A statement from BNR reassures customers of all financial institutions that there is no need to panic as banks, SACCOs and MFIs will continue to provide normal services but with a little change in working hours as they will open from 8:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.
In a statement issued by BNR over the weekend, customers are advised to embrace the use of digital currencies since all banks and telecommunications companies have removed all-digital transaction costs to make it easier for the public to use the system,” it said.
It also states that a person who will be paid by check will not be allowed to withdraw money from the cashier but will be credited to his or her account.
“While the check belongs to the Bank’s customer and he uses it to withdraw it from his account, the amount of cash on hand at the cashier cannot exceed one million per day,” the statement reads in part.
BNR recently advised banks to revise loan agreements with customers, to make it easier for borrowers to pay in extended installments to enable mitigation of coronavirus effects.
The government has however calmed the citizens, assuring them of continued transporting and delivery of food items to the market places.
The government has also established price ceiling for the basic commodities and has dispatched market inspectors who go around different outlets, identifying traders who have raised prices and impose penalties on them.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Hakuziyaremye Soraya, has said that price ceilings have been set for basic goods to protect consumer rights.
“The reason for the introduction of price ceiling for basic products is to protect the consumer today so that traders do not rip them of their money,” she said.
Hakuziyaremye also explained that even buyers have been subjected to rationed buying, setting a limit on the number of items they can buy to avoid shortage of goods on the market which could lead to higher prices.
Traders have been asked not to sell more than five kilograms of food items to a single buyer at ago.
The Minister made it clear that despite the closure of border and stopping movements within the county, transportation of foods and other goods, whether imported or internal delivery, continues as usual.
The Private Sector Federation (PSF) has assured the public that there is enough food and that there should not be any worries that the country will run into food and other commodity shortages.
In Kigali City markets, traders are now required to display price tags for all their products so that no buyer will be cheated in the circumstances.
On March 16, the Ministry of Trade and Industry [MINICOM] warned against price hikes with strong punitive measures against those caught in the eye of price dishonesty.
So far, 54 business people have been arrested and slapped with fines amounting to Rwf 4,380,000 in total on account of overcharging.
Some traders that had started hoarding [storing goods in anticipation of prices increase] have also been advised to stop the practice. MINICOM inspectors have taken stock of the major warehouses to establish stock movements and ensure that no hoarding whatsoever is exercised.
MINICOM has already issued a standardized ration-price list, outlining price ceiling for basic commodities, and rations buyers are supposed to take regardless of their economic status.
Food markets are some of the few places that are not closed to help people do daily shopping and enable the vendors earn a living. IGIHE toured various markets including Kimironko and found that the business was going on well and fixed prices were displayed.
Rwandans are required to co-operate to enable the country sail through these hard times as one united people.
The Minister made the remarks in an interview with the media during which he emphasized new measures taken to control coronavirus that include; social distancing-people staying at their homes, suspension of travel between districts, closure of borders, suspension of motor-cycle taxis and closure of non-essential business activities.
When the Minister was asked what the government intends to do to support people who will not be able to support themselves as their sources of livelihoods have closed, he noted that there are social protection safety-nets through which such families can be supported.
“I think the local authorities are accustomed to this. If there is a vulnerable family, we have ways of supporting them.”
He said the local authorities are doing their best but all this goes hand in hand with compliance with the guidelines to protect Rwandans from the epidemic.
The National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG) has said during the 26th commemoration, instead of getting people together, commemoration testimonies and talk shows will be delivered through the media.
Group visits to Kigali Genocide Memorial and other commemoration sites have also been discouraged.
CNLG Executive Secretary Dr. Bizimana Jean Damascène has told the media that special discussions highlighting how specific genocide preparations were executed on particular dates will be communicated.
“We will use the media in all forms, television, radio, social media so that the message is delivered in every way possible.”
“Let’s say on the 11th, we can do a special media talk show through which we explain the history of the April 11, the events in Nyanza Kicukiro and other places where the Tutsis were killed on that date so that we can go on and on about the history as it happened so that people would feel they are in the commemoration season.”
Seven cases tested positive and on treatment in an isolated center.
“The patients are steadily recovering and they are under effective monitoring. Some of them no longer show signs and symptoms of coronavirus. We are following them up, after some few days we will do a second test to establish their status and those that will have cleared of the virus will be discharged,” said Dr. Nyamusore.
The seven are undergoing treatment in Kanyinya health centre in Nyarugenge district. At different health facilities, rooms have been designated for the purpose of receiving COVID-19 patients; 50 in Kanyinya, 25 in Rwanda Military Hospital, 120 in Kabgayi Hospital and 2 in 80 other facilities countrywide.
Eight people have tested positive of coronavirus and have been isolated, undergoing treatment.
Dr. Jean Baptiste Mazarati, Head of Department of Biomedical Services at the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) has said that when a person is suspected of having the virus, he or she is taken to a nearby hospital and placed in a designated ward, samples drawn and tested from the national laboratory.
