Major International Business Headlines Brief::: 15 April 2024

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Major International Business Headlines Brief:::  15 April 2024 

 


 


 

	
 


 

 


 

ü  Kenya's Cost of Living to Drop Further On Lower Food, Fuel Prices

ü  Nigeria: Govt Must Halt Shell's Sale of Its Niger Delta Business Unless
Human Rights Are Fully Protected

ü  Rwanda: Untold Story - Bourbon's Role in Rwanda's Growing Coffee Culture

ü  West Africa: Wave of Increased Food Insecurity Hits West and Central
Africa

ü  African Development Bank Publishes Report On Callable Capital

ü  Uganda: These Ugandan Vendors Choose Their Jobs Over Their Health - Do
They Have a Choice?

ü  Kenya: Bore Urges Medics to End Strike and Heed Dialogue Call

ü  Africa: Libya Emerges Africa's Highest Oil Producer As Nigeria's Output
Drops 6.8 Percent to 1.23 Mbpd

ü  South Africa: Who Ends Up Paying If DMRE Cooks the Price of Nuclear
Power? SAFCEI Asks

ü  Southern Africa: Botswana Objects to G7-EU Diamond-Tracking System

ü  South Africa: Ramokgopa Visits Camden Power Station

ü  Kenya's Weekly Coffee Earnings Decline By $2 Million

ü  Iran-Israel tensions: Oil prices lower after attack

ü  Biden urged to ban China-made electric vehicles

ü  GDP: Economy grew in February increasing hopes UK is out of recession

 


 

 


 <https://www.cloverleaf.co.zw/> Kenya's Cost of Living to Drop Further On
Lower Food, Fuel Prices

Kenya is poised for a sustained decline in inflation, propelled by a
consecutive four-month downturn in fuel and food prices alongside a robust
shilling, offering respite to consumers grappling with a soaring cost of
living.

 

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority effected reductions in the
price of super petrol by Ksh5, diesel by Ksh10, and kerosene by Ksh18.

 

In Nairobi, a litre of super petrol will now fetch 193.84, diesel Ksh180.38
per litre, and kerosene Ksh170.06 per litre.

 

The dip in fuel costs coincides with a notable decrease in other
commodities, mainly food, over recent months.

 

For instance, Kenya's staple meal, a two-kilo packet of flour, has plummeted
from a peak of Ksh230 to an average of Ksh140, with sugar seeing a decline
from Ksh430 to Ksh330 for the same quantity.

 

Given the significant portion of the inflation basket that food represents,
these developments hold substantial sway in shaping the overall cost of
living in the nation.

 

 

Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) on consumer retail
prices reveals a downtrend in inflation to 5.7 percent in March from 6.7
percent a month earlier, mirroring the downward trajectory of food prices.

 

Further relief in the high cost of living is anticipated with the
strengthening of the shilling, currently trading at 130 against the dollar,
down from a previous high of Ksh160. This implies reduced expenses for
consumers on imports, as goods are expected to become more affordable.

 

The decreasing fuel costs are expected to have a ripple effect, with
manufacturers, power producers, and service providers anticipated to
integrate these cost savings, thus contributing to the ongoing inflation
downturn.

 

The reduction in fuel expenses is projected to extend to the electricity
sector, with bills expected to align with the decreased fuel costs, thereby
impacting the fuel cost charge, which holds a substantial share in
electricity billing.

 

The persistent challenge of the high cost of living has been a focal point
for President William Ruto's government, contending with public
dissatisfaction and demonstrations, witnessed last year led by the
opposition.

 

- Business Day Africa.

 

 

 <https://www.cloverleaf.co.zw/> 

 

Nigeria: Govt Must Halt Shell's Sale of Its Niger Delta Business Unless
Human Rights Are Fully Protected

The proposed sale of Shell's onshore oil business in the Niger Delta region
of southern Nigeria risks worsening human rights abuses and should be
blocked by the government unless a series of safeguards are put in place, a
group of 40 civil society organizations including Amnesty International said
today.

 

In an open letter to the Nigerian industry regulator, the groups said the
sale of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to Renaissance Africa
Energy should not be allowed to proceed unless the environmental pollution
caused by SPDC has been fully assessed, sufficient funds are provided by
SPDC to guarantee clean-up costs can be covered, and local communities have
been fully consulted.

 

Shell's operations in the Niger Delta over many decades have come at the
cost of grievous human rights abuses of the people living there. Frequent
oil leaks from its infrastructure and inadequate maintenance and clean-up
practices have left groundwater and drinking water sources contaminated,
poisoned agricultural land and fisheries, and severely damaged the health
and livelihoods of inhabitants," said Olanrewaju Suraju, chairman of the
Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA).

 

 

Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International's Nigeria Director, said: "There is now a
substantial risk Shell will walk away with billions of dollars from the sale
of this business, leaving those already harmed without remedy and facing
continued abuse and harms to their health. Guarantees and financial
safeguards must be in place to immediately remedy existing contamination and
to protect people from future harms before this sale should be allowed to
proceed. Shell must not be permitted to slip away from its responsibilities
for cleaning up and remedying its widespread legacy of pollution in the
area."

 

There is now a substantial risk Shell will walk away with billions of
dollars from the sale of this business, leaving those already harmed without
remedy and facing continued abuse and harms to their health.Isa Sanusi,
Amnesty International's Nigeria Director

 

The letter follows Shell's announcement in January that it had agreed to
sell SPDC to the Renaissance consortium, which comprises four exploration
and production companies based in Nigeria and an international energy group,
in a deal worth up to US$2.4 billion financed partly with a loan to the
buyers from Shell.

 

The letter says the deal appears to fall far short of several regulatory and
legal requirements. These include the apparent lack of an environmental
study to assess clean-up requirements, and an evaluation to ensure
sufficient funds are set aside for potential decommissioning of oil
infrastructure - a sum that is likely to amount to several billions of US
dollars. It also notes the lack of an inventory of the physical assets being
sold, which is a red flag potentially indicative of the state of disrepair
of pipelines and infrastructure from which many leaks have emanated. Leaks
have frequently had devastating consequences on local people's health and
wellbeing. Everyone has a right to a clean, healthy and sustainable
environment.

 

The letter notes similar previous sales in Nigeria have sometimes exposed
people in polluted communities to enduring harms, as purchasers have
sometimes lacked sufficient financial resources to manage the infrastructure
effectively, and even just ceased operating entirely.

