BBC WEEKLY AUDIENCE IN AFRICA RISES TO A RECORD 111 MILLION

The BBC now reaches 111 million people across all media platforms in Africa via the BBC World Service, the BBC World News TV channel and bbc.com as well as the international development charity BBC Media Action. The BBC provides content in Arabic, English, French, Hausa, Kinyarwanda/Kirundi, Somali and Swahili across the continent and to diaspora audiences around the world. African audiences make up the largest share of the BBC’s global audience for its news services which currently reaches 320 million people.

The dedicated BBC Africa hub, which delivers content for sub-Saharan Africa and diaspora audiences, brings news and features in inventive, accessible ways such as via the daily Africa live page and bbcafrica.com as well as regular TV and radio bulletins and programmes. In addition the BBC reaches a new online audience via many social media outlets and mobile platforms, creating clickable and shareable content delivered by its reporters across Africa. These include Twitter, Facebook, Google +, Instagram, Soundcloud and YouTube.

Tim Pemberton, BBC Africa Executive Editor says: “We are committed to Africa and the African audience and are proud of the array of talented broadcasters that we have working for BBC Africa. We are dedicated to the impartiality that makes us stand out from other broadcasters and it is wonderful to see the audience responding to this. The continent has a new, young, switched on generation and the BBC will continue to be at the heart of new media and digital innovation.”

There have been notable increases in audience numbers for the BBC’s African language services in the past year.  The biggest has been for BBC Hausa which now reaches a weekly audience of 23.3 million - an increase of 5.2 million from last year.

The new BBC’s Global Audience Measure of two African countries also show impressive new figures. In Uganda, 1 in 5adults (15 and older) consume BBC content each week - this is an 11% rise in the percentage of the population reached by the BBC on a weekly basis. In Sierra Leone, the BBC World Service Group reaches 65% of the population.

2016 global weekly audience figures for the BBC Africa hub on all platforms:

BBC Afrique – 14.8 million

BBC Great Lakes (Kinyarwanda/Kirundi) – 3.2 million

BBC Hausa – 23.3 million

BBC Somali – 3.6 million

BBC Swahili – 17.2 million

CHITIMUKULU CALLS FOR PEACE AFTER POLLS

Chief Chitimukulu Mwinelubemba Kanyanta Manga II

Paramount Chief Chitimukulu Mwinelubemba Kanyanta Manga II has urged Zambians to embrace peace and unity in the aftermath of last week’s general elections.

Chief Chitimukulu said the peace that characterized the elections should continue even after the polls.

He has since praised electorates countrywide for remaining peaceful and calm during the elections.

And the Mwinelubemba has observed that the recent general elections were conducted in a free and fair manner thereby rendering them credible.

He however said political parties opposing the outcome of the polls are at liberty to exercise their democratic right to seek legal guidance.

Meanwhile, Paramount chief Chitimukulu has expressed confidence that the Patriotic Front (PF) administration will efficiently complete the on-going developmental programmes following the re-election of President Edgar Lungu.

He is hopeful that more projects aimed at developing the country and improving the welfare of citizens will be undertaken during PF’s new five year mandate.

He has since congratulated President Lungu on his re-election.

The Mwinelubemba said this when newly elected Malole Constituency Member of Parliament Christopher Yaluma called on him at his palace in Mungwi district yesterday.

And Mr. Yaluma thanked the traditional leadership for playing a key role in ensuring that peace is upheld during the election period.

MALAWI’S LAKE OF STARS FESTIVAL RETURNS TO ITS ELECTRONIC ROOTS

One of world’s most scenic music festivals, Lake of Stars, makes further lineup announcements marking a return to its dance/electronic roots with a showcase of international DJs from the UK, Germany and South Africa.AFRIMMA Best Southern African Artist nominated Zambian headliner, Roberto, joins South African heavyweights Freshlyground to headline this year’s festival.

Set on the pristine white sands of Chintheche Inn on the northern shores of Lake Malawi in the warm heart of Africa, this year’s festival revellers will be dancing until sunrise to musicians from Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Norway, Germany, the UK, South Africa, Spain and more. Artists from the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa, Malawi will also have the opportunity to perform at this year’s festival including the spectacular Burundi Drummers. More than 2,500 Malawian school children will have a special sneak preview with a dedicated concert supported by the United Nations the day before the festival opens.

