[Kictanet] [Fwd: [APC Africa-ICT-Policy Monitor] e-Updates No.13]

Thu Sep 8 17:15:41 EAT 2005

FYI

apologies for cross posting

Njenga

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[APC Africa-ICT-Policy Monitor] e-Updates No.13
Date: 	Fri, 09 Sep 2005 00:05:04 +1000
From: 	Africa ICT Policy Monitor Project <africa.rights at apc.org>
Reply-To: 	Africa.Rights at Apc.Org <africa.rights at apc.org>
To: 	africa-ir-public at lists.sn.apc.org

Dear all,

Here is the latest issue of the APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor e-updates No. 13, 
a selection of the latest content added to the Africa ICT Policy Monitor website.

For these news, information resources and upcoming events, please visit the 
APC Africa Policy Monitor Website links below. 

Editor
APC Africa Policy Monitor Website
http://africa.rights.apc.org/

//\//\//\//\//\//\/ - NEWS - //\//\//\//\//\//\/ 

  News > Access

 Cameroon: Telecom Conference starts with a focus on 'Access' 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=1252759>
06/09/2005 (Cameroon Tribune <http://www.cameroon-tribune.net/>) -- The 
Commonwealth Telecommunication delegates yesterday, kick-started the 
Yaounde forum at the Conference Centre. There was every evidence 
yesterday at the Yaounde Conference Centre that the greatest challenge 
in telecommunication is not just the rapid developments in the 
Information and Communication Technology but the difficult way to have 
access to it.

 Ethiopia: Over 11 mln Birr rural technology expansion center to begin 
service soon 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=1138790>
25/08/2005 (ENA <http://www.ena.gov.et>) -- A rural technology expansion 
center constructed in Afar State with an outlay of over 11 million Birr 
would soon begin providing services, the State animal, natural resource 
and environmental protection bureau said.

*News > Censorship
*

 Kenya: Parliament website shut after media reports 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=1218523>
03/09/2005 (East African Standard <http://www.eastandard.net>) -- Kenyan 
parliament has shut down its website amid reports that the The 
Standard's exclusive report of well-guarded secrets embarrassed some 
MPs. Yesterday, http://www.parliament.go.ke was blank after the two-day 
serialisation of what reads like an A-Z of some of our MPs' hitherto 
unknown -- and perhaps best kept -- career and educational details.

*News > Freedom of Expression and Media
*

 South Africa: FXI expresses concerns over Convergence Bill 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21866ne_1&x=920930>
16/08/2005 (IFEX <http://www.ifex.org>) -- The Freedom of Expression 
Institute (FXI) is deeply disturbed by a number of provisions in South 
Africa's new Convergence Bill, which is supposed to replace existing 
broadcasting and telecommunications legislation, and is also concerned 
about the process that has led up to the development of the Bill. The 
FXI presented a number of these concerns to the Parliamentary Portfolio 
Committee on Communications earlier today. A number of provisions 
threaten the freedom of expression and independence of the 
communications sector, and the FXI fears that the Bill will not 
necessarily address the growing divide between the communications 
'haves' and 'have-nots' in South Africa.

 Guinea: Government Democratises Airwaves 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=1274096>
07/09/2005 (IFEX <http://www.ifex.org>) -- The small West African 
republic of Guinea took an important step toward guaranteeing press 
freedom last month, following the signing of a presidential decree that 
opens up the airwaves to private broadcasters, reported the Committee to 
Protect Journalists (CPJ).

 Rwanda: RITA to launch ICT media network 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21872ne_1&x=1138459>
26/08/2005 (New Times Rwanda <http://www.newtimes.co.rw/>) -- Rwanda 
Information Technology Authority (RITA) will soon embark on a holistic 
ICT/media approach aimed at imparting the media with ICT skills to 
promote their reporting. On Tuesday, RITA assembled various journalists 
and discussed modalities of establishing the first ever ICT Media 
Network in the country.

