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.