Media Monitor & Intelligence Update

Media Monitor Wednesday 13th January 2010

Quote of the Day:

‘I will return’- Nigerian president Yar’Adua breaks his silence and promises retention of power.


AFRICAN POLITICS

Nigeria protests grow as president clings to power - The Financial Times – (UK)
13 January 2010
Umaru Yar'Adua, Nigeria's stricken president, faced pressure from the streets, the courts and his country's parliament yesterday as critics demanded that he hand over power Full Story

EAC puts deeper defence ties high on 2010 agenda – Business Daily (KEN)
12 January 2010
East African states plan to reinforce their defences this year as a foundation for a future political federation following the launch of a common market. Full Story

Terror: Nigeria meets US, wants change of status – Vanguard (NG)
13 January 2010
The Federal Government yesterday engaged the United States, US, at high level of diplomatic talks when Vice President Goodluck Jonathan met with visiting US Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security, Ms. Jane Holl Lute Full Story

Wounded Guinean military leader arrives in Burkina Faso - BBC (UK)
13 January 2010
The wounded leader of Guinea's military junta, Capt Moussa Dadis Camara, has arrived in Burkina Faso from Morocco, where he was receiving treatment. Full Story

Mozambique and China sign agreements of co-operation – Club of Mozambique (MZ)
13 January 2010
Two agreements have been signed between Mozambique and China, the Notícias has reported. Full Story

Shortage of funds threatens ICC trials – Guardian (BG)
12 January 2010
International Criminal Court (ICC) faces serious logistical and legal challenges in 2010 as financial constraints could force three major trials into a single courtroom. Full Story


AFRICAN ECONOMY

‘Cautious optimism’ on factory recovery – Business Day (SA)
13 January 2010
Factory output contracted less sharply than expected in November, suggesting the economy’s second-biggest sector would continue to recover, boosting overall growth. Full Story

Rwanda registers a slight increase in Inflation - New Times (RW)
13 January 2010
During the month of November, Rwanda’s inflation, which reflects the general increase in prices of goods and services, rose to 5.93 percent, up 0.23 percent from the previous month. Full Story

Rand Firmer on Foreign Supply – I-Net Bridge (SA)
13 January 2010
The South African rand firmed a fraction by midday on Wednesday on the back of foreign supply of US dollars, a local currency trader noted. Full Story

JK govt lures more US investors to Tanzania – The Guardian (TZ)
13th January 2010
President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has succeeded where his predecessors had failed in luring more North American investors to Tanzania. Full Story

AFRICAN BUSINESS

Banking and Finance

Nigerian insurers, banks spur Ghanaian, others’ economies – Vanguard (NG)
12 January 2010
The emergence of Nige rian insurance companies and banks in other countries like Ghana, Rwanda, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Tunis, Kenya and Cameroon have helped to boost the economies of these countries. Full Story

Oil and Energy

Oil prices fall to near $81 on reports of warmer weather - The Guardian (NG)
13 January 2010
Oil prices fell to near $81 a barrel yesterday on expectations that the frigid cold spell in parts of the U.S., Europe and Asia will ease in coming weeks, weakening crude demand. Full Story

IDC looking at viability of polysilicon plant in SA - Engineering News (SA)
13 January 2010
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is planning to initiate a study into the viability of a polysilicon plant in South Africa, as interest in the solar energy market continues to grow. Full Story

Zimbabwe halts Namibia power from ailing plant – Reuters (AF)
13 January 2010
Zimbabwe's government has ordered power utility ZESA to stop electricity exports to Namibia until a thermal station repaired under a bilateral deal is able to meet the agreed supply quota, state media reported on Wednesday. Full Story

Technology and Communications

Sumbandila satellite commissioning process on course - Engineering News (SA)
13 January 2010
The commissioning of South Africa’s Sumbandila microsatellite (SumbandilaSat) has been progressing well, despite a couple of glitches. Full Story

Airtime tax to fight Aids scourge – Daily Nation (KEN)
12 January 2010
A new tax on cellphone airtime and air travel could soon be introduced to finance HIV/Aids projects in the country if a proposal by a UN official is adopted. Full Story

