Author: IGIHE

The previous agreements were approved on 1st August 2019 at the Supreme Court of Ngorosa where RENAMO had established a military base.

These agreements have been revised this Tuesday in Maputo, the Capital city of Zimbabwe and are expected to put an end to 16-year long war between both parties that took lives of over 1 million people and ravaging quite a number of equipment.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe has said that President Kagame has also attended the signing of the agreements.

“ Today I am in Maputo, Mozambique to accompany H.E. President Paul Kagame for a historical event for this country: the signing of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement between the Government of Mozambique and the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO),” he said in a tweet.

Rwanda and Mozambique enjoy good relationships. In 2016 and 2018, both countries signed cooperation agreements in politics, governance, tourism, agriculture, mining, air transport services, promoting investment, science and technology, and professional training.

In July 2018, Mozambique president, Filipe Nyusi visited Rwanda following president Paul Kagame’s visit to Mozambique in 2016 when he talked to investors and invited them to invest in Rwanda.

Today, Mozambique accommodates over 3500 Rwandans involved in different businesses.

The RENAMO insurgency was a guerrilla campaign by militants of the RENAMO party in Mozambique. The insurgency is widely considered to be an aftershock of the Mozambican Civil War; it resulted in renewed tensions between RENAMO and Mozambique’s ruling FRELIMO coalition over charges of state corruption and the disputed results of 2014 general elections.

A ceasefire was announced between the government and the rebels in September 2014. However, renewed tensions sparked violence in mid-2015.

On August 1, 2019, President Filipe Nyusi and RENAMO leader Ossufo Momade signed a peace agreement at RENAMO’s remote military base in the Gorongosa mountains which brought an end to hostilities. The last remaining REMANO fighters afterward surrendered their weapons.

This afternoon, President Kagame arrives in Maputo, Mozambique for the Signing Ceremony of the country's Peace and Reconciliation Agreement. pic.twitter.com/ndPeXLAh9u

— Presidency | Rwanda (@UrugwiroVillage) August 6, 2019

Today I am in #Maputo, #Mozambique to accompany H.E. President @PaulKagame for a historical event for this country: the signing of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement between the Government of #Mozambique

Rwanda Day has been organized 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.

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.

DND is a Rwandan based Real Estate company that started in 2015. It is an emerging force in the domestic real estate industry.

DND was founded with the simple notion that a single developer with grand ambitions, clear vision, and well-coordinated strategy can change the trajectory of an industry and the market’s belief of what is possible.

The company has so far built numerous affordable townhouses and apartments in Nyarutarama, Gasabo district compared to other buildings in the area.

DND has successfully completed townhouses & apartments in the first two phases which were almost all sold and is currently working on the 3rd phase.

The General Manager of DND Developers Ltd, Eng. Daniel Mehari has told IGIHE that owning a home in Nyarutarama, an area associated with magnate occupants has been made easier.

During the upcoming Rwanda Day, DND Developers will share all these opportunities helping Rwandans to access infrastructures in their homeland.

“Almost 80% of DND Developers Ltd clients are from the diaspora. We are in touch and interact with them whenever they are convened in events taking place outside Rwanda. Even this year, we are going to participate in Rwanda Day which is due to take place in Bonn city, in Germany and Diaspora Property Road Show which is due to take place in London, UK. We will exhibit our project to help them access infrastructures in their homeland,” he said.

The KCV project, which is located on Rebero Hill in Kicukiro Sector, aims to diversify Rwanda’s tourism offering by opening up new cultural entertainment avenues.

Sitting on 30.1 hectares, the KCV will have facilities intended to showcase Rwanda’s traditional and contemporary arts, nature, biodiversity, traditional lifestyle and history.

The KCV project is estimated to cost over US$ 40 Million.

Vivendi Group, a subsidiary of French Bolloré Holdings is a company primarily focused on digital entertainment. It owns the French TV channel and movie producer Canal+ Group, as well as music world leader Universal Music Group, book publisher Edits, communication company Havas, video games company Gameloft, and video hosting service Dailymotion.

The decision to invest in Rwanda came after French investors, among them President of Bolloré Holdings Cyrille Bolloré, visited the country on January 2018. In a meeting with RDB, investment opportunities in different sectors including tourism were highlighted.

Under the 20-year lease agreement signed Vivendi Group, will spend between US$ 3-4 million in Phase 1 of the project. Phase 1 is expected to be completed in six months and will include a 300-seat modern cinema hall, a 15,000-people open concert area, a food court, and a children’s gaming area. The facility will run on sustainable energy.

The facilities will host 19 movie sessions a week, live concerts, cultural and artistic festivals, seminars and conferences.

