*Evening News Round-up:Monday 2 June 2025* *Headlines* *57th SADC Parliamentary Forum Opens Amid Calls To Embrace AI* *Lands & Agriculture Minister Grilled Over Bankability Of New 'Title Deed': MPs Sceptical About The New Tenure Document* *SPCA Says Pitbull's Owner Neglected His Dogs* *Drunk Kapfupi Denied Car & Cash Gift From Chivayo* *Astronomers Fear Impact Of Musk's Starlink On South Africa* *Bill Gates To Give Most Of His $200bn Fortune To Africa* *Kenyan & Ugandan Activists Say They Were Sexually Assaulted In Tanzania* *UK Unveils Major Military Boost In Face Of Rising Russian Threat* *Man City Target Wolves Defender Ait-Nouri* *Deco On Barca's Future, Challenging Real & Yamal* Join our *Ad-free* News Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VacXkvFJJhzd2UoZYF1F *Stories in Detail:* *57th SADC Parliamentary Forum Opens Amid Calls To Embrace AI* Parliaments in the region should embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technology in order to improve efficiency of the legislature, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said. President Mnangagwa, who is the Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairman, said this while officially opening the 57th session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) taking place in the resort city of Victoria Falls, adding the benefits of using the latest technologies were multi-pronged. "Additionally, technology can bridge the gap between Parliamentarians and citizens in our geographically dispersed constituencies. This will enable more direct and frequent interaction, thereby improving representation, accountability and involvement of grassroots communities in parliamentary processes. "I therefore urge Parliaments to embrace artificial intelligence and other technologies to revolutionize legislative processes for more evidence- based and people centered policies," he said. This year the event is running under the theme: "Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for effective and efficient Parliamentary Processes in the SADC region: experiences, challenges and opportunities." President Mnangagwa also urged SADC Parliaments to consider sharing technologies in order to strengthen interconnectivity and lower tariffs for the benefit of the people. "For SADC Parliaments, the potential benefits of Artificial Intelligence and innovative technologies are multi-pronged. These offer solutions for resource optimization, which will in turn enable our Parliaments to achieve greater results," he said. "Our policies, with regards to ICT enablers and new technology uptake, should leave no one and no place behind." On its part, Zimbabwe is scaling up the integration of digital solutions into the governance framework, said President Mnangagwa. "At a national scale, the adoption of Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies must enhance rather than compromise the integrity and independence of our democratic institutions. To this end, measures must be put in place to deal with issues of cyber security, data protecting, digital sovereignty and the potential for technological dependence, among others," he said. Zimbabwe has since enacted the Cyber and Data Protection Act, to regulate data security. *New Ziana* *Lands & Agriculture Minister Grilled Over Bankability Of New 'Title Deed': MPs Sceptical About The New Tenure Document* PARLIAMENTARIANS recently took Lands and Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka to task over “grey areas” in the newly introduced comprehensive land tenure document. During a Question and Answer session recently, Masuka told Members of Parliament (MPs) that anyone holding an A1 or A2 99-year-lease and permit or lease must surrender the documents to the Lands ministry offices, anywhere around the country’s districts for ownership verification purposes, upon which the process of issuing title deeds which will go for a period of three years begins. Masuka revealed that 360 000 smallholder farmers and 23 500 commerical farmers will get title deeds. However, some legislators felt the new policy by government will not change much as banks will not accept the title deed as collateral for farming or development loans. Zanu PF Mabvuku-Tafara MP Pedzisai ‘Scott’ Sakupwanya queried the title deeds bankability. “Some years ago, 99-year leases were introduced as a measure of security of tenure and also as a measure for farmers to obtain loans from banks. What measures, of course as we see today, farmers who hold 99-year leases are unable to obtain loans from banks for their farming activities. “What measures, legislative or otherwise, are going to be put in place to ensure that the title deeds as it were, when they come, will guarantee a farmer’s security in terms of being able to secure loans with these said title deeds?” Sakupwanya asked. Masuka told the august House that the 2013 Constitution indicated that the President may issue more secure tenure documents. At that stage, he said, the tenure documents that existed were a lease, a permit or an offer letter. “When we had the 99-year lease, the thinking was that this was a more long-term tenure document that would give everyone, including banks, the confidence to land. “The experience that we have had over the years, of course, is that these tenure documents, the 99-year lease were not readily accepted by banks as collateral. “It is in this context that the President made the revolutionary step to grant the issuance of title deeds. Title deeds are the ultimate tenure documents and hopefully with consultations from banks, they will be able to take these,” Masuka explained. He said five banks were already operating within the Department of Lands at the one-stop centre, which