Transport & Infrastructure

Rwandair hit by financial losses – The New Times (RW)
13 January 2010
An internal disagreement on the procurement procedures in Rwandair, the country’s national carrier, is setting a stage for controversy with some employees alleging a tender to purchase staff uniforms was messed up … Full Story

NIMASA, shipping firms meet over N168.9bn debt –Vanguard (NG)
13 January 2010
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is to meet with shipping firms over a debt of N168.9billion owed NIMASA from the three percent freight rate paid on all in and out bound cargoes. Full Story

Regional ports plan meeting to promote cruise tourism – Club of Mozambique (MZ)
13 January 2010
The Cruise Indian Ocean Association (CIOA) will host a meeting in Durban in May to market facilities and tourist attractions in the South and East African Indian Ocean. Full Story

Agriculture

Agency orders probe into edible oils cartel - Business Daily (KEN)
13 January 2010
Consumers of sugar and edible oils are buying them above the market price as manufacturers and distributors rake in huge profits from price fixing. Full Story

American investor eyes poultry industry – The New Times (RW)
13 January 2010
Rwanda’s unexploited poultry business is set for a huge boost following the interest of an American investor. Full Story

Kenyan sugar output up as imports drop – The Nation (KEN)
13 January 2010
Kenyan sugar production rose 7.8 per cent in the first nine months of 2009 to 405,835 tonnes and imports fell to 110,521 tonnes, an industry body said on Tuesday. Full Story

Manica Produced One Million Tonnes of Surplus Crop – Club of Mozambique (MZ)
13 January 2010
The central Mozambican province of Manica produced over one million tonnes of surplus crops during the 2009 harvest, reports Tuesday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias”. Full Story

Other

Shoprite posts rise in turnover – Business Day (SA)
13 January 2010
Africa’s biggest grocer Shoprite Holdings posted a rise in first-half turnover as an increase in sales in its core South African market offset a drop in its supermarket operations elsewhere. Full Story

FG, states, councils share N4.17tr in 2009 – The Guardian (NG)
13 January 2010
The three tiers of government in the country received N4.174 trillion from the Federation Account, a joint cash pool of all federally generated revenue throughout the country last year. Full Story

AFRICAN ENVIRONMENT

Rains displace 180 families in Kinyinya – New Times (RW)
13 January 2010
A heavy downpour Sunday night left over 180 families in Rugarama village Kinyinya Sector in Gasabo District seeking shelter elsewhere with several houses damaged and on a verge of collapse. Full Story

MP seeks relief aid for Hedaru floods victims – The Guardian (TZ)
13 January 2010
Food Security and Co-operatives deputy minister David Mathayo yesterday called for immediate support to flood victims in Hedaru, Same District, Kilimanjaro Region. Full Story

Government urged to help farmers fight armyworms – The Guardian (TZ)
13 January 2010
The central government has been asked to make a quick response and help farmers in the fight against armyworms currently wrecking havoc in most parts of the country Full Story

Media Monitor & Intelligence Update

http://www.africapractice.com

Tuesday 12th January 2010

Quote of the Day:

“We hope to use ICT to ease teaching challenges where teacher shortages remain a problem. The ministry is exploring various intervention measures that will create the necessary conditions to access education more easily,” Kenyan Education minister, Sam Ongeri


AFRICAN POLITICS

Nigeria's ailing President Yar'Adua breaks silence - BBC (UK)
12 January 2010
Nigeria's president, not seen in public since going into hospital in Saudi Arabia for heart treatment in November, has told the BBC he is recovering. Full story.

NRM wars take centre stage today - Daily Monitor (UG)
12 January 2010
Vice President Gilbert Bukenya and Trade Minister Kahinda Otafiire in separate interviews said it would be unwise for today’s meeting to ignore the matter, which cushions party discipline ahead of the 2011 elections. Full story.

MPs take over Treasury powers in revised draft - Business Daily (KEN)
12 January 2010
A drastic shift in the management of the country’s finances could be in the offing if a proposal in the revised draft constitution to abolish the Treasury and replace it with two teams in charge of allocating revenue and monitoring expenditures finds its way in the statute books. Full story.

