Major International Business Headlines Brief ::: 26 June 2025

[Bulls n Bears]

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Major International Business Headlines Brief :::  26 June  2025 

 


 


 


 <mailto:info at bulls.co.zw> 

 


 

 


 

ü  South Africa: Court Orders Dissolution of Debt-Ridden Ngwathe
Municipality

ü  Nigeria: Electricity - Nigeria Records Largest Number Without Access -
World Bank

ü  Africa: Empire in the Sky - How Africa's Digital Future Is Being
Colonised Again

ü  Africa: U.S. Diplomat Denies Unfair Trade Claims Amid African Concerns

ü  Ethiopia: Crackdown On Health Workers' Protests

ü  Zambia Runs On Mostly Green Power, but Households Use Polluting Cooking
Fuel - Study Suggests How to Fix This

ü  Ethiopia Sees FDI Surge Across Special Economic Zones - Ipdc

ü  Namibians Struggling to Pay N$3.2 Billion in Home Loans

ü  Somalia Eyes Energy Breakthrough - Petroleum Authority to Unveil Survey
Results in July As Oil Production Nears

ü  Kenya: Cabinet Okays Dualling of Nairobi's Northern Bypass to Ease
Traffic Congestion

ü  Namibia: Over 1,000 Tonnes of Pilchard Caught Despite Moratorium, As
Debate Over Stock Recovery Deepens

ü  Rwanda: Kigali's Proposed Cable Car Transport System Gets $500,000 Boost

ü  Rwanda: Kagame Receives Outgoing AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina

ü  North Korea to open beach resort as Kim bets on tourism

ü  Thailand's 'weed wild west' faces new rules as smuggling to UK rises

 


 <mailto:info at bulls.co.zw> 

 


South Africa: Court Orders Dissolution of Debt-Ridden Ngwathe Municipality

AfriForum brought the case to compel the Free State government to intervene
in the failing municipality

 

The Bloemfontein High Court has ordered the Free State government to
dissolve the failing Ngwathe Local Municipality's council.

Judge Johannes Daffue cited the municipality's "dismal record of service
delivery, managerial instability, insolvent status, and mounting debt" as
grounds for immediate provincial intervention.

The court ordered the municipality and the province to report on progress
every three months.

AfriForum brought the case on behalf of residents.

The Bloemfontein High Court has ordered the dissolution of the Ngwathe Local
Municipality. Citing the municipality's dismal record on providing services,
its managerial instability, and its mounting debt, the court ruled that the
Free State provincial government intervene as soon as possible.

 

The case was brought by Afriforum on behalf of concerned residents.

 

When municipalities fail to fulfil their "executive obligation", the
Constitution allows provincial governments to intervene, including by
dissolving the municipal council.

 

The Municipal Finance Management Act also permits the province to intervene
if a municipality is facing serious financial challenges or if the
Auditor-General has flagged serious financial issues with the municipality.

 

Afriforum argued that the Free State premier, the provincial cabinet, and
several MECs (for cooperative governance, finance, and economic development)
were not doing enough, given the severity of the state of Ngwathe
Municipality.

 

Afriforum sought to compel the province to dissolve the municipal council
and develop a recovery plan to turn the municipality around. It also cited
the local municipal manager and the Fezile Dabi District Municipality as
respondents.

 

The municipality, however, argued that intervention was not warranted, and
it should only be ordered to report to the court on what steps it is taking
to remedy any non-compliance with its legal obligations.

 

The province also argued against intervention, saying it was already doing
everything it should be doing to support and monitor the municipality.

 

Read the judgment here

 

Judge Johannes Daffue summarised the challenges faced by the municipality,
which were not in dispute. Ngwathe Local Municipality owes Eskom R2-billion.
It also owes millions to the Department of Water and Sanitation and other
service providers. It has repeatedly received qualified audits from the
Auditor-General. Its high turnover of municipal managers since 2022,
indicates instability. Its debt collection rate has continued to plummet and
is below the norm. Government's Blue Drop and Green Drop reports are damning
about the municipality's supply of clean drinking water and its failure to
address sewage flowing into the Vaal River.

 

Citing a judgment of the Constitutional Court, Judge Daffue said there was
no need for the total collapse of a municipality before an intervention was
warranted. Even if a municipality failed to meet one obligation, this would
warrant intervention. In this case, intervention was due to its "dismal
record of service delivery, its managerial instability, its insolvent
status, and mounting debt", said Judge Daffue.

 

The judge said Ngwathe Municipality had failed to meet several of its
constitutional obligations to its residents, including the provision of the
most basic services; promoting a safe and healthy environment; adequately
managing its administration, including budgeting; and promoting social and
economic development.

 

Judge Daffue said the province must intervene and must implement a recovery
plan, dissolve the municipal council, and adopt a new budget.

 

He ordered the municipality and the province to report to the court every
three months on progress.

 

Read the original article on GroundUp.

 

 

 

 

Nigeria: Electricity - Nigeria Records Largest Number Without Access - World
Bank

The number of people without access to electricity in Nigeria is put at 86.8
million, the highest world-wide, says a World Bank 2025 report.

 

This is third consecutive year of this report showing Nigeria in the lowest
position globally.

 

The report, released yesterday, which covers 2023 and titled: "Tracking
Sustainable Development Goal, SDG7: The energy progress report 2025", also
showed that out of the top 20 countries with weakest access 18 were from
Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

The World Bank report further noted that 61 percent of the Nigerian
population had access to electricity and 26 percent had access to clean
cooking energy in 2023.

 

The report stated: "In 2023, the 20 countries with the largest electricity
access deficits accounted for 76 percent of the global total, up from 75
percent in 2022. Once again, 18 of these countries are in Sub-Saharan
Africa.

 

"For the third consecutive edition of this report, Nigeria (86.8 million),
the Democratic Republic of Congo (79.6 million), and Ethiopia (56.4 million)
topped the list, together accounting for roughly a third of the entire
global access deficit.

 

"The lowest national access rates were observed in South Sudan (5 percent)
followed by Chad and Burundi (12 percent), all three of which have shown low
annualized increases in access since 2010."

 

According to the World Bank, in Sub-Saharan Africa, 35 million people gained
access to electricity in 2023, but population growth over the same period
was 30 million, making the net electricity access gap for the region fall by
just 5 million (from 570 million in 2022 to 565 million in 2023).

 

The World Bank noted that the region now accounts for 85 percent of the
global population without electricity.

 

"The greatest growth in access between 2020 and 2023 occurred in Central and
Southern Asia, while the pace of progress in Sub-Saharan Africa calls for
significant acceleration. Central and Southern Asia have both made
significant strides toward universal access, reducing their access gap from
414 million in 2010 to just 27 million in 2023.

 

"In Sub-Saharan Africa, 35 million people gained access to electricity in
2023, but population growth over the same period was 30 million, so the net
electricity access gap for the region fell by just 5 million (from 570
million in 2022 to 565 million in 2023).

 

"The region now accounts for 85 percent of the global population without
electricity, up from 50 percent in 2010."

 

On its outlook on SDG7 for 2030, World Bank said: "Since 2010, the world has
reduced the number of people without access to electricity by 665 million,
and 21 countries have reached at least near universal access.

 

"However, International Energy Agency, IEA, projects that 645 million will
still lack access in 2030, even though a fifth of the countries that still
lack universal access are on track to reach near universal access by 2030
under today's policies.

 

Read the original article on Vanguard.