Afro-R&B artist Roberto has gained over 1.6 million views on YouTube for a single track and now the 'Ama-Rulah' star will be headlining Lake of Stars in two months' time. He recently collaborated with Zimbabwe's DJ Ray Dizz and Simba Tagz and will be releasing a video for the track he did with General Ozzy and Mavin Records’ artist Reekado Banks titled "Dreams" from his Amarulah album. For years Freshlyground have been at the forefront of the music scene in the southern African region with chart-topping tracks like 'Waka Waka', 'Doo Be Doo', and 'Pot Belly' followed up by recent hits 'Don't Leave Me' and 'Army of One' with Jack Parow. An accomplished musical outfit known for their energetic live performances, Freshlyground's music has reached billions of people around the globe.

Afro-soul Malawian artist Faith Mussa and Blantyre hip-hop MC Flo Dee, known for her hit track ‘Veke Mphete’ with Bucci will play alongside local talent in the form of Patience Namadingo, Piksy, and Lusubilo Band.

With three releases already under their belts for Black Butter and MTA Records, My Nu Leng (UK) unify garage, dubstep, grime and drum’n’bass. Their most recent EP ‘Horizons’ is getting heavy radio support on BBC 1Xtra and BBC Radio 1 and they have been touring all over the world from the United States to Asia.  Kidnap Kid (UK) has been producing and putting out tracks with Black Butter Records for over five years, his most notable achievement being his track 'Vehl' named US iTunes "Best Electronic Song of 2012". He has issued some official big name remixes and toured alongside TEED, Disclosure, Aluna George and Rudimental.

Fellow UK acts include Throwing Shade, aka Nabihah Iqbal, a rising producer and NTS Radio host whose House of Silk EP was released by Ninja Tune this year, plus Omah (Sounddhism), Ste Chesters (Audio Farm) and Gabriel Szatan (Boiler Room). There will be a showcase of international and local musicians who are part of the Beating Heart project connecting the Hugh Tracey (1903-1977) archive at the International Library of African Music with contemporary producers and artists.

From a residency at the groundbreaking Circoloco at DC10 in Ibiza, where he has been entrenched for over 15 years, to tours around Europe and the rest of the world, Germany’s Timo Maas maintains a high level of performance. In tandem with his global tours, he dedicates his time to conjuring up fresh new productions in his studio, picking up a Grammy nomination in 2004. This year, Maas and James Teej teamed up to release a remix of 'Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five,' a B-side by Paul McCartney and Wings from 1974.

The lineup includes: Freshlyground (South Africa), Roberto (Zambia), Timo Maas (Germany) Faith Mussa (Malawi), Kidnap Kid (England), My Nu Leng (England), Native Young (South Africa), Patience Namadingo (Malawi), Piksy (Malawi), Theo Thomson (Malawi}, Throwing Shade (England), Anita Zengeza (Spain), Annemarie Quinn (England), Flo Dee (Malawi), Fyah DJ (Zimbabwe) | Gabriel Szatan Boiler Room (England) | Lieutenant Fizzer (South Africa), Lusubilo Band | MOOYH (Norway), Nikolas Goza (Mozambique), Omah Sounddhism (England) and Ste Chesters Audio Farm (England).

Since its inception in 2004, the annual Lake of Stars event has brought its unique blend of local and international talent to all three regions of Malawi, helping to boost tourism across the country and generating over $4 million for the economy during that time. 

The 2016 Lake of Stars Festival is supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the German Embassy Lilongwe, A4AY, Quench, Airtel, DSTV, Zodiak, Timveni TV, MAPP Africa, Malawi-Music.com (Nyimbo Za Chi Malawi), Root to Fruit and Game.

SPORTS AUTHORITIES RUE TEAM ZAMBIA RIO PERFORMANCE

Chief of Mission for the Zambian team participating at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, Boniface Kambikambi has described the performance of the Zambian athletics as disappointing.

Kambikambi said the athletes have not performed to the expectations of the National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ).

This is according to a statement issued in Lusaka today by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Embassy in Brazil Patson Chilemba.

Kambikambi pointed out that despite being physically prepared, the athletes lacked the psychological aspect to pull through to the next level of the games.

He however said more needs to be done in future tournaments by ensuring that the athletes are psychologically prepared by exposing them to many international competitions.

The Zambian athletes that have so far bowed out of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games are Judoka Mathews Punza, Middleweight Boxer Ben Muziyo and Female swimmer Jade Howard

Others are 400 meters African female champion Kabange Mupopo, male swimmer Ralph Goviea and 100 meters male runner Gerald Phiri.

Mr. Kambikambi is hopeful that the only remaining Zambian participant at the Olympics Jordan Chipangano will do well in his marathon race.

PRESIDENT LUNGU SAYS OPPOSITION DECAMPAIGNING REFERENDUM TO STOP ZAMBIANS FROM ENJOYING BASIC RIGHTS

President Edgar Lungu says people campaigning against the referendum on the bill of rights have no interest of the nation at heart and should not be taken serious by the people of Zambia.

