Zambia

Namadingo breaks silence on his love life

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 11:20:01 +0000

Namadingo breaks silence on his love life

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 11:20

Monday, May 16, 2022

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Entertainment | Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi

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Namadingo breaks silence on his love life

Zambia-based Malawian outspoken musician Patience Namadingo has broke the silence on his love life after featuring Rehana Rice whom she engaged to five years ago. Namadingo engaged to Rehana before he found fame and money, but his love affair has been a subject to speculation after failing to tie the knot a year later as […]

The post Namadingo breaks silence on his love life appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

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Pain as cost of ugali on the rise

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 08:50:01 +0000

Pain as cost of ugali on the rise

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Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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Pain as cost of ugali on the rise

The cost of ugali is likely to shoot up after millers hiked flour prices due to a biting shortage of maize in the local and regional markets.

Coming at a time more than three million Kenyans are staring at starvation due to drought and declined crop and livestock production across the country, the looming increase in the cost of putting ugali on the table is likely to hit households hard.

Maize flour prices have more than doubled in the North Rift region, the country’s food basket, with a two-kilogram packet going for Sh200, up from Sh85 barely two months ago.

Read: Families hit hard by price rise of basics

The millers fear the price of maize flour may continue its upward trend as the supply of the stable deteriorates.

“Consumers should brace themselves for higher prices of unga as we face more difficulties sourcing maize to sustain our milling operations,” said Grain Belt Millers Association (GBMA) chairperson Kipngetich Mutai.

A 90kg bag of maize is now going for Sh5,200, up from Sh4,500 two weeks ago.

The millers said they were facing challenges importing the grains from Tanzania due to tough conditions set by the East Africa Community (EAC) member state.

Also read: Reject new taxes on flour, MPs told

“Although there is some maize in Tanzania, the stringent conditions for obtaining an export licence – popularly known as Kibali – are making it hard for our members to import the grains into the country,” added Mr Mutai.

He said 400 lorries loaded with maize were stuck at the Namanga border due to slow clearance procedures.

“The importers are required to produce an export licence to facilitate entry of the grains to the country,” explained Mr Mutai.

The millers want the government to negotiate with Zambian and Tanzanian authorities to facilitate importation of six million bags of maize to plug the current shortage and lower flour prices, which have hit Sh165, up from an average of Sh130 per two-kilogram packet across the country.

“It is also critical for the government to support transport and logistics for the importation of maize from these countries. The high cost of transporting produce from neighbouring countries ultimately drives up the price of finished products,” added the millers in their petition.

The millers explained that it costs Sh185,000 to transport a tonne of the grains from Lusaka, Zambia, into Kenya, up from Sh120,000, adding that sea freight costs had worsened due to the aftershocks of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Read: Here is the road to Kenya’s recovery

A 90-kilogram bag of maize from Tanzania is selling at Sh5,000 while that from Zambia and Malawi lands at Sh5,200, which the millers have termed too expensive.

“Consumers are already struggling due to the rising commodity prices. Implementation of these recommendations will be crucial in mitigating rising costs of wheat and maize-based commodities should the situation persist,” said the millers.

The petition has been endorsed by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), Cereal Millers Association (CMA), Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers (Akefema), Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC), Agro-Processors Association of Kenya (APAK), Grain Belt Millers and Farmers Association (GBMFA), Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET) and United Grain Millers Association (UGMA).

Maize production in Kenya is estimated at 3.2 million metric tons annually, against a consumption rate of 3.8 million metric tons.

The deficit is bridged through imports from EAC member states. Kenya produces approximately 100,000 metric tonnes of wheat, against an annual demand of 2.4 million metric tons. This means the country relies heavily on imported wheat, which is estimated at -96% of the produce.

“Kenya imports 60 per cent of the deficit mainly from Ukraine and Russia. The current situation in the two countries has disrupted the importation supply chain. As a result, players in the sector have turned to the expensive wheat from USA, Argentina, Australia and Canada. This has been aggravated by the total ban on imports from India by the Kenyan government,” explained the millers.

The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) has exhausted its emergency maize stocks.

The agency sold the more than 300,000 bags it purchased last season on commercial basis to millers.

“We have sold out all our maize stocks and the acute shortage of the grains has to be handled at high government policy level,” said NCPB Managing Director Joseph Kimote.

