By Albert M. Muchanga and Arancha Gonzalèz On 1 July 1960, Ghana became a republic and Kwame Nkrumah was sworn into office as Ghana’s first president. Exactly 60 years later, on 1 July 2020, a longed-for objective of Nkrumah’s Pan-Africanist dream will become a reality when the first goods and services are set to be traded under the terms of the new African Continental Free Trade Area. It is also fitting that Accra, the…
Mentoring of new talent in the arts and entertainment field is an essential ingredient in the process of bringing new performers into show business, and many newcomers have benefitted from the advice, guidance and kindness given to them by professionals already in the field. One such mentor is Selmor Mtukudzi, regarded nationally as entertainment royalty…
By Byron Mutingwende in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Siemens Mechatronics Certification Centre in Kenya has embraced the 4th Industrial Revolution, Prof Jean Bosco has said. Prof Bosco made the remarks during the on going Africa Industrialisation Week happening at the African Union Headquarters, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that is running under the theme, “Positioning…
In response to a barrage of criticism from subscribers who have become attached to the country’s leading mobile money transaction platform which underwent a system upgrade from Saturday, EcoCash has announced that it successfully migrated to a new platform over the weekend, and that it was now addressing post-cutover stabilisation issues. “We successfully implemented…
(Addis Ababa) – Sustainable economic growth and social development across Africa hinges on the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and that it be put into use by the continent’s private sector. This will be the key message coming out of the 19th World Export Development Forum taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this…
By Byron Mutingwende in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Ambassador Albert Muchanga, the Commissioner of Trade and Industry of the African Union Commission has said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents an opportunity to the continent to reposition its industrial production frontier. The Commissioner made the remarks today at the African Union Headquarters in Addis…
By Joyce Mukucha and Anyway Yotamu The Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research (ZiCHIRe-BC), in an effort to eliminate Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and emotional damage is conducting a Spotlight Initiative programme through a Co-Creation platform where the organisation is roping in the community so that members can share the problems they are facing in as much…
By Joyce Mukucha The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) public hearings process on the National Inquiry on Access to Documentation in Zimbabwe for Harare Metropolitan Province roared into life aimed at resolving a human rights problem that is widespread and recurring thereby affecting a significant number of people in Zimbabwe pertaining the issuance of national documents….
By Charles Dhewa When you visit an African city and want to see practices that portray African identity and knowledge don’t believe what you see in hotels, colleges, formal schools or government departments. Your most important eye-opening destination is the informal mass market preferred by the majority. Besides farming communities and forests, informal markets are…
By Byron Mutingwende in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia One does not need to look beyond the Africa Unbound Museum located in the heart of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where the history of the world and indeed that of the African continent is captured in a space that combines modernity with the past. The rare opportunity extended to…
The aim of the prize is to support and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future Last night the Jack Ma Foundation hosted its first annual Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI) (https://www.Netpreneur.Africa/) grand finale awarding $1 million in prize money to 10 entrepreneurs…
A consultative meeting of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) East African Regional Caucus will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme: Building regional consensus on AU legal instruments and promoting the ratification of the protocol to the constitutive act of the Pan-African parliament: engaging civil society organizations in the promotion of AU legal instruments, from 18 to…
By Byron Mutingwende in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) is positively impacting least developed countries (LDCs) by supporting trade that is closely tied to development goals to reduce poverty and improve lives. Deanna Ramsay, the Managing Editor of the Trade for Development News under IEF told journalists attending a training workshop in…
By Byron Mutingwende in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Renowned industrialist Mr. Rongai Chizema, the Chief Technical Advisor of the African Union in the Department of Trade and Industry has called on African countries to leverage their rich and diverse natural resource endowments in order to drive social and economic transformation on the continent. …
