Expert advocates Africa-wide e-payment platform
As African economies move towards the global order of cashless economies, an expert has called for the adoption of a trans-continental electronic payment platform, which supports trade and cash management as the only means to fast-track efforts towards African integration.

WAITRO appoints TechnoPark as regional focal point for MENA region
TechnoPark, the science and technology facilitator of Economics Zones World announced that the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisations' (WAITRO) executive committee has unanimously chosen TechnoPark to serve as the organisation's regional focal point (RFP) for the Middle East and North Africa region from July 2008 to June 2010.


MWeb Africa launches VoIP via VSAT
MWeb Africa has launched a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service for the African continent, enabling VSAT (satellite) customers to make or receive voice calls to or from almost anywhere in the world at reduced rates.

CENTRAL AFRICA

Malawi to host Africa ICT forum
Malawi will, from 26-28 August 2008, host Africa's leading ICT Forum called the Third Annual Connecting Rural Communities Africa Forum at Capital Hotel in Lilongwe.

Photojournalist flees country following assault by police
Freelance photojournalist, Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi has decided to flee to South Africa with his family after being assaulted by the police and having his car confiscated.

KENYA

Will Zain be the better option in Kenya?
[Carole Kimutai] A majority of Kenyans have at least two mobile lines - Safaricom, Zain and/or a Telkom Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) line. Usually, a mobile phone user will have one regular line influenced by which operator friends, relatives and business contacts use because it is cheaper to call within the same network and a second or third line used occasionally.

Alliance Media wins Uganda airport advertising tender - Alliance Media
Alliance Media has won the exclusive tender to control the advertising at Uganda's recently refurbished Entebbe Airport.

ZIMBABWE

Zim's insurance industry reaches for a lifeline
[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe's insurance companies, which have grappled with a major marketing nightmare posed by the fast erosion of the country's domestic currency, are reportedly battling to reach for a new lifeline in the form of foreign currency-denominated policies.

Africa attracts more private-equity funds
Private-equity firms are becoming increasingly active in the emerging markets of Africa, as the slowdown in the developed markets drives investors to seek opportunities in its burgeoning resource-rich, consumer-driven economies.

AFRICA

Reliable infrastructure needed to boost SADC region
[Bathandwa Mbola] A reliable infrastructure network is needed to further promote economic development and integration in the South African Development Community (SADC) region. This emerged at the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)/Southern African Development Community (SADC) Infrastructure Projects conference held in Johannesburg on Friday, 8 August.

Influencing the influencers - Exp
Carol Abade, Group CEO of Exp, will be presenting a keynote speech on Influencing the Influencers at the African Experiential Marketing Summit on 3 September 2008, in Johannesburg.

MTV to bow kudos for Africa
MTV Networks Africa will for the first time hold a dedicated music awards ceremony for Africa in Abuja, Nigeria on November 22, 2008.