According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kayigi, the Western region Police spokesperson; the suspect arrested in Nyabihu identified as Ronald Rutayisire was at the time traveling in a passenger service vehicle.
“Police had information that Rutayisire is a suspected trafficker and retailer of cannabis. On Wednesday, new information came in that he had a consignment of cannabis he was trafficking to Kigali from Rubavu and he was traveling in a public bus,” he said.
“The bus was identified and stopped in Kazibate village, Rugeshi cell in Mukamira sector along Rubavu-Musanze highway; Rutayisire was identified from other passengers, his luggage searched and Police officers found 400 pellets of cannabis. He was immediately taken into custody,” the spokesperson added.
In Gasabo, Police in conjunction with DASSO recovered 264 pellets of cannabis from the house of one Euphrasie Bankundiye, a resident of the Nduba sector, Gasanze cell Kagatama village.
Bankundiye is still on the run, Police said.
Elsewhere in Nyagatare, CIP Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern Province confirmed that two people including a known drug trafficker identified as Emile Semabumba were arrested in Rwimiyaga Sector on Tuesday.
“Semabumba was on the list of cannabis suppliers in Nyagatare. Following information of his whereabouts, Police officers were dispatched and they caught him in Kagera Village, Karushungu Cell of Rwimiyaga Sector with 4kgs of cannabis,” he said.
Semabumba was arrested with a commercial motorcyclist identified as Theophile Nkizumutoni, said to have been transporting him and his narcotics.
Police lauded the role of the public in identifying and sharing information on a suspected drug dealer, assault, domestic and gender-based violence child-related crimes.
The President made the critics yesterday in a conversation dubbed ‘Meet The President’ held at Intare Conference Arena in Rusororo where he affirmed that nothing is fabricated about the progress Rwanda is making.
The conversation which involved the youth from different levels of employment, students, and nationals from the diaspora among others revolved around different national development programs.
The comments followed an article published by Financial Times, which reported that Rwanda manipulates its economic data to hide its poverty.
The Financial Times claimed to have conducted an analysis of the survey’s more than 14,000 data points and interviews with academics show that rising prices for Rwandan families meant poverty most likely increased between 2010 and 2014.
The analysis of the National Institute of Statistics (NISR) on findings of the 4th Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV4) and (EICV3) indicated that poverty reduced by 6.9% between 2011 and 2014.
The FT analysis of the same data contradicts that finding, suggesting there has been a consistent attempt to misrepresent the results.
According to the Financial Times (FT) calculations, it is only possible to show a poverty decline of 6.9 percentage points if the mean value of the NISR’s cost of living index was 4.7 percent.
The Financial Times explained that poverty could only have fallen by such a large margin if average prices for the poorest 40 percent of households increased by 4.7 percent or less between January 2011 and January 2014.
The magazine consulted Diane Rwigara, David Himbara, a dissident who fled the country, a Belgian Fillip Reyntjens among others.
Sam Desiere, a senior researcher at Belgium’s University of Leuven who has studied Rwanda’s poverty statistics, says average prices probably increased by at least 30 percent between 2011 and 2014 based on his analysis of price data included in Rwanda’s household survey.
That conclusion would imply that poverty increased by about 6.6 percentage points, according to the FT analysis. “The higher the inflation rate,” said Mr. Desiere, “the more poverty increases.”
Rwanda denied that it has misrepresented the results. “The claim that poverty in Rwanda increased between 2011 and 2014 is wrong,” said Mr. Yusuf Murangwa, the Director-General of NISR.
The NISR later added that it was “inappropriate” to use a mean of the cost of living index to understand how it adjusted prices between the two surveys but declined to provide any further details about the rates it used.
Commenting On the report yesterday, Kagame said: “I will bet with anyone that there is actually nothing fake or fabricated or doctored about the progress we are making. If anyone is saying we still have problems to deal with, then they are right because there are still many challenges we have to deal with. We are dealing with them and we will deal with them. There is nothing new about Rwanda having problems, and all of us working together to make a difference for ourselves.”
