African political ups and down The African political landscape has had its fair share of ups and downs throughout 2008 and into 2009 with elections being held in various states across the continent. Kenya had reports of arson and violence in the aftermath of its 2008 elections and live media coverage was banned during the crisis. Prior to the results from Ghana's run-off elections being revealed in 2009, NDC supporters reportedly converged on the election headquarters demanding that Akufo-Addo or Mills be declared the victor, but riot police and armed soldiers were called in to keep the peace. Zimbabwe's 2008 presidential election was rife with accusations of fraud and ballot rigging after the first round of results were only released a month later. The period following the first round was marked by political violence. Just last week Joao Bernardo Vieira, president of Guinea-Bissau, was shot dead by soldiers and yet the country's citizens went on the next day with business as usual, barely mourning their fallen leader. While noted that every African country has its own economic and socio-political backgrounds that are the cause and effect behind these digressions, my question is, what role does the media play in all this madness; what are our roles and responsibilities? As journalists, we are tasked to remain as neutral as possible and report events as they play out. However is it ever that easy when it comes to election time especially when you're a state media house? On that note, let's go to the forums asking, "Why can most African countries not host peaceful elections?"Sindy Peters, Content manager Send all your Africa marketing news to africa@bizcommunity.com. | Top stories
Marketing
A report outlining the outsourcing readiness of 15 African nations was released at the first Africa Outsourcing Summit organised by CBC Technology earlier last week. Topping the report was Egypt followed by Mauritius, South Africa, Tunisia and Morocco. Read more >>
 [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. Read more >>
Advertising
 The Loerie Awards 2009 is introducing two new awards this year, for promoting the production of non-English radio advertising and the creative use of paper. Entries open on Monday, 16 March 2009, and brand communications industry agencies from Africa, the Middle East, and surrounding island regions have until 15 May to submit their finest work from the past year. Read more >>
Advertisement: Branding
[Sam Hungwe] CAPS United Football Club, a Harare-based outfit, unveiled on Tuesday, 3 March its new Belgian general manager, Luc Verheyen, whom it said would transform the club from a gate-takings only business into a vibrant enterprise making money from its brand recognition. Read more >>
Digital
In an effort to promote research and development of technology and science in the telecommunications field, the World Bank has allocated funds totaling more than US$2.2 billion for 22 projects in Africa. Read more >>
Until recently the Internet in Africa has been the poor relation to the much more successful spread of mobile phones. The experience of Africa's Internet with dial-up connections has been like trying to eat a meal by sucking it through a straw. It's been slow and expensive for the individual user so it's hardly surprising that it has thus far only attracted a relatively small band of users compared to mobile phones. Read more >>
 [Alison Gillwald] As the rest of the world enjoys high broadband penetration rates and low-cost telecommunication services, the proverbial ‘digital divide' in Africa continues to grow. Improving access on the continent is a daunting challenge - but one that must be addressed if countries like South Africa are to continue on a positive growth and development trajectory, especially in light of the global economic challenges that lie ahead. Read more >>
 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. Read more >>
Education and Training
MONROVIA: Women from across Africa, including SA Minerals and Energy Minister, Buyelwa Sonjica, gathered in Liberia at the weekend to debate women empowerment, peace and security and leadership development. Read more >>
[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 >>
Eventing
 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. Read more >>
Advertisement: Media
[Gregory Gondwe] The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has cautioned state media houses; Television Malawi (TVM) and Malawi Broadcasting Station (MBC) to start balancing up their stories in their election coverage. The two institutions are said to be biased towards the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Read more >>
 The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) last week launched a new website to promote its Ethical Journalism Initiative (EJI) campaign about making core values of journalism an integral part in today's media worldwide. Read more >>
EAST AFRICA Ethiopia orders press shake-upThe Ethiopian Broadcasting Agency has ordered all newspapers and magazines to re-register within three months. The regulatory body has also banned proprietors from holding editorial positions in their media establishments. The deputy director of the agency, Desta Tesfaw said the new guidelines would prevent media monopoly and ensure a diversity of opinions in the industry. Critics say the new regulations are intended to restrict media freedom.
Source: Panos London
[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 >>
Mobile
The Grameen Foundation, an organisation dedicated to poverty alleviation through microfinance, technological and financial services, has announced new technology initiatives to improve the delivery of healthcare and information services in Ghana and Uganda. Read more >>
[Nicole McIntyre] Cell phones are now a common part of our everyday lives. But not only is the technology taken for granted, its wide-reaching potential is largely unrecognised. The technology that is found in cell phones and PDAs is currently being applied to improve health services in developing countries. Read more >>
[Sam Hungwe] Econet Wireless is planning to ramp up its subscriber base to nearly two million subscribers, taking its market share to 74% unless the other two networks implement unexpected investments in network expansion. Read more >>
[Gregory Gondwe] The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has said the country will be introducing a new nine-digit national numbering plan for telecommunication services effective 1 April, 2009. Currently Malawi uses a seven-digit format. Read more >>
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 >>
 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. Read more >>
AFRICA Africa fastest growth of cell phonesAfrica 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
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 >>
Newspapers
The newspaper industry in Ghana is being buffeted by an array of challenging forces ranging from changing trends in advertising, rising costs due to the worldwide financial crisis to a decline in circulation arising from economic constraints facing newspaper readers. Read more >>
Online Media
 ANTANANARIVO: "Do people outside care what is really happening here in Madagascar?" asked 'Tahina, sitting in a café while security forces fired shots into the air to clear gangs of looters from the streets of the capital, Antananarivo. Read more >>
Radio
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 >>
Recruitment
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 >>
Research
 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. Read more >>
Retail
HARARE: Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has urged the West to lift sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe to help the country rebuild its economy. In his inaugural address to Parliament Wednesday, 4 March, he said complete removal of the sanctions would help create a conducive environment for the new all-inclusive government to address challenges facing the country. Read more >>
[Adelia Saunders] The global economic crisis should be seen as an opportunity to reform the financial structures of most developed countries, officials said Tuesday, 3 March at the launch of this year's “Going for Growth,” report by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Read more >>
According to VISA, electronic payments are apparently making the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world safer, faster and easier and play a critical role in stimulating economic growth and improving the financial welfare of people around the world. Read more >>
 HARARE: The government's sanctioning of foreign currency for everyday use in Zimbabwe has collapsed the once flourishing - and illegal - currency dealing industry. Read more >>
TV
 Nickelodeon Africa is planning activities in 2009 to highlight the channels appeal to consumers and businesses in southern Africa. Plans for 2009 include the launch of on- and off-air marketing opportunities for brands and companies targeting kids aged 2 - 14. Read more >>
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| AFRICA Why can most African countries not host peaceful elections?
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