Africa

Thirty years on, futurologists’ predictions about working in a paperless office are far from reality; but as Jeff Daniels learns, it’s not for the want of trying.

Swaziland is a peaceful but poor country, battling against great problems—but there are some bright spots, as Jeff Daniel discovers.

Swaziland is one of those African countries you never hear about, largely because since being dragged into the Boer War between South Africa and Britain 100 years ago, the country has existed peacefully under its odd mix of democratic monarchy.

Coal has a much bigger role to play in South Africa’s future than simply meeting the country’s energy requirements. Selim Kaymak, executive director of Sumo Coal, talks to Jayne Flannery.

Coal is fundamental to the South African economy. It is the main energy source for domestic use and a rapidly growing export revenue stream in response to demand from energy hungry nations like India and China, as well as South Africa’s neighbours in the region.

Prince Chintimbwe talks to Gay Sutton about the National Airports Corporation Limited of Zambia’s strategy to upgrade, expand and improve the nation’s four most important airports and create a gateway to the country that will leave a lasting impression.

The achievements of the Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA) over the past decade have transformed Port Louis Harbour into a world class shipping facility. Jayne Alverca reports.

As April draws to a close, the world’s major oil companies are coming out with their first quarter results for 2011, with ConocoPhillips, BP, EXXON and Shell all reporting this week.

Reporting yesterday, the third largest US oil company ConocoPhillips reported a 43 per cent year-on-year rise in quarterly earnings to $3 billion, but said it was disappointed not to have achieved its production and refining targets.

Toronto-based Barrick Gold, the world’s largest gold miner, is building up its copper portfolio with an agreement to acquire copper producer Equinox Minerals.

Equinox has two primary assets, the Lumwana mine in Zambia (100 per cent owned) and the Jabal Sayid development project in Saudi Arabia (70 per cent owned, but Equinox is in the process of acquiring the remaining 30 per cent).

Anyone involved with computer networks will know that linking the various elements together doesn’t come easily; but Jeff Daniel looks at one organisation that makes it seem that way.

Study the progress of Dimension Data since its inception—which has been nothing short of meteoric—and you’ll see that it involves three parallel strands.

Jeff Daniels looks at one of Zimbabwe’s most successful companies operating in one of the country’s most important sectors.