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{{Rwandan artists mainly those involved in peacemaking have brought their arts together to celebrate and promote peace, unity and reconciliation on the International Day of Peace that is being celebrated all over the world.}}

Our reporter at the event received messages they are delivering to the Rwandans and all people in the world.

Dieudonné Munyanshoza :”I wish people living in Rwanda and all over the world to cerebrate this day of peace because there is nothing that can be reached upon without peace.

“Let’s fight for peace, unity and lets reconcile to each other in order to reach a sustainable development.
“I pledge to all Rwandans and others living in the world to overwhelmingly observe and celebrate this day” the renowned singers concluded.

Intore Jean De Dieu Tuyisenge a.k.a Tora Kagame: “Iam happy for this day and I wish all people to fight for peace to prevail in this world”.

Award winning filmmaker Edouard Bamporiki: “People to have peace in their hearts and to inevitably set off peace revolution and friendly people should tell each other about peace. Peacemaker bears peace child”

Staff Sgt. Robert: “People should play big part either in protecting peace, security or even protecting the surroundings.

“Peace and security should be protected by all people- civilians, police or soldiers because we are all important to each other”

Kizito mihigo: “Some artists played a role in promoting hatred that made the 1994 genocide inevitable and therefore today artist should play part in liberating the nation, spread love where hatred was spread, promote unity where divisionism was spread”.

Sophie Nzayisenga a.k.a Amahoro: “we have to be happy today because we have peace and stability in Rwanda and we have to fight for it as we respect each other and as we also help each other”.

Marc Mico Nsengiyaremye: “To love the nation is the first priority to promote and this will result into ensuring our country with peace and unity, and all people should love the nation.

“As public figures, we have to be example in delivering message of peace to the public because no peace no love”.

Mani Martin: “I celebrate this day because this goes with my normal sayings and I wish our nation to play an example in promoting peace across the world”.

Kitoko Bibarwa: “Nothing can be done without peace either personally or even publically and this is not the government program but should be done at family level”.

{{In musanze, MINICOM and Rwanda Cooperative Agency met and discussed with business representatives from all sectors of Musanze and Nyabihu about new commercial laws regulating business.}}

Some of new commercial laws include insolvency law to facilitate traders rescue trade in case of bankruptcy and also law relating to intellectual properties for artists and know how to protect their properties.

These new commercial regulations were enacted as a result of emerging business dynamics and registering business within 24 hours through new laws and help Rwandans to access loans, said Asiimwe Susan, the legal advisor at the ministry.

This new system will also facilitate investors to access East African Community market where 30 percent of imported products, will be taxed zero on registered products, and company laws will bring new picture of the registered companies, said Assimwe

Nsengiyunva, a resident of Musanze says, since Rwanda joined EAC, things are still expensive and every day the Government assures them zero tax, yet MINICOM hasn’t implemented what their promises.

Mwambutsa Emable, a representative of business men in his sector, says FRW 10,000 fee on income of any business to register as a cooperative was a good idea, but finds a hindrance to result into unnecessary business everywhere.

Registration fee for business via Internet will be free but if registered with RDB, the registration price is Frw 10,000, but MINICOM and RDB also facilitate low income earners below Frw 10,000 to pay Frw3,000 to RDB, said Assimwe Susan in MINICOM.

They urged the participants to be participative in all angles and manage to save some money for trainings and develop their business.

Assimwe added: “After training we leave with the participants soft copy and put them in sectors, especially with our experts with right contacts.

Gahutu Ezekiel, a businessman, says tax on imported products should be having a fixed tax if a commercial license is provided and recognized by Rwanda Revenue Authority or RDB.

Kamali Edward, a consultant in BDC from Nyabihu district says what MINICOM has done will prove his daily work consultancy and manage to help people from his district.

As the training was based on new laws governing cooperatives and small scale business to facilitate citizens get involved in business easily, MINICOM will further go to other districts.

{{Lt. Col. Tharcisse Nditurende pinned his co-accused Victoire Ingabire saying she communicated to Europe using e-mail messages.}}

As he was ready to start, the prosecution raised their concern to the court that the defense might not be co-ordinated and want to delay the trial.

