Category: MIL-OSI

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Backbase and African Banker Publish Landmark Report on the State of AI in African Banking 2026: The Reality of Banking in the Agentic Era

Source: APO

Backbase (www.Backbase.com), the leader in AI-powered banking, in partnership with African Banker magazine, has published The State of AI in African Banking 2026: The Reality of Banking in the Agentic Era. The report, the first systematic assessment of the return on investment of AI in African banking, finds that the continent’s banking sector remains firmly committed to AI, but is entering a harder-nosed “accountability phase” in which boards are demanding evidence that the technology is paying for itself.

Drawing on responses from 277 senior banking executives across 37 African nations, the survey finds that foreign-exchange pressures, rising dollar-denominated cloud costs and tightening data-localisation rules are concentrating board minds on a single question: ROI or no AI?

Key findings from the report include:

  • AI budgets are growing across the continent even among the third of institutions that have yet to establish formal ROI measurement, pointing to an investment imperative that is outpacing the means to account for it.
  • Institutions working with third-party AI vendors measure returns at more than twice the rate of those building entirely in-house, at 71.7% versus 31%, a gap the report calls the “partner premium.”
  • Conversational AI has become the sector’s default entry point, cited by 49% of respondents as a use case, but Innovators deploy advanced financial services capabilities, such as credit, risk and revenue tools, at a rate 24 percentage points higher than Early Adopters.
  • Legacy architecture is the sector’s single biggest constraint: 50.2% of respondents identify integration with existing systems as their primary internal obstacle, the same constraint that degrades the data coherence required to measure AI’s return.
  • Among institutions that have established formal ROI measurement, 85.1% report that results meet or exceed their original projections, yet only 67.1% of all respondents measure ROI at all.

The report also finds that sentiment about AI’s role in African banking remains strongly positive, with 86.9% of respondents positive or very positive about its role over the next two years, and 83.2% likely or very likely to increase AI investment. Fraud detection and transaction monitoring emerged as the most impactful use case, followed by credit scoring and alternative assessment for thin-file customers, an application the report identifies as a credible route to bringing more of Sub-Saharan Africa’s unbanked population into the formal financial system.

The report warns, however, that architectural debt is capping the sector’s ambitions. On average, 55.7 cents of every IT dollar spent by African banks goes toward maintaining legacy systems, even as nearly half of respondents rate those same systems as highly or fully capable of supporting AI, a gap the report identifies as a potential blind spot as banks move toward autonomous, agentic AI.

Aymen Daoud, Regional Vice President Africa at Backbase, commented: “African banks don’t have an AI problem, they have an architecture problem. The institutions that treat integration as the plumbing to fix before scaling agents will spend less, comply more easily, and be the ones still standing when the current generation of models is, inevitably, replaced by the next.”

The full report is now available at https://apo-opa.co/4pvDDTr

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Backbase.

Media Contact:
Stefan Maritz
stefanma@backbase.com

About Backbase:
Backbase built the AI-native Banking OS, the operating system that turns fragmented banking operations into a Unified Frontline. Customers, employees, and AI agents work as one across digital channels, front-office, and operations. 120+ leading banks run on Backbase across Retail, SMB & Commercial, Private Banking, and Wealth Management.

Recognized by Forrester, Gartner, and Datos as a category leader, Backbase powers the digital and AI transformations of over 120 financial institutions worldwide. See some of their stories here.

Backbase was founded in 2003 by Jouk Pleiter and is headquartered in Amsterdam, with teams across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.

About African Banker:
African Banker is the continent’s premier publication dedicated to banking and finance. Published quarterly, it provides in-depth coverage and authoritative insights into the major developments shaping Africa’s financial sector, from fintech and policy reform to investment trends and executive leadership. As a trusted partner of leading institutions, African Banker convenes key stakeholders through its awards, summits, and special reports.

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Home Affairs launches digitalised Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II 

Source: Government of South Africa

Home Affairs launches digitalised Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II 

The Department of Home Affairs has on Monday gazetted the launch of Phase II of its highly successful Trusted Employer Scheme (TES), marking another major step in modernising South Africa’s immigration system to reduce red tape, attract investment and support economic growth and job creation.

Building on the success of the first phase, the expanded scheme will now include companies involved in strategic infrastructure projects, businesses establishing regional and global headquarters in South Africa, and qualifying entities in the financial sector. 

It also forms part of the department’s broader digital transformation agenda and features a dedicated online application process that will ultimately be integrated into the world-class Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) platform.

TES uses a risk-based approach to simplify visa applications for accredited employers. This enables qualifying businesses to recruit critical skills faster, while upholding the integrity of the immigration system. 

To qualify, companies must demonstrate meaningful investment in South Africa, employ predominantly South African citizens or permanent residents, invest in skills development and operate in priority sectors. 

Applications to TES Phase II will be independently assessed by an interdepartmental committee to ensure a transparent, merit-based process.

“The launch of a bigger and better TES is yet another marker that Home Affairs increasingly works as an economic enabler, rather than as a constraint. This directly contributes to the apex priority of the Government of National Unity, which is to grow the economy to create jobs,” Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said. 

He added that the introduction of a secure and efficient online portal, as well as the ongoing work to transition TES into the world-class ETA platform, also forms part of the department’s broader digital transformation agenda. 

“Through our vision to deliver Home Affairs @ home, we are irrevocably committed to building a …department that enables investment, creates jobs, and makes South Africa’s economy more globally competitive,” Schreiber said.

Expressions of interest for TES Phase II are open from 20 July 2026 and close on 4 September 2026. 

The Government Gazette is available here: https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/notices/2066-gazette-no-55036.  – SAnews.gov.za

 

Edwin

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SAPS arrest more than 17 500 suspects in nationwide crime crackdown

Source: Government of South Africa

SAPS arrest more than 17 500 suspects in nationwide crime crackdown

The Department of Employment and Labour has paid out more than R1 million in benefits to former mineworkers and their dependants during a week-long outreach programme in the Eastern Cape.

The outreach, conducted in Port St Johns in the OR Tambo District, was held in partnership with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), the Compensation Fund, the Eastern Cape Provincial Government and the Port St Johns Municipality.

It formed part of Project Thubalethu, an initiative aimed at tracing unclaimed and unpaid social benefits owed to former mineworkers.

The UIF paid out a total of R1 278 846.28 in benefits to 277 clients, providing financial relief to beneficiaries and, where beneficiaries had passed away, to their dependants. 

