Zimbabwe Cabinet Stalling $400 Million Rail Recap, Minister Says

Zimbabwe Cabinet Stalling $400 Million Rail Recap, Minister Says

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Zimbabwe’s cabinet hasn’t approved a $400 million deal with Transnet SOC Limited to recapitalize National Railways of Zimbabwe because it’s concerned about the government taking on more debt, Transport Minister Joram Gumbo said. Zimbabwe awarded the contract to the South African ports and rail operator in August in a joint venture with the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group after issuing a tender to recapitalize state-owned NRZ. The Zimbabwean operator, which is plagued by…

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Biggest Cocoa Growers Seek Larger Slice of Chocolate Profits

Biggest Cocoa Growers Seek Larger Slice of Chocolate Profits

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – The world’s biggest cocoa-growing nations in West Africa are targeting a larger slice of chocolate-making profits as most of the benefits of producing beans accrue outside their economies, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo said. Farmers in Ivory Coast and Ghana, the two countries which account for more than 60 percent of global cocoa output, earned the equivalent of 5.5 percent of a value chain that was worth more than $100 billion in 2015,…

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Nigeria States Seen Issuing Sukuk Bonds Next Year

Nigeria States Seen Issuing Sukuk Bonds Next Year

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Some Nigerian states are working toward issuing sukuk bonds within a year as more investors are attracted to Islamic finance in Africa’s biggest oil-producing country, transaction advisers say. Nigeria’s federal government has put 100 billion naira ($282 million) in sukuk bonds on sale at 16.47 percent from Sept. 14 to Sept. 20 in its first ever such offering. The proceeds of the sale would be used for road construction…

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Visa-Free Access to Cape Verde for EU May Boost Growth to 7%

Visa-Free Access to Cape Verde for EU May Boost Growth to 7%

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Cape Verde will exempt European Union citizens from needing visas to visit the West African archipelago as it strives to boost tourism, which is vital to its economy, according to the prime minister. Visa-free access for EU passport holders should begin in 2018, Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva said by phone from Praia, the capital. The exemption is part of a raft of proposals that includes privatizing the ailing…

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Zambia Seeking Bids for New Mobile Provider to Take on MTN

Zambia Seeking Bids for New Mobile Provider to Take on MTN

LUZAKA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Zambia is seeking bidders for a fourth mobile-network license to take on operators including market leader MTN Group Ltd. in the southern African country, Transport and Communications Minister Brian Mushimba said. The ministry last week gave the go-ahead to the telecommunications regulator to start the process, he said in a recorded response to questions on Monday. The new carrier could be in place over the next six to 12 months and the…

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KPMG, McKinsey Feel the Heat Over South Africa Graft Scandal

KPMG, McKinsey Feel the Heat Over South Africa Graft Scandal

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – As global companies implicated in a graft scandal in South Africa scramble to contain the damage to their reputations, politicians and law enforcement agencies are prevaricating and stalling official investigations. The scandal has revolved around members of the wealthy Gupta family, who are friends of President Jacob Zuma and have been accused of looting billions of rand in taxpayer funds and exerting undue influence over the state. Accountants KPMG LLP, public relations firm Bell…

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Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso Agree LNG Supply and Sales Pact

Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso Agree LNG Supply and Sales Pact

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Equatorial Guinea said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Burkina Faso to supply the West African nation with liquefied natural gas and build infrastructure to import, store and transport the fuel. The initial three-year agreement compels both sides to negotiate and sign an LNG supply agreement and a terminal use deal, Equatorial Guinea’s Ministry of Mines, Industry and Energy said in an emailed statement on Monday. The countries will…

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