The incident took place yesterday around 1 pm when six people entered the mining quarry searching for a colleague whom they suspected went missing inside.
Four of them died immediately of asphyxia while two others survived and narrated the ordeal.
The four bodies have been retrieved from the mining site but it has not yet been established whether the colleague was inside the quarry.
Police spokesperson in Western Province, CIP Emmanuel Kayigi has cautioned residents against illegal mining.
“The incident took place in a Wolfram mining site which the district had closed. Six people entered to search for a missing colleague and experienced oxygen deprivation. Four died while two others who survived are admitted at Kabaya Hospital,” he said.
Recently, another mining site in the Mwulire sector, Rwamagana district collapsed and killed 14 people including 7 men and 7 women.
At the closing ceremony of the medical practice at RMH, Brig-Gen Ephrem Rurangwa, the RDF Chief of logistics who presided over the event on behalf of Rwanda Defence Force Chief of Defence Staff noted that the Medical Readiness Exercise was an opportunity to share experience that shall cement the existing bilateral cooperation between the Defence Forces of the United States and Rwanda.
“What you have been doing here is a process that not only improves the experience of our medical military doctors but it also fits into the general framework of Exercise Shared Accord. This is also an opportunity to cement the existing partnership between our Defence Forces,” he said.
Reinforcing the existing partnership between Rwanda and the United States was also echoed through the closing remarks by the acting Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Rwanda Mr. Tony Pate.
He underscored that the medical exercise conducted by the military medical professionals strengthened the strong partnership between the Government of Rwanda, the US, and Partners.
“Medical exercise such as this one plays an essential role in maintaining the health and mentality of the soldiers that ensures regional security”, he said.
The Exercise Shared Accord 19 Co-Director, Brig-Gen Lapthe Flora said that the US Army Africa value working with Rwandan Professionals.
“We value every opportunity to train and work with Rwandan Medical Professionals”, he said.
For the last two weeks, Medical Professionals of the Two Defence Forces have been working jointly at RMH departments of orthopedics, ICU (Intensive Care Unit), obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine and dental.
The warning follows separate operations in the recent past where illegal distilleries have been destroyed in Rwamagana, and owners arrested.
The latest case involves one Jean Baptiste Bagaragaza, a resident of Rubona Sector in Rwamagana, who was arrested Wednesday with over 400 liters of the illicit substances known in the area as ibikwangari.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said that Bagaragaza was reported by his wife, who had tried in vain to advise him against the unlawful act.
“Bagaragaza has been distilling illicit substances for a while, and his wife tried to advise him not to start an illegal distillery at their home and using harmful raw materials to make ibikwangali, but he refused. This prompted the wife to bring the matter to Police attention,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
“Indeed when Police officers reached there, they recovered over 400 liters of ibikwangari, which Bagaragaza had already distilled. He was immediately taken into custody,” he added
The seized illicit substances were publicly disposed of while the suspect was fined Rwf100, 000.
Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) instructions provided a penalty of between Rwf50, 000 and Rwf500, 000 to anyone caught distilling or selling illicit brew.
RSB specifies that “only food-grade processing aids recognized as safe for human consumption shall be used during the manufacture.”
Other standard requirements include labeling as a prerequisite; the name of the products, physical and postal address of the manufacturer; net contents in milliliters or liters; ethyl alcohol content; date of manufacture and expiry date; storage instruction; statutory warnings; and list of ingredients in descending order.
CIP Twizeyimana said that such illicit substances are the source of insecurity, and urged residents to maintain the community policing spirit of sharing information on anyone distilling or selling such harmful drinks.
The concert is scheduled for 31st August 2019 in Basak Saray Bådehavnsgade 57, 2450 København SV building in Denmark.
Sentore was invited through Rwanda’s embassy in the Nordics including Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Norway in collaboration with the Rwandan community in Denmark.
The artiste will depart from Rwanda next week heading to Denmark where the concert will take place.
Sentore held the last impressive concert dubbed ‘Inganzo Yaratabaye’ on 5th July 2019 in Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village and left great excitement among concert-goers.
He has previously released a song dubbed ‘Imbere ni heza’ loosely translated as ‘the future is bright’ inspiring people to be optimistic for the future endeavors. The song was produced by Made Beats.
Speaking at a State Banquet hosted in their honor by President Geingob and First Lady Geingos, President Kagame reiterated that Rwanda and Namibia share a lot in their history and therefore have to reinforce the cooperation.
“Struggle and sacrifice mark the history of both Namibia and Rwanda. Reclaiming our sovereignty and dignity came at a very high price. It is therefore natural for us to work to deepen the bilateral relations between our two countries, in terms of trade, investment, and development. Namibia and Rwanda will be cooperating much more closely, in a variety of ways going forward” he said.
Addressing members of the press alongside President Geingob, President Kagame emphasized that Rwanda’s and Africa’s development efforts are not meant to impress anyone but to serve their people’s needs.
“ (…) it originates from stereotypes and prejudices out there. It’s as if Africans can’t do fine, they must be doing things that must be validated by others, somewhere. We don’t need any validation, we want to do things that benefit us, that put us in a place where we want to be” Kagame added.