 

 

 

 

 

Africa: Empire in the Sky - How Africa's Digital Future Is Being Colonised
Again

It begins with a promise. A satellite dish on a tin roof. A blinking
terminal in the middle of rural Kisii. Suddenly, a boy can watch a YouTube
video without buffering.

 

A teacher downloads a lesson plan in seconds. A clinic sends health records
to the capital without delay. It feels like the future has finally arrived.
But beneath the signal lies the story. And it is older than it looks.

 

In the late 1800s, European empires built telegraph lines from Cairo to Cape
Town not to connect Africans but to control the continent. Telegraphy was
not a communication service.

 

It was a surveillance weapon. Whoever controlled the cables controlled the
empire. Today, the names have changed. The cables have moved to orbit. But
the logic has returned.

 

By the start of 2024, the African Union estimated that just 35 percent of
the continent's population had access to the internet.

 

This is the lowest regional rate in the world. In Sub Saharan Africa, more
than 800 million people remain unconnected. The solution, we are told, is
disruption.

 

Enter Starlink, Elon Musk's low Earth orbit satellite network, designed to
beam internet to every corner of the planet. No cables. No towers. No
waiting for states to act.

 

Starlink began targeting African markets in 2023. It entered Nigeria, Kenya,
Rwanda, and Mozambique. In each case, the rollout was fast and framed as
liberation.

 

In Nigeria, the terminal cost over 400,000 naira, more than 500 US dollars,
and the monthly subscription was priced at over 30 US dollars.

 

This is more than double the country's minimum wage. In Kenya, Starlink
initially priced its hardware at over 90,000 shillings, nearly 700 US
dollars, before reducing the cost to 39,500 shillings after public backlash.

 

In Rwanda, the government offered subsidies to make the service affordable,
paying for over 60 percent of the cost.

 

But nowhere in Africa does Starlink share ownership. It does not pay
corporate tax in the countries where it operates. It does not invest in
local infrastructure or job creation beyond distribution.

 

It does not comply with local content laws. Its satellites serve millions
from space, but its power is terrestrial. It collects revenue directly from
African users while evading African regulation. This is not access. It is
dominance.

 

In South Africa, where Starlink has not launched, the state refused to issue
a license unless the company complied with the Electronic Communications
Act.

 

This law requires any telecom operator to have a minimum of 30 percent
ownership by historically disadvantaged groups. In other words, Black South
Africans.

 

Starlink declined. The company offered no willingness to find a local equity
partner or comply with transformation rules. Elon Musk, born in Pretoria,
responded with frustration.

 

He reposted misleading stories about white farmers being killed. He hinted
that South Africa was hostile to progress. He framed his refusal not as
arrogance but as resistance to discrimination.

 

This was not accidental. Musk has long positioned himself as an anti-state
entrepreneur. His companies, from Tesla to SpaceX to Starlink, are designed
to operate beyond national control.

 

He has described government regulation as a threat to innovation and has
consistently resisted labor rights, environmental standards, and platform
accountability in the countries where he operates.

 

South Africa's demand for shared ownership was not simply a legal hurdle. It
was a threat to his philosophy.

 

Peter Thiel, who co-founded PayPal with Musk and also grew up in South
Africa, shares this belief. Thiel is on record saying that democracy and
capitalism are not compatible.

 

He funds projects that promote private governance, offshore data havens, and
what he calls sovereign individualism. His firm Palantir, named after the
all-seeing crystal in Tolkien's novels, sells surveillance software to
police and military agencies around the world.

 

In the United States, Palantir's systems have powered immigration raids and
predictive policing. In Europe, they have been used to monitor refugees. In
Africa, Palantir has begun embedding itself in public health, customs, and
security systems through opaque partnerships.

 

Thiel and Musk share more than a birthplace. They share an ambition to build
systems that operate above the state and beyond accountability.

 

Palantir seeks to control data. Starlink seeks to control distribution. Both
rely on a narrative that frames African states as obstacles and their own
platforms as saviours.

 

Across the continent, governments are accepting this logic. Google's Equiano
cable, Meta's 2Africa cable, Microsoft's Azure regions in South Africa, and
Amazon Web Services' presence in Cape Town all signal heavy investment.

 

But nearly all of it is owned, controlled, and operated offshore. According
to the African IXP Association, over 80 percent of African internet traffic
is still routed through Europe, even when both the sender and the receiver
are on the continent.

 

This means a simple email from Kampala to Nairobi is likely to travel
through London or Frankfurt before arriving.

 

This is not a technical inevitability. It is a failure of infrastructure
sovereignty. Africa has fewer than 150 internet exchange points, and most
are under-resourced.

 

Only a handful of countries have functioning local cloud services. Most
African governments host their data in foreign-owned data centres or lease
server space without any ownership clauses. The continent accounts for over
17 percent of the global population but less than 1 percent of global data
centre capacity.

 

The African Union's Data Policy Framework, adopted in 2022, calls on member
states to establish legal frameworks for data ownership, protection, and
localisation. But implementation has been slow.

 

In practice, governments are signing agreements with global tech firms
faster than they are drafting laws. In many countries, there is no
meaningful regulation of cloud infrastructure, satellite services, or
platform behavior.

 

Tech companies operate with near-total freedom.

 

They do not just serve African users. They shape the African internet.

 

When states do try to push back, they are often vilified. South Africa is
one of the only countries that has drawn a clear line. Its refusal to
license Starlink without equity participation is not protectionism.

 

It is precedent. Because it affirms that even satellites must answer to the
law. That even the most powerful tech empires cannot hover above African
sovereignty.

 

The future of the African internet is not just a question of coverage. It is
a question of control. Who owns the platforms? Who stores the data? Who
routes the traffic? Who writes the code? These are not technical questions.
They are political. They are economic. And they are urgent.

 

If we want to avoid becoming tenants in our own digital economies, we must
act with the clarity of a continent that has seen this playbook before.

 

We must build regional internet exchange points. We must mandate local
equity in cloud infrastructure. We must tax satellite operators fairly. We
must refuse partnerships that offer access without accountability.

 

The empire has returned. It does not wear khaki. It wears keycards. It does
not conquer with flags. It conquers with fiber and satellites and predictive
models.

 

But Africa is not passive. We have our own ambitions. And if we insist on
sovereignty, if we legislate it, build it, protect it, the future will not
be written in California. It will be written here.

 

In the soil. In the law. In the sky above us, on our own terms.

 

Read the original article on Nile Post.

 

 

 

 

 

Africa: U.S. Diplomat Denies Unfair Trade Claims Amid African Concerns

Addis Ababa, — The top U.S. diplomat for Africa dismissed claims of unfair
trade practices on Tuesday.

 

Amid rising concerns about U.S. trade policies, the top U.S. diplomat for
Africa, Ambassador Troy Fitrell, addressed allegations of unfair practices
at the U.S.-Africa Business Summit.

 

Ambassador Fitrell said funding delays would not jeopardize a key railway
project linking Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

 

African Union officials recently criticized U.S. tariff proposals and visa
restrictions, calling them "abusive" and harmful to trade relations.

 

Fitrell denied there was a visitation ban, assuring that U.S. consulates
continue issuing visas regularly despite some shorter validity periods.

 

Concerns have grown over a sharp drop in visa approvals, especially for
travelers from West Africa since late 2023.

 

Some African nations, including Lesotho and Madagascar, warned that proposed
tariffs of around 10% could threaten exports like apparel and minerals.

 

Fitrell emphasized that these tariffs are not yet implemented and that
negotiations are ongoing to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act
(AGOA).

