Africa’s second largest copper producer Zambia, has revealed an K11.8 billion (approximately $445 million) allocation as the impacts of drought intensify. Zambia’s Finance Minister, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, plans to allocate 53% of the budget to cover the costs associated with domestic debt service. Meanwhile, 42% of the budget will be directed towards loans and investments aimed at addressing outstanding bills and facilitating debt swaps for state-owned enterprises Zamtel and Ndola Energy. The final 5% allocation comprises 2.4% designated for foreign affairs overseas allowances, 1.4% earmarked for digital acceleration initiatives under the Smart Zambia Institute, and 1.2% directed towards the funding…
Author: The Editor
With just a month remaining before outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden transfers power to President-elect Donald Trump, Biden is making a high-stakes visit to Angola. This trip underscores the administration’s commitment to advancing the Lobito Corridor, a pivotal infrastructure project connecting Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—Africa’s leading copper hubs. The corridor is vital in the global race for critical minerals, foundational to the electric vehicle and renewable energy revolution. This initiative has intensified competition between the United States and China, the world’s leading economies, as they vie for influence over Africa’s resource-rich regions. Biden’s presence reflects a…
On December 4, 2024, His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema will embark on an official visit to Angola, a pivotal move in Zambia’s pursuit of regional integration and economic transformation. While this trip may appear to be routine diplomacy, it carries immense strategic weight, particularly in advancing the Lobito Corridor—a transformative infrastructure project poised to redefine Zambia’s energy, trade, and export dynamics. We analyse ahead, the significance of the visit, its economic implications, and its alignment with the copper producers long-term sustainable development vision. The Southern Africa nation is at a critical stage of its economic life cycle after years of…
Following a “Republican Clean Sweep” in the 2024 U.S. elections, securing the White House and both chambers of Congress, U.S. bond yields surged from 3.6% to 4.45% on election night, later stabilising around 4.35%. Investors expect this Republican-led government to foster policies contributing to a higher interest rate climate. Read More: Trump 2.0: What’s Ahead for Emerging Markets? As JP Morgan notes, U.S. deficit concerns are a primary driver behind recent rate hikes. Republican-led plans for tax cuts may compel the U.S. Treasury to expand bond issuance to fund the deficit, projected at $1.8 trillion in 2024, exerting upward pressure…
The Central Bank in Africa’s second-largest copper producer, will hold its final rate-setting meeting for the year this week, with Governor Dr. Denny Kalyalya scheduled to announce the decision on Wednesday, November 13, following Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) deliberations starting Monday, November 11. This meeting takes place amid severe drought conditions that have intensified power shortages, leaving Zambia with a gross electricity deficit exceeding 1,470 MW. Despite the power utility securing 670 MW through interventions, the net shortfall remains above 800 MW. This has resulted in some regions facing outages exceeding 21 hours, prompting the Energy Regulation Board to approve…
November 6 marked a historic turn as Donald J. Trump secured re-election as U.S. President, once again assuming leadership of the world’s largest economy. Triumphant over Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party, Trump now becomes both the 45th and 47th U.S. head of state in a globally anticipated election. This outcome has profound implications for trade policy, geopolitical alignment, macroeconomic direction, climate initiatives, and emerging market (EM) support. In this episode, we delve into the ramifications for EMs, especially amid an economy strained by conflict and climate risks. Historical Context: In the prior election, Trump lost to Joe Biden…
Zambia faces severe drought, leading to power outages lasting up to 72 hours, crippling small and medium-sized businesses. The electricity deficit has surged to 1,381 MW, significantly raising operational costs across sectors like welding, salons, and grocery stores. The banking industry struggles with tight liquidity after the Bank of Zambia hiked the cash reserve ratio to 26% in May to stabilize the weakening currency, exacerbating inflationary pressures. Interest rates have climbed, with the benchmark rate up 250 basis points to 13.5%. Telecoms suffer from poor network quality due to power shortages, disrupting mobile money transfers. Key sectors, including agribusiness, mining,…
Airtel Zambia, one of the leading telecoms operator in Africa’s copper hotspot Zambia with a 10.4 million subscriber base, is the sole listed telco on the Lusaka Securities Exchange (LuSE). Beyond telecoms, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) play a critical role in advancing financial inclusion, especially in remote areas underserved by traditional banks. Through strategic partnerships with banks, MNOs have dominated mobile money payments, with transactions surpassing K452 billion (~$17 billion) in 2023, making it the preferred retail payment platform post-COVID. However, the sector faces mounting challenges from climate change, with prolonged electricity outages and rising petroleum costs significantly impacting network…
Zambia, Africa’s copper hub, is facing a severe energy crisis, exacerbated by the worst drought in 40 years, leading to a widening power deficit of 1,280 MW. The Southern African nation is enduring daily power cuts, with only four hours of electricity available as water levels at the Kariba Dam hit historic lows. Businesses are bearing the brunt of this energy shortfall, which has pushed Zambia’s manufacturing sector further into contraction. According to Markit Economics, the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for August dropped to 48.3, down from 49.4 in July, signaling a continued decline in the health of the private…
In Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer, daily life is increasingly disrupted by power outages as the country endures severe energy rationing. Households are left with just 3-5 hours of electricity per day, while the water levels at Kariba, the world’s largest man-made lake, have dropped to critical lows, significantly hampering power generation. The business environment remains in contraction, with manufacturers facing escalating costs as they rely more heavily on diesel generators to offset electricity shortages. The bond markets have not been immune to these pressures, now pricing in an array of risks, chief among them the sovereign stress stemming from…