Constitutional Review Commission inaugurated - Ghana Web (GH)
12 January 2010
President John Evans Atta Mills on Monday inaugurated a nine-member Constitutional Review Commission, to review the current 1992 Ghana Constitution with a call on them to be impartial in their deliberations. Full story.

New speaker for Mozambican parliament - Club of Mozambique (MZ)
12 January 2010
Veronica Macamo, of Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo Party, will be elected unopposed as chairperson (speaker) of the country’s newly-elected parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, at its first sitting on Tuesday. Full story.

AFRICAN ECONOMY

Recession ‘could shift factory jobs to Africa’ - Business Day (SA)
12 January 2010
The global recession could end only in 2012, but Africa could take advantage of a likely shift in manufacturing jobs to the continent. Full story.

Sub-Sahara Africa Stocks: CMC, Kenya Electricity, Sasini Move - Bloomberg (US)
12 January 2010
Kenya’s All-Share Index rose to a one-year high, adding 0.3 percent to 59.64 at 10:55 in Nairobi. Full story.

Softer rand in ranges - News 24 (SA)
12 January 2010
The rand softened by midday on Tuesday, but remained range bound, tracking the euro amid very little economic data. Full story.

Market capitalisation rises by N96 billion on the Exchange - Guardian (NG)
12 January 2010
Equity transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, which started the year on an upbeat continued yesterday, when the market reopened for the second week, as more blue chip stocks continued to record price appreciation, causing market capitalisation to rise further by N96 billion. Full story.

AFRICAN BUSINESS

Banking & Finance

BRD’s credit fund for MFIs to hit Rwf5 billion - New Times (RW)
12 January 2010
Rwanda Development Bank (BRD) is this year planning to increase their credit fund that avails finances to Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) to Rwf5 billion, Business Times has learnt. Full story.

CBN okays open bidding for distressed banks - Vanguard (NG)
11 January 2010
Govenor of CBN, Mr Lamido Sanusi said, yesterday, that capitalisation was not the major problem with banks, rather lack of corporate governance and mis-management… Full story.

Foreign investors raise stake in Kenya's I&M Bank - Reuters (UK)
12 January 2010
French and German development agencies with a stake in Kenya's I&M Bank have injected an additional $17 million into the bank and increased their shareholding, the bank said. Full story.

Oil & Energy

Heritage Oil silent on plan to sell shares - Daily Monitor (UG)
12 January 2010
Heritage Oil Plc, one of the four companies exploring oil in western Uganda, yesterday remained silent on intentions to either list or cross-list its shares in Uganda like Tullow Oil Plc is planning to do. Full story.

Metals & Mining

Zambia Jan-Nov 2009 copper production up: c.bank - Reuters (UK)
12 January 2010
Copper output in Zambia, the number one producer of the metal in Africa, rose to 636,528 tonnes from January to November 2009 versus 536,460 tonnes in the same period the previous year, the central bank said on Tuesday. Full story.

Transport & Infrastructure

Future Kenya Port Could Mar Pristine Land - New York Times (US)
12 January 2010
The evening call to prayer here is like a summons, for everyone on the island. Full story.

ATCL out to boost flights - The Guardian (TZ)
12 January 2010
Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) has leased an aircraft from an American firm, Celtic Capital Air Corporation to revamp its operations. Full story.

China injects $39m into TAZARA ops - Times of Zambia (ZAM)
12 January 2010
The Chinese government has given the financially crippled Tanzania-Zambia Railways Authority (TAZARA) US$39 million interest-free loan to revive its operations, Communication and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa has said. Full story.

Technology & Communication

Education ministry bets on ICT to link institutions - Business Daily (KEN)
12 January 2010
The Education ministry is gearing up for a series of ICT investments aimed at strengthening ties between institutions . Full story.

Mauritania launches media campaign against terrorism, extremism - Xinhua (CH)
11 January 2010
Mauritania is launching a large-scale media campaign against the dangers of terrorism and extremism, according to the local press agency ANI. Full story.

