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{{The Kenyan Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Technology on October 9, visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial during a visit to Rwanda hosted by Mount Kenya University, an institution with campuses in both Rwanda and Kenya.}}

The Committee, comprising over 20 MPs, laid wreaths at mass graves adjacent to the Memorial, where some 250,000 victims of the 1994 genocide lie buried, before touring the building itself, where young Rwandans today come together to take part in peace-building education organised by the Aegis Trust.

Recalling Kenya’s post-election violence in 2007, visit host Simon N Gicharu, Founder and Chairman of Mount Kenya University, commented, “Having undergone something almost similar to what Rwandans had undergone through the genocide, in 2007, I felt that this tour could not be complete without bringing the parliamentarians who are our politicians to this place to see, in case they don’t play their politics right in Kenya, we can also go the genocide way.”

Hon. Sabina Wanjiru Chege, MP, Chairperson of the Kenyan Education Committee, commented, “We have been touched by what is here … we have learnt our lessons, and I feel that this is something that should be shared not only to other fellow parliamentarians but also to our children. We should never allow such a thing to happen, not only in Africa but in the World…. I’m shocked to see how even the church can separate people; I am shocked to see how a government can betray its own people; but despite our colour, despite our race, despite where we’ve come from and the languages that we speak, we are saying we are one.

We are all created by one God, and we should respect each other and actually love each other. This is a very strong message that we’re going to take home, that this should never, ever happen, even to any other country in the World.”

Established by Aegis in 2004 at the request of the Rwandan Government and Kigali City Council, the Kigali Genocide Memorial continues to be run by Aegis on behalf of CNLG (Rwanda’s National Commission for the Fight against Genocide) as a place both of remembrance and learning for a new generation.

The Kenyan MPs’ visit to the Memorial came at the end of an education-focussed tour of Rwanda, during which they were particularly studying this country’s experience with the ‘one laptop per child’ project. Following Rwanda’s lead, Kenya is about to launch a similar project of its own.

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{{President Kagame today received the United Nations Security Council delegation that arrived in the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo, as part of their tour of the region. }}

During the meeting, President Kagame made it clear that Rwanda should not be held responsible for the conflict in the DRC:

“People who started this war should help end this war. Rwanda did not start this war. Process based on lies and prejudice will not lead to a solution. Rwanda has and will continue to participate honestly and genuinely in finding a solution to the conflict in DRC in partnership with those who are interested in peace and stability.”

President Kagame also called on members of the United Nations Security Council to take a stand against the selective use of international law and to support the development of judicial systems in DRC and across Africa:

“What we have seen is the selective use of international law for political purposes. International justice should not pursue one side while others remain above international law. We cannot run away from building justice systems locally. Ultimately, Africa should have its own court to try some of these cases.”

Leading the delegation, Samantha Powers expressed the United Nations Security Council commitment to stand by Rwanda in a note left at Gisozi Genocide Memorial:

“We feel terrible remorse for what was allowed to happen. What we allowed to happen. And we resolve to stand with the Rwandan people in the years ahead.”

After the meeting with the President, Maria Cristina Perceval from Argentina said the delegation had been convinced that there was political will and commitment in the region to support peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo:

“The weakness of institutions in the DRC has contributed to the creation of armed groups. Our commitment as the international community needs to be eliminating all armed groups and every country in the region needs to use its leverage to eliminate these groups.”

On the accusations of recruitment of child soldiers, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwaboa said:

“Rwanda is not a country that just appeared yesterday, it is a country that has a track record. Our country does not tolerate children being enrolled in any way in our army. If this matter was properly litigated and investigated, you would find that it’s not in Rwanda’s practice to keep children near weapons; we have done a lot in this country to stay away from this kind of practice. The issue of child soldiers is one of the results of the crisis in the DRC and is a consequence of the existence of these groups. We are not happy about this accusation and we are going to set the record straight and continue with our contribution towards eliminating the root causes of this situation.”

The delegation is headed to Kampala, Uganda where they will meet with President Yoweri Museveni in Entebbe, before proceeding to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the delegation will meet with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and with the African Union Peace and Security Council. During their time in Rwanda, the United Nations Security delegation visited the Gisozi Genocide Memorial as well as the Mutobo Demoblization Center which serves as reintegration center for former FDLR militia.

{{About 3,000 Rwandan youth are expected to recieve training in various disciplines under the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) programme. }}

The training sponsored by Global Communities (previously CHF International) will be conducted in different vocational training centres in 18 districts.

Global Communities recently partnered with the Workforce Development Authority to promote TVET awareness across Rwanda.

The three–month media campaign targets the youth and community in order to understand the benefits of gaining employable skills.

