Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), this week made his third trip to Africa in a year, visiting Kenya, South Africa and Zambia between March 8 and 11. In Johannesburg, AllAfrica senior correspondent Charlayne Hunter-Gault put to him questions sent in by our readers.

The InterMedia survey was conducted in July and August 2009 and had 2,051 respondents based on a probability-proportional-to-size (PPS) plan. 56% of the sample was urban and 46% rural. Only 1% of the sample had a university degree or higher. The survey has been conducted before the arrival of four new international cables (Glo One, Main One, WACS and ACE) that will almost certainly bring both cheaper fixed and mobile Internet for household users.

FINANCE minister Tendai Biti yesterday distributed US$100 million part of the International Monetary Fund's US$510 million Special Drawing Rights (SDR) funds received last year for infrastructural development.

In order for Africa to be liberated from hunger and unemployment among its youths, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) yesterday advised the continent to embrace modern method of farming.

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has praised Zambia for the way it managed the economy during the global financial crisis which resulted in the country recording positive growth.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has defended the indigenisation laws and regulations saying they promote Zimbabwean interests and must not scare away foreign investors.

SA and the UK wanted to double the value of their two-way trade over the next five years from the recession-hit low of R40bn last year, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said yesterday.

ALHAJI Aliko Dangote, Nigerian born billionaire commodity merchant, industrialist has again made it on the list of the world richest men alive, according to a Forbes World Richest Billionaires released yesterday. But his friend and arch rival, Femi Otedola has, however, dropped out of the list probably due to the stock market crash that has gravely eroded his fortune.

Stats SA reports the index of total mining production was 7,7% higher in January 2010 compared with January 2009.

According to Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan the $3,75 billion loan sought by ESKOM from the World Bank would not have any macroeconomic conditions attached

The Cross River State government has awarded contracts for the execution of electrification projects covering over 67 communities at the cost N1,586,003,992.10

AN ownership tussle has split Telecel Zimbabwe after Telecel International announced plans to sell a disputed 11% stake in the country's second largest mobile phone operator, the Zimbabwe Independent can reveal.

AFRICAN countries such as SA must have clean and transparent tender processes that offer equal opportunity to all bidders, a senior visiting US trade official said yesterday.

THE telecoms and broadcasting regulator has issued a discussion document aimed at implementing a regulatory framework for internet protocol television (IPTV).

LIFE assurance and wealth management group Sanlam lifted normalised headline earnings 133% to 218,9c per share in the year to December 31 after a stronger second half operationally and rising investment markets.

IMPERIAL Holdings, the transport and logistics group, said yesterday it had paid R160m for a strategic stake in fleet-management and vehicle-tracking company MiX Telematics.

THE head of Vodafone, the world's largest cellphone group by revenue, said yesterday that he would not lose sleep if Bharti Airtel succeeded in buying the African assets of Kuwait-based Zain, because competition from such a cash-rich operator would only be good for the customer.

Following the departure late last year of the former CEO of Rwandair, Ambassador Gerald Zirimwabagabo, it is reported that the airline is currently undergoing a 'clean-up process'.

Prime Minister Bernard Makuza has tipped the Western Province to emerge as one of East Africa's exemplary economic success stories in the next few years.

THUMBS up to International Monetary Fund (IMF) MD Dominique Strauss-Kahn for his efforts to reframe the debate on the rand.

The Zimbabwe government has accused diamond giant De Beers of looting gems from the controversial Chiadzwa mining fields over a period of 15 years without declaring the proceeds to the state.

Growing oil company Engen plans to take over the assets of its rival, BP, in the countries from which BP is pulling out. BP announced last week that it will be pulling out of five southern African countries as a result of a strategic review.

Former Head of Interim National Government (ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan has said that the recurring violence in Jos in Plateau State was more economic in nature than the ethnic and religious reasons.

The Federal Government has insisted that international oil companies seeking renewal of their acreages must first demonstrate serious commitment to investing in private refineries.

COAL mining and exploration company Optimum Coal yesterday announced plans to list on the JSE at the end of the month. It expects to raise about R1,6bn in the initial public offering (IPO).

MTN Group will invest about 200m (R1,5bn) in submarine cables to increase its bandwidth capacity for its Africa and Middle East operations.

PETROCHEMICALS group Sasol yesterday formally launched a R8,4bn wax expansion programme that, when complete, will double the production of hard wax in SA.

BASIL Read chief financial officer Donny Gouveia said yesterday the construction company was "cautious about the amount of work coming from government" this year, despite public infrastructure contracts helping it achieve strong earnings growth in the year to December.

GENERAL Electric (GE) Healthcare was set to double its investments in SA through a "three-year plan", president Richard di Benedetto said this week, as it looks to step up talks with the government on public-private partnerships.

IT is not often that the fastidious International Monetary Fund (IMF) sings praises of African economies.