 

It points out that following a previous Shell divestment of Oil Mining Lease
26 (OML 26) to First Hydrocarbon Nigeria in 2010, the majority shareholder
of the acquiring company went into liquidation and its chief executive
officer and chief operating officer were convicted in the United Kingdom of
fraud.

 

Background

 

Signatories of the letter to the regulator, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum
Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), include Amnesty International Nigeria,
Stichting Onderzoek Multinationale Ondernemingen - the Centre for Research
on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), The Corner House, Human and
Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), ReCommon, Centre for Environment,
Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN),
Hawkmoth, and Friends of the Earth/Environmental Rights Action. The letter
with a full list of signatories is available here.

 

Renaissance African Energy is a consortium consisting of ND Western Limited,
Aradel Holdings Plc, FIRST Exploration and Petroleum Development Company
Limited, the Waltersmith Group and the Petrolin Group.

 

There have been hundreds of oil spills from Shell infrastructure during the
decades it has been operating in Nigeria.

 

- AI London.

 

 

 

 

Rwanda: Untold Story - Bourbon's Role in Rwanda's Growing Coffee Culture

Jean — Bourbon Coffee opened its first shop in Kigali, in 2007, and has
expanded to eight different locations across Rwanda and the United States.

 

Berchmas Mbaraga, a resident of Ngororero District, in the Western Province,
who has been growing coffee for more than three decades, says it was not
until 2001 or so, under the current government - when he realised that as a
farmer, he can earn well from his produce and also be able to enjoy a
post-harvest cup of the beverage.

 

Mbaraga said they lacked information regarding value addition and fair trade
of coffee, settling for whatever intermediaries gave them, not until the
current government put in place policies that restored value and dignity to
the crop, starting with the farmer.

 

 

Beyond policies and sectorial reforms, one of the stories that has gone
untold is how Bourbon Coffee, Rwanda's first modern coffee shop,
revolutionised the coffee industry and introduced a culture of coffee
consumption which has taken root today.

 

A subsidiary of Crystal Ventures, Bourbon Coffee is one of the strategic
investments RPF-Inkotanyi made to stimulate investment in key sectors of the
economy, which were initially not attracting investors.

 

Bourbon Coffee opened its first shop in Kigali, in 2007, and has expanded to
eight different locations across Rwanda and the United States. Seventeen
years down the road, a flurry of many other coffee shops emerged and Bourbon
Coffee is now an international brand.

 

Rwandans and tourists alike indulge in coffee drinking, while coffee has
become a common beverage on the menu in every restaurant. Year in, year out,
Rwanda's revenues from coffee exports increases as much as the demand on the
global market does.

 

 

To understand the impact of Bourbon Coffee, one has to look at how Rwandan
coffee has gained prominence on the international market, attracting good
prices, thanks to the value addition championed by the likes of Bourbon.

 

According to available records, in 2023, Rwanda exported over 20,000 tonnes
of coffee, which brought in almost $116 million while in 2022 it generated
$105 million (about Rwf114 billion), a huge jump for $78.3 million (about
Rwf85 billion) in 2021, according to the National Agricultural Export
Development Board (NAEB).

 

NAEB says that the growth in revenue comes from good prices Rwandan Coffee
attracts on the international market, averaging at least $6 per kilogram
over the last couple of years.

 

If it had not been for Bourbon Coffee, which produced the first
international brand of specialty coffee out of Rwanda, and the first retail
brand to originate from Africa, today Rwandan farmers would still be
exporting raw beans.

 

 

Kagame, the marketer

 

According to Jack Kayonga, the Group CEO of Crystal Ventures Limited (CVL),
it took strategic leadership to position Rwanda coffee where it is today.

 

It is a mission that President Paul Kagame has been leading from the front
and it has since paid off, Kayonga says.

 

Today, what they set out to stimulate the sector took off and local farmers
and Rwandan youth are enjoying the benefits across the coffee chain.

 

"Like most other things in this country, we have got the leadership leading
us even in the vision of many of the ventures we have today. Specifically,
to the Bourbon Coffee story, it all started from the President, who would
encourage many people to drink the Rwandan coffee.

 

"He would tell them the story of how good the Rwandan coffee is and in
several incidents his guests would challenge him and say 'you talk about
Rwanda coffee but where can we have the experience of the Rwandan coffee?"

 

"Where can we have a cup of Rwandan coffee? That's how it started," Kayonga
says, giving a background of Bourbon Coffee, with the first two coffee shops
opening in 2007, with a mission of creating an experience.

 

He noted that by far, opening Bourbon Coffee was a very good decision. With
the Rwandan society evolving fast, the coffee culture was picked up, with
Rwandans, including those in diaspora, quickly enjoying the Rwandan coffee
experience.

 

It is a combination of things that have contributed to this mindset change,
including the government efforts to encourage people to drink coffee and
enjoy it - but most importantly these efforts have played a pivotal role in
positioning Rwandan coffee on the international market.

 

Achieving the mission, creating jobs

 

While he does not attribute all these gains to Bourbon Coffee, Kayonga says
the coffee shop has played a key role in influencing the coffee consumption
culture and has birthed a multitude of baristas, many of whom have gone on
to set up their own coffee shops across the country.

 

"If you look at most of the coffee stores that have opened up in Kigali and
beyond, you find that many the baristas are former employees of Bourbon, who
have become entrepreneurs and have also gone on to set up other businesses,"
says Kayonga, adding that Bourbon has been a success story in many ways.

 

In relation to adding value, Kayonga says they have worked with institutions
like NAEB not only to train baristas but also to put in place the necessary
quality controls that feed into the "naturally crop to cup" philosophy,
which they go by.

 

 

He stated that there is a lot of quality control that goes into having a
good cup of coffee, starting with how the bean is grown, roasted up to the
barista, who has to be well-trained.

 

Today, Rwandans are able to tell between a bad and a good coffee, not just
in a coffee shop, but even at home.

 

"We are seeing the culture of coffee stores even in office buildings. Gone
are the days that we used to drink the likes of Nescafe," Kayonga says.

 

He maintained that Rwandans now fully enjoy the coffee experience, adding
that even himself, it was not until 2007 that he started enjoying a cup of
Rwandan coffee.

 

"Today I cannot miss my daily dose of coffee."

 

Kayonga attributes this to the vision of the leadership which put Rwandans
first, pointing out that before anything else, Rwandans have to enjoy the
fruits of their labour.

