IGIHE

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  • Senate Candidates to use their Money for Campaigns

    {{The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has confirmed that those vying for senatorial seats will have to use their own money in campaigning for their respective positions.}}

    However, what the electoral commission will assist is by organizing campaign sessions involving both sector and district advisory councils who are also the eligible voters. According to NEC chairman the gatherings will be conducted at least twice in every district.

    Even though the applicants will be allowed to cater for their campaign expenses the electoral commission will give a timetable in order to discourage corrupt activities from those who would want gain favors by persuading individual voters. “We have internal measures to ensure that those who are corrupt are caught,” karangwa remarked.

    The chairman was speaking with members of the political forum who are entitled to nominate four senators, the talks were in inline with NEC’s awareness process in before voting kicks off 26 November. Normally the political party forum plays a role in monitoring the election process.
    What’s unique, the Rwf 500 million amounts to be used in the voting process will come from the government coffers.

    Normally the senate is made up of 26 seats of which 12 represent various provinces while eight are appointed by the President, four by the political party forum, and finally two come both the private and government institutions

    The eligible voters are electoral colleagues from both the district and sector advisory councils while senators representing higher learning institutions from both public and private will be voted by their fellow lectures.

    Finally, senatorial aspirants must first have to be a Rwandan citizen aged at least 40 years and above and should have a minimum academic qualification of a university degree.

  • I Don’t Know why things are happening to me-sacked MP

    {{In an exclusive interview with igihe.com, Alexandre Dumas Ashinzwuwera who was since Monday July 18, fired from the lower chambers of the parliament, says that he doesn’t know really why he was unanimously relieved of his duties and has decided to seek the possible solutions to the ongoing challenges facing him from the supreme court.}}

    {Igihe.com}:{{ Can you tell us about your age and marital status?}}

    {{Ashinzwuwera }} : By now I am 28 Years old and I am still a bachelor.

    {Igihe.com}:{{ For how long have you been a member of the parliament and how did you find the position at such an early age?}}

    {{Ashinzwuwera }} : I have been an MP for two years and ten months, for me the position is good, you are aware that when you are doing something new in your life, you learn many things that will contribute to your daily life in future, so for me the position was very good.

    {Igihe.com}: {{There is some information indicating that up to the time you were sacked on what your Honourable colleagues termed “improper conduct”. What does that mean and why?}}

    {{Ashinzwuwera}} : For sure from when this information was in the Media, I was not aware about it as I didn’t receive any official information from the chamber. But after I called one of the Deputy Speakers to confirm if that was true or false, he confirmed and immediately I decided to go to Parliament verify Official Document regarding the plenary session decision. Some times when things happen out of your control, you don’t have to think why It happened like that, but you just focus on what can done about It, that’s all.

    {Igihe.com}: {{What was the document you picked from the parliament saying and when did you pick it?}}

    {{Ashinzwuwera}}: I received it on Tuesday July 19 at 5:35 PM, it’s just a decision of Plenary session held at Plenary session hall on Monday, July 18, maybe in the evening, as it was announced publically on Rwanda Radio and RTV.

    {Igihe.com}: {{Why do you think they continue following you like that, starting from the time in the custody accusing you of illicit behaviour? Do you think it’s because you were from a different political party like some people say?}}

    {{Ashinzwuwera}}: You know the Public says whatever they want to say and in the way they want, It’s their right, as well as anyone who needs to know the truth about issues of public concern. I believe that all in life is possible, and whenever things are out of your control, anything can happen. So for that reason I do not focus on why things are happening to me, I just focus on the answers to the challenges. I am just clearing my name and fighting for the truth to be well known.

    {Igihe.com}: {{That’s great. So according to the information we have you crossed from the PSP political party to the ruling RPF, is that true?
    }}

    {{Ashinzwuwera}}: That’s right.

