Africa briefs

World Bank sees Uganda growth at 5.5% in year to June

Uganda's economy is expected to grow around 5.5% in the fiscal year ending in June and the pace of expansion could accelerate to 6% in the next 12 months boosted by good weather, the World Bank said on Tuesday. In a report, the Washington-based multilateral body said risks to the East African country's growth prospects in the coming years could come from greater regional instability and slow implementation of public infrastructure projects.

Uganda's central bank has said the country needs growth rates of at least 7% and above to be able to pay back its rapidly growing public debt load.

– Nampa/Reuters



Zimbabwe entrenches state TV monopoly with second broadcasting licence

Zimbabwe has given its second-ever television broadcasting licence to a state-owned newspaper group, entrenching the government's monopoly over the broadcast media ahead of elections expected in a few months.

Zimbabwe Newspapers, which runs some of the country's biggest newspapers and several radio stations, said on Wednesday it had been issued a TV licence by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ).

BAZ officials were not available to comment.

Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, which is also owned by the state, has been the sole broadcaster in the southern African nation since it gained independence from Britain in 1980.

– Nampa/Reuters



Tunisia's central bank holds key rate unchanged at 5.75%

Tunisia's central bank said on Wednesday it kept its key interest rate unchanged at 5.75%.

In March, the central bank raised the rate to 5.75% from 5% to tackle the inflation that had hit record levels. Annual inflation rose to 7.7% in April from 7.6% in March.

The international Monetary Fund said last month that anchoring inflation expectations through additional rate increases would be crucial if price pressures did not moderate quickly.

– Nampa/Reuters



As wells dry, Zambia regulates use of groundwater

Faced with longer droughts and growing water demand, the Zambian government has introduced fees on groundwater use.

Under a new executive order that came into effect in March, owners of domestic boreholes are for the first time required to pay a one-off fee of 250 kwacha (US$25) to have their well licensed.

There will be no monthly or annual fees for domestic water users, but those who consume more than 10 000 litres per day will be charged a commercial fee of 5 kwacha for each additional 30 cubic metres they extract, according to the government-run Water Resource Management Authority (WARMA).

– Nampa/Reuters