A mobile Africa: innovation is key

[Dr KF Lai] 2012 saw the BuzzCity network grow by 67% with over 210.8 billion ads served across the globe and this extensive growth in mobile usage is certain to continue as we move through 2013. 21 Feb 2013 11:07

[2013 trends] Africa's dynamic markets

[Obaika Consulting Team] The year 2013 for most brands, especially the ones coping with saturated markets in developed countries, will be a decisive one. Incorporating Africa into their corporate brand strategy, if they haven't done so, will be the better part of valour, so to speak. 31 Jan 2013 13:20

[2013 trends] Out-of-the-box branding

[HKLM Exco Team] No, the concepts of "tribalism", "gamification" and "engagement" aren't a promo for the latest computer game, but are in fact the trends that will characterise the way companies and consumers interact in 2013. The branding industry is constantly developing and. while the following trends are evolutions rather than dynamic, short-term changes, we believe there are 10 areas that will define the brandscape over the next year. 31 Jan 2013 12:33

[2013 trends] Africa poised for a great future

[Nandkishor Buty] As 2013 commences, afro-pessimism seems to cede to afro-optimism. There is a global consensus: Africa is poised for a great future. What will be the impact of Africa's growth on our industry? What will be the major trends of the year? In the business world, predicting the future is a crucial exercise. 30 Jan 2013 12:39

MACRA shifts roll-out for CELCOM

[Gregory Gondwe] The Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has changed the rolling out of services of what is expected to be Malawi's fourth mobile phone service company, CELCOM. 8 Oct 2012 09:28

Business journos challenged to be relevant

[Gregory Gondwe] The National Bank of Malawi (NBM) has challenged Malawi's business journalists to be relevant as Malawi is undergoing economic hardships. 27 Sep 2012 10:06

TNM makes subscribers shoulder their growth

[Gregory Gondwe] Telecoms Networks Malawi (TNM) Limited has announced that it will be increasing base tariff by an average of 19.5% from 1 August 2012 in order to be able to fulfill its plans to expand its coverage and upgrading the older infrastructure by investing more that US$20 million per annum over the next five years. 26 Jul 2012 10:21

How to stimulate brand recommendations

[Jason Stewart] Research organisations are constantly updating figures tallying how many branded messages are being pushed at consumers. In South Africa, we are currently being bombarded with around 900 branded messages per week. What is even more staggering is that only four of those messages break through the increasing advertising clutter to generate top-of-mind awareness. 28 Jun 2012 14:51

The challenge of negative word of mouth: Part 2

[Jason Stewart] I'm going to be sharing my agency's step-by-step process on how to effectively deal with negative word of mouth (WOM). In my previous article I looked at sustained negative WOM. This article focuses on situational WOM and outlines a five-point plan to counter negative perceptions that are being spread. 13 Jun 2012 10:05

Brands behaving badly on social media

[Banele Rewo] If you believe that social media enables brands to build relationships with consumers you are dead wrong. The technology merely provides a platform to connect the two parties then everything else goes back to basic psychology, group dynamics and social science. 7 Jun 2012 11:20

BNL launches The Business Times

[Gregory Gondwe] Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL) has launched a fifth title after the first issue of an exclusively business newspaper called The Business Times hit the streets last week. 10 Apr 2012 14:26

MALSWITCH rebrands

[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi Switch Center Limited (MALSWITCH) which provides and maintains an infrastructure of electronic payment solutions in Malawi, including the system used by the country mobile phone service providers, has rebranded. 16 Feb 2012 12:14

TNM, EMS partnership provides BlackBerry service

[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi's mobile phone service provider, Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM) has partnered with Emitac Mobile Solutions (EMS) to provide BlackBerry services to subscribers in Malawi. 12 Dec 2011 09:21

Revive IMF program or no assistance, donors tell Malawi

[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi's donors under the Common Approach to Budget Support (CABS) have asked the country to revive its International Monetary Fund (IMF) program or forget their financial assistance. 8 Dec 2011 13:33

Central Bank governor clash with investor

[Gregory Gondwe] Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) governor, Dr Perks Ligoya clashed with Paladin Africa Limited, a company that mines Uranium at Kayelekera in the country's northern district of Karonga. 1 Dec 2011 14:49

ILO proposes monetary policies for Malawi's employment creation

[Gregory Gondwe] The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has released a report on Malawi which is trying to establish on how monetary policy instruments can be used to encourage Malawi onto a path of employment-generating growth. The report titled Macroeconomic policy for employment creation: The Case for Malawi released last month has identified three policy areas for consideration. 2 Nov 2011 12:19