    {Igihe.com}: {{When did you cross over and what enticed you particularly?}}

    {{Ashinzwuwera}} :I did cross over to the RPF when the mandate for the current MPs started, but our political party was in coalition with RPF even before. What inspired me particularly is being in the same team that is doing the great job to our nation and also being part of problem solvers, that’s all.

    {Igihe.com}: {{What do you say about the information in the public and with your colleagues that you misbehaved yet you are a legislator who should be playing a good example to the people you are representing?}}

    {{Ashinzwuwera}}:The truth about the issue is well known for those who follow my Case and if you would like to be among them, I am happy to invite you there follow court proceedings, next hearing will be on Tuesday July 26, 2010. So I hope to see you there then you will judge yourself based on what you will hear from the court.

    {Igihe.com}: {{Would you mind telling what encouraged you to join politics?}}

    {{Ashinzwuwera}}: Not really. All I can say is that I’m a scientist by profession and a politician by conviction; I’m a graduate in software engineering from Marylebone University. Among my top inspirations people is H.E Paul Kagame. The President Inspired me in all my efforts and daily activities, his Words in his Speeches are full of Genuine Ideas and encouraging proverbs. He once said: “If you tell lies about me, that is exactly the truth about you” I really can’t miss his Speech for even a Second.

    {Igihe.com}: {{Ok anything else to tell the igihe.com on behalf of the public?}}

    {{Ashinzwuwera }} :I’m Just encouraging you to report to the Public what they need to know, I mean the News that matter for Public interests not like news of the world like that of UK and other sensational Local News Papers or Radios. Good Bye for now and hope to see you in my next appearance at the Low Court of Nyamirambo

    {Igihe.com}: {{Yeah and that’s great and I wish you luck.}}

    {{Editor Note}}::{Alexandre Dumas Ashinzwuwera is an engineer and is Learning as Online & Distance Student at Universities including Atlantic International University (AIU), USA in Biotechnology and London School of Business and Finance (LSBF), UK for MBA, specifically in e-Business & e-Commerce.

    Previously Ashinzwuwera has served as a Laboratory technologist at Projet Ubuzima / International Partnership for Microbicide (PU/IPM). And also served as Laboratory Technologist ~ Safety Laboratory & Laboratory Information Management System Department chez Projet San Francisco / International Aids Vaccine Initiative (PSF/IAVI}

  • Senior MTN official to head regional telecom Union

    BY: {Igihe.com}

    {{MTN Rwanda Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Rugege has been appointed as the International Telecommunication Union Regional Director for Africa.
    }}

    Khaled Mikkawi CEO MTN Rwanda said ITU made an excellent choice for this position, “it is very flattering when one of your own is appointed to a high office, Andrew is a very meticulous hard worker who has great interpersonal skills, and he shall be missed”.

    Rugege says, “MTN has been an exciting company to work for and I will continue to have fond memories of my time here and the wonderful people I have had the opportunity to work with.”

    During his tenure at MTN Rugege oversaw the consolidation of the Sales and Marketing division, extension of the customer service centres, the launch of world class data products and the mobile money platform.

    Rugege who has been with MTN Rwanda for 5 years takes up his new post on 15th August 2011. He will be based in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

  • National TV, Radio land sold to Investor

    {{Destruction of ORINFOR buildings has already begun to pave way for the construction of new and modern apartments by a new investor as required under new city modernization standards.}}

    The city council of Kigali has sold off the land where ORINFOR has been operating for so many years. The Rwf900M has already been paid to the city council.

    {{Igihe.com}} has learnt that the Executive Investment Group has acquired the ORINFOR plot and will construct modern apartments in the area. This is in the line with the current renovation process of the capital city.

    The Lord Mayor of Kigali city Fidele Ndayisaba, confirms that before the beginning of the next year, both National Television and Radio should have relocated to another place and removed their equipment.

    Willy Rukundo, the Acting Director ORINFOR, is in the agreement of renovating the city but then raised the fear saying that the construction company meant to construct the building where ORINFOR will transfer their materials said that the process will take over 8 months.

