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  • Crime Rate Drops 13%

    {Journalists attending the press conference}

    {{The crime rate in the country dropped by about 13% between January and June this year compared to the same period last year.}}

    The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana disclosed this yesterday in a Rwanda National Police (RNP) periodic press conference held at the police headquarters in Kacyiru.

    The conference aimed at elaborating on the security status in the country.

    The IGP attributed the decline to the aggressive public awareness campaigns and increased partnership with the public through community policing.

    The RNP conducts annual campaigns during Police Week and Community Policing Week; all aimed at strengthening cooperation with different stakeholders and the population in general to fight and prevent crimes.

    The IGP also said murder related crimes reduced by 19 percent to 188 from 230 while drug trafficking and consumption cases decreased by 9.3 percent to 1214 from 1339 cases in the same period.

    Traffic related offences also went down by 13 percent, but negligence, bad maneuver and over speeding, he said, are the major causes of accidents.

    “The campaign to improve road safety, including acquiring more equipment and training more police officers, is still on. Road accidents can be a blow to the country’s development if they are not dealt with because they destroy lives and property,” he said.

    Among the new measures to improve road security, to be established, includes decentralizing the Motor vehicle inspection Centre (MIC) to all regions and a fourth lane in Kigali, before the end of the year.

    The inspections centres will be supplementing other three lanes at the Remera-based MIC and the recently launched Mobile Test Lane.

    Mechanical faults are also major causes of accidents.

    {{Menace of motorcycles}}

    Motorcycles are still the most involved in accidents with 754 cases registered in this year’s first six months. The Police chief said plans are underway to reorganize motorcycle taxis in parking centres (700 parking spaces in Kigali alone) for easy control and management.

    {{Fighting corruption in Police}}

    The police chief also reiterated the “zero tolerance on corruption” tendency within the force. He said any graft related case reported in RNP is “individual based” but “not institutionalized.”

    He said 77 cases of corruption involving police officers were recorded last year while 49 others have been registered this year.

    “We established an anti-corruption unit to fight corruption, not only in RNP but in the country in general,” he said.

    He outlined the establishment of the Ethics Centre, Police Disciplinary Unit (PDU), and training, Inspectorate to follow up police standards, welfare and e-policing and a toll-free line – 3511 – as some of the strategies to improve the force’s professionalism and fight corruption.

    “Corruption in Rwanda National Police is zero tolerance and we give no mercy to any police officers caught in it,” he explained.

    {{Cybercrime}}

    The Police chief also said that 76 people were arrested in bank robberies which affected 12 financial institutions where about Rwf1.2 billion was stolen.

    Most robberies were done with forged cheques and credit cards.

    “We have measures in place to foil such gangs, including working with financial institutions and other regional and international police forces to track-down such criminals,” he noted.

    IGP Gasana thanked the media for its continued effort to sensitize the public, but urged them to always be objective, fair and balance in their reporting.

    “Development comes with security challenges, but with such strong partnership towards the common cause, safety is inevitable,” he stated.

    The press conference was followed by parading of eight police imposters, who include bank employees, local leaders and businessmen, who were arrested for allegedly counterfeiting and selling driving licences and vehicle mechanical inspection certificates.

    The press conference was also attended by the DIGP, Dan Munyuza and other senior police officers.

    RNP

  • UN:Millions at risk of Female Genital Mutilation

    {{More than 125 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation, and 30 million more girls are at risk in the next decade, UNICEF said.}}

    Although genital cutting is on the decline, the practice remains “almost universal” in some countries, said the report by the United Nations Children’s Fund, released on Monday.

    The report compiles 20 years of data across 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East.

    The tradition involves removal of some or all of a female’s external genitalia. It can include cutting out the clitoris and sometimes sewing together the labia.

    Laws are not enough to stop the practise entirely, and more people must speak out in order to eliminate it among certain ethnic groups and communities, the researchers said.

    The tradition remains “remarkably persistent, despite nearly a century of attempts to eliminate it,” it said.

    “As many as 30 million girls are at risk of being cut over the next decade if current trends persist.”

    {‘No discernible decline’}

    Social acceptance is the most commonly cited reason for continuing genital cutting, even though it is considered a violation of human rights, UNICEF found.

    Thepractisee “is becoming less common in slightly more than half of the 29 countries studied,” said the report, noting that “overall support for thepractisee is declining”.

    The ritual ispractisedd by various faiths, including Christians, Muslims and followers of African traditional religions. Some believe it improves a girl’s marriage prospects, or that it is more aesthetically pleasing.

    The report found the highest rates in Somalia, where 98 percent of females aged 15-49 have been cut, followed by 96 percent in Guinea, 93 percent in Djibouti and 91 percent in Egypt.

    The amount of data for analysis varied from country to country, but declines were apparent over time in countries like Kenya and Tanzania, where women in their 40s were three times as likely to have undergone cutting as girls 15-19.

    Prevalence of genital cutting among teenage girls has dropped by about half in Benin, the Central African Republic, Iraq, Liberia and Nigeria.

