Author: James Wambua

Mukuru Wallet is set to allow millions of users in Zimbabwe to send and receive money locally and internationally via mobile phones. The service provides convenience and cost savings, such as paying for utilities, buying airtime, DStv bills and insurance. Launch of Mukuru Wallet comes after the company received a Deposit-Taking Microfinance Institution licence from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Financial services platform Mukuru has launched a mobile wallet in Zimbabwe just weeks after the company received a Deposit-Taking Microfinance Institution (DTMFI) licence from the country’s central bank. With more than three-million customers in Zimbabwe, Mukuru wallet is poised to…

The partnership will help provide essential medicines, train healthcare workers, and ensure the delivery of maternal, newborn, and child health services. It will also focus on treating severe malnutrition, bolster vaccination drives, and strengthen outreach to underserved communities. The plan, dubbed SHARE Project, aims to create a robust healthcare framework by enhancing disease surveillance systems. In Sudan, the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have joined forces to address the country’s dire healthcare crisis. The trio has signed an $82 million agreement to deliver critical health services to over 8 million vulnerable…

The UAE will host the third World Local Production Forum from April 7–9, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, focusing on advancing health equity, global health security, and sustainable development. The event, organized in partnership with the WHO, will gather over 4,000 participants to discuss innovation, technology transfer, and strategies for resilient healthcare systems. Forum highlights the UAE’s leadership in healthcare innovation and its commitment to fostering sustainable health solutions. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to host the third edition of the World Local Production Forum (WLPF) from April 7 to 9, 2025, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre…

A staggering $16.2 million from the Bank of Uganda (BoU) was wired into suspect accounts in Japan, audit shows. Uganda’s Auditor-General fingers systemic flaws and possible criminal intent in the November 2024 cyber heist. Parliament has now forwarded the file for further investigantion by Uganda’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID). In a high-stakes digital heist, hackers infiltrated Uganda’s treasury systems, siphoning off a staggering $16.2 million (approximately USh60 billion) from the Bank of Uganda (BoU). The theft, first reported in November 2024, sent shockwaves across the country, prompting a forensic audit by the Auditor-General. The findings of this audit have…

The US has imposed sweeping sanctions on Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, known as Hemedti, for gross human rights violations in war torn Sudan. Also hit are seven RSF-owned companies operating in the UAE for their role in fueling the ongoing conflict. These measures underscore the US’s commitment to promoting accountability and supporting Sudan’s quest for peace and democracy. The US has intensified its efforts to hold perpetrators of Sudan’s humanitarian crisis accountable by sanctioning RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, widely known as Hemedti. Accused of orchestrating systematic atrocities, Hemedti now faces sanctions for his direct involvement…

Rights group has called on DRC President Felix Tshisekedi to immediately halt plans for mass executions of over 170 death row prisoners transferred to Angenga prison. Amnesty has condemned the move, citing concerns over fairness, human rights, and appalling prison conditions. Since the DRC’s resumption of executions in March 2024 after a 20-year moratorium, there has been a sharp increase in death sentences. The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing mounting pressure from Amnesty International following the transfer of over 170 death row inmates to Angenga prison. Amnesty’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa,…

The Future Finance Awards at AIM Congress 2025 will honour innovators and leaders transforming the financial industry through groundbreaking technology, sustainability, and leadership. Winners will gain global recognition, inspiring progress and setting benchmarks in fintech, digital banking, and ESG practices. These awards highlight the critical role of innovation and responsibility in shaping a resilient and inclusive financial future. The AIM Congress 2025, a global hub for investment and collaboration, is gearing up for one of its most anticipated events: the Future Finance Awards. These prestigious awards will honour the innovators and leaders reshaping the financial landscape with their groundbreaking contributions…

Africa’s startup funding ecosystem experienced a decline in 2024, with total investments dropping by 25% to $2.2 billion amidst a global economic slowdown. However, a strong rebound in the second half, driven by two unicorn deals, highlighted the sector’s resilience and potential. Regional leaders Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt continued to dominate, signaling sustained investor interest despite the challenges. Africa’s startup funding ecosystem experienced a notable decline in 2024, reflecting the broader global funding drought that defined the year. Startups on the continent collectively raised $2.2 billion in equity, debt, and grants (excluding exits), a substantial amount but a sharp 25…

In line with the increase in economic activity usually associated with festive season, Nigeria private sector PMI hit 52.7 in Dec from 49.6 in Nov, its biggest improvement since January 2024. While some firms increased employment in response to the higher new orders, others cut staff go due to difficulties paying wages. Purchase prices were up amid currency weakness and higher costs for fuel and transportation. Nigeria private sector activity showed signs of improvement during the final month of 2024 attributable to trade associated with festive season spending, the latest Stanbic IBTC Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for December shows.…

Africa bore the brunt of a global hunger crisis in 2024, with conflict and climate change driving millions of children into acute malnutrition and food insecurity. Urgent action is needed to address systemic issues like war and conflict, climate adaptation, and inequality, as hunger continues to rob children of their futures in 2025. With coordinated efforts, sustainable solutions can break the cycle and restore hope for vulnerable communities. As Africa welcomes 2025, a new analysis by Save the Children shows that hunger crisis continued its relentless grip on the continent, with at least 18.2 million children worldwide born into hunger—a…