He told the media that the test results are released after four to five hours.
”Since the outbreak of coronavirus in China, we have tested 1,200 people, and now conducting between 20 to 30 tests every day from different hospitals in the country.”
Dr. José Nyamusore, RBC Head of Epidemic Surveillance and Response, said the seven cases who were confirmed to be infected are responding well to treatment.
“They are all responding to treatment and no one is in critical condition. At times you call them and find they are doing sports. In a few days, they can be re-tested and see how the results are; if the viruses are gone they can go back to their families.”
He said people should continue to avoid shaking hands and observe hygienic practices.
The epidemic has already killed more than 7,000 people, and more than 180,000 have been infected worldwide.
On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, the Nyarugenge High Court ruled that Nkamiro Zaina, Umulisa Gisèle, Kamanzi Cyiza Cardinal, Umuhoza Konny, Umuhoza Rosine, Umutoni Hadidja and Uwimana Zainabu were guilty of attempted murder as charged.
The seven suspects were involved in a premeditated plot to murder Mukamana Sandrine but their heinous act was foiled.
Their trial of the case began in March 5, 2020. The defendants pleaded guilty of assaulting Mukamana but pleaded not guilty on charges of attempted murder. The sentence was passed in the defendants and their lawyers’ absence.
The report shows arrears for the fiscal year 2019/2020 and preceding years with creditors from Nyarugenge District topping the list, at Rwf 3.8 billion, followed by Kicukiro with Rwf 1.1 billion.
Others are Gicumbi District, Rwf760 million, Muhanga Rwf407 million, Gasabo Rwf555 million, Burera Rwf293 million, Gakenke Rwf228 million, Ngorerero Rwf190 million and Nyanza Rwf157 million.
The report comes after Parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, called on the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning to explain where the debt was due, showing that Rwf 31 billion, or 97% of the total arrears are owed by state-owned enterprises and Rwf2.7 billion by local governments.
Edda Mukabagwiza, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament had earlier observed that the issue of arrears had been discussed for some time, so they needed to hear firm measures taken.
“There are people who have not been paid of their debts since 2013, and we wonder why it takes so long to pay off,” she asked.
Ningabire Yves Bernard, Director General of Planning at MINALOC, told the media that government agencies such as REG, WASAC, RTDA are the ones that have the most debt to the public due to their high-cost projects.
In December 2018, the Government indicated that it was in the process of repaying more than Rwf30 billion in domestic debt.
Ningabire explains that the government has tried to clear the arrears, with Rwf 15 billion left but that it keeps on accumulating due to expansion works in the construction of infrastructures.
“I know that Rwf 30 billion is cumulative, carried forward from 2018 but we are paying, at the same time signing other relocation agreements. For example, since then, local authorities have paid Rwf 5.9 billion while the government has released about Rwf10 billion.”
The money released was paid to about 8,417 residents.
Ningabire explained that some late payments are due to lack of proper documents by claimants such as IDs, land titles or disagreements between spouses, among other factor.
The President expressed his support for the WHO program in a vignette at his Twitter wall, on March 15, 2020.
President Kagame is one of the heads of state who have joined the Safe Hands program.
“Handwashing is one of the safest ways to prevent Coronavirus. Using soap and water, wash both hands for between 40 and 60 seconds. Remember to wash in front, back and between fingers. Remove the soap with water. Dry your hands with a special cloth, and use it to close the water,” the president advises in the footage.
On 11th March 2020, the WHO declared coronavirus as a global pandemic due to its rapid spread in many countries around the world in a short time.
Doctors point out that although coronavirus is a serious disease, it can be easily prevented, by hand washing and stopping shaking hands.
On March 13, 2020, WHO launched its #SafeHands Challenge through its Twitter page to promote cleanliness through proper hand washing in the fight against Coronavirus.
In the footage, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appears to wash his hands with clean water and soap and urges other officials to take pictures and share them with his followers for attention.
“There are a lot of steps you can take to prevent coronavirus, one of which is regular care for hand hygiene, using water and soap or alcohol intended for you,” he said.
After viewing the message, Dr. Tedros thanked President Kagame in Kinyarwanda saying, “Murakoze cyane!” “Thank you very much”.
He said via Twitter: “Thank you, brother, for agreeing to join the #SafeHands challenge! We are pleased with your help, efforts, and management in the fight against # COVID-19! ”
Five Coronavirus cases have already been reported in Rwanda, the Ministry of Health said.
One of the resolutions was to spend at least two weeks preventing its spread, with churches closed, prayers at home, weddings suspended and schools stay closed.
Coronavirus has already been reported in 155 countries, 161,000 infections and about 6,000 deaths.
![The National Bank of Rwanda [BNR] has encouraged Rwandans to make better use of digital currency in making transactions](https://en.igihe.com/IMG/jpg/arton131967-252ba.jpg)