The board sought Sh10.3 billion for emergency food stocks in the last financial year but faced stiff competition from millers and traders, who offered better prices and prompt payment.

The board was to purchase three million bags of maize at Sh7.56 billion and 50,000 bags of beans at Sh405 million to stock its National Food Reserve.

According to NCPB Chairman Mutea Iringo, the board was to buy 30,000 bags of green grams at Sh270 million and 20,000 bags of 25kg powdered milk at Sh340 million, but it failed to achieve the target due to stiff competition from millers and traders.

Africa

Politics

Fidelity hires external lawyers over Langford Estates wrangle

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 02:00:01 +0000

Fidelity hires external lawyers over Langford Estates wrangle

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Friday, June 3, 2022

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Original Article

Fidelity hires external lawyers over Langford Estates wrangle

By Alois Vinga

LISTED insurance group, Fidelity Life Assurance’s (FLA) has engaged external legal services for representation in the Langford Estates ownership wrangle.

The dispute arose after FLA entered into a sale of shares agreement with CFI Holdings Limited (CFI) acquiring 80,77% shares in Langford Estates, a company whose sole asset is land measuring 834 hectares.

The purchase entailed the assumption of CFI Holdings’ Limited US$16million debt owed to a consortium of banks by the company.

Subsequently a Debt Assumption and Compromise Agreement was signed between Fidelity and CFI Holdings creditors who included Agrifoods, and FBC Bank Limited, Agricultural Bank of Zimbabwe Limited, Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe Limited, Standard Chartered Bank Zimbabwe Limited and CBZ Bank Limited.

Subsequently, Fidelity assumed the CFI debt and ownership of 80,77% of Langford Estates and duly paid off the debt.

In March 2018, the company received a letter from CFI contesting the Sale of Shares Agreement and Debt Assumption and Compromise Agreement.

“The parties however failed to reach an amicable resolution and CFI instituted legal proceedings against the Company in the High Court and Arbitration for cancellation of the debt assumption agreement and setting aside of the agreement of sale of shares respectively.

“Both matters are pending resolution before the two forums. The directors have engaged external legal counsel to defend the interests of Fidelity Life,” the company said in a recent update.

Meanwhile, Fidelity has managed to post a profit after tax of $274,9 million on an inflation adjusted basis for the year ended 31 December 2021 representing a strong growth.

Investment income increased to ZW$1 722,3 million and net premium written increased from ZW$611,8 million to ZW$1 070,1 million driven by aggressive premium reviews and strong organic growth of the life book as well as significant inflows from new products,” the company chairperson, Livingstone Gwata said.

Going forward, the company expects revenue to grow faster than costs on the strength of combining new financial solutions and new markets.

“High inflation places on us the responsibility to ensure that we preserve value for our policyholders and all stakeholders. To that end, investment portfolio diversification is a priority in the current financial year,” added Gwata.

The post Fidelity hires external lawyers over Langford Estates wrangle appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

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Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe cedes 76,4% stake

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 01:50:01 +0000

Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe cedes 76,4% stake

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Tuesday, June 7, 2022

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Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe cedes 76,4% stake

By Alois Vinga

LISTED cement manufacturer, Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe (LACZ) has entered into a binding agreement for the disposal of its 76,45% stake to Fossil Mines Private Limited.

The development follows months of negotiations with different suitors who were bidding to acquire the stake.

In a statement Tuesday, LACZ acting company secretary Arnold Chikazhe informed stakeholders that “Further to the cautionary announcement dated 31 May 2022, shareholders and members of the investing public are advised that Associated International Cement Limited, a member of the Holcim group, has entered into a binding agreement for the sale of its 76.45% stake in Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe Limited to Fossil Mines (Private) Limited”.

He added: “The transaction, if successfully concluded, may have a material effect on the Company’s securities. Accordingly, shareholders and members of the investing public are advised to exercise caution when dealing in the Company’s securities until a full announcement is made”.

The disposal of Holcim’s Zimbabwean shareholding follows prior disposals of Holcim shareholding in the Northern Ireland, Zambian and Malawian markets amid plans that the group is in the process of disposing its Indian cement business.

