IGIHE

Tag: GreatLakesNews

  • GZ Industries to Construct US$100M Can Factory in Kenya

    GZ Industries to Construct US$100M Can Factory in Kenya

    {{Manufacturing firm GZ Industries has decided to invest US$100mn to construct an aluminium can manufacturing plant at Sultan Hamud Township in Kenya}}

    The company plans to begin operations in early 2015 and will produce 1.2bn cans annually, it stated.

    Motti Goldmintz, CEO of GZ Industries, said, “The decision to invest in an aluminium can line follows a significant upturn in the demand for canned beverages in Kenya. The total annual production of sodas in the market has reached a high of 371.4mn litres in 2011.”

    According to statistics, beer production in Kenya has also hit a high of 2.8mn hectolitres – the highest in the East African region.

    The company said that the manufacturing unit will be opened on the Mombasa Highway, 109km from Nairobi. The plant is expected to create over 20,000 jobs.

    GZ Industries is based Agbara, Ogun State, Nigeria and sells cans to Guinness Nigeria PLC, a unit of Diageo PLC and Nigeria Bottling Company.

    Over the years, Kenya has been importing cans for packaging beers and soft drinks.

    The new plant would help cut costs in Kenya and across the wider East African Community.

    The company has said that it plans to expand to regional markets targeting Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Burundi.

    {africanreview}

  • Two UN Workers Shot Dead in Somalia

    Two UN Workers Shot Dead in Somalia

    {{A British man is one of two United Nations workers who have been shot dead in Somalia, the Foreign Office has said.}}

    They were shot inside Galkayo Airport after getting off a plane, a local security official Mohamed Mire said.

    The attacker was dressed in a police uniform, an airport official added.

    Witness Hassan Ahmed said: “One of them died inside the airport and the other one was rushed to hospital where he later died of the injuries.”

    The men were working for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the UN confirmed.

    {{‘No justification’}}

    Nicholas Kay, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, condemned the murders, saying: “Our UN colleagues were working in support of the Somali people’s aspiration for a peaceful and stable future.

    “There can be no justification for such a callous attack.

    “I call on the authorities to conduct a full investigation immediately and bring the perpetrators to justice without delay.”

    Galkayo lies 356 miles (574km) north of capital Mogadishu on the border with the semi-autonomous state of Puntland.

    The region has become synonymous with piracy in the seas around Somalia, particularly in the Gulf of Aden.

    It is home to many Somalis displaced by violence in the south where some attempt to make the sea crossing to Yemen.

    A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: “We stand ready to provide consular assistance to the family at this difficult time.”

    {wirestory}

  • Kiir, Bashir Discuss Ways to Protect South Sudan’s Oilfields

    Kiir, Bashir Discuss Ways to Protect South Sudan’s Oilfields

    {{South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir concluded a one-day visit to Khartoum on Saturday during which he discussed with his Sudanese counterpart Omer Hassan Al-Bashir bilateral relations and security issues.}}

    The two presidents afterwards announced that they agreed to develop joint mechanisms to reactivate the implementation of the cooperation agreements signed between the two countries in 2012.

    An official source told media that Kiir asked for Khartoum’s support through tightening control along the borderline between the two countries, adding that both sides also discussed ways for protecting oilfields against potential attacks by South Sudan rebels.

    The same source also said Juba asked Khartoum to back its stances within the East African regional block IGAD with regard to participation of the seven detained SPLM leaders in the negotiations between the government and the rebels.

    South Sudan’s deadly conflict erupted last December after clashes broke out between rival factions of the presidential guards in Juba when the president ordered the disarmament of Nuer soldiers in the guards division, triggering the subsequent violence.

    Kiir, however, said he was responding to an alleged coup plot by his former long-time deputy Riek Machar, but the latter accused Kiir of instigating the violence in order to get rid of his political opponents within the ruling party.

    Machar has maintained that he was forced into “armed resistance”, accusing president Kiir of “dictatorial tendencies” and calling on him to step down.

    Over 10,000 people have reportedly been killed and nearly a million displaced since violence erupted, according to UN estimates.

    While Machar escaped from Juba with former Unity state governor Taban Deng Gai, when the fighting began, 11 senior SPLM members were arrested and accused of being behind an alleged coup attempt in the country.

    After international pressure and a ceasefire deal signed on January 23rd, Juba released seven of the detainees but kept four, including the SPLM’s former secretary general Pagan Amum in custody.

    Bashir said in a joint press conference with Kiir that they discussed ways for developing bilateral ties through implementation of cooperation agreements, adding they also discussed security situation in the two countries and agreed to coordinate efforts to achieve security and stability.

    He pointed that the visit comes within the framework of the continued consultations between the leadership in both countries in order to strengthen relations, expressing hope that ties between the two countries would be fully normalised and borders opened for the benefit of the two peoples.

    Kiir for his part expressed satisfaction at the visit to Khartoum, noting that the visit was supposed to take place after Bashir’s recent visit to Juba but was delayed due to security developments in South Sudan.

