Major International Business Headlines Brief ::: 02 May 2025

[Bulls n Bears]

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Major International Business Headlines Brief :::  02 May 2025 

 


 


 


 <mailto:info at bulls.co.zw> 

 


 

 


 

ü  Rwanda Launches Upgraded Building Permit Platform, Revised National
Urbanisation Policy

ü  South Africa: Just Transition 'Opportunity' Must Be Just for All

ü  Nigeria: NNPC Sacks Refinery Mds in Bold Move to Halt Value Erosion

ü  Malawi: Zikhale Ng'oma Shakes Up Malawi's Mining Sector - Chakwera's
Game-Changing Cabinet Pick Delivers

ü  U.S. Shuts Down Massive Lesotho Development Project - Reports

ü  South Africa to Table Revised Budget on May 21 After VAT U-Turn

ü  Namibia: African Horse Sickness Outbreak Confirmed in Namibia

ü  Nigeria: As Boko Haram Threat Grows, USAID Cuts Cripple the Economy and
the Response

ü  South Africa's Shift From Coal to Renewables - How It's Going

ü  Rwanda: Labour Union Calls for Worker Protections Amid Digitisation

ü  Kenya-China - a Bold Blueprint for a Shared Future

ü  Ghana's Kofa Gets $8.1m to Scale Battery Swapping Network in Africa

ü  Kenya: Nacada, Police, KRA Crack Down On Illicit Ehanol Trade

ü   

 

 


 <mailto:info at bulls.co.zw> 

 


 

Rwanda Launches Upgraded Building Permit Platform, Revised National
Urbanisation Policy

Through the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA), Rwanda has officially
launched the dissemination of its revised 2025 National Urbanisation Policy
(NUP), alongside the KUBAKA (BPMIS 2.0) portal, the new and enhanced
platform for online building permitting services. The upgraded platform is
designed to streamline access to the building permitting services through a
zero-trip approach, promote transparent, secure, and efficient permitting
services, and enhance the user experience.

 

The official launch event took place on Tuesday, April 29, at the Ministry
of Infrastructure (MININFRA) headquarters. It brought together officials and
representatives from central and local government institutions, development
partners, the private sector, financial institutions, professional bodies,
civil society, and academic and research institutions.

 

KUBAKA Platform

 

The KUBAKA Platform is the enhanced version of the Building Permit
Management Information System (BPMIS) introduced in 2016. It will serve as
an essential implementation tool of the 2025 National Urbanisation Policy
(NUP) as it aligns with its principles of SMART growth and efficient service
delivery and will support well-managed, formal, and coordinated urban
growth.

 

According to Dr. Jimmy Gasore, Minister of Infrastructure, the new version
addresses long-standing concerns from users, adding new features for the
enhancement of service delivery. With a user-friendly and intuitive
interface, KUBAKA allows citizens, landowners, investors, and professionals
in the real estate industry to apply for and track in real-time the status
of their building permit applications online at kubaka.gov.rw.

 

 

This digital platform is designed to enhance transparency, professionalism,
speed in the application and processing of building permits, and the user
experience, supporting Rwanda's digital transformation agenda under National
Strategy for Transformation 2 (NST2).

 

Minister Gasore noted that the KUBAKA Platform is aligned with the
Government of Rwanda's commitment to socio-economic transformation by
enhancing service delivery through the use and adoption of digital
technologies in its citizen-centered governance.

 

In the past, building permit officers were responsible for determining what
was or wasn't allowed, which created inconsistencies and limited
transparency, Dr. Gasore explained. The new KUBAKA Platform is directly
integrated and aligned with national master plans and can now automatically
validate compliance with master plans.

 

"The KUBAKA platform provides significant improvements from the former
BPMIS, by ensuring that urban growth is coordinated, follows the
environmental requirements of master plans, adopts the required density
standards, and enables formal construction," Alphonse Rukaburandekwe, the
Director General of Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), noted.

 

KUBAKA is built on a new and modern architecture and technologies, based on
a streamlined zero trip process for building permit application, which was
achieved through integrations with government third-party systems for
seamless data sharing and verification. These integrations help to share
information and automate document verification (such as land ownership,
masterplan checks, and tax clearance) through cross-government systems, thus
cutting the time and cost to submit and process applications.

 

"With the launch of this new KUBAKA platform, we are making the building
permit process faster, more transparent, and citizen-centred," said the
Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA),
Innocent Bagamba Muhizi.

 

"It is a critical step in modernizing service delivery and promoting smart,
climate-resilient urban development across Rwanda."

 

The revised National Urbanisation Policy

 

Adopted by the Cabinet on February 10, 2025, the revised National
Urbanisation Policy (NUP) updates Rwanda's 2015 urbanization policy to align
with Vision 2050 and the National Strategy for Transformation 2 (NST2).

 

Minister Gasore emphasised that the new policy builds on a decade of
achievements of the first urbanisation policy and aims to tackle persistent
urban challenges, including informal growth, climate change and disaster
risk, and uneven development between Kigali and satellite and secondary
cities.