  News > Laws and Regulation

 Ugandan President stops TV tax 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=1252438>
06/09/2005 (NewVision <http://www.newvision.co.ug>) -- PRESIDENT Yoweri 
Museveni has ordered information minister Dr James Nsaba Buturo to stop, 
with immediate effect, levying tax on television sets that are not used 
for commercial purpose. Museveni made the directive while meeting 
members of the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation at State House Nakasero 
yesterday morning.

 Nigeria: New guidelines for erection of telecom masts 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=1252892>
05/09/2005 (Vanguard <http://www.vanguardngr.com/>) -- The Nigeria 
Communications Commission, NCC , says new guide lines for the erection 
of telecommunication masts by telecom service providers in the country 
will soon be out. The new guidelines, according to the regulatory 
authority, will spell out many things as regards erection of masts in 
the country including the exact proximity to residential buildings.

 South Africa: No licences for content, applications providers 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=1138079>
27/08/2005 (ITWeb <http://www.itweb.co.za>) -- Applications and content 
service providers will not require licences in terms of the Convergence 
Bill, says Joe Mjwara, Department of Communications deputy 
director-general in charge of policy.

  News > E-Commerce

 Zambia: E-solutions right solution at a right time 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21864ne_1&x=1252890>
02/09/2005 (Times of Zambia <http://www.times.co.zm/>) -- THE steadfast 
growth in Zambia's gross domestic product (GDP) needs to be backed by 
the utilisation of electronic solutions (e-solutions) in the economy, 
Huawei Technologies managing director Zhang Wei has said. Mr Wei said in 
a statement released in Lusaka yesterday that his company had introduced 
e-banking, e-governments and e-campus in Zambia to assist the country in 
embracing and advancing in e-solutions. Zambia 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21864s21819e_1> | 
E-Commerce <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21864se_1>

 South Africa: Websites Become Lucrative in SA 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21864ne_1&x=1139069>
25/08/2005 (BusinessDay <http://www.businessday.co.za>) -- SOME South 
African websites are finally becoming an effective way of generating 
revenue for a business by attracting enough local and international 
consumers to make them viable. South Africa 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21864s21817e_1> | 
E-Commerce <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21864se_1>

  News > E-Governance

 Botswana: ICT can spur political change 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21865ne_1&x=1187973>
01/09/2005 (BOPA <http://www.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi>) -- GABORONE - A 
British academic attending WITFOR in Gaborone has called for a shift of 
perception from information and communication technology (ICT) as an 
instrument for development to ICT as part of a political process of change.

 Uganda: Digital land titles in offing 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21865ne_1&x=1040810>
23/08/2005 (NewVision <http://www.newvision.co.ug>) -- The lands 
ministry will introduce electronic land titles to eliminate the over 
4,000 fake land titles in the country, the minister, Kahinda Otafiire, 
has said. During a workshop at the Grand Imperial Hotel in Kampala 
recently, Otafiire said the ministry had hired Stewards Net Technologies 
and Magna Carda to computerise the land registration system and print 
the cards.

 Nigeria: Obasanjo gives nod to electronic voting 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21865ne_1&x=1041399>
23/08/2005 (BusinessDay Online <http://www.businessdayonline.com>) -- 
President Olusegun Obasanjo has given tac-it support for the use of 
electronic voting machine for 2007 polls. This is even as the 
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) maintains that the 
National Assembly cannot dictate to it on the method to be adopted for 
the polls.

 Zambia: State to computerise expenditure monitoring 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21865ne_1&x=1040979>
22/08/2005 (Times of Zambia <http://www.times.co.zm/>) -- The Government 
of Zambia will soon come up with a computerised system of checking how 
ministries are operating and utilising their budgetary allocations as a 
way of enhancing efficient use of money. Ministry of Finance Permanent 
Secretary for budget Petronella Mwangala said yesterday when she 
appeared before the parliamentary committee on estimates that some 
ministries had a tendency of not using money even when the treasury had 
released the funds.

  News > National ICT Strategies

 Human Development Report 2005 Launched 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21873ne_1&x=1286705>
08/09/2005 (UNDP <http://www.undp.org/>) -- This year's Human 
Development Report takes stock of human development, including progress 
towards the MDGs. Looking beyond statistics, it highlights the human 
costs of missed targets and broken promises. Extreme inequality between 
countries and within countries is identified as one of the main barriers 
to human development--and as a powerful brake on accelerated progress 
towards the MDGs.

