Author: NLM Correspondent

By Beya Keshi Robin At the end of the First World War, war was no longer seen as a lawful means of settling disputes between states. It is, moreover, the desire to exclude war and its consequences that led to the creation of the League of Nations and then to the organization of the United Nations in order to maintain international peace and security through a system of collective security. Peace thus became a fundamental value of international society. In order to preserve it, States started by condemning aggression as war unleashed against a State, before banning it outright. The…

By Gilbert Muyumbu In early 1981, President Daniel arap Moi directed that land disputes in the country would henceforth be settled by elders and the Provincial Administration, rather than through the court process. Moi had decided so, he said, to save ordinary Kenyans who had scant knowledge of court processes, from being exploited by lawyers. The announcement caught the LSK by surprise. Its reaction was immediate. It summoned a council meeting and came up with a measured response. Through its chairman, Amos S. Wako, the LSK challenged Moi’s directive on three grounds. First, it felt that as a body whose…

By David Onjili Kwame Otiende is a UK based Kenyan political economist, and the proprietor of The Jago Dalston. A graduate from the School of Oriental and African studies, a constituent college of the University of London, Kwame holds degrees in Development Economics and Politics and an MSc in management from Sussex University. The Jago is a live music venue and community arts space located on Kingsland Road in Dalston, London UK. It features live music, performances, workshops and community-led initiatives. The building traces its roots to the late 1800s when it was a printing press for the Hackney Gazette. The…

For the second consecutive time, Allianz has emerged as the top insurance brand in the world, according to Interbrand’s Best Global Brands Ranking. The positive news comes at an especially uncertain time for markets and industries across the globe, as they attempt to navigate the challenges of a worldwide pandemic. “Our focus on resilience, integrity and customer centricity is paying off. Allianz has once again been recognized as #1 insurance brand globally, which is fantastic news and confirms that we are on the right track,” said Oliver Bäte, Chief Executive Officer of Allianz SE. “We are immensely proud to be…

The Kenya government aims to increase the uptake of electric vehicles in the country in the next five years with a goal to have 5 percent of all registered vehicles in Kenya being electric vehicles by 2025. According to a new government strategy, all new public buildings will have charging stations in the next five years. The number of registered motor vehicles in Kenya reached 3.28 million in 2018, consisting of passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, buses, heavy goods vehicles and motorcycles. Governments across the world are embracing electric vehicles due to their cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness. Some African countries…

African payment solutions are critical to minimising fraud while improving the free flow of funds to boost business and economic activity Digital payments are now, more than ever, the key to unlocking business growth on the continent By Murray Gardiner The statistics that hover uncertainty around Africa are not ones that should make the continent proud. The World Bank has estimated that Africa could potentially hold 90 percent of the global poor population by 2030 and has recently cut its economic growth predictions to between -2.1 percent and -5.1 percent in 2020 from the 2.4 percent of 2019. The situation has been significantly worsened…

Egypt replaced South Africa as the top ranked destination by projects in the region, experiencing a 60 percent increase from 85 to 136 projects in 2019, the report said. Along with a $12bn IMF-mandated reform programme, the government has embarked on massive infrastructure spending in sectors ranging from energy to construction. South Africa follows Egypt at 123 projects, though it easily outdoes all other African countries in terms of the number of projects it financed outside its own territory last year. FDI Intelligence, a product of the Financial Times, found that South Africa invested in 81 projects outside the rainbow…

Closer cooperation, co-learning and co-design can help engage the African ‘genius’ and support native innovation in addition to the traditional imported innovation and aid its adoption.. By Emanuela Colombo Africa is running fast towards its history, but the marathon is always a long-haul challenge, in which the way in which energy is mastered can make a difference between success and failure. Energy is the lifeblood of society, but the energy-climate-development requires a good balance between over-exploitation of resources and their use for human activity. That is why Africa needs a sustainable energy system providing reliable, affordable and clean energy for…

Governments are failing to convey sufficient and credible macroeconomic data and other important information to rating agencies and other interested parties. By Misheck Mutize A number of African countries have recently been contesting decisions by credit rating agencies. Some have raised objections that the rating agencies lack understanding of their economic environment. Others have challenged the correctness of their ratings on the basis that the agencies had not discussed them with the country’s representatives. The United Nations has questioned the timing and basis for rating downgrades. The eurozone rating watchdog – the European Securities and Markets Authority – has also cautioned agencies against deepening the coronavirus crisis through “quick-fire” downgrades of…

Expanding taxation in the telecoms sector could be a suitable way of mobilizing resources for post-COVID Last month in Cameroon, president Paul Biya ordered the deferment of the collection, by digital means, of custom duties and taxes on imported phones and other electronic devices. A new automated system for the collection had been scheduled to go operational on October 15. But the move sparked widespread outrage, especially online with the hashtag #EndPhoneTax, in a country where manifestation of dissent can easily spiral into violence. The pressure was enough to push the government to halt the tax collection system which would have…