Hello Africa, it is Monday!
We kick off this week’s The Big 5 daily with the reversal of the internet tax law in Republic of Benin.
Some days back, we reported that the Republic of Benin has followed the new trend among African countries like Uganda and Zambia by taxing its citizens for using the internet. This law generated lots of uproar in the country and the cyberspace went agog.
However, the Government of Benin listened to the protes and has abolished the internet tax. This is good news for the Beninese and it is our hope that Uganda and Zambia will learn from this and do the needful.
In some other good news, Kenyan Agric-tech start-up, AgriQ & Automations has won the Kenyan edition of Innov8Agric Challenge, a competition sponsored by Meet the Farmers Conference, MTFC 2018. The start-up was picked based on its innovation, originality, and the viability of its ideas which was vetted by top-notch entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders across Africa.
AgriQ & Automations will now compete for $ 5,000 grant price at the international Meet the Farmers Conference which will hold In Dubai on the 4th – 5th November 2018.
Also, Nigeria’s healthcare technology and logistics start-up, Lifebank has been selected as a 2018 Solve Finalist. LifeBank and the other Solve Finalist Teams pitched their solutions to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Peter Sands and other judges at the Solve Challenge Finals in New York City.
Naspers Invests $94M in SA’s Webuycars… Africa’s largest media group, Naspers has invested $94 million (1.4 billion Rand) in South Africa’s Webuycars through its OLX Group, the company announced. This development swiftly follows earlier news about the company listing its satellite television subsidiary MultiChoice.
Uber has launched its latest product, uberPOA in Mombasa, Kenya, bringing into its platform the three-wheeled vehicles which is known as Tuk tuks.
Tuk tuks are a popular mode of transport across Kenya, and we are determined to launch localised products such as uberPOA to meet local needs.
That’s the end for today, thank you for reading.
Certainly have a productive week ahead.