According to the department, the money comes at a crucial time for many families.

“Some of the mineworkers on whose behalf claims had been lodged did not live to see the outreach; in those cases, the benefits now pass to their dependents, offering a measure of relief to households that carried the weight of illness, injury or loss without the support that was due to them all along,” the department said.

Commissioner for Occupational Diseases at the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases (MBOD) and the Compensation Commissioner for Occupational Diseases (CCOD), Barry Kistnasamy, said an estimated R18 million in benefits remains unclaimed by former mineworkers in the Port St Johns area alone.
Nationally, an estimated R10 billion in benefits remains unclaimed by ex-mineworkers and their dependants.

Kistnasamy said bringing services directly to communities where former mineworkers live is the most effective way of ensuring beneficiaries receive the money owed to them.

The department’s Acting Director-General, Jacky Molisane, said the outreach programme addresses the legacy of labour migration, noting that South Africa’s mining industry historically recruited workers from rural areas, particularly the Eastern Cape.

“Project Thubalethu is an initiative to roll out services-on-wheels by relevant stakeholders and departments for ex-mineworkers in the Eastern Cape to address unclaimed and unpaid social protection benefits and occupational disease and injury claims due to them,” she said.

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane said the province is home to about 370 000 former mineworkers who spent years working underground, often under hazardous conditions that exposed them to occupational diseases and workplace injuries.

The Premier said integrated outreach programmes like Project Thubalethu help ensure that beneficiaries and, where applicable, their dependants finally receive the benefits owed to them.

In addition to the benefit payments, 319 former mineworkers were assisted with work-related injury claims, while more than 400 work seekers were registered on the Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) database and received employment counselling.

The outreach also included workplace inspections in the wholesale and retail sector. Inspectors issued 11 non-compliance orders and 53 contravention notices to employers for failing to comply with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act. –SAnews.gov.za 
 

 

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Minister welcomes seizure of Tembisa Hospital corruption-linked assets

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister welcomes seizure of Tembisa Hospital corruption-linked assets

Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi has welcomed the final court order to permanently seize luxury assets worth R325 million linked to businessman Hangwani Morgan Maumela.

The assets belong to alleged members of the Maumela syndicate implicated in the Tembisa Hospital looting scandal.

Last year, a Special Investigating Unit investigation found that the syndicate—together with two others—allegedly siphoned off some R2 billion earmarked for the improvement of healthcare services at the hospital in a complex web of fraud and corruption.

“We implore the Assets Forfeiture Unit to expedite the recovery process.

“We are also calling upon law enforcement agencies to complete the job through the arrest and criminal prosecution of Hangwani Maumela and his ilk. No one should be allowed to help themselves to resources which were meant for the sick—only a sick society will allow that to happen without any far-reaching and concrete repercussions,” Motsoaledi said in a statement on Monday.

The seized assets include:
•    ERF 45/0 Bantry Bay, 67 Victoria Road, Cape Town, valued at R88.57 million
•    ERF 15/0 Hartbeespoort, 29 Peninsula Street, Pecanwood Estate, valued at R13.66 million
•    ERF 28/0 Sandton, 25 Oxford Avenue, Sandhurst, valued at R69.75 million
•    ERF 28/12 Sandton, 25A Oxford Avenue, Sandhurst, valued at R71.66 million
•    ERF 25/5 Ballito, 5 Reserve Close, Zimbali Coastal Estate, valued at R9.41 million
•    ERF 1099/00049 and ERF 1099/00133, Twin Towers, 191 Beach Road, Three Anchor Bay, Cape Town, valued at R41.5 million
•    Lamborghini Urus Aventador SVJ valued at R17.99 million
•    Lamborghini Huracan STO valued at R 8.75 million
•    Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae Coupe valued at R17.99 million
•    Lamborghini Urus valued at R6.99 million
•    Bentley Continental GT V8 valued at R4.19 million
•    Isuzu D-Max valued at R538 600
•    Multipurpose trailer
•    Regency 250 LE3 boat valued at R1.96 million

All proceeds recovered from the forfeiture will be paid into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account and ringfenced for use by the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH). – SAnews.gov.za 
 

 

NeoB

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Qatar Strongly Condemns Houthi Remarks Accusing Saudi Arabia of Besieging Yemenis and Imposing Maritime Embargo

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | July 21, 2026 

The State of Qatar strongly condemns and denounces remarks by the Houthi military spokesman accusing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of imposing a blockade on the Yemeni people and enforcing a maritime embargo.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the international community to uphold its responsibilities by implementing the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2216 on Yemen and Resolution 2722 on freedom of navigation and navigational rights in the Red Sea. The Ministry stresses that freedom of navigation through international waterways is a fundamental principle of international law and of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates the State of Qatar’s full solidarity with the fraternal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures taken by the Kingdom to safeguard its sovereignty and security. It also affirms that Saudi Arabia’s security is an integral part of the security of Qatar and the other Gulf Cooperation Council member states.

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Dr. Rasha Kelej et 12 Premières Dames d’Afrique et d’Asie appellent à l’action pour renforcer les capacités des systèmes de santé et des médias, briser la stigmatisation de l’infertilité et soutenir l’éducation des filles en 2026 et au-delà

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

  • La Fondation Merck a célébré son 9ème Anniversaire et 14 ans de Programmes de Développement et d’Impact.
  • La Fondation Merck a marqué le Mois Mondial de Sensibilisation sur l’Infertilité lors de sa conférence annuelle.
  • Lien vers la retransmission en direct de la Session Inaugurale de la 13ème Édition de Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026 : https://apo-opa.co/454bmdb

La Fondation Merck (www.Merck-Foundation.com), branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne, a organisé la 13ème Édition de Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026 les 18 et 19 juin, par vidéoconférence. La conférence annuelle a été inaugurée par le Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman du Conseil d’Administration de la Fondation Merck, et le Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO de la Fondation Merck et Présidente du programme Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, en présence des Premières Dames de 12 pays Africains et Asiatiques, qui ont rejoint la conférence en tant qu’Invitées d’Honneur et Oratrices Principales. Parmi les Premières Dames présentes figuraient :