They also updated the High Court that evidence from Netherlands will be submitted to court by the end of this month. The court cleared to them that there was no problem to wait for them and the trial should continue.

As he had started pleading at day 10 of the trial, Nditurende who already plead guilty of the charges against him revealed that the e-mails were his and responses were from Ingabire.

He told court that all the mails he got from Ingabire were given to the prosecution during his interrogation when he was asked to give his e-mail address and its password.

He further explained how he and some of his colleagues had fallen out from FDLR to form what they were proposing as CDF to join FDU and help overthrow the government power in Rwanda militarily.

Nditurende told court that did not happen because the DRC intelligence (ARN) had arrested Maj. Vital Uwumuremyi who was the liaison between them and Ingabire at the beginning of 2009.

Nditurende explained to the court that as Uwumuremyi had given him Ingabire’s e-mail address, it was the only way left to communicate even though he got a mobile telephone later.

Nditurende admits that the e-mails were his and the one who replied was Ingabire who made different appointments like meeting face to face in Dar Es Salam in Tanzania but then they met in Brazzaville (Congo).

The e-mail also contains the plans of how Ingabire could send them some money for communication through a Congolese Colonel called Zelote.

The trial resumes on September 21 where Lt. Col. Noel Habiyaremye another co-accused will defend himself in court because Lt. Col. Tharcisse Nditurende had finished.

{{President Kagame received the ‘Global Health, Technology and Development Award’ this Monday in recognition for his support in ICT and improvement of health conditions in the country.}}

The event was held at Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City in USA in the awarding ceremony “South-South Awards” attributed to state organs, civil society groups, and individuals who have strived to bring development in the developing countries in Africa Asia, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Oceania, the Caribbean and in the Pacific region.

This year’s theme is “Digital Health for Digital Development”

The award given to the president is in recognition for his efforts in promoting fast and reliable ICT networks not only in Rwanda but all over the world through the Broadband connection which will drastically slash communication prices once completed, his continuous efforts towards attainment of the MDG’s especially in improving the living conditions of all Rwandans.

“We are so happy that this organization has recognized that both government’s efforts and abilities our president deserve an award. For us, this award signifies the path we are in should be encouraged in reference to ICT and improving the living conditions of our people” Minister Mushikiwabo told reporters shortly after receiving the award on behalf of president Kagame who wasn’t at the event.

ICT in Rwandan Health Care System known as “Telemedicine” is currently in use at King Fiscal Hospital where by a doctor can attend to patients not physically present. In addition, the impact if ICT is felt in the increasing capacity to handle complicated disease that Rwanda could not handle a few years ago and patient information storage.

Other dignitaries who received awards include Mwai Kibaki the president of Kenya, Abdoulaye Wade president of Senegal, Sheikh Hasina Prime-minister of Bangladesh, and Dr Vanda Pignato the first lady to El Salvador.

{{Having acquired a bank loan from Umwalimu SACCO, Runda teachers have bought a brand new truck through their cooperative KISKA (Koperative Isonga za Kamonyi) established in February 2011.}}

The truck cost 8million which was given as a loan by UMWALIMU SACCO to the teachers after they voluntary collected 800,000 on their cooperative account.

The headmaster of Runda Mr. Emmanuel Munyaneza that is also a member of KISKA congratulated his fellow teachers upon the achievement saying that sometimes teachers were afraid of acquiring big loans like these ones but now it’s a positive step taken.

Payment contract with Umwarimu Sacco state that they should repay the loan in a period of four years but given the rate at which the vehicle is operating, payment will be completed before the set time given that it has for the past 3months made a profit of 3million.

Mr. Nkuranga Theogene in charge of capacity building in Rwanda Cooperative Agency warned members of the KISAKA cooperative on the mismanagement of funds and not to embezzle profits because they are for the cooperative and every member has a benefit when the cooperative makes profits.

The Southern Province Governor Mr. Alphonse Munyantwari who was the guest of Honor noted that there is hope for teachers because such achievements registered clearly indicated that they value the work they do. “The government is focused on what can uplift teachers standards of living and such loans are a support to the government,

{{The national police spokesman Superintendent Theo’s Badege has said that Eric Nshimiyimana({photo below}) health condition is stable. He was shot Thursday evening by a plain cloth policeman after resisting to be searched.}}

However, Sup. Badege’s remarks contradict that of eye witness Desire who didn’t want to disclose his second name pending sensitivity of the matter.