 

The government plans to have at least 70 per cent of the population living
in urban areas by 2050. Explaining the revised urbanisation policy, Gasore
noted that it highlights plans to expand and develop infrastructure in
satellite cities and secondary cities, easing population pressure on Kigali.

 

"From our current urbanisation level of 27.9 per cent, we target to reach
52.7 per cent by 2035, and we will reach 70 per cent by 2050," Gasore noted.

 

Dr Jack Ngarambe, Director General in Charge of Urbanisation, Human
Settlements and Housing Development at MININFRA, noted that while the 2015
policy achieved significant milestones, such as the development of master
plans and urban instruments, the implementation of infrastructure projects,
and the use of ICT tools for service delivery, some gaps needed addressing.

 

The new policy also aims to solve challenges identified from the 2015 NUP,
including insufficient budget for implementation, especially limited
own-source revenues from districts, limited urban planning capacity in local
government entities, and limited access to urbanisation-related data.

 

Ngarambe noted that the earlier policy was developed under Vision 2020 and
needed to be updated for Vision 2050. The new policy is built on four
pillars: coordination, densification, liveability, and economic growth. Each
pillar presents objectives associated with specific policy actions.

 

"For coordination, for instance, the aim is to promote inter- and
intra-institutional engagements across the government, private sector, and
civil society, and focus mainly on cooperation and budget alignment,"
Ngarambe said, emphasising that this would be essential in ensuring
stakeholders have complementary efforts and maintain resource efficiency.

 

He added that a policy action to increase coordination in government
entities is the establishment of City Management Offices. He underscored
that one reason the City of Kigali outperforms other cities is thanks to its
City Management Office, which ensures all stakeholders are involved in the
city's development. He emphasised that the goal is to have the same city
management offices across the country, starting in districts with satellite
and secondary cities.

 

He also highlighted the vision, mission, and goals of the new national
urbanisation policy.

 

"For the updated policy, the vision is to achieve a balanced spatial
development of sustainable and inclusive human settlements throughout
Rwanda," Ngarambe said, noting that the mission is to create sustainable and
liveable urban environments that promote social equity and environmental
stewardship.

 

"The goal is to accelerate rates of urbanisation and, in doing so, create
hubs of inclusive and green growth through well-managed cities,
well-coordinated spatial development, and resilient urban infrastructure."

 

Read the original article on New Times.

 

 

 

South Africa: Just Transition 'Opportunity' Must Be Just for All

Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has reiterated
government's commitment to an energy transition that is just and inclusive
for all.

 

The Minister was delivering the opening remarks at the G20 Energy
Transitions Working Groups (ETWG) Technical Teams meeting held in Cape Town
on Thursday.

 

"We must affirm, unequivocally, that a successful transition is one that
does not displace workers but rather, transforms their prospects. It must
prioritise reskilling, protect livelihoods and anchor new industries that
generate quality jobs.

 

 

"The transition must not extract from the many to enrich the few but [it
must] expand opportunity in a way that reflects the spirit of solidarity,
the principles of equality and the commitment to sustainability that defines
our G20 Presidency," he said.

 

Ramokgopa further emphasised that to ensure that South Africa's climate
goals are enduring, "they must be built on the foundation of social
consensus".

 

"Workers must see themselves not as casualties of the transitions but as
co-authors of a new energy future. This is not just a matter of policy: it
is a matter of principle; one we owe to those whose hands have powered our
economies and whose futures must remain central to our planning," Ramokgopa
said.

 

The Minister said the transition must also be seen as a "development
project" for developing economies.

 

"It cannot simply be about decarbonising the global economy. It must also
enable nations to industrialise, create jobs and expand the reach of human
development.

 

"For the global South, the transition must mean...moving from vulnerability
to resilience, from exclusion to empowerment and lastly, from energy poverty
to energy sovereignty," Ramokgopa said.

 

The Minister told the gathering that South Africa has proposed that the
working consider "practical frameworks for concessional finance" of energy
transitions.

 

"These are not abstract goals but they are pre-conditions for energy
justice. As an African country, we speak of the confidence of a continent
that is not seeking charity but partnership.

 

"Africa has the youngest population, greatest solar potential and the
fastest growing demand for energy services. We are not the last frontier of
development. We are the next frontier of opportunity. We welcome
partnerships that view African countries not merely as recipients of energy
investments but as co-creators of the solutions needed for a global just
transition.

 

"Africa is ready to lead. But we must do so on terms that affirm our
sovereignty, support our integration and build our industrial base,"
Ramokgopa said.

 

Read the original article on SAnews.gov.za.

 

 

 

Nigeria: NNPC Sacks Refinery Mds in Bold Move to Halt Value Erosion

In a sweeping move aimed at halting continued value erosion in Nigeria's
refining sector, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Bayo
Ojulari, has relieved the Managing Directors of the company's three
refineries, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, and Warri--of their duties, THISDAY has
learnt.

