Author: Elina Jonas Ruzindaza

This was agreed on after the Rwandan government signed an agreement with RwandAir and other partners to start these weekly flights.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta, told the media that the program aims to assist all Rwandans abroad with the desire to return to their homeland, especially students who may be facing difficulties returning having concluded their studies.

“This is to help Rwandans, especially students who want to return, during their summer holidays and have difficulties finding a place to stay in after school,” he said.

RwandAir has embarked on a cargo journey in different destinations including Brussels; it is in that same context that Minister Biruta explained that these will be returning Rwandan citizens.

Rwandan, especially those living in the United State of America, have been advised to use KLM, Delta, or American Airlines with destination to Brussels where RwandAir will be.

Rwanda’s ambassador to the United States, Matilde Mukantabana, said there are at least 495 students in the country and 16 other non-students who expressed the will to return to Rwanda.

Mukantabana said there may be other Rwandans who may hear of this opportunity and make it productive.

The aid is not only for Rwandans living in the United States but also for countries with airlines such as Canada and Europe who can buy tickets to travel to Belgium where they will meet with RwandAir to take them to Rwanda.

Anyone who arrives in the country will be immediately placed in 14-day quarantine in a place prepared by the government.

RPPA noted that the Coronavirus pandemic affected the way public procurement procedures, requiring suppliers to make it easier for bidders when submitting documents from government agencies.

A statement issued by the agency on April 21, 2020, said that suppliers should make it easier for bidders on certain documents, where they would have to show but have not yet received it and indicated that they have applied for it.

“Where certain documents are required, including those provided by financial institutions or government agencies, bidders should be facilitated on those documents, where necessary and provide evidence that they have applied online,” it said.

RPPA also stated that to comply with the competition rules, tenders are required to avoid discrepancies in the tenders they provide.

For activities that have been postponed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the successful bidder and the supplier are required to review the steps they take to avoid losses from the delay. Complainants are also required to comply with the provisions of Article 117 of the Public Procurement Law.

The article states that in the event of a temporary suspension, the successful bidder must take the necessary steps to protect and ensure the safety of the equipment and prevent it from being damaged at his or her own expense.

Article 116 stipulates that the suspension of activities must not exceed 30 consecutive days; when more than the specified dates, the market contract is immediately terminated without dispute.

However, if the procurement authority decides to suspend the work for more than 30 days, both parties agree on measures to be taken to avoid losses resulting from the suspension.

The period of suspension shall be extended to the termination of the work provided for in the contract as long as the completion of the work does not coincide with the time of the decision to suspend the work.

Before the lockdown of activities and unnecessary travel due to Coronavirus, RPPA was in the process of training new and aspiring entrepreneurs, by competing in public procurement through the ‘Light e-procurement’ website.

Procurement bidders are required to seek documents early to avoid problems at the last minute.

In a message released by the agency on Wednesday, it was said there would be heavy rains in the next ten days across the country.

“The expected rainfall is between 90 and 210 millimeters. The maximum rainfall is between 180 and 210 millimeters in the Northern Province of the Western Province, in the City of Kigali, in the Southern Province as in Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru districts, and parts of the Eastern Province such as Rwamagana, Ngoma and Bugesera districts. The minimum rainfall is between 90 and 120 millimeters in the Eastern Province,” reads the statement.

Meteo Rwanda says that in the second half of the month, specifically between the 11th and the 20th, most of the country received more rainfall than normal on those dates over the years.

Heavy rainfall was measured at the Gicumbi scale in Gicumbi District and measured at 230.1 mm. The average rainfall is measured at Rusizi, measuring 40.6 mm. It is during this time of April that the rainfall is between 33.9 and 78. millimeters. The Northern and Eastern Provinces received the most rainfall.

According to Meteo Rwanda, based on the indicators of the increase in rainfall in the third quarter of April 2020, farmers are encouraged to continue farming and clean water pipes, where they find it suitable and kill it so that water can find a way without damaging it, advising the agricultural authorities.

Landslides are expected to continue to rise in the third quarter of April as the rains continue to fall these days.

Residents are urged to be more vigilant, as heavy rains on Tuesday night claimed the lives of 12 people, damaging a great number of properties as well.

The decision was announced on Tuesday that the CHOGM meeting would be adjourned to a later date, as the Coronavirus pandemic continues to hit the Earth.