 

AGOA allows qualifying African countries duty-free access to the U.S. market
and expires this September.

 

He reaffirmed U.S. commitment to the Lobito Corridor railway, calling it a
"win-win" for investors and regional economies.

 

The Trump administration cut much foreign aid to Africa, aiming to reduce
what it sees as wasteful spending.

 

Angolan President João Lourenço urged a shift from aid dependency toward
investment and trade-driven partnerships.

 

"It is time to replace the logic of aid with the logic of investment and
trade," Lourenço said, calling for diversification in automotive,
shipbuilding, tourism, and steel sectors.

 

The summit gathered over 2,000 government and business leaders focused on
boosting Africa-U.S. economic ties.

 

Read the original article on ENA.

 

 

 

 

Ethiopia: Crackdown On Health Workers' Protests

Nairobi — Government Should Commit to Addressing Their Grievances

 

The Ethiopian authorities should immediately rescind the suspension of a
prominent health professionals organization and meaningfully address public
healthcare workers' outstanding grievances, Human Rights Watch said today.

 

The government suspended the Ethiopian Health Professionals Association
(EHPA) in early June 2025, following over a month of strikes by public
healthcare workers for better working conditions and adequate pay. During
the work stoppages, the authorities arbitrarily detained dozens of public
healthcare workers across Ethiopia, either without charge or for peacefully
exercising basic liberties. On May 30, the EHPA called for "an immediate
stop" to "dismissals from work," the use of "threats and intimidation," and
vacancy postings aimed at replacing striking professionals.

 

"Since May, the Ethiopian authorities have resorted to repressive tactics
instead of addressing healthcare workers' concerns about their livelihoods
and safety," said Laetitia Bader, deputy Africa director at Human Rights
Watch. "The government should immediately lift the suspension of the
Ethiopian Health Professionals Association and stop harassing healthcare
workers."

 

According to 2022 World Health Organization data, Ethiopia's public
healthcare spending is far below the international benchmarks of 0.7 percent
of gross domestic product (GDP) compared with the average of 1.2 percent for
other low-income countries. A surgeon told Human Rights Watch that despite
being in the upper echelons of the pay scale, he earned only US$80 a month.
"I cannot even change my shoes," he said. "I cannot even properly feed my
child."

 

The Ethiopian Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO), a government
body that oversees nongovernmental groups, suspended the EHPA, one of the
first groups to endorse the public healthcare workers' demands. The
association took part in discussions organized by the Ethiopian Human Rights
Commission with the government in late May, which did not resolve the
issues. On June 21, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met with a select group of
healthcare professionals.

 

The EHPA's president, Yonatan Dagnaw, told the media that ACSO claimed that
the association had not held a general assembly or submitted financial
reports, and Yonatan was quoted as saying that the association had complied
with the "guidelines and laws of the country." He told the media that he
believed that the suspension was linked to the health workers' movement.

 

The healthcare workers carried out a month-long social media campaign. On
May 13, they halted non-emergency services at public hospitals and medical
teaching institutions across the country.

 

On May 15, the Health Ministry ordered striking workers to return to work or
face legal action. In the statement, posted on social media, the ministry
alleged that unnamed healthcare workers had spread false information about
the work stoppages.

 

Beginning in early May, the authorities arrested, detained, and then
released dozens of doctors, including Yonatan. On May 23, the Ethiopian
Police Commission announced that it had detained 47 healthcare workers,
including physicians and medical residents. An online healthcare workers'
group told Human Rights Watch that 148 healthcare workers had been arrested
between early May and early June, though this figure could not be
corroborated.

 

Several doctors, a doctor's relative, and members of healthcare
organizations described cases of harassment and arbitrary detention. For
example, the authorities detained Dr. Mahlet Guush, a pathologist, for over
three weeks in the Addis Ababa Police Commission headquarters, after the
BBC's Focus on Africa podcast interviewed her regarding conditions facing
medical professionals in the country. Officials arrested her without a
warrant and searched her house, seizing two laptops and two mobile phones, a
source said.

 

The authorities initially said in a letter to the First Instance Court that
they were investigating her along with eight others, "most of them doctors,"
for inciting violence and unrest in the country by allegedly coordinating
with "anti-peace" groups. They also accused those detained of "abandoning
their duties" and "conspiring to erode public trust in the government." The
police never charged the group members and released them all by June 12.

 

In Ethiopia's embattled Amhara region, local militias arrested a physician
and other hospital staff who had participated in a short protest and
transferred them to police custody, where they spent a week in detention.
The physician said he was arrested without a warrant and was never brought
to court and charged. "I think they want to intimidate the health workers,"
he said. "They simply said I was with the opposition armed forces around
there." After his release, the authorities threatened him and two other
detained healthcare workers. "They said if there is anything again, you are
in trouble," he said. "It will be hard for you if something like this
happens again."

 

Although Ethiopia's labor proclamation prohibits medical practitioners from
striking, the authorities have not invoked it, as far as Human Rights Watch
has been able to determine. The country's civil servants' proclamation,
which regulates public healthcare workers, does not prohibit strikes. The
Health Ministry accused healthcare workers who had gone on strike of
violating the civil servants' proclamation by committing misconduct that
could harm their healthcare institution.

 

International human rights law, including International Labour Organization
conventions, protects the right to strike but allows for some restrictions
on that right under domestic law, including with regard to workers who
provide essential services like health care. Article 42 of the Ethiopian
Constitution broadly embraces that approach, affirming the right to strike
but with some limitations.

 

Lawful restrictions on the right of healthcare workers to strike do not
permit the authorities to harass, bring criminal charges against, or deprive
healthcare workers of their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful
assembly protected under international human rights law, Human Rights Watch
said.

 

"The Ethiopian authorities won't be able to tackle the country's serious
healthcare problems by suspending doctors' associations or by harassing and
jailing healthcare workers," Bader said. "The government should instead
address healthcare workers' legitimate concerns through meaningful
dialogue."

 

Read the original article on HRW.

 

 

 

Zambia Runs On Mostly Green Power, but Households Use Polluting Cooking Fuel
- Study Suggests How to Fix This

Zambia, like many African countries, is facing a crisis over clean cooking
fuel. Over 80% of the population still relies on polluting fuels like
charcoal and firewood. This exposes families to toxic indoor air, deepens
poverty and gender inequality, drives deforestation, and adds to climate
change.

 

Globally, air pollution from cooking using fuelwood, coal and dung
contributes to over 3.2 million premature deaths each year, including
237,000 children under five.

 

In Zambia, having electricity at home does not automatically lead to cleaner
cooking. In the global south, electricity only starts to support clean
cooking once national access rates exceed 80%. In Zambia, only around 50% of
people have access to electricity. Frequent power cuts and high residential
tariffs make cooking with electricity either unreliable or unaffordable.

 

 

We are renewable energy and green hydrogen researchers who set out to
discover the potential for the use of green hydrogen as an alternative
source of power. Green hydrogen is produced from water and renewable
electricity. It's a clean, storable fuel that can be used like fossil gas,
without the emissions. It could offer households a flexible, low-carbon
substitute for charcoal or liquefied petroleum gas.

 

Our research was based on a modelling exercise that looked at various
factors related to green hydrogen and the situation in Zambia.

 

The renewable energy used to make green hydrogen usually comes from a solar
or wind power system set up especially for the green hydrogen plant. For
instance, the Hyphen project in Namibia plans to use solar and wind power to
produce green hydrogen for export and domestic use.