 

According to a competent source, the decision, which takes immediate effect,
marks a significant first step in what the GCEO described as a broader
initiative to assess the true state of NNPC's refineries and to explore the
most efficient management models going forward.

 

The primary objective of the restructuring is to halt the ongoing loss of
value in the short term and to develop a credible, long-term strategy that
will restore and maximize value for the federation.

 

As part of the restructuring process, the GCEO has also inaugurated a
high-level assessment team led by the Executive Vice President, Downstream,
Alhaji Mumuni Dagazzau. The team is mandated to embark on an immediate
operational assessment tour of all NNPC refineries to determine their
current status and provide recommendations.

 

President Tinubu, invoking his powers under Section 59(2) of the Petroleum
Industry Act 2021, had on April 2 appointed an 11-man board for the NNPCL
with Ojulari as the Group Chief Executive Officer.

 

President Tinubu had also handed out an immediate action plan to the new
board to conduct a strategic portfolio review of NNPC-operated and Joint
Venture Assets to ensure alignment with value maximisation objectives.

 

Read the original article on This Day.

 

 

 

Malawi: Zikhale Ng'oma Shakes Up Malawi's Mining Sector - Chakwera's
Game-Changing Cabinet Pick Delivers

Trust the tale--Zikhale Ng'oma is rewriting Malawi's mining story! Once a
neglected sector riddled with inefficiencies and missed opportunities,
mining is now seeing a new dawn under the dynamic leadership of Minister
Zikhale Ng'oma, thanks to the foresight of President Lazarus Chakwera.

 

Ng'oma's commanding presence and sharp intellect took center stage at the
close of the 2025 Malawi Mining Investment Forum, themed "Advancing Malawi's
Mining Agenda in an Evolving Global Industry." He didn't just talk
reforms--he ignited a movement.

 

"Malawi needs mining investors who bring the full bakery--not just raw
extraction, but processing, exporting, and value addition," Ng'oma declared.
"We've made it too easy for our riches to leave the country raw. That ends
now. New, tougher laws are coming--backed by real data from my ministry."

 

 

Ng'oma, the Nkhata Bay South MP and former Homeland Security chief, made
clear he's not here to play politics--he's here to build Malawi's mining
into a powerhouse. He emphasized that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the
creative potential of Malawi's youth are essential to unlocking a
sustainable, modern mining future.

 

"We're in the AI era. My ministry values the pioneering power of our
youth--creative, bold, and ready for transformation."

 

Ng'oma also revealed plans to host more strategic indabas with academics and
small-scale miners to craft a robust investment framework that benefits all.
And he's not stopping there--he's set to audit past mining contracts to
ensure future deals are transparent, binding, and fair for Malawi.

 

Grateful for the support shown during the forum, he hailed President
Chakwera as a "reflective and futuristic leader", and praised partners like
Standard Bank for stepping up.

 

To the media, Ng'oma didn't mince words:

 

"Transparency and access to information are essential ingredients in mining
development."

 

As Malawi looks to grow its economy beyond agriculture, Zikhale Ng'oma is
proving to be the hard-hitting reformist the mining sector desperately
needed--and President Chakwera's bet on him is already paying off.

 

Malawi's mining future just got real.

 

Read the original article on Nyasa Times.

 

 

 

U.S. Shuts Down Massive Lesotho Development Project - Reports

There are reports that the Lesotho Health and Horticulture compact
agreement, which was reached in 2022 with the Milennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) - a U.S. foreign aid agency - is being shut down in the
wake of the closure of the MCC by the Trump Administration.

 

The U.S.$300 million agreement would have benefitted approximately 2.5
million people and generated tens of thousands of "direct and indirect"
jobs. The compact deal consisted of three projects: a $75.4-million health
project; a $118.6-million food production project; and a $62-million project
aimed at small businesses.

 

The Lesotho government has remained silent on the future of the project.

 

 

 

South Africa to Table Revised Budget on May 21 After VAT U-Turn

inance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced that the 2025 Budget Review would
be re-tabled on 21 May 2025, following National Treasury's decision to
withdraw a proposed 0.5% VAT increase that was set to take effect on 1 May. 

 

Godongwana described the public and political debate that followed the
initial budget, tabled on 12 March, as "rigorous, as is right in a healthy
democracy". Godongwana said he was "pleased" that the budget will be
balanced "without raising VAT while protecting vital services like
education, health and social grants." 

 

Godongwana outlined a three-pronged approach: stricter cost management to
avoid additional borrowing (given South Africa's R1 billion daily debt
servicing costs), improved revenue collection through SARS, and economic
reforms to spur growth and job creation.

 

 

 

 

Namibia: African Horse Sickness Outbreak Confirmed in Namibia

The Directorate of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has announced the outbreak of African horse
sickness in various parts of the country.