“No…no I won’t tell you my name but what I can assure you is that a motorcycle taxi carrying a man stopped close to Nshimiyimana and shot him in the chest. Later the armed passenger pressed a pistol onto him and immediately shot his own hand perhaps to fake that it was a gun battle, yet Nshimiyimana never resisted. I can’t add more about this,” said the eye witness.

However, Sup. Badege refutes the eye witness account saying, “What I was informed is that a resident of Gikondo’s Sodoma area alerted police that Nshimiyimana was carrying illegal stuff in his bag.”

“When Policeman alighted from motorcycle and stopped him, Nshimiyimana resisted and turned violent when the policeman pointed a pistol at him. It is through the tussle that the policeman fired a bullet which injured his hand and went straight to Nshimiyimana chest,” he disclosed.

Sup. Badege further stressed that indeed Nshimiyimana a member of Parti Social Imberakuri a political party which associates itself with the opposition, was found in possession with a pistol and twelve bullets.

“The eyewitness must be lying because at first a resident alerted the police and when we did our investigation we found that this guy was certainly carrying a firearm,” said Badege.

Currently, Injured Nshimiyimana is recovering at Kacyiru police hospital and only a few family members are allowed to see him, while members of the press and his party colleagues are restricted from seeing him.

“I’ll inform you the right time for journalists to meet him, currently we’re investigating his case,” Badege remarked.

While there’s still dilemma in the shooting of Nshimiyimana, political parties in the country who consider themselves as the opposition have been silently protesting the matter. And among them is FDU Ikingi party that issued a press release yesterday condemning the shooting.

“We call upon the government to make sure that security personnel do not use their positions to intimidate people; to prosecute the life attempt against opposition members and to ensure that rules of engagement are clear and respected,” stated FDU-Inkingi Interim Vice President Boniface Twagirimana.

{Parti Social Imberakuri} secretary general Immaculate Uwizeye highlighted that they are seeking international support to sue the government concerning the shooting of its party member.

“you see in Rwanda we’re like a cat and we can’t fight with government which is a Leopard that’s why we’re seeking some support from outside, but at this point I won’t disclose people who have shown interest in helping us, what I can assure you is that justice will prevail,” revealed Uwizeye.

In response to the opposition Sup. Badege bluffed their concerns adding that it would be better if they sued the government instead of destroying the police image by sending deceitful information to some the international media who also have a record of reporting negatively about Rwanda’s progress.

“I wonder why these political parties are exaggerating this matter yet they know very well they are associated to terror activities and one of them is Victoire Ingabire the head of FDU Ikingi who is in court for similar cases,” noted Sup. Badege.

{{56 people were killed in Burundi when armed men in military uniform attacked a bar on Sunday. }}

Witnesses said the gunmen; some disguised as policemen, burst into the bar late on Sunday, forced its patrons to the ground and raked the interior with bullets.
“I heard someone some distance away shout; “Kill them all” and they opened fire,”
a survivor told the local press.

Nyaruhirira Desire the Charge d’Affaire at Rwandas embassy in Burundi told Igihe.com in a telephone interview, “No Rwandan has been injured in the attack. However, four Congolese nationals are the only foreigners that were killed in the attack.”

Burundi has enjoyed relative peace since the former hardliner rebel Forces for National Liberation (FNL) laid down their weapons and joined the government in 2009 after two decades of insurgency.

However, attacks against civilians and soldiers have intensified since elections last year were widely boycotted by the opposition. Tit-for-tat fighting between the security forces and former militia fighters risks blowing up into a full-scale rebellion, Burundi Political analysts said.

“The attackers were carrying guns and knives, some of them were dressed in police uniform,” said one survivor who was too scared to give his name.

“They really took their time. Two bullets went through my body and another two are still inside. My legs sustained grenade injuries. All I can ask for is peace. I don’t know why I should be a victim,” another survivor narrated.

