2022 March

Please click here to access the full Market Watch Local Market Commentary There are several macroeconomic releases on tap today. These are CPI,  GDP and Trade balance readings. Regarding the former, inflation has slowed for the past seven months and supports the Bank of Zambia’s view that inflation is trending downwards. This may persuade policymakers...

Please click here to access the full Market Watch Local Market Commentary Zambia has made its way back into the spotlight following reports from local media that the country’s creditors are due to form a committee to assess the sustainability of the nation’s $31.74bn debt and how the debt can be restructured. The reports come...

Please click here to access the full Market Watch Local Market Commentary It is a quiet end to the week in Zambia amid a dearth of domestic data. Next week, several macroeconomic releases, namely CPI, GDP, and trade balance data, are on the cards. Regarding the former, inflation has slowed for the past seven months...

Please click here to access the full Market Watch Local Market Commentary Yesterday, the finance ministry reported that public external debt rose to $17.3bn at the end of 2021 from $17bn in June. The total includes $13bn central government debt, $3.4bn in state-owned enterprises debt, and payment arrears account for the rest. Meanwhile, total public...

Please click here to access the full Market Watch Local Market Commentary In a bid to address electricity shortages that have in the past decade hurt mining operations in Zambia, which relies almost completely on hydro power, First Quantum Minerals Ltd. plans to power its copper mines in Zambia through at $500mn solar and wind...

Please click here to access the full Market Watch Local Market Commentary Over the weekend, Provisional liquidator at Vendanta Resources’ Konkola Copper Mines, Milingo Lungu, announced his resignation. Lungu was quoted as saying, “I’ve resigned. I think I’ve done my part, and I don’t think my prolonged stay there, especially if I have to start...

Please click here to access the full Market Watch Local Market Commentary A local report citing Millers Association of Zambia President Andrew Chintala suggests that Zambia will start importing wheat in two weeks to fill a shortfall. The imported grain is set to be used until the local harvest is ready in September. Note that...

Please click here to access the full Market Watch Local Market Commentary To avert potential food shortages arising from the Ukraine war President of the African Development Bank Akinwumi Adesina said the bank is raising funds to help 40mn African farmers utilize climate-resilient technologies and increase their output of heat-tolerant wheat varieties and other crops....

Please click here to access the full Market Watch Local Market Commentary Zambia has declared seven days of mourning following the passing of the country’s fourth president Rupiah Banda. President Hakainde Hichilema declared the period of national mourning and said that Banda’s state funeral will be held Thursday, and he will be buried Friday at...

Please click here to access the full Market Watch Local Market Commentary A report from Germany’s Kiel Institute for the World Economy has warned that African countries may be hit hard by any continuing halt to Ukraine’s grain exports caused by the war. According to the institute, “the war in Ukraine could significantly worsen the...