General Ter Majak Thach, newly appointed SPLA-IO KD Zonal Commander for Unity State. [Photo via Bentiu TV]
JUBA, JULY 3, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/SPLA-IO) Kitgwang faction General Simon Gatwech Dual on Monday named a new zonal commander for his forces in Unity State.
In an order extended to Sudans Post, General Gatwech who removed his chief of staff just last week named Lt. Gen. Ter Majak Thach as commander of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang Petroleum (Bentiu) Zonal Command with an immediate effect.
“Pursuant on the power conferred upon me under Section 13 (1) (2), Section 14 (5) of SPLA Act 2009 amended SPLA 10 KD Act 2022 and Reference to SPLA IO KD Command Council Consultative meeting dated 26/06/2023, 1st Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, Chairman and Commander in Chief of SPLM/A IO KD Do here by appoint 2nd Lt. Gen Kerbino Ter Majak Thach as SPLA IO KD Petroleum (Bentiu) Zonal Commander with effect from 03 July 2023,” Gatwech said.
This comes a day after General Gatwech named a new chief of staff after he dismissed the SPLA-IO chief of staff Laraka Machar Turoal, a former deputy governor for the defunct Northern Liech State, over allegations of cooperating with enemies.
On Saturday, Gatwech appointed Lt. Gen. James Riek Ruai as the new chief of staff for the opposition group and named Lt. Gen. Paulino Gattek Deah – in another order on Saturday as well – as the SPLA-IO Kitgwang deputy chief of staff for operations. Sudans Post
Image Credits: Priscilla Muhiu, formerly of Glovo Kenya is the new MyDawa Kenya CEO. / MyDawa
Kenyan e-health startup MyDawa has raised $20 million funding from private equity investor Alta Semper Capital, to expand its regional reach and product offerings with the aim of becoming an all-in-one health platform for users.
MyDawa, which launched in 2016, has diversified from an e-pharmacy to include online and in-person consultations, and laboratory services at its expanding network of walk-in pharmacies and health centres.
It has also launched its own branded products, and plans to open up its technology infrastructure from telehealth to fulfillment, helping other businesses in the health sector to scale. It claims to have already inked deals with some of Kenya’s biggest clinic chains, which are looking to expand their reach.
Additionally, MyDawa has also acquired Uganda’s Guardian Health, one of the many acquisitions and collaborations it aims to make as it expands beyond Kenya. The growth plans will be steered by new CEO Priscilla Muhiu, formerly of Glovo Kenya.
Commenting on the funding and newest acquisition, MyDawa co-founder Neil O’Leary said: “Alta Semper’s ambition exactly matches that of MyDawa, and it brings the drive, connections and clout to succeed. Three years ago, AAIC, a Japanese backed African healthcare fund joined as our first external investor and now the team has been augmented in the strongest manner possible.”
“MyDawa now has both a solid secure base and a great expansion opportunity based on a great offering which improves health outcomes. Guardian is a great first step on fulfilling our ambition,” said O’Leary.
MyDawa raised $3 million from AAIC’s Africa Healthcare Fund in 2019, and has also received $1.2 million grant funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS by increasing access to PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) medication.
Alta Semper CEO, Afsane Jetha, said the investment marked the PE firm’s first entry into digital healthcare in Africa, regarded as one of the sectors with the potential for great growth in the coming years.
“MyDawa was the logical choice for us as their groundbreaking technology, underpinning a scalable business model, along with regulatory knowhow and market entry experience, mapped so well to our own strategy. The drive to increase the access to good advice and safe and affordable medication is core to our overall mission of democratizing access to health and wellbeing across the African continent,” said Jetha.
“With consumer spending in Africa projected to reach $2.1 trillion by 2025, this represents one of the continent’s largest business opportunities. Therefore, the investment into MyDawa is part of our strategic aim at meeting this growing demand by investing in locally produced and value-priced consumer goods and services.” TechCrunch
Calls for beneficial inclusion into partnerships within the extractive industry echoed by different stakeholders as many believe this will move citizens from being spectators to beneficiaries
Dar es Salaam. As Tanzania is witnessing increased discoveries of natural resources, stakeholders in the extractive industry have cautioned the government to ensure inked contracts benefit the general public.
They are of the view that partnerships and investment contracts should increase efficiency and benefit both sides; investors and the government on behalf of its people.
Their caution comes following reports that many countries blessed with abundant natural resources including oil and gas as well as minerals have failed to benefit its people due to poor supervision.
