Category: Africa

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Eritrea: Monetary Support Extended to Families of Martyrs in Haikota Sub-Zone

Source: APO

A total of 400,000 Nakfa contributed by government employees and members of the business community in Haikota sub-zone has been distributed to 80 families of martyrs in the sub-zone’s 12 administrative areas.

Mr. Tesfy Teklai, Head of Social Services in the sub-zone, said that each family of martyrs received 5,000 Nakfa.

Noting that residents of the sub-zone have regularly supported families of martyrs by cultivating their farmland and assisting with harvesting, Mr. Shikedin Saleh, Administrator of the sub-zone, commended the government employees and business community for their initiative.

In the same vein, members of the Eritrean Defense Forces, the Forestry and Wildlife Authority, and the Police, as well as government employees in Haikota sub-zone, conducted visits to the BANATOM Factory, an oil factory, and a metalworks facility.

During the visits, the participants received briefings from Lt. Col. Tekie Woldu, Manager of the Enterprises, and Mr. Shikedin Saleh, Administrator of the sub-zone.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

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Renewal of driver’s licence cards continues until 10-year extension is legislated

Source: Government of South Africa

Renewal of driver’s licence cards continues until 10-year extension is legislated

Motorists have been advised to continue renewing expired driver’s licence cards for light motor vehicles and motorcycles until a new law extending the validity period from five to 10 years comes into effect.

This follows Cabinet’s approval of the extension of the validity period for driving licences for Codes A, A1, B and EB, a decision welcomed by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa.

“The Cabinet approval serves as an endorsement for the draft notices for the extension of the driving licence validity period to be submitted to the Shareholders Committee and also to the Secretary of Parliament for public comments, and also to the office of the State Law Adviser for legal scrutiny.

“Motorists must therefore continue to renew expired driving licence cards until the new law takes effect,” the Department of Transport said in a statement on Thursday.

According to the department, the implementation of the extension requires the amendment of regulation 108 of the Road Traffic Regulations by the amendment of paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (5) of the following: (5) (a) Subject to regulation 101(2) –

  1. a driving licence card for codes A1, A, B, and EB licence shall expire [five] 10 years from the date on which it has been ordered from the Card Production Facility; and
  2. a driving licence card for codes C1, C, EC1, and EC licence shall expire five years from the date on which it has been ordered from the Card Production Facility.

“The 10-year renewal period will apply only to light motor vehicles. Heavy commercial and public transport vehicles will remain subject to the existing five-year renewal cycle, and Professional Driving Permits (PrDPs) will remain on a two-year renewal cycle.

“The change was informed by a study undertaken by the Road Traffic Management Corporation, which recommended that extending the validity period would align with international best practice, enhance administrative efficiency, reduce the frequency of renewals for motorists, and ease service demand pressures within the licensing system,” the department explained. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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eWAKA figure parmi les 50 meilleures entreprises africaines du secteur de la mobilité selon MobilityX Africa

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

eWAKA (www.eWAKA.tech), l’entreprise qui développe la plateforme d’exploitation dédiée à la mobilité électrique commerciale en Afrique, figure parmi les 50 meilleures entreprises africaines du secteur de la mobilité dans le classement MobilityX Africa 2026, se classant à la 13e place sur plus de 250 entreprises évaluées à travers le continent.

Cette distinction constitue une validation indépendante pour une entreprise qui a toujours fait preuve d’une exécution rigoureuse, d’une allocation efficace des capitaux et d’un modèle opérationnel unique au sein de l’un des marchés de la mobilité les plus dynamiques au monde. eWAKA est actuellement présente au Kenya et au Rwanda, où elle a déployé plus de 1 200 vélos cargo et motos électriques, facilitant ainsi plus de 1,1 million de livraisons grâce à sa plateforme de mobilité intégrée. Ces résultats démontrent la viabilité commerciale du modèle d’exploitation économe en capitaux d’eWAKA et établissent une base solide pour sa croissance future.

eWAKA a mis en place une plateforme intégrée qui combine la gestion de flottes électriques, la gestion des utilisateurs et des techniciens, un accès abordable aux batteries, des solutions de financement et un logiciel propriétaire, le tout dans le cadre d’une approche de croissance rigoureuse et efficace en termes de capital. Le classement de l’entreprise parmi les acteurs de la mobilité les mieux classés d’Afrique témoigne de la solidité de cette stratégie.

Le rapport a également distingué eWAKA comme l’une des cinq meilleures entreprises de mobilité au Kenya, l’entreprise de mobilité dirigée par une femme la mieux classée en Afrique de l’Est, et l’une des rares entreprises fondées par une femme à figurer dans le classement continental.