 

These systems are expensive to build and operate. They also require
significant upfront capital and storage infrastructure to ensure reliable
output.

 

Our research used a computer simulation model to study the costs of green
hydrogen plants, the amount of revenue they could generate, their technical
performance, and their reliability. We also estimated the value that each
unit of green hydrogen would bring to society through providing clean
cooking energy.

 

Read more: Solar power in Zambia: 'If it works for my neighbour, I'll try it
too'

 

This was a new approach, unlike traditional planning tools that decide
whether green hydrogen plants are feasible based on how much they cost to
set up.

 

One of the scenarios we modelled was how much green hydrogen would cost if
it was made with electricity from the national grid.

 

In Zambia, 83% of the country's power from the grid is already renewable
hydropower, with another 3% coming from solar power. Based on our modelling,
we found that using grid power to produce green hydrogen is feasible in
Zambia. Not only that, it's also the most cost-effective and inclusive
pathway for expanding green hydrogen for household and industrial use.

 

Our research is the first to explicitly model green hydrogen production in
low-income settings like Zambia, and the first to estimate the value that
each unit of green hydrogen would bring to society.

 

What works and what doesn't

 

>From this research, several key insights emerged.

 

First, a green hydrogen system in Zambia that's connected to the national
electricity grid is consistently more cost-effective than one connected to a
stand-alone renewable energy system. This is largely because grid-connected
systems can use existing infrastructure. So the high costs involved in
setting up the equipment to generate renewable energy and buying big energy
storage and backup capacity systems can be avoided.

 

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

 

Grid electricity costs in Zambia are low. This means that grid-connected
green hydrogen systems can produce hydrogen for around US$7 per kilogram -
cheaper than green hydrogen created by a stand-alone renewable energy
system, which costs around $13 per kilogram.

 

Compared with gas, a fossil fuel that costs between US$3.50 and $7 per
kilogram, green hydrogen is already within the price range needed to
compete. But to compete with charcoal, green hydrogen must sell for around
US$0.60 to US$1.20 per kilogram. It will need the costs of producing it to
drop and supportive policies such as carbon credits for the price to fall.

 

Read more: G20 countries could produce enough renewable energy for the whole
world - what needs to happen

 

Second, the size of the system matters. Larger green hydrogen systems, those
serving around 10,000 people (producing more than 70 gigawatt hours of green
hydrogen annually), are much more financially sustainable. The cost per unit
of green hydrogen drops as production increases.

 

In contrast to systems connected to the grid, systems relying solely on
solar energy are the most expensive and technically challenging to operate.
They require heavy upfront investment in solar panels, hydrogen storage, and
fuel cells to ensure round-the-clock energy supply. In Brazil and Australia,
research found that the revenues generated by these systems were not enough
to cover ongoing costs. This currently makes standalone green hydrogen
systems economically unviable over the long term.

 

What needs to happen next

 

Policy makers and development partners should avoid assuming that green
hydrogen plants that rely on their own solar power systems are the best path
forward. Our research shows that grid-connected hydrogen systems are more
cost-effective and scalable. This is important in countries where national
electricity grids are based on renewable energy.

 

Governments also need to ensure that their green hydrogen plans don't just
set up the industry for export. Green hydrogen must be made available to
local homes and industries so that they can move away from using energy
based on burning fossil fuels. The greenhouse gases emitted from this are a
major source of health problems. Fossil fuels are also vulnerable to
globally volatile prices.

 

Read more: Africa's energy sector will need to transform radically - these
are the five biggest challenges

 

Policy incentives should also support energy users as well as developers.
One of the findings of our study was that tax credits mainly help industry
profit more. Tax breaks don't guarantee that local communities will have
access to green hydrogen. This mirrors research on the role of tax credits
in the fossil fuel industry. When support is linked to use rather than
supply alone, these policies can encourage broader adoption.

 

A successful transition will also require inclusive partnerships.
Governments, the private sector, donors, and civil society all have
important roles to play.

 

Green hydrogen won't solve Africa's energy poverty alone, but it can be a
powerful tool if it's designed for equity as well as efficiency.

 

Mulako Dean Mukelabai, PhD Student, Loughborough University

 

Richard Blanchard, Full Professor of Renewable Energy, Loughborough
University

 

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

 

 

 

Ethiopia Sees FDI Surge Across Special Economic Zones - Ipdc

Ethiopia is currently experiencing a significant increase in foreign direct
investment (FDI) in its Special Economic Zones (SEZs), as reported by the
Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC).

 

In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, IPDC's Investment
Promotion and Marketing Deputy CEO, Zemen Junedi, revealed that a wider
range of international investors are now entering Ethiopia's SEZs, expanding
beyond the previously dominant presence of investors from China and India.

 

Today, the country is attracting strong interest from countries such as
Japan, Vietnam, various Southeast Asian nations, African countries, and
others, according to Zemen. These investors are involved in sectors such as
smart solar technology, agro- processing, automobile assembly, aerospace
manufacturing, and other advanced industries.

 

Zemen attributed this growing investor interest to recent economic reforms
that have made Ethiopia a more appealing destination for global capital.
SEZs are increasingly seen as gateways for multinational companies seeking
to establish a presence in Ethiopia's emerging market, especially those
entering for the first time.

 

Zemen also emphasized the increasing role of local talent and businesses.
Previously, Ethiopian employees held mostly lower-level roles, but now they
are advancing into senior and managerial positions within SEZs, he noted.

 

The participation of local investors has also significantly increased, now
accounting for nearly 60% of activity in these zones. This trend is
described as a key driver of Ethiopia's industrial structural
transformation.

 

The development of industrial corridors across the country has further
boosted both domestic and foreign investment. For example, the Deputy CEO
mentioned that companies operating in the Jimma SEZ have successfully
exported avocado products to European and American markets. This SEZ has
also created sustainable market linkages for around 10,000 local farmers.
Additionally, new investments in the coffee and tea sectors are underway,
with machinery currently being installed for production.

 

Zemen concluded that most companies that have signed agreements with IPDC
are either in the process of installing machinery or have already commenced
production.

 

BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN

 

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE 2025

 

Read the original article on Ethiopian Herald.

 

 

 

Namibians Struggling to Pay N$3.2 Billion in Home Loans

More than half of Namibia's non-performing loans are unpaid mortgages,
reflecting growing household debt stress, though the overall banking risk
remains within acceptable limits.

 

As at the end of May, non-performing mortgage loans were standing at N$3.29
billion, making up more than half of the total non-performing loans (NPLs).

 

This is money owed to banks by Namibians who have missed payments, showing
they are struggling to pay off their homes.

 

A loan is categorised as non-performing if it remains unpaid for more than
90 days (three months).

 

Bank of Namibia spokesperson Kazembire Zemburuka says the risk of a loan not
being recovered becomes much higher and a loan is considered overdue as soon
as a borrower misses a scheduled payment - even for just one day.

 

"These are early warning signs that a customer may be struggling to repay.
It's important to note that not all overdue loans are classified as NPLs.
Only those that are overdue for more than 90 days fall into this category,"
he says.

 

The second-largest category of loans Namibians are struggling to repay is
overdrafts, standing at N$1.1 billion.

 

An overdraft is a temporary loan that allows bank customers to continue
paying bills or withdrawing money - even after their accounts are empty.

 

Overdrafts are followed by other loans and advances, which stood at N$1.07
billion.

 

Personal loans stood at N$392 million, followed by instalment sales and
leases at N$327 million.

 

Instalment sales and leases are normally made up of car loans, and furniture
store and home appliance financing.

