SOUTH AFRICA

2010 broadcasting transfer skills looms in SA

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] The 2010 FIFA World Cup is much more than just 64 games and 10 ultra-modern stadiums, where enthusiastic fans cheer 22 determined players chasing a ball. Legacy is more important. This week FIFA said that a large number of South African media and broadcast university students and TV professionals, working for the host broadcaster (SABC), will be involved in the event where unique experience will be gained and a transfer of skills will take place. Read more >>

ZIMBABWE

Harare's Chinese-built stadium ready for 2010

[Michael Hamlyn] Just in case it should happen to be wanted, a 60,000-seater soccer stadium has been completely refurbished in time for the 2010 soccer World Cup in Zimbabwe. Read more >>

AFRICA

African film awards honour SA

[Khanyi Magubane] One of Africa's most prestigious film awards, the African Movie Academy Awards, recently honoured two young South African actors. Litha Booi and Lungelo Dhladhla, both leading actors in the film "Gugu and Andile", were lauded for their outstanding performances. Read more >>

NAMIBIA

Telecom Namibia donation to help empower women in business

Telecom Namibia has donated N$140,000 to the Namibia Businesswomen Projects with the goal of empowering Namibian women. Read more >>

ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe government to deliver internet access to rural communities

The Zimbabwean government has announced a plan to open internet cafes in rural areas of the country, in an effort to bring the advantages of technology to remote and impoverished communities. Read more >>

AFRICA

SAE calls for African Animation Scholarship applicants

The SAE Institute is calling for African candidates for the African Animation Scholarship programme. SAE Cape Town is offering 10 scholarships for sub-Saharan African students and five South African students. Read more >>

WEST AFRICA

West Africa: Combating world's lowest literacy rates

DAKAR: Illiteracy rates in West Africa are the highest in the world, cramping development and weakening citizens' power to effect socio-economic and political change, say education agencies, who are calling on governments and donors to step up literacy and education efforts. Read more >>

ZIMBABWE

Zim: Fixed line licence sets off row in government

[Sam Hungwe] Plans by Information and Communications Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa to re-issue TeleAccess (Zimbabwe) a second fixed line operator's licence had incensed President Robert Mugabe, sources said. Read more >>

BOTSWANA

Botswana media head down the Zimbabwe path

[Simbarashe Nembaware] GABORONE: The Media Practitioners Act (MPA) and the Intelligence and Security Act (ISA) recently enacted by the state “as a way of bringing accountability to the media” and safe guarding sovereignty have been described by journalists here as draconian legislatures that trample on democracy by muzzling the media and usurping basic civil rights. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Goodbye Snuki: SABC board announces changes

BREAKING NEWS: The contract of Snuki Zikalala, SABC head of news and current affairs, will not be renewed when it expires at the end of April 2009, several international news bureaux will be closed down and the number of board committees will be reduced, the SABC board announced in a press statement today, Tuesday, 28 April 2009, shortly after midday. Read more >>

EAST AFRICA

Madagascar media censored again - RSF

Reporters Without Borders has condemned the return of censorship to Madagascar in the form of orders to the state-owned media not to cover opposition demonstrations. The press freedom organisation is also worried by the closure of Radio Mada, a station that supports former President Marc Ravalomanana, and acts of vandalism against other pro-Ravalomanana media. Read more >>

WEST AFRICA

IFJ urges end to suspension of interactive broadcasts in Togo

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on Wednesday, 22 April 2009 called on the High Authority of Audio-visual and Communication (HAAC), the official regulatory body of the media in Togo, to lift the suspension of interactive emissions on radio and television stations in Togo. Read more >>

AFRICA

Mi-Fone launches low-cost handset across Africa

Mi-Fone, an African mobile device company, plans to release it's lowest-cost handset to date in Africa during the second quarter of 2009. The Mi-X, which has a black and white LCD screen, sms capability, alarm and phonebook functions will retail at US$15. Read more >>

ZIMBABWE

Telecom sale tests Zimbabwe's privatisation plans

HARARE: The sale of Zimbabwe's state-owned mobile phone operator NetOne, a first key test for the new government's massive privatisation plan, is generating huge interest, the company's CEO told AFP. Read more >>

AFRICA

Mixed fortunes for Africa's telecoms operators

[Lesley Stones] Africa's mobile telecoms market is becoming an increasingly divided world, with huge profits raked in by the top-tier players while almost half the continent's operators are bleeding money. Read more >>

AFRICA

A24 Media partners with Mail & Guardian

NAIROBI: The Mail & Guardian Media group, has partnered with A24 Media to expand the range of photographs available through the online platform. The South African company will be providing A24 Media with images through its newspaper, Mail & Guardian, which focuses on politics, government, civil society and business news. Read more >>

NIGERIA

Victoria N'dee Uwadoka, keynote speaker at BarCamp Nigeria

Victoria N'dee Uwadoka will be speaking at the BarCamp being hosted in Lagos, Nigeria on Saturday, 25 April, 2009. BarCamp is an international network of user-generated conferences open, participatory workshop events, with content provided by participants. Uwadoka works with Microsoft Nigeria as the PR and events manager for Anglophone West Africa. She manages the company's image agenda, media relationships, agency support and strategic events in the area. For more about BarCamp Nigeria, go to www.barcampnigeria.com.

EAST AFRICA

Hill & Knowlton expands into East Africa

LONDON: International communications consultancy Hill & Knowlton is expanding in Africa with the launch of a new public relations company in a joint venture with Scangroup Limited. The new company is called Hill & Knowlton East Africa. Read more >>

AFRICA

Yahoo! reports sagging profit and job cuts

SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo! on Tuesday, 21 April 2009 reported that its net profit slumped nearly 80% in the first three months of the year and that it will trim its workforce by five percent to cut costs. Read more >>

AFRICA

Kenya to host 8th AGOA Forum and Exhibition

The Government of Kenya, in association with the Government of the United States, will host the 8th US-sub-Saharan African Trade Forum (AGOA Forum) at Kenyatta International Conference Centre from 3 - 6 August, 2009 in Nairobi, Kenya. Read more >>

AFRICA

African experts to tackle agricultural challenges

ADDIS ABABA: After two days of deliberations, the meeting of African experts on Agriculture, Land and Livestock ended on Wednesday, 22 April at the Headquarters of the African Union (AU), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Read more >>

AFRICA

Institute's diploma course makes inroads into Africa

The Institute of Packaging in SA (Ipsa) has concluded an education and training agreement with Ghana, with other African countries also being considered. In terms of this agreement, Ghana will operate Ipsa's diploma course under licence, with lectures being drawn from local packaging practitioners. Read more >>

AFRICA

Q&A: Joint responsibility for changing the global economy

PRETORIA: African trade ministers who met in Addis Ababa at the African Union (AU) in March urged world leaders to "place African economic development at the centre of international efforts to build strategies towards the recovery of the global economy" ahead of the G20 summit in London. Paula Fray interviews Trevor Manuel, South African finance minister. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Outdoor branding with the Cabana Shade Gazebo - Right Stuff

Innovation is the key to success, and the all-new Cabana Shade Gazebo is not only innovative and unique, but it's also becoming quite a success in the popularity department. Read more >>