Author: Elina Jonas Ruzindaza

The two financial agreements were signed by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana on Wednesday.

European Union grant of Rwf10.8 billion will be used to support the private sector development and job creation. It is part of the more than Rwf495.8 billion of support to Rwanda for the period going until the end of 2020.

The funding will be used to address the country’s needs to create employment opportunities for its youth with activities set to focus on digital economy and tourism hospitality and hotels.

Both institutions have shown that they are the ones who can build quickly in the private sector.

This will be implemented in two projects; ‘Market Skills4Tourism’ will increase knowledge for young people in the tourism and hotel sector, and ‘Tech Innovation / Incubation Hubs’ will increase technology-based jobs through innovation. It will focus on Kigali’s defense cities of Rusizi, Rubavu, Nyagatare, and Muhanga.

Nicola Bellomo, head of the EU delegation to Rwanda said the funding would help the tourism and hotels sector affected by Covid-19.

“This is particularly more relevant to the current situation where the tourism and hospitality sector has been the most impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Also, the current crisis has demonstrated that without a strong digital sector, it is difficult to adapt to the new world normal; that is why this programme is so timely to fill the gaps within the digital ecosystem in Rwanda”, he said.

The government has also signed an agreement with the World Bank’s Rwf142 billion grant, which will be used to support the government to expand opportunities for the acquisition of quality, market-relevant skills in selected economic sectors.

Half the financing is a grant while the other is a concessional loan payable in 38 years, with a 6-year grace period at 0.75% interest rate.

Rwanda plans to use the money to increase access to technical and vocational education and training as well as higher education programmes that are responsive to both labour market needs and social and economic development.

Skills development and employment promotion are central to Rwanda´s National Strategy for Transformation. ” Equipping the workforce with the right skills for economic transformation is central to our long term development objectives, so this support will contribute to upskilling Rwanda’s workforce for long-term economic transformation,” Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana said.

The inmates escaped on Wednesday night, July 8, 2020, after breaking the windows of a classroom at ASPEK secondary school.

Eastern Province Police Spokesperson, CIP Twizeyimana Hamdun, told IGIHE that four prisoners had escaped.

CIP Twizeyimana urged the public to avoid contact or hiding the culprits as they can spread coronavirus to others, asking anyone who sees someone whom they don’t know in their area or knew that he was imprisoned to provide information so that they can be immediately placed in a care facility.

He also said that the Police in collaboration with the local authorities in the District have embarked on searching for the escapees.

Last month, South Africa’s RH Bophelo Ltd, an investment in health services, officially entered the Rwandan Financial and Stock Exchange, becoming the ninth in the market.

It is expected to open its doors to those interested in investing in Rwanda and the region.

RSE Chief executive Celestin Rwabukumba told The East African that the approval process of preparing to host other Rwandan companies operating in the industrial sector is at an advanced stage.

“I expect to see more companies come to the market. We have four transactions in the pipeline this year, of which two are at advanced stages in terms of approvals. These two companies are ready and can come onto the market at any time,” said Mr. Rwabukumba.

He said this year has not been bad for them in terms of financial and stock markets, although investors are likely to be cautious with the stock market because of the Covid-19 pandemic that has caused some to sell off their investments.

The management of the cement factory, CIMERWA, recently announced that it is meeting all the requirements to enter other institutions listed in the Rwanda stock exchange, in line with its development goals.

Speaking to reporters in May, Cimerwa Mayor Albert K. Sigei said he was preparing to go to the stock exchange market even though it was still in the hands of the regulators.

When the company goes to the stock exchange market, it is taxed for five years, which varies depending on the shares sold and can reach 20%.

Currently, the Rwanda Financial and Stock Exchange has nine companies namely RH Bophelo Ltd, Crystal Telecom, Bralirwa, Uchumi Supermarket Ltd, National Media Group, BK Group Plc, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), Equity Bank Group Ltd and I&M Bank Rwanda.

Traders have been under surveillance by the ministry, which has been operating at various markets and other commercial locations in Kigali City from March 17, 2020, to date.

A statement from the ministry said: “It is clear that some traders continue to raise prices for food, while others are using substandard scales and others are issuing invoices that are not related to purchases.”

In its two-day audit (July 2 to July 3), the Ministry was able to identify four traders who violated the regulations where they were fined Frw 2,770,000.

President Xi Jinping’s wife’s support to Rwanda through the Organization of Africa First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) was presented to the Rwanda Biomedical Center, RBC on July 7, 2020.

