Issue  No. 51
17 December 2019
This is an exclusive new report designed to give you an overview about Africa countries tackling Economic, Political, Stock Market and Company transactions issue. 


 
   



 
   

         Economic Outlook

  • Kenya Coffee earnings decreased 38% at the end of November 2019 reaching 1.66 BN KES (15.7 MM USD) compared to last year following a slump in the price of the commodity at the beginning of the new crop year and low volumes.
  • Kenya housing deficit is currently at two million units and is quickly rising at the rate of 200,000 units per year. Comparing Kenya housing situation to Singapore which got independence in 1965. The latter has a 90% home ownership rate, closely behind Europe's highest, Romania, which stands at 94%.
  • The Central Bank of Uganda stated that tourism earnings have grown slower in the first ten months of 2019 attracting only 1.2 million tourists compared to 1.8 million tourists in 2018.
  • Uganda will take some time before it can fully achieve a cashless economy. According to the Central Bank of Uganda, Ugandans should first gain trust in electronic systems, keep money within the banking system and wide distribution of point of sales across the country, for the cashless economy to take shape.
  • Zambia real GDP decreased in Q2-2019 reaching 2.3% compared to 3.9% in Q2-2018. Moreover, it is projected to significantly decline to about 2.0% from 4.0% in 2018 premised on projected contraction in agriculture, constrained electricity generation, and lower than anticipated mining output.
  • The international Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that South Africa is facing a prolonged period of weak economic growth marked by rising unemployment, inequality and greater credit-rating risk if the government does not act fast to implement reforms.
  • The 'world's fastest straight-line car' has been unveiled in South Africa Hakskeenpan desert. The car, which has been developed by the Bloodhound Land Speed Record (BLSR) team, can travel at staggering speeds of over 500 miles/hour, and could break the world land speed record in 2020.
  • The African Development Bank (AfDB) has set 700 MM USD aside for the private sector for diversification of Zambia economy. The money is for three sectors of the economy namely agriculture, energy and movement from copper dependency.
         Political Events

  • After eight hours of closed-door deliberations inside a hall at the Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo, delegates from Rwanda and Uganda failed to reach an agreement and decided to refer the matters to the heads of state of both countries.
  • The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Small-Scale Miners Association of Zambia (SSMAZ), which will see the two countries sharing experiences on the small-scale mining sector.
         Stock Market
         Major Companies Transactions

  • The Danish Investment Fund for Developing Countries has acquired stake worth 20 MM USD in the Trade and Development Bank (TDB) formerly PTA Bank. In the deal signed between the two financial institutions, the Danish Investment Fund (IFU) bought 1,750 Class B shares making it the bank's largest institutional investor.
  • Kenya Airways named the head of its low-cost subsidiary as its new acting chief executive officer after its current boss announced his resignation in May amid the loss-making carrier's re-nationalization process. The new acting CEO Allan Kilavuka has been CEO of Kenya Airways subsidiary Jambojet for about a year. He will continue in that role as well as leading Kenya Airways.
  • Financial consulting firm Dalberg Advisors has appointed Kenyan Edwin Macharia as its Global Managing Partner starting January 2020. Mr Macharia was elected by the firm's equity partners for a three-year tenure.
  • Dubai Islamic Bank has partnered with NMC Fertility Kenya to offer personal financing to individuals seeking fertility services as in vitro fertilization gains acceptance in Kenya. The bank will loan a minimum of 100,000 KES (984 USD) to a maximum of 1 MM KES (983,767 USD) to all salaried employees whether on contract or permanent basis.
  • Kenya mobile phone-based solar kit reseller M-Kopa Solar has launched a solar powered refrigerator that is targeting off-grid homes and businesses. Customers will be required to pay 165 KES per day for 700 days, bringing the total cost to 115,500 KES (1,136 USD).
  • Vodacom Tanzania core earnings increased 9.3% in the first 9 months of 2019, driven by increased revenue from its financial and data provision services. Tanzania biggest telecoms operator stated that revenue from its M-Pesa financial services operations grew 15.9%, while its data business posted 17.4% revenue growth.
  • Two Rwandan Start-ups, Engineering Hub and Quip.link, caught the attention of global investors in Dubai, UAE in the previous week where they were pitching their firms in search of partnerships.
  • Hundreds of youth from East and Central Africa countries are expected to present an action plan to shape the future of the African food through a 5-day training event called "Shaping the future of food system in Africa".
  • Regional leasing firm, Vehicle and Equipment Leasing Limited (VAELL), has for the 4th time in a row been featured in the list of Tanzania Top 100 Mid-Sized companies. In 2019, the firm was ranked position 29, compared to 45 in 2018's survey.


 


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