 

"If you look at countries like Ethiopia, they consume more than 50 per cent
of their coffee. It is good to produce coffee for export but why should
people enjoy more of the fruits of the hard work of our farmers?" Kayonga
says.

 

He further says that today, Bourbon has become a sustainable business model,
and they are looking to scale it even further but as far as he is concerned,
the objective has been achieved, much as there is still room for growth.

 

"We still want to achieve the vision of the President of sharing the Rwandan
coffee experience, by having coffee shops in different other capitals as
well as consolidating the business in Rwanda and supporting even other young
entrepreneurs that are going into the coffee space," Kayonga pointed out.

 

>From barista to entrepreneur

 

Stafford Rubagumya is one of the most outstanding entrepreneurs in the
coffee business, who was nurtured by Bourbon Coffee, and today he owns a
chain of his own coffee shops known as Stafford Coffee.

 

Rubagumya recalls that when Bourbon opened as the first shop at the then
Union Trade Centre mall in downtown Kigali, it was a new concept and many
people including himself had no idea about coffee, as a beverage and as a
crop.

 

"I remember when I joined Bourbon in 2007, the first day, they gave me
coffee and I remember spitting it because it was very bitter. I wondered,
how can someone drink something so bitter?"

 

"I told myself that I will never drink it again but after a week, I had
become an addict," recalls Rubagumya, who also runs several coffee kiosks.

 

"It was a good experience and when I remember it, I laugh," Rubagumya says.
And before he knew it, he had fallen in love with coffee, particularly how
it connected people, to socialise and discuss business.

 

In 2009, Rubagumya left Bourbon and joined a leading coffee exporter, which
further cemented his love for coffee, but all this time he did not know he
would start his own coffee shop because he thought it required a lot of
capital.

 

However, when he set out, it was very easy for him because he had the
experience and knowledge from Bourbon of how a coffee shop is set up, the
way it operates and creating the right environment and atmosphere.

 

Rubagumya says coffee was considered to be a prestigious drink for few but
that mindset has changed and it was championed by Bourbon before other
players like him joined to further domesticate coffee consumption.

 

Women not left out

 

The coffee shop nurtured many, including women, some of whom are running
their own business or are managers in other establishments. Among them is
Sonia Batamuriza, who was among the pioneer employees of Bourbon Coffee
which she joined in 2007.

 

Today, she is a manager of a top apartment hotel in town, having honed her
skills in hospitality at Bourbon. For her, Bourbon was not just a place to
grab a coffee, it was an experience.

 

"It offered a unique and exceptional space to enjoy coffee specialties,
learn about Rwandan coffee, relax, socialise, and a place for short meetings
for some people,"

 

"We had many guests, new to coffee nuances who had the opportunity to learn
and appreciate coffee at Bourbon. Most of them even started promoting it
internationally," she recalls.

 

At Bourbon Coffee, Batamuriza says she learned skills like teamwork, from
top management down to the lowest employee, and dedication to providing
excellent service.

 

Liliane Kamariza, the Manager of Bourbon Coffee shop at Rwanda Development
Board (RDB), says that when she joined, she did not know much about coffee
as a beverage, just as Rubagumya, until she joined the coffee shop in 2014.

 

Kamariza joined Bourbon Coffee after completing high school, as a waitress,
but she was offered several trainings on the coffee process, right from the
garden to the cup.

 

"I became a coffee lover instantly, and in 2015, I became a professional
female barista. I was among the few ladies in the profession," she says.

 

Today, Kamariza is a professional grinder who ensures every aspect of
quality that comes with the responsibility.

 

With the support of Bourbon Coffee, she enrolled into the University of
Tourism and Business Studies (UTB), where she acquired a bachelor's degree
in Hotel and Restaurant Management, to hone her skills further.

 

"I can say Bourbon Coffee is the mother of all coffee shops. Many Rwandans
have warmed up to coffee as a beverage of choice, overcoming stereotypes
that persisted for years that it is unhealthy," Kamariza says.

 

An intricate process

 

Frank Anthony Ndayishimiye, in charge of Quality Control at Bourbon Coffee,
said work starts right from the farmers, where they work with growers in
different regions of the country, including Muhazi, Akagera, Kivu, Virunga
and Kizi Rift.

 

"Each region has its own natural spices in terms of roasting profile. We
select one farming area from each region on condition that Bourbon Coffee
sets the standards and specifications of the green coffee we need," he says.

 

Ndayishimiye says Bourbon also considers the members of the cooperatives it
works with, 30 per cent of whom must be women, as well as farmer's
households that need to be lifted out of poverty.

 

Bourbon supports them in all aspects, right from the nursery to the final
but also gives them specifications of the product desired.

 

He added that this approach has paid off and transformed the lives of
farmers in different ways. They can now pay school fees for their children,
build good houses and they can pay medical insurance for themselves.

 

Each cooperative in each of five regions has more than 100 farmers, which
goes to show how many farmers the initiative has empowered, who are now able
to enjoy the fruits of their sweat.

 

Ndayishimiye states it is about time young people went into coffee,
considering that most coffee farmers in Rwanda are aging, with the majority
aged between 60 or 70. He says the demand for coffee today is high and the
market is assured.

 

Coffee roaster

 

Claude Niyigena, a roaster who has been working with Bourbon Coffee since
2015, said that when the green coffee arrives from the farmers, the first
step is to check if it meets the standards.

 

"We are talking about the quality of the beans, the selection, the content
and many more. We subject the beans to lab tests to measure the quality,
based on the different standards,"

 

"We work with the farmers from the start and tell them we want a standard
that cannot go below 80 percent in terms of quality. Once the tests confirm
that the coffee is of good quality and well selected, we embark on the
roasting process," he adds.

 

On a normal day, Niyigena roasts an average of 700kgs a day, depending on
the type he is working on.

 

- New Times.

 

 

 

 

 

West Africa: Wave of Increased Food Insecurity Hits West and Central Africa

Almost 55 million people are facing further food and nutrition insecurity in
West and Central Africa during the region's three-month lean season from
June through August, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.

 

This is a four million increase in the number of people currently dealing
with food insecurity in that region.

 

Mali is facing the worst situation - around 2,600 people there are presumed
to be experiencing catastrophic hunger - IPC food classification index phase
5 (read our explainer on the IPC system here).