“They ordered everyone to lay down on the soil and started shooting the victims one by one,” the witness said.

No group has claimed responsibility of the attack, which took place in the town of Gatumba, 16 km west of the capital, Bujumbura, and close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo however, locals are voicing FNL for the attack.

A doctor who only gave his name as Leonard said he was totally overwhelmed. “We are lacking blood, equipment and medicine to treat all the injured,” he said.

Dead bodies had been left in a parking lot at one hospital.

Similar deadly raids have become more common in the past year, since the opposition boycotted elections, accusing President Pierre Nkurunziza’s party of fraud.

The small central African country is still struggling to emerge from 13 years of civil war that erupted in 1993 and left some 300,000 people dead.

The escalating violence has raised fears of a resumption of all-out conflict.

{{Its morning hours at his home together with the wife and a classmate, busy reading for the evening exam, the 27-year old poet and an award winning filmmaker Edouard Uwayo Bamporiki speaks to igihe.com reporter and shares his painful memories experienced during 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.}}

Bamporiki’s first poem iyobadatsembwa tuba dutwenga literally meaning ‘If they were not exterminated, we would be joyful together that is compiled in his book icyaha kuri bo, ikimwaro kuri jye shares well his true story.

He says that due to the strain of the massacres he was experiencing while in the hospital forced him to tell his mother to quit the hospital.

Bamporiki realized he was a Hutu when he was 8 years old. He was by then in primary three when his teacher gave class homework to ask their parents about their ethnic groups.

He also says: “When I joined secondary school, I met with genocide survivors and from their anguishes I could think of composing for them poems to fortify them but I could feel ashamed of what I am.

“When I came to Kigali in 2002, I joined Urunana (a creative communication for community development) but during presentations I could feel bothered,” he explains.

He says he gained public audibility when he went into competition where the judges were Tutsis, presented his testimony and won the competition.

From his stories of hope, unity and reconciliation, Bamporiki was among the 2009 recipients of Young Rwandan Achievers Awarded by Imbuto Foundation for his own authored, directed, acted and produced film. Later the Long Coat award received from New York that again was ranked the best movie in Rwanda in 2010.

“The award I got strengthened me and now I have to fight for peace to prevail not only in Rwanda but the whole world.

“What will make me happy is to see the world that has peace and stability with no conflicts and I know I will contribute greatly for this success. I found out that if I am doing something developmental to my national, then I shouldn’t feel ashamed,” Bamporiki added.

Bamporiki who witnessed the first hand of the horrors says he will center his work on ensuring that peace prevails in Rwanda using his natural gift as an artist.

He also focuses on being an international peacemaker. “I want the future generation to know me as an international peace advocate and that is why I author books, make films focusing on peace building that will last long.”

He calls on the public saying: “Do not hesitate to speak the truth about the pain we went through and fight for peace for the future generation to experience the tragic history we suffered.”

He is born from Cyangugu in a family of six children with only him as a boy. Apart from him, no one else from his family managed to study up to at least secondary level.

It’s from this background that the Award winning Filmmaker is sponsoring the annual best candidate at his former primary to promote and empower education at his home area.

Bamporiki likes the government campaign of empowering women because he is born in a family of girls and for that matter, he awards the best peace activist student at a Kigali based girl’s school Lycée Notre-Dame de Cîteaux where he also gives lecture about peace building each year.

{{Six children died and sixteen families left homeless after succumbing to a destructive heavy down pour on Sunday that caused landslides in Kinyababa, Butaro, Burera district and areas of Rusarabuge both in the northern province.}}

The mayor of Burera Samuel Sembagare told Igihe.com reporter that two girls in Rusumo cell in Butaro sector on Sunday night passed away as heavy rolling stones from the mountains hit their bedroom.

Another child from the same family survived the accident and is now in hospital under treatment. However, the parents of the victims luckily escaped the hit as they were in a distant room.

The deceased were aged 14 and 7 while the injured who is 15 explained the incident from Kinyababa sector. Three girls also died due to landslides the same night while their parents narrowly escaped death.

In Rusarabuge sector, a female aged 18 recently passed away when she drowned in a river as she was going for a weeding. The body of victim was found a few days later after the incident.