« Cette distinction ne relève pas d’un classement. Elle vient valider une manière de créer des entreprises », a déclaré Céleste Tchetgen Vogel, fondatrice et PDG d’eWAKA. « L’avenir de la mobilité ne sera pas déterminé par ceux qui construisent le plus de véhicules. Il sera déterminé par ceux qui développent les plateformes d’exploitation rendant la mobilité électrique viable sur le plan commercial. Cette distinction confirme notre conviction selon laquelle une exécution rigoureuse et une allocation réfléchie des capitaux peuvent créer des entreprises pérennes. »

Chez eWAKA, la moto n’est qu’un élément d’un écosystème connecté, et non le produit final. En intégrant les véhicules, les logiciels, le financement, l’infrastructure de recharge et la gestion de flotte au sein d’une seule et même plateforme d’exploitation, l’entreprise permet à la mobilité électrique commerciale de se développer à grande échelle.

Alors qu’eWAKA entame une nouvelle phase de croissance, l’entreprise se concentre sur le développement de sa plateforme de gestion de flotte, le renforcement de ses capacités technologiques et l’investissement de capitaux de croissance dans un modèle économique qui a déjà prouvé sa capacité à soutenir une croissance continue.

Distribué par APO Group pour eWAKA.

Contacts presse :
Tabitha Wambui Gichuhi
Djembe Consultants
(+254) (0) 722 140 812
Tabitha@djembeconsultants.com

Samuel Ipinyomi
Djembe Consultants
(+234) 816 491 6578
Samuel@djembeconsultants.com

À propos d’eWAKA :
eWAKA, dont le siège social est situé en Suisse, promeut la mobilité durable en Afrique afin de renforcer les perspectives économiques du continent grâce aux véhicules électriques. Les services d’eWAKA apportent une réponse aux problèmes de mobilité frustrants et perturbateurs en proposant une alternative durable qui renforce la connectivité, améliore l’efficacité et offre des moyens de transport sûrs et respectueux de l’environnement. eWAKA propose à divers segments de clientèle des solutions de véhicules électriques qui réduisent la pollution, notamment les gaz à effet de serre, le CO₂ et le bruit, tout en offrant une grande accessibilité financière grâce à des tarifs d’électricité inférieurs à ceux des carburants, à des solutions d’énergie solaire hors réseau et à de faibles coûts d’entretien. Les projets de développement d’eWAKA prévoient la création d’une usine d’assemblage en Afrique, en collaboration avec ses partenaires industriels, afin de produire des composants conformes aux normes internationales.

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Africa Trade and Distribution Company Limited (ATDC) d’Afreximbank lance des plateformes nationales de commerce et de distribution au Zimbabwe et au Malawi

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

La société Africa Trade and Distribution Company Limited (ATDC), filiale de la Banque Africaine d’Import-Export (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), a signé des accords portant sur le lancement de National ATDC Zimbabwe et National ATDC Malawi, accélérant ainsi sa stratégie visant à mettre en place des plateformes nationales de commerce, de logistique et de distribution destinées à renforcer les chaînes de valeur africaines et à développer le commerce intra-africain.

National ATDC Zimbabwe a été créée sous la forme d’une coentreprise entre ATDC et CBZ Agro Yield, une société membre du Groupe CBZ Holdings Ltd., tandis que National ATDC Malawi sera une coentreprise entre ATDC et Press Corporation Plc, principal conglomérat du Malawi.

Les accords ont été signés à El-Alamein (Égypte), en marge des réunions du Conseil d’administration d’Afreximbank. M. Nikhil Poonevala, Directeur des opérations, a signé au nom d’ATDC, tandis que MM. Lawrence Nyazima, Directeur général du Groupe CBZ Holdings, et Dr Ronald Mangani, Directeur général de Press Corporation Plc, ont signé l’accord au nom de leurs institutions respectives.

Le lancement des plateformes au Zimbabwe et au Malawi fait suite à la création d’ATDC Égypte plus tôt cette année, portant ainsi à trois le nombre d’entités nationales de l’ATDC. Au Zimbabwe, la plateforme sera axée sur le regroupement des produits de base, le développement des exportations, l’intelligence commerciale, l’entreposage, la logistique, la mise en relation entre fournisseurs et acheteurs, les services liés au commerce ainsi que l’accompagnement des PME et des exportateurs émergents. Elle devrait contribuer au renforcement des chaînes de valeur agricoles et industrielles, améliorer l’accès des entreprises zimbabwéennes aux marchés, attirer des investissements dans les secteurs productifs et positionner le Zimbabwe comme un pôle d’exportation compétitif.

ATDC Malawi concentrera ses activités sur le commerce des produits de base, le regroupement de l’offre, l’entreposage, les exportations, les importations stratégiques, le financement structuré du commerce, la gestion des garanties, les infrastructures de chaîne du froid et de logistique, la création de valeur ajoutée ainsi que l’intelligence commerciale. Cette plateforme devrait renforcer les chaînes de valeur des produits de base et de l’industrie manufacturière du Malawi, améliorer l’efficacité logistique, attirer des investissements dans les infrastructures facilitant le commerce et créer de nouvelles opportunités de marché pour les entreprises locales.

Ces nouvelles plateformes ont été conçues pour remédier à la fragmentation persistante des marchés, qui pénalise les petits producteurs, les transformateurs et les exportateurs émergents, en regroupant l’offre, en améliorant l’accès à l’intelligence commerciale, en facilitant les services de logistique et d’entreposage, en soutenant le financement du commerce et en mettant les producteurs africains en relation avec des acheteurs régionaux et internationaux. L’ATDC prévoit de rendre opérationnelles sept entités nationales à travers l’Afrique d’ici à la fin de l’année 2026, avant de poursuivre leur déploiement en 2027. 

