The visit is part of Citizen Outreach program where he started a three-day trip to Northern and Western provinces.
President Kagame started the visit in Burera district that convened at the playground in Butaro sector from where he resumed the trip to Musanze district.
He met and interacted with residents waiting for him on the way to Musanze where he met with over 1200 opinion leaders from across the Northern and Western Provinces.
President Kagame will meet Musanze residents on Thursday in Busogo sector.
The plan was unveiled yesterday as MINAGRI presented the draft budget of 2019/2020 and how previous year’s budget was utilized.
The Permanent Secretary in MINAGRI, Jean Claude Musabyimana said that the ministry, National Agricultural Export Board, Rwanda Agriculture Board among other affiliated institutions had requested at least Rwf 272.8 billion budget to be used in different projects.
He explained that the money will be used to fund projects of different categories including supporting farmers to deal with climate change effects.
Musabyimana said that in collaboration with institutions attached to MINAGRI, they had agreed on Rwf 177 billion to facilitate the implementation of climate change mitigation projects.
“We agreed to help farmers in climate change mitigation. It is difficult to accomplish but we shall draw emphasis on it especially introducing technology solutions,” he said.
Musabyimana explained that only Rwf 65.1 billion was made available due to inadequate financial resources.
“We wanted to earmark in Rwf 177 billion and 370 million in irrigation projects, terracing and relocating citizens from places reserved for public infrastructures. We allocated a bigger budget in this area because it requires enough agricultural infrastructure,” he said.
MINAGRI revealed that expected agriculture projects were implemented at 77% in partnership with attached institutions and is seeking a solution to fix gaps. The ministry also plans to allocate Rwf 22.8 to boost livestock productivity.
He has made the observation today as he interacted with residents of Burera district, Northern Province.
The Mayor of Burera district, Florence Uwambajemariya has said that the district has made a considerable step towards the improvement of citizens’ livelihoods and health and other development activities.
She, however, raised some concerns including overcrowding in schools, inadequate workers at health centers and hospitals and the problem of drug abuse and smuggling.
“Citizens wish to get a district hospital because the existing hospital will belong to the university. Citizens wish empowerment of our health posts and upgraded to health centers if possible,” said Uwambajemariya.
“They want a durable solution for ravages caused by water flowing from volcanoes, the introduction of radio network towers where they are not, and ambulances at some health centers,” she added.
President Kagame said that Rwandans know their history upon which they build progress with a view to inclusively and positively change everyone’s life.
“There are still a lot of things within our means that are not done properly. They are repeated over time but never change in accordance with our abilities. That issue must be addressed by all means,” he said.
President Kagame highlighted that Rwandans have no problem because they do the right thing given good leadership. He noted that weak leaders lead to the failure of anticipated results.
“I will find time to deal with those leaders who don’t accomplish what they must deliver to these citizens. I will not dodge around; it will start from top to grass root levels of leadership,” he said.
Kagame explained that there are some rampant problems that should have been addressed before.
“The problem of seeds, whenever I come to Musanze, Burera, they always raise the issue of seeds, Irish potatoes seeds among other crops. It should not be a problem to be repeatedly talked about every day,” he said.
Commenting on the health sector, President Kagame said “There was capacity building. Within examples pointed out across the world with tangible evidence, Rwanda comes among the good examples. But you find some things don’t reach citizens or they are not aware of what is available or don’t access them that they chose to seek services beyond borders. The country has the necessary abilities to offer these services.”
“Taking examples of children crossing borders to get medical circumcision services that started in Rwanda, it is not clear that people cross the border to get things they should access here. It must stop. I don’t have a problem with you (citizens), I have it with leaders. They are going to accomplish their duties or leave and do what they want elsewhere,” added Kagame.
The Minister of Local Government, Prof Shyaka Anastase said that Rwf 5 billion was allocated to fund development activities in Burera district and that the pace of development activities in the district rates between 8-10%.