 

"The time to act is now. We need all partners to step up, engage, adopt and
implement innovative programs to prevent the situation from getting out of
control while ensuring no one is left behind," said Margot Vandervelden,
WFP's Acting Regional Director for Western Africa.

 

Economic challenges and imports

 

The most recent data shows that economic turmoil including stagnated
production, currency devaluation, increasing inflation and trade barriers
have exacerbated the food crisis in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Mali.

 

 

These economic challenges as well as fuel and transport costs, regional body
ECOWAS sanctions and restrictions on agropastoral product flows, have
contributed to a sharp increase in staple grain prices across the region - a
more than 100 per cent increase over the past 5 years.

 

To date, cereal production for the 2023-2024 agricultural season has seen a
12 million tonne deficit while the availability for cereals per person is
down two per cent compared with the region's last agricultural season.

 

Currently, West and Central Africa are reliant on imports to satisfy the
population's food requirements, but economic hardship has increased the cost
of imports.

 

WFP's Ms. Vandervelden said these issues call for a stronger investment in
"resilience-building and longer-term solutions for the future of West
Africa."

 

 

Shocking highs

 

Malnutrition in West and Central Africa has risen to a shockingly high rate
with 16.7 million children under five experiencing acute malnutrition.

 

More than two thirds of households are struggling to afford healthy diets
and eight out of 10 children, ranging from six to 23 months lack the
consumption of foods essential to their optimal growth and development.

 

"For children in the region to reach their full potential, we need to ensure
that each girl and boy receives good nutrition and care, lives in a healthy
and safe environment, and is given the right learning opportunities," said
Gilles Fagninou UNICEF Regional Director.

 

Parts of northern Nigeria are also experiencing many cases of acute
malnutrition in about 31 per cent of women aged 15 to 49.

 

 

Ms. Fagninou explained that strengthening "education, health, water and
sanitation, food, and social protection systems," can result in lasting
differences in children's lives.

 

Sustainable solutions

 

UN agencies the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UN Children's Fund
UNICEF and WFP, are calling on national governments, international
organizations, civil society and the private sector, to establish
sustainable solutions to strengthen and support food security and increase
agricultural productivity.

 

These solutions should also alleviate the adverse effects of economic
volatility, they said.

 

There is also an expectation that governments and private sectors should
join forces to guarantee the human right to food for all.

 

UNICEF and WFP plan to extend national social protection programs to Chad
and Burkina Faso, as millions of people in Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, and
Niger have benefitted from such programmes.

 

Additionally, FAO, agricultural development fund IFAD, and WFP have
collaborated across the Sahel to expand "productivity, and access to
nutritious food through resilience-building programmes."

 

Dr. Robert Guei, FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for West Africa and the Sahel,
said that when responding to these cases of food and nutrition insecurity,
it is essential to promote and support policies that will encourage the
"diversification of plant, animal, and aquatic production and the processing
of local foods".

 

He said this was "crucial not only to ensure healthy, affordable diets all
year round, but also and above all to protect biodiversity, with the
potential to mitigate the effects of climate change, and above all to
counter high food prices and protect the livelihood of the affected
population".

 

- UN News.

 

 

 

African Development Bank Publishes Report On Callable Capital

The African Development Bank has published a report clarifying the legal
framework, processes and governance for a call on the callable capital by
the institution.

 

Callable capital refers to the portion of the Bank's capital that is
subscribed by shareholders but not immediately paid. It represents a
commitment to make additional capital available to the institution in the
very unlikely event that it cannot meet its obligations on its debts or
guarantees.

 

The report presents the circumstances leading to a call on callable capital,
and the processes for such a call being made by the Bank and met by
shareholders. This important exercise follows a recommendation made by the
G20 following an independent expert review of MDB capital adequacy
frameworks and aims to provide credit rating agencies with key information
that they could find useful in their assessment of the value of callable
capital.

 

Similar reports are also published by the Asian Development Bank, the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American
Development Bank, and the World Bank.

 

The results of a reverse stress testing exercise conducted on the African
Development Bank assessing the probability of a scenario materializing where
the Bank would need to call on its callable capital is presented in the
report, which also clarifies the mechanisms to be followed by the Bank when
making a call on callable capital, and shareholders' response to such a
call.

 

The analysis demonstrates that the probability of such an event is extremely
remote. This is attributed to the Bank's robust financial risk and capital
management anchored on its risk appetite statement and long-term financial
sustainability framework. It also reflects the Bank's preferred creditor
treatment and its extraordinary shareholder support.

 

While the processes and timeframes for responding to a call on callable
capital vary among shareholders, the clarifications provided show that they
should be able to respond to such a call in a timely manner.

 

- African Development Bank (AfDB).

 

 

 

 

Uganda: These Ugandan Vendors Choose Their Jobs Over Their Health - Do They
Have a Choice?

Kampala, Uganda — Finding affordable and accessible health care is a problem
for the many women who work in Kampala's bustling markets. But so, too, is
finding the time.

 

Hellen Alal has spent most of her 75 years selling fresh produce at Nakawa
Market, arriving at the bustling hub on the eastern edge of Uganda's capital
city alongside thousands of other vendors at 7 each morning and returning
home around 10 p.m.

 

"I take care of grandchildren," Alal says. "My daughter died and left three,
and then my son died and his wife left two children with me." Alal's
grandchildren are ages 6 to 15; sometimes the eldest helps her at the
market.

 

Alal has diabetes and gastric ulcers. During the interview, she complains of
a lack of appetite and has eaten some akeyo, or African spider plant, a
bitter-tasting herb used as a vegetable that Alal says helps improve her
energy levels; she suspects she may have malaria.

 

 

But despite her ailments, she prepares the vegetables to take to the market
where she has worked as a vendor for over 40 years; she has no time in her
day to seek medical help.

 

Row upon row of stalls line the market, one of the biggest in the city,
which is filled with bright red tomatoes, green vegetables, sweet potatoes
and matooke, a type of banana. Smells of food being cooked are marred by the
stench of open sewers that plague the space.

 

Food markets are indispensable in Kampala, serving as the main suppliers of
fresh and dry foodstuffs to individuals and businesses alike. Nakawa is one
of the largest markets, drawing approximately 20,000 shoppers on its peak
days.

 

Women make up to 80% of the stall operators, but their long working hours
often leave little room for addressing personal health concerns. This can
lead to disastrous impacts on their health, says Dr. Michelle Barry, CEO of
CTI-LifeHealth, a Uganda-based social enterprise. Those that run the market
have raised concerns about the market's poor conditions posing health risks.