Agriculture

Kenyan Tea, Coffee Production to Rise Due to Torrential Rains - Bloomberg (US)
12 January 2010
Kenya, the world’s biggest grower of black tea, may see a 10 percent rise in output of the leaves in January following torrential rains that have fallen since December, said Peter Kegode, an agricultural economist. Full story.

Other

UN says Millennium Villages Projects helps halt mother-to-child infections across Africa - Xinhua News (CH)
12 January 2010
United Nations officials said on Monday that its Millennium Villages Projects (MVP) have helped to drastically reduce month-to-child HIV transmissions across Africa. Full story.

AFRICAN ENVIRONMENT

Kenya confronts floods - Capital News (KEN)
12 January 2010
Kenya has set aside Sh4.5 billion to assist those affected by floods following the on-going El Nino rains. Full story.

Green Belt Initiative Taking Shape - IPS
11 January 2010
Let the rains fail, even for several successive seasons, and Malawi should still be able to produce enough to feed itself.¨ Full story.

Oguaa MCE Commends Eco Brigade - Ghanaian Chronicle (GH)
11 January 2010
The Cape Coast Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Anthony Egyir Aikins, on Thursday commended the newly commissioned Eco Brigade in Cape Coast for maintaining a high sense of duty at the various beaches. Full story.

MORE INFORMATION

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Media Monitor & Intelligence Update

Monday 11th January 2010

Quote of the day:

"Let us deepen the new and strategic Sino-African cooperation through reinforcing our cooperation which should be characterized by equality and mutual respect on the political front, a win-win economic cooperation and reciprocal cultural exchanges," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, on a five-nation African trip

AFRICAN POLITICS

As football begins, west is warned: don't stereotype whole of Africa – The Guardian (UK)
11 January 2010
Thousands of fans descended on Angola's national stadium last night for what should have been a moment of national pride, the jamboree that was supposed to be the 27th Africa Cup of Nations. Full story.

Ghana's gov't condemns gun attack on Togolese football team – Xinhua (CH)
10 January 2010
Ghana's government has on Sunday condemned what it termed the unjustified and unfortunate machine gun attack on the Togolese national football team in Angola on Friday. Full story.

Nigerian president health rumours escalate – Financial Times (UK)
11 January 2010
Claims by a leading Nigerian newspaper that the president, Umaru Yar’Adua, is too ill to return to office have fuelled tension ahead of planned demonstrations and a national assembly debate about the ailing leader’s prolonged absence. Full story.

MPs block e-governance project over shoddiness – Daily Monitor (UG)
11 January 2010
The House committee on Information, Communication and Technology says it will authorise implementation of the $60 million (Shs114b) project only after officials offer proper accountability for the national fibre-optic backbone phase I expenditures. Full story.

Angola 'arrests' after Togo football team attack – BBC (UK)
11 January 2010
Angolan authorities have arrested two people over a deadly attack on Togo's football team at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, state media says. Full story.

Drummers gather at No 10 for Sudan peace campaign – BBC (UK)
9 January 2010
Campaigners have kept up a drum beat opposite Downing Street to urge the government to do more to prevent bloodshed in Sudan. Full story.

Chinese FM calls for strengthening of new Sino-African strategic partnership – Xinhua (CH)
11 January 2010
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who is on a five-nation African trip, is calling for the strengthening of the new Sino-African partnership "characterized by equality and mutual respect on the political front, a win-win economic cooperation and reciprocal cultural exchanges." Full story.

Nigeria's VP seeks modern army to maintain influence – Reuters (UK)
11 January 2010
Nigerian Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, who has taken over ceremonial duties for an ailing president, called for the modernization of the country's military on Sunday to maintain its influence in Africa. Full story.

AFRICAN ECONOMY

Kenya Foreign Exchange Reserves $3.3b on Jan. 8 Vs $2.8b Year Ago – Bloomberg (US)
11 January 2010
Kenya’s foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank rose to $3.3 billion, equivalent to 3.59 months of import, as of Jan. 8, compared with $2.8 billion, or 3.33 months of imports, the bank said in a weekly report. Full story.

