Browsing: Africa

In as far as global trade is concerned Africa has a central role to play. So critical is this role that should Africa be absent from the global trade equation the global economy simply will not prosper. Africa’s mining sector offers in 2022 and going forward a real opportunity for expansion.

Africa’s economic transformation will come from its ability to leverage the comparative advantage position its natural resources offer. Africa needs to become the seventh corridor of the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI). China will be able to enhance its dominance in the global economy if it does more to invest in and develop economic ties with Africa.

Currently the BRI in as far as Africa is concerned restricts the role of Africa to providing access to raw materials.…

Africans and African diaspora across the world commemorated Africa Day on May 25, 2022.

The day truly serves to integrate the diverse continent into one identity. This year bears extra importance as it is also the 20th anniversary of the African Union (AU). The theme for this year was “Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent”.

Yet, the celebration was tarnished by rising food prices as a result of Covid-19, climate-induced drought in parts of Africa, and the Ukraine crisis, according to Hindustan Times.

According to an article by Hindustan Times published on June 17, 2022, Africa Day is to commemorate May 25, 1963, when 30 independent African leaders signed the founding charter of the OAU (Organization of African Unity). Later to give more impetus to the organisation, many new areas were added and it was transformed into African Union (AU).

Yearly, the AU decides a …

Cooking oil prices began to go up in 2020 and the government should have empowered the farmers to grow crops that are used for oil production. Taking into consideration that some of these crops take less than five months to mature, there should never have been a crisis. 

Kenya’s case is unique. 

While it is not representative of what is happening in other African countries, it shows how poor planning and lack of sound policies can run down a country. As a country, this East African nation is well-endowed with natural resources. 

Kenya has adequate arable land and adequate water for irrigation. While rains are not reliable anymore, the country has the capacity to build dams and other water storage infrastructure to ensure that food production can go on unhindered. …

These gains will come from reduced tariffs which are stubbornly high among states in the region. More and greater gains will come from the reduction of trade costs by reducing non-tariff barriers and improving what the World Bank describes as hard and soft infrastructure at borders. The aim of these measures is to reduce red tape, lower compliance costs for traders and make the integration of African businesses with global supply chains seamless.  

AfCFTA is still in its infancy stages in terms of implementation with a lot still to be seen in terms of its success. These practical reforms will be difficult to implement given the sheer size of the trade area. The trade area encompasses 54 countries however, the successful implementation of the initiative will provide substantial rewards. In terms of employment, seamless and frictionless trade between African countries has the potential to lower the gender wage gap in …

The economies of African countries’ are dominated by agriculture and the continent’s growth relies heavily on the performance of the sector. However, climate change is a threat to agrarian operations and one of the biggest challenges to food security systems in Africa.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has yielded devastating effects exhibited by acute food and commodity shortages the world over. This has ratcheted pressure on Africa as a continent to rely on its produce by using climate-smart techniques. Africa imported a range of agricultural products worth US$6.9 billion from Russia and Ukraine in 2020.

According to the World Bank, more and more African countries are realizing that the development, promotion, and adoption of climate-smart technologies, implementation of the right enabling policies, and development of relevant skills in Africa’s food system workforce are among the game-changers that can truly make a difference.

“Agriculture is a victim of climate change but also …

Commonwealth along racial lines, but the body managed to forge a compromise at its Nigeria summit, appointing a seven-nation panel to monitor Zimbabwe’s progress towards improved democratic values.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government applied on May 15, 2018, to re-join the grouping, a year after toppling Mugabe through a military coup.

According to an article by the Independent dated June 17, 2022, Scotland subsequently deployed a Commonwealth team led by Ghana’s former president John Dramani Mahama to observe Zimbabwe’s 2018 elections.…

Zimbabwe’s Central Bank said the increase in its policy rate to 200 per cent from 80 per cent will take effect from July 1 after annual inflation hit almost 192 per cent this month.

The benchmark interest rate was last raised to 80 per cent in April from a previous 60 per cent.

“The committee noted that the increase in inflation was undermining consumer demand and confidence and that, if not controlled, it would reverse the significant economic gains achieved over the past two years,” central bank governor Dr. John Mangudya said.

The latest figures from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTATS) showed Saturday that the country’s annual inflation rate reached 191 per cent in June. A new blow to the purchasing power of Zimbabweans, stoking fears of a return to the 2008 hyperinflation period where savings were wiped out.…

Fossil Mines is reportedly owned by Obey Chimuka, according to 263Chat Business.

According to a publication by New Zimbabwe dated June 7, 2022, the disposal of Holcim’s Zimbabwean shareholding follows prior disposals of Holcim shareholding in the Northern Ireland, Zambian and Malawian markets amid plans that the group is in the process of disposing of its Indian cement business. The firm told Bloomberg that they are constantly evaluating possibilities to align their portfolio with a vision to open new growth opportunities.

On January 25, 2022, the group announced the intention to dispose of its 76.45 per cent shareholding in LACZ as part of its strategy to divest from the cement manufacturing business before inviting interested bidders to submit their expressions of interest to its Financial Advisors, ABSA Corporate and Investment Banking in South Africa.…

Reliable and affordable telecom services have never been more vital to our national economic and social resilience.

That is why, across Africa and throughout the globe, national leaders and policymakers are prioritising the preservation of satellite broadband access – and why South Africa needs to keep pace with the rest of the world on this critical issue.

The technical details are relatively simple: the most widely useful and applicable satellite services are provided using the Ka-band, also known more widely as the “28 GHz band”.

What kind of useful services?

• Reducing “digital deserts” by bringing broadband internet connectivity to unserved and underserved communities.
• Ensuring near-ubiquitous access and vastly improved quality across the most densely populated urban areas. Among other benefits, the 28 GHz band lets satellite operators deliver the capability to pinpoint configurations of access when demand is at its peak.
• Reducing constraints on access by delivering a wider range

• Stock broker Morgan and Co to launch Made in Zimbabwe  ETF on June 17, 2022
• Made in Zimbabwe ETF to be listed by way of introduction
• The ETF will initially contain Zimbabwean Manufacturers as constituents

Award-winning stock broker Morgan and Co to launch Morgan and Co Made in Zimbabwe Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) on June 17, 2022, on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE). The ETF is going to be launched on the local bourse by way of introduction. According to a presentation by the broker, the fund is set to be largely constituted by manufacturing companies listed on the ZSE, with exposure to other non-manufacturing counters. In addition, the fund will be an actively managed fund with the objective of providing superior returns.

An exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a basket of securities that can be bought or sold on a stock exchange the same way a regular stock can. According …