On 25 January 2022 the group announced the intention to dispose of their 76,45% shareholding in LACZ as part of their strategy to divest from the cement manufacturing business before inviting interested bidders to submit their expressions of interest to its Financial Advisors, ABSA Corporate and Investment Banking in South Africa.

Internal documents seen by NewZimbabwe.com Business show that Fossil’s offer is backed by local banks, pension funds and wealth managers.

Fossil engaged local Financial Advisors, and Commercial Attorneys to act on its behalf on the bid as well as Cliff, Decker and Hofmeyer of South Africa to act as its Transaction Advisory Team.

“As part of evaluating the bids Holcim invited the bidders to South Africa for negotiations. The final round of negotiations between Holcim and Fossil took place in South Africa from 28 May 2022 to 30 May 2022 wherein Fossil’s offer to acquire 76,45% of Lafarge Zimbabwe was accepted,” the documents said.

However, the transaction is still pending due to further due diligence of the asset and regulatory approvals.

“Should Fossil takeover Lafarge, the planned strategy is to maintain Lafarge as a Listed business and also recapitalize Lafarge leading to an increase in the cement output from the plant.

“Currently, 40% of Zimbabwe’s cement requirements are imported, an opportunity that Fossil wants to capitalize on by providing the market with readily available cement,” added the documents.

The post Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe cedes 76,4% stake appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

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ACT Wazalendo advises govt to reduce commercial borrowing

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 05:00:01 +0000

ACT Wazalendo advises govt to reduce commercial borrowing

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Friday, June 17, 2022

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The Citizen

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ACT Wazalendo advises govt to reduce commercial borrowing

Dar es Salaam. Reducing commercial borrowing, revival of the cashew nut development fund and withdrawing of mobile transactions levy are some of the recommendations from ACT Wazalendo party which yesterday released its analysis of the national budget for 2022/23.

ACT Wazalendo’s finance sector spokespman Emanuel Mvula urged the State to lower the commercial borrowing as part of measures to contain the spiraling national debt.

“Commercial loans account for 32.8 percent of the total external debt. We want the government to reduce the ratio of commercial loans to national debt to 20 percent. The government should also consider swapping these loans into concessional,” he said.

According to Finance and Planning minister Mwigulu Nchemba, who presented the budget in Parliament on Tuesday, the government debt was Sh69.44 trillion as of April this year, equivalent to an increase of 14.4 percent.

Mr Mvula urged the government to reinstate 100 percent of the cashew export levy to farmers as it was before the government changed the law in 2018.

“The government has proposed 50 percent of the export levy to go to the central government consolidated fund and another 50 percent to fund inputs for farmers. But we strongly oppose this proposal because it will not help the farmers,” he said.

Mr Mvula also advised the government to remove the mobile money transaction levies that were introduced last year, citing the taxation measure as a burden to the ordinary citizens and the fact that it did not meet the expectations of the government.

“ACT Wazalendo wants the government to abolish these levies on mobile money transactions. The government has collected Sh261 billion out of the Sh1 trillion intended from mobile money transactions and this is equivalent to only 25 percent of the targets,” he said.

Mr Mvula also lamented over low budget allocated for development expenditure, which also “concentrated on facilitating things rather than people’s development.”

“The level of development budget that is going to serve the people is just Sh6.2 trillion which is equivalent to 14.9 percent of the total budget. So, our budget is still very much focused on things and paying off debts rather than stimulating citizen’s development,” he said.

Party leader Zitto Kabwe noted the need for the Finance and Planning minister to explain about the controversy of tax planned to be imposed on every citizen above 18 years.

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Switch to gas to slash fuel bill, government urged

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 04:50:01 +0000

Switch to gas to slash fuel bill, government urged

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admin Sat, 06/18/2022 - 04:50

Friday, June 17, 2022

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The Citizen

Original Article

Switch to gas to slash fuel bill, government urged

Dar es Salaam. Parliament’s Budget Committee wants all government vehicles to be converted to use compressed natural gas as part of efforts to cut massive spending on fuel.

