Considered essential to the U.S. economy, as Donald Trump himself now acknowledges, Mexico’s seasonal farmworkers are exposed to the coronavirus pandemic as they work in U.S. fields, which exacerbates violations of their rights, such as wage theft, fraud, and other abuses. CREDIT: Courtesy of MHP Salud
MEXICO CITY, Apr 21 2020 (IPS) – As the high season for agricultural labour in the United States approaches, tens of thousands of migrant workers from Mexico are getting ready to head to the fields in their northern neighbour to carry out the work that ensures that food makes it to people’s tables.
But the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, of which the U.S. has become the world’s largest source of infection, threatens to worsen the already precarious conditions in which these workers plant, harvest, process and move fruits and vegetables in the U.S.
Exposed to illegal charges for visa, transport and accommodation costs, labour exploitation, lack of access to basic services and unhealthy housing, Mexican seasonal workers driven from their homes by poverty must also now brave the risk of contagion.
Evy Peña, director of communications and development at the non-governmental Centro de los Derechos del Migrante (Migrant Rights Centre – CDM), told IPS from the city of Monterrey that the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating violations of the rights of migrant workers.
“Temporary visa programmes are rife with abuse, from the moment workers are recruited in their communities. They suffer fraud, they are offered jobs that don’t even exist in the United States. It’s a perverse system in which recruiters and employers have all the control. There are systemic flaws that will become more evident now,” the activist said.
In 1943, the United States created H2 visas for unskilled foreign workers, and in the 1980s it established H-2A categories for farm workers and H-2B categories for other work, such as landscaping, construction and hotel staff.
In 2019, Washington, which had already declared them “essential” to the economy, granted 191,171 H-2A and 73,557 H-2B visas to Mexican workers, and by January and February of this year had issued 27, 058 and 6,238, respectively.
Two emergencies converge
Now, the two countries are negotiating to send thousands of farmworkers within or outside of the H2 programme, starting this month, to ensure this year’s harvest in the U.S. The Mexican government has polled experts to determine the viability of the plan, IPS learned.
The migrant workers would come from Michoacan, Oaxaca, Zacatecas and the border states. The plan would put leftist President Andres Manuel López Obrador in good standing with his right-wing counterpart, Donald Trump; generate employment for rural workers in the midst of an economic crisis; and boost remittances to rural areas.
For his part, Trump, forced by a greater need for rural workers in the face of the pandemic and under pressure from agriculture, abandoned his anti-immigrant policy and on Apr. 1 even issued a call for the arrival of Mexican migrant workers.
“We want them to come in,” he said. “They’ve been there for years and years, and I’ve given the commitment to the farmers: They’re going to continue to come.”
U.S. authorities can extend H-2A visas for up to one year and the maximum period of stay is three years. After that, the holder must remain outside U.S. territory for at least three months to qualify for re-entry with the same permit.
On Apr. 15, Washington announced temporary changes allowing workers to switch employers and to stay longer than three years.
A Mexican migrant worker works at a vineyard in California, one of the U.S. states most dependent on seasonal labour from Mexico in agriculture, and which has now urged President Donald Trump to facilitate the arrival of guest workers from that country so crops are not lost. CREDIT: Kau Sirenio/En el Camino
The most numerous jobs are in fruit harvesting, general agricultural work such as planting and harvesting, and on tobacco plantations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Migrant workers traditionally come from Mexican agricultural and border states and their main destinations are agricultural areas where there is a temporary or permanent shortage of labourers.
Jeremy McLean, policy and advocacy manager for the New York-based non-governmental organisation Justice in Motion, expressed concern about the conditions in which migrants work.
The way the system works, “it’s not going to be easy to follow recommendations for social distancing. Hundreds of thousands of people are going to come and won’t be able to follow these recommendations, and they will put themselves at risk. It could spell another wave of infection and transmission,” he warned IPS.
“This population group has no health services and no medical insurance. If they fall ill in a remote area, what help can they get?” he said from New York.
On Mar. 26, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico reported that it would process without a personal interview the applications of those whose visas had expired in the previous two years or who had not received them in that time, under pressure from U.S. agribusiness.
Trapped with no way out
The migrant workers’ odyssey begins in Mexico, where they are recruited by individual contractors – workers or former workers of a U.S. employer, fellow workers, relatives or friends, in their hometowns – or by private U.S. agencies.
Although article 28 of Mexico’s Federal Labour Law, in force since 1970 and overhauled in 2019, regulates the provision of services by workers hired within Mexico for work abroad, it is not enforced.
It requires that contracts be registered with the labour authorities and that a bond be deposited to guarantee compliance. It also holds the foreign contractor responsible for the costs of transport, repatriation, food for the worker and immigration, as well as the payment of full wages, compensation for occupational hazards and access to adequate housing.
In addition, it states that Mexican workers are entitled to social security benefits for foreigners in the country where they are offering their services.
Although the Mexican government could enforce article 28 of the law in order to safeguard the rights of migrant workers who enter and leave the United States under the visa programme, it has failed to do so.
“In Mexico there are still many gaps in the mechanisms for monitoring and inspecting recruitment. There is still fraud,” she told IPS. “How often do they inspect? How do they guarantee that things are working the way they’re supposed to?”
There are 433 registered placement agencies in the country, distributed in different states, according to data from the National Employment Service. For the transfer of labour abroad, there are nine – a small number considering the tens of thousands of visas issued in 2019.
For its part, the U.S. Department of Labor reports 239 licenced recruiters in that nation working for a handful of U.S. companies.
Data obtained by IPS indicates that Mexico’s Ministry of Labour only conducted 91 inspections in nine states from 2009 to 2019 and imposed 12 fines for a total of around 153,000 dollars. Some states with high levels of migrant workers were never visited by inspectors.
Furthermore, the records of the federal labour board do not contain any reports of violations of article 28.
Mexico is a party to the Fee-Charging Employment Agencies Convention 96 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which it violates due to non-compliance with the rights of temporary workers.
Peña stressed that there is still a gap between the U.S. and Mexico in labour protection and said workers are being left behind because of that gap.
“Countries like Mexico see temporary visas as a solution to labour migration and allow the exploitation of their citizens. The H2 programme is about labour migration and governments forget that bilateral solutions are needed,” she said.
In response to the pandemic and its risks, 37 organisations called on the U.S. government on Mar. 25 for adequate housing with quarantine facilities, safe transportation, testing for workers before they arrive in the United States, physical distancing on farms and paid treatment for those infected with COVID-19.
Blanco emphasised the lack of justice and reparation mechanisms. “The more visas issued, the greater the need for oversight. Mexico is perceived as a country of return or transit of migrants, but it should be recognised as a place of origin of temporary workers. And that is why it must comply with international labour laws,” she said.
McLean raised the need for a new U.S. law to guarantee the rights of migrant workers, who are essential to the economy, as underscored by the demand reinforced by the impact of COVID-19.
“We pushed for a law to cover all temporary visa programmes so that there would be more information, to avoid fraud and wage theft. But it is very difficult to get a commitment to immigration dialogue in the United States today,” he said.
But the ordeal that migrant workers face will not end with their work in the U.S. fields, because in October they will have to return to their hometowns, which will be even more impoverished due to the consequences of the health crisis, and with COVID-19 in all likelihood still posing a threat.
Music superstar Beyoncé Knowles used her slot during the “One World: Together at Home” concert to highlight the disproportionately high death rates from coronavirus among black communities in the US.
In a video message for the special broadcast of music, comedy and personal stories celebrating key workers around the world, the singer said ‘this virus is killing black people at an alarming rate in America’ and urged viewers to protect themselves
Curated by Lady Gaga, One World: Together at home was a Global Citizen organized campaign concert aimed at rallying funds for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Rolling Stones, Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney, Tom Jones and other stars in self-isolation performed as songs were interspersed with messages of solidarity from actors such as Matthew McConaughey and Lupita Nyong’o.
Global Citizen has since announced that that show raised $127m for coronavirus relief efforts. In her surprise guest appearance during the concert, Beyoncé pointed out that African Americans, most of who are in essential services, were disproportionately affected by the virus.
“Black Americans disproportionately belong to these essential parts of the workforce that do not have the luxury of working from home,” the singer said.
“And African-American communities at large have been severely affected in this crisis. Those with pre-existing conditions are at an even higher risk. This virus is killing black people at an alarmingly high rate here in America.”
America’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new, preliminary nationwide data on Friday that revealed 30 percent of Covid-19 patients are African American, even though African Americans make up around 13 percent of the population of the United States.
In her speech, Beyonce shared even more damning statistics. “A recent report from my home city of Houston, Texas, shows that of COVID-19 deaths within Houston city limits, 57 percent of fatal cases are African-Americans,” she said.
“Please protect yourselves. We are one family, and we need you. We need your voices, your abilities and your strength all over this world. I know it’s very hard. Please be patient, stay encouraged, keep the faith, stay positive and continue to pray for our heroes.”
Meanwhile, in a video shared by her grandmother Tina Knowles on Instagram, Beyoncé’s’ daughter Blue Ivy encouraged people to wash their hands. She went on to demonstrate how soap and water could help eliminate the virus.
