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Tag: Zimbabwe politics

Zimbabwe: no vote before July – Biti

Apr 26, 2013 2:48pm by Eleanor Whitehead
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Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s plan to hold a general election by June 29, when the current parliament will be dissolved, looks increasingly like a pipe dream. Do the maths and you’ll see that it is impossible for the country to hold a vote before the end of July at the earliest, the country’s finance minister Tendai Biti said.

“It’s a processing issue which will determine the date of the election,” he told beyondbrics from the sidelines of a talk at Chatham House, the think tank. “It is not possible to have elections before at least the end of July”. Continue reading »

Tags: , , Posted in Africa, Zimbabwe |

Zimbabwe: the next vote will have the economy at stake

Mar 19, 2013 4:16pm by Tony Hawkins
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On its own, the overwhelming “Yes” vote in Zimbabwe’s referendum on a new constitution means little.

Indeed, it is no more than the first act of a drama that will unfold over the next few months as the country moves towards presidential and parliamentary elections that will determine whether the economy maintains its recovery momentum or slides back into political-driven stagnation. Continue reading »

Tags: , , , , Posted in Africa, Zimbabwe |

Zimbabwe’s indigenisation policy: falling apart?

Mar 4, 2013 3:47pm by Irene Madongo
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Zimbabwe’s beleaguered indigenisation policy has been dealt several big blows in the last few days. Alleged corruption, arguments over deal fees, calls for a parliamentary probe – and to top it all, even president Robert Mugabe criticising the process.

The controversial black empowerment policy, which forces foreign firms to divest 51 per cent of equity to locals, is one of Mugabe and his party, Zanu-PF’s key strategies. But is it falling apart? Continue reading »

Tags: , , , Posted in Africa, Zimbabwe |

Zimbabwe cuts growth forecasts, trims budget, prepares for IMF programme

Nov 16, 2012 12:04pm by Tony Hawkins
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For years Zimbabwe politicians have been prone to extravagant forecasts of the country’s economic prospects, embellishing projections with references to vast unexploited mineral wealth, limitless agricultural potential and dazzling opportunities in tourism and manufacturing.

But on Thursday Finance Minister Tendai Biti injected a note of stark realism into his 2013 budget. He downgraded GDP growth estimates for 2012 from 9.4 per cent in his budget a year ago and 5.6 per cent in mid-year to just 4.4 per cent. Continue reading »

Tags: , Posted in Africa, Zimbabwe |

Zimbabwe: diamond fiscal black hole

Nov 15, 2012 7:58pm by Irene Madongo
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Zimbabwe hosted its inaugural diamond conference on Monday and Tuesday to promote the industry, but instead has become embroiled in fresh controversy around the country’s diamond sales and tax revenues.

There are conflicting reports around diamond sales. While the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) and Ministry of Mines lament that sales are being hit by sanctions, critics argue that the companies are actually making huge sales but looting is rife. Continue reading »

Tags: , , Posted in Africa, Zimbabwe |

Zimbabwe political violence: an insurance deal too far?

Nov 13, 2012 5:02pm by Irene Madongo
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Who knew insurance could be so toxic? Two British insurers have pulled out of an agreement to offer cover against political violence in Zimbabwe, in a curious turn of events.

Earlier this year, insurance broker RK Harrison Group approached Harare-based Champions Insurance about offering cover from Lloyd’s of London against political violence. In October, Champions said that a deal had been agreed for an undisclosed amount. But the plan is now off. What happened? Continue reading »

Tags: , , , , Posted in Africa, Zimbabwe |

Zimbabwe: $1bn bailout bet baffles Harare bankers

Sep 14, 2012 10:58am by Tony Hawkins
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Since dollarisation in 2009, policymakers in Zimbabwe have failed to solve the problems created by weak banks in a bankrupt econokmy with an overcrowded financial sector. Policy – driven by politicians not technocrats – has been decidedly populist.

It is familiar bank-bashing (over excessive charges, punitive interest rates and a reluctance to lend to SMEs) and politicians demanding rescue packages for banks that get into trouble. Four banks including the country’s biggest have turned to the government for help in the last two years. Now there’s a new plan to set up a fund for bad loans with a Dubai investment company’s help. Continue reading »

Tags: , , Posted in Africa, Zimbabwe |

More bluster than substance in Zimbabwe’s indigenisation threat to banks

Jul 5, 2012 9:22am by Tony Hawkins
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The Zimbabwe government’s latest threat to foreign business – this time foreign banks – is seen in Harare as bluster rather than substance. The instruction by Saviour Kasukuwere, minister for indigenisation (pictured), to a handful of foreign-owned banks to reduce their ownership to a maximum of 49 per cent by July 2013 has more to do with his political party’s dismal electoral prospects than serious restructuring of Zimbabwe’s financial system. Continue reading »

Tags: , , , , , , , Posted in Africa, Zimbabwe |

Zimbabwe: who’s next for ‘localisation’?

Mar 15, 2012 2:15pm by Tony Hawkins
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For two years Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF has been ratcheting up the pressure on foreign-owned firms demanding that they dispose of a minimum of 51 per cent of their shares to indigenous Zimbabweans. This week’s agreement (in principle) for the localisation of majority ownership of Zimbabwe’s largest exporter Zimplats has the potential to be a gamechanger, economically and politically.

With elections due in the next 18 months, the Zanu-PF will be keen to push on with the programme. So which companies are next in line? Continue reading »

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Posted in Africa, Zimbabwe |

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