AFRICA

How Africa rates in world trade
East Asian economies Hong Kong and Singapore occupy the top two positions in the Enabling Trade Index ranking, followed by Sweden and Norway, according to The Global Enabling Trade Report 2008, released by the World Economic Forum. Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Switzerland and New Zealand complete the top 10 list.


African civil society leaders unite to call for free and fair election process in Zimbabwe
H.E. Kofi Annan, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Wangari Maathai among those calling for an end to violence and intimidation in the run up to June 27 presidential run-off.

Malawi's AGOA exports fall
[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi is US$0.7 million short of last year's exports through the American Growth Opportunity Act (AGOAIII) by only registering US$1.7 million in the first quarter of the year from US$2.4 million recorded in the corresponding period last year.

SOUTHERN AFRICA

Zambia braces for a Zimbabwean exodus
Serious concern is mounting in Zambia that a wave of Zimbabwean immigrants could cross the border escaping worsening political violence in the aftermath of the country's presidential run-off election at the end of June.

Bizcommunity.com beefs up Gauteng sales team
Senior Bizcommunity.com sales manager, Riaan Kriel, will head up sales in Johannesburg from 1 July 2008. His redeployment to the proverbial city of gold is part of the continued expansion and growth that the Bizcommunity brand has experienced year-on-year.

Food security tops African Regional Summit agenda
[Rosalia Opondo] Food security is top of the agenda at the 25th Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Regional Conference for Africa, currently being held in Nairobi, Kenya.

SOUTH AFRICA

SABC crisis reaches boiling point
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] From ‘Mighty SABC' to ‘Mickey Mouse SABC', South Africa's public broadcaster has become a laughing stock, and its reputation and credibility dented by a succession of dodgy suspensions, intense infighting, political manipulations and rebellion. As CEO Dali Mpofu's career in Auckland Park seems to have come to an abrupt and sad end, more than 100 managers are now calling on President Thabo Mbeki to intervene to protect the institution against what many call a ‘hit-and-run' and ‘soulless' board.

SOUTH AFRICA

Diageo Africa Business Reporting finalists announced
The finalists in the fifth annual Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards were announced on Friday, 13 June 2008, following a record number of entries.

Malawi's TNM upgrades cutting-edge technology
[Gregory Gondwe] One of Malawi's two mobile phone service providers, TNM, switched to their New Generation Home Location Register (NGHLR) on Sunday as part of their extensive networking upgrading to take place in the next six months.

Zimbabwe lifts ban on aid agencies - state media
Zimbabwe has lifted a ban on charities involved in food distribution and AIDS treatment, state media said Wednesday, 18 June 2008, ahead of next week's tense presidential run-off.

Egypt "must give oil cash to poor"
Despite oil wealth, many Egyptians live in poverty. Now religious body issues edict.

MOZAMBIQUE

Mozambique: Second wave of reforms aims to share wealth
After a four year stint working on a South African gold mine in Johannesburg, Orlando Khosa, 33, returned home to Mozambique to establish his own business and eight years later it proved to be a smart business decision.

SpongeBob SquarePants to hit sub-Saharan Africa
MultiChoice Africa has signed a multi-year distribution deal with MTV Networks International to carry leading kids' entertainment brand, Nickelodeon, in southern Africa. Starting 1 July 2008, Nickelodeon will launch as a 24-hour English language channel, broadcasting to more than one and a half million DStv subscribers in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.