World News
U.S. House Backs Bill to Repeal ZDERA, Ties Move to $3.5bn Compensation
The United States House of Representatives has introduced legislation that could repeal the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZDERA) of 2001, a law that has long restricted the country’s access to international financial assistance.
The proposed measure, H.R. 5300, was tabled last week as a 248-page foreign policy bill. It seeks to lift the two-decade-old sanctions framework but ties the repeal to Zimbabwe’s fulfilment of a major financial obligation. Under the draft law, Harare must pay $3.5 billion in compensation arrears to former white commercial farmers within 12 months, as outlined in the 2020 Global Compensation Deed.
Beyond sanctions relief, the legislation outlines provisions to strengthen U.S. economic ties with Zimbabwe. It calls for expanded trade and investment, particularly in the country’s strategic mineral resources, including lithium and platinum—commodities that have drawn significant global interest amid rising demand for clean energy technologies.
The bill will next move to the Senate before requiring the signature of President Joe Biden to become law.
Reactions in Zimbabwe have been mixed. Some commentators expressed optimism that the repeal could ease economic pressure, restore credit lines, and improve relations with Washington. Others voiced concern over the steep compensation demand, warning it could worsen fiscal strains. Critics also questioned whether U.S. interest in Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth underpinned the proposed reforms.
ZDERA was enacted in 2001 in response to what U.S. lawmakers described as democratic backsliding, human rights abuses, and chaotic land reforms in Zimbabwe. It effectively barred the country from receiving loans and debt relief from international financial institutions.
If passed, H.R. 5300 would mark the most significant shift in U.S.-Zimbabwe policy in nearly 25 years.
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Russian authorities have moved to block Meta-owned WhatsApp across the country, citing the company’s failure to meet domestic legal requirements.
Officials say Meta did not establish a local office, declined to cooperate with data-sharing demands, and failed to remove content deemed unlawful.
The government has also linked the messaging platform to cases of fraud and alleged extremist activities.
Following the shutdown, many users in Russia are migrating to alternative platforms such as Telegram, VK Messenger, Yandex Messenger, and the government-supported MAX application.
Dalisto Lungu, the son of Zambia’s late former president Edgar Lungu, has been stripped of assets worth more than US$1.26 million after a ruling by the Economic and Financial Crimes Court.
The court found that the properties were obtained through illicit means and ordered their forfeiture to the state. The seized assets include 79 motor vehicles, over 20 pieces of land located in various parts of Zambia, as well as a fuel service station.
In its judgment, the EFCC stated that Lungu failed to provide credible evidence of a lawful income or business operations that could reasonably explain his accumulation of such wealth.
Lungu disputed the allegations, insisting that the properties were legally acquired. However, the court ruled that his explanation was insufficient to counter the state’s case, paving the way for the assets to be confiscated.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has dismissed online allegations suggesting that its founder, Bill Gates, is responsible for a surge in mosquito populations in Kenya.
Responding on X, the foundation clarified that it does not run mosquito laboratories nor release mosquitoes in Nairobi or anywhere else in the country.
It emphasized that all its health-related initiatives are carried out in support of Kenya’s own priorities and strictly follow government regulations.
The statement came after claims shared by Kenyan lawyer and politician Paul Muite gained traction on social media, sparking intense public discussion.
Some posts alleged that genetically modified mosquitoes were being produced and released on a large scale, claims the foundation described as completely untrue.
The controversy has emerged against the backdrop of continued concern over malaria, which remains a serious public health issue in the region.
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