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{{In several parts of the country a good number of once grass- thatched houses ‘Nyakatsi’ have been roofed with iron sheets, yet in some areas the program is taking a slow pace.}}

In Rubavu for instance, the June deadline has been postponed to September due to poor management.

The Rubavu district vice mayor in charge of social affairs Rachael Nyirasafari admitted and attributed the slow implementation to lack of adequate materials.

She urges there was an error made while indentifying those who are needy to be supported with construction materials.

Nyirasafari, noted that among those selected, there were some who had the means to roof their huts with iron sheets and that’s why a screening process was necessary to indentify once again those who were extremely poor.

Lack of materials and poor allocation of facilities are not the only problems, the Rubavu vice mayor further pointed out. She pointed out that some residents; especially those from Busasamana sector had wrong mindsets towards the changes.

“Some still are reluctant to adopt to iron sheets saying they are preserving culture, yet the grass thatched houses are so outdated ,” she remarked.

Three years ago, the Government embarked on a campaign to improve housing, which included the eradication of Nyakatsibut the program was accelerated this year.

The aim is to put an end to grass-thatched houses so that the vulnerable would have decent shelters equipped with modern and healthy infrastructure.

In 2009 the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) indentified 124,671 grass-thatched houses. The next phase consisted of sensitizing the concerned families on the importance of having decent housing.

In January this year the number of Nyakatsi was minimized down to 70,985.

It was expected that the operation, which has a budget of Frw 4 billion, to close by the end of May 2011, for all Nyakatsi-dwellers to have resettled, but in some areas the execution is slow.

{{The Institute of Youth Fellowship (IYF) initiated a campaign to sensitize Rwandan youth to avoid drug abuse and premature sex temptations that would spoil their future.}}

Talking to igihe.com the fellowship Director Rwandan Chapter Bongjin ko, notes that a good number of youth, especially those approaching 16 years get temptations through their peers.

He revealed that IYF has formed clubs in over five secondary schools and higher learning institutions such as Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and the national university of Rwanda to help the youngsters avoid in falling into the traps.

Bongjin further pointed out that the clubs help the youth to interact and discuss some of the challenges they face in their daily routine.

He observed that youngsters gather at the institute to hear the word of God from preachers who derive their teachings from the bible.

“The bible has interesting teachings which shapes one’s life, and the guidelines also apply to non-Christians that is why we accept everyone at our centre irrespective of their religious affiliations,” he stressed.

Empowering youth spiritually can’t work effectively without improving their literacy levels, and that is why IYF conducts special language courses including English, Swahili, Korean and Chinese say Bongjin, a Korean in his mid 30s.

“These lessons also promote their communication skills, especially when interacting with other youth from foreign countries,” he noted.

He explained that the centre has curriculum activities such Tae Kwando, soccer, musical instruments amongst other activities that help Rwandan youth from various part of Rwanda to interact.

“This week for instance we had a soccer match with Green Hills Academy team, and after the game we settled down and discussed how to overcome temptations,” he said adding that the interactions will go do beyond Rwandan borders.

He revealed that on August 11, IYF will organize its third annual international fellowship which that will attract youth from the East African region. “We expecting over 1,500 participants and our talks will be highly focus on abstinence from drug abuse and sharing” says director.

Bongjin encourages the youth at the fellowships to share since it improves the welfare of those who are needy.

The Institute for Youth Fellowship which he said is ran by volunteers was founded by a South Korean pastor Ock Soo Park in 1990, to help mankind overcome some of the world’s temptation Challenges through strengthening their faith in God.

The Fellowship has been in Rwanda for the last five years and it has helped transform the lives of many, several drug addicts for instance have been changed to volunteers and are now assisting other drug abusers to abstain from the habit.

Blaze Nyiribakwe is a former drug addict and a volunteer at the centre says: “I first met the Koreans five years ago; it’s so funny that my intention was to learn taekwondo but I eventually committed my life to God after meeting with one of the mind control trainers.