  • S.E. Dr. ANA DIAS LOURENÇO, Première Dame de la République d’Angola
  • S.E. Mme KAONE BOKO, Première Dame de la République du Botswana
  • S.E. Dr. DÉBORA KATISA CARVALHO, Première Dame de la République du Cap-Vert
  • S.E. Madame BRIGITTE TOUADERA, Première Dame de la République Centrafricaine
  • S.E. Madame ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, Première Dame de la République Gabonaise
  • S.E. Mme FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, Première Dame de la République de Gambie
  • S.E. Mme RACHEL RUTO, Première Dame de la République du Kenya
  • S.E. Mme KARTUMU YARTA BOAKAI, Première Dame de la République du Libéria
  • S.E. Madame SAJIDHA MOHAMED, Première Dame de la République des Maldives
  • S.E. Dr. GUETA SELEMANE CHAPO, Première Dame de la République du Mozambique
  • S.E. Sénatrice OLUREMI TINUBU, CON, Première Dame de la République Fédérale du Nigéria
  • S.E. Mme MARIA DE FATIMA VILA NOVA, Première Dame de la République Démocratique de Sao Tomé-et-Principe

Sénatrice Rasha Kelej (Ret), CEO de la Fondation Merck, Présidente de « Plus Qu’une Mère » et Présidente du programme Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, a souligné : « Je suis très fière de présider la 13ème édition du programme Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary en compagnie de nos invitées d’honneur et conférencières principales, les Premières Dames de 12 Pays Africains et Asiatiques, Ambassadrices de la « Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère ». Ensemble, nous avons partagé nos expériences et discuté de l’impact de nos programmes sur la transformation des soins aux patients et la sensibilisation à un large éventail de questions sociales sensibles et cruciales, notamment la lutte contre la stigmatisation de l’infertilité, le soutien à l’éducation des filles, l’élimination du mariage des enfants et des mutilations génitales féminines, la lutte contre les violences sexistes, l’autonomisation des femmes et la promotion de la sensibilisation à des problèmes de santé importants tels que le diabète et l’hypertension.

Alors que nous célébrons également le Mois Mondial de la Sensibilisation sur l’Infertilité, je suis heureuse d’annoncer que la Fondation Merck a octroyé plus de 800 bourses d’études en fertilité, embryologie, santé reproductive et sexuelle, sur un total de plus de 2 600 bourses offertes à des professionnels de la santé de 52 pays dans 44 spécialités médicales essentielles et sous-desservies ».

Regardez le discours de la Sénatrice Dr. Rasha Kelej lors du programme inaugural de Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026 : https://apo-opa.co/4wBOfCs

Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman du Conseil d’Administration de la Fondation Merck, a souligné : « Ce fut un plaisir d’entendre les Premières Dames d’Afrique et d’Asie évoquer les progrès remarquables qu’elles ont accomplis dans leurs pays respectifs grâce aux programmes de la Fondation Merck. Leurs réalisations sont essentielles à notre succès commun et à l’impact durable de nos programmes. »

Regardez le discours du Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp lors du programme inaugural de Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026 : https://apo-opa.co/4w5lNZR

Lors de la Session Inaugurale du Luminaire, les Premières Dames ont prononcé leurs discours d’ouverture pour partager l’impact de leur partenariat avec la Fondation Merck dans leurs pays.

S.E. Dr. ANA DIAS LOURENÇO, Première Dame de la République d’Angola & Ambassadrice de la Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère a soulignée : « J’apprécie grandement le programme ‘Éduquer Linda’ de la Fondation Merck, qui reflète notre conviction commune que l’éducation des filles est l’un des investissements les plus précieux pour l’avenir d’une nation. Nous sommes impatients de lancer prochainement cette importante initiative en Angola. Je remercie également sincèrement la Fondation Merck pour son soutien, notamment les dons de fournitures scolaires essentielles et de protections hygiéniques, qui permettra à nos filles de poursuivre leur scolarité dans la dignité, la confiance et l’espoir. Ensemble, nous continuons également à aborder des problèmes sociaux et sanitaires importants et critiques. » Regardez la vidéo de la Première Dame d’Angola lors du programme Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, ici : https://apo-opa.co/4yoNtKW

S.E. Mme KAONE BOKO, Première Dame de la République du Botswana & Ambassadrice de la Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère a déclarée : « C’est un honneur pour moi de participer à cette prestigieuse initiative. Je suis fière d’annoncer que la Fondation Merck a octroyé 58 bourses d’études à de jeunes professionnels de santé botswanais dans diverses spécialités essentielles et sous-représentées. De plus, la Fondation Merck a également fourni des outils d’évaluation psychométrique et diagnostique spécialisés, nous aidant ainsi à réduire les inégalités d’accès aux soins pour les enfants présentant des déficiences intellectuelles et des troubles du développement. » Regardez la vidéo de la Première Dame du Botswana lors du programme Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, ici : https://apo-opa.co/4aXBCtb

S.E. Dr. DÉBORA KATISA CARVALHO, Première Dame de la République du Cap-Vert & Ambassadrice de la Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère a déclarée : « L’éducation est le fondement d’un avenir meilleur pour chaque enfant et chaque nation. Grâce au programme « Éduquer Linda et Lindo », nous offrons chaque année des bourses à 35 enfants méritants, permettant ainsi aux garçons et aux filles de poursuivre leurs études et de réaliser leurs rêves. J’apprécie tout particulièrement l’inclusion des garçons dans cette initiative, car elle répond à un enjeu majeur dans notre pays. Je tiens également à remercier chaleureusement la Fondation Merck pour son soutien, notamment la distribution de 200 000 serviettes hygiéniques, qui permettra à nos filles de rester scolarisées avec dignité et confiance. Je suis fière de notre partenariat avec la Fondation Merck. » Regardez la vidéo de la Première Dame du Cap-Vert, présentée par la Fondation Merck lors du programme Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, ici : https://apo-opa.co/4bKeEWJ

S.E. Madame BRIGITTE TOUADERA, Première Dame de la République Centrafricaine & Ambassadrice de la Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère a déclarée : « En tant que membre fondatrice de cette prestigieuse plateforme, je reste déterminée à collaborer étroitement avec la Fondation Merck pour renforcer les capacités du système de santé, soutenir l’éducation des filles et lutter contre la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité. Grâce au programme « Empowering Berna », nous transformons la vie de femmes infertiles en leur offrant une formation et un soutien pour créer de petits commerces, en favorisant leur confiance en elles, leur indépendance et leur autonomisation économique. De plus, grâce au programme « Educating Linda », nous octroyons chaque année des bourses d’études à 40 écolières brillantes issues de milieux défavorisés de notre pays. » Regardez la vidéo de la Première Dame de la République Centrafricaine, lors du programme Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, ici : https://apo-opa.co/4vxbHjw

