The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has provided an update on the national roads that were affected by the recent heavy rains and flooding in Mpumalanga.
According to SANRAL Mpumalanga’s Provincial Head, Mabuyi Mhlanga, the roads agency continues to closely monitor the situation by carrying out assessments at locations where it is safe to do so.
“This is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of all road users. Where it is still unsafe, assessments will be conducted once the flood water has subsided. Routine Road Maintenance (RRM) teams are also on standby.
“We appeal to all road users to reduce speed, maintain safe following distances for those roads open to traffic, and avoid driving through flooded areas, as water depth and road conditions may not be visible,” Mhlanga said.
The recent update on the affected national roads is as follows:
Nkomazi Local Municipality:
The R582 at Coopersdal Road from N4 to R571 Intersection was damaged at the Komati River Bridge overtopped, R582 Section1. One way traffic flow is being maintained.
Thaba Chweu Local Municipality:
On the R37 Section 4 – location at Sabie/Nelspruit intersection to Mbombela Border – predominately from Km 24 at Brondaal old pump station to km 28. The damage includes three slip failures in this section of the road, and wo-way traffic flow is maintained in both directions.
On the R36 Section 3 between Lydenburg and Bambi there is severe pavement deterioration along this section of the road.
Mbombela and Bushbuckridge Local Municipality:
On R40 Section 1 at the Bulembu Border there is drainage and structural failure, and one-way traffic flow is being maintained.
R40 Section 4 – location at Km19.4 between White River and Hazyview experienced a slip failure and culvert collapse. The contractor is on site.
R40 Section 4 at Km 27 between White River and Hazyview experienced a slip failure and culvert collapse. The contractor is on site.
There is a 24-hour stop and go traffic in place at R40 Section 5 at Km 30.4 between Bushbuckridge and Dwarsloop.
At the R40 Section 5, location Km 45 between Acornhoek and Dullstroom has a slip failure and culvert failure. Two-way traffic is maintained in both directions.
A 24 hour stop and go is in place R40 Section 5, location Km 50.4 between Dwarsloop and Acornhoek. –SAnews.gov.za
Libya’s energy sector is rebounding, attracting global investors and signaling a renewed commitment to production expansion, gas monetization and long-term partnerships. At the Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) 2026 in Tripoli on Saturday, officials outlined a clear roadmap for growth, reform and regional collaboration.
$20 Billion Investment Pipeline
Libya’s oil production reached an average of 1.375 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2025 – the highest in years – and the government aims to reach 2 million bpd by 2030, backed by a $20 billion investment program.
“We witnessed the highest production rate in years, averaging 1.375 million bpd, which is a strong testimony to our recovery and stability,” said Minister of Oil and Gas Dr. Khalifa Abdulsadek. “We have launched a program with 15 companies, and we expect production to rise over the next five years with a $20 billion investment.”
Contract terms have been extended to 25 years, offering predictable, long-term investment conditions and aligning with global practices that support multi-decade upstream development.
Gas as a Growth Engine
Libya is prioritizing gas development to meet domestic power needs and support exports to Europe via the Greenstream pipeline. Gas production is expected to reach 700–750 million standard cubic feet per day in 2026.
“One of Libya’s greatest opportunities lies in its geographical location near one of the largest and most affluent markets in the world,” said Dr. Philip Mshelbila, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum. “With 750 million standard cubic feet per day expected this year, Libya can support domestic power, industry and export through the Greenstream pipeline to Europe.”
Regional and Global Partnerships
Libya is deepening cooperation with Egypt to strengthen North African energy security and resilience, leveraging Egypt’s liquefaction and export capacity alongside Libya’s growing gas output.
The Africa Energy Bank, led by the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) and Afreximbank and ratified by Ghana and Nigeria, aims to bridge financing gaps for capital-intensive energy infrastructure projects, including initiatives like the proposed Libya–Algeria Power Interconnector.
“What applies to Libya and its neighboring countries also applies to any African oil and gas-producing nation – cooperation on transport, joint energy projects and infrastructure development is essential,” said Farid Ghezali, Secretary General, APPO, adding, “The partnership between Libya and Egypt is a strategic move that strengthens regional energy resilience and benefits global markets.”
Libya is also drawing lessons from regional peers such as Namibia, which has built investor confidence through transparent fiscal policies, predictable royalties and strong local content programs, and from Turkey, which is partnering with Libya to expand upstream production.
