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<p>The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa clocks 50 reflecting on the journey of impact and growth marked by partnerships between Africa and the Arab world. CNBC Africa in this special broadcast brings you highlights of this year’s celebration in Accra, Ghana featuring the introduction of the Arab-Africa Financial Consortium and much more.</p>


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Focus On: BADEA 50th Anniversary Highlights

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<p>This episode of Focus On explores financial inclusion in Africa through economic growth, alternative data and breaking barriers to access. We discover how increased credit access, young people’s optimism and the role of technology are shaping Africa’s future.</p>


Focus On: Driving financial inclusion in Africa


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1153" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240812_003223-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-518815" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240812_003223-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240812_003223-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240812_003223-820x462.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240812_003223-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240812_003223-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240812_003223-1536x865.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo courtesy of Godfrey Mutizwa</figcaption></figure>



<p>Land borders in Africa are by nature intimidating places if you don’t know where you are going. First are the crowds, among them hangers-on and tricksters always looking for an opportunity for a quick buck. And then the officials, serious looking and rarely offering a smile.</p>



<p>But I was going home and as a veteran of Beitbridge, one of Africa’s busiest land borders, I was excited to be making the crossing for the first time since it was upgraded and modernised almost three years ago by Zimborders for some $300 million on a Build, Operate and Transfer basis.</p>



<p>On approaching the South African border however my excitement was tempered by a two to three-kilometre stretch of goods trucks – harking back to the bad days before the upgrade when it would take truck drivers as many as two weeks to cross – because of inefficiencies, corruption and in some cases just sheer volumes.</p>



<p>Beitbridge is one busy border post, providing the biggest trade link for the southern Africa hinterland comprising Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Malawi and sometimes further afield to parts of western Tanzania. Between them, Zambia and the DRC are key global copper producers, while Zimbabwe’s new Chinese funded lithium mines now account for more than two-thirds of Africa’s lithium output, Bloomberg reports.</p>



<p>There are serious mineral volumes and capital equipment being moved here before counting manufactured goods that flow north for South Africa’s neighbours with no meaningful manufacturing bases of their own. But Zimborders was supposed to solve that, I consoled myself.</p>



<p>In an opinion piece published on our web page in March this year, Glynn Cohen, the Chairman of Zimborders wrote: ‘’This flagship project will undoubtedly be successful – improving efficiency, reducing congestion and transit fraud…already, it now takes a few hours for trucks to cross the border compared with up to a week before’’.</p>



<p>But I had not reckoned with the South African side of the border. The arrival hall was one mass of people when we arrived with queues stretching outside and no sign of any official intervention. With my nephew in tow, we squeezed inside, and I am ashamed to say, many `sorries’ later, we jumped the queue and an hour later were by the exit gates.</p>



<p>But the ordeal was just beginning. Unbeknown to me, the immigration lady who stamped my passport, had made a mistake and an eagle-eyed police officer at the exit gate spotted the error and promptly sent me back to the hoards inside the arrival hall. Many swear words later I was back at the exit gate but by then my transport was gone and so I had to walk to the Zimbabwean side, an experience I have been told could be hazardous.</p>



<p>I took off but was pleasantly surprised by the visible policing on the South Africa side. However, the minute you step on the Zimbabwean side, things change. Hawkers selling everything from roasted maize to cool drinks dotted the route even at 1am. And then the darkness! While the South African side was well lit, there were neither lights nor security until I reached the army post at the entrance to Zimbabwe. I made it without a scratch but truth be told I was shaken.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1153" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240812_023622-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-518816" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240812_023622-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240812_023622-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240812_023622-820x462.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240812_023622-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240812_023622-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240812_023622-1536x865.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo courtesy of Godfrey Mutizwa</figcaption></figure>



<p>A few metres later however Zimborders was there. True of border posts, the new building is imposing and it has to be said, impressive. The experience inside was even better, the whole exit process taking me half an hour. Thank you Africa Export-Import Bank and South African banks that funded this, I thought as we headed into the night.</p>



<p>So I must concede Mr Cohen was right. The upgrade has certainly made a huge difference from the corruption infested old post I had used for many years. However, the South African side has clearly not read the script and the experience got even worse when I returned, this time by bus. The hour I spent on the way out became four hours.</p>