Also during the visit to Namibia, First Lady Mrs Jeannette Kagame, First Ladies Jeannette Kagame and Monica Geingos, attended the Be Free Nation Building Public Lecture, at the Nampower Convention Centre, where they joined youth, members of government, leaders of the academia, among other stakeholders under the theme “Rebuilding the Identity of a Post-Conflict Society’.
Namibia and Rwanda enjoy bilateral cooperation in the areas of security. The two countries’ Police institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding on November 2015.
The efforts were unveiled yesterday following the visit of Western Province Governor, Alphonse Munyantwali and his delegation to Bukavu in Southern Kivu Province, DRC on the invitation of his Congolese counterpart, Théo Ngwabidje Kasi.
The visit was aimed at strengthening cooperation between both provinces, discussing problems affecting them particularly drawing measures enhancing the smooth flow of movements at shared borders and prevention of Ebola outbreak.
As reads a joint communiqué released yesterday, both parties discussed joint Ebola prevention measures focusing on Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) signed by both countries’ health ministers on 6th June 2019 in Rubavu district.
“ Following the meeting, delegates from both countries reiterated commitment to further smoothen the free movement of people and goods between both provinces and strengthening Ebola prevention measures as explained by the joint technical team,” reads part of the communiqué.
“Both parties agreed on the exchange of information to keep working closely to address problems that might ruin common interests. It particularly concerns sharing lists of people who had direct contact with Ebola contaminated people, Ebola patients and those who died of the outbreak,” adds the statement.
Both parties commended efforts earmarked towards Ebola prevention mechanisms and willingness to strive for common interests between both provinces.
Two patients were recently diagnosed with Ebola in Bukavu.
At least 1,676 people have died from the virus since the current outbreak started in DR Congo in August 2018 translating to more than two-thirds of those who had contracted the virus.
Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) or simply
Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever of humans and other primates caused by Ebola viruses.
Signs and symptoms typically start between two days and three weeks after contracting the virus with a fever, sore throat, muscular pain, and headaches.
Vomiting, diarrhea, and rash usually follow, along with the decreased function of the liver and kidneys.
At this time, some people begin to bleed both internally and externally. The disease has a high risk of death, killing between 25 and 90 percent of those infected, with an average of about 50 percent. This is often due to low blood pressure from fluid loss and typically follows six to sixteen days after symptoms appear.
The virus spreads through direct contact with body fluids, such as blood from infected humans or other animals. Spread may also occur from contact with items recently contaminated with bodily fluids.
Rwanda has not yet recorded any Ebola cases.
Rwanda has in recent past stepped up efforts to prevent Ebola from spreading to the country, including scaling up screenings at all points of entry, surveillance, vaccinating frontline workers including health and immigration officers, public sensitization, among other measures.
The pact has been signed in Luanda, Angola today during a quadripartite summit bringing together the host President of Angola João Lourenço; the President of Uganda, Museveni, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi and President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame.
The signing was also witnessed by President Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo Brazzaville.
It is the second quadripartite summit hosted by Angolan President, João Lourenço aimed at strengthening regional security and cooperation.
Kagame went to Angola after concluding a three-day state visit to Namibia.
After signing the pact, President Kagame thanked the leaders of Angola and DRC for their attitude and brotherly commitment ‘to helping us find solutions between Uganda and Rwanda.’
“We had the opportunity to broadly and extensively discuss many issues as we understood them, that underlined this problem, hence the MoU we have reached today which stipulates the path to follow as we continue to try to resolve this problem,” he said.
Kagame also thanked President Lourenço and Tshisekedi for the work and wise counsel they put into the process of bringing him together with President Museveni to resolve any problems that have been existing between Uganda and Rwanda.
He highlighted that the signed MoU is meant to address existing problems clearly.
“I think it is not very difficult to address many of the problems we have had, it may take a bit of time to understand each other but I think we have come a long way. I see no problem in Rwanda working with President Lourenço, President Tshisekedi and more specifically with President Museveni to address what we have agreed to address,” said Kagame.
“If there are difficulties going on by trade not going on across the border and there are also problems when people can’t cross the border when you have people who get arrested when they cross the border, that affects the movement of people, of goods and trade. We are going to address all these problems. By doing that indiscriminately, we will get where we want to be,” he added.
The meeting is a follow up of the July 12 summit also held in Angola’s Luanda which brought together the heads of state of the four countries.
The July meeting was devoted to regional security, cooperation and strengthening of ties among the four countries. It also reviewed the regional situation and reinforced coordination within the framework of multilateral concertation mechanisms.
In the July summit’s final communiqué, the heads of state stressed the importance of a permanent, frank and open dialogue that should be strengthened both bilaterally between the states of the region and multilaterally, for the consolidation of peace and security as a fundamental premise for economic integration.
It has been two years since Rwanda, Uganda relations worsened.
Uganda has been deporting different Rwandans who accuse it of inhumane imprisonment and torture on false accusations by Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and rebel groups against the Government of Rwanda.
