledge with Zimbabwe’s front-line medical staff in fighting the COVID-19.

He extended the appreciation in a letter, read out by Zimbabwean Health Minister, Obadiah Moyo, at a joint press conference at the conclusion of the team’s two week visit to the country.

He said, Zimbabwe’s medical staff had benefited immensely from the team’s front-line knowledge in fighting COVID-19.

22 May 2020; MEMO: Ethiopia’s Irrigation Minister Seleshi Bekele told resident African ambassadors in Addis Ababa that his country has so far completed 73 per cent of the Renaissance Dam, adding that Ethiopia intends to fill the dam’s reservoir with water in July, the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reported.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa could see up to 50,000 coronavirus deaths and as many as 3 million infections by the end of the year as the southern hemisphere winter leads to a higher rate of infection, scientific models showed on Thursday.

The country already has the highest number of infections and deaths on the continent, with more than 18,000 identified cases and 339 deaths, but a national lockdown entering its eighth week had slowed infections.

JUBA, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The authorities in South Sudan say at least 300 people have been killed and many more injured in the latest wave of inter-communal fighting in Jonglei state, east of the country.

Three aid workers, including one from Médecins Sans Frontières, are among those killed.

Fighting broke out on Saturday between the Murle and Lou Nuer communities. A local elder said that Murle youths burned down many villages in Uror county before being repulsed.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Hundreds of people have been killed in a new burst of intercommunal violence in South Sudan, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Thursday, with “many more” injured and thousands displaced.

Among those killed in Jonglei state were a local Red Cross volunteer and a nurse working with the medical aid group Doctors Without Borders, the statement said, stressing that the coronavirus pandemic complicates efforts to respond to such violence and treat the victims.