President Kagame has made the remarks today during his visit to Burera district, Northern Province, where he heard citizens’ concerns and exchange ideas about how to move the country forward.
Burera borders with the Republic of Uganda.
He explained that there is a problem of neighbors who have been on alert to cause problems to Rwanda noting that its citizens have to protect it.
The speech has been delivered at a time when residents of Burera at times seek some services in Uganda.
“We are not slaves of neighbors. Rwanda is not a small country or small people that can be dictated to, but leaders cause problems when they are not watchful. Most of what you go to seek outside the border, even markets, are left here. But leaders go and live in towns, the capital city and think the world ends there,” he said.
President Kagame revealed that someone told him that they cross the border to seek bread and wondered why manufacturers don’t make bread within the district or supply them.
He also talked on children crossing the border to get medical services yet they are available in Rwanda.
During the recent leadership retreat, President Kagame talked about children crossing to get circumcision from Uganda yet some of the techniques to do it was emulated from Rwanda.
Kagame has however said that when leaders don’t bring things to normal “It results in problems. We are going to fix that. Let those neighbors who want to cause trouble in our country forget that and let us focus on developing ourselves. When they are ready to work with us, we will be here and ready. What we want is to be good neighbors who trade and work well with each other.”
“When you turned us into a garden in which you grow desired crops, we also have expectations. I hope citizens are hearing me. Leaders must understand it. It has been long for us to transform mindsets and country’s politics to current developments” he added.
Kagame said the policy is having Rwandans working together, leaving no one behind and that whatever stands in that road should not be tolerated.
The president sounded the warning today on his working visit to Burera district, Northern Province where he was welcomed by thousands of residents.
Kagame said that some of those people planning bad things against Rwanda will report themselves or be seized.
Reflecting on people claiming to be behind attacks through international radios and internet assuming to be far distant from Rwanda he said: “Whether you are in USA, South Africa, France, assuming that you are far distant, maybe you are far because you have no direct contact with fire. But when they come close, the fire will burn them. Those people and their supporters should know that there are no jokes here.”
“Even those who want to join them, tell them that they are playing with fire. It will burn them. In matters of security, we cannot solicit it from anyone. People should understand that we experienced insecurity for long, lost a lot but that period has ended. We are in peacetime. We seek peace by any means,” he added.
President Kagame highlighted that Rwanda has the strength to keep its security and requested citizens to play their role in maintaining security.
Kagame made the observation yesterday as he met with members of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) from Australia.
YPO is the largest global network of business leaders with over 27,000 members across 130 countries.
“Getting here has taken a lot of hard work from Rwandans, picking pieces and putting them back together, but also partnerships with people who have worked with Rwanda. That is how the country has come to survive and develop to where we are today,” he said.
“We keep learning every day we are not alone in facing challenges. This drives the lesson that working together is the most important thing and collaboration is key,” added Kagame.
Talking on leadership, President Kagame said that he is present for Rwandans and with Rwandans to build something noting that when you are building something, there must be an interest in its progress and sustainability.
“The most important thing for me is not to look around and anoint somebody. We invested in education, health to be able have a pool from which there will emerge people who are capable. Not someone I have assigned, but somebody emerging in their own right,” he said.
“Bring in everyone. Stay the course. Don’t take anything for granted. Don’t be discouraged when you hit roadblocks. Just know there is a way to either go around or through. That is what I have learned. If you do this, you have a chance to succeed,” added Kagame.
The funding to construct the facility was provided by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).
The facility built within 14 months is located in Special Economic Zone in Masoro, Gasabo district. It will be a country-level children vaccines warehouse and lessen burdens of rental fees where children vaccines were previously kept in rent of Rwf 4 million per month. The expenses will be utilized to improve other areas of the health sector.
The Permanent Secretary of MINISANTE, Dr. Nyemazi Jean Pierre has told participants of the inauguration that the building will help to stock medical equipment.
