AFRICA

2009 Dubai Lynx Agency of the Year Award withdrawn

The organisers of the 2009 Dubai Lynx Awards have announced that they are withdrawing the Agency of the Year award from FP7 Doha and the trophy will subsequently now not be awarded this year. Investigations after the 2009 awards show apparently revealed examples of work from FP7 Doha that did not meet the Dubai Lynx entry criteria. Read more >>

AFRICA

Does the healthcare industry really need branding?

[Tom Sitati] The healthcare industry has for centuries debated whether to position itself as a profitable business or a service to society. Many hospitals have their origins in the world of non-profit but here's the untold secret of the so called world of non-profits; for any organisation to succeed it has to make a decent profit. Read more >>

AFRICA

Entries open for 2009 Jet Community Awards

The 2009 Jet Community Awards Programme is open for entries from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland. The annual Jet Community Awards aims to reward individuals or organisations who build and empower vulnerable individuals in their local communities. Read more >>

UGANDA

US$75 million credit for Ugandan energy and ICT transformation

WASHINGTON: The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved a US$75 million International Development Association (IDA) credit early last week to finance the second phase of the Energy for Rural Transformation Program (ERT) in Uganda. The first phase of the ERT program was approved in 2001 and was completed in February, 2009. Read more >>

AFRICA

Gateway Communications awarded at 2009 SatComs Star Awards

Gateway Communications, a telecommunications services supplier in Africa, won the “Satellite Service Provider of the Year” at the SatCom Star Awards 2009. The awards was held at the Sandton convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa on 8 April, 2009. Read more >>

MOZAMBIQUE

SAP curriculum and WiMax for Mozambique University

JOHANNESBURG: SAP University Alliances and Foris Telecom have signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide the SAP curriculum and WiMax connection respectively to the Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique. Read more >>

AFRICA

WAN dedicates Press Freedom Day to "Journalists in the Firing Line”

The World Association of Newspapers is urging publications worldwide to show their support on World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2009, for journalists who put their lives in danger to get the news. Read more >>

AFRICA

Closing date extended for 2010 GSMA Mobile Innovation GP - EMEA

The 2009 GSMA Mobile Innovation Grand Prix - EMEA will be held at HiT Barcelona from 17 - 19 June 2009. The closing date for the EMEA tournament has been extended to 26 April, 2009, nominees will be invited to present their pitch to a global audience. Read more >>

AFRICA

Mobile networks seek new technologies

[Sam Hungwe] Two of Zimbabwe's three mobile phone network operators will skip 3G technology and adopt more advanced fourth generation equipment to upgrade services, an industry executive revealed. Read more >>

AFRICA

Two more mobile phone operators for Malawi

[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has announced the awarding of operator licences to two more mobile phone operators in the country. The move has however been bashed by some existing operators in the business. Read more >>

ZIMBABWE

Econet partners with SA's Cell C for call-home product

[Sam Hungwe] The 'Econet Wireless Call-home SIM, Powered by Cell C' is a partnership between South Africa's Cell C network and Zimbabwe's Econet Wireless, allowing Zimbabweans travelling to South Africa to call home at lower tariffs. Read more >>

KENYA

First newspaper in Kenya refugee camp created by youth

The Hagadera refugee camp in Kenya is one of the largest in the world. Home to 100,000 people, many from Somalia, there is no media and few opportunities for many of the youth living there. On 3 April 2009, the first newspaper was sold in the camp by 26 youth who have spent the past couple of months creating the publication, called Newsletter Hagadera. Read more >>

AFRICA

FTM launches Mac Action

A new free online magazine aimed at Apple Mac users, Mac Action, has been launched by Future Thinking Media (FTM). The new publication focuses on the Apple customer base in Africa and aims to provide useful, informative content in a readable package. Read more >>

AFRICA

UBA continues to finance African film industry

LAGOS: United Bank for Africa, a financial services institution, has restated its support to the African film industry through financial assistance. In partnership with UBA, African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) is extending its support to areas such as the development of an African Film Academy, large scale training, commercial distribution, marketing, production and general welfare of African film. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

NGO criticises Shoprite

[Nicola Mawson] Food and furniture retailer the Shoprite Group has been rapped on the knuckles by nongovernmental organisation Bench Marks Foundation for running outlets that do not give back to the local economy. Read more >>

ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe: Shops shelves fill up but customers stay away

HARARE: The demise of Zimbabwe's local currency, the Zimbabwe dollar, and the reappearance of goods on the recently barren shop shelves is an equation that ensures the status quo: ordinary people are unable to feed themselves. Read more >>

AFRICA

World Bank approves third loan for Mauritius

WASHINGTON: The World Bank Board of Executive Directors recently approved an International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) Development Policy Loan (DPL) of US$100 million to support trade and competitiveness in Mauritius. Read more >>

AFRICA

Zim ready to work with SA to rebuild economy

HARARE: President Robert Mugabe has said Zimbabwe stands ready to work with South Africa in rebuilding its economy. Read more >>

CENTRAL AFRICA

Republic of Congo TV station suspended for political footage

The Committee to Protect Journalists has called on authorities in the Republic of Congo to immediately lift their ban on private TV station Canal Bénédiction Plus (CB Plus). The ban was enacted in February 2009 in response to political coverage in the lead-up to presidential elections in July 2009. Read more >>