Selon le Rapport 2026 sur le commerce en Afrique d’Afreximbank (https://apo-opa.co/4c56dW7), les échanges de marchandises de l’Afrique ont progressé de 6,1 %, pour atteindre environ 1 500 milliards de dollars US, tandis que le commerce intra-africain a augmenté de 5,5 %, pour s’établir à environ 213,8 milliards de dollars US. Le rapport met également en évidence les contraintes persistantes liées au déficit de financement du commerce, aux insuffisances des infrastructures et au faible niveau de création de valeur ajoutée, soulignant ainsi la nécessité de mettre en place des plateformes commercialement viables capables de transformer l’intégration régionale en flux commerciaux concrets.

La création de ces deux entités s’inscrit dans le cadre du mandat plus large confié à l’ATDC, qui consiste à accélérer l’industrialisation de l’Afrique, à promouvoir la création de valeur ajoutée locale et à soutenir la mise en œuvre de la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAf) au moyen de plateformes nationales de commerce évolutives et commercialement viables.

Commentant la signature des accords, Mme Kanayo Awani, Vice-Présidente exécutive d’Afreximbank, en charge du commerce intra-africain et du développement des exportations, a déclaré : « La création de National ATDC Zimbabwe et de National ATDC Malawi marque une nouvelle étape importante dans la stratégie d’Afreximbank visant à mettre en place les infrastructures commerciales nécessaires pour accélérer la transformation économique de l’Afrique. Grâce à ces partenariats, nous créons des plateformes qui mettent en relation les producteurs africains avec les marchés, facilitent le financement du commerce et favorisent la création de valeur ajoutée. En collaborant avec de solides partenaires locaux, nous jetons les bases d’une augmentation des exportations, d’une industrialisation accrue et d’un renforcement de l’autonomisation économique des communautés locales à travers le continent ».

Évoquant la stratégie de déploiement panafricain de l’ATDC, M. Stewart Makura, Directeur général de l’ATDC, a déclaré : « L’ATDC met en place l’architecture opérationnelle du commerce africain. National ATDC Zimbabwe et National ATDC Malawi nous permettront de conjuguer une connaissance approfondie des marchés locaux avec le réseau commercial panafricain de l’ATDC, afin d’aider les producteurs à surmonter les contraintes liées à la taille des marchés, à la logistique et à l’accès aux débouchés. Ces entités constitueront des plateformes opérationnelles concrètes pour la mise en œuvre d’échanges commerciaux conformes aux objectifs de la ZLECAf, tout en favorisant la création de valeur ajoutée et le développement des chaînes de valeur régionales ».

Commentant la création de National ATDC Zimbabwe, M. Wellington Mutizwa, Directeur général de CBZ Agro Yield, a déclaré : « CBZ Agro Yield est ravie de s’associer à l’ATDC pour mettre en place une plateforme qui répond directement au potentiel productif du Zimbabwe. Ce partenariat contribuera à regrouper la production, à accompagner les producteurs en leur facilitant l’accès aux marchés et aux services logistiques, et à ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives pour les produits zimbabwéens sur les marchés régionaux et internationaux. Il s’agit d’une étape importante pour renforcer une croissance tirée par les exportations et élargir les opportunités offertes aux agriculteurs, aux PME et aux entreprises de transformation ».

Évoquant le lancement de National ATDC Malawi, Dr Ronald Mangani, Directeur général du Groupe Press Corporation Plc, a déclaré : « Le partenariat entre Press Corporation Plc et l’ATDC associe les capacités commerciales locales du Malawi au réseau commercial continental de l’ATDC. Grâce à ATDC Malawi, nous soutiendrons le regroupement, la transformation et l’acheminement des produits malawites vers les marchés régionaux et internationaux, tout en contribuant à la mise en place des infrastructures et des services nécessaires à un commerce plus compétitif ».

Les personnalités suivantes ont notamment pris part à la cérémonie : Prof. Benedict Oramah, Président du Conseil d’administration de l’ATDC ; Mme Kanayo Awani, Vice-Présidente exécutive d’Afreximbank, en charge du commerce intra-africain et du développement des exportations et membre du Conseil d’administration de l’ATDC ; les autres membres du Conseil d’administration de l’ATDC ; M. Hani Sonbol, Directeur général de la Société internationale islamique de financement du commerce (ITFC) et administrateur de l’ATDC et de hauts responsables d’Afreximbank, de CBZ Agro Yield et de Press Corporation Plc. Des administrateurs de Press Corporation Plc étaient également présents.

Distribué par APO Group pour Afreximbank.

