Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Centres africains de contrôle et de prévention des maladies (Africa CDC) salue la contribution de 2,5 millions de dollars américains de l’Afrique du Sud pour soutenir la riposte à Ebola

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Les Centres africains de contrôle et de prévention des maladies (Africa CDC) (www.AfricaCDC.org) se sont félicités de l’engagement de 2,5 millions de dollars américains du Gouvernement de l’Afrique du Sud pour soutenir la riposte en cours contre Ebola en République démocratique du Congo (RDC) et en Ouganda, à travers le Fonds africain de lutte contre les épidémies d’Africa CDC.

Cette importante contribution fait suite à la récente communication du Président de la Commission de l’Union africaine, S.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, adressée aux Chefs d’État et de Gouvernement africains, concernant l’évolution de l’épidémie d’Ebola et la nécessité urgente de renforcer la solidarité continentale et une action coordonnée.

Africa CDC exprime sa sincère gratitude au peuple et au Gouvernement de l’Afrique du Sud, ainsi qu’à S.E. le Président Cyril Ramaphosa, Champion de l’Union africaine pour la prévention, la préparation et la riposte aux pandémies, pour cette démonstration opportune de leadership, de solidarité et d’engagement en faveur de la sécurité sanitaire collective de l’Afrique.

À un moment où le continent fait face à des menaces sanitaires croissantes avec des risques importants de transmission transfrontalière, la contribution de l’Afrique du Sud envoie un message fort et rassurant : l’Afrique reste unie pour protéger la vie et le bien-être de ses populations, ouvrant ainsi la voie à la sécurité sanitaire et à la souveraineté sanitaire du continent.

Ce soutien contribuera au renforcement des opérations essentielles de riposte, notamment la coordination continentale, la surveillance, les systèmes de laboratoire, le déploiement rapide des équipes d’intervention, la prévention et le contrôle des infections, la préparation aux frontières ainsi que le soutien aux communautés affectées.

Le leadership de l’Afrique du Sud reflète l’importance croissante des mécanismes de financement dirigés par les Africains et renforce la vision d’un continent plus résilient, autonome et sécurisé sur le plan sanitaire. Il s’agit d’une démonstration concrète de la solidarité africaine en action et d’un reflet de la responsabilité collective du continent à répondre rapidement et de manière décisive aux urgences de santé publique.

Africa CDC appelle tous les États membres de l’Union africaine, les pays donateurs, les partenaires au développement, les institutions philanthropiques et le secteur privé à suivre cet exemple en contribuant au Fonds africain de lutte contre les épidémies et en soutenant les efforts de riposte en cours.

L’épidémie actuelle exige une action urgente, coordonnée et suffisamment financée afin de contenir la transmission, sauver des vies et prévenir une escalade régionale plus large.

Africa CDC demeure pleinement engagé à travailler en étroite collaboration avec les États membres affectés, la Commission de l’Union africaine, les communautés économiques régionales et les partenaires mondiaux afin de garantir une riposte rapide, efficace et dirigée par l’Afrique.

Distribué par APO Group pour Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Contact médias :
Wilson Johwa
Chargé principal de communication,
Direction de la Communication et de l’Information Publique  
JohwaW@africacdc.org

À propos d’Africa CDC :
Les Centres africains de contrôle et de prévention des maladies sont l’agence de santé publique de l’Union africaine. En tant qu’institution autonome, Africa CDC soutient les États membres de l’UA dans le renforcement des systèmes de santé, l’amélioration de la surveillance des maladies et le renforcement de la préparation et de la réponse aux urgences sanitaires. Pour plus d’informations, visitez http://www.africacdc.org et suivez Africa CDC sur LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.co/4dloQGy), X (https://apo-opa.co/4dVSNwY), Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4dQJkXT), et YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3RjOh2K).

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Afreximbank Extends USD 15 Million Facility to Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited to Support Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Participation in Export Value Chains

Source: APO


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African Export‑Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has extended a USD 15 million SME Finance Facility to Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited under its Export SME Development Programme (ESDP).The facility will provide working capital and capital expenditure financing to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating within export value chains across key sectors of the Zimbabwean economy, including agribusiness, manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.

The funding represents the latest development in a partnership between the two institutions that dates to 2018 and reflects a shared commitment to expanding SME access to finance, deepening export value chains, and driving inclusive economic growth in Zimbabwe.

Under the facility, enterprises that form the productive backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy, yet remain chronically underserved by conventional lending, will have access to financing. The programme is specifically targeted at SMEs operating across export value chains in key sectors, including agribusiness, manufacturing, logistics, technology, healthcare, and the creative economy, among others.

Commenting on the signing, Ms. Oluranti Doherty, Managing Director for Export Development at Afreximbank, said, “In Zimbabwe and across the continent, Afreximbank remains firmly committed to supporting SMEs as engines of export growth, economic resilience, and long-term development. This facility with exemplifies the kind of high-additionality, high-impact intervention that the ESDP was designed to deliver, addressing market failures that commercial finance alone cannot resolve, and building the productive capacity of enterprises that are central to Africa’s trade transformation. It therefore goes beyond providing credit; it is a structured commitment to building the capacity of enterprises that can drive Zimbabwe’s participation in intra-African trade and regional value chains. Through the ESDP, we are ensuring that each beneficiary SME is not only funded but equipped, connected, and positioned to grow sustainably.”

The facility is structured to channel Afreximbank’s development finance through Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited as a licensed financial intermediary, combining the Bank’s trade finance expertise with Ecobank’s extensive local footprint and client relationships. Some 43.75 percent of proceeds will support intra-African trade activities, while 18 percent will be directed towards manufacturing, reflecting Afreximbank’s focus on industrialisation and regional trade integration.

As part of its non-financial interventions under the ESDP, Afreximbank will also provide capacity-building support to SME sub-borrowers, covering operations and financial management, loan management, export readiness, marketing, and digitalisation. The integrated support is designed to enhance SME sustainability, strengthen credit quality, and enable stronger participation in export value chains.

For Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited, the facility significantly enhances its capacity to serve a segment of the market it recognises as vital to the country’s economic prospects. By channelling Afreximbank’s development finance through its existing SME product suite and advisory infrastructure, Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited will offer beneficiary enterprises not only financing but integrated financial and business advisory solutions, a combination that meaningfully raises the likelihood of SME success and export market penetration.

In his remarks, Moses Kurenjekwa, Managing Director of Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited, noted: “Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited is proud to partner with Afreximbank on this facility, which speaks directly to our commitment to unlocking the potential of Zimbabwe’s SME sector. Small businesses are the engine of our economy, and access to appropriate, export-linked financing is what enables them to grow, create jobs, and compete regionally. This collaboration brings together Afreximbank’s development finance mandate and our on-the-ground reach to deliver a solution that is both impactful and scalable. We look forward to walking this journey with Zimbabwe’s SMEs as they integrate into regional and continental trade value chains.”

Afreximbank Export SME Development Programme is a comprehensive ecosystem intervention that combines capital, capacity, and connectivity. By working through trusted partners like Ecobank Zimbabwe, the programme ensures that its resources reach the enterprises that need them most and that those businesses are equipped not just to access financing, but to use it to build genuinely competitive, export-capable businesses.

Positioned at the intersection of Southern Africa’s key trade corridors, links the North-South Corridor connecting Dar es Salaam to Durban and the Beira Corridor between landlocked economies to Indian Ocean ports, the facility comes at a pivotal moment for the country’s economy, with GDP growth forecast at 6 percent for 2025, driven by improved agricultural output and strong gold prices. SMEs account for more than 60 percent of Zimbabwe’s GDP and more than 70 percent of national employment, yet access to long-tenor, export-linked financing has remained a persistent constraint on their growth and competitiveness.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA.

At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$48.5 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$8.4 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), GCR (A), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-), and. Moody’s (Baa2). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

About Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited:
Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited is a commercial bank licensed by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and a subsidiary of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the pan-African banking group headquartered in Lomé, Togo, with a presence in more than 30 African countries. Established in Zimbabwe in 2002, the bank offers a comprehensive range of financial products and services spanning personal banking, business banking, global banking, and agricultural finance, serving individuals, SMEs, large corporates, and institutional clients. In 2025, Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited recorded a historic milestone, achieving USD 100 million in revenue for the year ended 31 December 2025, supported by strong lending activity and business diversification. The bank operates a network of branches across Zimbabwe, including in Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, and other key economic centres. Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited is committed to driving financial inclusion, supporting SME development, and deepening Zimbabwe’s integration into regional and continental trade and investment flows. For more information, visit: www.Ecobank.com/ezw

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Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Welcomes South Africa’s US$2.5 Million Contribution to Support the Ebola Response

Source: APO


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The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) (www.AfricaCDC.org) has welcomed a US$2.5 million pledge from the Government of South Africa to support the ongoing Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda through the Africa CDC Africa Epidemics Fund.

This important contribution followed the recent communication by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, to African Heads of State and Government on the evolving Ebola outbreak and the urgent need for strengthened continental solidarity and coordinated action.

Africa CDC expresses its sincere appreciation to the people and Government of South Africa, and to H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa, African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, for this timely demonstration of leadership, solidarity and commitment to Africa’s collective health security.

At a time when the continent faces increasing public health threats with significant risks of cross-border transmission, South Africa’s contribution sends a strong and reassuring message that Africa stands united in protecting the lives and well-being of its people, a pathway for Africa’s health security and sovereignty.

This support will contribute to strengthening critical response operations, including continental coordination, surveillance, laboratory systems, rapid response deployment, infection prevention and control, cross-border preparedness, and support for affected communities.

South Africa’s leadership reflects the growing importance of African-led financing mechanisms and reinforces the vision of a more resilient, self-reliant and health-secure continent. It is a practical demonstration of African solidarity in action and a reflection of the continent’s collective responsibility to respond rapidly and decisively to public health emergencies.

Africa CDC calls upon all African Union Member States, donor countries, development partners, philanthropic institutions, and the private sector to follow this example by contributing to the Africa Epidemics Fund and supporting ongoing response efforts.

The current outbreak demands urgent, coordinated and adequately financed action to contain transmission, save lives and prevent wider regional escalation.

Africa CDC remains fully committed to working closely with affected Member States, the African Union Commission, regional economic communities, and global partners to ensure a rapid, effective and Africa-led response.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Media Contact:
Wilson Johwa
Senior Communications Officer, Directorate of Communication & Public Information
JohwaW@africacdc.org

About Africa CDC:
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the public health agency of the African Union. As an autonomous institution, Africa CDC supports AU Member States to strengthen health systems, improve disease surveillance, and enhance emergency preparedness and response. For more information, visit: http://www.AfricaCDC.org and follow Africa CDC on LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.co/4dloQGy), X (https://apo-opa.co/4dVSNwY), Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4dQJkXT), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3RjOh2K).

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O Afreximbank concede uma linha de crédito de 15 milhões de USD ao Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited para apoiar a participação das Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PME) nas cadeias de valor das exportações

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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O Banco Africano de Exportação e Importação (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) concedeu uma linha de crédito de 15 milhões de USD ao Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited no âmbito do seu Programa de Desenvolvimento das PME Exportadoras (ESDP). Esta linha de crédito irá proporcionar financiamento de capital de exploração e de despesas de capital a Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PME) que operam nas cadeias de valor de exportação em importantes sectores da economia do Zimbabwe, incluindo o agro-negócio, a indústria transformadora, os cuidados de saúde e a logística.

O financiamento representa o mais recente desenvolvimento de uma parceria entre as duas instituições que remonta a 2018 e reflecte um compromisso comum de expandir o acesso das PME ao financiamento, aprofundar as cadeias de valor de exportação e impulsionar o crescimento económico inclusivo no Zimbabwe.

