Features

DAR ES SALAAM (Capital Markets in Africa)  – Tanzanians already have to watch what they publish, tweet and even sing. Now President John Magufuli’s administration is poised to put opposition parties under even greater scrutiny. Proposed amendments to the East African nation’s Political Parties Act would give a regulator sweeping powers to monitor the funding, membership and plans of opposition groups. Critics say it could effectively criminalize dissent, already rare three years after Magufuli took office. One…

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – Brexit uncertainty is cascading through the U.K. economy, rattling households and companies, according to Bank of England Governor Mark Carney. In its Inflation Report on Thursday, the central bank delivered a pessimistic view, with Carney warning that the “fog of Brexit” is creating tensions. Even based on a smooth exit from the European Union — which looks more unlikely as the March 29 deadline rushes closer — it still sees the economy…

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Politics is tying the hands of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as he weighs policy trade-offs needed to rejuvenate a moribund economy. The labor union leader-turned businessman took office a year ago, shortly after winning control of the ruling African National Congress by a razor-thin margin. With a large party faction remaining loosely aligned to his predecessor Jacob Zuma, Ramaphosa’s political control remains tenuous. He is due to announce the government’s policy…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – As Nigeria’s presidential candidates travel around the vast West African nation holding rallies and making speeches, behind the scenes their supporters are engaging in a hot social media battle for the minds of mainly young voters. Nothing is sacred in the fight as volunteers for President Muhammadu Buharihunker down in a building in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, trying to neutralize adverse reports on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Across town, a similar…

Rabat, Morocco: 31 January 2019: Euromoney Conferences, a leading organiser of conferences for cross-border investment and capital markets, will hold its inaugural Euromoney Morocco Conference in Rabat on 19 February 2019. A diverse line-up of domestic and international speakers will discuss Morocco’s financial sector development and huge potential for investment, growth and trade in front of 200 C-suite delegates. The event will highlight the ambitions of the government and business leaders to position the country…

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa invited opposition leaders for talks after a violent crackdown on anti-government protests over an economic crisis. The meeting will take place on Wednesday at State House in the capital, Harare, Madock Chivasa, a spokesman for the opposition National Constitutional Assembly, said by phone. Political leaders who contested last year’s presidential elections can bring three delegates and those who won seats in parliament may be accompanied by an…

DAR ES SALAAM (Capital Markets in Africa) – Tanzania said it might renegotiate natural gas contracts if its review finds terms agreed as far back as two decades unfavorable to the East African nation. The assessment of 11 agreements started two months ago and is the latest in a series of measures by President John Magufuli’s government to secure more revenue from the country’s resources. Tanzania has 58 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, some…