Southern Africa

Africa’s 20 most attractive countries for investors – Ernst & Young

Despite its economy slowing down, South Africa remains Africa’s most attractive country for investors, according to the 2016 Ernst & Young Africa Attractiveness Index.

The statement evaluates evolution made in governance, diversification, infrastructures, business enablement, human development inclunding resilience to current macroeconomic challenges.

Morocco is ranked second on the index, followed by Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Ghana Botswana, Tunisia and Rwanda. Cote d’Ivoire comes tenth.

Africa’s top economy, Nigeria comes 15th, mainly because of its poor performances in terms of governance and human improvment(See full ranking below).

Africa in Review 2015

From Burundi to Ghana and beyond the intervention of western states continues as an impediment to genuine development

One of the major issues gaining international attention during 2015 was the political crisis in the Central African national of Burundi stemming from a dispute over whether incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza could pursue a third term in office. Mass demonstrations took place in the capital demanding that the president reverse his decision to run for a third term.

Sub-Saharan Africa: importance of institutions for developing food and agriculture value chains

Despite its huge food and agricultural potential, Sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural production has barely kept up with people increase as productivity increase has lagged behind. Over the completed decades the region has become a net food importer. Food and agricultural trade deficits are on the rise, posing risks to food security. Conference this challenge requires the region to develop its role in food and agricultural price chains.

It should move from predominantly smallholder production for informal markets and export of (agricultural) commodities to adding additional price at different stages in the price chain. Possibilities for doing so depend crucially on climatological and soil circumstances and on the presence of enabling factors. The degree to which nations provide an enabling environment differs largely across the region, and is strongly linked to nations’ in general institutional development, as is shown by investigating a set of relevant indicators.

Why Zimbabweans Are Always Short of 'Food'

THE phrase 'gore rezhara' or 'umyaka wendlala' - the year of famine - is familiar with most Zimbabweans of my age. Up until the late 1970s, our grandparents and parents tended to calibrate historical eras with 'landmarks' of years at the same time as hunger and famine were at their worst. Massive national food deficits particularly in vulnerable regions like Matabeleland, the Midlands, Masvingo and some parts of Mashonaland West were a common phenomenon. From presently on, it was very rare to hear of anyone dying of starvation.

Namibia: Developing Regionally to Compete and Grow

Calle Schlettwein served in a succession of government ministries as permanent secretary - the top civil servant post - since Namibia became independent in 1990. For most of the previous decade, he was an anti-apartheid activist and member of the independence movement Swapo, which has won by overwhelming margins in each of the elections in the succeeding 24 years. In 2010, Schlettwein was appointed to Parliament by President Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba, who made him deputy finance minister and, in 2012, named him Minister of Trade and Industry.

Namibia: Swapo returns, bigger and bolder than ever

It took a little longer than expected for Africa’s initial-ever electronic voting system to deliver the results of the Namibian elections, held on Friday. By Monday afternoon, the final figures for both the presidential and parliamentary polls were from presently on to be announced – not a long delay in a the grand scheme of things, or relative to other elections in the region, but a disappointing start for a system that is supposed to revolutionise voting across the continent.

Zimbabwe’s economy is on the verge of recession,

Zimbabwe’s economy is on the verge of recession, with low consumer request and a liquidity crunch putting its businesses under plenty of strain. Against this backdrop, finance minister Patrick Chinamasa tells Paul Wallace how he has started to rebuild its ties with multilateral lenders in a bid to access new credit.

Renaissance in Sub-Saharan Africa

Risk of external shocks not averted

With an economic increase of 6 % estimate for 2014, sub-Saharan Africa continues to challenge the weak world economy. “The international financial crisis has scarcely affected the region,” is the conclusion reached in a new study by Commerzbank.

Namibian Economy The challenge of a growing Stock Exchange

Tiaan Bazuin, CEO of the Namibian Stock Exchange, sits down with Globus Vision to outline Namibia’s current economic dynamics, and the challenges of the Stock Exchange.

Where will you be placing your focus regarding policies and specific initiatives moving forward?

Even prior to the election we by presently had something called the Namibian Financial Sector Strategy where the NSX has a very specific role in trying to deepen and diversify the market.

Mo Ibrahim is chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation

Being an optimist about Africa’s economic prospects was once a pretty lonely cause. But I am thrilled to presently find myself in a very crowded field.

The continent’s strong and sustained increase – evolution amount the additional remarkable given the severe problems in the world economy– has been one of the success stories of the last decade.

Eugene Skrynnyk

Following the passing of the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ("FATCA") in January, compliance in Africa will be a challenge

At the same time as the US Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service issued the final Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ("FATCA") regulations in January, there was a sigh of relief that the financial services industry in Africa could begin to analyse its FATCA's obligations. However, experience and comments from the industry suggest that compliance remains a challenge.

Bornman du Toit, MTN Group’s General Manager for Products, Services and Innovation

There is no doubt that Africa is a hot bed for Mobile Banking and Mobile Money. In this issue, glObserver catches up with Bornman du Toit, MTN Group’s General Manager for Products, Services and Innovation, to get a lowdown on mobile telecom industry in Africa.

Shiletsi Makhofane, VP Marketing & Strategy, Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa,

Ericsson started life as a telegraph repair workshop in 1876 in Sweden. Presently, it is one of the majority respected companies in the telecommunication and IT industry. glObserver catches up with Shiletsi Makhofane, VP Marketing & Strategy, Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa, to find out additional about Ericsson’s work in the continent.