National And International News Roundup – 1st March 2021

Locals of the Far North region of Cameroon fear another wave of insecurity following a video released by a rebel Movement for the Liberation of Cameroon to fight the government of Cameroon. A leader of the movement in a video says an armed struggle will be a response for the banning of the association “10 million de Nordists”. The leader of the outlawed movement, Guibai Gatama distanced himself from the armed group.

Tongues are wagging over an announced SDF National Executive Committee meeting billed for 13th March in Yaoundé. Many suspect among the items on the agenda would be the recent outing of MP, Joshua Osih alongside dozens of CPDM lawmakers against US senators.

Reports say a former Divisional Officer is among those killed in a recent wave of violence recorded in Nwa Sub-Division, Donga Mantung Division. For days now, men believed to be Fulanis herdsmen have been assaulting locals, leaving many seeking shelter in neighbouring Nigeria.

Government, private and mission schools in Cameroon have intensified demands for the payment of school fees by pupils and students. This follows rumours that the government intends to shutdown schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In a related development, some parents are reluctant to complete the fees of their kids.

Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health is encouraging government agencies, companies and enterprises to ensure their personnel are tested for the Coronavirus. There are fears over a second shut down due to the rising figures in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country. Highlighting the importance of maintaining preventive measures, Health Minister, Manaouda Malachie has called for special care to be taken especially with regards to public places where the respect of the set measures is on a rapid decrease.


There is uncertainty if march pass activities will take place in Cameroon to mark International Women’s Day 2021. Activities ahead of the day have been launched in Pouma in the Littoral region. Marie Therese Abena Ondoa, Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Family called on women of the locality to remain resilient in the face of COVID-19.

Under-20 Black Stars of Ghana have qualified for the final of the African Cup of Nations in that category. They defeated Gambia this evening to grab the first ticket for the final.

The authorities in Tanzania’s semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar have urged tourists to dress decently and respect the “sensibilities” of the local culture or they will be fined. Tourism Minister Lela Muhamed Mussa told BBC Swahili that some visitors walked “almost naked” on the streets. She said that tour guides will also be fined at least $700 (£500) if their clients were not appropriately dressed.

Police in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe have used teargas to disperse irate school pupils who caused major traffic disruption as they staged protests to force schools to re-open. The government had ordered the re-opening of schools which were closed six weeks ago following a sharp rise in Covid-19 deaths and infections, but teachers have defied the order, demanding to be paid a risk allowance which the government said it was unable to meet. Pupils wore their school uniforms and took to the streets in other parts of the country as well.


Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has relaxed lockdown restrictions in place since 5 January. He cited a decline in the number of cases, fatalities and hospitalisation. The curfew has been reduced and now runs from 22:00 to 05:00.

At least 15 people have been shot dead and dozens others wounded by gunmen in a village in the north-western Nigerian state of Sokoto. The gunmen opened fire on Monday morning when residents tried to stop them from leaving with a local businessman they had abducted. Residents told the BBC that the victims had been buried and those wounded were receiving treatment in a hospital. A police spokesperson in Sokoto state said that more security forces had been deployed to the area.

The High Court in Zambia has quashed a decision by the government to declare a private company’s electricity transmission lines as a common carrier. Energy Minister Matthew Nkhuwa last year declared infrastructure owned by the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC), Zambia’s leading supplier of electricity to the mines, as “common carrier”.

Foreign news: BBC