“Namibia is attractive for investors due to its clear regulatory framework, stable political environment and consistent engagement with the investment community,” said Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Gaudentia Kröhne. “Policies such as a 5% royalty and 35% production allocation to the state provide predictability and help ensure local benefits and skills transfer.”
“Turkey is engaged in Libya pursuing joint efforts and ambitious targets, as part of our broader strategy to become a billion-barrel oil and gas producer,” said Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar. “In today’s geopolitical environment, diversification is crucial, and we are navigating these challenges through sustainable energy strategies and strong partnerships.”
African Energy Perspective
From a continental viewpoint, Libya’s recovery reinforces the broader African energy agenda: turning resource potential into projects, investment and industrial growth.
“Libya’s resurgence is a critical turning point for African energy, and it demonstrates how resource potential can be transformed into real projects, jobs, and industrial growth when stability and investment frameworks align. The momentum now must be sustained through partnership, transparency and deliverable-driven development,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.
Protection of persons with disabilities key amid severe weather conditions
The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has advocated for the protection of persons with disabilities against climate change as mandated by law and policy.
“The call for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in the changing climate follows the clarion call by the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is calling for full inclusion of persons with disabilities in disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and sustainable development initiatives,” the department said on Sunday.
South Africa was recently affected by severe weather conditions and widespread flooding in various parts of the country and government responded by declaring a National Disaster under Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act of 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002).
The severe weather, which included heavy rainfall, strong winds, lightning and flooding, impacted Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and the North West.
This extreme weather resulted in loss of life, significant damage to infrastructure and property, environmental degradation, the displacement of communities, disruptions to schooling and agricultural activities, and closures in parts of the Kruger National Park.
Mpumalanga recorded 20 fatalities, with over 1 300 houses, roads, and public infrastructure damaged. The death toll in Limpopo stands at 18.
“Persons with disabilities in South Africa are vulnerable to severe climatic events. This call is aligned with Article 11 of the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which obligates States to ensure their safety during risks like natural disasters and emergencies.
“Climate action that excludes persons with disabilities undermines these commitments and deepens inequality. South Africa continues to experience the escalating impacts of climate change, including severe storms, floods, droughts, and extreme heat.
“These impacts disproportionately affect persons with disabilities, who already face systemic barriers to access, participation, and protection. This has heightened the vulnerability of disabled communities to environmental conditions,” the department said.
Climate change is expected to exacerbate extreme weather events, increase the prevalence of diseases, and disrupt livelihoods.
“This is especially alarming for persons with disabilities, as they are particularly susceptible to the detrimental impacts of climate change. The disproportionate vulnerabilities that persons with disabilities face under changing climate conditions,” the department said.
They include physical, social, economic, and institutional barriers that limit their ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate-related emergencies.
“South Africa should protect persons with disabilities against climate change as mandated by law and policy. Article 11 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities obligates States to ensure their safety during risks like natural disasters and emergencies.
“Climate justice is disability justice. Building a climate-resilient South Africa requires inclusive planning, equal participation, and the protection of the rights and dignity of all, especially persons with disabilities,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
Libya is entering a new phase of energy development, defined by renewed investor confidence, stronger international partnerships and a clear focus on moving projects from ambition to execution. This momentum was on full display at the 2026 edition of the Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES), where high-level engagements with the United States, France, Italy and the United Kingdom underscored growing global appetite to invest in and partner with Libya across upstream, gas and power priorities. Through a series of targeted roundtable discussions, LEES 2026 delivered a clear message to international investors: Libya is open for business.
U.S.–Libya: Strategic Priority and Expanding Commercial Footprint
Libya was described as a “high priority” for the current U.S. administration during the U.S.–Libya Roundtable, with officials pointing to rising American investment, a growing presence of U.S. energy companies and the strategic importance of Libya’s upstream revival. Convened by the American Chamber of Commerce, the session highlighted opportunities linked to Libya’s ongoing licensing round and the National Oil Corporation’s multi-billion-dollar development program, with U.S. operators and service providers signaling continued commitment to production growth, technology deployment and workforce development.
