News

Male loneliness is not the absence of people in our lives. It’s the presence of people that we cannot talk to about our struggles. Sometimes we overthink these things. That there is some future out there that rewards men for being men. Look, the reality is you will have to familiarize yourself with your favourite […]

By Tshepo Magagane Ivanhoe share price – why listed equity is not suitable for developing mining projects! If Ivanhoe was another company without such a strong shareholder base; it would be in serious trouble. Now given that you have long-term holders who understand mining, they are able to step back, understand the issue and then […]

Final Thoughts By Ceaser Siwale (31.05.2025) The recently concluded election for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB) saw Zambia’s Dr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo mount a determined and commendable campaign, ultimately concluding with the victory of Mauritania’s Dr. Sidi Ould Tah. While Dr. Maimbo’s candidacy was backed by impressive technocratic experience and innovative reform […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Review By Tshepo Magagane Heatmap of artisanal mining – we need to find financing solutions to formalise this key sector! NB: since then, I have come across more info that the production is higher!! After Insaka in Lusaka last year, I wrote the below – this is an opportunity for capital to make financial returns […]

Observation By Ceaser Siwale President Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025 marked a whirlwind of executive action, sweeping policy shifts, and renewed ideological battles. Within his first 100 days, Trump issued 141 executive orders, reshaping immigration, energy, education, and foreign policy. While supporters hail this period as the dawn of a “Golden Age,” […]

By Ceaser Siwale $11 million spent. 11 minutes in space. But at what expense? This week, the first-ever commercial spaceflight crew made up entirely of women soared into space.The media called it “historic.”Socials called it “feminist.”Headlines called it a “win for women.”But was it really? This was the crew: • Lauren Sánchez – Jeff Bezos’ fiancée • […]

The moment you take your first breath of ZED’s air and a mid-wife says, “It’s a boy!” you know you’re in for a lifetime of expectation. Because being a Zambian man is an indictment of how you’ll probably repeat or remix the mistakes of your father, presidents, brother or friends. As a man, you will […]

By Savior Mwambwa Summary: In this short think-piece, I examine how African nations can transform exploitative resource extraction patterns into sustainable economic development. Drawing from my forthcoming research paper, I explore how strategic state involvement, regional integration through AfCFTA, and inclusive governance models can help Africa move beyond raw material exports toward manufacturing and value addition. […]

You’ll be at home on a Friday evening with your family or alone. You receive a phone call from your friend. In the background, inebriated baddies are singing along to some promiscuity-inducing hit song and your friend screams into your ear, “Boi, do you have a loose five thousand? Payable month end!” Zambians have been […]

By Tshepo Magagane, Mine Finance Senior Africa is blessed with an abundance of base metals including Copper across the Central African Copperbelt (Zambia, DRC), Kalahari Copperbelt (Botswana, Namibia), Kaoko Copperbelt (Namibia, Angola). Prospective tenements are available; however, they lack capital to risk-unlock into Feasible Projects. There are no new Pre-Feasibility Stage projects, and capital is required to […]

Observations By Ceaser Siwale The implementation of sweeping tariff policies under President Donald Trump’s administration has sparked significant debate among economists, business leaders, and global trading partners. Initially intended as a strategic reset to address longstanding trade imbalances and reinvigorate domestic industries, the approach has generated unintended economic consequences, raising concerns about its effectiveness and […]

One of the toughest places for a man to navigate his prejudices and masculinity is right after he leaves the relative comfort of secondary school. This is when he realizes that academically, he will eventually come good but socially, he will never receive pizza on a Friday night and a new iPhone just because he’s […]

By Tshepo Magagane The most value-adding approach is to find and build – FQM started out by producing 2,000t pa and now, just in Zambia, they are about to hit 500,000t pa! Khoemacau was taken over for USD35m in distress (went into it during commissioning) and was sold for USD2.0Bn! The thing about buying a […]

Observations By Tshepo Magagane  Unfortunately, China has cornered most of the global market. And Friedland, who has been connected to China since the ‘90s, says it’s about 30 years ahead of us. And for processing of some minerals, there may be no catching up, given the small and specialized quantities involved. Friedland is building a […]

Opinion and Observations By Ceaser Siwale The Economic Freedom Index (EFI) is an annual ranking published by The Heritage Foundation that assesses the economic freedom of countries worldwide. The index measures the degree to which individuals and businesses can freely operate without undue restraint. Countries are scored across 12 indicators grouped into four broad pillars: Rule of Law, Government Size, Regulatory Efficiency, […]

By Tshepo Magagane Gold – is it getting ahead of itself? Inflation adjusted all time high is USD3,800/oz – as QE started, you had Swiss based wealth managers going USD4,000-5,000/oz (the purported relationship with interest rates) 15yrs back post GFC when Central Banks raced to hold interests rates at zero, this is what we were […]

Observations By Ceaser Siwale The USAID pullback is not just a funding issue – it also signals a shift in geopolitical relationships. U.S.-Africa relations are poised to change. For decades, foreign aid was a pillar of American “soft power” in Africa, a way to project influence and goodwill. Now that pillar is crumbling. African governments and […]

…. but how will you feed your family if youdon’t laugh? Have you seen how men behave around a rich man? Think Freedom Sikazwe-style laughter and worse, having nothing to offer in return.  Because we do it. Prostitute our self worth and decency to a man with money in the bank in exchange for maybe […]

These modern kids call it “friends with benefits”. In essence, you get to enjoy the benefit of a woman’s companionship without months long due diligence or extortionate KYC. You see each other when you can, don’t owe each other birthday gifts or good morning texts.  Quite a fascinating concept, this.  One that men these days […]

Observations By Ceaser Siwale, Executive USAID’s abrupt funding halt has delivered a shock to health and welfare programs across Africa. In early 2025, the U.S. government terminated roughly 90% of its foreign aid contracts, effectively ending some 10,000 USAID-supported projects worldwide​. Termination letters went out to organizations fighting hunger and disease, informing them their life-saving programs […]