Claiming the report false, the President also referred to the reports of the World Bank report, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Economic Forum and Standard & Poor’s (S&P) which recently upgraded Rwanda’s economy from “B” to “B+”.
“The S&P agency rated Rwanda from B to B+, the same week Rwanda is said to fake data about poverty levels. There is such a thing as western propaganda. That is why I really want us to be together in this fight because it is a fight for who we are and who we want to be. It is a fight about ourselves, about Rwandans, about Africans,” he said.
“We have been downtrodden largely because of ourselves. Because we have not addressed some of the things that people build on to look down upon us. When you don’t solve your problems, and these are the problems that are going to create a ground for people to look down upon you, I think you are largely to blame. We should first take this blame,” added Kagame.
The President advised the youth to develop the mindset of doing things right other than striving to impress anybody.
Mulatu Teshome Wirtu, 62, was born in 1957. He is an Ethiopian politician who was President of Ethiopia from 7 October 2013 to 25 October 2018.
Details on held discussions have not yet been disclosed.
President Paul Kagame recently said that Rwanda, Ethiopia relations are built on strong foundations that no obstacles can persist without finding a solution.
As he attended the 28th African Union summit, Kagame said that both countries relation is deeply founded on unity and complementing each other.
Rwanda and Ethiopia enjoy existing cooperation in different areas including agriculture, trade, and education among others.
Both countries also work closely to share military training and exercises.
Rwanda and Ethiopia signed cooperation agreements in air transport services which saw both countries opening airspace for national airlines.
In 2017, Rwanda and Ethiopia signed 11 bilateral agreements meant to further strengthen diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The bilateral agreements signed were in the areas of Extradition Treaty, Mutual Legal Assistance, Communication, Information and Media, Youth and Sports, Tourism, Health, Education, Culture, Cooperation in Correctional Services, Gender, Women and Children and Water resources management.
For the next two weeks, 1200 military/police personnel and civilians from 26 countries, AU, ICRC, and UN will be trained on commanding and controlling a realistic multinational/multidimensional UN/AU Peacekeeping Operation.
This training will help improve not only the interoperability and capabilities of participants but it is also an opportunity to share knowledge and experience with partners.
While officiating at the opening ceremony, the RDF Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Patrick Nyamvumba said that Rwanda remains committed to offering its contribution towards achieving global peace and security.
“It is in this regard that we participate in UN missions where our troops not only support attainment of sustainable peace and security in affected countries but also have been at the forefront in advocating for necessary improvements in UN peacekeeping modus operandi focusing more on the protection of civilians,” he said.
Shared Accord 19 comprises of a Field Training Exercise (FTX) which will be conducted at the RDF Combat Training Centre in Gabiro along with a Command Post Exercise (CPX) at Rwanda Military Academy-Gako and a Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) at Rwanda Military Hospital in Kanombe from 14-29 August 2019.
Currently, Rwanda is the second biggest Troop/Police contributing country in support of UN/AU peacekeeping mandates.
Kagame made the advice yesterday speaking to over 3000 youth at Intare Conference Arena in Rusororo, Gasabo district in conversations dubbed ‘MeetThePresident’.
The conversation which involves the youth from different levels of employment, students, and nationals from the diaspora among others revolved around different national development programs.
Kagame reminded them of values that should characterize the youth where he advised them against outsourcing foreign cultures but rather stick to Rwandan values.
While advising the youth to develop a critical thinking spirit and be selective while making choices, he pointed out an example of a grazing cow that avoids thorny grasses.
“Even when a cow is grazing, it chooses what it eats. It is selective about the type of grass, it does not just eat everything that is green. It avoids the ones with thorns. It is the same for youth, you need to be selective, you need to choose what builds you personally and what will enable you to build the society around you. Don’t just accept anything,” advised Kagame.