France–Libya: Project Momentum and Institutional Cooperation
The France–Libya Roundtable, sponsored by Business France, highlighted both project-level progress and deeper institutional alignment. TotalEnergies confirmed it is targeting end-2026 final investment decisions for the North Gialo 6J oil development and the 500 MW Sadada solar project, reinforcing France’s dual focus on hydrocarbons and renewables in Libya. In parallel, the Libyan Council for Oil, Gas and Renewable Energy and Business France signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration between French and Libyan companies, with a potential joint venture under consideration to support energy investment and project development.
Italy–Libya: From Hydrocarbons to Power Generation
Long-standing Italy-Libya energy ties were reinforced during the Italy-Libya Roundtable, where participants called for expanded cooperation across oil, gas and power generation. Italy was positioned as a natural partner for Libya’s next phase of growth, combining operating experience, engineering capacity and geographic proximity. Discussions highlighted ongoing gas developments, flaring-reduction initiatives and growing interest in electricity generation and infrastructure rehabilitation.
U.K.–Libya: Second Licensing Round Anchors Upstream Strategy
The U.K.–Libya Roundtable, convened by the Libya British Business Council, centered on Libya’s plans to launch a second upstream licensing round, positioning licensing continuity as a cornerstone of the country’s strategy to sustain production and attract long-term investment. Libya’s Minister of Oil and Gas, Dr. Khalifa Abdulsadek, said strong global interest in the current licensing round – launched in 2025, with results expected shortly – has reinforced confidence in maintaining a regular, structured approach to acreage offerings. He also highlighted parallel initiatives targeting marginal fields, unconventional resources and underexplored acreage.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.
The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, has welcomed the announcement of an investment by Chery South Africa in the automotive sector.
This investment comes at the back of an agreement signed between Chery SA and Nissan South Africa to acquire the assets in Nissan’s Pretoria facility.
It also coincides with ongoing engagements by the dtic with the industry to revamp the automotive policy and support measures
“The South African automotive sector remains a key anchor industry for manufacturing and job creation. This acquisition by Chery SA is subject to regulatory approvals; after which details on the investment will be shared with the public,” the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the ditic) said.
Chery SA has committed to continue working with the ditic during the implementation phase of the process.
According to Nissan, the company and Chery SA reached agreement on the acquisition of Nissan’s manufacturing assets in Rosslyn, South Africa.
Subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions, including regulatory approvals, Chery SA will purchase the land, buildings and associated assets of the Nissan facilities, including its nearby stamping plant, in mid-2026.
The agreement will see the majority of associated Nissan employees offered employment by Chery SA on substantially similar terms and conditions.
Following the acquisition of the plant by Chery SA, Nissan will continue to offer vehicles and services to customers in South Africa, as before, with several new vehicle launches planned for fiscal year 2026 including the Nissan Tekton and Nissan Patrol.
“Through this agreement we’re able to secure employment for the majority of our workforce thereby also preserving opportunities for our supplier network. This move also ensures that the Rosslyn site will continue contributing to the South African automotive sector,” Nissan Africa President Jordi Vila said. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Federico Donelli, Associate Professor of International Relations, University of Trieste
Somaliland is not internationally recognised as a sovereign state, though it declared independence from Somalia in 1991. A territory becomes a sovereign state when its independence is recognised by the United Nations. For this reason, it has no seat at the UN and is considered, under international law, part of Somalia.
Nevertheless, Somaliland holds elections and maintains relative internal stability. It is also attracting increasing informal diplomatic engagement – though not formal recognition – from Ethiopia, the United States and, most recently, Israel.
This growing interest highlights a geopolitical paradox. An unrecognised polity has become strategically relevant in the Red Sea region, along the Gulf of Aden at the Horn of Africa. This is a key corridor linking the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean.
On 26 December 2025, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state. This made Israel the first UN member to do so. While the concrete effects of the decision remain uncertain, Israel’s move fits into a broader strategy to strengthen its presence in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.
Of all the African states, landlocked Ethiopia has come closest to formally recognising Somaliland, driven by its wish to get direct access to the Red Sea via the port of Berbera. This has become more urgent amid regional competition and instability.
US officials have defended Israel’s right to recognise Somaliland, but the US itself hasn’t done so despite speculation that it might.
I have studied the political dynamics in the Horn of Africa and recently published a book on the competing interests in the Red Sea. For me, this latest development raises two key questions: what is Somaliland’s strategic importance and why the growing interest now?
In short, Somaliland is important because it is located on one of the world’s most critical maritime routes. Current regional instability has increased the importance of partners that can provide security, access and political stability, even without formal recognition.