are ready to give mortgages for farmers to purchase their land and also to give support to enable those farmers to be productive on their farms. “We hope that other banks will be able to replicate this and we urge all farmers that have received title deeds to use these documents to be able to access much needed financing to ensure that they become more productive on their land.” Masuka urged A2 and A1 farmers that had not completed the title deed forms to enable them to get these more secure tenure documents to immediately do so. Another MP, James sought further clarification over the title deeds. “I take it then that these original title deeds are of no use to government but we see in the compensation plan that you are pursuing, you are asking for these title deed holders to relinquish these title deeds? “Please, can you allow the clarification to be done? I am just asking that in this compensation plan that is rolling out, the title deed holders have been asked to relinquish these title deeds,” James said. Masuka said this was not true. “Let me clarify the falsehoods that are being peddled. The government has not requested for title deeds because we know they are worthless. We have not requested for those. “In terms of the Global Compensation Deed which was consummated on the 29th of July in 2020, the government agreed with former farm owners that the compensation for improvements throughout the country were worth US$3.5 billion. “We never referred to the title deeds and never at any stage requested the former farm owners to return this paper, which we do not consider or value,” Masuka said. MP Gumbo asked the minister to respond to the question of legislative mechanisms that improve the bankability of the said title deeds. “As much as you say that there are certain banks that have agreed and you are inviting other banks to come to an agreement to lend to our various farmers and title deed holders, the legal status of the said title deeds make it difficult for them to be bankable. “This is all because the question of ownership is retained in the State. What are the legal mechanisms and the legislative interventions that you are going to present to ensure the bankability of the said title deeds?” Gumbo said. The minister assured Parliamentarians that the legal aspects had been taken care of in terms of the Constitution and the Zimbabwe Land Commission Act. “There is no other legislative procedure that is required to make these title deeds. It is all covered in both the Constitution and the Zimbabwe Land Commission Act and is very legal. “The banks that have come forward already have indicated that these are bankable and transferable and therefore can be utilised as collateral,” Masuka replied. A farmer who spoke to NewZimbabwe.com over the new secure land tenure document or title deed had this to say: “The is scepticism around land tenure bankability. The concept of land tenure bankability continues to raise skepticism among us farmers due to the inconsistency in its practical implementation. “While in theory, having tenure should provide a foundation for accessing credit, in reality, most farmers find themselves locked out of the financial system. “The reluctance of banks to recognise these land documents as credible collateral undermines confidence and limits investment in agriculture. Farmers need assurance that their tenure has real financial value, not just symbolic recognition,” the farmer (name witheld) said. *NewZW* *SPCA Says Pitbull's Owner Neglected His Dogs* The Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), has in its initial assessment of the fatal pitbull attack on Samuel Machara, stated that the owner of the dogs showed negligence and poor management of the dangerous breeds he kept at his property, which was enclosed by a half-length perimeter wall. The owner of the dogs, Mike Mupinga, was arrested Sunday and charged with culpable homicide. In a statement issued after the incident, the SPCA said that Mupinga’s failure to properly care for and handle his dogs led them to develop aggressive behaviours, making them dangerous. The organisation has since removed all the dogs from the property and confirmed that they were euthanised. “Initial assessment indicates clear evidence of neglect, confinement, and poor socialization of the animals involved. Such conditions are known to severely affect canine behaviour and are especially dangerous when present in certain breeds, particularly those already classified as high risk or dangerous,” the SPCA said. The SPCA further warned the public against crossbreeding dangerous dog breeds, explaining that such animals require specialised handling skills that many owners may lack, potentially leading to tragic outcomes. “We strongly caution the public against the ownership, breeding, and cross-breeding of dangerous dog breeds. These animals require specialised handling, socialization and containment responsibilities that, if neglected, can result in tragic consequences such as these,” the SPCA added. The organisation urged the public to approach its offices for assistance with appropriate animal care, advice, or if they wish to surrender their animals. *NewZW* *Drunk Kapfupi Denied Car & Cash Gift From Chivayo* Comedian Freddy Manjalima, who is popularly known as Kapfupi, was denied his car gift from Wicknell Chivayo after he showed up drunk for collection. The businessman gave the comedian the gift after his previous car gift was written off after an accident. TKapfupi took to his social media to ask Chivayo for another car gift. The comedian was involved in a car accident in December 2024 after he was gifted the car last year. Kapfupi was drunk, according to reports that have surfaced