This week’s Palava Praise is being awarded to the esteemed Ulanda Mtamba, a Malawian activist protecting young girls from child marriage to sustain and prioritize their education, while also focusing on preventative HIV measures. Holding an MBA from Cambridge, Ulanda began supporting sexual health and secondary education for women, first serving as the director for AGE Africa. She was then elected as the first female president of the Rotary Club of Limbe, where she campaigned for the research and implementation of the DPV ring, to combat the rise of AIDS in her country. Ulanda’s impact and powerful leadership led her to be named one of the BBC’s top 100 women in 2023, and she continues to work with AGE and GEM to accomplish her mission of offering choices to women. We thank you, Ulanda, for your vision and unwavering commitment to uplifting girls and communities throughout Africa!

Erez Rivkin, an Israeli investor, was recently interviewed by Alex Chamwada about his 520-acre farmland spread within the center of Solai, Kenya. While discussing his 15-year investment, farming at least 22 different crops being exported internationally, Rivkin casually mentions the potential to create an Israeli settlement within the valley, offering “the dream of an Israeli community” mixing with Kenyan locals as a budding relationship between nations. This interview, of course, drew speculation, with many online referencing Israel’s Uganda “scheme” of 1903, which indicates that Zionists have had a vested interest in East Africa for some time. Kenyan constitution prevents from foreigners outright owning “freehold land”, but leasing tenure can last up to 99 years. Some Kenyans are in support of the farm development, stating it creates local jobs and benefical infastructure. Kenya’s National Land Commission has not issued any public statements on the matter as of yet.

In Ethiopia’s Western cities of Kurmuk and Asosa, an insider’s report from Reuters recently revealed secret RSF paramilitary sites, proving that the country was providing training sites, soliders and supplies during Sudan’s deadly and ongoing conflict. Satellite imaging has finally confirmed Ethopia’s support of the genocide in Khartoum and Darfur, and once again the resource trail points back to funding from the UAE, Egypt and Somalia. Refugees state that the war feels impossible to stop due to the RSF’s seemingly unending support, displacing over 14 million Sudanese and murdering over 40,000. No forseeable resolution has been found.

Mounting complaints of unreasonable lay offs and unfufilled promises caused frustrated protesters to block China Union’s railroads with cement bricks and tree branches on the 17th in Bong County, Liberia. Former employees and community members claimed that the foreign company was taking advantage of 60-day commitment window it signed in accordance with the Ministry of Mines and Energy, demaning that severance and community infastruce agreements be paid out accordingly and swiftly. Representative Fahnbulleh sided with the protesters, stating that their demands should be met with “transparency” as he initiated neogiations between Bong County leaders, members of the China Union board and Minister Nyumalin. Minister Nyumalin plans to return in March to see if resolutions have been completed.

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