In a notable legal verdict in Zambia, a court in Lusaka has sentenced Leonard Phiri, a Zambian national, and Jasten Mabulesse Candunde, a Mozambican, to two years in prison with hard labour for plotting to kill President Hakainde Hichilema via witchcraft. The conviction was under Zambia’s colonial‑era Witchcraft Act, which dates from 1914. Facts of the Case Phiri, aged about 43, and…

South African leaders have moved to re‑engage with the United States in renewed diplomatic and trade talks following a period of tension that has seen steep U.S. tariffs, frozen aid, and strained strategic ties. In early April and May 2025, the United States imposed global reciprocal tariffs—among them a 30% levy on many South African exports and a 25% tariff on vehicles and auto parts. These…

In a rare and decisive foreign policy statement, the South African government vocally condemned Israel’s recent airstrike in Doha, Qatar, which targeted Hamas political figures during ceasefire negotiations. The attack, which occurred in early September 2025, resulted in several casualties—including the death of a Qatari security officer—and significantly undermined ongoing peace efforts.