Nigeria's senators have raised concern about the financial crisis facing some of the country's embassies abroad, the local Vanguard publication reports. , external

The lawmakers said the dilapidated state of some embassy buildings and the government's inability to pay staff was hurting the "collective image of Nigeria".

Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura said that some host countries had threatened to revoke the building permits of embassies because of "poor structural conditions", which posed a hazard to communities in the area, the Vanguard reported.

Image source, AFP

Zimbabwe’s Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko has launched an unprecedented attack on the country’s other Vice-President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing him of undermining President Robert Mugabe by alleging he was poisoned at a political rally in August.

Mr Mnangagwa's claim was a "calculated" challenge to Mr Mugabe's "public account that Mnangagwa’s medical doctor ruled out poisoning" as the cause of his "traumatising vomiting and diarrhoea" experience at the 12 August rally, Mr Mphoko said.

"There’s now little doubt, if there ever was any, that there appears to be an agenda to undermine the authority of President Mugabe and to destabilise the country by using lies to fan ethnic tensions for political purposes," Mr Mphoko said.

"This must stop and do so sooner rather than later," he added.

Mr Mnangagwa fell ill at the rally addressed by Mr Mugabe in the southern town of Gwanda.

He was flown to South Africa for emergency medical treatment, and returned home about a week later.

At a rally last weekend, Mr Mnangagwa said he had been poisoned, like the late national heroine, Shuvai Mahofa, had been poisoned at a conferenbce of the ruling Zanu-PF party in Victoria Falls in 2015.

Mr Mnangagwa is seen as a potential successor to President Robert Mugabe, 93.

His main rival for the post is said to be Mr Mugabe's wife, Grace.

Read: Zimbabwe's 'crocodile' - Emmerson Mnangagwa

Polly Muzalia
BBC Africa

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has pushed back a controversial plan to withdraw passports without electronic security chips by mid-October.

The move had sparked demonstrations, leading to dozens of arrests.

Holders of the so-called semi-biometric passports now have until January 2018 to replace them with new ones.

Authorities say that the new passport has better security features.

They have also backtracked on the fee, with holders now expected to pay $100 (£75) instead of $185 for the new one.

Despite the concessions, there is still opposition to the plan.

Image source, Getty Images

UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has been criticised for saying that the Libyan city of Sirte could be the new Dubai, and "all they have to do is clear the dead bodies away".

Mr Johnson made the comments at a fringe meeting at the governing Conservative party's annual conference in Mancester city

The main opposition party, Labour, called the comments "crass, callous and cruel".

Conservative MP Heidi Allen said the foreign secretary should be sacked, as did officials of the Liberal Democrats party.

Mr Johnson was making a point about the need for optimism in Libya, after a recent visit to the country.

"I look at Libya, it's an incredible country," he told the meeting.

"Bone-white sands, beautiful sea, Caesar's Palace, obviously, you know, the real one.

"Incredible place. It's got a real potential and brilliant young people who want to do all sorts of tech.

"There's a group of UK business people, actually, some wonderful guys who want to invest in Sirte on the coast, near where Gaddafi was captured and executed as some of you may have seen.

"They have got a brilliant vision to turn Sirte into the next Dubai.

"The only thing they have got to do is clear the dead bodies away," Mr Johnson said, before laughing.

Read: Viewpoint: Boris Johnson and his 'colonial views' on Africa

Image source, AFP

Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini has said that the banning of corporal punishment in school has led to an increase in indiscipline in learning institutions, the local Times Live news site reports. , external

He made the comments on Tuesday at a meeting with school principals and administrators in northern KwaZulu-Natal, his seat of power.

King Zwelithini, who is the patron of education in the region, said that caning made "learners perform well".

He added: "This thing of not disciplining our children is letting us down because children are not disciplined".

Caning in schools in South Africa was banned in 1997. However, it continues in some schools in defiance of the law.

Last month, a video of a teacher caning a student was widely shared on social media.

Authorities promised to take "harsh action" against the teacher.

The king also condemned the recent shooting to death of a teacher in Gauteng province, the ecenomic heartland of South Africa.

"The death of one teacher is one too many. Teachers are also human beings," he said.

"It's important that if we set up commissions of inquiry because politicians are being killed, there must also be commissions for teachers as well," he added.

Image source, Reuters

A prominent critic of Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, Diane Rwigara, has been charged with inciting insurrection against the state, prosecutors say.

She has been charged along with her mother, Adeline Rwigara, and sister Anne Rwigara.

The provisional detention of all three had been requested, AFP news agency reported.

Diane Rwigara was barred from running in August's presidential election.

Incumbent Paul Kagame won the election with 99% of the vote, leading to allegations of rigging which were denied by the authorities.

Diane Rwigara had also been charged with forging documents.

She has previously said she is a victim of political persecution "for standing against oppression and speaking my mind".

Investigators allege that Ms Rwigara committed an electoral offence by collecting forged signatures to endorse her candidacy.

It is unclear what prompted the insurrection charge.

Read: Kagame - visionary or tyrant?

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