 

A statement issued by the ministry on Wednesday indicated that about 25
confirmed cases have been reported from the state veterinary districts of
Otjinene, Windhoek, Okahandja, Omaruru, Gobabis and Mariental.

 

African horse sickness is an infectious but noncontagious viral disease that
commonly affects horses, mules and donkeys and is characterised by
alterations in the respiratory and circulatory functions.

 

Its symptoms include sudden death, coughing, froth from the nose, enlarged
lymph nodes and fever.

 

 

The statement says measures to control and prevent the further spread of the
disease have been put in place with immediate effect, in line with the
Animal Health Act 1 of 2011.

 

These include the quarantine of the affected establishments, while movement
of horses and donkeys within or in and out of the veterinary districts with
suspected or confirmed outbreaks, will only be allowed under the cover of a
veterinary movement permit on condition that they have received their full
vaccinations.

 

"Owners are advised to vaccinate their horses using a registered polyvalent
African horse sickness vaccine according to the manufacturer's
recommendations, and horse owners are advised to stable their horses at
night and other equines in insect-proof stables," it reads.

 

The public is also reminded that no person may move horses or donkeys within
the country unless a movement permit is obtained in line with the law.

 

The directorate urged horse owners to report any suspicious or confirmed
case of the disease to the nearest state veterinary office as required by
law.

 

Read the original article on Namibian.

 

 

 

Nigeria: As Boko Haram Threat Grows, USAID Cuts Cripple the Economy and the
Response

Maiduguri, Nigeria — "Unfortunately, the people that will be impacted the
most will be the beneficiaries of assistance."

 

International aid cuts - most dramatically the stop-work orders implemented
by the United States - are not only hitting relief programmes worldwide, but
they're also taking their toll on the local economies that support those
humanitarian efforts.

 

The city of Maiduguri, in Nigeria's northeast, is a case in point. For a
decade, it has been the centre of aid operations aimed at the victims of a
rural insurgency by the jihadist group Boko Haram, which has forced 1.9
million people from their homes and tipped millions more into destitution.

 

A booming service industry - from car hire companies, to security guards, to
importers - caters to the needs of the more than 280 registered NGOs and UN
relief agencies based in Maiduguri. The state government's insistence on
local employment for humanitarian jobs has also created a class of well-paid
graduates tied to the non-profit sector - a limited antidote to a nationwide
unemployment epidemic.

 

 

Maiduguri, the former urban base of Boko Haram, has been revived. The new
hotels, the streets choked with traffic, the housing construction: All
attest to both the improved security and an economy that has benefitted from
the influx of aid workers and relief programmes.

 

"The growth in the last eight to nine years, the hustle and bustle of the
markets, the amount of goods coming in, is very much linked to the
humanitarian response," said a senior aid worker, who asked for anonymity so
they could speak freely. "Without that, you would expect the same level of
stagnation you see in other northern cities [where economic growth is far
lower than the rest of the country]."

 

The scale of spending has been significant. The UN launched an appeal in
January for $910 million to support 3.6 million people most in need in the
northeast, out of an overall vulnerable population of 7.8 million.

 

 

Between 2021 and 2024, annual humanitarian appeals have totalled more than
$3.4 billion - although actual financing has fallen well short of that donor
ask.

 

The impact of USAID's withdrawal

 

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been a
key funder, not just financing major agencies like the World Health
Organization and the World Food Programme, but for many local projects -
especially in health and nutrition.

 

USAID's stop-work orders, issued at the beginning of the year, have not only
shuttered those projects, impacting the most needy, but they have also
affected the lives of local aid workers that have been laid off.

 

Daniel Hassan, 32, had been a project officer at Supertouch Kindness
Foundation (SKF) - a local NGO funded by USAID that serves people with
disabilities. His abrupt termination in February was a crushing blow to both
his career prospects and his family's budget.

 

Although graduating with a bachelor's degree in 2017, he had struggled for
years to find full-time work. Landing the position at SKF was
"life-changing", he told The New Humanitarian. "The finances, the status,
even the kind of meals the family ate changed."

 

Hassan earned 380,000 naira (roughly $238) a month - five times the national
minimum wage. "A lot of bills were settled, a lot of debts were paid," he
said. But now, especially as he had been the family's sole breadwinner, the
loss of income "has caused a lot of emotional vulnerability".

 

Knock-on effects

 

The effect of the aid squeeze has rippled through Maiduguri's economy. The
retail outlets that sprung up to meet the new consumer demand from
well-heeled aid workers have been hit particularly badly.

 

Today's Super Stores is a good example. Rising from a small street kiosk in
the 2010s to become a major supermarket chain and shopping hub for
expatriates, it is now in financial trouble.

 

"Whatever we become, you cannot take away the enormous contributions of the
NGOs," said Mohammed Suraj, the store's general manager. "They are part of
the success of this business."