S.E. Madame ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, Première Dame de la République Gabonaise & Ambassadrice de la Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère a déclarée : « Je suis fière de notre partenariat avec la Fondation Merck, grâce auquel nous renforçons les capacités du système de santé, soutenons l’éducation des filles et relevons les défis sociaux et sanitaires majeurs au Gabon. Seize bourses ont été octroyées à de jeunes professionnels de santé dans des spécialités clés où les services sont insuffisants, contribuant ainsi à former la prochaine génération d’experts médicaux. De plus, grâce au programme « Éduquer Linda », nous offrons chaque année des bourses à 40 jeunes filles brillantes issues de milieux défavorisés, les accompagnant jusqu’à l’obtention de leur diplôme et leur permettant ainsi de réaliser pleinement leur potentiel. » Regardez la vidéo de la Première Dame du Gabon, lors du programme Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, ici : https://apo-opa.co/4aQRrlt

S.E. Mme FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, Première Dame de la République de Gambie & Ambassadrice de la Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère a soulignée : « En collaboration avec la Fondation Merck, nous transformons le secteur de la santé publique en Gambie. À ce jour, la Fondation Merck a octroyé 97 bourses d’études à de jeunes professionnels de santé gambiens dans de nombreuses spécialités médicales essentielles et sous-dotées. Nous écrivons l’histoire en formant les premiers spécialistes de notre pays en Oncologie, Fertilité, Embryologie, Médecine Reproductive, Diabétologie et bien d’autres domaines. Nous sommes fiers de cette réalisation majeure. Par ailleurs, dans le cadre du programme « Éduquer Linda », nous offrons chaque année des bourses d’études à 40 brillantes écolières gambiennes, leur permettant ainsi de poursuivre leurs études et de réaliser leurs rêves. » Regardez la vidéo de la Première Dame de Gambie, lors du programme Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, ici : https://apo-opa.co/4gYqssb

S.E. Mme RACHEL RUTO E.G.H., Première Dame de la République du Kenya & Ambassadrice de la Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère a déclarée : « Je suis fière d’annoncer que la Fondation Merck a octroyé 328 bourses d’études à des professionnels de santé kenyans, une étape extraordinaire qui aura un impact durable sur la qualité et l’accessibilité des soins de santé dans tout le pays. Près de 50 % de ces bourses ont été attribuées à des femmes. De plus, 69 bourses ont été octroyées pour le Diplôme Post-Universitaires en Nutrition Clinique dans les 47 comtés du Kenya, soutenant ainsi notre Programme d’alimentation et de sécurité alimentaire et promouvant des modes de vie plus sains au sein de notre population. Nous offrons également chaque année des bourses à 47 écolières kenyanes brillantes mais défavorisées grâce au programme « Éduquer Linda », les soutenant jusqu’à l’obtention de leur diplôme et leur permettant de réaliser pleinement leur potentiel. » Regardez la vidéo de la Première Dame du Kenya lors du programme Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, ici : https://apo-opa.co/4fBxy4p

S.E. Mme KARTUMU YARTA BOAKAI, Première Dame de la République du Libéria & Ambassadrice de la Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère a déclarée : « Nous sommes fiers de notre partenariat de longue date avec la Fondation Merck, grâce auquel 58 bourses d’études ont été octroyées à de jeunes professionnels de santé dans de nombreuses spécialités essentielles et sous-représentées, notamment la Fertilité, Embryologie, Santé Sexuelle et Reproductive, Santé des Femmes, Oncologie, Diabétologie, Endocrinologie, Médecine d’Urgence, Pédiatrie, Maladies Infectieuses et Dermatologie. Ensemble, nous soutenons également l’éducation des filles en offrant chaque année des bourses d’études à 40 écolières libériennes méritantes, leur permettant ainsi de réaliser leurs rêves grâce au programme « Éduquer Linda ». Regardez la vidéo de la Première Dame du Libéria lors du programme Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, ici : https://apo-opa.co/4poe3Ql

S.E. Madame SAJIDHA MOHAMED, Première Dame de la République des Maldives & Ambassadrice de la Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère a soulignée : « Bien que notre partenariat avec la Fondation Merck n’ait débuté qu’en 2024, nous avons déjà constaté un impact significatif en un laps de temps relativement court. À ce jour, 13 bourses ont été octroyées à de jeunes professionnelles de santé dans diverses spécialités essentielles et sous-représentées. En tant qu’Ambassadrice de la campagne « Plus Qu’une Mère » de la Fondation Merck, je m’engage à autonomiser les femmes en leur donnant accès à l’information, aux soins de santé, à l’éducation et en favorisant un changement de mentalité. » Regardez la vidéo de la Première Dame des Maldives lors du programme Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, ici : https://apo-opa.co/4fGp3UT

S.E. Dr. GUETA SELEMANE CHAPO, Première Dame de la République du Mozambique & Ambassadrice de la Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère a déclarée : « Je suis heureuse d’annoncer que la Fondation Merck a octroyé à ce jour 34 bourses d’études à des professionnels de santé mozambicains dans de nombreuses spécialités essentielles et sous-dotées, notamment le Diabète, Endocrinologie, Médecine d’Urgence, Maladies Infectieuses, Oncologie, Radiologie, et bien d’autres. Nous sommes profondément reconnaissants de ce soutien, qui contribue à transformer le secteur de la santé publique de notre pays. Par ailleurs, nous collaborons également au programme « Éduquer Linda », grâce auquel nous soutenons la scolarité de 40 jeunes filles mozambicaines très talentueuses mais issues de milieux défavorisés. Nous leur octroyons des bourses d’études annuelles et continuerons de le faire jusqu’à l’obtention de leur diplôme. Éduquer une fille, c’est donner les moyens à toute une génération et bâtir un avenir meilleur et plus prospère pour notre nation. » Regardez la vidéo de la Première Dame du Mozambique, lors du programme Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, ici : https://apo-opa.co/4fGpbDR