 Botswana: Political leaders urged to appreciate ICT 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21873ne_1&x=1251979>
06/09/2005 (BOPA <http://www.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?>) -- Information 
communication technology experts have emphasised the importance of 
sensitising African political leaders about ICT issues so that they can 
appreciate and support it.

 Botswana: WITFOR Declaration To Be Presented To UNESCO 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21873ne_1&x=1251976>
05/09/2005 (Mmegi <http://www.mmegi.bw/>) -- The just ended World 
Information Technology Forum (WITFOR) conference adopted a proposal 
called the "Gaborone Declaration", which will be presented to the UNESCO 
general assembly. The proposal focuses on how technology can be used to 
enhance development and eradicate poverty in developing countries.

 Ethiopia: ICTAD project being undertaken with 25 million USD 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21873ne_1&x=1041059>
21/08/2005 (ENA <http://www.ena.gov.et>) -- The Information and 
Communication Technology Assisted Development (ICTAD) project is 
underway in Ethiopia with 25 million USD loan obtained from the World 
Bank. Manager of project management unit with the Ethiopian Information 
Communication Technology Development Authority (EICTDA), said the 
project is believed to be crucial in reducing poverty and improving 
living of the people.

  News > Media

 Kenya: Freedom of the media spelt out in document 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=1054699>
24/08/2005 (East African Standard <http://www.eastandard.net/>) -- The 
proposed new constitution for Kenya guarantees freedom of the media and 
gives citizens rights to information held by the Government. It bars the 
Government from controlling, interfering, harassing or penalising anyone 
concerned in publications and broadcasting.

  News > Training and Education

 Zimbabwe: Computers gather rust 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=1156172>
30/08/2005 (Zakeus Chibaya <mailto:zakchibaya at yahoo.com>) -- HARARE - 
Fearful that people are going to read uncensored information, the Zanu 
(PF) government is reneging on its promise to provide internet services 
to schools after doling out hundreds of computers countrywide during the 
March elections in their bid to woo voters.

 Uganda: Makerere University to start e-learning 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21878ne_1&x=921048>
16/08/2005 (NewVision <http://www.newvision.co.ug>) -- Makerere 
University is to start its first ever e-learning (internet) programmes 
in an effort to reduce congestion in the lecture rooms. The deputy Vice- 
Chancellor, Dr. Lillian Ekirikubinza, told an international Information 
Communication Technology conference at Makerere University that the 
University Council and Senate had approved the proposal.

  News > Science and Technology

 Zambia: Science and technology vital for wealth creation 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21874ne_1&x=1138268>
27/08/2005 (Times of Zambia <http://www.times.co.zm/>) -- Zambia 
Government has said science and technology will be given prominence in 
the Fifth National Development Plan in order to create wealth for the 
people. Science and technology minister Judith Kapijimpanga said 
yesterday during a workshop on Identification of Goals and Priorities in 
the Development and Application of Science and Technology in Lusaka, 
that Government was working on initiatives on how technology could play 
a role in wealth creation.

//\//\//\//\//\//\/ -*INFORMATION & RESOURCES *- //\//\//\//\//\//\/ 

*Reports*

  Harnessing Science and Technology for Human Development - BOTSWANA 
2005 <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=1287087>
08/09/2005 -- Botswana Human Development Report 2005 focuses on the role 
of science and technology in the development process. The theme is 
inspired both by recognition of what humanity has achieved ? in 
agriculture, manufacturing, communication, medicine etc - with the aid 
of science and technology and the development possibilities technology 
offers to Developing Nations.

*Opinion*

 After Tunis: A summit without implementation and civil society? 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=1274422>
07/09/2005 -- Civil society groups active in the WSIS have voiced their 
protest against a serious development related to the Tunis summit 
outcomes. The latest draft for the summit document on implementation and 
follow-up is lacking a meaningful commitment to implementation, and they 
also are a serious setback for the multi-stakeholder approach.