Contact Presse :
Vincent Musumba
Responsable de la Communication et des évènements (Relations Presse)
Courriel : press@afreximbank.com

Suivez-nous sur :
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À propos d’Afreximbank :
La Banque Africaine d’Import-Export (Afreximbank) est une institution financière multilatérale panafricaine dédiée au financement et à la promotion du commerce intra et extra-africain. Depuis 30 ans, Afreximbank déploie des structures innovantes pour fournir des solutions de financement qui facilitent la transformation de la structure du commerce africain et accélèrent l’industrialisation et le commerce intrarégional, soutenant ainsi l’expansion économique en Afrique. Fervente défenseur de l’Accord sur la Zone de Libre-Échange Continentale Africaine (ZLECAf), Afreximbank a lancé les le Système panafricain de paiement et de règlement (PAPSS) qui a été adopté par l’Union africaine (UA) comme la plateforme de paiement et de règlement devant appuyer la mise en œuvre de la ZLECAf. En collaboration avec le Secrétariat de la ZLECAf et l’UA, la Banque a mis en place un Fonds d’ajustement de 10 milliards de dollars US pour aider les pays à participer de manière effective à la ZLECAf. À la fin de décembre 2025, le total des actifs et des garanties de la Banque s’élevait à environ 48,5 milliards de dollars US et les fonds de ses actionnaires s’établissaient à 8,4 milliards de dollars US. Afreximbank est notée AAA par China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI), A par GCR, A- par Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) et Baa2 par Moody’s. Moody’s (Baa2) et S&P Global Ratings (BBB+). La Banque a son siège social au Caire, en Égypte. 

Pour de plus amples informations, veuillez visiter www.Afreximbank.com

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eWAKA Recognized Among Africa’s Top 50 Mobility Companies by MobilityX Africa

Source: APO

eWAKA (www.eWAKA.tech), the company building the operating platform for commercial electric mobility in Africa, has been recognized among Africa’s Top 50 Mobility Companies in the 2026 MobilityX Africa rankings, placing 13th overall out of more than 250 companies assessed across the continent.

The recognition serves as independent validation for a business that has consistently exhibited disciplined execution, efficient capital allocation, and a unique operating model in one of the world’s fastest-growing mobility markets. Currently, eWAKA operates in Kenya and Rwanda, where it has deployed over 1,200 electric cargo bicycles and motorcycles, facilitating more than 1.1 million deliveries through its integrated mobility platform. These achievements demonstrate the commercial viability of eWAKA’s capital-efficient operating model and establish a solid foundation for future growth.

eWAKA has built an integrated platform that combines managed electric fleets, rider and technician management, affordable battery access, financing, and proprietary software, delivered through a disciplined, capital-efficient approach to growth. The company’s inclusion among Africa’s highest-ranked mobility businesses reinforces the strength of that strategy.

The report also recognized eWAKA as one of the Top 5 mobility companies in Kenya, the highest-ranked woman-led mobility company in East Africa, and one of only a few woman-founded companies included in the continental ranking.

“This recognition is not about a ranking. It is about validating a way of building companies,” said Céleste Tchetgen Vogel, Founder and CEO of eWAKA.  “The future of mobility will not be defined by who builds the most vehicles. It will be defined by who builds the operating platforms that make electric mobility commercially sustainable. This recognition validates our conviction that disciplined execution and thoughtful capital allocation can create enduring businesses.”

At eWAKA, the motorcycle is just one component of a connected ecosystem, rather than the final product. By integrating vehicles, software, financing, battery infrastructure, and fleet operations into a single operating platform, the company allows commercial electric mobility to scale.

As eWAKA enters its next phase of growth, the company is focused on expanding its managed fleet platform, strengthening its technology capabilities and deploying growth capital into a business model that has already demonstrated its ability to support continued growth.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of eWAKA.

Media Contacts: 
Tabitha Wambui Gichuhi
Djembe Consultants
(+254) (0) 722 140 812
Tabitha@djembeconsultants.com

Samuel Ipinyomi
Djembe Consultants
(+234) 816 491 6578
Samuel@djembeconsultants.com

About eWAKA:
eWAKA, headquartered in Switzerland, advances sustainable mobility in Africa to strengthen its economic prospects through electric vehicles. eWAKA’s services address frustrating and disruptive mobility experiences by offering a sustainable alternative that increases connectivity, improves efficiency, and provides safe, environmentally friendly transportation. eWAKA offers multiple customer segments electric vehicle options that reduce pollution, including greenhouse gases, CO2, and noise, while providing strong affordability through low electricity prices compared to fuel, off-grid solar power solutions, and low maintenance costs. eWAKA’s development plans include establishing an African assembly facility with its manufacturing partners to produce components to international standards.

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Canon returns to Visa pour l’Image to champion outstanding photojournalism

Source: APO – Report:

This September, Canon (https://en.Canon-CNA.com/) will be championing the work of photojournalists for the 37th consecutive year, as part of its decades-long partnership with Visa pour l’Image.

Canon will honour the craft of documentary storytelling during the festival’s Pro Week (31 August – 5 September 2026), held in Perpignan in the south of France, by awarding two independent project grants, bringing together industry experts to encourage meaningful discussions and providing recourses for the professional community at the Canon Lounge.