“Peace out. I hope you guys are staying safe. Wash your hands extra and please stay at home. Love ya’ll. Bye,” she said before signing out.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s letter to newspaper editors saying they will ‘no longer engage’ with the UK’s most popular titles has today been blasted as censorship by the Society of Editors.
Executive director Ian Murray said the statement was ‘sadly a clear attempt to undermine certain sections of the UK media who often ask uncomfortable questions’.
Royal watchers also condemned the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s ‘narcissistic’ decision to have ‘zero engagement’ with the four British newspaper groups.
The Queen‘s former press spokesmen Dickie Arbiter said the couple were ‘wrong’ and Prince Charles‘s biographer Tom Bower said they ‘have become their own worst enemies’.
Earlier Piers Morgan and the BBC‘s Andrew Neil were among the host of commentators to lay into the pair’s new policy.
The LA-based Sussexes released the letter to four newspaper groups last night detailing how their self-imposed ban is a refusal to ‘offer themselves up’.
Their message was sent from an official Sussex Royal email, despite the Queen banning them from using the title and them saying they plan to use Archewell.
They emailed the editors of these popular publications: the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, the Sun and the Daily Express.
Harry and Meghan are seen in LA last week delivering meals to needy residents during the coronavirus lockdown
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have said they will no longer respond to enquiries from journalists at British tabloids. Pictured with son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor during a royal tour of South Africa, September 25, 2019
It came hours after Prince Harry caused outrage by suggesting the coronavirus crisis sweeping Britain was ‘better than we are led to believe through certain corners of the media’.
Their letter was widely criticised by royal and media commentators, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Arbiter told MailOnline: ‘I really want to know who is advising them because they are wrong.. unless they are doing it themselves.
‘Not only this, Harry was wrong over the weekend. because 2.4million deaths is bad, 16,000 in the UK is bad.
The Society of Editors brands the Sussex’s letter censorship
Executive Director Ian Murray said: ‘Although the Duke and Duchess say they support a free press and all it stands for there is no escaping their actions here amount to censorship and they are setting an unfortunate example.
‘Although the couple may no longer style themselves as working royals, they continue to be high-profile public figures and indeed have made plain their intention to continue to do so. By appearing to dictate which media they will work with and which they will ignore they, no doubt unintentionally, give succour to the rich and powerful everywhere to use their example as an excuse to attack the media when it suits them.
‘The truth is that Harry and Meghan have enjoyed and continue to enjoy a huge amount of positive coverage for themselves and their causes, much of it carried in the very titles they are now targeting. They may have been stung by some of the coverage they have not liked, they may disagree strongly with some elements of that coverage and can of course take action to answer any criticism they consider unfair or inaccurate through several channels. But the answer should never be to attempt to shun individual titles and their millions of readers.’
‘So how he can even suggest it isn’t as bad as what is being said about it is wrong. But then again, he is not the brightest bunny on the planet.’
Mr Bower said: ‘The Sussexes have become their own worst enemies. They clearly cannot stand being irrelevant and ignored.
‘In the midst of a horrendous global crisis causing so much misery all they can think about is themselves.
‘Constantly they push their obsession about their image and their financial income into the spotlight, and then outrageously harangue the public with their problems. Meghan, just understand: No one cares!’
And Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams added: ‘We know the intensity of both Harry and Meghan’s feelings towards the British tabloids, I mean there’s no question about that.
‘The statement they’ve released simply means it is going to be slightly more difficult for journalists to get information.
‘It won’t mean fewer Royal stories because obviously the demand for Royal stories will remain enormous.’
He added: ‘It’s important, I would have thought, and in their interests to have their point of view put across.’
The Sussexes completed their last royal duty on March 31, before stepping away from the monarchy – dropping their HRH styles – for a life mostly in LA.
President Donald Trump said the US will not pay for the couple’s estimated £4million security costs, which had been picked up by the Metropolitan Police.
Earlier this month the Mail revealed Harry and Meghan had agreed to pay for the cost of their security, which will reportedly consist of former SAS soldiers at a cost of £400 per operative per day.
Harry, 35, and 38-year-old Meghan’s letter was sent to the editors of the news groups involved last night.
They wrote: ‘Please note that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be engaging with your outlet. There will be no corroboration and zero engagement.’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s letter to Britain’s Tabloids
Sent to editors of British newspapers including The Daily Mail, Mirror, The Sun or Express:
‘As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex now settle into the next chapter of their lives and no longer receive any publicly funded support, we are writing to set a new media relations policy, specifically as it pertains to your organisation.
Like you, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex believe that a free press is a cornerstone to any democracy – particularly in moments of crisis. At its best, this free press shines light on dark places, telling stories that would otherwise go untold, standing up for what’s right, challenging power, and holding those who abuse the system to account.
It has been said that journalism’s first obligation is to the truth. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex agree wholeheartedly.
It is gravely concerning that an influential slice of the media, over many years, has sought to insulate themselves from taking accountability for what they say or print – even when they know it to be distorted, false, or invasive beyond reason. When power is enjoyed without responsibility, the trust we all place in this much needed industry is degraded.
There is a real human cost to this way of doing business and it affects every corner of society.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have watched people they know – as well as complete strangers – have their lives completely pulled apart for no good reason, other than the fact that salacious gossip boosts advertising revenue.
With that said, please note that The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be engaging with your outlet. There will be no corroboration and zero engagement. This is also a policy being instated for their communications team, in order to protect that team from the side of the industry that readers never see.
This policy is not about avoiding criticism. It’s not about shutting down public conversation or censoring accurate reporting. Media have every right to report on The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, good or bad. But it can’t be based on a lie. They also want to be very clear: this is not in any way a blanket policy for all media.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are looking forward to working with journalists and media organisations all over the world, engaging with grassroots media, regional and local media, and young, and up-and-coming journalists, to spotlight issues and causes that so desperately need acknowledging. And they look forward to doing whatever they can to help further opportunities for more diverse and underrepresented voices, who are needed now more than ever.
What they won’t do is offer themselves up as currency for an economy of clickbait and distortion.
We are encouraged that this new approach will be heard and respected.’
Accepting the media has ‘every right’ to report on the high-profile ex-royals, they said: ‘This policy is not about avoiding criticism. It’s not about shutting down public conversation or censoring accurate reporting.
‘Media have every right to report on The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, good or bad. But it can’t be based on a lie.
UK PUBLICATIONS THE BAN WILL COVER
Daily Express
express.co.uk
Sunday Express
Daily Mail
Mail on Sunday
MailOnline, including US site DailyMail.com
Daily Mirror
mirror.co.uk
Sunday Mirror
Sunday People
The Sun
The Sun on Sunday
thesun.co.uk
‘They also want to be very clear: this is not in any way a blanket policy for all media.’
The strongly worded piece suggests the papers involved have been responsible for publishing ‘salacious gossip’ which they know to be ‘distorted, false, or invasive beyond reason’.
But they faced a furious backlash, with Mr Morgan saying: ‘Thank god the British media is showing people reality of this and not relying on the word of a pampered little duke in his Malibu mansion telling us that we are exaggerating what is going on here.
‘I’m sorry to use tough language but the bottom line is I don’t want to hear from these two during this war if all they’re going to do is announce a new war with the media making it all about their little hurt feelings and their little ‘oh isn’t my life awful in my Malibu mansion. Shut up seriously.’
He added on Twitter: ‘Imagine thinking anyone cares about their hurt little me-me-me egos as health workers around the world are dying at work? What a pair of repulsive, deluded narcissistic tools.’
The BBC’s Mr Neil added: ‘As the world grapples with Covid-19, do they really think people care what media they deal with?
‘Their solipsism is amazing. Can’t they just consign themselves to oblivion for a while? Or at least hire someone who can write a press release in clear, decent English.’
Piers Morgan and Andrew Neil were among a host of commentators today to criticise the move
The couple say they accept the media has ‘every right’ to report on the high-profile ex-royals.
But they claim in the letters: ‘This policy is not about avoiding criticism. It’s not about shutting down public conversation or censoring accurate reporting.
‘Like you, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex believe that a free press is a cornerstone to any democracy – particularly in moments of crisis.
‘At its best, this free press shines light on dark places, telling stories that would otherwise go untold, standing up for what’s right, challenging power, and holding those who abuse the system to account.
‘It has been said that journalism’s first obligation is to the truth. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex agree wholeheartedly.’
Prince Harry and Meghan started married life at Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate and have agreed to pay back the £2.4million of taxpayer money spent on its refurbishment.
Harry and Meghan had lived in Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate (pictured) and have agreed to pay back the £2.4million of taxpayer money spent on its refurbishment
They moved to Vancouver Island in Canada late last year, where they spent Christmas with their son Archie.
The Sussexes are currently believed to be living in rented accommodation in LA near their friend Sir Elton John.
Prince Charles will continue to pay for the upkeep of his son and daughter-in-law for the first 12 months of their new life in the US.
This will come from his private funds, not the Duchy of Cornwall, but it is understood it will not be used for their protection.
In the letter the pair praise the work of the media as a ‘cornerstone to any democracy’ that ‘shines light on dark places, telling stories that would otherwise go untold, standing up for what’s right, challenging power, and holding those who abuse the system to account’.
