April 23:
The official Kenyan Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has said its “curriculum experts in Chinese” are working on introducing Chinese into schools. KICD’s director said “the agency considers the economic ties between the China and Kenya governments before deciding to introduce Chinese as an optional foreign language.”The Star reports that language classes will start in 2017 or 2018.
April 27:
Chinese investment in Tanzania has surpassed $4 billion, according to Lu Youqing, China’s Ambassador to Tanzania. He said more than 500 Chinese companies have invested in Tanzania, creating 150,000 jobs. Lu spoke at a ceremony honoring outstanding employees with Chinese companies in Tanzania, at which 37 Tanzanians and 28 Chinese workers were awarded for their outstanding performance. Deputy Minister for Labour and Employment Makongoro Mahanga attended the event with representatives from Chinese companies. “Chinese companies are undertaking the responsibility of training local staff,” the Tanzania Daily News reports.
April 29:
Police have busted a multi-racial gang in Guangzhou, Guangdong known as the “Freedom Fighters” and arrested 16 foreigners and two Chinese accused of robbery and drug trafficking. “Large amounts of cocaine and tools suspects allegedly used when committing crimes were seized.” A blurred image of one of the suspects suggests the “gang of foreigners” are Africans. The official PLA Daily reports that since 2009 the group has recruited more than 20 members including a priest and treasurer. It is “strictly organized and all members wear matching uniforms and hats bearing the gang’s logo.” Police launched two separate sting operations targeting the group, one in February and another last week. According to official statistics Guangzhou has about 120,000 permanent foreign residents, 16,000 from Africa.
Law enforcement officers investigated more than 5,000 illegal foreign workers in Guangdong province last year, the official China Daily reports. Most had no work or residence permits and were employed in labor-intensive industries in the Pearl River Delta region, where there is a major shortage of workers. The number of illegal foreign workers in the province has risen in recent years. Dongguan, a major production center, investigated 400 foreign illegal workers in 2013, but the figure doubled to more than 800 last year. In 2011, the Guangdong government tightened rules covering foreigners as part of an effort to crack down on illegal immigration and those who overstay visas or work without permits.
April 30:
China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) will build two railway lines in eastern and northern Zambia at a total cost of $2.7 billion, reports the official China Daily. The vice-president of CCECC said the work would start next year after the company finishes feasibility studies on the projects. Construction work on the two lines, with a total length of 760 km, would be done at the same time and completed within five years, he said.