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Zimbabwe Set to Conduct General Elections in August 23

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A nationwide election is set to take place in Zimbabwe on August 23, the government gazette said Wednesday, ending months of speculation over the date.

The government’s official record, seen by AFP, said President Emmerson Mnangagwa “fixes the 23rd day of August 2023, as the day of the election to the office of President.”

Elections for the National Assembly and local government will also be held that day.

Mnangagwa’s ZANU-PF party, which has been in power since independence in 1980, will face off against the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa, a 45-year-old lawyer and pastor.

He will be Mnangagwa’s opponent for a second time.

Chamisa on Tuesday called on Mnangagwa to set a date for the poll after prolonged uncertainty and flip-flops.

The CCC also cried foul over the electoral roll, saying many voters, including some senior politicians, had had their names had been removed or misplaced on the register.

Zimbabwe, a country landlocked between Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia, has a population of 15 million, according to the latest census.

Mnangagwa replaced strongman ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017 after a military-led coup but faces widespread criticism of authoritaranism and discontent over the economy.

The country has been plagued for years by deepening poverty, chronic power cuts and crippling hyperinflation.

In 2018 Mnangagwa, dubbed “the Crocodile” for his political cunning, narrowly won a violence-stained election with 50.8 percent of the vote, a result which Chamisa denounced as fraud.

Analysts say Chamisa faces an uphill battle this time around, in the face of a clampdown on CCC events and arrests of party officials.

The country is ranked 137th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ 2022 World Press Freedom Index, and 157th out of 180 countries by Transparency International for perceived corruption.

AFP

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International

Nestle shareholders wants chairman Paul Bulcke to step down

Mr Freixe’s removal came a year after predecessor Mark Schneider suddenly departed and 2½ months after Mr Bulcke said he would step down in 2026.

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PHOTO: AFP

Nestle investors have called for chairman Paul Bulcke to step down over the departure of a second chief executive in just over a year.

The Financial Times (FT) reported that shareholders are concerned about the manner the former chief executive Laurent Freixe and the way investigations into his conduct were handled exacerbated their concerns over governance at Nestle and led them to question Mr Bulcke’s decision-making.

“I don’t think Mr Bulcke will move on before April but he should have left when Mr Mark Schneider was forced out,” Mr Alexandre Stucki, founder of AS Investment Management, which represents founding family investors in Nestle,” said.

The Swiss food giant abruptly dismissed Mr Freixe at the beginning of September for failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a subordinate.

Mr Freixe’s removal came a year after predecessor Mark Schneider suddenly departed and 2½ months after Mr Bulcke said he would step down in 2026.

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Crime

JUST IN: FBI Releases Video of Charlie Kirk Shooter, Recovers Weapons Nearby (Photos)

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The FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office on Friday released video footage of the man suspected of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk fleeing a rooftop after the incident on September 10, 2025.

The bureau, in a statement accompanied by the video link shared on X on Friday, noted that the video shows the shooter climbing onto a rooftop shortly before the attack and then jumping off and fleeing the scene after firing the fatal shots.

Investigators also reportedly found the weapon and ammunition used in the shooting in a wooded area near the university.

The agency wrote, “The FBI has released a video and more photos of the shooter in the Utah Valley shooting. The subject is seen jumping from the rooftop of a building after the shooting.

Person of interest in Charlie Kirk's murder case
FBI releases new photos of person of interest in Charlie Kirk’s murder case.
Person of interest in Charlie Kirk's murder case
FBI releases new photos of person of interest in Charlie Kirk’s murder case.

“Around 12 pm Mountain Time on September 10, 2025, the subject climbed up to a rooftop; after he shot and killed Charlie Kirk, he jumped off and ran away. He left a gun and ammunition in a wooded area near the university.

“Trace evidence collected from the rooftop scene included shoe impressions, a forearm imprint, and a palm print. Anyone with information in this case should call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit fbi.gov/utahvalleyshooting.”

Person of interest in Charlie Kirk's murder case
FBI releases new photos of person of interest in Charlie Kirk’s murder case.
Person of interest in Charlie Kirk's murder case
FBI releases new photos of person of interest in Charlie Kirk’s murder case.

The bureau added that it is working closely with law enforcement partners to seek justice in the murder of Charlie Kirk.

Credit: X| FBISaltLakeCity

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International

Burkina Faso Grants Visa-Free Entry to All African Nationals

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Burkina Faso’s military government has eliminated visa fees for all African nationals, aiming to strengthen Pan-African ties and promote regional integration.

The announcement was made Thursday by Security Minister Mahamadou Sana following a cabinet meeting led by junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

“From now on, any citizen from an African country wishing to go to Burkina Faso will not pay any amount to cover visa fees,” Sana said. However, visitors must still complete an online application, subject to approval.

The move aligns Burkina Faso with other African nations like Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya, which support the African Union’s free movement agenda.

While West African nationals had already enjoyed visa-free access under ECOWAS, the new policy extends this to all Africans—months after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger exited the bloc, accusing it of advancing Western interests.

Officials say the visa waiver reflects Burkina Faso’s Pan-Africanist vision and is expected to boost tourism, cultural exchange, and the country’s global profile.

The decision comes amid ongoing security challenges, as the country continues to battle a growing Islamist insurgency controlling parts of its territory.

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