Phase two will be initiated on completion of phase one and will include Universal recording studios, Escape games, Gameloft E-gaming laboratory and testing factory, a children’s playground, bars and restaurants, and the Canal Factory.

The Canal Factory is a modern, compact TV, cinema and music recording studio. This infrastructure will be dedicated to Rwandan talents and students desiring to be trained in the fields of cinematography.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Clare Akamanzi, the RDB Chief Executive Officer said:

“RDB welcomes this new investment as we seek to diversify Rwanda’s tourism offerings and increase annual receipts to US$ 800 million by 2024.

This investment is a good step forward for the country’s MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events) strategy that has been growing remarkably over the years.

Through the KCV, thousands of Rwandans will get access to good jobs and youths employed in the arts will gain skills that they will be able to earn sustainably from and even export to the region. We are glad this investment will be Vivendi’s first in East Africa. I am confident that Rwanda will not only become a regional entertainment and cultural hub, but we shall also soon be developing and exporting entertainment and cultural industry talent in the coming years.”

Private and public sector key players have to be well equipped with negotiation skills to be able to effectively connect internally with their staff and externally with the clients, attaining corporate goals with utmost efficiency in the process.

In order to build capacity in professional negotiations, ITM Africa Ltd has organized a workshop where the said skills will be honed.

The one-day training is organized under the theme: “Strategic Negotiation Training – the art of closing deals”, and will take place at the Kigali Convention Centre on 9th August 2019.

It is expected that all participants will receive adequate knowledge and skills engaging in on smooth discussions, building confidence in their person and public speaking, the art of preparing a talk and delivering before the audience.

The training will be led by the expert in leadership and communication skills, Jamie Lee from Forbes. She will mostly speak on how speaking skills can be used as a weapon to resolve conflicts and to set standards.

Sub-themes that will be covered are; planning, creative thinking, confidence building, among others.

This training is the fourth edition organized by ITM Africa. The previous training had as a theme; ‘Becoming a person of influence’. These came after training on Emotional Intelligence (EI) that helps to know and understand leaders’ emotions while taking decisions that are suitable for employees and their companies.

ITM Group is investing in providing the most innovative and high standard business and human resources solutions to ensure market satisfaction in its various branches across the world. ITM Africa Ltd has other branches overseas in South Africa, Angola, Tanzania, Nigeria, DRC, and Germany, therefore, creating a group of ITM companies.

Attendance to the training will require registration on training@itmafrica.rw or calling the number 0727 903 680. The participation fee is 200$.

“As food travels from farm to table, a great deal is simply lost to waste. And overall, we are producing much less than we are capable of. We cannot put the blame for this situation on changing weather patterns alone. Africa’s farmers were poor before we saw and acknowledged climate change becoming a factor. So there are many problems we need to tackle at the same time without seeking an excuse in one instance or the other. We cannot afford to go on like this and there is no point we cannot change. Improving the enabling environment for agriculture is something we can fully control,” Kagame advised.

“We are off track with the Malabo Declaration target to eradicate hunger by 2025. In fact, since it was signed in 2014, undernourishment has been rising again in many African countries,” the president said.

Mr. Kagame assured other leaders that the problem can be ended with the right kind of technology, partnership, and cooperation.

“Here in Rwanda, we have had our struggles with this (malnutrition). But I assure you, with the knowledge that has been put in our hands, the technology, the support of partners, and ensuring that everyone participates, we are going to fix this problem and we are going to succeed. If we can, everyone can,” he said.

He warned that undernourishment will negatively impact today’s children throughout their lives if left unchecked.

“The entire human development agenda in Africa is at risk,” he said. “Increased agricultural productivity is essential for eradicating hunger and undernourishment. But food security is not where we stop. We want a continent that is truly prospering, in every sense of the term. And agriculture is undoubtedly the foundation of Africa’s prosperity. That is the larger ambition we must challenge ourselves to achieve. We owe it to the generations that follow us, ” President Kagame observed.

The two-day event brought together different stakeholders as part of facilitating their engagement in boosting collective action aimed at adapting Africa’s agriculture and food systems to climate change in order to improve on the continent’s food security.

Hosted by the Government of Rwanda, the meeting was organized by core partners that include the African Union Commission, the World Bank Group, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the African Development Bank, as well as the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

The dialogue brought together delegates that include Heads of State, ministers of agriculture and finance, heads of international institutions and Regional Economic Commissions (RECs), Nobel prize laureates, and eminent scientists in order to catalyze actions and financing to help address Africa’s worsening food security crisis under recent climate change.

Ebola outbreak has hit the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where it has killed over 1700 people since August last year.

In a bid to contain Ebola, screening is being performed on all borders and airports and the country is equipped with an Emergency Treatment Center (ETC) built-in Rugerero Sector, Rubavu District to screen and treat Ebola in case of an outbreak.

