COVID in South Africa, Nigeria protests, Zambia hopes

The recent rise in newly recorded COVID-19 cases in South Africa appears to reflect higher testing more than anything else. But it’s a reminder that a renewed outbreak of the virus poses a major downside risk to the economic recovery. Elsewhere, a speech by Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari regarding recent protests is unlikely to soothe tensions, raising the threat of a prolonged bout of unrest that inflicts ever more damage on the economy. And there were some glimmers of hope for Zambia this week as it tries to secure debt relief.