now. He got in the car while drunk and ended up wrecking the car. The car was a Toyota Aqua, like many other celebrities received during the businessman’s ongoing gifting spree. After the car accident, Kapfupi took to Facebook to ask Chivayo for another car to replace the wrecked one. In a Good Samaritan gesture, Chivayo regifted the same make and model car to the comedian. He even added a US$3K gift to help pay for car insurance. The rest was money for the comedian to do as he pleased. According to a screenshot that Wicknell Chivayo shared on his social media account, Kapfupi was not given the car after he showed up drunk to collect it. Madzibaba Chipanga, who was supposed to hand over the car to the comedian, denied him the gift. This was after he showed up drunk and was in no condition to drive. The car dealer reached out to Chivayo to share the situation and went further to tell him that the comedian was drunk in the previous accident. Chivayo shared the screenshot of their chats on Facebook stories. The businessman captioned the post: Nhamo yekuzvitsvagira This translates to ‘Self-Inflicted Poverty’. *iharare.com* *Astronomers Fear Impact Of Musk's Starlink On South Africa mega-telescope observations* Astronomers working with South Africa's SKA telescope are pushing authorities to ensure that any licensing agreement with Elon Musk's Starlink will protect their groundbreaking observations, a senior scientist said. Discussions to bring Musk's internet service Starlink in South Africa have already been contentious, with parent company SpaceX criticising local shareholding laws while backing equity equivalent programmes. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. Attaching astronomy-linked licensing conditions may further complicate attempts to introduce Starlink to the country of Musk's birth, where he has already said he is deterred by government Black empowerment policies. South Africa said it will review its Information and Communication Technology sector rules but will not back down on government policies to transform the economy three decades after white-minority rule ended. Scientists fear South Africa's Square Kilometre Array (SKA-Mid), the world's most powerful radio telescope together with another array co-hosted in Australia, will have their sensitive space observations distorted by Starlink's low-orbiting satellites. "It will be like shining a spotlight into someone's eyes, blinding us to the faint radio signals from celestial bodies," Federico Di Vruno, co-chair of International Astronomical Union Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky, told Reuters in a telephone interview. Di Vruno said the SKA Observatory, where he is spectrum manager, and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) were lobbying for license requirements to reduce the impact on observations in certain frequency ranges, including some that SKA-Mid uses. That could direct Starlink to steer satellite beams away from SKA receivers or stop transmission for a few seconds to minimise interference, he said. South Africa's current SKA antennae, in the remote Northern Cape town of Carnarvon, use the 350 megahertz to 15.4 gigahertz bandwidth, a range also used by most satellite operators for downlinks. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa regulator and Starlink did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters about the scientists' concerns. South Africa's MeerKAT radio telescope, a precursor to SKA-Mid which will be incorporated into the larger instrument, has already discovered a rare giant radio galaxy that is 32 times the size of the Milky Way. Last year, it found 49 new galaxies in under three hours, according to SARAO. SKA Observatory, an international body, also campaigns for conditions on licensing agreements with other major satellite operators such as Amazon *Reuters* *Bill Gates To Give Most Of His $200bn Fortune To Africa* Microsoft founder Bill Gates says that most of his $200bn (£150bn) fortune will be spent on improving health and education services in Africa over the next 20 years. The 69-year-old said that "by unleashing human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity". Speaking in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, he also urged Africa's young innovators to think about how to build Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve healthcare on the continent. Gates announced last month that he would give away 99% of his vast fortune by 2045, by when his foundation planned to end its operations. "I recently made a commitment that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years. The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa," he said in an address at the African Union (AU) headquarters. Mozambique's former First Lady Graça Machel welcomed his announcement, saying it came in a "moment of crisis". "We are counting on Mr Gates' steadfast commitment to continue walking this path of transformation alongside us," she said. The US government has cut aid to Africa, including programmes to treat patients with HIV/Aids, as part of US President Donald Trump's "America First" policy, raising concerns about the future of healthcare on the continent. Gates said his foundation, which has a long history of operating in Africa, would focus on improving primary healthcare. "What we've learned is that helping the mother be healthy and have great nutrition before she gets pregnant, while she is pregnant, delivers the strongest results," he said. "Ensuring the child receives good nutrition in their first four years as well makes all the difference." In a message to young innovators, the tech billionaire noted that mobile phones had revolutionised banking in