“The previous place where we stored vaccines was very expensive. We used to spend over Rwf 4 million for monthly rent. The new building will enable us to allocate rental fees into other activities. This facility is built in a way that it can store other medical equipment, medicaments, mosquito nets among others,” he said.
GAVI Program officer in English speaking countries on the African continent, Mireille Buanga-Lembwadio said that Rwanda is among countries making good use of funds.
“Before we provide funding, we usually assess its contribution to the development of the country. We commend the Government of Rwanda for using our funds efficiently. The successfulness of previous joint-projects with the Government of Rwanda attracted us to fund the construction of this building to store vaccines,” she said.
GAVI is among major sponsors of MINISANTE.
GAVI gives Rwanda children vaccines worth USD $12 million every year.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that the number of vaccinated children in Rwanda rates over 95% within the past ten years.
After touring Nzove Water Treatment Plant and receiving explanations on how water is treated, he acknowledged the role of all Government institutions and different development partners in the water sector for having made the new Nzove I a reality.
Premier Ngirente also thanked Culligan International East Africa and Central Asia (EACA) for the good implementation of the project.
He highlighted that the target of the Government of Rwanda as outlined in the National Strategy for Transformation, 2017-2024 (NST1), is to scale up clean water to all households.
“The inauguration of new Nzove I Water Treatment Plant and the upgrading of Nzove II are a major milestone in providing access to clean drinking water to our citizens. This is very important for the residents of the City of Kigali who has been experiencing the shortage of clean water, especially those living in Nyamirambo and Gikondo sectors,”
he said.
In this regard, he reiterated that the Government will continue to increase its investments in construction, extension, and rehabilitation of more than one thousand nine hundred kilometers (1,900 km) of water supply systems in the City of Kigali and other towns.
Premier Ngirente reassured that by 2024, the daily water production capacity will be increased from m3 182.120 to m3 303.120 per day.
The statement released by Rwanda’s embassy in Ethiopia where the AU is headquartered reads that ambassador Hope Tumukunde Gasatura shall chair the council this month.
Established in 2003, the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) is the standing organ of the AU for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflicts.
Among activities scheduled in during this month as the statement released by Rwanda’s embassy to Ethiopia indicated, the council will receive the report of the council’s commission on restoring peace in the Central African Republic and assess peace accord signed in Khartoum within the previous two months.
It is expected that the AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) will be revised this month.
Other activities on the agenda in may include discussions aimed at addressing other issues threatening peace and security in Africa including outbreaks like Ebola and cyber-crimes among others.
Today, the AU Peace and Security Council is made of 15 member states including Angola, Algeria, Burundi, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kenya, Liberia, Lesotho, Morocco, Rwanda, Nigeria, Sierra Léone, Togo and Zimbabwe.
Rwanda’s two years tenure to represent East Africa region in the council was extended in January 2018.
Rwanda previously assumed similar chairmanship of the AU Peace and Security Council in May 2018.
It has been announced this Monday by the Governor of BNR, John Rwangombwa during the presentation of monetary policy.
Rwangombwa explained that the reduction is meant to support banks’ lending to the private sector to increase development activities.
He, however, noted that it doesn’t mean that changes in interest rates will be affected immediately because banks have other requirements in the process of delivering loans.
“We want to keep supporting banks to increase lending to private investors to scale up national economy and the pace of market prices that were very low,” he said.
Rwangombwa said the wish is to accelerate the pace for market price from 1% of March 2019 to 3% at the end of this year.
BNR announced that lending from banks increased by 24.9 %. Loans to private investors increased by 16.2 % compared to 7.3 % of a similar quarter in 2018.
Rwangombwa said there is evidence of national economic growth by12.2% in the first three months of 2019.
He said that reducing the lending rate will enable banks to match established standards and ease private investors’ access to credits to boost economic growth.
“It however takes time. We don’t assume that they are reducing the interest rate tomorrow because we did it today. It takes a process because they get money from clients,” he added.
It has been over a year since BNR reduced the base lending rate from 6% to 5.5%.
