Africa Mudzi Wathu

Child marriage is still a reality for millions of girls across Africa. The African continent is home to 15 out of the 20 countries with the world’s highest rates of child marriage. Worldwide, approximately 15 million girls every year are married before they reach the age of 18. That is the equivalent of the entire population of Zimbabwe or Mali. Child marriage jeopardises efforts to improve maternal and infant health and has devastating consequences for the girl, her family, and her future children. Child brides face higher risk of death and injury in pregnancy and childbirth, with girls under 15 being five times more likely to die in childbirth than women in their 20s. Their children are at risk too: when a mother is under 20 her baby is less likely live beyond its first birthday. “I was only 15 when I had my first child and was nearly forced into getting married. I stood my ground and said no, and I went back to school” said Isatou Jeng, Project Officer at The Girls' Agenda,

Pretoria, South Africa – On Monday 15 June 2015, a full bench of the North Gauteng High Court, comprising Judge President Dunstan Mlambo, Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba, and Judge Hans Fabricius, made an order for the arrest of the President of Sudan, Omar Al-Bashir. Immediately thereafter the State confirmed that President Bashir had been allowed to leave the country contrary to an interim order made by the High Court on Sunday 14 June. The interim order compelled the State Respondents, which included the Department of Home Affairs, to take all necessary steps to prevent President Bashir from leaving the Republic until the Court handed down a final order. President Bashir stands accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed in the Darfur region of Sudan. In the face of two arrest warrants issued by the ICC, President Bashir has evaded liability, despite the obligation on ICC state parties, like South Africa,

Recipients of the AU Diaspora Africa Forum women’s awards, leaders and continental legends have dedicated their awards to women across Africa. Graca Machel, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and former Malawi President Joyce Banda, were among those honoured.  While in Mozambique and other home countries of the recipients government mentioned and shared the honor with its citizens, it is noticeable that Malawi Government spokespersons and Ministry of Information did not mention anything about this in any press briefings. The feud between Peter Mutharika and Joyce Banda is at the core of this lack of support for Joyce Banda. It marred an occasion that should have been celebrated by all Malawians. Former President Joyce Banda and current President Peter Mutharika should start acting as adults and bury the hatchet.      AU honor for Joyce Banda visibly ignored by Malawi Government : AU honor for Joyce Banda visibly ignored by Malawi Government

There are tensions between the ICC and the AU, with some on the continent accusing the court of unfairly targeting Africans. The AU has previously urged the ICC to stop proceedings against sitting leaders. The warrants against Mr. Bashir, who denies the allegations, have severely restricted his overseas travel.     Jacob Zuma Welcomes Omar al-Bashir of Sudan despite pleas from ICC

MZUZU, Sunday, June 7, 2015 (MaraviPost): The Peter Mutharika administration soon after attaining office let it publicly be known that Government was cancelling K58 billion (US$128.9 million) worth of Malawi Defense Force contracts with South African military supplier Paramount Group. This was simply a bet and switch negotiating tactic to gain better terms as contracts legally signed by a previous government bounded the incoming administration. It has now come to light that the contract was a controversial one, as it included the purchase of very expensive patrol boats. The Paramount Group, Africa’s largest private defense and aerospace firm signed deals with the Malawian government for agriculture, fuel and military contracts through a network of investment firms. However the controversy sprung from the Sale of the Dassault Falcon 900EX Malawi presidential Jet to Bohnox Enterprises, a firm registered in the British Virgin Islands and linked to Paramount Group. Reports in

MZUZU, Sunday, June 7, 2015 (MaraviPost): The Peter Mutharika administration soon after attaining office let it publicly be known that Government was cancelling K58 billion (US$128.9 million) worth of Malawi Defense Force contracts with South African military supplier Paramount Group. This was simply a bet and switch negotiating tactic to gain better terms as contracts legally signed by a previous government bounded the incoming administration. It has now come to light that the contract was a controversial one, as it included the purchase of very expensive patrol boats. The Paramount Group, Africa’s largest private defense and aerospace firm signed deals with the Malawian government for agriculture, fuel and military contracts through a network of investment firms. However the controversy sprung from the Sale of the Dassault Falcon 900EX Malawi presidential Jet to Bohnox Enterprises, a firm registered in the British Virgin Islands and linked to Paramount Group. Reports in

MZUZU, Sunday, June 7, 2015 (MaraviPost): The Peter Mutharika administration soon after attaining office let it publicly be known that Government was cancelling K58 billion (US$128.9 million) worth of Malawi Defense Force contracts with South African military supplier Paramount Group. This was simply a bet and switch negotiating tactic to gain better terms as contracts legally signed by a previous government bounded the incoming administration. It has now come to light that the contract was a controversial one, as it included the purchase of very expensive patrol boats. The Paramount Group, Africa’s largest private defense and aerospace firm signed deals with the Malawian government for agriculture, fuel and military contracts through a network of investment firms. However the controversy sprung from the Sale of the Dassault Falcon 900EX Malawi presidential Jet to Bohnox Enterprises, a firm registered in the British Virgin Islands and linked to Paramount Group. Reports in

Support Battalion have lodged a complaint to Sulom stop Bullets F from using striker Amos Khamula claiming the player was illegally registered. Khamula is at the centre of controversy following his league debut for Bullets against Mzuni FC in the TNM Super League last weekend. Sulom records indicate that Khamula was cleared to join Bullets from Southern Region Football Association side Green Hawks     Eltaszone - Support Battalion cry foul over player move to Bullets

      Mauritius: A woman president for all citizens    “ I think that the great strength that women bring when they move into senior levels of politics is not that they're more nurturing, caring, maternal figures, but that they will bring a certain level of different perspective, a different way of thinking, and that is just really valuable for all of us.”—  Nicholas Kristof , journalist, author and Pulitzer Prize winner.   Professor Ameenah Gurib Fakim will remain in the history of Mauritius as the first woman President of the Republic who has broken many gender stereotypes. She has shown that women can make it with hard work and perseverance. She is the only President of the Republic who does not come from any political background and is getting the highest function of the state on her own merit. All the male presidents we have had since 1992 starting with Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo followed by Cassam Uteem, Karl Offman, Sir Anerood Jugnauth and Kailash Purryag were members of polit