They said most countries have ultimately ended up plunging into civil war as well as endless conflicts in what is referred as resource curse.
Extractive industry stakeholders shared the caution during a workshop gathering experts in the sector organised by the Natural Resources Governance Institute (NRGI).
Repoa Executive Director, Donald Mmari said investment capital required for extraction activities is extremely huge to be afforded by most countries without involving investors.
“Investors bring in capital, while countries offer resources. We are therefore required to be careful when striking the deals in order to benefit both sides involved in the contract,” said Dr Mmari.
He said the country should see how the sector is interconnected with others and ensure investment multiple effects is realised in many other sectors.
Furthermore, he said Tanzania needs to see how to strengthen its economy using resources harvested in the extraction industry.
“There are resources that are depleted after a few years of extraction meaning that they should be converted to other resources that will significantly contribute to the country’s economic growth before depletion,” he said.
“There are countries that have failed to properly use such resources while others have benefited, which should be a lesson to Tanzania,” he cautioned.
Natural Resources Governance Institute (NRGI) manager for East Africa, Moses Kulaba said there was a need for proper supervision of tax collection in the extractive industry.
“The sector is rapidly growing making it important for the country to increase its revenue collection in order to benefit its people,” he said.
“Climate change could adversely affect the sector’s growth, therefore placing the need for government’s preparation that will guarantee its growth and prosperity for the benefit of general public,” he added.
For his part, assistant mineral commissioner Ally Samaji said the government was putting in effort to increase citizen participation in the extractive industry.
“The move will place generated revenues in the hands of citizens instead of making them observers. We want more Tanzanians recruited in the sector and increase their understanding of what happens in order to improve efficiency,” he said. By Elizabeth Edward, The Citizen
Kampala, Uganda - Despite the recent attack on UPDF forces in Somalia and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) offensive in Kasese, President Museveni has assured Ugandans that the country is still safe and secure.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), said this while passing out 9,690 local defense personnel on June 30,2023 at Kaweweta Recruit Training School in central Uganda.
"When we make a few mistakes, like those that occurred in Somalia and Kasese, people who are unfamiliar with war begin to run around in panic, but I can assure you that Uganda's security is absolutely secure. I was speaking with commanders here about several errors that were made in Somalia. There are still some intelligence gaps in Kasese, but they are all easily resolved. That region of the country has been tranquil for a long time, and the people there are pretty relaxed,” The President warned that anyone who upsets us will pay a very high price.
At the event, where 9,690 LDUs from Kaweweta Recruit Training School in Nakaseke, Labwordwong Training School in Agago, and Olilim Training School in Karamoja were recruited, the President also mentioned that educated people can make good soldiers and cadres who learn quickly because modern warfare has a lot of "science."
"When you hear about how well-performing some forces, like the Israeli army, are, it's because their members are educated. In the 1960s, educated individuals would engage in armed conflict with peasants from other nations, and due to technology and quick learning, they were unable to handle. Only occasionally do the educated grow arrogant and despise manual labor, but otherwise, educated individuals can become excellent troops and excellent cadres in other fields,” the President added.
The President was pleased to learn that 5,000 of the more than 9,000 recruits have education credentials equivalent to or more than an A' level. And of those, 700 have bachelor's degrees, while five have master's degrees.
"With this degree of education, it is simple to pick things up because science plays a big part in modern combat, and educated individuals can prepare extremely quickly. The individuals to whom rewards were given here are all educated. The other girls are midwives, and you know how cautious midwives are. One of the girls who won this honor had a degree in civil engineering. You won't survive if a midwife shoots you, he said.
"I'm thus extremely glad since this is great for the army and for the nation. Only 37 of these recruits completed Primary Seven, the speaker continued.
Gen. Museveni also expressed his gratitude to the graduates for finishing their program successfully. He sternly advised them to maintain discipline, maintain professionalism in the army, and take good care of their health by abstaining from risky behavior.
On the other hand, Gen. Museveni voiced concern, however, about the Katugo Marram Road in Nakaseke, which lacks drainage channels. Before dealing with them, he instructed the accountable parties to resolve the situation as quickly as feasible.
"Are they building a swimming pool or a road? Because if you build a road without drainage channels, your road will turn into a swimming pool when it rains. I'll have to deal with the person responsible if I return the next time," he warned.
Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), stated that the addition of these additional soldiers fits in perfectly with the UPDF's mission to create a modern, professional, effective, and efficient force that is capable of safeguarding Uganda.