Israel’s strategic calculation
Israel has framed its recognition of Somaliland primarily in terms of regional security and strategic stability. It has cited the need to safeguard maritime routes in the Red Sea and counter growing threats in the Horn of Africa.
Beyond these stated reasons, however, Israel is motivated by national security considerations. Following the 7 October 2023 attacks and Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, the importance of existing strategic priorities in the Red Sea region has increased.
Somaliland’s location on the Gulf of Aden puts the territory – and any external actors with a presence there – in a position to monitor some of the world’s most important maritime and undersea communication routes.
Of particular concern to Israel is the threat posed by Iran-aligned actors, such as Houthi fighters in nearby Yemen. Engaging with Somaliland provides strategic depth and the potential for an early warning system.
Iran has capacity to exert indirect influence through proxy forces that target maritime routes and regional security.
Attacks on shipping by Houthi missiles and drones launched from Yemen take place just a short distance from Somaliland.
Establishing a presence in Somaliland, or simply relying on it as a partner, would enhance Israel’s ability to monitor Houthi activities and counter threats to maritime traffic.
An increased presence also provides a counterweight to the growing influence of Saudi Arabia and Turkey through diplomatic, economic and – in Turkey’s case – military engagement across the region.
Israel and the UAE both view Somaliland as a relatively non-aligned actor capable of reducing Turkish and Saudi influence in the Horn of Africa.
For Israel, engaging with Somaliland is a calculated risk, based on the belief that the strategic benefits outweigh the diplomatic and political risks.
Ethiopia: the vital need for sea access
Ethiopia is another catalyst of Somaliland’s growing importance. Eritrea’s secession in 1993 made Ethiopia a landlocked country. At present it relies heavily on Djibouti for sea access.
The Red Sea region
The port of Berbera in Somaliland offers Ethiopia politically stable and geographically convenient access. This explains Ethiopia’s interest in signing a memorandum of understanding with the breakaway state in January 2024. Although the agreement has not been widely implemented, it has drawn international attention back to Hargeisa’s claims.
Ethiopia’s cautious approach has aimed at avoiding further regional tensions.
Domestic political factors also influence its tepid response. The country is dealing with several potentially secessionist insurgencies within its borders. There could be consequences for supporting a secessionist movement.
An additional factor is Ethiopia’s close political and economic relations with China and Turkey, which both strongly support Somali territorial integrity.
It is this combination of regional ambition and domestic constraint that explains Addis Ababa’s cautious response to Israel’s announcement.
The United States: balancing realism and norms
Washington officially continues to support Somalia’s territorial integrity, largely due to its counter-terrorism cooperation with the federal government in Mogadishu.
However, Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has reignited debate within US strategic and policy circles. Some favour Somaliland’s recognition. They point to US security interests and global trade.
There is growing openness to engaging with Somaliland incrementally, stopping short of fully breaking diplomatic ties with Mogadishu.
Much of the US debate focuses on recognition itself, but this risks missing the more consequential issue: the precedent Somaliland could set.
Unlike many secessionist movements, Somaliland is not a newly formed political entity. Consequently, beneath its apparent internal cohesion lie deep and persistent fault lines. Hargeisa does not control all the territory it claims. The eastern regions have never entirely accepted Somaliland’s authority.
This cleavage came to a head in violent clashes in Las Anod between 2022 and 2023. Local militias took control of the area, which now functions as a self-administered entity recognised as a federal state within Somalia.
Somaliland’s growing strategic relevance masks its unresolved internal divisions. It illustrates a broader trend in geopolitics now: stability and utility increasingly matter more than legal status alone.
For external actors, engagement with Somaliland may offer short-term gains in a volatile region. But without addressing its internal fractures and contested sovereignty, recognition risks creating new sources of instability rather than resolving old ones.
– Israel’s recognition of Somaliland: the strategic calculations at play – https://theconversation.com/israels-recognition-of-somaliland-the-strategic-calculations-at-play-273817
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Francois Questiaux, Researcher, Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen
Shea butter has become a highly sought-after ingredient in cosmetics and food manufacturing worldwide. Since the early 2000s its use as a substitute for cocoa butter has driven a dramatic rise in international demand. The shea butter industry has grown by more than 600% over the last 20 years.
The shea tree is semi-domesticated across the dry savannah region in a “shea belt” west to east from Senegal to South Sudan, and about 500km north to south. It is not planted but protected within farmland and also found in communal bushland.
