“Vaccine boost” to take time, let’s talk about debt

A string of good news from COVID-19 vaccine producers may be followed by further positive updates in the coming weeks, but it is likely to take longer for the “vaccine boost” to reach much of Sub-Saharan Africa compared to other parts of the world. Meanwhile, debt problems continue to bubble across the region - South Africa is setting the ground for a turn to harsh austerity, which will weigh on growth. At the other end of the spectrum, Zambia has entered a messy default.