AFRICA WILDLIFE SUMMIT GATHERS IN ZIMBABWE

HEADS of state, business leaders, technical experts, and community representatives gathered in Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls from yesterday until Tuesday for the Africa Wildlife Economy Summit, which aims to radically change the way the continent’s nature-based economy is managed. Convened by the UN Environment Programme (Unep) and the AU and hosted by Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the summit will launch the African Wildlife Economy Initiative – a new, Africa-led vision of conservation that links the private sector with national authorities and local communities to design and finance conservationcompatible investments that deliver sustainable economic and ecological benefits to countries, people, and the environment, Unep said yesterday.

At least 12 ministerial delegations, including from Angola, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Gambia, Zambia, Chad, and South Sudan are due to attend, as well as private sector tourism and conservation investors, representatives from communities, conservation scientists, and policymakers. Representatives from at least 30 countries were expected. | African News Agency (ANA) THE CITY OF Johannesburg has identified a new opportunity to release abandoned factories to the private sector to convert into affordable housing, mayor Herman Mashaba said yesterday. This followed on the back of 84 buildings being awarded to developers across the inner city, which would generate an expected R21 billion in investment, 11 000 construction sector jobs, and more than 6 000 affordable housing units, he said. A further 70 buildings would be awarded by September 2019, set to yield another expected R15bn in investment, 10 000 jobs, and 5 000 more housing opportunities. These properties all formed part of the 500 buildings identified for expropriation in the inner city. “Following on this success in the inner city, the multi-party government has now identified 37 abandoned factories across the city, specifically those located in areas in desperate need of housing opportunities. Arising from their large stand sizes, the yield of these properties will offer nearly 3 000 housing opportunities in multistorey buildings,” Mashaba said. | African News Agency (ANA)