 

 

Seeking medical help can involve long wait times due to a lack of health
workers. Uganda has just 19 health workers per 10,000 people, according to
the government's 2021 annual performance report. Leaving their stall to seek
medical help could mean a day or more of lost trading for market vendors, as
well as the added costs of any treatment they may be prescribed.

 

Nakawa Market vendor Mary Lakwech has high blood pressure and diabetes. "I
buy medicine from drug shops and use herbs; this keeps me from going to the
hospital," Lakwech says. "I sleep in the market; home is far and most of the
food arrives in the middle of the night," she adds, referring to the produce
she buys to sell at her stall. Lakwech says she returns home every Saturday
to "bathe properly," wash clothes and relax.

 

 

For many vendors, access to an efficient medical service isn't the only
factor that threatens their long-term health.

 

Jamila Kikomeko, who has worked as a vendor at Nakawa Market for over 40
years, describes the market as a "filthy" environment and says vendors
should prioritize their health, whatever the cost.

 

"There are only three toilets for the 10,000 vendors in the market,"
Kikomeko says. "Nobody cares. The leadership only care for themselves."

 

The number of vendors is closer to 15,000 at Nakawa Market, according to the
Institute for Social Transformation, a Uganda-based organization that works
closely with market vendors to address issues they face.

 

Joseph Mudhasi, market chairman, says most markets in Kampala are in bad
condition. At Nakawa Market, one of the three toilets is under renovation,
but there is no money to add more facilities. There are seven private
clinics at the market that vendors can access where patients are charged for
services. He says he can find space for anyone willing to provide health
services to market vendors.

 

A lack of shelter over market stalls exposes vendors to adverse weather
conditions for long periods of time, Mudhasi adds. This can weaken their
immune systems and make them more susceptible to malaria from exposure to
mosquitoes.

 

Kampala Capital City Authority is responsible for the market and agreed to
an interview to discuss conditions at the market but did not honor the
appointment.

 

Peter Kisakye, medical officer at Abby's Medical Center, one of the seven
private clinics at Nakawa Market, says he sees about 10 to 15 patients per
day, but most can't afford to pay for the service they receive and many owe
him money. Kisakye says he offers patients payment plans so they can clear
their debts.

 

Alal says she can't afford to get tested for malaria, let alone pay for any
treatment that could follow. Meanwhile, fellow vendor Lakwech says she needs
better bathroom facilities and a free health clinic on site.

 

Cecilia Namutosi, a 60-year-old market vendor and mother of six, has high
blood pressure and diabetes. Two months ago, a wound she didn't get treated
turned septic, affecting her mobility and leaving her bedridden.

 

"I wish I had gone to the hospital earlier," says Namutosi, who kept putting
off seeking treatment because she was concerned about the cost.

 

Devas Kiwanuka, secretary of Kalerwe Market -- as big and bustling as Nakawa
Market, just under four miles away -- says vendors at his market have no
choice but to spend more time at the market than their homes. The vendors at
Kalerwe Market are also mostly women.

 

 

"Most goods [that they purchase for resale] arrive late in the night or
early morning, so some women have to sleep in the market with no [mosquito]
nets and security, and this makes them susceptible to diseases like malaria
-- some die because of malaria," Kiwanuka says. The work also prevents the
vendors from spending time with their families, taking care of themselves
and living a normal life, he says.

 

Most women buy over-the-counter medicines and only go to the hospital for
emergencies, says Justine Namata, chairperson of Kalerwe Market Women's
Savings and Credit Co-operatives.

 

Many of the women come to sell in the market when they are sick and they
stay up until very late because they need the money, and this is not good
for their health, Namata says. "Most women don't want to leave their stalls
because they lose money -- they are the father and mother of their homes."

 

Nathan Ruhiiga, senior business analyst at CTI-LifeHealth, says the
organization has developed a "patient platform" where patients with a
smartphone and internet can log in and access their profile -- an equivalent
of a medical file in hospitals -- get prescriptions, test results and access
their medical history.

 

But many of the women do not have a phone and internet connection; none of
the market vendors interviewed were aware of the platform.

 

CTI-LifeHealth has also held free temporary medical camps and kiosks in
Kalerwe Market where women can get tested and treated for diseases. A pilot
project will expand these efforts to other markets around the country, says
Moureen Wagubi, executive director at the Institute for Social
Transformation.

 

Alal's health is improving. She diagnosed herself as having malaria and
bought over-the-counter medicine to treat it. "My health is my priority,"
Alal says. "I want a health care service that can solve my problems fast.
But this may only be a dream for me. Hopefully my grandchildren are able to
realize this in their lifetime."

 

Beatrice Lamwaka is a Global Press Journal reporter based in Kampala,
Uganda.

 

TRANSLATION NOTE

 

Beatrice Lamwaka, GPJ, translated some interviews from Luganda and Leb
Acoli.

 

- Global Press Journal.

 

 

 

 

 

Kenya: Bore Urges Medics to End Strike and Heed Dialogue Call

Nairobi — Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore has urged striking doctors
to end the strike and give dialogue a chance for the benefit of Kenyans.

 

Bore on Friday urged doctors to suspend the strike and negotiate with their
employers: the Ministry of Health and the 47 county governments.

 

She called on the doctors to obey the Employment and Labor Relations Court
orders, reiterating that the union must call off the strike and direct its
members to return to work.

 

Bore insisted that the right to strike is not absolute.

 

"This matter has received attention at the highest level, and we should have
faith in each other to resolve the matter once and for all. Once more I
appeal to the doctors, clinical officers, and laboratory technicians to give
dialogue a chance," Bore said.

 

 

Good faith

 

She explained that the Labour Relations Act of 2007 provides that parties
may use a dispute resolution procedure to settle disagreements when they
arise.

 

The CS urged parties to cooperate and act in good faith to settle the issue
noting that the Head of Public Service had taken initial steps as ordered by
the court.

 

"Parties must sit and dialogue in good faith. As a ministry, our role is
facilitation to promote social dialogue and respect for the rule of law,"
Bore said.

 

Bore made the statement amid rising concern over the state of public health
institutions.

 

Some counties issued ultimatums threatening to take disciplinary action
against striking health workers including doctors, clinicians and nurses.

 

Nyeri, Kisumu and Tharaka Nithi threatened to stop payments to doctors
participating in the strikes amid defiance by the Kenya Medical
Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU).