Ao abrigo da linha de crédito, as empresas que constituem a espinha dorsal produtiva da economia do Zimbabwe, mas que continuam a ser crónica e sistematicamente mal servidas pelo crédito convencional, terão acesso a financiamento. O programa destina-se especificamente às PME que operam em cadeias de valor de exportação em importantes sectores, incluindo o agro-negócio, a indústria transformadora, a logística, a tecnologia, os cuidados de saúde e a economia criativa, entre outros.

Ao comentar durante a assinatura, a Sr.ª Oluranti Doherty, Directora-Geral para o Desenvolvimento das Exportações do Afreximbank, afirmou: “No Zimbabwe e em todo o continente, o Afreximbank mantém-se firmemente empenhado em apoiar as PME como motores do crescimento das exportações, da resiliência económica e do desenvolvimento a longo prazo. Esta linha de crédito ilustra o tipo de intervenção de elevada complementaridade e grande impacto para a qual o ESDP foi concebido, abordando as falhas de mercado que o financiamento comercial por si só não consegue resolver e reforçando a capacidade produtiva das empresas que são fundamentais para a transformação do comércio africano. Por conseguinte, vai além da concessão de crédito; trata-se de um compromisso estruturado para reforçar a capacidade das empresas que podem impulsionar a participação do Zimbabwe no comércio intra-africano e nas cadeias de valor regionais. Através do ESDP, estamos a garantir que cada PME beneficiária não seja apenas financiada, mas igualmente equipada, interligada e posicionada para crescer de forma sustentável.”

A linha de crédito está estruturada no sentido de canalizar o financiamento para o desenvolvimento do Afreximbank através do Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited, enquanto intermediário financeiro licenciado, combinando a experiência do Banco no financiamento do comércio com a extensa presença local e as relações com os clientes do Ecobank. Cerca de 43,75% das receitas irão apoiar actividades de comércio intra-africano, enquanto 18% serão direccionados para a indústria transformadora, reflectindo o foco do Afreximbank na industrialização e na integração do comércio regional.

Como parte das suas intervenções não financeiras no âmbito do ESDP, o Afreximbank prestará ainda apoio ao reforço das capacidades dos sub-mutuários das PME, abrangendo a gestão operacional e financeira, a gestão de empréstimos, a preparação para a exportação, o marketing e a digitalização. Este apoio integrado visa reforçar a sustentabilidade das PME, melhorar a qualidade do crédito e permitir uma maior participação nas cadeias de valor das exportações.

Para o Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited, a linha de crédito reforça significativamente a sua capacidade de servir um segmento do mercado que reconhece como vital para as perspectivas económicas do país. Ao canalizar o financiamento para o desenvolvimento do Afreximbank através do seu conjunto de produtos para PME e da sua infra-estrutura de consultoria já existentes, o Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited irá oferecer às empresas beneficiárias não só financiamento, mas igualmente soluções integradas de consultoria financeira e empresarial, uma combinação que aumenta significativamente as probabilidades de sucesso das PME e de penetração no mercado de exportação.

Na sua intervenção, o Sr. Moses Kurenjekwa, Director-Geral do Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited, observou: “O Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited orgulha-se de estabelecer uma parceria com o Afreximbank nesta linha de crédito, o que reflecte directamente o nosso compromisso de desbloquear o potencial do sector das PME do Zimbabwe. As pequenas empresas são o motor da nossa economia e o acesso a financiamento adequado e ligado à exportação é o que lhes permite crescer, criar empregos e competir a nível regional. Esta colaboração une o mandato de financiamento para o desenvolvimento do Afreximbank e o nosso alcance no terreno para oferecer uma solução que é ao mesmo tempo impactante e escalável. Estamos ansiosos por percorrer este caminho com as PME do Zimbabwe à medida que estas se integram nas cadeias de valor do comércio regional e continental.”

O Programa de Desenvolvimento das PME Exportadoras do Afreximbank é uma intervenção abrangente no ecossistema que combina capital, capacidade e conectividade. Trabalhando com parceiros de confiança como o Ecobank Zimbabwe, o programa garante que os seus recursos cheguem às empresas que mais precisam deles e que essas empresas estejam equipadas não só para aceder ao financiamento, mas igualmente para o utilizar na constituição de negócios genuinamente competitivos e com capacidade de exportação.

Posicionada na intersecção dos principais corredores comerciais da África Austral, ligando o Corredor Norte-Sul que une Dar es Salaam a Durban e o Corredor da Beira entre as economias sem litoral aos portos do Oceano Índico, a iniciativa surge num momento crucial para a economia do país, com uma previsão de crescimento do PIB de 6% para 2025, impulsionado pela melhoria da produção agrícola e pelos preços elevados do ouro.  As PME representam mais de 60% do PIB do Zimbabwe e mais de 70% do emprego nacional, mas o acesso a financiamento de longo prazo ligado às exportações continua a ser um obstáculo persistente ao seu crescimento e competitividade.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Afreximbank.

Sobre o Afreximbank:
O Banco Africano de Exportação e Importação (Afreximbank) é uma instituição financeira multilateral pan-africana com mandato para financiar e promover o comércio intra e extra-africano. Há mais de 30 anos que o Banco tem vindo a implementar estruturas inovadoras para oferecer soluções de financiamento que apoiam a transformação da estrutura do comércio africano, acelerando a industrialização e o comércio intra-regional e, deste modo, impulsionando a expansão económica em África. Apoiante firme do Acordo de Comércio Livre Continental Africano (ACLCA), o Afreximbank lançou um Sistema Pan-Africano de Pagamento e Liquidação (PAPSS) que foi adoptado pela União Africana (UA) como plataforma de pagamento e liquidação para sustentar a implementação da ZCLCA. Em colaboração com o Secretariado da ZCLCA e a UA, o Banco criou um Fundo de Ajustamento de 10 mil milhões de dólares para apoiar os países que participam de forma efectiva na ZCLCA.