 

Credit cards made the least contribution to NPLs at N$45 million.

 

The total amount of NPLs stood at N$6.2 billion, with the total loan book
value standing at N$116 billion.

 

Deputy central bank governor Leonie Dunn says the current NPL ratio is
standing at 5.4%, and is still manageable, as it is not above the acceptable
6%.

 

The NPL ratio shows the proportion of the banking system's loan portfolio
that is currently not generating income due to borrowers failing to make
scheduled payments for 90 days or more.

 

"The NPL ratio still falls within the 6% set by the Bank of Namibia. It is
an improvement from the 5.7% recorded in December," Dunn says.

 

Read the original article on Namibian.

 

 

 

 

 

Somalia Eyes Energy Breakthrough - Petroleum Authority to Unveil Survey
Results in July As Oil Production Nears

Mogadishu, -- In a significant move that could reshape the nation's economic
trajectory, the Somali Petroleum Authority (SPA) has confirmed it will
publicly release the results of its long-awaited petroleum surveys in July.
The announcement marks a pivotal step toward Somalia's ambitious entry into
the global oil market, with production now expected to begin between late
2025 and early 2026.

 

Speaking in an exclusive interview with state media, SPA Chairman and CEO,
Eng. Abdulkadir Aden Mohamud, said the survey results--compiled from both
offshore and onshore assessments--will offer critical insight into Somalia's
untapped hydrocarbon potential.

 

"We are on track to begin oil production in the coming months. The petroleum
data will be officially released in July, giving us a clearer understanding
of the resource potential in the surveyed areas," said Eng. Abdulkadir.

 

The SPA is working closely with international partners, with Turkey playing
a central role in this initial phase. A Turkish drilling vessel is currently
undergoing final preparations and is expected to arrive in Somali waters in
the coming weeks.

 

While offshore exploration has dominated early headlines, onshore
regions--particularly Lower Shabelle--have also shown promising indicators.
SPA says technical evaluations have been conducted in these areas and that
full-scale activities will resume after the rainy season concludes.

 

Oil extraction is slated to begin by late 2025 or early 2026, pending final
survey assessments, environmental approvals, and logistical readiness. The
data release in July 2025 is expected to spark both investor interest and
national anticipation.

 

The move into oil production is seen as a potential economic game-changer.
With Somalia struggling to diversify its economy, the petroleum sector could
offer a new source of revenue, employment, and infrastructure development.

 

"We are preparing our young people to take ownership of Somalia's natural
resources," Eng. Abdulkadir emphasized. "The goal is for Somali experts to
eventually lead and manage the oil sector."

 

As part of its long-term vision, SPA has already sent dozens of young Somali
engineers and technicians abroad for technical training, ensuring a strong
local workforce ready to assume leadership roles in the emerging energy
sector.

 

SPA reiterated its commitment to transparency, environmental stewardship,
and maximizing national benefit. The Authority is also developing frameworks
to ensure that all operations comply with international standards and that
local communities benefit directly from petroleum activities.

 

"This is not just about extracting oil," said Eng. Abdulkadir. "It's about
building a responsible, inclusive, and future-facing energy sector for all
Somalis."

 

As Somalia positions itself on the brink of a potential energy boom, the
coming months are likely to define the next chapter of its post-conflict
development journey. The eyes of both domestic stakeholders and global
investors are now fixed on July, when the true scale of Somalia's petroleum
promise will be revealed.

 

Read the original article on Radio Dalsan.

 

Tagged:

 

 

 

 

Kenya: Cabinet Okays Dualling of Nairobi's Northern Bypass to Ease Traffic
Congestion

The Cabinet has approved the dualling of the Nairobi's Northern Bypass, a
20.2-kilometre stretch that currently serves as the city's only
single-carriageway bypass in a move aimed at easing traffic congestion and
boosting economic connectivity.

 

The planned infrastructure upgrade is poised to transform the busy corridor
into a modern dual carriageway, significantly improving traffic flow and
enhancing access to key economic zones in Nairobi and Kiambu counties.

 

The proposed dualing will see the current single-lane road converted into a
two-lane carriageway in each direction.

 

The project also includes the construction of eight interchanges, overpasses
and underpasses to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow.

 

Additionally, the development will incorporate non-motorised transport
infrastructure, including pedestrian walkways and cycle paths, in line with
the government's push for inclusive and sustainable urban mobility.

 

Improved drainage systems and enhancements to adjacent access roads will
also be implemented as part of the upgrade, ensuring the road remains
resilient during the rainy season and safer for users.

 

The upgrade is expected to significantly improve road safety and reduce the
risk of accidents associated with overtaking on narrow, congested lanes.

 

The Nairobi Northern Bypass, which links Ruaka in Kiambu County to Ruiru and
connects the Western and Eastern bypasses, has long been plagued by heavy
congestion, particularly during peak hours.

 

Motorists routinely experience delays that translate into higher transport
costs, increased fuel consumption, elevated vehicle emissions, and lost
productivity.

 

The Northern Bypass dualling comes as part of broader national
infrastructure plans to modernise Nairobi's road network and position the
capital as a regional economic hub.

 

Read the original article on Capital FM.

 

 

 

Namibia: Over 1,000 Tonnes of Pilchard Caught Despite Moratorium, As Debate
Over Stock Recovery Deepens

Fishing companies Tunacor and Venmar caught more than 1 000 tonnes of
pilchard in the past week, despite a government ban on harvesting this
nearly extinct species.

 

The government imposed a ban on pilchard fishing in 2018, following decades
of over-exploitation, poor oversight, and repeated disregard for scientific
advice.

 

Yesterday, fisheries minister Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi warned that the ministry
would continue to closely monitor the situation and ensure adherence to
current regulations and measures.

 

Tunacor managing director Peya Hitula this week confirmed that all midwater
trawl vessels in the industry are currently catching pilchard as by-catch
due to horse mackerel stock moving inside the 200m isobath. This refers to
waters shallower than 200m deep.

 

"The seals seem to be pushing the pilchards outside the 200m isobath. All
the fish caught is kept on board and processed as per Ministry of
Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Land Reform regulations, and all levies
and fees related thereto are paid to the ministry.

 

"Once an increase in by-catch is observed, our captains are under strict
orders to move the vessel to another fishing area," he said.

 

Hitula said when pilchards get into their nets as by-catch, they are not
authorised, according to ministry regulations, to throw the fish back into
the ocean.

 

"This activity is also monitored by the observer on board. I am not aware of
communication from the inspectorate warning our vessels.

 

"Yes, pilchard fishing has been under moratorium for a number of years, and
over the last three years we have observed an increase in pilchard
sightings. This could be an indication that the fishery is on a recovery
trajectory," he said.

 

Venmar Group owner Alex Kirov this week confirmed that his company has
landed 0.5% pilchard by-catch between January and June.

 

"This is well below expected averages, considering that pilchards and horse
mackerel are both pelagic species and are found in the same areas and
depths," he said.

 

Kirov said by-catches are unavoidable in commercial fisheries, especially in
trawling, pelagic trawling and long-lining fisheries where non-targeted
species are caught in the process.

 

"We encourage our captains to try their best to minimise by-catch during
their operations, while making use of available technology and know-how," he
said.

 

According to him, landing pilchard by-catch is not profitable as their
selling price is higher than the levies and cost of production and
distribution involved.

 

SOLUTIONS

 

Johanna Shiweda, the chairperson of the Horse Mackerel Association of
Namibia, says the association and its members are actively working with the
ministry to reduce by-catch in the subsector and to identify practical
solutions.

