South African aviation industry, which is also one of the regions largest carrier is facing challenging setbacks, including the current state of the SA Express—which is state-owned, which just slid from a liquidation process, as a judge granted its three-month delay, pending anticipated government intervention, according to information Reuters.

Saved by the possibility of an investor

After several rescue attempts, June 9 was the set court date—hence, due to the possibility of a potential investor—which the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa and the South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) claim to have an investor from the United Arab Emirates potentially interested in buying a stake in SA Express, the issue has been postponed until September 9, according to information from News24.

According to the laws of South African regarding foreign ownership in domestic airlines, the “potential” investor is limited to 25 per cent. Hence—as the unions did not …

The construction of the $400 million Berbera corridor is set to boost trade links between Somaliland and Ethiopia.

The project once complete will link Ethiopia’s border town of Togochale to Berbera Port in Somaliland. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development is funding the roads projects.

Muse Bihi Somaliland president opened the first completed 12-kilometre phase of the project which is the second major infrastructural project Somaliland is building after the expansion of the Port of Berbera by the Dubai Ports World (DP World).

Somaliland imports to Ethiopia is estimated to be worth over $800 million annually and the Berbera-Togochale corridor will be instrumental in facilitating import-export trade for Ethiopia’s economy.

“We are here to open part of the Berbera Corridor, which is a 12 KM stretch that has been completed. I would like to point out that this road is different from the earlier road which was built to handle …

There has been a rapid uptake of mobile technologies in the region with strong economic growth in the past 2 decades.…

Brent crude oil’s return to a $40/b handle has so far proved to be short-lived. During the past week the oil market has continued to move higher in the belief that the OPEC+ group of producers would extend a deal to curb production. Thereby continuing their support for the market while demand slowly recover.

Saudi Arabia and Russia, the leaders of the group, have preliminary agreed on a one-month extension of existing OPEC+ cuts. The problem, however, is once again what to do with countries that fail to deliver the promised cuts. Moscow, usually a laggard in previous deals, has almost reached its target of 8.5 million barrels/day. That has left the group in a stronger position to demand compliance from others.

Once again the focus has returned to Iraq and Nigeria, OPEC’s notorious cheaters, who for years now have failed to deliver fully on any of the previous …

World Bank —Tanzania’s vibrant development partner has predicted a slow down of the Tanzanian real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 2.5 per cent in 2020 from 6.9 per cent in 2019.

According to the fourteenth edition of the—Tanzania Economic Update Addressing the Impact of COVID-19, the bank analysis, based on assumptions of strengthened government action on containing the coronavirus pandemic and mitigating the economic impact, as well as improving external conditions, demonstrate real GDP growth slowing to 2.5 per cent in 2020, with substantial downside risk.

The bank’s analysis went further and adjoined the 2018 Household Budget Survey, and found out that, an additional 500,000 Tanzanians could fall below the poverty line, particularly those in urban areas relying on self-employment and informal/micro-enterprises.

However, as the entire globe and the region navigate through the pandemic, Tanzania sustained its consequences adding “economic costs are already being felt in Tanzania and even …

The $3.5 billion and 1,443 km crude oil pipeline project, stretching from Lake Albert in Uganda to Tanzania’s port in Tanga, will be fast-tracked to commence the implementation of the project, which was put on hold last year.

Tullow is a recognised independent oil & gas, exploration and production company based in Africa and South America The company has interests in over 70 exploration and production licences across 15 countries.

According to information from The Citizen, a Total delegation led by President, Exploration and Production Arnaud Breuillac held talks with Energy minister Dr Medard Kalemani on Friday. The talks aimed at updating the Tanzania government on the new development.

“We are now enabled to fast track finalisation of legal and commercial agreements to pave the way for the Final Investment Decision (FID) before commencing implementation of the Project,” he said.

However, as both partners—Tanzania and Uganda face-off COVID-19 challenges, Mr …

Kenya is working on designing programmes to promote youth investments in agribusiness.

The programmes include providing access to markets for youth in agribusiness, access to affordable and youth friendly financial services for agri-preneurship, which could be done in form of seed capital as well as establishing innovative information and knowledge sharing platforms.

Speaking during the East African Youth Congress Trust Webinar Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives Ministry’s Chief Administrative Secretary Anne Nyaga said the programmes are being addressed through strong collaborations and partnerships aimed at supporting the youth in the country in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic that has seen over 700, 000 people lose their jobs.

“The Ministry and other relevant bodies are working together to not only create an enabling environment for the youth to explore business opportunities along agricultural value chains, online marketing/e-commerce of agricultural products locally and regionally but also come up with trusted digital networks to …

By Dr. Olajide Ademola (UNFPA) and Dr. Benjamin Djoudalbaye (Africa CDC)

The COVID -19 pandemic has drastically challenged and strained health systems worldwide. All components of the health delivery architecture – from human resources to physical infrastructure – have been severely tested as morbidity and mortality caseloads, unfortunately, gallop. Globally, over four million people have been infected, with about 282 244 lives lost and over one million recoveries between December 2019 and May 2020. As the pandemic continues to evolve and the numbers trickle in, we are not just learning about the fatalities and survival, but also about redefining our healthcare systems.

Western societies are experiencing the heaviest of the unprecedented effects yet they host advanced health care amenities and have established economies. A report released early March called on leaders in Africa to prepare for worse but on the contrary, the continent appears to be gradually reaping benefits of …

Withholding Tax (WHT) is an advanced payment on income tax deducted directly from source by a service provider. The taxpayer could be a company or an individual and the rate of WHT ranges from 2.5% to 10%, depending on the nature of the transaction.

WHT is not a separate tax but serves as a credit against the tax liability of the taxpayer. For example, companies are required to pay Companies Income Tax (CIT) at the end of their accounting year and after their audited accounts have been filed. At the point of the assessment of their CIT liabilities, the WHT deducted from their invoices to service providers during the year would be deducted from the CIT payable for that financial year.

WHT and Non-Resident Companies
Non-resident companies are companies not incorporated in Nigeria. Under the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA), non-resident companies which have a “fixed base” in Nigeria are …

FurtherAfrica Insights – COVID19 series with João Sousa from Xynteo.

A conversation about the role of different stakeholders in the development process and the opportunities to reshape inclusion particularly from the private sector in a post COVID19 world.…