S.E. Sénatrice OLUREMI TINUBU, CON, Première Dame de la République Fédérale du Nigéria & Ambassadrice de la Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère a déclarée : « Grâce à notre partenariat de longue date avec la Fondation Merck, nous transformons les soins aux patients, luttons contre la stigmatisation de l’infertilité et soutenons l’éducation des filles dans notre pays. J’apprécie profondément les 91 bourses d’études octroyées à nos professionnels de santé dans de nombreuses spécialités essentielles et sous-représentées. C’est un chiffre impressionnant et significatif pour nous. Chacune de ces bourses est cruciale pour notre pays. De plus, grâce au programme « Éduquer Linda », nous offrons chaque année des bourses à 71 écolières nigérianes défavorisées mais méritantes, en prenant en charge leurs frais de scolarité et autres dépenses essentielles jusqu’à l’obtention de leur diplôme. L’objectif de ce programme est de leur permettre d’atteindre leur plein potentiel et de réaliser leurs rêves. » Regardez la vidéo de la Première Dame du Nigéria, lors du programme Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, ici : https://apo-opa.co/4wKGVVs

S.E. Mme MARIA DE FATIMA VILA NOVA, Première Dame de la République Démocratique de Sao Tomé-et-Principe & Ambassadrice de la Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère a déclarée : « Je suis fière de notre partenariat avec la Fondation Merck, grâce auquel nous soutenons nos jeunes filles et renforçons notre système de santé. Ensemble, nous offrons chaque année des bourses d’études à 40 écolières brillantes issues de milieux défavorisés, les aidant ainsi à poursuivre leurs études et à se construire un avenir meilleur. Je tiens également à remercier sincèrement la Fondation Merck pour le don de 100 000 serviettes hygiéniques, qui permettra aux filles de rester scolarisées avec dignité et confiance. Par ailleurs, la Fondation Merck a octroyé des bourses d’études à nos professionnels de santé locaux dans des spécialités essentielles telles que l’Oncologie, Embryologie et Diabétologie, contribuant ainsi au développement de l’expertise médicale locale et à l’amélioration de l’accès à des soins de qualité pour notre population. » Regardez la vidéo de la Première Dame de São Tomé-et-Principe, lors du programme Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, ici : https://apo-opa.co/3T6h8Z8

La 13ème Édition de Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary est diffusée en direct sur les comptes des réseaux sociaux de la Fondation Merck et Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO de la Fondation Merck :

@Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4gzV2Ih), X (https://apo-opa.co/4pkLrr0), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4wO7yJ6), et YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4fChcZp).

@Rasha Kelej: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4fAkaxw), X (https://apo-opa.co/4flUq6U), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4gFWsAZ), et YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/44wlQ52).

La Fondation Merck transforme le paysage des soins aux patients et marque l’histoire avec ses partenaires en Afrique, en Asie et au-delà, grâce à :

• Plus de 2 600 bourses d’études offertes par la Fondation Merck à des professionnels de la santé de 52 pays, dans 44 spécialités médicales essentielles et sous-représentées.  

La Fondation Merck contribue également à un changement culturel et brise le silence sur un large éventail de problèmes sociaux et sanitaires en Afrique et dans les communautés défavorisées, grâce à :

• Plus de 4 000 représentants des médias de plus de 42 pays, formés par la Fondation Merck pour mieux sensibiliser le public aux différents problèmes sociaux et sanitaires.

• 8 Prix Différents décernés chaque année pour la meilleure couverture médiatique, la meilleure chanson, le meilleur film et la meilleure création de mode, contribuant ainsi à sensibiliser le public et à briser le silence.

• Une trentaine (30) de chansons abordant des problématiques sanitaires et sociales, interprétées par des chanteurs locaux de toute l’Afrique en anglais, français, portugais et langues locales.

• 9 livres d’histoires pour enfants en quatre langues : anglais, français, portugais et swahili.

• 6 films d’animation de sensibilisation en cinq langues : anglais, français, portugais, espagnol et swahili, visant à lutter contre la stigmatisation de l’infertilité, à soutenir l’éducation des filles et à promouvoir la prévention et le dépistage précoce du diabète, de l’hypertension et du cancer.

• L’émission panafricaine « Notre Afrique » de la Fondation Merck, qui traite des problématiques sociales et sanitaires en Afrique à travers la communauté « Mode et L’Art avec un But ».

• Plus de 1 550 bourses d’études annuelles attribuées à des écolières africaines de 21 pays, couvrant les frais de scolarité et autres dépenses essentielles liées à leurs études, telles que les livres, les uniformes et le transport, afin de les aider à terminer leurs études et à réaliser pleinement leur potentiel.

15 comptes sur les réseaux sociaux, suivis par plus de 9 millions d’abonnés.

Distribué par APO Group pour Merck Foundation.

Contact :
Mehak Handa
Responsable du programme de sensibilisation communautaire
Téléphone : +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
E-mail : mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

Rejoignez la conversation sur nos plateformes de réseaux sociaux ci-dessous et faites entendre votre voix :
Facebook : https://apo-opa.co/4gzV2Ih
X : https://apo-opa.co/4pkLrr0
YouTube : https://apo-opa.co/4fChcZp
Instagram : https://apo-opa.co/4wO7yJ6
Threads : https://apo-opa.co/4fgxTYT
Flickr : https://apo-opa.co/4fAkRXE
Site Web : www.Merck-Foundation.com
Télécharger l’Application de la Fondation Merck : https://apo-opa.co/4ffhQe2

À propos de la Fondation Merck : 
La Fondation Merck, créée en 2017, est la branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne, vise à améliorer la santé et le bien-être des populations et à faire progresser leur vie grâce à la science et à la technologie. Nos efforts sont principalement axés sur l’amélioration de l’accès à des solutions de soins de santé de qualité et équitables dans les communautés mal desservies, à renforcer les capacités de recherche sur les soins de santé et la recherche scientifique, l’autonomisation des filles à travers l’éducation et l’autonomisation des personnes en STEM (Science, Technologie, Ingénierie et Mathématiques) avec un accent particulier sur les femmes et les jeunes. Tous les communiqués de presse de la Fondation Merck sont distribués par e-mail en même temps qu’ils deviennent disponibles sur le site Web de la Fondation Merck. Veuillez visiter www.Merck-Foundation.com pour en savoir plus. Pour en savoir plus, contactez nos réseaux sociaux de la Fondation Merck : Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4gzV2Ih), X (https://apo-opa.co/4pkLrr0), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4wO7yJ6), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4fChcZp), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4fgxTYT) et Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/4fAkRXE).

La Fondation Merck se consacre à l’amélioration des résultats sociaux et sanitaires pour les communautés dans le besoin. Bien qu’elle collabore avec divers partenaires, y compris des gouvernements, pour atteindre ses objectifs humanitaires, la fondation reste strictement neutre sur le plan politique. Elle ne s’engage pas et ne soutient pas d’activités, d’élections ou de régimes politiques, se focalise uniquement sur sa mission d’élever l’humanité et d’améliorer le bien-être tout en maintenant une position strictement apolitique dans toutes ses activités.

