A new World Bank report reveals that transportation inefficiencies are causing significant food losses in Africa. Thirty-seven percent of locally produced food is lost in transit due to slow processing times, poor infrastructure, and non-tariff barriers. According to the report, Transport for Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Strengthening Supply Chains, prioritizing investments in 50 transportation…
Member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have been urged to uphold collective commitment to transboundary cooperation under the regional bloc’s Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs). Addressing the SADC TFCAs International Conference at the Rainbow Towers Hotel in his welcome remarks in Harare today, Ambassador Tadeous Tafirenyika Chifamba, the Permanent Secretary for Environment,…
Writes Daniel Njiwa A series of events unfolded over the last few weeks culminating in a landmark agreement to resume trade between Malawi and Tanzania, a commendable gesture and a strong demonstration that Africa is on the right track and committed to charting a homegrown path to economic and #foodsystems transformation. While some of…
President Ruto calls for a reimagined Sino-African partnership focused on infrastructure, industrial value chains, and minerals beneficiation. His vision aligns with SADC’s priorities for trade-based development and inclusive growth through value addition in mineral-rich economies. China is now Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest trading partner. Over 3,000 Chinese companies operate in Africa, most from the private sector….
Chief Fortune Charumbira, the President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) in his address at the official opening of the South-South Parliamentary Dialogue Forum in Rabat, Morocco, has emboldened legislators to uphold peace and promote sustainable development in the Global South. “The Pan African Parliament (PAP), serves as the supreme continental representative institution that…
Mozambican President, Daniel Chapo, has underscored the importance of boosting and facilitating trade between Mozambique and Zimbabwe to deepen economic complementarity and the creation of economies of scale using the sister republics’ existing natural resources, infrastructure, and logistical means, especially the Beira Corridor. He made the remarks while officially opening the 65th Edition of…
Bulawayo, 22 April 2025 – The European Union (EU) is back at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo for the third consecutive year— with its now-flagship pavilion, one of the largest international stands. Following two consecutive wins for Best and Most Outstanding Foreign Display, the EU returns this year showcasing a strengthened focus…
The first phase of the completed Mbare Traders Market (Musika) paves the way for 1,628 traders to begin operations in a decent workspace, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said. President Mnangagwa said this while officially opening the Mbare Traders Market Development Project Phase 1 and the commissioning of Phase 2 of the project in Harare…
Accountants are architects of economic transformation, custodians of corporate and public finance, and enablers of national development, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said. In his address at the 9th Zimbabwe Accountants Conference, convened under the theme “Future Ready Profession: Innovate with Integrity, Sustain with Purpose,” President Mnangagwa said the meeting could not have come at…
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has noted with profound concern the imposition by the United States of America announced on 2 April 2025 of new tariffs on imported products, including those from SADC Member States. A new baseline tariff of 10% on all imports will take effect from 5 April 2025, while “reciprocal” tariffs…
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will convene an Inter-Ministerial Task Force Meeting of Ministers responsible for Trade, Transport, Infrastructure, and Security Matters to address challenges at the Kasumbalesa Border Posts between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Zambia. The meeting will be held virtually on 11 April 2025. The…
Maia, Portugal-headquartered Rangel Logistics Solutions, a family-owned international logistics company that entered the South African market in 2020, has reaffirmed its commitment to helping Africa realise the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement through the additional investment of €6 million (R125.6 million) in a warehouse in South Africa. Tiago Pocinho,…
The African Union has taken a historic step towards enhancing food safety across the continent with the adoption of the statute for the establishment of the Africa Food Safety Agency during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 16 February 2025. This landmark decision marks…
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat is going beyond the development of a strategy by developing a coordination framework to accelerate the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Speaking at the SADC-AfCFTA workshop in Harare today, a representative from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry said the African Continental Free…
MIDRAND, SOUTH AFRICA – Ms Rita Amukhobu, the Head of the Humanitarian Affairs Division at the African Union Commission (AUC) has urged the Pan African Parliament (PAP) to promote the ratification and implementation of the Protocol on Free Movement of People in Africa. She made the remarks virtually today in her presentation during the…