 

Despite the country's economic obstacles, and prolonged power outages,
Today's Super Stores turned in annual profits of $744,000 to $864,000 from
2019 to 2022, said Suraj. But profits took a knock in 2024 as humanitarian
funding began to decline - the result of competition from other global
emergencies. The situation has turned critical since February this year,
when the USAID cuts came into force.

 

"Before, I would receive about 15 emails and nearly 50 calls daily [from
caterers and other businesses affiliated with NGOs], but we barely receive
any now," Suraj explained.

 

The downturn has also been reflected in the property market.

 

Demand boomed with the influx of NGOs, which triggered a surge in rental
prices. Property owners prioritised renting to new arrivals who could pay in
foreign currency, which had the effect of pushing affordable housing beyond
the reach of many locals.

 

For close to a decade, Mohammad Musa had leased his land to an international
NGO, which then built offices. But the contract ended in February and "the
financial impact is already being felt," said Musa. Not only has he lost the
INGO's income, but the lack of local demand means he has been unable to find
anyone to rent the offices to.

 

State revenue takes a hit

 

Borno collected a record $18 million in revenue last year, surpassing its
target by 46%. But those gains are now at risk, which will impact the level
of services the state will be able to provide its citizens.

 

"We, as the agency saddled with the responsibility to generate revenue, know
that we have been negatively impacted by the exodus of NGOs and INGOs," Ardo
Buba, the board secretary of the Borno Internal Revenue Service (Bo-IRS),
told The New Humanitarian.

 

The retrenchment of workers will mean a significant drop in Pay As You Earn
(PAYE) tax deductions, said Buba. Bo-IRS also collects a 10% tax on rented
office spaces and residential accommodation, and takes a 5% to 10% slice of
NGO procurement costs and consultancy fees - which has represented a
reliable source of revenue for the state government.

 

Despite those revenues, the state government has had a schizophrenic
relationship with NGOs. Governor Babagana Zulum has been a harsh critic of
the humanitarian sector, arguing that it has bred aid dependency and
fattened the budgets of "unaccountable" relief groups.

 

"With the shrinkage of the aid sector, I think Zulum will finally get what
he's been praying for," said the senior aid worker. "There will be no one
left to clamp down on: But, unfortunately, the people that will be impacted
the most will be the beneficiaries of assistance."

 

Post-aid plans

 

Before the emergence of Boko Haram, Borno was a regional economic hub, its
commercial and livestock markets attracting traders from neighbouring Chad,
Niger, and Cameroon. A multi-billion dollar fish industry transported smoked
fish caught in Lake Chad throughout southern Nigeria.

 

To offset the aid sector impact on jobs and revenue, Abdulaziz Mala, a
researcher specialising in the Lake Chad region, believes the state
government should prioritise reviving its agricultural potential and local
trade networks. It's a strategy backed by Lake Chad Basin countries, and
endorsed by the African Union and the UN Development Programme.

 

"Now that there aren't any restrictions on [major] roads, a lot of markets
[in the countryside] are currently operating," Mala noted. "So if the
government can ensure peace in these areas, it can be a source of stability
for the state's economy."

 

However, that is currently an extremely tall order. Boko Haram - or more
accurately its more powerful offshoot, the so-called Islamic State of West
Africa - is staging a comeback. There have been repeated attacks on military
posts, and an increased tempo in the killing of people sent from Maiduguri's
displacement camps to their ancestral homes in the countryside.

 

Last month, Zulum warned that renewed attacks and kidnappings were occurring
"almost on a daily basis" and the authorities were "losing ground". The
military commander for the northeast was replaced this week by Abuja,
worried over the worsening security climate.

 

There is growing concern that continued gains by ISWAP and Boko Haram could
see the northeast slip into the insecurity of a decade ago, with mass rural
displacement and worsening food insecurity. This time, though, with the aid
sector undermined and the state more impoverished, the humanitarian response
will be even less effective.

 

With additional reporting in Maiduguri by Ijasini Ijani. Edited by Obi
Anyadike.

 

Read this report on The New Humanitarian. The New Humanitarian puts quality,
independent journalism at the service of the millions of people affected by
humanitarian crises around the world.

 

 

 

 

South Africa's Shift From Coal to Renewables - How It's Going

Just over 74% of South Africa's electricity still comes from burning coal.
In 2021, the country negotiated the Just Energy Transition Partnership with
Germany, the UK, France, the US and the European Union. They committed to
providing South Africa with US$8.5 billion (R157 billion) to move away from
coal to renewable energy. (In March 2025, US president Donald Trump withdrew
the US and its share of the funding, about US$1.5 billion, or R27.7 billion,
from the arrangement.) Researcher Nqobile Xaba talks to The Conversation
Africa about how the partnership is going.

 

What has the partnership done so far?

 

 

After its launch in 2021, the Just Energy Transition Partnership attracted
additional pledges from the Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, Spain and
Switzerland. The total amount pledged is now US$11.8 billion (R218 billion).

 

Though the US has pulled out, the other partners remain committed to
fulfilling the funding they've promised. In fact, financing has begun to
flow in.