The ex-Royals are pictured on March 9 as they arrive to attend the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London
But they said they have found the actions of an ‘influential slice of the media’ gravely concerning, adding they believe there is a ‘human cost’.
Both Prince Harry and Meghan said they have ‘watched people they know have their lives completely pulled apart for no good reason’ by the media.
The ex-royals state: ‘Please note that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be engaging with your outlet.
‘There will be no corroboration and zero engagement. This is also a policy being instated for their communications team, in order to protect that team from the side of the industry that readers never see.’
Representatives for the Sussex’s added the ‘zero engagement policy’ would extend to both the Sunday paper and online editions of each newspaper.
In a final statement the letter concludes: ‘We are encouraged that this new approach will be heard and respected.’
Communications for the couple will now be handled by Sunshine Sachs, a New York based PR firm, with only one UK-based representative.
The hard-nosed Manhattan PR company is known for specialising in ‘crisis communications’ for celebrities.
It has previously worked for Hollywood royalty including Leonardo DiCaprio, Natalie Portman, Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Jennifer Lopez and Michael Jackson’s family.
It is not yet known which media outlets will continue to have contact with the Sussexes.
But the letter details how the pair ‘look forward’ to engaging with ‘grassroots, regional and local press’ to further causes that ‘desperately need acknowledging’.
Meghan is due to face The Mail on Sunday in court, in a virtual hearing on Friday over the publishing of a letter she wrote to her estranged father Thomas Markle.
Prince Harry has launched separate legal claims against the Sun and the Mirror for alleged historic phone hacking.
Harry and Meghan’s Royal romance: From a star-studded wedding and the birth of Archie to a ‘rift’ with Prince William and controversy over their bid to ‘modernise’ the monarchy
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced they will be stepping back as senior royals – after a whirlwind two years in the public eye.
The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 38, who made their first ever appearance together at the Invictus Games in Toronto on 25 September 2017, have squeezed in endless memorable moments in the time that has followed.
Among their jam-packed schedule includes their official engagement announcement in November 2017, and the multi-cultural and US-influenced wedding that followed at Windsor Castle, on May 2018.
The star-studded day was filled with VIP guests and dominated by Hollywood stars including the Clooneys, the Beckhams, Idris Elba, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hardy and James Corden.
Other highlights since their big day include Meghan’s lavish baby shower trip to New York, which is thought to have cost more than $500,000 (£380,000), Archie’s birth on 6 May 2019, and their 10-day tour of Africa as a family late last year.
Here, FEMAIL looks back at Prince Harry and Meghan’s relationship timeline.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watched Wheelchair Tennis at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada on 25 September 2017 – in what marked their first public appearance together
The Duke and and Duchess of Sussex with their baby son (Name later announced as Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor), who was born on May 6 2019 during a photocall in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle in Berkshire
FIRST PUBLIC EVENT, 25 September 2017
Hand in hand, Prince Harry proudly brought his then-girlfriend Meghan Markle to a highly public tennis match on 25 September 2017 at the Invictus Games in Toronto – marking their first official appearance together as a couple.
The Suits star made an intriguing outfit choice, sporting a a £221 (retailing for $185 in the States) white shirt named The Husband, designed by her friend Misha Nonoo whose former spouse went to Eton with William and Harry, along with sunglasses and ripped blue jeans.
Their appearance was seen as a sign that an engagement was on the cards for the couple, and within hours of them stepping out together bookies Ladbrokes suspended betting on an engagement announcement.
The love birds arrived, fingers entwined, to the Invictus Games semi-final, in full view of members of the public and photographers.
The couple put on a show of togetherness with Harry leaning close to chat to his then-girlfriend during proceedings on 25 September 2017
ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT, 27 November 2017
Prince Harry told how he was ‘thrilled’ to be marrying Meghan Markle and admitted he knew the Suits star was ‘the one’ from ‘the first day we met’.
Meghan also showed the world her engagement ring designed by Harry himself containing two diamonds from Princess Diana‘s own personal collection set in a gold band.
Harry looked nervous but happy as they made their first public appearance since the announcement in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, much loved by his late mother Princess Diana.
His fiancee stroked his arm lovingly as they spoke to reporters, who asked him: ‘When did you know she was the one?’ and he replied: ‘From the very first time we met’.
He refused to say how he proposed saying: ‘That will come later’ but when asked if it was romantic he said: ‘Of course it was’ – but the couple didn’t kiss for the cameras.
The prince said he was ‘thrilled, over the moon’ adding: ‘Very glad it’s not raining as well.’ Meghan said she was ‘so happy, thank you’ before they wandered back into Kensington Palace beaming.
The prince said he was ‘thrilled, over the moon’ adding: ‘Very glad it’s not raining as well’ and both were full of smiles as they posed at Kensington Palace
Meghan’s engagement ring’s two outer diamonds are from Diana’s own collection with a central diamond from Botswana – where they went on safari in September – all set within a gold band
THE ROYAL WEDDING, 19 May 2018
Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in a multi-cultural and US-influenced wedding at Windsor Castle on 19 May, 2018.
The newlyweds shared tears, laughter and a passionate kiss in front of their hundreds of VIP guests dominated by Hollywood stars including the Clooneys, the Beckhams, Idris Elba, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hardy and James Corden.
Elton John, who sang at Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997, performed at the lunchtime reception hosted by the Queen in a poignant nod to Harry’s late mother.
All the senior British royals were also there to support the couple including Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Philip, Harry’s best man Prince William and his wife Kate, who brought George and Charlotte but left baby Louis with the nanny.
Meghan became the first mixed-race member of the royal family in an extraordinary journey for a girl born in LA to a white father and African-American mother who fought her way through the tough world of showbusiness to land a plum role in the TV series Suits.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry walked down the steps of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, following their wedding on May 19, 2018
FIRST OUTING AS THE DUCHESS OF SUSSEX, 22 May 2018
Meghan Markle made her first outing as the Duchess of Sussex on 22 May 2018 as the newlyweds arrived at Prince Charles’s 70th birthday party at Buckingham Palace.
The Duchess of Sussex was given a warm welcome into the family, with Prince Harry explicitly referring to the garden party as a ‘family celebration’ during his speech.
Harry and Meghan enjoyed only a brief private getaway following their wedding, and delayed their full honeymoon to honour the Prince.
But their newlywed energy was on full display as she rubbed her hand up and down her husband’s back as they made their way out.
The Duke and Duchess attended the Prince of Wales’ 70th Birthday Patronage Celebration at Buckingham Palace in London on 22 May 2018, which was their first official engagement following their wedding
PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENT AND FIRST ROYAL TOUR, October 2018
Meghan and Harry announced they were expecting in a statement via Kensington Palace on October 15, 2018.
The statement read: ‘Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019. Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public’.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh said they were ‘delighted’ to be welcoming their eighth great-grandchild in a joint statement with Prince Charles, who became a grandfather for the fourth time when Baby Sussex was born.
Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland said she was ‘very happy about this lovely news’ and ‘looks forward to welcoming her first grandchild’.
The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were told in person at the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle two days prior.
The baby news was released in a statement by Kensington Palace saying the baby was due in Spring 2019
Harry and Meghan attended the wedding of his cousin Princess Eugenie in Windsor on 12 October 2018 (pictured) – where they told the Queen and the royal family they were expecting and she was wearing a wide fitting coat
Rumours were rife that Meghan may be pregnant after her mother Doria Ragland was seen taking baby-care classes in Pasadena with a view to looking after her new grandchild.
The news came as the couple were seen beaming as they touched down in Sydney to start their three-week tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga – their first major international trip since they married in May.
They were later photographed holding hands in the grounds of Admiralty House, where the Queen stays Down Under, when their happy news was announced to the world.
Their 16-day tour of Australasia included a trip to Fiji and Tonga despite advice that pregnant women should not travel to the region because of its moderate Zika risk.
LAVISH BABY SHOWER, February 2019
At seven-months-pregnant, the Duchess of Sussex celebrated the impending arrival of her first child Archie with a lavish baby shower trip to New York, which is thought to have cost more than $500,000 (£380,000).
Meghan’s pricey – but privately-funded – party, which took place in a $75,000-a-night penthouse, included a flower arranging class for guests, using a variety of blooms from Upper East Side florist Lady Fleur.
Guests at the lavish baby shower left the intimate gathering with high-end gift bags filled with luxe leather tote bags filled with the royal’s favourite products.
According to People, Serena Williams, Amal Clooney, and Canadian stylist Jessica Mulroney were among the attendees who were gifted Cuyana leather totes that were filled to the brim with products, much like Oscars swag bags.
Meghan Markle celebrated the impending arrival of her first child Archie with a lavish baby shower trip to New York in February 2019
The Duchess of Sussex celebrated the impending arrival of the royal baby with a spectacular baby shower in New York, costing an estimated $500,000 (£380,000) in total
ARCHIE’S BIRTH, 6 May 2019
Prince Harry revealed his delight at baby Archie’s arrival during a TV statement in which he heaped praise on his ‘incredible’ wife.
The Duke of Sussex announced that Meghan had given birth at 5.26am to a boy weighing 7lbs 3oz, having been more than a week overdue.
Prince Harry gushed that the ‘little thing is absolutely to-die-for’ as he announced the news on after Meghan went into labour in the early hours.
