AFRICA

WFA launches Asia-Pacific network
BRUSSELS: The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) plans to launch a media and marketing network for the Asia-Pacific region aiming to bring together marketers across countries in the region. The network will be chaired by Rahul Welde, vice president, media, Unilever - Asia, Africa, Middle East and Turkey, who will also join the WFA's executive committee.

Obama - winner of the digital race
[Chipo Madusise] Dubbed ‘the online battle', the 2008 US Presidential election has ushered in a new era for digital media. The effectiveness of the Obama campaign has set a new benchmark for all advertisers, marketers and other politicians. Barack Obama has won an election fought mainly online. He has used an array of online channels from email to video to in-gaming.

2010 World Cup ticket frenzy on FIFA website
JOHANNESBURG: FIFA has reported that a scramble for tickets ensued on its website following the launch of 2010 FIFA World Cup tickets globally on 20 February 2009.

UGANDA

Media CEO threatens to cut publicity
[Walter Wafula] There's every reason for companies to cut back expenditure to survive the effects of the current global financial crisis. However, Robert Kabushenga, chief executive officer of New Vision Printing and Publishing Company has warned companies in Uganda against chopping off advertising expenses from their budget because it will put their popularity on the line.

MOZAMBIQUE

Top agencies partake in Maputo Ad Festival
MAPUTO: LV Ogilvy (Reunion-France), Executive Center and Orion (both from Angola), sabiOne.com (England) and McCann Ericksson (Portugal) are the first agencies to inform the organising committee of their interest in taking part in the 4th Maputo International Advertising Festival.

Four steps to harness social computing in CRM - Gartner
EGHAM, UK: Social computing is becoming a significant customer relationship management (CRM) market trend and represents a disruptive force in this market, according to Gartner. Gartner predicts that, by 2010, more than 60% of Fortune 1000 companies will have some form of online community that can be used for customer relationship purposes.

IPI calls for release of detained journalists
VIENNA: The Eritrean government should abide by its own laws and release journalists who have been imprisoned for years without the benefit of a court hearing or legal representation, the International Press Institute said on Thursday, 19 February.

Econet to reduce telecommunication tariffs
[Sam Hungwe] Econet Wireless, Zimbabwe's largest mobile phone network, says it is moved by public calls for affordable services and was beginning to take measures to lower tariffs.

Opera Mini for Vodafone EMEA customers
OSLO, NORWAY & BARCELONA, SPAIN: Vodafone signed an agreement with Opera Software earlier this week to develop a custom-made version of the Opera Mini mobile browser to be made available in Vodafone markets across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

ZAMBIA: Copper loses it shine and Copperbelt its jobs
LUANSHYA: The sharp fall in international copper prices is leading to huge job losses and deepening poverty in Zambia's economic heartland, Copperbelt Province.

ZIMBABWE

Finance ministers to discuss Zimbabwe's economic bailout
HARARE: Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Tendai Biti and his South African counterpart, Trevor Manuel will continue talks on a safe exit out of the current economic crisis that has left the country in the world's highest inflation, last estimated at over 231 million.

ZIMBABWE: Remittances saved the country from collapse
HARARE: The official sanctioning of foreign currency as legal tender in Zimbabwe to tackle hyperinflation is bringing into sharp relief how remittances have staved off the country's complete collapse in recent years.