NEWS BRIEFS FOR THE GREAT LAKES REGION OF AFRICA - May 1/2016
https://nangalama.blogspot.ca/2016/05/news-briefs-for-great-lakes-region-of.html
SOUTH SUDAN
1) After being sworn in as Deputy Vice President of South Sudan, Marchar is now calling for reconciliation. However those who know him as a war monger are still skeptic.
2) The Chief negotiator for SPLM-IO (read Marchar) Tabang Deng Gai has resigned. Nevertheless the Chief Spokesman for SPLM-IO James Gatdek Dak has rubished that story saying Deng is only taking a much needed leave.
3) In the new South Sudan Unity government, Kiir named 16 of his loyalists and Marchar nominated 10 of his loyalists. My maths tells me 26 so where are the other 4? I guess they will soon be announced.
4) It is commendable that Kiir included opposition and rebels in the cabinet and by the way their first meeting as a cabinet is set for this Friday.
KENYA
5) Burned the biggest pile of ivory ever! Uhuru is on a war against poaching and wild life preservation. It comprised 5% of the entire world's ivory. Ahem!
6) The death toll in the 7 storey building which collapsed in Nairobi is now sitting at 16. Many more are missing. Some 3 building contractors or owners of the 120+ insecure buildings have been arrested. The floods in Nairobi did not help either as more people have died in them. Red Cross has so far rescued 112 people and they are still working at it. On flooding in the city, I am of the opinion that they should have tea with Musisi.
7) Flags will be flying at half mast for the State Funeral of Mrs. Kibaki.
8) Kenya is facing a cash crunch for immunisations as donor funds shrink over the next 7yrs. This is easy to fix. Come visit KCCA and find out how they sell immunisation to people who had already paid for it via their taxes.
9) Kenya's Kipkoech Ruto won the Pittsburgh Marathon. Hailemaryam Ayantu Dakebo of Ethiopa won the women's.
TANZANIA
10) After #Magufuli got tough on counterfeit phones, there has been a significant drop counterfeit users. But China will still make money from the cassava and oil and sisal.
11) Press freedom in TZ is the highest in EAC. Way to go boss.
12) The exposure of Ghost Workers in TZ has saved the country $35 million so far. And we are not even half way in the year yet.
13) The wild life boss has been sanctioned to appear before the president and deal with poaching. Immediate surveillance in Tarangire National Park is demanded.
14) The Chinese companies are doing business in TZ per President Xi-Jinping's philosophy. Growing the labour force, education and infrastructure. TZ has Vision 2025 but apparently at this rate, they will hit Middle Income status by 2020. Meanwhile Uganda has Vision 2040. Kangende nebake nange.
RWANDA
15) Jeannette Kagame is urging young women to take on technology for the future employment and needed development of Rwanda. Actually all countries should do this. Girls are brain wired for technology. We just need to be given the same chances as the boys.
16) Uganda's hit and miss on the Standard Gauge Railway (thieving) is forcing Rwanda to look towards Tanzania for railway in land transportation. Good for you because you know we steal BURUNDI
17) The Burundi economy is suffering after a year of war in the country. Anyone could have told you that war destroys the economy. Welcome to Third Term.
18) Along those lines, Burundi is now rated the Poorest country in the world. Yes, the poorest. Congratulations Nkurunziza.
19) Apparently citizens of the EAC block now look to elections as nothing but a sham. Throughout all the countries by the way. This comes on the heals of Kenya, Tanzania, recently Uganda, Rwanda and also Burundi and soon DRC.
DRC (Democractic Republic of Congo)
20) The people of DRC want democracy. Actually this one is in this article and they can still keep dreaming. Dreams never hurt. https://www.portalangop.co.ao/angola/en_us/noticias/africa/2016/3/17/the-Democratic-Republic-Congo-residents-still-desire-democracy,d383ef60-c35b-4493-b7b7-d8b2340c9548.html
21) The New York times has an article talking about Bambote (forest dwelling ethnic group) saying that the wars in DRC are small but they leave endless chaos. We see this since last year when Kabila announced for Third Term and the best chaos is yet to come. This man even has Safe Houses, just imagine that. So does Nkurunziza. And they also have tear gas and live bullets. Who cursed Africa? https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/world/africa/in-congo-wars-are-small-and-chaos-is-endless.html?_r=0
Now you are updated.
Martha Leah Nangalama
Moncton, Canada
Whatsapp +15068716371