No final de Dezembro de 2025, o total de activos e passivos contingentes do Afreximbank atingiu mais de 48,5 mil milhões de USD, e os seus fundos próprios totalizaram 8,4 mil milhões de USD. O Afreximbank tem notações de grau de investimento atribuídas pela China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), pela GCR (A), pela Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) e pela Moody’s (Baa2). O Afreximbank evoluiu para uma entidade de grupo que inclui o Banco, a sua subsidiária de fundo de impacto de acções, denominada Fundo para o Desenvolvimento das Exportações em África (FEDA), e a sua subsidiária de gestão de seguros, AfrexInsure (em conjunto, “o Grupo”). O Banco tem a sua sede em Cairo, Egipto.

Sobre o Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited:
O Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited é um banco comercial autorizado pelo Banco Central do Zimbabwe e uma subsidiária do Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), o grupo bancário pan-africano com sede em Lomé, Togo, e presente em mais de 30 países africanos. Estabelecido no Zimbabwe em 2002, o banco oferece uma vasta gama de produtos e serviços financeiros que abrangem banca pessoal, banca empresarial, banca global e financiamento agrícola, servindo particulares, PME, grandes empresas e clientes institucionais. Em 2025, o Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited registou um marco histórico, tendo alcançado 100 milhões de USD em receitas no exercício findo a 31 de Dezembro de 2025, apoiado por uma forte actividade de crédito e diversificação de actividades. O banco opera uma rede de agências em todo o Zimbabwe, incluindo em Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare e outros importantes centros económicos. O Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited está empenhado em promover a inclusão financeira, apoiar o desenvolvimento das PME e aprofundar a integração do Zimbabwe nos fluxos de comércio e investimento regionais e continentais. Para mais informações, visite: www.Ecobank.com/ezw.

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Lesotho’s mountain life was harsh for early humans: fire made all the difference

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Kyra Pazan, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, California State University, Stanislaus

When imagining our early human ancestors in prehistoric Africa hundreds of thousands of years ago, one might envision trekkers plodding across a savanna, baking under an equatorial sun.

Research, however, suggests that our species’ unique strengths – creativity, cooperation and adaptability – may have been honed in a very different environment. Our team of archaeologists has uncovered a story in which mountainous landscapes played a central role in making us human.

Today, those of us who like to explore mountains have technical gear and conveniences like GPS safety beacons, water filters and raincoats that pack down small. Without this, we’d be lucky to last one night in some places. How did early humans not only survive, but thrive in these landscapes?

This question inspires my archaeological research in Lesotho’s Maloti-Drakensberg Mountains. Since 2023, I have led an international team of excavators at Likonong, a collapsed rock shelter in a remote area of eastern Lesotho.

Our findings reveal that Likonong is the oldest known archaeological site in these mountains and an incredible case study in human adaptation.

Likonong was first discovered in 1995. I visited the site as a graduate student in 2015 and returned in 2023 with my PhD to begin excavations. I hoped that Likonong would be older than Melikane, which, at 83,000 years old, was Lesotho’s earliest known site at the time. When my team started finding stone tools that looked 100,000 years older, I realised this site was more important than I’d imagined.

Our excavations have found evidence of people visiting Likonong beginning at 242,000 years ago, and making regular, longer visits by 144,000 years ago. Previously, archaeologists suspected that sustained occupation in highland Lesotho was unlikely before the climate warmed during the Last Interglacial, 130,000 years ago. Instead, our research shows that early humans thrived here during an ice age, possibly by relying on one another.

The setting

Lesotho eastern highlands. Author provided (no reuse)

We’re no longer in an ice age, but living in Lesotho still requires teamwork. At Likonong, we’re hours away from the nearest paved road or medical clinic, excavating on a precarious, erosive slope above a ravine. We sleep in tents, filter water, and cook for ourselves. The sun sets at 5pm, giving way to unbearably cold and windy nights. Tinder is scarce on the barren, treeless landscape. At an elevation of 1,800 metres, an oncoming storm inevitably means snow.

Making the excavation work requires cooperation from each member of the team. While some of us dig, others sieve excavated sediment in search of artefacts. Someone heats up the tea kettle when the late afternoon chill sets in, and someone else knocks down the metre-long icicles that collect on the shelter roof.

Icicles at the rock shelter. Author provided (no reuse)

It simply isn’t possible to survive in this environment without help, which might be why earlier hominins – members of the human lineage – didn’t stand a chance. While a few isolated hand axes suggest that a few brave individuals attempted to survive here, we haven’t discovered their bones or their campsites.

In contrast, 50km north-west of Johannesburg (about 600km from our site), an underground labyrinth of limestone caves known as the “Cradle of Humankind” traces human evolution back nearly 4 million years, to a time before the first stone tools or manmade fire. Hominins thrived in these lowlands and the equatorial highlands of east Africa, but the earliest occupations at Likonong didn’t occur until after the emergence of our species.

When were people there, and what were they doing?

Excavations at Likonong. Author provided (no reuse)

In our excavations at Likonong we used several methods to get a clearer idea of how humans learned to adapt and survive at the site. One, called magnetic susceptibility, measures how easily sediment can be magnetised. We use it as an indirect measure of fire use, which we expect to have been frequent for anyone using Likonong as a home base. Fire is critical not only for warmth, but also for cooking, making tools, and advanced technologies like adhesives. The earliest occupations dating to around 242,000 and 214,000 years ago have relatively low magnetic susceptibility values, implying limited burning and that humans were not staying at the site for very long.

Evidence for human occupation between 214,000 and 144,000 years ago is minimal. But then something changed. Signs of human activity increased so much that we named this layer “Lower Crazy Town” because of the stone tools and charred bone gushing from its layers. We believe that this is the point at which humans started using Likonong as a more permanent home base. Families built hearths on top of hearths, cooked food, made tools, and slept in the shelter. Not long after, burning was so frequent that the earth itself turned red. Instead of building the occasional fire, humans structured their lives around this technology.

