Measles vaccinations have saved nearly 20 million lives in Africa since the year 2000 and more than 500 million children were protected through routine immunisation, but the continent remains offtrack in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases.
SECURITY COUNCIL LIVE: Security fears rise in eastern DR Congo
The UN Security Council met Wednesday over the deteriorating security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and wider Great Lakes region. Despite mediation efforts in Doha and Washington, regional tensions between the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi remain acute. Follow the full live updates below from our Meetings Coverage team, and app users can click here.
SICO Holdings successfully completes Kasiya market, hands over to Govt amid community excitement
LILONGWE—(MaraviPost)-SICO Holdings has successfully completed and handed over the Malembo Market project in Kasiya, a MK3.6 billion investment that marks a major milestone in Malawi’s drive to modernize market infrastructure under the IFAD-funded TRADE Programme.
The project, the largest implemented so far under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development’s TRADE initiative, has been hailed as a game-changer for local economic activity, with traders and residents expressing excitement over its scale, quality, and potential to transform livelihoods.
Notably, SICO Holdings has made history as the first contractor to complete such a project within the scheduled timeframe, earning praise from both government and development partners for efficiency and professionalism.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, graced by Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ben Phiri, stakeholders commended SICO Holdings for delivering a high-quality facility that meets the needs of a growing trading community.
Phiri hailed the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for its continued support towards infrastructure development in Malawi and assured the nation that government will ensure the market is fully utilized for the benefit of the people.
The successful completion of the Kasiya project has already yielded broader impact, with development partners approving the Government’s request to scale up similar market infrastructure across other districts and cities—a move expected to further boost small-scale entrepreneurship nationwide.
SICO Holdings Managing Director, Charles Zimba, said the company remains committed to delivering infrastructure that drives real change in communities.
“We are happy to see successful completion of such an impactful project—that’s why SICO was founded,” he said.
For the Kasiya community, the new Malembo Market is more than just a structure—it is a symbol of progress, opportunity, and renewed hope for business growth.
My Cape Town: Ismail Achmat
Self-taught Cape Town artist Ismail Achmat has made a name for himself by capturing the city’s most recognisable landmarks through his distinctive lens. A proud Bo-Kaap local, he earned the nickname “Man on the Mountain” after turning heads while painting high up on Signal Hill. His work is rooted in place, offering a vibrant, deeply personal perspective on the city he calls home.
Moving between the city’s most picturesque corners, easel and brushes in hand, often accompanied by his trusted dog, Ismail finds “purpose” in painting the Mother City.
“I’ve always been drawn to the mountain and the ocean. That’s where my inspiration comes from,” he says.
Without formal training, he paints instinctively.
“I paint what I see… and what I feel,” he explains. “Painting keeps me alive. Art is the greatest enhancer of public morale. It’s my way of inspiring others.”
He shares some of the best places in the city to paint and the places where he loves spending time with his family:
Signal Hill
When the skies are clear, Ismail makes his way up Signal Hill to the very spot where it all began.
“This is the first view I ever painted — where my love for art took hold,” he says. “It’s one of the most striking angles of the mountain, especially at sunset, when the sky fills with colour and the hillside comes alive with picnickers and paragliders.”
Further along Signal Hill Road, near the Kramat of Sheikh Mohamed Hassen Ghaibie Shah al Qadri, he returns to another favourite perch.
“It’s an incredible vantage point. I’ve painted it again and again, and it never loses its magic.”
Between brushstrokes, Ismail often picks up his guitar, filling the air with his original music.
Bo-Kaap
Bo-Kaap is one of the places where he finds inspiration. The colourful houses, rich history and culture, and delicious Cape Malay cuisine bring this neighbourhood to life. Some of his recognisable works can be seen at the archway near the Bo-Kaap Museum.
“This place holds special memories, and there is so much to see and do. Some of my favourite places include The Bo-Kaap Market, which is open Friday to Sunday. It brings the community together.”
“Bo-Kaap Kombuis serves some of the most delicious Cape Malay dishes,” he adds.
Locations:
Bo-Kaap Museum: 71 Wale Street, Cape Town,
Bo-Kaap Market: corner of Pentz Street and Yusuf Drive (upper Wale Street), Bo-Kaap
Bo-Kaap Kombuis: 7 August St, Schotsche Kloof
Bloubergstrand
At Bloubergstrand, Ismail spends hours painting Table Mountain rising boldly across the bay. He finds his spot along the promenade, sets up his canvas, and lets the scene unfold: shifting light, rolling waves, and that unmistakable skyline. When the painting’s done, he drifts into one of the nearby eateries, often the ever-busy Lighthouse Café, to refuel and take it all in.
