News Categories: Zambia News

PODCAST | How have Sadc and East Africa performed during Covid-19?

In this edition of Business Day Spotlight, we talk about the performance of economies in the SA Development Community (Sadc) and East Africa regions. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Jacques Nel, head of macroeconomic research for Africa at NKC African Economics, to chat about the issues. Join the discussion: Starting with news from some of SA’s close neighbours, Nel says the muted performance of the local economy has had a negative effect on the growth prospects of the region. As an economy that anchors the Sadc region, Nel explains that the fortunes of SA’s economy have a direct effect on neighbouring economies. A drop or stagnation in local economic performance, therefore, weighs on the region. Business Day Spotlight host Mudiwa Gavaza. Picture: DOROTHY KGOSI. Heading into lockdown, SA was already expected to grow at less than 1%, seeing a huge contraction brought about by Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns. Nel explains how neighbouring countries have performed, in the light of this apparent reliance on SA, focusing specifically on Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique. Shifting to East Africa, Nel says the region has been resilient, having entered lockdowns with good growth prospects. For now, he expects that momentum to continue with faster growth projected for the region. The discussion focuses on the economic performance of countries in the Sadc region, specifically Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique. It then looks at growth in East Africa, progress made in terms of vaccinations and an outlook for the two regions. Read original article

SADC pushes for a one-stop cross border post to reduce congestion

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum’s standing committee on trade, industry, finance and investment has called for the harmonisation of cross-border trade systems to reduce “trade costs and time spent at borders”. This echoed calls that were made by the governments of South Africa and Zimbabwe earlier in the year after thousands of people and vehicles were stuck at the Beitbridge border post for days following the Christmas and New Year holidays. At the time, the delays resulted in more than 100 people reportedly testing positive for Covid-19. The standing committee, chaired by Zimbabwe Member of Parliament, Anele Ndebele, met virtually on Sunday under the theme: “Enhancing regional economic integration through infrastructure development: A case of one-stop border post”. Discussions centered on ways in which regional economic integration, through infrastructure development - with a special focus on one-stop border posts, could be enhanced. Consensus was reached that a harmonisation of cross-border trade systems would achieve regional economic integration and help reduce the costs and time spent at borders. “The model of the one-stop border post, birthed around the year 2000, is one of the modern approaches to improving border operations and trade infrastructure. This trade facilitation tool is envisaged to promote a coordinated and integrated approach to facilitating trade in goods and services, facilitating the movement of people and improving security,” said Ndebele. In January, South Africa’s portfolio committee on home affairs visited the Beitbridge border post and identified the implementation of a one-stop border post and the...