AFRICA

State of marketing in Africa survey

The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council is conducting a survey in order to tap the views and opinions of senior executives and managers across Africa to benchmark the perceived effectiveness and value of marketing teams, investments and business development programs.
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SOUTH AFRICA

A worldwide corporate metamorphosis

[Naseem Javed] Why our world suddenly became a massive junkyard, crowded with junky-ideas on junky-promises with junky-finances, is now where brand new corporate philosophies and structures will harshly collide with the wide range of old business models.
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AFRICA

Africa competes in global ICT and telecoms

Robert Sussman, joint CEO, Integr8 Group believes the broader Africa ICT and telecommunications market has a real opportunity to boost its competency and compete with international counterparts because it remains a vastly untapped resource of intellectual capital and skills, backed by a strong willingness to learn and trade.
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ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe gets back on track with education goals

[Gabrielle Wade] Zimbabwe teachers were expected to return to school on 2 March after almost a year of being on strike. Presently, the Zimbabwean dollar is so weak due to hyperinflation that teachers are demanding to be paid in a foreign currency because, on their current salaries, they are unable to afford basic costs of living or, for some, transportation to and from work. Read more >>

ANGOLA

Government meets business at iPAD Angola 2009

The first Infrastructure Partnerships for African Development (iPAD) Angola conference will be held in Luanda, Angola from 24 - 26 March 2009. The Angolan government will be using this platform to facilitate foreign investment in the country. According to Aguinaldo Jaime, head of the national investment agency ANIP, despite the worldwide economic downturn, the nation's war-ravaged economy is expected to remain robust.
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BOTSWANA

Botswana: Media laws stir dissent within ruling party

[Sello Motseta] GABORONE: There is growing dissent in the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) over laws that enable the government to regulate the media. Member of parliament, Keletso Rakhudu, broke ranks with his party by publicly criticising the Media Practitioner's Act as an "assault" on the "fundamentals" and "undermining" free and independent media. He claims a number of his colleagues shared his dismay but were fearful of speaking out. Read more >>

AFRICA

Q4 worldwide mobile phone sales decline - Gartner

The global economic downturn had a significant impact on the mobile phone industry as worldwide mobile phone sales to end users totalled 314.7 million units in the fourth quarter of 2008, a 4.6% decline from the fourth quarter of 2007, according to Gartner, Inc. Manufacturers continued to struggle against low consumer confidence in both emerging and mature markets. Read more >>

AFRICA

Zain announces financial results for 2008

KUWAIT: Zain, mobile telecommunication operator in the Middle East and Africa, released its consolidated financial results for the year ended 31 December 2008 on Sunday, 1 March. The results showed growth in certain indicators.
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AFRICA

Africa fastest growth of cell phones

Africa has the fastest growth rate of mobile phone users in the world according to a survey conducted by the International Telecommunications Union. The UN agent says the growth is being aided by mobile phone banking which allows people without bank accounts to send money quickly and safely by SMS text message. Developing countries now make up two-thirds of the world's mobile phone users compared with less than half in 2002. However the report found that despite major improvements the gap between those with access to information technology and those without remains wide. Source: Panos London

SOUTH AFRICA

MTN completes purchase of Verizon Business SA

MTN has announced the acquisition of Verizon Business South Africa, and from 1 March 2009, Verizon Business South Africa began trading as MTN Business. This follows the unconditional approval of the transaction from the Competition Tribunal earlier this year. Read more >>

ZIMBABWE

Zim radio station broadcasts from Emirates

HARARE: A new radio station, Zimbabwe Community Radio, is broadcasting from the United Arab Emirates in a bid to create awareness on the value of community radio for development, freedom of speech and promotion of local culture especially among marginalised minorities in the country. Read more >>

AFRICA

Sierra Leone: Could youth unemployment derail stability?

FREETOWN: In Koidu, the capital of Sierra Leone's easternmost Kono province, 26-year-old Sam heads to the town-centre each morning seeking daily contract work building roads or digging ditches for the local authorities. Read more >>

AFRICA

11th PAMRO meeting and research conference

The 11th PAMRO meeting and All Africa Media Research Conference 2009 will take place in Nairobi, Kenya from 23 August - 26 August. An update of media audience research around the continent since Lagos will be provided. Training sessions will be presented by experienced trainers such as Dr Graham Mytton of the UK.
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AFRICA

Africa and the global financial crisis

[Dr Linda Yueh] For Africa, the direct effects from the global financial crisis will stem from the real economy effects, such as the contracting exports in 2009 and depressed global demand as a result of the rich economies all experiencing recession together for the first time in the post-World War II period.
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ZIMBABWE

Tinashe Moyo, The Zimbabwe dollar is not only worthless but unavailable

HARARE: The government's sanctioning of foreign currency for everyday use in Zimbabwe has collapsed the once flourishing - and illegal - currency dealing industry.
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