    By now ORINFOR is to leave its current working station to the place called OBK in Kacyiru, Kigali city near Village Urugwiro and the building is to cost worth US$5M yet the process will take almost a year.

    The city council also says it is yet to sell other areas around Kigali Serena Hotel for the construction of other modern apartments and modern hotels.
    Kigali city council intends to shape the city into a modern look without old fashioned houses.

  • Birth-control pills increase risk of HIV– Study

    {{A major study done in Rwanda and other 6 countries has discovered that women using birth-control pills for family planning are more likely to get infected with HIV/Aids from an infected sexual partner.
    }}

    The findings also show that the women studied were about twice as likely to transmit HIV if they were on the pill or taking a hormone shot like Depo-Provera, compared to those not on the birth control.

    The new study was done from 2004 to 2010 in seven African countries – Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa.

    The research is the first to look at this question, said Renee Heffron of the University of Washington, one of the researchers, The Associated Press news agency reports.

    The research was presented recently at a meeting in Rome of the International AIDS Society.

    These damning findings come at a time when Rwanda is working on a major policy plan to curb its exploding population.

    On average, Rwandan women are having 5 kids which government admits is unsustainable. Among the birth-control methods being promoted is the use of birth control pills.

    New figures from government show that as of the end of last year, some 45 percent women were using contraceptives to reduce their birth numbers.

    This latest research also found that uninfected women were about twice as likely to catch AIDS virus from their infected partners if they were on hormonal contraception, compared to those who were not. That finding echoed a phenomenon seen in earlier studies.

    The researchers checked to make sure there were no significant differences in condom use, sexual behavior or other factors that would account for the differences.

    Following comments from the Rwandan health officials and others in charge of population growth control is still underway and igihe.com is up to bringing you other details on the story.

  • Nyamwasa risks eviction from SA

    {{South Africa’s government is negotiating the handover of alleged Rwandan dissident and former general Kayumba Nyamwasa to a “neutral country”, {Igihe.com} has learnt.}}

    A source noted; “In fact, SA should not have accepted this man (Nyamwasa) here as he has a questionable past, but we were forced to affirm his request after learning that his life was in danger.”

    Nicole Fritz, director at the Southern African Litigation Centre, said: “To the extent that this decision is verified, we would welcome and commend the decision by SA to send him to another country as this would be in line with international law.”

    The exiled Lt-Gen Nyamwasa is being protected by the South Africa government at an undisclosed location after an assassination attempt on his life in Johannesburg in June last year.

    In January he was sentenced to life imprisonment by Rwanda’s military court on charges of terrorism.

    He also had outstanding warrants of arrest in Spain and France but France has since revoked this warrant.

    SA has refused to hand him over for prosecution, arguing that his life would be under threat in Rwanda. But sources said SA’s protection of the general was due to his role as a trusted link between the African National Congress and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni during the struggle against apartheid.

    However, his continued stay in SA has outraged human rights groups, which argued that he played an active role in events that led to the genocide in Rwanda 17 years ago.

    Two human rights groups had in the midst of last month launched legal action to force South Africa to revoke the refugee status of former Rwandan army general Nyamwasa.

    The groups said South Africa was violating its own refugees act and international law by granting exile to Nyamwasa, who has been accused of playing a catalytic role in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

    “Refugee law is intended to protect the vulnerable, not those who are the cause of the vulnerability,” said Alan Wallis, a lawyer at the Southern Africa Litigation Centre, which brought the case together with the Consortium for Refugees and Migrant Rights.

    Last month a consortium of human rights groups filed a notice to challenge his asylum status. The Presidency and the departments of home affairs, justice and international relations were cited as respondents in the court application.

    Rwanda has consistently denied claims that it hired foreign intelligence operatives to kill Lt-Gen Nyamwasa.