Africa, and argued that AI should now be used for the continent's benefit. "Africa largely skipped traditional banking and now you have a chance, as you build your next generation healthcare systems, to think about how AI is built into that," he said. Gates pointed to Rwanda as an example, saying it was already improving services using AI-enabled ultrasound to identify high-risk pregnancies. The Gates Foundation said it had three priorities: ending preventable deaths of mothers and babies, ensuring the next generation grows up without having to suffer from deadly infectious diseases, and lifting millions of people out of poverty. "At the end of 20 years, the foundation will sunset its operations," it said in a statement. Last month, Gates said he would accelerate his giving via his foundation. "People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that 'he died rich' will not be one of them," he wrote in a blog post. Giving away 99% of his fortune could still leave the fifth-richest person in the world a billionaire, according to Bloomberg. Along with Paul Allen, Gates founded Microsoft in 1975, and the company soon became a dominant force in software and other tech industries. Gates has gradually stepped back from the company in recent decades, resigning as its chief executive in 2000 and as chairman in 2014. He said he had been inspired to give away money by investor Warren Buffett and other philanthropists. However, critics of his foundation say Gates uses its charitable status to avoid tax and that it has undue influence over the global health system. *BBC* *Kenyan & Ugandan Activists Say They Were Sexually Assaulted In Tanzania* A Kenyan and a Ugandan human rights activist who were detained in Tanzania for several days last month said on Monday that Tanzanian security officers sexually assaulted them while in custody. Spokespeople for Tanzania's government, foreign affairs ministry and police did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the allegations by Kenya's Boniface Mwangi and Uganda's Agather Atuhaire. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. The spokesperson for Kenya's ministry of foreign affairs and Uganda's information minister did not respond to calls seeking comment. Mwangi and Atuhaire were detained after arriving in Dar es Salaam to attend the first court appearance of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges. Tanzanian authorities have not commented on Mwangi and Atuhaire's detentions, though in public remarks on May 19, the day they were detained, President Samia Suluhu Hassan warned foreign activists against "invading and interfering in our affairs." After being taken into custody at their hotel in Dar es Salaam, Mwangi said they were blindfolded by police officers and taken to a house. He said that while questioning him about the whereabouts of his phone and laptop, his interrogators stripped him, blindfolded him and sexually assaulted him. He cried as he described his ordeal at a press conference in Kenya's capital Nairobi, adding that the security personnel had also photographed him while assaulting him. Atuhaire said she too had been blindfolded, tied up and similarly assaulted. Both activists were eventually dumped near the borders of their countries, where they crossed back home. Lissu, who came second in Tanzania's last presidential poll, was arrested in April and charged with treason over what prosecutors said was a speech calling on the public to rebel and disrupt elections due in October. The case has highlighted a growing crackdown on opponents of Hassan, whose party has nominated her to stand in the October vote. She won plaudits after coming to power in 2021 for easing the political repression that had proliferated under her predecessor, but has faced mounting criticism over a series of arrests and unexplained abductions of political opponents. Hassan has said the government is committed to respecting human rights, and ordered an investigation into reported abductions last year. *reuters* *UK Unveils Major Military Boost In Face Of Rising Russian Threat* The United Kingdom has announced a major boost to its defence infrastructure to confront a “new era of threats” driven by “growing Russian aggression”. The package, unveiled on Monday, includes huge investments in a nuclear warhead programme, a fleet of attack submarines and munitions factories and is part of a Strategic Defence Review that Prime Minister Keir Starmer said will shift the country to “war-fighting readiness”. “The threat we now face is more serious, more immediate and more unpredictable than at any time since the Cold War,” Starmer said as he delivered the review in Glasgow. “We face war in Europe, new nuclear risks, daily cyberattacks, growing Russian aggression in our waters, menacing our skies,” he added. The defence review, the UK’s first since 2021, was led by former NATO Secretary-General George Robertson. Starmer said it would bring “fundamental changes” to the armed forces, including “moving to war-fighting readiness”, recentring a “NATO first” defence posture and accelerating innovation. “Every part of society, every citizen of this country, has a role to play because we have to recognise that things have changed in the world of today,” he said. “The front line, if you like, is here.” The UK has been racing to rearm in the face of what it sees as a growing threat from Russia. Fears that the United States has become a less reliable ally under President Donald Trump and will downsize its military presence in Europe as Trump demands NATO states raise their defence spending are other significant factors. Starmer’s government pledged in February to lift defence spending to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product