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$2.1 Billion and Counting: African Real Estate Is Executing

Source: APO

Verified data gathered from across Africa’s real estate investment landscape reveals that the continent’s leading property and hospitality roleplayers completed more than $2.1 billion worth of transactions over the past 18 months, representing one of the most concentrated periods of institutional real estate deal activity in the continent’s history.

Download Document: https://apo-opa.co/3TraTiH

The 28 transactions (across nine countries and eight asset classes) were closed by API Summit stakeholders from across the institutional property ecosystem – spanning listed capital markets, commercial, residential, hospitality, logistics and alternatives.

The full African Deals Index report – compiled in collaboration with Broll, the data and insights partner for API Summit 2026 – will be unveiled on the opening day of the event, taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 17 and 18 September.

Talk turning to investment action

The deal-making activity is a signal of the much-spoken-about potential for Africa converting into tangible action, driven by enhanced investor confidence.

“This isn’t a forecast – it’s a balance sheet. $2.1 billion in completed transactions tells you African real estate has moved past the conversation about potential and into the discipline of execution,” said Malcolm Horne, Group CEO of Broll Property Group.

Horne highlighted several key shifts reflected in the data.

“What’s notable is where the conviction is coming from: domestic pension capital acting as a structuring investor, not a passive landlord, and green-linked financing becoming a board-level decision, not a marketing line. At Broll, we see this in our own data every day – across the assets we manage, the cost of capital is increasingly tied to the quality of the asset, not just its location.

“That’s the market maturing in real time, and it’s exactly the momentum my team and I are looking forward to presenting and unpacking at API this year.”

The 17th Annual API Summit takes place under the theme Bold Capital. Real Momentum. and is expected to attract over 600 delegates from more than 30 countries.

Niyi Adeyele, Head of Real Estate Finance, Africa Regions at Standard Bank Group, commented on the evolution of real estate sector funding across Africa.

“It remains interesting to track the resilience and the evolution of activities in the sector, from growing capital market activities, to the rapidly increasing participation of domestic capital sources within the African continent from domestic focused institutional capital sources such as pension funds and family offices to pan-African investor platforms that tend to operate across multiple countries.”

He said that accordingly, sectoral activity levels remain positive, with the “growing pace of green field projects in key markets” providing “early indications of a new growth cycle for the sector”.

Major moves from domestic capital and DFIs

Domestic pension capital has moved decisively beyond its traditional role as a passive landlord, emerging as an active, structuring investor in African real estate – a shift that will be central to discussions at the summit.

The charge was led by South Africa’s Government Employees Pension Fund (through the Public Investment Corporation and retail property powerhouse Pareto), which concluded commercial, residential and industrial transactions valued at over $343.5 million since the start of 2025.

“Through the Standard Bank Group’s franchise operations across multiple countries, there are observed increase deployment of institutional capital to across key markets driving increased primary and secondary market activities,” said Adeyele, pointing to examples such as Grene Capital’s raising of $100 million from Nigerian pension for property investments in Nigeria and beyond.

Sustainability-linked deal leads the way

Sustainability remains a critical factor in real estate financing considerations – evidenced by the largest transaction completed over the past 18 months.

Standard Bank and its African Regions brand Stanbic (along with Rand Merchant Bank) acted as co-lender on a $300 million green financing facility to facilitate Lango’s bid to become Africa’s first Green Pure Play real estate company, with 90% of its portfolio certified according to international standards.

Amongst several other milestones, the Africa Logistics Property (ALP) Industrial REIT listing on the Nairobi Stock Exchange in March 2026 was notable as East Africa’s first listing featuring entirely IFC EDGE-certified green buildings.

Listed capital makes major moves

REIT capital markets were the second largest asset class by value across the period, accounting for $568.5 million of activity, with the action extending well beyond South Africa’s established counters.

East Africa welcomed ALP’s Industrial REIT (marking the region’s first industrial and first USD-denominated security); Centum’s TRIFIC Dollar I-REIT (the first green, income-distributing USD-denominated) and Acorn Holdings’ build-to-rent D-REIT.

On Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, the Pfuma Fund REIT and Eagle REIT both listed, deepening a hard-currency capital market that scarcely existed five years ago.

“Seeing multiple REITs listing on exchanges in one cycle tells you the asset class has crossed from novelty to norm. Investors now have listed, liquid exposure to African real estate, and issuers have a repeatable route to permanent capital,” said Raghav Gandhi, CEO of ALP. 

API Summit 2026 – ushering in the next wave of deals

The unprecedented commitment of capital into Africa’s real estate sector takes centre stage when the 17th Annual API Summit convenes. Welcoming the investors, developers, financiers and policymakers behind the continent’s most prominent deals, this year’s event features a new Multifamily Forum alongside the popular Hospitality and Proptech Forums; an impactful main plenary, workshops, deals and meetings rooms and investment showcases, and the 10th edition of the prestigious API Awards.

For more information and to register, visit www.APISummit.co.za

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of API Events.

Enquiries:
Dale Hes
Programmes and Communications Lead
API Events
Tel: +27 (0) 81406 8840
Email: dale@apievents.com

Murray Anderson
Commercial Director
API Events
Tel: +27 (0) 71 890 7739 
Email: murray@apievents.com

About API Events:
Africa Property Investments (API) Events is Africa’s leading B2B event and thought leadership platform for real estate investment and hotel development. Each year, its conferences, tours and experiences convene the most senior investors, developers, operators and capital providers in African real estate, create meaningful discussions and hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of opportunities for attendees and partners.

The group’s high-impact events (across Africa and beyond) span retail, multi-family, mixed-use, commercial and industrial, hospitality and lodging, and emerging asset classes.

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Qatar Condemns Repeated Iranian Attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha, July 20, 2026

The State of Qatar condemns in the strongest terms the renewed attacks launched by the Islamic Republic of Iran on the territories of both the sisterly State of Kuwait and the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain, and considers them a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two countries, and a blatant breach of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of good neighborliness.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that the continuation of these attacks constitutes a dangerous escalation that will complicate efforts to contain tensions and undermine political and diplomatic endeavors aimed at achieving security and stability in the region.