An estimated 16 million women collect and process shea fruits in rural west Africa, turning them into dry kernels for sale or processing the kernels into shea butter.
To explore this idea, we conducted research into how the rise in demand for shea butter has affected women collectors in Burkina Faso and Ghana. These two countries are among the lead exporters of dry shea kernels.
The study formed part of our work on agrarian change, political ecology and livelihoods. We study relationships between producers and other actors of global value chains, as well as the impacts of externally induced changes on smallholders.
We combined data from a survey of 1,046 collectors in 24 communities with data from interviews with 18 collectors.
Our results show that the shea boom has intensified competition for access to trees. Over 85% of collectors surveyed reported an increase in the number of shea nut collectors in their community over the past 10 years. We also documented how access to shea trees was becoming more restricted, especially for women who rely most heavily on shea for their livelihoods.
Our results point to widening inequality within the collector population, even as the overall value of the shea sector grows.
Global demand meets local tenure systems
Historically, access to nuts was governed by a combination of customary rules and social norms. Women could usually collect freely on communal land, and also on farmland belonging to their households or relatives. Shea was often treated as a semi–open-access resource, available to women of the community according to need.
This system has come under pressure.
Firstly, as prices have increased over the last three decades, so have the number of people collecting.
Secondly, the common land is shrinking. Expansion and mechanisation of agriculture, population growth and peri-urban development have reduced the areas that once served as shared collection spaces.
Several collectors we interviewed noted that land previously considered “bush” had been converted into fields, removing an important safety net for those without farmland.
As a result, access to shea trees is increasingly tied to access to private land. Over 55% of our survey respondents reported that collection on private fields had become more restricted, with landowners enforcing boundaries more tightly. This shift reflects a broader tendency in both countries for land rights to become more individualised as resources acquire market value.
Third, resource pressure has introduced new forms of conflict, like trespassing on land. Conflicts reinforce exclusion, as landowners become more reluctant to allow non-family members onto their fields.
Unequal effects across collector groups
Our research distinguishes three types of collectors:
dedicated collectors, who derive all of their annual income from collecting and selling shea nuts
diversified collectors, who combine shea collection with farming or other activities
collector–traders, who not only collect nuts but also purchase them from others to sell at higher prices later in the year.
These groups experience the shea boom in different ways.
Dedicated collectors have the most limited access to private land. Only 16% of them collect from their own fields, compared to 38%-43% among the other groups. They depend on the communal bush.
Diversified collectors have better access to private fields than dedicated collectors, but still face similar challenges as bush areas shrink. And they have less time to spend collecting, limiting their ability to compensate for increasing competition.
Collector-traders maintain more secure access to private fields and receive more assistance from household members. Over half report receiving help from men, such as transporting nuts or protecting fields from trespassers. This is significantly more than dedicated or diversified collectors. The additional labour gives them a strategic advantage.
More work, but not more income
Rising prices might suggest that women would earn more from shea today than a decade ago. Yet this is not what most collectors experience. Only 48.7% reported an increase in shea income over the past 10 years, despite the international boom.
Total annual income from shea remains very low – on average only US$174 (purchasing power parity) per year, with differences between collectors.
For poorer collectors, several factors suppress income gains:
limited access to shea trees constrains the volume of nuts they can gather
many have to sell nuts early in the season, often at low prices, to meet immediate cash needs. Better-off collector-traders can purchase nuts cheaply, store them, and profit from higher prices later in the year.
Rethinking the ‘win-win’ narrative
The findings challenge the claim that integrating women into the global shea value chain will empower them and reduce poverty. The boom has indeed created new economic opportunities, but these are unevenly distributed. Market expansion has strengthened the position of those with greater land access and financial capital. At the same time it’s undermined the livelihoods of those who rely exclusively on the resource.
Our study does not prescribe specific policy measures, but its findings point to several possible avenues for intervention.
First, measures that strengthen women’s land and tree rights are likely to be critical. Recent work on peri-urban Ghana, for example, calls for wider rights to land and shea trees for women in policy and tenure reforms.
Finally, evidence from northern Ghana indicates that women themselves recommend changes in farming practices to sustain the resource base.