 

"Earlier this year, the association and the ministry began planning a
workshop on this issue, which will include participation from independent
marine scientists," she says.

 

An independent survey done by the Norwegian government and commissioned by
the fisheries ministry in 2024, has shown a biomass of pilchard estimated at
one million tonnes.

 

This, the survey says, is a lot, compared to what was expected over a long
period of stable low stock numbers since the collapse of the stock in the
early 1990s.

 

Zaamwani-Kamwi yesterday told the parliament that the ministry has expressed
concerns over increasing pilchard catches.

 

"Despite our efforts, a notable number of vessels catching persists across
various areas, which underscores the complexities of by-catch management,"
she said.

 

The minister said fishing companies deliberately net high volumes of
by-catch, which impacts efforts to recover the species.

 

'PENALTIES NOT EFFECTIVE'

 

Zaamwani-Kamwi admitted that the current penalties imposed on companies
catching pilchard do not seem to be effective.

 

"The ministry is therefore actively exploring a range of measures to enhance
compliance within our fisheries subsectors," she said.

 

These measures include the moratorium, deploying more advanced monitoring
and surveillance systems, and revising the current penalty regime, the
minister said.

 

The Namibian wanted to know if the ministry is considering lifting the
moratorium, and, given the challenges faced by the two remaining canneries
at Walvis Bay, the ministry would allocate research or experimental quotas
to support local processing and employment.

 

CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC

 

Fisheries expert Dave Russell says reports of a large return of pilchard
stock is exciting news, but must be approached cautiously.

 

This to avoid past mistakes that led to the collapse of the species.

 

"We know that pilchards are a short-lived species. That means reproduction
happens quickly, and therefore you can get big volumes of fish. So the idea,
using a precautionary approach, would be to nurture the stock," he says.

 

Russell suggests a gradual, responsible rebuilding of the industry, with
close cooperation between stakeholders to protect stock health and ensure
sustainable employment.

 

"Going forward they've got to be responsible and work closely between the
government and industry, and develop a strategic development framework -
both with scientists and the industry - to ensure the health of the stock
fitting in with the United Nations' development goals," he says.

 

Adolf Burger, the managing director of Princess Brand Fishing, which
operates one of the only two canneries in the country, says the company is
ready to employ 450 workers and operate at full capacity should a quota be
allocated to it.

 

"Our facility is fully prepared. The new cannery is in place and can be
operational in 45 days, employing 450 workers. We can add shifts and run at
optimal capacity, delivering meaningful employment and economic impact for
the Walvis Bay community," he says.

 

Burger says the government should act based on scientific evidence before
lifting the moratorium by introducing a controlled experimental total
allowable catch (TAC).

 

NO COMMUNICATION

 

Wet-Landed Small Pelagic Association chairperson Johnny Doeseb on Sunday
said the association is worried about the increasing unregulated harvesting
of pilchard by some companies.

 

"This week, yet again, we have witnessed the unauthorised landing of
sardines by a particular vessel well known to the industry. This is not a
new occurrence, it is part of a recurring and dangerous pattern that has
been tolerated for far too long.

 

"These landings continue despite alarming over-catch data presented by the
fisheries ministry last year, which showed that this very vessel landed
pilchard worth over N$120 million, with no visible action taken," he said.

 

Doeseb said the association has communicated this to the ministry and has
not received any response.

 

"The ministry must pronounce itself so it can at least give quotas to the
vessels so employment can be created.

 

"We have already sent the proposal to them. They have it. We are still
awaiting their response. The resource is landed on a monthly basis, but
nothing is happening," he said.

 

The ministry's 2024 data reveals escalating pilchard bycatch volumes.

 

Despite a moratorium on pilchards in 2023, a by-catch of 6 504 tonnes was
recorded, with 12 610 tonnes in 2024.

 

"We are deeply concerned that some operators are now deliberately targeting
pilchard in response to the declining size and value of horse mackerel,
seeking to maximise profits at the expense of national interest and
long-term sustainability. This is not only irresponsible, but also threatens
to collapse the resource once again before it can be fully restored," Doeseb
said.

 

Confederation of Namibia Fishing Associations chairperson Matti Amukwa has
confirmed that the ministry has not engaged with the associations either.

 

"We haven't received any official information in this regard to take a
stance. The ministry's scientist should provide scientific information in
this regard so that informed decisions on how to manage the resource can be
taken," he said.

 

SPECIES ON DEATH ROW

 

Concerns about the pilchard stock started in the mid-1990s. A news report at
the time said the TAC was reduced from 125 000 tonnes in 1994 to 40 000
tonnes in 1995, and reduced again by 20 000 tonnes in 1996.

 

In 2017, statistics showed that fishing companies were struggling to land 3
000 tonnes per year.

 

Experts said concern over the possible extinction of pilchard is so deep
because no recovery would be achieved if strict measures were not enforced.

 

In fact, scientists said, a five-year ban on pilchard fishing in Namibia
would not be enough to recover the stock, even though it would minimise
pressure on the species.

 

Four years ago, the Namibian Chamber of Environment wrote an article, titled
'Why the Namibian moratorium on sardine fishing must continue'.

 

The chamber said it was tempting to bring back the sardine fishing industry,
given the dire economic straits Namibia found itself in.

 

"Yet if the fish stocks have not yet recovered to the point where
sustainable harvests are even possible, is this wise? At this point, even
small harvests are likely to be unsustainable and possibly seal the fate of
sardine fisheries once and for all.

 

"This would be the final death blow for any kind of industry based on this
resource and would further damage the critical marine ecosystem associated
with the Benguela Current."

 

Read the original article on Namibian.

 

 

 

 

Rwanda: Kigali's Proposed Cable Car Transport System Gets $500,000 Boost

The African Development Bank (AfDB) on Wednesday, June 25, said it had
finalised the approval of a $500,000 grant to undertake a feasibility study
into the first phase of a proposed cable car transport network in Kigali.
The development, if realized, would be the first aerial urban transit system
in Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Dubbed the Kigali Urban Cable Car Project, the initiative valued at $100
million is a 5.5 km network that would, among others, ease the capital's
traffic congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as connect
underserved communities to jobs and essential services.

 

ALSO READ: Is it possible to unlock Kigali's peak-hour jam?

 

"This transformative project aligns perfectly with the Bank's vision for
sustainable, green, climate-resilient urban mobility infrastructure. By
financing Rwanda's urban cable car system, we are investing in a scalable
model of low-carbon, inclusive public transport that cities across Africa
can emulate," said African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi
Adesina.

 

Adesina maintained that the development also aligns with the Bank's 10-year
strategy, which focuses on urbanization, and the Alliance for Green
Infrastructure in Africa (AGIA), a global partnership initiative driven by
the African Development Bank Group, Africa50, and the African Union.

 

ALSO READ: What is the best way to address Kigali's public transport
challenges?

 

It is expected that the funds will be sourced from AfDB's Urban and
Municipal Development Fund- a trust fund that provides direct support to
cities to mobilize funding and technical assistance.

 

The proposed design

 

According to the proposed design of the initiative, Phase 1 will comprise
two critical transit corridors, including one from Nyabugogo Taxi Park to
the Central Business District (CBD) Hub, and another from Kigali Convention
Center to Kigali Sports City.

 

The move is part of the efforts to connect public landmarks such as Amahoro
Stadium, BK Arena, and the newly developed Zaria Court.

