GEM Sites Bi-Weekly Updates
October 26th to November 8th 2023
Malawi
Inua Advocacy an organization advocating for refugee rights in Malawi and beyond submitted to the Independent Complaints Commission (ICC) 37 cases of refugee rights violations “perpetrated by Malawi Police Service (MPS) officers” in the government’s relocation of refugees and asylum seekers to Dzaleka refugee comp.
The organization’s Advocacy and Liaison Officer, Matchona Phiri, said this on Sunday in Lilongwe during a public dialogue on the affairs of refugee and asylum seekers in Malawi, which was organized by Youth and Society (YAS) in partnership with Welthungerhilfe (WHH).
The government, using MPS, is relocating all refugees and asylum seekers living in urban and rural areas to Dzaleka camp, a move civil society (CSO) groups have condemned, following revelations of widespread abuse of the rights of refugees in the exercise.
The United States (US) Government, through its Embassy in Malawi, has awarded approximately $225,00 (MWK 262 million) to 18 organizations working in 11 districts across Malawi.
The funds have been provided through the U.S. Ambassador’s Special SelfHelp Fund, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Small Grants Fund, and the Julia Taft Fund. Speaking during the signing ceremony in Lilongwe, the U.S. Ambassador to Malawi, David Young, said despite being referred to as small grants, their impact on communities in Malawi is substantial.
Over the years, we have seen that a modest investment, with a significant amount of community participation, can lead a lasting improvement in people’s lives,” said Young, adding that the Small Grants Programs support community-driven development projects that address grassroots economic and social issues.
Lebanon
The armed wing of the Palestinian group Hamas has said that it fired a barrage of rockets at Israel from southern Lebanon in response to Israeli strikes on Gaza. In a statement on Telegram on Monday, the Lebanon branch of Hamas’s Qassam Brigades said that it had launched 16 rockets targeting the northern Israeli city of Nahariya and the southern outskirts of the city of Haifa.
Israel said that it had identified about 30 launches from Lebanon over an hour. “The IDF is responding with artillery fire toward the origin of the launches,” the Israeli Defense Forces posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Sisters Rimas, Taline and Lianne Chour were preparing to travel to Beirut for temporary schooling there because of escalating clashes between Israel and Hezbollah militants in their native southern Lebanon.
When they set off on Sunday, a missile Lebanon says Israel fired hit their car, killing all three and their grandmother, and leaving their mother wounded and confused. "She was shouting, 'where are my children, where are my children?'" said their uncle Samir Ayyoub, who witnessed the strike while he drove in convoy with them in his own car. "The children were burning to death inside the vehicle." Ayyoub, a local journalist, spoke to Reuters on Monday as he picked through the wreckage of the car. He held up schoolbooks and bags charred in the blast. "Are these the schoolbooks and bags of terrorists?" he said.
South Africa
The Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) has ordered the education department in the Eastern Cape to reimburse an employee who used her own money to pay Rhodes University after the department failed to pay for her tuition fees through a bursary.
A.Human is employed by the department as an Education Psychologist.
She furthered her studies through Rhodes University after receiving a bursary from the department.
In 2022, the department failed to settle her fees for that year and she ended up paying the institution R20,334 as interest had accumulated, however, she only sought a refund of R20,000.
She approached the ELRC after facing challenges with getting the money back from the department.
The Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal this week met with members of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) to resolve issues brought up by the union in a recent memorandum.
KZN Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education Mbali Frazer said this week the department has been in contact with provincial and National Treasury to find resources that could meet the financial demands.
“We have received a confirmation letter of allocation of an adjusted budget to our department, even before the Sadtu march. We are now undergoing processes to distribute the funds to the schools as well as for the payment of 1.5% pay progression,” said Frazer.
Gauteng police have confirmed Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga was robbed and her bodyguards stripped of their guns while traveling on the N3. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the robbery that took place on the N3 between Vosloorus and Heidelberg. “Personal belongings and two Saps service pistols were stolen during the incident. Members involved are receiving necessary support and counseling. “A manhunt has since been launched following this unprecedented incident and to bring to book those responsible for this attack,” Mathe said.
Rwanda
A Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) delegation led by Dr. Paul J. LeBlanc who is the president of the former is in Rwanda to explore a new partnership with the government in area of Artificial Intelligence in Education. The SNHU has operations in Rwanda since 2013 offering a US-based education model to students at Kepler University (in Kigali and Kiziba refugee camp campuses)- that enables youth to learn skills that offer employment opportunities to 90% of students upon graduation. This model of education is new in Rwanda and could be a benchmark for other universities in Rwanda and Africa.
Hosted at the Norrsken House Kigali, the two-day event will focus on what opportunities are there for investors and startups on the continent, organizers said. The Norrsken Africa Week will also double as the official launch of the Norrsken Kigali House
The Kivu Queen uBuranga, Rwanda’s first luxury cruise ship is expected to get operational and serve clients by early December.
Fully built in Rwanda, uBuranga will operate on Lake Kivu, serving local and international clients. Cruise ships are designed to provide passengers with a holiday including accommodation and entertainment prioritizing onboard amenities and comfort.
uBuranga boasts 11 modern cabins, a swimming pool, a dining salon, a bar, and a viewing deck that allows tourists to explore some of Rwanda’s desirable sceneries. The ship’s service itinerary will include sailing the beautiful Lake Kivu from north to south and vice versa, in addition to activities including water sports. Its upper deck is designed so that it is possible to be booked separately from the rest of the boat with two VIP staterooms, a third cabin, a separate lounge, a small service kitchen, and a private expansive rear deck.
Kenya
King Charles III visited a war cemetery in Nairobi on Wednesday, laying a wreath in honor of Kenyans who fought alongside the British in the two world wars, a day after the monarch expressed “greatest sorrow and the deepest regret” for the violence of the colonial era.
Charles, who with Queen Camilla arrived on Monday in what is his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch, cited the “abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence” committed against Kenyans as they sought independence. However, he didn’t explicitly apologize for Britain’s actions in its former colony as many Kenyans wanted.
At the state banquet hosted by Kenyan President William Ruto on Tuesday, Charles said there “can be no excuse” for the “wrongdoings of the past.” He said that addressing them with honesty and openness could “continue to build an ever closer bond in the years ahead."
NAIROBI, Kenya -- The Kenyan government announced Monday a surprise public holiday on Nov. 13 for a nationwide tree planting day, part of its ambitious plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032
Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki announced a gazette notice posted on the social network X, formerly known as Twitter, following a cabinet meeting held last week and chaired by President William Ruto.
“The Government has declared a special holiday on Monday, November 13, 2023, during which the public across the Country shall be expected to plant trees as a patriotic contribution to the national efforts to save our Country from the devastating effects of Climate Change,” said Kindiki.
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) is set to release loans for First Year students under the New Funding Model on Tuesday next week, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu ha announced.
In a communiqué to newsrooms, Machogu called on all successful applicants of the new education loans to ensure that their bank credentials are aligned to facilitate the smooth disbursement of their loans to their accounts.
”The Higher Education Loans Board has finalized the processing of loans for First Year students in universities and TVETs under the New Higher Education Funding Model. Consequently, the Ministry wishes to inform successful applicants that the funds will be disbursed to their respective universities and student accounts starting Tuesday 7 November 2023,” the communiqué stated. ”Students are advised to ensure that their bank details, as provided in the application for the loans, are correct and up to date,” it added.
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