Malawi won’t sign a trade deal with the European Union until the union helps the southern African country bring production standards to European companies’ level, Trade Minister Eunice Kazembe said.Malawi, which has unreliable public utilities and poor technology standards, stands to lose should it sign the so- called economic partnership agreements as it would be forced to trade with the EU on zero-tax terms, Kazembe told reporters yesterday in the commercial capital, Blantyre. Read more.

Africa needs more effective, efficient and fairer taxation systems. As several African nations celebrate 50 years of independence in 2010, it is time for a continent that still relies too much on often volatile and unpredictable external flows to take a new look at taxes - a potential untapped source of billions of dollars. While the primary responsibility lies with African governments, the international community must also play its part. And this time, it’s hardly about aid. Read this opinion piece by Henri-Bernard Solignac Lecomte, the Head of Unit, Africa, Europe & Middle East, OECD Development Centre.

The African Development Bank will establish a new country office in Zimbabwe to strengthen its presence in the country. The  decision is in response to the Zimbabwean government’s February 2009 request to the bank “to take a lead role in assisting Zimbabwe on re-engagement with the international community,” according to an AfDB press release. “As the premier African multilateral development institution, the Bank is well placed to take up this challenge, as well as provide knowledge and advisory services necessary for economic recovery and sustained development,” the press release adds. Since March 2009, the bank has sent a mission to Harare to facilitate dialogue between the government and international bodies. The mission also coordinates AfDB’s capacity-building support from the Fragile States Facility and the African Water Facility.