South Africa’s metalworkers union has declared negotiations with the automotive sector at an impasse after employers offered wage increases the labor group deemed insufficient. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa rejected a three-year proposal calling for a 6.5 percent raise in year one, followed by 5 percent increases in subsequent years. Disputes over…

Old Mutual may finance a solar power project for Cotton Company of Zimbabwe to resolve electricity shortages at its Muzarabani ginnery facility. The insurance company’s representatives visited the site and expressed satisfaction with the location, according to Cottco Chief Executive Officer Rockie Mutenha. Power supply problems have contributed to the decline of cotton lint exports…

Zimbabwe aims to rebuild its textile sector through a new Cotton-to-Clothing Strategy after the industry lost more than 80 percent of its workforce due to cheap imports. The sector once employed over 30,000 people but has declined to roughly 5,000 workers as inflation and exchange rate problems forced consumers toward inexpensive foreign goods. Industry and…

The United States government said Zimbabwe’s employment regulations prevent companies from reducing their workforce when the economy weakens. A recent investment assessment from Washington highlighted restrictions that prevent businesses from terminating contracts or reducing staff numbers in response to financial pressures. Labor Minister Edgar Moyo announced in September that authorities would investigate companies conducting layoffs…

The government holds property worth 47.4 billion Namibian dollars across roughly 9,640 locations, the transport and public works minister told lawmakers. Veikko Nekundi described the asset inventory as a document that changes regularly as authorities buy and sell buildings in line with service requirements. The centralized tracking system monitors categories that range from land parcels…

Namibia will likely exit an international financial watchdog’s monitoring program by May 2026 after resolving most issues with its systems for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing. The country addressed 11 of 13 concerns raised by the Financial Action Task Force since officials added the southern African nation to a watch list in February 2024….

A Namibian automotive retailer began selling Indian-manufactured vehicles this month after obtaining distribution rights for the southern African market. Pupkewitz Motors selected Tata products based on affordability and safety certifications that meet European standards, according to managing director Anton Westraadt. The company evaluates market gaps before adding brands to its portfolio rather than expanding without…

A Qatari lender became the first financial institution in the country to offer simplified online payment processing through a partnership with a card network. Qatar Islamic Bank customers who hold Mastercard accounts can register their payment information once and complete future purchases without reentering their card numbers. The system uses biometric verification instead of passwords…

A Jordanian truck dealer adopted caller identification software to show company details when contacting clients. Integrated Automotive will use Truecaller tools to display the business name in Arabic, a logo, and a verification symbol before customers answer their phones. The system also explains why representatives are calling. The partnership addresses the demand for clearer communication…

A telecommunications company in the United Arab Emirates reported profits of 8.8 billion dirhams for the first six months of 2025, a jump of more than 60 percent from the previous year. The firm known as e& brought in revenue of 34.9 billion dirhams between January and June, which represents a 23 percent increase from…