Major US airline Delta Air Lines and Kenya's flag carrier, Kenya Airways, have expanded their codeshare agreement, increasing the choice of destinations offered by Delta Air Lines in Africa and extending Kenya Airways’ reach in North America via John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City. Through the enhanced agreement Delta-marketed codeshare flights are available on Kenya Airways’ services from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town (South Africa), RG Mugabe International Airport (HRE) Harare (Zimbabwe) and Kigali International Airport (KGL) in Kigali (Rwanda). It also enables Delta customers flying nonstop on the airline’s services from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Accra (Ghana) to connect with Delta-marketed codeshare flights to Monrovia (Liberia) and Freetown (Sierra Leone) operated by Kenya Airways.
From John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Kenya Airways has placed its code on Delta Air Lines' services to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, next to the border of Washington, D.C., as well as to Indianapolis International Airport (IND) in Indianapolis, Indiana. Other destinations within the codeshare include Chicago in Illinois, Denver in Colorado, Orlando in Florida, Miami in Florida, Raleigh in North Carolina, Phoenix in Arizona and Charlotte in North Carolina.
13 July 2021
South Africa: US airline Delta Air Lines now offering flights to Cape Town via Nairobi!
12 July 2021
Zimbabwe: Covid-19 guidelines for travellers!
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), the tourism governing body in Zimbabwe, has released the current Zimbabwe Tourism Covid 19 Guidelines as at 07 July 2021. All travellers in Zimbabwe are subject to the following conditions:
- On arrival, passengers are required to complete Health Questionnaires detailling where they have travelled to and providing personal details for Covid-19 tracking purposes.
- Upon arrival, all travellers are required to present a negative PCR Covid-19 Clearance Certificate issued by a recognized facility within 48 hours from the date of departure.
- Travellers with fake Covid-19 documents will attract custodial sentences.
- Travellers coming from high-risk areas of the Covid-19 Alpha and Delta variants shall be quarantined at their own expenses with PCR tests conducted on days 1, 3, 5 and 10.
- Those departed back to Zimbabwe will be subject to self-quarantine or will be quarantined in identified places.
- Upon clearance to enter into Zimbabwe, tourists are expected to follow Covid-19 guideles at hospitality and recreation facilities.
- Domestic tourists are not required to present Covid-19 certificates but are expected to follow Covid-19 guidelies at hospitality and recreation facilities.
- A dedicated national toll-free "2023" helpline and call centre is available for information about Covid-19 to travellers.
- On departure tourists can obtain Covid-19 certificates from the approved laboratories.
The following restrictions remain in place to prevent the spreat of Covid-19:
- Wearing of masks, social distancing, and hand sanitizinh must be observed all times with in public places.
- Restaurants may only serve customers on a takeaway basis and may not provide seating for waiting customers.
- Bars attached to hotels and lodges must close by 22:00.
- Business operating time is the period between 08:00 and 15:30.
- Curfew is between 18:30 and 06:00.
- International airports are open to all travellers but land borders remain closed for visitors except commercial traffic, diplomats and returning residents.
Ranking: Cape Town cinema named one of the world's most beautiful!
Time Out, a global media outlet that inspires and enables people to explore and enjoy the best of the city, has recently released a list of the 50 most glamorous, architecturally eye-popping, Insta-friendly and just plain drop-dead-gorgeous cinemas on the planet. Cape Town's Labia Theatre, the oldest independent art-repertory cinema in South Africa, has been recognised on list. The cinema at 68 Orange Street in the Gardens has been named the 14th most beautiful cinema in the world. Congratulations!
The Labia Theatre consists of four screens, a 176 seater, a 95, 67 seater, and an intimate 66 seater. It further offers a coffee bar, outside terrace and a liquor licence. Patrolled parking is also provided.
The Labia Theatre, which was originally an Italian embassy ballroom, was opened by Princess Labia in May 1949 as a theatre for the staging of live performances. For the past twenty-nine years, it has been operating as a cinema on the alternative circuit appealing mainly to the more discerning viewer who enjoys its quality product and the charm of its old-world ambience.
Covid-19: South Africa extends adjusted Alert Level 4 lockdown for another 14 days! [update]
update (12 July 2021): South Africa's Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has published a government gazette that introduces new restrictions for South Africa's adjusted level 4 lockdown. Please note that interprovincial travel for leisure to and from Gauteng remains prohibited.
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in an address to the nation on 11 July 2021 that the country's Cabinet after consultation with the provinces has decided to maintain South Africa at Adjusted Alert Level 4 for another 14 days. This is due to the fact that with the fast-spreading Delta variant, South Africa is experiencing a third wave of Covd-19 infections that is more severe than the first and second waves. According to the President, the country has consistently recorded an average of nearly 20,000 daily new cases for the last two weeks.