“When people come to Blouberg, they never forget the beauty they see,” he says. “The clouds on the mountain are never the same, but the mountain remains.”
Location: Stadler Rd, Bloubergstrand
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Cellulant Appoints Anthony Hernandez as Chief Operating Officer to Lead AI-enabled Customer Operations Strategy and Strengthen Execution
Appointment signals a move toward AI-powered operational transparency, real-time compliance, and data-led growth for customers
NAIROBI, Kenya, 15 April 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – Cellulant, Africa’s leading payment technology company, has appointed Anthony Hernandez as Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead end-to-end customer experience, from onboarding and transactions to customer growth, alongside advancing operational automation across the business.
Cellulant serves the payment needs of enterprises and global businesses across Africa through a single API that connects to multiple markets and hundreds of payment methods. As the company continues to scale, its focus is on strengthening the operational backbone required to enable payments with consistency, reliability, and visibility for customers across every market while enabling them to grow.
Commenting on the appointment, Peter O’Toole, Chief Executive Officer of Cellulant, said, “In payments today, trust is the real currency, and operational excellence is what earns it. As we continue to grow our volumes and support market-leading businesses across Africa and beyond, we are deliberately strengthening our operational foundations. Anthony’s role is to ensure we embed that operational discipline with intention, delivering consistent, high-quality experiences as we deepen our presence across markets and support our customers’ growth.”
Anthony brings over 25 years of global leadership experience across financial services, fintech, and industrial sectors, with a strong track record in building and scaling high-performing operating models in complex, regulated, and fast-growing environments.
Throughout his career, Anthony has held senior leadership roles at GE Capital, Xapo Bank, and Demica (now part of FIS), where he led large-scale digital transformations, regulatory approvals, and built global operating teams managing assets totalling tens of billions of dollars.
Under Hernandez’s leadership, Cellulant will advance an automated, data-driven operational framework to meet growing customer expectations around real-time visibility into fund status and settlements, alongside robust transaction monitoring to support compliance across its markets. Leveraging platform data, the company will deliver deeper insights to help customers optimise performance, manage risk, and grow. He will also strengthen compliance and risk frameworks to ensure the highest standards of governance across regulated markets.
“Payment flexibility starts with access to the right options and is grown by how reliably those options work in practice,” said Anthony, COO at Cellulant. “Cellulant has built a powerful payment infrastructure for businesses operating across Africa, and I’m excited to join a team that is at the very heart of Africa’s digital economy. Our focus is now building the operational discipline and systems that ensure customers experience simple, reliable and frictionless payment experiences every time, while giving them the visibility and insight to grow their businesses.”
Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Cellulant
About Cellulant
Cellulant is Africa’s leading payments company, providing seamless, secure, and innovative solutions that empower businesses, banks, and global brands to thrive in a fast-changing global economy.
With a presence in over 24 countries and support for more than 200 payment methods, including cards, bank transfers, and mobile money, our single API payment platform, Tingg, streamlines collections, disbursements, and reconciliations. Tingg processes over 4.5 million transactions daily for market leaders across various sectors, including Travel & Hospitality, Telecoms, E-commerce, Ride-Hailing, Trade, and Remittances.
By simplifying how people pay and get paid, we drive trust, commerce, and scale, connecting companies and people to their ambitions.
For More Information:
● Visit – www.cellulant.io | LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/cellulant/
The post Cellulant Appoints Anthony Hernandez as Chief Operating Officer to Lead AI-enabled Customer Operations Strategy and Strengthen Execution appeared first on African Media Agency.
CDEDI calls for immediate halt to operation Samala M’godi’ over policy contradictions
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-A governance watchdog, the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), has called on government to urgently suspend the ongoing “Operation Samala M’godi,” describing it as inconsistent and detrimental to the livelihoods of millions of Malawians.
In a letter addressed to the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Mining and Energy and copied to Minister Jean Mathanga and Director General of the Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority (MMRA), Mphatso Chikoti, CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa has expressed concern over what the organisation describes as a contradictory approach in the management of the gold mining sector.
CDEDI notes that the Reserve Bank of Malawi, through its subsidiary, the Export Development Fund (EDF), has been purchasing gold since 2021, largely sourced from artisanal miners across the country.
However, the organisation observes that authorities are simultaneously intensifying a crackdown on the same miners supplying the commodity.
The letter further highlights that the suspension of issuance of artisanal mining licences by MMRA in 2023 has limited participation of ordinary Malawians in the sector, while allegedly favouring a few individuals, including foreign nationals and those with political connections.
According to Namiwa, artisanal gold mining has in recent years provided an alternative source of income for over a million Malawians who were previously dependent on subsistence farming or were unemployed.
The organisation states that this has contributed to improved economic activity and livelihoods in many communities.