“ I confessed to him about my marijuana addictiveness he counseled and now I’VE overcome the habit and I’m also counseling those who have similar problems,” Nyiribakwe confessed.

The IYF director echoed his words emphasizing that reading the bible often improved one’s self control: “During my early twenties I used to be a very angry person to an extent I even planned to kill my dad and this was not just a matter of killing but rather brutal murde.

“But through the word of God, I got saved and I’m not only in good terms with my Dad but I also help other people to overcome such anger” the director testified.

{{President Paul Kagame has encouraged citizens to maintain the hardworking spirit similar to that which enabled liberation of the country 17years ago and that has led to commendable progressive in the country.
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The president who was also the leader of the liberation struggle made the remarks while addressing tens of thousands of people at the 17th liberation ceremony held at the Amahoro national stadium.

Kagame, emphasized that liberation day reminds us of the progress made from the country’s poor history that should never be repeated, “We’re now on the right path and our future is more promising”.

“Indeed, liberation is also about one’s dignity and patriotism which should be reflected in every citizen, even those living abroad,” advised the president.

He further pointed out that one’s dignity “{Agaciro}” was among the driving force towards the country’s development.

“I thank all Rwandans for the role you’ve played ensuring steady transformation of our country and development. Achieving all this was not easy and the road ahead is tough that’s why we all need to be hard working, and it’s time we let our actions speak for themselves,” he said.

Kagame also encouraged citizens that have been misled into enemies of Rwandan, to return to their country and join the cause for transforming Rwanda into a better country, “once they’re here they should abide by the country’s vision,” he remarked.

The president emphasized on the need for a brave attitude while one is faced with challenges.It helps one to move on. “The same attitude was exhibited by our soldiers when they were fighting for freedom until they became victorious and those who lost their lives in the liberation war; let them know that their efforts didn’t go in vain”.

Currently the progress is evident in sectors including; the Health, Education and Economic growth. Faustin Rucyabiraro an exemplary farmer gave his testimony of how he was saved by the RPF soldiers in 1996 after hiding for three weeks in the Congo forests.

When he returned to Rwanda, the security atmosphere that encouraged him into farming fascinated him. Rucyabiraro started with 250 chickens in the year2000 but now has a hectare of land and three modern cattle.

“I encourage other farmers to seek credit from banks since that’s one of the ways that enhanced my progress, I’m now a trainer at Gakenke district and I’ve severally represented farmers in both local and regional meetings.”

By:Randa Rugangazi

{{Today, the 17th annual liberation day celebrations were held at the Amahoro National Stadium. This year’s theme is continued economic liberation from poverty. The day is also a time commemorate the Rwandan Armed Forces that led a liberation struggle 17 years ago.}}

Previously, the liberation day marked the liberation struggle that toppled Habyarimana’s government and stopped the 1994 genocide. In recent years, the liberation day is more inclusive to the general citizenry’s economic and social achievements.

The citizenry’s achievements were given in the accounts of a former refugee who fled to neighbouring to DR Congo in 1994. He thanked his friends who had convinced him to return home. He also expressed gratitude for government programs that offered him with opportunities to improve on his agricultural skills.

President Paul Kagame in a brief speech emphasized that Rwandans need to continue their hard work; in their course to improve their livelihood and achieving goals, they have set for themselves.

“Our mission is to fulfil the goals we started 17 years ago. Let us not have those who sacrificed their lives for the liberation struggle remain in vain.” said President Kagame, “As Rwandan citizens, we are the only ones who know where we want our country to go. It is only us who can give our country the value it deserves.”

In his conclusive remarks, President Kagame thanked all Rwandan citizens for their commitment to rebuilding the country and poverty eradication, “I want to thank you for your continued hard work and sacrifice in building our country”.

{{Gasabo’s vice mayor in charge of economy and development Jean-Claude Munara has encouraged residents to assist orphans who are independently surviving on their own.
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He made the remarks while officially launching 12 houses constructed by Rwanda’s Red-Cross to orphans of its former employees killed during the genocide.