 

It is also expected that the feasibility study will position the project to
attract international investment, including through platforms such as the
Africa Investment Forum (AIF).

 

Construction is expected to begin in late 2026, with commissioning scheduled
for 2028. Once complete, the cable car will convey over 50,000 passengers a
day on a 15-minute end-to-end journey, integrating into the city's existing
transport infrastructure.

 

According to Imena Munyampenda, the Director General of- Rwanda Transport
Development Agency (RTDA), the project is expected to follow a
Public-Private Partnership model

 

He pointed out that the feasibility study plans to draw lessons from
successful cable car systems in La Paz, Bolivia, and Singapore.

 

"This pioneering feasibility study is a game-changing milestone," said
Solomon Quaynor, the African Development Bank's Vice President for Private
Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialization.

 

"Through the UMDF, AfDB is laying the foundation for an investment-ready
green infrastructure asset that offers both impact and returns."

 

According to AfDB, the $100 million funding structure will comprise a
strategic mix of grants, concessional loans, blended finance, and technical
assistance. The UMDF grant will fund an assessment of the project's
viability gap.

 

Read the original article on New Times.

 

 

 

 

Rwanda: Kagame Receives Outgoing AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina

President Paul Kagame on Wednesday, June 25, received Akinwumi Adesina, the
outgoing President of the African Development Bank Group, who is in Rwanda
for the 28th Annual Conference on Global Economic Analysis, at Urugwiro
Village.

 

According to the Office of the President, their discussion focused on the
fruitful partnership between Rwanda and the African Development Bank, and
the successful collaboration across key economic sectors under Dr. Adesina's
leadership.

 

The African Development Bank has, among others, partnered with the Rwandan
government to transform the agriculture sector through projects that have
modernised farming and improved food security in the country.

 

ALSO READ: Rwanda seeks $2.9bn annually to fund development agenda - AfDB

 

Rwanda recorded a robust economic growth rate of 8.9 per cent in 2024 yet
still faces an annual financing gap of $2.9 billion to implement its
national development goals, according to a new African Development Bank
(AfDB) report.

 

Last month, as his decade-long leadership of the African Development Bank
(AfDB) neared its end, Adesina called on his yet-to-be-elected successor to
embrace the responsibility of defending Africa's interests on the global
stage with boldness and integrity. He was speaking at a media briefing at
the start of the AfDB Group's 2025 Annual Meetings, on May 26, in Abidjan,
Côte d'Ivoire.

 

ALSO READ: 60 years of impact: AfDB's role in building skills for a
healthier future in Rwanda

 

Adesina, who was first elected President of the AfDB on May 28, 2015, and
re-elected in 2020, reflected on what he described as a mission-driven
decade of transformation. Under his leadership, the Bank's capital increased
from $93 billion in 2015 to $318 billion in 2024, an achievement he
described as "unprecedented."

 

He also led efforts to raise $8.9 billion for the 16th replenishment of the
African Development Fund.

 

According to Adesina, the Bank's High 5s strategy, aimed at lighting up and
powering Africa, feeding Africa, industrialising Africa, integrating Africa,
and improving the quality of life for its people, has transformed the lives
of over 565 million people across the continent.

 

ALSO READ: Five things to know as govts race to power 300m Africans

 

Adesina urged his successor to recognise the immense responsibility that
comes with the role.

 

"This is not a job. This is a mission. This is a position that demands
courage to confront ideas and philosophies that may not promote Africa's
interests," he said, adding that more often than not Africa finds itself in
the middle of global challenges that require bold leadership.

 

Read the original article on New Times.

 

 

North Korea to open beach resort as Kim bets on tourism

KCNA A Korean Central News Agency photo showing an aerial view of the Wonsan
Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, with dozens of buildings, an empty road and many
beach umbrellas on the beachfrontKCNA

A Korean Central News Agency photo showing an aerial view of the Wonsan
Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone

North Korea is opening a beach resort that its leader Kim Jong Un hopes will
boost tourism in the secretive communist regime, state media reports.

 

Wonsan Kalma on the east coast will open to domestic tourists on 1 July, six
years after it was due to be completed. It is unclear when it will welcome
foreigners.

 

Kim grew up in luxury in Wonsan, where many of the country's elite have
private villas, and has been trying to transform the town, which once hosted
a missile testing site.

 

State media KCNA claims the resort can accomodate up to 20,000 visitors,
occupying a 4km (2.5 mile) stretch of beach, with hotels, restaurants,
shopping malls and a water park - none of which can be verified.

 

 

Heavily scanctioned for decades for its nuclear weapons programme, North
Korea is among the poorest countries in the world. It pours most of its
resources into its military, monuments and landmarks - often in Pyongyang -
that embellish the image and cult of the Kim family that has run the country
since 1948.

 

Some observers say this is an easy way for Pyongyang to earn money. While
foreign tourists are allowed in, tour groups largely tend to come from China
and Russia, countries with whom Pyongyang has long maintained friendly
relations.

 

"I was hoping this might signal a broader reopening to international
tourism, but unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case for now," Rowan
Beard, co-founder of Young Pioneer Tours, tells the BBC.

 

Tourism from overseas took a hit during the Covid pandemic, though, with the
country closing its borders in early 2020. It did not scale back
restrictions until the middle of 2023 and welcomed Russian visitors a year
later.

 

It opened to more Western visitors in February, when tourists from the UK,
France, Germany and Australia drove across the border from China. It
abruptly halted tourism weeks later without saying why.

 

KCNA North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, his daughter Kim Ju Ae and his wife Ri
Sol Ju watch a person sliding down a yellow slide at a waterpark in the
Wonsan Kalma resort, during a ceremony to celebrate the resort's
completionKCNA

Kim Jong Un, his daughter Kim Ju Ae and his wife Ri Sol Ju at a waterpark in
the Wonsan Kalma

 

Some tour agencies are sceptical of Wonsan's appeal to foreigners. It is
"unlikely to be a major draw for most Western tourists", Mr Beard says.

 

"Key sites like Pyongyang, the DMZ, and other brutalist or communist
landmarks will continue to be the main highlights for international visitors
once broader tourism resumes."

 

However, Elliott Davies, director of Uri Tours, says North Korea holds a
"niche appeal" for travellers drawn to unconventional destinations.

 

"It's intriguing to experience something as familiar as a beach resort
that's been shaped within the unique cultural context of North Korea."

 

KCNA described the Wonsan development as a "great, auspicious event of the
whole country" and called it a "prelude to the new era" in tourism.

 

It was initially scheduled to open in October 2019, but ran into
construction delays before the pandemic struck.

 

Kim attended a ceremony to celebrate its completion on 24 June, accompanied
by his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, and wife Ri Sol Ju. It marked Ri's first public
appearance since a New Year's Day event.

 

Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora and embassy staff also attended.

 

Some tour operators expect the resort to be opened to Russian tourists, who
are currently the only foreign nationals allowed into some parts of the
country.

 

The resort's opening comes as North Korea and Russia strengthened their
partnership in the face of sanctions from the West.

 

North Korea has sent troops to fight for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.

 

On Thursday, the two countries also reopened a direct passenger train route
between their capitals after a five-year suspension because of the
pandemic.-bbc

 

 

 

Thailand's 'weed wild west' faces new rules as smuggling to UK rises

Since Thailand decriminalised cannabis in 2022, shops selling the drug have
popped up across the country

Thailand is trying to rein in its free-wheeling marijuana market.

 

The government has approved new measures, which went into effect on
Wednesday - they restrict the sale of the drug to those with a doctor's
prescription in the hope that this will help regulate an industry some
describe as out of control.

