Author: SADC Correspondent

Zimbabwe turns to Namibia to beef up stocks as drought bites

Posted by SADC Correspondent | Jun 23, 2017 | Agriculture |

By Barnabas Thondhlana Africa Independent – Zimbabwe has turned to Namibia for its beef requirements as drought, foot and mouth disease and the land reform programme has severely depleted its national cattle herd. Addressing diplomats at the launch of an international appeal for food aid and drought relief mechanism, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the livestock condition was dire and the situation had been compounded by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth. “Cumulative livestock deaths as a result of the drought are at 16 681 with Masvingo province being the highest at 6 566,” he said. At least US$138 million was needed...

Personalised car interior and exterior – its the detail that counts

Posted by SADC Correspondent | Jun 20, 2017 | Special Focus |

Range Rover customers can expect a personal touch with a new exterior Design Pack created by Jaguar for Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations (SVO. The SVO Design Pack is also available for fitment to all standard wheelbase current-generation Range Rover models produced from 2013, including the new 405kW SV Autobiography Dynamic, and in combination with other packs previously applied to the vehicle. The body kit includes a set of unique bumpers, side sills, side vents, quad tailpipe finishers and bespoke grille. Land Rover is giving customers the ability to further personalise their Range Rover, with the launch of a...

Start-ups get to tell their story on video

Posted by SADC Correspondent | Jun 15, 2017 | Technology |

Matchfire Motion, an animation studio that is driving new age digital thinking in marketing, has launched a campaign aimed at NGO’s and start-ups to tell their story through animation. By submitting their cause, the company will select one that will benefit most from an animation and then create it absolutely free. “The digital world is changing rapidly, people are seeking meaningful content to engage with and animation is at the forefront of this revolution. So, whether you’re an NGO saving the world or a start-up destined for the moon, we know how challenging being a small fish in the...

Africa tourist arrivals grow despite challenges

Posted by SADC Correspondent | Jun 14, 2017 | Tourism |

The continued growth of African tourist arrivals, coupled with key performance indicators such as increased airlift and hotel development, are all reasons to invest in the travel economy within Africa. This was the word from various stakeholders in attendance at WTM Africa 2017 held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in April. Through the partnership between WTM Africa and Euromonitor International, research divulged at the exhibition showed that key performance indicators revealed positive development in the travel sector of Africa. Christi Tawii, Research Analyst with Euromonitor International, spoke at WTM Africa 2017, unveiling that inbound arrivals in Sub-Saharan...

Pan-African architecture prize up for grabs

Posted by SADC Correspondent | Jun 12, 2017 | General News |

The first Pan-African architecture prize, the Africa Architecture Awards, will give away US$10000 to its Grand Prix winner. The inaugural Africa Architecture Awards is noteworthy as the first dedicated Pan-African awards programme of its kind. Launched by founder Saint-Gobain, the awards aim to recognise and reward worthy projects from across the African continent. The 2017 Africa Architecture Awards seek to acknowledge standout architectural projects that have been conceived of and/or built on the African continent, and invite entries and nominations from the industry. Anyone in the world meeting the entry criteria can enter, or be entered into the awards,...

New smartphone brands now more appealing

Posted by SADC Correspondent | Jun 9, 2017 | Technology |

Apple and Samsung might be the world’s most popular smartphone brands, but they are fast losing market share to new entrants in the market, Chinese smartphone manufacturers are driving sales with their competitively priced, high quality smartphones equipped with innovative features, according to research and advisory company, Gartner. The shift in buyer preference is positively affecting Chinese manufacturers in their strategy to build desirable features at affordable prices. FastMobile an emerging smartphone brand in Africa is fast capturing market share with its high-end TrendZ1 smartphone at an affordable price. According to Gartner, the smartphone market grew 9% in the...

24th Annual Africa Oil Week 2017 – the mainstay event for Africa’s oil and gas industry

Posted by SADC Correspondent | Jun 6, 2017 | Mining & Energy |

London, 6 June — ITE will host the 2017 edition of the globally recognised Africa Oil Week (www.Africa-OilWeek.com), the world’s longest running oil and gas conference on the African continent, from 23-27th October in Cape Town, South Africa. Africa’s premier event is host to over 1,250 industry players from around the world, bringing together cross-continent multinationals and offering a content rich programme, a quality industry exhibition and five-star networking. Regarded for its high-level participation and onsite deal-flow, with sizeable in-room investor and finance potential, Africa Oil Week delivers exposure of Africa-wide state and private acreage opportunities, transaction and new...

Hefty price tag on new Discovery but Land Rover says it is more than capable

Posted by SADC Correspondent | May 30, 2017 | Special Focus |

At around N$1 million for a Land Rover Discovery, it is no longer the utility vehicle for which its predecessors were famous. But Land Rover is adamant that, despite its obvious refinement and style, it remains one of the most robust, capable and versatile SUVs in southern Africa The new Discovery has been restyled on the exterior in several, noticeable ways. The headlamps are eyecatching, the windscreen angle is flatter and the daytime running lamps give a distinctive signature. Changes in the array of rear lights also add to its sporty appearance. The overall design theme is dynamic. Mechanically,...