Excavations at Likonong. Author provided (no reuse)

Crucially, surviving in the highlands at this time (144,000 years ago) would have been even more challenging than at 242,000 years ago. Between 190,000 and 130,000 years ago, a period of time known as the Penultimate Glacial Period, the world was plunged into an ice age. Temperatures dropped more than 6ºC, lush forests disintegrated into windswept grasslands, and glaciers capped the mountains’ highest peaks.

Icicles at the excavation site. Author provided (no reuse)

So why couldn’t Likonong’s first visitors figure out how to survive at the site for longer periods of time? We don’t believe they were any less intelligent than the later occupants.

We think they left because they didn’t share information, collaborate, or cooperate with one another. Innovations don’t happen in a vacuum. Cultural knowledge relies on mechanisms for both preserving and spreading information, such as far-ranging social networks and oral tradition. One small change – for example, more frequent fire use – could have led to profound technological advances by creating an environment for information sharing and group cohesion.

The humans who ventured into the highlands 144,000 years ago would have been under extreme environmental pressures. If they chose to rely on one another, sharing their skills and experiences around a fire, they may have jump-started a cascade of changes that shaped us into the adaptable species we are today.

Lesotho highlands landscape. Author provided (no reuse)

During my first season as a principal investigator at Likonong, I was constantly texting my colleagues for help and advice. Which sieve should we use? What kind of stone was that? How do I resolve personal conflicts with team members? I’m lucky they picked up the phone. Without their help, I probably would have quickly left the site, too – just like the first humans to venture into the highlands, 242,000 years ago.

– Lesotho’s mountain life was harsh for early humans: fire made all the difference
– https://theconversation.com/lesothos-mountain-life-was-harsh-for-early-humans-fire-made-all-the-difference-281168

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Africa’s capital must stay home to plug its financing gap: how it could be done

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Misheck Mutize, Post Doctoral Researcher, Graduate School of Business (GSB), University of Cape Town

Africa is providing cheap liquidity to wealthy nations. In return it is paying huge interest rates to external institutional investors at the cost of its own development.

For instance, African central banks export their reserve funds for safekeeping. Sovereign wealth funds and pension fund managers invest only in investment-grade European and United States institutions. The most popular one is risk-free US treasuries, where they earn 3.5% annually on average. These are perceived as the safest instruments, easily convertible to cash without losing value.

The same European and US institutions then reinvest the same capital back to Africa at a high return for themselves. They purchase high-yielding bonds issued by African governments. Cumulatively, Africa has raised more than US$200 billion through sovereign Eurobonds since 2003. African countries are paying between 9% and 15% through Eurobond issuances.

Based on my expertise researching African financial markets, I argue that African countries can close their financing gap if they change regulations and investment policies.

Channelling a portion of Africa’s domestic funds to the continent’s development finance institutions would create a huge pool of domestic resources. This will make a significant impact on development. It would not jeopardise the central banks and asset managers’ need for safety of their funds. This would be a practical step towards a self-sustaining African financial ecosystem.

Africa’s capital strength

African central banks hold an estimated US$530 billion in reserves offshore. This is an international financial practice promoted by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and credit rating agencies. Central banks are required to maintain enough US dollar reserves to pay for four to six months of imports.

The sovereign wealth funds of 20 African countries now have approximately US$109.8 billion in total assets under management. Adding other assets of African origin, the amount climbs up to an estimated US$1.2 trillion.

The latest report by Africa Finance Corporation estimates Africa’s domestic capital base at US$4 trillion. These are funds owned by African institutions and individual citizens in the form of reserves, collected deposits, premiums and savings.

Other countries such as China, South Korea and Japan used domestic resources and state-directed finance to aggressively drive their own industrial transformation.

This hasn’t been the case for African countries. The continent’s financing gap is estimated at US$280 billion annually for infrastructure and trade. That’s the amount African countries need every year to build roads, electricity capacity, ports, railways, manufacturing industries and trade connections necessary for African economies to grow and compete globally.

In addition, despite a huge domestic capital stock, African countries pay high interest rates when they borrow abroad.

A system designed for capital flight

The reason for Africa’s capital flight is systemic. Africa’s financial institutions, including central banks, are required by national regulations and investment policies to invest in investment-grade rated instruments. The only investment-grade ratings recognised by the IMF and World Bank are those issued by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch. This means the majority of African assets are excluded from the safe asset category.

The result is that African capital exits the continent. This has left African financial markets with fewer participants and investment instruments. Shallow financial markets make it difficult to finance industrialisation, infrastructure and job creation.

The absence of deep and liquid domestic financial markets becomes the justification for continuing to invest abroad. This is why African countries have remained heavily dependent on foreign capital and external debt despite growing domestic savings.

African central banks reserves

Three African leaders – the presidents of Ghana, Kenya and Zambia – have called for the continent’s foreign reserves invested overseas to be reinvested in African institutions.

At the 2025 Africa Financial Summit, central bankers agreed that it was time for African governments to place a portion of their foreign exchange reserves with domestic institutions.

Channelling a portion of these funds to African development institutions would be a practical step towards a self-sustaining African financial ecosystem. It would not compromise the effectiveness of central banks and other financial institutions. Instead, it would:

  • deepen domestic financial markets

  • bolster sovereignty

  • reduce dependence on foreign financial centres

  • strengthen local capital markets.

The Central Bank Deposit Programme by Afreximbank is a good example. Launched in September 2014, it invests in trade and development finance. The programme has mobilised over US$44 billion – about 9% of central bank reserves. Participating central banks have earned 6% to 6.5% – much higher than what investments in Europe and the US offer.

The programme’s performance demonstrates that African reserves can be safely and productively invested within the continent.

