That's all from BBC Africa Live today. Keep up-to-date with what's happening across the continent by listening to the Africa Today podcast or check the BBC News website.

A reminder of today's wise words:

Click here and scroll to the bottom to send us your African proverbs.

And we leave you with this picture shared by Tiwa Savage earlier today. It shows her performance at Sunday's All Africa Music Awards (Afrima) where she won the gong for best West African female artist:

Togolese footballer Francis Kone won an award last month after his quick thinking on the pitch saved an opponent's life.

Remarkably, it's not the first time he's done it. BBC Sport went to meet him:

Francis Kone’s story is part of our celebration of African football, linked to the launch of this year’s BBC African Footballer of the Year award.

Read his full story and vote here.

Milton Nkosi
BBC Africa, Johannesburg

South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) says it will not intervene to end the crisis unfolding in neighbouring Zimbabwe, amid fears that the military could overthrow 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe, the world's oldest ruler.

At a press conference ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe said the party would be concerned if "things go wrong there because it will impact on us".

"But we have no authority over them. That’s the point we are making,” he said.

“At one time at the height of the Zimbabwe question there were suggestions by big powers that we must just walk into Zimbabwe [and] whip them into line. We will not do that. It is not done. It is our neighbour, not our province.”

Image source, AFP

Millions of Zimbabweans are in South Africa, the regional superpower.

They fled the economic collapse of their country, which resulted in the government being forced to introduce so-called bond notes because of a shortage of US dollars, one of the currencies Zimbabwe adopted after its own currency crashed because of hyperinflation.

See our earlier post.

A shortage of weather data is putting many African countries at an economic disadvantage, experts believe.

Tanzania is at the centre of a meteorological experiment that promises to transform lives across Africa.

Tech start-up, Kukua, wants to introduce hundreds of low-cost weather stations in the country and beyond, to fill what has become a troubling data void.

The World Bank is also backing a scheme being rolled out in Dar es Salaam and elsewhere to spread personal weather monitors.

Without accurate weather data, people don't have evidence of what the weather is doing at ground level across the continent.

And this, as former TV weather presenter Peter Gibbs explains, can be a matter of "life and death":

Climate change has brought more extreme weather conditions to many parts of the world and Africa is no exception. Farmers also face less predictable seasons.

Read more on this story.

Image source, Reuters

Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says it will oppose any attempt by the army to stage a coup, amid reports of a military convoy moving through the capital, Harare, AFP news agency reports.

A coup would be "undesirable" as it would "bring democracy to a halt" in the southern African state, MDC Shadow Defence Minister Gift Chimanikire told AFP ahead of the convoy sightings.

"No one wants to see a coup," he added.

On Tuesday, army chief General Constantino Chiwenga warned that the military would step in if "treacherous shenanigans" continued in the ruling Zanu-PF.

His comments were seen as a direct challenge to President Robert Mugabe, who has expelled from the party one of its powerful leaders, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in a move aimed at positioning his wife, Grace Mugabe, as his successor.

See our earlier post.

We reported earlier on this whopper of a diamond mined in Angola and due to be auctioned today after a year of cutting, polishing and setting:

It's one of several huge diamonds brought to market in recent years.

So why are there more and more stones of this size being discovered?

It could be down to the equipment being used. Miners used to break down any kimberlite ore to 30mm before putting it through a sorting machine to test its density and see if it contained any diamonds.

But recently, they have started using X-ray machines which detect the carbon in the ore and without having to break up the mass.

It's possible bigger diamonds are being found as a result.

Read more on how it all works.

Ishaq Khalid
BBC Africa, Abuja

Nigerian authorities say they have procured anti-venom, the substance used to treat poisonous snakebites, from the UK and Costa Rica following months of acute shortages at snake bite treatment centres.

More than 200 people have died in the past month after from snake bites because of lack of available treatment.

Worst hit were Kaltungo in the north-east and Zamko in in the north, with daily deaths of patients reported.

Health officials say 5,000 vials of anti-snake venom are now being distributed to centres across Nigeria.

Environmentalists say more than 10,000 people are bitten by snakes every year in Nigeria, resulting in hundreds of deaths.

Because the country is unable to produce anti-venom, snake samples are sent to the UK and Costa Rica to produce the antidote.

Anti-venom is created by injecting an animal with a diluted dose of snake venom - the host body reacts by producing antibodies to fight it, which are then extracted and used as an antidote.

For those of us left weary by the never-ending rivalry among West African nations over jollof rice, OkayAfrica has kindly compiled a list of the 50 best foods, external from across the continent as a whole.