 

A KMPDU-led including the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) ordered
its members to down tool over a stalemate on renumeration of medical
interns.

 

KMPDU has demanded payment of Sh206,000 to intern doctors, rejecting the
government offer of Sh70,000.

 

- Capital FM.

 

 

 

 

Africa: Libya Emerges Africa's Highest Oil Producer As Nigeria's Output
Drops 6.8 Percent to 1.23 Mbpd

Libya has emerged as the highest crude oil producer in Africa following the
drop of Nigeria's output by 6.8 per cent to 1.23 million barrels per day in
March 2024, from 1.32 bpd in February 2024.

 

On the other hand, Libya's oil output rose by 5.4 per cent to 1.236 million
bpd in March 2024, from 1.173 million bpd in February 2024, according to the
Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC.

 

OPEC, a permanent intergovernmental organisation of 12 oil-exporting
developing nations that coordinates and unifies the petroleum policies of
its Member Countries, disclosed this in its April 2024 Monthly Oil Market
Report, MOMR, obtained by Vanguard, said the output was based on data it
obtained from official sources in Nigeria.

 

 

Based on secondary sources, OPEC stated that Nigeria retained its leadership
position on the continent as it produced 1.398 million bpd while Libya
produced 1.161 million bpd during the period.

 

However, OPEC stated: "According to secondary sources, total OPEC-12 crude
oil production averaged 26.60 mb/d in March 2024.

 

"According to secondary sources, total OPEC-12 crude oil production averaged
26.60 mb/d in March 2024, 3 tb/d higher, m-o-m. Crude oil output increased
mainly in IR Iran, Saudi Arabia, Gabon, and Kuwait, while production in
Nigeria, Iraq, and Venezuela decreased."

 

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has expressed concerns over the capacity
of the industry to meet its domestic crude obligations to local refineries,
insisting that supply to local refineries remain a priority.

 

Speaking at a meeting to review Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation as
contained under Section 109(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA 2021, the
Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Engr.
Gbenga Komolafe, insisted that priority must be given to crude supply to
local refineries.

 

Komolafe pointed out that the overall objective of the government was to
ensure that Nigeria became a net exporter of refined petroleum products.

 

"Producers should satisfy their domestic crude oil supply to the domestic
refineries so that, as a nation, we seize the opportunity to reverse the
ugly trend by ensuring that we develop our midstream and end up being a net
exporter of petroleum products, especially now that we are trying to exit
the subsidy regime. The only way to sustain that is to become robust in our
domestic refining capacity."

 

- Vanguard.

 

 

 

 

South Africa: Who Ends Up Paying If DMRE Cooks the Price of Nuclear Power?
SAFCEI Asks

It has been just over two (2) weeks since  the deadline for  comments on the
Department of Mineral Resources and Energy's (DMRE) draft 2023 Integrated
Resource Plan (IRP2023).  T he Southern African Faith Communities
Environment Institute (SAFCEI) assessment is that the draft IRP  does not
provide a realistic assessment of the costs of nuclear power .

 

While civil society and policy experts have highlighted a myriad of
concerns, SAFCEI has focussed on how the  DMRE's IRP2023  has   the cost  of
nuclear power at an artificially cheap level. The organisation  urges  the
government  to  heed expert insights, which are based on the facts of the
economics of nuclear power, and which  emphasize  that "ambitious nuclear
programmes are seldom realized because of the high costs."

 

SAFCEI's Executive Director Francesca de Gasparis says, "By relying on
unrealistic costing for nuclear power, the IRP2023 seems to be an attempt to
push South Africa into purchasing up to 14,500 MW of new nuclear reactors.
Others have raised concerns about the IRP. The cost of nuclear underscores
our reasons for joining the call for the IRP2023 to be redone. While noting
that the Integrated Energy Plan for South Africa, Section 6 of the National
Energy Act, came into operation at the start of this month – after a legal
intervention last year by SAFCEI and The Green Connection."

 

 

Construction costs are typically quoted as the cost, excluding finance
charges, and this total 'overnight cost' is quoted in cost per unit of
capacity. As part of its IRP2023 documentation, the DMRE gave two figures
for new pressurized light water generation III+ reactors. According to the
DMRE, the total overnight cost for a 1500 MW reactor is US$3,6517/kW, while
a 1250 MW reactor comes in at US$4,270/kW. However, these costs do not
correspond with the department's own commissioned study into the price of
new nuclear power plants for South Africa –  Supply-Side Cost and
Performance Data for Eskom Integrated Resource Planning by Electric Power
Research Institute  – and those of plants currently or recently constructed.

 

 

"But when we consider the real costs associated with constructing a new
nuclear plant, such as with the study that looked at Areva's 1600 MW EPR and
Westinghouse's AP1000 (capacity 1117 MW), then we see quite a different
picture. Using the current exchange rate, we see that the total overnight
costs are estimated at US$6,458 and US$6,172, respectively, which is way
more expensive than the costs suggested by the DMRE in the IRP2023. For the
entire nuclear plant, this works out re spectively at US$10.3 bn for the
EPR, which is R193,85bn in rand, and US$6.9 bn for the AP1000 which is
R129,87bn, at today's exchange rates," says de Gasparis.

 

The multi-faith environmental justice organization questions how the DMRE's
costs in the IRP2023 are between 54.7% and 66.9% lower than its own
commissioned expert study, adding that this appears to be a blatant attempt
to rig the IRP, in order to make nuclear energy fit. According to the IRP,
the optimum new build for South Africa is a combination of nuclear power and
renewables. But when compared to the known costs of these two reactor types,
the study itself is flawed.

 

Professor Steve Thomas of Greenwich University  wrote in his recent report
"A much more reliable indicator is the cost of the 'previous' project,
perhaps with some addition as the trend in the real cost of nuclear power
plants has been upwards throughout the history of the nuclear industry. If
we take the mean value of the last four projects for EPRs and AP1000s, where
costs are known, it is roughly valued at about $12,000/kW in the 2024
economy. The problem is, therefore, not so much that large numbers of
hopelessly uneconomic reactors will be built, it is the 'opportunity cost'
of wasting a decade or more on an option bound to fail, thus sacrificing the
more financially attractive options that are much less prone to failure and
much quicker to implement."

 

 

 

 

Southern Africa: Botswana Objects to G7-EU Diamond-Tracking System

Gaborone, Botswana — African diamond producers, led by Botswana, are
demanding a review of the tracking and verification system that European
Union and G7 nations introduced March 1.