By Kizito Sikuka The level of financial losses that Africa continues to lose from illegal activities and dealings in the mining sector is undermining sustainable development in the continent. “Our resources are being unjustly taken away from us to develop and improve other economies outside Africa,” TrustAfrica Programmes Director, Briggs Bomba said at the…
By Byron Mutingwende and Anyway Yotamu The Harare Wetlands Trust (HWT) has called on government to set aside funds to ensure the provision of clean, safe water for the capital city through the preservation of healthy wetlands. The call comes after finance and economic development minister, Mthuli Ncube delivered his 2020 budget statement on Thursday…
By Joyce Mukucha The Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) is encouraging stakeholders to take concrete steps towards ensuring that there is scaling up of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Zimbabwe especially for the key population groups. The organisation held a workshop aimed at ensuring that in a lower middle income country…
Egypt’s decision to establish an export risk guarantee company will give a major boost to the country’s role as a critical hub for intra-African trade and allow it to be a key driver in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), said today…
By Kizito Sikuka Africa must be vigilant in its negotiations with foreign investors to ensure that all mining deals are beneficial to the continent. At the same time, there is need to create a conducive environment to attract investment to Africa. This was said by Natty Davies, a former chairperson of the National Investment Commission…
Over 100,000 Bible students graduated from the Zion Christian Mission Center, a free theology school, on Sunday in a global ceremony that spanned nations from South Africa to South Korea and Namibia to New Zealand. This is the first event of its kind in modern religious society, even as many Christian denominations report declining congregation…
One in three companies in French-speaking Africa struggles financially and faces difficulties growing as a result, according to a new report by the International Trade Centre (ITC). Training and information that help these businesses access finance is the most effective way to support their growth, it says. The report, Promoting SME competitiveness in francophone Africa: Improving…
People with mobility difficulties need the right quality mobility scooter to move around. They help people with limited mobility to move around freely and safely. It is a substantial investment, no matter which brand you are planning to buy. Some brands cost a few hundred bucks, whereas others with added features might cost you thousands….
By Kizito Sikuka African countries have begun the process of assessing whether its vast mineral resources are benefiting its citizens or outsiders. The assessment follows a realisation that despite the huge amount of mineral resources that is in abundance across the continent, African countries remain among the poorest in the world. In fact, the majority…
This year’s finalist group and of course, the winners, have built businesses across all sectors offering innovation and exceptional acumen and leadership Southern Africa’s top three entrepreneurs were named at the 22nd Annual EY (https://www.EY.com) World Entrepreneur Awards gala dinner in Johannesburg on Wednesday 13 November 2019. CEO’s, Founders, and leading entrepreneurs attended the Southern Africa…
Cassava Smartech today launched the EcoFarmer Diaspora Agriculture Finance Plan (DAFP) that is set to allow Zimbabweans living in the Diaspora to remit funds which directly go towards the purchase of farming inputs for their families in Zimbabwe. Cassava Smartech, which already has over 2 000 tractors on the Vaya Tractor platform and has to…
All is set for Zimbabwe’s participation at the China International Travel Mart (CITM) to be held in Kunming, China from 15 to 17 November 2019 at the Kunming Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The core objective of Zimbabwe’s participation at the expo is to increase destination awareness and visibility of Brand Zimbabwe in China…
By Joyce Mukucha The United States government has provided more than $422 000, a $50 000 increase from last year through its small grants funding to community-based organisations in seven Zimbabwean provinces to support initiatives that promote economic and social development in the country. The U.S. Embassy’s small grants program has been extended to sixteen…
Sasai, the new all-in-one App from Cassava Fintech International (CFI), is exhibiting at AfricaTech, the fintech and digital expo that runs concurrently with AfricaCom, the continent’s largest telco and tech conference held in Cape Town, South Africa, every year. The conference, which brings together hundreds of telco, fintech and digital technology players, financial services…
By Byron Mutingwende Agricultural transformation plays an important role in eradicating poverty and hunger, fighting inequality and discrimination as well as tackling climate change to promote peaceful and inclusive societies to achieve sustainable development. The Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Mr. Vangelis Haritatos revealed this at the National Dialogue…
Shem Zemura is an award winning filmmaker who was born and raised in the Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe district of Mahonaland East, who ‘fell in love’ with the arts while in primary school. At Machekera Primary School he performed in plays and was a member of the traditional dance team. While in high school at Albert, a…
