If this new variant causes a relatively mild infection, those who who become infected with it may develop immunity to the more virulent strains of COVID-19. This new variant may turn out to be a blessing. Most of Africa has been spared from the COVID epidemic. Africans may have been chronically exposed to many didderent coronaviruses and may have cross immunity to COVID19.
Not to mention the widespread use of Hydroxychlorquine and Ivermectin over the years. That may have helped them as well.