Blogs Community

Botswana is concerned over influx of refugees from Zimbabwe and S.Africa

Botswana has expressed concern over an influx of asylum seekers who fled from countries, including 700 refugees from neighboring Zimbabwe and hundreds more from South Africa, where they had already been granted refugee status. Those who have arrived from neighboring Zimbabwe were citing poor conditions at the refugee camp, while others have come from South […]

Business Finance

Uganda’s thriving financial sector ranked no.1 in East Africa

Uganda is running an economy with the most developed financial sector in East Africa, which is only the latest feat that depicts a major milestone in the country’s race towards becoming a regional financial hub, with an eye to increased inflow of foreign direct investments, according to the latest study by the Official Monetary and […]

Africa Business International

Zimbabwe’s new mining royalty rule: 50% commodities and 50% cash

Miners operating in Zimbabwe will have to pay some of their royalties in refined metal rather than cash, as the country will hold reserves of gold, diamonds, platinum and lithium, says President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Zimbabwe’s president said the new policy that compels miners to pay half of their royalties in commodities and half in cash […]

Africa International

Western countries should lift sanctions against Zimbabwe — African Union

The African Union (AU) reiterated its push for the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom to lift all sanctions against Zimbabwe at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. AU chairman — Senegal’s president Macky Sall — said the “harsh measures continue to fuel a sense of injustice against an entire people, and […]

Business Emerging Markets Headlines

Amid escalating food crisis, African agriculture is set for fertilizer boom

With an estimated 346 million people across Africa being negatively impacted by a severe food crisis, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a fertilizer boom is breaking out on the continent, even as environmental and green farming activists call for caution. Africa has barely used fertilizers, as only 6% of the continent’s cultivated […]

Business Finance

The African currency rollercoaster ride: struggling against super-strong US dollar

As the global economy sinks into another period of crisis, African currencies are depreciating against the US dollar and rising import costs are adding to inflationary pressures. With around half of all international trade invoiced in dollars, a stronger greenback hurts consumers across the world — including in Africa — that use dollars to pay […]

Africa International

UN committee appeals to Benin and Zimbabwe to tackle minority group discrimination

The United Nations is urging governments of Benin and Zimbabwe to address alleged discrimination against minority and marginalized groups in their respective countries. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination released last week its findings on progress in seven countries whose records were under review. The monitoring committee specifically expressed regret that Benin’s […]

Africa International

Ozone pollution: scientists look to solve hidden threat to Africa’s food security

The ozone gas can cause substantial losses by quickly aging crops before they reach full production potential and scientists are particularly worried about Africa, which will see more vehicle traffic and waste burning as the population is set to double by mid-century. More vehicle traffic and waste burning means more ozone pollution, a major challenge […]

Energy

Invictus Energy ready to start drilling for oil, gas in Zimbabwe by September

Australia-based Invictus Energy plans to start drilling its first exploration well for oil and gas in Cabora Bassa location in the northern part of Zimbabwe by early September. The first well, Mukuyu-1, will be 3.5 km deep at a cost of $16m, said Paul Chimbodza, chairman of the Australian company’s local subsidiary Geo Associates on […]

Asia International

African leaders’ response to US-China tensions over Taiwan shows tilt towards Beijing

A spike in tensions between the United States and China over Taiwan has not gone unnoticed in Africa and has prompted responses that underscore the continent’s tilt toward Beijing. Washington announced trade talks with Taiwan on Thursday (18 August) following a US congressional delegation’s visit earlier this week that came on the heels of a […]