    SA’s envoy to Rwanda, Dumisani Gwadiso, has yet to return to his post in Kigali 11 months after being recalled, said International Relations spokesman Clayson Monyela.

  • Access to water, sanitation is a human right

    {{Although Rwanda has made commendable strides in water distribution to various parts of the country, societies of most African countries still consider access to clean water and sanitation as a privilege to the rich yet those that are needy also have a right of access to safe water.}}

    Aflodis Kagawa the country director of Rwanda NGOs Forum claims that in some rural areas the dwellers have difficulty in getting clean water and also lack better toilets too.

    “Normally those living in the rural have less access to better toilets while slum dwellers in the city are often exposed to sewage originating from nearby factories,” he remarked.

    Kagawa made the remarks during a general assembly involving members of the African Civil Society on Water and Sanitation (ANEW) of which RWASEF is part of the network.

    Kagawa further noted that Rwanda’s progress towards ensuring sanitation for all wasn’t that bad compared to other countries and that RWASEF was also offering its contribution through several NGO’s that work under the umbrella.

    “As we speak we’re constructing modern latrines to a good number of schools in the country as well as installing more water fountains in several villages,” he commented.

    Construction of better toilets might be an impressive starting point but governments should show commitment in designing policies favouring clean environments.

    ANEW has recommended to African ministers in charge of water and sanitation of water that have convened at the conference aimed at improving sanitation on the continent.

    Edward Kairu the ANEW chairman based in Nairobi stressed that governments should demonstrate their political will ensuring that sanitation prevails among their citizens.

    “So far we’re conducting awareness to our citizens showing them that they have a right to a hygienic environment thus should hold their leaders accountable,” he remarked.

    The ANEW executive secretary Yiga Matovu noted that governments ought to ensure that marginalized people including; slum dwellers, women, disabled and the elderly especially those living in remote areas have access to both clean water and better sanitation.

    Governments should have clear timetable and measurable targets for achieving expenditure of 0.5% of GDP on sanitation and safe water. This would be enhanced by separation of budget lines for sanitation spending that must be set for better targeting of funds and easy monitoring.

    “Resources should be channeled towards countries with low sanitation coverage and a higher burden of sanitation diseases,” Matovu remarked.

    The Unilever Global Social Mission director Myriam Sidibe highlighted that children constitute the majority of victims since on average 30% of global population wash their hands with soap before eating, meaning the rest are at a high risk of being affected.

    She added that the number of children dying of diarrhoea and pneumonia is very high estimated at about 1.5million while 1.9 million children die of respiratory infections.

  • UK company to manage Nyungwe Forest

    {{A UK based forest company; New Forests Company (NFC) has taken over the management of Nyungwe forest buffer zone, with plans to build a diverse, modern, valuable wood products industry.
    }}

    The agreement was signed yesterday July 19, between the government represented by MINERENA, RDB and NFC itself.

    The company’s CEO, Julian Ozanne told {Igihe.com} that NFC company intends to invest in a series of manufacturing industries to produce wood products for the growing construction sector.

    Ozanne also commented on the likely additional investments; “if we further enter agreements with the government, our company also hopes to generate woody bio-mass electricity for the national grid and other bio-energy products.”

    Speaking after the signing of an agreement, MINERENA’s Minister Stanislas Kamanzi recommended the venture, emphasizing that the year 2011 having been declared a year of forests, has seen tremendous advocacy for the conservation of forests.

    He also said the project would create job opportunities to communities around the area. “Assuming all activities are realized, this scheme alone will create more than 1,200 jobs over the next five years.” Kamanzi said.

    RDB’s Chief Operating Officer Clare Akamanzi said, “NFC hopes to enter into additional agreements with the government and should all this be concluded, the company expects the total investment in the project to reach up to US.$60M in the next few years. This is a clear indication that Rwanda is continuously being trusted by investors and we hope more of them can realize country’s full potential.”

    The company expects to begin harvesting in October 2012; it says it is committed to replanting all harvested areas with improved tree species.

