Rwanda
· In Rwanda, the tea sector saw a marked increase in production
during the first quarter of this year. It totals over 9,000 tonnes
raking a revenue of more than US$27.6 million, which is up by 15%
from the same period in 2019.
Zambia
· Already self-sufficient in electricity, Zambia wants to up
its energy production. The country whose current production exceeds by
80%. This has enabled the country to stop its imports in 2018. The
production will be in surplus in the next 2 years also and serve the
entire population, particularly rural. In the meantime, the
government is betting on off-grid and support for private companies.
Burundi
· Polling station closed across Burundi in a largely incident
free process in keenly watched general elections. The polls will usher
in the post-Pierre Nkurunziza era. But voters also cast ballots for
lawmakers and local level representatives. Internet connectivity for
social media and messaging apps were blocked early Wednesday morning.
The election took place despite an outbreak of coronavirus. Burundi
has so far recorded 42 cases – 21 active cases, 20 recoveries and one
death as of May 21, 2020. Authorities largely ignored protocols by
allowing mass rallies to take place despite the World Health
Organization’s Africa head openly warning against it.
World Bank
· The coronavirus pandemic and its economic consequences could
push as many as 60 million people into extreme poverty, according to
World Bank. The World Bank warns that the progress made over the past
three years in the fight against poverty could be wiped out. Living on
less than US$1.90 per person per day is how the financial institution
defines extreme poverty. World Bank President, David Malpass,
welcomes the efforts made so far: US$5.5 billion in emergency aid to
100 developing countries.
Francophone countries
· The much-awaited bill ratifying the end of the CFA franc was
adopted by the French Council of Ministers recently. The text
validates the transition of the CFA franc – used by eight French West
African countries – to become the newly mooted Eco, a currency to be
adopted by the entire West African bloc,