Speaking from Windsor at the time, a visibly-excited Prince Harry shared his immense pride as he joked of getting just two hours’ sleep the night before, before calling the birth ‘the most amazing experience I could ever have possibly imagined’.
In a statement shortly after the birth was announced, Buckingham Palace said Meghan and her baby were ‘both doing well’, and that the Queen and other members of the royal family were ‘delighted’ with the news.
Meghan is pictured at King’s College, London in March (left) and with Harry at at Buckingham Palace in the same month (right)
Speaking hours after his wife went into labour, an overjoyed Prince Harry (pictured) revealed that his wife had given birth to a healthy baby boy
FIRST PICTURES OF BABY ARCHIE, 8 MAY, 2019
Meghan and Harry made their first public appearance with baby Archie in the grounds of Windsor Castle, two days after he was born.
The move differed from the announcement of royal babies in the past, where new mothers had shown off their newborns on the steps of the hospital where they were born.
The baby boy was lovingly cradled by his adoring father and watched attentively by Meghan, who was herself pictured for the first time in over a month since withdrawing from public life ahead of the birth.
The couple appeared to be beside themselves with joy, giggling and looking into each other’s eyes as they spoke, while Harry could not resist sneaking a peek down at his son as he apparently slept.
Speaking from inside the majestic St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle, a radiant Meghan declared: ‘It’s magic, it’s pretty amazing. He’s just been the dream so it’s been a special couple of days.
The world was given its first ever glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s newborn son on 8 May 2019 as his beaming parents finally showed off their ‘own little bundle of joy’ to millions of royal fans across the globe
Baby Sussex (pictured) made his very first public appearance at a photocall alongside a thrilled Prince Harry and Meghan in the grounds of Windsor Castle
‘I have the two best guys in the world so I’m really happy. He has the sweetest temperament, he’s really calm.’
As they both laughed, Harry said: ‘I don’t know who he gets that from.’
Asked who the baby takes after, Meghan said: ‘We’re still trying to figure that out.’
Harry said: ‘Everyone says that babies change so much over two weeks we’re basically monitoring how the changing process happens over this next month really. But his looks are changing every single day, so who knows.’
Asked how he found parenting, Harry added: ‘It’s great. Parenting is amazing. It’s only been two and a half days, three days, but we’re just so thrilled to have our own little bundle of joy.’
Harry said they were looking forward to spending some ‘precious times with him as he slowly, slowly starts to grow up.’
Asked about going to see the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Meghan said: ‘We just bumped into the duke as we were walking by which was so nice. So it’ll be a nice moment to introduce the baby to more family and my mum’s with us as well.’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are pictured with their baby son in the majestic setting of St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle today
CHRISTENING: JULY, 2019
Archie Mountbatten Windsor was christened exactly two months after he was born on July 6, last year.
The young royal was pictured sitting on the lap of his mother, the Duchess of Sussex, as she nestled into the shoulder of his father, the Duke of Sussex.
The image, shot against the opulence of Windsor Castle’s Green Drawing Room, was one of warmth and family joy.
Archie did not be take an HRH title at the request of his parents but he did, however, enjoy all the trappings of a Royal christening.
This official christening photograph released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shows the Duke and Duchess with their son, Archie and (left to right) the Duchess of Cornwall, The Prince of Wales, Ms Doria Ragland, Princess Diana’s sisters Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, The Duke of Cambridge and The Duchess of Cambridge in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle
Finally baby Archie’s face is revealed! The stunning snap shows off the adorable royal, with the little boy being held by mother Meghan Markle
He was wearing the cascading ivory Honiton lace and satin gown used for all Royal babies’ baptisms since the reign of Queen Victoria. The one Archie wore is a 2008 copy of the 1841 original, and was handmade by the Queen’s dresser Angela Kelly.
The ceremony was performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, using the silver gilt Lily Font. Commissioned in 1840 by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert for the birth of their first child, it is part of the Crown Jewels and had been brought from the Tower of London for the occasion.
The names’ of Archie’s godparents have never been revealed, but Prince Harry’s former nanny Tiggy Legge Bourke was among the 25 guests at the private event, sparking speculation she was godmother.
In the main picture, Archie is flanked by three of his proud grandparents, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland
In a touching tribute to Harry’s mother, Princess Diana’s sisters Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale were prominent in the official picture.
In the second image, which was black and white, Meghan was seen gazing into Harry’s eyes as the proud father looked down at Archie, while placing a hand on his wife’s arm.
A second shot in black-and-white shows Meghan dressed in white gazing into Harry’s eyes as she cradles baby Archie and her proud husband looks at their baby son. Windsor castle’s Rose Garden can be seen in the background
Prince Harry’s former nanny Tiggy Legge Bourke was among the 25 guests at the private event in Windsor today, sparking speculation she could be one of Archie’s godparents
TOUR OF AFRICA WITH BABY ARCHIE, September 2019
At the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Harry and Meghan visited South Africa, Malawi, Angola and Botswana between September 23 and October 2, 2019.
The royals took baby Archie, who was just four months at the time, along with them on the trip.
During their visit they unveiled three new Queens Commonwealth Canopy projects, protecting forests and planting trees, and worked with the British Government to announce investment of £8m in technology and skills in the region.
The Duke also travelled to Angola to focus on the ongoing mission to rid the world of landmines – following in the footsteps of the work that was pioneered by his mother, Diana.
But the highlight of the trip was when baby Archie made his first appearance by meeting one of the heroes of the anti-apartheid movement, Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The Sussexes released adorable footage of them carrying their four-month-old, with the caption, ‘Arch meets Archie!’.
A video posted to their Instagram account shows the couple beaming as Meghan holds little Archie – who giggles at his mother – as they are greeted by Archbishop Tutu and his daughter, Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe.
Meghan joked with the Archbishop’s daughter Thandeka Tutu Gxashe that the little royal would have to get used the cameras in his life, while Ms Tutu Gxashe joked little Archie was ‘going to be a ladies’ man’.
The veteran Nobel Peace Prize-winning anti-apartheid campaigner – who effectively became the leader of the liberation struggle during Nelson Mandela’s long imprisonment – said he was ‘thrilled by the ‘rare privilege and honour’ to meet the royals.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex took Archie on a tour of South Africa, Malawi, Angola and Botswana between September 23 and October 2, 2019. Pictured, during a meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu in Cape Town on 29 September 2019
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met a group of dancers at the Nyanga Township in Cape Town, South Africa, on the first day of their tour of Africa on Monday September 23
Meghan met health workers and families during a visit to the mothers2mother charity organisation in Cape Town
THE ITV DOCUMENTARY THAT FOLLOWED, 20 October 2019
In Tom Bradby’s hour-long documentary, ‘Harry & Meghan: An African Journey’, which followed the royal couple during their official tour of Africa, Prince Harry admitted that he and William are travelling on ‘different paths’ in the first public acceptance of a rift between the brothers.
In a candid interview, the Duke of Sussex acknowledged there had been deepening tensions between himself and William, following months of speculation about the state of the brothers’ relationship.
He made the comments in a TV documentary broadcast where he also attacked the press over the public scrutiny that he and wife Meghan Markle have faced.
Harry said: ‘I will not be bullied into playing a game that killed my mum.’
The 35-year-old initially laughed in response to the question, then added: ‘Part of this role, part of this job and this family being under the pressure it is under, inevitably stuff happens.
‘But look, we are brothers, we will always be brothers. We are certainly on different paths at the moment but I will always be there for him and, as I know, he will always be there for me.’
He added: ‘We don’t see as much as we used to because we are so busy but I love him dearly and the majority of stuff is created out of nothing.
‘As brothers, you have good days, you have bad days.’
Harry said spoke about his struggles with mental health and how the death of his mother affected him during the ITV documentary
Prince Harry refused to deny reports of a rift between himself and brother William in a candid interview
FINAL ENGAGEMENT BEFORE STEPPING BACK AS SENIOR ROYALS, 7 January 2020
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave after visiting Canada House in London yesterday, after their recent stay in Canada
Yesterday marked Prince Harry and Meghan’s final appearance before they made the decision to step back as royals.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex held hands and walked closely next to each other as they visited Canada House to meet the country’s High Commissioner in London, Janice Charette.
They were warmly greeted by Ms Charette and her deputy Sarah Fountain Smith, after saying they wanted to meet staff to ‘thank them for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay’.
Meghan wore a mix of tans and camel colours for her appearance – pairing a coat from Reiss with a polo neck and £85 skirt from Massimo Dutti.
The Duchess was joined by Prince Harry at their first public appearance which marked the end of their six-weeks hiatus from royal duty – where they thanked the people of Canada for hosting their private holiday.
Photos credit: European Parliament Audiovisual & Office of Assita Kanko MEP
Speaking to ECR deputy Assita Kanko less than a year into her five-year tenure as an MEP, it is hard to believe that only back in September she was one of the “rookies” we interviewed as part of our “Class of 2019” feature. Former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson said that “a week is a long time in politics” and never has that held truer than now, as the Coronavirus pandemic creates the biggest global challenge since the Second World War. With Europe in the eye of the Coronavirus storm, Kanko explains how she thinks the European Union has fared, faced with such a formidable and unprecedented crisis.
