Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

Lillian Barnard, who has served as President of Microsoft Africa and acting Managing Director of Microsoft South Africa, is stepping down from both positions to take on a new regional leadership role. Microsoft has appointed her as the Chief of Enterprise Partner Solutions for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, marking a significant…

Sahel Capital, a prominent investment management firm specializing in food and agriculture across sub-Saharan Africa, has successfully closed a $1 million loan facility with Camino Ruiz, a Kenyan-based company engaged in fish processing and distribution. The financing was extended through Sahel Capital’s Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (SEFAA),…

Blue Label Telecoms has announced a proposed name change to Blu Label Unlimited, signaling a pivotal shift in its corporate identity and strategic direction. The company formally notified shareholders of this proposal on Friday, 11 July 2025, and will seek their approval at a general meeting scheduled for 11 August 2025. This proposed…

Verdant Capital is proud to announce the successful completion of a USD 3 million investment loan through its Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund into Bfree, a pioneering ethical digital credit collection company operating across Africa. This strategic investment will be used to finance the acquisition of distressed loan portfolios from inclusive financial institutions across the continent—an area that…

In a bold and unexpected move, South African pay-TV giant MultiChoice has entered the mobile gaming space, launching its first-ever game, Shaka iLembe: Match Challenge. The game is inspired by the popular South African television series Shaka iLembe, and marks the company’s first step into interactive entertainment. The launch comes at a critical time…

Standard Bank has successfully reached financial close on Phase 2 of the Overberg Wind Farm, a landmark 158MW renewable energy project that is poised to become South Africa’s largest commercial wind farm with multiple off-takers. This milestone marks a significant advancement in the country’s transition toward cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. Located…

Thinkroom, in collaboration with The Oracle Group, has announced the launch of the Oracle Innovate Lab, a dynamic new initiative designed to accelerate the growth of early- and growth-stage entrepreneurs in Eswatini. This founder-centric programme is designed to equip local business leaders with the tools, mentorship, and strategic guidance needed to…

LemFi, a fast-growing fintech startup specializing in international payments, has officially launched its services in Egypt, marking a significant step in its mission to provide affordable and reliable cross-border financial solutions. With an already strong footprint in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and across Europe, this expansion further…

Ride-hailing company Bolt has announced a significant reduction in offline trips — rides conducted outside the app’s full oversight — with a 42% decline recorded over the past three months. This development was shared during a Public Safety Summit hosted by the company in Lagos, Nigeria, where Bolt also highlighted a sharp increase in the…

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has increased its equity stake in Telkom, effectively restoring the South African government’s majority control over the telecommunications company. This development marks a significant reversal, less than a year after the state relinquished its controlling interest. In a shareholder notice issued on Thursday, 10 July, Telkom confirmed a change…

Phatisa’s Food Fund 2 has finalized the sale of its stake in Deltamune, a South African-based vaccine manufacturer specializing in animal health, to Vaxxinova International, a global player in the animal health sector and a subsidiary of the Germany-based EW Group. While the financial terms of the transaction remain undisclosed, the deal marks a…

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Proparco, the private sector financing arm of the French Development Agency (AFD), have jointly announced an equity investment of up to $50 million in Helios Sports and Entertainment Group (HSEG)—a dedicated investment platform focused on the growth of Africa’s sports, media, and entertainment sectors. This strategic investment aims to accelerate…

Kenyan subscribers to DStv will face higher monthly bills starting August 1, as MultiChoice Kenya implements another round of price increases, continuing a trend that has seen regular hikes over the past five years. The new pricing structure will see subscription fees rise by 4% to 7% across all residential packages. The Premium package, DStv’s top-tier…

The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST), a pioneer in tech entrepreneurship education and startup acceleration across Africa, has officially opened applications for its newly reimagined MEST AI Startup Programme. This initiative marks a bold step forward in equipping African tech talent to lead in the rapidly evolving field of artificial…

The Switzerland-based SECO Startup Fund (SSF), a long-standing initiative aimed at supporting entrepreneurship in developing regions, is entering a new chapter. Now co-managed by Seedstars, the fund is preparing to deploy CHF 5 million (approximately US$6.3 million) into high-potential startups across emerging economies, including Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern…

Roqqu, a Nigerian cryptocurrency exchange, has announced the acquisition of Flitaa, a Kenya-based crypto startup, marking a significant step in its strategic expansion into East Africa. This acquisition provides Roqqu with immediate access to Kenya’s growing fintech ecosystem and represents its first operational footprint in the region. Founded in 2019, Flitaa has built…

Leta, a fast-growing Kenyan startup specializing in logistics software, has officially launched operations in Ghana, marking its seventh market expansion across Africa. This milestone follows a successful $5 million seed funding round in March 2025, underscoring the company’s ambition to become a leading logistics technology provider on the continent. Founded…

Development Partners International (DPI), a premier pan-African investment firm, together with a consortium of its co-investors, has entered into a definitive agreement to invest $190 million in Alameda Healthcare Group, one of Egypt’s foremost private healthcare providers. The investment will be structured as a minority equity stake and will primarily…

Global investment firm Carlyle has entered into a definitive agreement to divest its portfolio company, Safety SA, to Centre Testing International (CTI), a leading global provider of testing, inspection, certification, and training (TICT) services. The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. The transaction is expected to be…

In a significant regulatory reversal, South Africa’s Competition Tribunal has conditionally approved Vodacom’s R13.2 billion acquisition of a minority stake in Maziv, the parent company of Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) and Vumatel. The deal, previously blocked in 2024 due to competition concerns, will now proceed under a stringent set of behavioural and investment-related conditions designed to safeguard market…