Parliament has paid tribute to the fallen Kenyan Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Francis Ogolla, who died in a helicopter crash on Thursday, 18 April 2024. 

Gen Ogolla and other officers died in the afternoon crash yesterday, President William Ruto announced yesterday. He also declared three days of national mourning starting today. 

During the House sitting on Friday, 19 April 2024, Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, commiserated with Kenya on the tragic death of the officers.

“Our condolence goes to the Republic of Kenya for the loss of the Chief of Defence Forces [Gen Francis Ogolla],” she said, motioning MPs to observe a moment of silence to honour the departed.

MPs to walk against malaria

In her communication to the House, Speaker Among invited MPs to participate in a walk organised to raise awareness against malaria scheduled for Saturday, April 20, 2024.

“…Tomorrow is the 2024 walk against malaria and it will be held under the theme, “Zero Malaria starts with you”; as we strive to eradicate malaria as one of the leading causes of mortality, I would like to implore the Ministry of Health to consider scheduling such walks in some of the geographical areas with the highest prevalence of malaria; this way, sensitisation will be achieved in the most vulnerable communities,” she said. 

MP Goefrey Mutiwa (NRM, Bunyole County West) said the walk is important in curbing malaria related mortalities. 

“I implore all colleagues to attend the run in their numbers to ensure that we raise awareness against malaria and prevent deaths,” he said. 

Hon. Naboth Namanya (FDC, Rubabo County) said there is need for government to ensure nets are distributed to all families for protection against malaria. 

“It was a surprise to me to see only 50 nets being distributed; I hope this walk will help us to mobilise all the strength to help and eliminate malaria in Uganda,” he said. 

Hon. Charles Bakkabulindi (NRM, Workers) said such walks and other strategies for raising awareness against malaria should be routine and research based. 

“We have been with this killer disease for a very long time. We need to concentrate on research; let a time be designated to ensure all MPs go to their constituencies and raise awareness against malaria,” he said.

Hon. Nicholas Kamara (FDC, Kabale Municipality) saw a nexus between socio-economic conditions of the population and prevalence of malaria, drawing parallels with Italy and how they struggled to eliminate the disease, until the standard of living was improved. 

“It is important that the way of living of our people is improved – the housing, the environment and so on and so forth. Some people do not even have where to hang the nets,” he said. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

On April 17, Mr. Chen Wendi, Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Somalia, paid a courtesy call on Somali Foreign Minister H.E. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi in Mogadishu.

The two sides exchanged views on jointly implementing the important consensus reached by the two heads of state to strengthen the traditional friendship and deepen cooperation in various fields.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Federal Republic of Somalia.

On April 17, a delegation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa led by Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Konstantin of Zaraisk arrived to Zambia on a 5-day visit.

During the visit, the Exarch met with Russian Ambassador to Zambia A.Yarakhmedov to discuss the construction of an Orthodox Christian church in Lusaka and conducted the Divine Liturgy at the Russian Centre for Science and Culture for the employees of the Embassy, compatriots and Zambian citizens.

Negotiations with the representatives of the Lusaka City Council and trips to Kitwe and Ndola of the Copperbelt province are also planned.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and CGIAR, have renewed their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), to strengthen food and nutrition security in Zambia as the country grapples with a widespread El Niño induced drought and the climate crisis.

The partnership implemented under CGIAR Research Initiative on Climate Resilience (ClimBeR) will focus on four key areas: climate services such as co-developments and improvements to Zambia’s e-Extension system, index insurance, early warning and anticipatory action, and climate security.

“We are thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with CGIAR at the regional level to strengthen food and nutrition security at a time when Zambia is devastated by prolonged drought,” said Cissy Byenkya, WFP Country Director in Zambia. “Through this partnership, we hope to strengthen the climate resilience of smallholder farmers, help them to better cope with climate extremes and limit crop losses and support food and nutrition security.”

In March 2024, Zambia declared a state of emergency due to the El Niño induced drought, with 84 out of 116 districts and more than one million farming families affected, plunging the country into food and nutrition insecurity.

“The Climate Resilience Initiative demonstrates CGIAR’s commitment to the people of Zambia in supporting the implementation of its National Adaptation Plan and Vision 2030,” said Dr. Ana Maria Loboguerrero, CGIAR Research Initiative on Climate Resilience Lead. “We are proud to work together with WFP to build climate resilience locally; partnerships such as this reflect our commitment to co-create a sustainable and resilient future in Zambia through a combination of digital innovations, capacity strengthening mechanisms, and access to accurate and timely climate information for more informed decision making.”

The collaboration between WFP and the CGIAR Initiative on Climate Resilience shows the benefits of humanitarian organisations and agri-food research centres working together to address current and future food system challenges.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).