2000-2009 was a defining period for Kenya; now let’s build on the gains – The East African (KEN)
10 January 2010
When Kenyans examine the decade from 2000-2009, they come to one conclusion: They have seen it all — triumphs, failures and the abominable. But let’s go for the good, shall we? Full story.

Ghana Faces Worrying Brain Drain – VOA (US)
10 January 2010
IOM spokesman, Jean-Philippe Chauzy, tells VOA a growing number of highly skilled young professionals are heading toward countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. Full story.

Manufacturing tops Uganda investments – Daily Monitor (UG)
11 January 2010
In total, Uganda Investment Authority licenced a total of 358 projects in various sectors, with planned investment of $1.6 billion expected to create 70,289 jobs for the population. Full story.

AFRICAN BUSINESS

Oil & Energy

S. Africa Must Choose Between Jobs and Power Supply – Bloomberg (US)
11 January 2010
South Africa’s power regulator will this week be told by labor unions and companies that the electricity price increases that the national power utility says it needs to avoid blackouts will slow economic growth, boost inflation and cost jobs. Full story.

Tullow to sell shares to Ugandans in April – Daily Monitor (UG)
11 January 2010
Tullow Oil, which is listed on both the London and Irish Stock Exchanges in the UK and Ireland respectively, plans to sell its shares locally through the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE) in Kampala, starting this April. Full story.

Metals & Mining

Interpol put on alert over ‘smuggling’ of diamonds – The Times (UK)
11 January 2010
A British mining company has warned Interpol that it believes that the Zimbabwean Government is preparing to sell stolen diamonds. Full story.

Technology & Communication

Mobile money turns Kenya into global transfers hub – Business Daily (KEN)
11 January 2010
As the mobile phone sector stands poised to pose its stiffest challenge yet to the financial sector in the coming months, the country’s profile as the world’s innovation hub in the mobile finances market is on the rise. Full story.

Zain expands ‘Zap’, extends service to Malawi, Niger & S/Leone – Vanguard (NG)
11 January 2010
Zain, mobile telecommunications provider in the Middle East and Africa, has announced the expansion of ‘Zap’, its mobile service to some other African nations of Niger , Sierra Leone and Malawi. Full story.

M-Mobile to produce double SIM phones – Times of Zambia (ZAM)
11 January 2010
M-Mobile Telecommunication Company, Zambia’s first mobile phone manufacturing plant, will start producing phones with capacity to accommodate double SIM cards starting next month, chairperson Mohammed Seedat has said. Full story.

Agriculture

Kenya farmers to get insurance – The East African (KEN)
10 January 2010
Crop and livestock farmers in Kenya will soon benefit from insurance to mitigate the risks associated with the occupation. Full story.

Transport & Infrastructure

More Cargo Handled by Ports, Less by Railways – Club of Mozambique (MZ)
11 January 2010
Mozambique's public owned Ports and Railways Company (CFM) recorded a drop in the volume of cargo carried by the country's railways, but figures for the cargo handled by the ports showed a 4.2 increase in January-October 2009, compared with the same period in 2008. Full story.

Other

The Food, Beverages and Tobacco Sector – This Day (NG)
11 January 2010
In our view, turnover growth for companies in the food, beverages and tobacco (FBT) sector in 2010 will largely be driven by the increased availability of credit to the private sector. Full story.

SMC extends CSR to Africa – Vanguard (NG)
11 January 2010
SMC Swiss University, one of the world’s online university has expanded its CSR campaign to Africa . Full story.

AFRICAN ENVIRONMENT

The Other Side of Mau – The Standard (KEN)
11 January 2010
President Kibaki and Prime minister Raila Odinga will on Friday each take a spade and plant a tree in Mau Forest, crowning a new political chapter in Kenya. Full story.

EDM Denies Responsibility for Water Shortages – Club of Mozambique (MZ)
11 January 2010
Mozambique's publicly-owned electricity company, EDM, has rejected claims by the privately managed water company, Aguas de Maputo (AdM), that current problems in water distribution in Maputo are due to power cuts. Full story.