President Kagame talked on foreign countries relentlessly dictating African countries and highlighted that it is impossible for Rwanda because it is concerned with own choices.
“I also think some of these people have no right whatsoever to look down upon people. If we are to create a Rwanda that we want, that we feel is good for us, who is this little somebody who comes to say this is what you should be having, this is what is good for you or what isn’t,” he said.
“I turn around and say do you want me to tell you what is good or not for you? One thing that I tell them that is not good for them is to come and tell me what is not good for me,” added Kagame.
He told the youth that discussions would be a waste of time if they don’t develop the mindset of not doing things because to impress anybody else.
“ If we don’t develop the mindset that all these things we are trying to achieve are good for us, that we are not doing this because we want to impress anybody, then everything else we discussed, impressive as it was, will be wasted,” said Kagame.
He further explained that Rwanda has a lot of things to do but won’t be manipulated to work with intentions to impress others.
“We are still far from where we want to be but surely we don’t want to be where other people want us to be,” emphasized Kagame.
The President also criticized recent publications of Financial Times that Rwanda fabricates figures of people under the line of poverty highlighting that it is against the truth.
“I will bet with anyone that there is actually nothing fake or fabricated or doctored about the progress we are making. If anyone is saying we still have problems to deal with, then they are right because there are still many challenges we have to deal with. We are dealing with them and we will deal with them. There is nothing new about Rwanda having problems, and all of us working together to make a difference for ourselves,” he said.
The conversations held yesterday aimed at giving the youth an insight into Rwanda’s ‘Vision 2050’ to fats track Rwanda’s development.
Ndagijimana has disclosed the reason for postponing in a press conference, Tuesday, a day that had been set for the signing of districts’ performance contracts.
The session followed a meeting bringing together the Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente, local leaders from Governors to village leaders held at the parliamentary building.
The Premier was communicating to them the message of President Kagame concerning this year’s performance contracts.
Minister Ndagijimana explained that performance contracts were revised and enabled to fast track national development in different areas be it economic development, social welfare, and governance.
He highlighted that more reforms are needed to fast track the transformation of citizens’ livelihoods through objective planning.
“The President of the Republic requested the Prime Minister that instead of signing a performance contract scheduled today, concerned parties have to be taken through activities focusing on basics of citizens’ livelihoods to make performance contracts more vivid to drive the positive transformation of citizens’ livelihoods,” he said.
“Implementation of some major areas of focus would stall and be left behind. Some of them are related to settlements of vulnerable citizens.
We still have thousands of citizens without decent accommodation and standard latrines while some citizens live with livestock. All these factors lead to poor hygiene and low standards of living,” added Ndagijimana.
President Paul Kagame also requested to incorporate ‘Governance’; it means clauses defining the role of the leader in the transformation of citizens’ livelihoods.
Ndagijimana further stated: “We want performance contracts to positively impact on the citizen starting from households. We are going to analyze all the essentials to be incorporated into performance contracts.”
The accident took place around 12:30 on Tuesday when the Pickup encountered brake failure. It is said that the driver led the vehicle to the parking of cyclists and motorcyclists in the area and hit three people who died on spot.
The victims include two men and one lady who used to sell airtime.
Innocent Bizumuremyi, one of the residents has told IGIHE that accidents are often reported at the same place where the Pickup hit three people.
The driver is also reported to have succumbed to injuries in the head.
Speaking to IGIHE, the Executive Secretary of the Gatenga sector, Manevule Emmanuel has attributed the accident to brake failure.
“The accident was caused by brake failure where the driver struggled to stop the car at the parking of motorcyclists and cyclists. The car knocked dead three people,” he said.
The car also hit the wall of the house down the road while the driver was taken to hospital for treatment.
Manuel Domingo who was appointed Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2017 once served as Angola’s ambassador to Rwanda between 2005 and 2010 with residence in Ethiopia.