“Firstly, I wish to express my deepest condolences to those that have lost loved ones to this awful virus. My heart goes out to those that have suffered during this time. The impact on people’s health, livelihood, and quality of life has been huge. While the EU has lived through a number of serious crises before, such as the migrant crisis and the financial crisis, this situation is unlike anything we have seen in our lifetime.”
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She adds, “It was clear that the response of the EU institutions was led by the actions of European leaders in the early days of this crisis. Closing national borders, national social security systems, putting in place emergency measures, healthcare and education are all areas dominated by national governments. However, in the days and weeks that followed, the EU quickly sought to coordinate areas where it has competence and can add value; this included state aid, common procurement, and repatriating European citizens. Was the response perfect? No. should the EU have anticipated better? Yes. Do tough lessons need to be learned for the future? Without a doubt.”
Kanko says that these are incredibly challenging times for Europe’s citizens, adding, “we will be stronger and serve them best if we seek to look at what unites us, and how we can better work together from now on. In a world that is already learning to live without US leadership, it is essential that the EU provides a global democratic steer. If it does not, China will seek to fill that void.”
Asked about her recent comments in a newspaper column where she said the COVID-19 crisis demonstrated that US President Donald Trump is “an emperor without clothes,” Kanko says that times of crisis tend to show people’s true colours. “Their weaknesses are magnified under the pressure, the uncertainty, and the intensity of media scrutiny. The Coronavirus crisis has exposed those that tend to exaggerate or lie, highlighted those that are decisive, have natural empathy and compassion, and those that see it as yet another opportunity to grab power and authority.”
Turning to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose government has come under fire for passing an emergency bill granting it the power to rule by decree indefinitely, she says, “It is essential that emergency powers remain just that; emergency ones. Powers that are temporary in order to protect citizens during a crisis. Any emergency laws must respect the principles of necessity and proportionality and the broader legal framework and international rules that Member States commit to within the EU.” This is a worrying development in Orbán’s leadership, Kanko says.
“While the EU has lived through a number of serious crises before, such as the migrant crisis and the financial crisis, this situation is unlike anything we have seen in our lifetime”
“Concerns over his approach to running a democratic nation have persisted for years. Should the EU do more? Perhaps instead the question should be why have the actions taken by the EU so far failed to resolve the situation? Nuisance isn’t necessarily a popular commodity these days, but we cannot avoid the complexity of the situation. Orbán is a popular leader with a large majority and every time Brussels condemns Orbán this is viewed as an attack on the people who voted for him. Domestically it is seen as an attack on the beliefs and values of voters and this only serves to increase the distance and the trust between Brussels and Budapest. The EU needs to ensure Orbán complies with EU law, but it also needs to work to win back the trust of the people of Hungary and address the entrenched nature of populism and disinformation around Europe.”
An active and vocal advocate for Africa, Kanko says that the continent has been abandoned in the midst of the Coronavirus crisis. “Africa is always the forgotten element of most crises. Yet I believe it is a fundamental element in formulating Europe’s own strategic response to this and many other crises. People in Europe may ask the question: how can we afford to help African nations with ventilators when we do not have enough for our own European nations? Malawi has a population of 18 million but it has only 13 available intensive care beds across the entire nation. With many nations already stretched to breaking point following Malaria epidemics and Ebola outbreaks, there simply isn’t the capacity to face another health crisis. Thousands and thousands of people could needlessly die.”
She warns that with oil prices dropping, trade links broken, currencies devaluing, and jobs lost within Africa, Europe risks democratic and economic instability on its doorstep. It also runs the risk, she says, of another migrant crisis, and the risk of African nations turning to China and Russia more than ever for investment in the wake of Europe’s failure to act. “Beyond the geopolitical implications for the EU, there is a simpler compulsion to act. We have a moral obligation to help those in a less fortunate position than our own. I believe that is how the EU builds international respect and moral authority for the future. If Coronavirus continues to circulate anywhere in the world, it will be a problem for all of us, including the EU.”
Staying on the subject of protecting the vulnerable during the Coronavirus crisis, Kanko says that the sharp rise in domestic violence during the lockdown period has been a concern for her since day one. “For the majority of people during this crisis, locking the front door makes them safe. Yet for many others, behind that locked door nothing but fear, violence and anxiety exists. This crisis has highlighted just how serious the situation of domestic violence is around Europe, and how abuse and exploitation online persist and increase. We still have much more to do, to ensure that women, men and children suffering abuse in their homes have somewhere to go and someone to turn to.”
On a positive note, she mentions a number of inspiring initiatives that have emerged around Europe, such as hotels providing shelter and increasing resources for national and regional helplines for domestic abuse victims. “European nations need to look at schemes around the world for inspiration and see what could be introduced in their own country. The European Commission has just released its new Gender Strategy; my hope is that in the coming months and years, this is an issue that we can tackle with renewed determination.”
With women on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, making up some 70 percent of healthcare workers and shouldering the burden of domestic chores and childcare responsibilities during the lockdown, Kanko says that her hope is that this crisis is highlighting just how important women are to our economy and our workplaces. “I believe that as a society we need to change who we celebrate. The women caring for our sick and our elderly, stacking shelves in supermarkets, and cleaning our hospitals, have for too long been classified by our society as ‘low-skilled workers.’ Now they are finally recognised as ‘essential workers.’ We need to look at how we value, respect and remunerate those who do the toughest jobs in our society. These women have been the backbone of this crisis and their bravery and compassion must never be forgotten.”
Turning to the reported increase in racism during the Coronavirus crisis, Kanko says, “We have seen COVID-19 labelled the ‘Chinese virus’ and we have seen the public war of propaganda among some international leaders. There have been reports of people of Chinese origin being verbally abused on the street, of Africans in China being targeted and evicted from their homes following the lockdown, as well as reports of a disproportionate number of African Americans dying from Coronavirus in the US than any other population group.”
“For the majority of people during this crisis, locking the front door makes them safe. Yet for many others, behind that locked door nothing but fear, violence and anxiety exists. This crisis has highlighted just how serious the situation of domestic violence is around Europe”
She adds, “It has not only highlighted racism in society, but the broader social and economic inequalities that exist around the world. If we are to come out of this crisis a stronger, more tolerant society then we need to realise that no matter what we look like or where we come from, we are all human beings; we are all fallible. Racism and xenophobia are often driven by fear of the unknown and a lack of information. When we are fearful and uncertain we look for someone to blame. That is why politicians, the media, and every one of us have a responsibility to be careful with the language we use and add value through our actions. There is one thing we all have control over and that is our own behaviour and the compassion we can show others.”
The European Parliament recently implemented, for the first time, a remote voting system following the Coronavirus lockdown. Asked whether the wheels of democracy can still keep turning under these conditions, Kanko says, “I believe it’s not a question of whether the wheels can keep turning; they must. With so many emergency powers in place and so many huge political and legal decisions being made around Europe, democratic scrutiny has never been more important. My experience of the remote voting system has had its challenges – mainly how temperamental my home printer is – but it has worked well and I am thankful for the staff and technicians within the Parliament for their hard work which enables us to keep doing our jobs from home. I am also hugely grateful to all those people who continue to work from home and have adapted how they work, allowing our economy to keep functioning and ensuring that the world keeps turning.”
When the Coronavirus storm eventually retreats and a semblance of life as we know it resumes, Kanko believes we have tough times ahead. “The impact of the crisis on our economy and our job market is something that will dominate the work of our governments and the EU. What we have experienced has been unprecedented. The months and years ahead will require us to address issues such as mental health, crossborder medical research and global crisis preparedness. But we will get through this.”
She says that while the return to our ‘normal lives’ may be slow and gradual, we will also return to the things that bring joy and happiness. “Whether that is a drink in your local bar, hugging friends and family, getting frites at your local square, carnivals, birthday parties and Christmas markets. The more patient we are, respecting social distancing, washing our hands and following guidelines, the quicker that return will be.”
“In a world that is already learning to live without US leadership, it is essential that the EU provides a global democratic steer. If it does not, China will”
As for the lessons we can glean from the Coronavirus crisis, Kanko says that we need to be a more compassionate and more considerate society. “We need to recognise who the real heroes are in our society and we need to value the little moments in our lives, as they often end up being the most important and are far more precious than we thought.”
Ugandan opposition politician Bobi Wine says has partnered with businessman Neil Nelson to airlift Africans suffering mistreatment in China following the coronavirus outbreak.
“Together with my friend Neil Nelson, CEO Atlanta BlackStar, we are offering to airlift Africans and African-Americans being subjected to inhumane treatment in parts of China. Only if we get an African nation and/or the US willing to receive them,” he explained.
The two also released a joint statement and appealed to the Chinese government and other global African leaders to take urgent action to protect Africans abroad.
“We call upon leaders from across the global African community including political leaders, social activists, artists and other leaders to join in this effort,” the statement reads in part.
This development comes amid reports of Africans facing eviction from their homes in Guanghzou and also being denied services at local businesses. Images and videos of Africans sleeping on the streets caused outrage over the weekend.
Bobi Wine is expected to run against the current Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in the country’s general elections set for 2021.
The coronavirus pandemic has been confirmed in over 180 countries globally since it was first discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late December 2019.