  • Check on your abnormal weight

    By:Dianah Mutimura

    {{Habyarimana Anastase, a doctor with the American society and China Green World International in Rwanda says that when a person gets to know that he or she has too much weight the first step is indulging in vigorous physical exercises to minimise the weight.}}

    He adds that it’s better when a person wants to reduce on weight to first consult the doctor for the advice on how to reduce weight instead of using his or her own methods that might have side effects on one’s health.

    The doctor further explains that, “you can do exercises thinking that the weight is reducing yet you are adding more because there wasn’t any advice from the doctor to describe for you what type of exercise that conducive for your health”

    According to him the most important thing is that when a person knows that high weight can cause some diseases like debate, high blood pressure, and heart disease, he or she adjusts accordingly. This physiotherapist emphasizes that not all people who want to reduce their weight succeed as they wish.

    “The weight that is caused by the food, more especially of animals, reducing it is very simple but there are others who increase weight through family inheritance which is not easy for that person to reduce weight apart from being strong and also reduce few weights.

    Adelphine, one of the patient at Green World International in Nyabugogo said that after two months, she has been following the doctor’s prescriptions, she has lost 8kg over 80kg she had, which were not making her comfortable because the weight contrasted with her height.

    “The doctor recommended me to do exercise of walking every day, drinking a lot of clean water at least 3 litters per day, and even to drink tea called “thé d’amaigrissement” to reduce on my fats in the body”. Adelphine explains.

    She went on to say that if she acquires the size she wants, she will try her best to avoid what was causing her fatness because it kills her figure.

    If your child is five years old, pay attention to the unexpected gain, and the body weight will slowly increase normally as he or she gradually gains maturity.

    It’s in five year period that kids gain weight easily and it’s most common for kids from seven years to twelve years because a children’s weight increment may relate to their widened diet and appetite. Dr. Habyariman observes.

    Fattiness is seen as a disease now days, where a number of people have huge weight and in developing countries like Rwanda, hospitals or clinics which are specialized in physiotherapist are rarely found where majority of the clinics are foreign clinics which even follow their foreign currency to treat people according to Dr. Habyarimana

  • Legislator given 48hrs To Vacate the Chambers

    {{Rwanda’s Parliament on Monday kicked out a lawmaker Ashinzwuwera Dumas Alexandre representing Prosperity and Solidarity Party (PSP) from the lower chamber of parliament, for what it termed “improper conduct”.}}

    He is allegedly accused of attacking and fighting police officers that had visited his home to conduct investigations on March 30, that was looking into his allegedly assault to his brother.

    The vice speaker of parliament Polisi Denis said that Ashinzwuwera who was until Monday a member of parliament, was involved in various illicit behaviors like assaulting on his brother, and resisting an arrest by security agencies at his home.

    Article 90 of the Rwandan Parliamentary rules of procedure for the removal of member of Parliament, stipulates that, if a Member of Parliament displays misconduct in and out of Parliament such as absence from the house sessions without sound reason, involving into fist fighting, among others, the lawmakers have the mandate to take a punitive decision against him or her.

    Ashinzwuwera was, however, given 48 hours from the date of the decision to appeal to the Supreme Court. His seat will be replaced soon after the court’s verdict.

    Conduct of Members of Parliament is monitored by a disciplinary committee set by Parliamentarians themselves.

    However, in a phone interview for an update on this story,Ashinzwuwera has denied knowledge of the expulsion orders saying, “i will go to the parliament to confirm this rumour. Until now there is no document to backup my expulsion”.

    Ashinzwuwera says he learnt of this rumour from two phone calls i recieved telling me about my expulsion from the parliament.

    “I heard i was given hours to leave the chambers. so i have to go there and clarify more about it,” Ashinzwuwera told {Igihe.com} today.

    Ashinzwuwera however, has confirmed that he has abandoned PSP political party and crossed over to the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front party