 

South Africa has come up with a Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan
that sets out what is needed and how much it will cost to achieve a low
carbon economy. The plan also sets out what is needed to build South
Africa's ability to cope with global warming. It also proposes ways to
create quality jobs, set up a stable energy supply, and boost economic
growth.

 

To date, US$583 million (R10.8 billion) has been allocated to just energy
transition projects. A publicly available register is keeping track of how
money is spent.

 

 

Read more: 600 million Africans don't have electricity - the green energy
transition must start with them

 

South Africa is investing the funds in six focus areas: the electricity
sector; green hydrogen; new energy vehicles; skills development; a just
transition away from coal in Mpumalanga; and municipal capacity.

 

The initial funds have been used to pay for:

 

studies into the technical, economic, environmental and social aspects of
decommissioning coal-fired power plants

building infrastructure, such as upgrading and expanding electricity
transmission infrastructure to enable large-scale grid uptake of renewable
energy

training municipalities to begin planning local level renewable energy
projects

community development and meetings.

The plan is focused on parts of South Africa that are currently almost
entirely dependent on coal mining. For example, money has been allocated to
projects that will support new forms of industry in Mpumalanga, a province
where 12 collieries are based. This recognises that people and businesses in
coal regions are vulnerable. They'll bear the brunt of the transition.

 

What has worked well?

 

Progress has been made in policy and regulatory reforms to support the
energy transition.

 

For example, the South African government is reforming the energy sector
through the energy action plan, the country's national energy security
roadmap. The reforms include allowing the private sector to generate
electricity without a licence. They also include approving a new renewable
energy masterplan that aims to set up green industries and jobs in renewable
energy system production.

 

Read more: South Africa finally has a masterplan for a renewable energy
industry: here's what it says

 

These policy reforms have been designed to attract investments into large
scale renewable energy development.

 

In climate policy, the Climate Change Act was passed in July 2024. It aims
to make sure that climate change is incorporated in all government
strategies and plans. This will enable different government departments to
have one co-ordinated response to combating climate change.

 

What are some of the apparent challenges?

 

First, transitioning to renewable energy needs to be accompanied by economic
diversification. This simply means that sectors that support the economy,
like agriculture, manufacturing and the services industry, need to be
involved in the transition.

 

Second, South Africa has three huge socio-economic challenges: poverty,
inequality and unemployment. There is therefore a need to make sure the
energy transition creates decent work for people.

 

Read more: South Africa's coal workers face an uncertain future - Mpumalanga
study flags they're being left out of the green transition

 

Third, social protection for the most vulnerable people must be widened.
South Africa has a well established social protection system. But it needs
to be strengthened with measures like a universal basic income grant. This
would support people who might lose their jobs in the energy transition.

 

Fourth, South Africa's energy insecurity is a major challenge. The country's
coal fleet is not performing at its full capacity and can't meet the energy
needs for the country. Intermittent power cuts have resulted. The renewable
energy industry is still being developed. It cannot address this energy
shortfall right now, since only about 8.8% of installed capacity comes from
renewables (wind, solar photovoltaic panels and concentrated solar power).
To minimise the power cuts, three coal plants that were scheduled to close
by 2027 are now going to stay open until 2030. This delays the transition
away from coal-fired power.

 

Read more: South Africa's move to green energy was slowed down by government
to protect coal mining

 

Fifth, state capacity needs attention. For example, ministerial oversight -
who is responsible for what - needs to be clarified. Frameworks are needed
that will set out how the transition is managed, monitored and evaluated.

 

Finally, collaboration is important. When rolling out renewable energy
projects, the roles of all the social partners (community, labour,
government, women and business) need to be made clear and explicit.

 

What still needs to be done?

 

A people centred approach needs to be adopted. This means involving all
citizens and making sure solutions are found in which all people's
livelihoods are conserved.

 

A just energy transition should not simply be a shift to a low carbon energy
system and economy. Rather, it must foster green industrial development,
while prioritising the well-being of all South Africa's citizens, especially
society's most impoverished communities, which bear no material
responsibility for the problem.

 

The implementation of the just energy transition needs strong local
government (municipalities). They have to be able to carry out the
transition to renewable energy because in South Africa, they are the
custodians of service delivery. But ageing electricity and water systems
that malfunction regularly and a lack of money to fix them will need to be
resolved. The implementation of a just energy transition that leaves no one
behind won't be able to happen without this.

 

Nqobile Xaba, Research associate, University of Johannesburg

 

This article is republished from The Conversation Africa under a Creative
Commons license. Read the original article.

 

 

 

Rwanda: Labour Union Calls for Worker Protections Amid Digitisation

Rwanda Workers' Trade Union Confederation (CESTRAR) has warned that while
digitalisation is bringing efficiency and innovation to the workplace, it is
also introducing new risks to workers' job security and deepening existing
inequalities. The union is calling for stronger protections for workers.