 

Under the arrangement, diamonds entering EU and G7 countries - which
represent 70% of the global diamond market - have to be sent to Antwerp,
Belgium, for certification, in an effort to prevent the importation of
sanctioned Russian diamonds.

 

The traceability initiative has resulted in clearance delays and disruption
to the supply chain. African diamond producers argue that has resulted in
added costs.

 

 

But Belgium and the EU say steps are being taken to minimize delays.

 

A Belgian official told VOA the turnaround time for the certifications has
improved, with all shipments processed within 24 hours.

 

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said delays resulted
from importers not providing the necessary documentary evidence. He said
African countries were bearing no increase in production costs, because
expenses were borne by the mining companies.

 

"From the onset, we have taken the concerns raised by African diamond
producers about the introduction of G7-EU sanctions against Russian diamonds
seriously," the official said. "This is the reason why we have taken those
concerns into account from the very beginning of our discussions and have
tried to fully address them.

 

"Belgian authorities have also reached out to a number of African producers
between September 2023 and February 2024 to listen, explain and adjust the
ongoing work on the implementation of sanctions against diamonds from the
Russian Federation."

 

 

An EU official responding to VOA inquiries also said African producers'
concerns were considered from the onset. She said meetings were held among
the EU bloc's representatives, the United States and Botswana's government.

 

Botswana's president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, recently said the EU and G7
countries had not officially responded to a letter from African producers
regarding concerns about the new tracking system.

 

The EU representative said the response had been delayed because it was
being drawn up as a collective G7 reply.

 

On Thursday, Masisi told France's minister of state for development and
international partnerships, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, that G7 countries
should reconsider the traceability initiative.

 

"Tell them that will be a regression in terms of our own development and an
ominous threat to our own existence, and everything that we base our growth
on," Masisi said. "We just think that because they did not engage
sufficiently, they haven't come to appreciate what the threats are to
industry and to livelihoods and the economies."

 

Botswana is the world's second-largest producer of diamonds after Russia.
Its diamond exports last year were worth $7 billion.

 

- VOA.

 

 

 

 

South Africa: Ramokgopa Visits Camden Power Station

Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho
Ramokgopa, continued his visits to power stations with a stop at the Camden
Power Station in Mpumalanga, on Thursday.

 

The visit was part of the second round of ministerial visits to power
stations.

 

Ramokgopa said the power station is facing challenges regarding boiler tube
leaks but that these challenges are receiving attention.

 

"We are more than confident that the station will continue to return to its
best performance, restore its previous glory and contribute immensely to the
resolution of load shedding in the country.

 

"Camden is one of those older power stations, continues to perform,
continues to give us the megawatts that are necessary. So, it's key and
indispensable to the energy equation; the energy mix in the country," he
said.

 

On Eskom's recent performance which has borne at least two consecutive weeks
of no load shedding, the Minister said this is as a result of the hard work
put in by Eskom workers.

 

"The kind of results that we are seeing today is in large part as a result
of the contribution by the totality of the workforce of Eskom and in this
regard. We are exceptionally grateful to the work of the [Camden General
Manger Justice Bore] and his management team so we are looking forward to
finally resolving the load shedding question.

 

"As it is we will continue to ensure that we attenuate both the intensity
and frequency of load shedding," Ramokgopa said.

 

- SAnews.gov.za.

 

 

 

 

Kenya's Weekly Coffee Earnings Decline By $2 Million

Kenya's Coffee experienced a 20 percent decline in overall earnings for the
week, attributed to low volumes, despite a rise in the value of a 50-kilo
bag, according to market data from the Nairobi Coffee Exchange.

 

The figures reveal that the total earnings for the week declined from $10
million last week to $8 million in the latest sale, weighed down by a drop
in the volumes offered for sale.

 

The volumes offered for sale this week declined from 29,082 bags offered
last week to 26,813 in the review period, pulling down the overall value of
the beverage.

 

 

However, the coffee market recorded the highest value for the season with
the kilo of the commodity rallying two percent to $252.

 

The rising price of coffee is attributed to declining volumes at the
international market, which has pushed up the value.

 

On Monday, both Arabica and Robusta coffee prices experienced significant
increases in the world market, with Arabica hitting a six-month high and
Robusta reaching an unprecedented peak.

 

Market momentum was fueled by persistent worries stemming from the potential
impact of extensive rainfall in Brazil's key coffee-producing regions on
crop yields.

 

The Minas Gerais region, which accounts for roughly 30 percent of Brazil's
Arabica production, suffered negative impacts from the rains, raising
concerns about supply disruptions in the market.

 

On the other hand, Vietnam, the world's largest producer of Robusta coffee
beans, is experiencing tight supplies, which is a significant bullish
factor. Vietnam's agriculture department projected on March 26 that coffee
production in the 2023/24 crop year could decrease by 20 percent.

 

The government of Kenya is actively advocating for coffee reforms aimed at
increasing farmers' earnings by eliminating brokers along the value chain.

 

Kenya primarily sells up to 95 percent of its total production to the world
market, with only five percent allocated for local consumption.

 

- Business Day Africa.

 

 

 

 

Iran-Israel tensions: Oil prices lower after attack

Oil prices fell in early Asian trade after Iran's reprisal attack on Israel
over the weekend.

 

Brent crude - a key benchmark for oil prices internationally - was lower but
still trading close to $90 a barrel on Monday morning.

 

Prices had already risen in expectation of action by Iran, with Brent crude
nearing a six-month high last week.

 

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has said the confrontation with Iran
is "not over yet".

 

"Clearly, the oil market does not see the need to factor in any additional
supply threat at this point," energy analyst Vandana Hari said.

 

Brent crude may well fall below the $90 mark, but a sizeable pullback is
unlikely as traders remain focused on the risks associated with the
conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, she added.

 

Analysts also said Israel's reaction to the attack will be key to global
markets in the days and weeks ahead.

 

"I think we'll see naturally volatility. If there was to be some sort of
counter-move by Israel, then that would, I think, rocket energy markets very
much to the upside," Peter McGuire from trading platform XM.com told the
BBC.

 

Share markets in the Asia-Pacific region also slipped on Monday as investors
weigh the impact of the attack.

 

The Hang Seng in Hong Kong, Japan's Nikkei 225 and the Kospi in South Korea
were all lower, while China's Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite was more
than 1% higher.

