insert_link South Africa Over 26 million South Africans get a social grant. Fear of losing the payment used to be a reason to vote for the ANC, but no longer – study By Leila Patel, University of Johannesburg and Yolanda Sadie, University of Johannesburg Social grants to reduce poverty feature prominently in the campaign promises of political parties in South Africa’s 2024 national and provincial general elections, set for 29 May. The country’s social grants system is one of the largest in Africa in terms of number of beneficiaries. Research shows that this has helped reduce poverty. […] todayMay 15, 2024 8
insert_link Namibia Diamond industry growing, despite new industry players https://youtu.be/F8LsNudVJcY By Josia Shigwedha, via News on One With emerging industries in the energy sector such as oil and gas, the diamond industry’s position as a key contributor towards the growth of the sector and economy could be at stake. But this may not be the case as the Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) Chief Executive Officer, Brent Eiseb, stated that the intake of the precious gemstones for […] todayApril 24, 2024 11
insert_link Africa South Africa’s conservation model: why expanding the use of biodiversity to generate money is a good idea By Hayley Clements, Stellenbosch University; Alta De Vos, Stellenbosch University, and Matthew Child, University of Pretoria South Africa’s government is calling for public comments on an updated version of its existing biodiversity economy plan. The National Biodiversity Economy Strategy aims to conserve biodiversity while also contributing to job creation and economic growth. It proposes to do this by promoting sustainable use of the country’s natural resources. The strategy […] todayApril 8, 2024 10
insert_link Entertainment South Africa’s conservation model: why expanding the use of biodiversity to generate money is a good idea By Hayley Clements, Stellenbosch University; Alta De Vos, Stellenbosch University, and Matthew Child, University of Pretoria South Africa’s government is calling for public comments on an updated version of its existing biodiversity economy plan. The National Biodiversity Economy Strategy aims to conserve biodiversity while also contributing to job creation and economic growth. It proposes to do this by promoting sustainable use of the country’s natural resources. The […] todayApril 5, 2024 8
insert_link Local NBL announces half year financial results for 2023 Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) today announced the summarized consolidated financial results for the 6 months which ended December 2023. As a proudly Namibian business that is vested in growing the country’s economy for the past 103 years, NBL’s first half financial results show that it is geared towards evolving as a future-fit business during tough economic times. Socio-economic conditions remained challenging, and income disparity increased. NBL’s dominant position in […] todayApril 5, 2024 8
insert_link Business / Economics Namibia’s economy slows but tertiary sectors improve Namibia’s domestic economy slowed to record a growth of 4.2% in 2023, relative to a growth of 5.3% recorded in 2022, according to national accounts figures released by the Namibia Statistics Agency on Tuesday. The Primary and Secondary industries registered growth rates of 9.7% and 2%, respectively, compared to growth rates of 13.7% and 3.4% in the previous year. According to NSA data, the tertiary industries posted an increase of […] todayMarch 27, 2024 19
insert_link Business / Economics Sri Lanka cuts key interest rates, seeks China deal Sri Lanka's central bank cut interest rates Tuesday as the prime minister visited China seeking a debt restructuring deal crucial to maintaining an IMF bailout. Transport minister and government spokesman Bandula Gunawardana said Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena was in Beijing, the island's biggest bilateral creditor. "We are in the final stages of restructuring our foreign debt and the prime minister is in China for this purpose," Gunawardana told […] todayMarch 26, 2024 6
insert_link World Vladimir Putin’s gold strategy explains why sanctions against Russia have failed By Robert Huish, Dalhousie University There are more than 16,000 sanctions imposed against Russia. Yet the Russian economy and war machine grew by 3.6 per cent in 2023 and is projected to grow another 2.6 per cent in 2024. Nearly six per cent of Russia’s gross domestic product goes towards military spending. At a time when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scrambling to acquire arms, funds and […] todayMarch 19, 2024 3
insert_link Africa Inflation in Nigeria is still climbing while it has slowed globally: here’s why By Stephen Onyeiwu, Allegheny College Just as Nigerians were gradually digging out from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were hit by high inflation. The Nigerian economy contracted by 6.1% at the peak of COVID in the second quarter of 2020. Unemployment rate rose from 27% in the second quarter of 2020 to 33% in the fourth quarter of the same year. The World Bank estimated […] todayMarch 14, 2024 6
Paying it forward: Kenyan coastal doctor Bashrahil Mohammed Mafudh has made it his life’s work to care for the most vulnerable in his community, at no cost.
