Headlines
MarketingCENTRAL AFRICA Malawi's Central Bank start issuing government bonds[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi's Central Bank has announced that it would start issuing fixed 5 billion Malawi Kwacha bonds with a maturity period of five years. AFRICA A broken record: Global music biz losing war on piracy"Legitimate digital sales will accelerate, because the removal of DRM takes away a major impediment to the mass-market adoption of digital tracks," said Phil Leigh, senior analyst with Inside Digital Media. "That will remove a big incentive for using pirated tracks." EGYPT Study says quality of Nile water has improvedA study has indicated that water quality in the River Nile improved considerably in the months of October and November 2007, giving rise to hopes that drinking water quality for many of Egypt's 80 million people may improve. AFRICA World Bank slams its own forest reforms in DRC World Bank forestry projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ignored the rights of indigenous pygmies and overestimated the benefits of industrial logging in reducing poverty, the bank itself said in a report that concluded internal guidelines had been breached. AFRICA Controversy dogs Malawi's second fixed-line service deal[Gregory Gondwe] The Malawi government, which issued a licence to a second-fixed authorised fixed-line provider, Access Communications Limited (ACL), fails to take off as it baulks under controversies surrounding the award of the licence. AFRICA World Economic Forum Chair highlights Africa[Lavinia Mahlangu] Ahead of the annual World Economic Forum meeting, kicking off Wednesday, 23 January, the current WEF chair has highlighted Africa's development as among the issues to be addressed at the five day event. Advertisement:
AdvertisingAFRICA Cornelius takes on the continent Skhumbuzo Nkosi, Chief Executive Officer, Primedia Outdoor, has announced that Frikkie Cornelius has been promoted to General Manager, Africa Division to drive the outdoor operation in the African environment. SOUTH AFRICA No black-outs or cold coffee at Gallo Images - Gallo Images Gallo Images turbo-charged generator is keeping South African advertising, publishing and marketing teams connected to www.gettyimages.com despite the countrywide power crisis.
BrandingAFRICA The big green paint jobIs this entire ecology-sensitive greenery facade just a hoopla offering lip-service to the green movement, or does the real message still need some serious distillation? Now, this of course calls to mind the super-green-men of the new branding circus.
DigitalUGANDA World Bank report applauds Uganda[David Muwanga] A World Bank report has praised Uganda for embracing new technologies in her development process. The report 'Global Economic Prospects 2008: Technology Diffusion in the Developing World' examines the state of technology in developing countries and the pace with which it has advanced since the early 1990s.
Education and TrainingEAST AFRICA Malawians study Uganda ICT projects[David Muwanga] A delegation of 11 government officials from Malawi is in Uganda for a study tour on the implementation of information communication technology (ICT). GHANA US, Ghana co-operate in trade, educationThe United States government plans to boost its trade links with Ghana and help the nation improve its education system, under the US President's Special Initiative on Educational Programmes. AFRICA Open source software can change the face of the education industryOpen source software is becoming more prominent within education as more institutions turn towards it as a means in which to ease their pain points.
EventingAFRICA WEF to talk African governance, stabilityThe annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, opened on Wednesday with sessions on African governance and stability planned for the week ahead. AFRICA Kufuor to brief AU on Kenya developments[Michael Appel] Ghanaian President and chair of the African Union (AU) John Kufuor will brief the 10th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU on Kenya's post-election turmoil. The AU Summit, under the theme Industrial Development of Africa, is set to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 25 January to 2 February 2008, with the AU Assembly meeting in the latter part of the summit, from 31 January to 2 February.
MediaAFRICA IEC chief attends Zim election workshop[Luyanda Makapela] Chief Electoral Officer of South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Advocate Pansy Tlakula has been invited to attend a two-day workshop ahead of Zimbabwe's March elections.
MobileNIGERIA NCC to launch emergency numbers[Remmy Nweke] The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is planning to introduce national emergency numbers in the country before June 2008.
NewspapersZIMBABWE Government blitz wipes out 40% ad revenue for newspaper group[Dumisani Ndlela] A Zimbabwean newspaper executive this week revealed that his group had lost 40% of advertising revenue following what he described as “wanton looting of retail outlets” as a result of a government price blitz that triggered economy-wide shortages in the country.
Online MediaAFRICA ICANN has outgrown JPA - Thrush[Remmy Nweke] The chairman, Peter Dengate Thrush and board of directors of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), says the corporation has 'outgrown' the expectations of the Joint Project Agreement (JPA) on which it was founded. UGANDA Uganda's government ministries go online[David Muwanga] Uganda's government services can now be accessed online by all users in the country and abroad.
Out Of HomeSOUTH AFRICA Alliance Media unveils largest building wrap for the Africa Cup of Nations - Alliance Media On the eve of the Africa Cup of Nations in Accra, Alliance Media Ghana unveiled the country's most spectacular building wrap. MTN Ghana, the country's leading telecoms network and the sponsor of the Cup, took this key site specifically for the launch of Africa's largest football tournament.
ProductionZIMBABWE Generator sales soar on worries of major blackouts[Dumisani Ndlela] Two countrywide blackouts this week sent Zimbabwean businesses scurrying for back-up power supplies on worries of major power supply interruptions this year from the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), the country's power utility. Generator retailers reported soaring generator sales.
PromotionsSOUTH AFRICA Space rapidly selling out for Markex 2008With six months to go before Markex and World of Events 2008, this show for the South African marketing and promotions industry is already 62% sold out.
Public RelationsAFRICA Business as usual for KIAConcerns have been raised regarding the safety of passengers when travelling through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Kenya Airways has issued and assurance that at no time has there been a threat to its operations; the airline and other foreign carries such as BA and Virgin continue to operate normally.
RadioUGANDA Terrestrial Trunked Radio systems for security forces[David Muwanga] The Uganda government has installed US$5m Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) equipment to be used by the country's security agencies.
RetailAFRICA Anti-Chinese resentment flares in Lesotho For 14 years, Mathabo Mabekhla was one of Lesotho's most successful entrepreneurs. Her ladies' clothing boutique sold dresses, blouses and slacks imported from neighbouring South Africa, and boasted a client base that included cabinet ministers and their wives. KENYA Retail chain affirms investments plans[Carole Kimutai] Kenyan supermarket chain Nakumatt Holdings Ltd will spend US$25 million for projects despite underlying political tensions in Kenya. It has reiterated its confidence in the local economy, pledging to push on with its investment and expansion plans. MOZAMBIQUE Mozambican, SA farmers partner to grow sugarcane[Sydney Masinga] The Mozambican government will donate 29,000 hectares of land to small-scale sugarcane farmers in both Mozambique and South Africa over the next three years.
TVSOUTH AFRICA SA production house to train Sudanese journalists On Monday, 21 January 2008, 20 Sudanese journalists arrived at the television production house, Urban Brew Studios, ahead of their training. KENYA New GM at MultiChoice Kenya [Carole Kimutai] Stephen Isaboke is the new GM of MultiChoice Kenya. He is the first Kenyan to hold this position. AFRICA Malawi's public broadcasters going commercial[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi's two public broadcasters, Television Malawi (TVM) and the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), have defied calls by the private sector and other sectors not to go commercial. | 
