Tag Archives: the southern african development community

30Jul/26

Southern Africa is breaking energy monopolies

July 30, 2026EconomyANGLO AMERICAN, Battery energy storage system, EDF Renewables, Electric power distribution, Electrical grid, Electricity market, GreenCo, Independent power producer, Namibia, Power purchase agreement, Pricing, Renewable energy, Renewable energy policy, South Africa, Southern African Power Pool, Stanbic Bank, the southern african development community, Zambia, ZESCOadmin

Zambia’s 2024 Open Access Reforms: A Catalyst and Testing Ground for Regional Energy Liberalization

Thu, July 30 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The electricity supply industries in Southern Africa are undergoing a major structural shift, transitioning from vertically integrated, state-dominated monopolies toward decentralized and competitive wholesale power markets. This transformation is largely driven by persistent power deficits, climate-induced hydropower shortages, and the soaring energy demands of the region’s mining sectors. Continue reading →

29Jul/26

Zambia’s massive leap into digital finance

July 29, 2026EconomyAB Bank, Apple Wallet, Banking in India, Consumer-to-business, Digital wallet, European Economic Area, Financial technology, Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems, ISO 20022, Mobile payments, Payment service provider, Payment systems, Single Euro Payments Area, Stephen Mulenga, the bank of zambia, the southern african development community, Zambia, Zambia Electronic Clearing House Limitedadmin

Navigating Zambia’s Digital Payment Landscape

Wed, July 29 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The Zambian digital payment ecosystem historically struggled with severe fragmentation, relying heavily on bilateral agreements between financial institutions and routing domestic card transactions through expensive international networks. To address these structural inefficiencies and lower the cost of domestic electronic payments, the Bank of Zambia, the Bankers Association of Zambia, and the Zambia Electronic Clearing House Limited initiated the National Financial Switch project in 2013. The system was designed as a shared public utility to interconnect various payment streams, including automated teller machines, point-of-sale systems, and mobile money platforms, thereby eliminating the need for institutions to build and maintain costly bilateral connections. Continue reading →

14Mar/26

Protecting Brands in Zambia: Powerful Customs Measures and New Arbitration Avenues

March 14, 2026LegalAfrican Regional Intellectual Property Organization, Aripo, Benson Mpalo, Innovation, Intangible assets, Intellectual property, Intellectual property law, Intellectual property organization, Madrid, Nelson Banda, Patent, Product management, Sichibende, Southern Africa, Southern African Development Community, the southern african development community, Traditional knowledge, Zambiaadmin

March 12, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) serves as a collaborative hub for 22 member nations to streamline the protection of patents, trademarks, and industrial designs through centralized protocols like the Harare Agreement. While ARIPO facilitates cross-border registration via digital tools and online gazettes, nations such as Zambia maintain their own robust legal frameworks, including the Industrial Property Act of 2017. Managed by PACRA, Zambia’s domestic system is currently transitioning to mandatory online trademark filings to improve administrative efficiency and align with international standards. Despite these modernizing efforts, experts argue for deeper regional integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to better address public health and traditional knowledge. Current assessments, such as the Global Innovation Index, show that while Zambia shows strength in infrastructure, it still faces challenges in translating investments into high-level innovation outputs. Regional cooperation remains a vital strategy for these developing economies to pool limited resources and foster a predictable environment for global investors. Continue reading →

02Feb/25

Maimbo’s AfDB Candidacy Announcement

February 2, 2025EconomyAFDB, African Development Bank, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, Economy of the African Union, Multilateral development banks, Samuel Maimbo, Southern African Development Community, the southern african development community, Trade blocs, United Nations General Assembly observersadmin

Jan. 31, 2025 /Mpelembe media/ — Samuel Maimbo, endorsed by SADC and COMESA, has launched his candidacy for President of the African Development Bank (AfDB). His platform prioritises rapid economic growth for Africa, focusing on key areas such as trade, financial resources, agricultural transformation, and infrastructure development. Continue reading →

17May/23

Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi is one country

May 17, 2023EconomyAfrica, Commonwealth republics, Countries, Ethiopia, Landlocked countries, Malawi, Member states of the African Union, Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations, Member states of the United Nations, Nigeria, Southern Africa, Southern African Development Community, the southern african development community, Zambia, Zimbabweadmin

May 17, 2023 /Econonmy/ – If Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi became one country again, it would be a major development with far-reaching implications for the region. The new country would have a population of over 70 million people, making it the third most populous country in Africa after Nigeria and Ethiopia. It would also have a land area of over 1 million square kilometers, making it the 13th largest country in Africa. Continue reading →