Here's our personal pick of the top five from that shortlist:

1. Ndole & Plantains

Country: Cameroon

2. Beyenatu

Country: Ethiopia

3. Caldeirada de Cabrito

Countries: Angola, Mozambique

4. Suya

Country: Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, Cameroon

5. Romazava

Country: Madagascar

Image source, Nigeria Presidency/Handout via REUTERS

Nigeria's President Muhamadu Buhari has arrived in the heartland of pro-Biafran secessionists, ignoring their threat to disrupt his first visit to the region since taking office in Africa's most populous nation in 2015, reports the BBC's Ishaq Khalid from Nigeria.

There was a strong military and police presence, and a surveillance helicopter hovered overhead, as the president unveiled development projects in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi state in the south-east, residents said.

Many shops were also shut.

On Monday, a spokesman for the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) group warned of a "bloody day" if the president visited the region.

Mr Buhari laid the foundation stone for a bridge that will be named after him, and also commissioned the building of a bridge that will link Ebonyi and Enugu states with Cameroon, Nigeria's privately owned This Day newspaper reports, external.

However, he failed to inspect the Guard of Honour that soldiers had formed at a military compound in Abakalik, the Daily Post newspaper reports, external.

Ipob is campaigning for the creation of the breakaway state of Biafra in the south-east, saying that people from the area's mainly Igbo ethnic group are marginalised in Nigeria and the government has done very little to develop their areas.

See earlier post

Rana Jawad
BBC North Africa correspondent

Image source, .

The Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has condemned an Algerian court’s decision to formally indict a local journalist on serious charges that could see him jailed for life.

Said Chitour is an Algerian freelance journalist and fixer who has worked with both local and international media organisations, including the BBC.

Mr Chitour was arrested five months ago at Algiers airport for allegedly passing on sensitive documents to foreign diplomats in his country.

He has been in custody since June and was formally indicted on Sunday on charges of "complicit relations with a foreign power". The court has not yet set a trial date.

Algeria is reputed for its restrictions on freedom of speech but this latest indictment by a court of law has stunned human rights observers and press freedom advocates.

His lawyers have argued that the prosecution hasn’t produced any evidence of the charge. Reporters Without Borders is now calling for his release.

Image source, .

It's not the first indictment of its kind against an Algerian national, but it is still considered rare.

In January the Algerian blogger Merzoug Touati was arrested on the same charge - for posting an interview with an Israeli citizen. He could be jailed for up to 20 years.

He went on hunger strike in early October and his health has reportedly deteriorated since.

BBC correspondents in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, report that a few armoured vehicles have been seen on a main public road outside the city having left one of the country's main military barracks, Inkomo.

It is not clear where they were heading but they have not been seen on the streets of Harare. One of the vehicles had broken down on the side of the road.

Earlier, leader of the Zanu-PF youth wing, Kudzai Chipanga, said his members would not allow the armed forces to subvert the constitution and were prepared to die to defend President Mugabe.

He told a press conference in Harare that the military chief did not enjoy the support of the "entire defence force".

Someone has posted this photo on Twitter which appears to show the armoured vehicles:

Randy Joe Sa'ah
BBC Africa

Image source, .

Cameroonian security forces have been raiding homes in the Anglophone south-west region, searching, they say, for terrorists.

But what they are collecting appear to be farm tools and household utensils, residents say.

Now residents of the rural community of Munyenge have been deprived of their machetes, axes, hammers and walking sticks. Hunters have also lost their guns. One told me:

Security forces, meanwhile, suggest the youths of the village had become lawless, harassing people and imposing their own law on the land.

Dozens of residents have been arrested and taken to the regional capital, Buea.

Women and children are said to have fled into the bushes. Several people were wounded.

Authorities are cracking down on protests by the English-speaking minority against the mainly French-speaking government.

The main opposition party in Zimbabwe, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has dismissed army chief General Constantino Chiwenga as "spineless".

It follows General Chiwenga's threat to stage a coup if the governing Zanu-PF party does not stop purging its ranks of senior officials who have incurred the wrath of President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace, the privately owned NewZimbabwe.com news site reports, external.

MDC spokesman Kuraoune Chihwaye was quoted as saying:

Image source, AFP

Last week, Mr Mugabe sacked Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa - his comrade from the 1970s war for independence - and Zanu-PF expelled him after accusing him of disloyalty.

His expulsion was seen as an attempt to pave the way for Mrs Mugabe to be elected vice-president at the Zanu-PF conference next month, putting her in pole position to succeed her 93-year-old husband when he retires or dies.

NewZimbabwe.com quoted a spokesman for the smaller People's Democratic Party (PDP), Jackson Mafume, as saying General Chiwenga was complcit in allowing the biblical "Delilah [Mrs Mugabe] to capture their Samson [Mr Mugabe]."

He added:

Image source, AFP

At a press conference at his headquarters yesterday, General Chiwenga said the removal of people who were involved in the independence struggle, like Mr Mnangagwa, would not be tolerated.

He added:

Mr Mnangagwa, who fled into exile after his dismissal, is a former defence and justice minister who has been in government since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980.

