News
Bid launched to extend Zimbabwe president’s term in office
The presidency of President Mnangagwa is set to conclude in 2028, however, proposed legislation may potentially provide a means for him to remain in office beyond that date.
Zimbabwe's cabinet has given the green light to a proposed bill that could potentially extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's tenure in office until at least 2030, when he will be 86 years old.
Under the proposed legislation, the country's presidents would be elected by members of parliament, rather than through a direct popular vote, and would be limited to serving two terms of seven years each, a change from the current five-year terms.
According to Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, the draft bill will undergo public consultations before being presented to parliament, where the ruling Zanu-PF party holds a significant majority in both chambers.
The proposed changes are likely to face legal challenges, as some constitutional experts argue that altering term limits requires a national referendum and that such amendments cannot be applied to a sitting president.
President Mnangagwa, who assumed power in 2017 following the ousting of former President Robert Mugabe in a military coup, has since won two presidential elections, including a disputed victory in 2023.
Known for his cunning political tactics, President Mnangagwa's current term is set to expire in 2028, but the proposed legislation could allow him to remain in office beyond that date.
In a 2013 referendum, Zimbabweans voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new constitution that introduced term limits for presidents, a move seen as a way to prevent the entrenchment of power, as had been the case under former President Mugabe's rule since the country's independence in 1980.
Speculation about President Mnangagwa's intentions to extend his stay in office began circulating two years ago, with some of his supporters advocating for him to remain in power until 2030 to complete his development agenda.
Although President Mnangagwa publicly distanced himself from the idea, his supporters continued to promote the slogan "2030 he will still be the leader," arguing that his continued leadership was necessary to achieve the goals of his "Agenda 2030" program.
However, not all members of the Zanu-PF party have been supportive of President Mnangagwa's potential bid to extend his term, with some, including the late Blessed Geza, also known as "Bombshell," speaking out against the idea.
Geza, a veteran of the 1970s war of independence and a former member of the Zanu-PF central committee, had been a vocal critic of President Mnangagwa's ambitions, launching a scathing attack on his plans to stay in office beyond 2028.
Geza apologized for his role in helping President Mnangagwa come to power and accused him of nepotism, sparking a backlash from the party, which ultimately led to his expulsion.
Despite being forced into hiding, Geza continued to maintain a significant following on social media, where he regularly posted videos calling for protests against the government.
In the hours leading up to his death, Geza posted a message on his social media pages, urging Zimbabweans to continue the fight against President Mnangagwa and the perceived corruption and nepotism that has plagued the country.
Geza's death was announced by his family on Friday, while he was in South Africa, and has been met with an outpouring of tributes from those who admired his courage in speaking out against the government.
Andrease Ethan Mathibela, chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, praised Geza's bravery, saying that he had chosen to speak out against corruption and nepotism, even when it would have been easier to remain silent.
The government has pushed forward with its plans to extend President Mnangagwa's term, citing the need to strengthen governance and bring stability to the country.
According to officials, the proposed legislation is intended to promote political stability and improve governance, although critics argue that it is merely a means to consolidate President Mnangagwa's power.
For more news and updates from the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.
He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
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