MISA BROADCAST/TELECOM UPDATE – JULY 2009

The updates are a monthly information service of topical issues in the broadcasting/telecommunications/ICT sector in  Southern Africa.

See MISA position on the issue of the month in ‘Note from the Editor’.  In this issue we call upon countries in the region to make preparations for digital broadcasting migration, whose deadline is set at 2015 by the International Communication Union, ITU.

South Africa: Digital migration advisory council launched

South Africa took another step towards migrating from analogue to digital broadcasting with the launch of Digital Dzonga, an inclusive forum to drive the digital migration process in the country.Read more
Botswana: Let's have proof of Btv bias - Ombudsman

Botswana’s Ombudsman, Ofentse Lepodise, has called on the opposition Botswana Congress Party (BCP) to provide evidence that President Ian Khama and the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) are abusing Botswana Television (Btv). Read more

Botswana: Retired police officer takes over at Btv

Retired senior police officer, Molefhe Sejoe  has been appointed head of the state-owned Botswana Television (Btv. A Btv employee said they were told that the new boss has qualifications in the telecommunications field and has been working on some projects. Read more

Namibia: Cameraman barred from covering state visit

A camera operator with independent broadcaster, One Africa Television Sylvester Simubali, was barred by State Security Officials from filming a state visit to Namibia by the Cuban President Raul Castro at Hosea Kutako International Airport on July 19. Producer Luke Salomo told MISA that the pictures in possession of the station prove that the camera man was thrown out of the event. Read more

Namibia: Communication bill adopted by National Assembly

The controversial Information and Communication Bill was adopted by the Namibian Parliament  on July 16  and passed on for legislative review by the National Council. The bill provides for interception of among others, e-mail, short messaging services (SMS), internet banking and telephone calls. Read more
Namibia: Opposition MPs protest communication bill

Opposition Party MPs walked out of Parliament on July 22 in protest at clause 70, “interception clause” of the Communication Bill, also dubbed the ‘Spy Bill’, which was passed with two amendments in Parliament. Contrary to two third SWAPO party MPs who did not object to the bill, the opposition MPs wanted further amendments to the clause. Read more
South Africa: Parliament Calls for SABC Board Nominations

The Portfolio Committee on Communications of the South African Parliament on July 13 invited  the public to make nominations for the appointment of 12 non-executive members to the Board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation. Read more

Malawi: Minister appeals for more funding to state broadcasters

Malawi Information and Civic Education Minister Leckford Thotho Mwanza has requested government to increase budgetary allocation to the state-controlled Television Malawi (TVM). The minister spoke in parliament on July 28  in response to Member of Parliament for Mzimba Solola Patrick Mwanza who called for the improvement of television services at Mzimba boma. Read more

Zambia: Information ministry demands copies of Sky FM radio programme

Zambian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Public Relations Officer, Innocent Mwape, on July 24  ordered commercial radio station Sky FM to submit some copies of the station’s phone-in programmes. Read more

Zimbabwe:  BBC and CNN free to report from Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwean government has lifted a ban  which prevented the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and American Cable News Network (CNN) to operate in Zimbabwe. The move came after a series of meetings between the organization and the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, Webster Shamu, Permanent Secretary, George Charamba, and Principal Director, Sylvester Maunganidze. Read more

South Africa:  ICASA Probe Cell-Phone charges

There was more drama at the SABC hearing at Parliament when board members Khanyi Mkonza and Gloria Serobe announced on June 24 that they would resign , and a third pleaded for the board to be dissolved. Alison Gillwald, the board's sole remaining non-executive member, had said she will not step down because she wants to uphold her fiduciary duties. The hearing saw board members accuse MPs of collaborating with SABC management and withholding the political support they needed to function. Read more

Zimbabwe: Econet reduces prices of handsets
Econet Wireless has reduced the price of its bundled handset starter-packs following the removal of duty on mobile phones. Read more

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

South Africa has announced the appointment of a Digital Migration Advisory Council to oversee the country’s digital migration process. The council, dubbed the Digital Dzonga,  is a non-executive body appointed by the Minister of Communications from nominations received from government, the regulator, industry, consumer bodies and the general public, following a call for members of the public to nominate. Read more



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