The watchdog has since faulted the manner in which the enforcement exercise is being conducted, arguing that authorities have not adequately engaged affected communities prior to the implementation of the operation.
It warns that the approach risks undermining public trust and negatively affecting economic gains made at the grassroots level.
CDEDI also claims that the crackdown has resulted in a decline in gold deliveries to EDF, suggesting that government remains reliant on artisanal miners despite the enforcement measures.
In its recommendations, the organisation has called for the immediate suspension of the operation, engagement with mining communities, and the formalisation of artisanal mining through the issuance of licences to locals.
It has also urged government to review inactive mining licences and consider reallocating them to Malawians.
Among other proposals, CDEDI has asked authorities to release individuals arrested during the operation and return confiscated property, while encouraging government to adopt best practices from countries such as Mozambique in managing the sector.
The Ministry of Mining and Energy is yet to comment on the matter.
Brazil inflicts heavy defeat on Zambia in 2026 FIFA Women’s World Cup
LUSAKA-(MaraviPost)-Zambia suffered a second consecutive defeat in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, succumbing to a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Brazil in a match that was marked by controversy and heartbreak for the African champions.
The Zambian team had their hands full from the outset, struggling to contain the Brazilian attack.
Their troubles were compounded when they were reduced to ten players, a situation that seemed to embolden the Brazilians who capitalized on the numerical advantage to score multiple goals.
The Zambians had earlier conceded two penalties, which proved to be costly as Brazil converted them to take a commanding lead.
To add to their woes, their star player Barbra Banda was forced off the field with an injury, depriving the team of a key player and leaving them struggling to cope with the onslaught.
Banda, who had scored Zambia’s lone goal, was visibly distraught as she left the field, a testament to her importance to the team.
Her departure seemed to take the wind out of Zambia’s sails, and they were unable to mount a meaningful challenge to Brazil’s dominance.
Brazil’s victory was never in doubt, with their superior skill and experience telling in the end.
The 6-1 scoreline flattered Zambia, who were outplayed in all aspects of the game.
The defeat is a significant setback for Zambia, who will now need to regroup and reassess their strategy if they are to salvage something from the tournament.
The Zambian team’s next match is against another strong side, and they will need a major turnaround in form if they are to avoid an early exit from the competition.
Opposition Leader Chithyola Banda granted bail
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Principal Resident Magistrate’s Court in Lilongwe has granted bail to Leader of Opposition in Parliament Simplex Chithyola Banda.
The court ordered Chithyola Banda to pay a MK2 million cash bail bond as part of his release conditions.
In addition, he is required to provide two sureties who are each bonded at MK5 million, non-cash.
As part of the bail terms, the opposition leader must report to police every second Wednesday of the month.
The court further directed Chithyola Banda to surrender his travel documents to the court upon his return from Namibia.
The bail ruling was delivered in Lilongwe following his appearance before the Principal Resident Magistrate’s Court.
Details of the charges against Chithyola Banda were not immediately outlined during the bail hearing, but the court proceeded to consider and grant bail pending further proceedings.
The conditions set by the court are meant to ensure his availability for trial while allowing him to remain out of custody.
Reporting obligations and the surrender of travel documents are standard measures used by courts to prevent flight risk and ensure compliance with judicial processes.
Chithyola Banda, who serves as Leader of Opposition in Parliament, is among several senior opposition figures currently facing court processes.
The matter is expected to return to court on a date to be set as the case proceeds through the legal system.
The court emphasized that bail is not an indication of guilt or innocence and that the accused remains presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
His legal team confirmed they would comply with all conditions set by the court.
The ruling adds to a series of recent bail decisions involving high-profile political figures in Lilongwe’s courts.
The Principal Resident Magistrate’s Court continues to handle the matter under the country’s criminal procedure framework.
You are not required to speak to a Police Officer after a traffic Stop
My spouse and I were just pulled over for speeding. The officer told us we were both being detained for “failure to comply” after we refused to answer his questions. Is this legal?
If the officer said he was stopping you for speeding, you are not required to speak to him. What he was trying to do was to get you to open your mouth and speak so he could try and see if he could smell alcohol.
Detaining you for “failure to comply” for not answering questions is unlawful and you have a good chance of taking the officer and his department to court. This is called deprivation of rights under the color of law. Find a good attorney and sue their pants off.
All you are legally required to do in a traffic stop is display your drivers license, registration and proof of insurance.
Your passenger is not required to identify themselves. They should just sit there and say nothing during the stop.
It is also best to say “I am envoking my 5th amendment right to stay silent. I want an attorney present during any questioning”. If he continues to ask questions, he has just violated your 5th amendment right.
