Browsing: premium

• The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe last month began to loosen the tight monetary policy it had in place over the last 2 years to act against inflation.
• The hawkish stance of the central bank began to change when the RBZ announced that it would reduce interest rates by 50% to 150%.
• Zimbabwe’s central bank’s hawkish stance has resulted in a weakening economy and rising unemployment.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe held the global record for highest interest rates, reaching a staggering 200%. The central bank has lowered this to 150% on the grounds that the inflationary conditions that required the significant increase have subsided. As is typical with hawkish monetary policy approaches, Zimbabwe’s central bank’s hawkish stance has resulted in a weakening economy and rising unemployment.

On 3 February 2023, the Zimbabwean monetary authorities issued the country’s first Monetary Policy Statement via the central bank. Twice a year, the Reserve …

Over the past decade, addressing the three pressing needs of the youth—education, engagement, and livelihoods—has become a central tenet of global and continental policy discussions. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) consider youth as essential partners for achieving inclusive and peaceful societies.

Africans of all ages seem to understand that if the youth are suffering and unable to establish productive livelihoods, it becomes a societal problem. As such, many agree that there is a need for intervention from the government and other stakeholders in addressing the challenge of youth unemployment in Africa.…

The Kwacha is the official currency of Zambia. The country’s foreign exchange rate remained unsettled for a very long time. However, Zambia has made substantial steps in recent years to strengthen its currency through economic measures and foreign support.

Zambia has set an example for other African nations by efficiently controlling its currency. While facing numerous economic issues, such as a drop in copper prices and a large debt, the Kwacha exchange rate has remained reasonably constant.…

• The VFEX or Victoria Falls Stock Exchange is Zimbabwe’s exclusively United States dollar only stock market which was launched 3 years ago.
• The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange or ZSE’s main board has been shrinking because of companies migrating to the VFEX.
• Companies in Zimbabwe constantly experience a shortage of foreign exchange to support their increasingly import reliant businesses.

The number of companies that are delisting from the main board of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, often known as the ZSE, and moving their operations to the ZSE’s hard currency equivalent, the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX), has been growing. When the central bank eliminated the favorable foreign exchange retention levels that had been the primary draw of the VFEX, it is anticipated that the outflow from the ZSE will slow down in 2023. This comes after the central bank eliminated the foreign exchange retention thresholds.

Is Victoria Falls Stock Exchange capital market …

• The concept of the knowledge economy describes trends in advancements in economies towards significant dependence on Knowledge, Information and the capitalization of high skill levels.

• The Poland Knowledge Economy Assessment (KEA) has provided various policy options for securing additional sustainability growth and improving competitiveness.

• Africa’s human capital needs to be explored and utilized more. Developed countries have realized this hence why they often set up bases in Africa to benefit from the innovation of their people.  

Africa is renowned worldwide for its rich natural resources, both in material and human capital. Over the years, manufacturing and agriculture have mainly contributed to Africa’s economic growth. Both have sustained Africa’s economy to what it is now, but the world has drastically changed over the years.

Today the concept of a knowledge economy has propelled various economies to new heights. A prime example is Poland’s economic growth over the past few decades. Focusing …

• The DRC is viewed as a most promising member of the regional bloc offering a market of over 96 million people.
• DRC is also rich in many coveted minerals such as cobalt and Nickel, gold, and diamonds, which has caused a long-standing conflict.
• The EAC peace forces in the DRC were sent in early last year to restore peace and stability in the region.

The East Africa Community (EAC) has been touted as a model for regional economic blocs in Africa but the tension between Rwanda and the bloc’s newest member, DRC, is threatening to derail the region’s social and economic integration.   

The two neighboring countries have had a dicey relationship in the recent past with the largest country of the EAC, the DRC, accusing the smallest country in the region, Rwanda, of supporting rebels within its borders.

The DRC is viewed as a most promising member of the regional …

 The Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) said that the country garnered a 22.2 percent rise in registered projects over the past five months. 132 additional projects will be registered between July and November of 2022, compared to 102 during the same period in 2021. 

Tanzania is making significant progress in attracting the appropriate investment over time and space. This development is attributable to the current government under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, whose dedication to expanding investment is shared by the whole economy. 

Tanzania’s economy is currently at 5,2 percent of GDP (3rd quarter 2022) and 4.9 percent inflation. Notwithstanding this, growth in other vital areas has been crucial to ensure Tanzania’s industrialization goals remain on track. 

 According to a research published by African Mining Market on February 13, the mining industry in East Africa is witnessing tremendous expansion. Whereby, Tanzania’s sector is adding to the GDP whose proportion …

• The capitalist class consists of less than 1% of the richest individuals in the world.
• These members of the capitalist class are worth a collective US$ 12 trillion. This is according to Forbes magazine which profiles the members of this exclusive club.

Less than 1% of the global population consists of the world’s wealthiest individuals. In 2022, there were fewer billionaires than in the previous year. When compared to the rest of the globe, Africa’s list of billionaires is relatively static. It is economically advantageous to have more billionaires than none. An economy is seen to be progressing if there are more billionaires than before.

• It is desirable for a country to have a growing number of members of the capitalist class among its population.
• It is a positive sign of economic growth when the number of billionaires are increasing in a country.
• To be a member of the capitalist

Driven by a deep-seated hunger for change in Nigeria, on pins and needles citizens remain, eagerly awaiting the announcement of the country’s next president, which should happen any time from now, following the February 25th  general election. The slow collation and reporting of the votes by Nigeria’s electoral commission, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has only fueled the anxiety, coupled with whispers of electoral interference that the Commission has thwarted.

The three front-runners out of the initial 18 candidates are Peter Obi, Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar. Results from 176,846 polling stations are being counted manually and then relayed electronically to the INEC’s headquarters in Abuja, which then posts them on its website.

As of February 28, Tinubu leads in 25 out of Nigeria’s 36 states. Tinubu leads with 36% which translates to 7 million of the valid votes counted, Atiku is close behind with 30% an equivalent of …

• The sector rebounded in 2022 due to a 70.45% increase in international arrivals.
• According to official government figures, the number of arrivals increased to 1,483,753 from870,463 in 2021.
• Rebound attributed to a number of source countries relaxing Covid-19 limitations and opening up travel.

The tourist industry in Kenya is prepared for a significant boom this year, following last year’s good performance buoyed by the resumption of the post-pandemic international travel and robust tourism activities.

The sector, which offers great investment potential primarily in hotel facilities, tour and travel businesses, and travel agencies, rebounded in 2022 due to a 70.45% increase in international arrivals.

According to official government figures, the number of arrivals increased to 1,483,753 from870,463 in 2021.

The Tourism Research Institute (TRI) attributes the rebound to a number of source countries relaxing their Covid-19 limitations and opening up travel.

Prior to the pandemic, the sector contributed 10.4% of the …