The plan is to construct 30 houses to shelter over 25 orphans situated in Bumbogo sector. The Red-Cross team donated 23 piglets to assist the beneficiaries in generating income.

Red-Cross secretary general Appolonaire Karamaga emphasized that empowering orphans economically would drastically improve their welfare. He also urged well-off people to join in the cause of alleviating poverty as well as enhancing the economy.

Prior to Bumbogo visit, the delegation launched a monument containing names of Red-Cross staff killed and children during the 1994 war.

“This should be a symbol to remind us the holocaust that happened to our country in order to avoid a repeat of the same,” Karamagi remarked adding that, “even foreigners visiting our institution will be shown the monument so that they fully understand the tragedy we faced because some don’t have the time to visit genocide memorial sites and might be mislead by genocide deniers.”

The gravestones are also in line with National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG) campaign to encourage institutions to create monuments for their employees killed in the genocide war.

CNLG executive secretary Jean-de-Dieu Mucyo has on several occasions emphasized that with the truth (monuments) laid in several institutions compounds, the gesture would restrict the spread of genocide ideology.

{{The Media High Council executive secretary Patrice Mulama has said that investigations to the brutal attack on Jean Gaulbert Burasa a journalist and an editor of Rushyashya newspaper is underway.}}

“Right now we can’t conclude anything because we’ve not talked to the accused ‘Paul Ruhamyambuga’ and we’re yet to go to the scene to gather more information,” he remarked.

Mulama further explained that, attack to journalists is condemnable especially while their on duty. “Normally we conduct our own investigations and once we find that the journalist was assaulted we not only condemn the act but also assist relevant institutions like the police and courts to bring justice.”

In Rwanda cases of attacks aganist journalist are minimal though many go unreported. “We’re aware that some journalists have been denied entrance and sometimes their tools such as cameras and recorders have been confiscated,” he remarked adding that, “we’re sensitizing the public how to cooperate with the press since it facilitates their delivery as watchdogs and mouth piece to the public,” he encouraged.

Currently MHC is encouraging judicial personnel to put tough sentences to those found guilty of assaulting journalists.

According to Burasa he was attacked by Paul Ruhamyambuga well known for his City Plaza building at bar nearby Cardilac night club. He claims that he was accused of writing articles exposing the collaboration of Kayumba Nyamwasa a renegade with Tribert Rujugiro a Rwandan tycoon who also happens to be Ruhamyambuga best friend.

In a telephone interview conducted by our reporter Shaba Erick Bil, Burasa disclosed that the businessman called him for a meeting at bar nearby Cadillac and since he was attending a Bralirwa’s function at the night club’s gardens he decided to meet the businessman who had on several occasions invited him for a somewhat private talk.

As usual Burasa had ignored his meetings since his instincts warned him of something dangerous, but he decided any way to meet Ruhamyambuga with accompaniment of his fellow journalists who also doubted the nature of the invitation.

Upon their arrival at the bar, two of the journalists accompanying Burasa were heavily rebuked by the City Plaza boss who was seated with several men. “What are you doing here you good for nothing journalists, I only called Burasa not you, or you think your reckless newspapers are so professional, get the hell out of here,” he remarked.

The admonished journalists had no choice but to leave their dear Burasa in the arms of men whom they didn’t trust their intentions. After his colleagues went the Rushyashya editor claims that he was not given a chance to order a drink before one of the Ruhamyambuga’s men started criticizing his writings especially on Kayumba and his political clique.

With no time the group started throwing harsh words to sole Burasa who stood by his grounds in defending his professionalism, this seemed to have annoyed one of the men who couldn’t take it and jumped towards Burasa and strangled his neck almost taking his breath away.

Burasa who’s skinny and has a height of about 1.85 couldn’t struggle more with the man who was slightly bigger than him. “I was taken to a nearby building which was unfinished and no one was there to hear me cry for help, he only let me go after I nearly lost all my strength,” he remarked.

So far Burasa has filed a complaint to the police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the MHC. Police spokesman Theos Badege affirmed that investigations were still on progress.

Up to now Ruhamyambuga has refused to comment on the matter.