    He said they agreed to set up mechanisms to reactivate implementation of the joint cooperation agreement signed between the countries in Addis Ababa.

    In September 2012, both Sudan and South Sudan signed a series of cooperation agreements, which covered oil, citizenship rights, security issues, banking, border trade among others.

    In March 2013, the two countries signed an implementation matrix for these cooperation agreements.

    {sudantribune}

  • Kenya Recieves its Boeing 787 Dreamliner

    Kenya Recieves its Boeing 787 Dreamliner

    {{After sixteen hours and 10 minutes, the much awaited Kenya Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner dubbed ‘the Great Rift Valley’ landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where it was welcomed by a thrilled audience.}}

    Though it landed at 11:50am, media crew had pitched camp at the airport as early as 7.30am to receive the aircraft. President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Somali Counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud led the huge audience of enthusiastic Kenyans who wanted to catch a glimpse of the new plane.

    “It will land in the next 20 minutes so set your cameras for the best photos,” a Kenya Airport Authority staff told journalists who had started complaining of the scorching sun outside, just next to the state pavilion.

    To get the best shot for both video and still cameras, we boarded an airport bus to go to the runway to capture the moment the plane touched the ground.

    “It’s a huge plane but I hope I got the landing point,” a reporter said; he had missed a good shot.

  • Prayers for Congolese Boat Accident Victims held in Kampala

    Prayers for Congolese Boat Accident Victims held in Kampala

    {{The Congolese Community in Kampala has held prayers for over Congolese refugees who perished in a boat accident on Lake Albert last month.}}

    The prayers at St, Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church in Rubaga, a Kampala suburb, were presided over by Rev Father Joseph Kalenzi.

    During the function, the Congolese asked God to forgive their fellow countrymen of their sins and grant them eternal peace.

    A total of 109 bodies of Congolese refugees were retrieved from Lake Albert after the boat they were travelling from Kyangwali Refugee Resettlement Camp in Hoima capsized at Kitebere landing site in Kibaale district, a few hours after takeoff, over two weeks ago.

    The refugees who were eager to return home following the return of peace in eastern DRC boarded the ill-fated boat at Kenjojo landing site in Hoima district. It’s suspected that there were over 200 people on the boat. A total of 45 people were rescued by fishermen.

    A total of 88 bodies were handed over to the Congolese authorities at the border between Uganda and DRC for burial. But the Congolese authorities rejected 21 bodies retrieved from the water 72 hours after they had died.

    Addressing a press conference in Kampala on Friday, the DRC ambassador to Uganda, Jean-Charles Okoto Lolakombe, defended the rejection of the bodies saying “They had decomposed and culture does not allow us to burry people 72 hours after they have died. These were buried at Bundibugyo hospital cemetery,” he said.

    The ambassador explained that there would be a tripartite meeting between DRC, Uganda and United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Kampala from April 21 to 24 to agree on the voluntary repatriation of the Congolese refugees from Uganda.

    “All our people want to return home because they know peace has been restored and we want to ensure they are repatriated in a dignified manner,” he said.

    NV

  • Uganda to Handover M23 Rebels to ICC

    Uganda to Handover M23 Rebels to ICC

    {{Uganda announced Friday it was ready to turn over Congolese anti – government rebels to The Hague to face trial for war crimes.}}

    Okello Oryem, the foreign affairs state minister, said Ugandan officials were awaiting from Congolese authorities a list of rebels of the March 23 Movement suspected of rape, the execution of civilians and recruiting child soldiers during a 20-month rebellion in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo that ended last November.

    The suspects are among the more than 1,000 M23 insurgents currently in Ugandan custody after they fled Congo in December ahead of a United Nations-backed offensive by the Congolese army to quash the uprising, which left thousands of people dead and nearly a million displaced.

    “We are ready to cooperate in the transfer of any suspects to the ICC. We are tired of being accused of harboring Congolese dissidents,” Mr. Oryem said.

  • EAC Told To Improve Business Climate

    EAC Told To Improve Business Climate

    {{East African Community (EAC) member states have been urged to improve their business environments and make the region business-friendly.

    By so doing profits will be generated for the states and their citizens.}}

    The call was made here yesterday by East Africa Community Business Council (EABC) chairman Vimal Shah, during the regional business council’s annual meeting.

    Mr Shah stressed the importance of a business-friendly environment in attracting investors.

    “Improving the business environment will lure capital investments from local and foreign investors, which at the end will benefit countries and people through increased revenues and employment opportunities,” said Mr Shah.

    “We are obliged to improve the customs and cargo shipment system in our major ports, notably Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, since they are the major inlets and outlets of local and foreign products.”

    Taking into account the fact that agriculture employs over 80 per cent of East African workforce, Mr Shah advised all five member states to improve the sector as a major means of alleviating poverty.

    “Our schools and colleges must also put emphasis on agricultural science to enable the bloc to produce its own agricultural experts amply,” he explained.

    One of the major areas which the member states should adopt was a combined promotion of tourism and natural attractions found in all five countries as opposed to the existing situation where each country promotes its own attractions, he noted.