Domingo was received yesterday and held discussions with President Kagame aimed at promoting bilateral ties.
“This evening at Urugwiro Village, President Kagame received Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Manuel Domingos Augusto and delegation who shared a message from President João Lourenco,” reads a tweet from Rwanda’s Presidency.
Manuel Domingo arrived in Rwanda on Tuesday 13th August 2019 and held talks with State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe late afternoon.
He came to Rwanda following the recent visit of President Kagame to Angola where he attended a quadripartite summit on the invitation of the President of Angola, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço.
The summit held on 12th July 2019 brought together Angola President (the organizer) President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda that discussed regional security problems including political turbulence between Rwanda and Uganda.
Rwanda and Angola enjoy existing vibrant relations especially concerning air service transport, security, and justice, free movements of people, technology and Governance.
In February this year, both countries signed cooperation agreements fostering security and public order in the interest of their citizens.
The two governments last year signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement under which the national carrier, RwandAir, and Angola’s national airline (TAAg) got seven frequencies a week on either side.
In June last year, Angola unveiled a willingness to remove a visa for Rwandan citizens traveling to Angola as a result of existing outstanding relations.
Angola is a central-African country with a total area of 1,246,700 km2 and over 25 million people. It is among African countries rich in minerals.
The Rwanda Day 2019, a gathering that brings together Rwandans living abroad and their friends had been recently confirmed to take place on Saturday 24th August 2019 in Bonn city, Germany.
The new communiqué signed by the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe indicates that Rwanda Day 2019 has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances that another schedule will be communicated.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation wishes to inform Rwandans and Friends of Rwanda that Rwanda Day, which was scheduled to take place on Saturday 24th August 2019, is postponed due to unforeseen circumstances,” reads in part the communiqué released today.
“A new date will be communicated in due course. We regret any inconvenience that this postponement may cause,” adds the statement.
Rwanda Day has been held since 2010 and serves as a platform for bringing together all Rwandans from the diaspora and their friends to discuss how to further advance the development of the country and get up to speed on the current progress.
The latest Rwanda Day took place on 10th August 2017 in Flanders Expo, a multipurpose hall in Ghent town, Belgium.
Rwanda Day presents opportunities for attracting foreign investments and networking.
Participants are given the floor to address their questions directly to the Head of State, share ideas and express their wishes as well.
At the occasion, Rwandans get insights into Rwanda’s progress and share ideas on ways forward.
Since 2011, Rwanda Day has been taking place in Chicago, Boston, and Atlanta in the United States of America, Paris in France, Toronto in Canada, London in the United Kingdom, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, San Francisco in USA (Rwanda Cultural Day), and Ghent in Belgium.
These include former President of the cooperative, Faustin Mbanjimbere and the secretary, Jean Claude Rwango.
Both suspects are accused of involvement in the forgery of documents approving a payment of Rwf 435 million debts the cooperative owes contractors that constructed the abattoir and signing the fraudulent document without the consent of the cooperative members.
During the hearing that took place yesterday, the court ordered the release on bail of co-accused suspects including the contractor, Nzabandora Théogène and Hakizimana Hassan along with the notary Rubavu sector who allegedly approved the forged document and remanded former cooperative heads so that investigations can be carried on smoothly.
Members of the cooperative were not satisfied with the release on bail of co-accused suspects as the current President of KOADU Dukundumurimo; Nyarubisi Bertin Musabyimana said they will appeal against the decision.
“We have welcomed the remand of cooperative heads but not happy for the release of contractors who conspired in the forgery of documents. We are indeed unhappy with the release of the notary who signed forged documents. We are going to appeal,” he said.
KOADU cooperative was founded in 2009. In 2012, it started the construction of an abattoir that had to be completed in 2015. In 2016, the management of Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA) stopped leaders of the cooperative over fraudulent acts involved in the process of offering tenders to contractors.