Canon to recognise outstanding contributions to photojournalism with two grants

For 26 years, Canon and Visa pour l’Image have awarded at times career-defining project grants to female photojournalists pursuing a long-term documentary project, alongside the opportunity to showcase their work on the acclaimed Visa pour l’Image stage.

This year, the international jury has awarded Finnish photojournalist and Canon Ambassador Meeri Koutaniemi, for her 14-year documentation of female genital mutilation (FGM) and the grassroots activists working to end the practice. Spanning 14 countries, the project explores both the impact of FGM and the efforts of survivors and communities driving change from within, culminating in a return to Kenya to examine how activism and education can transform future generations.

Canon and Visa pour l’Image are also presenting the seventh Canon Video Grant to German-Mexican filmmaker Axel Javier Sulzbacher for Antes de ser Niño – Before Being a Child. Set in Michoacán, Mexico, the film follows a youth militia where children receive military-style training amid cartel violence, exploring the tension between protection, militarisation, and childhood through long-term observational filmmaking.

“Photojournalism has the power to make visible the realities that too often remain unseen. For more than two decades, the Canon Female Photojournalist Grant has supported women whose dedication, courage and empathy bring these stories to light. Meeri Koutaniemi’s work exemplifies the profound role documentary storytellers play in bearing witness, amplifying underrepresented voices, and inspiring meaningful change.

Alongside photography, documentary filmmaking plays a vital role in helping us understand the world and the experiences of people whose stories might otherwise go untold. This year, the Canon Video Grant recognises the remarkable work of Axel Javier Sulzbacher, whose dedicated, long-term approach brings nuance and humanity to a complex and challenging subject,” says Ingrid Masachs, EMEA Marketing Director at Canon.

“We are proud to support photographers and videographers who devote years to telling stories that can shape understanding and help build a more informed and compassionate world.”

 Canon to host a Photo Studio

As a special highlight this year, Canon will host a dedicated Photo Studio and offer visitors the opportunity to receive a professional headshot and live demonstration of Canon’s Authenticity Imaging System (https://apo-opa.co/4c8UlT2), which embeds secure, verifiable credentials into images in accordance with the C2PA standard.

Canon support at Visa pour l’Image

The Canon Lounge will showcase the strength of Canon’s complete professional imaging offering, bringing together industry-leading cameras, lenses, professional print technology and software solutions that help protect image authenticity, and the unrivalled expertise of Canon Professional Services (CPS).

Throughout the festival, accredited photographers can benefit from complimentary check-and-clean services, hands-on access to the latest equipment, one-to-one advice from Canon product specialists, and a fine art print of their work. As the only imaging brand offering this full suite of products, software and services support, Canon is uniquely positioned to help professional photographers create, protect, and share their work with confidence.

– on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa 
Jayashri Namdar 
e. jayashri.namdar@canon-me.com

APO Group – PR Agency 
Rania ElRafie 
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com  

About Canon Central and North Africa 
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (https://en.Canon-CNA.com/) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market. 

Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.  

Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://apo-opa.co/3RJbL1M) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better. 

For more information: https://en.Canon-CNA.com/

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Afreximbank’s Africa Trade and Distribution Company Limited launches national trade and distribution platforms in Zimbabwe and Malawi

Source: APO – Report:

Africa Trade and Distribution Company Limited (ATDC), a subsidiary of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), has signed agreements to launch National ATDC Zimbabwe and National ATDC Malawi, advancing its strategy to build country-level trading, logistics and distribution platforms that strengthen African value chains and expand intra-African trade.

National ATDC Zimbabwe has been established as a joint venture between ATDC and CBZ Agro Yield, a member of CBZ Holdings Ltd. while ATDC Malawi will be a joint venture between ATDC and Press Corporation Plc, the apex conglomerate in Malawi.  

The agreements were signed in Alamein, Egypt, on the sidelines of Afreximbank Board Meetings. Mr. Nikhil Poonevala, Chief Operating Officer, signed on behalf of ATDC while Messrs. Lawrence Nyazema, Group Chief Executive Officer, CBZ Holdings and Dr. Ronald Mangani, Chief Executive Officer of Press Corporation Plc signed on behalf of their respective institutions.

The launch of the Zimbabwe and Malawi platforms follows the incorporation of ATDC Egypt earlier this year, bringing the total number of National ATDC entities to three. In Zimbabwe, the platform will focus on commodity aggregation, export development, market intelligence, warehousing, logistics, supplier-buyer linkages, trade-related services and support for SMEs and emerging exporters. It is expected to strengthen agricultural and industrial value chains, improve market access for Zimbabwean businesses, attract investment into productive sectors and position Zimbabwe as a competitive export hub.

ATDC Malawi will focus on commodity trading, aggregation, warehousing, exports, strategic imports, structured trade finance, collateral management, cold chain and logistics infrastructure, value addition and trade intelligence. The platform is expected to strengthen Malawi’s commodity and manufacturing value chains, improve logistics efficiency, attract investment into trade-enabling infrastructure and create new market opportunities for local businesses.