AU investment policy shift

It is for this reason that in February 2024 the African Union called on member states to redirect all their reserves back into the continent.

This was a landmark but long-overdue correction in the stewardship of Africa’s financial resources. It was more than an investment policy shift. It was a bold declaration of confidence in Africa’s own institutions and financial markets.

Since then, the AU’s own portfolio of resources has been fully reinvested in African-owned financial institutions. This declaration did not require ratification by AU member states.

What more needs to change

Building an African financing architecture demands a fundamental shift in how African assets are valued, regulated and invested. It means redefining risk for African markets. It also means developing regional investment-grade benchmarks and modernising prudential rules so that African capital can work and grow on the continent.

African capital markets remain shallow not because capital is scarce, but because risk perceptions are distorted. The rising discontent from African policymakers on the cost of capital makes the case even more compelling.

This is why a transformative project such as the Africa Credit Rating Agency has gained support in its pre-establishment phase.

African regulators and reserve managers must act decisively in the following ways:

  • change reserve management frameworks to allow more investment in African assets and regional financial institutions

  • formally recognise domestic credit ratings that offer contextually sensitive and empirically grounded assessments

  • reform IMF-driven constraints that exclude reserves placed in African institutions from being accounted as official reserves

  • allow rapid liquidity across borders when needed. This can be done while maintaining global standards to prevent illicit flows and regulatory breaches.

Africa cannot build credible domestic markets if its own capital is absent from the story. Investment is ultimately an act of confidence in the institutions behind the assets. The continent needs to invest in itself.

– Africa’s capital must stay home to plug its financing gap: how it could be done
– https://theconversation.com/africas-capital-must-stay-home-to-plug-its-financing-gap-how-it-could-be-done-281060

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Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Team Europe Launch Landmark Report Showing Health Research and Development (R&D) Could Generate $668 Billion for African Economies

Source: APO – Report:

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A new report by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) (www.AfricaCDC.org) and Team Europe demonstrates that investing in health research and development (R&D) could generate $668 billion in additional GDP across Africa over the next 20 years.

The report, Investing in Health R&D: Africa’s Next Economic Growth Frontier (https://apo-opa.co/3Pttk4U), was launched at an official side event of the World Health Assembly in Geneva.

The analysis, developed under the AU-EU Health Partnership with leadership from Africa CDC, financial support from Belgium and Germany, and technical support from Global Health Ecosystems, Enabel, and GIZ, models the macroeconomic impact of increased African investment in health R&D across GDP growth, employment, private investment, trade balances and scientific capacity.

The findings show that if African countries achieve the African Union goal of investing 1% of GDP in research and development, with 15% allocated to health R&D:

  • Africa would generate $668 billion in additional GDP over 20 years
  • Every $1 invested would return $137 in economic value
  • Investments would break even within four years
  • 4.56 million jobs would be created by 2044
  • Public investment would crowd in billions in private capital ($5 for every $1 invested)

The report positions health R&D not simply as a health expenditure, but as a strategic pillar of economic sovereignty, industrial development and regional competitiveness.

“Africa cannot continue importing the technologies that determine the health and economic future of its people,” said Dr Raji Tajudeen, Ag. Deputy Director General, Africa CDC. “This report shows that investing in African health R&D is not only a health priority – it is a pathway to economic sovereignty, industrial growth and resilience. If we do not own Africa’s health, we do not own Africa’s destiny.”

Annelies Verstichel, Belgian Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, Permanent Representative to the African Union, IGAD and UNECA, said: “The future of health security, economic resilience and innovation will depend on stronger regional capabilities and trusted international partnerships. This report demonstrates the significant economic and societal returns that can be generated through long-term investment in African-led health research and innovation and provides an important evidence base for deeper AU-EU cooperation to support Africa-led research, manufacturing and innovation ecosystems.”

The report highlights several African success stories that demonstrate the continent’s growing strength in health R&D and innovation. These include South Africa’s Afrigen mRNA programme, Rwanda’s partnership with BioNTech on vaccine manufacturing, Egypt’s expansion of domestic pharmaceutical production and exports, and Kenya’s growing clinical trials and research ecosystem.

The report further shows that investing in health R&D can help African economies build high-value manufacturing industries, reduce import dependency, strengthen health security, attract private investment, create skilled jobs, and retain scientific talent.

The findings were welcomed by the Hon. Dr Musenero Monica Masanza, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Uganda, who said: “Health R&D should be viewed as economic infrastructure. Countries that invest in innovation build more competitive economies, create higher-skilled jobs and retain more value domestically. Africa has the scientific talent and market opportunity – now we must match that with long-term investment.”

Africa carries 25% of the world’s disease burden but captures only a fraction of the economic value created by global health innovation, the report notes, asserting that this is the moment to move from importing solutions to building them.

The report also warns of the cost of inaction. If African health R&D investment falls below current levels, the continent risks losing more than $1 trillion in GDP over the next two decades, while remaining dependent on external supply chains and imported technologies.

Alongside the economic modelling, the report highlights how blended finance structures are already attracting large-scale public and private investment into African health innovation systems, including Rwanda’s BioNTech partnership, which has mobilised more than $500 million in combined financing.

The report argues that scaling African health R&D will require deeper coordination between governments, regional institutions, development finance institutions and international partners to build sustainable innovation and manufacturing ecosystems.

The report calls on African governments to commit to the African Union goal of investing 1% of GDP in research and development, with 15% allocated to health R&D, while using procurement, incentives and regulatory reform to actively build African health innovation markets.

It also positions Africa CDC and partners to develop a continental investment blueprint that aggregates investable opportunities, aligns governments and investors, and mobilises blended finance for clinical trials, manufacturing, translational research and shared innovation infrastructure.

The launch forms part of Africa CDC’s broader agenda to advance health sovereignty and economic transformation through African-led innovation systems.

Africa-led. Africa-financed. Africa-delivered.