Angola is at an advanced stage towards becoming the 14th Southern African Development Community (SADC) member state to join the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) – a regional market where the country will benefit from reduced tariffs and non-tariff barriers. This emerged at a meeting in Luanda, Angola, from February 17 to 21, 2025,…
MIDRAND, SOUTH AFRICA – The Pan African Parliament (PAP) will be pursuing the African Union (AU) theme of the Year 2025: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations”, Chief Fortune Zephaniah Charumbira, the President of the continental legislative body has said. Addressing a Meeting of the African Ambassadors with the Bureau of…
As the 38th African Union (AU) Summit roared to life today, the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD), the One Campaign, and Christian Aid, through an online webinar, urged African Heads of State and Government and the African Union Commissioners who will take office to consider taking urgent initiatives to reform global…
UK companies explore business opportunities with 50 women-led businesses from ten countries – Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Nepal and Pakistan – following a trade mission in Manchester. As part of the trade mission, British buyers looking to diversify their supply chains met women entrepreneurs working in the fresh and processed agrifood, handicrafts,…
The modern, all-weather Traders’ Market in Mbare has been described as a major turning point that will witness the formalization of traders and improved working spaces for beneficiaries. Speaking during a tour to assess the progress made by Masimba Construction in Mbare yesterday, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare…
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is holding a Stakeholders’ Technical Meeting and a Senior Official Meeting of the Affected Member States on the Resolution of the Challenges at the Kasumbalesa Border Post from 4 to 7 February 2025 in Harare Zimbabwe. The summit in August 2024 directed the SADC secretariat to convene an…
Women are “the new emerging market” and are poised to drive the post-recession world economy, as most new income growth in the post-recession world will come from women who represent an estimated $5 trillion in new female earning power in the coming years. Women are now said to control $12 trillion of the overall…
The State of Libya has officially acceded to the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) Establishment Agreement (www.Afreximbank.com), becoming the 53rd nation to become a member / participating state and marking an important step towards full continental coverage and advancement of the continental integration agenda through trade and investments. The accession document, signed by His Excellency Dr….
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Zimbabwe, in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) and the Competition and Tariff Commission (CTC), convened a pivotal training titled “Promoting Prosperity Pathways for Women and Youth-led MSMEs within the AfCFTA: Role of Customs Officials in Trade Facilitation” for Border Officials based at Forbes border post between Zimbabwe…
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is demonstrating that safe marketplaces are essential for Zimbabwe’s development, and collaborative efforts from stakeholders can ensure their maintenance and improvement. Maria Mutandwa, the ILO Zimbabwe Communication Officer, while addressing media practitioners touring the Chesvingo Safe Market in Masvingo town today, said partners added features of a children’s play…
Writes Elvis Dumba in Birmingham, London The government is continuing to lure international investors into the country, a development leading to economic growth through foreign investment and increased international trade opportunities as witnessed at a recently held Trade Expo in the UK. The commitment towards international trade has been proven after President Mnangagwa’s administration dispatched…
In an ongoing effort to fulfill the objective of developing a harmonized securities market environment within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Committee of SADC Stock Exchanges (CoSSE) has taken a significant step by validating the principles and operational model of the Interconnectivity Hub Project at a meeting held by members on 11 September…
A workshop to develop a robust and targeted communications strategy for the African Union (AU) Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Programme in Africa is underway in Lusaka, Zambia with a view of outlining clear guidelines and approaches for communicating key messages, advocacy, and awareness creation among key audiences. In welcome remarks read by Chiluba Mwape,…
As the 2024/25 summer cropping season draws near, anticipation and activity in Zimbabwe’s cotton sector are reaching a fever pitch. Speaking to the media on Monday, the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) Chief Executive Officer, Rockie Mutenha, said that the company was leading the charge, embarking on a comprehensive farmer registration and assessment campaign,…
Socially accountable management and use of available resources are critical to meeting the Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030 (RISDP), a Non-state Actors (NSA) dialogue in Harare has heard. This came to the fore today at the dialogue running in Harare from 14 to 15 August 2024 that is…