The new platforms are designed to resolve persistent market fragmentation affecting small-scale producers, processors and emerging exporters by aggregating supply, improving access to market intelligence, facilitating logistics and warehousing, supporting trade finance and linking African producers to regional and international buyers. ATDC plans to operationalise seven national entities across Africa by the end of 2026, with further rollout planned for 2027. 

Afreximbank’s 2026 Africa Trade Report (https://apo-opa.co/4c56dW7) notes that Africa’s merchandise trade expanded by 6.1% to approximately US$1.5 trillion, while intra-African trade grew by 5.5% to about US$213.8 billion. The report also highlights continuing constraints linked to trade finance gaps, infrastructure deficits and limited value addition, underscoring the need for commercially sustainable platforms that can turn regional integration into practical business flows.

The establishment of the two entities forms part of ATDC’s broader mandate to accelerate Africa’s industrialisation, promote local value addition and support implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area through scalable, commercially sustainable national trading platforms. 

Commenting on the signing, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said: “The signing of National ATDC Zimbabwe and National ATDC Malawi represents another important milestone in Afreximbank’s strategy to build the trade infrastructure required to drive Africa’s transformation. Through these partnerships, we are creating platforms that connect African producers to markets, facilitate trade financing and promote value addition. By working with strong local partners, we are laying the foundation for increased exports, industrialisation and local economic empowerment across the continent.”

Speaking on ATDC’s pan-African rollout strategy, Mr. Stewart Makura, Chief Executive Officer of ATDC, said: “ATDC is building the operating architecture for African trade. National ATDC Zimbabwe and National ATDC Malawi will allow us to combine local market knowledge with ATDC’s pan-African trading network, helping producers overcome scale, logistics and market-access constraints. These entities will be practical execution platforms for AfCFTA-aligned trade, value addition and regional value-chain development.”

Commenting on the establishment of National ATDC Zimbabwe, Mr. Wellington Mutizwa, General Manager, CBZ Agro Yield, said: “CBZ Agro Yield is pleased to partner with ATDC in establishing a platform that speaks directly to Zimbabwe’s productive potential. This partnership will help aggregate output, support producers with market access and logistics, and create stronger pathways for Zimbabwean products to reach regional and international markets. It is an important step in deepening export-led growth and expanding opportunities for farmers, SMEs and processors.”

Speaking on the launch of National ATDC Malawi, Dr. Ronald Mangani, Group Chief Executive Officer, Press Corporation Plc, said: “Press Corporation Plc’s partnership with ATDC brings together Malawi’s local commercial capacity and ATDC’s continental trading network. Through ATDC Malawi, we will support the aggregation, processing and movement of Malawian products into regional and global markets, while helping to build the infrastructure and services required for more competitive trade.”

In attendance were Prof. Benedict Oramah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ATDC; Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank & Board Member of ATDC; other Board Members of ATDC; Eng. Hani Sonbol, CEO, Int. Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), and Director of ATDC; and Senior Executives from Afreximbank, CBZ Agro Yield and Press Corporation Plc. Directors of Press Corporation Plc were also in attendance.

– on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A strong supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$48.5 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$8.4 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), GCR (A), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-), Moody’s (Baa2) and S&P Global Ratings (BBB+). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

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Language-Responsive Education: British Council’s perspective on inclusive language policy and practice, examining how education systems can respond effectively to diverse linguistic contexts

Source: APO – Report:

Language is central to learning. Across many contexts worldwide, schools and classrooms bring together learners with diverse linguistic backgrounds and identities. This diversity enriches communities but also requires careful decisions about which languages are used in education, and how. In multilingual contexts – including those shaped by colonial histories or high mobility – these decisions are often complex.

Globally most education systems share a common ambition: to equip learners with the communication skills needed to succeed locally and globally. Evidence shows that inclusive language‑in‑education policies help achieve this goal when they are supported with appropriate resources. Our updated, language-responsive, position (Language-responsive education: The British Council’s position on inclusive language policy and practice.) forms part of the British Council’s ongoing effort to understand what inclusive language policy and practice look like in varied contexts, and to learn from systems responding effectively to learners’ linguistic realities.

We do not advise as to when or whether countries should transition to English medium education. Instead, we emphasise that decisions about language in education must be made locally, shaped by contextual, social, economic, political and historical factors. What matters most is how well systems support learning. Learners need strong foundations in both a familiar language and English; teachers require appropriate support and preparation; and schools need suitable teaching and learning materials and assessments. Language is a fundamental consideration across policy, curriculum, assessment, teaching and teacher education.

Language policy and practice: A review of the literature on English in education

Our updated position is informed by a comprehensive global literature review conducted for this project. The review, titled, Language policy and practice: A review of the literature on English in education (https://apo-opa.co/4g2x73p) shows that outcomes depend on teacher proficiency, pedagogical quality, system capacity and alignment with local linguistic and cultural realities. It also highlights the risks of poorly supported transitions to English medium education and the importance of strong English as a subject provision.

These insights reinforce the need for context‑sensitive, evidence‑informed approaches and whole‑system commitment to language‑responsive, inclusive and high‑quality education for all learners.

– on behalf of British Council.