The ministry stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all military actions and attacks that threaten the security and stability of the region, refraining from anything that would widen the circle of escalation, a serious return to the path of dialogue and negotiations, and commitment to the understandings achieved through diplomatic efforts.

The Ministry reiterates the State of Qatar’s full solidarity with the State of Kuwait and the Kingdom of Bahrain, and its support for all measures they take to preserve their sovereignty and security.

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The Learning Engine: How Rolls-Royce Turns Every Flight into Better Engineering (By Omar Ali Adib)

Source: APO

By Omar Ali Adib is the Senior Vice President – Middle East, Africa and Central Asia for the Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace division (www.Rolls-Royce.com).

For more than 120 years, Rolls-Royce has engineered solutions to some of aerospace’s most complex challenges. Aviation has been transformed: aircraft fly further, higher and more efficiently, while advances in materials, digital technology and manufacturing now deliver performance that would have seemed impossible 30 years ago.

When every fraction of a percentage improvement counts, the fact that modern Trent XWB engines boast a 25% efficiency gain over their 30-year-old predecessors, it’s clear to see the learning curve is steady and steep.

Progress does not only come through dramatic reinvention. It comes through disciplined observation, careful analysis and thousands of incremental improvements which, together, transform engine performance, durability and reliability.

It is easy to think that an aero engine reaches the end of its development when it enters service after years of rigorous testing, modelling and certification. In reality, that is when a new phase of learning begins. Every take-off, climb, cruise and landing generates operational information that deepens our understanding of how engines perform in the real world.

Inside an engine is one of the most demanding environments created by engineering. High-pressure turbine blades rotate at around 13,000 revolutions per minute in gas temperatures approaching 1,500°C—around 200°C above the melting point of their alloy. They withstand immense thermal and mechanical loads, often with little time to cool fully between flights, yet operate safely for up to six years without overhaul.

Commercial aviation leaves little room for complacency. Airlines expect lower fuel consumption, fewer maintenance events and dependable operation. Governments and national carriers rely on aircraft to connect cities, support tourism and trade, move critical cargo and enable economic growth. Every day an aircraft remains in service creates value for both the airline and the wider economy.

Rolls-Royce engines continuously generate operational data, which, combined with inspection and maintenance findings, reveals how components age and where durability can be improved. This understanding spans aircraft operating across oceans and in hot, high, humid and dusty conditions, where intensive utilisation places additional demands on engines.

Rolls-Royce powers the world’s leading widebody aircraft. The Trent 1000, in commercial service since 2011, powers the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The Trent XWB powers every Airbus A350. The Trent 7000 powers the Airbus A330neo, the natural successor to the best-selling A330 family, combining proven aircraft credentials with latest-generation engine technology.

Each engine is designed specifically for its aircraft, yet together they form a living engineering ecosystem. Across the Trent family, advances are shared in aerodynamics, combustion, cooling, digital controls, materials, manufacturing, health monitoring and maintenance. Experience from one programme strengthens confidence and accelerates progress elsewhere.

The Trent 7000 illustrates this approach. As the newest Trent family member, it benefits from decades of accumulated experience while providing an important platform for validating the latest durability enhancements. Those lessons have informed technologies being incorporated into the Trent 1000 XE, translating proven operational evidence into wider customer benefit.

The same philosophy shapes the Trent XWB. Its latest Trent XWB-84 Enhanced Performance standard has exceeded its certified fuel-burn improvement. Data from everyday airline operations demonstrated savings of around 1.8 per cent—almost double the original target. This improvement translates to around $450,000 in annual fuel savings per aircraft, or around $9 million per year for a typical fleet of 20 Airbus A350-900s.

This ability to learn across Boeing and Airbus platforms gives Rolls-Royce exceptional breadth of operational understanding. It is underpinned by a commitment of more than £1 billion to a comprehensive engine improvement programme across the Trent 1000, Trent 7000 and Trent XWB-84. Crucially, the resulting durability improvements are covered by standard TotalCare agreements for existing customers and their engines in service.

Few measures matter more than Time on Wing: the period an engine remains in service before scheduled removal for overhaul. It affects aircraft availability, fleet planning, spare-engine requirements, maintenance scheduling and airline economics. For governments and national carriers, it also affects route resilience, tourism, trade, cargo movements and national connectivity. Durability is therefore one of modern aerospace’s defining engineering challenges.

For the Boeing 787, the Trent 1000 XE incorporates improved cooling, lighter high-pressure turbine blades that reduce centrifugal loading, advanced thermal-barrier coatings, redesigned combustor interfaces and updated control software to manage thermal loads more consistently. The package will deliver up to three times the durability of the previous standard in certain operating environments.

These enhancements are being installed in new engines and progressively retrofitted across the existing fleet. As of April 2026, around 30 per cent of in-service Trent 1000 engines had received the first phase through a coordinated programme across the Rolls-Royce maintenance network, with the fleet moving steadily towards the XE standard.

Rolls-Royce is expanding its interconnected global MRO network through its own facilities and, increasingly, through joint ventures, strategic partnerships and authorised maintenance centres. Insights from every overhaul strengthen engineering decisions across the network, while bringing capability closer to customers, transferring skills and developing local talent.

Across more than a century, progress can be measured through thrust, fuel burn, efficiency and durability. Yet behind those achievements lies Rolls-Royce’s accumulated engineering knowledge. Every programme adds insight, every customer broadens experience, and every solved challenge strengthens future capability.

Behind advances in thrust, fuel efficiency and durability lies more than a century of accumulated engineering knowledge. Every programme, customer and solved challenge strengthens future capability.

That knowledge flows across Civil Aerospace, Defence and Power Systems, where advances in materials, manufacturing, digital engineering, predictive analytics and artificial intelligence allow innovation in one part of Rolls-Royce to drive progress elsewhere.

Aviation’s demands will continue to evolve. Airlines will seek greater efficiency, longer Time on Wing, lower operating costs and reduced environmental impact. Governments will look to aviation to strengthen connectivity, trade and growth. Customers will expect both world-class products and trusted engineering partners throughout the life of their fleets.

That is how Rolls-Royce has evolved for more than 120 years. Every flight teaches us something. Every customer makes us better. Every lesson learned today becomes the engineering certainty we deliver tomorrow.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rolls-Royce.

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New forum links capital with pioneering market reforms in Zim

Source: APO

Zimbabwe will host a first-of-its-kind capital markets forum in August, supported by local and regional domestic capital powerhouses and leading private sector investors. Organised by experienced events company API Events (www.APIEvents.com), the forum co- coincides with a period of historic significance for the country’s capital markets landscape.

