As the 9th Forum on China and Africa gets underway in Beijing, African leaders could find a partner that's less willing to open the checkbook than before. Bloomberg's Neil Munshi and Peter Martin join Jennifer Zabasajja to explain what China wants from African investment and how a struggling economy at home means it wants bigger returns on investment - which may end up saddling countries on the continent with more unaffordable debt. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 04, 2024•15 min
Two weeks since the Mpox outbreak was declared a global health emergency, cases have already been seen far beyond Africa. Scientists and public health officials are now asking whether this could have been avoided - and why we need to look again at how we treat tropical disease in Africa. Janice Kew joins Jennifer Zabasajja to give the latest on the response, what’s happening with vaccines and why children, who account for most of the deaths, will have to wait longer for a vaccine. Read all the l...
Aug 29, 2024•14 min
The price of gold has hit another record high, partly driven by demand from central banks that see it as a way of protecting themselves from economic and geopolitical turbulence. Africa's central bankers have been among the buyers, as they see the precious metal as a valuable shield in an uncertain world. Bloomberg’s Ray Ndlovu joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain the renewed interest in gold, and how long the trend might last. Read Ray's reporting on Bloomberg here See omnystudio.com/listener fo...
Aug 22, 2024•13 min
A mutated strain of Mpox in Central Africa has been declared a public health emergency of international by the World Health Organisation. About 15,000 cases have been reported so far in the DRC - but at least 6 other African countries have reported cases - and Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have reported their first ever Mpox cases. Bloomberg Healthcare reporter Janice Kew joins Jennifer Zabasajja with the latest updates, and whether the international community is doing enough to support Afri...
Aug 15, 2024•15 min
The ability to prove your ID for a bank account or for public services may be taken for granted in much of the world - but many countries still lack this basic infrastructure. It’s seen as so important - that it’s part of the UN’s sustainable development goals - but this push for biometric ID systems has also opened the door to corruption. An investigation by Lighthouse Reports in partnership with Bloomberg has shown how money intended to create ID cards in the Democratic Republic of Congo may h...
Aug 09, 2024•15 min
It should be Africa’s powerhouse, with major oil reserves and the continent's largest population. But Nigeria is facing the worse economic crisis in a generation. President Bola Tinubu has responded with radical reforms but, whilst seen by economists as the right thing to do, the measures are for now exacerbating the pain from the economic crisis and, one year into his term, Tinubu faces growing protests. So what’s gone wrong in Nigeria and does the government have the political will to fix it? ...
Aug 01, 2024•14 min
It may have taken an intervention from a Hollywood star - but the Michelin Guide is slowly starting to recognise the rise of African cuisine in the fancy world of fine dining. Jennifer Zabasajja leaves the Johannesburg studio to visit Akoko - a West African restaurant hitting the big time in London’s West End, and finds out who has more power: Will Poutler or the Michelin Guide. Plus Bloomberg’s food editor Kate Krader tells Jennifer why African restaurants are suddenly having a moment. See omny...
Jul 25, 2024•17 min
Listen to the 'Here's Why' podcast: - on Apple : https://apple.co/3Lg3RGn - on Spotify : https://spoti.fi/3LiIX9q - or Anywhere : https://bit.ly/3xYsHHy . Each episode of 'Here's Why' uses experts at Bloomberg to explain one news story in just a few minutes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 21, 2024•30 sec
Energies companies from across the world are rushing to exploit huge oil discoveries off the coast of Namibia. Total, Shell and Galp all have plans for projects - which could start as early as this year - transforming the southern African state into a global energy power. Bloomberg’s Paul Burkhardt joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain what the discovery could mean for Namibia. You can read the story now on Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-18/african-outpost-gets-ready-to...
Jul 18, 2024•14 min
President Paul Kagame is likely to win reelection in Rwanda on Monday: he rarely wins less than 95% of the vote. But despite opposition figures being barred from standing against him, and human rights bodies raising concerns about the country - Kagame remains a key ally for western leaders. Neil Munshi and Simon Marks join Jennifer Zabasajja to talk about their latest profile of Kagame, and the how opposition within the country is trying to organise - and ask whether 30 years after the genocide ...
Jul 12, 2024•16 min
South Arica's growing fruit exports have been a rare bright spot in a stagnant economy. Now they are in peril as well. The near-collapse of the state rail and ports company means 20-hour truck trips are needed to get fruit to export markets before they spoil. Ntando Thukwana joins Jennifer Zabasajja to discuss the threat to an industry that's one of the country's biggest employers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 04, 2024•13 min
Kenya’s President made a surprise U-turn and withdrew his controversial finance bill which would have raised more than $2bn in taxes. Widespread protests led to the storming of parliament leaving some killed and many more injured - so why have Gen Z been leading the protests - and what does this mean for the future of President Ruto - who put so much capital on bringing down Kenya’s debt. Bloomberg’s Bella Genga updates us from Nairobi on a tumultuous week for Kenya See omnystudio.com/listener f...