– Global demand for shea butter is growing: but it’s not all good news for the women who collect the nuts – https://theconversation.com/global-demand-for-shea-butter-is-growing-but-its-not-all-good-news-for-the-women-who-collect-the-nuts-273242
Mtei was appointed by Julius Nyerere, who served as president from 1964 until his resignation in 1985. Nyerere once said of Mtei: “Once a governor, always a governor”, as quoted in Mtei’s autobiography, From Goatherd to Governor. He meant Mtei would always carry the title of governor, given his contribution to starting the Central Bank. Nyerere continued to call Mtei “Governor” even after he transferred him to other posts.
The life and work of Mtei is of central interest to my research as a political scientist who has studied Tanzania’s political history and development politics.
Mtei didn’t take over an established office. The country had obtained its independence only four years before the establishment of the bank in 1965. The newly independent country was using a common currency under the East African Currency Board. Once Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda each decided to be autonomous in 1965, it fell upon Mtei to set up the bank in Dar es Salaam from scratch. He presided over both on technical and logistical matters, including monetary policies, architectural design of the bank’s building, and a design for the national currency.
His work was remarkable as it contributed to the institutionalisation of the country’s economic and financial structures.
Following his tenure as governor, Mtei assumed a bigger government role. He became the secretary general of the East Africa Community from 1974 to 1977 and minister of finance from 1977 to 1979.
As finance minister he took a stand against many of the policies championed by Nyerere, in particular his customised socialist policies – known as ujamaa. Mtei had a different view on how to address the economic problems facing Tanzania. He expressed these to the president – a bold step, given that most government leaders of the time didn’t dare express different views from those of the president.
Mtei resigned in 1979. After Tanzania amended its constitution in 1992 to allow a multiparty system, Mtei founded an opposition party, Chadema, with a liberal ideology that reflected the economic views he had proposed as finance minister.
Chadema has survived to be the leading opposition party in the country to date, despite the limited civic space for opposition politics in Tanzania.
In each of his various roles, Mtei made a mark on Tanzania’s political history.
He leaves several lessons for leaders. Leadership is about conviction. Losing a position for taking a moral stand will eventually lead to a better position with bigger impact. It is professional to give credit even to your opponents. Different views do not mean enmity.
Differences with Nyerere
Nyerere’s economic policies, as set out under the Arusha Declaration, began to show signs of strain.
Following a number of crises such as the oil crisis in 1979 and the Uganda-Tanzania war in 1978-1979, the policies could not facilitate economic recovery in the country. The late 1970s and 1980s were bad years for Tanzania’s socio-economic welfare. All economic variables were negative: for example, inflation rose to 29% per year from 1978 to 1981; between 1979 and 1984, rural income declined by 13.5% in real terms and non-agricultural wage income fell by 65%.
Frustrations about how he was expected to lead the ministry and rescue the country’s economy led him to take a bold step. He resigned in 1979.
Nevertheless, Mtei continued to respect Nyerere. He expressed admiration for Nyerere’s conviction and his determination to build the nation, albeit with an “ineffective” approach.
The farmer
Following his resignation, Mtei became a coffee farmer. He was also active in policy advocacy in the coffee sector as chair of the Tanganyika Coffee Growers Association and a member of Tanzania Coffee Board and Tanzania Coffee Curing Company.
His coffee farm was an estate that he bought after selling his house in a prestigious neighbourhood in Dar-es-Salaam. He actively maintained his coffee estate up to his old age and died in his farm house.
His mastery of finance and economics as well as international knowledge and contacts must have played a big part in his success in the coffee business.
Early life
Mtei came from the Chaggaland on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. He was brought up by a single (widowed) mother with limited resources. In his autobiography he narrated how, at a very young age, he would count banana and coffee trees and identify different species.
Mtei had an entrepreneurial spirit, like two other figures from the same era and region: Erasto N. Kweka and Reginald Mengi.
Kweka was bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania’s Northern Diocese. He served from 1976 to 2004. During his tenure, the diocese was involved with development projects including a bank, hotels, hospitals, schools and universities. He came to be known as “Bishop of Projects”.
Mengi owned media and manufacturing industries in Tanzania. Kweka, Mengi and Mtei were all born in the 1930s and grew up in Chagga land. Reading from their biographies, they shared similar childhood experiences and upbringing.
The three peers became prominent national figures in different capacities. All three were raised in the context where coffee had been introduced and they saw and experienced the economic impact of coffee through the establishment and development of a cooperative society, in particular the Kilimanjaro National Coffee Union (KNCU). The union provided education scholarships and other financial services to the farmers and their families. It contributed directly and indirectly to the education and interactions of Kweka, Mengi and Mtei.
