| Up in the Air? The
State of broadcasting in southern Africa: Analysis and Trends in six countries by Aida
Opukumensah et al. Published by Panos Southern Africa, P. O. Box 320129, Woodlands,
Lusaka, Zambia. Review by Naume Ziyambi. Up in the Air? The State of broadcasting in
southern Africa describes the state of broadcasting in the era of liberalisation and
deregulation. A series of case studies of Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa,
Zambia and Zimbabwe by journalists and broadcasting experts, the book looks at key
broadcasting policy issues facing decision-makers in the region.
The authors focus on the areas of legislation, regulation, programming and technology
with a view to promoting both the independence and diversity of broadcasters and of the
information that they broadcast.
Elections in southern Africa: A test for
democracy
Around the region
Community building
Books and publications
SADC Diary
Is SADC ready for trade reciprocity with
the EU?
Co-operation between SADC Central Banks
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This is considered
important "because broadcasting, despite its liberalisation and deregulation, remains
a public good that is essential for all in society. How it is opened up to reflect society
and who gains access to it, raises fundamental issues in the process of democracy and
development. The book raises the concern that except for South Africa where there is
extensive debate by civil society, the process of deregulation in all other countries
appears to be driven by international donors and or transnational commercial interests.
It questions the commitment of governments to the process of
liberalisation when political expediency turns politicians towards greater control and
dominance. As a result there remains some confusion in the region over what constitutes a
public service and a government controlled broadcaster.
SADC in pictures
Information technology to propel SADC into
next millenium
Opportunities and challenges of
information technology
DRC: Stalled peace talks
Conflict in Angola
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On the other
hand, as governments reduce or cut subsidies to public broadcasters they increasingly find
themselves under intense competition from private broadcasters. "Burdened with inherited bureaucracies, often outdated technology and
a costly public service mission, these public broadcasters tend to find themselves caught
between the conflicting demands of commercial necessity and political obligation."
Girl-child marginalised
The State of the World’s Children 1999. Published by the
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Regional
Office for East and Central Africa, P.O. Box 44145, Nairobi, Kenya. Review by Naume
Ziyambi.
By the turn of the century, there will be close to 130 million children in the
developing world without access to basic education – almost two-thirds of them girls.
Yet in the foreword of the State of the World’s Children 1999, Kofi Annan,
Secretary General of the UN, says, “Education is a
human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rests the cornerstones of
freedom, democracy and sustainable human development”.
The right to education has been affirmed in various agreements from the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 through the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child
to the 1990 Jomtien Conference on Education for All. These call on states to ensure among
others, an expanded vision of education that places emphasis on basic education, early
childhood care and development especially for the poor; and learning through adolescence
and adulthood, with girls’ and women’s education as a priority.
However, as the report shows, progress on key priorities has been slow, especially in
sub-Saharan Africa. In recent years, scarcity of resources and growing indebtedness of the
developing world threatens to erode the gains made up to the mid-1980s. Sub-Saharan Africa
followed by South Asia is facing the greatest challenges in enrolling and keeping their
children in school. In addition to problems faced by boys, girls also face barriers
stemming from social discrimination, including early pregnancy and marriage, limited
attention from teachers and being channelled into less challenging fields of study. |
| Recent Publications and Acquisitions |
1999 Official SADC
Trade, Industry and Investment Review
—SADC.- 1999
Available from: SADC Secretariat, P.Bag 0095, Gaborone, Botswana.
SADC Sector Reports on Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources; Culture and
Information; Energy; Human Resources Development; Finance and Investment; Industry and
Trade; Mining; Employment and Labour; Transport and Commu--nication; Water; and Tourism.
—SADC.-1999
Available from: SADC Secretariat.
SADC Gender Monitor: Monitoring Implementation of the Beijing Commitments by SADC
Member States.
—Southern African Research Documentation Centre
(SARDC) Women in Development Southern Africa
Awareness.- 1999
Available from: SADC Gender Unit, SADC Secretariat or SARDC-WIDSAA, PO Box 5690, Harare,
Zimba bwe. |
SADC Regional Human
Development Report 1998
—Southern African Regional Institute for Policy Studies (SARIPS) of SAPES
Available from: Regional Human Development Report Project Office, P O Box MP 1005, Mt
Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
Gender Mainstreaming at SADC: Policies, Plans & Activities.
—SADC Secretariat
Available from: SADC Secretariat, P Bag 0095, Gaborone, Botswana.
Beyond Inequalities: Women in Botswana
—Datta, K; Alexander, Elsie and Khan, Banu Arzamund.- 1998
Available from: Ditshwanelo, the Botswana Centre for Human Rights, P.Bag 00416, Gaborone,
Botswana and SARDC, Box 5690, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Beyond Inequalities: Women in Zimbabwe
— Tichagwa, W. - 1998
Available from SARDC and ZWRCN P O Box 2198, Harare . |
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