"Therefore, Your Excellency, we thank you for your customary leadership and for creating a formidable force. Today, we have incorporated all of your observations made during the demonstrations, particularly those pertaining to the fundamentals of training. In order to increase soldiers' ability to recognize and use cover, their marksmanship, and their sense of teamwork, we will keep reviewing our basic training curriculum, General Mbadi added.
"Your Excellency, despite our limited financial resources, we will keep improving the UPDF's capabilities, capacity development, logistical support, welfare, and infrastructure development without neglecting all other collective solutions to solving our force's welfare issues like Education, medical care, the Defense Forces shop, WASACCO, and others," the UPDF said.
The recruits have been in training for 47 weeks, according to Brig. Gen. Bonny Wolimbwa, the training school's commandant, and they are now fully prepared to serve in the UPDF.
Brig Gen Wolimbwa continued, "Let me take this opportunity to thank the Ministry of Defence, the Army Leadership, and all other stakeholders for the support that they have offered that have helped us to reach this day successfully.
"This is the day for the recruits. You have already demonstrated via your performances that you have gained the necessary abilities to perform in your respective units. As you leave this building, I implore you to act as good ambassadors and cooperate with one another because that is how you will succeed, he continued.
The top pupils received recognition for their remarkable achievement during the same event. The best overall student was Wampagana Moses Wasike, followed by Chelangat Bashir and Agabirwe Natasha as top performers in their respective fields. The best students in terms of leadership, range, and discipline were Kongai Rachel, Nechemet Annet, and Chebet Mercy Faith. Under Museveni, Uganda has had relative political stability and economic prosperity, but there have also been serious shortfalls in democracy, governance, and human rights. In addition to the rapid population growth, Uganda also suffers infrastructure and power shortages.
Cambodian financial industry players are working to enhance cross-border payments with the landlocked African country of Rwanda, as well as promote the blockchain-based Bakong system and strengthen international digital and fintech (financial technology) partnerships in general.
A local delegation joined a fintech event in Rwanda from June 20-26 with the goal of showcasing the envisioned revolutionary potential of Cambodian fintech innovations, encouraging cross-border collaboration, and elevating the Kingdom’s fintech scene to new heights.
The team was led by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and co-organised by the Cambodian Association of Finance and Technology (CAFT) and the Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC).
At the event, CAFT chairman Remi Pell discussed how dominant he believed mobile wallets and payment firms have grown in the Kingdom, as well as the anticipated entry of new regulatory technology (regtech) and insurance tech (insurtech) players as well as digital-only banking platforms known as “neobanks” into the market.
“Notably, the exponential growth of e-commerce and contactless transactions has significantly fostered the widespread adoption of digital payment solutions between merchants and consumers,” he said.
Pell stressed the importance of blockchain technology and smart contracts to financial development in Cambodia, but conceded that the Kingdom lacks many of the required resources, including specialists, innovators, solution providers, entrepreneurs and investors.
There are “immense opportunities” in blockchain solutions, “including upskilling and training programmes, the development of transparent smart-contract solutions, and their application across various sectors such as finance, accounting and communication”, he added.
Meanwhile, NBC deputy governor Chea Serey at a seminar in western Kampong Thom province’s Stoung district last month revealed that the central bank has been working with Asian, African, Latin American and European nations to increase the scope of payment systems that are regarded as quick, secure and low-cost to promote cross-border economic activities.
Cambodia has been linked with Thailand and Malaysia through Bakong, with connections to Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, China and India still in the works, she said.
Serey explained that the platform enables Cambodians in Thailand to scan and pay using riel-denominated accounts as well as Thais in Cambodia to scan and pay in the local currency, which she said would promote use of the riel.
She boasted that Bakong has made it possible for less-affluent rural residents to access and benefit from formal financial services.
Bakong has received several awards, with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in May hailing the system as an example of “model” international cooperation, namely between the Cambodian central bank and a Japanese tech firm, she added.
For context, Bakong, a quasi-central bank digital currency (CBDC) launched on October 28, 2020, was developed by Japanese blockchain company Soramitsu Co Ltd.
According to the NBC, by end-2022, “the number of registered e-wallet account[s] increased to 19.5 million and the total number of transactions jumped from 708 million to one billion with a total amount of $272.8 billion (increased by 34 per cent), approximately nine times the [GDP]”. By May Kunmakara, The Phnom Penh Post
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