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Popular messaging app WhatsApp has updated their privacy policy. The Facebook-owned social media giant WhatsApp will now share user data with Facebook, without giving users a choice. This has caused many users to dump the app in search of  an alternative. Mike Butcher, a UK-based tech journalist and the Editor-at-large of Tech Crunch, explains what you need to know about the updated privacy policy. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

Panel discussion with researchers on what went wrong in Zimbabwe after Robert Mugabe. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

When Zimbabwe's ex-President Robert Mugabe resigned in 2017, there was much optimism about the future of the country. President Emmerson Mnangagwa was seen as just what the country needed for reform. Today, the hope seems to have evaporated. Dr Nicole Beardsworth explains how it went bad for Mnangagwa. Dr Beardsworth is a political analyst based at the University of Warwick, England. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

Zimbabwe is making global headlines once again; this time for alleged human rights abuses in the country. Whilst many may see the country returning to a regime of repression, Dr Chipo Dendere sees hope in the activism of Zimbabweans. Dr. Dendere is a Zimbabwean-born scholar of political science. She serves as Assistant Professor of Africana Studies at Wellesley College based in Massachusetts, USA. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

The government of Zimbabwe has regularly blamed the country's dire economic situation on sanctions which were imposed by a number of Western countries. Professor Stephen Chan believes that the sanctions have been used as an excuse for the government's failure to develop an economic plan. Prof. Chan is a member of the Centre of African Studies, based at the University of London. He participated in Zimbabwe's transition to independence and has written a number of books about Zimbabwe. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

As South Africa takes drastic measures to save its healthcare system from collapse due to Covid-19, public health experts Prof. Mosa Moshabela (UKZN) and Prof. Laetitia Rispel (Wits) explain the current state of the country's fragile public healthcare system. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

Prof. Stephan Lewandowsky and Prof. John Cook believe that real conspiracies do exist. In this episode of The Special Focus, they tell you how you can differentiate between real conspiracies and the baseless ones. Lewandowsky is the Chair of Cognitive Psychology at the School of Psychological Science based at the University of Bristol in the UK and Cook is a cognitive science researcher at George Mason University in the US. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

Conspiracy theory researchers, Prof. Stephan Lewandowsky and Prof. John Cook, doubt the credibility of the Plandemic documentary due to contradictions made in the video which claims that a cabal of elites are using the Covid-19 pandemic and a potential vaccine to profit and gain power. Lewandowsky is the Chair of cognitive psychology at the School of Psychological Science at the University of Bristol (UK) and Cook is a cognitive science researcher at the George Mason University based in Virginia, USA. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

This year, Eid-al-Fitr will be celebrated in a unique way that has never been experienced before. As the Coronavirus lockdown prohibits social, religious and cultural gatherings, Muslims will have to find new ways to make the most of the day. A group of filmmakers have sought to capture the unique experience through the production of a documentary, with public participation. Zahid Jadwat speaks to Imraan Jeeva, the producer of Film Mayfair, 2018. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

Zahid Jadwat speaks to Muhammad Masoom Bagdadi, Chairman of the Khidmatul Khalq Foundation as part of the #HumanityHeroes segment which showcases the work of charity organizations. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

The Western Cape is the epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak in South Africa. Nearly 60% of all cases in the country have been confirmed in that province. Zahid Jadwat speaks to Premier Alan Winde to find out how the province is dealing with the crisis. This interview was done on 17 May 2020. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread around the world, leaders are under increased pressure to lead their nations through the crisis. Zahid Jadwat speaks to a panel of experts to find out the state of SA's leadership. Guests: Miyelani Mkhabela (Political Economist and Founding Director of Antswisa Management Group), Sara Gon (Policy Fellow at the Institute of Race Relations) and Solly Moeng (Brand Reputation Management Advisor at DonValley Reputation Managers) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

South Africa's business community has broken with Government over lockdown regulations. Business organizations have lashed out, saying that they've had enough of the lockdown approach that is proving to be detrimental to the economy. Zahid Jadwat speaks to Johannesburg-based freelance financial journalist and former Economics Editor at Business Day, Jonathan Katzenellenbogen to find out more. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

Junaid Iqbal, chairperson of the Isipingo Business Forum, explains why the organization decided to hire private security personnel for 24 hour patrols in the business district in Isipingo, south of Durban during the lockdown period. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

Zahid Jadwat speaks to independent political commentator Kim Heller about why she believes that now is the best time to deal with inequality. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

As the economic impact of the nationwide lockdown has hit small businesses hard, the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) has published what they call a 'trim down' approach which, they say, could be an alternative to the lockdown. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

Zahid Jadwat speaks to Mickaeel Collier about the coordinated efforts by Muslim charity organizations to tackle humanitarian issues brought upon us by the Covid-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown. Mickaeel Collier is the co-convenor of the SA Muslim Response Task team and Deputy CEO of Awqaf SA. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

Zahid Jadwat speaks to Omar Badsha (CEO of SA History Online) and David Van Wyk (Lead Researcher at the Bench Mark's Foundation) about Freedom Day and the state of South Africa in the democratic era to assess how far we've come since the dawn of democracy. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

The so-called born free generation of South Africa will play an important role in the history of South Africa once they take over. How do they see the democracy? Zahid Jadwat speaks to the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation's Irfaan Mangera to get an understanding on young people's perceptions of democracy. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message

Zahid Jadwat looks at the role of the South African media, it's challenges, it's impact and the future of the media in this country. Guests: Anton Harber (Adjunct professor of journalism at the University of the Witwatersrand, a columnist for Business Day and the co-editor or author of three books), Kate Skinner (Executive Director at South African National Editors' Forum), and Mary Papayya (SABC & PCSA board member). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-special-focus/message