“It’s a disaster and disasters have no appointments with anyone. Normally we don’t experience such heavy rains but we are in a mountainous area and rock in this area is soft. Hadn’t the people cut down the trees and bamboo we planted in the past the danger wouldn’t have been immense,” The district mayor explained.”

This was confirmed by Mr. Christophe Nzabikorera in charge of finance and administration in the ministry of disaster and refugee repatriation (MIDMAR) who acknowledged that too much bamboo had been cleared and the landscape is now almost bare.

Nzabikorera said that at the moment the ministry is working hand in hand with the district administration to help survivors and those left homeless.

Journalists counted 16 houses demolished by the landslide and the homeless have so far been given shelter at Butaro Center while others are sheltering with neighbors.

The mayor assured reporters that measures are under way to completely end these disastrous incidents in the areas by emphasising on Midugudu settlements.

“Every body’s participation is needed. We shall get support from the government, local administration not forgetting the community service by the locals to help our brothers and sisters who have become victims of the landslides.

He proposed to MINAGRI to quickly deliver maize seeds to the region. “Let them help us so that we don’t fall victims of famine because we have lost more than 100 hectares of potatoes we were expecting to harvest.”

“We request the ministry of infrastructure to help us construct our bridges because they were damaged and rehabilitation requires a lot of skills we can’t afford.”

{{The innovative Star Construction Company Ltd has been the first company in Rwanda to make concrete windows and door frames. The company also makes ‘concrete curved blocks for building underground and above ground water tanks’.}}

Eng. Dedeki Papias Kazawadi({photo below}) is the local proprietor and the company’s Managing Director of the two projects told {igihe.com} that: “I just got the idea about the projects, sat down at my workplace, initiated them and it has really worked out as I expected.”

Kazawadi said that, while initiating Concrete Blocks Water Tanks, he learnt the idea from the internet research, got in touch with a U.K based company called Parry Associate via emails to learn more about the project and he was then able to take over six months while bringing the idea into practice.

Since 2003, the concrete blocks for water tanks made of locally available resources, have been successfully installed and supplied to different parts of the country including; Kigali, Kayonza, Nyagatare, and Bugesera with the storage capacity ranging in 3 m3 and 200m3 depending on the size needed by the client.

Kazawadi also narrates that he bought the idea of concrete door frames and window frames from an Indian Lecturer at Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) who told him how it works successfully in India.

“The lecturer just told me how the project is useful in India and as a pacesetter I asked myself why not Rwanda. I therefore sat down and brought the Lecturer’s idea into action,” he pointed out.

He said that such frames that were initiated in 2009 are cheap, modernized when it comes to the fast developing Rwanda, and long lasting.

Kazawadi said that among other objectives, the company intends to offer well researched, highly pertinent technologies that are result-oriented to the clients’ long-term development project proposals.

Star Construction so far deals with two subsidiary units- Concrete products that compile culverts, curbstones, hollow and solid blocks, paving blocks, and ventilation blocks.

And Contracts that compiles building construction works, irrigation works water tanks and maintenance services.

The firm has over 50 employees with about 23 permanent workers that are well trained in their fields.

Kazawadi also said that all employees recently went through one month training by Senior Expert Services from Germany under GTZ and WDA to improve on skills.

According to Kazawadi, the general hindrance to the construction sector in Rwanda is that there is no legal framework from the government to appraise and streamline stakeholders in the sector and he advises government to look into the matter.

The company that started slowly in 1996 and improved operations in 2001 expects annual revenues of approximately Frw 400 million this year.

With much enthusiasm and untiring fortitude, Kazawadi hopes to increase the company’s annual revenues to at least Frw 1Bn.

{{Who is Kazawadi}}

He is a Construction and Management engineer with a diploma in Architecture having more than 15 years practical experience in private entrepreneurship, leadership, construction company management, concrete products production for selling, marshlands irrigation and buildings construction works.

The management experience gained ranges from project management, costing and estimating, manpower and materials planning, contract negotiations, team building and leadership with ability to motivate; guide and coach towards managing projects to achieve full lifecycle project targets within budget limitations and strict deadlines.