“It is important that we fight against the negative perceptions towards TVET if the youth are to realise their potential in vocational skills,” said Victor Mugarura, the communications and outreach manager for Global Communities Rwanda.

{{Teachers have urged the government to establish Mwalimu Shops across the country to facilitate them purchase some items at a low price. The call was made October 5, during the celebration of teachers’ day at GS Kacyiru II.}}

Although the Government implemented several projects to improve living conditions of Teachers, the later complain to be among Government personnel that receive low salary.

Parliament, late last year, approved the Bill establishing Military Shops to help families of serving military and Police personnel purchase certain necessities, including basic foodstuff, home appliances and scholastic materials, on duty free terms.

Teachers also said Mwalimu Shops may help them and members of their families in purchasing goods at a lower price.

Siniremera Juliette, a teacher at GS Kacyiru II, commends the effort of the Government makes in improving the livelihoods of Teachers, however, added the same source; there is a need to put in place a shop to serve them while taking into consideration their monthly salary.

“We want the Ministry of Education to think how we can get a shop where teachers can buy goods and pay at the end of the month”

Among other programs established to improve living conditions of teachers, include the saving and credit cooperative-Umwalimu Sacco and the construction of Accommodations for teachers across the country

{{Since its launch in 2007 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, CIP has doubled farmers’ harvests. }}

Funded by the government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) at more than Frw10 billion, the ongoing program aims at increasing agricultural productivity in high-potential food crops by ensuring food security and self-sufficiency.

Robert Sendege, the Director General in MINAGRI says that CIP’s main activities are land consolidation, improved seed and fertilizers use, change in farmer’s behaviour among others.

Emmanuel Ngomiraronka, CIP coordinator in Gatsibo district in the eastern province took us to Rugarama sector to a marshland that has been prepared by MINAGRI through the Rwanda Rural Sector Project that was funded by the World Bank at a cost of US$ 36.00 million.

He said that the marshland was transformed into 450 hectares of rice plantation. “This rice plantation is being managed by farmers from Rwimbogo and Rugarama sector members of cooperative COPRORIZ.

The latter is very important because it helps smallholder’s farmers to practice modern farming, sell their harvest and improve their livelihoods” noted Ngomiraronka.

He went on saying that the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources MINAGRI provides technical assistance for instance by availing one agriculture technician on each 200 hectares and helping to pay the cooperative’s manager to make sure that financial as well as human resources are well managed.

He noted that CIP has contributed to poverty alleviation because now farmers produce in excess and can have something to sell and eat at home.

He noted that farmers are now able to send their children to schools, pay medical insurance and cater for other needs.

All farmers in the marshland are under one cooperative and each farmer might have one plot or two and they merge their lands together to plant one crop on a big surface.

Rukeratabaro Theoneste a farmer of maize in Rwimbogo sector who belongs to Amahoro cooperative said that MINAGRI provides them with seeds and fertilizers.

“Farmers get fertilizers through vouchers for any farmer who has more than one hectare of farm. “We buy fertilizers at 50% subsidy and we get seeds for free” said Rukeratabaro.

Farmers in Gatsibo district told us that they have positively responded to CIP but face challenges to buy fertilizers though at subsidy when the harvest of previous season is not good due to climate change.

In Rwimbogo sector there are farmers who had fertilizers last season but could not use it because of a long period of drought. During this season seed is in store but farmers cannot have access to it because you only get access to free seed when you buy fertilizers.

Mukamwiza Anastasia, a women leader in Rwimbogo sector said that farmers have prepared their farms for plantation but they still need to have access to seeds because they already have fertilizers they did not use last season.

“We don’t understand why they deny us free seeds when we have fertilizers that was left from last season because we could not use them as a result of bad weather”, said the mother of 10.

Ngomiraronka explained that the government advises farmers to approach microfinance institutions such as SACCOs to have access to loans to buy fertilizers.

The women leader told us that it takes time to convince farmers to approach microfinance because they fear for their lands to be taken by microfinance in case the weather is not good for them to have a good harvest.

Anastasia said that farmers still need to complete to pay loans they took from SACCOs to join medical insurance and are reluctant to add on their debts.

MINAGRI has outsourced the sale of fertilizers and distribution of seeds to private companies commonly referred to agro-dealers. Steven Tumwebaze, an agro dealer in Gatsibo district said that they sell two types of fertilizers: Urea and Dap.

“We sell fertilizers and distribute seeds through vouchers that are called “Nkunganire” in Kinyarwanda . Vouchers are for farmers who have 1.5 hectares of farm. If you have less than that the farmer has to sign a contract with an agro dealer in his community.