<p>Put simply, the South African officials we encountered on the 12<sup>th</sup> of August 2024 didn’t care. We were grouped by our busses but the queue outside the arrival hall was one giant milling mass of people. One minute we were told to follow our driver inside, and the next we were chucked out because the official decided otherwise.</p>



<p>While all this is happening one could clearly see the officials sitting behind their desks chatting with nary a care in the world. You are shouted at like you are misbehaving children when those queues contain adults taking care of their households, working in the mines, running companies sustaining the economies of southern Africa.</p>



<p>It was shameful. But when you have done this crossing as many times as I have, you understand an immigration official wields absolute power. One word out of turn will take you and your fellow travellers to the back of the queue. You wait for this important man – it was mostly men – to stamp your passport without complaint.</p>



<p>So much for boosting intra-African trade. This was one bruising encounter that will take some time to heal but who is listening? While the Border Management Authority represents South Africa’s latest attempt to clean up its ports of entry, on the ground, I saw no change.</p>



<p>You can still cross the border without a passport for a thousand rand or more, a lady travelling beside me told me. Some 700 rand allows you to be given more days – as many as three months instead of a week, and 500 rand can enable you to jump the patient masses and get your passport stamped quicker.</p>



<p>For the record, I didn’t pay. All I did was push and hustle my fellow travellers for which I am truly sorry.</p>


20240812_003223

Chronicle of a Beitbridge border crossing

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<p>The treasury bills market witnessed a wide bid-ask spread as trades thin out on the 2025 papers. Analysts at Access Bank say they expect investors to continue to cherry-pick high-yielding papers. Dimeji Obasa, Fixed income Dealer at Access Bank joins CNBC Africa for a mid-week market review.</p>


Investors cherry-pick high-yielding T-bills

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<p>Focus On green manufacturing and logistics in Africa with Yango and Equitaine, showcasing pioneering efforts in sustainability. Discover how these industry leaders are transforming the continent&#8217;s industrial practices towards a greener future.</p>


Focus On: Advancing green manufacturing & logistics in Africa

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<p>Driving Africa’s macro-economic environment, understanding emerging trends and creating investment opportunities are key factors to help grow Africa’s economy. A panel of industry players from Mauritius discuss how leading global investments and strategic investment platforms can accelerate Africa’s economic expansion.</p>


Invest in Mauritius: Investments for accelerating Africa’s economic expansion

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<p>Investor&#8217;s sentiments at the Nigeria equities market have remained positive as buy interest in some bellwether stocks, driven by half-year results and dividend announcements reignite interest in the stock market. Muktar Mohammed, an Analyst at Assar Investments, joins CNBC Africa for a market update.</p>


Investors renew interest in bellwether stocks

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<p>The Simandou mountain range, located in the Republic of Guinea, houses one of the world&#8217;s largest iron ore deposits. This Focus On will highlight the significance of the key transport development that adds value to Guinea&#8217;s iron ore infrastructure.</p>


Focus On: Simandou project crucial for Guinea’s development – Mines Minister

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<p>This episode of Focus On explores South Africa&#8217;s Venture Capital (VC) sector.  According to the Southern Africa Venture Capital and Private Equity Association&#8217;s 2024 Venture Capital Industry Survey, The country&#8217;s VC sector is a robust and growing sector with the total capital invested in startups exceeding R3 billion for the first time since 2010 and investment activity increasing by 17.8 per cent compared to the previous year.</p>


Focus On: Africa’s Venture Capital landscape

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<p>Investors are in a cautious mode today in anticipation of the outcome of today’s Retail Dutch and T-bills auction. Meanwhile, traders at UBA say bond appetite remains weak. Chuka Nwachukwu, Head of ALM and Balance sheet Management at UBA joins CNBC Africa for more market movements.</p>


UBA: Investors await Retail Dutch, T-bills auction result

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<p>The boom in the digital payment landscape requires more local investment in infrastructure and human capital. Without either financial inclusion may become challenging. This Focus On puts the spotlight on digital payment strategies and best practice to expand into different African regions.</p>