Minister Biruta told the RBA that given the current situation around the world, Rwanda found it best to postpone the meeting.

“We consulted with the Commonwealth Secretary and agreed that it was the right thing to do. Other countries were notified first, and then we issued a postponement notice so that all stakeholders could be informed straight away,” he said.

He added that Rwanda together with the Commonwealth Secretariat, agreed on a new date, which will be ratified after consulting the 54 member states.

He noted that there were no significant losses that would result over the postponement of the summit.

“It’s a very big meeting that was to be attended by between 5,000 and 7,000 people. It’s such a loss when we look at it in general, but there is no specific loss related to that meeting in particular, it’s an economic loss because it has been devastated in general by this epidemic,” he said.

“While there were some activities that had already started in terms of hosting this meeting such as infrastructure, there were roads that had started to be rehabilitated, places where the meetings would take place, there are some work that had to be done for spacious or organized spaces,” said Minister Biruta

The 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government [CHOGM] was to provide benefits to various parties in the field of tourism and other activities related to the reception of the conference.

According to RCB Director Nelly Mukazayire, last month, 147 meetings were planned this year, which were to bring Rwanda $88 Million, which is about Rwf83 Billion.
“As it turns out, the epidemic has changed a lot of things, and in our case, there have been about 20 meetings that have been adjourned, which have not been postponed but have been relocated, ” she said.

“The meeting was expected to bring in eight million dollars, which is about 10% more than the target we had this year.

CHOGM’s major events are expected to take place at the Kigali Convention Center and Intare Conference Arena in Rusororo, but other meetings will be held at the Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village known as Camp Kigali, Kigali Serena Hotel and Ubumwe Grande Hotel.

The meeting, to be held in June 2020, between June 22-27, was expected to sign a $ 700 million trade agreement. These include construction, sports, and recreation.

It was only in April 2018 that it was decided that Rwanda would host the summit after nine years of membership. It will be the first of its kind in a non-British colonial country.

The COVID19 intervention team is tasked with tracing individuals that had contact with people diagnosed with coronavirus, among other support activities. They began work on March 14 when patient zero was identified in Rwanda.

“I wanted to thank you, that’s why I am here. I know what you do requires selfless commitment. All of you, are serving selflessly, even with the knowledge that the work you are doing could have consequences on your health. You agreed to do this thinking of other Rwandans and the country. I can’t thank you enough,” the president considered.

Every one of the team members at the coronavirus intervention center has been assigned to trace members of the public that are known or suspected to have come into contact with patients diagnosed with coronavirus. The identified individuals are either quarantined or, if found with symptoms, are immediately put on treatment.

President Kagame thanked the group for their unwavering efforts and dedication.
He wished them a happy Easter, telling them that there would be a real-time to celebrate it when all this is over.

Recipients of the food donations have expressed appreciation over the intervention saying that since their work stopped due to lockdown as a measure towards preventing the spread of coronavirus, their feeding patterns have fundamentally changes as they have only been cooking once in a while.

One of the recipients said: “I was earning Rwf1000 from providing labor at a traditional brewing place. But when the coronavirus epidemic hit the country, there were instructions to stop what we were doing. , Feeding became hard. God bless His servants from the EAR whom He used to help us. We thank our government for continued support as well.”

The Shyira Diocese Bishop, Dr. Mugiraneza Mugisha Samuel, says that these activities are aimed at strengthening the love of God among His people.

“We have offered eight tons of food including rice, maize flour, beans and soap to 360 families, affected by the effects of COVID-19 lockdown. They are those who no longer work to make a living. You can’t love God without loving people; you can’t eat while your neighbor is hungry and you claim to love God. We will continue to work with our country to take care of the victims of these difficult times.”

The Governor of the Northern Province, Gatabazi Jean Marie Vianney, urges the people to abide by the Coronavirus prevention guidelines as they also look for feeding solutions from among themselves other than waiting for external support.

“In times of COVID-19 lockdown, we urge the public to continue complying with the regulations. Farmers, especially, should expend more efforts in growing food to counter famine and hunger. Otherwise, religious and other leaders are requested to continue helping communities,” he said.

In Rwanda, 126 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus, 25 of whom have recovered and discharged.

