E-Business
The Hanke’s Misery Index: How Africa’s Economic Challenges Are Holding Back the Continent

By Evans Woherem, Ph.D
Introduction
Unleashing the economic potential of any nation requires unwavering commitment and a clear vision. However, Africa, a diverse continent abundant in resources and human capital, faces numerous challenges that impede its development and progress. Political unrest, corruption, poverty, human rights violations, and economic instability cast a dark shadow over many African nations, intertwining to create pervasive challenges that foster instability, hamper development efforts, and uproot countless lives.
These claims are supported by numerous studies, reports, and data. Indices such as the Ibrahim Index of African Governance and the Global Corruption Barometer by Transparency International shed light on governance and corruption levels, revealing systemic issues that contribute to overall distress. Reports from esteemed international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank offer in-depth analysis, highlighting the multidimensional nature of the problems, including the impact of political instability and human rights violations on societal well-being.
To gain a clearer understanding of the economic challenges faced by African nations, we can look at the 2022 Hanke’s Annual Misery Index. This index provides insight into the economic hardships experienced by countries by considering various indicators. It is a composite measure that takes into account the year-end unemployment rate (multiplied by two), inflation rate, bank-lending rates, and the annual percentage change in real GDP per capita. The index combines these elements to yield the Hanke’s Annual Misery Index (HAMI) score, with higher scores indicating greater economic misery.
According to the 2022 HAMI scores, several African countries ranked among the 50 most severely afflicted nations. Zimbabwe claimed the unfortunate title of the world’s most miserable country with a score of 414.7, followed by Sudan (176.1) and Angola (93.518). Other countries on the list included Ghana (86.8), South Africa (83.492), Rwanda (69.192), Botswana (64.023), Madagascar (63.6), Malawi (63.5), Eswatini (63.1), Gabon (62.4), Sao Tome and Principe (62.3), Congo (Brazzaville) (61.5), Ethiopia (61), Libya (60.3), Namibia (55.7), Lesotho (51.6), Algeria (50.2), Nigeria (47.2), Tunisia (46.905), and Mauritania (45.4).
These nations confront profound challenges and overwhelming hardships, with their misery index scores reflecting the weight of inflation, unemployment, and burdensome lending rates.
The consequences of these elevated misery index scores extend widely within the affected countries. Scarce resources that could otherwise be invested in infrastructure, education, and healthcare are diverted towards addressing immediate needs, impeding long-term development efforts.
Additionally, political instability and human rights abuses erode social cohesion, intensify societal divisions, and constrain opportunities for dialogue and progress. Also, the displacement of millions of people places added strain on already fragile systems, burdening host communities and affecting regional stability.
Furthermore, these consequences transcend national boundaries. The high misery index scores contribute to a negative portrayal of the continent, potentially dissuading foreign investment and impeding economic cooperation. Consequently, the perpetuation of stagnation and economic hardships fosters a cycle of poverty, constraining opportunities for future generations and impeding the achievement of sustainable development goals.
Addressing the complex challenges facing Africa necessitates a comprehensive approach involving good governance, anti-corruption measures, poverty reduction strategies, human rights protection, economic stability, regional cooperation, and technological innovation.
By confronting political unrest, corruption, poverty, and economic instability while drawing inspiration from successful models, African nations can pave the path toward sustainable economic development, social stability, and improved livelihoods.
The following sections will delve deeper into each challenge, exploring their root causes, examining their implications, and discussing potential strategies and solutions.
By recognizing and understanding the hurdles faced by African nations, we can foster informed discussions and contribute to the formulation of effective policies that foster inclusive growth, shared prosperity, and the safeguarding of human rights, thereby transforming Africa’s economic landscape.
Economic Challenges in African Countries
The economic challenges faced by African countries are a matter of concern, with various nations experiencing significant difficulties. This section explores the economic struggles of Zimbabwe, Sudan, Angola, Ghana, and other African nations, shedding light on their specific challenges and rankings on the Misery Index.
This index, developed by Steve Hanke, a professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University, takes into account both the economic performance and the socioeconomic conditions of countries’ populations. Additionally, it highlights the contrast between countries facing misery and those achieving greater happiness, underscoring the uneven progress across the continent.
- Zimbabwe’s economic challenges and unfortunate ranking
Zimbabwe’s economic challenges have led to an unfortunate ranking as the most miserable country in the world for the second consecutive year, according to the 2022 Hanke’s Annual Misery Index. Several factors contribute to this ranking, notably the country’s staggering inflation rate, which reached 243.8% in 2022. Such high inflation erodes the value of the local currency, making it increasingly challenging for individuals to afford basic necessities and maintain a stable standard of living.
Moreover, Zimbabwe faces the hurdle of high lending rates, standing at 131.8%. These elevated borrowing costs make it difficult for businesses and individuals to access affordable credit, hindering investment and impeding economic growth. The lack of adequate financing opportunities stunts the economy’s expansion, resulting in stagnant development.
