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Five years after missing a US$42.5 million Eurobond coupon and tumbling into default, Zambia has finally clawed its way back into the good graces of at least one major rating agency. On Friday, S&P Global Ratings  lifted Zambia’s long- and short-term foreign-currency ratings to CCC+/C  from selective default (SD) , formally removing the scarlet letter that has hung over the country since 2020. “It confirms that Zambia has moved out of default status and is steadily restoring

When Ghana’s finance minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, stood up to present the 2026 budget, one line cut through the usual noise of deficits and debt targets: after 25 years, the government would abolish the 15% VAT on mineral exploration and reconnaissance . For most Ghanaians, it sounded technical. For the mining industry, it was seismic. For a quarter of a century, companies prospecting for gold and other minerals have paid VAT on high-risk, upfront spending – drilling, assayi

On a busy street in central Harare, shopkeepers still quote prices in both U.S. dollars and the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) – but the tone of the conversation has shifted. After years of relentless price surges, inflation has suddenly fallen hard , dropping from 82.7% in September to 32.7% in October 2025 , its lowest level in nearly two years. Business groups and policymakers say this is no accident. A new, partly gold-backed currency, firmer monetary policy and an unexpected gold p

When pension executives, regulators and investors gathered in Kampala this month for the All-Africa Pensions Summit, the talking point was not another foreign aid package or a new donor facility. It was Africa’s own money – more than US$1.3 trillion  in combined pension and sovereign wealth fund assets – and how much of it is still sitting in short-term instruments instead of building roads, power plants and hospitals. For Uganda, the host country, the moment felt symbolic. I

The money arrived first as a text message. In a parish on the edge of eastern Uganda, the chair of a small savings and credit cooperative opened her phone on Wednesday morning to see a balance she had never imagined: 50 million shillings – roughly US$13,700 – wired straight into the group’s new account. It was the first tangible sign that Kampala’s latest push to attack poverty from the bottom up is finally hitting the ground. This week, the Ministry of Finance confirmed it h

Traders on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) have spent much of 2025 watching green on their screens. The United States dollar-denominated bourse has climbed about 34% year-to-date , outpacing many regional peers and last year’s already strong gains. Mining counters and export-oriented companies have led the charge, turning the tiny resort city into an unlikely focal point for hard-currency investors. Yet 700km away in Harare, policymakers are preparing for the opposit

Malawi Stock Exchange’s 2025 Rally: Performance, Drivers, and Investor Outlook Meta Title:  Malawi Stock Exchange’s Record Rally in 2025 – Analysis and Investor Insights Meta Description:  The Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE) has delivered unprecedented returns in 2025, far outpacing peers. Explore the market’s history, recent reforms, sector winners, macro drivers, regional context, and what this means for local and foreign investors. Learn how the Veri Platform enables seamless

Safaricom PLC is Kenya’s largest mobile network operator and a dominant force in East African telecom and mobile. Founded in 1997 as a unit of state-owned Telkom Kenya, Safaricom’s ownership structure changed when Vodafone acquired a 40% stake in. By 2008 the Kenyan government sold 25% of its shares in an IPO on the Nairobi Securities Exchange – a landmark offering oversubscribed by over 500%. Today Safaricom is by far the biggest listed company in Kenya, controlling roughly

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ZANACO (Zambia National Commercial Bank) – founded in 1969 and still majority Zambian-owned – is widely regarded as a trusted national institution, serving nearly one million customers with a staff of over. A trailblazer in the industry, Zanaco has introduced innovations like Zambia’s first ATMs and mobile banking. As the country’s largest lender by assets and customers, Zanaco’s strategic initiatives shape Zambia’s financial. Under CEO Mukwandi Chibesakunda (the first woman

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In October 2025, the International Monetary Fund upgraded its growth forecast for sub-Saharan Africa to 4.1 percent , reflecting modest optimism amid persistent headwinds. That figure underscores a region balancing between promising reform momentum and foundational structural risks. Key pressures loom large: rising debt service costs, tightening external financing, inflation pressures, and weak fiscal buffers. During the IMF’s African Department press briefing, Director Abebe

Harare, 16 October 2025 — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has offered cautious praise for Zimbabwe’s recent fiscal and monetary reforms, acknowledging steps toward macroeconomic stabilization. Yet despite progress, the global lender remains unable to extend new credit due to Zimbabwe’s substantial debt arrears. Instead, the two parties are engaging under a structured dialogue framework aimed at building institutional credibility ahead of a more formal program. The cor

ISIN: US25460E8557 A Quiet Giant: The Origins and Heritage of Direxion Direxion has built its reputation as a pioneer in the world of leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Founded in 1997 , the firm focuses on providing tactical tools that enable professional traders and sophisticated investors to amplify or hedge their market exposure. Headquartered in New York, Direxion has become synonymous with innovation in leveraged ETFs , offering products that provide 2

Port Louis / Johannesburg — Analysis The African Union (AU) has confirmed that the newly established African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) will be headquartered in the Republic of Mauritius. The decision positions the island nation at the center of a historic effort to build Africa’s financial self-reliance and reduce dependence on traditional global rating institutions such as S&P Global, Moody’s, and Fitch Ratings . AfCRA’s creation marks a significant milestone in the cont

ISIN: ZM0000000250 A Quiet Giant: The Origins and Heritage of Zanaco Founded in 1969 , Zambia National Commercial Bank PLC (Zanaco) stands as one of Zambia’s oldest, largest, and most trusted financial institutions. It was established by the Government of the Republic of Zambia with a vision to create a bank that would serve all Zambians — from large corporations to rural communities. Over five decades later, Zanaco has evolved from a state-owned retail bank into a modern,

ISIN: ZM0000000037 A Quiet Giant: The Origins and Heritage of ZCCM ZCCM Investments Holdings PLC (ZCCM-IH) is one of Zambia’s most significant and historically influential companies — a remnant and evolution of the nation’s mining legacy. Its roots trace back to the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) , which emerged after the nationalization of the mining sector in the early 1970s, when Zambia took ownership of the assets previously operated by private mining companies.

ISIN: US87264M1195 The Origins and Heritage of T-Rex ETFs The T-Rex ETF brand represents one of the most dynamic entrants into the leveraged and inverse exchange-traded fund arena. Managed by Tuttle Capital Management , a U.S. firm renowned for its innovative and tactical ETF launches, T-Rex products are designed for sophisticated investors seeking targeted, short-term exposure to volatile asset classes — including cryptocurrency, technology, and thematic sectors. The T-Rex

ISIN: IE00BTJRMP35 A Quiet Giant: The Origins and Heritage of Xtrackers The Xtrackers ETF range represents the passive investment arm of DWS Group , one of Europe’s largest and most established asset managers. Originally part of Deutsche Bank Asset Management , DWS has a legacy stretching back more than 60 years and manages over EUR 900 billion across global markets. The Xtrackers brand, introduced in 2007 , quickly established itself as a leader in efficient, index-based

ISIN: US33939L5066 A Quiet Giant: The Origins and Heritage of FlexShares The FlexShares ETF family was launched by Northern Trust Asset Management , one of the world’s oldest and most respected financial institutions, with origins dating back to 1889 . Headquartered in Chicago, Northern Trust manages over USD 1 trillion in assets , serving institutional investors, pension funds, and private clients globally. The FlexShares brand embodies Northern Trust’s belief that investme