The advice comes at a time when fuel prices are rising due to disruptions in the global supply chain, fuelled by Western nations’ sanctions on key producer Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

Locally, Dar es Salaam residents are currently paying Sh2,994 and Sh3,131 for a litre of petrol and diesel respectively. The current prices for petrol are, however, Sh745, or 33 percent, more than they were in June last year when a litre fetched Sh2,249. They are also Sh1,058, or 51 percent, higher than they were in June 2021 when a litre of diesel fetched Sh2,073.

Presenting the Sh41.48 trillion Budget for the financial year 2022/23, the Finance and Planning Minister, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba outlined a number of cost-cutting measures that the government seeks to undertake during the coming year.

And responding to the Budget yesterday, the Budget Committee said by converting government vehicles to the use of natural gas, the government will see the resource [natural gas] being put to effective use before it become obsolete as the world was increasingly shifting to other renewable resources.

“The committee recommends that all government vehicles be converted to use natural gas just like the way it is for trucks operated by Dangote Cement. This will reduce importation of petroleum products and improve the country’s balance of payment,” the committee said.

Mr Shamsi Vuai Nahodha (Nominated-CCM) shared similar sentiments, noting that the Mtwara-Dar es Salaam natural gas pipeline was under-utilised at less than 10 percent of its capacity, suggesting maximising utilisation in order to reduce dependence on oil imports that adversely affect the lives of citizens.

“We should build the natural gas economy through increased use in transport and transportation and accelerating commencement of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project in Lindi,” he said.

In its views, the Budget Committee also wants the government to undertake a re-evaluation of its Double Taxation Agreements with Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, India, South Africa and Zambia in a deliberate move to align the agreements with Tanzania’s current development needs and ensure that they [the agreements] do not leave loopholes for tax evasion.

“Though these treaties are beneficial to the country, the challenge we see is that they could be used as conduits for tax evasion whereby a businessman or an investor may use them in an attempt to access indirectly the benefits of a tax agreement between two jurisdictions without being a resident of one of those jurisdictions (treaty shopping), said the committee’s chairman, Mr Daniel Sillo.

The Committee is also advising the government to make necessary amendments to the law that formed the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (Tasac) with a view to streamlining the agency’s tasks so that it does not get into a conflict of interest with clearing and forwarding agencies.

As things stand, Tasac, which is a regulator for marine transportation, also engages in activities of clearing and forwarding thereby creating a public outcry from private operators. “We need to amend the law to limit Tasac’s clearing and forwarding role to only sensitive cargo of the government, including arms, government documents, minerals and mining equipment. Issues pertaining to clearing and forwarding must remain a preserve of the private sector, he said.

It is the view of the committee that the government will issue a tax amnesty to companies in the tourism sector after their operations were adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic during the period between 2019 and 2020.

The Committee believes that if the government makes a critical analysis of the buildings that have been built across the country’s major urban centres, it could potentially collect up to Sh100 billion per year in property tax.

Some MPs like Mr Jerry Silaa (Ukonga-CCM), said the government is a business partner contributing no capital in businesses, urging that it should prepare friendly tax procedures, educate taxpayers and stop fighting with the businesspeople.

“Small scale businesses tax regime has been given a 3.5 percent turnover which is not a small amount. These are those with Sh500,000 to one million capital, hence telling them to buy Electronic Fiscal Device (EFD) machines spending Sh500,000 could be hardly executed,” he said.

“When is the government going to see that it is its responsibility to provide EFD machines to traders for free in order to enable the country to make tax records that will ultimately benefit the government,” he added.

According to him, putting the two percent withholding tax to small scale miners will increase the 6.1 percent royalties and inspections fees to eight percent, something that will increase smuggling and benefit some of the smuggling destination countries.

But Ms Zulfa Mmaka Omar (Special Seats-CCM) commended the government for scrapping the 40 percent tax chargeable for procurement of EFD machines.

“This has been the center of complaints among traders who will now be encouraged to purchase and use machines for strengthening their businesses,” she said.

Mr Twaha Mpembenwe (Kibiti-CCM) said Ngorongoro residents are fellow citizens who shouldn’t live in troubles as the government is determined to amicably address their concerns.

“A similar controversy was staged by a neighbouring country between 1977 and 1978 in its efforts to grab our land. Without mentioning the country’s name, I would like to warn neighboring countries trying to interfere with Tanzania’s internal affairs to stop doing that with immediate effect,” he said.