 

The price of gold edged higher, to hover near record highs, trading close to
$2,400 an ounce.

 

Gold is often seen as a safe investment at times of uncertainty and rose
sharply ahead of this weekend.

 

Why has Iran attacked Israel?

Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel at the weekend after vowing
retaliation for an attack on its consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus on
1 April.

 

Israel has not said it carried out the consulate strike, but is widely
believed to have been behind it.

 

At the end of last week, the price of Brent crude touched $92.18 a barrel,
the highest since October, before falling back to close at $90.45.

 

Iran is the seventh largest oil producer in the world, according to the US
Energy Information Administration, and the third-largest member of the Opec
oil producers' cartel.

 

Analysts say that a key issue for the oil price going forward is whether
shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will be affected.

 

The Strait - which is between Oman and Iran - is a crucial shipping route,
as about 20% of the world's total oil supply passes through it.

 

Opec members Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq send most of the
oil they export through the Strait.

 

On Saturday, Iran seized a commercial ship with links to Israel as it passed
through the Strait of Hormuz.-bbc

 

 

 

 

 

Biden urged to ban China-made electric vehicles

President Joe Biden has been urged to ban imports of Chinese-made electric
cars to the US.

 

The chair of the Senate Banking Committee, Senator Sherrod Brown, wrote
"Chinese electric vehicles are an existential threat to the American auto
industry".

 

His comments are the strongest yet by any US lawmaker on the issue, while
others have called for steep tariffs to keep Chinese electric vehicles (EV)
out of the country.

 

In February, the White House said the US was opening an investigation into
whether Chinese cars pose a national security risk.

 

"We cannot allow China to bring its government-backed cheating to the
American auto industry", Senator Brown said in a video on the social media
platform X, formerly Twitter.

 

Senator Brown, who is a Democrat from the the car-producing state of Ohio,
is seeking to win a fourth term in office in November's election.

 

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Accept and continue

The White House did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment.

 

In February, President Biden said that China's policies "could flood our
market with its vehicles, posing risks to our national security" and that he
would "not let that happen on my watch."

 

Washington could impose restrictions over concerns that the technology in
Chinese-made cars could "collect large amounts of sensitive data on their
drivers and passengers", the White House said.

 

It warned cars that are connected to the internet "regularly use their
cameras and sensors to record detailed information on US infrastructure;
interact directly with critical infrastructure; and can be piloted or
disabled remotely".

 

China is the world's largest producer of cars and vying with Japan to be the
biggest exporter of vehicles.

 

The number of Chinese cars on US roads is, however, extremely low due to the
fact the latter currently imposes a 27.5% tariff on the vehicles.

 

This week, while on a trip to China, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen
warned Beijing that Washington would not allow a repeat of the "China shock"
of the early 2000s, when Chinese imports flooded into America.

 

In response, China's vice finance minister, Liao Min, expressed "grave
concern" over restrictions the US has imposed on trade and investment.

 

Mr Liao said China's competitive advantages are due to its "large-scale
market, complete industrial system and abundant human resources".

 

Also on Thursday, America's biggest airlines asked the Biden administration
to halt approvals of new flights between the US and China.

 

In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation
Department Secretary Pete Buttigieg they said China's “damaging
anti-competitive policies” put US carriers at a disadvantage.

 

“If the growth of the Chinese aviation market is allowed to continue
unchecked and without concern for equality of access in the market, flights
will continue to be relinquished to Chinese carriers at the expense of US
workers and businesses.”

 

The world's two biggest economies have been locked in a trade war since 2018
when the then-Trump administration imposed tariffs on more than $360bn
(£287bn) of Chinese goods.

 

Beijing retaliated with tariffs on more than $110bn of US products.

 

President Joe Biden has largely kept those tariffs in place.

 

Last year the value of goods the US bought from China fell by just over 20%
to $427bn. At the same time, US exports to China dipped by 4% to just under
$148bn.-bbc

 

 

 

 

 

GDP: Economy grew in February increasing hopes UK is out of recession

The UK economy grew slightly in February increasing hopes it is on its way
out of recession.

 

The economy grew by 0.1%, official figures show, boosted by production and
manufacturing in areas such as the car industry.

 

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that construction was dampened
by wet weather though.

 

This is an early estimate, but signals how the UK, which entered recession
at the end of 2023, is faring.

 

Liz McKeown, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said that looking
across the three months to February as a whole, the economy grew for the
first time since last summer.

 

 

'Turning a corner'

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt suggested that the new figures were a "welcome sign
that the economy is turning a corner".

 

"We can build on this progress if we stick to our plan," he added.

 

Growing the economy was one of five key pledges that Prime Minister Rishi
Sunak made last year as consumers and businesses were squeezed by higher
prices and interest rates.

 

Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, however, argued that "Britain is
worse off with low growth and high taxes".

 

She added: "The Conservatives cannot fix the economy because they are the
reason it is broken."-bbc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 


 Invest Wisely!

Bulls n Bears 

 

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INVESTORS DIARY 2024

 


Company

Event

Venue

Date & Time

 


 

 

 

 

 


 

Workers day

 

1 May

 


Companies under Cautionary

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


CBZH

GetBucks

EcoCash

 


Padenga

Econet

RTG

 


Fidelity

TSL

FMHL

 


 

 

 

 


 <mailto:info at bulls.co.zw> 

 


 

 


DISCLAIMER: This report has been prepared by Bulls ‘n Bears, a division of
Faith Capital (Pvt) Ltd for general information purposes only and does not
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or
subscribe for any securities. The information contained in this report has
been compiled from s believed to be reliable, but no representation or
warranty is made or guarantee given as to its accuracy or completeness. All
opinions expressed and recommendations made are subject to change without
notice. Securities or financial instruments mentioned herein may not be
suitable for all investors. Securities of emerging and mid-size growth
companies typically involve a higher degree of risk and more volatility than
the securities of more established companies. Neither Faith Capital nor any
other member of Bulls ‘n Bears nor any other person, accepts any liability
whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this report or its
contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Recipients of this
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investigation into the business, financial condition and future prospects of
any companies referred to in this report. Other  Indices quoted herein are
for guideline purposes only and d from third parties.

 


 

 


 (c) 2024 Web:  <http://www.bullszimbabwe.com> www.bullszimbabwe.com Email:
<mailto:bulls at bullszimbabwe.com> bulls at bullszimbabwe.com Tel: +27 79 993
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