The World Health Organisation, WHO, has since declared it a pandemic due to its spread. All except three African countries have recorded cases as governments roll out measures to combat the spread.
In this article, we will share the latest developments as authorities implement measures to contain the spread of the virus, especially on the African continent. Major stats as at April 13:
Major African stats as of April 15 as of 6 am GMT:
April 15: Uganda speaker unveils virus killing spray, Malawi lockdown
Ugandan Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has unveiled what she calls her ‘coronavirus treatment’ which local media outlets report that she now calls a spray. The Observer newspaper reported that Kadaga blamed Ugandans for overreacting.
She is quoted as saying: “I didn’t call it a vaccine but a spray, which kills the virus.” The speaker came under fire a month ago for suggesting that some U.S. scientists who had visited her were close to a COVID-19 vaccine in collaboration with some Ugandans.
“There is a ray of hope, a professor who manufactured a treatment for coronavirus in the US was here last week and has donated the patent to Uganda. Within a fortnight, the treatment will be right here…there is hope and the treatment will start here in Uganda,” she said in mid-March.
The East African country currently has 55 confirmed case of the disease with eight recoveries and no death as of April 15. The tally is relatively lower in a region where Kenya has 216 cases and Rwanda with 134 cases. Djibouti tops in the East / Horn Africa region with 363 cases toppling Mauritius now second with 324.
Key stats #COVID19Africa as of April 15 at 08:30 GMT – Confirmed cases = 16,288 – Number of deaths = 873 – Recoveries = 3,238 – Infected countries = 52 – Virus-free countries = 2 (Lesotho, Comoros)#coronavirushttps://t.co/pjckWHFXkX
— Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban #StayHome (@AlfaAfrican) April 15, 2020
Malawi announces 21-day lockdown
Malawians are the latest on the continent to have a feel of a national lockdown after Health Minister Jappie Mhango eclared a 21-day lockdown as part of efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The lockdown comes into effect at midnight on 18 April and runs till midnight on 9 May. The southern African country as of April 15 had recorded 19 coronavirus cases including two deaths with no recovery.
As is usually the case, law enforcement officers and essential service providers are the only people allowed to move during the period. All other persons seeking to move must seek permission to do so.
District commissioners and local chief executive officers will identify providers of essential goods and services and issue them with special permits. While all central markets will be closed, local markets will be allowed to open between 05:00 and 18:00 local time, a BBC reporter said.
In an address to the nation on Tuesday evening, President Peter Arthur Mutharika stressed that the lockdown could be extended if need be. He said the borders will have beefed up security during the period and security will be high across the country.
“Fighting coronavirus is a challenging war for everyone, everywhere. It is also a very expensive war. As a nation, we require about MK150 billion for the implementation of the National COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan. We need to unite.
“Let me once again appeal to all political leaders that we need to join our hands in fighting this coronavirus pandemic. None must take advantage of the suffering of people and politicize coronavirus. This is not a time for politics. This is a time for saving lives.
“Coronavirus is a real threat. As your President, I will do everything possible for us to save lives. Let us unite to save lives. This lockdown may be extended beyond 9th May as circumstances warrant. The Minister has done so using powers vested in him under the Public Health Act. I would like to urge you to fully comply with the measures because they are for the good of our country,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today started hearing a challenge by Mutharika into annulled presidential elections of May 2019. His reelection bid was successfully challenged by the opposition with a new date set for a rerun in July this year.
April 14: US in Africa’s corner against Chinese racism
The United States has condemned reports of racist attacks on African nationals in the Chinese city of Guangzhou calling the videos and stories “appalling.”
America had over the weekend condemned the actions which it said targeted African Americans as well. In a tweet on Monday; a top Department of State official for Africa, Tibor Nagy, said Beijing needed to do more to stop the attacks.
“Videos and stories from #Guangzhou are appalling. Abuse and xenophobia has no place in our fight against this global pandemic. Chinese authorities must do more to stop these attacks against Africans living and working in China,” he posted on Twitter.
Earlier on Monday, the Chinese foreign ministry issued a statement admitting diplomatic protests from African governments but stressing that “All foreigners are treated equally. We reject differential treatment, and we have zero tolerance for discrimination.” They reiterated relations between Beijing and Africa and said a probe will be opened to ascertain the real facts and to remedy same.
The statement by the ministry’s spokesperson read in part: “During our fight against the coronavirus, the Chinese government has been attaching great importance to the life and health of foreign nationals in China. All foreigners are treated equally. We reject differential treatment, and we have zero tolerance for discrimination.
“Since the outbreak, the authorities in Guangdong attach high importance to the treatment of foreign patients, including African nationals.
“Specific plans and proper arrangements are made to protect their life and health to the best of our ability, thanks to which we were able to save the lives of some African patients in severe or critical conditions.
The concluding parts read: “The foreign ministry will stay in close communication with the Guangdong authorities and continue responding to the African side’s reasonable concerns and legitimate appeals.
“The virus knows no borders. The pandemic, a challenge to all mankind, can only be defeated through concerted international efforts. With mutual understanding, mutual support and cooperation, we are ready to continue working with African friends to achieve the final victory.”
April 13: Africa round-up from the weekend
Coronavirus developments continue to unravel across the continent as governments continue efforts at arresting spread of the pandemic through national and continental efforts.
The weekend coughed up some major developments across Africa aside the rising number of cases, deaths and recoveries. South Africa remains the most impacted country even though the spike in cases have dropped and a bumper recovery was also recorded.
Across the ocean, mistreatment of Africans in China also gave rise to a raft of protests from different governments with the African Union ultimately inviting the Chinese envoy to Addis Ababa to demand concrete action on the part of Beijing.
In Nigeria, the Foreign Minister and Speaker of the lower house of parliament had cause to summon the Chinese ambassador to register their displeasure. Ghana’s Foreign Minister also did same whiles Congo Republic, Kenya and Sierra Leone issued strongly worded statements.
Still with the African Union, Chairperson and South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, appointed on Sunday a four-member team to help coordinate Africa’s international efforts at combating the pandemic.
The newly appointed envoys are tasked with mobilising international support for Africa’s efforts to address the economic challenges African countries will face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Special Envoys will be tasked with soliciting rapid and concrete support as pledged by the G20, the European Union and other international financial institutions, a statement read.
Dr Okonjo-Iweala is an internationally respected economist and development expert and served two terms as Minister of Finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. She has also served as Managing Director of the World Bank.
Dr Kaberuka is an economist and former President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB). He is the former Finance Minister of Rwanda and in 2016 was appointed as a Special Envoy of the African Union on sustainable financing for the AU and funding for Peace in Africa.
Manuel was the longest-serving Minister of Finance in the Republic of South Africa and formerly headed the country’s National Planning Commission. In 2018 he was appointed as an Investment Envoy by President Ramaphosa to engage domestic and international investors as part of the country’s national investment drive.
Thiam is a banker and businessman. He is the former Chief Executive Officer of Credit Suisse and also served as Chief Financial Officer and CEO of Prudential. He also has a background in management consulting and worked for McKinsey and Company.
Two prominent deaths were also recorded across the continent in relation to COVID-19. Ghana confirmed on Saturday the death of a renowned physician, Professor Jacob Plange-Rhule.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday (April 10) in the capital Accra specifically at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, where he had been on a brief admission. An official close to the report said he had underlying health complications before contracting the virus.
In Somalia, the death was confirmed on Sunday of a regional official. The death of Khalif Mumin was the second in the Horn of Africa nation. He died at a hospital in the capital Mogadishu, the Maritini Hospital is Somalia’s only coronavirus treatment center.
April 11: Africa protests Chinese mistreatment with Nigeria in the lead
Reports of mistreatment meted out to Africans in the Chinese city of Guangzhou has drawn the ire of a number of people on social media. Nigerian government summoned the Chinese ambassador to express their protest.
After the meeting between the Foreign Minister and the ambassador, the Speaker of the lower house of parliament also piled more pressure when he chided the ambassador in a separate meeting on Thursday.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson insisted that relations between the country and Africa remained robust despite the latest round of friction.
“FM Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said: ‘China and African countries are united more than ever, demonstrating brotherhood in times of adversity. We treat all foreign nationals equally in China. We reject differential treatment, and we have zero tolerance for discrimination’,” the embassy tweeted.
On Saturday, the African Union Commission Chairperson also tweeted that his office had summoned the Chinese envoy to the AU over the recent reports.
“My Office invited the Chinese Ambassador to the AU, Mr Liu Yuxi, to express our extreme concern at allegations of maltreatment of Africans in Guangzhou plus called for immediate remedial measures in line with our excellent relations. The African group in Beijing is also engaging with the govt,” AUC chair Moussa Faki Mahamat posted on Twitter.
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa have passed the 2000 mark. Figures released on April 10 put the figure at 2003 from 73,028 cases. The death toll has also hit 24 from 18 with 95 recoveries as of April 9.
The country is Africa’s most impacted and the big figures are credited to the rate of testing. Comparatively, most other African countries can only boast of below 10,000 tests as compared to South Africa’s 73,000 plus tests.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an extension to the 21-day lockdown announced last month. The two-week extension he says will be critical in containment efforts. The president and his cabinet agreed a salary slash to support the government’s solidarity fund.
