Sweet sorghum is a hardy, nutritious, biofuel crop that offers solutions in drought-hit southern Africa

Sweet sorghum is a hardy, nutritious, biofuel crop that offers solutions in drought-hit southern Africa

Sweet sorghum ripening in Rwanda. Ari Beser/Getty Images By Hamond Motsi, Stellenbosch University The southern African region is battling with drought at present. This is the result of El Niño, a natural climate cycle characterised by changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures. It has effects on global weather patterns, particularly rainfall and temperature. The drought has hit the region’s agricultural productivity hard. Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe have […]

May 23, 2024 24

Africa

Zambia begins debt restructuring process

Zambia’s international bondholders should quickly complete the restructuring of the notes after the government announced the start of the process, says International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. Bloomberg Africa reports that the government of Africa’s first pandemic-era sovereign defaulter will meet eurobond investors on June 4th to ask them to approve exchanging what’s grown to almost $3.9 billion of debt for new instruments.

May 14, 2024 9

Africa

Insurance payouts expected for some Southern African drought hit countries

A drought driven by the El Nino weather pattern is likely to trigger insurance payouts to four southern African countries that took out cover with an agency of the African Union. Bloomberg reports that Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique will receive payments at the end of the harvesting season, according to current projections, African Risk Capacity said in a statement but the payments are unlikely to meet regional needs.

April 22, 2024 24

Africa

How to end hunger in sub-Saharan Africa: fight inequality, gender imbalances and climate change

By Helen Onyeaka, University of Birmingham A greater part of Africa’s population can’t afford a healthy diet than any other regional population. Food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa is caused by climate change, high levels of poverty, rapid population growth, low economic growth, inadequate infrastructure and conflicts. Women are the backbone of agricultural labour in the region. The problems of limited access to land, water and technology faced […]

April 18, 2024 18

Local

Children in the wilderness annual eco-camps back in full swing

Now in its twenty-second year, Children in the Wilderness (CITW) has proudly hosted more than 270 children, teachers, and Eco-Mentors at its annual 2023/24 Eco-Camps over the past few months. These four-day environmental leadership camps host the most deserving CITW Eco-Club members from its partner primary schools across all Wilderness’ areas of operation in Africa. “As our flagship programme for the Educate pillar of our Impact strategy, these Eco-Camps […]

April 18, 2024 10

Africa

Zambia’s arts and creative sector is thriving

By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Zambia’s recent unveiling of a National Arts and Revised Film Policy is evidence of the growing interest in increasing investment and fostering the growth of the arts and creative sector. Besides committing to invest close to US$100 million in the arts and film sector between 2024 and 2028, the policy commits to improving artists' welfare in a bid to promote talent by […]

April 8, 2024 15

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Africa

Largest frog in more than 100 years discovered in Africa

By Bertie Jacobs A new species of African bullfrog has been discovered in northeastern Namibia, southern Angola, southwestern Zambia and northwestern Botswana. It is the largest frog species discovered in more than 100 years. The largest specimen found is 210 millimetres long and weighs 1 kilogram. Once there were three, now there are four. Professor Louis du Preez, from the North-West University (NWU) in South Africa, and […]

March 25, 2024 100 2

Business / Economics

Financial abuse from an intimate partner? Three ways you can protect yourself

By Bomikazi Zeka, University of Canberra Financial abuse occurs when one person takes control over another person’s ability to acquire, use and maintain financial resources. An example is being denied access to your own funds or being forced to deposit your salary into a joint bank account but not having access to the account. It could also take place when large withdrawals are made from joint bank accounts […]

March 14, 2024 19

Business / Economics

IMF Ukraine / Commercial Real Estate Risks / Zambia

The IMF praised the Ukrainian authorities for implementing anti-corruption measures in a new law, spokesperson Julie Kozack told reporters Thursday (March 7) in Washington, DC. “On the corporate governance law, the approval of what we would consider a landmark corporate governance law is a very important step towards strengthening state owned enterprises (SOEs) in Ukraine,” said Kozack. “The law enhances the role of supervisory boards and brings Ukrainian […]

March 11, 2024 26