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Did Cape Town’s gunshot detection system work? Why jury is still out on what ShotSpotter achieved

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Grant Oosterwyk, Senior Lecturer, University of Cape Town

In mid-2026 Cape Town’s city council ended the use of ShotSpotter, a US-developed gunshot detection system and a form of dragnet surveillance. The system was first piloted in 2016. The council said it was reviewing a renewal of the contract. The acoustic system was marketed as being able to detect and alert police officers to gunfire within 60 seconds.

Information systems researcher Grant Oosterwyk and his colleagues unpack a recent paper that raises questions about accountability, commercial interests and community participation in the context of surveillance technology.

What is dragnet surveillance?

People often imagine surveillance as targeted: police following a suspect or gathering evidence in a specific investigation.

Dragnet surveillance works differently. It monitors a whole area rather than a particular person. Examples include city-wide CCTV networks, automatic number-plate recognition, bulk communications monitoring and acoustic sensors that listen for possible gunfire.

Instead of beginning with an individual suspect, dragnet surveillance begins with a location. People are monitored because they live, work, or move through an area covered by the system. Surveillance of an individual normally requires some justification, and often judicial authorisation. Dragnet systems require none: everyone within range is monitored, whether or not they have done anything wrong. And some neighbourhoods live under permanent monitoring; others never do.

South Africa’s constitution protects privacy, and laws regulate the processing of personal information. But the issue is also power: who decides where surveillance is deployed, how it is evaluated and how affected communities can influence its use.

What is ShotSpotter?

ShotSpotter is an acoustic gunshot-detection system developed by the US company SoundThinking. Sensors placed on buildings or poles detect sounds that may be gunfire. When several sensors detect a possible gunshot, the system estimates its location and sends an alert to police.

The technology is used most widely in the United States, where SoundThinking says it operates in more than 180 cities and communities.

Cape Town first piloted ShotSpotter in Hanover Park and Manenberg in 2016. These are settlements on the Cape Flats where families were forcibly resettled under racial laws in the 1960s and 1970s.

The project was stopped in 2021 due to budget constraints, then revived and expanded, also to apartheid-era settlements. This formed part of the city’s broader investment in technologies like CCTV, drones and aerial surveillance.

The investment responds to a severe problem. Cape Town has among the highest murder rates in South Africa. Cape Flats communities accounted for roughly three-quarters of murders recorded in the Cape Town policing district in the first nine months of 2025. Gang conflict drives much of it. Of 242 gang-related murders recorded nationally in one quarter of 2025, more than 90% occurred in the Western Cape province. Policing capacity is stretched, so technology that promises to pinpoint gunfire is politically attractive.

City of Cape Town reports suggest that the system was useful. In the 2024/25 financial year, ShotSpotter logged 3,893 alerts and 9,223 rounds fired, about 30% lower than the year before. Between April and June 2025, more than half of all firearms recovered by city enforcement agencies were in areas covered by ShotSpotter.

But there has not yet been an independent public audit of the system’s accuracy, false alerts, response times, or effects on policing outcomes.

The public doesn’t know whether it reduced gun violence.

Why is it controversial in Cape Town?

At first glance, the case for ShotSpotter is straightforward: faster gunfire detection could help police respond more quickly, and might save lives. The controversy is not about whether detection can ever be useful, but about evidence, placement, and how violence is framed.

First, the evidence is contested. In the US, ShotSpotter has faced scrutiny from public oversight bodies independent of the police. A court found that fewer than one in ten alerts produced evidence of a gun-related crime; Chicago cancelled its contract in 2024.

Our recent study argues that Cape Town imported not only the technology but also the language promoting it, without independent scrutiny. In the US, that scrutiny came from institutions independent of both police and vendor: inspectors general, an elected comptroller, and courts.

Cape Town has no standing equivalent for policing technology. The city assessed its own programme largely using data generated by the supplier. An independent evaluation could have come from the auditor-general of South Africa, which audits municipal performance; from council oversight committees commissioning external review; or from researchers granted access to the raw alert data. None was published.

Second, placement. The system is concentrated in poor, working-class areas shaped by apartheid spatial planning. Are these communities being better protected, or simply more closely monitored, with little say in how the technology is governed?

Third, our research found a gap between official and community framing. Officials and vendors speak of precision, rapid response and smart policing; residents speak of fear, trauma, unemployment and mistrust of police.

There is also opportunity cost. Money spent on surveillance is money not spent on the conditions that drive violence. The central question is who decides that surveillance comes first.

What needs to happen?

First, Cape Town needs independent audits. Claims about accuracy and effectiveness should be tested by bodies with no financial or political stake in the system.

Second, scrutiny should happen before and during deployment, not only after controversy emerges. A review should ask whose definition of safety a technology encodes, which institutions it assumes exist and whose knowledge it treats as authoritative.

Read more: Smart cities start with people, not technology: lessons from Westbury, Johannesburg

Third, affected communities should have a stronger voice. Residents and community organisations should help define what safety means, how impact is measured and what safeguards are needed.

Finally, detection is not prevention. Sensors may identify where shots were fired, but they cannot explain why violence persists. Lasting improvements in public safety require investment in the social conditions that shape violence, including unemployment, trauma, weak social infrastructure, illicit firearms and strained trust between residents and police.