Over 900 Rwandans have been reportedly detained in Uganda.
This saw the Government of Rwanda advising Rwandans not to travel to Uganda for their security until the situation gets back to normal.
Rwanda also accuses Uganda of conspiracy with rebel groups intending to destabilize state security.
The second edition that will bring together 10 bands from across the country is expected to kick off on Friday 23rd August 2019 with two bands.
Held at Kigali Marriott Hotel’s Iriba Bar and Terrace, concerts will be organized every week. The entrance will be free.
Kigali Marriott Hotel introduced the ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition with the aim of boosting the entertainment in Rwanda and promote the visibility of local bands by showcasing their music. It is the first hotel in Rwanda organizing such a competition.
Victoria N. Obiakor, the Director of Sales and Marketing at Kigali Marriot Hotel has told IGIHE that the rationale behind organizing the competition was to promote young talents.
“As Kigali Marriott Hotel we want to play a role in pushing entertainment. There are a lot of young talents out there and we have the opportunity to showcase these talents. We are giving people the chance to sign up, to present their talents in front of our guests by doing the battle of the bands,” he revealed.
Obiakor explained that this year’s edition is definitely unique given that fans will themselves decide the best.
“The winner is by popular vote, the public decides not us. The winner progresses to the next stage until the finale. It is better that people can prove themselves, showcase their talents and let the public decide. Sometimes we do not know what the public wants, by having them select, it is better for us,” he noted.
Obiakor said that the feedback bout the competition has been exciting from the first edition
“We have not received any negative feedback; we have seen encouragement to continue doing this and hopefully setting an example for other people to do this,” he stressed.
One of the bands that competed for the finale in the first edition held in 2018 affirmed to have acquired new skills.
Dior Serge, a member of Neptunez Band which won the 2018 competition said: “We gained repute, increased trust from the public and got new opportunities. It was very beneficial for us.”
The project is to be done on a yearly basis while bands can renew contracts or find new talents.
The Battle of the Bands is basically a competition that Kigali Marriott Hotel hosts in partnership with Made Beats and Royal FM.
The first battle is scheduled Friday, and no entrance fee is charged for anyone attending the event until the finale.
The winner of the competition will get a one year paid contract with Marriott Hotel, to be its resident band and open the performance of the New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The winning band will be also be offered a recording session with Made Beats.
Kigali Marriott Hotel has been operating since October 2016. Apart from hospitality services, the hotel has been contributing to the improved wellbeing of the community participating in community works and subscribing to vulnerable residents for Mutuelle de Santé and visiting patients among others.
Kagame was yesterday speaking at the Namibian State House Banquet hosted in their honor by President Hage Gottfried Geingob and First Lady Geingos.
Accompanied by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, Kagame arrived in Namibia yesterday for a three-day state visit aimed at promoting bilateral relations.
“President Geingob and I, together with other African leaders, will continue to work together to resolve the problems that have prevented our abundantly blessed continent, and its resourceful people, from reaching our full potential,” pointed out Kagame.
“There is no reason Africa should continue to be marginalized if we collaborate and speak with one voice to achieve a mutually respectful and beneficial partnership with the rest of the world,” he added.
The President also expressed delight to be in Namibia to reinforce the friendship between both countries which is crucial to growing opportunities for their people.
He highlighted that Namibia and Rwanda share ambitions towards supporting African integration and solidarity which should be rooted to make Africa a respected continent.
“It is also no accident that both Namibia and Rwanda attach tremendous importance to African integration and solidarity. Namibia has been a firm supporter of African Union reforms and was among the first countries to ratify the African Continental Free Trade Area. Through President Geingob, Namibia is also a highly respected voice in regional security and other matters. I have benefited from his counsel,” said Kagame.
The President stressed that it is natural for both countries to work to deepen the bilateral relations in terms of trade, investment, and development.
“Namibia and Rwanda will be cooperating much more closely, in a variety of ways going forward,” he assured.
According to the Head of Delegation of the Zimbabwe Staff College, Colonel Teddy Ndlovu and the Chief Instructor of Joint Command and Staff Course, the purpose of the visit is to give an opportunity to future leaders/officers to learn from the special history of Rwanda to prevent the recurrence of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
“Rwanda has got a special history that we need to tap in and learn from in the future. It has seen genocide, went through it and managed to recover. In terms of satisfying the geopolitical studies of the College, it is very important that these officers understand the importance of security, learn lessons from failures of some international organizations during the Genocide”, Col Ndlovu said.
“Our Student-officers will use that knowledge, use the experiences to stop and prevent such occurrences,” he added.
The Zimbabwe Staff College delegation, composed of Students and Directing Staff from Botswana, China, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe also visited Kigali Genocide Memorial and paid respect to the Victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi before heading to Rwanda Defence Force Headquarters.
At the RDF Headquarters, the delegation was received by the RDF Army Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Jean Jacques Mupenzi and briefed later on RDF roles and organization.
During their study tour in Rwanda, the Zimbabwe Staff College delegation will also visit some RDF institutions in and out of Kigali.
