Number of days it takes to register a property in various African countries

This graph above is based on data extracted from the World Bank Doing Business Survey (2011). It is a indication of the level of efficiency of the housing market in the respective countries. The longer it takes to get a title deed (to register a property), also has a significant bearing on the cost of building. With the high urbanisation rates and housing backlogs in countries in Africa, there is a need to better manage these efficiency levels in order to increase the housing delivery rate, to make housing more affordable (by reducing the cost of the housing process), and for private sector to see housing as a profitable investment (as the efficency level is an indicator to measure the risk

Zimbabwe’s inflation rate history

Data gathered through the Zimbabwe Statistics Office (ZIMSTAT) and UN Habitat, detail the annualised Inflation rate history of Zimbabwe:

Year	Inflation Rate (%)
2001	112
2002	199
2003	599
2004	132
2005	586
2006	1,281
2007	66,212
2008	516,000,000,000,000,000,000
Jan-09	3.30
Dec-09	(7.70)
Jan-10	(4.80)
Jun-10	5.30
Dec-10	3.20
Mar-11	2.70

Interesting and funny isn’t it?

As it can be seen in 2009, the country began experiencing a decline in Inflation – this can be credited to the multi currency system introduced by the country’s central bank in that year. The Minister of Finance has indicated that it will maintain the multi-currency system in the medium term to 2012.

Thanks to Junah Mpofu and FinMark Trust for the data

The ugly face of drought in Kenya

This is a UNICEF short film by Rob McBride, documenting the ongoing crisis in Tarkuna, in the North West Region of Kenya, as a result of the ongoing drought.

Zambia Reclassified as a Middle Income Country (AllAfrica)

Zambia has attained the status of the lower middle-income country, a development seen as a booster to economic development by many citizens, economic experts alike. Some people could be wondering as to what is behind all this sudden income growth but it should be noted however that these positives have come about owing to the pragmatic economic policies the MMD Government has continued to implement through the various development plans that include the Vision 2030.

Since independence in 1964, the country has prepared and implemented several medium term national development plans which carried a theme and strategic focus primarily aimed at improving the social economic conditions of the people.

Read more on the AllAfrica page