A micro-sociological personal perspective of the country Kampala, Uganda | JUDE KAGORO | Rwanda is a country that is both understudied and misunderstood. Some people go to Rwanda sing praises of what they have seen and perhaps forget. Others, using euro-centric and Afro-pessimist lens, criticise uncritically. Some rely on age-old cliché to …
Read More »Big challenges face Ramaphosa, new head of ANC
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | The new leader of the South Africa’s ANC party, Cyril Ramaphosa, will likely be the next president of the country. He faces an immediate list of urgent issues as the party that has held power since the end of apartheid rule 23 years ago struggles …
Read More »China opens major economic conference
Beijing, China | AFP | China opened a major economic planning conference on Monday as the country tries to pivot away from its no-holds-barred growth model. The annual Central Economic Work Conference gives leaders the opportunity to review past economic policy and plan for 2018. The pursuit of high growth propelled …
Read More »Senegal economy hoping for takeoff with new airport
Diass, Senegal | AFP | Senegal opens a flagship new airport on Thursday seven years later than originally planned but with ambitions to become a west African regional hub with a capacity for three million passengers. President Macky Sall will cut the ribbon at Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) at …
Read More »COMMENT: Satellite broadband power
Unlocking economic growth by breaking through both cost and planning barriers of physical infrastructure COMMENT | FARHAD KHAN | The African Development Bank projects that Uganda’s GDP will grow from 5.1% in 2017 to 5.8% in 2018. Among other factors, the government has highlighted the role of information communications technology (ICT) as …
Read More »Nestle to close its DR Congo factory
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Swiss food giant Nestle announced Sunday that it would close its factory in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a potential market of 80 million people but one beset by poverty and political instability. “We will close our factory and offices by the …
Read More »EAC revenue bodies chase more taxes
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | The East African Revenue Authorities are facing similar challenges – a small tax base because of a huge informal sector, tax evasion, limited human resource personnel and volatile economy. Others are poor information technology systems and connectivity, political uncertainties and delays in dispute resolution. In …
Read More »COMMENT: Risk to the global economy
Why changes in broadly shared economic assumptions are potentially riskier than more dramatic events COMMENT | CHRISTOPHER SMART | One of the great mysteries of today’s global markets is their irrepressible enthusiasm, even as the world around them appears on the verge of chaos or collapse. And yet, investors may be …
Read More »Zimbabwe’s new leader issues ultimatum for externalised funds
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s new president on Tuesday gave a three-month ultimatum for the return of funds siphoned out of the country by individuals and corporations, as he moves to stem graft and revive the moribund economy. “The government of Zimbabwe is gazetting a three-month moratorium within which those …
Read More »Zimbabwe’s new president dissolves Mugabe cabinet
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa three days after his inauguration has dissolved the cabinet of his predecessor Robert Mugabe, who resigned after the military took control of the country, a senior government official said Monday. Mnangagwa “is in the process of putting together a new team of …
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