As at today number of confirmed #COVID19 cases are 2003, the number of tests conducted are 73 028 and the number of deaths is now 24
The government has gazetted hefty penalties for Kenyans, including a fine of Sh20,000 or a six months’ imprisonment or both if found breaking directives issued in line with the Public Health Act, a top portal Standard Digital has reported.
A Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 41 signed by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe indicated that failure to wear a mask while using public or private transport and failure to maintain social distance are among the offences that will attract the penalties.
“Users of public or private transport and public transport operators shall wear a proper mask that must cover the person’s mouth and nose and also maintain a physical distance of not less than one metre.”
According to the new rules, organisations, business entities, traders whether in a market or enclosed premises are required to provide at their business location or entrance to their premises, a handwashing station with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitiser which is approved for use by the Kenya Bureau of Standards.
Kenya report courtesy Standard Digital portal
April 10: South Africa cases hit 2000, Africa needs more testing
African officials objected Thursday to the global jostling to obtain medical equipment to combat the coronavirus, warning that if COVID-19 is left to spread on the continent the world will remain at risk.
“We cannot be neglected in this effort,” the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong, told reporters. “The world will be terribly unsafe, and it will be completely naive, if countries think they can control COVID-19 in their countries but not in Africa.”
South Africa acknowledged the challenges as it extended its lockdown by two weeks, with President Cyril Ramaphosa saying, “This is a matter of survival, and we dare not fail.”
Equipment in Africa is scarce. The World Health Organization says fewer than 5,000 intensive care unit beds are available across 43 of the continent’s 54 countries: “This is about 5 beds per 1 million people in the reported countries compared to 4,000 beds per 1 million people in Europe.” Functional ventilators in public health services across 41 countries number less than 2,000, a severe shortage for patients in respiratory distress.
While Africa’s 1.3 billion people had a head start in preparing for the pandemic as the virus spread in China, Europe and the United States, Nkengasong warned that “the very future of the continent will depend on how this matter is handled” as cases, now over 11,000, quickly rise.
“The worst is still to come,” he said, and pointed to the global Spanish flu pandemic of a century ago when cases came in waves.
Africa is also competing with the developing world for testing kits that will help give a clear number of cases, as well as protective equipment that front-line health workers desperately require. Already, anxious workers have gone on strike or gone to court in places like Zimbabwe over the lack of gear.
“We may not actually know how big is the size of the problem” without scaling up testing, Nkengasong said.
While 48 of Africa’s 54 countries now have testing capability, that often is limited to countries’ capitals or other major cities, WHO officials told reporters in a separate briefing.
There is an “urgent need” to expand testing, the WHO Africa chief, Matshidiso Moeti, said, noting that clusters of community transmission have emerged in at least 16 countries. That means the virus has begun spreading beyond the initial cases imported from abroad.
“Some countries might face a huge peak very soon” in cases, said the WHO’s emergency program manager, Michel Yao.
Even if testing kits and other equipment are found, another challenge is delivering them amid the thicket of travel restrictions. Cargo space is rare because many airlines have stopped flights to African destinations, Yao said.
Close to 20 African countries have closed their borders, and several are now under lockdown to try to prevent the virus’ spread. Now millions of people are bracing for lockdown extensions after regional leader South Africa’s announcement Thursday night.
If the country’s lockdown ends too soon or too abruptly, “we risk a massive and uncontrollable resurgence of the disease,” Ramaphosa said.
In the two weeks before the lockdown began two weeks ago, the average daily increase in South Africa’s new cases was around 42%, but since the start of the lockdown the average daily increase has been around 4%, he said.
South Africa has the most confirmed cases in Africa with more than 1,900. “We are only at the beginning of a monumental struggle,” Ramaphosa says. “We cannot relax and we cannot be complacent.”
The economic toll, however, has been harsh. The World Bank in a new report said sub-Saharan Africa is expected to fall into recession for the first time in a quarter-century. Growth should fall this year from 2.4% to minus 2.1%, with countries that depend heavily on oil exports and mining hit especially hard.
Africa has had some of the world’s fastest-growing economies. The World Bank said African nations will require a “debt service standstill” and other financial assistance as millions of people, many who survive day-to-day, can’t go out to work.
“I am aware that some of you have been saying, ’We would rather die from COVID-19 than from hunger,” Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu told the nation Thursday. “But I advise you to choose life. Please choose life.”
And, joining a growing number of African nations, he encouraged all Zambians to wear face masks at all times.
In Uganda, 75-year-old President Yoweri Museveni tried to boost morale after outdoor exercise was banned, releasing a homemade video of him running laps barefoot in his office and doing 30 push-ups — proof, he said, that one can stay fit indoors.
April 9: Cases expected to spike in Africa, China bans Africans
Some African countries could experience a spike in coronavirus cases in the coming weeks, a top official of the World Health Organization, WHO, Africa region has noted.
According to Michel Yao, the WHO Africa programme manager for emergency response, countries should thus boost their testing and medical response capacities.
“During the last four days we can see that the numbers have already doubled,” he told a media teleconference on Thursday.
“If the trend continues, and also learning from what happened in China and in Europe, some countries may face a huge peak very soon,” he said, he however did not specify which countries could be on the radar.
Compared to continental tallies, Africa’s coronavirus figures as of April 9 are relatively lower even though the WHO has stressed that it could be as a result of undetected or underreported cases. Africa is inching towards the 12,000 confirmed cases mark with 578 deaths and 1,428 recoveries according to the John Hopkins university tracking system (valid as at 16:00 GMT).
The WHO’s Africa head, Matshidiso Moeti, reiterated that there is an “urgent need” to expand testing capacity beyond capital cities in Africa, as the virus spreads through countries.
“Without help and action now, poor countries and vulnerable communities could suffer massive devastation,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told diplomats in Geneva. “The infection numbers in Africa are relatively small now, but they are growing fast,” he said.
Meanwhile over in the Chinese business city of Guangzhou, have been left stranded for a second night after they were ejected by owners of hotels and apartment blocks.
The BBC reporter in Hong Kong, Danny Vincent reported the mass evictions on Tuesday confirming that two days on, the situation had yet to be resolved.
Online rumours that the coronavirus was spreading among the thousands of Africans in the city led to door-to-door testing, evictions and accusations of forced quarantine. “We have no house, no food, no hotel,” one student from Nigeria told the BBC.
“There are up to 100 people still on the streets. People want to go back to our countries. I don’t know what the problem is with China. Everywhere that Africans live they are pushing us away.”
Guangzhou is home to one of China’s largest African communities and has become a hub for African traders buying and selling goods to the continent.
In an open letter penned by the All African Association of Guangzhou, community leaders called on the authorities to end the “the inhuman treatment, hatred, and outright discrimination of Africans that is currently going on in Guangzhou”.
“About 10 African community leaders in Guangzhou are technically under house arrest using the term quarantine. These actions are difficult to comprehend when you consider the fact that these are people whose official test results came back negative just one or two days ago.”
With additional files from BBC Africa LIVE page
April 9: France announced aid to Africa, Seychelles lockdown kicks in
The French government has announced a financial package to support Africa in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, state-run Radio France International, RFI reported late Wednesday.
The announcement was made by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian who disclosed that Paris will grant aid of “nearly 1.2 billion” euros to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Africa.
Meanwhiles, the island nation of Seychelles started a 21-day lockdown from midnight on Wednesday. The move which forms part of COVID-19 containment has shut down non-essential services and restrict the movement.
Government instituted the measure a 26-year-old citizen who works at the airport as a grounds staff tested positive for coronavirus on Monday. The country has 11 confirmed cases with no death with two recoveries so far.
President Danny Faure who made the announcement said the airport will remain closed until the end of April while new maritime surveillance will be applied in the island nation.
The first Seychellois patient who tested positive for Covid-19 on 14 March, and a Dutch woman who tested positive the following day, have both recovered from the disease, the president said.
April 8: SA Minister suspended over lockdown lunch, Somalia testing boost
South African Minister suspended over lockdown lunch
A South African minister has been suspended by the president for breaking lockdown rules after she attended lunch at a former minister’s residence.
A statement from the president read: “President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave for two months – one month of which will be unpaid.
“As to allegations that the Minister violated the lockdown regulations, the law should take its course. This follows the revelation on social media that the Minister had recently visited the home of a friend who hosted a lunch, contrary to the lockdown regulations.
“The President summoned the Minister yesterday, Tuesday 07 April 2020. The President expressed his disapproval of the Minister’s actions, which undermine the requirement that all citizens stay at home and save South Africa from the spread of the coronavirus.”
In Somalia, the health ministry yesterday (April 7) that the country is now able to test for coronavirus in the capital, Mogadishu. Previously samples were taken to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, for testing.
The ministry’s National Public Health Research Laboratory (NPHRL) has now been equipped to carry out the tests. Somalia has eight cases, one of the lowest in the Horn of Africa region. Government also announced that the academic calender has been suspended for the year due to the virus.
In next door Ethiopia, PM Abiy declared a state of emergency after a cabinet meeting today. The declaration is to be tabled before lawmakers for ratification.
Already, the northern Tigray Region had declared a state of emergency at a time they had recorded no cases. The region is also the first to get testing capacity outside of the national facilities in Addis Ababa.
