Zambia: Mining companies accused of environmental negligence
Zambia's mines are coming under increasing and sustained criticism for repeatedly polluting drinking water sources in the Copperbelt mining region, the country's economic heartland.

AFRICA

Great race to State House proves costly for Kenya
[Carole Kimutai] It has cost hundreds of lives, and unrest following the disputed election has also cost the Kenyan government KSh2bn daily in revenues.

Seychelles tourism campaign gets a boost
CNN will deliver the Seychelles Tourism Board's first pan-European advertising campaign to an international audience, promoting the group of islands as a leading holiday destination.

US donates VSAT to AU Mission in Somalia
[Andualem Gessesse] The US Ambassador to the African Union (AU), Cindy Courville, has presented a vertical communication satellite equipped with Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) link to the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

AFRICA

UNESCO helps Malawi media on Access to Information Bill
[Gregory Gondwe] The Malawi National Commission for UNESCO has joined hands with several media bodies in the country in a final ditch attempt to impress on authorities to enact the Access to Information Bill.

Steady growth in Nigerian telecommunications
The installed capacity of telecommunications operators in Nigeria has reached 70 million lines - this is according to figures released by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Mobile reporters give a voice to Kenyan voters
With a media blackout in Kenya mobile phones played a vital role in covering the Kenya elections and now they are playing an even more important role in covering those elections bloody aftermath.

ZIMBABWE

Zim newspapers cut subscription periods as economy continues to bite
[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe's privately owned newspapers have drastically reduced subscription periods due to ravaging inflation, which surpassed 8000% year on year in August.

Price reduction, anyone? - Right Stuff
With every New Year comes new challenges, opportunities, new jobs, perhaps a new school for the kids... as well as the inevitable (and usually dreaded) price increases. No matter what, you can always be assured that one or more services that you subscribe to will send you a letter or e-mail advising you that, despite their greatest efforts (hmmm...), they have no alternative but to increase their fees for the new year... just like last year, the year before that, and the year before that one.

KENYA

After-effects of poll clashes hit northern Kenya
Post-election violence has affected northeastern Kenya's vital livestock trade and resulted in increased food prices and shortages, local traders said.

Kenya to be hit by food shortage after poor rains
The long-term implications of last year's poor rain seasons in the Greater Horn of Africa region, affecting mostly Kenya, will be bleak.

EAST AFRICA

Kenyans to produce a new East African drama
[Carole Kimutai] M-Net has confirmed its partnership with Big Ideas Entertainment, a Kenyan TV company that has been commissioned to produce pay-channel's first ever East-African drama series. The news comes five months after M-Net first revealed its intention to create a regionalized drama series.