President Lungu noted that people opposed to the referendum have lamentably failed to substantiate their stance and just want to distract people from voting for the progress of the country and its people.

President Lungu said claims by the opposition that voting in the referendum means giving votes to the ruling party is a total fabrication.

The President explained that the referendum on the bill of right is about people's rights and freedoms which every Zambian should enjoy.

He said people who are against the expanded bill of rights do not want to be accountable should they be in government one day.

The President stated that the opposition will be shocked tomorrow after the polls as Zambians will give the referendum and the ruling party a resounding victory.

The head of state who is seeking re-election and faces 8 other candidates said he is not feeling any pressure from his competitors because he is more popular across the country than his challengers.

He said the ruling party will win tomorrows polls with ease because there is no formidable opposition to challenge the Patriotic Front.

And the president said government has improved the Farmer Input Support Programme and will ensure that government partners with the private sector to drive the programme in future.

Mr Lungu said government has been distributing inputs on time and paid all farmers who supply their grains to the Food Reserve Agency.

The head of state was speaking on a live Hot FM Red hot breakfast show from the Copperbelt province.

Tomorrow Zambians will vote in the referendum as well as the presidential and general elections which will be conducted under the amended constitution.

PRESIDENT LUNGU URGES LOSERS TO CONCEDE DEFEAT

President Edgar Lungu says conceding defeat in elections in most African countries is still a huge challenge.

 

President Edgar Lungu

President Lungu noted that most opposition political parties in Africa and Zambia in particular refuse to accept election results

The Head of State said for instance that the opposition UPND has already declared itself winners ahead of the August 11 polls and will not accept anything to the contrary.

President Lungu said this in Lusaka today when a group of four Election observer teams paid a courtesy call on him at State House.

The missions comprised of former president of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan under the African Union Elections Observation Mission (AUEOM) , Cassam Uteen, former President of Mauritius, under the Electoral  Institute for Sustainable  Democracy in Africa (EISA) Observer Mission, Ibrahim Gambani ,Special Envoy of the President of Nigeria and Cecile Kyenge ,chief observer for the European Union Observer Mission.

President Lungu advised all political parties in the country to know that there is life beyond being in State House.

The Head of State wondered why some political parties have gone further to state that they will not accept the Presidential results if they are not in their favour.

President Lungu said in a few hours , Zambians will choose their candidate and as Head of State he has ensured that there is a levelled playing field.

He said he is committed to giving Zambians a free, fair and credible election, which will enable citizens chose their leaders freely.

The Head of State said he has confidence in the election observers that have been sent in the country, as it will also show the world how democratic Zambia is.

The President said he is happy that most of the election monitoring teams comprise former government officials who know how it feels to being in State House.

Meanwhile African Union Elections Observation Mission Leader Goodluck Jonathan said Zambia is known worldwide as a haven of Peace.

Mr. Jonathan said very few countries can match Zambia’s record of peaceful elections and expressed optimism that the record will be maintained.

He has since appealed to President Lungu to remain magnanimous and accept everyone in the country regardless of which party they belong to.

Mr. Jonathan said his team is in the country not to look for faults but to ensure that the elections are held in a peaceful manner.

And former President of Mauritius Cassam Uteen, who is leading the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), thanked President Lungu for welcoming the election observers.

Mr. Uteen said Zambia is generally a peaceful country and he would love that peace is maintained before during and after elections.

He said leaders must provide the necessary support to all political parties and the electoral body to ensure smooth elections.

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES DRAFT LAW WOULD ALLOW PRISON FOR DEFAMATION ONLINE

Lawmakers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines should amend or scrap a draft cybercrime law that would allow for prison sentences of up to two years for defamation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Legislators are expected to consider the draft on Thursday, an opposition politician told CPJ.

Vincentian Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, pictured on a 2009

visit to Trinidad, has defended criminal defamation laws as

preserving "peace and tranquility." (AP/Andres Leighton)

The most recent draft of the law provides for prison sentences of up to two years for "a person who uses a computer system to unlawfully publish any defamatory matter concerning another person, whether negligently or with intent to defame that other person," Anesia Baptiste, an opposition politician who participated in the committee that reviewed the bill, told CPJ. The Penal Code of St. Vincent and the Grenadines already includes penalties of up to two years in prison for defamation, which applies to print, writing, and broadcast media.

"We urge legislators in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to reject the draft law on cybercrime in its current form and to immediately strike existing criminal defamation laws from the Penal Code," said Carlos Lauría, senior program coordinator for the Americas. "Criminal libel laws violate international standards for free expression and could have a chilling effect on the free flow of information."