    However, there was “no discernible decline in countries such as Chad, Gambia, Mali, Senegal, Sudan or Yemen,” it said.

    {agencies}

  • ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ film to Premiere in Toronto

    {{The film version of Nelson Mandela’s autobiography Long Walk to Freedom is to have its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September.}}

    Luther’s Idris Elba plays Mandela in the biopic, one of a host of titles confirmed by organisers on Tuesday.

    The 38th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) runs from 5 to 15 September.

    Toronto is now regarded as a crucial launchpad for films hoping to impress voters and juries during the annual film awards season.

    Silver Linings Playbook won its top prize last year, the first of many David O’Russell’s romantic comedy amassed in the run-up to February’s Oscar ceremony.

    Some are already tipping Elba for accolades for his work in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, which tells of the anti-apartheid campaigner’s rural upbringing and how he coped with being in prison for 27 years.

    Naomie Harris plays Winnie Mandela in Justin Chadwick’s film, which is scheduled to have its UK release next January.

    {agencies}

  • Myanmar Frees 78 Political Prisoners

    {{The Burmese authorities say they are releasing another 73 political prisoners, after a promise by President Thein Sein to free all dissidents by the end of the year.}}

    Some are from the Kachin ethnic group, which has signed a peace deal after years of fighting for autonomy.

    Burma, also known as Myanmar, has freed hundreds of political detainees since steps towards democracy began in 2010.

    There are thought to be about 100 such prisoners remaining in Burmese jails.

    “Political prisoners are released today under a presidential amnesty,” government minister Aung Min told media. The detainees had been held at various jails around the country.

    The minister said 26 Kachin nationals were among those freed. “Thirteen of them were released from Myit Kyee Nar prison, where I met them myself,” he said.

    Earlier this month President Thein Sein said there would be no prisoners of conscience in the country’s jails by the end of the year.

    Speaking on a visit to London, he said a special committee was reviewing every political inmate’s case.

    President Thein Sein has introduced major reforms since the elections of November 2010, which saw military rule replaced by a military-backed civilian government.

    Many political prisoners have been freed and media restrictions have been relaxed, while the opposition has rejoined the political process.

    In response, most international sanctions against Burma have been relaxed.

    wirestory

  • Thousands Attend Brazil Youth Mass

    Around 400,000 Roman Catholics have joined a ceremony on Copacabana Beach in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro to mark the opening of World Youth Day.

    The highlight of the festival will be a visit on Thursday by Pope Francis.

    The Pope arrived in Brazil on Monday, making his first trip abroad since becoming head of the Roman Catholic Church.

    His visit is taking place under tight security, after weeks of protests against the government and corruption.

    Tuesday’s evening Mass at Copacabana Beach was led by Rio’s Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta.

    He welcomed pilgrims to the five-day festival, which is expected to draw about 1.5 million people from around the world.

    The Pope, who is from neighbouring Argentina, had no public events scheduled for Tuesday and spent time at a private residence.

    He is expected to greet large crowds at Copacabana on Thursday.

    {wirestory}

  • Kenya Hosts Construction Equipment Event

    {{Case Construction Equipment dealer for Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, CMC Motors Group hosted an event in Nairobi, Kenya to showcase its latest products to its customers in eastern Africa.}}

    The event, which took place at a restaurant in Nairobi, was attended by 220 guests, including representatives from the ministry of the roads from Kenya and Uganda.

    Case 580T tractor loader backhoe, SR150 skid steer loader, CX210B crawler excavator, 821F wheel loader and the 845B grader were demonstrated at the event.
    Case’s official demonstrator Steven Beardmore highlighted the new features of the models during the presentations which were followed by a corporate dinner.

    CMC Motors Group managing director Solomon Muturi said, “Our aim is to support the development of Kenya’s economy with a total solution service that includes the wide range of Case Construction equipment.”

    CNH Construction Equipment business manager Randhir Haripersad noted, “We are determined to continue to strengthen our position in East Africa through our successful partnership with CMC Motors Group.”

    {wirestory}

  • World Bank: Africa held back by land ownership confusion

    {{Africa’s economic growth is being held back by confusion over who owns vast swathes of agricultural land, according to a World Bank report.}}

    The continent is home to half of the world’s usable uncultivated land, yet has the highest poverty rate.

    But the Bank said farmers’ inability to prove ownership, legal disputes and land grabs had held back cultivation.

    Land governance needs to be improved if Africa is to fully exploit its resources and create jobs, it said.

    Writing in the report, Securing Africa’s Land for Shared Prosperity, the Bank’s vice-president for the continent, Makhtar Diop, said: “Despite abundant land and mineral wealth, Africa remains poor.

    “Improving land governance is vital for achieving rapid economic growth and translating it into significantly less poverty and more opportunity for Africans, including women who make up 70% of Africa’s farmers, yet are locked out of land ownership due to customary laws.

    “The status quo is unacceptable and must change so that all Africans can benefit from their land,” Mr Diop said.