 

Speaking during Labour Day celebrations held at CESTRAR headquarters in
Kigali on May 1, the union's Secretary General Africain Biraboneye
emphasised the need for proactive policies to manage the digital shift.

 

ALSO READ: Labour Day: Thousands of mine workers benefit from minimum
'living' wage

 

 

"Smart technologies are advancing rapidly. They improve productivity and
reduce physical injuries, but they also eliminate human oversight and pose
new health and safety risks," Biraboneye said.

 

Biraboneye pointed out the lack of existing policies to regulate these tools
and stressed the need for proper training for workers who interact with
them.

 

ALSO READ: Labour union appeals for pay rise amid high cost of living

 

"Robots can misoperate; they can drop what they're meant to lift or act
unpredictably if a programme fails," he noted. "We need clear policies, in
line with international standards, to ensure safe integration of these
systems into the workplace."

 

"These tools must not threaten workers' lives or livelihoods. We need
immediate strategies to protect those working directly with or around
digital systems, from machine operators to maintenance staff."

 

Call for wage adjustment

 

Biraboneye also urged the government to establish a reliable mechanism for
adjusting wages to match rising living costs and currency fluctuations.

 

"For years, we have called on the government to create a structured system
for wage reviews that reflects inflation and the weakening currency," he
said.

 

ALSO READ: Trade unions urge review of salaries

 

"Setting a national minimum wage and reviewing it at least every five years
would be a major step toward safeguarding workers' wellbeing and ensuring
economic stability," Biraoneye said.

 

Flora Nyiratsinda, Secretary General of the Hotel, Bars, Restaurants and
Tourism Workers' Syndicate, acknowledged progress in workers' treatment
within the hospitality sector but said challenges remain.

 

"Some hotels still offer wages that do not meet workers' basic needs," she
said. "It's concerning that some hotels are increasing their star ratings
while their workers still get low salaries," Nyiratsinda said.

 

She added that establishing a minimum wage would help address this issue,
ensuring that improved hotel ratings also translate into employees' improved
welfare.

 

"In some cases, the low wages are even pushing workers into prostitution,"
she warned

 

Read the original article on New Times.

 

 

 

Kenya-China - a Bold Blueprint for a Shared Future

President William Ruto's recent state visit to China marks a pivotal moment
in Kenya's foreign policy and economic direction. The Joint Statement issued
by both governments signals a deepening of ties that is strategic,
ambitious, and firmly grounded in mutual benefit.

 

At the core of this evolving partnership is the vision of building an
"all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era."
This relationship affirms Kenya's agency, draws on China's development
experience, and underscores the urgent need for African nations to
recalibrate their global partnerships toward more equitable and sustainable
outcomes.

 

 

The renewed focus on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation--aligned with
Kenya's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda and Vision 2030--is
particularly promising. For years, Kenya has wrestled with the "missing
middle": the disconnect between major infrastructure projects and the
development of local industries. The current commitment to integrate
industrial growth, job creation, and sustainability marks a fresh and
hopeful chapter--one that deserves close attention and stewardship.

 

Equally important is the mutual pledge to defend core interests and resist
external interference. Kenya's strong reaffirmation of the One-China policy
reflects principled diplomacy and adherence to the international law
doctrine of non-interference. At a time of intensifying global rivalry, such
clarity of purpose is both rare and commendable.

 

The synergy around global initiatives such as the Global Development
Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative
also deserves recognition. These frameworks shift the development
conversation from charity to partnership. Kenya's growing leadership in
climate negotiations and AI governance demonstrates that we are not mere
beneficiaries but active contributors to shaping the Global South's future.

 

 

Of course, concerns about deepening ties with China--ranging from debt
dependency to opaque project terms--are not unfounded. They must remain part
of our national dialogue. But rather than retreat from strategic
partnerships, Kenya's opportunity lies in negotiating smarter, implementing
more effectively, and governing with transparency.

 

Efforts to expand trade--especially by increasing Kenyan exports to
China--could yield transformative benefits for farmers, manufacturers, and
small enterprises. Joint initiatives in smart cities, AI, green technology,
and modern agriculture offer Kenya the chance to leapfrog traditional
development paths and build a future-ready economy.

 

Yet, the success of these grand visions depends on their impact on ordinary
Kenyans. The Standard Gauge Railway offers a cautionary tale: ambition must
be balanced with affordability. Future projects must prioritize local
content, technology transfer, and skills development.

 

Internally, Kenya must strengthen its systems to manage new investments
transparently, maintain debt sustainability, and ensure that all initiatives
serve national interests. Parliamentary oversight, public engagement, and
professional negotiation should not be seen as obstacles but as critical
safeguards of long-term prosperity.

 

Finally, as China and Kenya commit to being steadfast partners for global
peace, a true test of this alliance will be their shared commitment to
"African solutions for African problems." Supporting the African Union's
peace and security architecture and elevating Africa's voice in global
governance must be foundational pillars of this partnership.