Jun 28, 2024•12 min
Countries all across Africa have some of the most potential for solar power in the world, receiving high levels of sunshine all year round. But costs and delays mean very few have been able to benefit from it. Will solar power remain just an expensive way for the rich to avoid the unreliable energy grid, or will it hope to increase access to power - and become a valuable natural resource for countries like Namibia and Morocco. Bloomberg’s South Africa based energy reporter Paul Burkhardt tells u...
Jun 20, 2024•13 min
With the price of copper hovering around record highs thanks to the demand for the green transition - Zambia and the DRC want to seize an opportunity to capitalize on this and rebuild their economies. At DRC Mining week in Lubumbashi, copper is high on the agenda - and Bloomberg’s William Clowes speaks to us from the conference. Plus Matthew Hill in Zambia explains why President Hakainde Hichilema is betting big on copper. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 13, 2024•15 min
The internet plays a central role in modern life, so much so that living without it is unfathomable for some. But that's been the reality for a number of Africans this year as several countries on the continent battle to stay connected despite damage to crucial cables. This week, host Jennifer Zabasajja and reporters Ramah Nyang in Nairobi and Loni Prinsloo in Johannesburg dig into the problem's roots and examine potential solutions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 06, 2024•14 min
It is its worst performance since Nelson Mandela led the ANC to power in 1994. In South Africa, the African National Congress has lost its majority in parliament. The party has begun talks with rivals to form a government. In this special episode of the Next Africa Podcast, host Jennifer Zabasajja and Bloomberg Government reporter S’thembile Cele discuss what this means for the future of the country. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 03, 2024•11 min
South Africa’s ruling party looks set to fall short of securing a parliamentary majority for the first time since surging to power at the end of apartheid three decades ago, ushering in a period of uncertainty with a coalition partner needed to retain control. The African National Congress is on course to win 42% of the votes cast in Wednesday’s national election, according to projections based on early results. That would be a massive 15.5 percentage point drop from the last vote five years ago...
May 30, 2024•15 min
In Ghana, the Supreme Court has started hearing suits against a bill that seeks to punish people who identify as LGBTQ. The proposed legislation could threaten funding support from the World Bank and the IMF who have non-discrimination standards. It could also set back a $20 billion debt restructuring deal the country is still negotiating. This week, on the Next Africa podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja and Bloomberg Senior reporter Yinka Ibukun discuss the potential social and financial implications o...
May 23, 2024•13 min
The Naira, Nigeria's currency has been devalued twice since June 2023. Despite a gain in March 2024, the pressure on the economy is increasing. This week on the Next Africa Podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja and Bloomberg's Nigeria Bureau Chief Anthony Osae-Brown discuss how this currency's roller coaster has been affecting consumers and businesses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 16, 2024•13 min
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militants have disturbed global trade with attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. One African country has been playing a major role in Western allies efforts to contain those attacks. This week on the Next Africa Podcast Jennifer Zabasajja and Simon Marks discuss why Djibouti's strategic importance in the region is providing the country with an economic boost. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 09, 2024•15 min
Crypto mining is an energy-intensive process. So miners are always on the lookout for the best place to operate. The United States and Hong Kong are known hosts for mining. But lately another country stands out: Ethiopia. On this week’s Next Africa Podcast, host Jennifer Zabasajja speaks with Bloomberg’s reporter Fasika Tadesse about how Ethiopia is now seen as a growth market in the crypto industry - especially for Chinese miners. A move that is not welcomed by everyone in the country. See omny...
May 02, 2024•13 min
This week on the Next Africa podcast we look at the recent introduction of a new currency in Zimbabwe, the ZiG. This is the country's sixth attempt to have a functional local currency since 2008 when inflation crossing 231 million percent left it worthless. Bloomberg's Harare based reporter Ray Ndlovu joins host Jennifer Zabasajja to discuss if Zimbabwe may have finally struck gold with the ZiG. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 26, 2024•14 min
In 1994 apartheid in South Africa ended and Nelson Mandela led the ANC to a historic democratic victory. Thirty years on, the party which has ruled the country ever since, could be about to lose it's grip on power. Our South Africa Government Reporter S'thembile Cele joins host Jennifer Zabasajja to discuss how decades of scandals, corruption and internal fights have eroded support for a party which was once the default option for many. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 18, 2024•15 min
Over the past few weeks, cocoa prices have jumped to reach unprecedent levels. On the first episode of the Next Africa podcast, Bloomberg's Jennifer Zabasajja and Mumbi Gitau look into the reasons behind the surge and what it means for African farmers, the chocolate industry and the consumers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 10, 2024•18 min