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SA: Three Zimbabwean nationals busted with explosives

admin — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 22:40:01 +0000

SA: Three Zimbabwean nationals busted with explosives

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admin Mon, 02/21/2022 - 22:40

Sunday, January 16, 2022

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SA: Three Zimbabwean nationals busted with explosives

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MUSINA: Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have confiscated explosives from a group of Zimbabwean nationals.

According to Captain Moses Semono of the Limpopo Joint Technical Headquarters, this was a case of possible Automated Teller Machine (ATM) explosion attempts.

The explosives, which are valued at around R38 000, were found on three undocumented people aged between 31 and 33-years-old at the Beitbridge port of entry.

All three are of Zimbabwean nationality.

The identified explosives included six reels of detonating cord, 50 units of connector capped fuses and 65 units of blasting cartridges which were branded Superpower 90 emulsion explosives, Solar Explochem Zambia Limited.

“The suspects were entering South Africa illegally carrying sixty-five blasting cartridges of Superpower 90 emulsion explosives, together with connector capped fuses, as well as Reels of Detonating Cords,” said Semono.

The South African Police Services (Saps) bomb disposal unit in Musina was activated and took over the case for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the police station, the suspects’ luggage was searched and commercial explosives were discovered.

The case was registered in the Saps Crime Administration System, and the three suspects have been arrested. They are expected to appear before the Musina Magistrate’s Court with charges of unlawful possession and the smuggling of explosives.

Colonel Samuel Mabotja, the officer commanding at the Joint Tactical Headquarter, commended the members who worked on the case, and praised them for a job well done.

The post SA: Three Zimbabwean nationals busted with explosives appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

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British TV Series Features Bermuda Character

admin — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 18:30:01 +0000

British TV Series Features Bermuda Character

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admin Mon, 02/21/2022 - 18:30

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

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Bernews » Entertainment

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British TV Series Features Bermuda Character

A new British television series – titled Sister Boniface Mysteries — has just been released and features a character named Sergeant Felix Livingstone who is said to be from “Hamilton, Bermuda.” Sergeant Livingstone is played by Nigerian/Irish actor Jerry Iwu, and the Bermudian character in the TV series speaks with a somewhat indefinable accent. The TV Insider website said, […]

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Uganda protests ICJ order to pay DRC $325m in war reparations

admin — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 03:40:01 +0000

Uganda protests ICJ order to pay DRC $325m in war reparations

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Friday, February 11, 2022

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Original Article

Uganda protests ICJ order to pay DRC $325m in war reparations

Government through the ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that slapped Uganda with a $325 million (Shs 1 trillion) reparation bill for its armed activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between 1998-2003.

In a statement, the ministry says while the amount awarded is far less than the $11.5 billion sought by DRC, Uganda nevertheless considers the judgment unfair and wrong, just as the 2005 judgment on liability.

“In its 2005 judgment, the court ordered that at the compensation phase, the DR Congo would be required to demonstrate and prove the exact injury that was suffered as a result of specific actions of Uganda constituting internationally wrongful acts for which it is responsible. The DR Congo did not meet the burden the court placed on it. Indeed, during the compensation phase, it did not come forward with evidence of even a single specific injury suffered as a result of any action of Uganda. It is therefore, deeply unclear why the ICJ decided to depart from the requirement it previously imposed on the DR Congo let alone how it arrived at the figure of USD 325 million,” the statement reads in part.

In 2005, ICJ found Uganda culpable of among others plundering the resources of DRC while the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) carried out armed operations in the vast country. Uganda insists that the findings of wrongdoing by the UPDF widely known as one of the 'most disciplined forces in the world' are false.

Uganda's Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka also questioned why the UPDF was singled out in a conflict where there were other belligerents.

“The UPDF (Uganda People's Defence Forces) was and remains a disciplined force and a force for good in all the countries it has operated in to this day," wrote Kiwanuka in a statement.

Uganda was in DRC with other countries; Rwanda, Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe where they engaged in fighting with forces from Congo and in some cases, among themselves. With continued demand from DRC that these leave their country, it was decided at a meeting held in Lusaka, Zambia that all parties cease-fire, release hostages and exchange prisoners of war, forces to disengage immediately, withdraw all foreign forces and for groups within Congo, to engage in a national dialogue.

