Telecommunications equipment supplier Ericsson in partnership with Columbia's University's Earth Institute has set aside Sh600 million to connect African villages to the information super highway.

The High authority of audio-visual and communication (HAAC) of Togo has criticesed the use of SMSees in Togo's election campaign. In a watershed decision the High Court on Tuesday denounced the publication of short messages by a member of the RPT which is the rulling party in Togo to send SMS messages to potential voters.

The Legaletlwa High School has opened a new computer centre to allow school going kids access to the web. The centre was opened by the Minister of Public Service and Administration, Ms Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi. Present at the launch of the centre were Mec of education in Limpopo Dr Aaron Motswaledi, Mayor of greater Sekhukhune municipality His Excellency Namane Masemola, Makhuduthamaga mayor Queen Mkhabela, and the Chief Executive Officer of TSS (Tactical Software Systems) Mr. Danny Mackay.

The MDC has demanded compensation from the Robert Mugabe regime now that terrorism charges have been dropped against dozens of activists who spent nearly four months in custody. Supporters of the opposition party were rounded up in raids in March when the police claimed to have thwarted plans for a campaign of petrol-bombings. The arrests came days after security forces broke up a planned opposition rally and assaulted MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and scores of supporters and party officials.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called on the Senegalese authorities for the release of Moussa Guèye, Editor of the private daily newspaper L’Exclusif, detained for four days after the publication of articles having allegedly offended the President of the Republic and his Principal Private Secretary. Another journalist of L’Exclusif, Justin Ndoye is wanted by the police.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called on the President of the Republic of Niger to intervene to put an end to the repression on the media after the recent arrest of Ibrahim Manzo Diallo, the editor of a private newspaper accused of “working with Radio France Internationale” and the detention of journalist Moussa Kaka on charges of endangering the safety of the state for suspected links with Tuareg rebels. He faces life imprisonment.

On 2 October 2007, Ibrahima N'diaye, a journalist of the privately-owned Nostalgie FM radio station, was clubbed and punched together with other journalists by Red Berets of the Presidential Security Battalion of Guinea. The Red Berets also prevented them from covering the event. A Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) correspondent reported that the journalists were supposed to cover a ceremony being held at the National Communications Council (CNC) hall to celebrate Guinea's 50th Independence anniversary, when they had an encounter with the gun-wielding red berets.

The Government has conceded to the demands made by Zimbabweans to amend the Public Order and Security Act (POSA). Since its inception in 2000, POSA has been used by the ruling party to infringe on the fundamental right to freedom of association, and has been selectively applied to prohibit opposition party rallies and civic organization meetings. This has been viewed as an act of blatant disregard to the right to freedom of expression and association within a democratic society.

Reporters Without Borders calls for the release of reporter Ahmed Aadan Dhere, who was arrested four days ago in the city of Berbera, in the east of the northern breakaway state of Somaliland, and has been held ever since at Berbera police headquarters. Dhere is the correspondent of Haatuf, a privately-owned daily based in the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa.

This article published by the Poverty and Economic Policy Network serves as a toolkit for policy makers addressing transient and chronic poverty in Kenya. It urges that poverty targeting criteria must take into account household sizes, gender of household head, dependency ratios, farm sizes, education attainment and geographic characteristics. The authors suggest that in Kenya, the success of education in reducing poverty depends on primary graduates excelling beyond primary schools.

Reporters Without Borders have strongly condemned the action of the Zimbabwean intelligence services in compiling a blacklist of at least 15 journalists working for independent news media who are to be subjected to "strict surveillance" and other unspecified "measures" in the run-up to next year's presidential and parliamentary elections.

On September 29 plain-clothes police stormed the backstage area at ‘Theatre in the Park’ after a performance of ‘The Final Push,’ a new play by Daniel Maphosa, and arrested actors Sylvanos Mudzvova and Anthony Tongani. James Jemwa, an independent journalist who was filming the play, was also arrested when he questioned the police as to why the actors were being detained. The 3 were taken to a truck and their whereabouts were not known until Monday. Theatre producer Daves Guzha said the actors were held at Harare police headquarters and were then released on Tuesday.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) applauds the efforts taken by coalitions to promote Freedom of Information (FOI) Laws in Africa and reaffirms its unflinching support and collaboration with the stakeholders involved in the process. As the world commemorates the International Right to Know Day, the IFJ reiterate its support to the FOI coalitions in Africa and calls on its affiliates to join the movement in order to guarantee access to information and protection of sources in Africa.

Good journalism can shape public opinion and act as a lever for policy change. It can raise awkward questions and champion the views of poor people. At a time when the world is struggling to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, this PANOS report argues that many international donors are yet to appreciate that a vibrant, independent media sector is essential for development and needs support.

Deputy Director (Communications and fundraising)
AFRA is an independent progressive Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), working with rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal on land rights and rural development issues.

Over 500,000 people in Ghana's rural and peri-urban communities are benefiting from the establishment of about 69 Rural Business Centres (RBCs) aimed at connecting the communities to the outside world and also to educate them on the uses and benefits of ICTs. The centres, established under the Ghana Telecom's eCommerce and Renewable Energy (eCARE) programme has been running since 2003 with just about three of such centres piloted as at 2005.

The South African E-government Learning Network workshop was held recently in Pretoria to learn about Legislative framework that governs ICT, Framework gap analysis, Feedback on the implementation of the frameworks and the way-forward for ICTs in South Africa. 'we are here to learn and understand ICT legislation, to improve service delivery and ensure compliance' said Lufuno Raliphana, director at the Department of Public Service and Administration.

A veteran radio journalist for French broadcaster Radio France Internationale, distinguished for his exclusive coverage of a seventh-month-old armed rebellion in northern Niger, was sent to prison today after four days in police custody on accusations of aiding the rebels, according to local journalists.

Reporters Without Borders is appalled by the attempted murder on 24 September 2007 of privately-owned Radio Shabelle's acting manager, Jafar Mohammed 'Kukay', the latest target of a wave of political killings that seems to be aimed at demonstrating that the transitional federal government is unable to guarantee security in the Somali capital.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today expressed its fear that Chief Ebrima Manneh, who has been missing for more than a year and was reportedly being held incommunicado, has been killed in jail in The Gambia. 'This information is extremely devastating for the media community in The Gambia and journalists around the world', said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa Office. 'We call on the Gambian Police, the NIA and government to provide evidence that Chief Ebrima Manneh is alive as we firmly believe that they know his whereabouts.'