– on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Media enquiries:
Africa CDC
Wilson Johwa
Senior Communications Officer, Directorate of Communication & Public Information  
JohwaW@africacdc.org

Global Health Ecosystems
Harriet Bell 
Director Strategy & Engagement 
hbell@ghecosystems.org
+44 (0)7799658182

About Africa CDC:
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the public health agency of the African Union. As an autonomous institution, Africa CDC supports AU Member States to strengthen health systems, improve disease surveillance, and enhance emergency preparedness and response. For more information, visit: http://www.AfricaCDC.org and follow Africa CDC on LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.co/4nCOqdA), X (https://apo-opa.co/4uqwp4W), Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4fxYDWF), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4tFlX8h). 

About the AU-EU Health Partnership:
The AU-EU Health Partnership (https://apo-opa.co/49asNeJ) is a broad coalition from Africa and Europe working together to strengthen health systems, improve health security, and increase access to pharmaceuticals in Africa. Encompassing myriad projects and partners at the continental, regional, and country levels, the initiative is making critical contributions to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages (SDG 3). Health is also one of the pillars of the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, which aims to boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world. 

The partnership benefits from coordinated implementation and focuses on five interconnected themes:

  • Manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies (MAV+)
  • Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
  • Sustainable health security using a “One Health” approach (HSOH)
  • Digital health for health systems strengthening and universal health coverage (DH)
  • Support for public health institutes (PHI) 

Team Europe actors include the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, as well as EU Member States, including Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

About DGD:
The Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD) looks after the various aspects of Belgian Development Cooperation. DGD falls under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2025. The DGD is integrated into the Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation which is organising and elaborating development cooperation in accordance with the legal and regulatory framework. More info (https://apo-opa.co/4dnA3GJ).

About BMZ:

About Global Health Ecosystems:
Global Health Ecosystems (GHE) is a not-for-profit accelerator and market shaping organisation helping countries and partners turn health priorities into investable opportunities. GHE works across strategy, financing, leadership and partnership design to support more sustainable, country-led approaches to global health. It bridges governments, funders, researchers and the private sector to mobilise investment, strengthen health innovation ecosystems and accelerate impact.

https://www.GlobalHealthEcosystems.org

About the Africa Union goal of investing 1% of GDP in research and development:
In 2007, the African Union called upon member states to invest at least 1% of GDP in research and development (United Nations Economic Commission for Africa 2018). Nearly two decades later, the continent’s average sits at 0.45%, well below the global average of 1.7% (World Bank 2025).

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Social grants remain central as Social Development tables R302bn budget

Source: Government of South Africa

Social grants remain central as Social Development tables R302bn budget

The Department of Social Development has tabled a R302 billion Budget Vote for the 2026/27 financial year, with government reaffirming its commitment to strengthening South Africa’s social protection system amid rising global economic pressures and persistent inequality.

Acting Social Development Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga told the National Assembly on Tuesday that the budget comes at a time when households continue to face high food, fuel and cost-of-living pressures due to the current geopolitical tensions. 

The bulk of the allocation will go toward direct social grants, while government also moves to accelerate the modernisation at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), expand interventions against poverty, and strengthen responses to gender-based violence.

Of the total budget, R293 billion is allocated to monthly social assistance grants for children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Government also confirmed continued funding for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, which has been extended until March 2027 and will support approximately 8 million working-age individuals who are unable to support themselves.

An additional R36.4 billion has been allocated for the continuation of the SRD grant, alongside funds to cover administrative and staffing adjustments within SASSA and the department.

“We welcome the grant increases announced by the Minister of Finance, while acknowledging that the Child Support Grant remains below the food poverty line. However, the Child Support Grant remains one of the most significant tools to combat child poverty and facilitate transitions to sustainable livelihoods,” the Minister said. 

SRD extension and pathway toward basic income support

The department said work is underway on the broader basic income support policy, with costing models already finalised following the Cabinet submission of the draft framework.

Officials are also exploring linkages between social protection and employment pathways, including pilot programmes that connect Child Support Grant recipients to sustainable livelihood opportunities in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.

“We intend to expand this initiative to all other provinces in the current financial year and beyond,” Chikunga said. 

SASSA modernisation delivers R1 billion in savings

A key highlight of the budget speech was progress in modernising SASSA systems and tightening grant administration controls.

The department reported that intensified grant reviews have already saved over R1 billion, which has been redirected to other priorities.

Key reforms include:

  • Full rollout of a biometric beneficiary system across all 432 SASSA offices;
  • Registration of approximately 1 million new beneficiaries on the system; 
  • Expansion of the queue management system to 378 offices; and
  • Ongoing rollout of remaining offices in the current financial year.

“As the agency expands this digital footprint, we are strengthening cybersecurity to protect beneficiary information and safeguard system integrity. 

“We will also expedite lifestyle audits for SASSA employees, beginning with officials in high-risk areas, including grant administration, finance, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and procurement,” Chikunga said.

Improved education outcomes

The Minister highlighted the positive outcomes linked to social grants, particularly the Child Support Grant. 

Of the 729 650 learners who wrote matric in 2025, 84.2% were recipients of the grant. The matric pass rate among grant beneficiaries rose from 74% in 2021 to 84.9% in 2025, while bachelor’s passes improved from 33.2% to 41.9%.

The department said these outcomes demonstrate the broader developmental impact of social protection, with many beneficiaries progressing to tertiary education through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and entering the labour market.

Gender-based violence

The department also placed strong emphasis on tackling gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), which has been classified as a national disaster.

Government currently supports 142 shelters nationwide, with 47 districts covered. 

Five districts remain without shelter access, which the department said will be prioritised in the current financial year.

The Gender-Based Violence Command Centre has received more than 39 000 calls since the start of the year.