by 2027, which would mark the “largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War”. The government has said it will cut overseas aid to help fund the spending. *Aljazeera* *Man City Target Wolves Defender Ait-Nouri* Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has put Rayan Ait-Nouri at the top of his list to solve his side's problematic left-back spot. City have been operating without a specialist left-back since Benjamin Mendy left. He made his last appearance for the club in August 2021. Oleksandr Zinchenko, Joao Cancelo and Josko Gvardiol are among the players who have had extended stints in the position. Youngster Nico O'Reilly then filled the role towards the end of last season, including the FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace. However, Guardiola is keen to address the issue this summer and Wolves defender Ait-Nouri is the man he wants. No agreement is in place yet for the 23-year-old Algeria international but sources are confident it will happen. Ait-Nouri has been named in Algeria's squad for their friendlies against Rwanda (5 June) and Sweden (10 June). City would need to complete the transfer before 10 June in order for Ait-Nouri to be available for the group stage of the Club World Cup. *BBC* *Deco On Barca's Future, Challenging Real & Yamal* Barcelona sporting director Deco denies the club have financial problems and says they do not need to sell players - despite La Liga's restrictive financial controls. Deco, 47, has overseen a revival of Barcelona since his appointment in 2023, culminating in a domestic treble while also reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League. The Catalans have renewed the contracts of superstar teenager Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and manager Hansi Flick, while they were cleared by Spain's National Sports Council (CSD) to register midfielder Dani Olmo amid a dispute with La Liga. When asked whether the world should see Barcelona as a well-run club in 2025, Deco told BBC Sport: "Barcelona is my club, I love Barcelona. I saw what happened from the outside and always thought I could help put Barca at the same high level. "I knew it would be difficult when I joined with the financial rules - it is not a financial problem, but the financial fair play rules in Spain are more difficult than the Premier League and in other countries. "It is a problem for a lot of clubs, you just hear about Barca because we are a big club. You need to work with it, see how you can improve the team and the combination of La Masia [academy] players and experienced players has been important." The former Portugal midfielder, who played for the Catalans - as well as Chelsea and Porto - stresses Barcelona are happy working with La Liga but have faith the rules will continue to improve. Even if they do not, Barcelona are excited to have "one of the biggest contracts in history" with Nike, and the newly renovated 100,000-seater Nou Camp will be the biggest stadium in Europe and improve revenues. He insists Barcelona will "not sell our best players", adding the team's recent success means they can "grow with many of the same players". But he says they are in looking for "two, three or four signings", without needing to enter the market "like crazy" thanks to the stability at the core of the team. When asked if it includes the option of signing Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, thought to be available for £40m, or Liverpool's Luis Diaz, he added: "We have been focusing on renewing contracts, after that, we'll discuss players to come. "Of course, these two players, like you mentioned, they are good but have contracts in their clubs, so we won't speak because it's not fair. But when you decide to go to the market, for sure, we find some names. In my opinion, we don't need to bring many players." He added: "When I speak with the agents of the players, everyone wants to come or stay. So this is important. The image of the club is still good. We are proud because Barcelona is still such a big club, and the way we are playing football makes players want to come." Deco is aware of the constant threat of Real Madrid, who will look to improve under new head coach Xabi Alonso. They have also agreed deals for right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will leave Liverpool, and Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen. Benfica left-back Alvaro Carreras is understood to be next on the club's shortlist. "Next season is not going to be easy, because I know that first Real Madrid has a lot of top players," he said. "In my opinion they have a big team. They have a lot of fantastic players. Of course they want to improve. "It's very important to have a strong Madrid. It's very important to have strong players, top players, players that the people want to see. I think Madrid has these kinds of players, like us. "Now it's important to keep the top players in La Liga. So for us it's important that Madrid are strong, that Atletico is strong, and we need to be there." Barcelona have already signed perhaps their most important deal of the summer, keeping 17-year-old Spanish sensation Yamal at the club on a new six-year deal until 2031. Yamal made his debut at 15 and has already made 106 appearances for the club. He was part of Spain's European Championship-winning team, is the reigning Golden Boy and Kopa winner - awards given to the best young player in the world - and was heavily involved in Barcelona's four El Clasico wins against Madrid this season. All this success has led him to be compared to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, widely regarded as among the world's greatest ever players.