Baptiste said she feared the draft law could revive criminal defamation prosecutions in the Caribbean country. "Criminal defamation laws remain in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but they have fallen into disuse," she told CPJ. 'We worry that the cybercrime bill could revive them."

The bill also defines "cyber-harassment" as using a computer system to send another person any "information, statement, or image that is obscene, constitutes a threat, or is menacing in nature," and causes another person to feel intimidated or harassed. It can be punished by up to a year in prison. A similar provision on "cyberbullying" establishes a punishment of five years in prison for the repeated distribution of material that causes another person to feel intimidated or distressed and that harms their health or reputation.

Baptiste said she is worried that broad and vague language in these provisions could threaten freedom of expression.

Baptiste is the leader of the Democratic Republican Party, which is not represented in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines's legislature. She was invited to sit on the committee along with select other public officials and members of civil society, in part to fill the gap created by opposition legislators' boycott of legislative sessions since the hotly contested general elections of December 2015.

Vincentian Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said the bill went through an extended period of drafting and was still under review. Responding on July 29 to a letter by Reporters Without Borders, Gonsalves argued in favor of the provisions for criminal defamation, saying that the laws ease "peace, tranquility, and nonviolent responses by victims of defamation."

A representative at the prime minister's office told CPJ that the prime minister was unavailable for an interview on August 5.

CPJ has campaigned to eliminate criminal defamation laws in Latin America and the Caribbean for over a decade. These efforts have helped shape an emerging international consensus, including within the Inter-American system, that criminal defamation violates international freedom of expression standards.

CPJ

PRESIDENT LUNGU SAYS HH, UPND PERPETUAL LOSERS

President Edgar Lungu says the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) and its leader Hakainde Hichilema are known for losing every general and presidential election.

 

President Edgar Lungu at Harry Mwaanga Airport enroute to Mongu

The President said opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has been losing elections since 2001 and stands no chance of winning the August polls.

Speaking on arrival at Mongu airport today, President Lungu appealed to PF members not to panic  because the ruling party will emerge victorious on August 11 polls.

"Don’t panic my members. UPND is losing in this year's election and you know the pain of losing" he said.

And President Lungu said the PF would become more attractive after the general election. 

He hinted that new members and those that left it will  re-join the ruling party. 

He further advised PF members to embrace 'new' members and desist from being provocative. 

President Lungu observed that the opposition UPND leader Mr. Hichilema, his presidential running-mate and their followers are used to demonizing others in the political field. 

The President said democracy is about co-existing and urged PF members to accept divergent views. 

The Head of State encouraged both the PF and opposition political parties to campaign peacefully and be tolerant to each other because Zambia is founded on the One Zambia,  One Nation motto. 

President Lungu who is on a campaign trail in Western Province and is accompanied by First Lady Esther Lungu,  PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri, and other party and government officials.

He was received at Mongu airport by republican Vice President Inonge Wina, Western Province Minister Poniso Njeulu, Gender Deputy Minister Josephine Limata, PF Mongu Central aspiring Member of Parliament Joseph Mulyata and patriotic Zambians.

And PF Provincial Vice Chairman David Musinda assured President Lungu of 100 percent vote from Western province. 

Mr. Musinda appealed to President Lungu to upgrade Mongu municipal council into a city council.

ECZ SETS UP ELECTION SUPPORT CENTRES

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has established Election Support Centres (ESCs) in all the 10 provinces of the country.

ECZ Spokesperson Cris Akufuna said the Centres, which he described as first of its kind in the electoral process in Zambia, will monitor activities and operations of polling stations as well as report incidences to the Commission headquarters in Lusaka.

Mr. Akufuna said the ESCs will act as links between the Commission and national results collection Centre at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, MICC.

The Election Support Centres will not be allowed to report directly to the national totalling centre at MICC but to the Commission headquarters.

Mr. Akufuna, who was flanked by Commission Senior Public Relations Officer Sylvia Bwalya and United Nations Development Programme Media and Communications Specialist Sylvia Namuju, disclosed this during a press briefing in Lusaka today .

Mr Akufuna said that the national results collection Centre, MICC will soon be officially launched by Commission Board Chairperson, Justice Esau Chulu.

“The Commission has established the Election Support Centres in all the 10 provinces of Zambia. The national result collection Centre is MICC and the official launch will be communicated to you members of the press at a date to be announced soon,” Mr. Akufuna said.

And Mr. Akufuna also disclosed that the Commission through its District Conflict Resolution Committee has received one case of electoral mal-practice in Kapoche constituency in Eastern Province but could not divulge further  information on the nature of the electoral offense.

