Agence Ecofin) – Ce samedi à Yaoundé les argentiers des 15 pays africains qui ont en partage le franc CFA se sont réunis avec le ministre des finances français Michel Sapin. Le sujet qui fait débat reste l’avenir du franc CFA, autrefois « franc des Colonies françaises d’Afrique », créé en 1945, devenu aujourd’hui « franc de la Communauté financière africaine ».

Ses partisans soulignent que le taux de change fixe lié l’euro, ainsi que la garantie de la France, confèrent aux économies CFA une stabilité profitable. C’est par exemple d’avis de Lionel Zinsou, président d’Africa France et ex-Premier ministre du Bénin.

Les détracteurs de la monnaie franco-africaine dénoncent le coût exorbitant de cette tutelle qui exige un dépôt de garantie en France correspondant à 50% des réserves de change des 15 pays CFA. Ils déplorent également que des pays africains soient contraints d’adopter la politique monétaire de l’euro, qui n’est pas toujours conforme à leurs intérêts.

Quant à la France, elle assure que les pays africains sont tout à fait libres de renoncer à cette tutelle.

The National Social Security Authority is reported to have reached an agreement with Empowerment Corporation for the acquisition of a 40% stake in Telecel Zimbabwe. This comes after the institution bailed out state-owned internet technology firm Zarnet to complete the acquisition of the 60% stake which was held by Amsterdam-headquartered Vimpelcom for a total consideration of $40 million. Well placed sources told the Herald Business that NSSA had reached an agreement with Empowerment Corporation for the sake for $20 million, which is the same price that previous suitor Brainworks Capital wanted to pay.

NSSA now is doing due diligence. Once the processes have been completed Government will officially own Telecel 100%.

NSSA recently said it would make relevant its services and leverage technology to attract and accommodate untapped informal sector market and expend its membership base.

(source: http://www.herald.co.zw/nssa-eyes-40pc-stake-in-telecel/)

Government has banned the export of maize and maize products with immediate effect. Agriculture Permanent Secretary Julius Shawa says the ban is aimed at stabilizing mealie meal prices across the country.

Government has established an Inter-agency Team to undertake a verification exercise to ascertain the actual quantities of maize that is held by the Food Reserve Agency, the Grain and Millers Associations of Zambia and some members of the Zambia National Farmers Union.

Mr. Shawa says the ban is for a period of a week but may be extended depending on the outcome of the verification exercise. Meanwhile Mr. Shawa said Government will soon issue a Statutory Instrument to ensure that the measures taken to safeguard national food security are backed by a legal instrument.

Visiting investment consultants from the United States of America and Canada have implored Zimbabwe to consider setting up a gold reserve bank and introduce a gold currency with a view to attract international capital. Apart from bringing money into the country, the use of gold as a currency could also increase confidence in Zimbabwe’s currency, financial system and ultimately economy.

Local economists, however, said that the lack of reliable information from mineral exploration makes it difficult to use gold to back currency. Another challenge would be the value of the gold which is determined on the world market, which may make the gold backed currency volatile.

An economist with the Africa University, Mr Thomas Masese said that instead of a gold bank to resuscitate or grow the economy, Zimbabwe needs to work on economy hygiene issues such as the cost of doing business, boost production, etc.

Lands, Natural Resources and Environment protection Deputy Minister Davies Mwango says government has simplified the land acquisition process for Zambians living in the Diaspora.

Mr. Mwango says the simplified process will enable Zambians who are living abroad to easily access land at home, and the government is in the process of revising Land policy adding that government is currently receiving inputs from different stakeholders including government ministries.

Meanwhile Ambassador Susan Sikaneta says the African Union is grateful to the Zambian government for the 10 acres plot land given for the construction of the new headquarters of the ECOSOC Secretariat and another piece of land for the construction of the new COMESA headquarters in Lusaka. She says this will be valuable use of land whose benefits will remain forever and add to the beauty of the city of Lusaka.