ZIMBABWE

ADMA agrees on shorter ad payment terms as crisis worsens
[Dumisani Ndlela] The Zimbabwe Advertising Media Association (ADMA) has abandoned its 30-day payment system for new payment terms for newspaper advertisements as inflation continues to escalate in the crisis-torn economy. A statement issued by the ADMA chairman, Pilate Machadu, said a meeting of the ADMA executive committee held on July 1, 2008 had unanimously agreed to reduce the payment period.

IOC appoints Getty Images as Official Photographic Agency for the Beijing Olympics - Gallo Images
Getty Images sports specialist photographers will again be providing live updates of every sports and medal event at the Beijing Olympics in August via direct feeds to the world's media and a live stream on the Getty Images website.

SA oil giant expands its presence in two more African countries
Engen Petroleum Limited, one of South Africa's leading refined petroleum products company, will acquire Shell Petroleum Company Limited's downstream business interests in Lesotho and Zimbabwe, in terms of sale and purchase agreements signed in July 2008.

AFRICA

Kenya Trade Fair and Conference to usher in new era of business opportunities
The first annual Kenya Trade Fair and Conference will take place 19 - 21 September 2008 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. The initiative aims to create an ongoing platform and environment to build business linkages between South Africa and Kenya through expanded trade and business development opportunities for both countries.

EAST AFRICA

New laws threaten free expression in Ethiopia
Ethiopia has passed a new media law that bans censorship of private media and the detention of journalists, but which critics say maintains other threats to free expression.

Writer instructed not to write about military matters without permission
The Military Prosecutor General decided to release journalist and writer Abd Al Khaliq Farouq on 8 July after two and a half hours of questioning. However, Farouq was instructed to not address any issues related to the military without permission from the concerned bodies.

SOUTHERN AFRICA

Nominations open for MISA 2008 Press Freedom Award
Calling all Southern African journalists and media organisations. The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) with the Southern Africa Trust is inviting nominations for its 2008 Press Freedom Award. The deadline for entries is 12 August 2008.

Pan African E-Tourism conferences to boost online marketing for 2010
A new initiative to develop Africa's tourism and travel sector was launched the week. For the first time in Africa, E-Tourism conferences will be held across the continent to assist Africa's tourism sector to better understand the internet and the range of online marketing opportunities now available, especially in the lead up to the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa.


Kick Off Online extends and launches East African website
Kick Off Online has launched an all new Kick Off East Africa website, Kickoffeastafrica.com, which will service mainly Kenyan, Ugandan, Rwandan and Tanzanian football. The new website joins the trio of Kick Off South Africa, Kick Off Nigeria and Kick Off Ghana on the magazine's portfolio.

RPO market booms despite economic downturn
[Pat O'Brien] Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) is growing rapidly and has the potential to be a multi-billion dollar market, taking advantage of the trend towards single process deals in human resources outsourcing.

UN/Malawi signs pact to develop micro-finance sector
[Gregory Gondwe] The government of Malawi, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) have signed an agreement to support the development of the micro-finance sector in Malawi under a project known as Financial Inclusion in Malawi(FIMA).

GTV expands service to French-speaking African countries
LONDON: GTV is set to expand its footprint into Francophone Africa in early August providing channels and content specifically targeted at French-speaking viewers. Channels will include African-produced content, international series and sitcoms, kids entertainment, religious and educational/documentaries.


DStv 'scores' at Nigerian Cup final
SuperSport's involvement in Nigerian football was taken to the next level at last weekend's Nigerian Cup final between Ocean Boys and Gombe United in Makurdi. The DStv channel's commitment to Nigerian football includes training programmes for individuals involved in all aspects of broadcasting, from operating cameras to production and directing.