Mtei was appointed executive director for African affairs at the International Monetary Fund in 1983. To his credit, Nyerere didn’t hold grudges and recommended him for the post.
Mtei saw his main job as proposing reforms in fiscal policies to solve Tanzania’s economic problems. In his autobiography he said Nyerere started to understand the imperative of the reforms and allowed negotiations to begin with the Bretton Woods institutions.
But events intervened. Nyerere was stepping down, though Mtei tried to convince him to stay.
Mtei noted in the autobiography that he thought Nyerere would be the most effective person to lead the reform. In contrast, President Ali Hassan Mwinyi’s autobiography gives all credit for reforms to Mwinyi, who ran Tanzania between 1985 and 1995.
Given the level of political polarisation seen in Tanzania and the personalisation of politics, the life of Mtei offers many lessons.
– Edwin Mtei, Tanzania’s first central bank governor, left lessons on leadership – https://theconversation.com/edwin-mtei-tanzanias-first-central-bank-governor-left-lessons-on-leadership-274160
Stepan Khromov, Head of Projects (Africa) at Russian vertically integrated oil company Gazprom Neft, has officially joined the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org/) as a Board Member. Khromov brings with him significant experience across both Russian and African energy markets, creating new opportunities for strengthened collaboration at a time when Africa is scaling-up its energy development. The strategic addition reflects the Chamber’s ongoing commitment to fortifying international energy collaboration and advancing sustainable oil and gas development, paving the way for multilateral partnerships.
Khromov brings to the Board a breadth of experience rooted in international energy markets and cross-continental engagement. Since joining the AEC in 2023 as an International Energy Fellow, Khromov has been at the forefront of initiatives that bridge industry leadership, policy discourse and commercial cooperation. His work has spanned diverse markets and geographies, supporting the AEC’s mandate to mobilize investment, infrastructural development and private sector engagement across the continent.
Beyond African markets, Khromov has played an instrumental role in expanding the Chamber’s network with key global stakeholders, particularly with global partners such as Russia. He has championed constructive dialogue on oil and gas cooperation, participated in high-level forums and helped orchestrate engagement platforms that bring together public and private interests for mutual economic benefit.
“Stepan Khromov’s energy sector insights, global network and proven leadership in fostering cross-border partnerships will be invaluable as we continue to expand Africa’s role in the global energy landscape. Khromov’s appointment underscores the Chamber’s enduring commitment to strengthening ties between Africa and key international partners, particularly as we accelerate investment in oil and gas infrastructure that can deliver secure, reliable energy to African markets,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.
Khromov’s appointment comes at a time when international cooperation in upstream and midstream oil and gas development is increasingly recognized as a driver for economic resilience and sustainable development. In recent years, Russia has been expanding its presence across key African markets, supporting investment, development and global trade.
In the oil and gas sector, Russian firms to the likes of Lukoil and Gazprom have been strengthening their portfolios, partnering with African companies and driving projects forward. Key milestones include Lukoil’s MoU signing with the Republic of Congo in 2024 to enhance cooperation in exploration and production. Gazprom has shown similar growth ambitions, signing a deal with Tanzania to explore and producer natural gas.
Beyond hydrocarbons, Russia’s Rosatom is making inroads into Africa’s nuclear sector. The company is engaging various African countries to support their nuclear ambitions. These include Rwanda, Guinea-Conakry, Mali and the Republic of Congo. By leveraging Russian expertise, these nations strive to unlock new opportunities in nuclear energy. Amid this strategic push, Khromov’s appointment as Board Member of the AEC will only serve to advance collaboration and investment.
“Khromov’s advocacy reflects a philosophy that robust energy sector development must be grounded in partnerships that deliver concrete economic outcomes for all parties. His contributions have emphasized opportunities for mutual benefit and sustainable growth rather than one-sided assistance, fostering dialogue that aligns with the Chamber’s mission to end energy poverty across Africa,” adds Ayuk.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
The United Arab Emirates has expressed its sincere condolences and solidarity with the Republic of South Africa over the victims of floods and heavy rainfall in the north of the country, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries and caused significant damage.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, and to the government and people of South Africa over this tragedy, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured.
– on behalf of United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