TransUnion expands into Africa

[Gregory Gondwe] TransUnion, a global credit and information management organisation, has acquired majority shareholding in CRB Holdings Limited, signifying its bold expansion steps into Africa. 28 Oct 2011 11:19

RBM seeks public sensitisation on currency

[Gregory Gondwe] The Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) has sought assistance from established firms or advertising agencies to provide currency public sensitisation service throughout the country on its behalf after the country has been badly hit by fake currency circulation. 27 Oct 2011 13:05

Old Mutual Unit Trust Company launches

[Gregory Gondwe] BLANTYRE, MALAWI: Last week Thusday, 29 September 2011 was a special day for local investors when Old Mutual Malawi launched its new subsidiary company, Old Mutual Unit Trust Company. 5 Oct 2011 10:02

Malawi hit by counterfeit money

[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi's central bank has issued a warning to the country after being severely hit by counterfeit notes of its biggest bill of 500 kwacha, a situation the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) governor Dr. Perks Ligoya has described as undermining the integrity of the national currency. 30 Sep 2011 08:38

TNM grows by 23% amidst economic hiccups

[Gregory Gondwe] One of Malawi's two mobile phone companies, Telekom Networks Malawi Limited (TNM), which is incorporated in Malawi as a licensed mobile telecommunications operator has announced a 23% growth which the company has attributed to various innovative product offerings and promotions. 12 Sep 2011 10:14

AACB plans to establish African Central Bank by 2018

[Gregory Gondwe] The newly appointed chairperson of the African Association of Central Banks (AACB), Perks Ligoya who is also governor for the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM), said he will now fast track the establishment of African Central Bank which has been on the card for some time now. 19 Aug 2011 09:38

Malawi devalues national currency

[Gregory Gondwe] The President of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika's government which had been adamant on devaluing the national currency, the Malawi Kwacha (MK), has finally succumbed to the pressure. 10 Aug 2011 11:28

Malawi: Commercial court nods to PIM delisting from MSE

[Gregory Gondwe] Packaging Industries Malawi (PIM) Limited has been allowed by the commercial court to delist from the Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE) following a decision from the company's minority shareholders to sell their shares to South African-based Transmar Limited. PIM, established in 1969, was listed on the Malawi Stock Exchange in 1998. 13 Jul 2011 11:28

Trafigula Group takes over BP Malawi

[Gregory Gondwe] British Petroleum (BP) Malawi has become part of a US$296 million acquisition of Trafigula Group's PUMA Energy that bought BP assets in five Southern African countries of Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, and Tanzania. BP Malawi was co-owned by BP Africa and Malawi's conglomerate Press Corporation Limited (PCL). 17 Jun 2011 07:58

Malawi asks US to soften AGOA conditions

[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi's position paper presented at the 10th African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum in Lusaka, Zambia has asked the US government to simplify its import approval procedures - without in any way sacrificing safety - in order to facilitate greater trade from Africa. 13 Jun 2011 12:55

Malawi: RBM issues postdated bank notes

[Gregory Gondwe] Traders and consumers were last week surprised to find that fifty kwacha bank notes that were purportedly meant to be circulated on 30 June 2011 were already on the market. The Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) confirmed that it has indeed released millions of 50 kwacha notes into circulation over one month ahead of due time. 6 Jun 2011 09:54

Malawi's budget to end forex woes

[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi's finance minister Ken Kandodo delivered the 2011/ 2012 budget speech last month, which aims at ending the forex shortage which has scared away investors and is threatening Malawi's economic growth. In the K307bn budget, Kandodo said government acknowledged the forex problems within the country. 6 Jun 2011 09:26

Phillips takes consumer lifestyle tour to Malawi

[Gregory Gondwe] Royal Philips Electronics (Netherlands) kicked off its Lilongwe leg of its 2011 Cape Town to Cairo road show which promises improved consumer lifestyles. The tour, started on 12 May, will end on 11 July 2011. 1 Jun 2011 08:30

Malawi: Mutharika announces zero-deficit 2011 budget

[Gregory Gondwe] The pulling out of donors in Malawi forced President Bingu wa Mutharika to announce on Monday, 23 May 2011 that, for the first time ever, Malawi will run a zero-deficit national budget. The announcement was made during his state of the nation address for 2011 which signaled the opening of the 2011/2012 budget meeting in Lilongwe. 25 May 2011 09:47