Page 16 - Forbes - Africa (March 2020)

FORBES AFRICA
WHAT’S NEW • WHO’S NEXT

UGANDA BREAKS
IN NUMBERS WORLD RECORD AGAIN

• Africa’s economic growth remained stable in 2019 at Uganda's world 10,000m champion Joshua
3.4% and is on course to pick up to 3.9% in 2020 and Cheptegei has broken the 5km road world record
4.1% in 2021, the African Development Bank’s 2020 by 27 seconds in Monaco.
African Economic Outlook revealed late January. According to BBC News Africa, the
23-year-old ran 12 minutes 51 seconds
• In the 2020 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics to smash the previous record, set by
Index, Nigeria rose eight spots to No. 35 and Ghana Kenya's Rhonex Kipruto en route to
dropped seven spots to No. 39. Each nation in the victory at January's Valencia 10km.
region moves in this year’s Index, Agility’s 11th annual "I had sub-13 minutes in my mind
ranking of 50 leading emerging markets. South Africa so when my legs felt good I decided to
at No. 23 (up one spot from 2019) is the highest really go for it," said Cheptegei.
performing market in sub-Saharan Africa, along In December, Cheptegei ran 26:38 to
with Kenya (29, up two places), Tanzania (37, up one break the 10km road world record, which had
spot), Ethiopia (43, down two spots), Uganda (42, up stood for almost 10 years.
three places), Mozambique (48, down one spot) and But in January that mark was beaten by Kipruto
one spot) and
But in January that mark was beaten by Kipruto.
Angola (46, up three spots).

ANGLOGOLD SELLS WORLD’S

DEEPEST GOLD MINE
Global mining giant, AngloGold Ashanti
announced last month it will be selling
its remaining assets to Harmony Gold for
$300 million.
This will make Harmony Gold the
largest gold producer in South Africa.
According to Reuters, AngloGold said
the deal is part of its plan to shrink its
portfolio and focus on assets with higher
returns.
They want to shift their primary listing
to London or Toronto, included selling
Mponeng mine, the world’s deepest gold
mine.
Harmony, which also has operations
in Papua New Guinea, said acquiring
AngloGold’s assets provided a strategic,
financial, operational and geographical fit.
“The acquisition has the potential to OLYMPIAN LUOL DENG FOR
improve our overall recovered grade
and increasing our cash flow margins,” AFRICAN BASKETBALL
Harmony Chief Executive Peter The Basketball Africa League (BAL) has named two-time NBA All-Star
Steenkamp said. and 2012 Olympian Luol Deng as BAL Global Ambassador. Following Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images; Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images for IAAF; Images via Getty
He added that it would increase annual his retirement from an NBA career that spanned 15 years, Deng will
gold production by around 350,000 help grow the BAL’s profile throughout Africa and around the world,
ounces a year. while inspiring African youth through basketball. Deng’s basketball
journey includes a 15-year NBA career, two All-Star selections and
participation in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Born in Wau, South Sudan, Deng was selected with the 7th overall
pick by the Phoenix Suns in the 2004 NBA Draft and was subsequently
traded to the Chicago Bulls where he played from 2004-2014. He
also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers (2014), Miami Heat (2014-16),
Los Angeles Lakers (2016-18) and Minnesota Timberwolves (2018-19),
before signing a one-day contract with the Chicago Bulls to retire as a
Bull ahead of the 2019-20 NBA Season.

– Compiled by Karen Mwendera

14 | FORBES AFRICA MARCH 2020 FORBESAFRICA.COM