Author: IGIHE

Rwanda’s fastest-growing service provider of Voice, Data, and Mobile Financial services has today partnered with online money transfer service WorldRemit to enable Airtel Money customers to receive remittances instantly to their Airtel Money wallets from World Remit users across the globe. Top countries include but not limited to: The United States, Canada, Belgium, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, and Germany.

With this partnership, World Remit customers across the world now have the option of visiting the World Remit website, choosing Airtel Money as their preference, and follow the prompts. Commenting on the launch, Amit Chawla, Airtel Rwanda Managing Director said:

“We are excited about this partnership with World Remit as it allows our customers to receive money from their friends and family across the world at their comfort. This contributes to our drive to offer our customers the convenience of using their Airtel Money wallets to carry out their day to day activities. WorldRemit makes it easy to send money to Airtel Money accounts in Rwanda from more than 50 countries around the world. Just download the app or create your free account to start transferring money to family and friends in Rwanda today.”

“We are delighted to partner with Airtel Money to ensure that Rwandans can have access to financial support from their loved ones abroad. This is more important than ever with lockdown measures in place. This partnership allows us to give customers even more remittance options whilst continuing to provide a convenient, safe, and secure service.” said Carine Umurerwa Country Manager, Rwanda, WorldRemit.

Airtel Money enables users to perform local and international money transfers, make utility payments, save money in their mobile wallets, purchase airtime, and access a range of mobile financial products.

WorldRemit sends more money transfers to Mobile Money accounts than any other provider. Over half of WorldRemit’s money transfers to Africa are now received on Mobile Money accounts

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Eastern region Police spokesperson said the maize was recovered from two suspected thieves; Emmanuel Nsanzimana, 28 and Innocent Fasasi, 30.

The two suspects were working for Sibomana as security guards at the store.

“Nsanzimana and Fasasi were both guards at the store, they stole the maize at different occasions and would hide it in the nearest homes,” said CIP Twizeyimana.

“Local residents realised that the two guards were stealthily taking the maize from the stores and informed the Police in Rilima. The victim wasn’t aware,” he further explained.

“With the help of the residents, Police arrested the two guards and recovered the maize.
We commend the residents for the ownership… not just being bystanders as the theft was going on but to fight and prevent it.”

The recovered maize was handed over to the owner.

Sibomana lauded the Police’s quick response to recover his goods and commended the residents’ responsiveness.

“I live in Kigali but I have my stores in Rilima. I wouldn’t have known anything had it not been the ownership of my neighbors in Rilima and I am thankful for that spirit of neighborhood watch,” said Sibomana.

Theft, under article 166 of the penal code, is punishable with an imprisonment of between one and two years, a fine of between Rwf1 million and Rwf2 million, a community service of not more than six months or one of these penalties.

Winners were nominated among the 15 finalists who participated in the “Impact Reimagined”; a bi-annual competition that helps to identify, to nurture and to invest in profit driven businesses whose products and services intend to deliver positive social impact.

Aqua Safi Ltd emerged the overall winner walked away with cash prizes worth Rwf2million for the first prize, while Ineza Bamboo Weaving became first runner-up and won Rwf1.5million for the second prize; Safe Santa Ltd, the second runner-up received Rwf1million for the third prize.

Eric Safari, the founder of Aqua Safi Ltd emerged as the best for inventing technology that will be used to conserve fish ecosystem by being able to detect the amount of toxic substance in water.

Safari said the technology uses a device that is inserted in the lakes to detect changes and in fish breeding environment and thus ultimately help to reduce the loss in fish productivity in the country.

“Aqua Safi has a device that has a real time dashboard. When you put it in a fish farm, it sends a short message (SMS) when the water threatens to turn acidic the farmer can take mitigation measures,” Safari said.

The device has the capacity to alert the fish farmer of any problem within the fish habitat and they have experimented with fish farmers in Bugesera and Nyanza districts, whose feedback has been positive.

Ineza Bamboo Weaving by Francine Iradukunda, will add value to bamboo trees that will be turned into cost effective but durable furniture.

Pierre Niyonzima of Safe Santa Ltd invented a device that can help detect LPG gas levels and prevent potential explosion.

The device with a real time dashboard sits on the gas cylinder and turns off any tank that leaks automatically and sends a SMS alert.

The Kigali city Vice Mayor in Charge of Socio-Economic Affairs, Nadine Gatsinzi Umutoni said that all these innovative inventions are a good opportunity for youth to build a better future for their country.

Through the 1000 Alternatives, the three winners are expected to be sponsored to take trips to Finland and Israel to meet and share ideas with like-minded startups.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) is the German government’s central scientific institution in the field of biomedicine. It is one of the most influential bodies in Germany’s public health.