Focus On: Expanding Africa’s digital payment landscape

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<p>Traders at Access Bank say the outcome of today’s Retail Dutch Auction by the Central Bank will dictate market trends going forward. Meanwhile, Nigeria has introduced its Series-1 Domestic US Dollar-denominated Bond as it hopes to raise at least $500 million from local and international investors. Ahmed Agboola, Head of Currency Trading at Access Bank joins CNBC Africa for more market movements.</p>


Access: CBN’s Retail Dutch Auction to dictate market trends

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<p>Celebrating an important milestone in the development of the Simandou project, key stakeholders and industry experts gathered at year 2 of the Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG). A panel will unpack the Genesis and Innovation of the Simandou Project as a new era in the development of mineral resources in Africa.</p>


Focus On: Genesis and Innovation of the Simandou Project

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<p>There&#8217;s a lot of gaps in education in Africa in terms of connectivity and infrastructure. Reaching people with technology is riddled with challenges from accessibility to policy and the lack of strategies. This episode of EdTech Mondays will bring key conversations from the inaugural EdTech Conference that shines the light on solutions to Africa&#8217;s edtech challenges.</p>


EdTech Monday: Education technology for resilient and inclusive learning in Africa

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<p>Traders at UBA say a bearish bias lingers at the short end of the bond curve despite the increased demand on the 2027 paper. Meanwhile, the market anticipates Nigeria will issue $500 million in domestic foreign currency-denominated bond this month. Chuka Nwachukwu, Head of ALM and Balance Sheet Management at UBA joins CNBC Africa for more market movements.</p>


UBA: Bearish bias lingers despite demand on 2027 bond

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<p>Traders at Access Bank say investors continue to demand for short-dated papers, with the October-to-December 2024 T-bills being the most sought-after as investors seek to utilize their liquidity.  For the bond side, offers center on the May 2033 paper. Chukwunonso Ifejiofor, Treasury team member at Access bank joins CNBC Africa for more market movements.</p>


Access: Investors focus on short-dated maturities

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<p>A new $54 million powdered milk plant, launched by Inyange Industries, is set to revolutionize Rwanda&#8217;s dairy sector. With an annual production capacity of 15,000 tonnes, this cutting-edge facility will significantly enhance dairy production, exports, and economic growth, positioning Rwanda as a major player in the regional dairy industry.</p>


CNBC Africa

Focus On: BADEA 50th Anniversary Highlights

Focus On: Driving financial inclusion in Africa

Chronicle of a Beitbridge border crossing

Investors cherry-pick high-yielding T-bills

Focus On: Advancing green manufacturing & logistics in Africa

Invest in Mauritius: Investments for accelerating Africa’s economic expansion

Investors renew interest in bellwether stocks

Focus On: Simandou project crucial for Guinea’s development – Mines Minister

Focus On: Africa’s Venture Capital landscape

UBA: Investors await Retail Dutch, T-bills auction result

Focus On: Expanding Africa’s digital payment landscape

Access: CBN’s Retail Dutch Auction to dictate market trends

Focus On: Genesis and Innovation of the Simandou Project

EdTech Monday: Education technology for resilient and inclusive learning in Africa

UBA: Bearish bias lingers despite demand on 2027 bond

Access: Investors focus on short-dated maturities

Rwanda’s dairy sector gets a boost

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CNBC Africa

Focus On: BADEA 50th Anniversary Highlights

Focus On: Driving financial inclusion in Africa

Chronicle of a Beitbridge border crossing

Investors cherry-pick high-yielding T-bills

Focus On: Advancing green manufacturing & logistics in Africa

Invest in Mauritius: Investments for accelerating Africa’s economic expansion

Investors renew interest in bellwether stocks

Focus On: Simandou project crucial for Guinea’s development – Mines Minister

Focus On: Africa’s Venture Capital landscape

UBA: Investors await Retail Dutch, T-bills auction result

Focus On: Expanding Africa’s digital payment landscape

Access: CBN’s Retail Dutch Auction to dictate market trends

Focus On: Genesis and Innovation of the Simandou Project

EdTech Monday: Education technology for resilient and inclusive learning in Africa

UBA: Bearish bias lingers despite demand on 2027 bond

Access: Investors focus on short-dated maturities

Rwanda’s dairy sector gets a boost

News Tips

Advertise With Us

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