Co-located with the 6th Annual ZimReal Property Forum, the ZFCF is the first investor- and deal-focused forum that brings the entire ecosystem of institutional capital and bankable assets under one roof domestically, uniting capital seekers and allocators while generating actionable deal flow.

Together, ZimReal and ZFCF are expected to attract over 400 delegates from more than 100 companies, with a spread of local, regional and international attendees.

The event is strongly supported by domestic capital heavyweights such as the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency, the Zimbabwe Association of Pension Funds, the Mining Industry Pension Fund and South Africa’s Eskom Provident Pension Fund. Top executives from the Investor Hosting Centre (IHC), the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE), the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX), the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), Arctic Blue Asset Management, MMC Capital Advisory and Terrace Africa, amongst others, also feature on the one-day programme.    

Aligning with watershed reforms

The ZCFC launches at an opportune moment for Zimbabwean capital, revolving around opportunities created by a revived landscape for investment. Driven by amendments undertaken over the past 24 months, including:

  • Eased listing requirements
  • Structural reweighting toward yield-oriented real assets
  • Institutionalization of Green, Social and Sustainability Bonds
  • Establishment of specialized investment frameworks (SPACs and ATPs) 
  • Formation of the Zimbabwe Entrepreneurship Exchange (ZEEX)
  • The 2026 promulgation of Statutory Instruments 62 and 63, firmly establishing the operational, membership, and trading architecture for the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX).

“Zimbabwe’s capital markets have just been through arguably their most significant reset in a generation. Over the past two years the ecosystem and the infrastructure have been built,” says Murray Anderson, Commercial Director at event organizers API Events.

“But reform only matters if it reaches the market, and that is the purpose behind the ZFCF. The capital exists and the products are finally here; this forum is where they meet.”

The shared ZimReal/ZCFC opening plenary will explore how the reforms have created a platform for innovation across the investment ecosystem, including the country’s stock exchanges.  

The combined value of the ZSE and VFEX now exceeds US$7 billion. The US-dollar-denominated VFEX has scaled quickly to roughly US$3.8 billion across 19 counters – propelled by Econet InfraCo’s US$1 billion listing in March, the largest in the country’s history – while the 132-year-old ZSE continues to anchor the market at around US$3.4 billion. The two exchanges now offer issuers and investors complementary local-currency and hard-currency routes to capital.

“Zimbabwe has made meaningful progress in strengthening its capital markets through reforms that have enhanced the investment ecosystem. The next phase is about creating a consistent pipeline of well-prepared, bankable investment opportunities that meet institutional investors’ requirements,” said Benerdict Chisale, General Manager of the Investor Hosting Centre (IHC) – a platform for global investment in Africa.

The institutional prize: capital looking for a home

Zimbabwe’s pension sector held approximately US$2.63 billion in assets at mid-2025, according to the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC).

Chisale said that the IHC’s H1 2026 investment analysis illustrates that while liquidity exists within pension funds, asset managers and other institutions, the greatest challenge remains bridging the gap between available capital and investment-ready projects.

“Zimbabwe does not have a capital shortage; it has a bankability challenge. The winners in this new era will not simply be those with capital, but those who can structure investable opportunities that inspire investor confidence. That is the conversation the Zimbabwe Future Capital Forum should lead.”

Meanwhile, listed property, led by Tigere, Revitus, Eagle and Pfuma, has pushed past US$100 million in market capitalisation terms, cementing REITs as early movers and symbols of deepening local capital markets.

“The local REIT market continues to expand rapidly, thanks to growing institutional and retail demand for property-backed assets which provide a packaged combination of passive income, value preservation, yield uplift, and trading liquidity,” said Brett Abrahamse, Managing Director at Terrace Africa (REIT manager for the Tigere REIT).

Tinashe Kembo, Managing Director of Artic Blue Asset Management, REIT manager for the Pfuma Fund, said the fund’s listing on the VFEX earlier this year had illustrated growing demand for USD-denominated assets.

“We’ve seen first-hand the appetite investors have for quality US dollar-denominated assets that offer both stability and genuine diversification in Zimbabwe’s evolving economy. Pfuma Fund is proud to be part of the conversations shaping the real estate and capital markets in Zimbabwe, and ZimReal and ZFCF are one such platform.”

Capital and property – hand-in-hand

Following the joint opening, the ZFCF agenda will further probe how the reforms can be translated into concrete investment pipelines; the unlocking of pension capital and private equity; other non-bank alternatives; and various funding sources available to market players.

“Forums such as the ZCFC serve as great platforms to increase awareness and market knowledge of REITs, amongst other asset classes across our burgeoning capital markets,” Abrahamse said.

ZimReal’s agenda will, as always, focus on the most pertinent topics shaping modern day real estate investment in Zimbabwe, from listed property and REIT performance, to residential, commercial, secondary city, green building and AI-enabled opportunities.

Anchoring both agendas is a convening of Zimbabwe’s most consequential public and private sector players, from banks, pension funds, asset managers and private equity houses holding the capital, and the developers and listed funds turning it into yield and growth.

Event details:

  • What: Inaugural Zimbabwe Future Capital Forum & the 6th Annual ZimReal Property Investment Forum (co-located)
  • When: 26 August 2026
  • Where: Hyatt Regency Harare, The Meikles
  • Format: In-person
  • Scale: 400+ delegates · 100+ companies · 10+ countries

For more information and to register, visit the Zimbabwe Future Capital Forum website here (https://apo-opa.co/4by0qbq) and the ZimReal website here (https://ZimReal.com). 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of API Events.

Enquiries: 
Dale Hes, Programmes and Communications Lead, API Events 
Tel: +27 (0) 81406 8840 
Email: dale@apievents.com  
 
Murray Anderson, Commercial Director, API Events 
Tel: +27 (0) 71 890 7739
Email: murray@apievents.com 

About API Events: 
Africa Property Investments (API) Events is Africa’s leading B2B event and thought leadership platform for real estate investment and hotel development. Each year, its conferences, tours and experiences convene the most senior investors, developers, operators and capital providers in African real estate, create meaningful discussions and hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of opportunities for attendees and partners.

The group’s high-impact events (across Africa and beyond) span retail, multi-family, mixed-use, commercial and industrial, hospitality and lodging, and emerging asset classes. 

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