 South Africa: Govt should set measurable ICT targets 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=1253198>
05/09/2005 -- It is important SA has clear and measurable ICT targets, 
the presidential international advisory council on information society 
and development heard this weekend. The council convened for its annual 
meeting in Zeerust in the Northwest. Established five years ago, the 
council's objective is to advise the president on bridging the digital 
divide, including making telephony accessible to the disadvantaged.

 Managing technological learning: a strategic imperative 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=1253225>
05/09/2005 -- Firms in developing countries that wish to innovate 
effectively must be able to manage the process of 'technological 
learning'. This refers to the accumulation of capabilities to change 
technologies, in contrast to the more formal type of knowledge that 
emerges from lab-based research and development.

 Guess Where IT Belongs? 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=1251905>
05/09/2005 -- I was struck by the recurrence of the phrase "IT has no 
boundaries" during the deliberations of the Information Technology 
conference that was held in Gaborone last week. IT is a product of the 
most advanced economies, which needed war in order to conquer and 
enslave other nations. And to do so required good means of 
communication. Hence the Morse code, and then the telephone, which is a 
little over a hundred years old, and then this thing that we now call IT.

 Sub-Saharan Africa needs policy action 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=1188048>
01/09/2005 -- Sub-Saharan Africa lags behind in such a way that without 
a decisive local or international policy action, the sub-continent will 
not achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Thomas Feige, the 
acting head of the European Delegation in Gaborone, said yesterday that 
the European Union (EU) recognises the role that transport, energy, 
water and sanitation as well as information and communication 
technologies can play in helping Africa implement its infrastructure 
plan that the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD) spearheads.

*Analysis*

 Software and seeds: Open source methods 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=1207091>
02/09/2005 -- Open source methodologies used in software are 
interrogated and then compared to the methods used in farmers' rights 
groups. The use of open source methods in other contexts illustrates 
increasing interest in grassroots democratic movements participating in 
the continuing process of balance between public and private interests. 
These efforts provide a possible alternate framework for policy 
decisions concerning intellectual property.

 Information and Communications Technology for Sustainable Development 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=1094043>
26/08/2005 -- Carnegie Mellon hosted a Workshop on June 26-27, 2003, at 
the World Bank, in Washington, DC, for ICT and development professionals 
from around the world. This was followed up by the Bangalore Workshop on 
ICT for Sustainable Development, January 14-16, 2004. The results of 
these Workshops form part of the book Information and Communications 
Technology for Sustainable Development: Defining a Global Research Agenda.

 Africa Civil Society Prepcom Briefing 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=1060734>
24/08/2005 -- The WSIS PrepCom III of Phase II of the WSIS - will take 
place from September 19-30 and will be the last meeting for negotiation 
of the final Tunis documents. The following document outlines briefly 
the documents that will be negotiated, how they will be negotiated, and 
different opportunities for lobbying and the timetable for negotiations 
for PrepCom III.

 Access to Technology 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=1253227>
06/09/2005 -- One of the major challenges that experts at the third 
Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation holding in Yaounde would 
face is seeking appropriate technology for developing countries. 
Considering the concern of opinion leaders and decision-makers to 
respond to the growing need for access of their citizens to ICT, 
especially within the growing market, participants would have to come 
out with workable solutions and not just theories.

 Bandwidth Can Bring African Universities Up to Speed 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=1253290>
06/09/2005 -- There are two striking facts about African universities 
and bandwidth. The first is that the average university in Africa has 
the same aggregate bandwidth as a single home user in North America or 
Europe. The second is that the average African university pays more than 
50 times for this bandwidth than its counterparts in Europe or North 
America do for much more capacity.

 Media ethics and professionalism scrutinised at MISA Conference 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=1274069>
03/09/2005 -- Those governments in the Southern African Development 
Community (SADC) region that still own, control and influence media 
operations were urged to stop furthering their political agendas through 
media control. Government control stifles editorial independence and 
free, fair and objective reporting. This was said at the recently 
concluded regional conference organised in Windhoek by the Media 
Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) on the theme Media, Ethics and 
Professionalism: Towards an Ethical Africa Media.

