[UgaBYTES] WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP- AFRICA (WEEK 29)

[Mwathi Francis]

*Plea for African digital libraries*

13th July 2009

African countries are falling behind in building digital libraries and
archives to provide continent-wide access to local knowledge — and the
poorest are likely to bear the brunt of this, a conference has heard.

In the opening statement at the First International Conference on African
Digital Libraries and Archives (ICADLA-1) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
last week (1–3 July) Lalla Ben Barka — deputy executive secretary of the
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) — said that libraries
and archives, which could be crucial in Africa's economic and social
development, are accessible to only a few. Barka shared her concerns about a
growing digital divide which she said may leave the poor more marginalised
in the "new global community".

http://www.scidev.net/en/new-technologies/news/plea-for-african-digital-libraries.html





*Cameroonian Youth Empowerment Programme Launched*

16th July 2009

The project is aimed at empowering African youths through arts, media and
new technology.T he conference room of the Plan Cameroon Headquarters in
Yaounde, was the venue of the launching of a new project for youths known as
"Youth Empowerment Through Arts and Media (YETAM)" yesterday. Organised by
Plan Cameroon in collaboration with a mobile telephone company Nokia, the
event brought together representatives of the Ministries of Secondary
Education, Social Affairs and Youth Affairs as well as stake-holders of the
education sector. The project is empowering African youths through arts,
media and new technology to enable them identify their most pressing issues
and engage their local, national and global communities in discussing them
and finding solutions.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200907160393.html





*Fibre network to cut connectivity charges in East African region*

14th July 2009

Companies or organisations with regional presence can now cut down on their
communications costs following the activation of an information pipe
(terrestrial fibre optic) connecting Mombasa and Kampala by a communication
data carrier provider, Kenya Data Networks. The companies can now use the
terrestrial cable to supplement or replace the satellite internet
connectivity they have been using. Compared to satellite, the terrestrial
fibre carries much data and transmits it at a higher speed and also comes at
a lower price.

http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/business_power/Fibre_network_to_cut_connectivity_charges_in_East_African_region_87978.shtml





*Federal Government Intensifies Fight against e-Waste in Nigeria*

16th July 2009

The Federal Government yesterday said it has stepped-up measures to address
the growing environmental problem caused by indiscriminate dumping of used
and expired electrical and electronic appliances. Director-General, National
Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr  Ngeri
Benebo, said this while briefing newsmen in Abuja, on the Agency's plan to
host an international conference on e-Waste control, adding that government
is seeking to discourage Nigerians from buying used electrical/electronics
products, because of its serious health and environmetal implications. She
said though there are no laws prohibiting importation of near-end-of-life
and end-of-life electronic appliances, unsustainable disposal of these
products pose not just a threat to the environment, but also to human
health.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=148859&printer_friendly=1





*Tanzania using SIM cards to track criminals*

10th July 2009

Tanzania has joined a group of African countries using mobile-phone SIM card
registrations to both track down criminals using mobile phones to commit
crimes and to reduce handset theft. Like many other Southern African
Development Community countries, and east Africa and west Africa
communities, Tanzania hopes the process, which will take six months to
complete, will give impetus to fighting crimes committed using mobile
phones. The theory is that if a call is linked to a crime, the police can
find out who bought the SIM card and make an immediate arrest.

http://www.computerworld.co.ke/articles/2009/07/10/tanzania-using-sim-cards-track-criminals



*ICT partners sought in Zimbabwe*

16th July 2009

The Government of Zimbabwe considers information communication technologies
as the lifeblood of a new society hence the setting up of the Ministry of
Information Communication and Technology whose key activities include the
development and management of a nationwide infrastructure that is
comprehensive, expansive and reliable. The mobilisation of resources and
establishment of smart partnerships for ICT’s development programmes and
promoting literacy, awareness and advocacy is also part of the ministry’s
mandate.

http://www1.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=7321&cat=8



*MTN scoops Telecom Company of the Year*

16th  July 2009

The MTN Group has received the much-coveted industry accolade, beating its
rivals to become the Telecom Company of the Year.

A press statement from the company’s Group Executive Corporate Affairs,
Nozipho Bardill, states that this award, presented in London by the
Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) during the African Business Awards,
recognises MTN’s excellence in the field of telecommunications and the
impact the company has made on the industry, its workforce, the community at
large and the impact of its business on the economy as a whole.

http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=9244


-
Francis Mwathi
Support Community Facilitator
UgaBYTES Initiatives (www.ugabytes.org)
Telecentr.org (www.telecentrecommunity.ning.com)
Tel: +256 414 370163
Mob: +256 783 010269
Skype: francis.mwathi
E-Mail: mfrancis at ugabytes.org