Support to the severely affected households began after President Paul Kagame reassured Rwandans on March 27, 2020, urging them to continue with adhering to the guidelines laid down to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

On March 28, 2020, the government launched a nationwide program to provide basic food supplies. It is an activity that involves government, private sector, religious and non-government organizations, among others.

The politicians buried at the Genocide Memorial in Rebero, Kigali City, were mostly members of the Revolutionary Movement for Development-MRND and other parties, that were opposed to the despotic rule of Juvenal Habyarimana. They were killed on April 7, 1994, when the genocide began.

They include; Joseph Kavaruganda, Landouard Ndasingwa, Kabageni Venantie, Charles Kayiranga, Jean de la Croix Rutaremara, Augustin Rwayitare, Aloys Niyoyita, and others.

{{Some of these groups of politicians}}

{{Joseph Kavaruganda}} was the President of the Constitutional Court. He fought against the ideology of Genocide until his assassination.

Kavaruganda was in charge of administering the oath of office of the head of state. He was assassinated on April 7.

{{Landouard Ndasingwa}} was the leader of the PL party. Also known as Lando, his wife, and two children were killed on April 7, 1994, in Remera by the president’s bodyguards.

{{André Kameya}} was a member of the PL and a journalist. He was killed in June 1994. His wife and child were killed in April 1994. He worked in ORINFOR and was the information officer in the Ministry of Justice. He was killed after launching a newspaper called Rwanda Rushya (New Rwanda).

{{Frederic Nzamurambaho}} was the President of PSD Party and the Minister of Agriculture. On April 7, 94, he was shot dead in front of his family by the president’s bodyguards.

{{Felicien Ngango}} was the Vice President of the PSD. He was killed for supporting the unity of Rwandans based on ethnic hatred.

{{Faustin Rucogoza}} was the Minister of Information from the MDR party. He and his wife were killed on April 7, 1994. In 1993 he dared to point out that RTLM was sowing hatred and to warn it, regardless of whether it belonged to the current regime.

{{Venantie Kabageni}} was in the PL party. She was assassinated at the beginning of the Genocide because she was known to oppose the functioning of the Habyarimana regime.

{{Augustin Rwayitare}} was a member of the PL Party. He was killed in the Genocide because of his intolerance of the government that sowed hatred.

{{Jean de La Croix Rutaremara}} was a politician who opposed Habyarimana’s ideas of inciting hatred and division.

{{Jean Baptiste Mushimiyimana}} was a member of the PSD. He was killed for opposing Habyarimana’s government.

{{Charles Kayiranga}} was a PL politician who was killed in the Genocide for promoting democratic governance.

{{Aloys Niyoyita}} was a PL politician. Like others who opposed Habyarimana’s regime, it resulted in his assassination.

Many of the killed politicians belonged to the PL party, which was said to belong to the Tutsi. What’s more, they opposed the one who ruled it, Mugenzi Justin, who had already been immersed in the MRND’s ideology, and opted to do part of the PL-POWER.

In addition to these politicians, Agathe Uwilingiyimana, the former Prime Minister, is buried in the Heroes’ Lodge in Remera. This one is also remembered on this date.

Northern Province Police Spokesperson, CIP Alexis Rugigana said the drugs were seized and destroyed from illegal vendors in Bungwe, Kivuye, Rusarabuye, Gatebe, Ruhende and Rwerere sectors of Burera district, working on information provided by the community and local authorities.

“These contraband are smuggled in from Uganda, brought by Rwandan youth known as abarembetsi at night through the above-mentioned sectors.”

CIP Rugigana said that as a result of mobilization by Rwanda National Police, the community and local authorities played a key role in causing the drugs to be seized.

“Village and cell leaders and the community are the ones who helped us to seize the drugs. They are aware of the methods smugglers use to sneak them into the country and the hours they bring them. We worked on such information to mount an operation through which we seized them,” he said.

He said that the smugglers are still at large.

Dr. Eugenie Uwimana, a psychiatrist at Butaro Hospital where the drugs were destroyed, has explained that drugs have far-reaching negative effects on the health of the users, the economy and dent development in general.

“A person who uses drugs cripples his/her brain capacities, fails in making proper judgment and prone to committing crime without thinking about it, causing physical distress and death,” he warned.

All four types of drugs were valued at Rwandan francs.