Author: Roy Mulenga

African mining has never had a downtime problem in theory. On paper, the fleet is scheduled, maintenance is planned, parts are stocked, and production targets are “manageable.” On the ground, reality is Different. A single haul truck breakdown can choke an entire pit. A late service crew can trigger a domino effect across shifts. A missing sensor, a faulty hydraulic line, or one operator error can turn an expensive machine into a stationary asset that still burns money. Automation as an Uptime Tool That’s why automated equipment is starting to matter, not as a futuristic flex, but as a practical…

Small firms don’t need a massive IT budget to take cybersecurity seriously. In fact, many of the attacks that hit small businesses succeed because of simple Human Error, weak passwords, outdated software, careless email habits, and unsecured devices. The good news is that strengthening digital defences often starts with discipline, not expensive tools. A smart first step is tightening access control. Many small teams share logins or keep the same password for months because it feels convenient. That convenience comes at a cost. Each employee should have their own account for email, cloud storage, and business systems. Strong passwords should…

Apple is preparing a redesigned Siri for release later this year. The assistant will run on Google’s Gemini models under a new multi-year agreement. The move gives Apple access to a proven AI system at scale. It also gives Google a stronger presence inside Apple’s ecosystem, where Siri remains a key tool for daily tasks. Google said Apple selected its AI technology after internal evaluation. The company believes Gemini offers the strongest foundation for Apple’s foundation-model work. Google also indicated Gemini will support more than Siri. Its models are expected to power additional Apple Intelligence features in future releases. How…

As the global electric vehicle (EV) race accelerates toward full charge, Electric vehicles and grid-scale storage are driving sustained demand for lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese and graphite. This demand is altering the balance of power along battery supply chains, concentrating profits and technical capability in processing and manufacturing rather than in extraction alone. For mineral-producing economies, continued reliance on raw exports sets a firm limit on industrial development. For decades, the dominant model has been simple export raw ore or concentrate, import finished products. While this approach delivers foreign exchange, it captures only a fraction of the economic potential embedded…

For many small businesses in Africa, the core challenge is not market access or entrepreneurial capacity but operating within a regulatory environment that is repeatedly revised, unevenly enforced, or poorly communicated. Taxes, permits, trade rules, and compliance obligations can change with little notice, turning long-term planning into a speculative exercise. Growth decisions whether to expand capacity, invest in equipment, or hire staff are made under conditions that favour restraint over ambition. Policy uncertainty functions as a silent drag on enterprise development. Time and capital that should be directed toward improving productivity or entering new markets are instead absorbed by managing…

When a project like Africa’s biggest and greenest smelters like Kamoa-Kakula, in the DRC, comes online, it is hard to ignore the fact that it does not incorporate Peirce-Smith (PSC) converters. This raises a bigger question: are modern smelters entering a phase where PSC-based designs are no longer the default? The short answer is no, but the longer and more honest answer is that PSCs are clearly losing their place in new, world class copper smelting and mineral beneficiation flowsheets. A proven technology facing change PSC converters have served the industry well for more than a century. They are robust,…

Agriculture and Farming in South Africa is often portrayed as traditional, male-dominated and difficult to access. This is especially true for women without land, capital or a farming background. For Kamohelo, this was not just a perception problem but a lived reality. Instead of allowing those barriers to define her place in the sector, she chose to challenge them. That decision led to the founding of Farming in Heels in 2021 an initiative built to empower young women in agriculture through mentorship, practical training and access to networks. What began as a response to Kamohelo’s own struggle to access farming…

Glencore Mining and Rio Tinto confirmed on January 9, 2026, that they are holding early-stage discussions on a potential merger. The companies are seeking scale in copper and other critical minerals to meet long-term energy-transition demand. A deal would create the world’s largest mining group with a combined market value of nearly US$207 billion and a dominant position in global copper supply. Anglo American–Teck merger advances toward completion Anglo American secured Canadian government approval for its proposed merger with Teck Resources. The transaction now awaits EU antitrust clearance, which analysts expect in the coming weeks. The merger would strengthen Anglo…

It is clear that in much of Africa’s mining industry, attention tends to focus on large operators, major projects and headline investment figures, often at the expense of SMEs. Less visible, but equally critical, is the ecosystem of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that support mining operations through transport, equipment maintenance, fabrication, catering, safety services and logistics. These businesses Strengthen local mining value chains and directly influence costs, efficiency and operational resilience. Despite their importance, many mining-linked SMEs remain constrained by limited access to basic digital tools and affordable finance a gap that is becoming harder to defend as supply…

Copper prices are sitting near historic highs, driven by electrification, grid upgrades and rising demand from electric vehicles and data infrastructure. For Africa’s copper giants, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the price rally sharpens attention on how much value their economies are actually able to retain when market conditions are favourable. In the short term, the benefits are visible. Export receipts rise, foreign currency becomes easier to access and fiscal pressure eases. For Zambia, this matters after years of debt strain and currency volatility. For the DRC, where production volumes are expanding rapidly, high prices amplify the effect…