AFRICA

CMO Council 'Voice of Customer' survey
The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council has found that despite overwhelming agreement on the importance of customer experience and word-of-mouth, nearly two-thirds of companies do not have a formal 'Voice of Customer' program in place.

AFRICA

Sustaining rural ICTs in Africa
PRETORIA: The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) has recently released a study on the need for wireless internet access for development (W4D) in rural Africa. This study, commissioned by APC and written by wireless expert Ian Howard explores sustainable ICTs and is intended to serve as a guide to members of the W4D community involved in African initiatives.

LG announces ‘Life's Good When it's Green' initiative
LG Electronics, a major player in the information and computer technology industry, has pledged its commitment to reducing environmental hazards and developing appropriate products.

Zim: Only US dollars can buy education
HARARE: Zimbabwean teachers ignored the start of the new school term on 27 January, 2009 and remained on strike, demanding the payment of their salaries in US dollars.

CENTRAL AFRICA

Malawi launches The Big Issue
[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi has launched The Big Issue, a magazine aimed at ending poverty according to its chairperson, John Chikago and Information and Civic Education Minister, Patricia Kaliati. It is the first magazine of its kind in the country which has been modelled after Britain's magazine for the homeless, the Big Issue.

WEST AFRICA

Liberian freedom of expression report released
MONROVIA: The 2009 publication, entitled "The Triumph of Impunity: Account of Attacks on Freedom of Expression in Liberia - 2008," draws attention to various actions by individuals, civil society and especially government actors against the media and other citizens and residents as they tried to take advantage of the universally guaranteed right to free speech.

Zim: Magistrate orders investigation on torture of journalist
HARARE: The matter of freelance photojournalist, Anderson Shadreck Manyere, who is held on allegations of banditry, was heard before Harare Magistrate Gloria Takundwa on 26 January, who ordered police to investigate and present a report on reports that Manyere was tortured while in unlawful detention.

Africa's infrastructure is key to economic growth
[Bathandwa Mbola] ADDIS ABABA: Africa's current infrastructure, which has long been identified as a key requirement for economic growth, needs to be developed to an adequate and efficient standard.

Global economic crisis discussed ahead of AU summit
[Bathandwa Mbola] ADDIS ABABA: The impact of the global economic crisis on Africa has come under the spotlight at a meeting of the African Union (AU) Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), ahead of the African Union Summit.

Calls to reform Food Aid Convention
[global food crisis] JOHANNESBURG: Calls for reforming a treaty that makes donor countries commit to providing food aid in cash as well as in kind were reiterated as a high-level two-day meeting to discuss the global food crisis began on Monday, 26 January in the Spanish capital, Madrid.