Trade integration, or rather the lack thereof, is another critical aspect impacting Zimbabwe’s economic situation. The decline in trade integration has restricted the country’s ability to acquire new technologies and attract investment. Trade integration plays a vital role in facilitating the sharing of knowledge, resources, and innovation among countries, which significantly contributes to economic growth. Without this avenue for collaboration and access to new opportunities, Zimbabwe finds it challenging to develop and improve its economic prospects.
The burden of debt and arrears to international financial institutions (IFIs) further exacerbates Zimbabwe’s challenges. The country’s substantial level of debt, coupled with its inability to make timely payments to IFIs, hampers its capacity for investment and development.
Instead of directing resources towards productive sectors and infrastructure, Zimbabwe must allocate a significant portion of its income to debt repayments. Furthermore, the accumulation of arrears makes it increasingly difficult for the country to obtain new loans, thereby limiting its potential for growth.
Consequently, a considerable portion of the Zimbabwean population is grappling with severe financial difficulties, struggling to meet their basic needs. The combination of high inflation, exorbitant lending rates, limited trade integration, and a significant debt burden has created a challenging environment for individuals and businesses alike. Addressing these issues through effective economic policies and reforms becomes crucial to alleviate the financial hardships faced by Zimbabweans and foster sustainable development.
- Sudan’s Economic Challenges and Political Instability
Sudan has been grappling with a range of significant economic challenges that have had a substantial impact on the country. One of the primary concerns is the soaring inflation rate, which reached a peak of 220.71% in April 2022.
However, according to projections by the African Development Bank, there is hope for improvement, with inflation expected to moderate to 83.2% in 2023 and further decrease to 75.5% in 2024.
Simultaneously, Sudan has witnessed a rise in the poverty rate, which reached 66.1% in 2022. This increase is partly attributed to the high unemployment rate of 20.6% during the same year. The economic hardships faced by the Sudanese population are further exacerbated by political instability.
In addition to these challenges, Sudan has been grappling with an ongoing armed conflict since 2011. This protracted conflict has resulted in significant human casualties, with over 500 lives lost, and has displaced more than 1 million individuals.
Furthermore, Sudan is confronted with environmental challenges, including land degradation, temperature increases, droughts, floods, erratic rainfall, and locust invasions. These environmental factors have had a detrimental impact on agricultural output, impeded GDP growth, and destroyed livelihoods.
Despite these formidable challenges, Sudan boasts abundant natural resources, such as arable land, livestock, and minerals. However, the full utilization of these resources has been hindered by financing deficiencies.
Effectively addressing the economic challenges faced by Sudan and overcoming political instability are pivotal steps towards improving the country’s economic prospects and enhancing the well-being of its citizens.
To be Continued …….
E-Business
NITDA Advocates AI, Security Integration for Sustainable Development

Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has emphasised that integrating intelligence, security, and sustainability is critical to driving Nigeria’s digital transformation and global competitiveness.
Inuwa made the remarks on Tuesday in Kano while delivering a goodwill message at the opening of the 19th International Conference (CONNOVATE 2025) of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), themed “Intelligent, Secure, and Sustainable Innovations for a Connected World.”
Represented by Engr. Salisu Kaka, Director of E-Government and Digital Economy Development, Inuwa said the three elements were now indispensable drivers of national progress. He highlighted the need for their convergence to unlock new opportunities in Nigeria’s technology sector, citing Estonia’s X-Road platform — which enables 99% of government services online — as a global model.
“In Nigeria, trust is the ultimate currency in our high-stakes digital environment, where scams and cybercrime are prevalent. Security builds and protects this trust,” Abdullahi said.
He stressed that while security provides the foundation, intelligence builds the structure, pointing to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and data analytics as tools for addressing Nigeria’s complex challenges. Warning that “innovation without security is unsustainable,” he likened it to “a high-performance race car without brakes.”
The DG urged the next wave of Nigerian startups to go beyond digitising existing processes to creating new value, citing AI-powered wealth management and ML-driven remote diagnostics as examples.
He further highlighted the various Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) initiatives supporting this vision, including the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), the Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT), the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, the national digital identity programme, interoperable payments, and human capital initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) and Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) programmes.
Inuwa cited example with International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) President, Antony Wong, that called for stronger protection and strategic use of data in the Global South to safeguard indigenous knowledge. He stressed the importance of legal clarity on data ownership as Nigeria’s cultural heritage in medicine, ecology, and art is digitised and incorporated into AI systems. Wong praised Nigeria’s role in the recent World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaty protecting genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
Delivering his welcome address, the NCS President, Dr. Muhammad Sirajo, said the conference would serve as a platform for IT professionals to address critical issues, including intelligent systems, fintech, sustainable energy, and innovations in agriculture, health, education, and national planning.
“This conference will provide an interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners, and educators to present and discuss recent innovations, trends, and solutions for improving technological systems,” Sirajo said.
The week-long event includes plenary sessions, a doctoral consortium, a youth and entrepreneurship forum, the Fellows Forum, the Annual General Meeting, an IT quiz competition for students, and an induction ceremony for new members. It will conclude with the election of new national executives, a dinner, and an awards night honouring contributions to the ICT sector.
