Observations By Ceaser Siwale (30.05.2025) Mauritanian economist and seasoned development finance expert Sidi Ould Tah has been elected as the ninth President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), securing an overwhelming 76.18% of the vote at the bank’s annual meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. He is set to succeed Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina and will […]
Redefining Leadership at the AfDB: What Makes an Ideal President?
Opinioned By Ceaser Siwale (penned 28 May 2025) As the African Development Bank (AfDB) prepares to elect its new president on 29 May 2025, the stakes have never been higher. The AfDB stands at a critical juncture, navigating complex financial headwinds, geopolitical dynamics, and the pressing need for impactful development across Africa’s diverse landscape. The […]
Africa Needs A Different Narrative On Climate and Just Transition
By Savior Mwambwa A critical look at climate finance narratives and what the future holds for Africa’s green industrialization Summary: The global push for a standardized “green transition” leapfrogging fossil fuel, strict carbon pricing and donor-driven conditions simply doesn’t fit Africa’s development context. In my latest article, I examine why these popular frameworks risk stalling […]
“Let Me Ask My Wife.”
In corporate, when you hear “Let me ask my superiors” or the “I’ll present this to the team” variant, just know it’s a no. In entrepreneurship, “Let me check in with my business partners” means you should move on. For a man, “Let me ask my wife” also means no but it also means much […]
AfDB – Plea To The New Leadership!
By Tshepo Magagane Really forget about these grand pronouncements that will not see the light of day! We are running out of time as Africa. We know what needs to be done – the solution is there, ESFD is there – AfDB is the only pillar-assessed…was pillar assessed 18mths back… …almost 3yrs and there has […]
Higher Finance
Perspective By Ceaser Siwale When we started in “high finance”, European Private Equity had a total AuM of cUSD30bn – average fund sizes were around USD750m to 1bn. German unions used to call PE really unsavoury names. From mid-00s to now, we have seen this industry flourish (followed on by private credit – this is […]
Postcard from Zambia – Mining & Planting Its Way To A Recovery
Visit Summary By Kato Mukuru and Russell Curtis Mining & planting its way to a recoveryWe recently had the pleasure of spending a week in Lusaka with our regional partners, Pangaea Securities. Whilst a lot of our time was spent indoors with Pangaea’s analysts, we did get to meet a number of blue chip corporates […]
Please, Not Another Marathon!
Men are running in all the races, every week, every month. What’s the plan? Every urban Zambian man and his dog is now running a marathon. It seems there’s one every other weekend in the country. So with all this – at times performative – running around, what’s the true benefit to our health and […]
One Day You’ll Say “No”
The provision pandemic continues to fwemba the modern Zambian man by the shat. Society has seen a loophole in man’s role as provider and is unapologetic about having him on his toes to provide, even at the risk of his own wellbeing. Go ahead. Say ‘No’ to the guys. Say you won’t make it for […]
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE AGRICULTURAL VALUE CHAIN
By Chabala Sunkutu, Associate An Overview Zambia’s agriculture sector stands at a crossroads of opportunity and transformation. Agriculture is central to the country’s vision for economic diversification, job creation, and rural development. In 2023, the sector contributed 2.8% to GDP but employed a staggering 70% of the population, highlighting its role as a livelihood backbone […]