On September 3, a new regional newspaper, "The Southern Times," was launched in the Zimbabwean resort town of Victoria Falls following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Media Corporation between Zimbabwe and Namibia in February in Windhoek. The information minister of Zimbabwe, Dr Jonathan visited Namibia at that time. At a joint press briefing, both he and Minister Nangolo Mbumba would not disclose the content of the agreement and revealed nothing about the intended publication. The assistant "Herald" editor Moses Magadza in Harare edits the 24-page broadsheet, but a Namibian deputy editor has his office in Windhoek, which is attached to the government newspaper New Era. The paper is printed in Harare.

Speaking at the launch of the "Southern Times" at Vic Falls last weekend, Minister Mbumba urged the media to stop spending time looking for enemies but work towards developing and motivating the people to counter what "the region’s adversaries are smearing on us".

"Let us put all our attention on producing this paper and by the time that our detractors believe that they have derailed our plans, our job would be done," he said.

The two ministers said the media should not rely on western news agencies for reportage of events in the respective countries. Meanwhile NBC television news further reported on Sunday that Namibia and Zimbabwe plan a 24-hour joint television channel in the near future.

Meanwhile another publication has seen the light in Namibia. Called "Insight," the new economic monthly magazine is the second attempt of economic researcher Robin Sherbourne, who a few years ago published a similar publication, called "Growth," which was stopped after only a few editions.

Telecom Namibia announced new tariffs from 1 October 2004 bringing more woes to taxpayers, who suffered a recent petrol hike and municipal increases in the past few weeks. International call rates decrease by 15%

and off-peak rates for public holidays will be introduced. Only 3 local zones will remain: Local calls, less than 100 km and above 100 km. Local calls will increase from 35c to 38c during peak hours off peak they will only cost 19c. Residential charges per month are going up from N$ 42 to N$ 47. Luckily, internet dial-up charges will be 20% cheaper than the new local charges. Fixed to cell rates have been adjusted from N$ 1.83 to N$ 1.95 per minute (peak) and N$ 1.14 to N$ 1.20 per minute (off peak). International call rates decrease by 15%, indicative of global trends to lower international call rates. "The introduction of off-peak rates for public holidays is aimed at benefiting residential users and to promote the concept of family and friends who want to talk to each other during public holidays", Telecom’s PRO manager Ferdinand Tjombe said.

The first meeting of the newly established Aquaculture Advisory Council will be convened next week on 15 September. Fisheries Minister Abraham Iyambo will address the Council. Aquaculture is a new industry in Namibia and so far comprises oyster and perlemoen (abalone) cultivation and the harvesting of seaweed. Inland or freshwater aquaculture like breeding tilapia or bream species

has started commercially near the Hardap Dam. The ministry has recently set up aquaculture projects in the Okavango and Caprivi Regions. Minister Iyambo will return from an official 5-day visit from Chile this weekend, where he discussed marine aquaculture and the possible introduction of salmon fish farms along the Namibian coast.