Africa

When a product idea has been around for over 100 years it must be doing something right; but as Alan Swaby learns, even the best ideas often need a second chance.

How many ‘novelty’ products have you owned over the years that are still in daily use? The answer, almost certainly, is frighteningly few. Gadgets that seem to offer an attractive alternative to store-bought products all too often find their way into the garage rather than claiming a permanent place in the kitchen.

Gary Whalley, chief operating officer of Babcock Ntuthuko Powerlines, says that the company’s long track record of engineering excellence means it is now ideally positioned to expand its footprint across Southern Africa. Jayne Alverca reports.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has announced its intention to sell its shareholding in South Africa’s Palabora Mining.

Rio Tinto currently holds a 57.7 per cent share in Palabora, whose primary asset is a copper mine in the Ba-Phalaborwa area of Limpopo, South Africa.

The mine has a current mine life until early 2016, and studies are underway for a potential extension to 2030.

Pan African Shopfitters set up its own shop a long time ago and today, the retailers of Africa and beyond depend on it to turn their brand identity into reality on the street.

Now under the management of the third generation of the Blumenthal family, Pan African Shopfitters is nothing if not a dynastic enterprise, with all the advantages that entails. It is close knit, with shared values and policies; and it is agile—decisions about strategy, policy and investment can be made very quickly.

Alan Swaby talks to one Zimbabwean business gradually regaining its feet and trying to make sense out of the chaos of the recent past.

Alan Swaby talks to an inspirational business leader in Kenya who has taken on the might of the land and by force of will, won.

To fight Goliath, David needs to be either very brave, completely reckless or not completely understand what he’s letting himself in for. Tabitha Karanja, CEO and founder of Keroche Breweries in Kenya, fits into the last category. She freely admits that if she had known what she would have to face in getting the business to where it is today, she probably would have never embarked upon the journey.

For South African flooring company, Floorworx, the main challenge is how to maintain its leading position in Southern Africa. Managing director Dr Donald Platt tells Gay Sutton about the importance of quality, innovation and raising industry skills levels.

Bull Brand is the largest company in JSE-listed KAP International’s consumer division. It has its niche in South Africa’s canned meat market but does not intend to rest on its laurels.

Tullow Oil has announced that a long-awaited deal in Uganda is to be completed next month.

The news, which sent the company’s shares rocketing yesterday, was made as the company released its results for the first half of 2011.

Tullow has been waiting since last year to finalise a deal that will bring in new partners, France's Total and China's CNOOC, to commence a €7 billion oil development project in Uganda. The company now expects to complete the deal in September, at which time it will receive approximately €2 billion from the two companies.

Namibian power utility NamPower is working hard to overcome the challenges presented by securing the country’s energy supply.

NamPower’s major investment projects are among some of the largest ever carried out in Namibia and serve as the backbone of dynamic growth and diversification. As Namibia’s national power utility, NamPower was established in 1964 with the ambitious vision of powering Namibia to new commercial heights.