Xing Yuchun, the Chinese Deputy Ambassador in Rwanda, said that this was a way to thank Rwanda for standing in solidarity with their country when it was threatened by COVID-19 caused by the Coronavirus virus.

“This donation of medical equipment from the Chinese Government is a way of showing our friendship with the Government of Rwanda, especially from our First Lady to Rwandan First Lady,” she said.

“We cherish the support from Rwanda and we hope that this is going to help men and women from Rwanda to contain Coronavirus,” she added.

Xing Yuchun said that if China cooperates with Rwanda in formulating measures to prevent COVID-19, they will inevitably be able to crack it down on both countries.

Radegonde Ndejuru, Rwandan First Lady’s advisor said that after receiving the materials, Jeannette Kagame noted that they will be delivered to Rwandans to help them continue w with the fight against the spread of the coronavirus.

“This is one of the contributions that the First Lady of Rwanda, Jeannette Kagame, wanted to give to support the Ministry of Health to fight Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

Prof Peng Liyuan’s support is expected to reach to other African countries as well.

“This equipment is an addition to the already existing efforts and capacity to test, treat, and protect people against Covid-19. This marks partnership and solidarity between Rwanda and China against Covid-19 which is very important,” Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, Director General of RBC said.

“It will strengthen Rwanda’s already existing efforts to combat COVID-19,” he added.

A statement from the Ministry of Health on Monday stated that the number of new Coronavirus patients included “truck drivers who have been in quarantine since their arrival n the country: 3, Kigali: 2, Nyamagabe: 2, Rusizi: 1.”

So far no cure for Coronavirus has been found, using only the treatment of the symptoms of the pandemic, until the human body builds up its immunity, and the virus infects the bloodstream disappear.

Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty breathing. It is transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

To avoid this, Rwandans are required to abide by government regulations, especially by washing their hands frequently with water and soap, wearing masks when a person leaves home or meets many people in a village or a multi-family area.

The grant approved on June 26, is part of $10 billion the bank approved in April 2020, to help regional member countries across the continent cope with the Coronavirus pandemic.

The beneficiaries are Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The support will be used to supply medical equipment needed to fight Coronavirus including testing and training for health workers.

The grant will be used to strengthen the health sector, enhance infection prevention and control, and improve regional coordination by the East African Community (EAC) and the Intergovernmental Authority Development (IGAD) to prevent cross-border transmissions.

Country Manager for African Development Bank in Rwanda, Martha Phiri, said: “The main purpose of this grant is to reduce the incidence of Coronavirus and other deaths in East Africa and other pandemics.”

The EAC Secretariat will receive $ 8.79 million in tranches, where it will initially receive $ 8.16 million and $ 629,582 while $ 729,581 will go to IGAD.

Kenya is the most infected country in the EAC, where 7,886 people have been infected with Coronavirus, and 160 deaths; 1,105 have been infected in Rwanda and 3 deaths; Uganda has 939, Burundi has 191, Tanzania has 509, and South Sudan has 2021, and 38 deaths.

The gesture was in appreciation of their outstanding achievements last year when the village leaders around Nyungwe Forest played a critical role in quelling attacks by armed groups attempting to destabilize Rwanda.

In the recent past, armed groups from neighboring countries bordering the forest made several attempts to kill innocent lives and destroy their properties. However, security forces in collaboration with local leaders and local communities defeated them.

On Thursday, July 2, RDF officers handed over the bicycles to the village leaders in Nyaruguru, Karongi, Nyamasheke and Rusizi districts, thanking them for their contribution to the security of their communities.

Nyacyondo Village leader in Ruheru Sector, Nubahimana Emmanuel, said the bicycles they were given is a motivation, and they will continue their close collaboration with security organs to protect the country.

On the outskirts of Nyungwe Forest, attacks have been carried out by militants in recent years, with the Rwandan army fight them and retreating to Burundi.

On the night of July 1, 2018, at around 23:30, armed insurgents attacked Nyaruguru District, Nyabimata Sector, stole items from the community, including animals and food, and shot in air to scare away residents from pursuing them.

Apart from that, a series of sporadic attacks by armed groups in Nyaruguru District, in Nyabimata sector that targeted civilians and their properties were also thwarted.
A similar incident occurred last week on June 27, when unidentified armed men attacked, intending to harm the residents of the Yanza Model Village, just one kilometer away from the Burundi border.

Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation wrote to Burundi, “requesting an explanation for the attack on unidentified armed men from Burundi, and urging the Burundi government to take all possible measures to ensure those involved in the crimes and fled to Burundi, to immediately taken to justice, or sent to Rwanda to be held accountable. ”
Burundi has not responded.