April 7: Malawi records death, Infected mothers deliver in Cameroon, Uganda
Malawi’s coronavirus tally has reached eight with the Ministry of Health confirming the first casualty in the southern African nation.
The patient was a 51-year-old Malawian woman of Indian origin who had recently returned to the country from the UK. The ministry said she had an underlying heath condition.
Of the three new cases announced today, two of the patients are in the city of Blantyre and the other in Chikwawa town. Malawi was one of the African countries that recorded a case very late. So far only Comoros and Lesotho have yet to be infected.
Infected women deliver in Cameroon, Uganda
The BBC reports that a patient undergoing treatment for coronavirus in the Cameroon’s capital, Yaoundé, gave birth to a baby girl over the weekend, quoting a doctor at the hospital’s isolation ward.
The mother, 19-year-old Marie, gave birth normally but has since been separated from her newborn baby. The patient was connected to an oxygen supply when her contractions started, the report added.
“We just arranged the room and she delivered on her bed while on oxygen,” Dr Yaneu Ngaha Bondja Junie, a gynaecologist at the hospital, told the BBC.
The baby was born prematurely weighing 2.1kg (4.6lb) and is in the neonatal unit. It is not clear if the baby is infected as her tests are still being processed, but she is being fed with breast milk from her mother.
It is the second known birth of a child by a COVID-19 patient. Over the weekend, portals in Uganda confirmed the birth through Caesarean section of a healthy baby.
The Daily Monitor report gave the following details. The 22-year-old Ugandan mother gave birth to a healthy baby girl at Entebbe Grade B Hospital. She was reportedly infected by her husband who returned from Dubai recently.
“The patient gave birth very well this afternoon through a Caesarean Section and the mother and baby are in good health,” Dr Moses Muwonge, the director of the hospital is quoted to have said.
April 6 – 7: Ghana case spike, Sao Tome index case, cases pass 10,000
Cases in Ghana reached 287 as at Tuesday April 7, the health surveillance outfit reported in an update posted on its website. “Following measures for enhanced contact tracing and testing, Ghana has detected an increased number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
“As at 6th April 2020, 23:30 hr, a total of 287 cases of COVID-19 with five (5) deaths have been recorded. The regional distribution of the cases are as follows: Greater Accra Region has most cases (258) followed by the Ashanti Region (18), Northern Region (10), Upper West Region (1), Eastern Region (1) and Upper East Region (1),” the update stated.
Ghana is West Africa’s third most impacted country by the development. The country is ranked behind Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast with 364 and 323 cases respectively.
Meanwhile, the continental tally has passed the 10,000 mark with close to 500 deaths and 1,000 deaths. South Africa is the continent’s most impacted with over 1,600 cases. Only two African countries are without cases – Lesotho and Comoros.
Meanwhile Sao Tome on Monday became the 52nd African country to record first cases of COVID-19. The Prime Minister confirmed that four persons had tested positive.
April 6: Sao Tome index case, Rwanda cabinet donates salary
Sao Tome and Principe became the 52nd African country to record cases of the COVID-19. The island nation confirmed its first four cases on Monday, April 6.
Prime Minister Jorge Bom Jesus disclosed that the confirmation came after test results returned from Gabon. The development leaves Lesotho and Comoros as Africa’s virus free countries as of April 6.
The continent’s confirmed COVID-19 cases is heading towards 10,000, with over 400 deaths. Another 900+ patients have recovered.
Rwandan ministers and top officials have joined the growing trend of public officials donating their salaries to the fight against COVID-19. Cabinet ministers and others have agreed ti donate their April salaries to aid the countries fight against the pandemic
A statement from the prime minister’s office confirmed that other officials who agreed to forgo their salaries are leaders of national institutions and top government officials. The country has 105 confirmed cases with four recoveries. It is East Africa’s third most impacted behind Mauritius and Kenya.
A strictly enforced lockdown remains in place having been extended last week by the cabinet. The government has since last week been distributing food to citizens who had been relying on receiving pay every day.
Lawmakers in Nigeria weeks back agreed to forgo their salaries as contributions towards the COVID-19 fight. Kenya’s president and top government officials also took salary cuts for the same reason.
Over in Malawi, President Peter Mutharika also announced taking a 10% salary cut along with his ministers. “The coronavirus attack has a huge negative impact on the economy and businesses everywhere.
“There are many business people and industry players who are uncertain about the situation as it is unfolding. I know that everyone is worried,” he said.
“Therefore, government will take measures to protect jobs and incomes, protect businesses and ensure continuity of the supply chain and the survival of the economy.”
Amongst other measures, the president directed the Reserve Bank of Malawi to allow banks to offer a three-month moratorium on interest payments on loans to small- and medium-sized businesses.
He also ordered the country’s Competition and Fair Trading Commission to put in place strict monitoring of price controls and punish anyone found increasing prices at the expense of Malawians.
April 5: South Sudan index case
South Sudan has announced its first case of COVID-19, making it the 51st of Africa’s 54 countries to report the disease.
A U.N. worker who arrived in the country from Netherlands on Feb. 28 is ill with the disease, confirmed First Vice President Riek Machar and the U.N. mission in South Sudan. The patient, a 29-year-old woman, first showed signs of the disease on April 2 and is recovering, said officials.
South Sudan, with 11 million people, currently has four ventilators and wants to increase that number, said Machar, who emphasized that people should stay three to six feet apart from others. “The only vaccine is social distancing,” said Machar.
The patient is under quarantine at U.N. premises and health workers are tracing the people who had been in contact with her, said David Shearer, head of the U.N. operations in South Sudan. He said he hoped the measures would contain the case.
To prevent the spread of the virus in South Sudan, President Salva Kiir last week imposed a curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. for six weeks and closed borders, airports, schools, churches and mosques.
AP report
Meanwhile, Chinese e-commerce mogul Jack Ma has announced a new round of donation to Africa. Ma and his foundation is partnering with Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed on this round too.
“Our second donation to 54 countries in Africa is on the way. That includes 500 ventilators, 200K suits & face shields, 2K thermometers, 1M swabs & extraction kits and 500K gloves,” Ma posted on Twitter on Monday.
Other partners include include Ethiopian Airlines which has been doing the continent-wide deliveries and the African Union’s Africa Center for Disease Control (Africa CDC) which is also headquartered in Addis Ababa.
Our second donation to 54 countries in Africa is on the way. That includes 500 ventilators, 200K suits & face shields, 2K thermometers, 1M swabs & extraction kits and 500K gloves. Thank you AbiyAhmedAliflyethiopianAfricaCDCWFP for your partnership. Stay safe Africa!
Meanwhile as of Monday April 6, Africa’s reported cases was nearing the 10,000 mark according to data from Africa CDC and the John Hopkins University.
Major stats as at April 6
Confirmed cases = 9,393 Number of deaths = 445 Recoveries = 906 Infected countries = 51 Virus-free countries = 3 (Sao Tome and Principe, Lesotho, Comoros)
Reports surfaced on Friday that Zimbabwe police had issued a ban on sale of beer under lockdown rules to help contain the coronavirus pandemic. The move attracted lots of social media criticism.
But late Fiday, state-run Heral newspaper reported that police had reversed the earlier statement banning alcohol sales saying supermarkets and registered bottle stores can now continue selling beer on condition it is consumed off the premises.
In a statement, national police national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi warned drinkers against gathering outside their homes.
Cameroon’s tally ‘boomed’ on Friday when Health Minister Manaouda Malachie confirmed that 203 new cases had been recorded taking the national tally to 503 as of March 3.
Meanwhile, African leaders have been holding virtual meetings to put together a continental response to the pandemic which has seen its statistics – cases, deaths, recoveries – growing in the last two weeks.
Rwandan president Paul Kagame called it a “productive conference call chaired by AU Chair President Cyril Ramaphosa,” according to him, the discussions centered on the need to speak with a common voice and seek Africa’s best interest.
“We discussed the need for Africa to stand together,speak with one voice and work through our institutions to mobilize resources and harmonize the support from international partners. Thank you to initiatives by African institutions such as African Development Bank and Africa Exim Bank for their support
“The meeting stressed the urgency & need to materialize all commitments swiftly and flexibly. Through coordinated action, we can succeed in mitigating the health and economic impact of COVID-19 on our population.
“The loss of and damage to life and economy globally and particularly in Africa is colossal….and so must be the amounts of energy and financial package(s) to bring things back to normal and beyond,” Kagame wrote on Twitter.
Some African leaders who participated included Senegal’s Macky Sall, Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, DRC’s Felix Tshisekedi, Mali’s Ibrahim Boubakar Keita, Egypt’s Abdel Fatteh Al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The African Union Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat and WHO boss, Tedros Ghebereyesus were also part of the meeting. “We were joined later by President Emmanuel Macron, a good partner for Africa,” Kagame added.
The Namibian president on Friday disclosed that he had held talks with his Chinese counterpart as part of efforts to strengthen Africa’s response to COVID-19. “I also expressed gratitude to President XI for China’s support and care of over 500 Namibian students in Wuhan and China during this pandemic,” Hage Geingob added.
Meanwhile South Africa’s Health Minister says the country is formally going to seek assistance from Cuba and China on managing the pandemic. Nigeria also confirms that it is awaiting a medical team from China to support its response to the virus.
