Currencies

[Nyasa Times] Local manufacturers should brace for tough times as smuggling of products from neighbouring countries is on the rise due to the porous borders. (AllAfrica)

[Thomson Reuters Foundation] The blockchain-based technology helps struggling families afford the essentials and avoid becoming victims of loan sharks (AllAfrica)

[Premium Times] Naira lost both at the import and export window, and the parallel market. (AllAfrica)

[Daily News] THE Tanzanian shilling started the week trading flat against the dollar with inflows from the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and multinationals cushioning the increased appetite for USD from SMEs and manufacturers that was seen from last week. (AllAfrica)

[Daily Maverick] There can be no doubting the phenomenal run enjoyed by Bitcoin and other crypto devotees over the past twelve months. (AllAfrica)

[Daily Maverick] Construction company WBHO caught between Canberra and the deep red sea (AllAfrica)

[Vanguard] Currency outside the banking system rose sharply by 55 percent to N2.3 trillion in 2020 from N1.46 trillion in 2015, as Nigerians had to spend more on goods and services in response to sharp naira depreciation within the past five years. (AllAfrica)

[Monitor] The gain in the US Dollar globally has seen the Uganda shilling depreciating by 0.3 per cent in the last three days. (AllAfrica)

[Vanguard] The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has indicated that the country's foreign exchange reserves at current level of about USD35 billion would cover seven months import needs of the economy. (AllAfrica)

[The Herald] Bulawayo Bureau (AllAfrica)

[Vanguard] On Monday Nigeria's first micro-investing platform, Trove, announced that it has added cryptocurrencies to its platform. This means Trove users will be able to buy and sell major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Tron, and Dash directly via the Trove app, in addition to its existing local and foreign stocks, ETFs, and bonds already on the Trove platform. (AllAfrica)

[The Herald] Zimbabwe's money markets could continue to under-perform going forward as authorities keep a tight leash on interest rates. (AllAfrica)

[FrontPageAfrica] Monrovia -- While the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) says the current liquidity crisis the country is faced with is as a result of inadequate supply of Liberian dollars banknotes, hence the need to print more banknotes, the Minister of Finance and Development Planning says printing of additional banknotes would not resolve the crisis. (AllAfrica)

[New Zimbabwe] LABOUR Minister Paul Mavima has criticised unions for pulling out of a dialogue process following a deadlock over demands by workers to be awarded US dollar-based wages. (AllAfrica)

[ANGOP] Luanda -- The new AKz 5000 banknote with 2020 series will be available from January, a source from National Bank of Angola (BNA) has told Angop. (AllAfrica)

[ANGOP] Luanda -- Angola's net foreign Exchange Reserves stood at USD 8.140 billion until 23 December, which is sufficient to cover 10 months of import. (AllAfrica)

[Nation] The Sierra Leone government has lifted a year-long restriction on foreign currency transactions. (AllAfrica)

[Daily Trust] The perennial constitution amendment exercise by the National Assembly is characterised by proposals that keep resurfacing despite gulping billions of naira yearly, a Daily Trust analysis has shown. (AllAfrica)

[This Day] The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has emphasised the importance of efficient and effective public service to Nigeria's economic prosperity. (AllAfrica)

[FrontPageAfrica] Monrovia -- The House of Representatives has reconsidered its decision and summoned top management of the Central Bank of Liberia to appear before its full plenary to address the current flow of mutilated banknotes on the Liberian market despite infusing L$4 billion banknotes of newly printed banknotes. (AllAfrica)

[Ethiopian Herald] With a bid to curb and control contraband and corruption and desert support for illegal activities and illicit money trafficking, the government has introduced a new currency note to the economy. The government has unveiled a set of new banknotes as a part of its efforts to curb cash hoarding, illegal trade activities, and illicit financial flows in an already struggling economy. (AllAfrica)

[New Zimbabwe] Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general, Raymond Majongwe has accused the government of being scandalous to its response to the plight of teachers. (AllAfrica)

[Ethiopian Herald] ADDIS ABABA_ The Ethiopian Diaspora Agency said it is working to tackle illicit currency transfer that may arise following the recent change in banknotes. (AllAfrica)

[The Herald] Foreign currency allotments leapt almost 50 percent in yesterday's auction to more than US$31,6 million, smashing spectacularly a record set just a week ago, and with around two thirds of those allotments going on raw materials, machinery and equipment. (AllAfrica)

[Ethiopian Herald] Governments, particularly in the least developing countries, take a step and demonetize their currencies for several economic and political reasons. Demonetization is an act of denying old banknotes of their legal tender status. Demonetizing process is then followed by introducing new banknotes as a replacement for the old ones. In short, demonetization is a process of wiping out old currency by introducing a new one. (AllAfrica)

[New Zimbabwe] Torn, dirty or damaged United States dollar notes remain valid for all transactions and can be exchanged as legal tender, the US embassy has said. (AllAfrica)

[The Herald] Conrad MupSesa Mashonaland West Bureau (AllAfrica)

[The Herald] BADLY damaged, dirty or even torn United States dollar notes remain valid for all transactions and can be exchanged as legal tender. (AllAfrica)

[New Zimbabwe] BAT Zimbabwe recorded a loss amounting to $116.4 million prompted by the devaluation of the local currency against the US dollar amid a sales volume decline attributed to lack of disposable incomes and the Covid-19 lockdown impact. (AllAfrica)

[263Chat] The re-opening of schools has been thrown into disarray after the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) declared its members incapacitated to report for duty. (AllAfrica)

[Vanguard] Amidst sustained pressures on Nigeria's official foreign exchange (forex) resources, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has opened investigations into foreign exchange transactions of 55 companies and individuals. (AllAfrica)