*Guides*

 Free/open source software (FOSS) policy in Africa: A toolkit for 
policy-makers and practitioners 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=re_1&x=1153147>
"Free/open source software (FOSS) policy in Africa: A toolkit for 
policy-makers and practitioners" is targeted at governments that are 
investigating whether and how they can integrate FOSS into their 
strategies for social and economic development. It provides a broad 
overview of how FOSS fits into national ICT policy-making, outlines the 
areas where governments can take policy decision related to FOSS as well 
as some of the possible approaches, and lists activities related to FOSS 
policy from across Africa.

 Managing ICTs in South African Schools; A guide for School Principals 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=re_1&x=937793>
The purpose of this guide is to give principals and senior school 
management information on using and managing ICT resources so that they 
can provide leadership in their schools. The guide also considers some 
implications of the use of the computer and related resources for 
teaching and learning. The authors hope that it will also be a valuable 
resource for other senior members of the school staff, and for School 
Governing Bodies.

//\//\//\//\//\//\/ - *EVENTS* - //\//\//\//\//\//\/

*24/08/2005*, International 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s30084e_1>
Africa Civil Soceity Discussion Forum on WSIS Prepcom 3 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=1126129>
The Africa civil society organizations is holding a discussion forum 
Discussion on WSIS Prepcom 3 and the report of the WGIG. Organized by 
the African Civil Society for the Information Sociey (ACSIS) with the 
collaboration of PIWA (CIPACO project) and APC. From 24 August to 17 
September 2005.

*07/09/2005*
PICTA/GKP Meeting, 7 - 8 Sep 2005 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=1253497>
The 2005 annual PICTA meeting is taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 
from 7 - 8 September 2005 under the theme of Networking Development in 
Africa. This year the core PICTA partners are expected to put extra 
effort into strengthening PICTA as an arena for collaboration among the 
key institutions involved with ICT and Knowledge for Development in Africa.

*12/09/2005*, South Africa 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21817e_1>
Highway Africa Conference 2005 'Reinforcing journalism in the 
information society'** 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=33696>
The Highway Africa 2005 will explore the above issues and seek to assist 
in overcoming the challenges. Highway Africa's programme includes a 
unique mix of plenary and keynote presentations, panel discussions and 
hands-on workshops where delegates acquire practical skills and expertise.

*19/09/2005*, International 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s30084e_1>
PrepCom-3 of the WSIS Tunis phase to take place in Geneva 
<http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/pc3/index.html>
The third meeting of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-3 of the Tunis 
phase) will take place in Palais des Nations, Geneva (Switzerland) from 
19-30 September 2005.

*24/10/2005*, South Africa 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21817e_1>
World Development Information Day (WDID) 2005 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=1274358>
SANGONeT will host a special event on Monday, 24 October 2005, to 
celebrate World Development Information Day. The United Nations General 
Assembly instituted World Development Information Day in December 1972 
with the objective of drawing public attention annually to development 
problems and the importance of strengthening international cooperation 
to solve them.

//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//

ABOUT APC

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an international
network of civil society organisations dedicated to empowering and
supporting groups and individuals through the strategic use of
information and communication technologies, especially internet-related
technologies. APC and its members in more than 30 countries pioneer
practical and relevant uses of ICTs for civil society. APC is an
international facilitator of civil society's engagement with ICTs and
related concerns, in both policy and practice.
APC: http://www.apc.org.

APC and ICT Policy Advocacy in Africa

APC's Communications and Information Policy Programme aims to contribute
to more enabling ICT policy environments through promoting inclusive
policy processes. In Africa APC is doing this through the Africa ICT
Policy Monitor project which aims to enable civil society organisations
to engage in ICT policy development to promote an information society
based on social justice and human rights.

APC's Africa ICT Policy Monitor: http://africa.rights.apc.org

The APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor is supported by HIVOS and the
International Research Development Centre (IDRC).

//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//

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//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//

-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Emmanuel Njenga Njuguna
Africa Policy Monitor Project 
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
Email: africa.rights at apc.org or njenga at apc.org
Web: http://africa.rights.apc.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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