2016 economic projections: Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa

Tanzania's Finance minister expects economic growth to reach 7.2 percent in 2016 up from 7 percent last year. Budget spending for the fiscal year starting in July will also rise 2.2 percent. Philip Mpango presented the document outlining budget plans for 2016/17 to parliament. And this will be the first indication of spending plans under the new administration of President John Magufuli, who was elected in October 2015. And in Malawi, the finance ministry says growth will pick to more than 4 percent in 2016 from about 3 percent last year as the country recovers from a drought caused by the El Nino weather pattern. Agriculture accounts for almost a third of Malawi's economy and provides a livelihood for 80 percent of the population. The kwacha has also been hit by a loss of donor funds because of corruption and falling export revenues from the key crop, tobacco. And finally, the World Bank says South Africa's economy will slow by just 0.8 percent in 2016, weighed down by uncertainty over policy, gaps in infrastructure and drought. The forecast has brought the lender in line with the International Monetary Fund, which in December halved its 2016 growth forecast for South Africa to 0.7 percent. The bank sees growth at 1.1 percent in 2017. The country is grappling with rising public debt, inflationary pressures and weak business sentiments by investors.