Botswana: Botswana Launches Program Linking Startups to $150m Climate Fund

Botswana Innovation Fund and Scalar International launched the Scalar Botswana Innovation Program, a 12-month initiative to support climate and digital technology startups. Read more »

South Africa: JSE Lists AI-Focused Active Etf to Expand Access to Global Tech

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange has listed an actively managed exchange-traded fund focused on artificial intelligence, giving local investors access to global companies in the… Read more »

South Africa: South Africa Holds Rates At 10.25% As Oil Shock Lifts Inflation Risks

The South African Reserve Bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 10.25%, citing rising inflation risks linked to global oil prices and geopolitical tensions. Read more »

South Africa: Happy Pay Raises $5m to Expand Ad-Subsidised Payments Model

South African startup Happy Pay raised $5 million in a seed round to scale its ad-subsidised payments network, a model that removes interest and fees from consumer finance. Read more »

Botswana: S&P Downgrades Botswana With Negative Outlook On Diamond Weakness

S&P Global Ratings downgraded Botswana's sovereign credit rating to BBB- from BBB and assigned a negative outlook, citing prolonged weakness in global diamond demand. Read more »

South Africa: JSE Lists China-Focused Active Etf Under Panda Ticker

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange has listed the Prescient China Balanced Feeder Actively Managed Exchange Traded Fund, trading under the ticker PANDA, marking the first actively… Read more »

Africa: South Africa AI Research Startup Yazi Raises Funding Valued At $1.6m

Yazi, a South Africa based research technology startup that operates through WhatsApp, raised its first institutional funding round at a pre money valuation of 30 million rand, or… Read more »

South Africa: Chinese Budget Brands Reshape South Africa's Auto Market

Chinese and Indian carmakers are reshaping South Africa's auto market as consumers shift toward lower-priced vehicles. Brands such as Chery and Great Wall Motor have gained market… Read more »

Zambia: Padue Partners Fastercapital to Launch On-Demand Services in Zambia

Padue has partnered with FasterCapital through its EquityPilot program to prepare the launch of an all-in-one on-demand services platform. Read more »

South Africa: JSE Profit Surpasses R1 Billion As Market Rally Lifts Trading

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange reported record results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, with net profit after tax rising 16.7% to R1.07 billion. Read more »

South Africa: Standard Bank Signs Four-Year Deal to Sponsor Bafana Bafana

Standard Bank confirmed it has signed a four-year sponsorship agreement with the South African Football Association, backing Bafana Bafana and all national football teams ahead of… Read more »

South Africa: Toronto-Based Aimia Completes Listing On JSE Main Board

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange has recorded its first Main Board listing of 2026 with the secondary inward listing of Aimia Inc., a Toronto-based diversified investment holding… Read more »

Zambia: Zambia Neobank Lupiya Extends Series a to $11.25m

Zambian digital bank Lupiya has extended its Series A funding round to $11.25 million as it prepares to scale operations in Zambia and expand into new markets. Read more »

Africa: South Africa Opens Applications for 2026 National Cleantech Challenge

Applications are now open for the 2026 South African National Cleantech Innovation Challenge, a programme designed to support locally developed solutions addressing provincial… Read more »

Zimbabwe: U.S. to End $367m Health Aid Program in Zimbabwe After Talks Collapse

The United States will wind down its health assistance programs in Zimbabwe after Harare withdrew from negotiations over a proposed bilateral agreement. Read more »

South Africa: South Africa Debt Set to Peak As Budget Signals Fiscal Turn

South Africa's government debt will peak this fiscal year, ending 17 years of steady increases, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said in his annual budget speech. Read more »

South Africa: South Africa Unemployment Falls to Five-Year Low

South Africa's unemployment rate fell to 31.4% in the final quarter of 2025, the lowest level in more than 5 years, according to Statistics South Africa. Read more »

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Inflation Falls Below 10 Percent for First Time Since 1997

Zimbabwe's annual inflation rate has dropped below 10% for the first time since 1997, marking a milestone for an economy long defined by hyperinflation. Local-currency inflation… Read more »

South Africa: South Africa Bond Rally Builds Ahead of February 25 Budget

South African bonds extended gains as investors positioned for Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's budget presentation on Feb. 25. Morgan Stanley said the budget could reinforce… Read more »

Zambia: Zambia Cuts Policy Rate to 13.5 Percent As Inflation Falls Below 10 Percent

Zambia's central bank lowered its policy rate by 75 basis points to 13.50%, marking a second consecutive cut and a larger move than analysts expected. Read more »

South Africa: JSE Lists New Active and Global Etfs As Market Grows 29%

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange has listed Amplify Investment Partners' first Actively Managed Exchange Traded Fund on its Main Board. Read more »

South Africa: PE Fund Harith Moves to Buy South African Airline Flysafair

Harith General Partners plans to acquire FlySafair, South Africa's largest domestic airline, as the private equity firm expands its transport investments across the continent. Read more »

South Africa: South Africa Agricultural Exports Reach Record Despite Us Slump

South Africa's agricultural exports rose to a record $15.1 billion in 2025, extending a multi-year growth trend even as shipments to the US declined in the second half of the year. Read more »

South Africa: South Africa's MTN in Talks to Buy Remaining Stake in Ihs Towers

MTN Group said it is in advanced talks to acquire the 75% stake in IHS Holdings that it does not already own, a move that could value the telecom infrastructure company at about… Read more »

South Africa: South Africa Raises Minimum Wage Above Inflation

South Africa will raise its national minimum wage by more than the rate of inflation, exceeding expectations from businesses and analysts. Read more »