Headlines
MarketingAFRICA Investment in African Agenda tops SA, Sweden meetingPRETORIA: SA Deputy President Baleka Mbete met her Swedish counterpart Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson, Monday, 12 January, to build support for investment in the African Agenda. KENYA Kenyan marketing efforts recognised[Carole Kimutai] The Marketing Society of Kenya (MSK) has again recognised companies and individuals who have made a difference in the field of marketing. A special award - Najivunia kuwa mkenya, a Swahili phrase meaning "I am proud to be Kenyan," was given to individuals who brought fame and fortune to Kenya. AFRICA Track the Yack - CMO Council studyThe CMO Council believes in today's viral, Web 2.0 world, the voice of the customer is more powerful and strategic than ever before. Marketers are challenged to make customer listening, learning, responsiveness and co-innovation a core tenant of product and brand management and integral to their corporate cultures. KENYA Kenya to hold peace conference to repair image[Nicholas Kigondu] Nairobi: Kenya is to host an international conference to promote peace in the country to help bolster its battered image after the violence sparked by the post-election crisis early last year. GHANA Professor Mills elected Ghana's presidentThe Electoral Commission (EC), declared on 3 January 2009 Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) the President-elect of the Republic of Ghana. EGYPT Egypt to bolster tourismHotels in the country will be exempt from paying contributions to the tourism promotion authority and fees paid by charter flights will be cut to help Egypt's tourism industry deal with the global financial meltdown.
BrandingSOUTH AFRICA Brand Leadership leads Ghana's National Democratic Congress' successful election campaign - Brand Leadership South African-based Brand Leadership Group has been central to the election campaign that ensured that Professor Atta Mills, the presidential candidate for Ghana's leading opposition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), was sworn in as the next president of the Republic of Ghana.
DigitalAFRICA African countries make good impression during 2008The year 2008 proved to be one of the most successful periods in the advancement of information and technology for emerging African companies and the world's established firms. UGANDA Uganda resumes fibre optic cable construction[Walter Wafula] Sixteen new districts will be hooked onto Uganda's National Data Transmission Backbone in 2009 once construction of the second phase of the broadband cable begins. Over 1,500 kilometres of optical fibre cable will be constructed to extend the communication infrastructure to more towns.
Education and TrainingEGYPT Egypt technology taken to schoolsAmerican superconductor giant, Intel, is continuing to see its Egypt footprint grow with a number of initiatives aimed at promoting the country's struggling education system.
MediaKENYA Kibaki relooks at 'draconian' media lawAttorney General, Amos Wako will review the Kenya Communications 2008 Bill signed fve days ago by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki. The bill which drew public outcry will be studied by Wako and Information and Communication Minister Samuel Poghisio who will then make recommendations. The Bill will then be returned to parliament for further debate. ZIMBABWE Fees raised for foreign journalists in ZimAccording to The Herald, a government run newspaper, government has raised the fees for media operations within the country. All foreign media agencies require a permit to operate in the country. CENTRAL AFRICA Malawi to censor newspaper cartoons[Gregory Gondwe] The Malawi Law Commission currently drafting a Gender Equality Law has suggested the inclusion of a law to regulate the print media, especially newspapers and periodicals, in the way they depict women in cartoon strips.
MobileGHANA MTN hit by another scamMobile services provider MTN which warned subscribers of hoax emails in South Africa recently, has been hit by another scam, this time in Ghana. ZIMBABWE PowerTel rolls out 3G network[Sam Hungwe] Zimbabwe's cable telecommunication firm, PowerTel, has rolled out a 3G network after the country's telecommunications regulator granted 3G licences to all telecommunications players in December.
Online MediaAFRICA African soccer website debuts AMSTERDAM: A website devoted to the coverage of the game of football in Africa, www.africansoccerunion.com has been launched online. The website is being promoted by a team of journalists and stakeholders in African football headed by Eddie Nwafor, the CEO of Winbell Media based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Out Of HomeUGANDA Kampala's outdoor advertising rates set to soar[Walter Wafula] The Kampala City Council (KCC) which is in charge of licensing and regulating activities of outdoor advertisers is finalising a plan to increase fees levied on agencies for erecting billboards across the city by 70%, according to James Kiwanuka, chairman of Uganda Outdoor Contractors Association.
ProductionZIMBABWE Zimbabweans make appeal on film JOHANNESBURG: Citizens of Zimbabwe have issued an urgent appeal to the South African leaders to alleviate their misery. Their anguished voices have been caught on film by a three-member team from CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, which visited Zimbabwe over the Christmas period.
RecruitmentAFRICA Microsoft planning mass-layoffs in JanuaryThousands of workers across the world might experience layoffs at Microsoft come 15 January, 2009. According to CNET News about 15,000 workers, approximately 17% of Microsoft operations worldwide can expect layoffs before the second quarter earnings report scheduled for 22 January.
ResearchSOUTH AFRICA 80-20? Forget itCMO Council research finds 80-20 rule obsolete: today's consumer product market is anything but mass. AFRICA Airlines destined for worst revenue environment in 50 yearsThe International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced its forecast for 2009 showing an industry loss of US$2.5 billion. All regions, except the US, are expected to report larger losses in 2009 than in 2008, and Africa's airlines will face additional challenges.
RetailAFRICA Dubai Shopping Festival 2009The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF 2009), from 15 January to 15 February is set to provide shopping bargains, raffles, promotions, concerts, carnivals and more with over 2,000 retailers and 40 shopping malls including the recently opened Dubai Mall, now the largest mall in the world participating in the festival. AFRICA Malawi's inflation contained at 9.6%[Gregory Gondwe] Despite soaring global oil prices and the world economic crisis Malawi has managed to contain its inflation to 9.6%. Announcing this, the National Statistical Office (NSO) said this is the result of how the economic authority in the country has managed the situation. CENTRAL AFRICA Fifth Malawian stock broking firm opens doorsAfrican Alliance, which is to become Malawi's fifth stock broking firm, is expected to open for business this month. The African Alliance, an international stock broking firm joins the Malawi capital market after Reserve Bank of Malawi and Malawi Stock Exchange granted the firm a licence. WEST AFRICA BENIN: Corrupt microfinance institutions profit from poorestCOTONOU: Local NGOs subcontracted by a multi-million-dollar microfinance programme are taking bribes from borrowers, according to the fund's directors. AFRICA Most expensive global cities survey SINGAPORE: Recent exchange rate fluctuations resulting from this year's economic crisis are having a major impact on the cost of living for expatriates, according to ECA International, a knowledge and solutions provider for international human resources professionals. | 