Among others, simulation exercises took place in Gisenyi Hospital-Rubavu District, Rwanda Military Hospital-Kigali, Rugerero Health Centre-Rubavu, and Kamembe Airport-Rusizi.

Minister Gashumba commended officials that have contained serenity at Rwanda, DRC borders.

“Security officials have done great work in collaboration with immigration and emigration officials because chaotic crossing at the border has been curtailed. People are crossing calmly, screened, wash hands and proceed through smooth traffic flow,” she said.

The Health minister requested citizens to cooperate closely with officials in the enforcement of Ebola prevention measures through the outbreak has not yet spread to Rwanda.

“There should always be readiness over the outbreak. Rwandans should respect given advice, provide information on time and keeping cooperation with Government leadership,” she said.

The supervision was also attended by the Inspector General of Police, DCGP Dan Munyuza, Western Division commander, Maj Gen Alex Kagame, and Western Province Governor, Alphonse Munyantwali.

The visit was followed by a security meeting assessing the situation at the border.

The Ministry of Health continues to strengthen the national capacity for early detection and containment in the event a case spreads into Rwanda. Rwanda has trained over 23,657 people including Doctors, nurses, hospital staff, Police, Red Cross Volunteers, and Community Health Workers.

The Ministry also vaccinated about 3,000 healthcare providers and other frontline workers (safe burial teams, security guards and cleaners) in 15 high-risk districts.

It has also advised against unnecessary travels to Goma-Eastern Congo, following increasing number of cases confirmed in DRC, and requested that individuals who have recently travelled to an Ebola-affected area to report to the nearest screening station and to report any suspected Ebola cases via the Ministry of health toll-free lines 114, police number 112 or to community health workers or the nearest health centre.

The handover between the outgoing Mayor of the City of Kigali Rwakazina Marie Chantal and the Acting Mayor Busabizwa Parfait took place yesterday at the headquarters of Kigali city witnessed by the Chairman of the City Council Rutabingwa Athanase.

Busabizwa who doubles as the Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development temporarily succeeds outgoing city Mayor Marie-Chantal Rwakazina who was in July 2019 appointed by cabinet as Rwanda’s ambassador to Switzerland.

Rwakazina, 45, was recently cleared by the senator to assume her diplomatic duties. She has been in the office for over a year since May 2018 taking over from Pascal Nyamurinda who resigned for personal reasons.

The Chairperson of the City Council Athanase Rutabingwa said that the acting Mayor will continue to serve until the new City Mayor is elected as they are in the process of organizing elections with the National Electoral Commission.

Rwakazina served in different functions working for the United Nations Development Programme until 2018 when she was elected to lead Kigali city.

A new law governing Kigali city was released on 31st July 2019. The latter incorporates reformed structure in the administration of Kigali city and eliminates the existence of districts’ advising committees.

The law stipulates that elections to replace Kigali city leadership should take place in no more than six months.

“Congratulations to Kristalina Georgieva on the nomination as a candidate for the role of Managing Director of the IMF. I can’t think of a more suitable candidate. You have my country’s & my own support. Wishing you the best @KGeorgieva !” he said in a tweet.

IMF is an international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., consisting of 189 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.

Formed in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference primarily by the ideas of Harry Dexter White and John Maynard Keynes, it came into formal existence in 1945 with 29 member countries and the goal of reconstructing the international payment system. It now plays a central role in the management of balance of payments difficulties and international financial crises.

Countries contribute funds to a pool through a quota system from which countries experiencing a balance of payments problems can borrow money. As of 2016, the fund had SDR477 billion (about $667 billion).

Through the fund and other activities such as the gathering of statistics and analysis, surveillance of its members’ economies, and the demand for particular policies,[ the IMF works to improve the economies of its member countries.

The fund is seeking a replacement of Christine Lagarde who has recently resigned to the top leadership after her appointment as the President of the European Bank.

Ms. Georgieva narrowly won a head-to-head run-off against Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Dutch former chair of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers.

Ms. Georgieva is now favorite to become the next head of the IMF when the fund’s governing board votes on candidates in early October. No other candidates from large emerging economies have declared their candidacy.

Under a convention with the US, a European usually leads the IMF and an American national head the World Bank.

Ms. Georgieva, a former EU commissioner for Bulgaria, is a highly respected economist who won plaudits during her time at the World Bank. Should she be appointed in October, she would become the first eastern European nations to take charge of the Fund.

According to reports, her path to the job faces further obstacles even following her triumph over Mr. Dijsselbloem.

Her successful nomination would require a change to the IMF’s bylaws which bar a sitting managing director from being more than 65 years old. Ms. Georgieva turned 65 last year.

