Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
roman grynberglatest news & developments
Bargains galore: A customer at a jewellery store in Xijiao market

Pearls of wisdom hide ugly truths

A study of pink plastic pearls shows that Africa will have to make big sacrifices if its children are to be employed

Japan sells Africa its second-hand cars rather than recycling them.

The curse of cars going cheap

Africans are snapping up cheap, second-hand cars but the Southern African region pays dearly for this.

Flaws: Botswana earns more revenue from the customs union than from diamonds.

Customs union inhibits development

South Africa’s neighbours are dependent on the union’s short-sighted revenue-sharing formula.

Greece has been making headlines

The IMF loves, but labour’s still lost

An unusual internal report links shrinking union power to growing inequality – but don’t be fooled.

Fishing in Lake Ngami will become unsustainable if it is not adequately monitored and policed.

Reel in Botswana’s wild west

Fishing licences for locals and the influx of traders from Zambia and the DRC should be controlled, writes Roman Grynberg.

The diamond cutting industry in Southern Africa needs to be nurtured if it is to compete with India.

Africa’s diamantaires in the rough

Low productivity and the concomitant costs are harming the local beneficiation industry.

About half the world’s rough diamonds

Diamond trade bleeds the poor

Corruption in the chain artificially raises prices, plumping the pockets of the already rich.

An SABMiller truck prepares to load beer for a Botswana delivery.

Sweet taste of success for beer exporter

With government help, a Namibian brewery is leaving its Botswana competitor thirsty.

IMF head Christine Lagarde.

IMF: The making of inequality

What is truly scary about the IMF’s income distribution figures, is that Botswana now has a more unequal distribution of income than South Africa.

The opening up of Indian retail trade to competition from foreign vendors is unpopular with its ­millions of mom-and-pop stores that face closure.

Indian liberalisation worth buying

Two weeks ago Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took a political gamble in opening the country’s retail sector to international competition.

Iron ore find rekindles railway need

If the high-grade deposit in Botswana is verified, the trans-Kalahari rail link could become a reality, writes Roman Grynberg.

President Paul Kagame has ensured that Rwanda is an easy place to do business.

A question of business cost

According to the 2012-2013 report, the world’s most competitive country is, believe it or not, Switzerland. Huh, you shrug, Switzerland?

Shipping coal from Botswana to South Africa to generate energy does not make financial sense.

SA plays power games with coal

President Jacob Zuma signed a bilateral energy agreement with Botswana President Ian Khama on August 31 to buy coal from that country.

Agriculture in the country is experiencing a recovery season for its grain and oilseed production, although some areas may have quality problems

Grain price squeezes Botswana

Not a soul who goes to the supermarket will have failed to notice the rapid rate of price increases of almost all foods in the past 18 months.

Processing factories such as this one in Gaborone will add value to the diamond industry if they can lower costs.

Botswana polishes its prospects

Botswana, the world’s largest diamond producer by value, is now doing with its diamond mining industry what SA failed to achieve for a century.

Chinese construction companies are active in Angola’s capital

China offers to export jobs to Africa

It is no secret that China plans to shift labour-and energy-intensive industries offshore.

South Africa’s coal exports have shot up since wage negotiations in the sector have raised the demand for the mineral. (Supplied)

A railroad to economic freedom

The decision to deliver coal deposits to either the Indian or Atlantic ocean has international implications, writes Roman Grynberg.

As Botswana’s first vice-president and finance minister (1966-80), Ketumile Masire helped rescue Botswana from the category of the third most impoverished nation in the world. File photo

Botswana is open for business

Lowering taxes for new miners may not be enough to counter the lack of infrastructure, writes Roman Grynberg.

South Africa secured a good beef export deal with the EU

Botswana’s beef with the EU

Declining subsidies and increasing restrictions are forcing the country to think the unthinkable, writes Roman Grynberg.

Brazilian businessman Eike Batista.

Rich inherit Earth’s wealth

Despite a backlash by host countries to retain mining income, a few gazillionaires are cashing in.