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Zimbabwe evacuates citizens from Iran as Middle East conflict escalates
The late Ayatollah Khamenei and President Mnangagwa HARARE, ZIMBABWE – The Government of Zimbabwe has completed the evacuation of its citizens from Iran, including students and non-essential embassy staff, as tensions escalate following military strikes involving the United States and Israel. Authorities confirmed that essential diplomatic personnel have been relocated to Armenia, where they are continuing to monitor developments in the region. Permanent Secretary in the Mi

Southerton Business Times
Mar 232 min read


Houthis threaten Bab el-Mandeb Strait as global shipping risks escalate
HARARE, ZIMBABWE – Global trade routes are facing a new threat after Yemen’s Houthi movement warned it could block the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, escalating tensions already disrupting international shipping. The development comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively constrained following military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, sending shockwaves through global energy markets.

Southerton Business Times
Mar 222 min read


COMESA warns against profiteering as oil prices surge above $100
HARARE, ZIMBABWE – The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Competition and Consumer Commission (CCCC) has issued a strong warning to businesses across Eastern and Southern Africa against profiteering and anti-competitive conduct amid surging global oil prices and escalating geopolitical tensions. The caution comes as conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran disrupts global energy markets, pushing crude oil prices above US$100 per barrel, their hi

Southerton Business Times
Mar 222 min read


Madagascar revives traditional New Year Alahamady Be in cultural renaissance
ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR – Madagascar has revived its traditional New Year celebration, Alahamady Be, marking a significant cultural resurgence after decades of dormancy. The pre-colonial festival, rooted in Malagasy royal traditions, returned with ancestral rituals, sacred fire ceremonies, and purification rites, drawing large crowds across the capital, Antananarivo. Celebrations peaked at Mahamasina Stadium, where thousands gathered for music, dance, and traditional perform

Southerton Business Times
Mar 212 min read


Zimbabwean pastor Walter Chahwanda was jailed for nine years in UK for sexual offences
LIVERPOOL, UK – UK-based Zimbabwean gospel singer turned pastor Walter Chahwanda (33) has been sentenced to nine years in prison after a jury found him guilty of 17 sexual offences involving minors and young women.

Southerton Business Times
Mar 212 min read


Strategic Leaks Expose European Tech Providers to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)
Harare, Zimbabwe / Paris, France- The global telecommunications landscape is facing a significant shift following a high-level breach of the Israeli Army’s secure communication infrastructure. The cracking of command communication codes has not only compromised operational security but has also illuminated a network of European firms providing the backbone for the regime's military data and connectivity.

Southerton Business Times
Mar 202 min read


UNMISS Steps Up Patrols After Deadly Attack at Makpandu Refugee Camp
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has intensified security patrols at Makpandu refugee camp in Yambio, Western Equatoria, following a deadly attack that claimed the life of a Sudanese refugee. Peacekeepers conducted a ground patrol to assess the security situation and engage with local authorities, security forces, and refugee representatives, amid growing concerns over the safety of civilians in the camp.

Southerton Business Times
Mar 202 min read


Iran’s IRGC Claims Strike on Oil Facilities Linked to US in Regional Escalation
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has carried out a retaliatory strike targeting oil facilities it claims are linked to the United States, marking a further escalation in tensions across the Middle East.

Southerton Business Times
Mar 202 min read


Sovereignty vs. Speculation: Botswana Firmly Denies US Military Base Claims
Gaborone, Botswana / Harare, Zimbabwe- The Government of Botswana has issued a definitive rebuff to long-standing reports suggesting the presence of a United States military base on its soil. In a high-level clarification aimed at quelling regional unease, officials labeled the claims as "misinformation" that risks undermining the delicate balance of SADC regional stability.

Southerton Business Times
Mar 192 min read


Trump clashes with Starmer over Iran war stance and Hormuz security
WASHINGTON – Donald Trump has criticised Keir Starmer after the British prime minister said the UK would not be drawn into a wider conflict with Iran, despite rising tensions in the Gulf. The row centres on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route that has become a flashpoint as fears grow that Tehran could disrupt energy supplies. Trump has been urging allies to help patrol the narrow waterway, arguing that countries benefiting from oil shipments thr

Southerton Business Times
Mar 182 min read


Somalia warns against alleged Israeli military base in Somaliland
Somalia has raised concerns over alleged plans by Israel to establish a military base in the breakaway region of Somaliland, warning it does not want its territory drawn into external conflicts. The proposed base, if confirmed, would sit near the Gulf of Aden, opposite Yemen, a strategically important location that could enable Israel to conduct airstrikes and military operations across the region.

