VERBATIM

”Mismanagement of water resources and corruption in the water sector has in no small part contributed to the situation we currently face. Serious accountability and governance issues persist, whether it is in the building of infrastructure or at a municipal level, where water losses are mounting as a result of billing errors, unauthorised usage and outright theft.” — President Cyril Ramaphosa writing in his weekly newsletter on water scarcity.

” It is time for us to understand that femicide and

GBV... we are equally guilty, we all contribute one way or another to the status we find ourselves in. As women, we are contributors in this instance because we raise angry boys — that is when women contribute to gender-based violence.” — Social Development Deputy Minister Hendrietta Ipeleng Bogopanezulu speaking at a conference titled Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls in Southern Africa: From Evidence to Action.

”I am convinced that if we get our policies right, nurture a national consensus on where we want to go and draw on our rich local and diaspora resources we can get Zimbabwe onto the road to recovery and growth. But we have to ... get corruption and all forms of human rights abuse under control. All it takes is leadership.” — Zimbabwean opposition politician Eddie Cross, writing about the economic and political crisis in the country.

”On the one hand, I like being on five and being the only one. When Cristiano matched me, I admit that it hurt a little, I was no longer alone at the top. But at that time Cristiano had merit for winning the Ballon d’or and I did not. I could do much more.” — Barcelona’s Lionel Messi speaking after winning his sixth Ballon d’or, the first player in history to do so.