A press conference was held on Thursday, August 1st, 2024, at the Eilly International Hotel in Addis Ababa to officially announce the outcome of the G25 Kampala Declaration. This declaration, unanimously adopted by the AU Heads of State, “includes coffee as a strategic commodity in the AU Agenda 2063 and the inclusion of the Inter-African…
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents a transformative opportunity for the continent, particularly in the agricultural sector. The Consortium of African Youth in Agriculture and Climate Change (CAYACC), and with the support of its esteemed partners—AUC, AUDA-NEPAD, AGRA, USAID POLICY LINK, FAO, WFP, GRZ, and GIZ— are keenly aware of the potential that…
Public and private sector entities across Southern Africa’s mining sector are intensifying cooperation to enhance the critical mineral value chain for economic growth. In July 2024, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Botswana signed an agreement (http://apo-opa.co/3LIS6Z6) to upgrade an existing railway line linking the three countries and to build a new line and a deep-water port in…
The leading industry event, the Organic and Natural Products Expo Africa, proudly sponsored by Standard Bank, is returning to Johannesburg for its fourth edition at the Sandton Convention Centre from 12 to 14 September 2024. As Africa’s only dedicated event for the organic and natural products industry, this expo is the ultimate platform for traders…
Writes Engineer Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi Zimbabwe, a country grappling with economic challenges, has recently made headlines with a policy decision that has sparked both debate and controversy. The government has partially lifted the ban on importing vehicles older than 10 years, granting this privilege exclusively to civil servants, returning residents, and diplomats. While the intention…
Writes Elvis Dumba Kariba – The construction of Makuti Dry Port in the border town of Chirundu is set to serve as an important trade link along the North-South Corridor. This was revealed by Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Marian Chombo during the Shipping and Forwarding Agents Association of…
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are useful tools for poverty eradication due to their contributions to job creation, economic growth, and empowerment of vulnerable populations. These were the sentiments of His Excellency Mr. Edward Kallon, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in his remarks today at Chimhoyi University of Technology at the Commemoration of…
The Government of Zimbabwe, in collaboration with the Government of Ghana and in coordination with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has successfully concluded a visit to Ghana to enhance the capacity of key officials working on diaspora engagement. This initiative was realised within the framework of the projects on “Southern African Migration Management (SAMM)” and “Streamlining…
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), in collaboration with the Government of Madagascar, proudly hosted the 5th COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB) Trade Fair & Business Conference in Antananarivo on June 28th and 29th, 2024. Themed “Enhancing Participation of Women Entrepreneurs in the COMESA Regional Markets under the African Continental…
Members of the Pan-African Parliament have underscored the critical need for political and social stability to achieve the dream of a highly integrated and economically prosperous Africa. The Parliament has reiterated its commitment to facilitate the effective implementation of African Union (AU) policies, to promote intra-African trade, and to advocate for the ratification and domestication of the…
Yesterday, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank or “the Bank”) (www.Afreximbank.com) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Trade Organization (WTO) to amplify the impact of their strategically aligned joint efforts of promoting global trade leveraging Africa’s unique resource endowment. The MoU will allow the two organizations to pursue a collaborative framework for harmonizing…
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works (MoLGPW) is set to conduct a series of training workshops aimed at strengthening the capabilities of local authorities to engage effectively with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). These workshops will be held in Bulawayo and Mutare….
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, has signed a joint declaration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to enhance sustainable industrialisation and committed to support the ‘Partenariat pour le coton’ initiative, which seeks to enhance Africa’s role within the global textile and apparel value chains. Aligned with the…
The International Africa Development Forum (FIAD), now in its seventh iteration, has become a valued platform for African perspectives, facilitating open discussions about the continent’s challenges and opportunities. These were part of the remarks by H.E Wamkele Mene, the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at the opening ceremony of the 2024…
Writes Baboloki Semele At the recently concluded Afreximbank Annual Meetings, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) signed two significant deals with Zimbabwe’s largest bank, CBZ Bank Limited. These agreements include a US$60 million line of credit and a US$20 million Afreximbank Trade Facilitation Programme (AFTRAF) facility, totalling US$80 million. The US$60 million line of credit is designed…