E-Business
AfDB Adopts AI to Fast-track Africa’s Development Blueprint

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is betting big on Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a catalyst for delivering Africa’s ambitious Agenda 2063.
With hands-on training in tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, the Bank believes the results could redefine how the continent plans, measures, and delivers its development goals.
Through its Joint Secretariat Support Office, the AfDB has provided technical and financial support to the 5th annual training workshop for African Union member states, focusing on the use of AI to track and implement the second ten-year plan (2024–2033) of Agenda 2063.
The five-day workshop, held in Lusaka, Zambia, was co-organised by the African Union Commission and the African Capacity Building Foundation.
Participants from across the continent rolled up their sleeves for hands-on training with emerging AI platforms like Ailyse, Google AI Studio, and Perplexity.
The goal of Africa’s multilateral development finance institution is to turn complex development data into actionable insights that can drive smarter decisions, faster interventions, and more accountable governance.
AbibuTamu, lead programme co-ordinator at the AfDB, said AI was now an indispensable tool for Africa’s future.
“These tools are not only revolutionizing how data is collected, analysed, and reported, they are also enabling more targeted policy interventions and efficient resource allocation,” Tamu told delegates.
Agenda 2063, dubbed “The Africa We Want,” is the African Union’s 50-year blueprint for inclusive growth and sustainable development. The second 10-year plan prioritises industrialisation, digital transformation, and sustainable livelihoods.
With AI now in the mix, African policymakers can track progress in real-time, spot bottlenecks before they choke projects, and reallocate resources where they are needed most.
The AfDB’s backing underscores a broader strategy of boosting both human and institutional capacity that propels African states to harness the digital revolution.
Beyond technical skills, the Lusaka workshop doubled as a peer-learning platform, with countries sharing real-world success stories on integrating AI into national planning and reporting.
“If Agenda 2063 is Africa’s long-term roadmap, this AI training is about upgrading the continent’s GPS that ensures leaders not only know the destination, but also have the intelligence to navigate every twist and turn on the way,” said Tamu.
E-Business
Firm Shares Tips for Safer Remote Working

It is holiday season in many parts of the world. These days though, going on holiday does not always mean turning your back on office life – hybrid work cuts both ways.
Today’s widespread connectivity—available at airports, train stations, restaurants, hotels, and most indoor public spaces—makes staying connected easier than ever, with free Wi-Fi in many locations and reliable 4G or 5G coverage elsewhere, helping to facilitate a seamless blend of work and leisure even while on holiday.
This increase in connectivity among travellers has not gone unnoticed by cyber criminals. Kaspersky experts analysed nearly 25,000 free Wi-Fi spots in Paris ahead of the Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The analysis revealed that almost 25% of these networks had weak or no encryption, making users vulnerable to personal and banking data theft.
Travellers often have their guard down. The unfamiliar surroundings of a new location or a different language can throw up a useful smokescreen for a cyberattack, meaning additional care needs to be taken when logging on. Fortunately, a few smart tools and habits can help you stay protected while enjoying the flexibility of remote work.
Use a VPN for secure connections
A VPN is one of the most effective ways to safeguard users’ online activity, especially when working from unfamiliar locations. By encrypting Internet traffic, a VPN ensures that hackers can’t intercept sensitive data like login credentials or financial details. This is particularly important when accessing work emails or company files on public Wi-Fi, where cybercriminals often lurk.
Switch to an eSIM for reliable, secure mobile data
Another useful digital tool that provides a seamless way to stay connected using local mobile networks with no physical SIM card required is the eSIM. This is a game-changer for international travellers who want to avoid sky-high roaming charges or the hassle of hunting down temporary SIM cards in foreign countries.
With an eSIM, a user can download a local data plan before you even arrive at your destination, ensuring instant connectivity the moment you land. This eliminates the need to rely on unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots, significantly reducing your exposure to cyber threats.
Plus, many eSIM providers allow you to manage multiple profiles on a single device, making it easy to switch between work and personal data plans without juggling multiple phones.
Services like Kaspersky eSIM Store enables users to purchase and activate data plans in advance, track usage and top up as needed, all from a single app.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
When travelling, people often leave devices unattended. To protect against unwanted people logging in, travellers should ensure two-factor authentication (2FA) is enabled on all critical accounts and that passwords are used on all devices.
Final tips for a secure workation
Even with a VPN, eSIM and 2FA in place, your devices still need strong defenses against malware, phishing scams and ransomware. Cybercriminals often target remote workers who may let their guard down while travelling, making real-time protection essential.
Modern antivirus software does more than just scan for viruses, it actively blocks malicious downloads, warns you about phishing attempts and even secures your passwords and financial data.
For the most robust security, consider a solution like Kaspersky Premium, which combines antivirus protection, a VPN and password management into a single, easy-to-use package.
By combining a VPN, eSIM and strong antivirus, you can work from anywhere with confidence, whether you’re sending emails from a poolside or joining a video call from a festival tent.
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