Kiwanuka argues that the conflict was hence resolved in that peace accord in Lusaka and that the court's decision “is yet another failure to understand or appreciate African matters and makes no contribution to current efforts at resolving, on our own, the security issues that persist."

“Uganda was not alone in DR Congo during the relevant period. The court itself acknowledged the presence of numerous other belligerents. Let it not be forgotten that the conflict was resolved through a peace accord signed, the Lusaka Agreement which confirms the existence of other players during the material; period. It is therefore regrettable that Uganda has been singled out in this fashion. Many will understandably ask; why is Uganda alone that is being asked to pay for whatever supposedly went wrong during the conflict? The answer is that; it is because Uganda has always believed in the international system and hence agreed to subject itself to the jurisdiction of the ICJ in 1963 shortly after independence,” says the statement.

The statement adds that Uganda regrets that this decision has come at a time when its working relationship with DRC has greatly improved. The two countries are now working together in different areas including security, infrastructure, regional economic integration.

At the end of last year, Uganda and DRC forces launched attacks against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) that have been having their bases in eastern Congo.

“The problems that led to Uganda’s presence in the DR Congo between 1998 and 2003 were not solved then and they are still not solved even now. In any event, Uganda continues to discuss the matter with DR Congo government for purposes of securing a lasting and mutually acceptable solution. Uganda considers the judgment an undue interference in this process and in African affairs generally, a fact towards which the court appears insufficiently sensitive. It is precisely because of such interference by external actors that there is so much chaos on the African continent,” the statement further says.

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Kenya embassy budget cuts hit London hardest

admin — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 05:20:01 +0000

Kenya embassy budget cuts hit London hardest

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admin Tue, 02/15/2022 - 05:20

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

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Business

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Kenya embassy budget cuts hit London hardest

The Kenyan High Commission in London is the biggest loser in a budget review that seeks to slash expenditure for upgrading ageing office blocks for foreign missions and parent Foreign Affairs ministry by Sh500 million.

In the Supplementary Budget before the National Assembly, the Treasury has reduced expenditure for purchase of office block for an embassy in London by a third to Sh670 million from Sh1 billion approved last June.

Purchase of the chancery in London is part of a gradual shift by the Foreign Affairs ministry from renting property for Kenya’s foreign missions to ownership in a bid to cut the cost of rent estimated at Sh3 billion a year.

Deplorable state

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau told lawmakers in a past engagement that most of the government-owned properties in missions abroad are old, having been acquired in the early years of Kenya’s independence.

Audit reports have cited embassies in London, Washington, New York (UN), Canada, Russia, Australia, Geneva, Japan, China, South Korea, and the Los Angeles consulate to be in a deplorable state and in dire need of an uplift.

The bad state of some of the missions has forced Kenya to lease space to accommodate the diplomatic officials.

The proposed downward review shows the budget for upgrading and renovation of the ambassador’s residence in London has also been reduced by half to Sh20 million.

Expenditure for the renovation of Kenya’s property in Ethiopia has also been cut by Sh5.18 million to Sh29.82 million, while that for Lusaka and Kinshasa have been slashed by half each to Sh5 million.

Frosty relationship

The budget for construction of the office block in Mogadishu — which has had a frosty relationship with Nairobi because of a long-standing maritime territorial dispute — has also been halved to Sh14.82 million.

The Treasury has, however, increased the budget for renovating Kenya’s properties in New York by Sh30 million to Sh200 million in estimates waiting MPs nod.

Mr Kamau had in 2020 told Parliament that the plan to acquire new properties for foreign missions will be spread over years, explaining that the shift will cut the country’s annual rental costs.

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Zambia

Namadingo breaks silence on his love life

Pain as cost of ugali on the rise

Related

Cooking oil prices could rise further

Prices of maize flour, cooking oil to increase

Fidelity hires external lawyers over Langford Estates wrangle

Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe cedes 76,4% stake

ACT Wazalendo advises govt to reduce commercial borrowing

Switch to gas to slash fuel bill, government urged

SA: Three Zimbabwean nationals busted with explosives

British TV Series Features Bermuda Character

Uganda protests ICJ order to pay DRC $325m in war reparations

Kenya embassy budget cuts hit London hardest

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