Leaders and representatives of journalists' trade unions, associations and press freedom organizations from 11 countries in Eastern Africa have resolved to carry out an effective and collective campaign against repressive media laws and the culture of impunity against journalists and the media as well as to collaborate to address working conditions of media professionals in the region to enhance quality and ethical journalism.

This week's AfricaFocus Bulletin contains this article from the latest Balancing Act Africa (http://www.balancingact-africa.com) on the rapid expansion of mobile internet access in Africa. Also included: a link to a new book on "Mobile Phones: The New Talking Drums of Everyday Africa" (http://www.africafocus.org/books/isbn.php?9956558532) featuring case studies of Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Sudan, and Tanzania; excerpts from another recent article from Balancing Act Africa on the rapid advance of mobile phones for cash transfers in Kenya; and report on a South African initiative to promote a strategy to deliver broadband internet access available to all South Africans (http://www.apc.org/en/node/8361/).

Zimbabwe’s unity government is stuttering in its attempt at restoring press freedom in a country which had once branded independent journalists as ‘enemies of the state’. The Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) has boycotted a state-initiated national media summit which kicked off on May 6 in the resort town of Kariba. They are protesting the re-arrest and detention on May 5 of 18 human rights activists, including Zimbabwe Peace Project director, Jestina Mukoko, and freelance journalist, Andrisson Manyere, on charges including treason, terrorism and banditry.

The number of people in Africa using their mobile to access the Internet has rocketed over the last year. In many instances the number of mobile Internet subscribers far outstrips their fixed line equivalent. Sinking voice ARPUs may finally come off their downward curve on the rise of data revenues. Cheaper bandwidth and new developments look set to encourage this growth. The mobile is also a media as increasing numbers of people use it to access stuff and as it establishes itself as a media, advertisers will not be far behind.

A High Court Judge has postponed the bail application of journalist Shadreck Manyere, MDC Director of Security Chris Dhlamini, and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s former aide Gandhi Mudzingwa, because the State said it needed more time to prepare a response. This is in spite of the fact that 13 other co-accused persons, including Jestina Mukoko, were finally freed on bail on Wednesday.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged the Governor of the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern province of North Kivu to ensure the safety of journalists. The committee also expressed concern about the safety of journalist Tuver Wundi Muhindo following an armed attack on his home.

The East Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSY) will be operational in June 2010 instead of June this year, according to a project official. The delay means that the cable, owned by African and international telecommunications operators, is again the subject of speculation and allegations about the lack of seriousness of the project developers. A rival project, the Sea Cable System (SEACOM), has already announced that it will be operational as scheduled in June this year.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the arrest of Evariste A. Ramanantoanina, a journalist working with Radio Mada, which occurred on Tuesday 5 May at his residence located in the district of Andrononobe Analamahitsy. “We are concerned by the lack of security for journalists in Madagascar.

A way may be emerging for East African countries to circumvent the mess in telecommunications in the region - and it is rising out of the sea. From having no undersea cable links to the rest of the world, East Africa is now poised to have three. As a result, many businesses are investing in finger-sized underwater fibre-optic cables that will open doors to the rest of the world.

For over 27 years President Mubarak has ruled with an iron fist. With protests and strikes forbidden, activists are finding new ways to fight for democracy. Through Facebook, protestors can now find a voice.

is campaigning to ensure that a US senate bill to compensate black farmers in the South for discrimination gives them the money they deserve, rather than capping the total amount available at $100 million, which would only cover a small part of the total amount the government owes them.

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) expressed its strong condemnation and dismay at the continued detention since 3 October 2008 of the Christian blogger, Hani Nazeer, by state security. His arrest was carried out in coordination with the Church in Naga Hammadi, his hometown in Qena Governorate. Nazeer is the author of the .

On 15 April 2009, MISA-Mozambique denounced the intimidation of two radio journalists in the northern province of Niassa, one of whom was illegally detained by the police. Felismino Jamissone is a producer for a community radio station in the Niassa district of Mecanhelas. He produces a programme on human rights, which has frequently interviewed Mecanhelas citizens who are severely critical of the police.

On 27 April 2009, Nigeria's broadcast regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), fined private radio station Adaba FM 500,000 Naira (approx. US$3,350) for allegedly transmitting on 25 April "materials that were capable of inciting members of the public to violence and consequently leading to breakdown of law and order", while covering the re-run of the governorship elections in Ekiti State in the southwest.

For 15% of the cost of a normal 160 character SMS message in Kenya you can now send one with 1000 characters in it. Sembuse is a mobile social network. It’s a way for East Africans to connect with each other via short messaging, cheaper than normal SMS messages (much like it’s counterpart Mxit in South Africa). It’s a new release by Symbiotic, a Kenyan firm that specializes in making mobile phone related applications.

I-Network, the IICD-supported national Information and Communication Network in Uganda assisted in forming a protection association for Ugandan Information and Communication Technology (ICT) consumers. The association was officially launched on March 20 in Kampala.

With the International Monetary Fund gaining new prominence and new resources following last month G20 summit in London, debate is intensifying on to what extent promises for reform in the institution are illusory. In a report released last week, the Global Campaign for Education looked at the implications for education, concluding that so far policy changes by the Fund in response to the global recession are more cosmetic than substantive. This AfricaFocus Bulletin contains a press release and excerpts from the full report, which provides a detailed analysis of the impact of IMF policy mandates on the education sector in developing countries.

Laying of the Sh10.4 billion ($130 million) undersea fibre optic cable -the East Africa Marine System (TEAMs)- started on Friday and is expected to take two months in a race to beat the June deadline. This follows inspection of the manufactured cables, trenching equipment and commissioning of the shore-end cable at the Fujairah port by board members of the TEAMs project in United Arab Emirates.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called for the release of three journalists and the reopening of the private radio Jubbaa in Baidoa, Somalia. “The attacks on press freedom are becoming worse and worse in this country, especially with the Al Shabaab militia who have being doing everything to stifle the media” said Gabriel Baglo, Director of IFJ Africa Office, “the new government should take the necessary measures to protect journalists in order to guarantee press freedom and freedom of expression”.

Omar Faruk Osman, President FAJ Tuesday 21 April told a gathering of Human Rights Defenders in Kampala, Uganda, that journalists and media workers in Africa face series of threats ranging from safety and security, repressive laws, oppressive regimes, monopolies, bad labour practices and unfair competition.