Chikunga condemned recent violent incidents, including alleged mob justice cases, and called for stronger law enforcement response and increased public reporting of abuse through the toll-free line. – SAnews.gov.za 

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Calls for swift arrest of suspects in murder of NW community activist

Source: Government of South Africa

Calls for swift arrest of suspects in murder of NW community activist

The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management has urged police to intensify investigations into the murder of community activist Thato Molosankwe, who was allegedly shot dead by unknown assailants in Mahikeng in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The committee said law enforcement agencies must “leave no stone unturned” in tracking down those responsible for the killing.

Molosankwe was widely recognised in the North West for his outspoken community activism and advocacy on social justice issues. 

He gained national attention several years ago when he cycled from Johannesburg to Mahikeng to raise awareness about Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

He was also known for staging peaceful demonstrations outside the North West Legislature during sittings and for using social media platforms to highlight community concerns and hold public officials accountable.

Chairperson of the committee, Freddy Sonakile, described Molosankwe’s death as a significant loss to activism and civic engagement in the province.

“Thato was no stranger to the committee. Whenever he came across information affecting communities, he would share it with me directly and often requested intervention on matters of public concern,” Sonakile said.

The committee extended condolences to Molosankwe’s family, friends and supporters, while calling on members of the public with information about the shooting to cooperate with police investigations.

The committee also expressed concern about threats faced by activists and whistle-blowers, warning that violence should not be allowed to silence community voices.

“In a time where whistle-blowers and activists continue to face threats, intimidation, and even death, such acts cannot be allowed to become a tool for fearmongering or silencing voices within our communities,” Sonakile said.

He added that Molosankwe’s commitment to ordinary citizens and community struggles should be remembered as part of his legacy.

“May his death not be in vain, and may it strengthen the resolve to continue the fight for justice, accountability, and the emancipation of our communities,” Sonakile said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

 

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South Africa and Botswana deepen cooperation

Source: Government of South Africa

South Africa and Botswana deepen cooperation

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has called for deeper and more practical cooperation between South Africa and Botswana, as the two countries convened the Ministerial Session of the Sixth Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Gaborone on Wednesday.

Delivering opening remarks, Lamola emphasised that the identification of new and impactful areas of cooperation remains critical. 

“Both our countries must continue to explore further opportunities and establish practical avenues for joint development in the mutual interest of our nations,” he said. 

Lamola said stronger implementation of agreements and improved coordination would be central to the success of the bilateral relationship.

“As natural partners and reliable allies, South Africa and Botswana must continue to use the Bi-National Commission as an instrument through which we assess progress, resolve challenges and deepen cooperation,” he said.

Lamola expressed gratitude to the government of Botswana for its hospitality and reaffirmed the historic and fraternal ties between the two neighbouring countries.

“We also express our deep appreciation to the government and the people of Botswana for the warm hospitality extended to us since our arrival in this beautiful and historic city of Gaborone,” Lamola said.

He said the meeting took place at a time when both countries were expected to move beyond commitments and accelerate the implementation of existing agreements.

“This meeting takes place in a context where the people of our two countries expect us to work more closely and to achieve even higher levels of cooperation,” he said.

Strong trade ties, but a need for expanded investment

The Minister highlighted the strong economic relationship between the two countries, noting that South Africa remains Botswana’s largest trading partner.

According to the latest figures, total bilateral trade reached approximately R82 billion in 2025, with South Africa exporting R73.5 billion worth of goods to Botswana.

Botswana exported R7.7 billion worth of goods to South Africa, resulting in a significant trade surplus in South Africa’s favour.

Lamola said more than 100 South African companies currently operate in Botswana across banking, retail, mining, logistics and tourism.

He added that trade relations were “deeply integrated and mutually beneficial” but said both countries must expand cooperation in industrialisation and value chains to create more jobs.

Energy, minerals and infrastructure cooperation in focus

Lamola said energy security, mining and infrastructure development remain key pillars of cooperation between the two countries.

He emphasised the importance of collaboration on critical minerals, noting rising global demand and the need for African countries to ensure beneficiation and value addition.

“There is also a clear imperative to deepen cooperation in telecommunications, digital technology, financial services, tourism, hospitality, education and scientific cooperation,” he said.

South African development finance institutions such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) are already engaging Botswana on infrastructure and development projects, including transport corridors and water resource management.

Lamola also welcomed Botswana’s plans to establish a One-Stop Border Post at Tlokweng/Kopfontein, saying it would improve trade efficiency and reduce congestion.

Migration and regional stability

Turning to migration, Lamola said regional discussions must address both opportunities and challenges, including irregular migration and security concerns.

“Migration itself is not a problem. The challenge facing South Africa is irregular migration and a high influx of illegal foreign nationals or migrants,” he said.

He called for collective regional solutions, including burden-sharing among countries of origin, transit and destination.

South Africa, he added, continues to align itself with SADC and African Union protocols on the free movement of persons.

Four agreements set for signing

The BNC is expected to conclude several agreements, including four key instruments focused on water management, biodiversity, energy cooperation and correctional services.

Among them is a Memorandum of Agreement on joint management of water quality in the Limpopo River, aimed at improving human health protection, pollution detection and ecosystem preservation.

South Africa and Botswana are also working on a revised Search and Rescue Agreement, MoU on cooperation in energy, agreements on biodiversity management and tourism cooperation and multiple science, technology and innovation partnerships, including SANSA–BIUST and SARAO–BIUST collaborations.  

Trade and integration agenda

The two countries are also advancing broader trade facilitation measures, including 24-hour border operations and improved sanitary and phytosanitary cooperation to ease agricultural trade.

South Africa supplies roughly two-thirds of Botswana’s imports, with agricultural exports alone accounting for about R14 billion of Botswana’s R15 billion agricultural import bill in 2025.

The Ministerial Session forms part of the Sixth Session of the Botswana and South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC), which will culminate in a Summit co-chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Gideon Duma Boko in Gaborone following preparatory meetings of Senior Officials and Ministers. – SAnews.gov.za

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