Rwanda Agricultural Board is looking for the exit strategies for this program to be sustainable. The CIP coordinator in Gatsibo district said that they still have 50 % subsidies on fertilizers.

“Farmers must at the end come at a point where they can buy 100% fertilizers and access seeds at their own means. If seeds are free now we need to look in 3 to 4 years if we can be able to reach a point where farmers can use their own seeds”.

“Are we capable to let all the smallholders’ farmers’ access fertilizers without having 50% subsidies? In case we move from 50% to 20 % subsidies are they going to pay for the rest?”

“We need to continue to build up a system where farmers can access loans in case they don’t have cash. As far as they are cultivating, planting and haven’t yet reached the harvest time or face climate change they need to have access to a loan for seeds and fertilizers. This is the role of microfinance institutions such as SACCOs,” said Ngomiraronka.

Apart from climate change challenges and reluctance to use fertilizers in the beginning of CIP, harvests as well as cultivated surface has steadily increased. Celestin Simpenze the agronomist of Burera distrIct in the Northern Province told us that the district has five main crops: maize, potatoes, wheat, beans and pea on a surface of 35,000 hectares of consolidated lands.

“We train farmers to plant one crop on a big surface by using fertilizers and improved seed and production has doubled ever since” said the agronomist.

Harvest per hectare has increased from 2 tons on each hectare before CIP to between 3.5 to 5 tons per hectare after four years of Crop Intensification Program. The agronomist reiterated that the district is now targeting 9 tons of produce per hectare in the near future.

Mudacogora Faustin in charge of agriculture in Ceru sector in Burera district commended CIP. “It is now easy to control farms when there is an outbreak of diseases that attack crops because we have only one crop on a big land instead of mixed crops before CIP”.

In addition to that it has become easier to find market to farmer’s produce as they harvest together and we immediately link them to market so that they can sell their produce in a big quantity and at a good price.

{The Story Was Sponsored by The African Story Challenge, An Initiative of The African Media Initiative}

{{The Rwanda National Police (RNP) and six districts of the Southern Province, on Wednesday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen security in the province.}}

The agreement was signed between the Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K.Gasana and the mayors of Muhanga, Kamonyi, Ruhango, Nyamagabe, Gisagara and Nyaruguru districts.

Huye, Nyanza, Bugesera, Gatsibo, Kicukiro, Burera, Nyanza, Nyamasheke, Rubavu, Rusizi districts have already signed the agreement.

The cooperation will focus on training Community Policing Committees (CPCs) in crime prevention, community policing skills, and community mobilisation to participate in development activities.

Southern Province Governor, Alphonse Munyentwari, who presided over the signing ceremony, lauded the districts and RNP for their cooperation.

He promised support to ensure the partnership bares fruits.

The IGP said policing is all about partnership for quick and sustainable development through crime prevention and community sensitisation.

The IGP said all these initiates are intended to ensure security for the people and creating a safer society. He noted that security contributes to the development of the country.

“There’s no development without security and vice versa,” he said. “This kind of cooperation is a key pillar that has to be strengthened to achieve security and development”.

source:RNP

{{Germany has decided not to join the chorus of accusations of the international community towards Rwanda suspected of supporting the rebels of M23 in eastern DRC.}}

The UN Group of Experts accused Rwanda and Uganda to support Eastern DR Congo rebels; however both countries strongly deny the charges.

Jeune Afrique has reported that while its Western partners harden the tone of accusing Rwanda to support the March 23 Movement (M23), Germany did not join in the verbal escalation.

Germany has officially suspended its general budget support in July 2012, but converted it into sectoral aid, said a European diplomat.

“I urge Rwanda to continue to play a constructive role in peace and security,” said Dirk Niebel , German Minister for Development and Cooperation , during a visit to Kigali , in June of this year.

“Jeune Afrique ” understands that Peter Fahrenholtz , the German ambassador in Kigali would be personally convinced of the good faith of Rwanda in DRC.

{{H.E Vincent KAREGA, the High Commissioner of Rwanda in Angola with residence in South Africa, presented his credentials to H.E President Eduardo Dos Santos. }}

During the ceremony on October 4 in Luanda, the Rwandan envoy and the Angola President highlighted the need for Rwanda and Angola to strengthen their bilateral and regional relations so as to add value to their economic development and peace initiatives in region.

Speaking during a visit held in Angola on 19th June 2013, Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs
Minister stated “This is an appropriate time for both countries to cooperate because we have reached a level of stability.

We feel we need to engage with each other politically and economically in different sectors such as trade, air transport, security as well as contributing to stability in our Region,” said Louise Mushikiwabo.

The High Commission of Rwanda in South Africa covers nine countries in Southern
Africa including the Republic of Angola.