ZIMBABWE

Global ad agency sells Zim associate for US$1
[Dumisani Ndlela] Global marketing and advertising agency Young & Rubicam (Y&R) said this week it had finally sold its 25% stake in Zimbabwean associate Imago Young & Rubicam (Imago Y&R) for a mere US$1 after its involvement in a re-election campaign for President Robert Mugabe.

East African brands join family of international Superbrands - Superbrands
A host of brands operating in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania have been identified by a voluntary independent panel of experts in the marketing and communications fields in East Africa. The brands participating in the programme range from local home grown brands through to worldwide global giants like Toyota, Mercedes Benz, Pirelli, Shell, Smirnoff and Weetabix.

ZIMBABWE

Zim caught on the web
The Zimbabwe Internet Report (aka Zi.Report - pronounced Zy as in why) is an initiative from recently formed online media group, Aripano Infinity, that aims to keep track of events and innovations that have a Zimbabwean slant on the internet.

VWV wins first ever African MTV Awards
VWV has been appointed to handle the first ever MTV music awards in Africa. Along with the awards, VWV has also won the account from MTV Base Networks to co-ordinate the preceding four concerts that will be held as part of a road-show leading up to the event. The agency has also won the MTV Africa mobile account, which includes mobile ticketing for the concerts promotions.

ANGOLA

Enterprise magazine moves into SADC
The African Renaissance programme has received a boost with the launch into the SADC region of the monthly black business publication, Enterprise magazine.

AFRICA

ITNewsAfrica appoints new editor
ITNewsAfrica.com has appointed Samuel Mungadze as its new online editor; Samuel Mungadze. Mungadze is a qualified journalist with years of experience in the media industry. His working career has been with The Standard Newspaper (Zimbabwe) SABC Africa (S.A) and The African Bulletin (Netherlands).


New royalty system with SAMRO
The Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) has been fully accredited as a collection society for Needletime Rights royalties in South Africa.

Outdoor advertising: Sports Dugout and Tunnel - Right Stuff
The Dugout is a shelter for seating team managers and players during a football match, made from high-quality aluminium and polycarbon sheeting, which can be branded on the sides and back.

71 Intaka Tech water purification plants headed for Angola
Intaka Tech has been awarded a contract for water purification plants to produce 78 million litres of drinking water per day, the final destination for the units being Angola. This will help the company to achieve its mission to proactively meet Africa's urgent need for clean, potable water.

Mwanawasa's death not to derail economic growth - minister
[Gregory Gondwe] Zambia's Finance and National Planning Minister, Ng'andu Magande has down-played fears that the death of the country's President Levy Mwanawasa could derail the country's economic prosperity.

Malwai: US donates machine to protect consumers from sub-standard products
[Gregory Gondwe] The United States government has donated a machine worth close to US$60,000 to the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) which will enable it to identify banned or sub-standard ingredients that may be used in foods produced or imported into the country.

CENTRAL AFRICA

Malawi: Parliament refuses MBC and TVM funding
[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi's opposition parliamentarians have, for a second year running, refused to allocate any resources to the state broadcasters, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Television Malawi (TVM).