The European Investment Bank (EIB) expects the gender-lending initiative to allow women to play a more active role in economies The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced a $1.1 billion lending programme to help women entrepreneurs on the continent. EIB Vice President, Ambroise Fayolle, also revealed that the bank has signed three further agreements to…
The African-Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) and South Africa-based Thelo DB Proprietary Limited today in Johannesburg, South Africa, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop, finance and operate railway projects in Africa. Under the terms of the MoU, signed on the sidelines of the ongoing Africa Investment Forum, Afreximbank and Thelo DB will collaborate to…
EcoCash today announced a major upgrade of its platform scheduled for the weekend, which will result in a 24-hour downtime of all EcoCash services. Announcing the upgrade – which is set to take place between 9pm on Saturday (November 16) and 9pm on Sunday (November 17) 2019 – the company said the upgrade is…
By Joyce Mukucha CAPS United legends in the United Kingdom donated football kits to a number of academies at Harare Sports Club. The kit worth more than 400 Euro was handed over to more than 15 academies by the CAPS United treasurer, Timothy Chirozvani. The sets comprised of hurdles, bibs, soccer balls and cons. The…
$500 million equity closed for the Africa Infrastructure Investment Fund to speed up investments in agriculture; Financial close for the Africa Guarantee Fund $175 Equity transaction to support Small and Medium Size Enterprises, and $350 million for South Africa’s beef agro-processing project. The 2019 Africa Investment Forum opened on Monday living up to its promise…
The program will empower girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education Merck Foundation (Merck-Foundation.com) launches “Educating Linda” program in partnership with the First Lady of Malawi and Ministry of Education of Malawi; he program will empower girls in STEM education. Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany in partnership with The First Lady of…
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Acting Chief Executive, Mr Givemore Chidzidzi, says the country remains an attractive destination, which the travel world cannot do without. Speaking at the recently concluded World Travel Market in London, Chidzidzi said the interest on Zimbabwe was very high from across the globe when they package Africa in general and southern Africa…
By Anyway Yotamu in Chiredzi President Mnangagwa on Saturday commissioned a US$40 million sugarcane project which is expected to create more than 2 000 jobs in the country. In a joint venture between Government, Tongaat Huletts, and a consortium of local banks, the Project Kilimanjaro will see 4 000 hectares of virgin land being turned…
By Charles Dhewa Academics like economists rely on authors and literature based on research conducted within a given time frame. Such literature has no room for adjustments as new events and knowledge emerge. For instance, Keynesians economics was based on theories of John Maynard Keynes whose research revolved around the laws of supply and demand,…
Around 2000 delegates are expected to attend the innovative investment marketplace The Africa Investment Forum will be short on talk and heavy on deals, the South African Government, the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and key partners affirmed at a press conference ahead of the 2019 edition of the event. Organized by the African Development Bank…
The drive for Africa’s industrialisation received a major boost on Friday with the signing of the development agreement for Industrial Park PK 24 in Abidjan by the government of Cote d’Ivoire and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah signed the agreement on behalf of the institution while Souleymane Diarrassouba, Minister of Trade and…
By Nyasha Mutena In a move that seeks to address the illicit drug challenge that is currently grappling the country, Zimbabwe Civil Liberties Drug Network Drug Network is undertaking community campaigns which enable them to interact with drug users whilst sensitizing them on the dangers surrounding drug use. Addressing various youth who are using and/or…
The fourteen participating African teams started their journey towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as the first day of the 2019 Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens kicked off in Johannesburg, South Africa The first day of Africa Men’s Sevens tournament which is sponsored by Société Général came to an end in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa…
Opinion Piece By Gift Muroyiwa The Book of Galatians says that “If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.” For many years, Vice President of the MDC Tendai Biti has spent a lot of time and energy to convince the public that he is a campaigner against wealth accumulation and…
The strategy is for the U.S. government to work with U.S. companies that want to do business in Africa and to work with countries in Africa that want to do business with U.S. companies Two years ago, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry attended Africa Oil Week (www.Africa-OilWeek.com) to promote his country’s policies for energy…
