NORTH AFRICAGovernment closes Niamey's press house
NIGER: Reporters Without Borders is baffled by the communication ministry's decision on 30 June 2008 to close down Niamey's House of the Press, a centre used by journalists for various activities, including training seminars organised by the French and US embassies. 9 Jul 2008 09:36

BOTSWANAControversial media practitioners' bill announced
On 27 June 2008, the government of Botswana gazetted a media practitioners' bill which is expected to regulate the media by, among other things, setting up a statutory press council. The bill also seeks to register media practitioners residing in Botswana and provides for hefty penalties for any violation of the law. As an example, anyone contravening the regulations stipulated in the bill would be liable for a penalty of 5,000 Botswana pulas (approximately US$750) or three months in prison. 8 Jul 2008 14:51

SOUTH AFRICADiageo Africa Business Reporting Awards winners
LONDON: The winners of the 2008 Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards were announced last night, Thursday, 3 July 2008, at a gala ceremony in London. Now in its fifth year, the awards honour business journalism focusing on Africa, thus attracting contestants from around the globe. 4 Jul 2008 10:53

ZAMBIAZambia: Reports of the President's death "erroneous"
The Zambian government insisted today that President Levy Mwanawasa was alive - denying media reports he had died in a Paris hospital - and described South African President Thabo Mbeki's minute of silence in respect of his counterpart at a rally in Pretoria as "erroneous". 4 Jul 2008 06:39

ZAMBIAZambia slams SA media: The President is not dead
NEWSWATCH: In a report issued by Sapa/I-Net Bridge, Zambia's country chief government spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti, has hit out at South African media for stoking rumours that President Levy Mwanawasa is dead. 3 Jul 2008 18:19

AFRICAAfrica Convention 2008 honours Thomas Mapfumo
The Africa Convention has chosen Thomas Mapfumo as the honouree for this year's event, awarding him the Icon of Africa Award for his tireless work and advocacy against oppression and dictatorship in Africa. 3 Jul 2008 15:18

UGANDANew Vision seeks expansion capital from ordinary shareholders
New Vision, Uganda's latest multimedia player in the information sector, has embarked on a grand plan to amass UGX28bn, which it plans to invest in the expansion of its publishing, radio and television businesses. 3 Jul 2008 12:40

SOUTHERN AFRICAZimbabwe: SADC's big headache
If the Southern African Development Community (SADC) "wished to be taken seriously" it would have to declare Robert Mugabe's presidential claim illegitimate, a regional analyst told IRIN. 1 Jul 2008 07:48

ZIMBABWEWe've done enough damage. All we can do is send food
[Simon Jenkins] Robert Mugabe is making a mockery of liberal interventionism. He has become God's gift to cartoonists, politicians and commentators. He is depicted wielding clubs dripping in blood. He stands triumphant over a pile of skulls. He is Bokassa out of Idi Amin out of Charles Taylor. He is that old familiar, the African heart of darkness, monstrous, buffoonish, grotesque and evil. If Britain, as Kipling jeered, were ever capable of "killing Kruger with your mouth", Mugabe would long be dead. 30 Jun 2008 14:54

NORTH AFRICAAttempt to restrict satellite broadcasting, electronic media continues
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has spoken out against the efforts of the ministerial council of Arab information ministers, held in the headquarters of the Arab League from 20 - 21 June 2008, to further restrict satellite television broadcasting. 27 Jun 2008 13:53

EAST AFRICASomali journalists trained to survive captivity
The International News Safety Institute (INSI) and its Somalia partner, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), has provided safety training to 48 Somali journalists and other media staff in Djibouti. 27 Jun 2008 12:12

ZIMBABWEZim vendor arrested for listening to ‘wrong' station
A street vendor has been arrested and faces a jail term of as much as six months for listening to critical radio program. In addition, his newspaper copies were seized. 24 Jun 2008 09:07

SOUTHERN AFRICAMalawian journo pulled from China media tour
The Chinese Embassy in Malawi has removed Wisdom Chimgwede, Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) editor, from the list of journalists travelling to China on a media tour it sponsored after receiving instructions from Malawi's Ministry of Information and Civic Education. The visit was slated to begin on 21 June 2008. The ministry had earlier on accused the journalist of writing negatively about the government. 23 Jun 2008 15:11