Andrew Stegmann
,

Relocation Africa Uganda Immigration Interview With Tinah Namatovu

Lynn Mackenzie, our Immigration Lead, recently had the privilege of interviewing Tinah Namatovu, from Expat Assist, about Uganda’s immigration landscape.

To listen to Lynn and Tinah’s conversation about immigration in the current context, click here to view the recording, or view it below.

Tinah’s bio

Tinah Namatovu is the Operations Director at Expat Assisst. She has a Bachelor of Administration, and many years of experience in the immigration industry.

We would like to say a huge thank you to Tinah for her insights. We hope you enjoy the recording.

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann
,

Mozambique: Tripartite Electronic Visa Agreement Signed in Maputo

Lynn Mackenzie, J.D., LLM
Courtesy of Adrian Frey, Club Mozambique

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed, Monday July 20th, 2020 between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Land, Environment and the Interior. The agreement defined principles of cooperation and coordination in the development and testing of a pilot electronic visa system (e-Visa) in Mozambique.

This MOZBIO2 project envisions the Ministry of the Interior via National Migration Service, being responsible for the administration, management and inspection of migration at national borders, including conferring legality on the stay of foreign citizens in accordance with Law No. 4/2014, of February 5th. Furthermore, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s National Institute of Tourism will be responsible for implementing marketing programmes for tourist destinations promoting training in the hotel and tourism sector, the classification of tourist establishments and investment promotion. Moreover, the Ministry of Land and Environment’s National Conservation Areas Administration (ANAC) will promote conservation areas, with the focus on nature-based tourism.

The content of this article is provided for general information purposes. The provision of this article does not constitute legal advice or opinion of any kind; no advisory or fiduciary relationship is created between Relocation Africa and any other person accessing or using this article. Relocation Africa will not be liable for any damages or loss arising from using any part of this article.

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann
,

Ecobank Group Named Africa’s Best Bank for Corporate Responsibility by Euromoney

Euromoney recognises Ecobank’s focus on sustainability and partnerships and its core capabilities in delivering positive social and environmental outcomes across Africa.

The leading pan-African banking group, Ecobank, has won the coveted prize of Africa’s Best Bank for Corporate Responsibility in the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2020. Euromoney recognises Ecobank’s focus on sustainability and partnerships and its core capabilities in delivering positive social and environmental outcomes across Africa.

Carl Manlan, Chief Operating Officer of the Ecobank Foundation said: “At Ecobank we leverage human capabilities and other core resources to partner for African transformation. We are passionate about co-designing partnerships to drive change at community levels across our pan-African footprint. The Euromoney Award for Excellence recognises our collaboration with African communities and like-minded partners.”

The Ecobank Foundation is doing amazing work in delivering on its commitment to improve the quality of life of people across the African continent. The Foundation should be rightly proud of its ceaseless impact and the real difference that it is making in numerous parts of the continent. Through the Foundation, our Group leverages its resources and capabilities to contribute to the economic and social development of Africa.

Ade Ayeyemi, CEO of Ecobank Group

Ecobank’s Corporate Responsibility primarily concentrates on the three key areas of health, education and financial inclusion. Recent partnership examples:

  • Ecobank’s three-year campaign to raise awareness of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and educate communities by providing key information about the dietary and lifestyle changes required to help prevent NCDs such as cancer and diabetes. Ecobank Day is our volunteer community day targeted at helping the vulnerable sectors in our local communities.
  • Ecobank’s Group Chairman Sustainability Award which emphasises our role in each country in designing innovative, replicable and scalable solutions driving sustainable environmental and social change. Ecobank Togo is the 2020 winner for its support for Government efforts to provide electricity to 300,000 rural households and businesses through solar energy kits.
  • African economies’ health recovery is vital and Ecobank contributed about US$3 million in the form of cash, healthcare equipment and medical supplies. Moreover, Ecobank deployed its financial capabilities for the African Union’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to enable every citizen and member of the diaspora to contribute to the pan-African Covid-19 response.
  • Earlier this month, Ecobank rolled out its ‘Zero Malaria Business Leadership initiative.’ Launched in partnership with Speak Up Africa, it aims to eliminate malaria across Africa through private sector led initiatives which increase financing and take stronger and better-targeted actions to support national malaria control programmes. 

South African corporation Standard Bank won the award for Africa’s Best Investment Bank 2020.

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann
,

South African Health Minister’s Plea: Social Distance and Wear Your Masks. South Africans Get Lazy as COVID-19 Cases Continue to Skyrocket

Health Minister’s plea to South Africans

Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has delivered an ‘urgent and important’ plea to all South Africans around the country’s flagging response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As Government, we have mobilized every resource, every faculty and wherewithal at our disposal to effect the necessary interventions. But government cannot manage this unilaterally.

“Every single South African now needs to focus on adhering to recommendations pertaining to non-pharmaceutical interventions,” he said.

“We are extremely concerned that fatigue seems to have set in and South Africans are letting down their guard at a time when the spread of infection is surging. We see poor or no social distancing in communities.

“Masks are being abandoned or not worn properly and there is laxity setting in around frequent hand-washing.”

The minister said that this will directly influence the rise in numbers in the next two weeks. “We must all appreciate that there is a direct causal link between the surge of cases and our ability, or inability, to ad- here to these very basic principles.

“We do not have a vaccine. We do not have a cure. Our ability to break the cycle of infection depends on our willingness to remain focused and disciplined and take non-pharmaceutical interventions seriously.

“We can beat this pandemic together. We have already proved this during the lockdown,” he said.

“It remains in each and every citizen’s hands to admonish family members, colleagues, friends. who refuse to adhere to measures that protect lives by limiting the spread of this virus.”

Case numbers soar

South Africa is now ranked 5th in the world for the most COVID cases. You can view the Microsoft case number tracker here.

Before this article was originally published (July 20, 2020), the minister announced that there were a total of 350,879 cases of coronavirus in South Africa.

An update: as at July 31, 2020, cases in SA stand at 482,169.

Quarantine recommendations

Mkhize also published a new directive which details the self-isolation and quarantine criteria that should be followed for people returning to South Africa.

In the context of the regulations, these criteria are specific to people re-entering the country from abroad. However, they also provide clarity around what is expected of people who are self-isolating at home.

These criteria include the following:

  • A separate well-ventilated bedroom with a bathroom and toilet, or a residence that is not shared with persons who are not subject to quarantine;
  • Meals should be served in the room in disposable utensils or utensils that are separate and are washed properly if there are persons who are not subject to quarantine;
  • Support from friends or family that can facilitate the drop off of food and medicine at the gate if they are not able to make use of online shopping facilities and contactless deliveries;
  • A thermometer that will allow him or her to measure his or her temperature daily;
  • Access to the internet and a phone that allows the daily reporting of symptoms;
  • Access to a private physician that he or she can contact should he or she require medical advice or care; and
  • A contact number where he or she can be reached during the period of self – quarantine or self -isolation.

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].