    Explaining on business cooperation in the region, EABC vice chairperson Esther Mkwizu said the region’s business volume increased to $4.5 billion in 2011 from $2.5 billion in 2005.

    The acting EAC deputy secretary general for political federation, Mr Charles Njoroge, assured businesses in the region that the community’s secretariat had completed a set-up that would make EAC a strong federation — economically, socially and politically.

    He called on EABC to increase cooperation with the member states so that all agreements and resolutions reached to improve business environment in the region are implemented as well as removing trade barriers “to facilitate a powerful regional market of commodities, services and labour”.

    Mwananchi Communications Limited chief operations officer Francis Nanai urged EAC members to work together and avoid misunderstandings. According to Mr Nanai, the emergence of the Coalition of the Willing was a challenge for the bloc.

    NMG

  • South African Man Burns, Cuts up Pregnant Lover

    South African Man Burns, Cuts up Pregnant Lover

    {{A South African 24-year-old man was arrested Chesterville on Friday in connection with the death of his pregnant girlfriend, who was burnt and her body chopped up, KwaZulu-Natal police said.}}

    “The suspect from Chesterville identified what is believed to be the remains of his late heavily pregnant girlfriend, who was reported missing on 21 February 2014,” said Captain Thulani Zwane.

    Zwane said Cato Manor police officers went with the man on Road 25 in Chesterville where he pointed out remains believed to be his 22-year-old girlfriend.

    “It is believed she was burnt and chopped up into pieces after being bludgeoned with a sharp object to the head. The DNA will be conducted to establish whether the recovered remains were of the same missing person.”

    Zwane said the man initially denied knowing where his girlfriend was and said he went with her to a nearby bus stop because she was on her way to a hospital.

    The motive for the murder was not known and investigations continue.

    “It is possible that the suspect may be charged for a double murder,” he said.

    The man was expected to appear in court soon.

    – SAPA

  • Over a Million Have Fled S. Sudan Conflict, UN Says

    Over a Million Have Fled S. Sudan Conflict, UN Says

    {{More than a million people have been forced from their homes in South Sudan in more than three months of fighting and immediate action is needed to avert a humanitarian catastrophe, the UN warned in a report on Friday.}}

    “In the 100 days since the start of the conflict in South Sudan, over one million people have fled their homes,” the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a report released late on Friday.

    Over 800,000 have been internally displaced inside South Sudan while almost 255,000 have fled as refugees to the neighbouring countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan, the UN said.

    Violence erupted in South Sudan on December 15 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and fighters loosely allied to former vice president Riek Machar.

    The two men have been at odds since July, when Machar was fired from the vice presidency and accused of planning a coup. Machar responded by criticising Kiir’s leadership and declaring his intention to run for president in the 2015 election.

    A ceasefire between government and rebels inked in January is in tatters with fighting ongoing.

    “Fighting between government and opposition forces has continued, especially in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile state, where towns and rural areas have been ravaged by the violence,” the OCHA report added.

    The conflict has caused a “serious deterioration in the food security situation”, with some 3.7 million people now at high risk, it read.

    Peace talks in the Ethiopia capital have made little if any progress, with the two sides squabbling in Addis Ababa’s luxury hotels over who can attend the negotiations.

    Tens of thousands of civilians are sheltering inside UN peacekeeper bases in fear of revenge attacks, crammed into tiny areas in increasingly squalid conditions.

    The UN estimates that five million people are in need of aid, with vast swathes of the countryside increasingly difficult to reach by road due to heavy seasonal rainfall.

    Huge warehouses of food aid stored for the rainy season before fighting broke out have been looted.

  • We are Going Nowhere, Gays Now tell Mugabe

    We are Going Nowhere, Gays Now tell Mugabe

    {{Pressure is mounting on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s administration to legalise same-sex marriages.}}

    Pro-gay lobby groups said Mugabe should recognise their rights and lift the country ban on homosexuality.

    The beleaguered groups spoke as local churches mounted a fresh campaign against homosexuals, with top bishops sensationally likening them to mentally sick people.

    Officials of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) claimed Mugabe and his administration was using propaganda and mooting more repressive legislation to silence them, but added they would not back down.

    Speaking in Harare yesterday, the lobby said anti-gay pronouncements by the President and church leaders had led to discrimination in employment, education and healthcare.

    Mugabe has also backed the controversial anti-gay law in Uganda. No matter what they do and say, we are going nowhere and will continue fighting for recognition from within, said Samuel Matsikure, the GALZ Programmes Manager.

    The Zimbabwean constitution, enacted in March last year, criminalizes gay sex and same-sex marriages. The practice is also officially outlawed in Uganda and Nigeria while many other African countries have a silent ban anchored in statutes.

    Bishop Emmanuel Makandiwa led local clergymen last Sunday in declaring gays are mentally sick, saying most Zimbabweans do not believe gays are out of their mind “because they (gays) have more wealth than you.

    Yesterday, Matsikure also hit back at Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya for continued discrimination of gays, saying African nations should join the league of countries that treat their nationals equally without prejudices drawn along sexual orientation.