Southerton Business Times
Mar 181 min read


Nigeria’s Lassa fever cases drop but death rate rises, says NCDC
Nigeria has recorded a decline in new Lassa fever infections, but health authorities warn that the disease is becoming more deadly as patients delay seeking treatment. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said 65 new cases were reported in the last week of February, down from 77 in the previous week. However, the case fatality rate has risen sharply to over 23%, compared to just under 19% during the same period last year.

Southerton Business Times
Mar 181 min read


The Garden "Miracle": Leaked Audio Reveals Mojtaba Khamenei’s Narrow Escape
A leaked audio recording obtained by The Telegraph has shed light on the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the survival of Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor to his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Mazaher Hosseini, the head of protocol for the Supreme Leader’s office, Mojtaba survived the February 28 strikes only because he stepped into his garden seconds before a missile leveled his residence.

Southerton Business Times
Mar 172 min read


Singaporean businessman Mark Yong Khong Yoong arrested in Zimbabwe
In a statement, national police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said the suspect was arrested following investigations into a mining investment deal in which another foreign investor was allegedly defrauded of US$1.5 million. Police later identified the suspect as Singaporean businessman Mark Yong Khong Yoong. According to police, Yoong was arrested on 14 March 2026 at the Norton Tollgate while travelling in a black Lexus SUV with three other people.

Southerton Business Times
Mar 172 min read


Trump Warns NATO of “Very Bad Future” if Allies Refuse Hormuz Security Role
Donald Trump has warned European members of NATO that the alliance could face a “very bad future” if they refuse to assist in securing the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to the Financial Times, Trump urged countries that depend on energy shipments passing through the waterway to contribute to its protection. Countries including the United Kingdom and France, as well as major oil-importing nations such as Japan, South Korea, and China, should join what Trump de

Southerton Business Times
Mar 162 min read


IRGC Vows to Continue Pursuit of Netanyahu Amid Escalating Iran–Israel Conflict
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has vowed to intensify efforts to target Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he is still alive, as tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States continue to escalate. In a statement carried by Tasnim News Agency, the IRGC claimed that uncertainty surrounding Netanyahu’s status reflects what it described as growing instability within Israel. The Iranian military organisation said it would continue pursuing the Israeli le

Southerton Business Times
Mar 162 min read


Bobi Wine Says He Has Fled Uganda Amid Alleged Military Manhunt
Bobi Wine has announced that he has left Uganda, saying he fled the country to escape what he described as a military-led manhunt following January’s disputed presidential election. In a video posted on the social media platform X on Saturday, Wine said he had been in hiding for weeks after security forces allegedly raided his home shortly after the January 15 vote.

Southerton Business Times
Mar 152 min read


Uganda Opens Doors: 40 Nations Granted Visa-Free Access Amid Diplomatic Shift
Kampala, Uganda- In a bold move to bolster South-South cooperation and regional trade, the Ugandan government has announced visa-free entry for nationals of 40 countries. Effective immediately, travelers from these nations can stay in the "Pearl of Africa" for up to three months for tourism or business without the prior hurdle of a visa application. While the move significantly eases travel for African and Commonwealth nations, it conspicuously excludes the United States, the

Southerton Business Times
Mar 142 min read


White South Africans Returning Home After Years Abroad
Thousands of white South Africans are returning home after spending years abroad, reversing a long-standing trend of emigration from South Africa. Many returnees are reclaiming their citizenship through a government online portal introduced after the repeal of a 1995 law that had stripped citizenship from some South Africans who obtained foreign nationality. The shift marks a notable development in the country’s migration patterns, which for decades saw large numbers of skill

Southerton Business Times
Mar 142 min read


Trump’s Iran War Strategy Questioned as Conflict Continues After Khamenei Killing
United States President Donald Trump has built much of his political brand on unpredictability. But analysts say his shifting messaging over the war with Iran is increasingly obscuring a deeper problem: the failure to secure the quick victory he appeared to promise. The conflict escalated dramatically following the killing of Ali Khamenei during a joint US-Israeli strike in late February. Iranian state media later confirmed the death of the long-time leader after the airstrik

Southerton Business Times
Mar 132 min read
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