He further disclosed that accreditation for the media personnel wishing to cover the August 11, 2016 general election has been extended to August 9th.

Meanwhile, Mr. Akufuna disclosed that seven trucks carrying ballot papers and non-security election materials were dispatched to four provinces yesterday.

Mr. Akufuna named the provinces as Luapula, Muchinga, North-western and Western provinces.

He said deployment of Commission staff and materials commences on August 6th, 2016 to 117 polling stations.

Mr Akufuna further added that the delivery of ballot papers and election materials to all the district is expected to be completed by August 8, 2016.

The Commission Spokesperson said that the Electoral body has engaged Zambia Air Force (ZAF) helicopters to air-lift election materials to far flung areas that are inaccessible by road and airlifting of election materials commences on August 10.

Mr Akufuna announced that the national voters register for all participating presidential candidates is ready for collection at the Commission headquarters.

He advised political parties wishing to witness the dispatch of ballot papers and other election materials from the Commission warehouses in Silverest in Chongwe to do so before the exercise ends.

Mr Akufuna also revealed  that ECZ  and media heads and political parties agreed at a meeting that there should be balanced , fair and professional coverage to all participating political parties and that the media were advised to report professionally and continued dialogue between parties and media houses.

The ballot papers that were printed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) by Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing Company arrived in the country last week. 

The nine political parties that are participating in this year’s polls are the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), United Party for National Development (UPND), United National Independence Party (UNIP), and the United People’s Progressive (UPP) party.

Other political parties are the People’s Alliance for Change (PAC), the Democratic Alliance (DA), Rainbow and Green Party.

ECZ SETS UP ELECTION SUPPORT CENTRES

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has established Election Support Centres (ESCs) in all the 10 provinces of the country.

ECZ Spokesperson Cris Akufuna said the Centres, which he described as first of its kind in the electoral process in Zambia, will monitor activities and operations of polling stations as well as report incidences to the Commission headquarters in Lusaka.

Mr. Akufuna said the ESCs will act as links between the Commission and national results collection Centre at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, MICC.

The Election Support Centres will not be allowed to report directly to the national totalling centre at MICC but to the Commission headquarters.

Mr. Akufuna, who was flanked by Commission Senior Public Relations Officer Sylvia Bwalya and United Nations Development Programme Media and Communications Specialist Sylvia Namuju, disclosed this during a press briefing in Lusaka today .

Mr Akufuna said that the national results collection Centre, MICC will soon be officially launched by Commission Board Chairperson, Justice Esau Chulu.

“The Commission has established the Election Support Centres in all the 10 provinces of Zambia. The national result collection Centre is MICC and the official launch will be communicated to you members of the press at a date to be announced soon,” Mr. Akufuna said.

And Mr. Akufuna also disclosed that the Commission through its District Conflict Resolution Committee has received one case of electoral mal-practice in Kapoche constituency in Eastern Province but could not divulge further  information on the nature of the electoral offense.

He further disclosed that accreditation for the media personnel wishing to cover the August 11, 2016 general election has been extended to August 9th.

Meanwhile, Mr. Akufuna disclosed that seven trucks carrying ballot papers and non-security election materials were dispatched to four provinces yesterday.

Mr. Akufuna named the provinces as Luapula, Muchinga, North-western and Western provinces.

He said deployment of Commission staff and materials commences on August 6th, 2016 to 117 polling stations.

Mr Akufuna further added that the delivery of ballot papers and election materials to all the district is expected to be completed by August 8, 2016.

The Commission Spokesperson said that the Electoral body has engaged Zambia Air Force (ZAF) helicopters to air-lift election materials to far flung areas that are inaccessible by road and airlifting of election materials commences on August 10.

Mr Akufuna announced that the national voters register for all participating presidential candidates is ready for collection at the Commission headquarters.

He advised political parties wishing to witness the dispatch of ballot papers and other election materials from the Commission warehouses in Silverest in Chongwe to do so before the exercise ends.

Mr Akufuna also revealed  that ECZ  and media heads and political parties agreed at a meeting that there should be balanced , fair and professional coverage to all participating political parties and that the media were advised to report professionally and continued dialogue between parties and media houses.

The ballot papers that were printed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) by Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing Company arrived in the country last week. 

The nine political parties that are participating in this year’s polls are the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), United Party for National Development (UPND), United National Independence Party (UNIP), and the United People’s Progressive (UPP) party.

Other political parties are the People’s Alliance for Change (PAC), the Democratic Alliance (DA), Rainbow and Green Party.