    The report recommends that governments secure tenure rights for communities and individuals, possibly using new and relatively cheap satellite technology to conduct land surveys.

    “Risky”

    “It’s often the case that plots in urban areas have been divided, then sub-divided through generations of families, creating confusion over who owns what,” our correspondent says.

    “This makes long-term investment in things like farm machinery or irrigation risky.”

    The Bank said now was a good time to rationalise land ownership, so Africans could benefit more from surging commodity prices and strong levels of foreign investment.

    Improved land management could also prevent land grabs, it said. In recent years, investors from richer countries, outside Africa, have bought millions of hectares of land and are able to claim that it is unoccupied.

    But in some cases, the Bank said, established communities had been pushed off their farms.

    BBC

  • Britain: World Gets First Glimpse on new Prince

    {{The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have emerged from St Mary’s Hospital in west London with their new baby son.}}

    Walking out to cheers from staff and well-wishers, Kate cradled her son and said it was “a special time”.

    Prince William said they were “still working on a name”.

    The couple then went back inside the private Lindo Wing and placed their son in a car seat. A few minutes later they came outside again and the duke drove his family home to Kensington Palace.

    A small crowd had gathered outside the palace to greet them.

    Speaking to reporters outside the hospital earlier, the couple both said the experience was “very emotional”.

    William and Kate appeared relaxed and smiled as they appeared on the steps of the hospital shortly before 19:15 BST in front of a mass of photographers.

    Kate handed their baby, who was wrapped in a white shawl, over to her husband and the couple walked forward to speak to reporters.

    BBC

  • Australia-bound Asylum Boat Sinks, 4 Dead

    {{A boat has sank off the Indonesian island of Java, the transit point for people-smugglers.}}

    At least 157 people have been rescued. It is not clear how many are missing.

    Meanwhile, Australia’s immigration minister said he would investigate abuse claims at the country’s offshore processing centre in Papua New Guinea.

    Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced a new asylum policy last week, ahead of polls expected to be announced soon.

    Under the policy, asylum-seekers arriving by boat in Australia will be sent to Papua New Guinea (PNG) for processing, and those whose refugee claims are upheld will be settled in PNG, rather than Australia.

    Australia has experienced a sharp increase in the number of asylum seekers arriving by boat in recent months. But critics have accused Australia of avoiding responsibility and passing on its problem to a developing nation.

    Mr Rudd said that the sinking underlined the need for a policy shift, saying the government had to send “a very clear message to people-smugglers to stop sending people by boat to Australia”.

    “We are seeing too many drownings, we are seeing too many sinkings, too many innocent people being lost at sea.”

    PNG is to receive Australian investment as part of the deal. But some PNG politicians say the agreement could cause tensions on the island.

    Opposition spokesman Tobias Kulang said PNG had “become a dumping ground for Australia’s inadequacies”.

    “This is an appalling performance by Australia, which with its monetary wealth is able to pass the buck on to poorer countries,” he said.

    BBC

  • 1000 Metric Tonnes of Maize to be Auctioned

    {{Over 1000 metric tonnes of maize are scheduled for auction on July 29 using an automated trading platform.}}

    The auction will be conducted in lots of 5metric tonnes guided by a set of rules to ensure transparency in the auction process.

    EAX Rwanda a regional commodity exchange in collaboration with Rwanda Grains and Cereals Corporation (RGCC) invite the general public within and outside Rwanda for the auction that will take place at Kigali City Tower 12th Floor – Avenue du Commerce, Kigali. Participants are expected to arrive at EAX office at 9:00 am.

    Once the auction is complete, the successful bidder will be required to pay a deposit amount of 30% immediately by cheque, after notification of award.

    The remaining amount shall be paid within 5 working days from the date of notification and the successful bidder shall take possession of the goods within 10 days after the auction.

    Interested persons or organizations must register by phone call or e-mail (see details below) no later than July 24th 2013 at 5:00 pm at EAX office in Kigali City Tower 12th floor.

    Registered parties are also required to schedule a training and information session on the auction procedures at EAX during working hours (8:00 am to 5:00 pm) any time from the 25th to the 26th of July 2013.

    The training will be provided by EAX free of charge on the 25th or 26th of July 2013. In addition, remote bidding is welcome with training support provided by EAX.

    EAX Rwanda is a regional commodity exchange established to link smallholder farmers with better access to agricultural and financial markets, enabling them to sell their products at a fair and competitive price and facilitating access to financing opportunities.

    EAX Rwanda serves as a vehicle to assist in agricultural and capital market development in Rwanda and East Africa at large.

    EAX Rwanda seeks a phased approach to the development of a commodity exchange in Rwanda and plans to start operations by first establishing an agricultural commodities auction.

    The Rwanda Grains and Cereals Corporation (RGCC) aims to address the challenges that affect grain and cereals trading, by establishing structured trading system to better organize national trade practices, and promote approaches to trade which will help farmers, suppliers, traders, and processors transform their businesses.

    patrick@igihe.com