 

The public health minister has also said that consumption of marijuana will
be criminalised again, although it's unclear when that could happen.

 

Ever since the drug was decriminalised in 2022, there has been a frenzy of
investment.

 

There are now around 11,000 registered cannabis dispensaries in Thailand. In
parts of the capital Bangkok it is impossible to escape the lurid green
glare of their neon signs and the constant smell of people smoking their
products.

 

In the famous backpacker district of Khao San Road, in the historic royal
quarter, there is an entire shopping mall dedicated to selling
hallucinogenic flower heads or marijuana accessories.

 

Derivative products like brownies and gummies are offered openly online –
although this is technically illegal – and can be delivered to your door
within an hour.

 

There has been talk of restricting the industry before. The largest party in
the government coalition wanted to put cannabis back on the list of
proscribed narcotics after it took office in 2023, but its former coalition
partner, which had made decriminalisation a signature election policy,
blocked this plan.

 

But the final straw appears to have been pressure from the UK, which has
seen a flood of Thai marijuana being smuggled into the country.

 

It is often young travellers who are lured by drug syndicates in Britain
into carrying suitcases filled with it on flights from Thailand.

 

Last month two young British women were arrested in Georgia and Sri Lanka,
with large amounts of marijuana from Thailand. Both now face long prison
sentences.

 

 

Thai Customs Department A woman sits on a sofa gesturing with one hand
whilst holding a phone in another, her legs crossed, and her face is
blurred. Meanwhile some in uniform is searching through a bag full of black
vacuum compressed bags.Thai Customs Department

A growing number of young people have been caught trying to smuggle cannabis
to the UK

"It's massively increased over the last couple of years," says Beki Wright,
spokesperson at the National Crime Agency in London (NCA). The NCA says 142
couriers carrying five tonnes were intercepted in 2023. This number shot up
to 800 couriers in 2024 carrying 26 tonnes, and that number has continued to
rise this year.

 

"We really want to stop people doing this. Because if you are stopped, in
this country or many others, you face life-changing consequences, for
something many of them think is low-risk. If you bring illicit drugs into
the UK you might get through the first time, but you will eventually be
found, and you will most likely go to jail."

 

So far this year, 173 people accused of smuggling cannabis – nearly all from
Thailand – have gone through the court system in the UK and received
sentences totalling 230 years.

 

Thai airport authorities have had to intensify their inspections to combat
drug smuggling

The NCA is working together with Thai authorities to try to deter young
people from being tempted to smuggle cannabis to Britain. But this has
proved difficult, because of the very few regulations that exist in Thailand
to control the drug.

 

"This is a loophole," says Panthong Loykulnanta, spokesman for the Thai
Customs Department.

 

"The profit is very high, but the penalties here are not high. Most of the
time when we catch people at the airport they abandon their luggage. But
then there is no punishment. If they insist on checking in the luggage, we
can arrest them, but they just pay the fine and try again."

 

The legalisation of cannabis in 2022 was supposed to be followed by the
passing of a new regulatory framework by the Thai parliament.

 

But this never happened, partly, says one MP involved in the drafting
process, because of obstruction by vested interests with links to the
marijuana industry. A new cannabis law was drawn up last year, but it could
be two years away from being passed.

 

The result has been a weed wild west, where almost anything that can make
money out of marijuana is tolerated.

 

There has also been an influx of foreign drug syndicates hiding behind Thai
nominees, growing huge quantities of potent marijuana strains in
brightly-lit, air-conditioned containers.

 

This has flooded the market and driven the price down, which is what has
attracted the smugglers.

 

Even if more than half the people carrying marijuana get stopped, they can
still make money from what gets through to the UK because of much higher
prices there.

 

Small cannabis growers have been calling on the government to better
regulate the industry

"You cannot have a free-for-all, right? This became a bar fight rather than
a boxing match," says Tom Kruesopon, a businessman who was instrumental in
legalising marijuana, but now thinks things have now gone too far.

 

"When there is a weed shop on every corner, when people are smoking as
they're walking down the street, when tourists are getting high on our
beaches, other countries being affected by our laws, with people shipping it
illegally – these are negatives."

 

He argues that the proposed new public health ministry regulations will
restrict supply and demand, and restore the industry to what it was always
intended to be, focused solely on the medical use of marijuana.

 

There is plenty of opposition to this notion from cannabis enthusiasts who
believe the new rules will do nothing to curb smuggling or unlicensed
growers.

 

They say the measures will wipe out small-scale businesses who are already
struggling because of the glut caused by over-production.

 

Earlier this month, many of these smaller growers descended on the prime
minister's office in Bangkok to deliver a formal complaint to the
government, calling for a more sensitively regulated industry, and not just
what they believe is a knee-jerk reaction to foreign criticism.

 

"I totally understand that the government is probably getting yelled at
during international meetings," says Kitty Chopaka, the most vocal advocate
for smaller producers.

 

"Countries saying 'All your weed is getting smuggled into our country,' that
is quite embarrassing. But right now they are not even enforcing the rules
that already exist. If they did, that would probably mitigate a lot of the
issues like smuggling, or sale without a licence."

 

The collapse in prices forced her earlier this year to close down her
cannabis dispensary, one of the first to open three years ago.

 

Parinya Sangprasert, one of the growers at the protest, argues that the
illegal growers are already operating outside the law in Thailand - and will
ignore the new regulations as well.

 

He is emphatic that people cannot come to his farm and just buy 46kg (101
lbs) of marijuana – the quantity typically carried in two suitcases by the
"mules" trying to reach the UK.

 

On his phone he brought up a copy of the official form he has to fill in
every time he makes a sale.

 

"If you want to buy or sell a large amount of cannabis, you need a licence,
issued by our government. Every weed shop must obtain this to buy marijuana,
and there are records kept of which farm it's from and who it was sold to."

 

In the meantime, Thai customs officers are continuing their efforts to stem
the flood of cannabis though their airports.

 

They are using intelligence gathered on travel patterns to target potential
smugglers, and dissuade them from checking in their tainted luggage, and
risking harsh jail sentences in their destination countries.

 

They are increasingly using the requirement for a licence to buy, sell or
export quantities of marijuana to prosecute those they intercept, but the
punishment is rarely more than a fine.

 

And the confiscated suitcases, filled with vacuum-sealed packages of dried
marijuana heads, with names like "Runtz" and "Zkittlez", still pile up in
backrooms at the airports. There were around 200 in one room the BBC was
allowed into, containing between two to three tonnes, taken in just the past
month.-BBC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 


 Invest Wisely!

Bulls n Bears 

 

Cellphone:         +263 71 944 1674 | +27 79 993 5557 

Email:                <mailto:bulls at bullszimbabwe.com>
bulls at bullszimbabwe.com

Website:             <http://www.bullszimbabwe.com> www.bullszimbabwe.com 

Blog:                  <http://www.bullszimbabwe.com/blog>
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LinkedIn:           Bulls n Bears Zimbabwe

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www.facebook.com/BullsBearsZimbabwe



 

 

 


 

INVESTORS DIARY 2025

 


Company

Event

Venue

Date & Time

 


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 


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
report shall be solely responsible for making their own independent
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) 2025 Web:  <http://www.bullszimbabwe.com> www.bullszimbabwe.com Email:
<mailto:bulls at bullszimbabwe.com> bulls at bullszimbabwe.com Tel: +27 79 993
5557 | +263 71 944 1674

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

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