The following measures to combat the spread of Covid-19 in South Africa remain in place until 25 July 2021:
- All social, political, religious and other gatherings remain prohibited.
- A curfew remains in place from 21:00 until 04:00, and only those with permission to do so may leave their homes during this time.
- The sale of alcohol remains prohibited.
- Schools remain closed until the 26th of July.
- It remains mandatory to wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth whenever you are in public.
Adjustments to the Alert Level 4 regulations:
- Restaurants and eateries are allowed to operate while observing strict health protocols. Such establishments may not accommodate more than 50 people at a time or, for smaller venues, more than 50 per cent of their normal capacity.
- Certain other venues, such as gyms and fitness centres, may also open and activities such as agricultural livestock and game auctions are allowed, subject to the conditions outlined in regulations.
09 July 2021
South Africa: Cape Town to host the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in 2022! [update]
update (27 December 2021): The Cape Town ePrix has been cancelled for unknown reasons and will be replaced by the Jakarta ePrix!
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has revealed that Cape Town in South Africa will be one of the host cities of the all-electric 2021/22 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. According to the provisional calender for the 2021/22 season, the Cape Town leg of the racing series is set to take place on 26 February 2022. Cape Town's Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato, said in a press release that the City of Cape Town is looking forward to finalising internal processes in order to meet the relevant requirements for staging such an exciting event. The 2021/22 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will feature three new locations, namely Cape Town, Vancouver and Seoul, as part of a record 16-race season spanning 12 cities across four continents.
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| Photo by Chris Kaeppeli on Unsplash |
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is a single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. It is somehow the electric equivalent of the Formula One World Championship. The racing series was conceived in 2011; the inaugural championship race was held in Beijing in September 2014. Since 2020, the series has FIA world championship status.
06 July 2021
Mozambique has tightened its Covid-19 preventive measures again!
Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi announced in an address to the nation on 24 June 2021 that the country maintains most of the Covid-19 preventive measures for another 30 days. The (adjusted) measures announced by the President already came into effect on Saturday, 26 June 2021, at midnight. They include:
- In the Greater Maputo area and all provincial capitals there is a curfew in place from 22:00 to 04:00 every night. The curfew also applies in Manhiça, Chokwe, Maxixe, Gondola, Moatize, Mocuba, Nacala, Montepuez, Massinga and Guruè.
- Commercial establishments in Mozambique will be open from 09:00. – 19:00 Monday – Saturday, and 09:00 – 18:00 on Sunday. Restaurants may remain open until 21:00 every day.
- Business and work visas are now authorized.
- Religious services, conferences, celebrations and meetings in Mozambique are limited 40% of the capacity of the venues, and may never exceed 40 people for indoor venues and 80 people for outdoor venues.
- Private social events in Mozambique are prohibited throughout the country, except for wedding registrations which may have 20 attendees maximum.
- Additional safety measures are to be immediately implemented in all public establishments in Mozambique.
- Public and private sector establishments in Mozambique will be held responsible for non-compliance with safety measures.
- The use of a clear plastic face shield does not replace the use of a facemask.
- Restaurants, take-aways and home delivery services in Mozambique close at 20:00.
- Recreational and leisure sports and games are prohibited.
- The operation of theaters, cultural centers and auditoriums in Mozambique is prohibited.
- Large gyms may open to 40% of capacity; small gyms are not authorized to operate.
- Hotel swimming pools in Mozambique may open for the use of hotel guests only.
- The sale of alcoholic beverages by bottle stores, greengrocers or supermarkets in Mozambique is allowed between 09:00 and 15:00 from Monday to Saturday; no alcohol sales are permitted on Sundays or holidays. The sale of alcoholic beverages from stalls is prohibited.
- Visiting beaches for leisure purposes in Mozambique is prohibited. Alcohol is not permitted on the beach.
- Shopping centers are open from 09:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Saturday and from 09:00 to 15:00 on Sundays and holidays.
- Public swimming pools in Mozambique may open to 30% capacity.
These measures are in addition to the prior measures already in place, some of which include:
- All incoming travelers must present a negative test for COVID-19.
- All persons displaying respiratory symptoms or fever must stay home.
- Discos, bars and stalls selling alcoholic beverages will remain closed.
- Teleworking is recommended, in particular for people at higher risk
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Zimbabwe: Fastjet now offers double daily flights between Bulawayo <> Johannesburg!
Low-cost carrier Fastjet (Zimbabwe) has increased the number of flights between Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ) in Bulawayo and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg in South Africa. The airline now offers a double daily flights on the route. Fastjet's morning flight departs Johannesburg at 07:30 and arrives in Bulawayo at 08:50, while the return flight departs Bulawayo at 09:25 and arrives in Johannesburg at 10:45. Die afternoon service departs Johannesburg at 16:15 and arrives in Bulawayo at 17:35, while the return flight departs Bulawayo at 18:10 and arrives in Johannesburg at 19:30.