Daily News on the Issues Affecting Africa for February 21st

Continue reading for stories including Pan-Africa Insurance shares reaching new heights, Egyptian president calling for parliamentary elections in April, Kenyatta and Odinga tied in polling, and learning Chinese as a lucrative investment in Zimbabwe.

Pan Africa Insurance shares hit new high on profit, dividend
"Shares of Pan Africa Insurance hit a new all year high on Thursday after the insurer, one of Kenya's largest said that it will increase its dividend payout for the period ended December last year by 50 per cent. The counter hit a high of Ksh48.50 ($0.55) from Ksh45 ($0.51) on Wednesday at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE)..."
To read the full story, visit the East African site here

Egypt's Morsi wants Parliament elections in April
"Egypt's president has called parliamentary elections for April in an effort to assuage mounting frustration over continued turmoil on the streets..."
To read the full story, visit the Mail and Guardian site here

It's a tight contest as last poll shows a dead heat for Uhuru, Raila
"Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta has opened a razor-thin lead of 0.4 percentage points over his main challenger Raila Odinga in the race for the country's presidency with only nine days to go, a new opinion poll shows..."
To read the full story, visit the Daily Nation site here

In Zimbabwe, learning Chinese is a lucrative investment
"Ni hao, Chinese for "hello," or ting bu dong, meaning "I hear you, but I don't understand," are two expressions one often overhears today in Zimbabwe's capital. It is one of the results of tenacious efforts by governments, private companies and individuals across Africa, but in Zimbabwe particularly, to learn the Chinese language and understand China's cultured..."
To read the full story, visit the Africa Renewal site here