The IMF board of directors did not reach a consensus on whether to change the rule when it met in Washington last month.

France and other countries in support of Ms. Georgieva say the age change can be quickly agreed and has backing from the US.

Ms. Georgieva has been CEO of the World Bank since the beginning of 2017 and served as interim president after Jim Yong Kim unexpectedly resigned in January. She was passed over for the permanent posting in favor of the US candidate David Malpass.

The Bulgarian national has a long history of working at multi-laterals, serving at the European Commission and the UN. She first joined the World Bank in 1993 as an environmental economist and has worked for the organization across Asia and in Russia.

Congratulations to Kristalina Georgieva on the nomination as a candidate for the role of Managing Director of the IMF. Can’t think of a more suitable candidate. You have my country’s & my own support. Wishing you the best @KGeorgieva !

— Paul Kagame (@PaulKagame) August 5, 2019

The apology was sought on 1st August 2019 in Rukumberi sector, Ngoma district during a unity and reconciliation gathering.

Unity and reconciliation is among priorities spotlighted by the Government of Rwanda following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi where genocide perpetrators plead guilty and apologize in public.

During the event held recently, 14 genocide convicts apologized in public.

Emmanuel Habimana, 62, was handed life sentence. He was the head of Interahamwe in Sake of Ngoma district.

Habimana felt ashamed and decided to seek pardon since 2000.

“I plead guilty of genocide crime. I felt ashamed for it, apologized and mobilized fellows to do so as a contribution to desisting denials of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” he said.

Stephanie Muyoboke, a genocide survivor said she always grieved before knowing whereabouts killed relatives were dumped.

She explained that her heart was smoothened since learnt about the circumstances of her parents’ death and pardoned.

Muyoboke requested convicts who apologized to make a step further mobilizing other inmates to tell the truth and reveal where genocide victims were dumped to be accorded decent burial.

Johnson Mugaga, the head of unity and national identity and public awareness at the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) thanked participants of the event and inmates who made a step to revealing the truth.

“Apologizing is about bravery rooted on humiliation while forgiving is bravery emanating from kindness,” he said.

Mugaga urged all churches, Rwanda Correctional Service among other stakeholders involved in the promotion of unity and reconciliation to sensitize inmates on seeking an apology and telling the truth as a part of foundations building Rwandan society.

So far, 6000 genocide convicts have sent apology letters while 1800 of them were connected to offended survivors and forgiven.

Findings in the RGB Citizen Report Card 2018 indicate that Rwandans’ unity and reconciliation efforts are paying off at a rate of 92.5%.

In Turkey, the event took place at the Hilton Hotel in Ankara city attracting over 250 participants.

It was also graced by various dignitaries including Rwanda’s ambassador to Turkey, Williams Nkurunziza, Turkish Foreign Ministry’s Director-General for Africa Ahmet Riza Demirer, heads of missions representing African countries to turkey and friends of Rwanda among others.

The celebrations were preceded by a 15 km marathon competition involving Rwandans and foreigners. The marathon was won by a Rwandan studying in Turkey, Faustin Rutayisire using 1 hour and 20 minutes.

The coordinator of Rwandans living in Turkey, Ibrahim Uwihoreye said it was a great pleasure to join the motherland in the celebration of Umuganura.

He told the crowd that Umuganura is a special day in Rwanda’s history where Rwandans celebrate achievements.

Ambassador Williams Nkurunziza also shared the history of Umuganura celebrated at the end of harvest time where families would come together to share fruits of their harvests and set new objectives for the next season.

Not only was the event meant to share harvest but also was critical to uniting Rwandans which reflects the same rationale nowadays as explained by Amb. Nkurunziza.

Umuganura had been uprooted by colonialists in 1925 but Amb. Nkurunziza said it was restored by visionary leadership in 2011 as part of initiatives to develop homegrown solutions rooted in culture.

Traditional ballet ‘Izogeye’ made of Rwandans studying in Turkey entertained guests during the celebrations held on Friday.

Umuganura was also celebrated in Belgium on Saturday where Rwandans from different corners of the country convened in Blankenberg city.

It was also graced by Rwanda’s Ambassador to Belgium, Amandin Rugira and the delegation from the embassy.

The event marked by a community work and main celebrations of Umuganura.

Yvette Umutangana, the President of Rwanda’s diaspora in Flandre Occidentale-Belgium said the community work reflects Rwandan values and commended everyone who joined Rwandans in the community work and celebration of Umuganura.

Amb. Rugira thanked participants of the celebration and reminded them that Umuganura has a great relevance concerning celebrations of achievements in socio-economic transformation and good leadership of Rwanda as well as information sharing and socialization.

He also invited participants to attend Rwanda Day 2019 to be held in Bonn, Germany.

It was also characterized by traditional dances.