See earlier post

Image source, Reuters

South Sudan’s former army chief of staff has been freed from house arrest after nearly six months.

General Paul Malong was sacked in May after falling out with President Salva Kiir. But rather than being allowed to retire quietly, he was placed under house arrest because there were concerns that he would rally up his militia against the government.

Now President Kiir has ordered Mr Malong’s release on medical grounds, permitting him to seek treatment abroad. Just last week, soldiers surrounded his house and attempted to disarm his bodyguards in a stand-off.

It's quite a turn around for one of South Sudan’s most powerful men - who was until May the leader of South Sudan’s army - to now be pleading for a chance to seek refuge at a United Nations camp.

He was repeatedly accused of interfering with the work of UN peacekeepers but lately he’s been seeking their protection.

The UN has accused him of organising ethnically motivated attacks against civilians during the South Sudan’s civil war. He denies the allegation.

Anthony Irungu
BBC Africa, Nairobi

Image source, AFP

Kenya's Supreme Court has begun hearing three petitions challenging last month's presidential election re-run, won by the incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta with 98% of the vote.

The court annulled the first presidential election in August, saying there were irregularities.

Mr Kenyatta won the re-run, after his main challenger, Raila Odinga, called on his supporters to boycott the vote.

Two of the legal cases ask the court to nullify Mr Kenyatta's victory on the grounds that the electoral body failed to call for fresh presidential nominations for the re-run.

The third is seeking to sanction opposition leaders for the civil unrest surrounding the elections.

Image source, Courtesy of Haddy Rapia

Hadiza Yau, who goes by the stage name Haddy Rapia, is making a name for herself in a traditionally conservative and mainly Muslim area of northern Nigeria.

Unlike many rappers, she takes pride in dressing modestly. But she's still a big fan of one the most risqué rappers in the game, telling the BBC:

"My ambition is to meet Nicki Minaj... she motivates me."

Video journalists: Yusuf Yakasai and Elaine Okyere

BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

The United Nations' human rights commissioner has condemned as "inhuman" the European Union's policy of intercepting migrants in the Mediterranean and returning them to Libya.

In a statement issued from Geneva, external, Zeid Raad Al Hussein said African migrants were enduring horrific conditions in Libyan detention facilities. He called it an outrage to the conscience of humanity.

According to figures from the government in Tripoli, almost 20,000 migrants are being held in Libya.

Last month detainees told UN investigators they were subjected to beatings and sexual violence.

They described being packed into warehouses without functioning toilets.

Image source, EPA

Voting for the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2017 is under way, with five nominees fighting for the ultimate prize.

We will be shortlisting all the nominees this week.

Today it's the turn of Guinea's midfielder Naby Keita.

The RB Leipzig midfielder is a first-time nominee, with a talent described as "just insane" by his manager.

Keita may have started the 2016-17 season as an unknown but he ended it with his name in the Bundesliga's team of the year - a public poll in which the 22-year-old received the most votes of any midfielder.

Just five minutes into his league debut, Keita - an unheralded purchase from Leipzig's Austrian sister club RB Salzburg - scored an 89th-minute winner against Borussia Dortmund to set the tone for the season.

The Conakry-born star impressed so much that Liverpool agreed an African record transfer fee of at least $63m (£48m) to secure his services in July 2018 - with Leipzig later saying they would not have sold him but for the triggering of his release clause.

Does he have your vote? Then vote for him here.

Zimbabwe's state-linked media observed a black-out of yesterday's press conference by army chief General Constantino Chiwenga, warning that the military will step in if the ruling Zanu-PF party continues with its "treacherous shenanigans" and purges the party of critics of President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace.

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation did not cover the press conference while The Herald newspaper took down an article it had initially posted on its website.

Read the BBC article about what the general said here

Image source, Getty Images

Didi Akinyelure
BBC Africa, Lagos

Image source, Amnesty International Nigeria

Eleven people are said to have been killed and 30,000 left homeless over the past year following forced evictions in waterfront communities in Lagos State, Amnesty International reports.

The rights groups says that residents fled gunfire and burning homes, while others are said to have drowned in the mayhem.

It says that state security forces attacked residents who were reluctant to move. Residents allege the evictions were carried out in violation of court orders.

It comes a year after residents of the Otodo-Gbame community were evicted from the shores of the commercial capital, Lagos.

Image source, Amnesty International Nigeria

In response to the report, a spokesperson for the Lagos State Government told the BBC that the allegations are inaccurate and exaggerated.

He said the violence was caused by inter-ethnic clashes and not as a result of a government-led demolition.

Nigeria is party to international and regional human rights treaties that ban it from carrying out forced evictions.

Former residents of the communities are planning a protest tomorrow to mark the anniversary of their eviction.

Image source, Amnesty International Nigeria