And by the way, always record any interaction with law enforcement, even if the officer has a body cam. Those recordings have a way of disappearing when the officer has done wrong.
Edit and clarification: before invoking your 5th Amendment rights you should ask if you are being detained. If they say yes, declare your 5th Amendment right to remain silent ask for an attorney to be present. If they say you aren’t detained you should walk away.
You should be friendly and courteous at all times. Several comments have implied I was suggesting otherwise. You should always have an attorney present when questioned if you have been detained.
Apparently there are some lawyers in the audience that believe to understand the US Constitution you must have a law degree, and that my discussion of the US Constitution somehow equates to giving legal advise. In a word that is “bullshit”. Lawyers have long sought to control every aspect of our lives. That is why we have so many lawyers in the US Congress.
So to be completely clear, reading and understanding the US Constitution and talking about it in a public forum is not legal advice. If you think you need an attorney to change your diapers and give you advise on everything, be my guest.
Donald Trump’s Actions Cost Bitcoin $240B Since 2019
Whether you like him or not, Donald Trump is, without a doubt, one of the most influential and unpredictable presidents when it comes to the crypto market. His national and international moves, official statements, and social media posts move billions in the crypto space, often causing unexpected swings and turbulence. And while Trump definitely played a major role in driving government and institutional crypto adoption, helping Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major altcoins make their way onto publicly traded companies` balance sheets, the U.S. president did way more short-term damage to BTC than good, causing hundreds of billions of dollars in losses.
According to an analysis by the TechGaged research team, Bitcoin lost more than $240 billion in short-term swings following Donald Trump’s political moves and statements since 2019, which is 73% more than it gained.
Bitcoin Lost $140B in 5 Days After Trump’s Tariffs, 10× More Than CARES Act Gains
The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), often called Wall Street’s “fear gauge”, perfectly shows how fear builds in traditional markets during Trump’s presidency. Last month, the index soared to 30.5 in pre-market trading, high above its long-term average of 19.5 and the second-highest figure in four years, showing how unpredictable the Trump era is.
“That same volatility has spilled over into the crypto market many times, with Bitcoin reacting sharply to Trump’s political moves and statements “, said Jastra Kranjec, data-driven PR specialist at TechGaged.
Trump`s journey to becoming one of the most impactful figures in the market is especially interesting. From his anti-Bitcoin tweets in 2019, CARES Act stimulus a year later, which triggered a market rally, to the rise of political meme tokens, where politics itself became a tradable narrative, followed by tariff announcements and Iran strikes. His latest move, the Iran ceasefire announcement, caused Bitcoin’s market cap to surge by $70 billion in a single day.
What started as tweet-driven reactions has grown into a full-scale market impact, where policy, geopolitics, and even his personal crypto ventures move hundreds of billions of dollars in Bitcoin, often into the red.
TechGaged analyzed Donald Trump`s six major crypto-affecting moves since 2019, which swung over $380 billion in Bitcoin in the short-term, or within three to five days following each event, and the findings are quite surprising. Half of these events pushed Bitcoin deep into the red, erasing $241.8 billion in total.
The tariff announcement in the first week of April 2025 caused the worst damage, erasing around $140 billion off Bitcoin`s market cap in just five days. In comparison, that is ten times more than Bitcoin gains fueled by the CARES Act stimulus in March 2020.
Trump`s anti-Bitcoin tweets, posted in July 2019, were the second-worst Trump move affecting Bitcoin, causing its market cap to dip by $51.8 billion. What’s especially shocking is that this is $1.5 billion more than the loss triggered by Iran’s strike escalation on February 28, 2026. That day, Bitcoin`s market cap dipped by $50 billion, ranking as the third-worst Trump-caused event affecting Bitcoin since 2019.
Trump’s Moves Cost Bitcoin $100B More in Losses Than Gains
While the other three of Trump’s regulatory and investment moves helped Bitcoin achieve considerable gains, boosting its market cap by a combined $139 billion in the short term, these breakthroughs are still roughly $100 billion short of the total losses triggered by the other three events.
What’s even more interesting is that the launch of the Trump meme coin alone fueled BTC growth three to eight times higher than his two other regulatory moves on the same list. It triggered a rally in smaller coins and increased market speculation, while also helping Bitcoin’s market value surge by $100 billion in just three days. In comparison, the CARES Act stimulus in March 2020 pushed Bitcoin’s market value up by $11.5 billion, while post-election regulatory tailwinds in November 2024 added $27.5 billion.
While these six events are just the largest among many of Trump`s unpredictable, sometimes controversial moves, they clearly show the market reacts more aggressively to Trump-caused risk than to Trump-driven market optimism.
The full story and statistics can be found here: https://techgaged.com/donald-trumps-actions-cost-bitcoin-240b-since-2019/
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