The central question is whether a surveillance system strengthens public accountability, community safety and democratic trust.

– Did Cape Town’s gunshot detection system work? Why jury is still out on what ShotSpotter achieved
– https://theconversation.com/did-cape-towns-gunshot-detection-system-work-why-jury-is-still-out-on-what-shotspotter-achieved-287252

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Alcohol’s hidden calories: product labels could help fight obesity in South Africa

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Siphiwe Dlamini, Lecturer, Department of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa is grappling with an obesity crisis. Nearly half of adults are overweight or obese. Public discussion often focuses on ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks as reasons for weight gain. But there’s another source of calories that’s often overlooked: alcoholic drinks.

Alcohol contains nearly twice as much energy per gram as carbohydrates or protein. Many alcoholic beverages also contain leftover sugars and other carbohydrates that were not fully converted into alcohol during fermentation. These contribute extra calories on top of those supplied by the alcohol itself. In Australia, for example, a 330ml bottle of cider was shown to contain as much as 724kJ of energy. This is more than twice the energy content of the average sugar-sweetened soft drink in South Africa. Drinking may also increase appetite and encourage the consumption of high-calorie foods.

Access to clear and accurate nutritional information helps consumers make informed choices about their diets. This is key, whether they’re managing their weight, reducing sugar intake or living with conditions like diabetes. Nutrition labels are one way to inform those choices.

Most packaged foods are required to have detailed nutrition labels. But alcohol is in a unique regulatory position in South Africa – the rules that apply are mostly under the Liquor Products Act. Manufacturers generally have to disclose their alcohol by volume (ABV) or the percentage of alcohol in the beverage. Information such as calorie content, sugar levels, carbohydrates or ingredients is often not disclosed.

My colleagues and I are researchers who study the interactions between nutrition policy, food environments and chronic disease risk in South Africa. We recognise the importance of nutritional labelling. We recently analysed the nutrition content information provided online for more than 3,500 alcoholic beverages sold by major South African retailers. These included beers, wines, spirits and ready-to-drink beverages. We found a wide information gap.

Most products disclosed alcohol by volume. Information on calories, sugars, carbohydrates and ingredients was rarely available. Without this information, it becomes far more difficult to understand how specific products contribute to overall dietary intake.

What we found: the transparency gap

Only about one in three products disclosed sugar content. Information on energy, carbohydrates, protein, fat, fibre and sodium was available for fewer than 3% of products. Ingredient lists were disclosed for only a small minority.

In practice, this means that consumers shopping online can usually see how much alcohol a beverage contains. But other nutritional information or ingredients are seldom available. Manufacturers are not legally required to put this information on alcohol labels. The situation is unlikely to be much different for consumers shopping in stores.

Levels of disclosure also varied across beverage categories.

Beers and wines generally provided more information than other products. Spirits and ready-to-drink beverages were among the least transparent. This is despite some of these products containing substantial amounts of sugar and other energy-contributing ingredients.

But disclosure remained limited overall. The typical alcoholic beverage disclosed only a single piece of nutritional information: its alcohol content.

International moves towards transparency

South Africa is not alone in grappling with the question of how much nutritional information should be provided for alcoholic drinks.

A growing number of countries are moving towards greater transparency. The approaches differ between countries. But they recognise that alcohol is not only a psychoactive substance. It’s also a contributor to dietary energy intake and noncommunicable diseases.

The European Union introduced reforms in 2023 that require wines to provide ingredient lists and nutritional information. These can either be on the product itself or through electronic tools such as QR codes.

Australia and New Zealand have approved mandatory energy labelling for alcoholic drinks. Ireland is introducing comprehensive alcohol labelling requirements, including health warnings and nutritional information. Chile has similarly extended its front-of-package warning system to alcoholic beverages.

These developments show that improved transparency is feasible and is being seen as an important part of public health policy. These policies all aim to give consumers information to help them understand the nutritional content and potential health implications of alcoholic beverages.

Improving nutritional transparency for alcohol

South Africa has an opportunity to build on emerging international practice. It also has the chance to close a gap in the rules that leaves consumers in the dark. A full nutrition information panel may not be necessary for every product.

But sharing information about nutrition has to be done carefully.

Labels that emphasise claims such as “low sugar” or “low carbohydrate” may lead consumers to perceive certain products as healthy when they aren’t.

Any future labelling requirements should clearly communicate alcohol-related health risks and be aligned with broader public health objectives.

South Africans deserve the same level of transparency for alcoholic beverages that is increasingly expected for other foods and drinks.

The lack of nutritional disclosure also has implications beyond individual consumer choice. Without standardised reporting requirements, researchers and policymakers have limited information about the nutritional content of alcoholic beverages available on the market. This makes it more difficult to monitor population exposure to these nutrients, and challenging to develop evidence-based public health policies.

– Alcohol’s hidden calories: product labels could help fight obesity in South Africa
– https://theconversation.com/alcohols-hidden-calories-product-labels-could-help-fight-obesity-in-south-africa-288208