The report of the institute informs the Federal Government on the decision to take in regard of incoming travelers from Rwanda.

For travelers entering the Federal Republic of Germany that have been in a risk area at any time within the last 14 days prior to entry are obliged to be quarantined by the responsible federal states.

According to the Institute, the classification as a risk area is based on joint analysis and the decision by the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

The suspect, Francois Kanyeshyamba, 43, was arrested on Wednesday in possession of 2kgs of Antelope meat and its skin. It was killed in Gabiro gazetted forest.

Kanyeshyamba admitted to series of poaching activities in the protected forest.

The Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana said that the suspect was arrested following reliable information about poaching, which helped the Police to track the suspect.

“Following the received information on poaching activities in Gabiro forest, Police prepared an operation and arrested Kanyeshyamba red-handed selling the Antelope meat in Rwimbogo Sector, Rwikinira Cell,” CIP Twizeyimana said.

The spokesperson thanked people, who tipped off the police on the illegal hunting activities and called for a strong partnership to fight the acts.

“We call upon residents living near protected national reserves to desist from collaborating environmental degradation activities, including poaching, and collaborate with law enforcers to protect these animals,” he urged.

The article 58 of Law n°48/2018 of 13/08/2018 on environment states: “Any person, who hunts, sells, injures or kills a protected animal species and products thereof, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five (5) years and not more than seven (7) years and a fine not less than Rwf5 million and not more than Rwf7 million.

The warning comes in the wake of cases of illegal mining, farming and cutting of trees in Gishwati-Mukura National Park at a time when the government is restoring the forest.

On Tuesday, Police arrested 25 people, who were found in illegal mining activities in Gishwati-Mukura National Park. During the same operation conducted in partnership with local leaders, 13 cows were also found being grazed in the park.

The Mayor of Ngororero, Godfrey Ndayambaje and the District Police Commander (DPC) Superintendent of Police (SP) Alphonse Mayinga, spearheaded the operation which was conducted in the cells of Rutagara and Bugarura in Muhanda Sector.

Mayor Ndayambaje cautioned residents against any acts that degrade the national park.
“This forest is protected from mining, cutting of trees and farming activities. These acts contribute to environment degradation, which in one way or another has an effect on people’s health and the ecosystem, which we can’t allow,” said Ndayambaje.

He appealed to communities residing near the forestry reserves to take the lead to conserve them and report those who encroach on them.

The DPC, SP Mayinga warned of increased operations against such environmental degradation activities and appealed to the residents to report people, who cut trees, rear cattle and extract minerals in the protected national reserve park.
Rwanda suspended mining activities in Gishwati to first restore a nearly extinct forest.

Seven of the suspects were recently caught for violating the curfew and directed to drive their vehicles to the parking lot in Remera, but they disregarded the orders and instead decided to speed off.

Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera, who warned against “disrespecting Police officers and undermining Police orders,” said the escapees were located and arrested separately.

Three other suspects, including a cab driver, were arrested on Tuesday night after they lied to the Police in Nyarugunga that they were rushing to Nyamirambo to pick an expecting mother.

The cab driver identified as Jérémie Munyaneza had just picked a client from Special Economic Zone taking him to Nyamirambo when they were stopped at a Police roadblock in Nyarugunga at about 10 PM.

“Since the client was headed to Nyamirambo, I decided to lie to the Police that we were going to pick his wife, who was in labour so as to evade the arrest,” Munyaneza explained.

He added: “We were let go but we realized that we were being trailed by the Police. We hatched a plan; my client [François Nshimiyumukiza] called his neighbor, a woman, and convinced her to act as his wife and in labour.”

The would-be wife and expecting mother, however, decided to tell the truth after she was questioned.

“Nshimiyumukiza called and asked me to act as his expecting spouse; I didn’t know what he was up to. When Police stopped us, I first stuck to the plan but I later realized that what I was doing was not right, I decided to tell the truth,” Delphine Mukanirenganya said.

Meanwhile, another suspect is a driver at Kibuye hospital in Karongi District identified as Eric Nkundimana. Nkundimana had just dropped a nurse at the National Reference Laboratory in Kigali when he started transporting people during curfew hours.

He was also arrested in Nyamirambo at about 10:30 pm with three people on board, whom he was taking to their respective homes.

CP Kabera warned people, who misuse their privileges to undermine government directives.

“Whatever you do, use your position in the right way and the vehicle for the intended purpose, contrary to that you will be arrested,” CP Kabera warned.
He further cautioned people, who violate the curfew and decide to lie or subvert Police orders.

“First and foremost, we expect everyone to be home by 9 PM; beyond that and with no valid reason, you will be arrested for violating the curfew. However, when you are stopped, lying or subverting Police orders is also an offence and you will be held accountable,” CP Kabera warned.