LIMPOPO — A fresh tragedy has struck the N1 highway near Makhado, South Africa, after a cross-border bus carrying Zimbabwean passengers plunged into a ditch on Wednesday morning. The incident has sent shockwaves through the region, reigniting urgent concerns regarding the safety of public transport along this critical, yet notoriously hazardous, commercial corridor.

Tokyo – A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake off northern Japan on Monday briefly triggered a tsunami alert and prompted authorities to warn of a heightened, though still low, risk of a potential mega-quake along the country’s northeastern coast.

SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA — A community is in deep mourning today following a domestic tragedy of unimaginable proportions. In the early hours of Sunday, April 19, a mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, resulted in the deaths of eight children, aged between three and 11.

HARARE – Zimbabwe has emerged as the leading destination for South African maize exports, accounting for more than half of last week’s shipments as regional grain trade continues to play a critical role in food security. According to the latest trade data, South Africa exported 36,174 tonnes of maize in the past week, with Zimbabwe taking approximately 51% of the total volume. Namibia followed at 13%, with the remainder distributed across other Southern African markets.

PRETORIA – Three men, including a father-and-son duo, have appeared in court following their arrest in an intelligence-led operation targeting alleged cross-border smuggling networks facilitating illegal movement into Zimbabwe. The suspects Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi (45), Khonsou Seba Capo Chichi (18), and alleged facilitator François van der Merwe were arrested on April 13, 2026, in Brooklyn, Pretoria.

Meanwhile, Hodes continues to push for a resolution via a "hefty fine," arguing that the accused are prepared to settle immediately to secure their return to Zimbabwe. With sentencing now scheduled for April 24, 2026, the court faces the difficult task of weighing the defence’s plea for mercy against the State’s frustration regarding the missing evidence and the seriousness of the underlying charges.

JOHANNESBURG — The high-profile attempted murder trial of Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and his co-accused, Tobias Matonhodze, has descended into legal friction following explosive revelations at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court this past Friday. The proceedings, already under heavy public scrutiny, hit a deadlock after a heated dispute emerged regarding an alleged out-of-court settlement and the whereabouts of the firearm reportedly used in the February shooting of security gua

DUDLEY, UK — A harrowing chapter in a childcare tragedy concluded on Friday, 17 April 2026, as a British nursery worker was sentenced to three years and four months in prison following the death of 14-month-old Noah Sibanda.

GANTSI, BOTSWANA — A 51-year-old Zimbabwean national has been apprehended by the Botswana Police Service following the discovery of a massive cannabis plantation at a farm in the Gantsi area. The suspect, identified as Clifford Nkomo, was arrested after a police raid on the property uncovered approximately 500 kilograms of dagga. Authorities estimate the illicit haul has a street value of P250,000 (roughly US$18,600), marking one of the region's largest narcotic busts in rece

PRETORIA – South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has clarified that holders of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) are not eligible for permanent residence, amid growing confusion over the future of the special permit programme. In a statement issued on April 15, spokesperson and Deputy Director-General for Operations Thulani Mavuso said there has been no change in policy regarding ZEP holders.

JOHANNESBURG – South African opposition leader Julius Malema has been sentenced to an effective five years in prison after being convicted on multiple counts related to firearm offences stemming from a 2018 incident.

HARARE — In a landmark victory for international asset recovery, the High Court of Zimbabwe has granted a breakthrough order to enforce a Singaporean asset-freeze against two foreign nationals residing in Zimbabwe. The ruling, delivered on April 9, 2026, by Justice Justice Wamambo, paves the way for the seizure and monitoring of local assets belonging to Singaporean couple Yong Khong Yoong Mark and Emily Hwang Mei Chen. The couple, who are permanent residents of Zimbabwe, are

HARARE — US President Donald Trump has removed a controversial AI-generated image from his Truth Social platform that depicted him as a Christ-like figure, following a wave of condemnation from his own religious base and a mounting public feud with Pope Leo XIV.

PRETORIA — South Africa’s Cabinet has officially approved the Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration, and Refugee Protection, marking the most radical overhaul of the country’s migration policy in a generation. The reforms, championed by Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber, introduce a rigorous points-based system (PBS) that prioritizes high-demand skills and economic investment over years of residency.

HARARE — In a lecture that has sent shockwaves through geopolitical circles, Prof. Jiang Xueqin has doubled down on his controversial 2024 predictions, outlining a terminal decline for American influence in the Middle East. Speaking to a global audience this week, Jiang argued that the current US–Iran war is not merely a regional conflict, but the "Sicilian Expedition" of the American empire—a fatal overextension from which there is no recovery.

HARARE – High-stakes negotiations between the United States and Iran have ended without a breakthrough after nearly 21 hours of talks in Islamabad, raising fresh fears over the collapse of a fragile ceasefire and a possible return to conflict. The marathon discussions, hosted by Pakistan, ran from Saturday into early Sunday and were aimed at resolving escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.

PRETORIA — The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has officially reignited the push to remove President Cyril Ramaphosa from office, formally petitioning the Speaker of the National Assembly on Friday to initiate Section 89 impeachment proceedings.

HARARE — In a sobering revelation for global health, the 2023 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study , published this week in The Lancet , has identified childhood cancer as the eighth-leading cause of death among children worldwide. Perhaps most alarming for the African continent is the finding that pediatric cancer now claims more lives than measles, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS combined. While high-income nations have seen a 27% decrease in mortality since 1990, the WHO Afric

PRETORIA — The political landscape in South Africa has been rocked by the declassification of a scathing report from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). The watchdog’s findings suggest that senior security officials loyal to President Cyril Ramaphosa engaged in a series of unlawful acts, including bribery and illegal detention, to cover up the 2020 theft of R8 million in foreign currency from the President’s Phala Phala farm.

HARARE — Global markets may have briefly stabilised following the April 7 ceasefire announcement between the United States and Iran, but emerging analysis suggests the truce could be a fragile pause rather than a pathway to lasting peace. According to geopolitical analyst Jiang Xueqin, the current ceasefire lacks the structural depth required to resolve the core drivers of the conflict, raising fears that tensions could quickly resurface.