 

In sum, President Ruto's visit to China was more than a diplomatic
success--it was a call to action. Kenya's policymakers, businesses, and
citizens must think bigger, act bolder, and demand more from international
cooperation. If guided with foresight and integrity, the China-Kenya
partnership can become a powerful model for Africa and the wider Global
South.

 

The writer is a communications specialist with a keen interest in African
foreign policy and China-Africa relations.

 

Read the original article on Capital FM.

 

 

 

Ghana's Kofa Gets $8.1m to Scale Battery Swapping Network in Africa

Ghanaian energy startup Kofa has raised $8.1 million in a pre-Series A round
to expand its AI-powered battery-swapping network across urban Africa

Kofa operates a swappable battery system designed for motorcycles, small
businesses, and households

Kofa will use the funds to scale into three cities across West and East
Africa and enhance its AI-based battery management system

Ghanaian energy startup Kofa has raised $8.1 million in a pre-Series A round
to expand its AI-powered battery-swapping network across urban Africa. The
round includes $3.25 million in equity, $4.315 million in debt, and $590,000
in grants. Equity investment was co-led by E3 Capital and Injaro Investment
Advisors, while Shell Foundation and the UK's Transforming Energy Access
platform supported with catalytic debt and grants.

 

 

Launched in 2022, Kofa operates a swappable battery system designed for
motorcycles, small businesses, and households. The system delivers reliable,
clean energy in under two minutes per swap. The company currently
facilitates over 200 swaps daily with a 99% charge rate.

 

Kofa will use the funds to scale into three cities across West and East
Africa and enhance its AI-based battery management system, which tracks
usage, predicts demand, and optimizes energy deployment.

 

Daba is Africa's leading investment platform for private and public markets.
Download here

 

Key Takeaways

 

Kofa's fundraising reflects rising investor interest in Africa's clean
energy and electric mobility sectors. With urban congestion and fuel costs
driving demand for electric motorcycles and decentralized power,
battery-swapping solutions are emerging as scalable, cost-effective
alternatives. By integrating AI and IoT, Kofa aims to solve major pain
points: battery reliability, charging time, and infrastructure cost. Its
platform increases uptime for small businesses and delivery operators, many
of whom rely on two-wheel transport. The company's investor mix--including
institutional funds, development finance, and battery-sector
angels--positions Kofa to benefit from the convergence of clean tech,
fintech, and urban logistics. Local assembly and international hardware
partnerships will be central to scaling infrastructure sustainably. As
countries like Ghana and Kenya prioritize electrification and carbon
reduction, Kofa's approach could become a blueprint for distributed energy
in high-density African cities, where access, affordability, and speed
remain non-negotiable.

 

Read the original article on Daba Finance.

 

 

 

 

Kenya: Nacada, Police, KRA Crack Down On Illicit Ehanol Trade

Bungoma — A breakthrough in the fight against illicit substances was
achieved on Friday when a lorry transporting what is suspected to be illegal
ethanol was intercepted during a joint multi-agency operation.

 

The vehicle was found with 35 containers, each holding 250 liters of a clear
liquid, carefully concealed under cartons of milk in an apparent attempt to
deceive law enforcement.

 

The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse
(NACADA), led by its CEO Dr. Anthony Omerikwa, speaking at the scene, said.

 

"This was not just an attempt to break the law; it was an intentional move
to endanger lives," Dr. Omerikwa said.

 

 

"We will not relent in pursuing those involved in the manufacture,
trafficking, and sale of illegal or uncustomised substances. Their assets
will be traced and seized under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money
Laundering framework."

 

Samples of the seized liquid have been dispatched to the Government Chemist
for analysis.

 

Preliminary investigations suggest the ethanol was being trafficked for
possible use in the manufacture of illicit alcohol.

 

Dr. Omerikwa commended the swift action and coordination by the local police
command and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), stating, "This successful
operation is a testament to what inter-agency collaboration can achieve. I
applaud our partners in the police and KRA for their vigilance and
commitment to public safety.

 

"He emphasised the need for enhanced intelligence sharing across government
agencies, noting, "More seizures and apprehensions are possible if we break
silos and pool our efforts. The networks fueling this trade thrive on
communication gaps. We must close them."

 

The CEO further urged the public to be part of the fight by reporting
suspicious activity anonymously through NACADA's toll-free hotline 1192.

 

"Community support is crucial. Let us protect our youth and safeguard the
future," he said.

 

Investigations are ongoing to trace the origins and intended destination of
the intercepted substance as NACADA and its partners ramp up efforts to
dismantle the networks behind Kenya's illicit drug trade.

 

Read the original article on Capital FM.

 

 

 

 


 


 


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Bulls n Bears 

 

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INVESTORS DIARY 2025

 


Company

Event

Venue

Date & Time

 


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 


Companies under Cautionary

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


CBZH

GetBucks

EcoCash

 


Padenga

Econet

RTG

 


Fidelity

TSL

FMHL

 


 

 

 

 


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